Ark Simulator, Don't I Have No Physical Body? Chapter 458

She knew that with Su Rui around, these threats couldn't touch her at all.

In less than a minute, the rustling and hissing sounds in the alley completely disappeared. The seven or eight Originium Slug had all turned into broken carapaces and gradually congealing dark stains on the ground. The alley returned to silence, with only a faint smell of gunpowder as evidence of what had just happened.

Su Rui lowered his arm holding the gun, gracefully removed the magazine, checked the remaining ammunition, and then deftly reloaded it. He turned to look at Lemuen, the hunting excitement on his face gone, replaced by his usual arrogance and a hint of satisfaction at having completed the cleanup.

"It's done." He said casually, as if he had merely swatted a few flies. He walked to Lemuen's side, glanced at her to make sure she was unharmed, and then pushed the wheelchair back up. "Let's go. The smell in here is awful."

Lemuen couldn't help but laugh at his relaxed demeanor. The small swarm of insects that might require her to handle with caution was like paper in front of him.

"Young Master Su Rui is really reliable," she praised with a smile.

"Of course." Su Rui accepted without any modesty, pushing her away from the alleyway filled with the smell of blood and gunpowder, as if the brief killing had never happened.

Volume 17, page 990: Security Issues

The sun shone brightly, and the passageway remained quiet. But Lemuen knew that the management loopholes beneath the glamorous facade of this Mobile City, like these quietly swarming Originium Slug, needed to be addressed. And her boy always used his most direct and effective methods to clear away all obstacles in his path, whether documents or living threats.

The lingering smell of gunpowder and the distinctive fishy odor of Originium Slug fluids in the alley hadn't completely dissipated when Su Rui pushed Lemuen's wheelchair away from the wrecked area as if nothing had happened. Sunlight once again streamed into the relatively clean main passageway, as if the brief but efficient cleanup had never occurred.

But Lemuen's mood couldn't immediately lighten. Her gaze swept over the seemingly peaceful residential units on both sides of the corridor, but her mind kept replaying the dark red figures wriggling in the shadowy corners. The fact that the Originium Slug could infiltrate the vicinity of the residential area so easily, and even form a gathering point, was by no means a negligible accident.

"It seems the security system here is truly ineffective." Lemuen's voice broke the silence between them with a hint of heaviness. "The teams that were originally responsible for border patrols and internal cleanup have probably been almost entirely lost in the previous turmoil." She recalled the records she had seen in the archives and the tense atmosphere mentioned by the Gardener, Barton; the disorganization of management and the loss of personnel were obvious.

If left unchecked, what might be a few Originium Slug in a few alleys today could turn into a larger, more threatening infestation or even criminals infiltrating tomorrow, threatening the safety of ordinary residents. This Mobile City needs to restore basic order and defense capabilities as soon as possible.

Su Rui, pushing the wheelchair, merely scoffed at the words, his tone laced with his usual sarcasm. "A bunch of useless trash. They can't even keep an eye on their own place." He had never had any patience for incompetent managers.

"So," Lemuen turned to look at Su Rui's sharply defined jawline, "We may need to assist them, or at least urge them, to rebuild an effective security force as quickly as possible. We need to recruit and train a group of combat personnel capable of dealing with this threat." This was her inescapable responsibility as Laterano enforcer to ensure the stability of her jurisdiction.

"Training?" Su Rui frowned immediately, as if he had heard a very troublesome word. "How much time would that waste? I don't have time to teach a bunch of newbies how to hold a gun." Ask him to be an instructor? That was simply a pipe dream. He would rather take on an Originium Slug hive by himself.

"Of course you don't need to go yourself." Lemuen chuckled. She didn't expect this old man to have that kind of patience. "But we at least need to identify a capable and trustworthy person to lead this. We need to find someone who understands the local situation and has a certain level of combat ability to be in charge of recruitment and initial training."

Her mind raced through the people she'd met over the past few days. There seemed to be no suitable candidates among the managers; they were either too bureaucratic or lacked decisiveness. Among the lower-class residents, people like the Gardener Barton might have the ability to survive, but lacked organizational and leadership experience...

