Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

"I hurt her?" Margaret sneered. "What about you? Watching her bear it all alone, is this your loyalty?"

"At least I won't blackmail her with my emotions." Her voice remained calm, but Noah could hear the suppressed anger in it. "You know she can't refuse you, so you say that."

Noya felt dizzy. Jian was right—she truly couldn't refuse Margaret, especially when those eyes were filled with determination. How many times in the past had Margaret looked at her like that, and she'd compromised, given in. Jian knew this all too well.

"Could you please..." Noah tried to interject, but her voice was cut off by Margaret.

"Emotional blackmail?" Margaret's voice rose. "I just want to face it with her! And you, you just stand by and watch her push herself to her limit!"

Mace's eyes narrowed.

"I know her limits better than you do."

Margaret stared into Jian's eyes. They rarely clashed head-on like this, knowing that Noya, caught in the middle, was the most miserable. But now, they had no choice. Margaret would certainly stand up for everyone; otherwise, she wouldn't be herself. But Jian? Jian didn't care. Even if everyone in the world died, she wouldn't care. She only cared about Noya—only the girl who loved to carry everything on her shoulders.

Jian's fingers tightened around Noya's wrist for a moment, then loosened again. This subtle movement revealed her inner turmoil. Noya could feel the person behind her breathing quicken, Jian's chest pressed against her back, as if to transfer his strength to her.

"Hurt?" Margaret's voice trembled with disbelief. She loosened her grip on the hilt of the sword, her golden eyes flashing with hurt in the dim corridor. "I want Noah to be better than anyone else."

Mace's cold laugh echoed in Noya's ears, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe. "Using moral blackmail? Forcing her to accept your sacrifice?"

Noya felt a suffocation. She tried to break free from the mace, but the opponent's force was just right—not hurting her, but also giving her no chance to escape.

"I'm not pushing her." Margaret stepped forward. "I just want her to know that she doesn't have to bear it all alone."

Noah's heart was pounding. Margaret's words were like a double-edged sword, stinging and comforting. She remembered those late nights alone in her office, reviewing lists, wishing someone could share the burden. But at the same time, she knew better than anyone that the pain of such responsibility shouldn't be borne by anyone else.

"That's enough..." Noah's voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible.

But the mace did not stop.

"You knew she wouldn't accept it." Her voice was low and dangerous. "You knew she would blame herself for your 'sacrifice' for the rest of her life. Is this what you wanted?"

Margaret's expression froze. Noah saw her lips tremble slightly, and her always firm blue eyes were now filled with mixed emotions.

"I..." Margaret's voice broke, and she took a deep breath. "I just wanted to be there for her. Just like she once did."

Mace's fingers suddenly tightened. "Selfish," she said coldly. "You only care about your own feelings."

"Selfish?" Margaret's voice suddenly rose. "So watching her self-destruct is selfless?"

Noya felt dizzy. The two men's words mingled in her mind, like an endless tug-of-war. She wanted to scream, to make it all stop, but her throat felt like it was blocked by something.

"Can you... can you..." Noah spoke with difficulty, his voice so hoarse that it didn't sound like his own.

Mace finally released her wrists, but immediately wrapped his arms around her shoulders instead, pulling her closer in a protective gesture.

"Noah needs to rest." She looked directly at Margaret, "not listen to your high-minded self-praise."

"Machete... Margaret is right." Noah finally couldn't bear it any longer and could only speak up, "She represents those who cannot speak out. She will definitely speak up for them. That's just who she is. She's an idealist, just like I used to be... So I have to admit that she's right."

"Noah..." Margaret smiled, as if... as if Noah agreed with what she said.

"But..." But in the next sentence, Noah's tone became cold.

"Margaret... courage and hard work can't solve everything. I agree with your ideas... but they are just ideas... they are not the answer to the current problems."

Noah closed his eyes tiredly, not daring to face the deep loss and confusion in Margaret's eyes.

sorry……

She could only respond in her heart.

However, in the face of civilized survival...all she lost was herself.

