Ark Simulator, don't I have no physical form?

Nightingale activated the holographic projection: "It requires Rhodes Island's specially made inhibitor, but..."

"But they resold it on the black market," Su Rui stated calmly, while taking out a jet-black pistol from his storage space, with dark red Originium patterns engraved on its body.

Shining tacitly took out twelve body bags and neatly laid them on the ground.

"Wait!" a young official suddenly cried out, "We can make up for it! There's still more in the warehouse..."

Gunshots rang out.

Su Rui blew away the smoke from the gun barrel and watched the first official fall: "Too late."

As the twelfth body fell, the factory gates were suddenly pushed open. The residents of Rusty Street stood outside, their eyes gleaming with long-lost hope.

Su Rui holstered his gun, his black trench coat tracing an arc behind him: "Now, go rescue them."

Shining wiped the blood from his sword, a slight smile playing on his lips. "That's more like you."

Nightingale had already set up the medical equipment, her long golden hair gleaming under the emergency lights: "The first batch of critically ill patients have arrived."

The Business Federation building stands in the central district of Kasimir, its glass curtain wall reflecting the blinding sunlight like a sharp knife plunged into the heart of the city.

Su Rui stood in front of the building, the hem of his black trench coat billowing in the cold wind, revealing a dark red scabbard at his waist. He squinted slightly, the sunlight casting a pale gold hue on his pale eyelashes.

Platinum stood beside him, her long, silvery-white hair tied in a high ponytail, the ends swaying gently as she tilted her head. She toyed with a small throwing knife between her fingers, the blade dancing like a silver butterfly.

"Boss, long time no see." Her voice was flippant, with a slight upward curve at the end, as if hooked. "How many people are you going to kill this time?"

Shining and Nightingale stood behind Su Rui. Shining's fingers were already on the hilt of her sword, her knuckles slightly white. Nightingale gently tugged at her sleeve and shook her head.

"Is she trustworthy?" Shining's voice was as cold as ice.

Suri didn't turn around, but simply raised his hand and lightly tapped Platinum's shoulder with his fingertips. Platinum immediately sheathed his throwing knife, grinned, and leaned closer to Suri, his red lips almost touching his earlobe: "Oh dear, I'm being suspected~"

Shining took a sudden step forward, his sword already three inches from its sheath.

“Don’t worry,” Platinum took two steps back, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender, but her smile deepened. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the boss.” She lightly traced her fingertips across her neck, making a throat-slitting gesture, but her eyes were unusually sharp.

Nightingale gently grasped Su Rui's wrist, her fingers tightening slightly: "Be careful."

Su Rui nodded, then looked at Bai Jin: "Lead the way."

Business Federation Building - Top Floor Conference Room

Bai Jin pushed open the heavy solid wood door, her high heels clicking crisply on the marble floor. Her steps were as light as a cat's, yet carried an undeniable sense of pressure.

"Everyone~" Her sweet voice echoed in the conference room, her fingertips lightly tapping the table. "Let's see who's here?"

The dozen or so senior executives of the business association sitting around the round table froze instantly. A fat man stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor with a screeching sound. His coffee cup was knocked over, and the brown liquid smeared on the documents like a pool of blood.

"Lord Su... Lord Su Rui?!" His voice trembled, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "Why did you personally..."

Su Rui didn't answer, and slowly walked to the head seat. Bai Jin immediately pulled out a chair, lightly brushed his fingers along the back of the chair, and made an exaggerated "please" gesture, a hint of mockery in his smile.

"Sit," Su Rui said, uttering only one word.

Everyone sat down immediately, even their breathing became cautious. The only sounds in the conference room were the hum of the air conditioner and the rustling of papers turning over.

Bai Jin leaned back in Suri's chair, her fingers lightly playing with the ends of her hair, her gaze sweeping across everyone's face like a venomous snake. Her fingertips tapped lightly on the table, a slow, rhythmic beat, like a countdown.

“I just went to Rusty Street,” Suri said, his voice eerily calm. “I heard you’re collecting a ‘medical tax’?”

The temperature in the conference room seemed to drop suddenly.

“This, this is a necessary management fee…” A woman wearing gold-rimmed glasses pushed up her glasses, trying to explain, but her fingers trembled slightly under the table.

"Snapped!"

Suddenly, Bai Jin flung a throwing knife, a flash of silver light, and it landed precisely on the table in front of the woman, the tip only half a centimeter from her finger. The hilt trembled slightly, emitting a faint hum.

