Ark Chess Player.

The former Ursus executive's face gradually turned rosy, a final burst of energy before his death, a moment of heightened excitement.

"For your sake, and for mine, okay?"

"...Yes, Brother Ma."

Ug was already in tears. Makarov had shown him the meaning of muscles and given him direction. But now, his mentor was about to leave him, even though they had only spent a day together.

"In fact, a month ago, the infected members of the Reunion Movement had already taken control of several districts in Chernobog, and this was even tacitly approved by the Ursus government! Only a few officials and some nobles knew the whole story. Those people... evacuated Chernobog before the city fell! Leaving only innocent civilians and ignorant military and police personnel to eke out a living in the city."

Makarov's eyes burned with rage; by the time he learned the truth, it was too late.

The Reunion Movement's offensive was swift and decisive; they seized control of the signal towers in the core city, turning Chernobog into a death trap. Like fish pulled ashore, unable to access oxygen dissolved in the water through their gills, they suffocated step by step.

"I don't know why Ursus would sacrifice civilians, but Sergei and I, Sergei, the Royal Scientist of Chernobog, secretly hid the activation key to the Chernobog core city, preventing anyone else from finding out. Without the activation key, the core city's functions cannot be fully activated or stopped. Remember, there are two activation keys in total, and the whereabouts of the other one is unknown; it's not in our hands—uh!!"

Makarov's eyes widened. He felt the poison flowing into his heart, and his blood was boiling, as if it were on fire.

"Brother Ma?! Brother Ma!!"

Uge grabbed Makarov's hand, trying to garner some support for his loyal older brother. Makarov was deathly pale, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, even his breath was chilling.

"Sergei...Sergei!!"

Despite his excruciating pain, Makarov entrusted his last words to Edward Ugg alone.

“Sergei… for… his family.” Makarov burst into tears. This man, who had never feared death, finally shed tears. For his friend, and even more so for having let him down.

“Sergei committed suicide… He thought that by doing so, he could prevent others from going after his two children. But I… I… did it for myself, to prevent our efforts from being in vain, and to prevent the core city of Chernobog from becoming a plaything of the enemy.”

“I placed the activation key on Sergei’s daughter… Misha.”

Makarov tilted his head back, his azure eyes filled with regret, a tear streaming down his straight nose and into his purplish lips.

"Now you know all my secrets. I only ask one thing of you, Ug."

"Brother Ma, whatever you say, I'll listen to you."

Ug felt his mind was a complete mess. He didn't quite understand what Makarov was saying, but he subconsciously knew it was a big deal. For most people, learning this news would be tantamount to inviting death. But he was already a thorn in the side of some people because he carried the secrets of the Alexander Group and Silverwing Security Contractors; the more secrets he had, the better.

There will always be someone who needs these secrets hidden in someone's heart, won't there?

“Ug, if you have a chance to survive… please take my ashes back to Ursus. I don’t want to be buried in another city.” Makarov stared intently at Ug and pleaded, “Take me home, Ug.”

"...Yes, I promise you."

Ug said solemnly that he didn't know if he could survive this ordeal, but he wanted to do something for Makarov.

Makarov looked at him, then suddenly laughed, tears still clinging to his face, making his laugh look particularly ugly.

“Ugh, actually, before you passed out, the medicine I gave you wasn't a sleeping pill, it was a vitamin pill. I didn't do anything else to you, really, I just... wanted to learn how to lie…”

Makarov slowly lowered his head and stopped breathing.

Ug stretched out a trembling hand and covered Makarov's eyelids, then slowly lowered it.

Rest in peace, my friend.

Chapter 289 I will raise your daughter; you need not worry.

"……Ugh."

Lin Lu sighed softly and put down the mobile terminal.

Intentionally planting flowers but not blooming, unintentionally planting willows and willows make a shade.

Lin Lu originally intended to use Ugg as a pawn to add another possibility, another channel. However, he unexpectedly unlocked a long-lost chapter of civilization's history, the love and hate from Billy Herrington's locker room—a past erased by an indescribable force. What started as a male-centric channel gradually transformed into an 8 PM primetime drama, with its revelations resembling a news broadcast…

"Misha, Misha."

Lin Lu called out thoughtfully.

Upon learning that Misha's father, Sergei, had chosen suicide to avoid harming his children, he felt both admiration and a desire to curse. Lin really wanted to dig Sergei out of his grave and slap him twice. Could suicide really solve everything? This was escapism, negligence, and arrogance.

