Arknights, I'm going to beat Kal'tsit, really?

Page 47

"..." Razer wanted to advise Kane not to be a gentleman at a time like this, but considering Amiya's previous wariness, he thought that this person must be quite strong, so he stopped refusing and leaped towards the other side.

"Hmph! Warlocks, blow that bridge up!" At the command of the Reunion squad leader, two warlocks attacked fiercely, and fireballs roared as they struck the wooden bridge, collapsing it along with half of the roof!

"This is bad!"

"That's why I told you your route was wrong! You and Razer provide cover fire, we'll rush back to rescue them!" Exusiai sensed danger when her retreat was destroyed. Franka complained as she quickly organized a rescue.

But Texas immediately stopped them: "It's okay, this is nothing for him. We'll just watch."

If the memory of Kane's battle with Zaro a few years ago was somewhat hazy, then the brief sparring just now had made Texas deeply aware of the difference in their strength—with Kane's skills, he could easily jump over, and those grunts were no match for him.

Texas's guess was correct; the current situation was nothing more than a post-dinner relaxation exercise for Kane.

The rest of the defense team went shopping, while he entertained himself by playing a thrilling game of "Mortal Kombat" on the outer ring of Longmen.

Kane charged headlong into the Reunion Movement's crowd, like a tiger among sheep. The unlucky ones were knocked flying one after another; the lucky ones were stopped by railings or their companions, while the unlucky ones fell directly off the high-rise building into illegal power lines and piles of garbage, their fates unknown.

With the last two warlocks collided by Kane's "Skullbreaker," the Reunion squad was completely wiped out.

Having resolved everything, Kane calmly lightly touched the ground with his toes, his body seemingly defying gravity, and floated down from the opposite rooftop to the group of people.

"Wooooo! That's awesome! Is this your Originium Arts? Or is it some kind of special technique? Could it be the legendary lightness skill from the Yan Kingdom?!"

The last time Exusiai had witnessed such a scene was in her sister's collection of action movies. Seeing it in person, Kane's image instantly transformed from "Texas's lover" to "a reclusive master" and "a martial arts expert." At this moment, all she wanted was to pester him for an explanation.

Chapter 107: Stealing Love

The Reunion Movement's infiltration of Lungmen is deeply ingrained, as evidenced by the scenes Kane witnessed along the way. In the outer ring of Lungmen, lacking effective control from the Guard Bureau, the original order was largely maintained by local gangs. However, even these gangs are now shrinking their power under the Rat King's consolidation, preparing for the impending storm.

Thus, the infected, with no one to rely on, became a breeding ground for chaos. Many of them were seduced by the ideology of the Reunion Movement, accepted the iconic armband, and fanatically threw themselves into destruction. They led outside Reunion Movement members through the labyrinthine streets of the outer ring, violently crushing any voices that refused to submit.

Even more heartbreaking are the cases of the Ursus infected—not long ago, they were ordinary citizens of Chernobog, having narrowly escaped the natural disaster, only to succumb to Oripathy. The physical pain and the Originium blooming on their skin constantly proclaimed the dramatic change in their fate. Some couldn't bear it and chose to end their lives in the shadows of Lungmen; others resignedly joined the Reunion Movement, seemingly forgetting who had pushed them into this abyss.

Rhodes Island has always chosen to lend a helping hand to those in distress. Therefore, during the evacuation, Penguin Logistics and Blacksteel International had to join forces to eliminate the scattered forces of various integration movements.

Finally, the group escaped the chaotic area safely and entered the Lungmen Guard Bureau's controlled area.

Rhodes Island will hand over the ragged Ursus girl to the Lungmen Guard for investigation and treatment; Kane doesn't care about their future fate.

Kane had no intention of getting involved in the subsequent handover. Now that Penguin Logistics' mission was complete, he boarded their private vehicle and returned to Penguin Logistics' base with Exusiai and Texas.

"So, what exactly is that? Is it really qinggong (lightness skill)?"

On the bus, Exusiai was still thinking about Kane's amazing leap.

"No, it's just Originium Arts. It's just that... the control precision is extremely high."

Texas, unable to bear Exusiai's incessant chatter any longer, spoke up to explain. She herself used Originium Arts, so she could see some of the tricks—but the precise manipulation of air currents to levitate required a level of computational and control far beyond the capacity of an ordinary human brain. She was somewhat unfazed; Kane possessed formidable Originium Arts skills, able to overpower a seasoned Texas in close combat. She couldn't fathom where Kane's weaknesses might lie.

"Eh... Originium Arts, huh? Well, I'm out of ideas. I really don't have any talent for that."

"How could that be? Using firearms also requires a talent for Originium Arts. I remember Mostima had an exceptional talent for it."

