Arknights' Lock of Heaven

Page 174

“Yes, yes, yes,” Kroos nodded rapidly, “I will definitely listen to my eldest sister.”

"Also, I have a name," Xia Yu pressed on, "Remember, my name is Xia Yu! If you keep calling me 'Fairy,' there are so many fairies in the world, how am I supposed to know it's you looking for me?"

"Maybe I won't hear you calling me anymore, and then I'll slowly forget you, and eventually I'll never come back!"

We should take this opportunity to quickly change the way we call him "Little Carp".

"So fairies can have the same name as Little K?" Kroos stared wide-eyed, his face full of surprise.

I've emphasized this to you so many times on the way back...

Even the lion scorpion, who was practically invisible to the side, couldn't help but silently cover its face in the corner.

On the way back from Wolumonde, the greatest pleasure for everyone was watching Xia Yu try to correct Kroos's way of addressing him.

By the end, they were all getting a little annoyed, but Kroos still hadn't remembered it.

Given past experiences, Lion Scorpion has serious doubts about the success rate this time.

In short, after all the trouble and arrangements made for Kroos, Xia Yu and Lion Scorpion were finally able to embark on their journey to find Titi.

Sunny with a southeasterly wind at 3:41 PM.

Nameless Wilderness

“Manticore,” Xia Yu said casually, looking at the unchanging scenery outside the window, “what is your impression of Skadi?”

"Hmm, powerful?" The lion scorpion, curled up in the passenger seat, tapped its tail against the window intermittently. After hearing Xia Yu's question, it thought for a moment but could only give such a simple answer.

Or rather, this is how most people on Rhodes Island perceive Skadi.

Perhaps we should also add that they are withdrawn, too self-centered, and don't consider their companions, etc.

But this wasn't because the Rhodes Island operators were ostracizing her; it was Skadi's deliberate doing.

Hai Si's gaze never left her.

As long as blood is shed, they will surely come like hunting dogs drawn by the scent of blood.

This has happened many times since we set foot on land.

Too many people who showed her kindness died because of this.

Skadi's heart is not as cold as others say; on the contrary, it is very warm.

But it is precisely because of this passion that Skadi closes herself off and appears indifferent to everything around her.

She knew that with her abilities, just expressing a little kindness, even just a tiny bit, would be enough to draw people to her.

This world is inherently inclined to worship the strong.

Then, as long as one sheds even a single drop of blood in a battle, the Sea Heirs will surely swarm to him.

Those who surround them will also die as a result.

So she can't do that.

During her long time on Rhodes Island, she has perfectly cultivated her image as a lone wolf.

Aside from a few specific people, everyone else would avoid her at all costs.

“Only strength,” Xia Yu shook her head after hearing her answer.

Just as I expected.

Seeing Xia Yu's somewhat disappointed expression, the lion scorpion shrank back, even its tail, which had been tapping on the car window from time to time, retreated back into its seat.

"Don't worry, I'm not blaming you," Xia Yu quickly comforted her when she saw her expression. "After all, with your usual work, it's hard for you to get together with Skadi, so it's normal that you don't know much about her."

“How could I possibly blame you for this?” Xia Yu said, reaching out to rub the lion scorpion’s drooping head. “If anyone is to blame, it’s you, since she deliberately acted this way.”

Xia Yu's comforting words began to improve the lion scorpion's mood, and its eye-catching tail started wagging happily again.

"Will our operation go smoothly?"

The lion scorpion stammered as it asked.

The manticore will only speak when it is just the two of them.

This is one of the reasons why Kal'tsit so readily transferred Manticore away from Ascalon's command.

She is a doctor, and she wouldn't hesitate to help the lion scorpion if his condition would improve with Xia Yu's help.

After all, Lioness has been with Rhodes Island for so many years, and she has hardly ever spoken a word to anyone. Even her teammates in the SWEEP team, including Ascalon, their superior, have hardly heard her say a word.

"Don't worry, everything will go smoothly," Xia Yu smiled confidently, "because I have something she can't refuse."

7:31 PM

Rhodes Island, unnamed room.

“I hold hope in my hands,” Kal'tsit said calmly, her tone as serene as ever.

"Hope? What a luxury," a voice echoed softly, tinged with self-mockery and doubt. "Are you sure we still have that?"

“Don’t be too pessimistic,” another weary voice advised. “Kal’tsit doesn’t speak without reason. We all know her, don’t we?”

"Who knows?" a male voice scoffed. "Perhaps her sanity has vanished along with that princess."

"What do you mean by that?" The female voice that had just spoken up for Kal'tsit suddenly erupted in anger. "I don't recall our communication channel being used to mock our comrades!"

"Stop talking, cough cough," just as the two were about to clash, an old voice rang out: "Lord Kal'tsit must have her reasons for saying that."

“We all know very well what kind of person she is.”

"Let's hear what she has to say."

“I do have good reason,” Kal'tsit interjected, “but I’m sorry, I can’t say.”

“It’s the same again, Kal’tsit, it’s the same again,” the previously irritable male voice was filled with anger, “You’re always like this!”

"You can't say this, you can't say that. Since you can't say anything, then tell me now, why did you bring us together?"

"Just to hear you speak of some so-called hope that you can never tell us?"

This time, even the woman with the same voice didn't offer any help to Kal'tsit.

“I remember the last time you came to see me, it was for that Sarkaz princess.”

An irritable male voice began, “You told me about her ideals, her actions, and I believe you and most of the people here have said these things.”

"I admit that the princess's ideals are indeed attractive enough to people like us, and some of you here have directly joined her ranks."

"But what's the result?"

"Everything was going very well. The last battle report was still saying that the princess's front line had advanced by so many kilometers."

"But the next moment, she died so suddenly."

"The promising situation crumbled with her death, and even some of our companions who once sat together perished in that foreign land."

"They trust you, Kal'tsit. They believe in your choice. They answered your call without hesitation and threw themselves into a war that had nothing to do with them."

"But how did you repay them?"

Kal'tsit opened her mouth, but had nothing to say.

What could she say? That she still didn't fully understand what happened back then, even now?

Or should I use my reputation to refute him?

Kal'tsit can't do it.

She knew why the person opposite her was targeting her so much.

His son, a passionate young man in his twenties, left his hometown without hesitation because of his words and came to Kazdel, thousands of miles away, to fight for Theresia's ideals and for their shared ideals.

But I let him down.

The night Theresa died, the whole of Kazdel was in chaos.

Even the enemy forces fell silent immediately and did not launch an attack.

No one could believe that Theresa would die so hastily.

She's a demon queen, and her army has the upper hand on the battlefield.

How could she have died?

Kal'tsit couldn't understand it, and neither could many others.

Even the enemy couldn't understand it.

But no matter how much you can't understand it, an enemy will never become a friend.

After confirming Theresia's death, Theresis's army launched an attack.

On their side, Theresa was dead, and they couldn't even retrieve her body. The doctor, who was in charge, was also seriously injured.

The army naturally suffered a crushing defeat.