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

No matter what purpose that enthusiasm stemmed from, Ren Dong felt very unhappy about it.

So she nodded expressionlessly again, looked at Texas beside her, then called out to Su Rui in her mind.

"This is the car we came in. You're responsible for driving it into the shrine and storing it there for now. We'll be back for it soon."

"Understood, Miss Ren Dong, but I can help you store the car somewhere safer."

The Fox Shrine Maiden respectfully accepted the keys from Ren Dong and learned where the car was parked.

"No need. After I return, Su Rui will handle it."

Ren Dong glanced at the Fox Shrine Maiden, then turned and left with Texas.

They could just put the car into Su Rui's System Space when they came back. Earlier, it had only been inconvenient because they were in public.

As for this Fox Shrine Maiden... Su Rui could not even be bothered to remember her name. She was no threat.

Another Assassination Plan

"What should we do next?"

After leaving the reception room with Ren Dong, Texas surveyed the courtyard before voicing her question.

She was asking Su Rui, because Texas could see that the one who had truly been coming up with their plans had always been Su Rui.

"It's simple. Driving over there would be too conspicuous, so we'll walk. Also, you two..."

Su Rui's voice came from the phone, then abruptly stopped as though he had frozen.

"What is it?"

Even Ren Dong was confused now, and she asked Su Rui with some concern.

"I just realized that I can't remind Texas the same way I remind you. If you two infiltrate separately, Texas might get discovered."

Su Rui sounded hesitant, but then his tone suddenly rose.

"But I have another way."

At Su Rui's request, Ren Dong and Texas went to find the shrine's Fox Shrine Maiden again.

"I need you to prepare a set of everyday Eastern Kingdom clothes for Ren Dong. Something practical for movement, but still pretty."

"Understood. I'll prepare it immediately. Does the Divine Child have any other requests?"

The Fox Shrine Maiden stared intently at Ren Dong, as though she could see Su Rui possessing her.

"No, no need for now. Texas's outfit is perfect for drawing attention."

Su Rui answered casually. After dismissing the Fox Shrine Maiden, he began arranging the plan.

"Texas's clothes are a little too eye-catching in the Eastern Kingdom. And I can't perfectly help both of you avoid tails or surveillance at the same time, so Texas will wander around outside and draw attention."

"Understood."

Texas nodded, while Ren Dong once again found the pleasure of having Su Rui all to herself.

After all, no matter how close the others were to Su Rui, they could not come into contact with him. The Scanning Vision he could provide and the ability to speak directly to her mind were privileges only Ren Dong could enjoy.

Soon, the Fox Shrine Maiden brought Ren Dong a kimono. "This kimono should suit the Divine Child's vessel very well. It has also been modified, so it won't hinder movement."

As she spoke, the Fox Shrine Maiden held the kimono and looked at Ren Dong. "Would you like me to help you put it on, vessel of the Divine Child?"

"No need. Su Rui will tell me how to wear it. Just give me a quiet room."

Ren Dong disliked the Fox Shrine Maiden's way of addressing her, so she deliberately flaunted her relationship with Su Rui.

Ren Dong remained expressionless while the Fox Shrine Maiden smiled as they stared at each other. Texas merely twitched her ears as she watched the subtle hostility between them.

"Are you two still not ready? Hurry up and change so we can leave... Oh, right. If I wipe out that entire faction, there shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Su Rui had been watching livestreams to pass the time. He had thought Ren Dong might call him, but when he felt that too much time had passed and checked on her, he found her still deadlocked with the Fox Shrine Maiden.

Su Rui's words immediately snapped both Ren Dong and the Fox Shrine Maiden back to their senses. After handing the kimono to Ren Dong, the Fox Shrine Maiden gestured for her to follow and led her to a private room to change.

However, on the way there, the Fox Shrine Maiden did not forget to respond to Su Rui.

"Divine Child, if possible, please act only against the culprits. Not everyone did this willingly. Most of them were simply forced into it... And eliminating them all would not benefit your faith."

"Fine, I understand."

