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

Cough, cough. Don't laugh. If I laugh, Su Rui will notice.

Holding back her laughter, Talulah quickly found the Shieldguards marching in formation, clustered together like moving hills, as well as the tallest among them, Patriot, with the aid of High-Speed Mobile Camouflage.

"Hello, Lord Patriot."

Talulah slowly spoke from some distance away from Patriot.

The Shieldguards immediately became vigilant. Even though they had only heard a voice, they swiftly formed ranks and assumed defensive positions.

Then, after Su Rui deactivated the camouflage, Talulah revealed herself and raised her empty hands to show her goodwill.

"I mean no harm. I simply wish to cooperate with you."

"...Who are you?"

The towering Wendigo lowered his head and questioned the girl who had suddenly appeared before him.

Well... the negotiation process was boring. They basically went back and forth in circles. In the end, Talulah showed her identity and sincerity, then gave Patriot the locations of several black mines so he could verify them himself.

Once that was done, a foundation of trust had been established between the two sides.

"That's why I hate scheming against people. It's such a pain, and it isn't fun at all."

Watching Talulah converse with Patriot from inside her mind, Su Rui was practically yawning.

Fortunately, Talulah met another person—a white-haired Cautus girl wrapped in a thick coat, yet still radiating a bone-chilling coldness.

"Well, look what I found. A little white rabbit."

Su Rui's voice came from FrostNova's pocket, instantly putting her on guard. She looked at Talulah and instinctively gripped the weapon at her waist.

Talulah did not mind and casually explained:

"This is Su Rui. He can use electronic devices, and I was only able to find this place thanks to his help."

FrostNova took the walkie-talkie from her pocket in confusion and examined it closely, but found nothing unusual.

"Staring at the walkie-talkie won't help. I'm not actually inside it anyway. By the way, can I touch your ears?"

"..."

FrostNova turned her confused gaze toward Talulah, and the hand gripping her weapon gradually relaxed.

Although the ability to invade electronic devices was frightening, Su Rui gave her the impression of being... a playful child?

"Su Rui can't touch your ears through a walkie-talkie, so don't worry."

Talulah glanced at FrostNova's puzzled expression but did not explain further.

After all, only she could directly interact with Su Rui. What did it matter what FrostNova thought?

Still, Talulah felt rather helpless. When they had first met, Su Rui had seemed so steady and mature, but after spending time with her, none of that remained.

But that was a good thing too. Talulah could tell that Su Rui had at least begun to trust her and no longer felt uncomfortable around her.

Meanwhile, FrostNova smiled at the walkie-talkie.

"Sure. If you can come over here, I'll let you touch my ears."

But Su Rui had no physical form. He could not come over.

Talulah looked away, afraid she would burst out laughing. That would be far too unserious, and bad from every possible angle.

Bickering and an Agreement

Fortunately, Su Rui did not notice Talulah trying not to laugh, because he had already been captivated by FrostNova's smile.

The girl's smile was like a snow lotus blooming alone atop a snowy mountain—beautiful and moving, making people want to look at it a few more times.

So Su Rui said, "What are you laughing at? Why don't you dare touch your own ears? Then I'll be able to touch them!"

"I don't believe you." With a faint smile at the corner of her lips, FrostNova dismissed Su Rui's little scheme with a single calm sentence.

"Tch. You don't dare."

"That's right, I don't."

"...You really don't dare?"

"What do you think?"

Su Rui helplessly rolled his eyes and complained in Talulah's mind, "Fine, I can't do anything about her."

What were you planning to do?

Talulah could not help being curious. "Trick her into touching her own ears, then laugh at her. I'd take a picture too, and if it looked good, I'd send it to your phone and show it to her."

...Isn't that a little too childish? Talulah's lips curled into a smile.

However, after FrostNova had spent some time with Talulah, the Guerrillas had returned. Patriot in particular drew FrostNova and Talulah's attention the moment his towering figure approached.

FrostNova hurriedly stood up, glanced at Talulah, then turned an anxious gaze toward Patriot.

"How did it go? She... they weren't lying, right?" Seemingly remembering Su Rui's presence, FrostNova corrected herself midway.

"Mm."

The towering figure nodded and looked at Talulah. "The intelligence... completely matches."

Although Patriot's throat made his speech halting, Su Rui understood what he meant. He immediately spoke up, his dissatisfied voice coming from FrostNova's walkie-talkie.

"What are you thinking? I gathered all that intelligence myself. There's absolutely no way there could be any mistakes! How could it possibly be a trap I deliberately arranged to scheme against you?! If I wanted to scheme against you, I'd have just brought people to surround you!"

"And besides..." Su Rui had just finished speaking and was about to add more when FrostNova directly switched off the walkie-talkie.

Su Rui could not use electronics that had been physically powered off, so he could only go offline for the moment.

FrostNova put away the walkie-talkie with a slight blush, then introduced him to Patriot.

"That was Su Rui, Talulah's companion. He should be the one who gathered the intelligence."

Patriot slowly nodded and asked in a hoarse voice, "...A child?"

"I'm a reliable adult!" This time, Su Rui's voice came from Talulah's pocket.

Talulah quickly coughed lightly, interrupting Su Rui before he could start arguing with Patriot.

