So Much for Delta Force, How Did It Turn into Arknights?

Han Fei remained fairly optimistic. Now that he had arrived in Laterano, although the start had not gone very smoothly and he had nearly been shot dead as an intruder by that pink-haired guard, at least the situation was still manageable. That was good enough.

As for what remained to be done, he just needed to find a place to loot.

He could not get into core areas like the Pontifical Hall or the grand cathedral for a proper sweep, but he could still figure out a way to pick over the outskirts.

That was how Classified Space City worked. If you landed in a bad spot, you could only loot the outer areas. Force your way into the interior, and you would run into a fully geared squad before getting kicked flying.

Gun Knight: Hello!

"You sure have a good attitude."

Texas glanced at Han Fei. In truth, she had not even figured out what the purpose of this trip was.

She did not think a place like Laterano would need to pay to hire an outsider for a job.

At that thought, Texas could not help rubbing her brow. She suddenly felt that her boss was not all that reliable. He had brought her to Laterano out of nowhere, yet had not even told her what they were here to do.

"You..."

Texas had barely begun when she habitually turned her head, only for her gaze to find nothing. The familiar figure beside her had vanished into thin air.

In an instant, sheer bewilderment, like ice water dumped over her head, seized her. Caught off guard, a trace of almost helpless daze surfaced in those normally sharp, calm heterochromatic eyes.

The next second, when Texas turned around to search for Han Fei, the lingering confusion in her heart was instantly replaced by an even greater wave of shock. A crack appeared in her usual calm mask, and naked astonishment showed plainly on the young woman's face.

Han Fei had landed a few steps behind her and was squatting before a manhole cover, doing who knew what.

Judging by the open manhole cover, it was not hard to guess what he was thinking—he was probably investigating whether Laterano's sewers contained any treasure.

"Boss..."

Texas had never lost her composure so badly before. For a moment, she even wanted to tell Han Fei, "How about we go back to Columbia? I'll ask some acquaintances to find you a few jobs. Let's not go digging through manholes."

But it was only a fleeting impulse.

She did not want to return to Columbia.

"Don't rush. Got something."

Han Fei stood up, thinking that Classified Space City really did have high drop rates. He had even pulled a small purple from a manhole cover.

A bottle of lemon tea. Not bad.

"What are you doing?"

Lemuen walked over to the open manhole cover with a frown. As a member of the Laterano Guard, she had to prevent Han Fei from causing trouble in Laterano.

So, despite the pink-haired guard's reluctance, she held down her skirt, covered her nose and mouth, and bent over to inspect the manhole.

"As a scavenger, I think checking manhole covers is necessary," Han Fei explained. "You never know if someone might have left behind something valuable."

Han Fei had once found a person's profile picture inside a manhole. He had no idea who had thrown it in there.

Hearing that, Texas could not help covering her face. Back in Columbia, she had seen Han Fei's greed for money. Even a lighter she casually threw away would be picked back up by him.

But this was her first time seeing him dig through a manhole.

After finishing her inspection, Lemuen found nothing unusual beneath the cover. She straightened up, looked at Han Fei helplessly, and said, "Please do not do that. It can easily cause misunderstandings."

"Don't worry. I told you, I only scavenge. I don't destroy anything." Han Fei said, "Besides, there really was treasure under the manhole cover."

"Laterano's sewers only have drainage systems. There are no treasures you want down there."

The corner of Lemuen's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. "Also, did you find anything good?"

As an elite of the Laterano Guard, she had seen countless dangerous people, but this was the first time she had encountered someone who treated digging through manholes as a career with such righteous confidence.

"Yep."

Han Fei casually pulled out the lemon tea and offered it to Lemuen. "Want a sip? Just picked it up."

Texas was nearly unable to maintain her cool expression. She grabbed Han Fei by the arm, her voice seeming to squeeze out through clenched teeth. "Boss, if we're really that short on money, we can discuss other options. There's no need to dig through manholes in the streets of Laterano!"

Before setting out, Texas had imagined what kinds of missions she might face after accepting Han Fei's invitation. Perhaps a bloody battle to purge traitors, perhaps a dangerous escort mission for an important figure, perhaps even a perilous situation where she faced death itself.