Chapter 61: Alliance of Terra

The lights in the command center were always on. Noya stood before a holographic projection. A three-dimensional map of Terra hovered in the air, hundreds of dots of light marking the Ark construction bases and resource collection points. Her fingers slid lightly across the control panel, her eyes scanning the dense data. Her job wasn't to process this data; in fact, her main task was to make decisions, how to allocate resources, and—

"Noah, Representative Casimir requests access to the communication." Mace's voice came from behind.

Noa nodded slightly, tucking a stray strand of white hair behind her ear. She had a Terran Union-issued uniform, but she preferred to wear her original clothes, as if to remind herself that she was still Noa Kyrielight. "Connect."

The person in charge of Casimir... According to Noah's understanding, Margaret has already resigned from this position, and the person in this position now... is not a stranger. After hearing the other party's low voice, she smiled.

"...Uncle Maenna, it's great to see you."

"Me too." Mainna nodded. Through the holographic projection, he could see that his attire was different from before. After all, although it had only been a few short months, Terra had already undergone earth-shaking changes. Many mobile cities were integrated, and some that had fallen into disrepair were even demolished. The Originium power reactors were dismantled. These materials would become reserves of building materials for the Ark. Under Agor's leadership, the design and improvement of the Ark and the construction of the Ark were almost carried out in parallel, and they were very efficient. "We have disputes over several mining areas bordering Ursus. There is now a standoff on the border. The Silver Spear Pegasus Legion and the Ursus Guards... a conflict could break out at any time."

"...So, there hasn't been any fighting so far, right?" Noah paused. "The mining area on the border... isn't that the black mine of Ursus?"

"We haven't conducted any exploration yet, but it's true that this mining area has always been under the effective control of Ursus," Mainna responded. "The conflict between Casimir and Ursus is long-standing. I guess they're just trying to bargain."

"I will contact Ursus immediately." She brought up another communication interface. "I suggest that both sides withdraw their heavy equipment first, and that Rhodes Island dispatch neutral observers..."

Noah made her judgment very clear. Any internal friction is now a crime. In order to gain a little buffer time for Anna, in most cases, she will make the most efficient and non-conflicting judgment. However, it is obvious that it is almost impossible to satisfy everyone.

"Uncle Maenna, I need to confirm something—" Her voice was clear. The data transmission stability through Agor's established data network was much more stable than Terra's original technology. "Has Silver Spear Pegasus already constructed the Originium Technique Barrier?"

"We deployed them three days ago. While we won't be the first to act, we must remain vigilant against Ursus."

"I understand." Noya understood Mainna's decision. The Silver Spear Pegasus and the Ursus Corps were old rivals. There was no way they'd sit together and enjoy a drink. Not taking action was already the utmost restraint they could muster. "I'll handle the negotiations. The situation is special now. If Ursus doesn't want to be left out of the alliance and left alone, my words should carry some weight."

"But if you make your position known, I think Ursus will think you're abusing your power for personal gain," Mainna warned. "You can find someone else—it's much better than you showing up in public."

"Looking for white gloves?" Noah understood what Manna meant. "I don't think that's necessary."

"...Is it fair and aboveboard?" Mainna shook her head helplessly. "Honestly, Noah, you're really not suited to politics..."

"You, too, would certainly want to be a knight-errant if you could. We all have our own destiny."

After the call ended, Noya's fingers unconsciously tapped a few times on the control panel. The projected image of Mainna had vanished, leaving only the map of Terra still floating in the air. The flickering red dot marking the border between Casimir and Ursus stood there, like a bleeding wound.

Noya let out a soft breath and turned her gaze away from the map. The command center's air circulation system emitted a subtle hum, making the vast space less silent. She turned around and saw Mace standing beside her. Her expression relaxed. Only when they were alone could she reveal her true self. She sat down in her chair, completely slumped. "I might as well just sit back in my wheelchair..."

