Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

"We have a cooperative relationship," Noa confessed. "Ulpian doesn't trust Agor, so she chose me, who is on the sidelines, as her agent. It makes sense."

"He's always been like this, doing more than he says, always with unspoken reasons behind his actions." Brandos's expression was somewhat complicated as he spoke of his old friend, but this did not affect his interest in this topic, which was higher than whether the plant used to threaten him could be used for art. "To be honest, before he showed up, I thought he was dead."

"People like that wouldn't die quietly." Noah sighed. "Like Gloria, these two are destined to die in a spectacular way."

"Yes..." Brandus also sighed, "But I hope they can live well and not become the victims of this dying city."

"...You seem pessimistic about the future of this city? Do you share the same attitude towards the waterway plan?" Noah asked tentatively. "If that's the case, shouldn't I return to land sooner?"

"Don't get me wrong, I'm also confident in the Channel Plan." As an advisor to the Channel Plan, Brandus naturally couldn't say anything so disconcerting. He emphasized, "I'm just worried about the safety of the deep-sea hunters. You should know they're on another dangerous mission, this time to destroy a newly discovered sea heron nest. Before it was discovered, it was less than 200 nautical miles away—it's practically impossible to see the light without seeing it."

“…That sounds terrible.”

"What's worse is that they are the only ones in the entire city who can take the initiative to attack. The flagship cannot move and is the city's last resort. The other ships have almost all left the port. The city is now empty and defenseless."

Brandos explained, emphasizing the danger now.

"The Passage Plan wasn't a complete plan. It actually predates the Deep Sea Hunter Plan. Its proponent was Helatia, Golletia's mother, and the most powerful scholar, researcher, archon, and war architect in Agor. Many call her a democratic dictator."

"...a democratic dictator?"

"Don't get me wrong, she's not a tyrant, but her decisions will never be overturned—" Brandus shook his head. "She will patiently convince her opponents one by one until all of them are convinced by her foresight and wisdom and carry out her plans as if they were the truth."

"...It sounds like she is a very outstanding person. No wonder she can cultivate a person like Gloria." Noah finally understood what the so-called democratic dictator meant. The name Helatia, which could hardly be spoken in front of Gloria, actually had such power.

It can be said that Helatia is almost the leader of the Agor, although there is no real leader in the Agor political system, and the Senate should be the one who decides everything.

"Since she proposed the Channel Plan, it was destined to be implemented. The cost of its implementation is unimportant—but the Channel Plan will only succeed, not fail. This is the hallmark of the Helatia Plan."

Brandos described it this way, and even Noah felt the fear of this character. Someone who could not fail, someone who was destined to execute a plan once it was proposed, no matter the cost.

Rather than saying it is [great], it would be more appropriate to say it is [terrible] to fit Noah's impression of him.

"Let's not talk about the Channel Plan itself for now. What do you know about the Deep Sea Hunter Plan?" Brandus suddenly asked. "In fact, the Deep Sea Hunter Plan was also proposed by this Helatia. However, besides me, the only one who actually completed it was Ulpian."

"...Tell me in detail." Noah was ready to listen to the story, and Brandus obviously wanted to tell the story, which would make him feel more at ease.

"The concept of the Deep Sea Hunter originated nearly two hundred years ago, far earlier than commonly thought. However, it wasn't formalized until over twenty years ago by Ulpian. In the intervening century, the concept of the Deep Sea Hunter has not been systematically examined and studied, but rather endlessly debated. Exploiting fellow humans to save humanity, integrating alien flesh into human bodies, is tantamount to subverting the very foundations of the Agor."

Brandus also frowned when he said this.

"It's just that... Ulpian is resolute. He can abandon his research, his ideals, his emotions, even his humanity without hesitation. 'The interests of Agor' are his only principle. He might indeed be able to save Agor, but Agor shouldn't base his nation on unconditional sacrifice. Ulpian understands better than anyone that his own existence is Agor's sorrow."

"...It sounds like you, Mr. Brandus, actually have a lot of opinions about Ulpian?"

"It's not me, it's 'The Deep Sea Hunter doesn't need a second Ulpian, and Agor shouldn't have a second Ulpian.'" Brandus smiled bitterly, "In Agor, no one should want to be someone else."

"These words...were said by Ulpian?" Noah guessed. After all, the change in Brandus' tone just now was too deliberate, which reminded her of that man.

"I once joked with him, saying it would be great if you were my student. You might continue the research he and I had done together, 'The History of Agor's Cell Evolution,' or explore new areas. I said, 'You will become one of the best scientists of our time. You will have the opportunity to explore the mysteries of the origin of all things and guide the direction of our future.'"

