Arknights: Suika's Messenger Journey

Then she went back out and knocked everyone at the sentry post unconscious.

After finishing all that, she took out a signal flare and fired it, then continued sneaking deeper into the military factory.

There were far more people in the military factory than just those in the surveillance room. There were nearly a hundred workers and more than a dozen soldiers guarding the rear.

Suika pressed forward. When she encountered someone alone, she used a full set of physical anesthetics. When there were several people, she directly used Drink Invitation to forcefully get them drunk. By the time FrostNova led her people inside, Suika had already taken down most of them.

The remaining few were no match for the Reunion Movement either.

After entering the military factory, Talulah looked at the people who had been tightly bound and drunk unconscious, then nodded at Suika.

"Thank you for your help. Otherwise, taking this place would probably have cost us a terrible price."

By the time they reached the factory buildings, she had already inspected the surveillance room.

Given the military factory's location and defenses, if Suika had not so easily dealt with the soldiers at the entrance, the Reunion Movement would have lost at least dozens of people forcing their way in.

For the Reunion Movement, whose fighting strength was already in short supply, such losses were completely unacceptable.

"Don't mention it. Hurry up and move the supplies!" Suika looked at the warriors happily running out while carrying materials and let out a sigh of relief as well.

"What should we do with these people?" FrostNova asked Talulah, looking at those who had been tied up.

"Leave them here. Our Reunion Movement is not a bloodthirsty organization. Though they are our enemies, there is no need for further killing when they can be dealt with so easily."

After saying that, Talulah looked toward the factory buildings. "Tell everyone to move faster. We only have one hour. We must withdraw within two hours, or we risk being caught."

Upon hearing her words, the Reunion Movement soldiers ran even faster.

An hour later, nearly everyone carried supplies as heavy as, or even heavier than, themselves. Under Talulah's lead, they struggled toward the main force.

After the Reunion Movement left, heavy snow completely buried the trail they had taken. When the Ursus army arrived the next day, all they saw was an almost emptied armory, along with Ursus soldiers and workers tied up inside the factory buildings.

The pungent stench of alcohol in the buildings nearly drove the commanding officer mad.

He had repeatedly stressed the need to guard this place carefully the day before, yet these fools had gotten completely drunk and lost a huge amount of supplies.

Looking at the military factory director tied up nearby like a dead pig, he furiously kicked the man in the head, leaving it a bloody mess.

No Banquet Lasts Forever

The Ursus frontline command post nearest to this place was also in chaos.

The earthquake caused by Suika blowing apart a mountain with one punch the day before had naturally been picked up by various local signal receivers.

After comparing the seismic waves, they discovered that they were ninety-nine percent similar to those from the small earthquake outside Lungmen half a year ago.

As two sides that had never stopped clashing, Ursus had naturally researched that sudden small earthquake near Lungmen.

Now, a similar earthquake had appeared here, and it had allowed the Reunion Movement to escape the army's carefully arranged encirclement.

This made the general in charge suspect that the matter was connected to Lungmen, perhaps even Great Yan.

This Infected organization lurking within Ursus had very likely received support from Great Yan, which was using the organization to test its secret weapons.

Based on the footage of the mountain collapse sent back by the captain from the south, he, as the highest-ranking Ursus commander stationed here, had reason to suspect that Great Yan had created a city-destroying weapon capable of targeting mobile fortresses.

Once that thought arose, he no longer dared continue sending troops out to encircle the Reunion Movement. If the mobile fortress became vulnerable and Great Yan used such a weapon against it, Ursus would lose cities and territory.

Even the immortal Black Snake could not force the issue. After all, his relationship with these nobles was one of mutual cooperation and exploitation.

Compared to the Reunion Movement, which he considered an immediate thorn that needed removing, they cared more about the safety of their territories and mobile fortresses.

Fortunately, he had ultimately turned one person and used him to lure in a second.

Since the Reunion Movement was not under his control, he decided to use those two people to establish a more controllable "New Reunion Movement."

