Ark Chess Player.

Chapter 307 True Wolf Guard (4K)

"Mr. Lin, our intelligence department has obtained the latest information."

Swell nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Lin Lu's shoulder as a sign of respect.

Lin Lu didn't deny the new recruit's enthusiasm; he liked young people who recognized the value of opportunity. He was optimistic, positive, and willing to work hard. Such talent was perfect for being exploited... no, he should be nurtured! Keep up the good work, Swell, the entire Eagle Pulse Company will be yours someday! You're the star of tomorrow!

"explain."

“Yes.” Swell then raised his head to meet Lin Lu’s face, which was hidden under his hood, and said seriously, “The Rhodes Island team is stationed in the fifth district of Lungmen Outer Ring, about five kilometers away from the ship docking area in Lofty State. They are currently being attacked by a large-scale Reunion Movement. The Guard Bureau is sending people to provide support. The Special Operations Inspectorate will be in place in about twenty-four minutes.”

"Twenty-four minutes to get there? What's the point of going then, to wash the floor?"

Lin Lu's impression of the Guard Bureau plummeted again. Beset by internal and external troubles, and utterly inefficient, they were practically like the police in classic old movies—always appearing at the last minute, their sole purpose being to clean up the mess left by the protagonist. Aside from that, they only made a few cameo appearances in scenes where everyone seemed incredibly busy, highlighting how difficult the main characters' lives were and how cunning and ruthless the villains were.

This is roughly what the new Dragon Gate Police story is all about.

Lin Lu curled the corners of his mouth, revealing a clear mocking smile: "If you really expect the Guard Bureau to play a role, it'll be too late."

“Mr. Lin, if you need, I have a specially modified vehicle in the Guard Bureau’s garage. At full speed, it takes about twenty minutes to get from here to the fifth district of Lungmen Outer Ring. Please give me the opportunity to be your driver.” Swell said respectfully, confident in his driving skills and hoping to show his sincerity.

Swail made many efforts to survive.

Swell had imagined countless times what methods his brother, Anlondor, would use to assassinate him. He had envisioned countless ways to die, playing out in his mind again and again. This agonizing self-destructive thinking was like being a death row inmate imprisoned in a mental cage, every day a torment. When Swell tried to fall asleep, he always felt that if his limbs left the warm blankets, they would be dragged away by invisible hands. Even when he got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, he dared not look in the mirror, instinctively choosing to avoid it.

I don't know if it's lucky or unlucky.

Swail ultimately conquered his fear, tearing it apart and swallowing it whole, turning it into fuel for revenge.

This meant that all other options in his life were shut out, and his future days would be spent in cold, damp darkness. He had to secretly develop his own power and secretly accumulate strength of his own. Swell knew very well that he only had one chance, because his enemy was his grandfather, whom he regarded as almost omnipotent—Alexander Sodan.

From that moment on, Swell was on guard every moment. Even when he was trying to maintain the facade of a playboy and spending his days after get off work partying with his subordinates, he would always check the background of the entertainment venues he was going to beforehand, make sure of the escape routes, and know the backgrounds and relationships of the people there.

Not only that, Swell also diligently studied various fields of knowledge, strengthening himself in every aspect. Whether driving two-wheeled vehicles, four-wheeled vehicles, or even flying vehicles... Swell could easily handle even a unicycle! Fully loaded with ammunition, he was like a carefree person who laughed at life, or a fighter who resisted cruel fate, charging towards maggots.

"Well, let's go."

Lin Lu nodded. He could tell that Swell was trying to prove his loyalty, not just by acting as a driver, but also by earning trust and recognition through his actions. However, to be blunt, given Swell's fighting prowess, he probably couldn't even beat Swire…

Lin Lu reminded him, "We're not going to the fifth district of the outer ring of Longmen; we're going to the slums."

Swell blinked in confusion, then instinctively asked, "Aren't you going to rescue the Rhodes Island team—?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Swell realized how rude they were and quickly said, "Excuse me, sir, I wasn't questioning your decision, I just—"

"It's ok."

Lin Lu waved his hand, interrupting Swell's trembling apology.

“We haven’t known each other for very long, so it’s normal for you to feel confused, and it’s normal to want to know the truth. That’s a good thing; it means you’re thinking, not just a bookworm who only reads from textbooks.” As Lin Lu spoke, he suddenly sensed a strange feeling. It was as if something had broken and merged into his soul, becoming one with it… This feeling wasn’t bad.

Perhaps Lin Lu's true nature is more inclined to be a teacher.

"The Guard Bureau underestimates Rhodes Island, no, it's more accurate to say the Guard Bureau overestimates itself." Lin Lu couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm not the CEO of Rhodes Island, but the squad commander currently operating in the fifth district of Lungmen's outer ring. I'm just working for her, she's my boss..." When Lin Lu mentioned Amiya, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up, as if he were praising how outstanding his own daughter was.

Swell was so shocked he almost lost his footing, his mind reeling from the words he had just spoken.