As Brandus spoke, his tone became increasingly low.

“…He is the best researcher.”

"He is also the one who best understands what Agor needs. He is a warrior, a wise man, and a pioneer." Noya commented, "I believe in Ulpian, otherwise I would not be here."

Noah took out the Yaoxiangzhiyin on her finger. She had been keeping this channel open just now.

"I think Mr. Ulpian heard it clearly too."

"……you?"

Brandus looked at the Trip to the Faraway Land on Noah's finger in shock, and what shocked him even more was the sound that came from the Trip to the Faraway Land.

"Long time no see, Brandus."

"you……!"

"What have you done to them, my old friends?"

Chapter 64: Pandora's Box

When Brandus heard the sound of Ulpian's anchor paddling along the ground, he didn't panic. Instead, he felt a sense of relief. He took a deep breath, suppressed the complex emotions in his heart, turned to look at Noya, and his voice became softer.

By the way, when was he able to lift such a huge anchor?

"You know, Ulpian, despite what you say, I still consider you a friend."

Noah hadn't expected that. Brandos didn't look like some obsessive lunatic, but rather a father who genuinely cared about his children, even if what he did seemed controversial.

"friend……"

Ulpian's voice remained calm, but this cold and hard man did not object to this statement. Perhaps in his mind, at least for a moment, he also regarded Brandus as a confidant?

"Brandus, your original intention may be good, but you have never really listened to our wishes. The deep-sea hunters are not products of your laboratory. They are flesh and blood people with their own will." Noah said. She still felt that things were not that bad. She still hoped that Brandus could cooperate with them, at least to make up for some things.

Brandus shook his head helplessly, with a hint of apology and pain in his smile.

"You know, Ulpian, I never wanted to hurt them. They are the children I watched grow up, and every time I have to perform an operation, my heart aches. But... we can't wait until war consumes everything before we find a way out."

Noah couldn't help but interrupt, "So you've decided to use them to test this 'way out'? Consultant Brandus, do you really think this is the right choice?"

"Noah, you don't understand."

Brandus lowered his voice, his eyes filled with concern and compassion. He now looked less like a mad scientist and more like an old father.

"The Haisi are not simply enemies; they are part of the evolution of this world. If we cannot find a way to coexist with them, the war will continue until one side is completely destroyed."

"So what? War has always been like this. Haisi is our enemy, and Haisi is incommunicable. Isn't that your conclusion? Do I need to dig out your own paper again to refute it? Besides, how can you be sure of the deep-sea hunters' thoughts? Are you judging based on your own subjective opinion?"

"I understand, I understand everything." Brandus' voice softened, a hint of apology in his eyes. "But you have to understand, Ulpian, when they made their choices, they didn't see the full picture of the future. They didn't know what might happen. They only faced the battle in front of them. As their former designer, I must find a way to free them from this battle."

"A way out?" Noah's brows were furrowed, with a hint of doubt in his eyes.

But soon, Brandus revealed the true nature of his so-called "way out".

"You know what, Noah?" Brandus suddenly turned to Noah, his eyes gleaming with something almost sad. "I changed their inspection nodes so that the power of the beacon originally intended to be placed in the Sea Heir's Lair can also affect the Deep Sea Hunters."

Noah was shocked when he heard this: "What did you say?!"

The wry smile on Brandus's lips seemed frozen.

"I've been searching for a way to allow humans and sea creatures to coexist instead of killing each other. I believe that through the power of the beacon, I can allow deep-sea hunters and sea creatures to influence each other, and even change the sea creatures' minds so that they are no longer hostile to humans."

"Is this your plan?" Noya was shocked. "You want to use the deep-sea hunters as guinea pigs and have them test these unproven theories?"

"This isn't an experiment!" Brandus' voice was filled with determination. "This is our only chance! We can't go on like this. As long as the Haisi threat isn't resolved, humanity will be destroyed by them! I must find a way for us to coexist."

"Your so-called way out is to use the beacon to make them reach some kind of resonance with Haisi? Are you sure this isn't risky?"

Brandus sighed softly and looked at Noah with gentle eyes. "You're right, this is a risk. But if we don't take this risk, the future will be even worse. I can't watch the Deep Sea Hunters go to destruction and I can't let them exhaust everything in this war. I must find another way."

Ulpian had not guessed this either. He had not expected Brandus to gamble to such an extent.

"You're committing a crime, Brandus. You treat the Deep Sea Hunters as your own children, but that doesn't mean you can make decisions for them. They have the right to choose their own future, even if that future is full of uncertainty."

"I never thought of making decisions for them." Brandus shook his head, his eyes firm but gentle. "I just wanted to give them a chance, to let them have the freedom to choose. If we don't find a peaceful way, the war between humans and Hai Si will never end. And this war will eventually drag us all into the abyss."