Just as Lemuen was pondering, Su Rui suddenly spoke, her tone as casual as if she were commenting on the weather:

"That librarian, Kong Gou. She should be fine."

"Kong Gou?" Lemuen was taken aback, completely unprepared for Su Rui to mention that name. The image of the quiet, even somewhat timid, Sankta girl who blushed easily when nervous immediately flashed into her mind. "Her? But..." She didn't seem like someone capable of fighting at all.

Su Rui glanced at her, seemingly seeing through his confusion, and analyzed calmly, with his characteristic sharpness. "Sankta, an adult, stable aura. To reach a management position in a library like this, she can't be too stupid. Most importantly..." He paused, a slightly mocking smile playing on his lips, "There was something in her eyes when she watched us cleaning up the files yesterday."

"What is it?" Lemuen asked curiously.

"A kind of... appreciation, or rather, a yearning, for 'efficiency' and 'power'," Su Rui recalled, his tone certain. "Not just simple infatuation. She noticed the speed and method of problem-solving, not my face." He still possessed this discernment, though he had no interest in the Kong Gou itself. "A person interested in 'efficiently solving problems' is unlikely to be content with the status quo. Besides, she's Sankta, naturally inclined towards firearms; even if she hadn't used them much before, the foundation was there. Letting her find people and organize things to deal with this level of Originium Slug would be more than enough."

Su Rui's analysis was simple and direct, yet surprisingly persuasive. He skipped over the weak appearance of the Kong Gou and went straight to certain inner qualities—an appreciation for a certain ability and the inherent potential of the Sankta race. It was difficult for him to observe a person in detail, but once he did, his judgment was often frighteningly accurate.

Lemuen carefully recalled her several encounters with the Kong Gou. Indeed, the Kong Gou was interested in Andoain's ideology and curious about Su Rui's abilities. This might not just be due to personality cult, but might also contain a subconscious yearning for "change" and "power." Moreover, as Sankta, she certainly possessed the foundation to become a combatant.

"But... can she handle being in charge? It requires strong organizational skills and decisiveness." Lemuen was still somewhat hesitant, after all, it concerned the safety of the entire plot of land.

"If it doesn't work, replace her." Su Rui's answer was cold and pragmatic. "Give her a chance to try. It's faster than us blindly thinking about it here. Tell her what she needs to do, what the standards are, and let her figure the rest out herself." His management philosophy was that simple and brutal: set goals, find someone to execute them, and replace her if it doesn't work.

Lemuen pondered Su Rui's words. It was indeed an idea. Having Kong Gou take the lead had several advantages: she was a local and knew the situation; she was Sankta, possessing a certain level of credibility and racial advantage; if she truly had the potential Su Rui judged, this might provide her with a platform to showcase her abilities and quickly resolve the current security vacuum. Even if she wasn't up to par, replacing her in time would minimize the losses.

"...That makes sense." Lemuen finally nodded, convinced by Su Rui. "Then, shall we go and talk to her?"

"You go talk to him," Su Rui immediately stated his position. He had absolutely no interest in this kind of "talk." "I'll tell you my demands." He didn't want to deal with Sankta, who seemed easily stressed, anymore; he'd rather play the game a little longer.

Volume 17, Chapter 991: I won't discuss this.

Seeing his "leave me alone" expression, Lemuen couldn't help but laugh, "Alright, I'll go talk to him. Young Master Su Rui just needs to give the orders."

So, the plan to go to the training ground was changed again. The two turned around and headed towards the area where the library was located. The sun was still shining brightly, but Lemuen felt that the burden on her shoulders seemed to have lightened a bit. Su Rui was always like this, providing her with the most effective support in his seemingly willful but actually very direct way.

Perhaps, Kong Gou can indeed bring some unexpected surprises.

Having made her decision, Lemuen maneuvered her wheelchair around, heading directly towards the area where the library was located. Su Rui pushed her, but her steps were noticeably reluctant and dragging, and the "this is such a hassle" expression on her face was almost tangible.

