Ark Chess Player.

Chapter 205 Ah Xiao

"What? The Doctor is missing? We haven't found him!"

Amiya lost control of her voice and frantically looked up at the Lungmen Administrative Hall not far away.

The paint and cement on the exterior of the Lungmen Administrative Hall completely cracked, and most of the building materials were stained black by the flames.

Even with Terra's most advanced architecture, the administrative building disintegrated during two tremors, almost turning into a spiral shape... One can imagine how bent the building's framework was; the fact that it managed to stand firm was a symbol of Lungmen's last stand.

A total of twelve fire trucks are spraying high jets of water to cool down the ruins.

"I'm sorry, sir. We've done our best to search, but we haven't found anyone. Due to the risk of collapse, we returned with everyone after a thorough search. Please give us some time to rest and regroup. We will search again. Everyone is severely dehydrated right now, and we really can't force a second rescue search in such a short time. Blindly pushing ourselves will only trap the rescue team in the fire. This is not an excuse, really not an excuse, sir!"

The Longmen firefighter, Ah Xiao, who is only 135cm tall, gave a report at an extremely fast pace. The girl was covered in charcoal and soot marks, clearly having just been evacuated from the fire scene.

Ah Xiao was very nervous, so nervous that her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her chest, and her small chest was heaving dramatically due to difficulty breathing.

This was the first time she had failed to rescue someone in front of their family. She was worried about being scolded, but she was even more worried about the safety of the victims.

Firefighters wear protective suits from the Lungmen Fire Department, which are fireproof, heat-insulating, and flame-retardant. They are equipped with positive-pressure air respirators, enabling them to safely and effectively extinguish fires and conduct rescue operations in various environments, including those with dense smoke, toxic gases, steam, or oxygen deficiency. They also carry compressed water bombs and compressed oil bombs, which can quickly reduce burns and guide the fire.

Under such intense fire, even the fully armed firefighter couldn't hold out for half an hour. It's hard to imagine what might have happened to the victims who had no protective gear... The more the firefighter thought about it, the more frightened he became. He wished he could immediately return to the administration building and search the area again by himself.

"Ah Xiao...you've done enough."

Swire said earnestly that she understood how hard the firefighters worked. She shifted her gaze slightly to the firefighters sitting beside the fire truck, constantly dousing their heads with water. Their hair was dried out by the fire, and their faces were covered in black grime, but their eyes reflected not frustration, but fire—fire that had to be extinguished.

Every firefighter is a hero in the flames.

Three hours have passed in an effort to contain the fire; it's now 2 AM, and everyone is burning themselves out. Everyone is doing their utmost to keep the fire within the administrative building area, absolutely preventing it from spreading elsewhere. Otherwise, given the conditions of the Lungmen outer ring road, the complex streets and alleys, and the lack of fire-fighting facilities even hundreds of meters apart… if the fire spreads to the slums, it will be a true disaster.

To put it bluntly, some of the forward-thinking concepts proposed by certain individuals will likely come to fruition.

"When Lungmen no longer has slums, when Lungmen no longer harbors infected people, when Lungmen no longer has poor people, Lungmen will truly be the Pearl of Terra, free from famine and poverty, where everyone is wealthy and self-reliant. This will be a paradise on earth, and Lungmen will truly be Lungmen."

Shi Huaiya couldn't help but think of this wicked joke, and felt a chill run down his spine, a chill that went straight to his bones.

Because some lunatics actually include this kind of joking idea as a backup option; these lunatics have no humanity in their minds, only numbers.

She shook her head and shifted her gaze to the petite firefighter in front of her.

Swire had an impression of her, and a very deep one at that.

The sky is dry and things are dry, so be careful about the fire.

In previous years, a large fire occurred in Longmen during the winter.

The fire was caused by some people who lacked fire safety awareness using heating equipment in violation of regulations, which led to an indoor fire that ignited the entire building.

In this fire, a small figure constantly moved through the flames, calmly and orderly evacuating people trapped in the building and rescuing innocent citizens in distress. The firefighter's rigorous attitude and professional skills ultimately led to a disaster relief operation with zero casualties, earning high praise and trust from his colleagues.

Afterwards, Ah Xiao was personally received by Wei Yanwu, the governor of Longmen, and even appeared on the front page of the local Longmen newspaper.

When reporters asked the girl, who showed no fear in the face of fire but trembled on the podium, why she wanted to become a fire expert, her trembling stopped.

"Disasters may arise from human will, but they will not disappear because of human will. Only by taking action to eliminate these disasters can we protect the happiness of people shrouded in their shadow."

People's happiness is just as precious and worthy of protection as the happiness I feel when I receive a big, round hazelnut.

Ah Xiao's last sentence was not published in the newspaper, but thanks to the preceding words, the little squirrel once made it to the top of the trending searches on Lungmen, and the hype only subsided after two weeks.

