Arknights' Lock of Heaven

As they've said, the legendary Everlasting Flower is a reward for the brave... The Patriot leader also said it's a priceless treasure.

In front of everyone, it truly gave Martha a new lease on life.

The known recipients are Patriot and Martha, who is standing right in front of us...

When it comes to achievements, who can compare to them? Nobody thinks they can rival their accomplishments.

The spy chiefs, who had been hiding in the distance using Originium Arts, looked at each other in bewilderment. They also wanted to keep the wizard alive... but... no one dared to step forward at this moment.

Even the Rhodes Island operators couldn't help but marvel at this miracle...

But as I said before, who can keep such a big shot around? Didn't you see that the Patriot leader didn't say a word?

bass!

Just as everyone was watching with bated breath as the petals were about to dissipate, a golden chain shot out with lightning speed, locking the wizard's waist and forcibly keeping him from turning into petals and drifting away with the wind.

"Great wizard Merlin, you damned white-haired online swindler," a voice echoed eerily, "you're leaving already?"

"Have you forgotten that we still have a score to settle?"

450 Mei Liangxin still wants to maintain her image? Dream on.

Everyone was shocked to see Merlin bound by chains.

What is this for?

Even the Rhodes Island operators behind Xia Yu were dumbfounded. They knew nothing of the plan, and only felt... that their own advisor might have taken a liking to her...

That can't be...like that...wouldn't that be...

After Xia Yu finished speaking, they were even more surprised. It turned out that everyone knew each other... Even Patriot hadn't mentioned the wizard's name, but the advisor could name it right away.

"Ah, isn't this my new friend, Mr. Xia Yu?" Merlin looked at the chain around his waist, winked at his true form, and said with a helpless expression, "How is my old friend, Ms. Kal'tsit, doing now?"

"Dr. Kal'tsit...?" Upon hearing this, Aya exclaimed in surprise. How did this involve her teacher?

But since it's Kal'tsit... it's not impossible that she knows such a mysterious wizard.

The infected people nearby reacted with... Oh? There's more to this story?

"Come on, you don't know her?" Xia Yu chuckled and said, "Besides, I prefer the title of 'savior' or 'savior of Avalon' to 'new friend'."

"As for you, Merlin, you'd be better off worrying about yourself than Kal'tsit."

"Ahem, isn't there some misunderstanding between us?" Merlin still had a fake smile on his face when he heard this. "Didn't we agree that we'd be even after I delivered the food to you?"

“That’s how it was agreed, but,” Xia Yu sighed, looking at Patriot, “I want to confirm, did he charge you for the grain?”

"Uh, this..." Patriot looked puzzled, mainly because of the money involved... and why did it seem like he wasn't acting?

"We didn't receive any money; it was just a barter system."

"Oh, I see," Xia Yu nodded upon hearing this, then turned to Merlin, smiling as she held up the chains in her hand, "Bartering?"

"How come I remember our agreement was just for simple delivery? You, a deliveryman, are now charging a commission?"

"Ahem, I can explain this, don't slander me out of thin air," Merlin coughed awkwardly, putting his fist to his mouth, and then explained, "It's purely because the guerrillas didn't believe me, I had no choice but to do it!"

"They insist on making me give them something before they'll accept the grain. If you don't believe me, ask Patriot!"

"It's because he's always so suspicious that I have to accept some gifts as a token gesture."

"Don't make excuses," Xia Yu smiled and tightened her grip on the chains. "You did accept the things, didn't you?"

“But that’s because…” Merlin wanted to argue, but then Xia Yu said defiantly, “Go on, I know which way the gates of Avalon open.”

"Fine, fine, I guess I'm just unlucky," Merlin said cursingly. "Tell me, what kind of compensation do you want?"

"It's nothing, just giving you an everlasting flower to play with."

Upon hearing this, the Rhodes Island operators' eyes lit up.

They had felt a little embarrassed when they heard this before, but now... if they could get an everlasting flower to study, then...

"Don't even think about it!" Merlin roared in fury upon hearing this. "You and that old woman Kal'tsit have already taken most of my collection from the past few centuries, not even sparing the fairies, and now you want to take the rest?"

What? Dr. Kal'tsit has such a treasure?

Hearing this, everyone was stunned. A collection spanning hundreds of years... and this is what they took away... Wow, they suddenly felt that Dr. Kal'tsit and Advisor Xia were some kind of tyrants.

"And wasn't the share the fairies promised you enough?" Merlin was still jumping up and down. "You practically drained Avalon bald to develop your so-called inhibitor! And haven't you already developed it? What do you need these few flowers I have?"

"Well, we saved Avalon, after all," Xia Yu said with a smile. "It's not unreasonable for us to accept a few flowers as a reward for saving your life, is it?"

