Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

"This is a shameless slander!" McMartin was indignant at this time. "At least the Ursus people will not be able to get any information about Victoria on Saturday and Sunday!"

"...Yes, because you don't have to work on Saturdays and Sundays, right?" Horn glanced at McMartin and sighed softly.

"Ahem... I don't deny that this is the reason, but you should trust my professionalism," McMartin said, a little nervously. "But at least the previous message has been sent. Also, besides the discovery of the triangle, and considering my conversation with Colonel Hamilton, his measures against some residents seem excessive. As a last resort, I hope our team can be given more maneuverability."

When these words were spoken, not only McMartin, but even Bagpipe was a little scared.

"...This...it seems that there is no need for me to persuade you to use the garrison messenger, right?"

"...Captain, I don't want to say this, but we're a little short of people..."

No matter what, using a small team to fight against the local garrison... no matter how elite they are, they can't stand up to the local bullies.

"That doesn't sound like something you'd say, but don't worry, no one wants to go any further." Horn shook his head. "It's just... the situation in this city is far more complicated than we anticipated before we arrived."

Horn turned his head and asked, "Cook, you have been in Xiaoqiu County for so many years. What do you think of the people here?"

"Nothing special. If you put a Tara man next to me, I wouldn't tell him apart from any other Victorian." The cook shook his head. "Let's be honest, if life were good, who would spend all their time thinking about causing trouble? There are many people who talk about their ideals, but those who truly live them are few and far between. Most people just care about filling their stomachs, and if their stomachs are full, they can also fill their wallets."

"That's right, Captain. A man is made of iron, and food is made of steel. And it's hard for me to even associate Damian Barry with the Ghost Corps," Bagpipe chimed in. "In my eyes, he and the people on that street are just ordinary people. They'd be frightened and immediately beg for mercy when they're captured, and they'd gather together and cry when their loved ones die."

Bagpipe sighed and said somewhat emotionally, "They don't look like trained soldiers at all."

"I know everything you said," Bugle explained, "but what I'm worried about is what Colonel Hamilton said about the extremist armed forces attacking and killing soldiers. When ordinary people take up arms, whether they do so voluntarily or not, we are facing mobs, and we have no choice but to take action against civilians."

The words of the trumpet are loud and clear.

But Fengpi always felt that there was a way and that they could still communicate. She thought of Jenny's words... If she could go with Jenny to find the real culprit, would it be possible to stop all this?

in case……

"Captain, I have a suggestion..." Fengpi decided to tell the captain what Noah said. In extraordinary times, extraordinary things must be done. She felt that the captain should know this.

-

On the other hand, after the bagpipes and horns joined together, Jenny also found Saoirse, but not in the newspaper office, but on the way to the newspaper office.

But after seeing Saoirse's condition, Jenny stopped because she saw Saoirse's red eyes.

"What's wrong, Saoirse, have you just been crying?"

"...Jenny? No, I'm fine, I'm fine." When she saw the always kind Miss Vaifan asking her about her well-being, her expression was a little complicated. She had a moment of hatred, but her consciousness was regained by reason.

"You're lying! Your eyes are swollen, and your face is so pale. Normally, you wouldn't allow yourself to go out in the street in such a mess. You're frightened, right? Who bullied you? Is it that soldier from last time? I'll help you think of a solution... There must be a way."

"No, Jenny, don't bother me anymore. He didn't bother me again." Saoirse shook her head. "It's... I don't know how to say it."

"Come, take a deep breath. The person in front of you is me, your good friend. You are safe now. I promise I won't tell anyone else about this. Don't you still believe me?"

"..." Saoirse was silent for a long time. After a while, she seemed to want to vent all the resentment in her chest, "Jenny... why?"

"Ok?"

"Why...are you one of them?"

"What are you talking about...Saoirse, I don't understand."

"I don't want you to get hurt. You are my best friend... and you are a good person. I am a good person too, right? My mom, dad, cousin... aren't we all good people?" Saoirse looked at Jenny desperately, as if she was looking at a stranger.

"Your cousin... Barry... you mean Damian Barry?" Jenny then realized that her relative had passed away today, and it was indeed her fault that she had not realized this when she came to see her.

