Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

This was a perception that was nearly impossible to conceal. People could disguise their expressions, their voices, even their heartbeats, but they could never disguise their inner feelings. Thus, in Noya's perception, everything seemed so simple and easy to understand. Those who were truly kind to her, those who were hypocritical, those who sought to deceive her, and even those who harbored hostility—all appeared so clear and understandable to her.

She lost her sight, but instead gained this ability that could be called cheating.

It is precisely because of this ability that she has been able to climb all the way to her current position.

No one can deceive her. Her accurate judgment and decisive approach make her almost invincible in the business field. With just one meeting and one negotiation, she can always bypass layers of traps and get what she wants.

-

She originally wanted to brag about herself like this...

But in reality, her ability isn't that convenient...

Emotions aren't black and white, and simple perception can't truly reveal a person's thoughts. Her ability isn't mind-reading, but simply perception. Just like you can feel temperature but can't precisely determine its degree, her abilities also have their own issues of precision. While on Rhodes Island, Noa had also encountered a being with even greater abilities: Rhodes Island's leader, Amiya. In her presence... let alone sensing their emotions, her own emotions would be swayed.

After meeting Amiya, Noah rarely relied on this ability anymore. As the saying goes, there is always someone better than you. No one knows whether someone can easily arrest you, right?

There was a silver lining, however. Amiya, the only person who had managed to control herself, had a good relationship with him. Rhodes Island itself was quite approachable. Noah had even registered a name on Rhodes Island, though it was just a name; he didn't even bother with a codename, just "Noah." This was enough to prove Noah's approval of Rhodes Island. In this land, having an ally like Rhodes Island was a blessing.

Noya always thought back to her time in Rhodes Island. Although she spent most of her time in the hospital ward receiving various treatments, Rhodes Island even initiated a specialist consultation system to suppress the dangerous Originium crystal cluster growing in her location. As those experts, whose names usually only appeared in major academic journals, discussed her condition, Noya was actually quite terrified...

However, the final result was good. It was said that because of her good physical foundation, after the massive doses of drugs, her physique, though weakened, was at least still alive. It was said that the dosage of the drugs she was given had reached a dangerous level, barely suppressing the surge of Originium. This treatment method was extremely damaging to the body. Before going to Rhodes Island, Noah's physical fitness could be said to have reached the level of a Royal Guard Operator, but after the treatment—well, at least she was still alive.

The decline in resistance is no longer a big problem. The bigger problem is that I have to take these drugs with severe side effects strictly and regularly to suppress the source stone in my body.

Even the expert on mineralogy, the legendary Dr. Kal'tsit, had to admit that the activity of the Originium in Noah's body was the strongest she had ever seen in her life. What made her even more headache was that the extremely high activity of the Originium might not be a big problem, as there were always ways to make the Originium inert. The problem was that Noah's immune system was also strangely strong.

Noah's strong immune system is not a bad thing in itself, but when a strong immune system encounters an incurable mineral disease... that is the worst case scenario in the world.

Because her immune system considered the Originium a foreign object, it was constantly working at full capacity to expel it. Meanwhile, the Originium itself was rapidly growing within Noya's body. As it grew, it was destroyed. For a long time, Noya's body temperature never dropped below 38 degrees Celsius, peaking at 40 degrees Celsius. If it weren't for her exceptional physique, she would have long since been succumbed to the intense battle between her immune system and the mineral sickness.

Therefore, the final treatment method is a two-pronged approach. Not only does it suppress the inertia of the Originium, but it also specifically suppresses Noah's immune system. However, the result is that Noah's body has changed from almost never getting sick to a weak constitution where he is prone to fever if he is not careful.

I was almost killed by my own body because it was too strong. The research report on my body alone is enough to write several papers. But now my immune system and my mineralogy have entered a truce, and I am temporarily safe. Otherwise, I guess my immune system would burn out my brain from playing high-end games, or explode directly due to the crazy stress of mineralogy.

However, Noah was forced to give up the sword and archery skills he had trained in the past and had to turn to learning the field of sorcery. Although even as a sorcerer... he was not up to the standard.

