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

"... Franka is the youngest and most beautiful." Su Rui whispered quickly, the voice almost squeezed out between her teeth.

"What? I can't hear you~" Franka deliberately leaned in.

"Franka is the youngest and most beautiful!" Su Rui raised her voice, her ear tips already red as if they were about to bleed.

"Good boy~" Franka released his hand with satisfaction, and even ruffled his hair. "Wouldn't it have been better if you had done this earlier?"

Liskarm released his grip and adjusted his glasses. "Not bad."

Su Rui immediately straightened his disheveled collar, his expression returning to its usual indifference, but his reddened earlobes betrayed him.

Jessica laughed until tears streamed down her face, slumping back in her chair. "Hahaha... Su Rui, you're so cute..."

Su Rui glanced at her silently, then suddenly reached out and pulled her close, playfully pinching her cheek in retaliation. "You're an accomplice too."

"Waaah! I didn't do anything!" Jessica protested, but she couldn't hide the smile on her face.

Franka and Liskarm returned to the front seat, and the car was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

"Seriously," Franka fastened her seatbelt, turned back and winked at Su Rui, "Your expression just now was worth taking a picture of as a souvenir."

Liskarm nodded. "That's indeed very rare."

Su Rui sighed and turned to look out the window, "... Drive."

The car started up again, and sunlight streamed through the windows onto the four of them. Jessica quietly took Su Rui's hand and noticed that his fingertips were still warm.

"Actually," she whispered in his ear, "I really like the way you look when you're shy."

Su Rui didn't answer, but instead tightened her grip on her fingers.

In the front row, Franka and Liskarm exchanged a smile.

Youth is wonderful—but this time, they tacitly refrained from saying it aloud.

As the setting sun painted the wilderness orange-red, the convoy camped beside a dry riverbed. Franka jumped out of the car and stretched dramatically. "Chef Su~ What's the menu for tonight?"

Su Rui was taking a portable stove out of the trunk when he heard this, and without looking up, said, "To stew."

"Ugh, stew again?" Franka pouted. "It was the same last time."

"In the field," Su Rui explained calmly, "Stewing retains the most nutrients and is easy to reheat."

Liskarm had already set up a makeshift dining table, and adjusted his glasses. "A reasonable choice."

Jessica came over carrying the food crate, her cheeks flushed red in the setting sun. "I can help!"

As Su Rui took the box, her fingertips lightly brushed against the back of her hand. "No need, you go and rest."

"But I want to help." Jessica stood stubbornly by the stove, her fingers tugging at his sleeve and giving it a gentle shake. "At least let me chop the vegetables?"

Franka suddenly appeared between the two. "Wow~ the little princess is being affectionate!"

Su Rui's ears turned slightly red, and she silently took half a step to the side. "... Be careful."

Jessica cheered and immediately tied on a spare apron. The light blue plaid fabric was tied into a bow at her waist, and her blonde hair was casually tied into a ponytail, which looked like dancing sunlight in the twilight.

"How big should the carrots be cut?" She picked up the cleaver, her movements surprisingly practiced.

Su Rui was processing canned meat when she heard this and looked up. "Two centimeters square."

"Received!" Jessica began chopping vegetables seriously. Although her knife skills were not as precise as Su Rui's, each piece was of uniform size.

Franka leaned over to steal a bite of carrot chunks, but Jessica lightly tapped the back of her hand with the back of her knife. "Don't steal any!"

"Waaah! The little princess is so fierce!" Franka pretended to be in pain, then turned to Liskarm, who was starting a fire, and cried, "Liskarm, look at her!"

Liskarm didn't even look up. "He deserved it."

Su Rui's lips curled up almost imperceptibly. He poured a little oil into the pan, and the aroma of the minced garlic instantly filled the air as it sizzled in the hot oil. Jessica couldn't help but lean in, "It smells so good!"

"Step back." Su Rui shielded her from the frying pan with her body. "You'll get splashed."

Jessica obediently took a half step back, but her eyes were still bright as she watched his movements. Su Rui's movements as he stir-fried the meat were fluid and graceful; with each flick of his wrist, every piece of meat was evenly coated with oil.

"It's like an art performance..." she exclaimed softly.

Franka had slipped over again at some point and whispered in her ear, "Are you engrossed in watching?"

"No, no!" Jessica frantically reached for the potatoes, nearly knocking over the salt shaker.

Su Rui quickly caught the salt shaker and took the potato from her hand. "Peel it."