Judging from Lin Lu's tone, this seemed like an perfectly normal fact. The more so, the more terrifying it was. A pharmaceutical company with no reputation, a credit rating of only C, and limited resources in its official cooperation with Lungmen… yet it was a hidden powerhouse! Swell had witnessed Mr. Lin's abilities firsthand; he couldn't imagine Mr. Lin bowing down to others.

"me……"

Swell suddenly remembered something very serious.

When Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals moved into Lungmen, he interfered, changing Rhodes Island's supporting building from the city center to a dilapidated building on the outskirts of Lungmen... and that building also contained more than sixty listening devices. Although Swail was acting on Alexander Sodan's orders, he was indeed involved in the matter, including providing Rhodes Island's information to Edward Wenger.

"Relax, Swell."

How could Lin Lu not see through what he was thinking?

"Only the living have the opportunity to atone for the mistakes they made in the past, don't you agree?"

Swell lowered his head in fear: "Yes!"

"Let's go, don't keep my... old friend waiting too long."

Lin Lu said leisurely, while inwardly guessing that it was almost time.

He subconsciously placed his right hand on his abdomen, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with the empty space.

The interrogation officers stood upright on both sides of the passageway. Under their respectful gazes, Lawyer Lin strode away, leaving behind a dark silhouette.

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.

Longmen Outer Ring Fifth District.

Smoke filled the air, and the black fog seemed to connect the sky and the earth, obscuring the twilight and leaving only darkness.

The already dilapidated abandoned streets were completely reduced to ruins by the successive explosions. Even if Lungmen intends to redevelop this area, it will take several years to heal the scars on the land.

“Haaa…haha…”

The Kingslayer clutched her convulsing left arm, gasping for breath, as the still-burning embers tore half of her coat away. Even the emoticon mask briefly lost its e-ink function, as it was now fully engaged in another role: filtering harmful gases.

Before her, the unconscious Broken Bones lay in the sea of ​​fire.

The broken bones lay face up like a salted fish, and the two gun blades were blasted several meters away.

Minutes earlier, as the Kingslayer prepared to unleash her full power to repel the Bone Shatterer in order to retreat and catch up with Amiya, a strong sense of crisis nearly overwhelmed her. True Wolf's intuition sounded an alarm, signaling her to immediately take cover; something bad was about to happen.

Without the slightest hesitation, the Kingslayer, trusting her intuition, immediately surveyed the surrounding structures and supports of the ruins. She activated her Originium Arts teleportation—not actually a true spatial ability, but rather a rapid leap to a designated location, ignoring any obstacles in her path. If the Kingslayer had truly mastered spatial manipulation, then… she wouldn't have been so badly beaten by the berserk Bonecrusher.

Just as the Kingslayer's feet touched the wall, a blurry figure suddenly appeared in her mind—scarlet Sarkaz horns, a wicked smile on his lips, and an arrogant and wicked attitude… No doubt about it, it was that annoying demon!

The Kingslayer abruptly turned her head, her gaze fixed on the distance, where she saw W laughing and cheering, and Mephisto putting on an act!

"*Syracist profanity*!"

The regicide couldn't help but utter a vulgar phrase.

Whether it's W or Mephisto, encountering these two is never a good thing!

As if to confirm the regicide's idea, a deafening explosion suddenly rang out, its force so great that it almost made the mobile city of Lungmen tremble. Flames surged from all directions, rising from bottom to top, engulfing her figure almost instantly.

Wolf Fang III.

The power that Lin Lu bestowed upon the regicide saved her life.

In the most critical moment, she brought Originium Arts to its fullest potential, her figure constantly weaving through the curtain of fire, avoiding the explosion center where Originium explosives and conventional explosives were mixed together. Time and again, she felt the fragments of stone flying past her like bullets, death always lurking in her wake.

The Kingslayer was like someone seeking a moment of respite amidst the barrage of bullets in the AP difficulty's true boss route of the Eastern Silk Fantasy Realm, creating possibility from the impossible in a sense. Fortunately, the area she was in wasn't within the minefield set up by W; she was merely suffering from the residual effects of the explosion. Otherwise, no matter how focused she was, she wouldn't have been able to survive the overwhelming flames.

"Tsk... I wonder how Amiya is doing."

The kingslayer looked at the broken bones lying on the ground, wondering whether he should take this opportunity to finish them off.

Three years ago, Shattered Bones was just a crybaby; now, he's a formidable leader within the Reunion Movement. The Kingslayer doesn't know how much effort he put in to successfully wield this ancient weapon. It was precisely these two armor-piercing blades, combined with Shattered Bones' mastery of Iberian swordsmanship, that allowed him to barely survive the explosion.

"...Never mind, if you die, and if Lu regains his memories, he will be heartbroken." The King Killer hesitated for a moment, but considering that Broken Bones was Lin Lu's student, she decided to spare his life.

"A visitor is coming."

The Kingslayer placed her trembling left hand slightly at her side, raised her right arm—whose sleeve was licked raw by the flames—and gripped the chipped carbon fiber short blade tightly. She was in terrible shape, but she would never give up even the slightest hope; that was her style.

