Ark Simulator: Don't I Lack a Physical Body?

"Deal." Su Rui agreed immediately, seemingly not believing he would lose at all. He had absolute confidence in himself.

The competition began. They remained nestled together, as if they had simply changed to a more advantageous shooting position. Su Rui held her half-encircled in his arms, her back pressed against his chest, his chin almost resting on the top of her head. Together, they faced the ever-moving "shooting range" beyond the city.

New Originium Slug keep appearing. Perhaps they are attracted by the commotion in the city, or perhaps they are instinctively chasing this moving behemoth.

Su Rui's shooting style is highly personal. He pursues ultimate precision and a one-shot kill, aiming every shot at what he considers the most critical core or head. His arm is incredibly steady when he fires, with a cold, beautiful quality. He enjoys the feedback of the bullet piercing the armor, and after hitting the target, he emits a very soft, satisfied breath from his nose, as if everything is under control.

"The third one," he announced, his voice tinged with a reserved smugness.

Lemuen, on the other hand, seemed... more "practical." Her shooting was faster and more unconventional. Sometimes it was precise bursts, sometimes short bursts to block movement or destroy structures. She didn't always aim to kill her targets instantly, but rather to incapacitate them, ultimately letting them be swallowed or crushed by the moving city itself. When she fired, her body showed almost no recoil, as if she had accomplished something trivial with ease.

"Hmm, those two are too close together, let's make them one target." She said, pulling the trigger. The bullet cleverly passed through the gap between the two Originium Slug and hit a loose rock behind them. The rock rolled down and knocked both Originium Slug off the steep slope.

"Hey! That doesn't count!" Su Rui protested.

"The rules don't say we can't use the environment," Lemuen retorted confidently, even lightly bumping his chest with the back of her head to show that her protest was ineffective.

"Sophistry," Su Rui scoffed, but couldn't help a slight smile creeping onto his face at her little gesture. He had to admit, watching her "play dumb" like this was quite amusing. He tightened his arms around her slightly and continued searching for his next target.

Volume 17, 971: The Sound of a Gun

The sounds of wind, the roar of the city, the crisp crack of gunfire, and the subtle clatter of Originium Slug shells mingled together. They nestled high above the Mobile City, engaging in a game that was both intimate and fiercely competitive.

Su Rui would occasionally make a critical comment: "That one's color is disgusting," or "It's climbing so slowly, it's a complete waste of my bullets."

Lemuen would laugh and reply, "You're asking too much, Master Su Rui. They're just clumsy little bugs." Or, "Then don't hit them, leave them for me!"

They were both competitive and strangely in sync. Sometimes they would aim at the same target almost simultaneously, then engage in a quick, childish, and utterly harmless argument about who hit first. Su Rui insisted that her bullet had caused the fatal wound, Lemuen that her attack had played a crucial role. At other times, they would divide the work in perfect harmony, each taking one side to clear out threats approaching from different directions at the same time.

Su Rui savored the feeling. A soft, warm body nestled in his arms, the faint, refreshing scent of her hair, different from the sweetness of icing sugar, lingering around his nose. He controlled the rhythm, displaying his proud skill, and could feel her presence and reactions at every moment. Every soft laugh, every slight snuggling against him from the recoil, filled him with pleasure. This pleasure even lessened his aversion to those ugly Originium Slug.

He even started to deliberately slow down or choose more challenging targets, just to see how she would react, or to prolong this intimate competition.

Lemuen seemed to sense his subtle thoughts. During a brief pause in reloading, she turned her head slightly, her cheek almost brushing against his chin. "What's wrong? Is Young Master Su Rui tired? Would you like to rest for a bit and let me take the lead?"

"Dream on." He retorted immediately, his subordinates moving even faster, firing three quick shots in quick succession, shattering a newly emerged Originium Slug in the distance. "I'm just selecting more valuable targets, to prevent some people from compensating for a lack of quality with quantity."

"Yes, yes, you have the best taste." Lemuen nodded readily, her smile almost overflowing. She leaned into his arms, giving him almost half her weight, but her shooting posture remained steady.

