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

Nightingale's golden eyes narrowed slightly. The steam from the honey tea rose before her, but it couldn't conceal the coldness in her eyes. She didn't speak, but gently stirred the teaspoon in the cup. The clinking of metal against porcelain was crisp and subtle, like some kind of suppressed counting.

Shining sat opposite Su Rui, her grey-purple eyes glancing indifferently out the window. Her fingers rested on the scabbard, her knuckles slightly clenched, her long, silvery hair cascading over her shoulders, gleaming coldly in the sunlight. She didn't speak, but Su Rui could sense it—she found those people an eyesore.

(This is really troublesome.)

Su Rui didn't want to get involved. He'd seen too many scenes like this—mercenaries, thugs, out-of-control Infected —they always did it, wreaking havoc without restraint, leaving a mess behind before walking away.

Never mind that.

He lowered his head and took a sip of coffee. The bitter liquid slid down his throat, but it couldn't suppress the faint restlessness in his chest.

Across the street, a mercenary was using a battle axe to chop open a fire hydrant, spraying high-pressure water that soaked passersby. The crowd screamed and scattered, while the mercenaries laughed gruffly, as if enjoying an impromptu performance.

Su Rui's fingers tightened unconsciously, her knuckles turning white.

(... just like back then.)

The street battles in Kazdel, the splattered blood, the mercenaries' unrestrained laughter... those memories flooded back like a tide, making him gasp for breath.

"Su Rui."

The Nightingale's voice pulled him back to reality. He then noticed that the veins on the back of his hand were bulging, and the liquid in the coffee cup was rippling with tiny waves as it trembled.

"Sorry," he forced a smile, "I was daydreaming."

Shining's gaze fell on his slightly white knuckles, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Outside the window, the conflict escalated.

The lead mercenary suddenly raised his heavy crossbow and fired a whistling arrow into the sky. The sharp sound of it piercing the air instantly plunged the entire street into chaos.

"Hahaha! This is more interesting!" he laughed, turning his crossbow around and aiming it at the shop windows on the street.

Su Rui's breath hitched for a moment.

(... It's always like this.)

--Being toyed with like prey, being looked at with disdain, being treated as a weakling to be trampled on at will...

His fingers unconsciously reached for the tactical dagger at his waist, but Shining grabbed them and pressed them down.

"Don't move," she whispered, her voice as cold as ice. "I'll handle it."

The Nightingale had already stood up.

"You—" Her voice was no longer gentle, but carried an unusual, icy rage, "You're courting death."

Golden Originium Arts erupted around her, and the light at the tip of her healing staff suddenly became blinding—not a healing glow, but a powerful light capable of burning the retina!

The mercenaries screamed in pain, clutching their eyes and staggering backward.

Shining sighed, her long, silvery-white hair fluttering in the aftershocks of the Originium Arts: "... I told you to send me."

But the next second, her scabbard slashed out and struck the heavy crossbowman's wrist with precision, the heavy crossbow clattering to the ground.

Su Rui stared at them blankly.

(... Are they protecting him?)

--No, that's not right. They're just doing what they think is right.

But why... did his chest feel like it was being gripped tightly by something?

Three minutes later.

When Siesta's special operations team arrived, they only found mercenaries rolling on the ground, and--

Su Rui stood at the entrance of the coffee shop, still holding the half-finished cup of black coffee in her hand.

Nightingale was thoughtfully straightening his collar, while Shining was wiping away non-existent dust from his scabbard.

"You..." The team leader was dumbfounded.

"Self-defense," Shining said calmly.

"They fell on their own," Nightingale smiled.

Su Rui lowered her head and took a sip of her coffee, finally revealing her first relaxed smile of the day, "... Yes, that's it."

Through the shattered glass window, dappled sunlight cast patterns on the café's wooden floor.

A faint smell of gunpowder lingered in the air, mingling with the aroma of roasted coffee beans, creating a peculiar atmosphere. Su Rui sat by the window, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim of his coffee cup, the dark brown liquid reflecting his slightly tired face.

Nightingale sat to his right, her golden eyes occasionally glancing at the municipal workers cleaning up the street outside the window. Her healing staff rested against the table, its tip still gleaming with the faint light of Originium Arts. Shining stood to Su Rui's left, her long silver hair cascading over her shoulders, her grey-purple eyes remaining ever vigilant, her right hand never leaving its sheath.

"Would you like a refill?" Nightingale asked softly, tapping Su Rui's glass lightly with her fingers.

Su Rui then realized his coffee was empty. He shook his head, forcing a smile, "No, thank you."

