What Happened to the Promised Delta Force? Why Did It Turn into Arknights? Chapter 31

"This vehicle has blastproof glass. You can take off your helmet. You must be exhausted wearing all that equipment—I heard you panting the whole time."

"I'm used to it, so it's fine."

Han Fei replied casually, then reached up and removed the Shut-in Helmet from his head.

His body had already taken on the form of Delta Force. He burned through stamina quickly, but recovered it quickly too.

Still, wearing the Shut-in Helmet was indeed uncomfortable. You could tell just from the sound effects in the game.

In the game, operators would pant heavily once they ran out of stamina. And when someone wearing the Shut-in Helmet panted... tsk, just hearing it made you feel suffocated.

By the way, never let Mai Xiaowen wear the Shut-in Helmet and listen to her pant.

Texas never took her eyes off Han Fei. As she watched him remove his helmet and casually set it on his lap, her gaze naturally fell upon his face.

Then Texas discovered, to her surprise, that he looked about the same age as her—young and rather handsome.

Noticing Texas's gaze, Han Fei glanced sideways and smiled. "What is it?"

"I'm just a little surprised. I thought you would be more mature," Texas said softly. "But you seem to be around my age."

Earlier, Han Fei had been wearing the Shut-in Helmet. Its visor revealed only his eyes, so Texas had found it difficult to estimate his age.

Based on his skilled combat techniques, she had merely assumed that he was older—a seasoned warrior.

Han Fei's expression turned a little strange. "I'm not that old."

"I can see that."

The corner of Texas's lips lifted slightly. It was easy to see that the young woman was in a good mood.

But her good mood did not last long. The next second, the driver in the front seat spoke, and Texas's smile vanished without a trace.

"Miss, it's a call from Mr. Giuseppe."

Texas expressionlessly took the communicator and held it to her ear. Her voice was cool as she said, "It's me."

Han Fei said nothing. He silently watched the young woman speak to her father, thinking that the relationship between this father and daughter was truly terrible.

Throughout the entire conversation, Texas mostly responded with a simple "Mm." Only occasionally did she add, "I understand." Judging solely from their exchange, there was nothing about it that resembled communication between father and daughter.

Anyone unaware of the situation would have thought they were superiors and subordinates—and not ones who got along particularly well.

Before long, Texas ended the call and leaned back against the seat with a weary expression.

Who knew what Giuseppe had said to her to leave the young woman so mentally exhausted? When Han Fei had brought her out of the building earlier, Texas had not looked nearly this tired.

Han Fei asked with concern, "Are you okay?"

Texas's gray-blue wolf ears twitched lightly. She looked sideways at Han Fei and said gently, "I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me."

"You just look a little tired," Han Fei said. "Things are quiet now. You can get some rest."

"There's no need."

Texas pressed her lips together and changed the subject. "Enough about me. Let's talk about you. Why did you join the Family?"

The moment she spoke, Han Fei noticed from the corner of his eye that the driver quietly looked over through the rearview mirror.

Han Fei immediately understood. This conversation would most likely make its way back to Giuseppe.

"The reason? It's not all that complicated." Han Fei answered casually. "I had just arrived in Columbia when I got caught up in the fighting between your Family and the Siracusans. I didn't want to get involved, but they didn't seem inclined to let me go.

"So I beat them up and, while I was at it, picked up Lappland's swords and shoes."

"??"

Confusion appeared on Texas's delicate face. She could understand taking the swords—it was to disarm Lappland and prevent her from continuing to fight—but what was the point of taking her shoes too?

Did this guy have some kind of strange fetish?

Noticing the odd look on Texas's face, Han Fei explained, "I was worried she'd keep chasing me. If I took her shoes, she couldn't exactly chase me all the way barefoot, could she?"

The explanation barely made sense, but Texas accepted it. "So you joined the Family in order to seek protection."

"More or less." Han Fei said, "I came here for money anyway. Since the Family is willing to pay me and help block the trouble coming my way, why wouldn't I?"

