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

After settling on the plan, Ren Dong began asking about the details.

"I've already prepared the location—a small park that barely anyone visits. I've also notified their parents in the name of the Venice Family."

As Su Rui spoke, he displayed the messages he had sent to Ren Dong.

The message to the parents, sent in the Venice Family's name, asked them to make time to visit the small park, as there were matters that needed to be addressed.

Ren Dong nodded. With the family's name attached, those parents would definitely make time to come. No matter what it was about, they would not dare defy the family.

As for the messages sent to those little punks, Su Rui had been rather mischievous.

"Hey, bro. I've got the kind of stuff you want here. Want to make a deal? We all make money, and I can even give you a cut as payment."

Those were Su Rui's exact words. Ren Dong could barely bear to imagine the tone he had used when sending that message.

Can that really lure them over?

"Of course." Su Rui sounded perfectly justified as he pasted an investigation report into Ren Dong's field of vision.

"These punks like that kind of thing. There's no need to spell it out; just hinting at it is enough to catch their attention. They'll definitely come."

Isn't that scam a little too crude?

"Are you implying something about me?"

Su Rui immediately retorted with some displeasure. "I know plenty of scams, including all sorts of assassination techniques that leave no trace. For example, a way to kill Little Venice without anyone suspecting you..."

All right, get to the point.

Ren Dong gave a light cough. Why had they somehow come back to assassinating Little Venice again? In Ren Dong's plans, Little Venice was supposed to become the next head of the Venice Family. She would then leave directly and live with Su Rui.

If Venice died, she would be tangled up in that responsibility instead.

"Oh, simply put, that tone is the most suitable one for matching a little punk's intelligence."

Su Rui's tone returned to its usual casual manner, then he remembered something from before.

"By the way, didn't you say you wanted to find an opportunity to retire?"

Yes. Do you have any suggestions for my retirement plan?

It would also be a good time to prepare things according to Su Rui's preferences. Ren Dong was quietly making her calculations, but she had not expected Su Rui to answer a completely different question.

"My suggestion is to prepare for a slaughter."

I said retirement, Su Rui. Why are you bringing that up again?

Even though she had grown used to Su Rui, Ren Dong was still surprised by his abrupt turn. Don't tell me everything makes you think of slaughtering people?

"No, I'm worried about you."

Su Rui sounded a little anxious instead, analyzing the matter for Ren Dong in an exceptionally earnest tone.

"Look, mafias and gangs usually don't want their ace enforcers to retire. Retiring generally means completing some difficult mission first. Even after it's done, they might kick you while you're down or break their promise."

As Su Rui continued his analysis, he took a deep breath. "My assessment is that it would be better to just slip away and leave a letter behind. If the family comes after you to cause trouble, then just start killing. Get rid of everyone who tries to disturb you."

Mr. Venice isn't that kind of person. He'll agree to it. Even Little Venice won't have any ulterior motives after I leave.

Ren Dong smiled helplessly. Although Su Rui's concern truly warmed her heart, she did not agree with his almost paranoid way of thinking.

"I think you're being a little too naive."

Su Rui did not say anything else. He merely gave a dissatisfied snort at not being acknowledged.

"We'll talk when you need my help. I guarantee that day will come."

Then we'll wait and see.

Ren Dong smiled and rode in the assistant's car to the print shop, heading straight inside.

The owner of the neighboring shop that had been smashed up saw Ren Dong and the Venice Family car, then hurriedly followed her, wanting to air his grievances.

"Calm down, sir. I'll get justice for you. I already have a plan. Just wait a little while, and those punks will soon come with their parents to apologize to you and compensate you for your losses."

Ren Dong turned to glance at the shop owner. Her smiling yet oppressive gaze made him instinctively retreat several steps and wipe the sweat from his forehead.

"All right, all right. Then I can rest easy. Thank you so much for your help."

Having received Ren Dong's answer, the slightly overweight shop owner thanked her repeatedly before shrinking back into his own shop.

Ren Dong then nodded at the print shop employees amid their reverent stares.

"I need to borrow your printer for a moment. Is that all right?"

"Of course." The employees nodded frantically. Who would dare refuse the request of a member of one of the great families?

For ordinary people, it was already something to be grateful for if they did not simply take what they wanted by force.

Su Rui could not help laughing beside Ren Dong's ear. "It seems these people's perception of the family doesn't quite match your usual character?"

The family members are indeed rather... forceful, but generally speaking, they don't do anything too outrageous.

Ren Dong tried to defend the family's actions, but Su Rui clearly was not listening.

"All right, put your hand on the computer and fiddle with it a little. Just make sure the employees don't see."

Ren Dong did as Su Rui instructed. Soon afterward, she heard a printer start humming, and the documents she needed were printed out.

"All done. My actions won't leave any records behind. No one will be able to find a flaw in your story."

Su Rui said it casually, seeming unable to wait to see those punks' miserable expressions.

"Come on, let's go. If we're late, they might run into their parents first."

No need to hurry. Their parents all have jobs, so taking leave or making time isn't that easy.

Ren Dong smiled and soothed Su Rui, who was so expectant he seemed ready to bounce around inside her head. Then she took out her wallet.

"How much does it cost to print these?"

When Ren Dong left the print shop and got back into the assistant-driven car, asking her to head for the deserted little park Su Rui had arranged, Su Rui finally spoke slowly, as though he had just recovered from his shock.

"I didn't expect you to actually pay."

Of course. A true mafioso should be graceful and composed, not casually display violence.

Ren Dong hoped Su Rui could at least have a better impression of her work—and of her.

"Volume One: 14 Mafia"

"I thought mafiosi like that only existed in movies."

