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

Su Rui seemed to finally snap out of his daze. He gently moved the fingers that Lemuen was holding and whispered, "Let's go."

"Okay." Lemuen nodded with a smile.

Su Rui pushed her, slowly walking down the spiral ramp, leaving this quiet haven. The heavy metal door slowly closed behind them, once again shutting out the city's hustle and bustle.

On the way back to their lodgings, both were silent, but the atmosphere was different from when they arrived, filled with a tacit understanding and warmth born from sharing a secret. Lemuen knew that this brief "seclusion" perhaps spoke volumes more than any words about Su Rui's attitude towards the trip and towards her. Su Rui, on the other hand, felt that before leaving this detestable land, having such a pure, quiet time with her by his side... wasn't so bad after all.

Back at their lodgings, the sun had already set. Su Rui began packing their meager belongings with a lighthearted ease, as if she were about to be freed. Lemuen, on the other hand, sat by the window, watching the lights of countless homes gradually illuminate the city outside. A faint, complex sense of farewell arose in her heart for this city that she had once found dull and dreary.

In any case, this special journey is coming to an end. Ahead lies the road home, and also a new beginning.

As the last rays of the setting sun faded from the horizon, the lights of the Mobile City lit up one after another, like scattered diamonds on black velvet. The successful completion of the inspection, and the unexpected Quiet Moments of the afternoon high above the water supply system, brought Lemuen's overseas assignment to a perfect close. The tension that had been building for days could finally be completely released.

Back in her temporary lodgings, the familiar scent still lingered in the room. Lemuen wheeled herself to her desk, turned on her terminal, and began the final finishing touches. She needed to compile the patrol logs from the past few days, the Security Force's inspection report, and the final assessment of the city's current state into a concise yet comprehensive summary report, ready to submit to Cardinal Laterano. Her fingertips tapped rapidly on the keyboard, her expression focused and earnest, her lake-blue eyes reflecting the relief and meticulousness of completing her duty.

Su Rui seemed much more relaxed. For him, the task here was already over; all that remained was to go through the motions. He leaned lazily against the sofa, watching Lemuen's busy figure without urging her on. He would occasionally pick up his water glass and take a sip, his gaze fixed on the deepening night outside the window, as if he were planning his arrangements for when he got back.

After Lemuen typed the last period to the report, she let out a soft sigh of relief, encrypted the file, and sent it out. Then she turned her wheelchair to face the room.

"Alright," her voice carried a hint of weariness, but mostly relief, "All reports have been submitted. Our duties here are officially over."

Upon hearing this, Su Rui immediately stood up from the sofa, his movements revealing an undisguised eagerness that said, "Finally, we can leave." He walked to the corner of the room, where the two simple suitcases they had brought were placed.

"Then pack your things." His tone was crisp and decisive, as if staying even a second longer would be a waste. He opened his suitcase first and began to quickly and systematically gather his personal belongings scattered throughout the room—mainly a few changes of clothes, a portable terminal, a charger, and his ever-present gun maintenance tools. His movements were so efficient they were almost mechanical, with a soldier's discipline, and he quickly had his things packed.

Volume 17, Chapter 1013 is quite extravagant.

Then, Su Rui turned to Lemuen. Lemuen also began to organize her belongings; she had more things, including clothes, daily necessities, books, documents, and work notes. She couldn't organize as quickly as Su Rui, and some things needed to be carefully folded.

After finishing his own tasks, Su Rui naturally walked over to her side. Without saying a word, he simply reached out to help. He picked up a stack of clothes she had neatly folded, his initially somewhat rough movements softening instinctively when he saw the soft fabric. He then carefully, according to his own understanding (perhaps not perfectly neat, but compact enough), stuffed them into the gaps in the suitcase. He noticed several heavy books on the table, silently picked them up, weighed them in his hand, and then found a safe spot to place them, making sure they didn't crush anything else.