As the sun gradually sank in the west, it painted the horizon a brilliant orange-red, and the metallic city skyline was edged with a warm gold. Their shadows stretched long behind them, overlapping and indistinguishable from one another.

Gunfire continued to ring out intermittently, adding a touch of noise to the twilight.

Su Rui counted his spoils while keeping a close eye on Lemuen. He was certain he was in the lead and had already begun to think about how to exercise his "winner's" rights that evening—perhaps he could ask her to watch that documentary he was interested in but she always found too boring? Or perhaps have her read something to him? In short, it had to be something she wouldn't usually agree to easily.

Just as he was pondering this, a swarm of small Originium Slug suddenly emerged from a crack in the ground, densely packed and rushing towards the edge of the city. They were small, fast, and numerous, making them quite troublesome to deal with.

"Troublesome." Su Rui clicked his tongue, adjusted his gun-holding posture, and prepared to quickly mow down the enemy.

"Watch this~" Lemuen chuckled and took the lead. She didn't aim at a single insect, but instead slightly raised the muzzle of her gun, calculated the lead, and fired continuously at an area in front of the swarm.

The bullets struck the hard rocky ground, sending up a shower of sparks and debris. Startled, the swarm of insects instinctively changed direction, huddling together in chaos, and crashed into a naturally formed rocky slope in front of the Mobile City's tracks. They struggled in vain, unable to overcome the obstacle, and were ultimately left behind by the city, growing ever farther away.

"Alright, all cleanup done," Lemuen said easily, putting away her gun.

Su Rui raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that considered taking a shortcut? You didn't kill a single one."

"But the problem is solved!" She turned around, finally facing him directly, a smug smile on her face as if she had just pulled off a prank. The setting sun burned brightly in her eyes. "Besides, it was very efficient, wasn't it? Did Young Master Su Rui intend to shoot those little things one bullet at a time? That would be too tiring."

He looked at her smiling face so close to his, her smug expression, her eyes more captivating than the sunset, and the criticism and rebuttal that had been on the tip of his tongue suddenly vanished. The arrogant, handsome young man pursed his lips, and in the end, he just snorted and roughly ruffled her hair.

"You're full of twisted logic."

But he didn't deny her words, nor did he insist on continuing the count. He simply put away his gun, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her back into his embrace, holding her tightly.

Whether there were still a few Originium Slug approaching on the distant wasteland seemed no longer important. The outcome of the match also seemed ambiguous—perhaps he won, perhaps she used that last trick to win back the score, or perhaps it was simply a one-to-one tie.

But who cares at this moment?

Su Rui lowered his head, burying his face in the soft hair at the nape of her neck, and took a deep breath. The scent, a mixture of her fragrance and the cool evening air, gave him a strange sense of satisfaction and calm. His previous willfulness, arrogance, and competitive spirit during the competition seemed to have melted away in this embrace.

Lemuen quietly let him hold her, her fingers gently gripping the fabric of his uniform back, a soft smile curving her lips.

The Mobile City continued its roaring advance, leaving the sunset and the wasteland behind. They embraced high above, as if in their own little world, isolated from all the noise and disturbances, where only their breath and warmth were truly palpable.

The lingering warmth of the setting sun had not yet completely faded from the metal deck, and Su Rui and Lemuen were still immersed in the tranquility of their intertwined breaths. In the distance, the city lights gradually lit up, like scattered diamonds in the deepening twilight. However, this tranquility did not last long.

A slightly hesitant footstep sounded from the passageway behind them, very light, yet enough to break the atmosphere of this small space.

Su Rui frowned almost immediately in displeasure, without turning his head, his voice carrying obvious arrogance and coldness from being disturbed. "Who is it? If you have nothing to say, get lost." He subconsciously shielded Lemuen behind him, even though the newcomer didn't seem to have any murderous intent.

Lemuen also turned slightly to look over Su Rui's shoulder, her lake-blue eyes filled with curiosity rather than wariness.

The newcomer was a Sarkaz. He wasn't particularly tall, dressed in coarse cloth clothes stained with mud, and his knuckles were large, clearly those of someone who had toiled for years. His face had the typical resolute features of Sarkaz, but his eyes showed some weariness and worry, even a hint of timidity that seemed incongruous with his strength. He didn't have any menacing horns on his head, only two small, seemingly incompletely grown protrusions, which made him appear less fierce than a typical Sarkaz, and more... incongruously gentle.

