Herrscher of Reason's Arknights

Page 47

Ina seemed to think for a moment, then raised her hand and pinched the corner of the check, appearing to be quite pragmatic.

However, the old man did not let go. His face showed only gentleness and humility, yet he possessed the authority of a superior, which was imposing without anger. He did not speak or make any verbal threats, but it was enough to leave a deep impression and make people unconsciously look away from him.

"Doctor, I'm sure you've met many people like me. We have some wealth, but as people age, even lions grow old, and so do people. I have to think about more things."

For example, a secret that you don't want to share with anyone.

The more you know, the faster you die.

A check is like a deposit, a hush money; taking the money means accepting the risk and the guarantee.

If there's no leak, everything is fine.

If the secret is leaked, then don't blame him for being ruthless.

That's probably what Semiol meant.

Simple commands breed resistance, while simple requests breed contempt.

Only by using both carrot and stick tactics, ensuring that cooperation brings numerous benefits, will people be more willing to enter into contracts with us.

The act of issuing checks casually is also a way of demonstrating one's power.

I can give you money that an average person could never earn in a lifetime. Of course, if I can give you money, I can also shut you up forever.

Although sodium chloride wasn't buying it at all—after all, while the old man's ideas were good and his methods were flawless—his only miscalculation was...

Standing before him was a Herald, a god who walked upon the earth.

However, sodium chloride had no intention of revealing the truth, choosing instead to use the situation to its advantage.

But it still feels ridiculous, like a dog bragging to a griffin about how great its throne is, not realizing that a hyena's crown can only exercise power among hyenas, while the griffin stands at the top of the food chain.

Even hyenas are among the dishes on its menu.

"grandfather!!"

Suddenly, the outer door was pushed open, and a blonde girl ran in.

That was a little girl named Film.

Um····

It looks like we've found it, but we don't know what Koschche wants to do with it.

However, it's none of her business what she does.

Nobody cares about the life or death of a passerby; nobody does.

P.S.: Third update!! Isn't that a surprise? There are actually more updates coming! [Thumbs up]

And new collaborations @ "Arknights' Metal Master" and "Digital, Emiya Taichi, Please Advise".

Section 65, Chapter Sixty-Three: Possessiveness and Protectiveness

"Oh child, why are you up?"

She was a blonde girl, and the old man who had been smiling with a hidden malice was now all smiles.

"Can't sleep...who is that?"

The little girl nestled into her grandfather's arms, and then her emerald eyes spotted the blonde woman beside her.

The child looked at her with curious eyes.

Oh, and remember, always keep smiling.

This was a friendly reminder from Kosiché before she left.

Ina isn't actually a cold person, so the actress has to act like that.

Even a fake smile.

No, that's all she knows how to do.

But you can't make someone imagine what it feels like to have a third arm, just as you can't make someone who has forgotten how to smile smile again.

Even simple muscle stretching involves subtle control.

However, she had another method. The advantage of this methodology is that it can be applied anytime and anywhere, and similar results can be achieved by following this method.

Just like.

The girl stretched out two fingers and slowly lifted the corners of her mouth, creating a somewhat stiff yet subtle smile.

It was counterfeit and full of lies.

"Grandfather...who is this?"

However, this backfired. It seemed that the little girl in front of him was not easy to fool. Her emerald eyes were filled with a hint of fear as she slowly shrank into his arms, only peeking out from her shoulder to secretly watch the woman behind her grandfather.

"Oh, this is Grandpa's guest. You go play with Afu first. Grandpa still has work to do."

"Yes, goodbye, grandfather."

After being put down, the little girl ran out of the room with a "tap tap tap".

"Sorry, there was a slight hiccup. Let's get back to our previous topic."

It seems that once people reach a certain age, they tend to really like children.

The phenomenon of grandparents showing affection to their grandchildren seems to be seen everywhere, even in other worlds.

"Kids are always like that, so endearing."

It seemed that seeing his granddaughter had improved his mood, and the check had two more zeros on it.

The meaning is self-evident.

Perhaps it was because he was in a good mood, or perhaps because he still had some use for Ina, he was so concerned about keeping information about his granddaughter from her that he increased his bargaining power and the corresponding responsibility.

The nanny behind the door looked somewhat panicked.

It's normal. Although the old man in front of her was kind and gentle to his granddaughter, this was something that Ina, an outsider, shouldn't have seen. It was the nanny's dereliction of duty.

They are not so lenient with those who fail in their duties.

However, these are all things that need to be dealt with first before we can properly handle things, since she is an outsider.

The man still wore that humble and gentle smile.

····················

Dream interpretation?

They really know how to make trouble for themselves.

There is indeed a relationship between mental and psychological suggestion, but you want me to interpret your dream? I suspect you're deliberately trying to make things difficult for me.

This is outrageous.

The Duke posed his own question.

This is quite common; he's been having nightmares lately, and the content of the dreams is mostly the same.

Both are ways of self-awareness.

However, it seems more like a curse.

In other words, prophecy.

According to the old duke, he dreamed of his own tall building and heavy snowfall.

While it's not winter like in Ursus right now, even in Lungmen, it's not a region where snow falls frequently.

Regions that rarely see snow suddenly experience heavy snowfall at an inopportune time of year.

Snow in June, there must be some injustice involved.

I'm just a doctor. Why are you coming to me with your grievances?

It's really troublesome.

"Perhaps it's due to excessive anxiety. Dreams are not true prophecies about the outside world, but more of a self-suggestion. After all, as people get older and pass through the midlife baldness crisis, family conflicts and the mental decline that comes with old age may make people depressed and change their mood. In particular, changes in the pace of life in old age can also lead to such problems. Perhaps you need to rest well recently."

As a doctor, sodium chloride still offered his opinion.

"No, this is different from what doctors say; this is not anxiety."

The Duke said it with absolute certainty.

“I could sense that this was a kind of premonition, that someone was telling me to do something.”

Even though I didn't see any specific content, the dream itself felt like a piece of information.

Tell him about the impending crisis.

That would be interesting, but unfortunately, she wasn't a professional dream interpreter. Dreams that only have images and moods without any specific content are simply too obscure and difficult to understand.

It's not that I can't help, but I'm not interested.

"But maybe it has something to do with your granddaughter."

Suddenly, perhaps due to a resurgence of lingering morbid curiosity, sodium chloride pointed out another possibility.

Of course, given that Koschl is a consciousness composed entirely of dark malice, it's conceivable that something bad could happen if he's after something.

After all, she wasn't on Kosich's side; it was just a simple collaboration. Sooner or later, the collaboration between villains would crack, and a battle would inevitably break out.

So she was happy to cause Kosichek a little trouble.

After all, it was a simple task done with bare hands.

Whether this dream is actually related to Koschke is none of her business.

After all, it may or may not be meaningless, because it can be.

“Child… um.”

The old duke didn't have as many malicious thoughts as sodium chloride; he genuinely considered the other possibility the doctor had suggested.

Children always evoke a sense of pity in people.

Especially the kind that is thin, small, and pitiful.

It's like why the character of a blind girl always evokes an excessive protective instinct in people.

Unnecessary emotions.

However, it must be said that this possibility can also be considered one of the methodologies, arousing the other party's protective or possessive instincts.

These two things always coexist.

Maybe······

Thinking about it this way, the first face that pops into sodium chloride's mind is...

But it was... Yelena.

It perfectly meets these conditions.

If I had to find a reason for myself...

Yes, that's exactly why. Because of that excessive protectiveness, I care more about that girl.

Right, that is it.

Additional investment.

And a perfectly fitting external image that evokes a protective instinct.

Well, that must be the case.

The girl thought so.