Ark Simulator: Didn't I Have No Physical Form?

Su Rui smiled, but didn't contradict her.

Volume 10, Chapter 619: I Saw a Mecha

A light mist of early winter enveloped the commercial streets of Chernobog. Su Rui and Ash walked side by side on the cobblestone street. Su Rui held a freshly baked honey pie in her hands, its warm, sweet aroma mingling with the white smoke from his breath, weaving wisps of smoke in the cold air.

"Look over there." Ash suddenly squeezed Su Rui's fingers. Through the mist, a huge figure could be vaguely seen trimming holly hedges behind the iron fence of the military camp. Boccaldi wasn't wearing armor today, only a dark gray fleece coat, but his more than three-meter-tall frame still made the garden shears look like toys in his hands.

Su Rui's eyes lit up, and he grabbed Ash and ran towards the side gate of the military camp. The sentry saw him and smiled as he opened the small iron gate, "The general said you would definitely come today, and the tea is already brewed."

As they crossed the training ground, Su Rui pointed to the watchtower in the southeast corner. "Back then, I was the old man's navigator from there." He kicked away the snow with the toes of his boots, revealing brand-new paving stones beneath. "The whole street was ruins back then. I felt like I was sitting on the old man's shoulders, guiding him, with shells whizzing past our ears..."

Ash suddenly pressed down on his shoulder. Ten steps ahead, Boccaldi was bending over to examine a camellia, and slowly straightened up when he heard footsteps. The morning mist had formed a thin layer of frost on his white eyebrows, making him look like a melting Snow Eagle.

"Su Rui," Wendigo's voice was deeper than usual, a few tender green holly leaves clinging to the hem of his coat, "You've come at the perfect time."

In the cast-iron gazebo in the corner of the garden, a copper samovar was bubbling away. Boccaldi sat on a specially made extended bench, a tablecloth embroidered with edelweiss spread across his knees. Su Rui climbed up to the other end of the bench with practiced ease and pulled a packet of sugar cubes from Wendigo's coat pocket.

"Ash, look," he said, proudly holding up a piece of candy, "I still remember the old man's habit!" Although it was only after arriving in Chernobog that we had such ample supplies.

Boccaldi picked up the teapot with two fingers and filled three teacups with the amber liquid. Ash noticed that the spout had been deliberately lengthened—so that when he bent over, the tea wouldn't spill onto the tablecloth.

As they drank their third cup of tea, the steam gradually dissipated. Sunlight streamed through the carved iron railings of the pavilion, casting dappled patterns of light on the tea tray. Su Rui leaned her head against Boccaldi's arm, casually recounting her experiences over the past few days. The old general nodded occasionally, sometimes responding with brief words, but mostly just listened quietly, like a warm mountain.

Ash looked at the grandfather and grandson—yes, despite their vastly different sizes, despite one being a fearsome war machine and the other a "princess" navigating the vortex of power, at this moment they were just an ordinary grandfather and grandson. Boccaldi even remembered turning down Su Rui's raised collar, the movement as practiced as if he had repeated it a thousand times.

Before leaving, Wendigo slipped a packet of seeds into Su Rui's pocket. "Bluebells, plant them under the north-facing windowsill."

Ash noticed that Su Rui's fingers unconsciously clenched the seed bag, his knuckles turning white. But the next second he laughed, tiptoed, and patted Boccaldi on the shoulder. "I know! If you kill them again, I'll say it's because Ash watered them too often."

Ash sat in the corner of the café, her fingertips tapping lightly on the table in a slow, rhythmic motion. Su Rui sat opposite her, chin in hand, listlessly stirring her hot cocoa and occasionally popping a sugar cube into her mouth.

Although eating it directly might be a bit greasy and could easily lead to a rapid weight gain, Su Rui wasn't worried about that; his body would be gone before he gained weight.

"This is the third store we've been to today," Su Rui complained softly. "If I keep drinking like this, I won't be able to sleep tonight."

Ash ignored him, his gaze sweeping over every corner of the café. The café was exquisitely decorated, with crystal chandeliers reflecting warm light, and delicate silver tea sets displayed on the mahogany bar. Most of the customers were dressed in fine clothes, occasionally revealing arrogant smiles as they chatted in hushed tones.

"Who owns this shop?" Ash suddenly asked, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for a passing waiter to hear.

