Arknights' Lock of Heaven

Sona convinced Gray with just one sentence.

Yes, we have no other choice.

In order to protect themselves, they are willing to get caught up in the power struggle between two behemoths, even if it means being crushed to pieces...

But at least there's still a glimmer of hope, isn't there?

It's better than waiting to die here.

"You should go and talk to the captain."

Just then, Skadi walked towards them.

Upon seeing this, the exhausted knights around them all stood up.

If it weren't for Skadi and Manticore, they might not have been able to protect so many people these past few days.

“Miss Skadi,” Sona nodded gratefully upon seeing her arrival.

Honestly, the thing she was most grateful for these past few days was that she didn't refuse Xia Yu's suggestion and instead brought the two of them back.

"The captain you're referring to is... Mr. Xia Yu?"

"Yes, if you can't make up your mind, go and talk to him."

Skadi rarely spoke so much, because she also knew that Xia Yu valued Hongsong highly.

"Perhaps I really should go and see him..."

-

"So, Skadi recommended you to come?"

In Old Martin's tavern, Xia Yu looked at Sona across from her, who had a worried expression, and asked in a somewhat surprised tone.

"Yes, Miss Skadi has really helped us a lot."

Sona sighed, "But... I won't lie to you, we're almost at our wits' end."

"Actually, I know someone here," Xia Yu said calmly, "who might be able to help you."

"Who is it?"

"His name is Toran, and he is the leader of the Kazimierz Bounty Hunters Guild."

"Uh, a bounty hunter..."

Hearing this, Sona hesitated.

Because the bounty hunters of Kazimierz have a really bad reputation.

It sounds really bad.

“Of course, he only recently took office,” Xia Yu saw her hesitation and explained, “This person is quite interesting, actually. His subordinates are a mixed bag, almost all kinds of people.”

"Infected people, workers, down-on-their-luck knights, college students, nobles, small businessmen, a very mixed bunch."

"However, I still have high hopes for them, just as I have high hopes for your Red Pine Knights."

"So the red pine you were so optimistic about is almost finished," Sona's optimistic nature allowed her to make such a joke without any concern.

"From this perspective, it seems your judgment isn't very good either."

“Don’t just look at the present,” Xia Yu raised an eyebrow and continued, “Look at the future, do you understand?”

"Alright, alright, my great prophet, just show me the future, show me where the future lies for the Red Pine Knights, on whom you place such high hopes?"

"Securities and Insurance Regulatory Commission!"

Xia Yu answered without hesitation.

218. Friend, have you ever heard of the Patriots?

"..."

Do you think the certifying agency is credible?

Sona looked at Xia Yu and asked.

“At least a little more credible than the Business Federation,” Xia Yu gestured with her finger, “just a little bit.”

"So, we're going to choose them based on this little bit of credibility?"

“It’s not that you choose them,” Xia Yu shook her head, “but that you have no other choice, don’t you?”

"To survive in Kazimierz, one cannot avoid the existence of the Business Federation and the Supervisory Commission."

"These two behemoths have been locked in a fierce battle, with the National Assembly, the highest authority in Kazimir, as their battleground."

"In any case, you have to choose one. Since the Business Federation has chosen to eliminate you completely, you can only choose the Securities and Futures Commission, right?"

"Unless you originally left this country, you absolutely cannot avoid this choice."

“That’s true,” Sona said, lowering her head and giving a self-deprecating smile. “Actually, we all know all this, we know it very well.”

"However, since Miss Skadi sent me to you, you must be able to give me some advice, right?"

"Suggestions? Of course I do."

Hearing this, Xia Yu smiled broadly.

"No matter what the Securities and Futures Commission asks you to do, it will be a matter of life and death."

"I don't need to say more, do I?"

“Hmm,” Sona took a deep breath upon hearing this, “I was prepared for this.”

"That's good. Apart from foreign countries, they will definitely use what you crave most to keep you on your toes so that you will do things willingly."

"For example, the legal status of infected individuals in the Great Knight Territory."

"If they really offered such terms, would you be willing to accept them?"

“…I think so,” Sona said, her expression complicated. “If they really keep their word…”

Legal status for those infected is something they desperately want.

With this, perhaps my companions wouldn't have to hide in the dark ruins, enduring the uncertainty of dying one day...

"If you agree, you'll really be the one who's been tricked!"

Just as Sona was lost in thought about this, Xia Yu spoke without any mercy.

"I've been tricked... What... what happened?"

Upon hearing this, Sona looked up at Xia Yu in astonishment.

"Would the Securities and Futures Commission breach its contract?"

"Breach of contract? No, of course not."

Xia Yu smiled and shook her head upon hearing this.

"They still want to maintain their positive image. They said they promised you, the infected, legal status, and they will never break their promise."

"Then why..."

“However,” Xia Yu continued, “in order to maintain their bright image, the things you are asked to do must absolutely not be associated with the glorious and righteous Securities and Futures Commission.”

"After all, the Supervisory Council has been losing ground in the power struggle with the Business Federation, and even its lifeline, the Knights Association, has been taken over by them."

"Now, all they can do is rely on justice and glory to get by."

"We must rely on these to unite the hearts of the people at the grassroots level, and on these to gather the knights of war..."

"This skin absolutely cannot be damaged."

"So in the end, they make sure that everything you do is blamed on the infected."

"Is this really that hard to accept? The Securities and Futures Commission is a political organization. Betraying your allies is just the most basic thing they do."

"Yes, they will give infected people legal status, there is no doubt about that."

"But at the same time, the things they ask you to do will also be dumped on the heads of the infected."

"Even if they gain legal status, what then? Won't infected people still be like rats crossing the street, hated by everyone?"

"And the Business Federation, no matter how much it suffers, will adhere to the principle of fighting without breaking apart, and they will never expose the tricks of the Securities and Futures Commission."

"We can only swallow our anger and take it out on you infected people."

"At that time, whether it's official media or tabloids, they will all unanimously put the blame on the infected people."

“It’s not something trivial that can get the Securities and Futures Commission to come knocking on your door.”

"What they made you do is definitely big news."

"Perhaps the legal status of infected individuals will depend on your actions to find a pretext."

"It is said that a group of infected thugs were dissatisfied with the current situation of the infected in the Great Knight Territory and did these things."

"So in order to prevent similar things from happening, they decided to improve the situation of infected people, starting with giving them legal status."

"Perhaps it should also be accompanied by a sense of justice, saying that it was wrong of the previous governments to abandon infected people, and now they are paying attention to this aspect."

"But what's the use of that?"