Arknights, but the Family Has Fallen into Decline Again and Again and Again

This road was nearly at its end. The "mayor's" office was just beyond the next intersection.

Chapter 45: Why Aren't You Thanking Specter Yet?

"Wait by the door for a moment. I'll go report to Chief Wei first."

Oute nodded.

Before long, Ch'en appeared again.

She said, "The two from Rhodes Island, please come in."

Yet through Specter's eyes, Oute clearly noticed the change in Ch'en's mood.

She had been reprimanded, but also encouraged.

Oute came to a conclusion almost instantly.

Whether intentional or not, this was a common tactic of those in power. Ch'en was also Lungmen's heir. From either the perspective of an elder or a superior, it was hardly strange for Wei Yenwu to pull such a move.

Perhaps, as her superior, he had reprimanded her for acting on her own initiative, while as an elder, he was pleased by her sharpness? The reverse was not impossible either...

In that flash of thought, Oute linked arms with Specter and entered the room.

Warm-colored square lamps on the ceiling vaguely formed a caisson-like pattern, while before a screen decorated with dragon motifs sat a dragon wearing clothes.

Wei Yenwu held a report in one hand and a smoking pipe in the other.

Clearly, he had already read the most important parts of the report.

"I heard from Superintendent Ch'en that you wish to cooperate with Lungmen?" Wei Yenwu set the report down face-down, pressing those precise, objective facts against the tabletop.

You need something from Lungmen.

Oute replied, "After Chernobog fell, we needed to find a new port of call among the nearby mobile cities. Given its prosperous trade and ample consumer market, Lungmen may be one of the more suitable choices."

It did not have to be Lungmen.

"Hmm..."

Wei Yenwu set down his pipe. His eyes gleamed with curiosity that Oute himself could not detect.

Why Aren't You Thanking Specter Yet?

They had been neighbors for quite some time, and Wei Yenwu had his own sources in Chernobog.

He had even noticed the implication in this Catastrophe investigation report—that the Chernobog riots had other causes.

At most, he lacked conclusive evidence.

But Lungmen did not need conclusive evidence to prepare for a surprise attack. Wei Yenwu had caught a scent, and that alone was sufficient grounds.

Besides, this report was far from conclusive evidence itself.

That was precisely why Wei Yenwu had reprimanded Ch'en earlier.

Yet that was also why he was curious about Rhodes Island.

This was a society with vast differences in individual strength. The speed at which Rhodes Island's landship had reached Lungmen might not even match the speed at which many experts could travel on foot.

Two days had been enough for Wei Yenwu's spies to reestablish contact with him. Rhodes Island's impressive combat performance in Chernobog had also drawn considerable attention.

Though on that point, his spies could only provide vague, secondhand rumors...

And you call this a pharmaceutical company?

Oute's efforts to distance himself from the matter instead gave off a subtle air of playing hard to get.

Without the intense wariness and resistance prompted by Edward's relics, Wei Yenwu did not immediately and aggressively point out the fact that "Rhodes Island conducted military operations in Chernobog."

Instead, he had designs on Rhodes Island itself.

After all, the picky customer was the one who intended to buy.

He deliberately found fault. "You say your landship is a civilian vessel, but words alone are not enough. Without some solid proof, I'm afraid we cannot simply allow you to dock here."

"Security in the wilderness is not good enough to allow a purely civilian vessel to travel safely," Oute replied. "It has been fitted with certain necessary weapons and equipment, and we have hired the necessary security personnel."

"But we are quite certain that the aforementioned weapons and equipment remain within Lungmen's acceptable limits."

Wilderness security—those two words together made for an exquisite joke. There was no need to explain that to a local, but Oute's phrasing gave him the air of a deadpan comedian.

Wei Yenwu nearly burst out laughing on the spot.

He held it in well enough that only Specter's eyes could catch the signs, but Ch'en simply turned her head away, refusing to let outsiders see her smile.

"Mr. Oute is quite the wit." Wei Yenwu cleared his throat twice. "Then I might as well speak plainly."

"Allowing a landship to dock permanently is equivalent to granting you a trade charter for no reason. Though I am Lungmen's Governor, receiving such benefits without merit would surely displease Lungmen's local merchants, thereby affecting the city's business environment..."

But it was also equivalent to introducing an entirely new trade route.

"I'm afraid Rhodes Island will need to do something for Lungmen, so that I may answer to the others."

Wei Yenwu was a politician—a qualified politician. To outsiders like Oute and Rhodes Island, that was practically synonymous with being despicable, shameless, sinister, cunning, and faithless.