Su Rui nodded, sounding somewhat regretful. Ren Dong glanced at the worried Fox Shrine Maiden and felt pleased, but also relaxed.

If Su Rui felt regretful, that meant he had truly abandoned the idea. If he had not felt regretful and had instead become impatient, that would have been the real problem.

Soon, Ren Dong emerged wearing the kimono and exchanged a look with Texas.

"Su Rui said he's already marked the route for you."

"Right. My job is simple." Texas nodded. Put simply, she only needed to wear this Syracuse outfit and wander outside the target's large estate, buying some food to pass the time.

In a way, it was a chance to relax. It also gave Texas, who had been "left behind" by Su Rui, a small measure of comfort. At least Su Rui was compensating her, wasn't he?

Ren Dong separated from Texas and set off in another direction toward the target's estate.

The courtyards of the Eastern Kingdom were not particularly tall either. The brick-and-tile walls could practically be cleared with a single leap. Yet, just like in Syracuse, the locals turned a blind eye to people casually vaulting over such walls, and instead avoided them.

It seems the family powers of the Eastern Kingdom aren't much better than those of Syracuse.

"You're not wrong, but there are still some differences. In some ways, these Eastern Kingdom families hold even more power. They deliberately control cities and even nations, unlike those in Syracuse, who are merely doing business."

Su Rui continued talking with Ren Dong, guiding her through her mind on how to move.

"Keep your expression natural. Hair colors are all over the place here, so no one can tell you're from Syracuse. Besides, you're wearing a kimono now."

I understand. Where are we starting the operation?

"Right here. Just jump in."

Su Rui marked the wall beside Ren Dong in red, indicating that she should enter from there.

Are you sure?

The Scanning Vision showed that nobody was watching behind the wall, but outside it was a street, and vendors had set up stalls nearby.

"Just relax. These people won't say anything. I investigated them. They all come from various family factions, and some are even from the shrine. At most, they'll stand by and watch. They won't care about you. If they don't help you, that already counts as them slacking off."

With Su Rui's explanation and the information he displayed, Ren Dong finally relaxed. She adjusted her kimono and leaped.

She landed easily in the bamboo grove behind the estate without being noticed at all.

Still, Ren Dong was curious about the Eastern Kingdom's security. People actually sit on roof beams or walls to keep watch over their surroundings?

She Had No Reaction at All

"Yeah. In a sense, these people are basically human-shaped cameras."

Su Rui spoke casually as he marked the ranges of those human-shaped cameras. "But they still don't have enough manpower, so we can slip in easily."

Su Rui made no effort to hide his regret. Ren Dong could not help smiling as she walked out of the bamboo grove and headed toward her destination along the route Su Rui had provided.

What? Are you disappointed that you can't eliminate everyone you see?

"Of course I am. Oh, right, these ninjas shouldn't count as innocent, should they? They must have done plenty of dirty work. What I mean is..."

As the Divine Child, perhaps you should be more precise, so you can demonstrate your majesty and strength?

Ren Dong had thought of a way to persuade Su Rui to stop. Combined with the Fox Shrine Maiden's form of address, this method should shift Su Rui's focus.

Unlike Su Rui, Ren Dong believed that a truly outstanding assassin should avoid everyone except the target and ideally remain undiscovered, rather than slaughtering everyone like a butcher.

Ren Dong had already given up on changing Su Rui's mind, but she still felt that he should not do this, so she kept trying to find ways to redirect his attention.

As for the previous massacre that left no one alive... that had been a special circumstance.

Su Rui responded to Ren Dong's persuasion. "You have a point... Though I don't know why she calls me the Divine Child, I'm seriously amazing."

Why was he getting smug now? Ren Dong could not help smiling. Then, Divine Child, do you have any thoughts about who the god is?

"Who knows? If I'm the Divine Child, then the Upper System should be the god, right? Come to think of it, why is the Upper System like a block of wood? It ignores me completely. Other than occasionally sending information, there's no interaction at all."

Knocking sounds came from her mind. Though she could not see what was happening, Ren Dong had the distinct feeling that Su Rui was knocking on the Upper System.