"It's not your fault." She seemed to be aware of Jenny's self-blame, but she seemed to be trying to convince herself, "It's not my fault either. I just want a peaceful life. I don't want to see anyone important to me die again."

"Cry...Saoirse, I'm with you. Watching your loved ones pass away and still being busy with work, you're under too much pressure. Do you want to lean on my shoulder? It will make you feel more comfortable."

Of course Saoirse felt Jenny's kindness, but she shook her head and rejected it.

"No need, Jenny, thank you, I know what I should do... This is for you." Saoirse put the note in her hand into Jenny's hand, on which was an address.

"I could give you a few more names, but there's no need. I don't want to put you in any more danger. This address should be enough. You can... give it to someone you trust, your sergeant, or another officer, like Uncle Louis. I know someone is looking into Damian's situation. They want to find out what we're planning."

"...Planning? Saoirse, you..." Jenny suddenly realized something. This meant that there was indeed some connection between Saoirse and those Tara people. This was no joke.

"I don't know. Believe it or not, from beginning to end, I was just responsible for delivering some information. A few notes stuck in books, a few secret codes hidden in the miscellaneous column of the Hill Evening News." Saoirse shook her head. "I used to think that this was just a group of Tara people trying to keep each other safe. I didn't know they were planning such a terrible thing until I heard the editor-in-chief's report just now..."

As a Tara native...Saoirse might indeed be doing something that could be called a betrayal.

But Saoirse still felt...that she should trust Jenny, her closest friend, and she also believed that Jenny would not let her down.

"I don't want to make excuses or confess. What's more important is to stop them in time. Jenny, you should have someone worthy of handing these over to, right?"

"Okay, I will. I've decided who to give this to. Compared to anyone else... I believe she can handle this better." Jenny gripped the information tightly. "Saoirse, don't be afraid. Protect yourself. If you really get into trouble, run to the Rhodes Island office where I used to stay. My friends will help you."

"...That's... okay." Saoirse nodded. "Since she's your friend, I'll believe her."

"Thank you...Saoirse." Jenny turned around and ran towards the Rhodes Island office.

Chapter 10: Encountered

"East of the statue in District 10... the third alley from the left, there is a bookstore. The flowerpot in front of the bookstore... the yellow rose... I found it." Before handing the message to Noah, Jenny placed a letter under the flowerpot in front of the bookstore according to Bagpipe's instructions. The letter contained information about a secret meeting at 8 o'clock in the evening. Although Jenny felt that this rather excessive way of transmitting information was a bit unusual, she still placed the letter strictly according to Bagpipe's instructions.

After a while, an employee of the McMartin Brothers French Fry Shop came over quietly and took the letter. He looked around and found that no one cared, so he walked up the stairs and placed the letter in front of the three people.

"Boss, someone threw a new note downstairs, under the yellow rose."

"Yellow roses? Are they for me? That's fast." Bagpipe walked forward and picked up the envelope, and Horn asked in surprise.

"Is this the informant you told me about?"

"Well, he's also a garrison soldier, but don't worry, Captain, he's a kind-hearted person." Bagpipe's words made Horn a little worried. After all, Bagpipe was gullible all over, and most of the people she trusted needed to be questioned.

"I hope you have good judgment."

But anyway, the path for transmitting the message has been given, so there is no point in verifying it at this time. I might as well just trust the bagpipe.

"It's okay, my eyesight has always been good." Fengdi opened the letter, read it quickly, and showed an expression of surprise.

"What's in the letter?"

"109 Dam Street, 8 o'clock tonight—that's all." Bagpipe reported truthfully, "109 Dam Street, what is this place?"

"Dam Street? It's at the junction of the 10th and 11th districts. I remember this place. It's the property of Baron Bolton." McMartin was a local after all, so he knew everything about the place and explained immediately.

"It looks like there's an important gathering tonight, Bagpipe. We should get going."

The time when Horn and others received the news was not much different from the time when Noah received the news. After receiving the news from Jenny about the gathering at 8 o'clock tonight, Noah was a little hesitant. After all, the source of this information had not been determined, and it would be better for him to stay here to deal with possible troubles.

But she was also very concerned about what would happen. This kind of anxious feeling rarely appeared in her heart. If her appearance had not attracted so much attention... she would probably have thought about sneaking in.