His integrity and promises were extended only to those with value.

In future dealings, he might choose to show Rhodes Island such goodwill, but speaking as he did now was merely following a politician's instincts. He wanted to keep them in check.

Ch'en's expression was somewhat strange.

Specter's eyes were still trying to catch Wei Yenwu's facial expressions.

But Oute himself was watching Ch'en.

She really hated Wei Yenwu's approach... why?

Foreign troops?

Because of Ch'en's infection, Wei Yenwu had expectations for Rhodes Island's medical services. But right now, what he likely wanted more was Rhodes Island's military strength.

That was it... Mercenaries had a thousand flaws and ten thousand problems, but paying money for manpower could cover up every one of their shortcomings.

As Yan's commercial city-state and gateway metropolis, Lungmen's officially sanctioned armed force consisted only of the Lungmen Guard Department, which leaned more toward police duties. As for the forces that officially did not exist... unless absolutely necessary, Wei Yenwu did not wish to use them lightly.

For now, he still harbored the greedy hope of getting away unscathed.

He truly was a dragon.

And at a time like this, a medical company with considerable military strength happened to pass by—one that did not want to get involved in politics...

In Old Wei's eyes, what was this if not a pillow delivered just as he was dozing off? This was exactly a pillow delivered just as he was dozing off—if only this company had not been idly asking for his sworn brother's relics.

And as a member of the Lungmen Guard Department, Ch'en was somewhat uncomfortable with the idea of hiring foreign troops to interfere in domestic affairs.

Oute feigned propriety. "Let me state this in advance: Rhodes Island is a pharmaceutical company. We are neither able nor willing to participate in the politics of any nation."

Wei Yenwu smiled in great satisfaction. "Hahaha, Mr. Oute, you worry too much. I merely hope that Rhodes Island can participate in the screening of the Infected after the Catastrophe."

Catastrophe. Infection after a Catastrophe.

Taken separately, none of those words had anything to do with politics.

"Mr. Wei, are you saying that you wish to sign a contract with Rhodes Island and hire us to arrest the Infected?"

"...If Mr. Oute insists on putting it that way, then yes."

"Then what will become of them after they are arrested?"

Chapter 46: Kashena, What Kind of Pig Do You Have?

"Originium infections after a Catastrophe have a higher probability of presenting acute symptoms," Wei Yenwu answered without addressing the question.

"You mean isolate them, then allow the acutely infected to burst apart. Once all the acutely infected are dead, drive out the remaining Infected together?"

Wei Yenwu neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, he said, "There is still some living space on Lungmen's outskirts."

"That is indeed better than most places Rhodes Island has seen."

Oute said, "Rhodes Island specializes in Originium Infection. Our technology for screening the Infected is indeed more accurate and faster than the equipment purchased by Lungmen."

Through Specter's eyes, a trace of surprise appeared in Wei Yenwu's features.

He heard the "but" that followed those words.

Sure enough, Oute's next words were an almost unequivocal refusal.

"But Rhodes Island's principles are..."

"To uphold the right to humanitarian assistance, remain neutral and impartial, and provide aid to people in distress, as well as victims of Catastrophes, man-made disasters, and armed conflicts, regardless of race, religion, belief, or political stance."

Oute recited the lines in the same cold tone as before, showing no sign that he had invested any passion in them.

"Forgive me, Mr. Oute, but that is... rather lofty. And aren't you a pharmaceutical company specializing in Originium Infection?"

For Terra as it was now, those principles really were somewhat impractical.

But with Originium, a resource that practically fed them from the hands of their ancestors, their society would soon enter the stage where people sought pleasure after their basic needs were met.

"Soon" by historical standards, that was. Normally, it would take about... two hundred years?

"War, famine, plague, massacre, oppression, slavery... Among the many hardships these principles seek to address, Originium Infection is the easiest to resolve. Therefore, we chose to begin with Originium Infection." Oute said solemnly, "We are rather down-to-earth."

"..." After a moment of silence, Wei Yenwu suddenly burst into laughter. "Ha! Ha! Hahaha!"

This time, he was sincere.

"Too interesting, Mr. Oute! You are right." Wei Yenwu said, "Compared to your principles, Originium Infection truly is the simplest part."

He could not help laughing again. "Down-to-earth, hahaha! Dr. Oute, you... Rhodes Island truly is an interesting organization."

Who knew which part he was laughing at?

Rhodes Island's absurd principles? Or this even more absurd land?

After a while, he narrowed his eyes and slowly said, "Now I am beginning to take an interest in your medical technology."