Ark Chess Player.

Therefore, Exusiai's opinion of Amiya changed, and she was willing to trust and fully carry out Amiya's commands.

On the battlefield, the more Amiya fought with all her might, the more Exusiai resented the Doctor for spouting unrealistic nonsense in communications. Because no matter how much he talked, or how eloquently he spoke, no one knew what he was actually doing.

All Exusia knew was that this man with the incredibly sexy voice wasn't there for Amiya when she needed him most.

People tend to trust what they see.

Exusiai was no exception; until now, she had been learning about the Doctor little by little through fragmented information.

When Amiya discovers traces of a battlefield cliff in the slums, she instinctively looks at the Doctor with a comforting gaze.

The Royal Guard officers who cordoned off the scene bowed their heads, deeply respecting the doctor and admiring his actions.

According to Penguin Logistics' intelligence—well, this seemingly frivolous, tall, blond man is indeed a senior superintendent in the Royal Guard Bureau. He's occasionally spotted in bars, seemingly a playboy who's frequented every bar in Lungmen. Regardless of his true character, it's astonishing that a high-ranking superintendent would be so devoted to a mere pharmaceutical company executive…

This person hasn't been in Longmen for very long, right?

Exusiai's heart raced as she recalled how, in Lin Lu's eyes, she was like a believer under the watchful gaze of a god.

"Let me... observe it more carefully~"

Exusiai thought to herself, her gaze fixed on Lin Lu's back, and followed in his footsteps.

Chapter 359 Terra Pearl (4K)

Lin Lu put away his umbrella.

The heavy rain continued, but the group found shelter from the wind and rain.

Alexander Swell underwent a second round of interrogation after being knocked unconscious and taken away by an Army Without Borders combat team yesterday. Due to his special status and prior case history, his induction screening was exceptionally rigorous. However, Swell ultimately passed the test without his knowledge and received his first round of training, conveying the Army Without Borders' ideology.

Having just returned from her mission at the abandoned mine, where she had taught Shattered Bones and W a lesson, Chaoshan gazed upon the devastated slums, overwhelmed with emotion. After a moment's thought, she decided to give this newcomer a task.

Wow! It's so spacious!

Exusiai's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed in amazement.

As an underground logistics organization, Penguin Logistics can smuggle even the two stone lions in front of the Guard Bureau building over, provided the price is right, and arrives on time and safely. They know Lungmen's terrain intimately, whether it's the city center, the slums, or the wealthy districts. The spacious facilities that have sprung up out of nowhere are like a stadium, inexplicably stirring emotions within them.

A city overnight.

While it may not have come to that extent, it still leaves one in awe.

"Amazing……"

Amiya's rabbit ears stood up, and she held the Doctor's hand, glancing left and right.

This big house wasn't even here yesterday when we were fighting a brutal street battle with the enemy in the slums. Considering the large-scale fighting that took place here last night, it was probably rebuilt after the battle... in such a short time?!

"It's as exaggerated as ever..."

Lin Lu glanced at it and immediately understood where the work came from.

"Checking where the problem is and then repairing it is too troublesome. Let's just rebuild it!" This is the style of the base construction team of the Army Without Borders: when in doubt, they simply replace it to solve the problem thoroughly from the root.

Lin Lu stared blankly at the residents dressed in the same green coats that had been distributed to him.

Hearing Exusiai and Amiya's words of reflection, some residents of the slums resting in the shelter couldn't help but show expressions of pride, while others exchanged smiles. Whether men or women, old or young, their faces showed no despair after the natural disaster or man-made calamity, but rather a relaxed and serene expression, their gazes reflecting a faint but genuine will.

These are the houses they helped build. This is a miracle created by the people at the very bottom of Longmen through their own efforts and cooperation during the most difficult times.

"Is this satisfactory, Mr. Lin?"

Alexander Swell stood respectfully by his side, looking at the crowd ahead, when he suddenly felt a slight pain in his liver.