I have to say, it's a good thing that I found Rhodes Island. This company exempted me from a lot of medical expenses because of the value of my research. Otherwise, the medical expenses and subsequent drug prices alone would be sky-high. I transformed myself into a company to make money to make up for the shortfall incurred by the Gilead family due to my treatment. But now, not only has it been completely made up, but I have also made a lot of money.

Being alive was already a blessing, so Noya was actually quite open-minded about many things, like the fact that she was forced to distance herself from Maria and the others. At least she had Kuro by her side, so she didn't feel lonely at all, not at all.

——Well, a little bit.

But it's just a little bit...

That would be great.

Chapter 19: The takeaway was actually me

Noah listened patiently as the suited, urban white-collar worker before her spouted meaningless data reports and a slew of contractual requirements from the business giants, seemingly offering goodwill but in reality testing them. The creatures, often called partners but actually acting as business scouts, spouted off a long stream of meaningless rhetoric. She tried to interrupt several times, but the man, likely a promotion from the sales department, struggled to find a respite from his barrage of criticism.

Perhaps it was because she was knocking on the wheelchair more and more impatiently, and Kuro was almost annoyed, so before Noah could say anything, he walked up and lifted up the chattering guy by the collar. Kuro was 1.8 meters tall, so he was very easy to deal with at this time, and the noisy guy was thrown out of Noah's office.

As for whether it would cause business tycoons to take advantage of the situation, Noah didn't care anymore. She already knew how condescending these business tycoons were towards her. They only gave her tiny profits, and still expected her to bow down to them. One or two would be fine, but after encountering so many companies with the same attitude, Noah suddenly felt that although her blindness made many people look down on her, wasn't this an excessive underestimation?

She wants to keep a low profile, but that doesn’t mean she wants others to teach her how to do things!

She propped up her chin and said helplessly, "Can you just not let him in next time?"

"Based on your previous guidelines, they do meet your requirements—" Mainna's expression remained unchanged, but Noya felt he was doing it on purpose, deliberately trying to make her suffer. Although she had no evidence, she just felt that way!

Now she missed the time she spent with Maria so much. Maria was supposed to come to her for afternoon tea at this time, and she began to miss the time when she fed Maria macarons. Although Maria's face wrinkled up because she was too sweet afterwards.

But at least this is... well, a sweet time, right?

"Next time, don't let him in... I don't have to see everyone, and my time is valuable." Noah wasn't really angry, his tone was just helpless and joking. "And... Originium hand sanitizer? What is this?"

Noya tapped her earphones. They had a small camera attached to them, which automatically scanned the information in front of her and read it aloud to her. While there were occasional errors, they mostly read the information correctly. This time, what she heard was truly strange—"Hand sanitizer manufacturer?"

"The other party is very sincere," Maenna replied succinctly, "and it seems the most serious of all the business contracts today."

"...Just how indecent are the others?" Noah shook her head. "Forget it, let her in."

-

Entering Hungry Horse's company for the first time, Cintela frowned. Honestly, she had never imagined she'd have to disguise herself as a white-collar worker to infiltrate a company. As a Platinum Leader of the No Helmet Alliance, wasn't that a bit too cheap? She was just scouting the place, and yet she had to disguise herself like this...

Although she didn't mind dressing like a professional beauty and wearing plain glasses to look refined, if it was necessary for disguise, it would be a bit...

But after all, it was Roy who suddenly showed up and grabbed me for urgent overtime work, so I couldn't refuse. Ever since I got on this pirate ship, I've often been forced to do things against my will. I finally made it to management, but this strange management system of the No Helmet Alliance, at the bottom of this inverted triangle, puts me, the unlucky Platinum, in charge of everything. And now... I, a Platinum leader, have to personally check in on things.

Bai Jin was quite familiar with Ele.Ma, though. After all, the food delivery app they developed was quite useful, and even Bai Jin would occasionally order takeout. He just hadn't expected to be on their company's property one day, and he wasn't sure if it would count as overtime pay...

