Arknights: Studying medicine can't save Terra

"Then... then what do you suggest we do?" the man in the grey top hat asked, sounding aggrieved.

Vina frowned and pondered for a moment, then her brow relaxed and she raised the hammer high:

Even if I kill you, I can still go through the things in your arms.

Grey top hat: ? ? ?

Chapter 675 Surrender

At that moment, the hammer was only 0.01 centimeters away from my head. I thought I was about to see an angel. A quarter of an incense stick later, I was certain that I really did see an angel.

“Miss Vina, he meant no harm.”

Amiya spoke up to stop Vina's attempt to kill her.

Vina's hammer hovered above the oddly shaped hat of the gray top hat, its cold hammerhead pressed against the hat, causing the wind it generated to make the hat flutter.

The man in the grey top hat felt his heart skip a beat.

“Sir, please do not do anything that could cause misunderstanding. Continue to explain your purpose.” Amiya slowly walked up to the gray top hat. “Please put away your acting skills. I believe that the Duke of Caster’s intelligence agents would not be unable to find our trail, much less be captured so easily.”

“Cartes…yes, you…no, you’ve read my mind?”

As a professional intelligence officer, Grey Hat immediately recognized Amiya's identity.

He knew very well that as the current Demon King, that black crown possessed the power to see into the hearts of others.

This feeling made the man in the gray top hat feel extremely uncomfortable.

Amiya said earnestly:

"We are interrogating you, so please do not ask us any questions."

“…I’m sorry.” The gray-hatted man’s eyes cleared instantly. “I’ve come here to pledge my allegiance. His Excellency the Duke does not wish to fall out with His Highness, nor does he wish to have a conflict with Rhodes Island.”

“Why should we believe you?” Amiya questioned.

"I am willing to open my heart to your scrutiny."

He straightened his hat, his tone frank, revealing his sincerity and clear conscience.

Amiya shook her head: "I don't like to pry into other people's emotions. I did that just now only to save your life, and that's all."

This answer stunned the man in the grey top hat.

He never dreamed that this leader of Rhodes Island, the dignified bearer of the Sarkaz 'Black Crown,' would be so kind and gentle.

Is this a tactic to win people over, or...?

The man in the grey top hat tried his best to suppress his wild thoughts and said seriously:

"Your Excellency the Duke admits to his ambition, but a Duke will not be consumed by ambition."

He shifted his gaze from the girl who was acting like an angel despite being a demon lord, and returned it to Vina, continuing:

"Your Highness, I did a lot of research before coming here. For example, you do not currently have your own troops."

Rhodes Island is strong, and their support can be of great help to Your Highness, but if you want to regain the throne, these people alone are not enough. It's not about how strong you are, but about who you are.

A nation, a powerful Victoria located in the heart of Terra, is a vast structure that operates on a people-based basis.

Forgive my bluntness, but Rhodes Island doesn't have enough manpower to take control of Victoria. Qi Yan may be very powerful, but he's still just a person, or perhaps a god; he can't single-handedly manage everything.

Vina did not answer.

Amiya and the others from Rhodes Island remained silent, all watching Vina.

This is a decision that only Vina can make.

"You were the ones who let the Sarkaz in back then, and now that you've sensed the strength of Qi Yan and Rhodes Island, you're the ones who've come to surrender."

Vina's voice was icy and devoid of any emotion: "Your ambitions have thrown Victoria into chaos, and now you come to tell me you're scared and want to protect yourselves?"

"Yes, that is exactly what His Excellency the Duke thinks."

To Vina's surprise, the man in the grey hat readily admitted to everything.

Vina tightened her grip on the hammer again.

This time, the man in the grey top hat wasn't in a hurry. He watched Vina and her hammer and slowly said:

"Your Highness, perhaps we can look at it from a different angle."

It was heartbreaking that His Majesty perished in the dark and turbulent times of Victoria, and the Dukes must act immediately to prevent the vast nation of Victoria from falling apart amidst the upheaval.

Some people remained on the sidelines, some got involved, and some let the wolf into the sheepfold—these were all reasonable choices made by normal people in the face of the situation.

A fierce rage ignited in Vina's eyes, and she raised her hammer once more.

The grey-hatted man's tone remained unchanged:

"Your Highness, why do you want to return to the throne?"

"Your Highness, do you believe the Duke should be loyal to the throne, to the figure sitting on that towering golden throne, or to Victoria?"

"Your Highness, may I ask what Victoria is?"

This is the second time Vina has heard this question.

But she still couldn't answer.

The man in the grey top hat moved slowly, trying his best to avoid being misunderstood by those around him.

But his movements were equally resolute; he knelt on one knee, bowing his head in a gesture of submission.

“Your Highness, you are the Crown Prince, but if we only consider your bloodline and status, I can tell you frankly that in Victoria, in the hands of the Duke of Wellington, there is a pure-blooded red dragon.”