He even remembered that Lemuen had a storage bag filled with various small bottles of skincare and toiletries, and he proactively retrieved it from the bathroom and handed it to her. Throughout the entire process, he didn't ask, "Do you need this?" or "Where do you put that?" He simply observed silently and then cooperated with her actions. His help carried an unquestionable, even somewhat domineering, efficiency, as if saying, "Don't dawdle, do it my way, it's the fastest."

Lemuen watched his busy figure, a warm feeling welling up inside her. She knew how much Su Rui hated these trivial matters and how much he longed to leave immediately. But he didn't stand idly by, nor did he impatiently urge her on. Instead, he participated in the final preparations in his own unique, slightly clumsy but effective way. This silent thoughtfulness touched her heart more than any sweet words.

"Thank you," she said softly, a gentle smile curving her lips.

Su Rui was tucking one of her electronic notepads into the compartment when she heard this. Without looking up, she just mumbled an "Mmm," but her ears turned slightly red, and her hands moved a little faster, as if trying to hide that slight unease.

With the combined efforts of the two (mainly Su Rui's efficient execution and Lemuen's guidance), the luggage was quickly packed. The two suitcases were closed and stood by the door, like two soldiers ready for departure, indicating that the moment of departure was approaching.

The room suddenly felt much emptier. The space that once bore traces of their lives now only had basic furniture, restoring it to its original state when it was uninhabited.

Lemuen looked around her temporary "home" and couldn't help but feel a little melancholy. Although the city had many shortcomings, it was, after all, a place that held their shared memories of this time—arguments, helplessness, fighting side by side, and quiet, warm moments like that afternoon.

Su Rui seemed completely unaffected by such sentiments. After checking the doors and windows to make sure nothing was left behind, he walked over to Lemuen and casually extended his hand. "Let's go."

His tone was calm, carrying a sense of relief that everything had settled down.

Lemuen grasped his outstretched hand, using it to help herself stand up from her wheelchair (her leg injury allowed her to stand and walk for short periods). Su Rui, with her other hand, effortlessly lifted the two suitcases, as if they were weightless.

They took one last look at the room, then Su Rui opened the door with her free hand and led Lemuen out.

The corridor was quiet; the other residents seemed to be resting. They took the elevator to the departure platform located on the upper level of the mobile Mobile City. The night wind carried a cool breeze and the scent of the wilderness. Above the platform, a small, high-speed Landship belonging to Laterano, which had come to pick them up, was already quietly moored, its streamlined hull gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

The boarding stairs were slowly lowered. Su Rui first helped Lemuen up the stairs, then handed the luggage to the Laterano staff who came to meet them.

Stepping onto the solid deck of the Landship, and looking back at the steel city, its lights twinkling and moving slowly in the night, Lemuen was filled with mixed emotions. Their mission was complete; they were about to leave.

Su Rui stood beside her, also looking down. His face showed no particular emotion, but his tightly pursed lips seemed slightly softer than usual. Perhaps, even he himself did not realize that this city, which he had once despised so much, had left some indescribable mark on his heart.

"Goodbye," Lemuen whispered in her heart, both to the city and to this unique experience.

Then she turned around, took Su Rui's arm, and whispered, "Let's go home."

Su Rui withdrew his gaze, glanced down at her, and noticed her dark eyes appearing exceptionally deep in the night. He nodded slightly, took her hand in his, and led her towards the interior of the ship's cabin.

The Landship's engines hummed softly as it slowly started, carrying them away from the Mobile City towards Laterano, disappearing into the boundless night. One journey had ended, and another was about to begin.

The Landship glided smoothly through the vast and desolate night of Terra, its massive metal tracks rumbling rhythmically over gravel and sand. The ship's interior was well-equipped and comfortable, but Su Rui clearly preferred the relatively open deck. He leaned against the cold metal railing, arms crossed, his silver hair fluttering slightly in the night breeze. His obsidian-like eyes gazed out the window at the boundless wilderness, its outline hazy in the moonlight. Rolling hills, dried-up riverbeds, and scattered, tenacious drought-resistant plants rushed past like a silent film, carrying with them an ancient, unchanging desolation and loneliness.

