Arknights' Lock of Heaven

"Wow, you're quite the veteran, how come you're still just a squad leader?" Yan Ke looked at the veteran's humble and smiling face, and asked with feigned confusion, "What? Like you majors, no connections?"

"Hey, if I had connections, I wouldn't be where I am now," the old soldier said humbly, bowing slightly. "It's mainly because I lack ability."

“My major is very capable. He led us to survive the Ukrainian-Kazakh War and became a major.”

"Then how come you're still only a major after all these years?" Yan Ke glanced at Jonathan. "Didn't you guys fight in the Eastern Ukraine war?"

“Hey, well…” the veteran turned his head awkwardly, “You know how we Ursus are… being good at fighting doesn’t guarantee a promotion.”

“Yeah, right,” Yanke chuckled, then turned to Jonathan. “What are you looking at? That ship?”

"You seem to care about it a lot?"

“General Boris…” Jonathan finally spoke up, “Was he really charging before he died?”

"Probably," Yan Ke said casually. "How would we know such things? If the big shots above say so, then it is."

Upon hearing this, Jonathan suddenly reached for his waist, only to find nothing there.

That was the place where he should have carried his sword.

"What do you want to do?" Yan Ke narrowed his eyes upon seeing this and reached for the long sword on his back.

The Sarkaz mercenaries around them also picked up their weapons, and the prisoners immediately panicked.

"Major, calm down! Calm down!" Seeing that things were getting worse, the veteran immediately rushed forward and hugged Jonathan tightly. "Don't be impulsive!"

Then he turned to Yan Ke with a forced smile and said, "Please forgive me, sir. My major has followed General Boris all the way here, so we have some feelings for each other. He has absolutely no intention of rebelling."

"You still need us to do things, don't you? Nobody listens to us common soldiers, who would believe us? It has to be our major who reports to the higher-ups personally, right?"

"Please, have mercy and spare my major!"

"You're quite loyal," Yan Ke raised an eyebrow upon seeing this. "Alright, you've convinced me. Now take your major and get out of here!"

"Remember, spread the word that the Sixth Army has been completely wiped out. Let everyone know that the Sixth Army has been annihilated. Let's see who dares to block our way then, understand?"

"If we fail to complete this, we'll hang that lieutenant colonel's head on the bridge. You guys can just wait for his family's revenge. They can't handle us, but taking it out on you bunch of common soldiers will be a piece of cake, you understand?"

"Yes, sir! Don't worry, sir, we will definitely complete the mission!" the old soldier shouted, holding onto Jonathan tightly.

"Alright, let's get in the car and go."

Yan Ke waved his hand when he saw this, and the surrounding prisoners, as if granted a pardon, immediately scrambled onto the two trucks.

The speed was as fast as lightning, as if it wanted to fly to Ceplini in an instant.

"Let's go, call it a day," Yanke said, turning to the Sarkaz behind him. "Does anyone know what's on the menu in the cafeteria today?"

"What? Another Yan cuisine? Or is it Shangshu style? Good heavens, where did these chefs learn this stuff?"

"Don't you think this is torture?"

"Nobody's forcing you to eat this. It's not like you don't have other options. Besides, you always say that, but you still eat it every single time!"

"Ah, mainly... although it's torturous, it feels kind of addictive!"

"Admit it, you're a masochist! No wonder you used to be so brave, fighting so fiercely even after suffering dozens of wounds... oh wait..."

"Don't you dare slander me! Believe me or I'll go to the authorities and sue you for defamation! You're defaming me!"

"Come on, everyone knows about your little quirk. To tell the truth is also slander."

A group of Sarkaz returned to the Orville, laughing and joking.

“Major,” the veteran said, sitting in the driver’s seat two kilometers away from the ship, looking at the dazed Jonathan beside him, “you were too impulsive.”

"..."

Hearing this, Jonathan looked out the car window at the piles of scrap metal and the corpses on them that looked like ice sculptures.

Eight hours ago, they were all still alive.

Then he turned his head and looked at the Ural ahead.

“Like a pack animal that died from exhaustion,” Jonathan muttered to himself, “the new warship, the pride of Ursus, was thus scrapped in the snowfield.”

"Major, we need to go up and take a look..." The veteran hesitated, watching the Ural ship getting closer and closer.