The café's doorbell rang crisply. Ceylon walked in with elegant steps, her light blue dress shimmering softly in the morning light. Her gaze swept around the café, finally settling on the three people.

"Looks like I missed a good show." Her voice carried a perfectly timed sarcasm, her high heels clicking crisply on the floor. "The City Hall report says those mercenaries all injured themselves?"

Nightingale stood up calmly, placing herself conveniently between Ceylon and Su Rui: "Miss Ceylon, you've come at the right time; we were just about to leave."

Shining's fingers tapped lightly on the scabbard, producing a soft metallic clanging sound. Her gaze never left Ceylon's face, her greyish-purple pupils slightly contracting.

Ceylon chuckled softly and took a gold-embossed envelope from her handbag, "This is a thank-you gift from my father. It's not much, but please accept it."

Su Rui tried to get up, but was stopped by a look from Shining. He had no choice but to remain seated and said softly, "Thank you, but we just did what we were supposed to do."

Ceylon's gaze passed over Nightingale's shoulder, meeting Su Rui's eyes directly. "You're always so modest. Speaking of which, about that Oripathy research report you promised to give me last time..."

"That report is still being compiled," Nightingale suddenly interrupted, her voice still gentle, yet carrying an undeniable firmness. "Once it's finished, I will personally deliver it to the City Hall."

The atmosphere in the café suddenly became subtle. The owner behind the counter wiped the sweat from his brow and quietly slipped into the kitchen. The municipal workers outside the window seemed to sense something as well, and they all subdued their movements.

Volume 12, Chapter 722: My preparations are complete.

Ceylon's lips curled into a slight smile as she took a step forward, Nightingale immediately blocked. The two were so close they could smell each other's perfumes— Nightingale's was a faint herbal scent, while Ceylon's was an elegant jasmine fragrance.

"I just want to say a few words to Su Rui." Ceylon's voice remained politely gentle, but his eyes had sharpened. "As an advisor to Siesta City, I have the right to know the details of today's events."

Shining suddenly spoke, his voice as cold as ice. "The detailed report will be submitted on time. Now, please leave."

Su Rui's fingers clenched subtly under the table. He could sense the tense atmosphere between the three of them, but he didn't know how to defuse it. Images from his memory began to flash back—the streets of Kazdel, the mercenaries' sinister grins, the splattered blood...

"Su Rui?" Ceylon's voice brought him back to reality. "Are you alright?"

Nightingale immediately turned around to check on Su Rui's condition with concern. In that brief moment of inattention, Ceylon swiftly bypassed her and stood before Su Rui. But before she could speak, Shining's scabbard was already positioned between them.

"That's enough," Shining's voice was low and dangerous. "He needs rest now."

A flicker of hurt crossed Ceylon's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "I'm just worried about his condition. The last time he had Oripathy attack..."

"That was three months ago," Nightingale interrupted, standing back beside Su Rui. "We know his health best."

The sunlight outside the window was suddenly blocked by clouds, and the café became somewhat darker. Su Rui finally looked up, her voice a little hoarse. "Ceylon, thank you for your concern. I'll deliver the report myself once it's ready."

Ceylon gave him a deep look, then sighed softly, "Alright. But promise me, if you need any help, contact me anytime." She took out a gold-embossed business card from her bag, intending to hand it to Su Rui.

Nightingale took the business card first. "I'll pass it on."

Ceylon's finger paused in mid-air for a second before she withdrew it. She straightened her skirt and turned to walk towards the door. Just before opening it, she suddenly turned back. "Oh, by the way, I reserved box seats for you at next week's concert."

Before she could get a response, the doorbell rang again, and she disappeared down the street.

A brief silence fell over the café. Su Rui let out a long sigh and rubbed her temples. "You guys were too tense."

"She's too dangerous." Shining sheathed her sword, her voice still tense. "Your condition worsened after she spoke to you alone last time."

Nightingale gently held Su Rui's hand. "We just don't want to see you fall into that situation again."

Looking into their concerned eyes, Su Rui's inner turmoil gradually dissipated. He grasped Nightingale's hand in return and nodded to Shining, "I know. Thank you."

The clouds outside the window dispersed, and sunlight streamed in again. The café door opened once more, and this time a few tourists entered, chatting and laughing. The atmosphere inside finally returned to its usual relaxed state.

"Would you like another cup of coffee?" Nightingale asked with a smile.

Su Rui nodded. "Let's add a sugar cube this time."

Shining rarely showed a smile, "Finally learned to cater to your own tastes?"

Seemingly feeling they'd spent too much time in Siesta, Shining and Nightingale decided to take Su Rui to Kazimierz.