“When the boss asks you questions—” Platinum said with a smile, tapping the hilt of his knife lightly with his fingertip, “it’s best not to lie~”

The woman's face turned deathly pale instantly, her lips trembled, and she dared not utter another sound.

Su Rui tapped her fingers lightly on the table, the rhythm matching Bai Jin's tapping: "Where did you sell the international aid inhibitors?"

silence.

Bai Jin sighed, drew another throwing knife from her waist, the blade twirling between her fingers, reflecting a cold light: "Looks like someone wants to test how fast my knife is?"

Finally, a gaunt man broke down. He jumped to his feet, his chair crashing to the ground with a loud thud: "The black market! We sold it to middlemen in Syracuse!"

Su Rui's eyes turned completely cold.

"platinum."

"Understood~"

A flash of silver light.

Volume 12, Chapter 726: Platinum's Masterpiece

Ten minutes later

The carpet in the conference room was stained dark red.

Bai Jin flicked the blood off her throwing knife, looking at her "masterpiece" with satisfaction—twelve corpses neatly arranged against the wall, each with a thin, hair-like bloodstain on their throat. She hummed a song softly, her toes barely touching the ground, as if she were dancing.

"Done~" She turned around briskly, only to find Shining staring coldly at her.

"What's wrong?" Platinum tilted her head, her hair swaying with her movement. "I was very clean, not a single drop of blood splattered on the boss." She spread her hands, palms up, as if showing off her "achievements".

Shining didn't answer, but looked at Suri: "What's next?"

Su Rui stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the entire city. Sunlight shone through the glass onto his white hair, making it look as if it were edged with a cold silver.

"platinum."

"I'm here~" Platinum skipped over to his side and gently tugged at his sleeve.

"Go and retrieve the inhibitor."

Platinum pouted, twirling her fingers around the end of her hair: "Syracuse is very far away..."

Suri glanced sideways, his eyes cold. Although he didn't mind joking, he was genuinely in a bad mood.

"—But I love business trips!" Platinum immediately changed her tune, giving an exaggerated bow and lightly tapping her forehead with her fingertip. "I guarantee it'll be done within three days!"

She turned and walked towards the door, then suddenly turned back and winked at Su Rui: "Don't miss me too much~"

Shining: "..."

Nightingale shook her head helplessly and walked to Suri's side: "And now?"

Su Rui gazed out the window, the sunlight reflecting a cold, golden hue in his pupils.

"Wait."

"Wait for what?"

"When this city... truly awakens."

Su Rui stood in the center of the Securities and Futures Commission hall, the hem of his black trench coat swaying gently with his steps. His fingers unconsciously traced the hilt of the knife at his waist, the metal scraping against the leather with a soft rustling sound. The hall was so quiet that the crackling of the candlelight could be heard.

The great knight stood on the steps, his silver-white armor gleaming coldly in the candlelight. His right hand unconsciously rested on the hilt of his sword, his knuckles turning slightly white.

"The Securities and Futures Commission was involved too?" Su Rui's voice was soft, but it felt like a knife pressed against her throat.

The Grand Knight's Adam's apple bobbed. "This matter..." His gaze swept over Platinum, who was standing behind Suri. The woman was toying with a throwing knife, the blade twirling between her fingers, reflecting a dangerous glint.

"Those documents..." the Grand Knight carefully chose his words, "...all went through proper procedures..."

"Standard procedure?" Su Rui suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with a chilling coldness. He stepped forward slowly, his boots making a clear sound on the marble floor. "The standard procedure for selling life-saving drugs to the black market?"

The great knight unconsciously took a half step back, his armor making a slight clinking sound. Fine beads of sweat glistened on his forehead in the candlelight.

We have already...

"Already what?" Suri interrupted him, "Already divided the spoils?"

The air in the hall seemed to freeze. Bai Jin chuckled softly, and the throwing knife twirled gracefully between her fingers.

The Grand Knight's breathing quickened, his breastplate heaving with each breath. He swallowed hard. "Those officials... they were very discreet..."

"So you're just pretending you didn't see it?" Su Rui's voice suddenly rose, echoing in the hall.

The great knight gripped the sword hilt tightly, his knuckles white. But finally, he loosened his grip, his shoulders slumping slightly. "You...have you taken care of them?"

"Leave no one alive," Su Rui said coldly.

The great knight's pupils contracted sharply. He opened his mouth, but said nothing.