"Are you really going?" Su Rui's voice was muffled, with a last shred of struggle. "Why not just write down the requirements on a note and hand it to her?" He couldn't understand why such a thing needed to be "discussed" in person. In his view, giving an order, accepting it, or getting lost was that simple.

Lemuen had anticipated his reaction. She softened her voice, turning back to look at him with a hint of coquettishness. "After all, it's an invitation to take charge of such an important matter, so it seems more formal to say it in person. Besides, I also need to observe her reaction to see if she's really suitable."

She reached out and gently tugged at Su Rui's sleeve. "Come with me, okay? What if I'm wrong? You have such a sharp eye, you can help me check from the side."

The compliment was perfectly placed. Although Su Rui still frowned, his tense jawline relaxed slightly. He hummed in agreement and didn't object further, which was tantamount to acquiescence. Despite his constant complaints, he couldn't bring himself to refuse Lemuen's request. Accompanying her to do what he considered "boring social activities" had apparently become a habit.

The library area was much quieter than the residential area, filled with the calm scent of paper and ink. They quickly found Kong Gou among the rows of tall bookshelves. She was standing on a small ladder, tiptoeing, struggling to stuff a heavy tome back into the gap on the top shelf, her cheeks slightly flushed from the effort.

Lemuen gestured for Su Rui to stop her wheelchair, and instead of immediately disturbing her, she waited quietly for a while.

Kong Gou finally managed to stuff the book back, breathed a sigh of relief, and wiped the fine sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. She looked down and happened to see Su Rui and Lemuen not far below the bookshelf.

"Ah!" She was clearly startled, her foot slipped, and she almost fell off the small ladder, but luckily she caught herself on the bookshelf in time. She scrambled down the ladder, her face instantly flushed, her eyes darting back and forth between Su Rui and Lemuen, finally settling on Lemuen. "Miss Lemuen! Mr. Su Rui! What brings you here?"

Her voice stammered with nervousness, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, making her look completely caught off guard and at a loss.

Seeing her like this, Su Rui rolled her eyes without any attempt to hide it, turned her face away, and clearly felt that the opening was terrible, which further confirmed her idea that "it's a waste of time to talk to her."

Lemuen offered a gentle smile, trying to ease her tension. "Miss Kong Gou, did I scare you? We have something we'd like to discuss with you. Are you available now?"

"Convenient! Of course it's convenient!" Kong Gou nodded hurriedly, as if afraid of neglecting the two "important people." She quickly tidied her slightly disheveled hair and clothes. "Please, please follow me. There's a small reading room here; it's quieter."

She led the two to a small reading room in a corner of the library. The room was small, with only a round table and a few chairs. The window faced a quiet internal corridor, and the light was very good.

After taking his seat, Kong Gou still seemed somewhat restless, glancing every now and then at Su Rui, who sat next to Lemuen with an "keep away" expression, before quickly lowering his head again.

Lemuen cut to the chase, briefly explaining the discovery of the Originium Slug in the alley and her concerns about the city's security gaps. Then, looking into Kong Gou's eyes, she said earnestly, "Therefore, we believe there's an urgent need to rebuild a security team capable of dealing with this type of threat, responsible for daily patrols and emergency response. Ms. Kong Gou, you're a local and a Sankta, we think... perhaps you could take the lead on this?"

"Me?!" Kong Gou jerked her head up, her eyes wide with shock. Pointing at herself, she seemed to have heard something utterly unbelievable. "Me... me in charge? To form a security team? No, no way! How could I possibly..." She waved her hands frantically, her face flushed red. "I... I'm just a librarian, I've never... I don't have that kind of ability..."

Her reaction was exactly what Lemuen had expected. Any girl who seemed quiet and introverted, suddenly entrusted with such an important task, would first react with rejection and self-doubt.

