Someone in Arknights, Starting as Griseo

……

Griseo didn't see Talulah or Alina at all during lunch today.

After asking Yelena, she learned that the two had been discussing matters in the tent since this morning.

……

After lunch, the Yeti Squad, uncharacteristically, didn't continue their idle chatter and horseplay. Instead, they dispersed to prepare their things.

"I'm really sorry, Griseo, I can't accompany you today. Go find Alina and the others. I'll be back as soon as possible."

Looking at her dispersing teammates, Yelena leaned down, gently ruffled Griseo's hair, and said with a hint of apology.

!;

"Mhm, it's okay... Be careful."

Hearing this, Griseo nodded lightly, indicating she understood. At this point, the little loli knew that the Yeti Squad was heading out on a mission this afternoon.

After ruffling Griseo's head again, Yelena also left to prepare her things.

Griseo, sitting where she was and watching FrostNova's retreating back, suddenly had a glint in her big eyes.

"A mission... huh?"

Chapter 25: Following

Griseo suddenly had an idea about the Yeti Squad's mission.

She wanted to go on the mission with Yelena...

However, knowing she definitely wouldn't be allowed to join, Griseo didn't plan to charge in directly. Instead, she intended to follow secretly.

Once the idea formed, she began to prepare...

The first step was to return to Talulah's tent, take out a piece of drawing paper, draw some words with a brush, and then place this "note" on the neatly folded quilt.

Afterward, Griseo took her little steps and left the tent... heading towards the vicinity of the Yeti Squad's tent.

Although Griseo couldn't directly heal Yelena's Originium infection right now, she could try to prevent her from overusing her Originium Arts.

The little loli had already made her plan: she would follow secretly. If there were no major issues, she wouldn't intervene or reveal herself.

But...

If the Yeti Squad encountered danger, or if Yelena needed to use her abilities extensively and frequently, Griseo intended to step in and resolve the situation.

Of course, it would be even better if she could do this under a different identity. Even if her whereabouts were exposed, it wouldn't matter if she was discovered, since the Yeti Squad didn't know her other identities.

But unfortunately, Griseo hadn't unlocked any other characters yet. Even Setsuna, who unlocked the fastest, was still a little short, with her unlock progress only at 91%.

So, she had no choice. The little loli could only follow secretly in her current identity, risking being lectured.

……

Finally, after Griseo hid in a corner and waited for a while, Yelena and the Yeti Squad set off with their equipment and supplies.

Just as she was about to follow, the little loli realized that wearing her current Little Red Riding Hood themed outfit today was a really bad idea.

The reason was simple: Griseo found that her red outfit was far too conspicuous in the biting cold wind and the vast, snowy expanse of the tundra. It was so obvious that she could be spotted from a great distance.

?;

This meant that to avoid being discovered, she could only trail far behind, not daring to get too close.

Fortunately, the wind and snow weren't too severe today, and tracks weren't covered by snow too quickly. Griseo could barely keep up by following the tracks.

But there was another point she really wanted to complain about...

That is, this path wasn't a forest trail at all. The snow was very deep on the ground, and Griseo was very petite, causing her to sink half her body into the snow...

?;

Mr. Wolf had initially wanted to carry her, but she refused.

She was conspicuous enough on her own. If she let the tall Mr. Wolf carry her, Griseo felt she would be discovered by the meticulous Yelena in an instant and sent back.

So, she had no choice. To avoid being sent back, the little loli had to "swim" in the snow.

In a tent at the camp—

"We ended up chatting for so long, it seems little Griseo didn't even have breakfast?"

As if remembering something, Alina frowned slightly and stopped the previous topic.

"It seems so. Is that little one still sleeping? We should probably wake her up." Hearing this, Talulah nodded slightly and said softly.

"Then let's end our chat for today. We've discussed quite a lot. Let's organize our thoughts now." As she spoke, Alina stood up from her stool and stretched.

After stretching her stiff body, she continued softly, "I'll go wake little Griseo up to eat. If she sleeps too much during the day, she won't be able to sleep at night."

"Go ahead. I'll continue researching the next plan. I wonder how Yelena's situation is. After this operation ends, regardless of success or failure, we'll have to change our encampment again."

Nodding gently at Alina, Talulah withdrew her gaze and focused back on the map on the table.

"Mhm, don't worry. Have faith in Yelena..."

Alina looked at Talulah's serious expression with a hint of helplessness and relief, then turned and left the tent.

Even though she had experienced it herself and knew how miraculous it was, seeing Talulah now, Alina still couldn't help but marvel at how capable little Griseo was.

?;

Alina gently lifted the tent flap of Talulah's tent and peeked inside... but her gaze swept over the interior and she couldn't find someone who should have been there.

"..."

Frowning, Alina stopped being so gentle and walked in quickly.

No matter how she looked, she couldn't see the familiar little figure in the tent.

Then, as her gaze swept over the neatly made bed once more, Alina noticed the drawing paper left on the blanket.

[Sister Talulah, if you can't find Griseo... don't worry, I'm fine and very safe. And I'm very capable too...]

?