Swire was somewhat worried. She knew that Ah Xiao must be feeling very guilty right now, but she also knew that people lose their rationality when a relative suffers a tragedy. Whether it was Swire, Ah Xiao, or other Guards Department officers and firefighters... they had all suffered condemnation and accusations from ignorant citizens.

No matter how well they do or how hard they try, they will be severely criticized if they make a mistake.

It's as if they've become criminals of the world, with nowhere to hide anywhere.

"..."

Amiya hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

She wanted to tell the firefighters to go upstairs and find the doctor themselves, but she knew that doing so would be unreasonable and would only increase the workload of the firefighters.

As someone without professional fire safety knowledge, where did she get the confidence to find the PhD amidst the vast inferno? What made her think she was more familiar with the fire terrain than the firefighters and could accurately and effectively locate the victims?

Just as Amiya was trembling involuntarily, a hand gently landed on her shoulder.

"The doctor is alright."

Kal'tsit, having completed her work coordination with Wei Yanwu at some point, came to Amiya's side.

"You've worked hard, please go and rest, and don't push yourself too hard next time."

Kal'tsit looked down at Ash and spoke, trying her best to keep her tone calm.

Before arriving in Lungmen, Kal'tsit did her homework in various aspects and had a high level of understanding of Lungmen.

She also had a memory of the small figure in front of her.

A person with lofty ideals deserves everyone's respect.

Ah-Xiao nodded vigorously, turned around and walked towards her companions, her petite figure radiating a strong will.

Presumably, after a few minutes of rest, she will transform all her resentment into the motivation to extinguish the flames.

"Dr. Kal'tsit, the Doctor..."

"Don't worry, Amiya."

Kal'tsit gently patted Amiya's shoulder to calm her restless heart.

"Didn't you notice that something was missing?"

"Dr. Kal'tsit, you mean... Ah!"

Amiya looked up at Kal'tsit and suddenly realized something.

Kal'tsit nodded slightly, said nothing more, and slowly looked up into the distance.

One piece is missing from the chessboard.

Chapter 206 Misha

The outer ring of Longmen is a slum.

If the Lungmen Administrative Office symbolizes the wealth of Lungmen, then the slums are, as their name suggests, chaotic and impoverished.

Compared to skyscrapers that are over 100 meters tall, the tallest buildings here are only 20 meters high. The houses are crowded together, and graffiti and posters can be seen everywhere.

The utility poles on the street are covered with small ads offering high rewards for having a child. One ad says that a famous "Miss Longmen" is seeking a healthy, sighted, and strong man with good heart and lungs because her husband is impotent and she wants to improve her family harmony. These ads are specifically designed to fool fools.

If someone actually believes the advertisement and calls to apply for the job, the likely outcome for the mentally challenged child is that their organs will be carefully removed and sold on the black market.

Unfortunately, there have been quite a few fools like this in the past week, most of them survivors from Chernobog. Penniless, these well-built Ursus people are unaware that their healthy organs can fetch high prices on the black market, becoming lambs to the slaughter.

Compared to the bustling night markets in Lungmen city, the residents of the slums often go to bed early.

They don't have the extra money to enjoy a good nightlife, and to solve the problem of three meals a day, slum dwellers usually have to get up early to do manual labor. The larger the city, the more grassroots labor is needed, but they often work from seven to nine every day, just to barely make ends meet.

Therefore, after a tiring day of labor, I would basically just return to my filthy shack and lie down. Days passed like this, one after another. Not resting properly was unacceptable; if I got sick, I wouldn't have the extra money to see a doctor. Forcing myself to work while feeling unwell would only worsen my condition, eventually leading to my death in bed, my body only being taken away by the landlord in a garbage truck after it had decomposed.

In order to survive, they had to work fourteen hours a day.

In order to survive, they had to give up their lives except for working and resting.

In order to survive... what exactly are we living for?

That night, the Lungmen slum was bustling with activity.

Countless people in Longmen saw flames shooting into the sky not far away.

The Longmen Administrative Office, a vital support for Longmen's outer ring road, has collapsed.

The news of the incident at Longmen might be a major worry for the wealthy residents of the upscale neighborhood. But for some who are fed up with this decadent and stagnant lifestyle, it's a piece of good news.

A group of Oripathy-infected individuals calling themselves the Reunion Movement attacked the city. They succeeded, setting fire to the Lungmen Administrative Building, a symbol of Lungmen's prestige, and spreading the flames of the Reunion Movement across Lungmen. Anyone who wants to change their fate is welcome to join them, whether infected or ordinary people who cannot endure enslavement.

The Reunion soldiers, pouring into the slums, declared: Oripathy is not a sin, but a blessing. While it brings painful trials, it also brings the magic of Originium Arts. We should not remain at their mercy; we should unite and let the other side know that we need liberation, we need freedom, and we must reclaim the life that is rightfully ours!

In just four short hours, Longmen has undergone tremendous changes.

There was a fire burning in the hearts of countless people in the slums: Lungmen is not invincible, it just needs a little bit of skill...

"Sister Ansuo! You're back!"