"Don't rush to deny yourself, Miss Kong Gou." Lemuen's voice remained gentle, yet carried a reassuring strength. "We didn't choose you randomly. You're Sankta, with a natural affinity for firearms—that's fundamental. You're familiar with the environment and the residents here—that's an advantage. And..." She paused, glancing meaningfully at Su Rui beside her (Su Rui was idly playing with her fingers, seemingly unconcerned), "We believe you possess the potential and willingness to handle problems."

Kong Gou Lemuen's gaze, Kong Gou also stole a glance at Su Rui. Su Rui's completely detached yet subtly oppressive demeanor made Kong Gou even more nervous. But she seemed to have gleaned something from Lemuen's words, especially the phrase "potential and willingness to handle problems." She recalled Su Rui's astonishingly efficient document processing speed in the archives yesterday, and the tacit yet powerful interaction between them afterwards...

Her heart skipped a beat, a mixture of fear, uncertainty, and... a faint, almost imperceptible, thrill of being accepted quietly rising within her.

"But... but..." Kong Gou's voice still trembled, but the refusal seemed less resolute. "I... I don't know what to do... recruiting people, training... I have absolutely no experience..."

Volume 17, Chapter 992: Race is not limited, but that seems to be all.

"We can tell you the standards and requirements," Lemuen said, her tone becoming clear and firm. "Recruitment is open to all races, but applicants must be in good health, have no criminal record, and be willing to contribute to protecting their homeland. Initial training will focus on familiarizing them with basic firearms, teamwork, and identifying and dealing with common threats, such as Originium Slug. They don't need to become elites immediately, but they should at least be able to form an effective defensive force."

At this moment, Su Rui, who had been silent until now, suddenly clicked his tongue impatiently, drawing the attention of the two. He still didn't look at Kong Gou, but instead addressed Lemuen, adding in a tone that seemed to say, "Just finish what you have to say and get out of here."

"Tell them that food and lodging will be provided, along with a basic allowance. Weak individuals will be weeded out during the training period, and those who pass will be formally hired. The first batch will consist of twenty people. Weapons will be allocated from the city's stockpile; if there's not enough, report it. Within a week, I want to see a team that can stand in formation with guns and understand basic commands. If they can't, replace them."

His words were concise, cold, and direct, offering no encouragement or reassurance, only the most direct goals, resources, and ultimatums.

Kong Gou was stunned by this sudden and overwhelmingly authoritative instruction. "Accommodation and meals included," "stipend," "elimination," "one week"... these words hammered into her mind like a sledgehammer.

Looking at Kong Gou's pale face, Lemuen felt a mixture of amusement and pity. Su Rui's "help" was always so... simple and direct. But she knew that sometimes this direct approach was the most effective.

She softened her tone and said to Kong Gou, "That's roughly it. Miss Kong Gou, it is indeed a challenge, but also an opportunity—an opportunity to do something for this city. You don't need to answer immediately; you can think about it carefully. We believe you have the ability."

Kong Gou lowered his head, his hands tightly gripping the hem of his clothes, his chest heaving violently, clearly undergoing a fierce internal struggle. The reading room was silent, save for the faint sounds of the city outside the window.

After a long while, Kong Gou slowly raised her head. Her face was still somewhat pale, but her eyes were more determined than before. She looked at Lemuen's encouraging gaze, then quickly glanced at Su Rui, who was clearly getting impatient and had started tapping the table with her fingertips. She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, and said softly but clearly:

"I... I'll try."

The afternoon sun streamed through the tall glass windows of the library reading room, casting long, warm patches of light on the floor. The air was filled with the dry, tranquil scent of old book pages, a stark contrast to the faint rumble of the Mobile City. In this quiet corner of knowledge, within the small reading room, a conversation about the future security of this steel city had just concluded.

The Kong Gou words, "I'll try," so light yet so heavy, seemed to have exhausted all her strength. As soon as she spoke, the blush that had just faded from her fair cheeks returned, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her beige uniform skirt until her knuckles turned white. She lowered her eyelids, unable to meet the gazes of the two people opposite her; her heart pounded wildly in her chest like a startled bird. She could even clearly hear the sound of her blood rushing through her eardrums. Good heavens, what had she just agreed to? Form a security team? Train patrol personnel? It felt like a bizarre dream, and she had actually... agreed?