As for whether the Ursus Infected would believe it, he was not worried in the slightest.

After all, he could handle the military. He would have them focus entirely on Talulah's Reunion Movement while using the two youngsters to develop a New Reunion Movement that the Ursus army would not attack.

Then, for their own safety, once the Infected saw the difference in treatment between the two Reunion Movements, they would naturally choose to join the safer New Reunion Movement. They might even turn Talulah's people against her.

With that in mind, since the military was preparing to reduce the intensity of its pursuit of Talulah, he turned all his attention and energy toward the New Reunion Movement.

After the immortal Black Snake and the Ursus military shifted their attention away, the pressure on the Reunion Movement immediately lessened considerably.

After a week, they finally shook off the army's pursuit and stopped at a new settlement.

Just as everyone was happy to finally settle down, Yagokoro Eirin came to find Talulah.

"Miss Yagokoro Eirin, wouldn't it be too dangerous for you to leave now?" Before Talulah could speak, Alina said worriedly.

"It is nothing. Mere wind and snow cannot stop me."

"But..."

"If you are worried about medicine, there is no need. I have already taught the entire pharmaceutical process to those apprentices.

After this period of training, they are capable of producing qualified medicine. It can be said that they have graduated in this area.

As long as there are sufficient raw materials, you need not worry about medicine shortages in the days ahead.

As for the pharmaceutical equipment currently in use, I will leave it with you. These things are not difficult to obtain. If any of them are damaged, similar items can be purchased as replacements."

Once Yagokoro Eirin said that, everyone understood that she was determined to leave.

Talulah stepped forward.

"Our Reunion Movement will forever be grateful for Miss Yagokoro Eirin's support and help.

From this day forward, the Reunion Movement will always be friends to you and Suika.

If there is ever anything you need us to do, send us a letter. Even if there are mountains of blades and seas of fire ahead, we will not hesitate to die ten thousand deaths."

After saying farewell to the Reunion Movement's officers and several apprentices, Suika followed Yagokoro Eirin outside the settlement.

"Is there nothing you want to say to me?" Once they were away from the crowd, Yagokoro Eirin turned to look at Suika.

"To be honest, when I invited you, I did not have much hope. You were simply the only person I knew who could solve this problem.

So I was actually very surprised that you came here and stayed for so long.

The second surprise was that you chose to leave at this time.

I thought you would wait until spring, like me, before leaving. I do not have anything to give you, and I imagine you would not like alcohol. So this set of Originium Figurines is the one I have been most satisfied with these past few days. It is for you."

Suika took out a set of Originium Figurines depicting the entire Eternal Pavilion family and held it out before Yagokoro Eirin.

"It is nothing. I came here because I was curious about the illness you mentioned.

I imagine you have guessed that, before I came, I met Ibuki Suika and Yuugi Hoshiguma.

When she learned that another mysterious Ibuki Suika had appeared, she said I could deal with you however I wished.

And Yukari Yakumo asked me to see whether this place was suitable for yokai to live in...

So my reasons for coming here were not so simple."

Yagokoro Eirin looked at Suika as she spoke.

Suika nodded, then asked.

"So, do you think this land called Terra is suitable for yokai to move to?"

Yagokoro Eirin pointed at the Originium, then at the sky.

"Before seeing this, I would have said yes. Environmentally, this world is not much different from Gensokyo, and it is vast enough.

But this has made me realize that this world is far from simple.

I analyzed this stone. What it contains is far more terrifying than either of us initially imagined.

And the sky is not real, either.

At least in Gensokyo, one can still set foot on the moon. But the sky here is a true prison.

Unless those two problems can be resolved, I do not believe yokai should settle here."

Since she was about to leave, Yagokoro Eirin spoke frankly to Suika.

"What about me? What are you planning to do with me?"

"You?"

"Didn't you say that the one in Gensokyo said I was at your disposal? I am not confident I can defeat you." Suika took a drink calmly.