Lemuen stood quietly beside him, not in her wheelchair, but leaning gently against the railing, feeling the cool night breeze carrying the scent of earth and unknown wild grass. She followed Su Rui's gaze to the familiar desolate landscape, feeling a sense of peace and relief in her heart compared to when she arrived.

A moment of silence followed, accompanied only by the sound of the wind and engines. Suddenly, Su Rui spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching Lemuen's ears, carrying his usual pragmatic, slightly critical tone:

"To mobilize an Albatross -class Landship just for this one trip is a bit extravagant."

He was referring to the high-speed Landship they were aboard. This type of vessel is renowned for its excellent maneuverability, defensive capabilities, and endurance, and is considered high-class in Laterano's arsenal. It is typically used for transporting important supplies, rapid response, or long-range maneuvers for high-ranking personnel. Using it merely to transport two executors (even if one of them is the special-ranking Su Rui) and to complete a regional stabilization mission that is not the most urgent, does indeed seem like a waste of its capabilities.

Volume 17, Chapter 1014: Laterano

Upon hearing this, Lemuen turned her head slightly. Moonlight shone on her soft cheeks and the halo of light emanating from her. She was not surprised by Su Rui's questioning. She knew him; she knew he wasn't questioning Laterano's resource allocation, but rather leaned towards an extreme form of efficiency, believing that resources should be used where they were most needed.

She chuckled softly, her voice as gentle as the evening breeze. "Judging from our mission this time, perhaps so. However, the ' Albatross ' didn't set sail just to pick us up."

She raised her hand and pointed to the several huge, currently closed cargo holds at the stern of the Landship: "Look at those cargo holds. When we arrived, they were filled with urgently needed medical supplies, spare parts, selected crop seeds, and a batch of basic educational materials for this city. These supplies are a real lifesaver for that Mobile City that has just experienced turmoil and is short of resources, helping them recover and stabilize more quickly after we leave."

She paused, her gaze returning to the desolate landscape rushing past the window, her tone carrying the macro-perspective unique to an Executor: "Laterano's aid is never an isolated act. Sending Executors to resolve the immediate crisis and providing the resources needed for long-term development are complementary. This Landship is both the means of transportation to bring us back and an ark delivering hope and seeds. In that sense, its voyage this time has been extremely efficient."

Su Rui listened to her explanation, a hint of understanding flashed in his dark eyes, but he immediately curled his lip and snorted, "That makes sense. But next time, for this kind of errand, just let a regular transport ship do it." He still felt that it was a bit "low-class" for him and Lemuen to squeeze into a regular transport ship full of supplies, and the comfort level was definitely far inferior to this specially modified high-speed ship.

Lemuen was amused by his childish complaint, knowing that his spoiled young master temper was flaring up again. She didn't argue, but simply leaned closer to him, gently touching his arm with her own, her tone coaxing. "Okay, okay, next time I'll try to apply for a mode of transportation that's more 'fitting for Young Master Su Rui's status,' okay?"

Su Rui was somewhat displeased with her obvious perfunctory attitude, but feeling her body temperature and soft touch as she leaned closer, that minor annoyance vanished. He snorted, didn't continue the topic, and turned his gaze back to the window.

After staring at the desolate night view for a while, it inevitably became somewhat monotonous. Su Rui's gaze shifted from the distant horizon to the massive tracks rapidly spinning on the side of the Landship. Watching the steel behemoth tirelessly tearing through the earth, leaving two deep ruts, he suddenly thought of something, his tone tinged with a casual curiosity:

"Speaking of which, what kind of team can that bookworm named Kong Gou lead?"

He asked casually, as if he were just looking for a topic of conversation out of boredom. But Lemuen detected a very subtle hint in this seemingly casual question, one that even Su Rui himself might not have realized... concern? After all, that team embodied the "guidance" he had (forced) to put in.