Volume 17, Chapter 972: Sorry to bother you.

"I'm very sorry to bother you." The Sarkaz man stopped, maintaining a polite distance, his voice low and hoarse. "I... I'm called Gardener, a Gardener in the lower part of this Mobile City. I have something I'd like to discuss with... with this Mr. Sankta." His gaze fell on Su Rui's conspicuous halo, his tone carefully chosen.

"Gardener?" Su Rui turned around, completely shielding Lemuen behind him. His critical gaze swept over the self-proclaimed Gardener, Sarkaz, his eyebrows raised even higher. "Looking for me? Do we know each other?" His attitude clearly indicated "not interested" and "you'd better have a good reason."

The Gardener seemed unsurprised by Su Rui's attitude. He merely gave a bitter smile, the smile revealing a faint, old scar at the corner of his mouth. "No, you don't know me. But I... I know you. Or rather, I know you have some connection with Mr. Andoain... and that Miss Lemuen." His gaze swept quickly and cautiously over Lemuen.

Upon hearing Andoain's name, Su Rui's eyes flickered slightly, but the impatience on her face did not lessen. "So?"

The Gardener took a deep breath, as if he had made a great decision. "Please forgive my intrusion. I came here because... in this city, people like us are finding it increasingly difficult." He pointed to his Sarkaz features and then glanced meaningfully at the halos above Su Rui and Lemuen's heads.

"Us?" Su Rui caught the word.

"Yes, 'we'," the Gardener's voice trailed off, carrying an indescribable heaviness, "A hybrid of Sarkaz and Sankta."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Su Rui's arrogant expression softened slightly, revealing a hint of scrutiny. Lemuen also gently took Su Rui's hand.

The Gardener continued, his words like a floodgate bursting open, carrying long-suppressed anxiety. "This city nominally welcomes all races, but that's not the reality. Especially lately, because of some unexplained conflicts and rumors, the divide between the Sankta and Sarkaz residents has deepened. And we, who have blood from both sides... we have nowhere to go." His voice was filled with helplessness. "The Sankta don't fully accept us, and the Sarkaz see us as outsiders, even traitors. We're caught in the middle, like extra parts. Discrimination, exclusion, even occasional violence... especially against those whose features are less distinct, or like me and my children, whose features are... strangely blended."

He touched his small horns. "We try to live a stable life, like me as Gardener, others doing odd jobs, but trouble always finds its way in. Children are isolated at school, adults are harassed at work... We're like shadows living in the cracks."

Su Rui listened in silence. He wasn't completely ignorant of such matters. Racial conflicts were deeply rooted on Terra, and mixed-race individuals often found themselves in the most awkward and dangerous situations. He simply rarely confronted such specific and subtle suffering directly. His social circle and arrogant nature habitually kept him away from these "troubles."

"You're telling me all this," Su Rui began, his voice calmer but still distant, "What do you want in return? Sympathy? Or do you think I can do something for you?" He didn't see himself as obligated to act as a savior.

The Gardener looked up, his eyes filled with an almost desperate hope. "Before Mr. Andoain left, he briefly helped some of us. He... he's different. He understands this sense of being torn apart. I heard he left for Iberia. And I heard that you and he... might be in contact. I know this request is presumptuous, but... some of us, especially the young ones, see no future here. We heard that in Iberia ... perhaps there are new opportunities? Or at least, a way to leave this suffocating place?" His words were somewhat incoherent, yet they clearly conveyed a deep longing and a desperate predicament.

Lemuen gently squeezed Su Rui's hand, her eyes filled with sympathy. Su Rui could sense her emotions.

Su Rui didn't answer immediately. He looked at the Gardener —a Gardener anxious about life and his people, a father. He thought of Andoain, the idealist yet burdened with the heavy weight of the Sankta. His gaze swept over the rumbling steel city beneath his feet; beneath the glittering surface, undercurrents surged, and the racial rifts spread silently like rust.

He really doesn't like trouble. But...