Managing the residents of the slums was his first task after taking over from the Army Without Borders organization.

The head of the Chaoshan gang claimed that this would make the BOSS... that is, Mr. Lin, happy, so even if it meant making Swell's hairline recede by five centimeters, she had to complete it.

Swail had no choice but to accept the challenge: how to deal with the slum dwellers who had lost their homes.

This task is definitely not as simple as it seems. It's not just about finding an empty spot to put people down, providing some hot water, and ensuring they don't die. These residents, whose homes were still standing not long ago, are now nothing but ruins, as if everything has turned to dust. Some people's homes are gone, some people's workplaces are gone, and for some, the very things that gave them hope for life are gone.

This is a slum, a place where people who have no money live and have to work themselves to the bone just to make ends meet.

Even if they miraculously escaped the ravages of war, so what? Even if they barely survived, so what? How were they supposed to live from now on? Had even two loaves of rye bread a day become a luxury? Fear was spreading, unease was pervasive, and widespread panic was gradually forming. At this point, all it took was one person to let out a desperate cry of despair, and the illusion of the end of the world would be created.

The death toll may far exceed that of the Reunion Movement's infected attacks.

Looking at the refugees trapped in the slums, Alexander Swell realized just how heavy the task he had been given was. He also knew that he was absolutely the best person to complete it.

Swell's fighting skills were poor, and he wasn't particularly bright, only knowing how to memorize by rote. But his strong will allowed him to endure, living alongside the enemy who killed his mother. He disguised himself as the good-for-nothing playboy he despised, spending his days indulging in pleasure and making others think he was insignificant. He lurked in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity, desperately trying to survive.

Anxiety, worry, fear—he hovered on the verge of losing his composure. Sleepless nights, he could feel the omnipresent gaze. Despair, suicidal thoughts, inability to breathe—this was the world Swell had lived in until hours before, Swell's battlefield, the place Swell would never surrender to.

Senior Superintendent of the Lungmen Guard Bureau.

Current manager of Longmen Yingmai Group.

The patriarch of the Alexander family.

This is Alexander Swail's identity, and also his trump card that enables him to change the slums.

In addition, Swir received a new identity card: an external member of the Army Without Borders.

this means……

The power of the borderless army will be Swell's strongest backing.

Swell first gathered the homeless, shivering slum dwellers in the cold night and quickly and effectively divided them into groups. He had the wounded treated and hemostatically stopped under the care of the Army Without Borders medical team, and then sheltered the frail elderly and young children in barely sheltered places from the wind. The able-bodied men who could do manual labor worked with the Army Without Borders base construction team to build safe houses that could accommodate thousands of people at the same time, and also prepared bathing facilities and toilets.

To escape the frenzied struggle between the Lungmen New Generation Organization and the Reunion Movement's infected, and to avoid the attacks of the giant monster, the Bone Raider, these residents were forced to hide in the cold, damp, and unsanitary sewers.

Whether infected or ordinary, they did not reject each other in the face of a common enemy, but prayed together to survive. This kind of tragic equality may be the only way for ordinary people and those infected with Oripathy to coexist harmoniously. If so, it is all the more tragic.

Alexander Swell summoned all levels of the Eagle Pulse Group overnight to mobilize resources, precisely targeting the bare minimum needed to sustain a person's basic needs. This included high-calorie, quick-to-eat convenience foods, supplementary medications, warmth supplies, building materials, and more.

As a senior superintendent, he coordinated the maximum support the Guard Bureau could provide, and also used his position as the patriarch of the Alexander family to navigate the gray areas of Lungmen. Swell knew that none of these people truly wanted the slums to be destroyed; the slums were one of their sources of income. Therefore… even if it meant taking advantage of the situation, he would still try to gain some power from them.

This night is a night in which the people of Longmen unite as one to strive for a common goal.

