Ark Chess Player.

"Of course I remember."

Kal'tsit sighed softly. How could she possibly forget?

Moonlit Lake, an ancient site.

That's a trap.

That was the fuse.

That was the worst decision of her life.

If she hadn't insisted that Lin Lu go to the ancient ruins to find ancient knowledge that could turn the tide, or something similar to the legacy of the Rhodes Island ship, things might not be so bad now.

“Back then, three Old Gods appeared in the ancient ruins, a situation that could have been fatal.” Kal'tsit recalled the past, a lump forming in her throat, even her breathing becoming heavy. “Lin Lu killed two of them, but by then he was all alone. The elite squad of the Borderless Army fought alongside him to the very last moment, and was completely wiped out. He desperately left behind a message, saying… he was going to deal with the last Old God.”

Kal'tsit lowered her eyes slightly. She didn't know what had happened during the time Lin Lu was missing, whether he had embarked on the path of god-slaying, or whether it had ended in disaster. She knew none of that. All she knew was…

When Lin Lu returned to the ship, he became even more silent, as if all emotions had been stripped away, speaking no more than three sentences a day. He gave off an aura of unapproachability, becoming even colder and more ruthless when commanding operations, no longer treating operators as people, but as numbers.

He once said that in order to save an operator, he would rather turn the entire battle around than sacrifice a single person.

Returning from Moonlit Lake, even though he won every battle, the casualties were far greater than before. If he had to sacrifice fifty men versus fifty-one, he would choose to sacrifice fifty, instead of striving for absolute victory and ensuring not a single one was lost, as he had done before.

The evil spirits of the Tower of Babel.

Who exactly started calling him that?

Are they enemies from whom we can never see hope, or our own people from whom we can no longer see the future?

Finally, that thing happened.

Princess Theresa fell into Lin Lu's arms.

Lin Lu, critically injured and on the verge of death, held Theresa in his arms without saying a word, as if he had lost the ability to organize his thoughts.

Kal'tsit personally placed Lin Lu into the stone coffin. She didn't even know if she should hope for Lin Lu's resurrection; she didn't know who would awaken. Lin Lu? The legendary mercenary? The Originium Scholar? The historian? Or the evil spirit of Babel? She didn't know.

"Doctor Kelsey."

Amiya gently radiated her spiritual power, soothing Kal'tsit.

"This time we'll fight alongside the Doctor; we won't let him face this alone. Don't worry, it's just an ancient god from an ancient ruin. The Doctor has killed them before, more than once or twice."

Amiya's azure eyes were shining.

"They're just gods, nothing more."

Chapter 411 He is a PhD

Amiya knew that Kal'tsit had a deep-seated problem.

Princess Theresa has left, and the Doctor has also been laid in a sarcophagus. The Army Without Borders has left Rhodes Island after losing its leader.

The lives of hundreds of people on Rhodes Island rested on Kal'tsit's shoulders. She couldn't afford to relax; no one else could hold the line. At that time, Amiya was just a little Katya who could barely read; she was the future of Rhodes Island.

Kal'tsit carried Rhodes Island on her shoulders, injecting herself with psychiatric drugs countless times to force herself to stay energized, handling all matters like a tireless office machine. Only then did she understand what Lin Lu had been carrying.

At the time, Lin Lu was in charge of the basic construction and power supply of Rhodes Island's ships, served as the tactical instructor for Babel Tower, coordinated the combat training of all operators and Babel Tower mercenaries, and ensured that there were fixed manpower searches every day. If anyone with good attributes was found, he would just knock them out and take them away with a set of CQC combat techniques. He also entertained guests, processed materials, trained researchers, occasionally cooked himself, and was responsible for coaxing Amiya, who suffered from insomnia, to sleep every day.

He has a keen eye for talent, able to recognize the abilities of each operator and place them in suitable positions to shine.

He was resourceful and accurately predicted the work efficiency of his agents, thus adjusting their work schedules to suit their physical and mental conditions.

He was reasonable, understanding, and tolerant, using high emotional intelligence to encourage his operators, making them willing to serve him. As a result, these operators worked overtime during the unstable—flexible—working hours without complaint, even feeling it was a blessing from their past lives, grateful that they hadn't been fired, and placing their trust in him. They even gained five trust points every day they came to work.

He was never ashamed to ask questions, even those in high positions would humbly seek advice, asking where there were suitable people to recruit into the Tower of Babel. He always insisted on personally interviewing every new agent, regardless of friend or foe, race, trying to influence them with love and peace—if influencing them failed, he would cremate them.