The setting sun bathed the streets of Siesta in an orange-red hue. A modified heavy-duty SUV was parked in the hotel's backyard parking lot, its black body gleaming coldly in the twilight. Su Rui stood beside the car, her fingers lightly tapping on the door; the metal felt cool and solid.

Nightingale emerged from the hotel's back door, her long golden hair tied in a neat ponytail, and she had changed into a dark brown travel outfit that allowed for easy movement. She held two car keys in her hand, tossing them lightly in the air and catching them again.

"Has everything been checked?" Su Rui asked.

Nightingale nodded, opening the car door. "The gas tank's full, the spare tire's new, and the engine's been tuned." She patted the steering wheel, a slight smile playing on her lips. "This car can take us across the desert."

Shining emerged from the inn, her long, silver-white hair tied back with a black ribbon, her grey-purple eyes scanning the car. She carried two military backpacks, casually tossing them into the trunk. "Supplies inventoried, all in your storage space?"

Su Rui raised his hand, a faint glow of Originium Arts emanating from his fingertips. "Tents, food, medical supplies, spare fuel... it's all here." He tapped his temple. "Enough for us for a month."

Shining gave a soft snort, opened the car door, and got into the driver's seat. "Then what are we waiting for?"

Nightingale smiled and got into the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt. "Su Rui, you sit in the back and rest. I'll drive the first leg of the journey."

Su Rui nodded, opened the car door, and climbed into the back seat. The seat was more comfortable than he had expected; it was clearly adjusted by Nightingale on purpose.

The engine emitted a deep roar as the SUV slowly drove out of the parking lot. Through the car window, Su Rui watched the receding Siesta, the city's outline gradually blurring in the sunset.

Night falls on the desolate highway.

The headlights pierced the darkness, illuminating the straight road ahead. Nightingale gripped the steering wheel intently, the blue light from the dashboard reflecting on her face. Shining sat in the passenger seat, a map spread out in her hand, glancing up every now and then to check road signs.

Su Rui leaned against the window, gazing at the wilderness rushing past outside. Moonlight spilled onto the distant mountains, outlining their undulating silhouettes.

"There's a rest stop thirty kilometers ahead," Shining said, folding up the map. "Should we stop and spend the night?"

Nightingale glanced at the fuel gauge. "We have enough fuel, but Su Rui needs a rest."

"I'm fine," Su Rui straightened up. "You've been working all day, it's my turn."

Shining glanced back at him. "The wounded should just stay put."

Nightingale chuckled softly, "We'll switch shifts at the next rest stop; Shining will drive the night."

The SUV continued its journey in the darkness, Su Rui took out three heated bento boxes from the storage space. The aroma of the food immediately filled the cabin.

"Still hot?" Shining took the lunchbox and raised an eyebrow.

Su Rui shrugged. "Space is static; whatever you put in will come out the same way."

Nightingale took a bite of the sandwich, her eyes lighting up. "It's better than I expected!"

The three ate their dinner in silence, accompanied only by the roar of the engine and the sound of tires rolling over the road.

Rest stop in the early morning.

The SUV was parked in an open space surrounded by sparse bushes. Nightingale turned off the engine, got out, and stretched.

"I'll go take a look around." Shining drew his longsword, and his figure quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Su Rui retrieved camping gear from her storage space. As the light of Originium Arts flashed, a spacious tent, folding tables and chairs, and cooking utensils appeared on the open ground.

"This is so convenient," Nightingale said, helping to secure the tent poles. "It's so much easier than carrying all those big bags and packs back and forth."

Su Rui smiled and said, "It's just a bit mentally taxing."

Shining quickly returned, a few drops of dew clinging to the blade. "Safe."

Volume 12, Chapter 723: Ambush

Nightingale had already set up a makeshift stove, and a pot of hot soup was simmering. The three of them sat around the campfire, the firelight illuminating their faces.

"At this pace," Shining, whittling a twig with a knife, "We should reach the Kazimierz border by noon the day after tomorrow."

Su Rui looked at the flickering flames. "How's the situation over there?"

"The Commercial Union's sphere of influence," Shining planted a sharpened branch in the ground, "Is far more complex than Siesta."

The Nightingale served three bowls of hot soup. "So we must keep a low profile."

The night wind blew across the wilderness, carrying the scent of grass and earth. Su Rui looked up at the starry sky; the Milky Way stretched across the heavens like a shimmering ribbon.

"Go to sleep," Shining stood up, "I'll take the first shift."

Inside the tent, Nightingale had already laid out her sleeping bag. Su Rui lay on the soft mat, listening to the crackling of the campfire outside.

The Nightingale softly said "Goodnight," and soon the sound of even breathing filled the air.