Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

"This is ridiculous!" Ambassador Ursus slammed his desk, veins popping out of his sturdy arms. "Letting someone without a national background lead such an important project? She's not even a formal citizen of any country!"

Noah secretly breathed a sigh of relief, at least there were still people who opposed it.

"On the contrary," Hemer said, pushing up her glasses, her feathers twitching slightly. "It is precisely because Miss Noya has no clear nationality that fairness is ensured. Colombia supports this nomination."

Noah felt her stomach tighten slightly. To be honest, she really didn't want to take on such an important position. After all... she didn't think she was better than the Doctor.

"I need to think about it." Noah took a deep breath, trying to buy himself time to think.

Chapter 59: Choice

Her throat tightened, as if she had so much to say but couldn't find the words. This position was too important, weighing on the lives of millions, and she wasn't sure she had the energy to handle it.

"I'm just an ordinary person..." Noya mentally retorted to those who had nominated her, but then realized that this self-perception was no longer accurate. From Grand Duchess Victoria to Saint Kjerag, and finally to Iberia's benefactor, she was no longer the ordinary person who could hide in the shadows. Ever since she inherited the title and status of Star Child, ever since that day she learned her true identity, she was no longer ordinary.

"...They will rely on you, they will hold you up...as if they were facing a savior god."

"..."

"It's the same in another world..."

Amiya's voice rang in her ears. She turned her head and found that she had sat next to her without her knowing when. Everyone ignored her. Obviously, only she could see her. She was there, watching all this quietly, with only nostalgia in her eyes.

"Noah, you will take on everything." She looked at Noah and said with a smile, "Even though you always belittle yourself and think you are an ordinary person, you will always take on everything that is far beyond what an ordinary person should bear. The more you push yourself, the more people will expect you to do well - because you always do well, and in the eyes of others, your success is taken for granted. No one knows how much you have paid or how exhausted you are. Because people are lazy... As long as there is someone to expect, they will give everything to you. This is the weakness of human nature... Noah."

Noah's fingertips unconsciously stroked the wood grain of the conference table. Amiya's illusion gently swung her legs beside her. She seemed to be very familiar with everything that was happening...

"Look, they're all waiting for your answer." Amiya's voice was as soft as the wind, "Just like before."

Noya took a deep breath, the cold air rushing into her lungs. She saw the doctor gazing at her with those ever-calm eyes, while Lu's fingertips tapped a silent rhythm on the table. The Ursus ambassador's brow furrowed deeper and deeper, clearly impatient with this moment of silence.

An oppressive atmosphere lingered around her. These things... had all happened before.

Amiya is reminding her...

Noya felt her temples throbbing slightly, and Amiya's words echoed in her mind. Those seemingly gentle but actually all-seeing eyes were staring at her, as if they could see through the deepest hesitation in her soul.

"You know, Noah." Amiya's voice was as light as a feather. "They need a symbol, and you have that qualification."

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze. Noya could feel dozens of eyes staring at her. She actually didn't like the feeling of being watched. It was like this when she was still in her wheelchair. She was always so conspicuous, but she always wanted to avoid such gazes.

She certainly had the courage to stand up...but when these people entrusted everything to her...

"But I'm not..." Noah retorted in his heart, but stopped when he saw Amiya shaking her head.

"What are you not? Not a hero? Not a leader?" Amiya tilted her head, a faint smile on her lips. "Look around you, Noa. Grand Duke of Kirilet of Victoria, Honorary Saint of Kjerag, Benefactor of Iberia, Acting Governor of Rhine Life, Candidate Saint of Lateran... You didn't ask for these titles, but you earned them."

These people, these people who represent Terra's greatest strength, are waiting for her response.

"Time is running out," Amiya warned softly. "They need an answer."

Noya suddenly realized she had been silent for too long. She could feel the sweat dripping down her back, soaking the fabric of her dress. Her throat was dry like desert sand, and every swallow brought a slight sting.

"I..." Noya began, her voice hoarser than she'd intended. She cleared her throat and forced herself to look straight ahead. "I need a promise."

Sure enough...she will still stand up.

Amiya watched this scene without any surprise.

The conference room suddenly became quiet, and even Ambassador Ursus stopped tapping on the table.

"What promise?" the Doctor asked, his tone as calm as ever.

Noya took a deep breath, feeling the cold air fill her lungs. "If I were to lead this joint technical committee, all nations would have to completely put aside their differences, share all necessary technology and resources, and unite as one. We need to become one..." Her voice gradually grew firmer. "This isn't a request, it's a condition."

The corners of Gloria's mouth curled up slightly. "That makes sense."

"Victoria agrees." Horn immediately stated.

"Dayan has no objection." The Taifu stroked his beard and nodded.

Noya noticed that Ambassador Ursus's expression had grown even darker, but surprisingly, he did not object immediately. Instead, he crossed his sturdy arms across his chest, as if weighing the pros and cons.

