Arknights: Suika's Messenger Journey

Though she already knew the outcome, Hoshiguma still put on a surprised expression.

"Uncle Dong, do you have any clues?"

"Can't really call them clues, just some experience.

That Wang Family fire spread too fast and burned too fiercely. And from start to finish, there wasn't a sound from inside. That's not normal.

When people face death, as long as there's any way out, they'll resist somehow, won't they?"

Uncle Dong sighed as he looked toward the Wang Family house.

"Then do you know whether the Wang Family had offended anyone recently?" Hoshiguma continued asking.

"I really don't know about that. Given the temperament of that Wang couple, it'd be easier for the neighbors to believe I'd offend someone than that they would."

What Uncle Dong said was, in fact, what most of the neighbors thought.

After all, if someone murdered another person, they had to want something. The Wang Family couldn't be said to have no money, but most of what they earned went toward supporting their children. They themselves lived very frugally.

Every household nearby was wealthier than the Wang Family, so robbery and murder simply didn't make sense.

And the Wang Family had always treated others kindly. They greeted even passing ants with smiles. How could they possibly have provoked some vicious villain into committing murder?

Precisely because it made no sense, the neighbors found the matter extremely strange.

Worried that their own households might suffer the same fate as the Wang Family, everyone had been going home early and locking their doors these past few days.

That was why, despite it only being a little past nine tonight, hardly anyone was still wandering along the entire street.

"Thank you for the reminder, Uncle Dong. We'll get to the bottom of this."

Only after chatting with Uncle Dong for a while longer about recent happenings on the street did Hoshiguma leave with Suika.

"Why didn't you tell him the real reason behind what happened to the Wang Family?"

Suika was somewhat confused.

"Madam Wang spent her entire life being kind to others, only to die at the hands of her own family. If word got out, the Wang Family's reputation would be ruined." Hoshiguma reached out and pressed a hand atop Suika's head.

The Rat King Really Was Ugly

"Besides, there are still a brother and sister from the Wang Family alive. If this got exposed, how could they continue living in Lungmen?"

Just thinking about it gave Hoshiguma a headache.

"Wasn't this case taken over by Dali Temple? Even if we don't say anything, won't they eventually?" Suika recalled what had happened during the day.

After Dali Temple's people took that scum away, Suika didn't think they would keep the matter hidden.

"That isn't certain.

This case involves Great Yan's military and border defenses. For the sake of stability along the border, they may very well secretly execute that guy after the interrogation is over and the case is closed.

After all, to Great Yan, stability is the highest priority."

Hoshiguma saw things very differently.

In other places, catching an imperial spy might be publicized far and wide.

But Great Yan rarely made such matters public, especially since that man had killed so many of his fellow soldiers. For the sake of border military stability, the army would only announce that a spy had been captured, not reveal who the spy was.

"Mm... forget it. That's something those officials up top should worry about. What does it have to do with a messenger like me?" Suika shook her head, then pulled Hoshiguma toward the ruins of the Wang Family home.

When they arrived, they saw quite a few bouquets laid before the ruins, all sent by the neighboring residents.

The old couple had been on very good terms with everyone. Now that disaster had befallen them, everyone felt deeply regretful.

A bouquet didn't cost much. It was simply a small gesture from the neighbors, a way to see the old couple off.

Standing before the ruins, Suika saw that the police tape had yet to be removed.

Hoshiguma said that after the case was closed, the site would likely be handed over to the Wang Family's descendants. Whether those two descendants sold the land or rebuilt a house and moved in was no longer their concern.

Suika stood at the entrance and pressed her hands together.

"Granny, I've avenged you.

Maybe you didn't want him caught, but he was disloyal to his country, unfilial as a son, inhumane as a man, and faithless as a friend.

I can't forgive the actions of someone so disloyal, unfilial, inhumane, and faithless..."

Hoshiguma's eyes revealed a gratified expression as she listened to Suika.

Once it was over, Hoshiguma pointed in the direction of home.

"Heading back?"

Suika shook her head.

"Come with me."

With that, she headed in the opposite direction.

Hoshiguma had no idea why, but she still followed.

"Where are we going?"

"Aren't you curious how I knew that guy was in that little town? Naturally, one of his companions told me." As Suika walked, she recalled the route she had taken yesterday.

"He really had an accomplice in Lungmen?" Hoshiguma became alert.

"Don't worry. That person is already dead," Suika said as she walked.

"You killed him?"

"I did."

Hoshiguma said nothing more and silently followed behind Suika.

After winding through the streets for a long time, the two finally arrived before a somewhat dilapidated house.

Before Suika could open the door, Hoshiguma stepped forward first and kicked it open.

The stench of blood and rot instantly rushed out from inside.

Seeing the headless corpse and blood all over the floor, Hoshiguma stopped Suika from entering.

"Leave it to me!"

After saying that, she took out her communicator and led Suika outside. She surveyed the surroundings, preparing to contact the Guard Department's night staff.

"Officer, could you put down the communicator in your hand?"

A somewhat aged voice came from nearby.

Hoshiguma warily moved in front of Suika. "Who's there?!"

In the darkness, a Zalak holding a cane emerged from the shadows.