Perhaps everyone had their own motives, perhaps everyone was acting in their own self-interest... so what? The result was that before the torrential rain with high levels of Originium radiation descended, these unfortunate victims had a safe haven from the wind and rain. There was hot soup and dry rations, everyone was able to wash themselves, change into new clothes, and sleep soundly among the throng of people.

This made Lin Lu feel a surge of passion deep within him.

Lin Lu was not a saint; he never considered himself the kind of fool who would sacrifice himself for a stranger. His actions were all guided by one idea: he did what he wanted to do.

For example, Lin Lu rushed to the upper town of Chernobog after hearing a girl's cries for help. This wasn't because Lin Lu was compassionate, but simply because he wanted to see her and see what kind of person would stubbornly persist in surviving in such a cruel place.

That's it.

"You did a good job, you did a good job!"

Lin Lu nudged Swell slightly with his shoulder. He had to admit that something inside him had deeply moved him after seeing the scene before him. He felt that he could be a little more willful and do more things according to his own wishes.

It wasn't just Lin Lu who changed the people around him; these hardworking people were also gradually changing his mindset.

It is impossible for a person to live in this world alone.

"Yes!"

Suddenly, Swell felt his chest fill with a sense of accomplishment. This willingness to risk everything to gain recognition, the materialization of an intangible will... made him unable to resist tilting his head back and suppressing the urge to cry.

Alexander Swail, living a muddy half-life, finally met the person who would change his future.

The cycle of cause and effect dictates that without Lin Lu's trust in him, he would not have been able to save these refugees who had once lost all hope.

Amiya stood calmly beside Lin Lu. She could sense Swell's emotional turmoil, and she could also feel the emotions of the slum dwellers. Everyone was exhausted, but... everyone clearly felt they were still alive, everyone had hope. They had fought to reclaim their place of refuge; this wasn't just living in the present, it was preparing for a brighter future—

"first step."

Swell suppressed the urge to sob, adjusting his breathing to make his words less hoarse.

"This is our first step."

“We will rebuild the slums, and we will ensure that everyone who works hard receives the reward they deserve. Eagle Pulse Group will provide a large number of jobs, and we will screen every person who works hard, regardless of whether they are infected with Oripathy. After spending this night together, I believe that the people here are not lazy parasites.”

"Longmen should never have established such a stigmatizing slum in the first place! It shouldn't be a case of deliberately trampling on people's lives as a contrast to satisfy the selfish desires of a few. This is wrong, and it must be corrected!"

"It sounds naive, doesn't it? But I want to try. For the first time in all my years, I've found a purpose other than simply surviving, and I'm willing to fight tooth and nail for it. Lungmen is a wonderful city; it's just covered in dust now, and I'll wash away those stains. Mr. Lin, doesn't this sound a little... childish?"

Swell's palms were sweating; he was very nervous, but he still wanted to tell Lin Lu his thoughts. To him, Lin Lu was his guide, the North Star that pointed him in the right direction.

"No one can criticize another person's dreams, whether they want to be a pianist, an astronaut when they grow up, or a delivery rider on a bicycle."

Lin Lu gave a serious answer, believing that he had to respond at this point.

"If you take action to pursue your ideals, then no matter what the outcome, the process will definitely be meaningful."

"Exactly!" Exusiai, who had been eavesdropping the whole time, jumped out in agreement. "Uncle! A man is a boy until he dies! Don't give up on your dreams! Although you look pathetic when you're drunk in the bar, you're really cool when you're working hard!"

"Exusiai! Don't interrupt when people are talking about serious matters! Sorry for being rude."

Texas embraced the excited Exusiai and carried her back.

"I think she's right, you can be more confident."

Lin Lu glanced at Exusiai, who was making a fuss in Texas's arms, and couldn't help but smile like a proud father.