Kane recalled. Mostima's dashing figure wielding the assault gun back then was impressive, and later, when she switched to a staff, her spellcasting was fluid and powerful, even more so than with the gun. Perhaps this is why the power of the Beast Shards is so revered.

"I'm quite talented with firearms, but I'm completely hopeless with staves. As for Mostima... wait! Kane, how do you know her!?"

Exusiai's reaction time was unusually long, and it was only then that she grasped the key to the conversation. Mostima was also an extremely secretive presence in Penguin Logistics; many regular customers were unaware of her existence, as she rarely showed herself more than a few times a year.

“Because she is my messenger. Hmm… I finally remember—you, you wouldn’t happen to be Remian’s sister, would you?” Kane feigned a sudden realization.

The moment the name "Remian" was uttered, Exusiai practically jumped from the passenger seat to the back. Clinging to the seatback, she eagerly demanded, "Kane, you know my sister!? Then do you know why she…"

Exusiai, whose real name is Remuel, is Remuel's younger sister. Because Remuel was a war orphan from Laterano, she was adopted by Remuel's parents through the Laterano Notary Office. Therefore, the two are not related by blood, but the family atmosphere is very warm and harmonious. To make Remuel feel more at home, her adoptive parents even continued the style of her name when naming their biological daughter. Remuel's first word as a baby wasn't "daddy" or "mommy," but "sister," which deeply moved Remuel, thus establishing their deep sisterly bond.

However, Remian's accident cast a shadow over her family. As one of the few who knew the truth, Mostima left Laterano for Lungmen after her fall from grace; Fiameta, on the other hand, stayed indoors, sinking into despair. Seeing her sister lying unconscious in the intensive care unit, Exusiai made the boldest decision of her life: to graduate from school a year early and travel alone to Lungmen to find Mostima and find out the truth.

This is the prologue to Exusiai's eventful life.

Mostima has remained tight-lipped about her sister's condition, and her whereabouts are difficult to track, causing Exusiai great anxiety. Furthermore, due to the disrupted communication within Terra, Exusiai's contact with Laterano relies mostly on letters delivered by Mostima during her official duties. Therefore, she remains unaware that her sister has awakened.

"As for your sister... she was very brave. She was shot while protecting an innocent child. However, she is safe and sound now."

"How can you call that peace and tranquility!"

Even the optimistic Exusiai couldn't help but feel anger rising upon hearing this. That was her beloved older sister! If she continued to remain unconscious like that...

Seeing Exusiai's agitated and sensitive reaction, Kane's first thought was that something had happened to Remian? But he immediately realized the problem—this damned information barrier on Terra would eventually force Rhine Lab to develop a global communication network.

When was the last time you saw Mostima?

"Six months ago... what does this have to do with her?" Exusiai suppressed her anger, telling herself she couldn't take it out on Kane over a slip of the tongue, after all, her sister's injury had nothing to do with him. Of course, if you really looked into it, perhaps Kane bore a tiny bit of responsibility?

“Ah, I knew it. Mostima didn’t tell you—well, as everyone knows, my company is called Rhine Lab. As the name suggests, we’re also involved in the medical field. Mostima and I are old acquaintances, so she entrusted me with Remian’s problem. About two months ago, your sister was transferred from Laterano to Columbia. Thanks to our company’s full treatment, she has awakened. Of course, because her injuries were severe, she still needs a period of recovery. If you’d like, you can visit her in Columbia later.”

Seeing is believing, Kane took out his terminal, searched for a moment, and pulled up a photo taken at Rhine Labs. The photo showed Mostima pushing Remian in a wheelchair, the two close friends in a very harmonious atmosphere. However… perhaps it was Kane's quirky sense of humor, but the photo deliberately captured the black wolf head mark on Mostima's neck, which could be easily spotted with a little attention.

"It really is my sister... Ah—that bastard Mostima! She didn't tell me anything!"

"She really did something wrong here. She should have gone back to Lungmen not long ago. Didn't you see her?"

Kane calculated the time. He sent Mostima to Chernobog to gather intelligence, and after the mission, Lungmen would naturally be the nearest place to stay.

“Actually, I saw her. But she only stayed for a short while before leaving—and told me not to tell you, saying it wouldn’t do any good except to make you complain. I kind of agree with that,” Texas, who was driving, interjected casually.

"Ah—! Texas, you've changed! You used to be on my side!"

Looking at Exusiai, who was acting strangely in the passenger seat, Kane could easily imagine how Texas had been gradually "turned" into a "Mostima faction." After all, both of them were the type to be quiet and reserved, so it was no surprise that they got along well.

The vehicle arrived smoothly at the Penguin Logistics headquarters. Although it's called the headquarters, it's actually just an ordinary office building, after all, they pride themselves on "small-scale operation" and don't need a grand setup.