Hoshiguma's pupils shrank when she saw him.

"The Rat King..."

As the ruler of Lungmen's underworld, Hoshiguma had heard of the Rat King.

There was a saying in the slums that Lungmen's sun belonged to Wei Yenwu, while its moon belonged to the Rat King. That alone showed just how terrifying his status in Lungmen was.

For such an underworld king to suddenly appear here, countless thoughts ran through Hoshiguma's mind.

"You're Hoshiguma, aren't you? There aren't many Eastern Country oni with such obvious features. Looks like you're doing well in the Guard Department."

After speaking, he pointed at the house.

"Do you know the person inside?"

"No. I received a lead that a spy was hiding here, so I came to investigate.

When I reached the door, I smelled blood, so I..."

Hoshiguma knew lies would not fool the man before her, so she gave him a half-truth.

The Rat King didn't even look at Suika, who stood some distance away. He merely nodded.

"This man was an Ursus spy hidden in Lungmen. Our people had been watching him for a long time. We were preparing to close the net, but then discovered he'd died here..."

There wasn't the slightest emotion in the Rat King's voice, yet in the depths of this winter night, sweat continuously seeped down Hoshiguma's back.

"Looks like we received the same information. We only captured his other accomplice today and handed him over to Dali Temple. On the way there, that one revealed quite a bit."

This was also Hoshiguma's explanation to the Rat King for how she had obtained her intelligence.

She wasn't afraid of the Rat King investigating. Wang Kebei's capture was fact, as was his transfer to Dali Temple. As for whether he had said anything along the way, he had been half-conscious the entire time. Even if he had let something slip, she might not have understood it clearly.

The Rat King nodded.

"It is late. Officer, go home and get some proper rest. As for matters concerning the gutter, let the gutter rats handle them."

Hoshiguma didn't refuse. After all, they were standing in the slums.

Since the Rat King had taken over the matter, she neither needed nor dared to keep looking into it.

After watching the two leave, several figures appeared beside the Rat King.

"Those two clearly know something. Big Brother, why didn't you detain them?"

From the moment the two entered the slums until they arrived here, they had remained under the Rat King's surveillance. He knew perfectly well that their route and behavior showed they knew something, yet he still let Hoshiguma and Suika leave.

"Don't worry. I don't know that little girl, but I know Hoshiguma. Wei Yenwu personally took her from me. I know what kind of person she is.

Clean up the house. We don't need to concern ourselves with this matter anymore.

Oh, right. Do you know when my daughter gets her break?

It's nearly New Year already, and there's still no news..."

The Rat King turned around, no longer paying attention to the matter in the house, and instead began chatting with those beside him about domestic matters.

"Wow, that old man just now... was so ugly..." Suika wasn't into furries, and she had no interest whatsoever in Lin Ge Rui's rat head.

She truly couldn't understand how someone with that appearance had produced such a stunning beauty as Lin Yuhsia.

Strength Enough to Uproot Mountains, Spirit to Overwhelm the World

"Watch your mouth. Lord Rat King isn't someone a little brat like you can casually criticize."

Hoshiguma flicked Suika on the forehead.

"I think his wife must have an incredibly strong heart. Waking up at night and opening her eyes to see the head of a rodent beast in front of her... if it were me, I'd scare myself to death..."

Suika wasn't completely opposed to furries. She could accept someone like Waai Fu, but someone like the Rat King, whose entire head was a rat, was truly beyond her ability to accept.

"Uh... when you put it that way... it does seem to make some sense...

No, the Rat King is a genuine Ancient, understand? Ancients are the handsomest!"

Hoshiguma nearly got led astray by Suika's words, but she caught herself in time and immediately corrected her.

The two then launched into a heated debate over whether all Ancients were handsome.

After they left, the Rat King touched his face and looked at one of his subordinates, his voice carrying a trace of uncertainty.

"Am I really as... unattractive as that girl said?"

"Of course not, Boss.

Your handsomeness has long transcended mere appearance. That little brat's aesthetic sense just hasn't developed yet, so she can't understand your aura."

The subordinate hurriedly explained.

What a joke. Not only were Ancients themselves considered among the most handsome people on Terra, but even if the Rat King really did look like a sneaky rat, as his subordinates, they couldn't possibly say there was anything wrong with his appearance...

Only after hearing his subordinate's reassurance did the Rat King relax. It seemed there was nothing wrong with his looks; that little girl simply didn't know how to appreciate them.

When he returned home, he thought of what Suika had said and asked his wife,

"Madam, if you woke up at night and saw what I look like, would you be afraid?"

"Afraid? Terrified, of course.

With all the things you've done, you old bastard, how could I not be afraid? I'm afraid that one day someone will slit your throat outside and leave our mother and daughter to face the wolves and tigers out there..."

Madam Lin was clearly no pushover either. Though she had no idea why the Rat King had asked such a question, she didn't hold back in the slightest when tearing into him.

After returning home, Suika stopped messing around and lay down on her bed.

Still unable to sleep, she decided to retrieve her Ibuki Gourd.

After all, while bitter wine might hurt the heart as it went down, she wasn't some washed-up esports veteran, nor did she have an unrequited love who had married someone else. That sort of situation didn't apply to her.