An eerie gray-white mist hung at my feet and continued to rise, spreading like a damp tide.

The King Killer immediately asked, "How dare they play tricks on me in front of me?"

This is tantamount to showing off one's skills in front of Guan Yu, or trying to teach a fish to swim!

The Kingslayer revealed a confident smile; if her mask hadn't been operating at full capacity, leaving no time for its auxiliary functions, it would have given her a goofy grin. But gradually, her smile vanished as she felt a strong sense of familiarity wash over her.

A wisp of mist quietly emerged with an irregular outline, slowly gathering behind the Kingslayer, the air currents condensing into sharp blades!

"—!!"

A sudden, bone-chilling coldness swept over the back of the regicide's neck, instantly raising goosebumps and sending shivers down her spine. Sensing the change in the thick fog, she decisively leaned forward, rolling across the scorching ground to avoid the attack.

A faint, ethereal blade of air pierced through the spot where she stood, causing the air to explode. A black rift appeared and then healed.

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!! The Kingslayer was nearly turned into a hedgehog by the scalding shards scattered all over the ground, but if she hadn't reacted in time, she would have been greeted with the sight of her heart being pierced through by a mist blade right in front of her!

"..."

The skeleton soldiers, their ambush unsuccessful, slowly coalesced into human form. The red uniforms and pale white masks of the Reunion Movement's special squad were quite striking. The skeleton soldiers' long, withered yellow hair fell over their shoulders, filthy stains clumped together, and their bodies reeked of decay.

The Kingslayer's eyes widened slowly. Her breath almost stopped, her whole body stiffened, and even her right hand, gripping the carbon fiber short blade, trembled involuntarily. It should be noted that even when she faced the rampaging Bonebreaker head-on, her steady right hand had never trembled.

"How could it be... how could it be you... Matthias?!"

Even if the other party is wearing a mask, the king killer would not be able to fail to recognize who it is.

During the three years Lin Lu was away from the Reunion Movement, the Kingslayer trained a seven-man squad who proudly called themselves the True Wolf Guard. This was because the Kingslayer had patiently taught them how to assassinate enemies in the thick fog, combat methods, and how to identify edible items in the desolate snowfields—for example, moss showing no signs of decay, insect-infested areas at the base of wooden stakes, and nutritious tender grass…

To the regicide, they were just slightly special subordinates, no different from anyone else.

To them, the regicide was the only leader, and she was different from everyone else.

The regicide once thought that his heart had been taken away by Lin Lu, and that he would never experience joy or sorrow again in this life.

but now……

She felt a dull ache in her chest.

Chapter 308 You Should Chop My Head Off (4K)

Matthias.

One of the direct subordinates of the former Reunion Movement executive, the Kingkiller.

He is also the youngest member, still a minor, and despite being an Ursus native, he has never drunk vodka.

The kingslayer remembered him as a talkative Ursus boy who remained optimistic even after becoming infected, always saying that next month would be better, making people feel relaxed and at ease whenever they saw him. During his time traveling south across the Ursus frozen tundra, he would occasionally eat nearly moldy black bread, which would make him smile for a whole week, saying it was the long-lost taste of home, and eating the bread felt like coming home.

The king killer asked him why his catchphrase was "next month will be better" since he was just comforting himself. Why not say "tomorrow will be better"?

Matthias scratched his cheek shyly and stammered, "Kingslayer, what do you think... will come first, tomorrow or the future?"

The king killer didn't quite understand what he meant at the time, and shook his head with a frown.

Matthias didn't say much, just smiled憨厚ly and repeated it again.

"Next month will be better."

Only now has the regicide come to understand.

Tomorrow and the future, tomorrow comes first.

We infected people were destined to have no future from the very beginning.

"Matthias..."

The kingslayer stared at the gaunt figure before him, his teeth clenched, blood seeping from them.

Matthias stared at the regicide, his dark eyes devoid of any emotion, his pupils lifeless.

The regicide knew that the person standing there was no longer the original Matthias, but a living corpse.

She could no longer hear Matthias's heartbeat.

"Hahaha……"

The regicide tilted her head slightly and smiled, a smile that was extremely, extremely sad.

No wonder Broken Bones looked at her like that, and remained silent when her former subordinates were mentioned, so that's why...

I see--!!

"Mephisto, get out here!"

"Kingslayer roared furiously, her eyes filled with crimson bloodlust, her surging battle intent even stirring up a mist spread by the skeleton army."

She wasn't stupid; she just saw things too clearly, which is why she was unwilling to think about them, not wanting to find herself in a state of knowing everything yet being powerless to change it. After all, everything a person does ultimately serves two purposes: to avoid pain and to pursue pleasure.

When she's willing to use her brain, nothing escapes her eyes; everything becomes clear and obvious.

With just one detail, the regicide could tell exactly what had happened.

"Noisy."

A figure in white robes slowly emerged from the thick fog, as ethereal as a ghost.

Mephistopheles' feet dangled about three inches off the ground, a contemptuous smile playing on his lips, his gold-rimmed glasses gleaming blindingly.

"Should I call you a regicide, or a traitor?"