Ark Traveler, I want to take a day off today too

“It’s not that good. I’ve fought with most of them, but I don’t have any grudges against them… After all, I saved the life of that Wendigo.” Linley said calmly, and the ice crystal condensed into a small stool at his fingertips.

"But didn't you have a relationship with that Wendigo..."

“It was just a fight. Don’t look at me like that. My relationship with the Reunion Movement is not that deep, and Rhodes Island doesn’t have that much interaction with the Reunion Movement either.” Linley pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his coat lining and took out two of them. “Want one?”

But before Tolan could say anything, he threw one over: "Of course, my relationship with them is not that shallow."

Then the man sat on his ice bench and started smoking. His face became a little blurry under the cover of smoke: "So you guys continue chatting, just pretend I don't exist."

“Well, you just need to notarize it for us here.” Jiu was not surprised that Linley would say that, because he was probably the only Rhodes Island operator active in Casimir right now. Even if he was as strong as Wendigo, he was just one person.

Without considering using violence to break the deadlock, what a person can do is always limited. If you want to deal with a group of capitalists who only care about profits, the best way is to defeat them with profits in the same way, because simple destruction and killing cannot kill these guys, but bankruptcy can!

"In the entire Casimir now, not taking into account those expeditionary knights who are not even in the city, your and our enemies are just the Chamber of Commerce." Jiu explained it to Tolan very calmly - even though she had only been in the Grand Knight's territory for less than half a day.

“If we want to protect the defenseless oppressed from those money-hungry guys, what we have to do is become one of them and then disintegrate their alliance from within.” Ferdia said, glancing at the silent Linley. “Although those guys call themselves a federation, I’m afraid they can’t be called united internally.”

"That's natural. After all, no one would think they have too much money."

Tolan nodded: "I can agree to your terms, but there will be a price to pay." The bounty hunter blew out a smoke ring and looked directly at Jiu: "I can even get you the business license and factory you need, but there must be someone from our company in this company."

"That's natural. Your suggestion is reasonable."

"So what do you have in mind for what to sell?" Tolan asked subconsciously. "After all, we can't just rent a factory or office building and do nothing. We don't have that much money, and you probably don't either."

“Of course. As for what to sell, don’t we have a good candidate right in front of us?” The Fidelia girl said, looking at Linley. “I hope Mr. Drege can contact Rhodes Island and tell him that the Reunion Movement hopes to become the only designated seller of Rhodes Island in Casimir.”

You have a good plan, girl. On the one hand, you can give the Reunion Movement a legal cover, and on the other hand, you can absorb a large number of infected people from Casimir as newcomers. However, this does not seem to be a problem for Rhodes Island. It can even be said that it gives them a legitimate opportunity to enter Casimir in the future.

However, Rhodes Island had not yet officially sold any drugs related to mineral infection on the market, so Linley could only twist the butt of his cigarette while whispering:

"I can help you make the contact, but you have to know that we in Rhodes Island have no plans to sell medicine publicly, so the most likely thing we can provide you is only the medical equipment we make and a small number of drugs that are not related to mineral sickness."

But the man knew very well that once this proposal was agreed by Kal'tsit and Amiya, there was a high probability that Rhodes Island would send a nominal "expert team".

"That's enough. The next step is how to snatch a seat for legal drug sales from the Chamber of Commerce."

"Leave this to me. When the forces behind Mr. Dredge are willing to truly propose cooperation, I will come with what you want." Tolan said as he stood up and prepared to leave. "Also, Mr. Dredge, I haven't forgotten that I owe you a drink. When I have time, I will definitely treat you to a drink."

067. Lyudmila

When Tolan left, Nine immediately relaxed, as if the calm and wise leader of the Integration Movement was an illusion that Linley had seen.

The girl stretched and looked at him unhappily: "What are you looking at? Whether you are in the Longmen Guard Bureau or the Reunion Movement, everyone needs to rest, right?"

“You didn’t sleep last night?” Linley smiled and took out another cigarette, but before he could light it, Jiu took it away. “Just smoke one. I personally don’t like the smell of cigarettes. If you want to smoke, wait until you leave the camp. There are two pregnant women in the camp who are going to give birth in the next two days.”

"Okay, okay, then I won't smoke."