His arrogance, to some extent, stemmed from his absolute confidence in his own abilities and judgment. His approach to problems was often direct and efficient, sometimes even appearing ruthless.

"The conflicts here are deeply rooted and difficult to resolve," Su Rui stated calmly, as if analyzing a topic unrelated to himself. "Hoping that the city's management will suddenly become fair and wise, or that Sankta and Sarkaz will instantly reconcile, is a foolish fantasy." His words were so direct they were almost cruel, and the Gardener's eyes dimmed.

But Su Rui changed the subject, slightly raising his chin, a calculating glint flashing in his eyes that always held impatience. "However, since you feel this is a dead end and want to take another route, it's not entirely impossible."

The Gardener suddenly looked up.

"Andoain went to Iberia, that's right," Su Rui continued, speaking slowly and clearly. "It's not an easy task for him, Iberia itself isn't some paradise. It's likely more dangerous and chaotic there." He had to shatter the other man's unrealistic illusions first.

"We know..." the Gardener said in a hoarse voice, "But at least... it's a change."

"Change?" Su Rui scoffed. "Maybe it'll get worse. But in any case, he's definitely short-handed. In every sense of the word." He looked at the Gardener. "You want to leave, you want a chance to start over, and Andoain will most likely need people willing to work, even fight. It sounds like you fit the latter description?" Sarkaz blood, even if only half, usually means greater survival and combat abilities than ordinary people.

The Gardener paused for a moment, then hope ignited in his eyes. "You mean...?"

"I can write you a letter and draw a rough route map," Su Rui said crisply, as if it were a trivial matter. "The letter is for Andoain, and I will explain your situation. As for whether he is willing to accept you, and whether you live or die after he accepts you, that depends on your own fate and his arrangements. I will not take any responsibility." He laid out the unpleasant truth upfront, adopting an extremely high-handed attitude, as if he were bestowing a handout.

But for the Gardener, this was a glimmer of hope amidst despair! He was so moved he almost knelt down, his voice trembling. "Thank you! Thank you so much, Mr. Su Rui! No matter the outcome, we will be eternally grateful!"

Volume 17, Chapter 973: Don't be too happy yet.

"Don't be too happy yet," Su Rui interrupted him coldly. "The route can only point you in the right direction. You know the dangers of the Terra Wilderness. How many of you will make it to Iberia and find Andoain is up to you. And," he gave the Gardener a meaningful look, "Andoain has his principles and his own agenda. You'd better figure out what you're going to face instead of just thinking about running away from here. If he thinks you're not suitable, or if you violate his principles, you'll bear the consequences."

"Understood! We understand!" The Gardener nodded repeatedly. "We will take the risks ourselves! As long as we can get out of here, there is a way we can go!"

Su Rui said no more. He released Lemuen's hand and took out a portable leather notebook and a simple metal pen from inside his uniform. Leaning against the railing, he began to draw quickly and precisely. His map was clear, marking several key landmarks and the possible route sections that the Mobile City might pass through. Although brief, it was enough to indicate the general direction and meeting point.

After finishing the route map, he turned the page and began writing a letter. His handwriting was fluent yet slightly unruly, and the content was concise and to the point:

Andoain:

Passing through this area, you'll encounter a group of Sarkaz (hybrids) desperate for survival, heading towards Iberia. They are reasonably strong, but their resolve is wavering. Use them if you can, otherwise dismiss them or let them fend for themselves—it's up to you. The route is shown in the image; whether you encounter them or not is up to fate.

Su Rui

He neatly tore off the letter, folded it, and handed it to the Gardener along with the route map.

"Here you go. Andoain has already set off, but he will definitely have reinforcements and supplies following him. Following this route and timing, you have a high probability of encountering his reinforcements, which is much more realistic than blindly chasing after him," Su Rui added, his consideration surprisingly thorough.

The Gardener's hands trembled slightly as he accepted the two light yet incredibly heavy sheets of paper, carefully placing them inside his pocket and tucking them away close to his body. He bowed deeply again to Su Rui and to Lemuen: "Thank you! Thank you so much! May... may God bless you..." He didn't know how to express his gratitude, and finally used a common Laterano blessing, even though he knew this arrogant Sankta boy probably didn't need it.