She had imagined countless possibilities.

But none of them involved accompanying Han Fei as he dug through manholes in Laterano.

In the distance, a confession vehicle slowly turned toward the three of them. Its mechanical bearings gave off a faint hum, as though recording this absurd farce.

"No, thank you."

Lemuen took a deep breath. For a moment, she even began to suspect that the man before her was not an outsider at all. Perhaps he was actually a Sankta who had somehow used Originium Arts to hide the wings on his back and the halo over his head.

Otherwise, how could he be so utterly scatterbrained—exactly like those playful Sankta born and raised in Laterano?

Still, as an elite of the Laterano Guard, Lemuen did not let this episode affect her state of mind. Once she had composed herself, she asked, "Are you going to continue 'scavenging,' or will you come with me to the Notarial Office to register that long gun?"

Han Fei blinked. "I want to scavenge while heading to the Notarial Office."

Volume One: Why Won't You Let Me Loot the Ground?

As a native-born Laterano citizen, Lemuen could walk to the Notarial Office with her eyes closed and never take a wrong turn.

But today, this road felt so long that it nearly suffocated her. Every step felt like she was treading to the beat of some absurd comedy.

She watched helplessly as the man named Han Fei used his actions to define exactly what a "scavenger" was—he pried at every manhole cover beneath his feet, rummaged through every trash can by the roadside, and when he spotted a bird's nest atop a pillar in the plaza, his eyes lit up as he raised a leg to climb it!

If the gray-haired girl named Texas had not reacted quickly enough to yank him back, Lemuen would swear on her guardian gun that this guy would absolutely have climbed up and emptied that bird's nest in front of the whole city.

"Mr. Han Fei, please... stop digging through trash cans."

Lemuen's voice carried the exhausted weariness of someone at the end of her rope.

At that moment, the pink-haired guard was beginning to question her life choices. She even started wondering whether today had simply been a bad day to leave home.

Otherwise, how could she have run into such a bizarre person?

Compared to him, his companion—the Lupo girl named Texas—seemed as normal as a fresh breeze.

Although Lemuen could tell that the Lupo girl did not like her, she did not care.

Even if she had to do it again, she would still fire that warning shot. It was her duty as a member of the Laterano Guard, as well as her responsibility as an older sister protecting her younger sister.

"Does Laterano law say I can't dig through trash cans?" Han Fei blinked innocently.

Lemuen rubbed her brow and answered weakly, "No..."

Laterano's laws were like a scale with an indistinct expression. It was hard to say whether they were strict or lenient.

Were they lenient? Once a Sankta contracted Oripathy, cold decrees would banish them forever beyond the holy city's radiance, with no chance of return.

Were they strict? The people of Laterano could even apply for permission to blow up a pillar in the street, right in front of an Executor.

Small matters like rummaging through trash cans, opening a manhole cover for a look, or raiding a bird's nest naturally would not be forbidden by law.

"Then did I scatter trash all over the street?" Han Fei blinked again, wearing an expression so innocent that it was as if he were discussing an academic question.

Lemuen was silent for a full two seconds before forcing out two words through her teeth. "...No."

That was exactly what frustrated her so badly she nearly suffered internal injuries. If Han Fei had dared to fling trash all over the streets, she could immediately and rightfully arrest him for "damaging the city's appearance" and haul him back to the Laterano Guard for coffee.

But this guy kept stepping precisely on every point that made her suffocate!

Like he was carrying out some mysterious ritual, he persistently searched every trash can along the way, his gaze focused as though he were hunting for high-value treasure.

Yet whenever the lid closed, every piece of trash lay inside exactly as it had before, as if he had merely given it a gentle "greeting."

Han Fei could take it easy, but Lemuen could not. She had to keep an eye on him. What if this guy had malicious intentions and hid some explosive inside?

Because of that, Lemuen had to inspect every manhole cover and trash can Han Fei opened.

And none of those things smelled very pleasant.

For a moment, Lemuen even wondered whether this guy was deliberately getting back at her for firing that warning shot.

But whenever she questioned him, Han Fei would always pull out some strange item and claim he had found it in a trash can or beneath a manhole cover.

Military rations, small daggers, radios, wide-angle lenses...