Texas seemed about to say something, then stopped. She knew exactly how grave the Family's current crisis was. Lady Sicilian's extermination campaign had already begun, and the assassins flooding into Columbia were the clearest proof.

Under such circumstances, how long could the Texas Family protect Han Fei?

If he joined the Family, his ultimate fate might still be death.

But Cellinia could not say such things now. She knew the driver ahead would faithfully report this conversation to Giuseppe. Some words could only be spoken when no one else was around.

Han Fei noticed Texas's hesitation and said, "There's an old saying in Yan: 'Since you're here, make the best of it.' Things have already reached this point. There's no point in worrying about everything before and after the fact. Better to relax. There'll always be a solution."

He could roughly guess what Texas wanted to say but could not. It was nothing more than the Family's messy affairs.

To Han Fei, those matters were not much of a problem.

In a few days, he would evacuate by helicopter. What could the Siracusans do to him then? It wasn't as if they could chase him all the way to the Special Operations Center.

Right now, Han Fei only needed to consider one thing: filling every slot on him that could hold items before evacuation.

Han Fei had actually gained quite a lot from this trip already. Lappland's shoes and twin swords were all valuable goods, though the pair of long swords and the shoes took up fourteen slots in Han Fei's backpack.

But the young lady's belongings were valuable.

Each of Lappland's long swords occupied five slots, yet each was worth nearly three hundred thousand. The two swords took up ten slots but brought in over five hundred thousand in profit.

Add in a pair of shoes worth about as much as military explosives, and Lappland alone had brought Han Fei more than six hundred thousand in profit!

All he could say was that she truly was the young lady of the Saluzzo Family. She was ridiculously wealthy. This was not Lappland at all—she was a walking vault of gold!

It was no exaggeration to say that even the underground vault of the Brakkesh Museum might not have been as rich as Lappland.

And precisely because of that haul, Han Fei was not too upset about failing to loot the Siracusan thugs in the building.

"You really do have a good mentality."

Texas pressed her lips together and said, "How about this? From now on, follow me and serve as my guard."

Cellinia had little attachment to the Texas Family and had no desire to concern herself with its affairs. But Han Fei had risked himself to save her, so she felt it necessary to lend him a hand—to pull him out of the Texas Family before he became too deeply trapped in the mire.

Just as Han Fei had pulled her out of danger earlier.

Before Han Fei could respond, the driver in front spoke up. "Miss, personnel changes within the Family require the master's approval."

"I know."

Texas frowned slightly. The mention of Giuseppe immediately put her in a bad mood.

"I'll speak to him about it. You don't need to concern yourself with that."

"As long as you understand."

The driver closed his mouth and said no more.

A Conversation

Before long, the convoy returned to the Texas Family estate.

Han Fei followed Texas back to the Family's old residence. The moment they entered, the elderly butler came forward and respectfully said:

"Miss, it is good that you have returned safely. The master is waiting for you in the study."

"I know." Cellinia nodded faintly. "I will see him."

The old butler knew Cellinia's temperament well, as well as the conflict between her and Giuseppe, so he quietly reminded her, "Miss, please do not keep the master waiting too long. He is very worried about you."

Cellinia said expressionlessly, "I will see him."

The old butler seemed to want to say something. He opened his mouth several times, but in the end, nothing came out.

Cellinia led Han Fei upstairs. Only after the old butler had disappeared from sight did she softly say, "I'll go see him in a moment. Wait outside for me."

"Sure."

Han Fei nodded.

He was indeed interested in Cellinia herself, but he had no desire to meddle in matters between her and her father.

Even an upright judge could not settle family disputes. He did not think he knew Cellinia well enough to comment on her family affairs. Speaking rashly, even to offer advice, would be inappropriate.

Before long, the two arrived outside the study.

Han Fei watched Cellinia enter. At the instant the heavy oak door was about to close, he keenly caught a flash of sinister gaze through the narrowing gap.

Giuseppe Texas sat deep within the study's shadows. The faint glow of a cigar flickered between his fingers, slicing his sharply defined face into fragments of light and darkness.