"Then..." Merlin wanted to argue, but Xia Yu didn't give him the chance.

"Besides, let's keep things separate. Who gave you permission to overcharge? Isn't this trying to sow discord between us and our allies?" he said righteously. "You must provide compensation!"

"If you won't give it to me, I'll go to Queen Vivian in Victoria myself and ask her for it!"

Xia Yu was spouting nonsense, leaving Merlin in a dilemma! He was completely flustered!

"Vivian... what kind of ability is it to go to Vivian about our business..."

"It's nothing, just a routine visit."

"You're ruthless," Merlin finally couldn't hold back any longer. In a fit of rage, he threw down a dazzling, everlasting flower and then instantly turned into petals and disappeared.

He left behind only one sentence: "When I get back, I'll close the gates of Avalon! I'll shut them off for eight hundred years!"

“It’s not like I don’t have a key,” Xia Yu shrugged upon hearing this, and casually handed the Everlasting Flower to Patriot. “This is the compensation we fought for for everyone. Who told us to pick such an unreliable guy to transport supplies? Mr. Patriot, please keep it for now.”

"This... alright," Patriot was momentarily bewildered. Although this was all part of the planned scheme... why did he feel that these two...

Doesn't it seem like they're acting? Or maybe they're acting too much...

To those around them, the wizard's mysterious and powerful aura had shattered into countless pieces... What? Rhodes Island actually has so many treasures like the Everlasting Flower?

Is it also being used to develop inhibitors?

Need I say more about the effect? ​​Martha's miraculous recovery speaks for itself; the inhibitor must have worked!

Everyone's gaze toward Rhodes Island became even more fervent.

As for the Rhodes Island operators... ah? So that's how the new inhibitor was developed? ???

She actually used such a priceless treasure... No wonder it worked so well, Dr. Kal'tsit... She's really that amazing?

As insiders, Aya and Frostnova exchanged a glance and then sighed simultaneously.

Advisor, you've praised Dr. Kal'tsit quite a bit, but we have a question: does she herself know about this?

My God, if this news gets out, Dr. Kal'tsit won't be able to get a good night's sleep anymore.

Having a wide network of connections has its advantages. For example, the two of them practically watched Dr. Kal'tsit write letters to all sorts of people, some famous and some unheard of, but all of them were certainly capable individuals.

From the saint who ruled Iberia to an unknown Sarkaz, Lady Kal'tsit's letters reached every country in Terra.

But there's a downside too. If word gets out... then Dr. Kal'tsit will probably be overwhelmed with letters... The Unfading Flower, a miracle witnessed by so many people, is practically a resurrection.

Where are you asking her to find some everlasting flowers?!

As for whether this matter will get out... there's no need to even think about it. Everyone knows that the guerrilla base is almost riddled with spies, and even if they don't leak it, the advisors will probably find a way to leak it themselves.

Would Xia Yu care about such a thing?

Of course not (arguing vehemently)!

Kal'tsit is right, if the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up, and we are those tall ones.

The saying goes that the capable should do more, and with Kal'tsit being so capable, she'll definitely have no problem!

And Merlin's image has been ruined... Haha, good riddance! Merlin, you tricked me so much before, and you still want to keep a good image in my hands? Dream on!

The more it collapses, the better!

The building collapsed completely!

Seeing the eager looks the infected around her were giving the Rhodes Island group, Xia Yu nodded in satisfaction.

With the endorsement of the Everlasting Flower, the inhibitor has no worries about sales. He has his sights set on more than just the snowfield. Once the news of this place gets out, the difficulty of setting up a sales network on the Rhodes Island main ship will be greatly reduced.

Moreover, there are many things that can be done with that preserved flower.

It could entice the dukes to wage war, or it could be used in the Eden Plan, attracting countless scholars to the snowfield to contribute to the plan.

Imagine a treasure that can transform a person; which researcher wouldn't want to study it carefully?

Thinking of this, Xia Yu looked at Charles, who was standing to the side and had no idea what to say.

He stood there dumbfounded, completely bewildered by the speed at which the wizard's house had collapsed.

“Mr. Charles, take your wife back to her ward and get some rest,” Xia Yu said with a smile. “She can finally get a good night’s sleep. Don’t let the noise on the road wake this strong lady.”

“Yes, okay,” Charles said, hugging his sleeping wife tightly. He then thanked Patriot and returned to the intensive care unit surrounded by others.

“Then next,” Patriot looked at Xia Yu, “let’s go into the main tent and talk about who owns this flower.”

“Of course,” Xia Yu nodded with a smile, and the group continued forward.

More and more infected people gathered around, and after witnessing the miracle, the entire base became a sea of ​​jubilation.

"..."

A hooded woman watched intently from afar as the crowd surrounded her.