Lemuen thought for a moment and answered seriously, "Although Kong Gou lacks experience, she is responsible, quick to learn, and has a deep affection for this city. With enough support and proper guidance, I believe she can lead that team to grow gradually. Perhaps they won't become elite, but they should be able to protect the peace of the area." Her assessment was objective and full of hope.

After listening, Su Rui gave a noncommittal "hmm," his face expressionless, but his eyes seemed to soften for a moment. Perhaps, deep down, he also secretly hoped that the group he had once harshly criticized as "useless" could truly transform into a useful force.

During the conversation, the Landship slightly adjusted its direction, rounding a vast area of weathered rock. On the horizon ahead, scattered lights began to appear—the lights of other Mobile City or small settlements. They were gradually leaving that relatively remote and desolate area, moving closer to a region with a stronger sense of civilization.

"Look, there are lights ahead." Lemuen pointed into the distance, her tone relaxed with the ease of returning to familiar surroundings. "In about a few hours, we'll see Laterano's guidance beacon."

Su Rui looked in the direction she pointed, and the distant points of light resembled scattered stars. The closer he got to home, the calmer his mood seemed to become. Although he still found the mission troublesome, the final result was acceptable, and... most importantly, Lemuen was still by his side.

He lowered his head and looked at Lemuen, who was nestled beside him. The night breeze ruffled the stray hairs on her forehead, and the moonlight cast fine shadows on her long eyelashes. She seemed a little tired too, her eyes slightly closed, enjoying a moment of tranquility during this journey.

Su Rui's heart stirred. He loosened his arms from his embrace and instead gently put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to shield her from the chill of the night wind.

Lemuen was slightly taken aback, then nestled comfortably into his arms, her cheek pressed against his firm chest muscles, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat, a happy smile curving her lips.

The two fell silent, standing quietly on the deck, nestled together, watching the ever-changing night view outside the window, from desolation to the gradual appearance of human habitation. The Landship was like a moving island, carrying them through the night, heading towards their familiar journey home. The roar of the engines, the sound of the wind in the wilderness, and their heartbeats intertwined to create a tranquil symphony of night navigation.

This journey, which began with a sense of responsibility and was filled with unexpected twists and turns, has finally come to a close in the quiet of the night. What awaits them is the light of Laterano, the Holy City, and the warm, perhaps still filled with bickering, everyday life that is destined to begin.

The massive Landship gradually slowed down and finally came to a smooth stop at a dedicated berth outside the Laterano Holy City. With a slight depressurization sound, the heavy hatch slowly opened, and familiar air, mixed with the Holy City's unique spices, ancient stone scents, and faint Originium Arts fluctuations, rushed into the cabin.

Su Rui stepped off the gangway first, his movements swift and efficient. He carried two suitcases—his own was simple and lightweight, while Lemuen's was slightly heavier. Although, given their status, they could easily have left these chores to the ship's crew or the Holy City's attendants, Lemuen gently tugged at his sleeve before disembarking and whispered, "Let's carry them ourselves, it... it feels more like home." A playful and expectant glint shone in her lake-blue eyes. Su Rui gave a noncommittal hum, but still picked up both suitcases himself. To him, the weight was negligible; since she felt it created a certain "atmosphere," he let her have it.

Volume 17, Chapter 1015: A Little Thing

Lemuen followed behind him, stepping onto solid ground. She took a deep breath, feeling the familiar, reassuring atmosphere of the Holy City, and a relaxed and joyful smile appeared on her face. After being away from home for so many days, she was finally back. She could even faintly hear the ethereal chanting of hymns coming from the distant cathedral.

"Go back to your place first?" Su Rui turned his head to look at her, his tone a statement rather than a question. As was customary, after a long journey, they would usually go to Lemuen's place to rest first, which was much more comfortable and "lively" Su Rui's place, which was more like a temporary armory.