"Ursus needs a guarantee," he finally said, his voice low. "If Agor's technology is as advanced as they claim, why should we trust them to share it fairly?"

Noya felt a wave of fatigue wash over her. This was politics, always rife with suspicion and calculation. But she was now in a state of entanglement, unable to back down. She could only keep going.

"That's my role, Mr. Ambassador." She looked him straight in the eye. "I'll make sure everyone gets their fair share. If anyone tries to withhold crucial information..." She paused.

"Then they will lose all their spots. I believe even Agor would not be willing to be an enemy of the Alliance."

This threat was more significant than Noya had imagined. She saw the Ursus ambassador's pupils shrink slightly, and then he nodded slowly.

"Very good." His voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth. "Ursus... accept this condition."

Noya could almost hear her own heartbeat, so violent it seemed to burst through her chest. She had succeeded—at least temporarily. But with it came a heavy sense of responsibility, like an invisible yoke pressing on her shoulders.

"Well," the doctor stood up, breaking the brief silence, "now that we've reached a consensus, I suggest we start assembling a technical team immediately. Time is our biggest enemy."

"I have a suggestion," Hemer suddenly said. "Given the urgency of the situation, we should adopt a parallel working model. Each country can immediately begin the construction of the Ark, while simultaneously dispatching their best engineers to Rhodes Island headquarters. Miss Noa will coordinate the Stargate repair work."

"Efficiency first. I like this idea." Gloria nodded approvingly.

Noya felt dizzy. Things were moving so fast, and she hadn't even fully adjusted to her new role before she was thrust forward. The vision of Amiya had vanished at some point, leaving her alone to face this enormous responsibility.

"We need a more detailed plan..." Noah muttered to himself, more like trying to convince himself.

"We're ready." The doctor had actually been prepared long ago, but this time, Noah was in charge, and she had to follow Noah's lead. It was like when the Garden of Eden was led by the administrator, and she was second in command. She was accustomed to this position. "Rhodes Island has predicted the worst-case scenario. According to calculations, we can complete the Stargate repairs and the construction of the first batch of arks in three months."

Three months. Noah repeated the number in his mind. So short, yet so long. Long enough to change everything, or perhaps nothing at all.

"Well," she forced herself to straighten her back, her voice regaining its former clarity, "I suggest the immediate establishment of three working groups: a technical research and development group to oversee the Stargate repair plan, an engineering group to coordinate the construction of the Ark, and a logistics group to ensure the allocation of supplies. Each group should be co-led by two representatives from different countries to avoid a one-sided monopoly."

The proposal was met with widespread approval. Noah watched as representatives from various countries began to whisper about possible collaborations, and the tense atmosphere gradually eased. Maybe, just maybe, they could truly unite to face this crisis.

"There's one more question." Lu then said the very words Noya least wanted to hear. "Regarding the final selection criteria for the Ark's passengers. Even if the quota is increased to two million, billions will still be left behind."

This question was like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's head. Noah saw Horn's shoulders slump slightly, and Hemer's feathers stopped trembling. This was the cruel reality that could not be avoided - they were deciding who could live and who must die.

"I suggest..." Noya's voice trembled slightly, but she quickly regained control. "Establish an independent independent committee composed of scholars and religious leaders from various countries to formulate fair screening criteria. At the same time..." She took a deep breath, "all officials participating in the independent committee and their immediate family members will automatically forfeit their eligibility to board the ship."

The conference room fell silent. This proposal was so shocking that even Ambassador Ursus's eyes widened in shock.

"This... this is too extreme," the Bolivarian representative stammered.

"That's why it's fair," Noah replied calmly. "If we decide whether someone lives or dies, we should at least prove it's not motivated by selfish motives. And... I'll be one of them... I don't have any so-called 'immediate family' anyway."

The scene suddenly fell silent... because Noah was telling everyone that she would stay.

Become one of those abandoned.

Noya felt her fingertips tremble slightly, and she calmly hid her hands under the table. This decision was too heavy, so heavy that she couldn't even contemplate the weight it held. The air in the conference room seemed to solidify, weighing her down so hard that it made it difficult to breathe.

"This..." Representative Bolivar's voice broke the silence, his Adam's apple bobbing. "This proposal is indeed... very convincing."

I can see the calculation in their eyes. Noah sneered inwardly. These politicians are quickly weighing the pros and cons—is it more important to fight for a possible spot, or is the power of life and death more tempting?

The Ursus ambassador's expression shifted, his thick fingers tapping the table unconsciously. "Ursus requires each country to send at least one senior official to participate in this anti-corruption committee," he suddenly said, his voice undeniably forceful. "Otherwise, who can guarantee that smaller nations won't band together to exclude the interests of larger nations?"