"This is no joke." Mace reminded her, "The gray matter helped you recover, but it's also because of the gray matter that you can't find time to rest now—"

"That's right... Even if I stay up late, the gray matter will help me regulate every aspect of my body. I don't even need sleep. I think if I continue like this, sooner or later I will become an immortal who doesn't eat, drink or sleep." Noah was not kidding. The gray matter would really change her physique because of her work and rest schedule. After all, the essence of gray matter is to allow the mother body to survive better. It is not impossible to transform into a physique that does not eat, drink or sleep - she can even really perform photosynthesis.

"So, you have to make sure you rest well—don't let yourself develop that kind of physique by accident." Mace reminded him, "Your body may not get tired, but your mind will."

"Prepare to connect with the Ursus representative." Noya shook his head and changed the subject, returning his attention to the control panel. "Use the highest level of encryption."

Jian nodded silently, his fingers swishing across the auxiliary terminal. Noya could hear the gentle click of the keyboard, its rhythm as precise as a silent melody. This was Jian's characteristic working style—focused, efficient, and without any unnecessary movement.

"Connection will take three minutes," Mace reported, his eyes still fixed on the screen. "Ursus requires confirmation of your identity first."

Noya hummed softly. This bureaucratic delaying tactic was all too familiar to her. The Ursus were clearly using this time to assess the situation, perhaps holding an urgent internal meeting. She could almost imagine those elderly men in heavy military uniforms arguing endlessly in the dimly lit conference room.

The command center's main screen lit up, displaying a connection prompt. Noya adjusted her collar. Although she knew the other party couldn't see her full body, she said it was just politeness.

While waiting, Noah was also reflecting on whether she had made any mistakes in her previous work. She often reflected on herself like this. After sitting in this position, she must make sure that her decisions will not lead to worse consequences. But sometimes it is not possible to sit back and relax as long as the direction is correct. After many things, what determines everything may be... the butterfly effect.

Even arrangements that benefited the people's livelihood, such as opening granaries to release grain to help those who had lost their homes due to land demolitions, could result in certain [speculative companies] forcibly purchasing grain, further driving up prices. Although Noya would always severely punish such speculators, the damage to the people had already been done...

Whenever this happens, she has to rethink whether there are loopholes in her decision-making...

But she couldn't always think so carefully.

"Mace." Noah suddenly spoke, his voice softer than usual. "Do you think Uncle Maenna is right? Am I... really not suited to politics?"

The question came a bit out of the blue, surprising even Noya herself. Perhaps it was the pressure of facing the Ursus, or perhaps it was simply the lack of rest in so long. She rarely sought affirmation from others, especially on such... personal matters.

The mace's movements paused for a moment. She turned, her golden eyes fixed on Noya. "You are more suited to this position than anyone else," she said with unwavering determination. "Not because of political maneuvering, but because you've never forgotten why you're here."

Noah felt a warm feeling surge through her chest. Mace was always like this, using the simplest words to convey the most essential truth. She didn't need flowery rhetoric or complex theories, just eyes that could see through everything.

"Connection complete." Mace's voice interrupted Noya's thoughts, "The Ursus representative is online."

The main screen flickered a few times before revealing a spacious conference room. Six uniformed Ursus officers sat at a long table, their epaulettes gleaming in the light. In the center sat a gray-haired general, wearing a black eyepatch over his right eye, a medal from years of battle.

"Ms. Noa Kyrielight," the old general spoke first, his voice as rough as sandpaper. "I didn't expect to meet you in this way. I thought the leaders of the Alliance would prefer... face-to-face communication."

Noya maintained a polite smile, even though she could sense the probing tone in the other man's words. "General Brove, thank you for arranging this meeting on such short notice. Considering the current extraordinary circumstances, I believe efficiency is more important than formality."

The old general narrowed his single eye as he examined Noya on the screen. The officials beside him exchanged glances, and one of the younger colonels couldn't help but interject, "We've received word that the Casimirs have deployed Originium-powered troops on the border. This is a serious provocation!"