Just as Noah was hesitating, there was a knock on the office door. The knocking rhythm was very strange. Noah did not ask anyone to open the door directly, but pondered for a moment. After the knocking sound completely disappeared, he asked Kuro to go to the door to check.

When Kuro came back, she had two more invitations in her hands—

"There's no one at the door. There are only these two invitations." Kuro opened the invitation and his eyes narrowed. "...Heh, it seems we've been exposed a long time ago."

"Not surprising, this is their territory." Noah almost knew who the two invitations were for. It seemed that they had indeed been targeted and were invited to join the party. This kind of confidence and means were indeed not what ordinary people should have.

"So, are you going or not?" Kuro asked. "There's no doubt this is a Hongmen Feast."

"So what? Is there anyone here who can stop you?" Noah smiled. "Go, why not? They invited us so warmly, we can't just ignore them."

She was originally thinking about how to sneak in and see the situation, but the other party directly slapped the invitation in her face. Noah naturally accepted it with pleasure, but she was still very curious why this person cared about her so much.

I now have several ways to save my life, and this kind of opportunity is rare - it’s not a bad idea to take a look at the situation first and then decide on the next course of action.

"Miss Jenny, when Ms. Outcast comes back, tell her we have some important things to do. Please help look after the house for us." Noah turned around and instructed, "If there is anything else, you can also contact me through the terminal. I will be there within ten minutes."

"I understand..." Although Jenny was a little uneasy, she still believed that Noah should have his own plans. "I will take good care of the house."

"Good girl." Noah reached out and touched Jenny's head before turning and leaving.

It was a long time after Noah left that Jenny finally realized what was happening - wait a minute, isn't Miss Noah of the same generation as herself?

-

The Baron's dinner party, even Noah probably didn't expect that such a gathering would be so blatant, or perhaps it was because the host was a baron, and the garrison didn't want to offend the nobleman.

In Victoria, the nobility and the military were in a sense people of the same ilk, and most soldiers were required to salute and obey orders when they saw the nobility.

Perhaps that's why this guy is so confident.

After checking the invitation, the two guards let Noah and Kuro in. Noah and Kuro avoided the crowd and found a quiet corner to stay.

Most of the people attending the dinner should be related parties. However, in Noah's perception, this group of people are not united. Suspicion and suspicion are so prevalent in the venue that they are about to overflow.

Of course, Noah also spotted someone familiar—the bagpipe lady who had changed into a special dress, and the one next to her should be the captain she mentioned.

At this time, the two were still whispering. Noah moved his wheelchair and quietly approached them.

"Captain, I didn't expect it would be so easy for us to sneak in. I thought..."

"Try to sneak in? That's not impossible, but it would be easier to talk to someone if you go through the main entrance."

"As for the people who came, not many people knew about this party. Everyone here is considered to be related, right? What is this called? A masquerade?"

"At least we're not wearing masks. This is how secret aristocratic gatherings are held... They tend to think invitations are too cliché and only send them out if they're inviting someone special."

"Then...how did we get in?"

"As long as you have a channel to obtain information and a token to prove your identity, you will be qualified to cross this threshold." Horn explained, but this also means that her identity is very special.

"Captain—you never told me your family is such a famous noble family."

"Because there's no need—" Horn actually didn't want to reveal this identity. If possible, she would rather keep it hidden. "My identity won't affect my ability to manage you, and it shouldn't affect your impression of me, right?"

"Hehe, that's right." Bagpipe nodded with a smile, "It's a bit unexpected."

"If you think aristocracy is special, it's a whole set of red tape, a dress that can only be worn once, a makeup look that changes every week, and repetitive small talk. Believe me, it won't be much more comfortable than your training."

"...I'm getting goosebumps just listening to that...Captain, please stop talking. Whenever I went to that kind of place with my good friends before, I felt uncomfortable all over."

"It just so happens that I think so too, that's why I became a soldier." Bugle shrugged. "But when it's time to use it, you still have to use it. This is very convenient."

"Indeed, I think so too. It would be better if you could keep your voice down." Noah felt it was about time and said, "Although you may think you are speaking quietly, to some people with sensitive hearing, you are no different from making loud noises."

"Sister Noah?!" Fengdi was surprised to see Noah appear here. "Why?"

