Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

Chapter 57: Shura Field

"Either she asks, or I ask. You can choose one."

Noah's aura was completely different now. He was like a completely different person. His eyes seemed to see into people's hearts, and Cassia couldn't even think of resisting. The pressure he exerted was completely different from before. Noah was like a true emperor, looking down on everyone. No one could say "no" to him.

"You... who are you?"

"I only allow you to tell the truth. I don't allow you to ask any other questions."

"……I……"

This aggressive attitude startled Cassia. She lowered her head, the pressure piercing her inner defenses. She had no doubt that Noah would resort to the most brutal means. She thought of Avitus and the child she had given to an institution after giving birth. Fear… fear was channeled, filling her heart. Indeed, it was just as Avitus had said.

She didn't despair...

"...Tulia was kidnapped by Amaya... They are now in the maintenance tunnel above the dome..."

Those who harbor hope will be crushed by its weight. Cassia could handle Noya's interrogation, but she couldn't handle the Witch King's gaze. The Witch King's life experience had long since taught him how to interrogate someone like Cassia. Under his oppression, few could maintain their inner defenses. Too many rebels had crumbled under his gaze, some even becoming his subordinates. Those crushed by his terror proved more loyal than his other subordinates. The only problem was that they would be psychologically scarred when they met him.

Seeing that everything was almost explained, Herhunzollon immediately switched back with Noah - it was not because he didn't want to see the world as it was today, but because Noah couldn't control Priseth, and his spirit would not be able to sustain if he stayed on the throne for too long.

After all, not everyone has his kind of mental strength...

As her eyes gradually became clear, Noah regained control and was shocked to see Cassia lowering her head, not daring to look her in the eye. She opened her mouth but still said nothing.

——Teacher, he is really amazing...

Noah couldn't help but sigh.

"Besides what you said before, do you have anything else to add?"

"...Can I see my child?" Cassia's voice was trembling. It was obvious that although it was only a few minutes, the pressure from the Witch King had left her with a deep psychological trauma.

But there was nothing she could do about it… If she didn't ask the teacher for help, she was afraid she would never be able to break through Cassia's inner barriers. Unless she was ruthless enough to directly implant the spirit seed, but if she did that, she wouldn't be Noah anymore.

"I can't promise anything. I can only convey your request to the Coast Guard. You should understand that when you become an accomplice of the Deep Sea Cultists, you are no longer qualified to make demands."

Noah, who was well aware of the dangers of the Deep Sea Church, did not make any guarantees, but just nodded at the surveillance. After all, all of this was directly recorded on video and audio. Sikunda and others who were watching the surveillance listened to Cassia's explanation in full.

Although she didn't know why Cassia suddenly gave in, Sikunda didn't care about that and immediately gathered people to go to the maintenance passage for inspection.

After walking out of the interrogation room, Noah couldn't help but ask.

"How could the teacher answer so easily? You clearly didn't even use any Originium techniques..."

"It's not just kindness that moves others; fear can do the same." In response to his disciple's question, Herhunzollon, seated on his throne, offered an answer. "Sometimes, fear can achieve your goals faster than anything else."

"...Although I don't want to say this...but evil needs to be dealt with by evil." Noah sighed, but Herhunzollon didn't mind being called a bad guy at all.

"You still have a lot to learn. You've already learned how to be a good person. As for the way to be a king, combining kindness and authority is the best way."

"Teacher... I don't want to be the so-called king."

"You have the potential to become a king, but the time has not yet come. Now, focus on pursuing your own path."

Herhunzollon stopped talking, but Noah was still a little uneasy. From Herhunzollon's words, it seemed that she would sooner or later follow the same path as him.

But is that the path you really want?

Hey……

"Noah? Why have you been in a daze since you came out?" Sikunda's voice brought Noah back to her senses. She could only shake her head and explain to Sikunda, "I was just thinking about what Cassia said before."

"What she said is just the nonsense of a cultist. What do you care?"

Noah smiled helplessly. He couldn't tell Sikunda that there was a cyber ghost and a famous tyrant living in his head.

Even if you say it yourself, people may not believe you.

"...Speaking of which, is the Deep Sea Hunters' adjustment surgery about to begin?"

"Really? I remember it was around this time..."

As Sikunda had said, as the interrogation progressed, the Deep Sea Hunter adjustment surgery on the other side finally began in earnest. The operation was led by Brandus. As the father of the Deep Sea Hunter, he understood them better than anyone else, and his leadership was universally acknowledged.

[Test results updated: biosafety conditions in the operating room have reached acceptable levels.]

The assistant reported the safety situation in the operating room, and Brandus nodded.

"The operation is ready to begin. Hunters, as before, you will remain in a deep sleep during the automated surgery. In addition, I will manually repair the aging adaptive joints in your bodies."