At the back door of an inconspicuous house, a typical sight in the slums, a white-haired, blue-eyed Ursus girl stopped what she was doing.

The purple-haired girl from Cats nimbly leaped from the rooftop, as light as a swallow and as graceful as a swan. Even carrying someone on her back, she landed perfectly. A perfect score.

"Misha, what are you doing?"

An Suo looked at the short-haired girl with curiosity. It was so late, why wasn't she going inside to rest? Wasn't she afraid of being kidnapped? Ah, right, this was their territory.

If someone were to be so foolish as to kidnap Misha, they'd probably be chopped into mincemeat by that group of lunatics, right? They could even be sold cheaply on the black market, since some wealthy people specifically buy this kind of meat to feed their hunting dogs, so the dogs remember the taste and become more aggressive. This sounds inhumane, but in this war-torn world, equality for all is predicated on having power and influence.

"I'm making amulets; my mother taught me how to make them."

Misha looked like a child. She was even smaller than Anso, standing only 1.45 meters tall. She looked even more tiny as she huddled under the eaves.

In her hands were needles, thread, and pom-poms, as well as a half-finished bear amulet, the bear's chest still empty.

“My mother told me that handmade dolls can protect the safety of important people. I hope they can be amulets for my older brothers and sisters who take care of me, and for the younger brothers and sisters who live nearby.” Misha smiled shyly and took out a small purple bear doll, no bigger than the palm of her hand, from behind her. “Sister Ansuo, this is for you. Thank you for saving me back then, otherwise I might have been tricked by those people without even realizing it, and I don’t know what would have happened to me…”

"Is that even a question? Of course, she'll be sold to the Golden Cat as a prostitute." A middle-aged Ursus man in a cloak appeared out of nowhere, his meticulously groomed mustache making him look even more masculine. "A lovely Ursus girl like you, especially a young girl, is a priceless treasure in the eyes of some wealthy people with peculiar tastes. Plus, you'll have a shelf life of about ten years. Even after you grow up, you can still be sold to someone else. The matchmakers who roam the slums all year round have their eyes on rough gems like you. The more they handle you, the more lustrous you become."

Misha turned pale upon hearing this, and her already small, huddled body looked even more inconspicuous.

An Suo shouted sharply, "Hey, you liar."

"Please call me a conman, thank you," the black-haired man said leisurely.

"How can you talk like that?" An Suo glared at the swindler with displeasure and said fiercely, "This is sexual harassment! Be careful, I'll tell Sister Mei on you, and she'll make sure you regret it!"

"Okay, call me a conman if you want." The conman quickly backed down and turned to Misha to apologize, "I'm sorry, I was just joking. Actually, Misha, you're already very womanly, I shouldn't have said you were still a child. Well, I have to admit, even I can't help but feel my heart flutter at your charm."

Misha silently picked up her teddy bear and ball of yarn to cover her face.

"Hey! You old liar, that's too much! You want me to punch you?"

An Suo silently gripped the hook in his hand, looking menacing.

The swindler shook his head helplessly; these days, kids are really hard to fool.

"By the way, how's the person you rescued? Is he alright?"

"Do I even need to ask if I can get things done? As long as you pay me, what can't I do?"

An Suo hummed in response and slowly put the person on his back down. They were quite light, and he wasn't tired even after running all that way.

"Cash on delivery, a generous 2,500 Lungmen coins," An Suo said smugly. "And as promised, all this equipment is mine, no backing out!"

"Really? I want to inspect the goods."

"Hmph, lazy dog."

An Suo spat out a mouthful of saliva, squatted down, and lifted the hood of the person lying on the ground. His eyes widened instantly.

Beneath the hood, the red-haired, red-eyed girl silently watched An Suo, emoticons appearing on her white mask, and the corners of her mouth slowly turned up.

“( ﹁√﹁ ) ”

Chapter 207 A Paradise on Earth (4K)

"You! Who are you?!"

An Su looked as if she had seen a ghost, her gaze constantly scanning back and forth over the King Killer. She was certain that the person she had brought back was a handsome young man with white hair and black eyes, and besides, she had even touched him herself... cough cough, anyway, she was 100% sure that the person was a man.

How did it turn into a girl just by being thrown on the ground?

An Su hesitated for a moment, then looked at the swindler, "Help, help her up..."

The swindler looked troubled, as if recalling some unpleasant past events, and muttered to himself, "Don't help her up, don't help her up."

"Screw you!"

The regicide sprang to his feet with a light, agile movement, and twisted his somewhat stiff neck.

When she was so bored in the Lungmen administration hall that she was about to fall asleep, Kal'tsit mysteriously assigned her a task: to remain hidden and observe the situation.

The King Killer readily agreed, thinking that since this was the residence of the Dragon Gate Governor, the security was quite thorough, and there were also capable guards in the corners, there would definitely be no problem.

As a result, a series of accidents occurred, repeatedly slapping her in the face.

During the first earthquake, she witnessed Lin Lu raise his hand and instantly melt countless shards of glass into flowing liquid.