Noya looked at Brandus, her heart wavering slightly. She could sense Brandus's pain and sense of responsibility. This man wasn't a cold-blooded scientist, but a father genuinely concerned for the deep-sea hunters. He didn't want to see his children sacrificed in endless battles, but his methods were unacceptable.

"Advisor Brandus," Noya's voice became as gentle as possible, "You can't force them to take the path you believe is right. Each of them has their own choice, and that's the meaning of their being deep-sea hunters. So... there's still time. Help me rewrite the program and stop this crazy, damn plan!"

"I didn't force them," Brandus said softly, his eyes firm and compassionate. "I simply wanted to find another way for them. I don't expect them to understand immediately, but when a future crisis comes, they will understand why I did this."

Ulpian was silent for a moment, then whispered, "Brandus, you are too obsessed with past mistakes. You want to make amends, but you don't realize that the future of this world is not something you can decide alone."

"Perhaps you are right, Ulpian." A hint of fatigue flashed in Brandus' eyes, but his tone remained firm. "But I cannot stop looking for a solution. The Deep Sea Hunters are my children. I cannot watch them be devoured by war and do nothing."

Noya sighed softly and looked at Brandus with mixed feelings. She knew this stubborn man had gone too far on his path to turn back easily. Even if Ulpian and her advice might have shaken him, his convictions remained unchanged.

Ulpian spoke one last time, "Brandus, I hope you understand that the future of the Deep Sea Hunters is not your sole responsibility. Each of us has our own path, and they too will find their own light. Don't be stubborn, Brandus."

Brandus didn't respond. His eyes were deep, as if lost in his own world, lost in thought. After a long moment, he nodded gently, a look of relief in his eyes.

"If this is called stubbornness, then let me continue to be stubborn."

Brandus is not a Deep Sea Cultist, but he is no different from the Deep Sea Cultists - he is a complete defeatist. After fighting with Hai Si again and again, he made a judgment that Hai Si is invincible.

He just stood there, but his emotions were fluctuating like the tide.

His thoughts began to drift back to those dark years—the years that had changed him forever.

He remembered his first encounter with the Sea Siren. Those creatures carried an indescribable sense of oppression, as if their very existence was meant to devour human civilization. Back then, Brandus was young and full of enthusiasm. He believed that the Agors could defeat these alien creatures. With their powerful technology and the bravery of the deep-sea hunters, they could drive the Sea Siren back into the deep sea. However, reality repeatedly shattered his faith.

Initially, the sea creatures were weak, their attacks haphazard and brutal. Agor's weapons easily repelled them, and victory seemed assured. However, as time passed, Brandus and his colleagues gradually realized that the sea creatures were no ordinary foe. They began to evolve, rapidly adapting to Agor's weapons, and some even displayed an incomprehensible intelligence.

"That was the first time we realized that we had underestimated their power..." Brandus muttered to himself, with a trace of pain in his eyes.

He clearly remembered it as a standard Haisi extermination mission. The Deep Sea Hunters attacked as usual, equipped with the latest weaponry. However, halfway through the mission, their weapons failed—completely suppressed by the Haisi's self-evolutionary mechanisms. With no way to retreat, the hunters were ultimately annihilated.

Brandus stood at the control panel, watching the red dots on the screen disappear one by one. His fingers gripped the edge of the instrument tightly, his knuckles turning white from the strain. In that moment, he felt not only the devastation of failure but also an indescribable sense of powerlessness. The warriors who had once set out with such confidence were instantly devoured by Hai Si's evolution, without even a chance to breathe.

He never forgot that scene. The flickering red dots on the screen felt like the beating of his heart, and each disappearance was like an invisible blade slicing deeply into his heart. He realized that the Haisi were not an enemy to be easily defeated. They were constantly evolving in their battles with humans, and every defeat accumulated experience for the next victory.

"We are fighting an unbeatable enemy..." Brandus muttered to himself, memories of repeated failures emerging.

In the days that followed, Brandus devoted himself to weapons research and development, seeking a way to finally end the Haisi. However, each weapon he developed, after initial brief success, was quickly adapted by the Haisi's evolution. His laboratory became the burial ground for countless warriors. Those hopeful deep-sea hunters, armed with the latest equipment, set out to explore, only to suffer disastrous defeat time and again.

"I... I watched them leave one by one, and they never returned." Brandus' voice gradually trembled, and his eyes became confused. "Every time we develop a new weapon, the evolution speed of the Haisi will increase. Their evolution is beyond our imagination..."