"Why would I deal with you? You have not committed any evil deeds, and your personality is far better than that other one's.

Though you are equally lacking in brains...

From our time together, I can tell that you are not someone with malicious intentions. You also love this world deeply, so continue developing here.

Perhaps one day, when this world called Terra solves the two problems I mentioned, this place may become a new home for Gensokyo's yokai.

Then, until we meet again..." As her words fell, Yagokoro Eirin vanished before Suika's eyes.

A Few Matters in Gensokyo

After watching Yagokoro Eirin disappear, Suika scratched her head. She had thought she would feel sad, but instead discovered that after Eirin left, she actually felt much more at ease.

On second thought, that was only natural.

After all, she was merely a half-trained amateur. Inviting Yagokoro Eirin before had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, and she had never considered what she would do if Eirin came with hostile intentions.

Do not mistake her for merely Eternal Pavilion's doctor. If they truly fought, Suika would be unimaginably lucky just to survive.

Therefore, unless she became strong enough, even if she received another letter asking for help, she would not choose to summon anyone from Gensokyo again.

Meanwhile, when Yagokoro Eirin chose to return and opened her eyes, she saw a circle of people surrounding her.

"How was it over there? What exactly is going on? And what is the deal with that Ibuki Suika?"

The moment she woke up, the people around her began questioning her all at once.

Yagokoro Eirin opened her hand, and the Originium Figurines Suika had given her appeared in her palm.

"Wow, this figurine is me!" Kaguya Houraisan exclaimed as she took one of the figurines from Yagokoro Eirin.

The powerful figures, meanwhile, looked at the Originium with inquisitive expressions.

"This stone... no, this is not a stone..." Yukari Yakumo picked one up and examined it closely.

"How long was I gone?" Yagokoro Eirin asked Reisen beside her.

"About thirty hours," Reisen immediately replied.

"So one hour here equals one day over there.

Do not touch the figurines. I have complete pieces of Originium here. If you want to study it, study these instead." As Yagokoro Eirin spoke, she took out several intact pieces of Originium and tossed them to the people nearby. She retrieved the figurines, then gave each one back to the person it resembled.

"Eirin, can you explain what is going on with that Suika over there?" Seeing that the two oni beside her wanted to ask but found it difficult to speak up, Yukari Yakumo took the initiative.

Yagokoro Eirin looked at Ibuki Suika.

"If there is no one else in this world who looks exactly like you, possesses exactly the same abilities, and even uses exactly the same moves, then perhaps she is another you.

Think about whether you have ever lost a clone or something similar."

"Exactly the same?" Ibuki Suika had initially thought someone was using her name to deceive people, but she had not expected Yagokoro Eirin to give such an answer.

"Oh, there are differences too.

She is much kinder than you. At the very least, she spends time with ordinary people. I can hardly imagine you getting along with those ordinary people in the Human Village."

Yagokoro Eirin's words left Ibuki Suika unsure how to respond. She had no particular objection to getting along with anyone.

If someone could make good alcohol, she would be willing to befriend them whether they were ordinary humans, Kappa, or Kedama.

But ordinary people would flee the moment they saw an oni like her. How could they possibly approach her on their own, let alone become friends?

"You said that other one can use abilities identical to Suika's?" Yuugi Hoshiguma, who had been quietly listening nearby, only spoke after finding an opening in the conversation.

"That is right. The ability of Density and Sparsity, as well as your move called Three-Step Ruin.

Even if their personalities differ, I believe she is another you, or perhaps a clone of yours that was transported away by another dimension."

Yagokoro Eirin gave her opinion.

"And you?"

"You want to know how I dealt with her? I have no grudge against her, so why would I deal with her?"

After speaking, Yagokoro Eirin pointed at the pile of Originium.

"If you want to study that stuff, take it away and study it. Just do not get in my way."

Seeing that she was asking them to leave, the others did not linger and departed Eternal Pavilion one after another.