"Noah... this name sounds familiar." Horn looked at the girl sitting in the wheelchair. In order to attend the dinner, Noah also changed her clothes. Compared with the very light dress before, her makeup was more delicate now. Of course - this was also done by Noah herself. As a knight noble, she still remembered how to attend an aristocratic dinner. This time she also came here as a [Kyrielet Knight Noble].

The invitation clearly stated, cordially inviting Noah Kirielight, the long-rider of the Kirielight family, to attend this banquet.

My identity has really been deeply unearthed. When did they target me?

"Noa Kyrielight, a fugitive from Casimir - I didn't expect to meet you under such circumstances. If it were normal, I might have arrested you directly for investigation." Horn stared at the girl in front of her. She really couldn't imagine that the other party was actually a fugitive, but she would not make a mistake. After all, this appearance feature was indeed very eye-catching.

Now Noah has changed his disguise, with black hair, deep eyes like obsidian, and a faint smile on the corner of his mouth. He is elegant, self-controlled, and has no flaws in his behavior.

Everyone was announcing to the horn that the person in front of them was the real person, not some shadow dancer, nor some imitator.

"May I ask what brings Casimir, the worst fraudster, to Victoria's territory?" Horn's words were not friendly, but Noah didn't mind. After all, he was the one who had counted these charges against himself.

"It was fate that brought me here." Noah concealed the fact that he was lost and used a more appropriate rhetoric. "It was fate that brought us together."

"Captain, Sister Nuoya is a good person. What's the fugitive? There must be some misunderstanding..." Fengdi, who was standing by, felt the tension and tugged at the captain's sleeve with some concern. "Besides, Sister Nuoya helped me before and analyzed the current situation. She's a very capable person."

"Don't be fooled by appearances, Bagpipe." It was not surprising that Horn was wary of Noah. After all, Noah was a vicious and wanted criminal, and he was also a wanted criminal for fraud. She was really worried that Bagpipe had been deceived.

"That's fine. I know my reputation, but now isn't the time for a conflict. Our goals must be aligned, otherwise I wouldn't be speaking to you," Noah said. "This gathering is a breakthrough. It's obviously more important than a suspect from another country, don't you think?"

"...Indeed." Horn finally put away his hostility. "Since we're meeting, you can call me Horn. That's my code name."

"Since we're meeting, you can call me Noah. It's not a code name." Noah said with a smile, "I hope we can get along well and don't have to fight each other in the future."

"That depends on what you do next." Horn nodded, acknowledging that the two of them were temporarily comrades in the same trench.

Most of the people here are nobles with Tara blood. In their conversations, there is some dissatisfaction with the present Victoria and nostalgia for the so-called Tara Kingdom. Even this group of people most of the time wish they could cut off the part of their bloodline that belongs to Tara so that they can integrate into the circle of Victorian nobles.

In Xiaoqiu County today, knowing Tara has become a fashion. More people are teaching their children Tara, and more people are starting to learn Tara.

This is a trend. The mother tongue may be often ignored, but speaking the same language itself is a kind of identity. Those who have left their hometowns will naturally regard others as "one of their own" when they hear their hometown accent. This is the mother tongue, the language that unites a group of people imperceptibly.

There were almost no people speaking Tara in the area, but it has suddenly become popular recently, which is obviously abnormal.

Books that traced the history of the Kingdom of Tara also began to circulate in the area. These signs reminded Horn that someone was trying to split Victoria and re-establish the Kingdom of Tara.

Most of these aristocrats were those who could not integrate into the Victorian aristocratic circle and could only try to build a new circle.

They may not have any obsession with Tara, and they don't even think that the Kingdom of Tara can be restored, but they don't mind exchanging their meager Tara bloodline for some wealth and support.

"Do you feel horrible—"

"Hmm?" Horn looked at Noah curiously, "What do you mean?"

"This is a melting pot of hypocrisy. The Tara culture and Tara Kingdom these nobles talk about are completely different from what the common people talk about—" Noah said. "If the Tara Kingdom the common people talk about is just a spiritual sustenance, then the Tara Kingdom these people talk about is just a tool for them to make money."

"Indeed..." Horn sighed, "But what's even more terrifying is that if the Kingdom of Tara is truly restored, those civilians will not have a better life."