Ark, Just Tell Me Whether the Mission Was Completed

"I said one hundred thousand, so it's one hundred thousand. Got it? The people up top need to know it's one hundred thousand, or you won't even get this ten thousand."

"Mm." Gravel nodded twice.

With Luo Chen's explanation, Gravel understood at once.

This big brother in front of her wanted to use her to falsify the books—in other words, launder money.

In the name of relief, he would give her a little money, while most of it went into his own pocket.

She'd heard people talk about this sort of scheme while scouting out the agency.

For a moment, the joy of stumbling into incredible luck flooded her heart, and she felt her limbs trembling.

If... she could get this relief money, could she improve her current situation?

And if there was enough money, maybe her parents would even take her in again.

Of course, those were matters for later. What mattered now was cooperating with this kind big brother.

"Alright, take me to have a look at where you live."

"Okay, follow me. Where I live is really shabby. It'll definitely be enough for you, big brother, to get through the review from up top."

Gravel seemed to come back to life, a delighted smile appearing on her face.

She skipped ahead to lead the way, while Luo Chen and the others followed behind.

Lin Yuxia moved closer to Luo Chen and asked softly,

"Officer Luo, how are you planning to reform and educate her? Are you going to fund her studies with money?"

"And judging from her situation, she probably doesn't have much of an educational foundation."

"It'll still be difficult to make a habitual thief like her take the initiative to study."

Even now, Lin Yuxia couldn't see through Luo Chen's intentions at all.

He kept talking about relief funds and asking about her parents. What exactly was he trying to do?

Could it be that Luo Chen wanted to throw money at her until she became a top student?

But what kind of reform would that be?

The girl would only study for the money, not because she genuinely wanted to improve herself.

Luo Chen said,

"Ms. Lin, persuading people to study is the least efficient thing you can do. It gives them the illusion that they're studying for someone else."

"Just call me Lin Yuxia. Calling me 'Ms.' all the time makes me feel old."

"Fine. Lin Yuxia, you need to understand: if you want someone to truly realize the importance of learning, let them suffer the consequences of being uneducated."

Lin Yuxia was somewhat puzzled. "Suffer the consequences of being uneducated? This little girl looks half-illiterate already. Hasn't she suffered enough?"

Luo Chen said, "Of course not. Material hardship alone can't bring about a fundamental change in a person."

"You want her to suffer mentally?"

"Suffering? That doesn't sound very nice. I'd rather call it tempering her will through hardship."

"Luo Chen, that little girl looks pretty pitiful. Can you not do anything too extreme?"

"We're here to do good deeds. How can doing good deeds be called extreme?"

Lin Yuxia still couldn't figure out what Luo Chen was thinking, but she had a feeling all her good karma might be wiped out this time.

Gravel lived on the outskirts of the slums, in a tiny, dilapidated apartment.

The building was utterly run-down. The peeling paint on the walls had fallen away, exposing the dark, gray bricks beneath.

The window glass had long since shattered, leaving only a few precarious frames. Cold wind howled through the gaps, filling the room with a damp chill.

The wood on the porch had rotted away, creaking beneath their feet as though it might snap at any moment.

The moment they stepped inside, a moldy smell hit them. Moisture had seeped into the floorboards long ago, making them soft beneath their feet. The wallpaper had faded away, revealing blotches of water damage underneath.

The furniture was even more worn-out. The corners of several wooden tables had been rubbed smooth beyond recognition, and the cushions on the chairs were tattered.

A ragged blanket lay piled in the corner. It was probably where the girl slept.

Though the place was shabby, its owner had clearly put effort into maintaining it. The few broken pieces of furniture were spotless, and the windows had been patched with old newspapers.

"Big brother, what do you think? My place is pretty shabby, right? And there isn't even a single appliance. I picked up the tables and chairs from the trash."

Gravel smiled and puffed out her still undeveloped chest. Luo Chen could hear a hint of pride in her voice.

She really was a strong girl. Even in circumstances like these, she could still live positively. She must have put in a great deal of effort.

It was just unfortunate that she'd put that effort in the wrong direction. How could she become a pickpocket?

As an officer of the Lungmen Guard Department, he had to guide her onto a bright path.

"Very good. Your living conditions perfectly meet the Hoshiguma Relief Fund's criteria."

"By the way, do you have any illnesses?"

At the mention of illness, the smile on the girl's face froze. She lowered her head, secretly glanced at Luo Chen, and asked worriedly,

"Does Oripathy count?"

When Gravel said she had Oripathy, the agency lackeys behind them, who had been about to enter the room, silently backed away.

Luo Chen, on the other hand, immediately began applauding.

"That's perfect. Having a terminal illness makes it easier to win the sympathy of important people up top. Those big shots love seeing the lives of unfortunate people plagued by misfortune."

"That's good, then. I wonder how much relief money I can apply for."

"Quite a lot. At least several million."

