Chlorine Sodium's Arknights

"I knew it. It really is you."

The silver-haired man, seated in a corner of the bar, spoke with a faint smile, his hands habitually crossed.

"Ah~ It's you, Black Snake."

It was an "old friend."

The immortal Black Snake, Koschei.

"So, what do you want? And stop wasting my time."

Without Yelena present, Chlorine Sodium revealed her true personality: low, gloomy, her pale golden star-like eyes shining in the dim room.

"Mmm~ Please don't say that, my friend. I paid handsomely for the reservation."

The wine glass was held between his middle and ring fingers, cradling the drink.

The man seemed to enjoy swirling the red liquid in his glass, then looked through the incredibly expensive wine at his "old friend," now stained red.

"Alright, then. Do you want me to add a layer of defensive magic to your head as well?"

She picked up the opened bottle of red wine from the table and poured a little into an empty glass for herself.

She only took a sip, just to taste it.

Chlorine Sodium didn't know good wine from bad, but tasting it was a way to broaden her knowledge.

It was also a necessary part of life, this so-called sense of ritual.

"No, no, no. I'm here to see you about something else this time."

"What is it?"

"My businesses in Lungmen... and Lungmen's future."

When it came to his business affairs, Koschei's tone was always like a Wall Street bond salesman, a bit affected.

As he spoke, Koschei held out a letter, pinched between his fingers.

It was a very elaborate envelope.

Pale gold patterns shimmered with wealth at the flap, and an authentic wax seal bore a family crest. The script was also beautiful Yan Nation block characters.

Of course, Chlorine Sodium had seen such high-class items during her years as a villain, but this crest caught her eye.

The crest was both familiar and unfamiliar.

It was the image of a dragon.

And this dragon symbol was Lungmen's symbol.

It seemed to be an invitation from the ruling family of Lungmen, not just some ordinary person.

But...

"Why me?"

Chlorine Sodium didn't reach for it immediately, asking coldly.

"Just an opportunity."

Koschei smiled mysteriously.

"Lungmen doesn't really welcome outsiders. Like me, an ordinary Ursus noble, I'm always viewed with suspicion. So, I intend to show my generosity. You seem to be looking for someone, and I'm offering you a chance to interact with the powerful. After all, who knows if the person you're looking for isn't among them?"

"Your generosity? Ha, tell me, what do you want?"

She settled into a more comfortable position on the sofa, closed her eyes, and waited for him to name his price.

This was all a transaction, and naturally, it required bargaining. As for "generosity," it was just a nice way of putting it.

People always cared about appearances, especially nobles, no matter how underhanded their methods. They always found a respectable reason for themselves.

"You really like to get straight to the point. But that's good, it's efficient."

Koschei said with his legs crossed, hands clasped on his knees, looking self-assured.

"It's simple. Just a...

favor."

ps: I have to say, Watch Dogs is quite fun. The first game's revenge plot for Aiden has a bit of a dark, noir feel. A grim city, personal information of passersby displayed on phones revealing their sins and desires, criminals everywhere, and dense gangs. Yet, even though ctOS could see people's behavioral tendencies, it couldn't stop them. In the end, it fell to Aiden, the vigilante executioner, to pass judgment on everything.

I prefer the style of the first game. Watch Dogs 2 felt a bit too hip-hop, and Legion felt... more like an online game.

Truly worthy of Ubisoft.

Section 42 Chapter 42 [All Show, No Substance]

People from Yan Nation value face, value favors, and value discretion.

A favor, once incurred, is difficult to repay.

It is the bond that maintains relationships within families and society.

Late at night, Wei Mansion.

Aside from the Taiko Group's real estate investments in Lungmen, the residence of Lungmen's actual rulers was the largest building by land area.

Today, it just so happens to be the birthday celebration of Lungmen's de facto ruler, Wei Yanwu.

As for the invitations, there were only two types. One specified the name of the invited guest, indicating precisely who was being invited. These were generally reserved for the right-hand men of the powerful, as well as political allies, serving as a show for rivals and lesser figures.

The other type had no name. Anyone holding an invitation could attend. Of course, such invitations were only given to high officials and dignitaries. In theory, possessing one granted the right to enter the very heart of power. Thus, it also served to display Wei Yanwu's generosity and open-mindedness.

Naturally, this was all for show, for the world to see.

In short, it was all just for appearances.

Chlorine Sodium, holding the second type of invitation, could also attend. Her qualifications, for the moment, were just enough to meet the entry requirements.

After all, quite a few high officials and dignitaries knew her.

This was the nature of interpersonal relationships, though more often it was about transactions.

And a small favor.

These wealthy individuals placed a high value on the safety of their own heads, so they had accumulated quite a bit of money.

Enough to buy a decent evening gown.

Regardless, she wasn't here for any social networking. Her primary purpose was to confirm one thing.

Whether the "protagonist" of this world existed within the upper echelons.

After all, this was a banquet hosted by the most powerful person in Lungmen. Everyone, from the most important to the least, was scrambling to get here, hoping to latch onto a higher branch, to associate with greater figures, and to gain more benefits.

