Ark Chess Player

God knows that when she was working overtime to finish her tasks, and in a state of extreme exhaustion, she made herself a cup of black coffee, stretched her aching shoulders, and prepared to continue working at her desk... she suddenly received a notification from the PRTS system that her credit card bill had increased by 180,000 Lungmen Dollars. Her blood pressure immediately spiked, her coffee spilled all over the floor, and she almost fainted.

Kal'tsit gave Lin Lu the employee card, and all of Lin Lu's expenses were actually paid for by her.

Kal'tsit really didn't expect Lin Lu to spend so much money as soon as he got the card. Even if he ate all the food in the cafeteria, he wouldn't need to spend so much.

Kal'tsit suddenly felt like she had returned to the past; this urge to go on strike out of anger was something she hadn't felt in a long time.

After she mustered her courage and checked her payment records...

"Lin Lu, what did you buy here? Don't try to lie, I've already found out! The recipient is your account!"

Kal'tsit slammed her hand heavily on the table, like a wife managing the family finances who discovers her husband has recently made a large, unexplained payment. She first feels panic and unease, then fear, wondering if something has happened.

Has something happened to her husband's family? No, if something had happened to his parents, he should have told her immediately. Generally, there are only two reasons why a man might secretly spend a large sum of money without his wife's knowledge—either he bought a thick, black router called "Photoshop," or he's having an affair!

The breakdown of a harmonious family relationship often begins with the concealment between husband and wife.

"Hum hum……"

Sitting on a worn-out sofa, wearing sunglasses, Kroos held a wine glass, the dark red liquid inside swirling and emitting an intoxicating glow.

"Kal'tsit, I knew you would come, and I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Kroos took a sip of gasoline; the strong, pungent smell of engine oil filled her nostrils, suppressing her feverish brain and dulling the long-dormant urge to drink blood that had been aroused by intense emotions.

She hadn't been this happy in a long time. As a shrewd businesswoman, it was incredibly satisfying to encounter a customer who, without asking any questions, simply wanted everything. If she hadn't known that the Doctor's finances came from Kal'tsit's account, she might have even tried to trick him into buying some of the most prized items.

No, how can something that's consensual be called deception?

That's called fairness!

"This is the doctor's shopping list for today, and the purchasing department has accepted it. The goods have been sold and are non-refundable!"

With a wave of her hand, Kroos displayed the data on the screen hanging on the wall, thoughtfully sorting it by price.

Kal'tsit stared at the densely packed shopping list, feeling her head buzzing, and stumbled, bumping into the table.

"Wow, Kal'tsit, is it really that bad?!"

Kroos quickly put the cup aside, took off her sunglasses, and ran over to help Kal'tsit.

"The doctor only spent a little money, okay? Although it's not a small amount, you don't need to get so angry, do you?"

"You! You!" Kal'tsit glared at her, pointed at the screen, her voice trembling with anger, "Look at what he bought?!"

Kroos blinked dismissively, glancing at the list on the screen, and muttered, "The Doctor just bought a few clothes and some small gifts for each of the operators involved in the Chernobog rescue operation. What's the big deal? He's always been like this, hasn't he? He'll repay anyone who's kind to him like crazy. Oh, he also bought you a gift. The Doctor asked me to give it to you, saying it might come in handy sometime, and I hope you like it."

Kroos waved to the wireless robot, and the seemingly clumsy but actually very agile round robot glided over carrying a beautifully packaged gift box.

The gift box, wrapped in red paper and green ribbon, also had a small card that read, "To Kal'tsit, a belated Christmas gift."

"If I were happy to buy you a gift with my money, wouldn't that make me look stupid..."

Kal'tsit rubbed her forehead and let out a sigh of relief. That's not the point. The point is—

"What worries me is why he needs to buy so much weaponry! Aperitifs, appetizers, soup, side dishes, main courses, champagne, dessert... what is he planning to do?! Is this guy having another bout of firepower phobia?!"

Kal'tsit felt a chill run down her spine; she knew better than anyone what roles the Doctor held simultaneously as a teacher, researcher, and commander.

The Army Without Borders is an elite organization whose members are among the best of the best. It was once Lin Lu's private armed force.

What methods did Lin Lu use to make these talents willingly go through fire and water for him?

Clearly, it's not as simple as just love and peace.

"What is Lin Lu buying pure source stones for? And the Fulton recycling device! Wasn't that thing abandoned because of the natural disaster?! Wait, because he broke through the disaster cloud in Chernobog, there has indeed been no trend of natural disasters in the area recently. Could it be that he intends to..."

