Hello, Arknights

Chapter 236 Meeting, Call

Have you hidden yourself from that giant corpse?

You've become so weak... You tried to rely on those outsiders to avoid me before...

Well, although I was indeed unable to defeat you in the end...

But how many times can you have a back-up plan?

I don't need to kill you fair and square, just your death is enough.

"But now that I'm put on these 'shackles'... I really can't do whatever I want..." The Blood Demon's eyes flashed with gloomy anger. He clasped his ten fingers together to try to gather destructive power. A sense of emptiness came from every functional core of his body, neither painful nor oppressive. What he felt was a void, which was the intangible shackles.

The power he could mobilize now was pitifully small, probably the same level as when he had just emerged among the blood demon clan many years ago.

"I won't let you go. There's enough time. By then, we'll settle all the old and new grudges together." He made the decision calmly.

The blood mist moved, and the figure disappeared into the wilderness near Rhodes Island.

Rhode Island, Visitors Room.

"Here you are... I thought I could touch the scales for a while longer..." When the Agor girl saw Ling Dengxian appear, a trace of disappointment appeared on her face.

"...I took the wrong path." Ling Dengxian simply turned around and left.

"No, brother, I was just saying it casually, don't take it seriously." The black-haired Agor girl immediately blocked the door.

"So who are you? Last time we met, you refused to tell me your name or your background." Ling Dengxian rolled his eyes at her, still remembering that this mysterious guy had helped the Blood Demon before.

"Uh...how should I put it? Can you promise not to get angry after I introduce myself?" the girl said with a smile.

"..." Ling Dengxian's eyes turned slightly cold. He thought of the organization that he didn't want to think about on weekdays. Although he didn't mention it or talk about it with other people, he never forgot it.

"The scepter—"

A finger was raised in front of his eyes. "Stop." The Agor girl glanced around with the corner of her eyes and sighed.

"Gu Fan, code name, monitoring specialist. There are many factions within our organization. I am only responsible for finishing the project after receiving orders. Please be kind and don't target us."

"I don't remember seeing you in Tobrand." Ling Dengxian moved closer, and Gu Fan could not see any joy or anger in his eyes.

"...If you can stay calm and listen to me, I can tell you another thing that you can know." Gu Fan shrank his neck.

She had witnessed with her own eyes the battle between "him" and the first generation Blood Demon. Even though it was only in a special form, the information she had obtained showed that he was not some cute, immature boy, even if he couldn't beat her under normal circumstances.

"...Follow me to the deck." Ling Dengxian stared at her movements closely.

"Wait a minute..." Gu Fan returned to his seat with a clatter, picked up the cup and drank it all, then followed as if he had made some great determination, "Let's go."

Ling Dengxian looked at her deeply, then stood at the door of the visitor room in deep thought.

"The deck should go to the left, right?" Gu Fan said cautiously.

"So you have figured out Rhodes Island's layout in advance?" Ling Dengxian stared at her calmly. Gu Fan was silent and turned his head away embarrassedly.

"Aren't you guys meddling in too many matters?" He narrowed his eyes.

"Who do you think it's because of?" Gu Fan blurted out.

"How do I know who it's because of?" Ling Dengxian asked back, "Because of me?"

"There is a reason...but it's not convenient to tell you. Don't force me to ask me. I'm just an errand boy." Gu Fan spread his hands, thinking that he had spoken out of turn.

It was still raining, so they both chose to stop under the sunshade outside the door.

"Go ahead." Ling Dengxian took a deep breath and said.

"I am not on the same side as those two Sarkaz, and you should be very clear about the position of the Giant Wolf's Mouth. That Anasa is from Kazdel, and Saria really has nothing to do with that plan. This is all I can tell you."

"What about now? Why did you appear in my sight?" Ling Dengxian did not try to dig out more information from her. He had tried it before in Ursus.

However, after she reminded him, he remembered that Zi seemed to have not appeared for a long time. She did not show up during the turmoil probably because her injuries had not healed yet. However, he could feel that she did not leave, but did not sneak in because he landed on Rhodes Island.

Zi probably needs to find another chance to meet her. She has done a lot of things and almost lost her life several times. He has to find out what it wants.

"...I hope you can help me. I don't want to chase a landship like that idiot Lupo. It would be fun if Rhodes Island has a target to speed up." Gufan hesitated for a moment, and tried to show a pitiful expression, "Recommend me to be a nominal operator, okay——"

"Impossible, there is no way, it can't be done." Ling Dengxian decisively denied this possibility. Are you kidding? The organization behind this guy is not a good thing. They dare to act recklessly in the territories of Columbia and Victoria. He dare not let such a person act freely here.

What's more, he is just a newcomer, so how can he be qualified for recommendation?

"Really? I can do anything as long as I can get your trust!" Gu Fan said unwillingly. If she could escape from the days of sleeping in the open air, she might do something irrational.