It wasn't that he hadn't considered giving up. Countless times, he'd sat alone in his laboratory late at night, staring at the failed weapon designs, his heart filled with despair. Each blueprint was a testament to the sacrifice of a deep-sea hunter. He knew that if they continued like this, their resistance would be futile. He began to question whether Agor's power could truly defeat these unpredictable enemies. Through repeated failures, he saw the limits of human power, while Haisi seemed to have no limits, forever evolving, ever adapting.

Brandus recalled the most brutal battle, a near-annihilation of the Deep Sea Hunters. Before the attack, everyone in that team had vowed they could finally suppress the Hai Si's attack. Instead, they were completely annihilated—Hai Si had mutated a defense mechanism during the battle that countered their weapons, and even used them against them in the final moments.

That was the God-killing plan that Gloria and the others had planned, but in the end, it was still a complete failure in terms of its purpose.

"That day, I finally understood..." Brandus muttered, his eyes filled with exhaustion and despair. "We can't defeat them. The Haisi's rate of evolution far exceeds Agor's research and development capabilities, and even exceeds the limits of evolution we can comprehend. We will never defeat them, ever."

This belief, after that battle, was deeply etched in his heart. From that moment on, Brandus became a complete defeatist. He no longer believed that Agor's weapons could solve the sea problem, nor did he believe that the Deep Sea Hunters could survive this battle. He realized that facing an ever-evolving enemy, endless weapons development and continued warfare would only lead them to destruction.

"So, you decided to take a gamble." Noya's voice brought Brandus back to reality from his memories, her eyes filled with complex emotions. "You think the only way out is to bet that Haisi and humans can coexist, right?"

Brandus nodded gently, his eyes still filled with endless fatigue and determination. "Yes, Noa. I have no choice. Every failure, every tragic battle, tells me that we can't go on like this. The Haisi are part of this world, not just enemies. If we can't find a way to coexist with them, the war will never end."

"But this is a risk." Noah stared into Brandus' eyes, trying to find a hint of hesitation. "You're gambling with the lives of deep-sea hunters, aren't you afraid..."

"I'm afraid," Brandus interrupted her, his tone becoming firm. "I'm terrified. The death of every deep-sea hunter causes me unbearable pain. However, if we don't take this risk, they will face an even more tragic end. I can't watch them fall one after another while we can do nothing."

A glint of determination flashed in Brandus's eyes. "I'd rather take a gamble, bet they can become a bridge between humans and the Sea Si, bet they can pave a peaceful path for the future. Perhaps this path isn't perfect, but at least it's better than letting them be consumed in endless war."

Noya was silent for a moment, deeply contemplating this determined man. She couldn't fully agree with Brandus's actions, but she couldn't deny his inner pain and conviction. This man, though seemingly cold and heartless, in reality, treaded on the edge of pain with every step, carrying an unbearable burden.

However, who among those who are still moving forward is not carrying the expectations of everyone on their shoulders?

Failure is not scary, but believing that you will fail is scary...

Noah stepped forward and placed her palm on Brandus's forehead. Now, with just a flick of her finger, she could take away Brandus's will and find a way to modify the code.

But she wanted to try again.

"Are you really... unwilling to trust us, the deep-sea hunters you love, just once?"

Obviously, Brandus was touched. Noah's words were very sincere, but Brandus raised his head and looked into Noah's eyes, as if he saw the sun that he shouldn't see under the sea.

"If, if you were an Agor, if we could have met earlier—perhaps everything would have been different. Miss Noya, take my memory. I know what you did—and if you really want to save the Deep Sea Hunters, then take my memory and go save them."

Brandus pleaded, he did not express remorse for his actions, but he cried bitterly for the deep-sea hunter.

"Take him away, and you'll get everything, the way to change everything, and—my hope. I believe in you. I can't trust the Agors who would sacrifice the Deep Sea Hunters, but I'm willing to believe in you. I'm willing to believe in you, who is recognized by the Deep Sea Hunters."

"I can't go on. I've betrayed them. There's no turning back. Kill me now... immediately."

“…Noa…”

Ulpian's voice was low.

"If you take action, Agor won't know the truth, and it's likely to cause a conflict between the ground and Agor. You can just let him live."

"I know."

"……But?"

"Then it will be too late."

Noah lowered his head.

"Farewell, Brandus. Father of the Deep Sea Hunters, I am grateful for your help—"

She closed Brandus's eyes, and in that instant, all of Brandus's memories flooded into her mind. It was a vast ocean of knowledge. It was the first time she had devoured someone else's memories, and to be honest, it felt pretty good.

Unfortunately, these memories belong to a living brain.

A researcher who works hard for deep-sea hunters until his death.

Noah couldn't bear the sadness in his heart, but he had to move on.