Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

"...No, I slept too long." Noah finally forced a smile, "I want to read the latest news for a while. Please help me prepare, Skadi."

Though she still felt uneasy, Noya could only accept the situation for the time being. After all, having encountered so much so quickly since leaving the beacon, and having exerted so much energy, even a strong person would feel exhausted. She returned to the cabin prepared for her and lay back on the bed, feeling an indescribable fatigue. She tried to think, but nothing seemed to come to mind, as if her mind had gone blank.

It was not until Skadi brought the sorted news information, knocked gently on the door, and placed the terminal next to her that Noah was pulled back from her confused state.

The news was integrated into a compact terminal, remarkably similar to the PRTS terminals in Rhodes Island. Noya quickly mastered its operation and began scanning the world's major events of the past few days. Skadi stood by the door, silently glancing at her before quietly saying goodbye and closing the door.

Noah's eyes stayed on the terminal, but his thoughts seemed to drift away.

Chapter 85: The Popular Miss Noah

Noya stood on the deck of the ship, gazing at Miriam as it neared shore. The familiar outlines of the underwater city gradually emerged, yet both the architecture and the atmosphere were vastly different from her memories. Miriam's reconstruction was clearly well on track, with many new buildings rising from the ground, and the streets and squares looking brand new. However, the most striking feature was the massive monument towering in the city's center. Noya's gaze lingered on it for a moment, a complex mix of emotions welling up within her.

Skadi stood beside her, still maintaining the rigorous attitude of a clerical official, and calmly introduced to Noah the changes in Miriam during this period.

"This monument commemorates those who died in the defense," Skadi said in a calm yet powerful voice, "including... you who was missing at the time."

Noah was slightly startled, lowered his head and said softly, "I didn't expect that such a short time has passed and Miriam has already been rebuilt."

Skadi nodded and added, "Agor is known for rapidly building infrastructure, so building a large underwater town within a month wouldn't be difficult. Furthermore, during that defense battle, almost all the key technicians survived, thanks to you, Miss Noya."

Noah smiled and shook his head slightly: "I dare not say that it is my credit. The Coast Guard, the Deep Sea Hunters, everyone has worked hard to protect Miriam. I just did what I should do."

Skadi didn't object, but her expression betrayed a silent affirmation. To Agol, Noa's contribution wasn't just personal effort; her decisions and actions impacted the fate of the entire city. This was something Noa herself might not fully realize.

The underwater ship slowly approached the shore, the hum of the harbor's machinery echoing through the water. Noya and Skadi stepped off the ship together, their steps steady and composed. However, just as Noya stepped off the last step, her eyes caught sight of a familiar figure not far away.

Her heartbeat suddenly quickened, and her steps became lighter. Noah's lips curled up slightly, and then she couldn't help but quicken her pace, as if the weight of all those years had been thrown behind her at this moment.

"Jian!" Noya called out her lover's name excitedly, with unconcealable emotion in her voice. She threw herself into Jian's arms without hesitation.

Jian had already opened his arms to welcome her back, and they embraced each other, as if the world had stopped at this moment. Noya took a deep breath, and the familiar scent lingered around her again. That was the place she had always longed to return to - Jian's arms.

Jian has been waiting here, waiting for Noah's return, and she firmly believes that Noah will definitely come back.

Then, their lips touched, as if the long wait had finally been rewarded. The kiss was deep and tender, and time seemed to flow between them. For Noah and Jian, this period had felt like an eternity, and this embrace and kiss finally connected their hearts once again.

For a long time, the lips are divided.

Noya took a step back slightly, still gazing at Mace with a smile, while Mace gently stroked her cheek, as if to confirm that she was really there before him.

"Welcome back, Noah." Mace said softly. Her voice was very soft, as if she was afraid that this was a dream, and if her voice was a little louder, everything would disappear.

Noah leaned on Jian's shoulder. There were so many things they wanted to say to each other, but they didn't know where to start. But after this hug and kiss, it seemed that nothing mattered anymore.

——She finally returned to them.

Skadi, who was standing behind the two men, was feeling complicated at this moment. She knew that this was an expression of the affection between the two men who had met again after a long separation, but she stood there awkwardly, wanting to find a crack in the ground to crawl into. She could only stand there like a piece of wood, waiting for the two men to end this torture.