"Let's go." Su Rui waved her hand, turned back to look out of the city, and her tone returned to its usual detached tone. "Don't attract any more people."

The Gardener responded repeatedly, thanked him again, and left with hurried yet light steps.

Only Su Rui and Lemuen remained on the high ground. The sound of the wind seemed to have become clearer.

Lemuen leaned back against Su Rui, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her cheek against his shoulder. "I didn't expect you to agree to help." Her voice held a hint of gentle surprise and... appreciation?

Su Rui snorted, still gazing into the distance, but his ears seemed slightly red. "Don't flatter yourself. I just think it's a waste to keep these troublemakers here; it's better to leave them to Andoain to deal with. Besides..." He paused, his tone becoming somewhat awkward, "... the way those brats are isolated is just annoying to watch."

Lemuen laughed, not calling out his lame excuse. She knew that beneath his arrogance wasn't entirely coldness; he was just subconsciously using this awkward way to express himself.

"Besides," Su Rui added, as if to emphasize her "indifference," "that idealist Andoain just happens to need manpower to realize his unrealistic dreams, doesn't he? I'm just providing him with labor; he should thank me."

"Yes, yes, Young Master Su Rui has considered everything very thoroughly." Lemuen readily agreed, her smile barely concealed.

Su Rui seemed satisfied, his chin slightly raised. Night gradually fell, and the city lights shone even brighter. He felt the warmth of the person beside him, and the slight discomfort he felt from meddling quickly dissipated.

For him, it might really have just been a spur-of-the-moment arrangement. It solved the problem, got rid of the trouble, and perhaps even satisfied Lemuen's excessive sympathy—well, that was the main reason. He concluded, then turned his attention back to the warmth in his arms.

The distant wilderness remained pitch black, but for some, a thin map and a text message could ignite a glimmer of light, guiding them toward an unknown yet promising future. For Su Rui at this moment, however, it was merely a minor incident during his time alone with Lemuen, not even worth his further attention.

The metal railings of the elevated platform still retained the warmth of the daytime sun, but the night breeze carried a distinct chill. The city's roar became a constant background noise, making this corner all the more tranquil. Su Rui leaned back slightly, surrendering most of his weight to the person behind him. Lemuen naturally adjusted her posture, allowing him to lean more comfortably against her, her arms around his waist, her chin gently resting on the top of his soft hair.

This posture made him appear less sharp and flamboyant than usual, and more resilient and dependent. Of course, if anyone dared to say this to his face, they would surely be met with his harsh rebuttal and glare. But at this moment, in front of Lemuen, he seemed to allow himself to briefly shed that armor of arrogance.

He remained silent, his lake-blue eyes gazing down at the mobile site known as the "Holy City." The lights shone brightly, outlining the solemn silhouette of the church and the orderly streets. The aura of the Sankta twinkled like flowing stars in the night, converging into a soft sea of light. Everything seemed so orderly, peaceful, and serene, perfectly matching the outside world's idealized image of Laterano.

But Su Rui's brows furrowed slightly. His brief conversation with the Sarkaz Gardener Barton during the day, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, was only now slowly spreading its ripples into the depths of his mind.

He recalled the scene he had witnessed near the church during the day. The well-dressed Sankta believers conversed politely, but when a few men in slightly worn clothes with distinct Sarkaz features (perhaps workers, or mixed-race like Barton) tried to approach the church square, the surrounding gazes took on a subtle scrutiny, a distance, and even a hint of veiled wariness. Although no conflict occurred, that invisible boundary was as clear as a line drawn on the ground.

He recalled that at the market, the Sarkaz vendors' stalls always seemed to be located on the periphery, and their customers were mainly of other races or their own race, with very few Sankta patrons. Even when they were, the transactions were extremely businesslike, lacking the relaxed atmosphere that was common in Laterano.

Volume 17, Chapter 974 is not so tolerant.

He even recalled the subtle difference in the level of scrutiny the checkpoint guards applied to the Sarkaz and Sankta when they entered the Mobile City earlier—the former were checked more thoroughly, even with questioning; the latter were checked more routinely.