"Colonel, according to our intelligence, the Ursus 3rd Armored Division has also assembled heavy equipment in the same area." Her voice remained calm. "I believe neither side wishes to see a conflict break out at this critical juncture."

"A critical moment?" General Brove sneered. "Madam, your so-called 'Ark Project' has already plunged all of Terra into chaos. Mobile cities have been dismantled, resources have been reallocated... The direct and indirect economic losses incurred will need to be borne by our nations. Do you know how many people on Terra will be unemployed and how many will be left homeless as a result of your words?"

Noa felt a familiar fatigue. She had had this conversation countless times—in parliaments, military bases, even in secret meeting rooms. Each person defended their own interests, as if the end of the world were just a bargain.

"General, with all due respect," Noya said, his voice firmer. "Seventeen mobile cities within Ursus are facing imminent collapse. Your people are living on a massive bomb. I don't think my decision is flawed. As for their livelihoods—Ursus has rejected all our humanitarian aid. We've already prepared some land for temporary residences, but I don't think I'm the one who truly disregarded the safety of the people. Secondly… regarding this mining dispute, we should eliminate the possibility of conflict. Secondly—"

"That's nice to say, but aren't you just a Casimir?" Before Noah could finish, the colonel sneered. "You're just seeking benefits for your country. Is it necessary to speak so eloquently?"

"This isn't about profit, Colonel. This is about survival. If we continue wasting our energy on this meaningless standoff, no one will be spared when disaster strikes."

The conference room suddenly fell silent. General Brough's fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a dull sound. Noah could sense that the direction of this conversation was teetering on a delicate balance.

"You have a point, ma'am," the old general finally said, his tone a little softer than before. "But Ursus has its own dignity to uphold. Those mining areas..."

"The mining area can be jointly developed," Noya immediately followed up. "Oversight will be provided by representatives from Rhodes Island and neutral countries, and the profits will be shared proportionally. This isn't a concession, General, but a new beginning."

General Brove stroked his chin thoughtfully. Noya knew she had touched a sensitive spot—the Ursus people had never cared more about the output of those mines than about their reputation at the negotiation table.

"I need to discuss this with the cabinet," the old general said finally, but Noah had already read the signal of compromise in his eyes.

"Of course." Noah nodded slightly. "But please let me remind you that time waits for no one. Every day of delay in the construction of the Ark means..."

"I understand the stakes, ma'am," Brove interrupted, standing up. "I'll give you an answer within 24 hours. Now, if you'll excuse me, we have some internal matters to attend to."

The screen suddenly went dark, the connection unilaterally severed. Noya breathed a sigh of relief, only then realizing her palms were slightly sweaty. She subconsciously glanced at Jian, who was staring at her with an indescribable expression.

"What's wrong?" Noah asked softly.

Mace shook his head, a barely perceptible smile forming at the corner of his mouth. "Nothing. It's just... you're really good at this."

Noah was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. "I thought you were going to say I was taking too much risk."

"You did take a risk." Mace stepped closer, his voice low enough for only Noya to hear. "But you know when to be tough and when to show weakness. That's... remarkable."

"...Well, I'm certainly good at gaining the upper hand in negotiations..." Noah smiled wryly and shook his head. "I know what they want...but I won't let them get it easily. The psychological bottom line, as well as the exchange of interests, are essentially not that different from business negotiations..."

But she did feel tired...truly tired.

Chapter 62: Cancer of the Universe

Every night, Noya would stay outside on the balcony for a while, mainly to look at the stars. Since the Star Pod was shattered, Terra had finally been able to see the true starry sky. However, few people knew about the threat on the other side of the starry sky, or about Anna, who was trying to stall for time to stop the lumberjacks... Although Noya knew that her presence would be useless, it was a lonely battle taking place in the distant galaxy...

"I thought you were gone..." Noah looked up at the sky and suddenly said, and at this moment, Amiya's translucent figure appeared beside her again, "Shouldn't you have achieved your goal?"

