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

Nightingale leaned forward slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her golden eyes. "... You hacked into their equipment?"

"I just borrowed the signal channel." Su Rui shrugged, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather. "The Ceylon military laptops have firewalls, and the black goggles are standard equipment issued by the City Hall ... However, their encryption protocols are no different from paper to me."

Shining walked behind him, her grey-purple eyes fixed on the screen. Her breathing was light, and strands of hair fell down, almost brushing against Su Rui's ear.

"Dangerous," she whispered, a hint of disapproval in her voice.

Su Rui turned her head and winked at her. "Want to see?"

His eyelashes cast dappled shadows in the cold light of the screen, and the smile at the corner of his mouth carried a hint of slyness, like a boy who had successfully pulled off a prank. Shining was silent for a moment, then sighed almost imperceptibly, and gently placed his fingers on his shoulder.

"... Don't go overboard."

On the screen, the black view suddenly shook violently, followed by a muffled thud and a piercing noise of metal breaking.

"Site B cleared." Black's voice came through the audio channel, tinged with a hint of panting and laughter. "These guys have decent equipment, but their reaction time is too slow."

Ceylon's image tilted slightly, as if she were saying something to the communicator, but the audio was not synchronized. Her lake-blue cheongsam stood out conspicuously in the night, and her folding fan was closed and held in her hand, like an unsheathed weapon.

Nightingale's fingertip lightly tapped the screen, zooming in on a detail— Ceylon wore a silver ring on the ring finger of his left hand, which gleamed coldly under the lights of the command vehicle.

"She doesn't usually wear rings," Nightingale said softly.

Su Rui raised an eyebrow. "Could it be a communicator? Or..."

Before he could finish speaking, the screen flickered—but only for a moment. Su Rui's fingers were already gliding across the keyboard, and the image immediately stabilized, even becoming clearer than before.

"Someone is trying to interfere with the signal?" Nightingale frowned.

Su Rui chuckled. "They tried."

The black perspective suddenly shifted—a mercenary rushed out from behind the container, a dagger aimed straight for her throat!

The Nightingale's breath hitched.

The dark figure suddenly crouched down in the frame, a dagger grazing her hair. The next second, her right leg swept out like a whip, and the dull thud of the mercenary's knee shattering was clearly audible.

"Tsk, a sneak attack?" Black's voice was laced with disdain, followed by a heavy thud. "... Done."

Shining's fingers tightened slightly as she squeezed Su Rui's shoulder. "She's too reckless."

Su Rui chuckled lightly, "She's always like this."

On the other side of the screen, Ceylon seemed to have received some message. She suddenly turned around and strode quickly towards a black SUV. Her expression was unusually serious. She tapped her folding fan in her palm, then opened the car door and got in.

"The signal is about to be lost," Nightingale whispered.

Su Rui tapped her fingertips lightly on the keyboard. "No."

The scene suddenly shifts, and the black thermal imaging view is now covered by a brand new window—this time it's an aerial view, with a miniature drone hovering above the port, taking in the entire battlefield.

Nightingale's eyes widened slightly. "... You even control this?"

Su Rui's fingertip slid across the touchpad, adjusting the drone's focus. "The City Hall's patrol drones have a good firewall, but unfortunately, they're useless against me."

Shining paused for a moment. "... They didn't notice?"

Volume 12, Chapter 718: Worried for nothing

"They don't even know they've been hacked," Su Rui chuckled. "Now, all the electronic equipment in the entire port is under my control."

In drone footage, Ceylon's off-road vehicles are driving towards the abandoned warehouse area on the westernmost side of the port. At the same time, seven thermally imaged figures are moving towards the same location from different directions—clearly the remnants of a mercenary force.

"They're gathering," Nightingale said softly, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the hem of her skirt.

Su Rui quickly pulled up a map and marked the locations of all the heat signatures on the screen. "No... they're not gathering, they're surrounding us."

Shining's scabbard tapped lightly on the floor. "Ceylon is in danger."

Su Rui's fingers flew across the keyboard as she took control of Ceylon's vehicle communication system: "Ceylon, there's an ambush at the West Warehouse."

Ceylon's voice immediately came through the audio channel, calm and clear. "I know."

Su Rui raised an eyebrow. "... You know?"