"Welcome to Penguin Logistics! Kane, stay and join our feast! I'll bring out my best apple pie to thank you for curing my sister."

Exusiai may seem carefree, but she is actually incredibly meticulous. She was aware of the severity of her sister's injuries and the difficulties of safely transporting her from Laterano to Colombia. The cost would undoubtedly be substantial, likely borne by Mostima and her parents. Exusiai disliked feeling excluded from her family, and although she didn't know how she could repay the debt, she still wanted to express her gratitude.

"Oh! Welcome back, you two! How did the mission go? And who is this boss...?" The group pushed open the door, and a Fengti girl greeted them with a sly smile on her face, clearly a woman of considerable skill.

"Mission accomplished perfectly! As for this gentleman—Croissant, let me give you a grand introduction: The handsome, dashing, and charismatic boss standing before you is a friend of our Boss, an old acquaintance of Texas and Mostima, and the head and founder of Rhine Lab's Defense Department! At the same time, he is also a righteous man of Remuel!"

Although it's unclear when Kane became Exusiai's righteous follower, Croissant simply echoed her sentiments. Exusiai and Croissant worked in unison, practically elevating Kane to godlike status.

Kane chuckled, beginning to understand why Texas had chosen this kind of life. It was indeed quite nice—if he weren't burdened with heavy responsibilities, he might have also chosen such a lively and relaxed existence; at least he would never be bored.

“Since you’ve all said so, I have to do something in return.” Kane pulled a card out of his wallet.

"I'll pay for tonight's banquet!"

This card was a gift from Wei Yanwu, who claimed it could be used at any channel that accepts Lungmen Dollars. Regarding the credit limit, Governor Wei generously pre-deposited ten million Lungmen Dollars, stating he would top it up if needed.

While it may seem like a lavish spending spree, Kane, a seasoned veteran of Rhine Labs, would hardly be swayed by such a small gain. Leaving aside whether he needs those ten million Lungmen dollars, how many ten million dollars could the establishment of Rhine Labs' branch bring to Lungmen? Moreover, Wei Yanwu could monitor the card's spending records in real time from the back end to glean insights into Kane's interests and whereabouts—making the other party a guaranteed profit.

"Wow—boss! Exusiai's description is too conservative, you're practically the most handsome guy in Terra!" Croissant was about to step forward to take the card like a little puppy, but Exusiai forcefully stopped her.

"No! I must pay for tonight's expenses! There's no reason for me to let my righteous friend pay for everything!"

"?"

Well, Croissant now understands to some extent how important the word "righteous" is to the Sarkaz.

She looked at Exusiai with a puzzled expression, then gestured to Texas with her eyes: Did Exusiai get a brain injury during a mission? After all, these two were practically "partners in crime." Exusiai's penchant for causing trouble and partying meant she could barely save her salary, while Croissant's business ventures were consistently unsuccessful and often resulted in losses. The two had relied on Texas for financial support quite a bit. And now, a tycoon was offering to treat them without charging them?

Texas calmly shook her head, indicating that Croissant didn't need to stop her. As the only member of Penguin Logistics without a direct connection to Kane, Croissant vaguely felt that she had been excluded from a certain small circle.

"Ah! You guys, how dare you throw a party behind the Boss's back! Outrageous!" The Emperor's voice rang out at the right moment. His arrival did not calm things down; instead, it made the atmosphere even more heated. Exusiai even egged the Emperor on to sing a song.

The space was filled with a cacophony of noise, but once you got used to it, it felt like white noise, carrying a strange sense of warmth and peace. Perhaps this is what is meant by the feeling of "home".

"Why don't you join them?" Kane walked over to Texas, who was sitting alone on the corner sofa, and sat down without any hesitation.

"You know I'm not good at these kinds of situations."

"If you're really not good at it, you won't fit in and won't stay in this group. I heard from Exusiai that he's the Lungmen speed record holder and the uncrowned king of the street racers."

“Don’t listen to her nonsense.” Texas scolded lightly, but Kane could guess a few things – this girl used to smoke and drink, after all, she was a former gang member.

"By the way, you've quit smoking now? I don't think I've seen you smoke today." When talking about his impressions of Texas in the past, the smell of tobacco was always present, though it wasn't particularly strong—she often stood in front of him with a high-end women's cigarette in her mouth.

“I quit a long time ago. They weren’t used to it, and... it also meant cutting ties with the past. Now, I’m more used to it.” Texas opened a box of chocolate bars, pulled out a long, thin one, and handed it to Kane.

"Want to try?"

Kane wasn't particularly interested in snacks, but he wouldn't refuse Cherlinina's offer. He opened his mouth slightly, letting her put the chocolate bar in his mouth.