Fortunately, Noah and Jian quickly remembered that this was a public place. Noah took the initiative to leave Jian's arms, blushing and gently punching Jian's ample chest, saying with a hint of complaint, "Okay, okay, let's talk about it when we have some free time. I have other things to do."

"There's always work to do, and besides, I'm the only one left here. If you want to see Elini, Jody, and the others, you'll probably have to go back to Iberia." Mace spread his hands and said, "A lot happened on the surface while you were away. Now that the waterway has been cleared, it's very convenient to get to the surface. But I think what you're most concerned about is the progress of the Terra Expo. There was news a while ago that the Expo went very smoothly, and the countries participating were very enthusiastic. Although it only ended a short time ago, it is said that preparations have already begun for the site and format of the next Expo."

"...I really missed the show." As the main force behind the Terra Expo, Noya lamented helplessly. She'd missed a lot during her time in the tower, and she probably thought Lady Saria held a lot of resentment towards her. And more importantly, she probably couldn't go back yet... That was unavoidable; she needed to head to her next destination, the Deep Blue Tree laboratory.

The two of them didn't have time for further pleasantries. Mace and Noah followed Skadi through the heart of Miliarum. After crossing several busy streets, they arrived at a vast underwater hall at the heart of Miliarum. The passageway was lined with exquisite carvings and murals, showcasing the history and glory of Agor. Noah followed Mace into this building, symbolizing the center of Agor's power, and felt the majesty it emanated.

"Are you nervous?" Jian's voice came softly, with a hint of concern.

Noah shook his head and looked at Mace with a smile: "No, although it is a bit stressful, this is not the first time I have faced such a situation."

Jian also smiled and gently squeezed Noya's hand, a silent encouragement. Noya nodded, the tension in her heart somewhat relieved by the squeeze. She knew that the upcoming meeting would be very important, not only affecting the future of Agor, but also her own position in Agor.

Soon, they reached the end of the hall. Helatia - this time it was not a video. After learning about the situation, she immediately rushed to Miliarum to meet Noah.

Helatia's appearance was no different from the one seen in the holographic projection before, but the Helatia in the holographic projection lacked some sense of reality. The real Helatia was tall and had golden hair. Although there was no aristocracy in Agor, her every move seemed to interpret the temperament of the nobility. She stood there like a perfect sculpture, making people unable to help but focus their attention on her.

"Noah Kyrielight, this should be our first official meeting." Helatia spoke, her voice younger than expected. The previous holographic projection's sound transmission system had somewhat distorted her original voice. Helatia's real voice was actually very soft, making people feel like they were in the spring breeze.

Noah nodded slightly and returned a polite smile: "Ms. Helatia, it's an honor to meet you."

"Please allow me to express my gratitude to you once again," Helatia continued. "You displayed extraordinary courage and wisdom in the defense of Miliarum. We, Agor, will always remember your contribution."

Noah's smile remained gentle: "I just did what I could at that time, just like everyone else."

Helatia smiled slightly, her eyes flickering with a hint of admiration, but she quickly regained her serious demeanor. "So, Miss Noya, you're already aware of the armistice agreement between Agor and Haisi. Twenty years isn't a long time, but for us, it's a gamble fraught with risk. You're at the center of this gamble. As an outsider, what do you think of this agreement?"

Noah had anticipated Helatia's direct approach. She didn't respond immediately, but paused for a moment before speaking. "I believe these twenty years are an opportunity both humans and the Haisi must seize. No matter how the future unfolds, the current situation speaks for itself—we all need time to breathe and adjust. If we can find the possibility of coexistence during this time, then perhaps this war won't be the only outcome."

Helatia listened quietly, her expression unchanged. She was carefully observing every detail of Noah, trying to learn more from it.

"You mentioned coexistence." Helatia's voice remained steady, "But Haisi has never expressed a clear desire for coexistence. Even this truce was achieved at the instigation of Maritus. Do you really believe that Haisi will change himself for the sake of coexistence?"

Noya maintained a calm expression as he replied, "Regardless of the Haisi's true nature, Maritus has proven to me that they show some promise in their evolution. The decision I made was to give humanity more options. If we were still faced with the same situation twenty years from now, I would firmly stand on the side of humanity and fight alongside Agor against the Haisi."