Linley put the cigarette back into his pocket in a huff, "Should I quit smoking?" As soon as this thought came to her mind, Kal'tsit's face and the cigarette in her mouth appeared in front of her again - forget it, at least she still has a "smoking buddy" in Rhodes Island, and it would be bad if she asked him for cigarettes and found that she couldn't give him one.

"You have much fewer people now than you did in Chernobyl."

"Well, some overly radical guys were kicked out of the team by me and the Patriots. Although we accepted some more during the march, the overall number still decreased." Nine said while pointing to the tent of the King Slayer:

"And can you come over and give me a favor?"

“Is that the King Slayer’s tent?” Although he did not greet this old acquaintance, Linley had noticed that the assassin had retreated back into his tent, and that the girl was looking at him with a complicated look.

If possible, Linley really didn’t want to disturb them at this time, but Jiu grabbed his clothes and said, “The Kingslayer has been in a bad state since she returned to the team, but I’m not that familiar with her, and the Patriot doesn’t seem to care about her.”

“Perhaps the Patriots think she can adjust on her own.” Linley stroked his chin and said uncertainly, “But are you sure you want me to go?”

"Well, you are at least more familiar with it than me, right? After all, I heard from the snow monsters that apart from Froststar and the Sarkaz mercenary who has already left, the King Slayer and you are the most familiar with it! If you don't go, who will go?"

"Okay, but I can't necessarily figure out what they are thinking right now."

But it should have something to do with Kal'tsit, right? After all, Kal'tsit showed up that day and asked him to leave, leaving everything to her. Thinking so, Linley gently pulled open a corner of the tent curtain, but before he could step into it, a dagger stabbed out from the shadows and slashed towards the man's eyes!

"Dang~"

The residual light blocked the attack without even drawing its sheath. At this time, Linley also saw the girl who was wearing a mask even when she was indoors. “Don’t you have anything to say to me, Lyudmila?”

Upon hearing the man call him that, the King Slayer swung the dagger again without hesitation. In an instant, the entire dark tent was filled with the only sound of cold weapons colliding and the girl's slightly heavy breathing.

After three breaths, the King Slayer’s dagger was directly knocked away by Linley’s handle of residual light!

"clang!"

Linley stepped forward without hesitation. With one hand he grabbed the arm of the Kingslayer who was still trying to resist, and with his other hand he directly hugged his slender waist. The two of them stared at each other blankly. “Your level has improved compared to before, but you can’t beat me just like this.”

“What… do you want to do? And why did you come looking for me!” The girl growled like a wounded lone wolf, and threw Linley to the ground. “You, Rhodes Island, and that Kal’tsit, have taken away my reason for living!”

"A reason to live? Do you mean revenge?"

Linley just lay on the ground and let the Kingslayer grab his collar. He looked at him calmly, “Or do you want to numb yourself with revenge, Lyudmila? Do you really not know what you should do next?”

"Then tell me, someone who is impossible to avenge... You know, I remember... I was sent to Syracuse by that woman Kal'tsit, and the reason I survived was because of her mercy." The girl spoke in fragmented sentences.

Those orange eyes were already filled with tears, and the emotions and confusion in her heart rushed out like a dam breaking, and were heard from her mouth to Lin Lei's ears.

"If you really don't know what to do next, you can come to Rhodes Island." The man whispered, "But I don't think you need to, Lyudmila." He gently pulled off the mask on the girl's face, revealing her pretty face full of pain and tears.

"Did you get the code name King Slayer yourself or was it given to you by your master?"

As Linley asked, he used his sleeve to wipe the tears from the girl’s face. The Kingslayer finally spoke at this time:

"It was me... When I met Tallulah at that time, I vowed to become the sharp blade that those who persecuted the infected people feared the most..." Lyudmila said as she leaned down and put her head on the other's chest.

"But ever since Chernobog, I've been wondering if I've become the very people I hate the most."

“If that’s the only question, then I can tell you no.” Linley smiled and ruffled the hair of the person in his arms, “Because you don’t have the brains of those people. At most, you’ll just become a borrowed knife to kill someone.”

"you!"

Upon hearing this, the Kingslayer immediately cocked her head and glared at the other party fiercely, but then she lost her temper and lay down again as if Lin Lei’s chest was the warmest and most comfortable place in the world: “That sounds worse than becoming one of those bastards.”

“So revenge is just one of your pursuits, right? But after the revenge is over, you should know that there will be no happiness or relief... there will only be endless emptiness.” Linley said indifferently. Besides, you can’t beat Kal’tsit, so you should continue with the oath you made before.”