"I almost forgot. This room full of specimens and these lab tables—what a familiar layout. How long has it been since we last lay in an environment like this?" Laurentina complained. "Or has the situation here remained the same?"

"Five years, Laurentina. I should have waited until the full medulla replacement procedure was complete and the fusion rate of your somatic cells and Originium was under control before addressing your role as a deep-sea hunter," Brandus replied. As the lead surgeon, he seemed a bit nervous, which was unusual, considering he had performed countless similar surgeries. "But time is short, so I have to do my best to restore your condition to its desired state. Sorry, Laurentina."

"You remain the same, Master Brandus. Let us proceed according to the old rules—"

"Light a candle beside you, so our little mermaid won't look too pale as she sleeps. I've got them ready."

Old rules, old rules between friends always make people feel at ease.

Laurentina smiled and nodded.

"You still remember."

"The dormant sol is being injected. Please maintain a comfortable posture and do not move." At this time, the little helper also interrupted, indicating that the operation had officially begun.

Skadi also wanted to say something. Before falling into a deep sleep, she suddenly thought of Noah - she didn't know if she was worried about her. In fact, there was nothing to worry about. What else could happen to her?

"The scene now is pretty much the same as before, except there are far fewer people. After dealing with the scum in the trench, I close my eyes, listen to the advisor's chatter, soak in the dormant sol, and take a nap. When I wake up, the nauseating smell that lingers on my body will be gone."

Skadi doesn't really hate this kind of surgery, at least it allows her to sleep well.

"Having been left unattended for so long in the harsh and ever-changing terrestrial environment, your physical condition is extremely unstable. The adaptive joints can autonomously monitor the Sea Si genes in your bodies, but five years of wear and tear is enough to dull even the most sophisticated instruments. Moreover, in the process of battling the Sea Si genes for so long, your immune system is inevitably out of balance. I will do my best to restore you to your best condition, but I cannot replace what these five years have taken away."

"You're basically saying we have endocrine disorders..." Laurentina quipped, "Are we some kind of elderly women? Seaweed cells shouldn't cause premature menopause, right?"

"That shouldn't happen. Don't worry, you are still as young as before."

Brandus was amused, and Skadi's mouth corners also curled up.

"Goldetia, our encounter at the council meeting was not pleasant. I'd rather treat this moment as our first meeting since you returned home. But you haven't said much since the beginning."

Compared to Skadi and Laurentina, Gloria seemed very silent. Brandus tried to talk about some topics to make the atmosphere of the operation less dull, but after he took the initiative to speak, Gloria responded seriously.

"Brandus, do you have anything else to discuss regarding this surgery? If not, we can discuss more later—about how we've changed over the past five years, and how you've changed."

"..."

The words were still as impolite as usual. Although Brandus came forward to prove the reliability of the deep-sea hunters, Gloria did not seem to appreciate it. She must have her own plans, and her appearance was just superfluous.

The surgical procedure was about to begin - Brandus could only nod.

"Sleep well, then, hunters."

——But before that, there was something in his heart that he hadn't said out loud.

When you wake up, I hope everything will be in time.

-

Inside the maintenance passage of the [Dome], the Coast Guard's elite commandos, armed with Class II weapons, advanced cautiously.

The dome held the entire city's safety at risk. If breached, extremely high-pressure seawater would flood directly into the city, instantly destroying it. While there were emergency plans in place in the event of a dome breach, they were only activated under extreme circumstances. Even for Hai Si, breaching the dome would be no easy task. While the Coast Guard members were nervous, they weren't panicking.

"The monitoring unit on the dome conducted an emergency scan of the city and found dense algae biosignals here."

"...She must have had some algae samples on her at the time. Looks like we found the right place." Sikunda nodded and said to Noya beside her, "Tulia is indeed here."

"I have a strong feeling..." Noah took a deep breath, "This time it won't be so smooth. It might even be a trap."

"They may have guessed Cassia's betrayal a long time ago. I understand your thoughts, but..." Sikunda looked around, "We can't lose control of the dome."

"I understand." Noah knew that the current situation was a matter of life and death. For this city, the dome was the lifeblood of the city. Once control of the dome was lost, it was very likely that a catastrophe would follow.

"We don't know the exact situation... but it's always better to be cautious. I can help you locate the specific coordinates."

Team One had already deployed in the nearby streets, monitoring the roads. Team Two was responsible for the incursion. Normally, there would have been deep-sea hunters supporting them, but unfortunately, the operation was imminent, so there were no deep-sea hunters to provide support.

...Ah...that's not the case.

Noah thought of Ulpian. Such a large-scale Coast Guard mobilization must have attracted Ulpian's attention. He was likely nearby.

But people just can't stand the constant chatter. Just as Noya and Sikunda were about to head deeper into the maintenance tunnel, someone appeared before them. Someone had blocked their path, or rather, they had appeared in the other person's path. The person was tucked into the shadows cast by the angled buildings, their entire body the same color as the shadows. Only their eyes, those blood-red pupils, revealed their identity.