Lemuen saw all of Kong Gou's tension and helplessness. She didn't speak immediately, but gave the young Sankta girl a few seconds to calm down. She could understand this feeling; anyone would feel apprehensive being suddenly pushed from a relatively stable and comfortable environment into a position full of unknowns and challenges. But she also saw in Kong Gou's slightly trembling but unyielding shoulders a trace of resilience and determination that she herself might not have been aware of.

"That's wonderful, Miss Kong Gou." Lemuen finally spoke, her voice as soft and sweet as honey warmed by water, possessing a unique, soothing magic. Her lake-blue eyes shone with sincere approval and encouragement. "I believe you won't regret this decision, and this city needs people like you who are willing to step forward."

As she spoke, she gracefully adjusted the armrests of her wheelchair to a more comfortable angle, then took out a slim yet fully functional electronic notepad from her leather handbag. A few light taps on the smooth screen brought up a new notepad, her demeanor professional and composed. This subtle action subtly propelled the conversation from the "confirmation of intent" stage to the pragmatic level of "concrete execution."

"Now that we've reached a consensus, let's go over the initial steps and things to keep in mind." Lemuen's tone remained gentle, but her pace quickened slightly, revealing a sense of efficient competence. "This might be a bit tedious, but we'll take it one step at a time, no need to rush."

Kong Gou took a deep breath, forcing her chaotic thoughts to focus. She raised her head, trying to meet Lemuen's gaze, and nodded to indicate that she was ready. She even subconsciously straightened her slightly hunched back, trying to make herself look more reliable.

"First and foremost, and most fundamentally, is the issue of personnel." Lemuen's fingertips slid smoothly across the electronic screen, listing the key points. "We need to recruit a group of reliable people. Priorities to consider include: a sense of responsibility, emotional stability, and basic physical fitness. They don't necessarily need to be experienced soldiers right now, but they must have a willingness to learn and a basic sense of discipline."

She paused, then offered more specific advice. "You can start by paying attention to people you know relatively well, such as regular library visitors who seem reliable, or trustworthy neighbors in your neighborhood. Initial contact should be discreet to avoid attracting unnecessary attention or causing panic."

Kong Gou listened intently, racking his brain for possible candidates. The library regular...that old gentleman who always sat quietly in the corner restoring ancient books? No, too old. And that young Feline mechanic who occasionally borrowed mechanical engineering manuals? He seemed quite robust, and very focused on his work...

"Recruitment information can be drafted like this..." Lemuen continued, beginning to dictate some key elements of the recruitment announcement: job overview, basic requirements, compensation description (Su Rui had already coldly but effectively pointed this out), and application method. She not only told Kong Gou what to write, but also explained why it should be written this way, and how to word it to both attract suitable people and filter out those with impure motives or insufficient abilities.

Volume 17, Chapter 993: Not a Matter of Indifference

Kong Gou quickly pulled a slightly worn but well-preserved small paper notebook and a short pencil from her uniform pocket and began to jot down notes rapidly. Her handwriting was somewhat messy, reflecting her excitement and urgency, but the content she recorded was as detailed as possible.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the reading room, near the window, Su Rui had already completely entered a state of "it's none of my business".

When Lemuen began explaining what he considered to be tedious and outrageous "notes," he had already made his stance clear through his actions. He dragged over the sturdiest-looking Oak chair, with the back facing the round table, then straddled it, sat back with his arms draped over the back of the chair, and stood with an extremely casual and even slightly rebellious posture, his back to the two women who were having a serious discussion.

He pulled out his portable terminal, the screen brightness dimmed, but the rapidly flashing game lights and his dazzling finger movements on the virtual buttons showed that he was immersed in a fast-paced, intense virtual world. To avoid interrupting the conversation (or rather, to avoid being interrupted), he even wore wireless headphones, blocking out most of the outside noise. Only when he very occasionally let out a very soft, suppressed "tsk" or a satisfied exhale from deep in his throat due to a brilliant move or an unexpected mistake in the game would he slightly break the "isolation barrier" he had created.