These details didn't attract much attention from him at the time; he was used to being treated well and to ignoring people and things that didn't interest him. But Barton's plea for help connected these scattered fragments, piecing together a picture that didn't entirely match the glorious image of the "Holy City."

"... This place doesn't seem as inclusive as the legends say." Su Rui suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat muffled, carrying a hint of confusion after reflection, and a trace of... disappointment? Although he himself would never admit to this emotion. His arrogance was based on a certain conviction in his own understanding and the rules of the world, and when reality revealed details that contradicted this, it always brought a slightly awkward sense of dislocation.

Lemuen gave a soft "Mmm," seemingly unsurprised by his words. Her fingers twirled the ends of his soft hair, her voice gentle yet clear. "After all, this place is called ' Holy City,' not 'City of Harmony,' Su Rui." There was no judgment in her words, only a peaceful statement. "The paradise of Sankta was first and foremost built for Sankta. The halo and laws protect us, but this protection itself may have inadvertently drawn a line."

She paused, feeling the slightly tense muscles in the boy's back as she held him, and continued softly, "Fear, prejudice, the scars of history... these things cannot be easily erased by a moving city or a few dogmas. They are rooted deep in people's hearts, even in Laterano. It's just that here, they may manifest themselves in a more... civilized, more subtle way." Unlike in the wilderness or some cities, where they might directly manifest as violent conflict.

Of course, Su Rui knew all this. He wasn't a naive fool; the racial conflicts on Terra were a stark reality. He just... perhaps subconsciously harbored a sliver of unrealistic fantasy about this city, hailed as a "holy land" and dominated by his own kind? He believed it would be different here, more inclined towards a certain idealized state.

The results showed that the shadows still existed under the sunlight, only they had taken on a more respectable form of concealment.

"I know." He interrupted impatiently, as if refuting Lemuen, or perhaps more like refuting his own momentary wavering. "The law of the jungle, the idea that those who are not of our kind are bound to be treacherous—I've heard enough of these tired old arguments." His tone regained its usual sarcasm. "I just didn't expect that these rules would operate so... hypocritically, on our own turf."

He had initially thought that Laterano's inclusiveness, at least superficially, was absolutely politically correct and sufficient to allow everyone living there to enjoy basic peace. But now it seemed that such "inclusivity" was conditional and limited to a certain order. For the Sarkaz, especially those hybrids with awkward identities and weak power, invisible rejection and pressure were everywhere.

Lemuen wasn't angry at his harsh tone; instead, she tightened her arms around him, holding him even more securely. She could sense his rare, subtle agitation stemming from the disruption of his understanding. This arrogant and willful handsome young man might actually harbor a small, unnoticed expectation of a "better world" deep inside, even though he would certainly deny it with the harshest words.

"Feeling disillusioned?" she asked softly, with a hint of teasing, trying to lighten the somber mood.

"Hmph." Su Rui scoffed, completely reverting to his arrogant demeanor. "Disillusionment? Not really. It just proves my point once again—hoping for others' kindness or relying on some illusory sense of community is the most foolish thing to do. Power and choice are in your own hands, that's what truly matters." He seemed to have found a perfect excuse for his earlier outburst, his tone becoming self-righteous again. "Like that Gardener, knowing he couldn't stay here, he tried to find a way out; that shows he has some sense. Although coming to me..." He paused, letting out a slightly smug snort, "... he was lucky."

He attributed Barton's successful appeal to his own "power" and "choice" (i. e., providing help), thus perfectly extricating himself from the feeling of helplessness in the face of reality and regaining his psychological high ground.

Lemuen listened to his typical "Su Rui- style" sophistry and self-justification, and couldn't help but chuckle softly, the vibration of her chest clearly conveying it to him. "Yes, yes, Young Master Su Rui is wise, he casually pointed out a way out."

"That's how it is." He replied matter-of-factly, turning to bury his face in the crook of her neck, taking a deep breath of her reassuring scent, a mixture of faint frosting and detergent. The slight ripples he had felt upon discovering that the "Holy City" was not perfect quickly subsided.

The world is like this: the strong prey on the weak, and hypocrisy abounds. Laterano is no exception.

This is not surprising.