Ark Simulator, Don't I Have No Physical Form?

Eureka and the kidnapped hostages huddled together on the screen, trembling, but Ren Dong had a bad feeling.

That feeling came from her mind, not the bandits.

Sure enough, Su Rui couldn't help speaking after seeing the scene.

"Interesting. Looks like they're about to start slaughtering people? I don't think they'll get the money they want that easily."

Shouldn't you be joking about something like this, right?

Putting herself in their shoes, if something this vile happened on Venice Family territory, then if the Lineage didn't cut those troublemaking bandits into pieces and publicize it, they would become a laughingstock for the other Lineages.

So Ren Dong instinctively grew tense, hoping Su Rui wouldn't make sarcastic remarks at a time like this.

"Fine, I get it. I'll just keep watching."

Su Rui didn't say anything else. There was still some resentment in his tone, but at least he didn't keep talking about wanting to see blood flow like rivers.

Somewhat relieved, Ren Dong turned her gaze back to the scene before her.

Then, as things developed, when the bandits began choosing hostages, the first person they noticed was Eureka, who was still holding a selfie stick, livestreaming while whispering to herself.

"Hey! You! Yeah, you! Get out here! You're today's first lucky one. I hope your death makes those people outside take us seriously, so we can get the money faster and everyone else can leave sooner!"

One of the bandits pointed at Eureka, who hadn't forgotten to livestream even in such danger, then dragged her out.

She's still in the mood to livestream at a time like this. I don't know whether to call her fearless or dedicated.

Even Ren Dong couldn't help wondering about Eureka's behavior. This girl ran into chaotic accidents every time she streamed. It looked like she was truly doomed this time.

Even if the people outside were preparing a rescue, they definitely wouldn't make it in time to save Eureka, who already had weapons pointed at her.

But Su Rui had great faith in Eureka.

"Don't worry. Eureka will definitely be fine. When has anyone ever suffered during an incident except everyone but her?"

But her livestream was ruined because of it. The organizer directly canceled their partnership with her.

"That was a normal situation, not an accident. Eureka won't get hurt because of an accident."

That was completely sophistry. Ren Dong helplessly shook her head and continued watching the scene.

Then, the bank's power supply seemed to malfunction. While the bandits panicked, Eureka was still livestreaming on her phone as she ran away.

"Dear viewers, that was terrifying! You almost never got to see cute U-chan again!"

She probably doesn't know there's someone like you who's so confident in her.

"That doesn't matter. Whether I have faith in her or not, she'll keep livestreaming like this."

In the end, the farce concluded fairly smoothly. Eureka even seemed to receive praise, because her livestream had provided law enforcement with information from inside, making it easier for them to formulate a plan.

"Do we have any plans for this afternoon?"

After watching the stream, Su Rui still hadn't had enough and used the cameras to watch Eureka come out after finishing her statement. Then he boredly turned off the cameras.

This afternoon? Of course we're continuing to deal with the matter of the Venice Family being framed.

"Wasn't that already resolved?"

Su Rui sounded puzzled. Ren Dong wasn't surprised and patiently explained.

Although we've prepared the article and caught the assassin, the subsequent spread of public opinion, retaliation against the opposing Lineage, and the assassin we captured all need me to handle them.

"Can't you just leave those things to your subordinates? Though it's best if you and I handle the retaliation against the opposing Lineage ourselves."

So he just wanted to see blood flow like rivers and didn't want to do any other work, right?

Ren Dong smiled helplessly. Don't worry. I guarantee the whole process will be interesting.

Ren Dong didn't need to handle the spread of public opinion. They only needed to wait for the newspaper office to print the prepared article and sell it the next day.

To speed things up and skip straight ahead to the bloodshed, Su Rui even suggested helping.

"Although I can't help you print the newspapers faster, once they go on sale tomorrow, I can flood the internet with this story so everyone online sees it... Want me to expose the opposing Lineage's affairs?"

No need. For revenge, blades and gunpowder are naturally better.

Ren Dong rejected Su Rui's suggestion, but Su Rui in her mind pouted in dissatisfaction.

"Last time, you also said you wanted to retaliate against that Midal, but after meeting him, you only warned him. That was indeed more beneficial, but you're not going to do the same thing this time, are you?"

Not this time. This level of offense has crossed the Lineage's bottom line. We'll make our opponents pay the price... So this time, there really will be the bloodshed you want.

For Mafia Lineages, business losses were sometimes merely trivial matters, because as long as the business continued, wealth would keep rolling in.

But reputation was another matter. Reputation was what truly determined a Lineage's survival. Anyone daring to strike at that would surely have already prepared for all-out war.

A Suicide Ruling

"Is that so? Great. I'm going to sleep. Just wake me up tomorrow morning."

Why are you going to sleep so early?

Ren Dong froze for a moment and checked the time. It was only one in the afternoon. Had Su Rui stayed up late last night?

"Because I can't feel time passing when I'm asleep. I don't have to wait for my favorite show to arrive."

Someone will be coming later to take custody of the assassin we captured. Are you sure you want to sleep now?

"Who's taking custody of him? Isn't he your trophy? Why give him away? I thought we could torture him thoroughly!"

Su Rui instantly perked up, and his reason made Ren Dong roll her eyes.

Of course we're handing him over to the court. We've already obtained what we wanted. Giving him to the court is both a warning to our opponents and preparation for our next move.

"One more thing. I just remembered—after the report comes out, if your opponents' Lineage suffers a bloody incident, won't people suspect the Venice Family?"

Of course people will know we did it. There won't be any need for suspicion.