The next second, the wooden door shut, cutting off Han Fei's view.

Han Fei smacked his lips, thinking that this father-daughter relationship really was awful.

Still, there was nothing Han Fei could do about it. With nothing else to occupy him, he leaned against the wall, observing the Texas Family security guards standing outside the door as he waited for Cellinia to emerge from the study.

These Siracusan thugs really loved wearing suits. Although the Texas Family had already established itself in Columbia and claimed to have cut ties with Siracusa, it had retained the tradition of loving suits.

The four security guards outside the study all wore black suits. They looked quite sharp and imposing.

Since Han Fei had nothing better to do, he struck up a conversation. "Let me ask you something. How long have you all worked for the Family?"

The security guards remained expressionless. Not a single one replied. They merely watched Han Fei with appraising looks.

"Tsk, that cold, huh?"

Han Fei was not someone afraid of strangers. Even though the guards had no intention of responding, he continued, "It's just a chat. What's the big deal? Why won't any of you say anything?"

The moment he finished speaking, Han Fei heard a dull impact from inside the study that penetrated the heavy oak door. It sounded like someone had violently slammed a metal object onto the desk.

Han Fei instinctively shut his mouth and listened closely to the sounds within the study.

Yet the study's soundproofing was quite good. Even as he held his breath and focused, he caught only a few muffled voices arguing.

The study's soundproofing had clearly been designed with conversations not meant for outside ears in mind. Lead lining within the solid wooden door swallowed every detail of the father-daughter dispute, leaving only indistinct voices behind.

The security guards showed no reaction at all, as though they were long accustomed to it.

Only Han Fei stood there with his ears perked up, trying to make out what they were arguing about inside.

The argument did not last long. About a minute later, the oak door opened, and Cellinia walked out expressionlessly.

Giuseppe's voice came with her.

"Han Fei, come in for a moment."

Han Fei did not understand why Giuseppe was calling for him now, so he instinctively looked at Cellinia.

She nodded at him, signaling that he could enter.

Only then did Han Fei stride into the study, closing the heavy oak door behind him. The hinges made an almost inaudible, smoothly lubricated sound.

Sunlight streamed through stained glass, casting mottled patches of light and shadow across the carpet. Giuseppe sat at the center of that glow.

The middle-aged man held an unlit cigar between his long fingers. When Han Fei stopped before the desk, he suddenly tapped the desktop with the cigar's end and spoke.

"Do you smoke? This is a cigar made in Siracusa. It has a very distinctive aroma."

"Thank you, but I don't smoke."

Han Fei waved his hand and declined Giuseppe's offer.

"Is that so? What a pity. Sit."

Giuseppe raised his gray-blue eyes. The patricide now smiled like a kind elder, with no trace of the argument he had just had with someone.

Han Fei sat across from Giuseppe and looked up at the middle-aged man.

A nostalgic expression appeared on Giuseppe's face as he softly said, "Sometimes, I find myself troubled. Back then, my daughter was so obedient and sensible. How did she become like this now?"

Han Fei did not know what to say, so he could only remain silent.

Seeing that Han Fei did not speak, Giuseppe's nostalgic expression faded. "Young man, I already know that you risked yourself alone to save my daughter.

"The Texas Family is never stingy. Take this. Consider it my reward for you."

Giuseppe took out a badge from a hidden compartment in his desk and gave it a gentle push. The badge slid along the mahogany grain until it came to a stop before Han Fei.

Han Fei lowered his eyes and saw that the badge was entirely gold, exquisitely crafted, and engraved with the Texas Family's wolf-head insignia. The wolf's head was lifelike, as if it might come alive at any moment and bite someone.

Anyone could tell at a glance that this badge was valuable.

Yet Han Fei could not bring himself to feel excited.

The reason was simple: his body was currently in the form of Delta Force. Just like in the game, high-value items that could be picked up and converted into Haf Coins would be highlighted with a white outline.

This badge did not have one.