If this goes on, will Roy ask me to disguise myself as a delivery man and assassinate him?

Thinking of himself in a blue uniform, a little blue helmet, and a small electric scooter speeding down the street, Bai Jin's heart nearly sank. Back then, he'd only dreamed of being an idol knight, but that dream was shattered. He'd just wanted to be a hardworking worker. While the work wasn't clean, at least he was earning money through his own abilities. And now... he might end up being a food delivery driver.

If she could defeat Roy, she would have killed him with a beard-smashing skull!

Inner thoughts aside, Platinum at least maintained the acting skills expected of a Platinum Leader, or perhaps it was simply her nature to rarely express other emotions. As the elevator doors opened, Sintela, the Platinum Leader of the Unhell Alliance, had composed herself and trudged to the office of the Chairman of the Hungry Horse Company in her high heels. This spokesperson, said to be the youngest in history to hold the position of Business Federation spokesperson, was a legend in Casimir.

However, most people do not know his true identity and appearance. Although this is not a difficult matter for the Wuzhou Alliance to investigate, the Wuzhou Alliance has only been keeping an eye on him for a short time, and the information has not yet been passed to the hands of the Platinum Lord.

So, she imagined the man across from her desk was a magnate and ambitious entrepreneur, the kind who could command millions or even hundreds of millions with a wave of his hand. It was said that this tycoon was accompanied by a formidable bodyguard... But she wasn't here on an assassination mission, so there was no way she was going to clash with that legendary bodyguard, was she?

But the moment she actually walked into the office, her vigilance immediately reached its peak——

"Hello... I'm the sales representative for Originium hand sanitizer..."

Bai Jin took out her business card, first gave a standard bow, and then raised her head. As a result, when she raised her head, she froze.

“…I’m not the boss.”

Mainna stood in front of her, her 1.9-meter height was like a wall... a wall that Bai Jin would probably never be able to climb over in his lifetime.

She was stunned at first, then she took a half step back in fear. Although the blond middle-aged office worker in front of her did not give off any dangerous aura, this face had always been at the top of the Wuzhou Alliance's bounty list, and no one had actually been able to fulfill this bounty so far. Even if there was a bounty of hundreds of millions on his head, it was estimated that no one would want to assassinate this person.

"...Hello... hello."

Bai Jin felt her body trembling a little, and she reminded herself again that she was just here to scout the place.

Why didn't Roy tell me...

Maenna Linguang will appear here!!!

Is this takeaway delivery for me?!

Chapter 20: Little Platinum Delivered to Your Door

Bai Jin is a person who has a very good understanding of her own strength. She knows what level her strength should be, and she is also more aware that her level is not even considered superior in Casimir, and there are many people who can easily manipulate her.

As the Platinum Lord of the Wuzhou Alliance, she doesn't have any arrogance, nor does she have any goals or ambitions - well, if you have to say, she does have some.

That is a safe retirement, preferably with a pension.

Being an assassin and wanting to retire peacefully was inherently contradictory, but Platinum's wish was truly that simple. After all, becoming an assassin for the No Helmet Alliance was simply a small accident.

If possible, she doesn't want to be this platinum king at all.

But perhaps even she herself hadn't imagined she'd one day face off against someone vying for third place in the No-Horn Alliance's bounty list. You know, while Maenna might be a low-key figure, he's someone even Black Iron wouldn't dare to touch. Her mere platinum status was nothing more than a mere dish in front of him, an appetizer at that. After finishing it, I'd barely feel full, not even a whetted appetite.

Mainna probably didn't know that the young man in front of him had already decided which cemetery he wanted to choose. He was just working for his descendants.

Because of the presence of Snitzer and Yolanta, in fact, Mainna's attitude towards Noah is even much better than Margaret and Maria. After all, he respects Yolanta very much, and naturally he also pays more attention to Noah than normal.

If it weren't for this relationship, I think he would not agree to become Noah's second bodyguard even if Noah invited him with all his strength.

——Yes, it seems that they are recruiting personal assistants, but in fact, they are no different from bodyguards.

