Ark Simulator, Don't I Have No Physical Form? Chapter 17

Turning around with an umbrella in hand, Ren Dong looked curiously at the two Lupo girls walking toward her.

"They'll take a while to get here, and the joke I just told needs a lot of context to be funny. Next time, I'll tell one you can understand directly."

Su Rui was still thinking about his joke.

Texas Lineage Intelligence

"They're coming quickly, and they've already noticed me."

Ren Dong watched Lappland and Texas notice her and swiftly approach. She gripped her umbrella tightly, took a deep breath, and prepared herself for a possible attack at any moment.

She was glad she had still brought her weapon out of habit. At least she would not be left in such an awkward position that she had to grab something from the roadside or a shop to defend herself.

"After not seeing each other for a day, Ren Dong, you and that ghost behind you have caused quite a commotion already~"

After arriving before Ren Dong, Lappland smiled and greeted her first. Texas also politely nodded at Ren Dong.

Su Rui's voice sounded at that moment.

"Although they are indeed carrying weapons, neither of them actually intends to make a move. Their hands aren't on their weapons."

"I can tell. It seems they just want to talk."

Ren Dong nodded at Lappland and Texas before her.

"...You're making this conversation between us seem a little strange."

Lappland across from her also realized Ren Dong was communicating with Su Rui. She looked Ren Dong up and down in confusion.

"You don't look like you're preparing for a mission, so why are you still keeping such close contact with your ghost? Could it be that the two of you are actually very intimate?"

Lappland did not see any earphones in Ren Dong's ears, but they could have been hidden beneath her hair on that pair of ears, so she did not jump to conclusions for the moment.

"Su Rui and I really are inseparable." Ren Dong nodded.

"Su Rui? That's your ghost's name?"

Lappland paused, then smiled as she moved closer to Ren Dong. "Can you introduce me to him? There's something I want to discuss with her."

"Have her look at her phone. I can communicate with her that way."

Of course Su Rui could tell that Lappland wanted to meet him directly and then fight him, but unfortunately, he did not even have a physical form right now. He could only spar with Lappland through words.

However, Ren Dong did not answer Lappland's request. She merely answered Lappland's question.

"Su Rui is the ghost you spoke of behind me. Is there anything else? I want to be alone for a while."

So what if she knew his name? Su Rui belonged to her anyway, and soon, he would truly belong to her completely.

Glancing at the System Materialization Progress in her vision, Ren Dong's mood improved even more. That did not stop her from wanting to show off Su Rui.

She was a little tired after playing games for so long. Right now, she only wanted to rest here alone with Su Rui. She could always show him off later if she ran into someone.

Seeing Ren Dong's reaction, Lappland clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction, but she still kept smiling as she swept her eyes over Ren Dong.

"Fine then, Ingrid. I know his name now. Su Rui, right? I'll find him."

I hope you really can find him. Ren Dong glanced at Lappland, nodded at her, and turned to leave.

At the same time, her body remained taut, guarding against a surprise attack that could come from behind at any moment.

However, Su Rui did not warn her, and Lappland did not attack while Ren Dong's back was turned. Instead, Texas spoke.

"Please wait, Ingrid."

"What else is it?"

Her date with Su Rui had been interrupted repeatedly, so Ren Dong was not in a very good mood. Naturally, her tone was not very friendly when she turned around.

However, Texas looked very serious, so Ren Dong merely watched her quietly and waited for her to continue.

"Su Rui is a hacker with exceptional network skills, correct?"

"Of course I'm more than just a hacker, but that description is close enough."

Hearing Su Rui's voice in her mind, Ren Dong nodded. She had known these things long ago.

Texas's gaze flickered. In the end, she took a deep breath.

"There is something I need your friend's help with. For it, I can pay any price."

Lappland had put some distance between herself and Texas and Ren Dong. She watched them in confusion, but did not come closer.

Ren Dong asked in her heart, What do you think? Should we agree?

Although she wanted to keep showing off Su Rui's existence, this was not something suitable to discuss directly in front of Texas.

"I think we can agree. Let her owe you a favor. When we need it—oh, perfect—we can drag her into causing a huge mess."

Su Rui searched through Texas's information and displayed it in Ren Dong's vision.

"Her background is quite extraordinary. She was sent back from a family in Columbia. Could she be thinking about escaping Syracuse?"

Su Rui's words made Ren Dong hesitate. If that was the issue, then we might come into conflict with Mrs. Sicilian. I think that would be more trouble than it's worth.

But Su Rui had a different opinion.

"Weren't you planning to leave after helping the family finish some work? Wouldn't offending Mrs. Sicilian be an excellent reason to retire? The Venice Family wouldn't want to provoke Mrs. Sicilian either, would they?"

Then how am I supposed to get away unscathed after provoking her?

"I've got a huge pile of dirt on her. Besides, who am I? I can handle any situation."

Su Rui casually sent Ren Dong some traces and intelligence Mrs. Sicilian had left behind, then fell silent.

"All right, I'm only offering a suggestion. You decide whether to agree or not."

Ren Dong thought for a moment in front of Texas, then looked into her eyes and said,

"...You owe Su Rui and me one favor each."

"You've already discussed it?"

Texas froze. She had just watched Ren Dong pinch her chin in thought and assumed she was only considering whether to discuss the matter with that "Su Rui." She had not expected an answer so quickly.

"Of course."

Ren Dong nodded. "We've already made our decision. As for cooperating with you, Su Rui will contact you. Remember to check your phone."