He has a keen eye for talent; whether it's an operator or a mercenary, he can always see through their potential and find a suitable development path for them. He understands the equipment and materials they need to become stronger, knows the best places to obtain these materials, and knows the cost to achieve their goal.

Is it scary?

Yes, it's scary.

The scariest thing is that these are all side jobs.

Lin Lü's position is the field commander of Babel Tower, who is both the chief of staff and the commander-in-chief.

At that time, Babel was embroiled in the Kazdel Civil War, with constant fighting, minor skirmishes every two days, and major battles every three days, with weekends off. The frequency of battles was far higher than it is now, and Lin Lu could be seen deploying his troops and slaughtering enemies almost every day, creating one battlefield anecdote after another.

This is why, after Lin Lu was placed in his coffin, the situation at Babel Tower plummeted to rock bottom, forcing him to go into hiding.

No one can replace him, no one can take his place, not even Kal'tsit.

Now that the Doctor has returned to Rhodes Island, he's only been at work for a few days and he's already disappearing every day.

When Kal'tsit saw Amidala appear in Lungmen, her PTSD flared up on the spot, and she was completely terrified. So what if the Lungmen cooperation negotiations fell apart? Anyway, I can't lose my Lin Lu; if I lose her, Rhodes Island will go bankrupt. I can't stand this kind of humiliation.

At that moment, Lin Lu stepped forward again and suppressed the Old Ones with his own strength.

"They're just gods, nothing more."

Amiya stood before her, speaking with unwavering conviction.

Kal'tsit couldn't help but laugh.

Huang saw this and was so frightened that he trembled.

Kal'tsit actually smiled? Kal'tsit can smile? Blaze felt like her brain couldn't keep up with what was happening.

"Amiya, you are right."

Kal'tsit smiled, feeling as if something had been let go.

Amiya's face lit up with joy, and she confidently patted her unremarkable chest.

"We will definitely succeed, don't worry, Dr. Kal'tsit!"

Kal'tsit gently shook her head. "That's not what I meant."

"That is……"

Amiya tilted her head in confusion.

Kal'tsit murmured to herself, "When you, Ace, and Scout suggested rescuing Lin Lu, I hesitated for a long time. I knew it was the only chance. At that time, we didn't know that the Reunion Movement was ready to attack the city. We only knew that Chernobog was very likely to leave the Yanwu border and go into the heart of Ursus in order to escape the natural disaster. The probability of success in carrying out a rescue inside Ursus was close to zero."

"But I don't dare to gamble."

"I dare not place Rhodes Island's future on a vague and unrealistic plan."

“Rhodes Island cannot withstand another blow. If it fails, it won’t even be able to survive. I don’t know what that person will be like when he wakes up. If he is still a war machine without emotions, I hope he sleeps in the sarcophagus forever and never wakes up again. Perhaps the one who will destroy this world is not a natural disaster, but him. The destroyer of the world, Lin Lu.”

"So I chose to abstain."

"Because I still have a glimmer of hope in my heart."

Kal'tsit gently put her arm around Amiya's shoulder and hugged the little bunny who had unknowingly grown to her chest height.

“If it were you, even that cruel and ruthless war machine would be moved. I believe in you, Amiya. That’s why I agreed to let you infiltrate Chernobog as commander. You are his and Theresa’s future. The only person in this world who can restore his emotions is you.”

Lin Lu, who had just returned from Moonlit Lake, was indifferent to everyone he met, but when he saw Amiya, a trace of humanity returned to his eyes.

"Doctor Kelsey..."

Amiya gently hugged Kal'tsit from behind.

It seemed to be the first time she realized that Kal'tsit's body was so petite, and that she was much more ordinary than she had imagined.

This slender woman single-handedly held up the sky after losing her beloved and important person.

"Go, Amiya."

After recovering from her brief emotional outburst, Kal'tsit looked at Amiya with eyes full of relief.

"Defeat the ancient gods of the ruins, help Lin Lu, and tell him that Rhodes Island is also well-established. Also, keep an eye on him and don't let him get lost again. He maxed out my credit card; I won't let him leave without 30 years of unpaid labor."

"Yes, Dr. Kal'tsit!"

Amiya blinked, tiptoed, and whispered in Kal'tsit's ear, "Thirty years isn't enough, we want his whole life."

After saying that, Amiya, blushing, led Huang towards a refuge below Lungmen, ignoring Huang's shouts.

Kal'tsit watched them walk away and couldn't help but smile.

"lifetime……"

Kal'tsit clenched her fists.

This time, she will not abstain.

Chapter 412 Ragnarok (4K)

The border of Longmen, a desert mine.

