Arknights, Suika's Messenger Journey

"I've been walking for most of the day and I'm thirsty. Give me some wine!"

Although they hadn't seen each other for a long time, Hoshiguma Yugi was not polite at all.

Suixiang took out Ibuki's ladle

"Drink slowly, I don't have much wine... Alas!" Before he finished speaking, he saw Xingxiong Yugi raise the wine jug and drink it in one gulp.

She looked at the wine flowing from the other person's mouth and felt extremely heartbroken. If Reimu and Marisa hadn't held her back, she would have wanted to stick out her tongue to lick the wine clean.

After taking a sip, Xing Xiong Yongyi looked at Suika

"She's right. The wine in your Ibuki gourd is not as good as hers."

"Ah, my wine!" After snatching back her wine gourd, Ibuki Suika had tears in her eyes and a look of heartache on her face.

Although Ibuki Suika felt sorry that her wine didn't make her understand what Hoshiguma Yugi said, Hakurei Reimu was different. She was stunned when she heard what Hoshiguma Yugi said.

"This is not a place to talk. Let's go in?" Hoshiguma Yugi pointed at the wind god girl who flew back again, and then pointed inside the shrine.

"Come with me!" After talking to Alice for a few words, Reimu Hakurei led the two of them into the house.

Wanting to get first-hand news, Awen tried to get in but hit a transparent wall. After trying several times and failing to find a way in, she could only sit in front of the Hakurei Shrine and complain.

"What are you doing? You're even setting up a barrier outside the shrine. Don't you know about freedom of the press? I want to protest!"

Of course no one paid any attention to her.

At this time, several people in the room were looking at the Originium figurines that Xingxiong Yugi and Alice took out in astonishment.

"We went to that place, met that person and the world over there, and stayed there for seven days." Alice's words made Marisa, who was standing next to her and didn't know the whole story, look confused.

But the few people who knew about this, even Ibuki Suika, who was still feeling sorry for the wine just a second ago, sat up straight all of a sudden.

"Um...should I step aside?" Marisa was no fool. From Reimu's unusually serious expression, she could tell they were discussing something very important. However, she seemed to know nothing about it. If she rashly joined in, she'd get into trouble... She was worried...

"Forget it, since we're here, maybe you'll be the next one, so it doesn't matter if you listen." Reimu Hakurei shook her head.

After all, Marisa and I have a good relationship and she often comes to the shrine. Sooner or later, she will know what is happening on the other side, so instead of driving her away now and causing estrangement, it is better to let her know about it.

Moreover, given the other party's personality, he would not spread the news everywhere, so she didn't have to worry about any problems after the other party found out about it.

"Let me tell you!" Alice and Hoshiguma Yugi had already communicated on the way. After arriving there, Hoshiguma Yugi had been following the team and had seen limited things, but Alice had learned more details through the puppet's vision, so she was the one to tell about the situation in the other world.

After she finished speaking, Hoshiguma Yuugi came to supplement her opinion on Ibuki Suika on the other side.

As she spoke, Marisa's eyes widened. It was another brand new world, with people who looked similar to the demons, but were much weaker.

And what about the source stone...

Is it possible for a little magician like her to understand these things?

Will he be silenced by the people in the house afterwards?

Marisa felt a little regretful now. If she had known earlier, she would not have stayed in the shrine on purpose. It would have been better for her to go out like a fool and happily steal some books from the Scarlet Devil Mansion.

"As for the evaluation of Ibuki Suika, I think it would be more appropriate for Ms. Hoshiguma Yugi to say it. After all, the two of them have had much more contact than I have."

After telling her about the world called Terra, Alice turned the topic to Yongyi.

"Although there are some feelings mixed in here, I think that Suika can be trusted."

Then, Xingxiong Yugi recounted what she had summarized from her interactions over the past few days and conversations with other people.

"We do know a thing or two about the Tallulah you mentioned. The sage of Eternal Pavilion, Yagi Eirin, has indeed been to that place before. The potion currently used by the people there was developed with the help of Yagi Eirin.

The news you brought back this time is very important and indeed requires careful consideration.

But Alice, do you have any way to contact the other side?"

Yakumo Yukari looked at Alice. If there was anyone between the two of them who might have a connection with the other side, it could only be her.