Note: She hasn't been back to the headquarters or branch site for quite some time. The Scepter and the Institute have judged her as "exiled", so naturally she couldn't receive any supplies except the things she took with her when she left.

But I know that I am already in a trap set by my teacher and cannot extricate myself easily.

"You should understand that since you can confess your background to me, you should also know my attitude, right?"

"It's just a struggle within the scope of what can be achieved..." Gu Fan sighed deeply, somewhat complaining about his fate. Ling Dengxian was about to ask something else, but she held his chin and pulled it down, moved closer to take a closer look, then let go before he could counterattack, retreated, and prepared for defense.

"Want to take action?" Ling Dengxian's eyes flashed with anger, and he was secretly shocked. This guy was no small fry. He almost didn't react just now.

"No, sorry for the offense. I just wanted to see what's so special about you that makes you worth all the suffering and worth those people's attention."

Just as Ling Dengxian was about to make a move, she waved to him, left the eaves, jumped off the deck in three steps, and fell face down on the moving landship.

Ling Dengxian ran quickly towards the railing in the rain, but the figure of black-haired Agor had long disappeared.

He immediately returned and ran to the registration department for outsiders.

"The Argol... Lone Sail? I do remember that there was such a person, but... 'Rivet', come and take a look. Why is there something wrong with this document? I remember that there was a person registered..."

"Let me see, there is no blank space in this layout, am I right?"

"Absolutely not." Ling Dengxian and the operator said in unison, startling another Liberi personnel agent.

"Well, that could be a problem with the machine's recording... After all, these instruments were purchased with financial considerations in mind. They are old models, so there is a possibility that something could go wrong."

"... This is the only explanation... otherwise it's too weird."

Ling Dengxian didn't say anything more. He stared at the electronic subtitles appearing on the screen and felt a chill in his heart.

The Scepter and the Organization, an organization that did not exist in the main storyline in his impression, seemed to be gradually emerging in front of him, no longer hiding its danger.

He has to keep working hard... He can't fall behind in either study or strength, because... he absolutely cannot let another Xiran appear before him.

"Xiao Xian! How are you chatting with your friends here?" The girl Waifan came over and didn't feel anything was wrong with the current situation.

"Well, it's okay. Fengdi, what's wrong? Have you finished reading my diary?" Ling Dengxian adjusted his mood and didn't intend to affect Fengdi because of himself.

Fengpi shook his head: "I stopped watching it after you left. I feel like I can only watch it with you around. If you have any questions, I can ask them directly."

"Okay, let's go back together?"

"No, it's time to go to training. I'll come see you in the evening - oh, I almost forgot, here is the communication terminal that Rhodes Island gave you, I brought it to you on the way." Bagpipe carefully took the terminal out of the bag at his side and handed it to him.

"Oh, thank you. So soon? Eh? Why are there already several numbers in there? Are they essential contacts?"

"Well... no, I haven't heard of it." Bagpipe shook his head blankly.

As luck would have it, at this moment the second digit in the number list flickered and an incoming call alert appeared on the screen.

"...Hello, who are you?" Ling Dengxian asked tentatively.

"Operator White Dove, how are you? I'm sorry to skip the greetings. I have something to ask you."

"Commander Wei?! What's this? How do you have my number? I just got a new communication terminal!" Ling Dengxian was shocked.

"Let's talk about that later. I have something more important to ask you. You'd better give me an explanation." Wei Yanwu's voice was filled with emotion.

"Ah? You say." Ling Dengxian didn't understand why he was so serious and unconsciously used honorifics.

"Before you came to my Longmen, were you an adult?"

"I'm an adult now. The information I filled in my file is real..."

"Okay, you went to Ursus... Why is the Red Lotus Sword I gave you with Tallulah?"

"Ah... this, a token of friendship! You have already given it to me, so I still have the right to control it, right?" Ling Dengxian laughed.

"Well, you have met and most likely lived with Tallulah for a long time, right?" Wei Yanwu put down his pipe with a complicated look in his eyes.

"... Talulah... came to see you? Strange, didn't she say... Oh, it's probably a problem with urban materials and engine repairs? What's wrong? Does it have anything to do with me?" Ling Dengxian guessed what was going on.

Tsk, didn't you tell me to leave it alone? Didn't you listen to me... You really are very upright even though you say you dislike your body...

"Well, that's another matter. You don't have to worry about the problem of the infected."

"What is that?" Ling Dengxian was confused. Feng Di was also curious when he saw this, so he was not in a hurry to leave as there was still time.

"...I'll be frank. Tallulah brought back a daughter. Does this have anything to do with you? You'd better give me a reassuring answer."

"Ah? A daughter? Whose? Tallulah? Me? Huh?"

Bagpipe was stunned, his eyes dull.

Ling Dengxian felt unprecedentedly confused.