A cunning old fox, Noah thought to himself. He didn't want to give up his spot, but he also wanted the right to supervise.

"That's acceptable," she responded calmly. "But each commissioner can only represent his or her own conscience, not the national interest. That's the bottom line."

The lights in the conference hall seemed to grow brighter at that moment. The blue glow of Jianmu shone through the dome onto the long table, casting shifting shadows on the faces of the representatives. Noah noticed that the representative from Casimir—a man who had been silent until then—suddenly stood up.

"I agree, and I'm in."

"...Margaret..." Noya's hands clenched, "...Casimir still needs you, and you can't be one of them."

"What about you... do you need me?" Margaret stood up nonchalantly. "Besides, standing with you is my personal choice - this time, I choose you."

"I'm very happy, but I... I won't agree." Noah shook her head. "Margaret, you still have a sister. She is your immediate family member... You can't be so selfish."

"...Noah, I..."

"There's no room for negotiation on this matter, and don't tell me you can sever ties with them. If we set this precedent, everyone who joins this committee will do the same... then it's meaningless." Noah spoke to Margaret in such a cold tone for the first time. "So, you can't stay."

"Silence!" The Grand Tutor suddenly raised his voice, his aged voice imbued with an undeniable authority. "Since someone has taken the lead, I suggest that all nations submit nominations for the anti-corruption committee within 24 hours." He glanced around, his gaze lingering particularly on Ambassador Ursus. "Of course, we must adhere to His Excellency Noya's conditions—all committee members and their immediate family members will automatically forfeit their right to board the ship."

Hemer pushed up her glasses. "Rhine Life can immediately provide a list of ten medical experts." Her feathers trembled slightly, revealing her inner unease. "Although... this means we will have to say goodbye to some of them forever."

Noya felt dizzy. These words made the abstract discussion of sex suddenly feel incredibly real—she was asking people to personally sign their own death warrants and those they loved. A sharp pain shot through her stomach, and she had to quietly press her hand against her upper abdomen, trying to ease the discomfort.

"We can discuss the technical details later," the doctor interjected, her voice steady. "I suggest we focus on the three main difficulties in stargate repairs: energy supply, material shortages, and personnel deployment."

Gladia nodded in agreement. "Agor can provide some of the technological blueprints of the previous civilization, but we need top engineers from various countries to interpret them." She glanced at the representatives present, "especially the Originium experts from Da Yan and Victoria."

Noya forced herself to focus. She flipped open the materials the doctor had prepared in advance and noticed several key points circled in red. The doctor always did this, silently preparing everything but leaving the decision-making power entirely to her. This trust was both warm and heavy.

It seemed like the discussion was back on track... but Margaret's eyes were always fixed on her.

That look frightened Noah.

Chapter 60: All I Lost Was Myself

As expected...after the meeting, Noah was visited by Margaret.

Or she would definitely come to her because her eyes had already made the decision.

"I will give up my place on the Ark, Noah. Even if I can't become a member of the committee, I can give up my place on the Ark on my own. Noah, I said, this time... I will choose you." Margaret said seriously to the silent Noah, "We must walk side by side, just like in the past."

Noah's fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her dress, causing tiny wrinkles to form on her perfectly tailored dress. Margaret's words were like a sharp sword, piercing her most vulnerable defenses. The corridor outside the conference room was empty, only the emergency lights cast a pale light, stretching the two people's shadows very long.

"Are you crazy?" Noah heard his voice trembling, his throat dry as if he had swallowed a handful of sand. "You know what staying means."

Margaret's blonde hair shone softly in the light. She tilted her head slightly, her lips curved in that familiar, stubborn yet gentle smile. "Of course I know." She took a step forward, the sound of her boot heels clicking against the ground distinctly clear in the silent hallway. "But I also know that without you, the Ark isn't worth boarding."

Noya felt dizzy. She had to hold onto the wall, the feel of cold metal piercing her gloves. This was absurd. She had spent three months convincing nations to put aside their prejudices and build the largest joint project in human history, and now the person she trusted most was about to destroy the most crucial cog in this intricate machine.

"Margaret Linguang." Noya called her by her name, her voice carrying a rare sternness. "As a Brilliant Knight of Casimir, your duty is to protect as many people as possible aboard that ship. Not here—"

"Instead of staying here to die with you?" Margaret interrupted her, a dangerous glint in her blue eyes. "Noah, you're always like this. You arrange everything for everyone, but forget yourself." She suddenly reached out and gently stroked Noah's cheek. This sudden gesture of intimacy made Noah stiffen. "I can see that you don't really want to be a leader. You're too kind. You can't deceive yourself into making rational decisions. After all, you have to decide who should stay here to die and who can board the Ark and sail towards hope."

