Arknights' Lock of Heaven

If Xia Yu can maintain an equal relationship with someone like Skadi, then Lion Scorpion is really like raising a daughter.

"Actually, since you've come all this way to the Grand Knight's territory, if there's anything you like or anything you'd like to see, you can tell me."

"The Great Knight Territory may have many flaws, but its commerce is indeed thriving. If you have any favorite clothes, decorations, or weapons, you can tell me."

"I will take you there."

While rubbing the lion scorpion's head, Xia Yu said helplessly.

The lion scorpion enjoyed his caresses, its large tail swaying gently behind it.

"No, there's nothing I want to see," the Manticore said haltingly, head bowed. "And there's nothing I want to buy, this is enough..."

She was referring to the bracelet that Xia Yu had just put on her.

"Sigh, this is difficult," Xia Yu thought, feeling a headache coming on as she looked at her indifferent and unambitious demeanor.

Skadi is like that, and so is Manticore...

What about everyone else?

I haven't met Sister 42 yet, so I'm not too sure... Mudstone... Well, she's also a girl who doesn't care about these things.

So, there isn't a single normal person in my team?

"Go back and rest first," Xia Yu sighed, and instructed, "We'll meet at 3 PM tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, the lion scorpion reluctantly left Xia Yu's side and obediently returned to its room.

Watching her departing figure, Xia Yu turned around to return to her room, only to see an unexpected person outside.

Zofia.

"Phew, you're back," Zofia said, looking at him with a sigh of relief.

"I came looking for you before but you weren't here..."

"Oh, something came up," Xia Yu replied casually. "Zofia, is there something you need from me?"

"It's not Maria's child yet."

Zofia looked worried as soon as she heard this.

"Actually, I didn't originally plan to support her participation in the knight competition. She was too naive and barged in without any understanding. In the end, she would probably end up like me, battered and bruised."

"But I also know that I can't change her mind, just as I can't persuade Margaret."

At this point, a hint of nostalgia flashed in Zofia's eyes, "The two sisters are exactly alike, I know that better than anyone."

"With Mr. Xia Yu's Originium Arts, she could probably have been protected and passed the preliminary rounds smoothly. Once the goal was achieved, she could have withdrawn from the competition."

"Let her suffer in the qualifiers without hurting her, so she will naturally back down when facing the main competition."

"That's what I originally thought too, but..."

She glanced at Xia Yu awkwardly, "Your Originium Arts are truly astonishing... It's fair to say that she hasn't learned a single lesson so far."

"Of course, I'm not blaming you, I'm just worried. What if she gets blinded by the sight before her and recklessly plunges into the main competition?"

"You know, the opponents in the main competition won't be like this anymore. There will be many strong contenders like Plastic Knight, and who knows who might be among them..."

"Sigh, I'm just worried that this girl will still be so stubborn."

“I think we don’t need to worry about these things,” Xia Yu said, stroking her chin. “Actually, you’re too caught up in the situation. I don’t think Maria is arrogant or complacent because of these two victories.”

“No, you still don’t understand,” Zofia said, her face full of worry. “I’m not saying she’ll become arrogant, but…”

"Although Maria didn't say it, I know why she signed up for the Knights' Tournament without saying a word."

"This child admires her sister so much that she chose this path."

"Of course, idolizing Margaret isn't a big deal, but the problem is, if you want to follow in Margaret's footsteps, you have to consider your own abilities first..."

“I’m afraid that after she finishes the qualifiers, she’ll want to get one step closer to where her sister was and then continue competing.”

"And the Business Federation will absolutely not tolerate them maintaining their current status as independent knights!"

"Either join them, or quit while you're ahead..."

"I'm afraid she'll throw a tantrum then."

There was nothing Zofia could do; she didn't have anyone to consult with, and if she told Marna, he would probably just say "I'm out" and quit.

Koval and others, however, were more inclined to take Maria's perspective.

Zofia felt like she was worrying herself sick over Maria.

“Actually, I don’t think you need to worry about these things,” Xia Yu said, stroking her chin. “If the child is disobedient, just give him a good beating.”

"And we need to have the person she respects the most take the fight!"

"Rhodes Island will be coming to the Grand Knights after the qualifiers, and we can just hand them over to Margaret to manage."

"Let Maria see what a true knightly champion looks like!"

"Trust me, Margaret will do a great job!"

"..."

After being comforted, Zofia finally felt relieved and returned to her room.

Actually, Xia Yu was just trying to comfort her.

The saying "concern leads to confusion" is not just a joke.

In Xia Yu's eyes, Maria was a girl who knew how to be pragmatic.

201 Toran

"This is……"

Sona looked at Skadi and Manticore behind Xia Yu.

“My teammates,” Xia Yu shrugged, “Didn’t they say you were being targeted by the Unarmored Alliance?”

“I thought you would really need some help, so I brought them here.”

"This is Skadi, an Agorian, um, a very strong one, really, I'm not kidding, she's incredibly strong."

Skadi nodded slightly to Sona.

“This is a lion scorpion, from Sargon. Hmm, it’s good at stealth and intelligence gathering.”

Sona looked at Skadi, who had an indifferent expression behind him, and Manticore, who was looking at her timidly, and sighed.

“I’m not… never mind,” she said, her head aching. “Actually, we don’t think we trust each other that much yet, do we?”

"To accept your people, we need to take them back to the secret base..."

"Your secret base?" Hearing this, Xia Yu raised an eyebrow. "Listen to me, if I wanted to know, there would have been a locator in that batch of medicine."

Besides, I don't need to use such low-level methods.

The Red Pine Knights' secret base was already known to them through their familiars.

"Moreover, some people in the business federation are already very impatient with the issue of infected people."

Upon hearing this, Xia Yu said calmly, "According to my intelligence, the Wuzhou Alliance will soon target you again at the request of some directors of the Business Federation."

"Believe me, you need strength now to defend against their attacks."

“Although I cannot go there in person, I believe that with Skadi and Manticore there, you should be able to hold the line.”

Just kidding, if Skadi can't hold on, then it must be Xuan Tie who has to step in.

After all, she was a warrior, and she was somewhat powerless to protect someone like Xuan Tie.

But the assassins who cut through the Unarmored Alliance with ease were still no problem.

Hearing this, Sona was stunned.

“Ah, so that’s how it is…”

She had actually had a premonition.

but……

"Why is that?" she asked, puzzled. "They've been ignoring us the whole time, so why are they suddenly trying to eliminate us?"

“If I were to tell you,” Xia Yu’s face showed a strange expression upon hearing this, “that this is related to Rhodes Island… what do you plan to do?”

"Hmm? It's related to you?" Sona frowned upon hearing this. "What's the relationship?"

“Rhodes Island is not a company native to Kazimierz, but thanks to the Radiant Knight’s matchmaking, we received an invitation from the Kazimierz Supervisory Board to come to Grand Knight’s territory, Kavaleria, for a joint medical mission.”

"Without a doubt, this is a provocation against domestic medical companies."

“Every participant who joins will get a piece of the pie in this field.”

"Therefore, in order to prevent Rhodes Island, an outsider, from seizing the opportunity to take root in the heart of Kazimierz, the members of the business federation, led by medical companies, will naturally go to eliminate the infected."

"After all, Rhodes Island was invited by the Supervisory Council because of the infected problem. If the infected in the Grand Knight Territory are no longer a problem, then Rhodes Island naturally has no reason to stay."

"That's probably the reason. After they've dealt with you, they'll probably turn their attention to the infected knights soon."

"You should know that many people are actually very dissatisfied with the fact that infected people become knights, and the people who oppose this the most are not the Business Federation, but the knightly nobles."