In a way, all of Lungmen's wealth was gathered here tonight.

Chlorine Sodium could confirm tonight whether the person she was looking for was present.

Meanwhile, on the second floor of the grand hall, Wei Yanwu stood by the railing of the staircase leading to the second floor and the main hall. He looked down at the entire hall, observing the dignitaries and nobles arriving for the banquet.

Wei Yanwu, the ruler of Lungmen, tapped his fingers restlessly on the railing. Though he appeared to be watching the crowd, his mind was elsewhere, waiting for something.

Until a shadow appeared in the darkness behind him, emerging without a sound.

"Lord Wei."

"Speak."

"News from the Frozen Land has been cut off, but..."

"Speak freely."

"Regarding the Snow Demon incident, the informant's tongue has been severed."

The Shadow Guard, clad in a conical hat and a gray robe that concealed their entire body, knelt in the shadows behind Wei Yanwu, reporting the gathered intelligence.

"It matters not. Each family sweeps their own doorstep. It's good that Ursus's army has things to occupy them, lest they bother Lungmen. You may go."

Wei Yanwu, whose blood flowed with the blood of the ancients, still did not turn around. He merely adjusted his demeanor slightly.

As an old hand in politics, the actual power holder of Lungmen, Wei Yanwu always presented an image of wisdom and strength, with decisive and seasoned methods.

His aura was a crucial element. In ancient Eastern mystical philosophy, the proper use of "qi" could prolong life and even alter one's demeanor, allowing for intimidation or a pleasant appearance.

This was very important in officialdom. Every word and action of Wei Yanwu represented his political aspirations. Even if he wasn't that kind of person, he had to act that way, for everyone to see.

This was what was meant by "putting on a show."

It was like playing the good cop and bad cop. The one playing the bad cop might not actually have a fiery temper, and the one playing the good cop might not be genuinely easygoing. But sometimes, it was necessary to do so for others.

And Wei Yanwu was a master of this art.

"Another gathering, another birthday celebration. With this time, he could have spent it with Xiao Ta and Huijie."

Suddenly, a woman's soft complaint reached the ears of this master craftsman.

It was an East Country woman.

Wenyue, or more accurately, Wei Wenyue.

The princess of the East Country, and of course, his wife, Wei Yanwu.

As it was a formal occasion, Wenyue was naturally wearing the exquisite kimono that only the highest nobles in the East Country wore for formal events, her face adorned with an elegant smile.

She appeared on the second floor with Wei Yanwu. It was a formal occasion, so Madam Wei naturally had to be present.

However, women were like this. Their outward demeanor and inner thoughts didn't always align. Her face wore a ceremonial smile, appearing dignified, noble, and graceful, but her words were a soft complaint directed at Wei Yanwu, truly two-faced.

"Ahem... It's all for show. This so-called birthday banquet is merely a necessary facade.

Besides, Xiao Ta is with Huijie, so it won't be for long."

"Hmph."

Madam Wei let out a soft hum, seemingly unimpressed.

"It will be over soon, just a little while. And you know, it's like the tea served at the Guanglu Temple, the weapons at the Wubei Academy, the essays at the Dali Temple, the affairs managed by the Supervisory Office, and the prescriptions from the Imperial Hospital," he said, "they're all just for show... To put it bluntly, even my sworn brother's birthday celebration is just a show for the world. These necessary expenditures are simply to let everyone know who the true boss is here."

After comforting his wife's minor displeasure, Wei Yanwu finally had time to check his own appearance.

As a nobleman among nobles in the Yan Nation, he had always paid great attention to his appearance. His formal attire and leather shoes were his armor, and the ever-present, expertly held pipe was his weapon.

When everything was in order and perfectly arranged, it was time for him to fight.

Stepping down the stairs, the man immediately became the center of attention. As the most powerful person in this place, everyone could not help but notice him.

And today was the day he would take his ideals a step further.

It was a probing action, and a search for more cooperative intentions.

After all, the vast majority of the targets that needed to be gathered were already here, and no one dared to ignore him.

Except for Chlorine Sodium.

She glanced at Wei Yanwu, memorizing the appearance of the man at the pinnacle of power, and then lost interest. Her purpose for coming here had nothing to do with him anyway; she just needed to confirm a few things.

However, it seemed that what she was looking for wasn't here.

She was losing interest.

The young woman didn't particularly like the atmosphere here.

Noisy, boring, just people and more people.

She preferred quiet, a peaceful solitary life, like a plant, rather than this boisterous, clamorous place filled with makeup and schemes.

It was completely at odds with her aesthetic.

So Chlorine Sodium was considering an early departure.

After all, in her eyes, this place was simply too chaotic.

Until...

The appearance of something caused Chlorine Sodium's pupils to shrink dramatically!

ps: The outline needs to be extended again, so annoying [slumped]. The plot is finished, but the new plot hasn't been thought out yet. Every time this happens, I have to stay up all night.