Bai Jin suddenly stepped forward, the throwing knife gleaming coldly in her hand. "Do you need me to help this knight... recall something?" Her voice was as sweet as honey, but her eyes were as cold as ice.

The great knight's armor trembled slightly. He took a deep breath and forced a smile: "Three days...give us three days..."

Suri stared at him for a long time, so long that the Grand Knight's back was soaked with cold sweat.

"Okay." Su Rui finally spoke, turning and walking out. His trench coat drew a sharp arc behind him.

Platinum followed behind him, and as she passed the Grand Knight, the throwing knife suddenly flew out of her hand, grazing the Grand Knight's visor and embedding itself in the pillar behind him. "Don't forget~" she said sweetly.

Only after the two men's footsteps completely disappeared did the great knight stagger back a few steps and lean heavily against the wall. Heavy breathing came from beneath his visor.

The medical station smelled of disinfectant in the early morning, and sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting long, thin streaks of light on the floor. Shining stood at the dispensing station, her fingers deftly dispensing medicine, the glass bottles clinking softly. Nightingale was examining an infected patient's wound; her movements were gentle, her voice as soft as a breeze across water.

"The wound is healing well, but you still need to change the dressing on time." Nightingale rewrapped the bandage and gently pressed the end of the bandage with her fingertips.

Su Rui leaned against the doorframe, the collar of his black trench coat slightly open, revealing a faint scar on his collarbone. He watched the two busy figures with a calm gaze.

"With you standing here, the patients are afraid to come in." Platinum appeared beside him at some point, her silver hair falling over his shoulders, carrying a faint scent of roses.

Suri turned to look at her: "Are you wearing perfume?"

"Hmm~" Platinum tiptoed and whispered in his ear, "Do you like it?"

Suri didn't answer, but she didn't avoid him either.

Bai Jin pursed his lips and straightened up: "So, what does the boss want with me?"

"Syracuse," Suri said, "about the inhibitors."

Platinum's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal: "Ah... that." She twirled her fingers around the end of her hair. "Do I really have to go?"

"Only you can find that middleman."

"But..." Platinum's voice suddenly lowered, "it's very far..."

Suri looked at her slightly drooping eyelashes, paused for a moment, and said, "I'll give you a vacation when I get back."

"What's the point of a holiday..." Platinum muttered softly, her fingertips unconsciously tugging at his sleeve. "I don't need the money..."

Suri suddenly reached out and brushed her thumb against the corner of her lips: "So what do you want?"

Bai Jin's pupils dilated slightly, and her breath hitched. She grasped Su Rui's wrist and pressed her face against his palm: "You know..."

The clinking of glass bottles in the medical station suddenly stopped. Shining stood in front of the dispensing station, watching them expressionlessly. Nightingale coughed lightly and continued organizing the medicines.

Su Rui withdrew her hand: "We'll talk about it when we get back."

Platinum's eyes lit up, like a cat that had caught its prey: "It's a deal!" She took two steps back, then suddenly turned and ran towards the door, her silver hair drawing a dazzling arc in the sunlight. "Wait for my good news!"

Her footsteps faded into the distance, and the medical station returned to silence.

"Has she always been like this?" Shining suddenly asked.

Suri looked out the door; sunlight cast dappled patterns on the ground. "Hmm."

Nightingale carefully placed the last vial of medicine and whispered, "She will return safely."

Volume 12, Chapter 727, as a signboard

The smell of disinfectant softened in the morning light. Nightingale tidied the medicine cabinet, her eyes catching sight of Su Rui still standing by the door, his black trench coat making his figure appear even taller. She sighed softly and put down the roll of gauze in her hand.

"Suri," Nightingale said, walking up to him, her voice as gentle as a breeze across water, "come here."

Su Rui turned his head, his dark eyes gleaming in the sunlight. Before he could react, Nightingale had already reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, easily lifting him up.

"Wait—" Suri's ears turned red instantly, and her fingers instinctively grabbed Nightingale's shoulder.

"Sit still." Nightingale placed him on the counter at the entrance and smoothed his wrinkled collar. The counter was just the right height so that Su Rui's legs dangled in the air, his black boots swaying gently.

Shining peeked out from the dispensary, raising an eyebrow: "What are you doing?"

"Let's make our 'brand' work," Nightingale smiled, taking two steps back and looking at Suri sitting at the counter with satisfaction. "At least it'll put the patients at ease."