Lin Lu, with Chen Yilu in his arms, rushed here from downtown Longmen, pushing his speed to the limit.

Air clumps kept condensing in mid-air, and stepping on them generated propulsion, almost making my legs cramp.

Chen Huijie gave up thinking. At first, she had thought of helping, but after Lin Lu yelled at her not to move, she nestled in Lin Lu's arms with a wronged look on her face, and finally simply closed her eyes to rest. It wasn't that she trusted Lin Lu with her life, but rather that Lin Lu's hands had a strange power that made her feel safe and comfortable, and unconsciously let down her guard.

Amida rushed over, and Lin Lu was nearly hit several times by the long arm that He had broken off and used as a weapon. If this had been filmed, Lin Lu would probably have been turned into a cloud of blood mist on the spot, with bits of flesh embedded ten meters into the ground.

Lin Lu didn't need to look back; his data-driven spiritual domain dynamically captured Amidala's every move without delay. He constructed a data grid in his mind, building an instantaneous effect module, and mastering the terrain as well. In a sense, it was like opening a third-person perspective, allowing him to see things from a macroscopic viewpoint.

"Huh... this is it."

Lin Lu let out a soft breath. Even he would feel tired after using his mind for a long time. What's more, he was still injured. Bo Zhuokasti's punch was too brutal. Lin Lu's heart was blown apart. If he were cut into five pieces and turned into a dark mage, he would have no one to blame but himself.

The data-driven spirit realm has sensed that the Rhodes Island team has assembled, so the next step is to destroy Amidala.

"Miss Chen?"

"Wake up, Officer Chen, Superintendent Chen!"

"Hoshiguma has moved the Civil Affairs Bureau here to marry you!!"

"Where? Where!"

Chen Huijie suddenly woke up with a start; she had actually fallen asleep, and was sleeping very peacefully.

From yesterday until now, almost two days and one night, Chen has only rested for one hour. Even the strongest willpower has its limits. What's more, she was injured in battle today, and a surge of intense fatigue immediately caused her brain to enter a state of sleep as a self-protective mechanism—it was definitely not because Lin Lu's body was warm and she fell asleep while being held, absolutely not!

"You lied to me!!"

Chen looked around, but there was no sign of the Civil Affairs Bureau, or even Hoshiguma.

"Is this the point?"

Lin Lu was convinced. No wonder Chen was so angry when they first met, because Hoshiguma kept bragging about how awesome Lin Lu was, how great his command was, and how fun he was in fights! Chen listened to him with a friendly smile.

Lin Lu rolled his eyes at Chen, but his movements did not stop. With a beautiful spatial refraction, he directly avoided Amidala's arcane laser.

"It's about twenty meters high. If I throw you down, you won't die, will you?" Lin Lu asked.

"...Are you kidding me? You're kidding me, right?! Here you go!"

Chen's expression changed drastically. At their current high speed, if Lin Lu really threw her off... it wouldn't be as simple as just being skinned alive. Even if she didn't die, she'd probably be crippled. Not to mention, there was Amidala following behind. Chen wasn't confident she could outrun Him; two legs couldn't compete with six legs.

"alright."

Lin Lu sighed helplessly.

The way he looked at Chen now was as if he were looking at a warehouse manager who could only be thrown off the field for three or four seconds, even with all the resources at his disposal.

"Prepare for a full-force attack. I'll throw you up into the air, then unleash all your power to cut down Amidala, as many as you can," Lin Lu said in a deep voice.

"what?"

Chen was stunned; she didn't quite understand.

"How did someone with your brain manage to get into the Guard Bureau as a senior superintendent?" Lawyer Lin seriously doubted whether Chen Huijie was related to Wei Yanwu and that she got to her current position purely through connections, or whether the Guard Bureau was just like that, merely the tallest among the short.

Believe it or not, there is actually such a possibility.

What else can the Guard Bureau do well besides infighting? It's easier for tall people to help press elevator buttons, right?

I'll give you three seconds to get ready!

Lin Lu's cobalt blue eyes emitted a deep, dark light, and a dazzling star chart appeared in his eyes, his spiritual domain operating at high speed.

He was calculating the optimal moment. He couldn't bring the danger to the Rhodes Island squad; he had to stop the rampaging Amidala here, otherwise, Amidala would just crash through their ranks and be finished. Not only that, he also had to prepare for the ensuing siege of Amidala. He had to do it.

Specter, Shining, Nearl, Far Mountain, Platinum, Blue Poison—their lives are in Lin Lu's hands.

Lawyer Lin will absolutely not sacrifice anyone; not a single one can be missing!