"Oh!" Jessica hurried to find a peeler, but heard a "snap" sound behind her— Su Rui was peeling potatoes with a dagger. The brown potato skins fell like scrolls as the silver blade flashed.

"... That's too unfair," she muttered, but couldn't help being engrossed in watching.

As all the ingredients bubbled and steamed in the pot, dusk had completely enveloped the camp. Franka pulled out a few cans of beer from somewhere. "Come on, let's treat our chef!"

Su Rui shook his head. "No drinking while on duty."

"Then I'll drink it for you~" Franka said with a grin, pulling the tab, only to have Liskarm confiscate the can.

"You can only drink one can," Liskarm said firmly.

Jessica held the hot soup specially made by Su Rui, taking small sips. The rich aroma made her squint her eyes. "So delicious..."

Su Rui sat down next to her, subtly pushing her own portion closer to her. "Slow down."

"Aren't you going to eat?" Jessica looked up and found Su Rui looking at her.

"I'll let you eat first," he said matter-of-factly.

Franka immediately chimed in, "Wow--does this count as feeding play?"

Liskarm calmly sipped his soup. "Shut up and eat."

As the starlight gradually brightened, Jessica discovered that several pieces of meat had appeared in her bowl without her noticing. Su Rui's bowl, on the other hand, was full of carrots and potatoes.

"Su Rui!" she angrily slammed her spoon against the edge of his bowl, "You gave me the meat again!"

"You need protein," he said without batting an eye.

And what about you?

"I eat enough vegetables."

Jessica scooped up a spoonful of meat and held it to his lips: "Ah--"

Su Rui froze. All eyes at the table were fixed on the trembling spoonful of meat.

"Open your mouth!" Jessica's face was redder than the campfire, but her hands were steady. "Otherwise, I'll... I'll just keep holding it up!"

Franka's beer can hung in mid-air, Liskarm's soup spoon hovered near his mouth, and everyone's movements seemed to have been paused.

Finally, Su Rui leaned forward slightly and cautiously took the spoonful of meat into his mouth. His eyelashes cast dappled shadows in the firelight, and his Adam's apple bobbed gently.

"Is it good?" Jessica asked softly.

Su Rui looked directly into her eyes. "Hmm."

Franka suddenly slammed her beer can down on the table. "I'm full! This dog food is too much!"

Liskarm silently raised his soup bowl. "I second that."

A night breeze swept through the campsite, carrying the aroma of stew and faint laughter into the distance. Under the starlight, the tips of someone's ears were even redder than the campfire.

Volume 14, Chapter 789: Rhine Lab

The convoy slowly drove into the gates of the Rhine Lab Industrial Park, the towering metal fences gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Automated scanners swept over the roofs of the vehicles, red laser lines tracing the surfaces, and after confirming their identities, the heavy gates slid silently open to the sides.

"We've finally arrived..." Jessica leaned against the car window, gazing at the massive complex of buildings that gradually came into view outside.

Rhine Lab's industrial park stands like a futuristic city at the edge of the wilderness, its SilverAsh main building extending in a streamlined shape, its glass curtain wall reflecting the blue of the sky. Auxiliary buildings surround it like satellites, connected by sky bridges into a complex network. Further away, several towering test towers pierce the clouds, their tops flashing warning lights.

Su Rui tapped his fingers lightly on the steering wheel, his gaze sweeping over the location of each surveillance camera and automatic defense turret.

"The security system is more sophisticated than the intelligence indicated," Liskarm whispered in the back seat, his fingers unconsciously pushing up his glasses. "Thermal sensors, motion tracking, and... is that a sonic detector?"

Franka whistled, "Wow, this place could be hard to escape if things get chaotic!"

The convoy stopped in the central square. A team of researchers and security personnel in white lab coats were already waiting there. Leading them was a tall woman with long, golden-green hair tucked behind her ears, and sharp, eagle-like eyes behind her gold-rimmed glasses.

"The Blacksteel Worldwide escort team? I am Muelsyse, the head of the Ecology Department at Rhine Lab Sciences. I am in charge of this handover."

Jessica was the first to get off the bus, bowing politely. "Hello! We are --"

"Jessica, Su Rui," her gaze continued, "Franka, Thermite Sword Specialist; Liskarm, Heavy Armor Defense Specialist."

Franka raised an eyebrow. "Wow, that's a very thorough investigation!"

"Just basic stuff," Muelsyse smiled, a smile as precise as a calculated curve. "Please come with me to complete the handover procedures."