"Mmm!" Lemuen nodded vigorously, naturally reaching out to take his arm. "I want to take a nice bath first, then get some sleep. These past few days outside, I feel like I'm carrying that rusty smell of the Mobile City on me." She wrinkled her nose slightly, with a hint of coquettishness in her voice.

Su Rui hummed in agreement. He picked up his suitcase, took long strides, and prepared to walk along the familiar streets toward the quiet neighborhood where Lemuen lived.

However, just as they stepped out of the berth area and onto the main road leading to the inner city, an unusual, intermittent sound faintly came from the depths of the city.

The sound was not the usual chimes, hymns, or clamor of the Holy City, but rather... a deep, resonant thud, occasionally interspersed with sharper sounds, like the tearing of metal or bursts of energy.

At first, neither of them paid much attention. Laterano Holy City, as the gathering place of the Sankta, was never short of "vitality." Especially those energetic young Sankta, making explosions while conducting various Originium Arts tests or mechanical modification experiments in the strictly supervised "Practice Zone" was commonplace. Su Rui even felt that this familiar "background noise" made him feel more at ease than that lifeless Mobile City.

"Which brats are causing trouble again?" Su Rui curled her lip, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance that she took it for granted, without stopping her steps.

Lemuen smiled and echoed, "Probably. It sounds like quite a commotion. Hopefully, it didn't blow through the shield of the Practice Zone." She didn't take it too seriously, after all, the Holy City's security measures were top-notch, and this kind of "minor incident" was within a controllable range.

The two continued walking along the street. The further they went into the inner city, the more exquisite and ancient the surrounding buildings became, and pedestrians gradually appeared on the streets in twos and threes. But strangely, the pedestrians did not seem as leisurely as usual; instead, they seemed hurried and vaguely tense. Some even walked quickly, occasionally looking back in the direction from which the sound came.

Another, clearer explosion, seemingly closer, followed. This time, a barely perceptible tremor could be felt in the ground beneath one's feet. Accompanying the loud bang, the sky in a certain direction seemed to briefly brighten, emitting an abnormal orange-red glow, but it quickly faded away.

Su Rui paused slightly, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. Lemuen tightened her grip on his arm a little.

"This commotion..." Lemuen said softly, a hint of doubt flashing in her lake-blue eyes, "It doesn't seem like a typical experimental test?" Ordinary experimental explosions usually have more obvious energy confinement characteristics, and they wouldn't be this... chaotic, accompanied by that sound like a structure collapsing.

Su Rui's dark eyes narrowed, like a keen cheetah sensing something unusual. He stopped, placed his suitcase at his feet, and listened intently. More sounds mixed in: no longer just a single explosion, but also faint shouts, hurried footsteps, and even... the distinctive, clear ringing of gunfire, still discernible despite being muffled by the city's architecture?

This commotion could not be explained by ordinary "practice" or "celebration." The daily clamor of the Holy City has its own rhythm and scope, but the sounds coming at this moment are full of chaos, conflict, and... a sense of urgency.

"Something's happened." Su Rui's voice turned low, his previous laziness and impatience vanishing instantly, replaced by a cold, focused alertness. Although he hated trouble, his perception and judgment of unusual situations were top-notch.

Lemuen's expression also turned serious. She released her grip on Su Rui's hand and quickly operated the portable terminal on her wrist, attempting to connect to the city's public safety network or the Laterano Notary Office's internal channel. However, the terminal screen only displayed a message indicating an unstable signal connection, and the few public messages that occasionally flashed by were vague, only mentioning "temporary control measures in some areas" and "advising citizens not to go out unless necessary."

"Communications are being interfered with; the information on the public channels is very blurry." Lemuen looked up at Su Rui, her eyes grave. "This doesn't seem like a small matter."