"...I'm not here simply to push things forward, Miss Noah." Amiya—or rather, the Amiya of another world—spoken up at this moment. "Everything has its own path. I've frozen countless worlds, but this one still holds hope. I will continue to observe until this world, too, comes to an end. Miss Noah...as long as you continue to push forward the Ark Project, everything is still possible."

"Can I assume you've returned from a timeline where all this has already happened?" Noah asked. "In your world, I only briefly reviewed your memories, but what exactly happened... I certainly didn't witness the end."

"Witnessing tragedy only adds to the sorrow. I gave you my memories simply because I needed you to understand my intentions. I have no ill intentions, but I also have no good intentions. I have frozen countless worlds with my own hands, and I may even freeze yours in the future. This is my job."

"Tragedy..." Noah closed her eyes. Amiya's words actually made it very clear that her world was a tragedy, and it was precisely because of the tragedy that she became what she is today.

The night breeze brushed Noya's cheeks, bringing a slight chill. She instinctively pulled her collar closer, but her gaze never left the starry sky. Those twinkling stars were no longer beautiful embellishments to her, but rather unknown threats.

"So... what exactly is your 'job'?" Noya finally broke the silence, his voice much lower than usual. "You said you froze countless worlds. What does 'freeze' mean?"

Amiya's translucent figure seemed even more ethereal under the starlight. She lowered her head slightly, her rabbit ears twitching slightly. This movement reminded Noah of the Amiya he knew—the little girl always full of hope. But the Amiya before him had a look of endless fatigue and determination.

"Literally." Amiya's voice was eerily calm. "When a world is doomed to end, and its inhabitants are still struggling in vain, I will... press the pause button. I will freeze them at the moment closest to hope, and let them remain in that moment forever."

Noya felt a chill run down her spine. She suddenly realized how cruelly gentle Amiya's word for "freeze" was.

"This is so cruel." Noah unconsciously gripped the balcony railing. "You've deprived them of their last chance to fight."

"No, I gave them eternal victory." Amiya raised her head, a glint in her red eyes. "Imagine, Miss Noya. If Terra was destined to be destroyed tomorrow, would you rather witness everyone struggling and dying in despair, or let them laugh forever at the celebration party tonight?"

Noya fell silent. The metaphor was so specific that she could almost see the horrific scene. She thought of the busy people in the command center, of the mace, of Margaret... If they were destined to...

"I understand your hesitation," Amiya continued, "but believe me, I've seen too many worlds crumble in their final moments. The darkest side of humanity is revealed when the apocalypse arrives. I froze those worlds to preserve their best."

"I understand your job, but I still have a question. Since you can freeze the world... why can't you fight the Lumberjack? It seems to exist in every world you're in, and it's bound to destroy us. So... what exactly is the Lumberjack? An intelligent lifeform? A machine? Or some kind of inexplicable soul? We still don't realize what our opponent is. It's unfair."

Amiya's transparent figure shimmered faintly in the starlight, her rabbit ears trembling slightly, as if she were pondering how to answer Noya's question. The night breeze blew across the balcony, bringing a hint of coolness. Noya subconsciously pulled his collar closer, but his eyes never left Amiya's pair of vicissitudes of life.

"The lumberjack..." Amiya's voice suddenly became unusually heavy. "It's not a living being, not a machine, and not a soul. It's... a concept."

Noah frowned: "Concept?"

"More accurately, it's the embodiment of a universal law." Amiya extended her hand, her transparent fingertips drawing a line in the air. "Just as trees grow, stars burn, and black holes devour, lumberjacks exist to...prune."

"Trim?" Noah's voice was filled with obvious confusion.

Amiya nodded. "I've observed countless worlds and discovered a pattern—when civilization reaches a critical point, lumberjacks appear. Like a gardener pruning a tree, they eliminate civilizations that threaten the balance of the universe..."

Noya's fingers drummed unconsciously on the balcony railing, a rapid, restless rhythm. Her mind raced, trying to comprehend Amiya's words. It was absurd, yet strangely plausible—if the universe truly had some kind of self-regulating mechanism.