The handover room is a pure white, perfectly circular space with a holographic projection table suspended in the center. When a metal box containing goods is placed in the scanning area, more than a dozen blue gratings light up simultaneously, breaking down the box into a three-dimensional image.

"Biological sample stability 98.7%, transportation losses within acceptable limits." Muelsyse read the data appearing in the air. "Excellent, Blacksteel is as reliable as ever."

Su Rui stood beside Jessica, her gaze never leaving the metal box. A small warning sign was printed on the side of the box: Biohazard Level 4.

"Now that the handover is complete," Liskarm said, "We need a receipt."

"Of course." Muelsyse lightly touched the projector, and an electronic document appeared in the air. "But before that..." She suddenly turned to Jessica, "Director Saria is very interested in you and would like to personally give you a tour of our facilities."

Franka's eyes lit up. "Oh? Can we watch an explosive experiment?"

"Franka!" Liskarm frowned.

Muelsyse's smile deepened, "Who knows?"

Saria was younger than I had imagined, but she exuded an undeniable authority in every gesture. She wore the black uniform of a senior executive at Rhine Lab, with a diamond-shaped badge on her left breast symbolizing the head of the defense department.

"Thank you all for escorting us safely." Her voice was deep and strong. "Rhine Lab has always valued its cooperation with Blacksteel."

Jessica noticed that as she spoke, her right hand remained naturally hanging at her waist—a posture of being ready to draw her gun at any moment.

"This way, please." Saria led them through a glass corridor, beneath which lay a complex system of pipes. "We are now in Zone C of the park, where we are primarily conducting ecological maintenance projects."

In the laboratories lining both sides of the corridor, researchers were operating sophisticated instruments. A translucent organism, resembling both a jellyfish and a fern, floated in a culture chamber, pulsating with changes in light.

"These are unique life forms discovered in the Siesta Volcano," Muelsyse explained. "They are capable of photosynthesis in extreme environments."

Su Rui suddenly spoke up, "Weaponized?"

The laboratory fell silent for a few seconds.

Saria's lips curled into a slight smile. "The direct question... the answer is—not at the moment." She pushed open the next door. "However, the things here are indeed more relevant to your field of study."

The defense science test site resembles a small military base. Automated artillery emplacements, drone hives, and energy barrier generators are arranged around the test area. In the center of the site, several technicians in protective suits are debugging a uniquely shaped device.

"A directional sonic weapon, codenamed ' Buzz '." Saria gestured for them to put on their protective earmuffs. "Effective range of fifty meters, capable of incapacitating without causing permanent damage."

Upon activation, the device emitted an almost inaudible high-frequency vibration. The test dummy suddenly trembled violently and then collapsed to the ground.

"Wow!" Franka exclaimed excitedly as she leaned closer. "Can you grill the offal?"

"Franka!" Jessica and Liskarm shouted at the same time.

Saria laughed. "Theoretically, yes, but we prefer the non-lethal option." She turned to Su Rui, "I heard you used similar equipment in the Bolivar?"

Su Rui nodded. "Early models only had a range of ten meters."

"The improved version is here." Saria led them to another booth, "A portable version, suitable for squad combat."

Liskarm carefully examined the sample. "How's the recoil?"

"30% smaller than standard firearms."

Jessica noticed that Su Rui and Saria used precise numbers and technical jargon in their conversation, like two computers exchanging data. She herself, however, was drawn to the monitor on the wall—which was playing an animation of some kind of mechanical structure breaking down.

"This is...?"

"Ah, you found it." Muelsyse floated to her side. "Medical nanorobots, still in the concept stage." The holographic image showed the micro-mechanisms moving through blood vessels. "Theoretically, they could repair tissue damage, and even... reverse Originium infection."

Jessica held her breath. "This is amazing!"

"Of course, it's still a long way from practical application." Muelsyse's glasses reflected a blue light. "There are more ethical issues to overcome than technical ones."

Lunch was held in the rooftop garden of the park. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the entire industrial area, with endless wilderness stretching into the distance.

"So," Saria a piece of the synthetic steak on her plate, "Blacksteel's recent activities in Kazimierz have been quite interesting."

Liskarm's fork paused slightly. "Trade secret."

"Of course," Saria said dismissively, "I'm just curious about your opinions on the new protective materials."

Su Rui put down his water glass. "It's 15% lighter than standard armor, but the joints are more prone to damage."