According to worldly customs, that red dragon has the same right to claim the title as Your Highness.

To be honest, Her Majesty the Duke chose Your Highness because she saw Qi Yan's support behind you, and Her Majesty the Duke chose Qi Yan.

If you feel an uncontrollable rage over this, and therefore harbor hatred towards all the Duke's forces, then Your Highness, please grant me rest.

"Are you threatening me?" Vina said angrily.

“No, Your Highness, I was merely reminding you.” The man in the grey top hat remained bowed. “By killing me, you are rejecting the possibility of the Duke’s surrender.”

This means you have rejected Victorian history and refused to return to the Victorian throne.

This signifies your continued struggle for the throne, your desire to overthrow everything in Victoria and rebuild a new Victoria that belongs only to you.

In this Victorian world, no duke could possibly survive.

“Why can’t I do that?” Vina demanded.

“Of course you can do that, because you have Qi Yan’s support.”

Vina froze again.

She understood the meaning behind the gray top hat's words.

If she had Qi Yan's powerful military support, she could indeed easily overcome all obstacles in her path, but then what?

On the desolate Victoria, how to rebuild a new Victoria?

This is not just about demolishing and rebuilding a house; it is also a war, a war far larger than the one she now loathes.

The man in the grey top hat tilted his head back and looked up at the person in front of him.

He asked softly:

"Your Highness, why do you want to become king?"

This is not the first time Vina has encountered a similar problem.

Last time, her answer was that as the Crown Princess of Victoria, she should be the Queen.

But this time, she couldn't bring herself to give that answer that she found disgusting.

"Because...I want to bring peace back to Victoria."

Vina's voice was so soft that she doubted anyone but herself could hear the answer.

In fact, everyone present heard this answer.

In the stillness, the man in the grey top hat lowered his head once more, took a deep breath, and proclaimed in a clear voice:

"Your subject is willing to go through fire and water for Victoria!"

Chapter 676 The Golden Squad? The Dog-Catching Squad!

Vina subconsciously turned her head to look at Amiya, only to find that Amiya was also looking down and thinking about something.

Noticing Vina's gaze, Amiya looked up and smiled faintly.

Their eyes met, and Vina's body trembled slightly.

The future queen of Victoria and the growing demon king stare at each other. The former cannot hide the confusion in her heart even if she tries her best, while the latter's eyes are gentle but firm as gold.

"Amiya, why did you..."

"Miss Vina, are you sure you want to seek my answer?"

This may be the first time Amiya has interrupted someone, and this gentle girl has shown surprising toughness at this moment.

Vina fell silent.

Amiya didn't actually need to ask; she already knew the answer—it was an answer everyone on Rhodes Island knew.

Amiya never felt lost; all she needed was time to grow.

Looking back at myself...

Vina gritted her teeth inwardly.

The man in the grey top hat knelt silently at her feet, and after uttering his words of surrender, he made no further movement, like an ancient, eternal stone statue.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Time passes slowly.

"What's your name?" Vina's voice was weak, as if she had just gone through a great battle.

The grey top hat seemed to awaken once more, tilting its head back and laughing:

"Because I like to publish my writings in magazines, my colleagues jokingly call me a poet. Your Highness may call me that as well."

Vina took a soft breath and said slowly:

“Go back and tell Caster that if she wants to place a bet, she has to do something as a pledge, not just empty promises.”

“Your Highness, I only need to stay by your side, and the Duke will understand your attitude and take appropriate action.”

"……what ever."

Vina glanced at the people around her, then warned the man in the grey top hat who called himself a poet, "You are not allowed to leave without my permission, nor are you allowed to approach any other people."

"Yes!" the poet readily agreed.

Even if Vina asked him to meet other people, he wouldn't dare.

He knew about the battle at the city defense headquarters. If you threw a brick at Rhodes Island, you could hit two Sarkaz Grand Princes, or even the current Grand Prince.

Even though it was obvious that the team had split into several groups and there were fewer familiar faces in the ranks, the poet was still well aware of his own capabilities.

Seeing that Vina and the poet had reached an agreement and that the poet was behaving properly, the others stopped thinking about it.

After tidying up, they continued their advance into the Norbert district.

This time, the journey was finally smooth. Apart from Kroos constantly broadcasting Qi Yan's invitation to all the dukes to trade, even the sound of chatting in the group had disappeared.

Once the team reached the area below Norbert, Kroos deployed her swarm of drones to scout the situation.

"How strange, there aren't many people guarding this plot of land." Kroos shared the information she had discovered with everyone.

Huang scratched his head and chuckled, saying:

"After all, this is Qi Yan's territory, which means Qi Yan is fully learning about Rhodes Island's security features."

Kal'tsit silently turned to look at her, without saying a word.

Huang shrank its neck and instantly turned into a docile little kitten.

Kal'tsit didn't argue with Blaze, calmly giving her orders: