Chlorine Sodium's Arknights

"While there's not much I can teach you, as many dangerous things that are difficult to master can harm you, I'll teach you something simple instead.

You can call it...

Sacrifice."

ps: Third update!!!

Section 62: Chapter 60 [Vicious Conspiracy]

"From now on, you are Doctor Ina. Please be sure to remember this name."

Early morning, the safe house.

Chlorine Sodium looked at the work photo on the ID card handed over by Koschei.

It was a woman who looked very similar to her, though with some differences.

At least, her temperament was completely different from that of a Herrscher, who was like an ice queen.

Plus, the woman in the photo had blonde hair.

Perhaps Koschei, who was good at observing people, noticed Chlorine Sodium's confusion and explained.

"It took me a lot of effort to find a lady among the crowd who most closely resembles you. You know, this kind of thing requires many people to spend a lot of time."

Koschei seemed proud of how impressive his influence was in this place.

"The resemblance is really high. Plastic surgery?"

"No, no, no, it's genuinely that similar. This land is truly magical. Even I am amazed that someone can look so alike.

Well, if you were to dye your hair, it would be perfect."

Clapping his hands, a Ursus woman stood at the door.

"Although noble rules are complicated and not very practical, they sometimes bring luxurious benefits. This is the stylist I brought. Ursus nobles pay great attention to their external appearance, and she will help you with your hair."

However, Chlorine Sodium did not nod. Instead, she looked at Koschei. None of this was important to her.

What mattered was the transaction itself.

"I've changed my mind, Koschei."

'Her golden eyes were filled with solemnity.

Or rather, a hostility that could lash out and hurt at any moment.

It was simple: changing one's mind at the last minute could easily lead to conflict in negotiations. Displaying one's strength first to forcefully steer the negotiation was also a skill.

However, it also carried great risk.

"Oh? Changed your mind? Is the price I offered... not enough?"

Koschei, with his deep cunning, was unfazed. He would deal with whatever came his way. He spoke noncommittally, letting the other party state their price.

"No, I mean... I'm no longer interested in Chen's matter."

Hearing the girl's words, Koschei showed no surprise. He said with a slight gentleness.

"I see, that's fine. As a fair transaction, if one party doesn't seek reward, problems will arise. So, as a noble, tolerance and generosity are essential qualities.

But the arrow is nocked and ready to fire. Since you are no longer interested in Wei Yanwu's child, consider it a favor. My reputation, Koschei's face, is still worth something out there."

"But are you sure she won't leak anything?"

She shook the work ID in her hand. Plotting against the daughter of a ruler of a commercial empire was like going after Arasaka. If security was not tight, even a God would find it inconvenient later.

"Of course, of course. I gave her an offer she couldn't refuse, so she will naturally keep her mouth shut."

"There's no such thing as keeping one's mouth shut in this world."

Chlorine Sodium clearly wasn't buying it.

"A very simple condition: I will let her child leave the mine. It's that simple."

"As for Doctor Ina, who is an intern doctor, I will use the condition of letting her child leave the mine in exchange for her eternal silence."

The elegant Duke drew a line across his neck with his hand, the meaning self-evident.

It was truly the style of a bandit, exchanging a vague promise for someone's life.

Alright, this was very noble, and very Ursus.

But Chlorine Sodium was also that kind of person.

Only the dead can keep secrets forever.

"Boss, we've got a tail."

How foolish.

Lungmen, Outer Ring.

A black limousine was driving on the outer ring.

A penguin sat in the back seat, sealed off by an aura of luxury.

Separated from the cockpit, a circle of expensive and comfortable seats surrounded a cooler.

Inside was the owner's aged wine, a testament to their taste.

The boss, known in the underworld as the "Emperor."

His race was unknown, his resume a mystery, no one knew how he made his fortune, but everyone knew this.

The Emperor owned his own record label and had his own albums.

However, this wasn't his main business. The Emperor had extensive connections in Lungmen and a considerable reputation in the criminal underworld.

But what no one knew was that the Emperor was actually the Speaker of a gang himself. It was just that with his record label, he preferred his music career over gang activities, which was why his criminal history wasn't as well-known.

But today was a special day.

Even the Emperor, who didn't pay much attention to his gang's affairs, had personally set out.

Recently, an undercurrent had been surging in the dark corners of Lungmen.

The gang's previously stable environment had been suddenly shattered.

Of course, "stable" only meant there were no major upheavals. While internal takeovers were constant, the gangs were essentially just a group of businessmen at their core.

But now, among these businessmen, there were some restless elements who seemed eager to seize greater power.

It was laughable. A bunch of gangsters. The only reason they hadn't been completely wiped out was the existence of light and shadow. Lungmen had a large, complex population, and Wei Yanwu hadn't yet fully consolidated his position, leaving him no time to deal with these minor local gangs.

However, this wasn't a reason for them to harbor greater ambitions. In this line of work, ambition was necessary, but ambition required brains.

Snarling at a violent machine was an act of pure foolishness.

But this wasn't something that could be explained by simple foolishness; someone must have been orchestrating all of this from behind the scenes.

These foolish individuals in the spotlight had no idea they were merely being used as a shield.

Utterly foolish. People value ambition, but many never learn to know their own limits in their entire lives.

"Tail?"

It was the gang's dark side, meaning someone was following him.

The Emperor was somewhat known in the underworld; it was normal for someone to recognize him.

But this wasn't like someone passing by; it was outright surveillance.

Not far behind, an inconspicuous white sedan was following at a leisurely pace, but no matter what, it couldn't be shaken off.

"Quite the entourage. I never thought I'd be watched by someone."

The Penguin opened a bottle of aged wine.

"Boss, should we do something?"

The subordinate sitting in the passenger seat asked.

"No, no need. Let them follow."

Wearing sunglasses, no one could see the Emperor's eyes.

Sunglasses didn't just block strong light; they also blocked others' vision.

And at this moment, the Emperor's eyes were glinting with cold light.

Just at the most crucial time, being followed was not a good omen.

All the major gang leaders were currently preoccupied with the internal divisions within the local gang forces. It was an unprecedentedly busy period.

And at this moment, a group of strangers had started following him.

Suddenly, he saw through the rearview mirror that in the car behind, several Feline individuals dressed in long coats were opening their trench coats, with one hand reaching inside their garments!

"Get down!!!!"

ps: Writing late at night, feeling sleepy.

Section 63 Chapter 61 [Taiko Group]

[Urgent Notice: A gang shootout has occurred on the main road connecting Lungmen city center to the outer ring. The road has been blocked, and all passing vehicles are prohibited from entering. The Lungmen Guard Department is already involved in traffic diversion. We ask all passing vehicles to be aware...]

The emergency news report played on the car radio. This news was rather interesting.

Gang shootout.

Meanwhile, Koschei's lair in Lungmen was located in a safe house belonging to a former gang leader.

Gangsters, interesting.

Although the Black Hand Gang before was weak, they had left Chlorine Sodium with some minor troubles.

Originally just a group of thugs and petty criminals, they had recently gotten involved in the organ trafficking business, and Sarkaz individuals had also become entangled in their dealings.

This was quite interesting.

Chlorine Sodium.

No, to be precise, she should be called Ina now. Ina Koporovich Zhozhiyaeva.

A psychiatrist from Ursus, she was originally just an intern doctor. However, through Koschei's connections, she quickly gained the qualifications of an attending physician and became quite well-known in nonexistent social circles.

These days, she's even gained a bit of popularity in wealthy circles. After all, as mentioned before, psychiatrists are akin to mages with a certain degree of consciousness-directing abilities, bestowing a defensive buff upon people's minds and checking for any signs of memory intrusion or tampering.

People like that are quite rare, and Ina has now been introduced to the Taiko Group.

A recommendation from a "reliable" old friend finally opened the door to the ruler of the Taiko Group.

Koschei seems to value this matter quite a bit, though he has no interest in Chlorine Sodium.

However, since he's acting this way, his scheme naturally takes another step forward.

But Chlorine Sodium actually couldn't figure out what he wanted with information about the Taiko Group's heiress.

It wouldn't be just a kidnapping, would it??

While kidnapping is indeed malicious, even malice has its levels.

Someone once said that the most detestable things are kidnappers and robbers; they have no technical skill whatsoever.

Koschei, a thousand-year-old undying dark entity composed entirely of malice, a living curse.

His scheme is merely a kidnapping?

And then demanding a ransom???

That would be far too lacking in technical skill.

This guy shouldn't be lacking in operational funds, right?