"Never mind... Sergei, I will raise your daughter, so don't worry about it." Lin Lu muttered to himself. He looked up at one of the buildings in the Guard Bureau building, sighed again, and walked in through the main entrance with a magnanimous air.

Meanwhile, the police officer guarding the door frowned slightly. He nervously looked around but found nothing suspicious.

Only a cool breeze swept by, soothing the summer heat.

"Did I drink too much last night?"

The officer muttered to himself, shrugged, and continued standing guard.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Quickly, treat the wounded! Those damned Lungmen people... how dare they use such weapons to persecute our compatriots!!"

In the Lungmen slums, Infected members of the Reunion Movement are dragging wounded native residents away. Flames transform into an overwhelming iron net, encircling and annihilating the Infected hiding in the abandoned warehouse, like a spider slowly approaching a worm caught in its web.

"My home, my home...it's gone, all gone."

The screams of the infected were drowned out by a series of explosions, as explosives composed of burning Originium fragments rained down from the sky. These projectiles, modified from baseball launchers, were like rudimentary mortars; they could only fire one shot before melting under the force of the impact. But the enemy, seemingly foolish and wealthy, managed to suppress the fire with a single shot.

A few minutes earlier, the Reunion team had witnessed the Infected being hunted down when they passed by this place. The Reunion members were immediately enraged, wishing they could draw their knives and chop these Lungmen people into mincemeat on the spot. However, they had no casters present, and their Ursus standard armor was insufficient to break through the fire coverage. They could only endure the humiliation and evacuate these natives from the warehouse.

Such actions naturally disobeyed orders, but the soldiers of the Reunion Movement were also human; they couldn't just stand by and watch their comrades die tragically before their eyes. Faced with the humiliation inflicted by the Lungmen people, every infected person experienced PTSD, recalling the suffering they had endured.

The hatred between ordinary people and those infected is not something that happens overnight, but rather something that has been brewing for a long time.

"Yahoo!!"

The young people at Longmen Newcomer are cheering as a team of professionals are providing hands-on guidance on how to properly use these prohibited weapons, preventing them from getting themselves into trouble through improper operation.

Not far away, Franka reached out and stopped the kingslayer who was about to jump out.

"Don't be impulsive, calm down!"

Franka lowered her voice to avoid revealing her whereabouts.

It wasn't just the Reunion soldiers who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder; even the Kingslayers were affected. She couldn't tolerate this happening, and with a dagger already in her hand, she vowed to annihilate Lungmen's new generation.

"Why are you stopping me! I—!!"

"Keep your voice down!"

Texas and Franka worked together to subdue the Kingslayer.

"Kingslayer, calm down! Trust Amiya, okay? We won't stand idly by!"

Franka managed to persuade the Kingslayer to stop after a combination of coaxing and cajoling. She turned to Amiya and asked, "Amiya, should we make a move? If we do, Rhodes Island will be exposed. Our mission will be affected, and the Reunion Movement, which we finally managed to lose track of, will catch up."

"..."

Amiya squinted as she observed the terrain, analyzed the manpower of the new Lungmen recruits, and tried to gather as much useful information as possible.

She couldn't be as meticulous as Lin Lu, but she was good at observing everyone's emotional changes.

"If conditions permit, rescuing the infected is Rhodes Island's natural duty," Amiya said slowly. Her azure eyes swept over the crowd, her gaze unwavering, and she declared in a resounding voice, "Everyone, follow my command and rescue the suffering residents!"

"Yes!"

The crowd responded in hushed tones, but their resolve was incredibly strong.

"That's really..." Franka's lips curled up slightly, unable to contain her admiration, "I knew that choosing to follow you was the right decision."

"Franka, what's wrong?"

Amiya tilted her head, seemingly not understanding what she was saying.

"She means that she thinks you are very suitable to be a leader."

Razer patted Amiya on the shoulder to reassure her.

Franka lunged at Razer, "As expected of Red Gang, you know me inside and out!"

"Get lost, you're the Kiryu maggot!"

Amiya helplessly tried to mediate: "Alright, you two, calm down and listen to my instructions."

“Franka and Kingslayer, do you see those men in black suits? Judging from their clothing style and the details of their behavior, they are probably… not locals of Lungmen. These people are very likely the outlaws who supply weapons to the Lungmen.” Amiya pointed at the target and gave instructions. “You two are the fastest, so you will handle them. If necessary, you are allowed to kill them.”

"Texas, Exusiai, you are responsible for suppressing the Infected members of the Reunion Movement. Remember, we are here to save people, not to kill them. If our involvement leads to the Reunion Movement taking advantage of the situation to kill Lungmen citizens, we cannot bear the public opinion that follows. I know this order will cause dissatisfaction, but I hope everyone understands... that what we are doing is meaningful."