"oath?"

“Yes, didn’t you tell Tallulah that you wanted to become the sharp blade that those oppressors fear the most? There are still too many oppressors on this continent, and the Reunion Movement still needs the Kingslayer and her assassination team, right?” Linley whispered:

"Don't forget the original intention you made when you joined the Reunion Movement, Lyudmila... I don't believe that the assassin who is willing to turn a blind eye to us is a bad person."

068. Gift from 'Father-in-law'

"Thank you."

The Kingslayer lay on top of Linley and whispered her thanks, but then she realized how indecent their posture was.

The girl’s pretty face, which was uncovered and still had traces of tears, instantly turned red, and Linley gently rubbed her head with an expression like an elder: “Don’t think too much, and your companions all care about you.”

"Is...is that so? By the way, how are Talulah and Froststar doing now?" Lyudmila asked stutteringly.

"It's okay for Talulah to have Froststar with her, but when I saw her last time before I left, she told me that she was planning to write a book." The man said with a strange look on his face, "And Froststar has integrated well, but her authority to act seems to be in Kal'tsit's hands."

I wonder if Miss Tallulah is also going to perform the enlightenment in Longchang.

"What about Broken Bones... Is he okay?"

“Him? He’s in the monitoring room, working on a sewing machine. He looks much more energetic than before. Even though he really doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing, at least he has Misha with him.” Linley sighed. “And they’re not the only companions I mentioned. Jiu and the others also care about you a lot. Remember to thank them when the time comes.”

"I will, but I think....that Nine's style is very different from Tallulah's, but I don't mind this difference."

The King Slayer said as he climbed up from Linley’s body and put on his mask again: “Thank you…”

"No need to thank me. If you really want to thank someone, you might as well thank Jiu."

Linley waved his hand and prepared to leave, but the girl grabbed his hand again: “Will we meet again in the future?”

"Of course." After all, I still have to connect you with Rhodes Island later, so it would be strange if I don't meet you.

"That's good."

......

When Linley walked out of the King Slayer’s tent, Jiu had been waiting at the door for a long time. She blinked at the man and asked in a low voice, “How is it going? Is it resolved?”

“What do you think? You still want an outsider to solve this kind of problem?” Linley rolled his eyes in annoyance. “How did you become the leader of the Reunion Movement?”

"You're good at chatting with girls from the Reunion Movement." Fidea counted on his fingers: "Tallulah, Froststar... and the W who ran away, plus the Kingslayer, which one are you not familiar with?"

"Hiss...it's true what you said."

"That's bullshit. Do you have anything else to say? If not, you can get lost... The Reunion Movement doesn't have any extra food to give to an outsider like you."

“Is this how you treat your partners?” Linley was surprised. “And you were the one who called me over, right? You can just come when you call and leave when you wave?”

"Then I'll ask you to stay for dinner. Do you want to eat?" Jiu looked at the other person with a pair of dead fish eyes. Are you kidding? Yesterday, that Kuranta looked at him with eyes that almost melted. And you told me that you want to stay here for dinner with me today?

Linley immediately shook his head: “Then I definitely won’t stay. I have an appointment tonight.”

"That's not good." Ferdia looked at him with a scumbag look in his eyes: "If I were still working in the Guard Bureau, I would definitely invite you to the police station for tea every few days."

“I am a law-abiding citizen and I never do anything illegal.” Linley shrugged and walked to the other end of the camp. “I may bring a friend back later.”

"Friends? Another trip to the Integration Movement?" Before Jiu could think about what kind of person Dredger would call a friend, Linley had already met the Patriot again at the exit of the camp - or rather, the Patriot had already been standing there.

"Is she... okay now?"

Before Linley could get close enough to the Wendigo, it spoke clearly and fluently, not at all like a warrior with a throat infected with mineral disease. It seemed that the healing light energy that he had cast out of humanity and for Froststar’s sake had produced some magical chemical reaction with the Wendigo.

“She is healthy now and has things she wants to do. But you… have you recovered from your oripathy?” To be honest, Linley didn’t know how to communicate with this ‘father-in-law’. After all, he gave him the impression of being a thorough soldier.

"That's good... My illness seems to have taken a strange turn because of you."

As he spoke, Wendigo tapped the halberd in his hand, and a purple void shield immediately spread from under his feet toward the two of them. This also made Linley dumbfounded: “Void-covered shield?”