Helatia stared at Noah for a long time without saying a word. Her eyes were steady, as if she was weighing every word Noah said.

"Very good." After a moment, she spoke, her tone tinged with satisfaction. "I appreciate your honesty. Regardless, Agor will respect your choice. We will cherish these twenty years, but we will not let our guard down."

Noah nodded slightly, the tension in her heart finally dissipating a little. She was relieved that Helatia didn't immediately show a tough attitude.

This was the first time that Noah and Helatia had a formal meeting, or rather, it was the first time that the two of them had truly met each other. Helatia was also full of curiosity about Noah, the landman who had saved Miriam single-handedly and was infinitely praised by her own daughter, which made her unable to help but take a second look at him.

——The most eye-catching thing is obviously her white hair and gray eyes. It is said that not long ago, she was still blind and even had difficulty walking, so she had to rely on a wheelchair. She originally thought that Noah would be a sickly person, but after actually meeting him, this young Kuranta exceeded her expectations in many aspects. Although it was the first time they met officially, he was able to remain calm and even talked to her on an equal footing. When she needed to make judgments and decisions, she never hesitated at all. Such decisiveness might even make her daughter Goletia inferior to her. What a pity... If Noah was an Agor, then her position would have been taken by someone else.

Such a person would shine wherever they were. Her talent and character made her a natural leader. Though it was only a fleeting glimpse, Helatia could tell that. She had seen many talented individuals, but she judged Noya as possessing innate leadership talent.

...No, it doesn't mean that just because someone isn't an Agor, he can't be trained as your successor, right?

Thinking of this, Helatia's smile suddenly became subtle, and the look in her eyes when she looked at Noah also changed from admiration at the beginning to a kind of scrutiny.

"Speaking of which, Miss Noah, are you still unmarried?"

"?" Noah was stunned. She was caught off guard by the quick change of topic. She was just talking about the racial conflict between Agor and Haisi, but the next moment, he started asking about her marriage like an aunt or uncle?

"...Yes...?" Although Noya and Mace were already close friends, they still maintained a master-servant relationship. They weren't married, nor had they officially established a relationship. As for whether she was single... legally speaking, she was. However, she quickly explained, "But I already have someone I like, I just can't find the time right now."

"Is that so? Then what do you think of Helatia?" But after hearing Noah's explanation, Helatia didn't think there was anything wrong. "In Agor, whether it's a man or a woman, as long as both parties agree, it's actually quite open. Even if you have your own lover, it doesn't affect you from marrying someone else. You can rest assured."

"...What do you mean?" Noah began to doubt the other party's motives, and Helatia obviously didn't intend to hide it. She smiled and said, "If you like Golletia, I can make the decision and let her marry you."

"? How can that be?!" Noah was stunned. "Miss Goletia and I are not in that kind of relationship!"

"Really? Or are you the only one who thinks so?" Helatia shrugged. "I've never seen Gloria contact me for just one person. Her appreciation for you has clearly gone beyond friendship. In my opinion, as long as you're willing, Gloria wouldn't refuse to take things a step further with you."

"????" Noah really felt this was a bit outrageous this time. "Are you... serious?"

"Of course. And if you marry Goratia, you'll be legally naturalized as an Agor. Then, you'll be an Agorite, a citizen—" Helatia's words were a bit more alluring. "And now that you're an Agorite, I think I can safely hand over my position to you."

Chapter 86: Who to choose?

Noya stood across from Helatia. Although she appeared calm, she was actually a little nervous. She had never imagined that this conversation would unfold in such a direct and unexpected way.

Helatia's proposal wasn't the polite words she'd initially imagined, but a real offer of leadership for Agor, even including marriage to Goletia. Noa had never expected that the woman who controlled Agor would express her intentions so directly.

Helatia raised her head slightly, as if assessing Noah's reaction. Her gaze was calm, as if she had anticipated Noah's shock and didn't take it seriously. Her golden hair shimmered in the light, and she exuded an undeniable majesty.

"Are you serious?" Noya couldn't help but confirm again and again, a hint of disbelief in her tone. She hadn't expected her first meeting with Helatia to develop to this point.