Just then, a squad of fully armed soldiers in Laterano City uniforms rushed past them, their expressions tense, heading towards the direction of the loudest noise. The officer in charge even recognized Lemuen and Su Rui, hastily saluting them and urgently saying, "Lemuen, Executor! Mr. Su Rui! You're back? Please proceed to the safe zone immediately! Unidentified armed men have appeared in the central square and at the intersection of several blocks, creating chaos! The situation is escalating!"

Militants? Holy City Laterano?

This news surprised both Su Rui and Lemuen. The Holy City's defense system was extremely tight, making it very difficult for outsiders to infiltrate silently and launch an attack of this scale.

A cold smile curved Su Rui's lips, and instead of fear, a hint of... excitement ignited in his dark eyes. To him, this sudden, real threat was far more interesting than tedious official duties and training rookies. His innate thirst for challenge and combat was instantly ignited.

"Looks like our vacation will have to be postponed." Su Rui bent down and picked up his suitcase again, but this time his movements carried a sense of poised power. He looked at Lemuen, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Go back to your place first, put your things down. Then, we'll go see what's going on."

His decision was simple and direct: ensure the safety of basic supplies, then confront the problem head-on. Escape or hiding was never an option for him.

Seeing the familiar light in Su Rui's eyes, Lemuen knew he had entered "combat mode." She took a deep breath, suppressing a trace of unease, and nodded. "Okay." As an executor of Laterano, she also had a responsibility to ascertain the situation and take action in the face of a city crisis.

Volume 17, page 1016: First, report the situation?

Without further delay, the two quickly headed towards Lemuen's residence. The number of pedestrians on the street dwindled, and the atmosphere became noticeably tense. In the distance, the sounds of explosions and riots showed no signs of abating; on the contrary, they seemed to be escalating.

The peaceful journey home was abruptly interrupted by a sudden crisis.

Under the night Holy City of Laterano, amidst the familiar lights, an unusual storm seemed to be brewing. Su Rui and Lemuen, the pair who had just returned from an overseas assignment, would inevitably be drawn into it. For Su Rui, this might be exactly the kind of "entertainment" he had been anticipating; for Lemuen, however, it was a severe test that she had to calmly face. Their pace quickened, their figures disappearing swiftly into the intricate streets and alleys of the Holy City.

Lemuen's residence was located in a relatively quiet high-rise apartment complex in the inner city of the Holy City. The room was not large, but it was decorated warmly and comfortably, and the air was filled with her usual scent of flowers and desserts, which contrasted sharply with the faint commotion coming from outside.

The two quickly entered the room and locked the door behind them. Su Rui casually placed his suitcase in the entryway without any hesitation. He went straight to an inconspicuous metal cabinet in the corner of the living room, entered the password and biometric authentication, and the cabinet door slid open silently, revealing several sets of spare uniforms neatly hung inside, as well as his usual specially modified firearms and their ammunition.

"Change clothes, check equipment." Su Rui's voice was concise and calm, without a trace of emotional fluctuation. He quickly took off his travel-worn clothes and changed into a dark Executor uniform bearing the Laterano Notary Office insignia, which was more suitable for action. He picked up a sleek, blue-metallic Rapid-Fire Gun and skillfully checked the bolt, magazine, and energy circuit, his movements as fluid as breathing.

Lemuen acted immediately. She steered her wheelchair to the bedroom, quickly changed into a well-fitting, easy-to-move-in Executor's casual outfit, and then retrieved her gleaming Guardian Gun from a hidden compartment in the bedside table, carefully inspecting the hammer, rifling, and Originium Arts flow control system. Her movements lacked the sharp killing intent of Su Rui's, but were equally steady and focused, her lake-blue eyes gleaming with professional composure.

A few minutes later, the two met again in the living room. Su Rui was fully armed, her Rapid-Fire Gun casually slung at her side, her whole being like a drawn sword, exuding a cold, sharp aura. Lemuen's gun was also at her waist; she sat in her wheelchair, her expression solemn, already in a state of combat readiness.