Seeing the words on the paper, Alina's frown deepened, and an ominous premonition surfaced in her heart.

Finally, she squeezed the drawing paper in her hand, turned around quickly, and left to find Talulah.

As time passed, the sky over the snowfield grew darker, and the wind and snow gradually intensified... beginning to obstruct their vision.

"Phew, it's been so long, Alina and the others should have seen my message..." After exhaling a puff of hot air, Griseo paused her steps and murmured softly.

Actually, Griseo could have left without saying anything to Alina and the others, sneaking away and sneaking back...

However, she didn't want the two of them to worry too much and waste resources searching for her, so she left a "note."

Moreover, Griseo was actually quite glad she left the note now.

Because before she came, she had no idea that the Yeti Squad's target this time would be so far away... She had been following them for several hours and still hadn't reached their destination.

At this point, Griseo couldn't just turn back halfway, so she could only continue following.

However...

"Mr. Wolf..."

As Griseo called out, the large and handsome Mr. Wolf appeared. After bowing elegantly, he scooped the little loli into his arms, shielding her from the wind and snow as they continued forward.

ps: Due to certain reasons, I don't have time for a third update tonight, but don't worry, I'll remember.

I also saw someone mentioning a bounty; I'll start one the week before it goes on shelves, around the beginning of next month.

Good night.

Chapter 26: Worry

The Yeti Squad traveled for several more hours, and just as the sky was about to turn completely dark, they finally entered a forest and stopped their advance.

They began to organize and rest in the forest, preparing for the upcoming operation.

"..."

Griseo, who had been following far behind, saw the vast forest and towering mountains in the distance and changed direction, bypassing the Yeti Squad and entering the forest from another direction.

The little loli felt that if her guess was correct, they were now close to the Yeti Squad's target. Or, the target was very likely within this forest ahead.

Based on past experience, Griseo thought there might be a mine nearby... a mine where infected individuals were enslaved to extract Originium.

However, there was no concrete evidence yet, so she bypassed the Yeti Squad to investigate first.

Night had completely fallen, and the already dim forest became utterly dark... cold, lightless, and silent.

However, this situation, which would hinder others, instead facilitated the concealment of Griseo and her Mr. Wolf.

Furthermore, Mr. Wolf moved by floating, and the little loli was held in his arms, making the two of them like silent ghosts moving through the forest.

After advancing an unknown distance, Griseo saw a faint light in the distance through the dark forest...

"Mr. Wolf, please put me down..."

After gently rubbing her eyes, which had adjusted to the darkness, Griseo whispered to the Mr. Wolf holding her.

"..."

Hearing his little princess's request, Mr. Wolf did not hesitate. He gently placed the person in his arms on the ground and even helped the little loli straighten her clothes, which had been slightly disheveled by the wind.

"Thank you, Mr. Wolf. You can go back now. I'll walk the rest of the way myself." After letting Mr. Wolf adjust her clothes, Griseo thanked him softly.

This time, after hearing Griseo's words, Mr. Wolf did not disappear immediately but paused slightly... appearing hesitant.

As if sensing Mr. Wolf's concern, Griseo blinked her big eyes and said seriously, "If there's danger, Mr. Wolf can come out to protect me again."

"..."

This time, Mr. Wolf nodded his large wolf head slightly before disappearing into thin air. Griseo was left standing alone.

After watching Mr. Wolf disappear, Griseo turned around and looked again at the faint lights coming from the distant forest through the darkness.

To be honest, the environment and atmosphere in the forest right now would be somewhat unsettling to an ordinary person, making them shiver in the cold wind.

But Griseo was no ordinary person. She was not only unafraid but also unaffected by the darkness and cold of the forest.

After lightly shaking the snow off her body, she began to walk forward again.

Carefully approaching the edge of the forest, Griseo stopped her steps and hid behind a large tree... looking out.

The first things that met the little loli's violet eyes were a few houses and buildings lit by lamps, along with some patrolling guards. Following that was... a large mine entrance guarded by personnel.

"..."

She barely needed to look further; Griseo knew her previous guess had been confirmed. This was a mine...

And mines in the snowy plains, one could easily guess, would have infected people working inside... Even if they weren't infected to begin with, working in an Originium mine for a few days would make them so.

After her thoughts were confirmed, Griseo, hiding behind the tree, slowly clenched her small fists, her mood souring.

However, after clenching her fists a few times... she ultimately didn't act.

This was because Griseo had not forgotten the purpose and reason for this mission. She needed to first understand what the Yeti Squad's objective was this time before offering help.

After all, Griseo had no idea what the situation was at this mine, how many people were stationed there, or if there were any reinforcements.

If her impulsiveness disrupted the Yeti Squad's plan, or if she accidentally affected the Yeti Squad hiding nearby, it would be a loss far outweighing any gain.

"Hoo..."

Thinking this, Griseo withdrew her gaze and sat down directly against the tree.

The snow was already half the height of the little loli, and with her sitting down, she was almost completely hidden. From a distance, only the red wolf ears on her hood remained visible, standing erect.

On the other side of the forest—