Noah turned her face away abruptly. Margaret's fingers were so warm, so warm that she almost cried. She couldn't—she couldn't waver at this moment. "I'm the coordinator," she forced herself to speak in a businesslike tone, "and my job is to make sure the plan goes smoothly. And you, your job is—"

"My responsibilities are my own." Margaret withdrew her hand and straightened her back. In that moment, Noah seemed to see the invincible Knight Yao in the knight arena again. "I gave up on you once, and I won't give up on you a second time."

"That's different..." Noah's voice trailed off.

"What's different?" Margaret took a step forward, and Noah could smell the faint scent of metal and leather on her. "Because this time you're not saving one person, but all of human civilization?" She suddenly smiled, a smile as sharp as a sword from its sheath. "Noah, you always underestimate your own worth. Who do you think you are? A martyr? A savior? Or... just a fool trying to atone for your sins through self-sacrifice?"

These words, like a knife, pierced Noya's most hidden wound. Her breath paused for a moment, and her eyes flashed with the people she hadn't been able to save—the people of Xiaoqiu County, the children of Saltwind City, and so many more... so many more... Her power was limited; she had never been a savior.

"I... don't have a choice." Noya finally spoke, his voice so soft that it was almost inaudible. "The committee needs to be impartial. If even the people who make the rules don't follow them..."

"Then make better rules," Margaret said firmly. "Noah, you know better than anyone how ridiculous this screening system is. The elderly, children, the sick...why should they be abandoned? Just because they have no 'contribution value to human civilization'?" She sneered. "This isn't salvation; it's elitist murder."

Noah felt a pang. She knew Margaret was right. Late at night, when she alone reviewed the list submitted by the Anti-Semitism Committee, she was always overcome by a sense of absurdity. Using an algorithm to decide who deserved to live—how different was that from everything she had once fought so desperately?

"We don't have time..." Noah argued weakly.

"But the Noah I know - she will choose to create new possibilities." Margaret's eyes sparkled with the brilliance that Noah was familiar with, the fiery soul that belonged to her.

"Noah... let me help you. Just like before." Margaret saw that Noah was wavering, but just as she was about to press the advantage, someone grabbed Noah's hand and pulled her away from his arms -

Jian's fingers gripped Noya's wrist like a pair of iron tongs, yanking her from Margaret's embrace. Noya stumbled back a few steps, her back colliding with Jian's chest. The warmth instantly sobered her up. The air in the corridor seemed to freeze, leaving only the mingling and rising sounds of their three breaths.

"What are you doing?" Margaret's voice was like ice. Her right hand was already on the hilt of the sword, and her golden eyes flashed dangerously in the dim light.

Jian didn't answer, merely staring at Noah with those bottomless golden eyes. Her lips were pressed into a straight line, and her long, dark-blonde hair fell on either side of her face, casting a shadow over this sudden intruder. Noah could feel Jian's fingers trembling slightly, not with fear, but with some extremely suppressed emotion.

"Mace..." Noah tried to pull back his wrist, but found that the other party was surprisingly strong. "Let me go."

"No." Jian finally spoke, his voice so low that it was almost inaudible, "You can't listen to her."

Margaret took a step forward, her armor making a slight metallic rustle. "This is between Noah and me," she said, each word sharp as a sword drawn from its sheath. "You have no right to interfere."

But Jian's position has always been clear. She never takes sides, she only stands on the side of the person she loves, Noah. However, Jian feels that Margaret, who seems to understand Noah at this time, is still rubbing salt in her wounds, and even when she knows that she cannot accept her actions, she still encourages her to make a more painful choice.

"I said, let her go." Margaret's voice was low and dangerous. Her fingers tightened slightly on the hilt of the Martyr's Sword, and the metal armor made a subtle friction sound. Noya noticed that her pupils were trembling, casting an unstable gaze outward, the result of her Originium skills fluctuating under extreme excitement.

Jian didn't answer, merely pulling Noya half a step behind him. This protective movement brought Noya's back completely to her chest. Noya could feel Jian's heartbeat through the fabric, fast and heavy, like a caged animal. This was completely out of character—Jian had always been the calmest and most composed of the three.

"Mace..." Noah whispered, trying to turn his wrist, "You're hurting me."

Those words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Jiantou. She immediately loosened her grip, but didn't completely let go of Noya's hand. Noya could feel her fingers trembling slightly, as if she was trying hard to suppress something. Jiantou was always taciturn, but the silence at this moment was particularly heavy.

"Explain yourself." Margaret took a step forward, her armor making a slight metallic clang as she moved. "What gives you the right to interfere in our conversation?"

Mace finally raised his eyes, his golden pupils flashing dangerously in the shadows.

"Because you're hurting her." Her voice was eerily calm. "With your theories of noble self-sacrifice."

Noya's breath hitched. Mace had been so blunt, almost cruel. She could feel Margaret's body stiffen noticeably, and a flicker of hurt crossed the blond knight's face, but it was quickly replaced by anger.