"How about it, Mr. Patriot? I have proven my goodwill and credibility. You can also send people to inspect my territory. Those laws will not only be enforced in my territory. Soon, the same laws will be implemented in other nobles' territories as well."

"But what is the difference between those laws and raising livestock?"

FrostNova's expression was complicated. This made Su Rui even more unhappy.

"Why does everyone have to criticize this law? Don't you understand the importance of taking things step by step? If I had implemented more favorable policies from the start, the law could never have been put into effect. The Infected would not even have the conditions they have now!"

Su Rui himself knew the conditions were rather poor. That was one thing before others, but in front of people who truly fought for the Infected, his confidence weakened somewhat.

"And... anyone with backbone, we'll help send them over here. In other words, it's also a kind of screening. Those willing to live and die like this can at least live a little better, while those willing to resist would not care for such tiny benefits anyway."

FrostNova clearly wanted to say something, but hearing Su Rui's tone, she wore a strange expression and ultimately remained silent.

Talulah noticed that FrostNova's hand inside her pocket was rubbing something. Was she thinking about Su Rui?

But that was not the important thing right now. Talulah raised her head and looked at Patriot.

"So? All that remains is your nod, and our cooperation can be established."

"Fine. But if you... do not keep your word... we will leave at any time."

Talulah nodded. She had known from the beginning that convincing Patriot would not be easy, and she could not help letting out a breath of relief.

At least now, the plan could truly be put into action.

Next came the supplies they had brought. Talulah was just about to speak when Su Rui's voice sounded in her mind.

"How about I handle this?"

No problem. How do you plan to say it? Talulah had no objection to Su Rui's request, but she was a little worried that his way of speaking might be... not serious enough.

"Don't worry. I'm still very reliable when it comes to this."

Su Rui cleared his throat and spoke through Talulah's phone.

"Now that the agreement has been reached, I have one additional condition."

"What condition?" FrostNova spoke first, perhaps to spare Patriot's throat.

"Hehe~ I can provide a large quantity of supplies right now, including weapons, medical supplies, clothes, and food. In exchange..."

"What do you want?"

FrostNova became serious, her gaze turning intent. Although the previous negotiations had settled many things, from FrostNova's perspective, Su Rui's current topic was actually more important.

The assistance and information in the agreement would only become useful later, but those supplies could be put to use immediately.

After all, the Guerrillas were indeed severely short on all kinds of supplies.

Su Rui deliberately kept them in suspense, then said under the gazes of Patriot, FrostNova, and Talulah:

"I want to see Patriot's face beneath his mask."

"...Huh?" Even Talulah could not help showing a surprised expression. She had thought Su Rui was going to make some outrageous demand.

"What are you so surprised about?" Su Rui said in Talulah's mind.

"Didn't we agree that these supplies were an investment in them? Did you expect the Guerrillas, who have nothing, to come up with some treasure for you? If they had treasure, they wouldn't be in this endlessly sustainable state of running out of everything."

I just didn't expect you to make such a big show of it only to ask for that.

Talulah silently looked away. FrostNova wore almost the same surprised expression, though she hid it a little better.

FrostNova looked toward Patriot. She wanted to say, That's it? But supplies were far too important a matter for her to decide on her own.

Wuhu, a Gundam!

Patriot actually laughed. It was a bright, hearty laugh.

Although Su Rui could hear the happiness in it, Patriot's voice had become hoarse because of Originium, making what should have been an ordinary laugh sound somewhat frightening.

In the end, Patriot stopped laughing and slowly said, "You... are sure? Do not... get scared."

FrostNova could not help giving Patriot a strange look. That tone made it feel as if he were speaking to her as a child—and somehow even more indulgently than he was with her.

FrostNova could not help feeling a little dissatisfied, puffing out her cheeks slightly.

But Su Rui did not notice Patriot's tone, because he was still dwelling on Patriot's words.

"Of course. I'm a reliable adult. I won't get scared."

Patriot laughed again, reached up, grabbed his mask, and slowly removed it.

A terrifying face appeared behind the mask. A Wendigo's face had no outer skin; their bones were directly exposed, along with their scarlet eyes and muscles. Combined with his already immensely imposing frame, the sight was overwhelming.

Even FrostNova and Talulah could not help widening their eyes.

Fortunately, both girls had seen plenty of things. They only widened their eyes and were not frightened.

As for Su Rui, he fell silent and did not speak for a long while.

Only after Patriot put away his mask and placed it back on his face did FrostNova and Talulah turn their attention back to Su Rui.

Seeing the worried look in FrostNova's eyes, Talulah also asked anxiously:

"Su Rui? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine... He's so handsome."

Su Rui's voice sounded in Talulah's mind. As if embarrassed, he did not use Talulah's phone.

However, after talking with Talulah, Su Rui used her phone to prove that he was fine.

"Alright, the agreement has been reached. These are the supplies you wanted."

As he spoke, Su Rui neatly placed the supplies Talulah had prepared directly in the open space before Talulah, FrostNova, and the others.

There was so much that Patriot's figure was completely blocked from view.

"I'll arrange for people to sort them out right away."

FrostNova stared blankly at the enormous quantity of supplies before her, then looked at Patriot. After receiving his nod of approval, she began calling people over.