Alice nodded, then shook her head

"I can feel the information transmitted by the puppet on the other side, but I can't control it, let alone communicate in the opposite direction."

Yakumo Yukari was not surprised by this. To be more precise, the fact that Alice could feel another world was beyond her expectations.

You have to know that the monitoring spell she set up at Xiaosuigu didn't catch any trace of Cuixiang's presence or absence in the space except for that slight strange fluctuation.

"Is there anything we need to do?" Alice looked at Yakumo Yukari. It was obvious that she was the one in charge here, not Hakurei Reimu.

Yakumo Yukari thought for a moment and shook her head

"No, the appearance of Ibuki Suika is very important, whether it is good or bad for Gensokyo.

But you said you experienced several battles there, but I didn't sense any killing or karma from you two. This is actually worth discussing. Since I'm not a professional, I need you to stay here for a while. I will find a professional to check..."

Chapter 364 The Inevitability of History

Terra Ursus

Suika and her group followed Tallulah and played house with the Ursus army in the territory of Ursus for three whole months, until the end of June.

The scout in charge of investigation got an important intelligence

In the southeast direction, near the mobile fortress of Chernobog in Dayan, several villages disappeared inexplicably.

"Mephistopheles' handiwork? Why is it there?!"

Everyone squatted beside the map of Ursus and looked at the information on the map, feeling a little confused.

After all, the eastern part of Ursus is vast and sparsely populated, making it too easy to be exposed. Even the Integration Movement rarely chooses to act there.

Because it is too conspicuous and it is difficult to obtain logistical supplies.

"Have you ever thought about a question?

Mephistopheles's act of forcibly turning people into infected people and then transforming them into herds is clearly severing the roots of the Ursus people. Those nobles must understand this, but why do they tolerate this? "

Suika's words made everyone fall into silence. Talulah looked at the map and thought for a long time before suddenly speaking.

"The old nobility needs to use Mephistopheles to gain greater benefits."

Suika nodded

"That's right, so what kind of benefits could make them willingly choose to abandon the people in their own territory?

That's the power grab...

The young emperor of Ursus has made them restless. In order to acquire more military strength, they must create a sufficient enemy, an enemy that will force the young emperor to send more troops even if he refuses in his heart.

"That's not true. Even without our intervention, Mephisto and his new Reunion Movement wouldn't be strong enough to become a formidable enemy of the old nobility you're talking about."

After Suika finished speaking, Chen blurted out and looked at Alex and Lyudmila not far away with an apologetic look.

However, the two had no objection to Chen's words, because she was right. Although the New Integration Movement seemed to be very big, it was actually a mess.

If the old aristocracy really wanted to take action against them, the New Integration Movement would probably not survive more than a month.

"Yes, Chen, you're right. The New Reunion Movement and Mephistopheles cannot serve as an excuse for the old Ursus nobles to increase their forces. However, there is a powerful enemy here that is beyond the reach of the young emperor..."

Suika drew a line on the map with her finger and pointed to a place. Everyone gasped at the same time the next second.

"Are they crazy?"

Chen said in shock as he looked at the Dragon Gate that Suixiang was pointing at and the large flame behind it.

"No, they would do that precisely because they're not crazy."

"What do you mean?" The leader of the black-capped shadow guards, who had been invisible all the time, couldn't help but ask.

After all, this is related to Longmen, the place where they have devoted almost their entire lives.

"It's simple. The young emperor's troops are all in the west and north, while the eastern front is controlled by the old nobles by default.

Therefore, as long as war breaks out in the east, the old nobles will have reason to send reinforcements.

The only targets available in the east are Kazdel and Da Yan.

Although the Sarkaz suffered heavy losses in the War of the Two Kings, they never lowered their vigilance against Ursus. Their largest force, the Scavenger Legion, has been stationed in the west and north to defend against Ursus and Lethania.

If Kazdel is chosen, even if Ursus initiates an invasion, the Sarkaz will probably not choose to fight back, but will only wipe out the invaders silently in the wasteland of Kazdel.

But Dayan is different. This country is strong enough and proud enough. If war breaks out, they will definitely choose to recruit soldiers on the border to put pressure on the country.