He was like a meticulously sculpted, yet aloof and unapproachable sculpture, forcibly placed in this room filled with "boring" conversations. His presence was extremely strong, yet he deliberately distanced himself from the "serious business" that Lemuen Kong Gou were engaged in.

However, it was precisely this deliberate creation of a sense of alienation that produced an unexpected positive effect on the Kong Gou.

At first, Kong Gou's attention was indeed difficult to fully concentrate. Out of the corner of her eye, she could always catch glimpses of Su Rui's striking silver hair and his tall, impatient back. She was filled with pressure, worried that if she was slow to understand or asked stupid questions, she would incur the disdain or ridicule of this powerful Mr. Su Rui. She could even imagine his cold, mocking gaze sweeping over her, which would be enough to instantly shatter the little courage she had managed to muster.

But several minutes passed, and apart from shifting his posture a couple of times to a more relaxed one, Su Rui showed no intention of joining the conversation. He didn't even look back once. The headphones blocked out his hearing, and the game captured his entire attention. He seemed to have truly become a background decoration.

This continued "ignoring" acted like a slowly taking effect tranquilizer. Her Kong Gou nerves gradually relaxed. She realized that as long as she didn't actively provoke the young master, he seemed to completely ignore her. This, in turn, gave her a safe space.

She began to listen more attentively to Lemuen's every word and to ask her questions more boldly.

"Miss Lemuen," she hesitated for a moment, then raised her hand like a student asking a question in class, "Regarding the training venue... if we can't find a suitable indoor venue, what do you think about using those abandoned warehouse areas on the outskirts of the city? They're rarely used, and there's enough space."

Lemuen nodded approvingly. "Excellent idea! Adapting to local conditions is very important. An abandoned storage area is indeed a good choice, but the premise is that a thorough safety inspection must be carried out beforehand to eliminate any potential hazards, such as unstable structures or... like the Originium Slug we encountered before." She timely reminded everyone of the potential risks.

"I understand! Safety checks must be the top priority." Kong Gou quickly jotted this down in his notebook, a small surge of joy welling up inside him as his suggestion was adopted.

As the discussion deepened, Kong Gou even began to offer some more constructive ideas. "Also... regarding the training content, in addition to the basic firearms operation and physical fitness you mentioned, could we also add some basic first aid knowledge? After all, various emergencies may occur during patrols..."

"Excellent addition!" Lemuen's eyes lit up, pleasantly surprised by Kong Gou's quick thinking. "First aid skills are indeed crucial; they can greatly enhance the team's survivability and ability to help citizens. This idea is brilliant, Miss Kong Gou!"

Upon receiving Kong Gou, Kong Gou's face revealed a smile for the first time that wasn't just nervous, but radiated genuine confidence. She discovered that when she stopped focusing excessively on Su Rui's presence and instead concentrated all her energy on the problem at hand, her thinking became clearer. Miss Lemuen's guidance was like a beacon, illuminating her path forward, while Mr. Su Rui's "ignorance" unexpectedly cleared away her psychological barriers.

Meanwhile, Lemuen meticulously guided the Kong Gou, explaining everything from creating patrol schedules to standard formats for emergency reports, while also keeping a part of her attention on the seemingly isolated figure by the window.

Seeing that Su Rui, despite exuding an aura of utter boredom, remained obediently in the room without leaving or uttering any impatient interruptions, her heart felt as if it were being soaked in warm spring water, rippling with soft and happy emotions.

She knew him too well. Given Su Rui's personality, the only reason he could tolerate this kind of "trivial conversation" that he utterly despised for so long was—because she was here.

He might express his disdain with exaggerated body language and an engrossed attitude, but he chose to stay here with her. This companionship, silent and unassuming, made her feel more secure and warm than any verbal promise. Like a ship with the strongest anchor, no matter the storm, she knew the harbor was behind her. With him in the space, it seemed to possess a powerful protective force, allowing her to focus wholeheartedly on her duties.