Kal'tsit saw the dangerous items on the shopping list and a sense of foreboding washed over her. Thinking it over, what truly bothered her wasn't Lin Lu's careless squandering of the rewards the operators earned from over twenty classified intelligence escort missions; her concern was why the Doctor needed so many combat supplies.

Kroos scratched her head, somewhat embarrassed, and replied, "The Doctor asked me a lot of questions, and I told him everything. Anyway, with his privileges, he could find the answers using the system. For example, he asked what the Noah Heavy Machine needed as fuel, and I told him it doesn't use engine oil; it purely consumes Originium energy. After all, this kind of old relic can't withstand the strain of chemical fuels. Although it's a bit expensive, there are advantages to it..."

Kal'tsit didn't care about Noah Heavy Machinery; all she cared about was Lin Lu.

Where does he want to go?

Kal'tsit grabbed Kroos's shoulder and pressed her for an answer, her green eyes bulging with anxiety.

Under a gaze that seemed to want to devour her alive, Kroos confessed shamefully.

"The professor said he wanted to go for a walk..."

"Has he gone mad! Leaving Rhodes Island in this situation?!"

Kal'tsit covered her head as she took over the PRTS system in Kroos's office with her own privileges.

She had allowed Kroos to keep the system backdoor in that area because she thought that although Kroos was a bit mischievous, she wouldn't cause any trouble. Little did she expect that the Doctor, this deeply sinful man, would cause so many people to stray from their original paths on his very first day back on Rhodes Island.

Although not all of them are bad.

Kroos rubbed her shoulders, looking a little aggrieved. It was clear that Kal'tsit was really anxious and was using all her strength.

"Kal'tsit, the Doctor just went out for a walk, what's so bad about that? He's not a three-year-old anymore, he knows how to come back on his own."

"Enough! It's one thing if Lin Lu doesn't know, but don't you know perfectly well!"

Kal'tsit frowned and quickly operated Rhodes Island's logistics system to locate Noah's Heavy Machinery.

"Rhodes Island ships are currently docked only four kilometers from Lungmen, the mobile city closest to Chernobog. How many refugees are surrounding our ships right now? If they weren't unable to break down the gates and get in, do you think these irrational Ursus people would have let go of a pharmaceutical company like ours, where half the population is infected?" Kal'tsit said viciously.

Kroos was confused. She asked, "What does that have to do with the Doctor? They can't beat the Doctor anyway... damn it."

Kroos finally understood what was troubling Kal'tsit.

Kal'tsit turned to look at her and sighed deeply, wearily.

Chapter Ninety: May your journey no longer be lonely.

Garage No. 13 on the lower deck of the Rhodes Island ship.

Four off-road vehicles, personally designed by Rhodes Island's chief engineer Kroos, are located here. Aside from not being able to transform into Autobots, their conditions are comparable to Thor Industries' top-tier standards. They can not only withstand suicide bombing attacks from Oripathy-infected individuals but also adapt to various harsh environmental conditions.

Whether it's a desert or a snowfield, a sand dune or a jungle, none of it is a problem.

It features a zero-permeability protective membrane and excellent Originium radiation conduction material. Internally, it has an independent medical system specifically designed for operators deployed to frontline missions. Even without support, operators can treat their own wounds; Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals has always prioritized the lives and property of its employees.

Any one of these all-terrain vehicles, if sold on the market, would be worth no less than Raytheon Industries' top-of-the-line equipment.

Even so, these off-road vehicles paled in comparison to the brilliance of the ace motorcycle in the center of the garage.

Heavy motorcycle - Noah.

Lin Lu gently stroked the seat cushion of the black and gold car body, and couldn't help but take a deep breath and hold it.

The last time he rode in this car, he was in a confused state and couldn't observe it properly.

Now, Lin Lu finally understands why some people treat their cars like wives. Look at those mechanical curves, examine the dozen or so built-in combat assistance devices, and try out the PRTS intelligent system—it's simply a man's romance.

The thought of riding on it made Lin Lu's heart race uncontrollably.

If it weren't for Noah's heavy machine being a picky eater, refusing engine oil and only consuming Originium, Lin Lu would have loved to take it out for a drive every day.

"Check the equipment..."

Lin Lu was wearing a long black trench coat that reached his legs, and his white shirt underneath had been replaced with a black combat-grade high-density armor of the same material. A black vest was worn over the combat uniform. These were clothes that Kal'tsit had prepared for him, and Lin Lu thought he should wear at least one of them, just for safety.