The waiter stopped and smiled politely, "It's Petrov Family property, madam."

Ash's fingertips paused slightly. Petrov—this name had appeared on the list provided by Talulah, a family closely linked to a military supplies embezzlement case.

"I've heard their desserts are quite special," Ash said casually. "Any recommendations?"

The waiter hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice. "If you have a sweet tooth, you can try the ' Winter Palace Secret-Recipe Honey Cake,' but... it needs to be ordered in advance."

Su Rui blinked. "Reservation? It's just a cake, why is it so complicated?"

The waiter looked around to make sure no one was watching before slightly bowing and saying, "Because the ingredients are special, there's an additional charge..."

Ash's eyes turned cold. The so-called "extra fees" were probably just a euphemism for bribery.

"I see." She responded casually, placing a few gold coins on the table. "Thanks for the recommendation."

The waiter accepted the gold coins, a knowing smile on his face, and turned to leave.

Su Rui leaned closer to Ash and whispered, "You suspect they used desserts as bribes?"

Ash picked up his coffee cup and, using the rim as cover, glanced at the second floor of the café—there were several private rooms, and uniformed bodyguards stood at the doors, the outlines of guns faintly visible at their waists.

"More than that." She put down her cup. "The dessert is just a pretext; what's really being traded is probably far more dangerous than sugar."

Su Rui squinted and followed her gaze. "Want to go up and take a look?"

Ash shook her head. "There's no point in alerting them now." She stood up, straightened her collar, and said, "Let's go to the next place."

Su Rui sighed and stood up. "So, we still have to continue our 'date'?"

Ash glanced at him. "Not satisfied?"

Su Rui grinned and took her arm. "How could that be? I love shopping with Ash the most."

Ash, too lazy to expose his perfunctory attitude, led him out of the coffee shop. On the street, the cold wind swept by, carrying fine snowflakes, and the chimes of the clock tower could be heard in the distance.

"Where to next?" Su Rui asked.

Ash took a folded piece of paper from his pocket, on which were written several addresses—all places related to the aristocratic corruption case.

"Jewelry stores, theaters, private clubs..." Su Rui glanced around, raising an eyebrow. "Looks like tonight's going to be busy."

Ash put away the note, his gaze turning cold. "Talulah wants more than just a list; she wants evidence too."

Su Rui tilted her head to look at her. "When did you become so eager to help her?"

Ash was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "It's not about helping her."

"It's about making those who deserve to pay the price pay the price."

Su Rui looked at her and suddenly smiled, "Okay, then I'll go with you."

Volume 10, Chapter 620: They don't do this kind of work.

Su Rui casually stirred the black tea in his cup, the silver spoon tapping lightly on the rim of the porcelain cup, producing a crisp sound. His gaze swept across every corner of the café, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"The bodyguard standing at the door of the third private room on the second floor has the latest model of Originium at his waist," he said in a low voice, tapping his finger three times lightly on the table. "And the 'gentleman' at the end of the left corridor has a poisoned hidden blade in his sleeve."

Ash took a sip of his coffee without batting an eye, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. "When did you find out?"

Su Rui tilted her head and smiled, her canine teeth barely visible. "From the moment we walked in."

Ash stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly let out a soft snort, "So, you knew all along that there was something wrong with this shop?"

"Of course," Su Rui shrugged. "I know the Petrov Family's black market network in Chernobog better than Talulah's intelligence department."

Ash's fingertips tapped lightly on the outside of her thigh under the table, a habitual gesture when she was thinking. She never doubted Su Rui's keen perception, but this time he seemed too relaxed, even... effortless.

"Aren't you worried?" she asked in a low voice.

Su Rui blinked, then suddenly leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe. "What's there to worry about?" His voice was tinged with laughter, "The two of us are enough to take down half of Chernobog."

Ash raised an eyebrow. "What about the other half?"

Su Rui grinned. "Leave it to the Inner Guard in the shadows."

Ash's pupils contracted slightly.

"Stop pretending, you already found out, didn't you?" Su Rui leaned back lazily in her chair. "From the moment we left the palace, Talulah had people following us."

Ash was silent for a moment, then gave a faint "hmm". She had indeed noticed it - those faint gazes, the shadowy figures flashing by on the street corner, and even at certain crucial moments, there were always just the right "coincidences" to help them clear the way.