"Of course." Ceylon flicked his folding fan slightly, "But I need them all to show themselves."

Nightingale and Shining exchanged a glance, while Su Rui chuckled softly, "... So you had this planned all along?"

"Planning is one thing, execution is another," Ceylon said with a hint of amusement. "However, having you in charge from the rear saves me a lot of trouble."

Her perspective suddenly shook violently, and she began to run at full speed. "Ceylon! Don't go! That's a trap!"

"Black, calm down." Ceylon's voice remained steady. "Proceed according to plan."

The dark voice was filled with gritted teeth and anger. "... Miss, could you please stop playing riddles at a time like this?!"

In the drone footage, Ceylon's car was already parked at the warehouse entrance. She got out of the car, her folding fan suddenly unfolding to cover half her face, revealing only a pair of extremely calm, azure eyes.

Seven thermally projected figures simultaneously raised their weapons.

Then, they all froze in place.

Ceylon gently swayed his folding fan.

The next second, dozens of red dots suddenly lit up in the shadows around the warehouse— the City Hall's special operations team emerged from their ambush point, their guns all pointed at the mercenaries.

"Good evening, gentlemen," Ceylon's voice came through the communication channel, calm and elegant. "I think you're lost."

The dark figure finally rushed into the frame, dagger in hand, but stopped abruptly when he saw what was happening before him.

"... You knew all along?" Her voice was filled with disbelief.

Ceylon glanced back at her, a slight smile playing on her lips behind her folding fan, "Of course."

A new window suddenly popped up on Su Rui's computer screen—a video request from Ceylon. He clicked accept, and Ceylon's face immediately appeared in the center of the screen, with a warehouse and surrendered mercenaries in the background.

"Su Rui." She smiled slightly, a sly glint in her azure eyes. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you."

Su Rui chuckled, "Next time, give me a heads-up. I almost thought you were really going to charge in all by yourself."

"Alone?" Ceylon gently shook his folding fan. "With you here, I never worry about losing electronic warfare."

The Nightingale couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Shining shook his head, removing his fingers from the hilt of his sword. "... You worried for nothing."

A dark voice came from off-screen, filled with furious gritted teeth. "Can you two stop flirting at a time like this?!"

Ceylon blinked, then snapped her folding fan shut, "Blackie, you're blushing."

"I don't!"

Su Rui closed the video connection, slumped into the sofa, and let out a long sigh.

Nightingale gently rubbed his temples, her fingertips glowing with a healing magic light. "Tired?"

"I'm exhausted." Su Rui closed her eyes, letting her fingers brush across her forehead. "Ceylon had it all planned out... She didn't need our help at all."

Shining walked up to him, her grey-purple eyes slightly lowered. "You're worried about her."

This is not a question.

Su Rui opened her eyes, met her gaze, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded gently.

Nightingale's fingers slid to the back of his neck and gently pinched it. "... We are too."

Shining reached out, her fingertips brushing against Su Rui's hair, the movement so gentle it was as if she didn't want to disturb something. "Next time, just say it directly."

Su Rui looked at her, then at Nightingale, and suddenly smiled, "Okay."

The computer screen had gone dark, and only the occasional sound of waves outside the window could be heard in the safe house. Nightingale's golden hair fell over Su Rui's shoulder, Shining's silver braid brushed against the back of his hand.

(... That's not bad either.)

He closed his eyes, letting himself sink into this moment of peace.

The hotel corridor was softly lit and quiet, the carpet absorbing the sound of footsteps, leaving only the soft breathing of the three of them. Su Rui walked in the middle, her hands in her pockets, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the small data terminal in her pocket—which contained all the records of today's operations.

Nightingale walked to his left, her long golden hair swaying gently with each step, the ends occasionally brushing against Su Rui's shoulder. She carried a paper bag containing drinks and snacks bought from a convenience store.

"Black tea or coffee?" She turned to look at Su Rui, her voice soft.

Su Rui blinked, as if just snapping out of her thoughts. "... a coffee shop."

Nightingale smiled slightly, took a can of iced coffee from the paper bag, and handed it to him. Su Rui took it, his fingertips touching her fingers, the slightly cool touch making him linger for a second longer.