Ren Dong nodded as if it were only natural. After that article framing the Venice Family was published, the people of Syracuse should have realized that bloodshed was coming.

"As expected of you people. No wonder I feel like there are more and more patrols in the Lineage. Even you carry quite a bit of equipment on you."

That's naturally to deal with potential assassinations. Our opponents have definitely made preparations too.

"If that's the case, sneaking in without being discovered will be troublesome, right? Even with Scanning Vision, if there are observers or cameras everywhere, we can't avoid them perfectly."

Su Rui's tone became excited.

You're right. So combat will be unavoidable during this infiltration.

"That's wonderful! Ahem, I mean, I'll help you properly. I'll mark every target that must be killed in advance."

As long as you didn't just mark people at random when the time came.

Ren Dong nodded without exposing the little scheme that was practically written on Su Rui's face. Leaning back in her chair, she closed her eyes to rest.

By the way, Su Rui, your Scanning Vision can observe the Venice Family, right?

"Of course. What are you thinking?"

Can you help me see whether any assassins have infiltrated the Lineage?

"Not yet. I've been keeping an eye on everything around you. At least for now, no one has infiltrated the Venice Family."

That's good... By the way, how large exactly is the area you call 'around me'?

"Not that large. It only covers the range of this mobile city."

Su Rui casually gave an answer that left Ren Dong silent. Even though she had already guessed that Su Rui's abilities might be beyond imagination, she still couldn't help being astonished.

That can't be considered 'around me,' can it?

"Why not? Honestly, it's only because Terra's current network environment and long-distance transportation aren't very convenient. Otherwise, I'd have to monitor the entire world to guarantee your absolute safety."

Su Rui was actually dissatisfied with his current surveillance capabilities.

"Who knows whether there are people outside the city plotting some dangerous scheme?"

I think your idea of trying to monitor the entire world is pretty dangerous itself.

Ren Dong thought this, but Su Rui was on her side, at least. So he surely wouldn't do anything dangerous, right?

While Su Rui and Ren Dong chatted, Su Rui suddenly spoke.

"By the way, I can see three people in a sedan. It looks like a judge and two armed security officers. They should be here to take custody of the assassin you caught?"

That should be them. Also, the people you're referring to are called bailiffs.

Ren Dong nodded and rose from her chair. I'll go meet them.

Soon after, Ren Dong met a gray-haired Lupo woman at the Lineage's entrance. The woman introduced herself as Lavinia.

"Hello, ma'am. I received notification and came to take custody of the assassin captured by the Venice Family."

"Of course. Please follow me."

Ren Dong nodded and glanced at the two officers behind Lavinia. As they walked, Ren Dong began chatting with Lavinia.

"Has anything major happened in Syracuse recently?"

"No. Other than some common crimes, there hasn't been any news... If Lineages like yours could stop your little schemes in the shadows, there would be less crime."

Lavinia's words carried an obvious implication, but Ren Dong didn't mind. She simply smiled. "You know yourself that that's impossible, don't you?"

"..."

This time, Lavinia didn't answer Ren Dong's question.

Meanwhile, Su Rui couldn't help commenting in Ren Dong's mind. "She doesn't seem afraid of the Lineage. Even if she's a judge, she probably can't fight a Lineage in a place like this..."

Most judges are indeed like that, but this judge, who upholds the law and punishes crime, has no simple background herself.

"Ultimately, she's just relying on someone backing her. Let's call her Penance."

Su Rui casually mocked Lavinia, making Ren Dong smile despite herself.

Penance looked at Ren Dong in confusion, but Ren Dong quickly suppressed her smile and led them to the holding area. She nodded to them.

"You can take him away. What happens next has nothing to do with the Venice Family."

"We'll fulfill our duties. I hope you do the same."

Penance glanced at Ren Dong, then left with her team.

Su Rui's voice rang out in her mind again. "So assassinations of judges have happened before too, right?"

Yes. Once, a judge from an ordinary background tried to uphold the absolute authority of the law. Then one morning, she was found dead in an alley.

"So what was the investigation result? Suicide by being stabbed more than a dozen times?"

Of course not. Ren Dong paused. Why would you think that? Being stabbed more than a dozen times obviously couldn't be suicide.

"So what was the ruling?"

That judge accidentally provoked some drunken thugs, then was killed by them. The perpetrators were sentenced to several years in prison, then released on bail a few days later.

"Wasn't that an arranged assassination?"

Yes. And it was an assassination staged specifically for the judges to see. To demonstrate their deterrence, the Lineages deliberately put on a play full of obvious flaws, yet the judges could do nothing about it.

Ren Dong paused, then added, But don't think too highly of judges. It's just a profession. Not every judge enforces the law impartially. Most of them are merely ordinary people with a touch of greed, or even bias.

Was she trying to justify her Lineage's actions?

The Strong Should Ruthlessly Humiliate the Weak!

Su Rui didn't care about Ren Dong instinctively making excuses for her own Lineage. He merely added casually.

"Isn't the answer that a good judge is right in front of us?"

You're right, but we should go make preparations.

"Prepare for what? Are we leaving tonight? I thought you'd wait until the article was published in the newspaper before making your move."

Yes. Of course we're going to catch them off guard.

Ren Dong nodded and asked Su Rui in her mind, Do you have any other ideas?

"I was just thinking that if we wait until tomorrow's article comes out, then your actions will be like a criminal's advance notice. Pretty cool."

After saying that, Su Rui seemed to pause. Before Ren Dong could speak again, he added one more sentence.

"Besides, you probably really will have to wait until tomorrow before setting out."

Why?