"Let's go to the Papal Hall first." Su Rui succinctly outlined the first step of the action plan. When the situation is unclear, obtaining intelligence and instructions from the highest levels is the most efficient option. As the supreme leader of Laterano, the old Pope must possess the most comprehensive information.

"Hmm." Lemuen nodded in agreement. She pushed the wheelchair and walked out of the residence again with Su Rui.

The streets outside were even emptier than before, and a tense atmosphere permeated the air. The explosions and commotion in the distance seemed clearer, and the faint sound of sirens could even be heard. A squad of City Defense Force soldiers ran past quickly, and when they saw the fully armed Su Rui and Lemuen, they were clearly taken aback, but after recognizing them, they saluted and continued on to the conflict zone.

Without delay, the two headed straight for the Papal Hall, located in the heart of the Holy City. The closer they got to the Papal Hall, the tighter the security became. There were multiple checkpoints along the way, guarded by tense Temple Knights and elite City Defense Force.

Upon arriving at the magnificent main gate of the Papal Hall, they were stopped by a squad of well-equipped Temple Knights with an imposing aura. The leading knight captain was tall and gleaming in armor. He recognized Lemuen, and although his attitude was respectful, his tone was resolute:

"Executor Lemuen, Mr. Su Rui. These are extraordinary times. The Papal Hall is under maximum security. No one may enter without permission. We ask for your understanding."

Lemuen was about to explain, Su Rui frowned impatiently. He hated this tedious procedure and time-wasting behavior.

"Get out of the way." Su Rui's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable, icy pressure. A chilling aura instantly enveloped the area in front of him. "We have important intelligence to report to the Pope in person." He didn't bother to fabricate a more complicated reason; he simply used his power to intimidate them.

The captain of the knights sensed the undisguised, almost dangerously powerful aura emanating from Su Rui, his expression slightly changing, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword, but he still did not back down. "I'm sorry, Mr. Su Rui, it's our duty! Without the College of Cardinals ' order, we cannot let him pass!"

The atmosphere instantly became tense. Seeing this, Lemuen quickly stepped forward, shielding Su Rui, her face displaying her usual warm and approachable smile, her tone calm and unhurried:

"Captain, please understand. We have just returned from an overseas mission and are completely unaware of the situation in the city. Meeting His Holiness the Pope is to understand the situation as quickly as possible so that we can provide assistance if necessary. This is our duty as executors and the most efficient way to respond. If we miss the opportunity due to a delay in reporting, I'm afraid no one can bear that responsibility."

Her words were both gentle and firm, clearly stating her identity and purpose while also highlighting the stakes involved. Her aura radiated a soft yet stable light, subtly increasing the persuasiveness of her words.

The knight captain looked into Lemuen's sincere and determined eyes, then glanced at Su Rui behind her, whose cold gaze seemed ready to strike at any moment. He hesitated for a moment. Finally, weighing the pros and cons, he stepped aside to make way and said in a deep voice, "... Please hurry. His Majesty is in the side hall's lounge." He clearly trusted the well-regarded and gentle Lemuen more, while he was full of vigilance towards Su Rui.

Su Rui snorted coldly, not even glancing at the captain, and pushed Lemuen's wheelchair, striding through the heavily guarded corridor toward the side hall where the Pope was.

The Papal Hall remained solemn and dignified, but an unusual tension permeated the air. Attendants and officials hurried about, their faces grave.

They soon arrived at the door of the side room where the old Pope was. There were guards here as well, but they were obviously of higher rank and recognized Lemuen. After a brief introduction, they opened the heavy Oak door for them.

Inside, the atmosphere was completely different from the tense one outside. The lounge was brightly lit, elegantly furnished, and filled with a faint fragrance. The elderly Pope sat in a comfortable armchair, holding a steaming cup of black tea, with a plate of delicate pastries sprinkled with icing sugar on a small table in front of him. His face showed no sign of tension; instead, it wore a relaxed, amused expression, as if he were watching an entertaining drama.