The Patriot nodded immediately upon hearing this: "You really do know what kind of power this is... From the moment I felt the existence of this power, it began to devour the Originium crystals in my body, and every time it devoured a crystal, this power would grow stronger."

“Then can I ask how you use this power?” Linley felt his throat was a little dry. His light energy was obtained with the help of a system that had been dead for who knows how long, and the spirit he used was also given by the system.

It can be said that Lin Lei's identity as a light bearer and his existence as a spirit were all obtained by hacking into the large "server" of "Traveler". So how did the Patriot in front of him obtain light energy? It can't be that he has become that big white ball who only cares about life and not death, right?

"I can turn this power into a shield that isolates the inside and outside." The Patriot's voice was still calm, and at this moment he was like a kind old man: "Don't worry, I will keep this matter a secret for you, Deruijie."

"Thank you very much."

It was indeed a bubble shield. This was within Linley’s expectations. After all, the void barrier was indeed quite consistent with the Patriot’s identity as the ‘Shield of the Infected’. The old man then pulled out two strangely shaped amulets from his armor:

"You keep one and give the other to her."

“What kind of amulet is this? Is it some strange sorcery of you Sarkaz?” Linley had heard about this kind of thing from an old lynx, and had also seen it in Froststar’s hand, but the shapes of these two were completely different from what he had seen before.

"This will allow you to share each other's vitality." Wendigo whispered, "It's my blessing to you. By the way... have you... come into contact with that group of inner guards? I can sense a faint breath of evil from you."

“Does this have flavor too?”

Linley then took out the token that the Stalker had given him, and the Patriot’s eyes narrowed to the point of a needle in an instant: “The Emperor’s invitation… I haven’t seen this in a long time.”

069. One person did not receive the letter

"The emperor's invitation? At that time, the inner guard did say that the current emperor had noticed me, but I didn't agree to it."

Linley shrugged and threw the token that he had sealed with his ice shadow into the air. “But old man, what exactly are these evil demons that you and the inner guards are talking about?”

"An existence that threatens civilization itself. They are not creatures of this dimension..." Patriot explained while knocking on the ground again. A hemispherical void shield directly enveloped the two of them. "No third person will know about the following conversation, and you...don't tell anyone else."

Linley was stunned: “Is it that serious?”

In response, Wendigo nodded: "Because those things... they are powerful because of what they 'know', so almost all countries will seal the inheritance of knowledge about these things. Each inner guard is essentially a container for sealed demon fragments, and their death will lead to the leakage of pollution..."

The Patriot's scarlet eyes glanced at the Ice Shadow Crystal on the token: "The reason they want to recruit you is probably to find out why the country didn't explode, or...if they can use you to completely control this uncontrollable force, then Ursus is indeed qualified to rise again."

“And they will take this opportunity to start a war again.” Linley nodded in agreement. “Then it is better to keep them hanging. It is not appropriate for the Internal Guard to appear casually on the territory of another country.”

"But be careful... If possible, try not to mobilize the evil power on your token... Otherwise, other forces and the inner guards will notice your location." The patriot reminded, "Also, remember not to be confused by this power itself. There are quite a few inner guards who have been completely devoured by the evil."

"Many people believe that they can completely control the evil fragment buried in their bodies, but the answers they get are all endless madness."

“Well, I’ll pay attention to this matter.” Linley nodded, but he had already discovered that since the last time he used the power of the devil to threaten the other party—his psionic energy was flowing slowly like the terrazine that had just been dug out from the ground of Slane.

However, this amount was only a drop in the bucket compared to the light and shadow power he was currently using. It would take quite some time to recover to his peak state. Moreover, Linley was confident that his psionic fluctuations would be even stronger than when he was in the Koprulu Sector. Even if he initiated the Rakshir ritual against that high-level lord, he would not necessarily lose.

Linley then said goodbye to the Patriot, and the Wendigo said softly:

"Protect yourself and don't let her worry."

“Yes, if there’s a chance later, I’ll come see you with Yelena, old man.” After saying that, Linley walked out of the void shield and headed towards the Knight. At this moment, the sunset had already completely set, and the colorful neon lights of Kavaleriaki had completely obscured the starry sky.

When the man took out his phone and prepared to send a message to Zofia and Bai Jin, he found that there was no signal in this damn place. "Damn it, the infrastructure level of Casimir is really poor... There is no signal after walking such a short distance?"