"So," Ash put down his coffee cup, "You never took this investigation seriously from the start?"

Su Rui's smile faded slightly, her golden eyes appearing particularly deep under the light. "No, I just believe that no matter what happens, we can emerge unscathed."

His fingertips gently traced the back of Ash's hand, a soothing tone in them. "Besides, Talulah wants to see these nobles go down in hell even more than we do."

Ash stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly grabbed his wrist. "What are you up to now?"

Su Rui let her hold him, a sly smile on her face, "I just think... since someone's willing to clean up our mess, why not have some fun?"

Before she could finish speaking, a muffled thud came from the second floor of the coffee shop, followed by the sound of shattering glass. Ash's muscles tensed instantly, but Su Rui held her arm down.

"Don't rush," he said softly, "The real show has only just begun."

The door to the second-floor private room was kicked open, and several Inner Guard in black uniforms filed in. Leading them was Talulah's confidante, "Snow Eagle." Her cold gaze swept over the panicked nobles in the room, finally settling on the ledgers and Originium potions on the table.

"Mr. Petrov," her voice was like an ice blade, "Her Majesty the Queen would like to invite you to the Winter Palace... for a cup of tea."

The café downstairs remained quiet, as if nothing had happened. Su Rui picked up her teacup and winked at Ash: "See? I told you so!"

Ash stared at him for a long time, then suddenly chuckled, "You had it all planned out in advance?"

Su Rui spread her hands innocently. "I just... gave Talulah a slight hint; some people's little tricks have gone a bit too far."

Ash was silent for a moment, then suddenly reached out and pinched his cheek. "You cunning little fox."

Su Rui nuzzled against her palm, smiling like a satisfied cat, "Likewise."

However, there are always some idiots who don't understand the situation.

Just as Count Petrov smashed the second-floor window, Su Rui was putting her third piece of honey cake into her mouth. Glass shards rained down on the snow in front of the café, and the obese nobleman, who had just staggered to his feet, was precisely pierced through the knee by a beam of crimson Originium.

"Ah--!!"

A scream pierced the night sky. Su Rui held the still-smoking Rapid-Fire Gun in one hand, and caught a blueberry rolling off the cake with the other. He tilted his head and looked at the Earl rolling in the snow, his cheeks still puffing out as he chewed.

"You're putting me in a difficult position." Su Rui swallowed the cake, casually pointing the gun at the Earl's blood-stained mink coat. "This is a new style this year."

Ash stood with her arms crossed in front of the broken shop window, the moonlight casting jagged shadows at her feet. She watched the other two figures trying to climb over the backyard wall, and lightly tapped her arm armor with her fingertips. The next second, a dull thud and the cracking of bones echoed from outside the wall.

"Snow Eagle's efficiency is still as high as ever." Su Rui whistled, tucking the gun back into its holster at his waist. He stretched, leaned back in his chair, and dangled his boot heel on another chair. "Let's leave the rest to the professionals, shall we?"

As if in response to his words, six Inner Guard appeared like ghosts from every corner. Their black uniforms blended almost into the night, with only the Silver Wolf badges on their chests gleaming in the snow. Two of them deftly injected the wailing Earl with painkillers, while the other four silently began collecting the scattered ledgers and communicators.

Su Rui watched them work, resting her chin on her hand, and suddenly chuckled, "The Inner Guard are clearly an extremely valuable military unit, and Talulah is really generous enough to keep them by my side."

The Inner Guard, who was counting the evidence, paused. The tall man, codenamed "Iron Curtain," turned around, and a voice with mechanical grating came from beneath his visor. "Thanks to your revised plan."

"Huh?" Su Rui's fork stopped in mid-air.

"The success rate of the Inner Guard conversion has increased from 17% to 63%." The mechanical eye of the Iron Curtain flashed blue. "We now have four full-strength squadrons on rotation."

The blueberries on the fork fell back onto the plate with a thud. Su Rui opened her mouth, then suddenly turned to look at Ash: "Should I have helped Talulah optimize that Originium adapter...?"

Ash snorted and flicked his forehead, "You brought it on yourself."

The snow fell heavier and heavier. As the Inner Guard escorted the prisoners toward the armored vehicle, Su Rui suddenly jogged after them and shoved a paper bag into Iron Curtain's hand. "Freshly baked gingerbread men! Share them when you're on your shifts."