Helatia remained calm, unfazed by Noah's reaction. As if anticipating Noah's surprise, she nodded gently and explained, "What I say in Agor is essentially unchangeable. Some call me a dictator, others a savior. Regardless of your perspective, I don't care. I can make you a promise: if you join Agor, this position will be yours."

Noya's heart began to tremble slightly. She knew Helatia's words were not exaggerated in the slightest. She felt somewhat overwhelmed by the decisiveness and forcefulness of this powerful figure. Helatia bluntly stated that the future of Agor could be placed in Noya's hands—as long as she agreed to become a member of the Agor.

"Originally, I planned to leave this position to my daughter, Gloria. Unfortunately, in front of you, Gloria doesn't seem good enough." Helatia's words were without any emotion, as if she was stating a simple fact.

"I think you think too highly of me," Noya said, a little flustered. She had never imagined the conversation would reach this point, and now, the situation seemed out of her control. Noya felt that Helatia was pushing her step by step towards a choice she didn't want to face.

Helatia didn't stop there and continued, "I am confident in my judgment of people. I can tell at a glance whether you are mediocre or talented. Noah Kyrielight, I have investigated you and also learned about your abilities from Goletia. Don't you really want to consider it? Some people can't even dream of reaching my position in their entire lives." Her words were calm, but each one carried great weight, as if Noah had no way out.

Noya's breathing began to quicken, and cold sweat broke out on her forehead. She subconsciously wanted to end this conversation and escape from this situation that was beyond her common sense.

"Ms. Helatia, I think this requires long-term consideration, and we need Miss Goletia's opinion, right?" Noah tried to bring the topic back to a rational level, but Helatia shook her head indifferently.

"No need." Her voice was firm, as if completely eliminating any objections.

"Huh?" Noah was a little surprised.

"My idea is Gloria's opinion. She will not go against my decision." Helatia said as a matter of course, as if her decision was Gloria's final idea.

Noya frowned, a wave of disgust building within her. She had always respected individual choices, especially when it came to such a significant life decision. Helatia's attitude made her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"...Wait, Miss Helatia." Noah's voice became more resolute, carrying a certain emotion that could not be ignored. "If I understood correctly, you want Miss Helatia to have a political marriage with me?"

"Yes, I understand it very thoroughly." Helatia's answer was still simple and direct, even with a hint of satisfaction.

Noya's brows furrowed even more. She continued, "And you intend to ignore Miss Goletia's independent will?"

Helatia paused, as if pondering Noya's question, but soon, she calmly responded, "I need to correct you on one thing. In Agor, a loveless marriage is merely a form of social cooperation, and it's harmless. You can find someone you love, and Golletia can find her own lover. You won't get in each other's way."

Noya was silent for a moment, the dissatisfaction in her eyes growing. She raised her head, looked directly into Helatia's eyes, and said firmly, "Your views on marriage are none of my business, but I want to know if Miss Helatia's views on marriage are the same as yours."

A hint of hesitation flashed across Helatia's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and said softly, "So what?"

Noah shook his head and said coldly, "Ms. Helatia, if you want to talk to me in this way, I think we can end this topic first. There is nothing much to talk about with you on this issue."

Noah left the conference room, still feeling a bit mixed up. Just as she was trying to calm herself down, she ran into Golletia. She had obviously heard about Noah and Helatia's meeting and was standing there quietly waiting.

"It seems like you and Helatia didn't get along very well?" Gloria leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, her tone full of light-hearted teasing.

Noah shook her head helplessly. "Don't mention it." She put her hands on her waist, her face speechless. "You have no idea how outrageous what Miss Helatia said is."

Goletia raised her eyebrows and said with a faint smile: "...I can probably guess."

She stood up straight and leaned closer, her eyes revealing a mixture of understanding and helplessness. Goletia smiled softly, a touch of self-mockery. "Let me guess. Either he's trying to win you over, or he's plotting against you—perhaps using my connections as leverage or something like that?"

"You do know her very well." Noah sighed and continued, "She is exactly like that. I have to say, has your mother always been so...cold?"

Gladia's eyes grew darker, and her tone grew heavier. "She was a woman who separated her own eggs during the embryonic stage and allowed me to grow them in vitro. Pregnancy would affect her research progress, and she even had to run in the election three days after giving birth."