"Those who care about this city are not just the Royal Guard officers fighting on the front lines against the enemy, but also you. It is because of people like you that Lungmen has not fallen. Even though it is scarred, Lungmen still has a breath left. By removing the lesions and solving the problem at its root, I believe that one day this pearl of Terra will shine brightly again."

Lin Lu gazed into the distance, and as far as his eyes could see, the residents of the slum, whether ordinary people or infected, all wore satisfied smiles. A future possibility was gradually taking shape.

“Swell, your key is already on the silver lock, all that’s left is to turn it open.”

"Yes, Mr. Lin!"

Behind the Rhodes Island group, Superintendent Chen, who was eavesdropping in the shadows to avoid suspicion, was somewhat stunned.

She leaned against the wall, feeling a real, slightly cold touch behind her, yet it warmed her heart. This facility was built overnight to provide a safe haven for people, so they would no longer be displaced and could rest even on rainy days.

Chen Huijie knew this city very well; she had done many things here, and she believed no one understood Lungmen better than her. She thought everything she did at the Guard Bureau was to make Lungmen a better place, but now…

She looked at the residents of the slum in the shelter. Everyone here had experienced disaster, but there was no fear or hesitation on their faces, no weakness or despair. They were not worried about tomorrow, nor were they confused about the future.

"Longmen..."

Chen picked up the teddy bear that the infected girl had given her.

Perhaps it was because of the warm light, but the teddy bear's eyes reflected a cozy glow.

Chen placed her hands on the teddy bear, and without realizing it, a smile appeared on her face.

Chapter 360 Thank you, Hermer (4K)

Rhodes Island ships.

Escorted by Penguin Logistics, Lin Lu and Amiya returned to the fifth district of the outer ring of Longmen.

Lin Lu had originally planned to take Amiya and her group to the Longmen Restaurant in Chaolong Mountain for lunch, but Amiya said that Dr. Kal'tsit had mentioned earlier that they needed to discuss work today. Their visit to the slums to assess the situation was also partly due to the fact that if the Guard Bureau didn't intend to take charge, Rhodes Island, as an international medical company, would offer necessary assistance.

Although Rhodes Island cannot accept so many disaster victims, nor is it obligated to do so, it can still do what it can.

Upon returning to the Rhodes Island ship, Penguin Logistics' temporary mission was considered complete. Before departing, Exusiai excitedly ran to the Rhodes Island medical ward; as an expatriate operator, she was entitled to a free medical check-up. Texas, on the other hand, went to the Rhodes Island ship's lounge area, ordered a black coffee in the café, and quietly enjoyed a moment of tranquility.

Texas does enjoy sweets to refresh her tired brain, but she also loves the bittersweet taste of coffee. Both chocolate bars and coffee help relieve the headaches caused by Exusiai's excessive energy.

"Dong dong."

A soft knock came from the door of Kal'tsit's office.

"Please come in—Amiya, where is the Doctor?"

Kal'tsit asked, not seeing the familiar figure behind Amiya as she entered.

"Haha... Doctor... ran away."

Amiya gave an awkward but polite smile, her tone somewhat helpless.

Because of the large number of operators coming and going in the corridors of the Rhodes Island ship, Amiya, who had been holding the Doctor's right hand, felt a little shy under everyone's gaze. In less than five minutes after she let go of his hand... the Doctor disappeared in the blink of an eye!

This PhD student will do anything to avoid work!

"I knew it……"

Kal'tsit sighed and rubbed her forehead; she had roughly guessed that Lin Lu would do this.

As if anticipating this, she invoked the PRTS system to locate the doctor's mobile terminal.

A soft, shimmering blue light quietly spread across the table, revealing the entire structure of the Rhodes Island ship, suspended in mid-air in a three-dimensional model. Specks of light moved about, eventually marking the deep red dot representing Doctor Token as the system filtered and identified the dot.

Kal'tsit and Amiya gazed silently at the 3D structural diagram, exchanging a glance.

"Intensive care unit?"