This realization made Lemuen's voice even more pleasant to listen to, and her patience even more abundant. She would even sneak a glance at Su Rui's back during breaks in her explanations, while Kong Gou notes, her eyes filled with an indescribable tenderness and a touch of smugness. Look, this is her boy, supporting her in his most awkward yet adorable way.

Time slipped away quietly amidst Lemuen's clear explanations, the rustling of Kong Gou's pens Kong Gou, and the barely audible sound effects from Su Rui's game. Sunlight moved slowly across the windowpanes, lengthening the shadows of the three people in the room. These shadows intertwined, separated, and overlapped on the floor, as if foreshadowing a new future woven together by people of different qualities, quietly unfolding on this peaceful afternoon.

Just some random notes from Volume 17, Chapter 994.

Lemuen glanced at the densely packed key points on the electronic notepad, then at the equally abundant notes in the Kong Gou notebook, and felt that today's guidance had laid a solid foundation.

She smiled gently, preparing to summarize and give Kong Gou some time to process it on her own. Meanwhile, Su Rui, by the window, seemed to have just finished an important chapter of the game and lazily stretched.

With the initial guidance and planning concluded, both Lemuen and Kong Gou felt their thinking had become much clearer. However, when the topic inevitably turned to the most practical and challenging part—cleaning and renovating the training grounds—an invisible pressure quietly began to spread once again.

"Currently, the most suitable location does seem to be that abandoned old warehouse complex on the edge of Warehouse Zone Three." Lemuen pulled up a simplified structural map of the Mobile City and circled an area on the screen with her finger. That area was located in the northwest corner of the plot, close to the city's protective barrier, far from the main residential area, and had ample open space. "However..." She paused, her tone becoming serious, "Based on previous records and our recent encounter, this long-abandoned and unmanaged area has likely become an ideal nesting ground for Originium Slug or other small infected creatures."

Kong Gou at the gray area marked "to be cleared" on the map, Kong Gou's excitement from receiving guidance sank again. Although she had never seen a large-scale swarm of Originium Slug, just a few in the alley was enough to make her shudder. Clear an entire abandoned warehouse area? It sounded like an impossible task. She could almost see the dense, writhing, dark red carapaces in the shadowy corners and hear the chilling rustling sounds.

"Moreover," Lemuen added, pointing out another practical difficulty, "There are quite a few abandoned storage units, and their structures may pose safety hazards. We need to conduct a detailed survey and inventory to determine which warehouse structures are relatively stable and can be renovated, and which must be closed or demolished, before we can formulate specific cleanup and reinforcement plans. This requires a significant investment of manpower and time..." And currently, what they lack most is manpower and time. Su Rui's ultimatum to "see the team within a week" hangs like a sword of Damocles over their heads.

Kong Gou's brow furrowed deeply, her fingers unconsciously picking at the edge of her notebook. She realized that a huge chasm lay between ideals and reality. Recruiting team members and conducting training required a safe and reliable training ground. Obtaining such a ground was itself a formidable challenge. She even began to doubt whether she and Miss Lemuen, who needed a wheelchair, could truly launch this project. A sense of powerlessness crept into her heart.

"It seems... the site issue is the most pressing bottleneck to address." Kong Gou's voice was a little hoarse, but she tried to keep her tone calm. "We might need to organize a small-scale survey first to assess the specific situation before deciding on the next step..."

Her proposal was cautious, but it also revealed her concern about the enormous workload. This meant that before recruiting team members, the two of them (and perhaps a very small number of helpers) would have to face that unknown and dangerous area first.

Just as the atmosphere became somewhat somber due to the difficulties of reality, a slightly impatient voice rang out from the window, breaking the stagnant air.

"Tsk, troublesome."

It was Su Rui. He had finished the game sometime earlier, taken off his headphones, and was looking at them with a "why are you guys so slow?" expression. He seemed to have overheard their discussion about the terrain difficulties, and his face was full of impatience, as if to say, "Why are you fussing over something so trivial?"