Arknights' Lock of Heaven

No one can escape a gossipy heart, not even the former Iron Knight.

"Of course I'd like to," Xia Yu said with a slight smile, "but you don't seem too happy about it."

"Don't rush to deny it," Bai Jin was about to say something, but Xia Yu interrupted her directly, "Your eyes can't hide anything."

"Ah……"

Upon hearing this, Platinum also dropped his pretense.

"As expected, amateur acting skills can only go so far."

"But then again, you spared me back then, surely it wasn't just because I didn't harm those infected, right?"

Bai Jin slowly stirred the crystal-clear liquid in his glass, looking at Xia Yu, "But whatever you want to do is fine, anyway, I've long since stopped wanting to stay in the Wuzhou Alliance."

"I can cooperate with your plan, provided that..."

"Freedom, is that it?" Before she could finish speaking, Xia Yu interrupted her.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Platinum fell silent.

"Is my acting really that bad? I can't even cover it up?"

"No, it's actually not bad," Xia Yu said with a smile, looking down. "It's just that I know you a little better than you think."

"So naturally I can see the most sincere desire in your eyes."

"Life as an assassin must be tough, right?"

"Of course!" she exclaimed, getting excited as she talked about the platinum card. "It's more than just tough..."

"Did you know? The three largest members of the Wuzhou Alliance are Xuan Tie, though I've never actually seen them."

"Next are two more lapis lazuli gold pieces, then my platinum gold... and there are no higher levels after that!!!"

"They're all mid-level managers, leading several times their number of junior staff. Do you know what that means?"

Although Xia Yu understood perfectly well, seeing Bai Jin's eagerness to speak, she made a listening expression, signaling her to continue.

Platinum took a big gulp of wine upon seeing this, and then said, "So it means that I, the nominal high-ranking member of the Unarmored Alliance, am actually the one who's really taking the blame!"

“The Xuan Tie people basically don’t get involved, but those two Qing Jin people come to me for everything, big or small…”

"I can't refuse them yet, and as for why... do you know? I was just an apprentice under the previous Platinum, and then he defected and was nailed to the ruins by Xuan Tie..."

"Back then, that ill-tempered Qingjin even took me to see it and told me that this was the consequence of disobeying..."

"Do I dare to contradict them?"

"Who doesn't know that the Platinum of the Unarmored Alliance is just a tool! A tool! The kind that's used and then discarded!"

"Without me, they can just choose someone else. Ability doesn't matter, as long as they can take the blame."

"Whenever the Business Federation wants to do something, they'll take on the easy tasks themselves, but if the tasks are difficult, they'll let me do them..."

Who would want to stay in an organization like this?!

Platinum didn't control her voice.

So Martin, the bald man at the counter, was already sweating profusely when he heard this.

If given a chance, he would definitely find an excuse to run away.

Good heavens! He only wanted to hear some gossip, who would have thought they'd be talking about such explosive content!

Is this...is this something I can hear?

The renowned Platinum-ranked leader of the Unarmored Alliance is complaining about the Unarmored Alliance's treatment in his own little tavern?

This is this...

Is your Wuhou Alliance... an organization that can be openly and honestly stated?

Don't lie to me, okay? I'm a very knowledgeable person too!

Although she sensed that this girl was not simple as soon as she entered the room.

But when I saw her go to find Xia Yu, I felt relieved.

After all, none of Xia Yu's companions are simple people.

Margaret and her two companions that day were not exactly innocent victims.

But who would have thought that this person was actually a member of the Unarmored Alliance, and a Platinum member at that!

Bald Martin was completely numb.

Is it really appropriate for you to say these things to me?

Moreover, didn't you just arrive in the Great Knight Territory? Why are you so familiar with the Platinum Leader of the Unarmored Alliance?

She's having some work troubles and she actually came to you to confide in you?

Bald Martin was completely stunned.

“And another thing,” Platinum said, getting more and more excited, taking a big gulp of water, and then said, “Let me tell you, what a load of bull that Unarmored Alliance is!”

"He's just a dog of the Business Federation!"

"We have to do whatever people say, regardless of whether it goes against our conscience or morality. They don't care that you're actually a living, breathing person. They just use you to the extreme, using you until you're dead!"

"If something goes wrong here, we'll have to go and fix it, but before we're even done, something else will happen over there... so come and call us!"

"They don't care about what we're doing! And the Business Federation is far too disorganized; we haven't finished dealing with this director's business, and now that director is already pressing us for more..."

"Do you abandon your work to go after the latter and offend the former, or continue with your work and offend the latter?"

"How am I supposed to choose?!"

Bai Jin pounded the table repeatedly as he vented, "Even if you choose one side, you'll only get a verbal guarantee at most. After that, they'll just throw you aside, and you'll have to endure a scolding from the other director!"

"After all, we're just tools, huh?"

"That sounds really tragic..." Xia Yu said, shaking her head as she listened.

Not only him, but even bald Martin, sweating profusely at the counter, nodded in agreement as he wiped his brow.

This work environment is truly something else...

This means that these shady killers can exploit people like this.

"Actually... this isn't even that bad..."

Hearing this, Bai Jin's eyes welled up with tears, and she continued to vent, "This job... has no insurance, no rest days, and you can't even quit..."

"Often, I'd be sound asleep in the middle of the night when a phone call would come in demanding I be at a certain place within ten minutes..."

"You didn't even consider your address!"

"How could I have been so blind as to join such a stupid organization!"

At this point, Platinum lowered her head and buried her face in her arms.

"What's wrong with being a racing knight? You can make all the money, retire, and live a happy life, isn't that great?"

“One wrong step leads to another,” Xia Yu said, patting her shoulder encouragingly. “It’s okay, you still have a chance.”

Does this opportunity refer to you?

Upon hearing this, Platinum, who had been venting his anger, immediately raised his head, his eyes no longer showing any trace of the dazed look he had been in.

This girl keeps her work and life very separate.

The outburst just now was partly a test, but also a genuine desire to confide in someone.

Unfortunately, who could a killer like her truly confide in?

Aside from Xia Yu, who was in fact an accomplice, she had no other recourse.

As for bald Martin, she had already investigated him thoroughly.

He was a true member of the Lin Guang family.

So there's no need to worry about him leaking secrets.

"I've had enough of the Unarmored Alliance, so what price are you going to offer me to betray them?"

"If it's just jumping from one fire pit to another..."

"As for the price..." Xia Yu smiled faintly upon hearing this, "What about the freedom you desire most?"

“Freedom, ah,” Bai Jin looked at Xia Yu, his eyes unreadable, “Where in the world is there true freedom?”

"Besides, do you really think you'll let me go?"

"That's as if Rhodes Island is some kind of unscrupulous company."

Seeing her expression, Xia Yu smiled.

"Well, it's normal that you don't trust me, after all, we've only met a few times."

"How about we wait a while and have someone else talk to you?"

"Change people?" Bai Jin frowned upon hearing this. "Who do you want to replace them with? Will I trust you if you do?"

"Is Margaret Nearl, the former Radiant Knight, qualified?"