After Mainna arrived, Noah often stayed in the office and asked Kuro to go out to do things - with Mainna here, he could indeed send Kuro out with confidence.

"How long are you going to sit there in a daze? Are you cancelling the negotiations?" Maenna glanced at Xinteleya, whose back was already covered in cold sweat, and said, "Then I'll cancel your invitation today. The door is over there."

"...Ah, no." Cintrea finally came back to her senses. "We still... still need to talk..."

After all, this was a mission assigned by Qing Jin. If he really went out empty-handed, he would probably have a hard time. Although he wouldn't be killed directly, based on Roy's personality, to be honest, Bai Jin felt that if he went back like this, he would definitely be in trouble.

So she could only muster up her courage and follow Mainna into the office.

Noah's office is not big. Noah, who is sitting in a wheelchair, is spinning the pen in his hand boredly. He only raised his head slightly when he heard footsteps.

"welcome."

"Uh-huh."

Noah was a little confused when he heard the other person's voice sounding so unsure, and then he seemed to think of a possibility.

"Ms. Xinteleya, I've heard your offer and the terms of the contract. I think it's a good fit. I also hope to establish a good relationship with emerging companies. As the spokesperson for the Business Federation, my policy is to unite small and micro businesses to achieve common prosperity and strive together. For example, your company's product, Originium hand sanitizer, is quite novel. Perhaps there is indeed room for investment."

Noah, contrary to his usual professional smile, spoke to Xinteleya in a friendly tone. Not only was it friendly, but it was even a bit enthusiastic, as if he had seen a precious treasure.

"This...is like this."

Xinteleya didn't expect that the other party would be so interested in the contract she brought. She thought it was just a disguise. However, she had never participated in business negotiations and didn't know how to respond. Now it did look a bit amateurish.

"Is this your first time participating in a business negotiation, Ms. Xinteleya? I feel a little nervous."

"No... well... I'm new at the company. I used to work at the front desk," Cintela lied. "So I'm not used to it yet. Please forgive me."

"It's okay, everyone has a first time, and I think it's a good thing this way. After all, we can save some energy and don't need to test each other. I think the project is good and I plan to invest money. So, Ms. Xinteleya, if you have any requirements, or if there are any things we need to pay attention to during the cooperation, please make them clear now to avoid any problems in cooperation later." Noah's smile became even brighter, and even Platinum felt something was wrong.

However, she didn't have time to think too much, and the more she spoke, the more mistakes she would make. If she was discovered to be an assassin who came to scout the place, she would probably be chopped into pieces by the masked bodyguard behind her in the next second.

In this house, there are at least two people whom she absolutely cannot afford to offend, but Xinteleya is still very confident in her own weakness.

As for Noah—she had noticed something was wrong with Xinteleya from the very beginning.

As I've mentioned before, Noah is very sensitive to other people's gazes. The moment Miss Xinteleya entered the room, she focused her gaze on her neck, heart, and other vital areas, as if assessing something. Few people have this habit, and Noah happens to know who does.

The Assassin of the No-Horned Alliance——

Because they were skilled in bows and crossbows, they typically aimed for locations where a single strike could kill. The enemy's footsteps were also strange, much lighter than those of an average person. Although she herself probably didn't realize it, this gait was clearly part of some kind of infiltration technique. Putting all this together, Noya could almost understand why she was so nervous. The Helmetless Alliance might not yet know Kuro's identity, but they were definitely aware of Mainna's strength.

After seeing Mainna, the assassin lady probably gave up her assassination plan and is now just waiting for an opportunity to escape.

But it's not that easy. Noah had a strange smile on his face.

That's great. It was extremely difficult to find the No-Horn Alliance before, but after I became the spokesperson, the No-Horn Alliance immediately came to me. This Miss Xinteleya is just like an invitation letter handed to me by the No-Horn Alliance.

In Noya's eyes, if an organization like the No Helmet Alliance fell into the hands of the enemy, it would be a headache for him, but if it fell into his own hands—

That is a very pleasant thing.

Chapter 21: Xinteleya

Although he had basically guessed Miss Xinteleya's situation in his heart, and his estimate was almost correct, Noah still maintained a kind and friendly attitude on the surface.