"Everyone! I'm back! Texas—!"

The door was pushed open again, and a vibrant voice rang out. The owner of the voice immediately began searching for Texas upon entering.

However, as her gaze swept across the corner, she caught a glimpse of Texas feeding a chocolate bar to a handsome, unfamiliar Luper man.

click-

The moment Kane bit into the chocolate bar, he seemed to hear a shattering sound. Probably the cookie part?

Chapter 108 The Texas Heat

Calm down! Sora, you have to calm down! This must be a misunderstanding. While Texas almost never does this to others, we get treated like this occasionally, right?

The girl who entered was dressed in a stylish and cute outfit, with delicate light makeup on her face. If anyone who follows the idol industry were present, they would definitely recognize this rising star idol from Siren Records—Sora.

Her connection with Penguin Logistics dates back to a time when Sora had just debuted and was caught up in an unexpected incident during a stage event in Lungmen. Penguin Logistics, who happened to be present—whether out of kindness or simply being caught in the crossfire—stepped in. She quickly quelled the commotion and even saved Sora from near danger.

With her cool demeanor, agile movements, and the dramatic suspension bridge effect she created in a moment of crisis… this Caterpillar girl developed an inexplicable affection for Texas, a fellow Lupo woman. Love-struck girls often act with extraordinary decisiveness; she directly applied to the Emperor, the owner of Siren Records and leader of Penguin Logistics, hoping to join as a messenger.

The Emperor only ever valued things as "fun," and Sora happened to be both capable and interesting enough. Thus, she was honored to become a member of Penguin Logistics.

Unfortunately, whether Texas was oblivious to romance or genuinely indifferent, or perhaps because Sora hesitated at the last moment, Sora's feelings were never conveyed to her.

Days passed by like this. Kong became Texas's little helper and an indispensable part of Penguin Logistics.

However, Kane appeared! This handsome man, Rupert, was someone no one at Penguin Logistics had ever seen before, and judging from Texas's attitude, the two were clearly old acquaintances.

In an instant, countless romance comics that she used for reference in her spare time flashed through Kong's mind—among them, the battle between childhood friends and newcomers was always a topic of great interest.

No problem! Judging from the relationships, I'm clearly the one who came from nowhere, so my chances of winning are much higher!

"Texas, may I ask who this gentleman is?"

Using the facial expression management skills learned from her idol's class, she asked Kane about his identity with impeccable politeness.

"Hehe, Sora-chan, you don't know yet, do you? This is..."

Exusiai excitedly ran over and hugged Sora's neck, chattering in her ear as she repeated the various titles she had just given Kane.

Exusiai! Don't cause trouble at a time like this!

She felt a deep, unspeakable pain within her. She focused intently on the information provided by Exusiai.

Ultimately, she confirmed the other person's identity: an acquaintance from Texas in Colombia.

Fortunately, if they are just acquaintances, it's probably just because we haven't seen each other for a long time.

"Indeed, snacking is better than smoking. After all, eating too many snacks will only lead to weight gain."

Kane gave this assessment after finishing the chocolate bar. Texas simply smiled. She exercises extensively and doesn't need to consciously manage her figure. On the contrary, Sora, as an idol, must strictly control her diet.

"Smoking? Did Miss Texas used to smoke?"

This was the first time Kong had ever heard of such a thing. Ever since she met Texas, the only thing Texas seemed interested in was snacking. The first gift she gave Texas was a huge box of chocolate bars in various flavors.

“Miss Flight Attendant, right? You might not know this, but Texas used to be a typical delinquent. Let me think… smoking, drinking, fighting, racing cars, she was good at everything.”

Kane had vivid memories of Texas at that time—mainly because she possessed a wild charm that no one who had seen her could forget.

"Huh!? Compared to Texas, I was practically a model student in school!"

After hearing this, Exusiai suddenly felt that blowing up the school three times wasn't such a big deal.

"I had absolutely no idea..."

Seeing Kane reveal Texas's past, and Texas offering neither resistance nor denial, but merely displaying an expression of reminiscence, a corner of her empty heart gently shattered. She had spent countless hours trying to decipher the subtle changes in Texas's expression…

Is this... the power of childhood friends? But! It's okay! Texas these past years belong to me!

The second round began quickly.

Sora begins to talk to Texas about recent events, such as the Penguin Logistics mission and interesting stories about idol activities, and even tries to invite Texas to go shopping in Lungmen Commercial District together in the next few days.

“Kong, stay at the base for the next few days. If necessary, follow the Boss. Lungmen won’t be peaceful during this time.” Texas calmly refused.

"what happened?"

Taking this opportunity, Texas and Exusiai informed their comrades about the Reunion Movement.

"Kane, what do you plan to do? If you need protection or assistance, I can help."