Su Rui muttered in Ren Dong's mind. Ren Dong twitched her fluffy ears and curled her lips into a smile.

That meant Su Rui now believed graceful, composed mafiosi existed in reality too. Naturally, that person was Ren Dong herself.

She did not hide her happy mood at all. Ren Dong had already learned Su Rui's habits—he was generally too lazy to observe her expressions.

With a tone like that, Su Rui was probably spacing out again.

She discreetly glanced at the System Materialization Progress. It had already reached seven percent.

Ren Dong understood at once. As expected, this progress bar was not related to the number of missions completed, but to Su Rui's impression of her.

This mission was only a minor one and had not even been completed, yet the System Materialization Progress had increased more than it had after completing an entire mission before.

Having settled on the plan for what came next, Ren Dong could not help relaxing. If she truly had to carry out around thirty-three missions like infiltrating Midal Mansion to meet the heads of great families, the psychological pressure would be rather immense.

Very soon, Ren Dong arrived at the small park by car and saw the few little punks waiting for her there.

The punks stood or sat around in a corner of the park, slouching with crooked necks and looking utterly unkempt. They gave off a bad impression at first glance.

"They're practically textbook cannon fodder."

Disgust could not help showing in Su Rui's voice. It immediately worsened Ren Dong's impression of the punks, and she even felt a little like teaching them a lesson herself.

Don't let them affect Su Rui's impression of Syracuse and me too. Otherwise, I'll definitely teach you all a harsh lesson.

Ren Dong frowned, got out of the car, and looked at the punks who had turned their attention toward her.

When will their parents arrive?

"They're already here. They're watching from the corner right now. I specifically told them to."

As Su Rui spoke, he highlighted a corner in Ren Dong's vision. She immediately spotted several parents hiding there and watching secretly.

They're hiding pretty professionally. Even Ren Dong, an assassin, had not noticed them immediately.

"That's because of me, of course. I arranged their hiding place."

Su Rui's proud voice rang out. Ren Dong set aside her doubts about herself and walked toward the punks.

"Yo, it's actually some big shot from the family. What do you want us to help you with?"

One of the punks spoke in a sleazy tone. Ren Dong frowned before she could say anything, and a seemingly more sensible guy beside him slapped the back of his head.

"Watch it. Don't act stupid at a time like this."

"Looks like at least one of them has a brain." Su Rui commented inside Ren Dong's mind. "But that little bit of brain isn't enough. He should realize that someone like you has no reason to cooperate with them."

Ren Dong agreed with Su Rui inwardly and looked past the punks toward the place where their parents were hiding.

You can let them come out now, Su Rui.

"Huh? I was hoping to show them acting stupid so their education afterward would be even harsher."

Su Rui apparently did not want this farce to end so easily.

Hurry up. In exchange, I'll play games for you to watch when we get back.

Ren Dong guessed at Su Rui's preferences and felt that her proposal should be somewhat appealing.

"Fine! But you have to follow my commands. You'll play however I tell you to!"

Isn't that exactly how children think when they watch other people play games?

Ren Dong could not help mocking him in her heart, then nodded.

I agree. Move quickly.

"All right, just have them look behind them."

Su Rui spoke, and Ren Dong noticed the parents behind the punks beginning to move.

She raised her chin and looked directly past the punks. Ren Dong spoke softly.

"You're in trouble."

"What are you talking about? Aren't you here to make a deal with us? Little—"

One of the punks was about to speak disrespectfully to Ren Dong when someone behind him gave him a fierce slap on the head.

When the punks turned around angrily, intending to cause trouble, the people standing behind them immediately made them wilt like frostbitten eggplants.

However, after seeing their parents, their previously messy stances actually became more orderly, and they stood straighter than before.

After briefly scolding their children, the parents hurriedly pressed down on their heads and apologized to Ren Dong.

"I'm sorry, milady of the family. We failed to discipline our children and let them make a mistake. Could you please give them a chance to reform for the sake of their youth? We'll educate them properly once we get home!"

The parents apologized to Ren Dong earnestly and humbly, even though they still did not know what their children had done. Their children could no longer act arrogant now. They stood in place with their heads hanging low, silent as though the sand beneath their feet was fascinating.

"This is what they have done. Take a look."

Ren Dong did not say much. She merely handed the documents to the parents for them to pass around, watching their faces gradually turn livid as she reminded them.

"Let the children look too. Make sure they clearly understand what they did."

Soon, several more faces turned pale.

Ren Dong silently waited for them to finish reading. With her arms folded over her chest, she took deep breaths to steady herself, hoping she would not laugh in such a serious atmosphere.

Because Su Rui was loudly laughing in her head at the punks who had been acting so sleazy just moments ago. He had even edited together their before-and-after reactions into a montage set to a particularly funny song for Ren Dong to watch.

All right, Su Rui, stop it. I don't want to laugh in front of them. Your video is funny—I'll appreciate it properly later.

As she watched all sorts of small animals in her vision dance absurdly with the punks' faces pasted onto them, Ren Dong bit her lip to keep herself from laughing.

To avoid giving herself away, she even turned and walked toward the car, pretending she needed to retrieve something, then silently laughed inside the vehicle.

"...Are you all right?"

The female assistant acting as Ren Dong's driver saw her covering her cheeks with both hands, her shoulders trembling constantly, and became somewhat concerned.

She had already been a little worried back in the office. Now she realized that perhaps her worries had not been unfounded.

"Cough, cough. It's nothing. Remember not to tell anyone about this."

Realizing someone was watching her, Ren Dong quickly regained her composure. She looked expressionlessly at the assistant in the driver's seat, making her nod frantically.

"Don't worry. I absolutely won't tell anyone."

"Volume One: 15 The Future"