"Heavy-armored operators, disarm the Lungmen Newcomer Group and advise them to leave. If they intend to continue lingering in the slums and committing crimes, then we will no longer provide them with any protection. Don't say we didn't warn you."

Amiya's mind was quite clear, and she issued commands quickly and effectively.

Now, she has been refined through repeated practical experience, like a rough jade that has had its outer skin removed, radiating dazzling starlight.

This is probably why Lin Lu let her command on her own; she wouldn't grow if she always hid under his wing.

"Everyone, please remember that protecting the local infected in Lungmen is our top priority. Making those who should pay the price pay the price is our guiding principle. This time, it will be difficult, but I believe that if it were you, there would be absolutely no problem."

Amiya made her pre-battle declaration, raising her right hand and lowering it like a monarch.

"Attack!!"

Chapter 290 The Power of the King Killer (4K)

In this battle, the Kingslayer almost entered Wolf Fang III state.

The Kingslayer's speed suddenly increased, unleashing a series of Originium Arts teleportation techniques, disappearing into thin air as a red afterimage. She leaped between buildings, descending from the sky with outstretched arms, as graceful as a hawk.

A leap of faith.

Double assassination.

All in one go.

Before the two men in suits could react, the kingslayer slammed their heads to the ground, creating large craters. Red and white fluids gushed from their shattered skulls, like crushed fruit.

The college student standing next to the man in the suit was startled. The modified launcher slung over his shoulder jerked, and the Originium explosive was fired directly at the Kingslayer. At the distance between them, if the explosion occurred, not only the Kingslayer, but even the college student would be turned into a forest ice and fire creature.

The regicide stood still, then with lightning speed, she raised her hand and unleashed a powerful gust of wind.

The college student from Lungmen was so frightened that he closed his eyes. When he hunched over and raised his eyes, he discovered that the person in front of him was actually catching the still-burning Originium bomb with his bare hands!

The Kingslayer raised his left leg, twisted his waist, took a step, and forcefully threw the Originium explosive at the suit-wearing man who was rushing over from the other side.

"boom--!!"

The burning fireball, accelerated by the throw, transformed into a streak of light, striking the man in the suit directly in the chest and propelling him four or five meters away. The simple Originium explosive shell, unable to withstand the internal and external pressure, underwent a violent explosion during its compression, combustion, expansion, and bursting process, sending up a three-meter-high pillar of fire. The shockwave carried the flames in all directions, staining the once-glorious clothes of the young man from Lungmen with ash.

"Get out of here, or you'll die."

The Kingslayer glanced coldly at the group, then clenched his fist to extinguish the remaining flames on his glove, which turned into black smoke that rose slowly.

The college student who accidentally pulled the trigger stumbled back several steps, falling hard on his backside with a pathetic yelp. He frantically tossed the burnt-out launcher aside and scrambled away. Where he had fallen, puddles of foul-smelling water remained.

Fear can spread; when one person runs away hysterically screaming, that emotion can easily infect others.

The new recruits of Longmen were utterly defeated; turning from hunter to prey often only requires a simple process.

Holy crap!

Franka couldn't help but sigh, and almost slipped and fell to the ground because of her distraction.

Fortunately, she managed to steady herself and didn't fall flat on her face.

She was completely convinced.

Given the killer's ability to launch surprise attacks on the battlefield, those rumors are no longer unfounded.

"That was... the regicide?"

The infected members of the Reunion Movement were stunned. They stared at the imposing girl standing beside the pillar of fire, lost in thought.

"Didn't the Kingslayer betray Rhodes Island and defect to it?"

"She just saved us? But Mephistopheles said she's a traitor..."

"Why come here now that things have come to this?"

These rumors reached the ears of the Kingslayer, but she ignored the Reunion Movement members. Instead, she clenched her fists, took a sidestep, and threw a punch. With one punch, she bent the blade of the knife held by the charging man in the suit, then reached out and grabbed his neck, twisting it in the opposite direction.

"I told you, get out of here."

The regicide casually tossed aside the lifeless man in the suit and coldly glanced at the behind-the-scenes leader who had been smoking and watching the show not far away.

"Or die."

The leader had a gloomy face. His men were still trying to stop the ignorant young people who were new to Dragon Gate, but those who came out to dissuade them were all repelled by the mysterious person who suddenly appeared.

"There are suspicious individuals obstructing the plan, what should we do, boss?"