What are you doing? Ren Dong glanced at the System Materialization Progress displayed by the Upper System, worried that Su Rui's knocking might cause something to go wrong.

"I'm trying to chat with the Upper System, but she's still ignoring me."

Su Rui casually displayed a chat window.

The messages on it were simply horrifying to Ren Dong.

Because Su Rui's remarks were far too outrageous.

At first, Su Rui had only tried to communicate normally with the Upper System, asking things like, "Anything interesting lately? Can we chat? Any newbie benefits or something?"

But the Upper System had not replied, so Su Rui began acting up. "Do you bleed? If you don't talk, I'll throw you away, you know~ You stone-headed idiot!"

To Ren Dong, even these ordinary insults, which were not particularly vicious, were enough to make her tremble in fear. That was the Upper System. Though she did not know exactly what authority it held, it surely possessed immense power.

Yet the Upper System showed no reaction at all to Su Rui's unreasonable antics. It merely occasionally sent him messages and displayed intelligence, such as the location of the Eastern Kingdom shrine, telling him he could resolve Ren Dong and Texas's problems here.

The Upper System seemed somewhat indulgent toward Su Rui... It felt as though she could see the messages but was deliberately ignoring him.

Ren Dong was analyzing the interactions between Su Rui and the Upper System when she saw Su Rui send it another message.

"That Fox Shrine Maiden called me the Divine Child. Do you have any pig head?"

What did "pig head" mean? Amused by Su Rui's joke, Ren Dong still did not forget that she was infiltrating. She hurriedly found a quiet room to hide in, concealing herself behind the wooden sliding cabinet doors.

Su Rui, don't speak so casually to the Upper System. You don't know what her purpose is...

"But she really has no reaction at all. She's like an emotionless machine."

As Su Rui spoke, Ren Dong heard several more knocks. What are you doing?

"Oh, this is the dedicated communicator for the Upper System. I'm trying to get her attention this way."

Stop knocking. What if you break it?

Su Rui always managed to make her heart stop just when she thought everything was fine. Ren Dong had just relaxed, but now her heart was hanging in her throat again.

"Relax, this communicator can repair itself. I accidentally dropped and broke it last time, but it fixed itself almost immediately."

...Let's focus on this operation first.

The overly complicated and dense thoughts left Ren Dong unsure what to say for a moment, so she decided to change the subject. Before that, however, her curiosity prompted her to ask one final question.

Can you determine the Upper System's gender?

Although the Upper System acted mechanically and even seemed emotionless, seeing how Su Rui interacted with it made Ren Dong feel as though it was a mother dealing with an unruly child.

Combined with the terms god and Divine Child, if Su Rui was the Divine Child, then wasn't the Upper System the god?

"I don't know, but I feel like the Upper System should be female. I can't explain it, but I do have that feeling."

Su Rui could not explain his own feeling either. "But then again, she has no reaction at all. Does her gender really matter?"

It did matter. Ren Dong looked at the materialization progress. Eighty percent. After arriving in the Eastern Kingdom, the progress had risen rapidly. Was it because she had discussed secrets like the Upper System with Su Rui, or because this was where Su Rui would materialize?

Ren Dong could not figure it out for now, so she decided to set the matter aside.

Then, picking up one of the wagashi Su Rui had marked out, Ren Dong tasted it as she left the room where she had hidden. Wearing her shoes, she continued down the wooden corridor.

I think it would be better if I took off my shoes before moving.

The wooden floor felt somewhat flimsy, and the Eastern Kingdom people all walked here without shoes. Ren Dong worried that she would draw attention.

"No. Taking your shoes on and off would be troublesome. We don't need to worry about that. With me here, you won't be discovered. Besides, didn't we already wipe your shoes? No need to worry about footprints."

Su Rui guided Ren Dong through the corridor until she arrived beneath a wooden tower.

The target is upstairs. It looks like the target enjoys being alone up high.*

"Right, but if we don't directly eliminate the people below, they'll definitely spot you, won't they? Let's assassinate them."

Is that so? But how am I supposed to get over there and assassinate them without being discovered?