All sorts of strange things appeared in his hands before being put away, and from their appearance, they were clearly brand-new goods.

It made Lemuen unable to suppress a strange thought—when had Laterano people become so rich? Were new things something they could just throw away?

"Anyway, Mr. Han Fei, please stop digging through trash cans and manholes."

Lemuen took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. "Consider it a personal request. In exchange, within reasonable limits, I can grant you one not overly demanding request."

At that, Texas glanced sideways at Lemuen. She also did not want to watch Han Fei dig through manholes and trash cans all the way there.

However, Texas was much more relaxed than Lemuen, at least because she did not need to inspect every trash can or manhole afterward.

So after another failed attempt to dissuade him, Texas gave up stopping him.

Han Fei immediately shook his head. "Then who's going to make up the Haf Coins I'm missing?"

He could not loot the core area, and now he was not allowed to pick over the outer area either. Where was he supposed to make money?

He could not seriously go challenge the Gun Knights, could he?

Not even the strongest Shield Dog could beat two hundred Gun Knights.

"Haf Coins?"

Lemuen frowned. It was a currency she had never heard of.

Though she had never heard of it, Lemuen could still guess that Han Fei's financial situation was probably not very good.

What rich person dug through manholes for no reason?

She definitely could not let Han Fei continue "scavenging," because Lemuen truly could not stand those smells anymore. So she changed tactics and continued, "Mr. Han Fei, how long do you intend to stay in Laterano?"

"Four or five days," Han Fei answered honestly. "I'll leave within five days at the latest."

A regular match and a Classified Space City match lasted the same amount of time. For Han Fei, it was the same—five days.

Lemuen took a deep breath, as though making up her mind. "How about this? I will personally cover all lodging and food expenses for both of you while you are in Laterano."

She paused, her gaze fixed tightly on Han Fei. "In exchange, whenever I am present, please stay away from those... trash cans and manholes."

After thinking briefly, Han Fei nodded. "Fine. Deal."

Although he would get to search fewer containers without digging through manholes and trash cans, having somewhere to stay was not bad either—he could not exactly drag Texas into sleeping on the streets.

Besides, Lemuen's proposal came with a condition—he could not dig around while she was present.

In other words, as long as she was not around, could he not rummage through Laterano's manholes and trash cans as much as he liked?

"Thank you for your understanding."

Lemuen let out a long breath. She truly did not want to accompany Han Fei while he rummaged through those things anymore.

Seeing the pink-haired guard's relieved expression, Han Fei could not help asking, "Is that really necessary? I understand that you want to keep an eye on us, but couldn't you just have someone else do it?"

Without hesitation, Lemuen replied, "If I toss even a little trouble to my colleagues, then what would be the point of my joining the Laterano Guard?"

"Then just don't keep an eye on us." Han Fei shrugged.

"When I am certain that you can be trusted, I naturally will stop watching you." Lemuen's expression turned serious. "Before then, I have an obligation to watch you, to prevent you from doing anything that could harm Laterano."

P.S.: Book recommendation: <Working in Another World, Summoning Tearlaments at the Start>. Synopsis:

(No card duels involved. Even if you have never played OCG, you can read it without worry... probably.)

"Mr. You Tian, what advantage do you think your class has over other classes?"

"Probably that it's just a little stronger than other classes." You Tian held up a finger.

"Just a little stronger... are you sure?"

"You mean... while Beast Tamers are busy caring for their contracted beasts and building bonds with them, you directly summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon?"

"You mean... while mages struggle through awkward incantations and memorize how magic power works, you simply play Lightning Storm and Black Hole from your hand?"

You Tian: "Of course. There's also one point I forgot to mention."

"What is it?"

You Tian glanced at the Tearlaments, Sky Striker, and Labrynth gathered around him, then answered without hesitation:

"Partners assigned upon graduation."

By the way, I recently returned to Dungeon Fighter Online. Let me ask: does this Abyss only drop pink orbs, while the Great Abyss only drops Legendary items?

Volume One: New Friend

When it came to keeping his word, Han Fei had a firm grip on it.

Having promised Lemuen not to dig through manholes, Han Fei immediately behaved himself. They passed several manholes and trash cans along the way, but he did not rummage through any of them.