"Act according to the original plan." After Xikunda explained the situation into the walkie-talkie, she directly cut off the communication.

It was clearly a reunion after a long separation, but the other party obviously had no intention of greeting.

"Long time no see, 'Sensei'."

"..."

Noah felt that the atmosphere here was a little strange. She felt that maybe she should just treat herself like a piece of wood for a while, not moving or speaking.

"You're also investigating Tulia. What have you discovered?"

"That data officer was just an ordinary person implicated. She discovered an anomaly she shouldn't have noticed and tried to alert the relevant personnel, but failed." Ulpian's answer was concise and clear. "However, she is still alive. Although this is inconsistent with the Deep Sea Church's usual style, perhaps they have changed. The battle outside the city, the unusual movements within the city, the Coast Guard staying outside the channel plan, you noticed enough anomalies, but at the same time, your vision was easily distracted."

"Then we should rescue her as soon as possible."

"Calm down, Sikunda. Stay calm so you can make the right judgment."

Ulpian lectured.

"Learn from the person behind you. She's always calm and does the right thing. You still have a lot to learn..."

"..."

Noah wants to say...you two speak first, and don't bring me into this, okay?

She now feels like she is in a Shura field, but what does this Shura field have to do with her?

Chapter 58: Trap

I've been thinking about it.

As a scientist, what can I do for the soldiers who gave up their original future?

Flavio, the algae cultivation technician, Nona, the composer, Lunya, the special biological researcher, and Chryso, the youngest captain of the scientific expedition fleet... Brandos always recalls their names in his dreams at midnight.

They weren't supposed to be warriors, they were supposed to have their own lives.

But I changed everything.

The reason why Agor is Agor is because Agor respects the value of everyone, but now, Agor has taken the initiative to abandon this nobility.

I hope that my compatriots from all walks of life can eventually return to their original lives.

Skadi could continue to enjoy her wandering life, tinkering with the intricate components of the light array and taking underwater images that no one could understand except herself.

With Laurentina's talent, perhaps she'll become a new leader in the Institute of Physical Art. We'll project a beautiful starry sky onto the dome, while she dances with the shooting stars in the arena of wits... or perhaps, we'll erect her sculptures in the streets of every city.

Goletia... She is the youngest archon of Agor, the daughter of Helatia. She should have shouldered the future of Agor, the next hundred years, and become the new leader.

Brandus knew that it was his own fault and that he was the one who changed everything.

When the Deep Sea Cultists were waiting for an opportunity to rush into the research institute, Brandus saw the weapons in their hands. What he felt was not fear or panic, but relief.

He stretched out his hands, blocking the instrument, and said to all the Deep Sea Cultists, "Don't touch them. I'll go with you."

"The weapons technical advisor for the Channel Project, and an expert in the development of Class IV weapons, Brandus, right?"

These people are undoubtedly Agor people. Their appearance also indicates that the city has been infiltrated long ago. The fact that they can even break into such a confidential facility says it all.

"……Yes."

"Don't move. If the tentacles of this long-bearded comb grass pierce your skin, you will soon fall into a chaotic dream and slowly feel how your consciousness is torn apart." The murder weapon in the other party's hand is a highly poisonous plant. This plant has been used for euthanasia, but it has been specially treated. This wild species does not secrete anesthetic substances to allow humans to die painlessly.

"Although you look half dead, I know very well that people like you care most about how you die."

They'd likely gone through a series of inspections before entering, so they couldn't bring any weapons. However... a poisonous plant with research value might not have been included in the inspections. The little helper, after all, lacked true strong artificial intelligence, so it was perfectly natural that the poisonous plant, defined as experimental material, hadn't been included in the inspection list. Brandus had already figured out how the other party had entered the lab. He was only two steps away from the alarm button—a formidable distance, and he wasn't sure if he could protect the hunter in the operating room until backup arrived.

"Don't disturb the sleeping hunters. I'll go with you." Brandos took a deep breath and spoke.

"It's truly remarkable. Even when your own life was threatened, your first concern was still for these Hunters. You cared for them, but you never trusted the Deep Sea Hunter Project itself. You questioned its rationale, the harm it inflicted on humanity, and the sacrifices it entailed. You participated simply to personally manage the risks involved. You personally experienced its collapse, witnessing the abrupt end of such a far-reaching project after a deeply questionable failure."

The Deep Sea Church member disguised as a researcher taunted.

"Then I'm confused. The surviving hunters have just returned to Agor, and you're going to send them back to the battlefield yourself?"

"No, how could you understand? All I want to do is prevent them from getting hurt..."

The channel plan requires the help of the deep-sea hunters. It is for this reason that Brandus was ordered to complete the adjustment of the deep-sea hunters' bodies. He knows best that at this moment, the Deep-Sea Church will not let these hunters go.