Lin Lu had a strong sense of déjà vu, as if he had done the same thing before preparing for battle, keeping all the familiar items within easy reach so that he could use everything he could at the first moment, no matter what kind of danger he was in.

Considering he already had the Ark Driver and Class Card Box strapped to his waist, Lin Lu chose to clip his tactical waist pack directly to his chest. Inside was a very important item: the Fulton Recovery Device. He didn't know if he would ever have the chance to use the device, but just in case, he wore it anyway.

"So, what's next is..."

Lin Lu took out a multifaceted crystal from his pocket, its edges shimmering with a warm light.

A mysterious halo flowed within the crystal, making it crystal clear, like the most precious gem in the world, revealing a bewitching beauty.

Pure Origin Stone.

A dangerous yet essential substance, relatively precious, and with a variety of uses.

Originium crystals are used in vast quantities in industry, but are extremely difficult to extract. They are a primary energy-refining product of Terra and the foundation for almost all Originium Arts. Even with rampant rumors that they "spread incurable diseases," few can resist their allure.

"Should we proceed with energy extraction? 100% success rate!"

The data-driven spiritual domain notification made Lin Lu feel his consciousness become clearer simply by holding it in his hands. It was like having a mint in his mouth, the cool sensation rushing straight to the top of his head. The mark on his left hand also heated up, as if it were yearning to be converted into energy.

Kroos, that unscrupulous merchant, told him there was no stock, and the purchasing department only had two. But as she said it, Lin Lu could sense that her expression and movements were somewhat unnatural; it was clear she was lying. Lin Lu didn't expose her on the spot, firstly because it wasn't necessary, and secondly because he didn't trust Kroos yet.

Given the current situation, he only needs Kroos to provide the necessary supplies; nothing else is a concern.

Lin Lu straddled the Noah motorcycle's seat, pressed the central mechanism, and a cylinder slowly extended from the rotating mechanical shaft. He inserted the Pure Originium into the extraction slot, producing a very comfortable, soft sound. The cylinder, replenishing the energy core, slowly descended. Lin Lu tried placing his hands on the motorcycle's clutch and throttle levers, closing his eyes and feeling the sensations with his body.

As a knight of the Ark, it would be shameful if you couldn't even get a driver's license.

Fortunately, even though Lin Lu had lost his memory, his body had already developed instincts.

Lin Lu rotated the throttle lever counterclockwise with his right hand, starting the engine and increasing the RPM!

The black and gold headlights suddenly blazed brightly, banishing the darkness to the very corner.

Lin Lu exhaled slowly and called out, "Silver Lotus!"

"Here! Your loyal AI maid, Anemone, is now online! For phone bill inquiries, press 1; for business inquiries, press 2; for broadband service, press 3; for human assistance, press 0!"

From Lin Lu's spiritual perspective, illusory particles of light converged into a hazy human figure.

A virtual girl dressed in a maid's dress with silver-white horns on her head made a dazzling entrance, turning around with a dashing air to strike the same pose Lin Lu had when he was hung on the bridge by Mon3tr. The overflowing silliness almost suffocated Lin Lu, making him wish he could shut down the game on the spot.

"The reason why the mobile terminal Kal'tsit gave me received the distress signal from Chernobog, wasn't it your doing?" Lin Lu said calmly.

"Ah, hahaha, hahaha... What are you saying, Doctor? I don't understand at all."

The anemone, which was posing, stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed and began doing calisthenics.

"I'll give you three seconds to answer me whether you're right or wrong." Lin Lu held up one finger. "One, two..."

"Yes! I did it! I confess! Just tell me what you want to do, or I'm not a real man!"

The anemone flower had an expression of heroic sacrifice, upright and honest, like a true person who was about to go to the battlefield and fearlessly sacrifice herself for the revolutionary cause.

“Whether you frown or not, you’re not a real man.” Lin Lu sighed helplessly and patted the front of Noah’s motorcycle. “Since you’re the one who intercepted the distress signal, then you should help me get things done properly. I need the location of the sending point, the direct route, and the map planning. You’ll be in charge of all of that.”

"Yes, sir!...Wait, aren't you going to punish me?"

Anemone opened her eyes wide, pointed to herself, and looked on in disbelief.

She had already mentally prepared herself for the doctor to do *that* to her, or *that* to her, or *that* to her.