Hello, Arknights

"Just stop teasing her." Black and red Rupert sighed, took out his salary card, and paid the bill for him without saying anything else.

"Texas?" Ling Dengxian looked at the girl who paid for him and sat opposite him, wondering, "Why are you here?"

Seeing that the two knew each other, Xue Zhi quietly slipped away with the order. Ling Dengxian was fine, but the aura of the later Rupert girl was a little too scary for her...

"It's the weekend, I'm on vacation, and I'm not on a mission." Texas took out a pocky box from his pocket, took out a stick and put it in his mouth, "I wanted to go to the hospital to see how you were recovering, but I saw you jumping out of the hospital. You disappeared before I could say hello. I just passed by and saw you here."

Ling Dengxian felt embarrassed and scratched his head: "Sorry... It's already the weekend, I've been in the hospital for so long that I don't even know what day it is..."

"I haven't seen you much as a newcomer. I've always been curious about you, but I didn't come to see you. Her agency had a schedule that day. Remember to say hello when you get back."

Looking at Texas with a calm expression, Ling Dengxian suddenly thought of "her past" that Lappland mentioned. Ling Dengxian could only guess one thing from her reaction when she first met him, that her hands must have been stained with blood, and even killing was very likely a common thing for her in her unknown "past".

In fact, the member of Penguin Logistics with whom he had the least contact was Texas. However, probably because their first meeting was not so good, the other party had always been strongly hostile to him in the early stage. Even now that the hostility has decreased, it is difficult for him to say a few words.

Just like now, once the topic is interrupted, especially when the food has not been served yet, there will be a blank table between the two of them, and they will fall into a silence that Texas does not feel awkward but Ling Dengxian feels uncomfortable.

"Um...how is everyone doing recently?" Ling Dengxian had to speak.

"Didn't Croissant and Exia come here? Didn't you ask them?" Rupert's amber eyes moved back from the window and asked in confusion.

Ling Dengxian: "..."

Of course he asked! Sister, I'm looking for a topic!

I don't know why he couldn't act like a fool in front of Texas like he did in front of Lin Yuxia... Maybe it was because he had too much of a senior filter? After all, he couldn't respect the Angel Croissant and a certain female devil.

Of course, what is more likely is that Lin Yuxia, given Penguin Logistics, can take the beatings with his face, while Texas, given the unexplained irritation, is likely to have to pay with his life if he is hit by a sword.

The survival instinct is...

"Well... have you eaten? Do you want to eat together?" The dishes were served, and Ling Dengxian asked tentatively after picking up the chopsticks.

"...I forgot that Angel Exia and the others were still waiting for me." Texas suddenly stood up with a rare "Oh no, I forgot" expression, gestured to him and left quickly.

"Ah? She was sitting here for so long just now...was she distracted?" Ling Dengxian didn't know that Texas was distracted and suppressed her restlessness, he just thought that she didn't get enough rest and couldn't concentrate.

"You should have a good rest..."

"Oops, I was too distracted and forgot to tell Bai Ge that there was indeed something... Never mind, there shouldn't be any accidents." After walking a long way, Rupert finally remembered what she was going to tell him. She clenched her fists in annoyance, and the broken pocky fell to the ground.

"...What a pity." Texas shook his head, ate the remaining pocky, and walked towards Penguin Logistics.

Columbia, Rhine Life.

"I knew you could still handle it. I'm glad to see you back safely, Saria."

"...I need an explanation." The gray-haired Vaifan stood in the empty office. The Pero woman sitting behind the desk slowly stood up and walked out from behind the desk.

“Is it because of that experimental subject?” The overly calm voice only made Vaifan more confused and angry.

"Not only that, how many other projects like 'Flame Demon' and 'Burning Eyes' did Rhine Lifeforms participate in?" Saria clenched her fists. "You never told me that Rhine Lifeforms should not participate in these inhumane experiments."

"…Have you investigated?"

"..."

"They are just some official projects. You should know that."

"Is this why you participated in those experiments behind everyone's back?!"

"Just to avoid unnecessary arguments, like now, I don't know how long it will take to convince you, and time-"

"Kristen!"

"…Sorry, this is necessary." The man in charge of Rhine Life still had a calm expression, "I don't want to see you like this either."

"But once the truth of these events is exposed, Rhine Life will be in an irreparable situation!"

"Then don't let the truth be discovered."

"Kristen!!"

Saria suddenly exploded and punched Christen in the face. Everything was so fast that it was almost difficult for the naked eye to capture her movements, but almost at the same time, the striped substance appeared like a shadow and blocked this terrifying punch.

"Physical threat detected, wave hack system activated."

"...You once told me that the development of synchronous resonance technology is used to detect the structure of Originium." With her hair hanging down in front of her forehead, Christen couldn't see Saria's expression.

"Yes, it just 'happens' to be used in the defense system." Kristen's eyes showed a hint of apology.

"...It 'just happens' to be able to restrain my Originium craft creation?"

"..."

"You taught me to be cautious about everything."

Saria looked at her former best friend, who founded Rhine Life with her, started from scratch, and developed step by step to what she is today, but now she has come to this point.

"If one day you find someone close to you on the brink of death because of a written code, please don't forget my roar today."

The boy's words echoed in her ears again, and she couldn't help but feel absurd. These words came true dozens of minutes ago. She saw Ifrit in the sea of ​​fire, and everything originated from the four words "Flame Demon Plan" on a piece of paper.

Not only the Flame Demon Project and Burning Eyes...

She clenched her fist suddenly, dispersed the calcification, and punched heavily on the surface of the wave defense system!

"What are you doing?!"

"boom!!"

The outpouring of force shattered the walls and ceiling, and the building structure was in danger of collapsing.

"Stop!"

"You can't penetrate it!"

"boom!!"

Vaifan's fist was unshakable. The whistling wind from his fist shattered pieces of the special floor, and the defense of the Bohai system trembled violently.

"Sareya!"

"Crack!" The sound of shattered defense made Christen stand still, and the bloody fist stopped in front of her.

The walls and ceiling behind him had long been destroyed, and the area surrounding the office had been reduced to ruins.

Saria retracted her fist, and thick blood dripped, leaving a broken mark on the floor.

She turned and left, never looking back.

"where are you going?"

"I want to leave Rhine Life... I can't change you here."

"I will use my own way to correct the direction of Rhine's life." Waifan's figure gradually walked away in the ruins.

"I can save that experimental subject at any cost."

"I will take Ifrit away."

After Saria left, Pero was silent for a long time. He looked back at the rhythmic night sky and shook his head with a sigh.