A faint crackling sound, like suppressed laughter, emanated from beneath the visor. Iron Curtain solemnly tucked the paper bag into his tactical backpack and gave a crisp military salute. "Have a pleasant night."

Back at the café, Ash was examining the Earl's gilded cane. Su Rui leaned closer, her nose brushing against Ash's cool earring. "What did you find?"

"The combination to the Ursus Bank safe deposit box." Ash shook the slip of paper he'd pulled from his cane. "Looks like we'll have to go to Financial Street again tomorrow."

Su Rui sighed and buried her face in her shoulder, "Couldn't we just send the Inner Guard?"

"No." Ash grabbed him by the back of the collar and pulled him up, a dangerous smile playing on his lips. "You've caused this trouble; you'll have to clean it up yourself."

Volume 10, Chapter 621: Get off at the station.

Ash wiped the fog off the French windows with his fingertips; the steel jungle of Chernobog's financial district gleamed coldly in the morning light.

As she turned around, she saw Su Rui adjusting his tie clip in front of the full-length mirror. The mirror reflected his unusually formal attire—a gunmetal gray three-piece suit, a platinum lapel pin on the collar of his dark-patterned shirt, and a thin chain of gold-rimmed glasses hanging from the side of his neck, swaying gently as he turned his head.

"How is it?" As Su Rui turned around, the black onyx button on her cuff gleamed subtly. "Don't I look like a cover model for Business Weekly?"

Ash took a few steps closer, reaching out to brush away non-existent folds on his shoulder. She was wearing a high-necked black trench coat today, but the tactical belt around her waist betrayed her true intentions. "Like a cat about to steal some fish."

Su Rui chuckled as he tucked the spare magazine into the inside pocket of his custom-made suit. "The Petrov family's safe isn't easy to open. We need to conform to the... aesthetics of Financial Street." He suddenly leaned close to Ash's ear, "Besides, didn't you inspect it last night? The location of every hidden pocket on this suit—"

Ash wiped his lips with his thumb, cutting off the dangerous topic. "The car's here."

As the limousine pulled up in front of the Ursus International Bank, a waiter jogged up to greet him. The moment Su Rui stepped out of the car, the chilly wind typical of the Financial Street whipped up snowflakes that brushed against his hair, and the gold-rimmed glasses chain shimmered in the sunlight.

Several passing stockbrokers stopped in their tracks, their astonished faces illuminated by the blue light of their terminal screens.

"That's... the Romanov family's new advisor?"

"No, look at the brooch! It's someone from Rhine Lab!"

"Shh... the one behind him..."

The chatter ceased abruptly as Ash stepped out of the carriage. She was half a head taller Su Rui, her leather gloves resting on the outline of the weapon at her waist, and her grey-blue eyes, as they swept across the crowd, resembled two drawn swords.

Su Rui, however, seemed oblivious, and strolled up the marble steps. His boots trod on the still-wet snow steps, each step precisely avoiding all the water stains, as if he were stepping on some invisible musical score.

"Nervous?" Ash suddenly asked.

Su Rui tapped the second button of his suit jacket lightly with his fingertip—their agreed-upon warning signal, "Ten o'clock, second-floor monitoring room, someone is adjusting the camera focus."

As he turned his head while adjusting the man's tie, Ash noticed the unusual shaking of the blinds on the second floor of the bank. "Professional equipment."

"That's why I dress expensively." Su Rui pushed up his glasses, the glare from the lenses obscuring his cunning eyes. "The more expensive the prey, the less the hunter is willing to fire."

To be honest, these people only have small pistols or heavy crossbows; the real guns are all in Laterano.

The temperature inside the bank suddenly rose. The moment Su Rui stepped through the revolving door, he adjusted his posture—relaxing his shoulders slightly, slowing his pace, and even lengthening his breathing. When he took off his glasses and wiped them with a silk handkerchief, the pupils of the three female clerks at the front desk dilated simultaneously.

"Hello sir," the oldest teller's voice was eight octaves softer than usual, "What kind of service do you need?"

As Su Rui took out the gold-embossed business card from his inner pocket, a glimpse of his silver wristwatch was visible through his cuff. "Regarding the transfer of control over the B-7712 safe." He leaned slightly forward, his voice carefully chosen so that it wouldn't be heard from three meters away, "Count Petrov should have already given the instructions?"