When Noah heard this, a complex emotion showed on her face. She didn't expect that Gloria's mother would be so decisive.

"She didn't visit me until I was in middle school. That meeting was to get me to cooperate with political propaganda and promote the holistic social development plan and genetic optimization plan." Gloria's voice was indifferent, as if she was recounting a story that had nothing to do with her. "From the beginning, I didn't think she would say anything nice to you."

Noah lowered his head slightly, as if touched by Goletia's experience: "...Does she really see you as a complete person?"

Gladia laughed at herself, "She does treat me like her daughter, but... maybe I'm more like a perfect replica of her."

Noah tried to lighten the mood and lightly joked, "If you exclude the fact that your hair has turned white due to surgery, you and her do look a lot alike."

There was a hint of helplessness in Goletia's smile. "This resemblance is like a curse... But never mind. You just got back, we shouldn't be talking about this."

Noah nodded and was about to change the subject when Gladia continued, "Laurentina prepared a welcoming banquet to celebrate the fact that there was no fighting and no casualties."

Noah smiled and said, "Okay, will Ulpian go?"

Goletia smiled easily. "He's going this time too. He's probably celebrating his retirement. He's desperate to leave office."

Noah couldn't help but chuckle: "He really is a strange man. Resigning as Archon can make him so happy."

The two continued walking forward, the conference hall behind them gradually disappeared from sight, and Noah's mood gradually relaxed.

The venue of the party was Skadi's home. This location was indeed a bit surprising, but considering the situation of other people, it was understandable to choose this place.

Goletia's house was overflowing with documents and research materials, leaving absolutely no room for a rest. Ulpian's residence wasn't much better. He clearly had no particular requirements for his living environment, even using it as a makeshift shelter year-round, leaving it in a state of extreme slovenliness. As for Laurentina, while outwardly respectable, her home was littered with carving materials and stone fragments; sculpture was her hobby, after all. So, the neatest and most suitable place for a party was actually Skadi's assigned residence.

Skadi now wears a pair of red-framed glasses almost constantly. It's not because her eyesight has deteriorated, but rather because they help her focus better. These glasses are also a product of Agor's technology, and they have some office-related uses. Laurentina, however, quite likes them, saying they make Skadi look much smarter. Although Skadi constantly complains about how clever she's always been, the topic often goes unanswered, leading to a lull in the conversation and making Skadi herself reluctant to bring it up.

Although Skadi didn't have much affection for this place, she only saw it as a temporary stopover and even missed her dorm in Rhodes Island more. However, no matter how indifferent she was, when Noya was away, before Laurentina left for the front lines, they had often gotten together. But back then, everyone had their own things to do, and an opportunity like this was truly rare, so Laurentina seized it and brought everyone to Skadi's house.

"Is this true? My captain almost became Miss Noah's wife?" Laurentina said half-jokingly, with a hint of excitement in her tone.

Noah responded helplessly: "...I didn't agree."

"But Laurentina seems quite happy?" Then again, Noah didn't think Laurentina was someone who thought the captain wouldn't get married, did she? She looked at her in confusion. This topic should have been embarrassing, but Laurentina sounded like she was enjoying it.

"After all, Miss Noah knows me inside and out. I think you're a good person," Laurentina said confidently, even puffing out her chest confidently. "It's better than marrying someone you don't know at all."

"Hey—" Noah protested. Just as he was about to continue speaking, Gladia took over the conversation.

"I also think that if we really have to choose someone, Miss Noah is indeed a good option, judging by reason." Gloria was obviously joking, but her tone was so serious that people had to take it seriously, as if this topic was normal.

Noah was speechless: "...You guys are really good at talking."

At this moment, Ulpian took a sip from his wine glass. Although he'd drunk a little, given his physique, the wine was like water, leaving him feeling intoxicated. Perhaps his chances of suffocating himself to death were even higher than his chances of getting drunk.

"Did Helatia really say that?" Ulpian asked thoughtfully. "It seems she is even more..." than I thought.

"Outrageous?" Noah added helplessly, obviously still finding Helatia's proposal incredible.

Ulpian nodded, "Yes, indeed."

Noah scratched his head, feeling somewhat speechless.

"Am I the only one who thinks the same as me?" She turned her head to look at the mace, waiting for her lover's response.