There was no other way. Assassins, once they lost their threat, would be forced to submit to their will. Noya was now protected by the two gate gods, Kuro and Maenna. Forget about the assassins from the Wuzhou League, even Xuantie would hardly pose any threat to her life. Given her complete dominance, Noya naturally expressed a reassurance.

"Ms. Xinteleya, you've been traveling for so long. You're not in a hurry to go back to the company anyway, right? Why don't you have dinner with me? It's almost time for dinner." Noah folded his hands in front of him and said with a smile. Although he was asking for opinion, his tone was full of unquestionable threat.

Xinteleya had a thousand reasons to refuse, but after seeing the two great gods behind Noah, she swallowed and nodded with tears in her eyes.

"That...that would be troublesome."

“…Oh~”

Noah was happy. This was a rare situation. At this moment, the girl seemed to have found her favorite toy, and her heart was full of joy about how to continue playing.

However, since she couldn't go to Maria and Zofia today (after all, she had to avoid suspicion), the slightly lonely Noa happened to run into Cintela, who had been sent by the No-Horned Alliance. Naturally, she wanted to play a little joke on her. Although it looked pitiful, at least Noa wouldn't treat others as expendable. So, please be patient, Miss Cintela.

Normally, Noya would just eat simple food with a few nutritional supplements, but when treating others to a meal, she was quite generous. Even if she couldn't eat that much herself, she would still order a full plate of expensive ingredients. She wasn't short of money, and while she couldn't compare to those business tycoons, strictly speaking, Noya had already achieved financial freedom.

She was able to accumulate such wealth in such a short period of time, not only because of her unique vision in developing the Ele.me food delivery app, but also because of her in-depth cooperation with Rhodes Island. Although Rhodes Island was notorious for not being good at business, Noah was. So with Rhodes Island regularly providing a large amount of Originium suppression potion, Noah obtained a lot of profit through various means, 70% of which was given to Rhodes Island, and 30% was enough for Noah to make a fortune.

However, Noah herself is not very interested in money. She has come this far just by letting things take their course, so she has no intention of saving money. She even often invests money directly in companies that have unique technologies and products but are about to go bankrupt. This behavior, which should be called venture capital, has instead increased Noah's assets a lot. Although the companies under Noah or that she has invested in have not yet become the leader, they have begun to gradually erode the underlying pillars of Casimir Capital.

For example, if a leading economic enterprise manufactures cars, then most of the screws, engines, and other supporting equipment must be obtained from lower-level factories through various orders. These factories are the companies that Noah has invested heavily in. In a sense, Noah has a slight control over the industrial life of the country, right?

Although it is not difficult for these leading companies to produce and sell their own products, as it stands now, placing orders directly is the most cost-effective approach.

After a few twists and turns, Noah finally became a member of the Financial Freedom Club at this age. And Xinteleya in front of him... well, although she was a Platinum Rank, she was still just a high-level employee.

"Miss Xinteleya, you can try the cheese beef here first. It's delicious." Noah enthusiastically recommended the restaurant's specialty to Xinteleya. "If you're not used to it, you can also try the garlic lobster. These lobsters are imported from Iberia and taste great too."

Xinteleya took a look at the prices on the menu and felt dizzy instantly. Although it was not that she could not afford the food, as a platinum lady, her salary was actually higher than that of many workers. Although the source of the money was somewhat irregular, Xinteleya would never spend the money on a high-end restaurant that was obviously much more expensive. After all, most of her money had to be saved.

And now this price...is obviously completely beyond Platinum's acceptable range.

"Or... let's go to another store?" Xinteleya opened her mouth, wondering if eating these things would spoil her taste. After thinking it over and over again, in a fierce mental struggle, she made a suggestion that even she regretted saying.

"...Ah?" Noah was stunned. Although the other party's words were a bit abrupt, in her perception, they were actually quite sincere... In other words, the other party had no conspiracy or intrigue, but simply felt that the food here was too expensive and didn't want her to waste money?