"..."

“Let’s go, the farther the better,” Jonathan said, lowering his head.

Just as the veteran said, he was his old subordinate, someone he had led through piles of corpses since the Ukrainian War.

But I myself have been brought here by General Boris and have survived to this day.

At first, like everyone else, I scoffed at General Boris's so-called caution, but after surviving time and time again, I began to admire him.

He disregarded those who looked down on generals, believing that only those who survived were the winners.

But the general died.

He was still charging forward before he died.

Jonathan was somewhat confused.

403 The Court Clown

Mayor Cheplini's Office

“Please give me a little more time, Mr. Mayor,” Alexei pleaded, bowing his head. “I will definitely raise the remaining twenty million in just three days.”

“But, my dear Deputy Mayor, we don’t have that much time,” Lermontov said, sitting leisurely in his office chair, staring at Alexei in front of him with interest.

"As you know, I had to swallow my pride to persuade Boris and the Sixth Army to reduce the military support expenses from 70 million to 50 million. My family also contributed 10 million as an example."

"And you, Alexei, my deputy mayor, I gave you the power, I gave you the time, and you only collected 20 million out of a 40 million quota..."

“It won’t be long before the Sixth Army returns in triumph,” Lermontov said with a smile. “Are you asking me to go and talk to those green-eyed thugs and ask for a little more time?”

“But Mayor,” Alexei argued through gritted teeth, “there are many companies in Cheprini that are unwilling to cooperate, and I need time to persuade them…”

"Will the Sixth Army wait for you?" Lermontov leisurely sipped his black tea. "Will they give us that time?"

"As you and I both know, if we can't come up with the money when they return victorious, every extra minute will incur 'interest'."

"At that time, my dear citizens will not have to bear 40 million."

Upon hearing this, Alexei lowered his head again.

"Oh, by the way, my deputy mayor, who are you referring to as those uncooperative companies?"

"Edmond Mining, United Trading Company, House Chamber of Commerce..."

He spoke one name after another, looking dejected.

“Edmond Mining, huh? That’s Viscount Edmond’s business,” Lermontov said casually. “Don’t underestimate him just because he’s a viscount. He’s incredibly powerful and holds important positions in the army. He’s highly sought after by all the dukes. Even some down-on-their-luck counts don’t live as well as him.”

"The House Merchant Guild, they are old friends of ours, Cheprini. Earl House's territories in the southern part of the empire are the envy of many."

"The United Trading Company, ah, we locals of Ciprini, united to protect the interests of our locals, are all respectable people."

“And some familiar and some not-so-familiar names, tsk tsk tsk, that’s a large part of Ceprini’s commercial power,” Lermontov looked at Alexei with interest. “What’s wrong with our government? Even these trustworthy gentlemen are unwilling to do their part for the city?”

"I remember they were very enthusiastic about helping rebuild the city when it suffered a natural disaster three years ago."

"Mr. Deputy Mayor, can you tell me why no one is willing to invest in this city that brings wealth to everyone?"

Upon hearing this, Alexei closed his eyes.

The answer is obvious.

It's simply because I'm the one in charge of fundraising.

Everyone knew that they had been political enemies with the mayor in the past, so everyone was watching and waiting to see what the mayor's attitude would be.

But as the fundraising days went by, everyone saw that the mayor remained silent, even when someone explicitly refused to donate.

So, as if they had sensed some signal, those who were originally interested began to make excuses.

Alexei knew that Lermontov hadn't deliberately instructed them to make things difficult for him; he didn't need to do that, he just needed to do nothing.

At times like these, not expressing any attitude is equivalent to stating one's attitude.

You know perfectly well.

Both of them are well aware of the truth, including the questions they are being asked of each other in the office now.

The reason they couldn't raise the money was because Lermontov, the local tyrant, hadn't given the order yet.

It's that simple.

He was waiting for himself to give in.

But I had already given in.

Alexei lowered his head, his fingernails digging deeply into his palms.

Clearly, I have abandoned all my past convictions...

You still can't let me go? Do you have to make me wag my tail and beg for mercy like a dog?

Alexei was filled with rage. He looked up and met Lermontov's mocking eyes.

It was like being doused with a bucket of cold water, gradually dissipating.