"Several million? You're not lying to me, are you?"

"Of course not. Though you probably won't receive that much yourself. Still, one hundred thousand is possible."

"If you don't believe me, you can ask her."

"Ugh... why am I involved too?" Lin Yuxia felt her conscience being tugged hard.

What fund? What relief? She had never heard of any of this.

All these adults were deceiving a child. Was that really okay?

"Auntie, is what this big brother said true?"

That single "auntie" from Gravel instantly scattered Lin Yuxia's guilt.

With a cold expression, she nodded, indicating that it was indeed true.

With the assurance of a gang boss like Lin Yuxia, it was clearly far more convincing than anything Luo Chen said.

After Lin Yuxia nodded, Gravel agreed without the slightest doubt.

She didn't think a gang leader would need to come all the way here just to trick a little thief like her.

Next, Luo Chen took out paper and a pen from his coat pocket, began writing up documents in the Victoria language on the table, and motioned for Gravel to sit down and watch him write.

"To receive the relief funds, you'll need to sign an official contract. Little sister, have you ever gone to school? How many words do you know?"

"I never went to school, but I can write my own name and count numbers. I can count up to ten thousand too," Gravel answered honestly.

"That's impressive. You taught yourself how to count past ten thousand. You really do have a talent for learning."

"It's nothing much. I also figured out on my own how to pick money without touching the wallet." Gravel scratched the back of her head with a chuckle. This was the first time she'd been praised since being driven out of her home.

"So, if you received this relief money, what would you do with it?"

"I'd probably have a good meal, then buy a set of bedding."

"What if I asked you to go to school?"

"I don't have money for school."

"What if I used the relief funds to pay for it?"

"I'm not cut out for school. I used to hear a few things when I went to schools to collect scraps, and my head would start hurting right away."

"Do you think passing Lungmen's middle school entrance exam is difficult?"

"I probably won't pass it in this lifetime."

Luo Chen and Gravel spoke back and forth.

Gradually, Gravel realized that this big brother really did seem like a good person.

Although his methods of dealing with bad people earlier had been somewhat brutal, those guys weren't good people anyway.

Wouldn't someone who punished bad people be a good person?

And even after Luo Chen learned that she was Infected, he still spoke to her gently. It gave her a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.

His attitude was so gentle that Gravel even began to regret stealing Luo Chen's money.

Countless thoughts surfaced in her mind, but there was one question Gravel simply couldn't understand.

"Big brother, why are you giving the relief funds to me? There are so many poor people in the slums. Plenty are poorer than I am."

"Maybe it's fate. After all, you stole from me the moment I arrived in the Lower City." At that, Luo Chen forced a smile and raised a hand to rub Gravel's head.

"Of course, it might also be because you're cute."

The moment Luo Chen's hand touched her head, Gravel's body stiffened. Then a faint flush appeared on her slightly pale face.

Ever since she had been driven out of her home several years ago, Gravel had never been treated gently by anyone, whether they were fellow scavengers or other pickpockets.

Whenever others encountered her, they either stole what she had in her hands or treated her like air.

Even the groups formed by other thieves refused to take her along once they saw she was Infected.

Yet now, someone was willing to pat her head.

Even though she had stolen his money... he was still willing to help her, even giving her the chance to receive relief funds.

For a moment, the feeling of being noticed—of even being cared for—surged through her heart. Her whole body felt warm, and she wanted time to stop forever at this very moment.

Luo Chen noticed that the girl in front of him looked somewhat strange.

However, rather than feeling pleased by it, his urge to help others was deeply stirred.

He felt that he had to teach the girl a lesson. With such an innocent attitude, it would be difficult for her to survive in a place like the Lower City.

As a responsible Lungmen Guard Department officer who sought the light, he had to guide the girl, ensuring that she could survive in the Lower City and become someone useful to Lungmen.

With that thought, Luo Chen wrote even faster.

Lin Yuxia stood at the doorway with her arms crossed, watching Luo Chen and Gravel silently with an expressionless face.

Wasn't this just indiscriminate kindness?

He'd talked about tempering her will through hardship, but he was happily giving her money. How was that tempering her will?

If this was how he planned to do it, there was no way this girl would become motivated.

From the things she said, she was clearly an ordinary person who simply went with the flow.

Luo Chen had sounded so confident, but this money was probably going down the drain.

"Come sign it. Write your name here."

Luo Chen placed the contract written in the Victoria language before Gravel, then called to the people outside and told them to bring one hundred thousand in cash from his two hundred thousand Lungmen Dollar lecture fee.

Very soon, Luo Chen laid one hundred thousand Lungmen Dollars in cash on the table.

Including the ten thousand Gravel had stolen earlier, Gravel had now become a rich woman with one hundred and ten thousand.

"What does this document say?" Gravel stared at the Victoria language, which looked like squirming earthworms to her, completely bewildered.