Shining walked on the right, her silver braids hanging down her chest, the black ribbons swaying gently with her steps. Her gaze swept over the security cameras on both sides of the corridor, her grey-purple eyes appearing particularly sharp under the light.

"Safe," she whispered, her fingertips moving away from the hilt of the sword.

Su Rui pulled the tab on his coffee can; the soft crackling of the carbonated bubbles was particularly clear in the quiet corridor. He took a sip, the bitter liquid sliding down his throat, making him slightly more awake.

"About today..." he began, then paused.

Nightingale glanced at him sideways. "What's wrong?"

Su Rui shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips. "It's nothing, I just think Ceylon's acting is better than I expected."

Shining gave a soft "hmm," her tone calm. "She's always been adept at calculating people's hearts."

Nightingale chuckled, "Including yours?"

Su Rui shrugged. "Especially mine."

She swiped her card to enter, and a wave of cool air hit her. Su Rui took off her coat and tossed it onto the sofa, sinking into the soft cushions and letting out a long sigh.

Nightingale placed the paper bag on the coffee table, took out sandwiches and salad, and arranged them neatly. Shining walked to the window, gently parted the blinds with her fingertips to check the view outside, and then turned to the dining table.

"Eat something first." Nightingale pushed a sandwich in front of Su Rui. "You haven't eaten much since this morning."

Su Rui reached out and took a bite. The refreshing taste of the chicken and vegetables relaxed him a little. As he chewed, he used his other hand to swipe open the screen of the data terminal and bring up today's action records.

Volume 12, Chapter 719: The Composition of Mercenaries

Shining sat opposite him, her grey-purple eyes fixed on him. "Still reviewing the game?"

Su Rui nodded, swallowing the food in her mouth. "I feel like some details aren't quite right."

Nightingale poured him a glass of water and handed it to him. "For example?"

"For example, the equipment of those mercenaries." Su Rui took the water glass, swiped his finger across the screen to bring up a thermal imaging screenshot, "Their weaponry is too uniform; it doesn't seem like a hastily assembled ragtag army, but rather like..."

"Standard rations for a regular army," Shining replied calmly.

Su Rui looked up at her, and their eyes met briefly in the air, each understanding the other's thoughts.

Nightingale gently put down her fork. "You mean, they have someone backing them?"

"It's highly likely." Su Rui turned off the screen and rubbed his temples. "However, Ceylon should have noticed it too, otherwise he wouldn't have deliberately set up this trap."

Shining tapped her fingers lightly on the table. "Should we investigate?"

Su Rui shook her head. "Not for now, Ceylon will handle it."

Nightingale smiled slightly, "You seem to trust her quite a bit."

"It's not about trust," Su Rui chuckled, "I just can't be bothered with her work."

Shining glanced at him, said nothing, but a barely perceptible smile flickered across her lips.

After lunch, Su Rui leaned back on the sofa, a data terminal resting on her lap. Her fingertips occasionally swiped across the screen, but her thoughts had already drifted away.

After clearing away the dishes, Nightingale sat down beside him, her long golden hair cascading down the back of the sofa. Her fingers gently touched Su Rui's temples, a faint glow of healing magic emanating from her fingertips.

"Are you tired?" she asked softly.

Su Rui closed her eyes, letting her fingertips trace her forehead. "A little."

The Nightingale's healing spell carried a gentle warmth, like the temperature of the afternoon sun, gradually dispelling the fatigue in his mind. Su Rui's breathing gradually became steady, and his tense shoulders slowly relaxed.

Shining sat on a single sofa by the window, holding a book in her hands. Her grey-purple eyes occasionally swept over Su Rui and Nightingale before quickly returning to the pages. Her silver braids hung down her chest, the black ribbons gleaming delicately in the sunlight.

The only sounds in the room were the soft rustling of turning pages and the faint noise of traffic outside the window.

Su Rui opened her eyes and looked at Nightingale: "Thank you."

Nightingale withdrew her hand and smiled slightly, "Feeling better?"

"Hmm." Su Rui nodded, his gaze falling on her golden eyes. "Your magic is more proficient than before."

The Nightingale tilted its head slightly. "Really?"

"Yes," Su Rui said confidently, "The effect wasn't this obvious when you treated me last time."