"I understand."

Texas nodded and turned toward Lappland. "Then I won't disturb you any longer, Ingrid."

Watching Texas and Lappland walk away, Ren Dong turned and continued strolling through the streets of Wolseini.

"I have a feeling that something big is about to happen."

"You're right... the Texas Lineage is about to be finished."

Su Rui casually said something that made Ren Dong freeze, then displayed a piece of intelligence he had gathered.

"Look at this. The Texas Lineage has fallen into internal conflict. The new head refuses to show Mrs. Sicilian respect. This is going to be entertaining."

PS: I got a trial recommendation slot. Please give me recommendations, I'm begging you...

Mrs. Sicilian's Plan

Now this was truly going to be entertaining enough to make blood flow like rivers.

Ren Dong looked at the intelligence Su Rui had displayed in her vision and could not help murmuring softly,

"What do you think Mrs. Sicilian will do?"

"I can't be certain, but I actually built a personality model. Based on the judgments Mrs. Sicilian has made in the past, she'll probably destroy the Texas Lineage directly to establish her authority."

As Su Rui spoke, he displayed some of his deductions and the process behind them.

"Then are we still helping Texas?"

Helping a member of a family that was about to be destroyed was more trouble than it was worth no matter how she looked at it.

Ren Dong felt somewhat uneasy inside as well.

Although she was nearly invincible with Su Rui by her side, when facing Mrs. Sicilian and her forces, the beliefs ingrained in her over the years still made her feel apprehensive.

Ren Dong hesitated, and Su Rui could hear it, so he did not force her.

"I won't make the decision. If you don't want to get involved, I support you. After all, I'm your system. This matter is indeed important and will affect many things, so I won't influence your decision."

Although he really wanted to see blood flow like rivers, this kind of major plot-turning choice naturally had to be left in the hands of Ren Dong, the "player." Su Rui respected his host very much. That was how it was.

"Is that so?"

Ren Dong could not help laughing softly before asking, "What about you? Which choice do you think would be better?"

"Me? This is your decision. I won't offer a suggestion."

Su Rui froze. He had not expected Ren Dong to keep pressing him for an answer. He instinctively refused, but he also felt a little more favorably toward her.

Ren Dong, meanwhile, looked at the System Materialization Progress that had increased by another one percent because of a single sentence, and an idea immediately formed in her heart.

"Go on. Tell me what you think. I need a reference anyway."

"All right. Ahem, you probably have three paths."

Su Rui cleared his throat and began his analysis with a pretentious air.

"The first path is to sell out Texas and use the opportunity to feed the Venice Family for profit. Personally, I don't like this path."

Then it was absolutely impossible to choose it. After all, what she wanted was System Materialization Progress... in other words, wasn't that Su Rui's favorability? Ren Dong silently rejected that option.

"The second path is to do nothing and watch events unfold. Texas will probably find a way to escape, and I'll secretly provide her with some help that absolutely won't be discovered, but you won't take part."

"What do you think of this path, Su Rui?"

"I think it's acceptable. We can watch blood flow like rivers, which is pretty nice. Rather, once this happens, blood flowing like rivers is inevitable."

"What about the final path?"

"The final path is for you to write a letter now announcing your withdrawal from the Venice Family, then help Texas escape Syracuse. Cause a huge mess, let blood flow like rivers, and then make a magnificent exit amid explosions and fireworks."

Su Rui paused, sounding somewhat confused.

"Also, I have a way to guarantee both your and Texas's safety."

"What is it?" So this was the method Su Rui wanted most, right? His tone had risen several levels while talking about it.

"The Upper System gave me a few hints. It said that I can take you and Texas to hide in the Eastern Kingdom for a while. There, there's an opportunity that can let me protect both of you."

Su Rui sounded baffled. "Why does it say I'll protect you? The Upper System's description seems a little inaccurate. It probably means I can find intelligence and connections to protect you both."

"That should be it."

Ren Dong smiled and nodded. At the same time, she saw the prompt the Upper System had given her, a prompt only she could see.

[Su Rui's materialization process will take place at a shrine in the Eastern Kingdom. The specific address has been sent to the user's database. Furthermore, the method for ensuring safety has also been issued.]

As Ren Dong read the message from the Upper System, information flooded into her mind, including where Su Rui needed to be for his materialization and how to ensure the safety of herself, Texas, and Su Rui.

The Upper System was far too considerate. Ren Dong's lips curled into an expectant smile. In that case, she definitely had to help this time.

But Su Rui had yet to receive Ren Dong's answer.

"So? Make your decision quickly. Mrs. Sicilian will probably receive the news soon and begin acting. If you don't decide quickly, you won't have much chance to decide at all."

"I choose the third path. Contact Texas. I'm going to make preparations."

In an excellent mood and about to see the outcome she wanted most, Ren Dong could not even be bothered to continue shopping. Holding her umbrella, she turned and headed back toward the Venice Family.

"You made your decision so quickly? You won't consider it any further? You should know that the third path is still very dangerous."

At this point, Su Rui instead became somewhat hesitant.

"Of course. I won't regret it. Send Texas a message. Inform her of what's about to happen, then we'll prepare ourselves."

"All right, I understand."

Su Rui nodded, then sent Texas a message.

Su Rui: "Texas? I heard you need help. Long story short, are you safe over there right now? It would be best if only you can see these messages."

To ensure the security of the information, Su Rui directly activated Texas's phone camera and observed the surrounding environment.