If the Great Yan makes a move, they will have a reason to equally conscript soldiers. Even if the young emperor rejects this in his heart, he cannot stop the old nobles from using this as an excuse to conscript soldiers. This is an open conspiracy."

"Then why are you so sure their target will be Longmen?

You know, although Chernobyl is not far from Longmen, it is not close either…” Chen stared at Suixiang’s face, trying to analyze something from it.

"That's even simpler. If we attack other places, the Great Yan court might get really angry. But Longmen is different... Maybe some people in the court are hoping something bad will happen here, so they have a reason to take over.

Perhaps the old nobles had some communication or tacit understanding with the people from Dayan regarding this matter."

Chen didn't understand what Suixiang meant, but the black shadow guard did.

They also knew that what Cuixiang said was indeed correct, and the imperial court had always been eyeing Longmen.

This is not only because Longmen's huge annual profits belong to itself without having to pay tribute, but also because of the relationship between Governor Wei Yanwu and the person sitting at the highest point.

If what Suika said was true, then even if the two sides had no contact, the court would choose to cooperate tacitly.

For those who sit in a high position, losing a city or a piece of land is not important. The key is to hold power in their own hands.

I wonder how many people in the court dislike Longmen, a city that is nominally under their jurisdiction but is almost completely independent.

“But that’s not true. Although Longmen’s strength is not strong, it is not something that Mephistopheles and his herd can touch.

With the strength of the Imperial Guard, it won't be difficult to deal with Mephisto."

Xingxiong raised an objection from the side.

As an official armed force and violent agency, the Longmen Guard Bureau is not weak.

You have to know that the stability of a place as big as Longmen does not rely on the self-awareness of the residents. The Guard Bureau plays an important role in it.

Even though the Guards Bureau is not strong enough for a regular army, it is a terrifying tiger for a sub-group like the New Integration Movement, and can easily tear it apart.

"So, they need external forces..." Suika looked at Chernobog, feeling a little sad in her heart. Even though it was her own fault that pulled Tallulah and most of the people in the Reunion Movement out of that vortex of certain death, history still restored and repaired everything.

The only difference is that the integration movement led by Tallulah has changed to Mephisto and his herd.

"Chernobog... How is that possible? This is a major military town in Ursus.

Mephistopheles couldn't even knock down the dragon gate with his skills, let alone this place."

After realizing the meaning behind Suika's words, Tallulah looked towards the city closest to where Mephisto appeared with an incredulous tone.

You should know that Chernobyl is a military fortress standing in the southeast of Ursus. It is a nail in the southeast of Ursus. Because of its existence, the territory here has been stabilized.

To capture such an important military town, even Dayan would need to make long-term preparations and pay a heavy price to achieve it.

How could Mephistopheles and his little Calamis do all this?

Chapter 365: Conspiracy from the Black Snake

"Indeed, Mephisto and his New Integration Movement, whose main force we have basically dismantled, do not have such strength.

But what if there is an insider?"

Everyone was in disbelief at what Suika said.

“Just to force Da Yan and Ursus to go to war, you’re going to abandon Chernobog and the people of Yicheng?

Are your thoughts too extreme?"

Even Tallulah felt that Suika's explanation was a bit too fantastical.

"Extreme? No, you can't think about this with a normal human mind.

What we are facing are not ordinary people, but the parasites and vampires entrenched in the country of Ursus.

For them, it doesn’t matter what Ursus is like. What matters most is whether their interests can be guaranteed.

If everything about them wasn't so deeply entangled with Ursus, these guys would have already betrayed their country for their own benefit.

Therefore, the lives of the people in a mere city may seem important to ordinary people, but for them, compared to their own interests, the destruction of a city is completely acceptable."

Suika said that the nobles think differently from normal people.

Especially for these old guys who have been entrenched in a place for a long time, the top priority for them is their own interests, then the interests of the country, and finally the interests of the people.

Therefore, when there is a serious conflict between one's own interests and the interests of the country, the interests of the people at the bottom are no longer important.

Chen wanted to argue that the nobles were not as cold and heartless as Suika imagined, but was stopped by Tallulah, who recalled what Kosice had taught her.

Although she didn't want to admit it, there was nothing wrong with what Suika said.