Ark Chess Player.

Rather than a tactical mastermind, it's more like the whispers of a demon, immersing players in the battle from which they cannot escape.

No one raised any objection, not because they didn't want to, but because they dared not.

He believed the other three Guardian Operators shared his thoughts, only their eyes seemed somewhat... fanatical?

"Are you OK?"

A caring voice came from beside him, startling the guard operative who gripped his sword hilt tightly. Realizing his rudeness, he quickly shook his head.

"It's nothing, I'm just a little... nervous. The doctor's tactical command is indeed reassuring, just like the rumors say, it's quite an eye-opener."

"Right! Impressive, right! Easy peasy, right! Hmph, Doctor's strength is not just this much." Amiya smiled perfectly, as if she were the one being praised. She said with a hint of pride, "The battles that Doctor has experienced are not just this level."

Lin Lu glanced at her, tilted his head slightly, and tried to recall the relevant memories, but still had no recollection.

"Doctor, we should leave. It's not safe here. There may be many more soldiers invading this place."

"Okay, wait a moment."

Lin Lu turned around and removed the mask from the face of a Reunion soldier.

This is a boy who is only fifteen years old. His right eye has been penetrated by Originium crystals, and half of his face is covered with signs of infection.

"Oh, young man, your days are numbered. Do you have any last words?"

Lin Lu said softly, "The data-driven perspective not only provides material information, but also allows me to see some special data about others. It is precisely because of this that I was able to judge the ability level of the four Guardian Operators upon their first meeting, and thus make reasonable tactical arrangements."

The Originium infection level of this boy is such that even if he doesn't die on the battlefield, he won't last more than a week.

"...You are not Ursus people! Why are you stopping us!"

The boy's eyes were bloodshot, and he clenched his teeth tightly, trying to break free of the ropes.

"The reason is simple."

Lin Lu covered his face with the mask and said calmly, "There are only two kinds of people in this world: those who are my people and those who are my enemies. That's all."

"You, you devil!"

"Are these your last words?"

"...Tsk, what last words could I possibly have? Countless people like me have died. And it will be the same from now on, everyone will die." The boy gritted his teeth, recalling why he joined the Reunion Movement, why he donned the uniform equipment and weapons purchased from the underground market, and why he stepped onto the battlefield without hesitation.

"I hope that when I die, we will have completed our mission... to ensure that every infected person has enough to eat, enough clothes to wear, and a warm home."

"I see. Then you'll probably live for a very long time."

Lin Lu extended his left hand and placed it on the boy's right eye, where a crystal had formed. A faint cobalt blue light appeared on the back of his hand.

The boy opened his left eye wide and stared intently at Lin Lu, but couldn't utter a single word.

His consciousness gradually faded, and the last image that appeared before his eyes was the strange symbol on the back of the other person's hand.

...like a burning flag.

Lin Lu withdrew his left hand, put the mask back on the boy's face, and tapped it gently.

"Use these eyes to witness the future of those infected, young man."

……

"Doctor, greetings. I am Dubin from Operations Team E1, formerly of the Bolivarian National Guard. Time is limited, so I'll get straight to the point. We are currently in the core facilities of Chernobog. Our long-range communications are blocked, and we are unable to contact Dr. Kal'tsit, the leader of this rescue operation. Unable to maintain contact with Dr. Kal'tsit, we are implementing our backup plan: leading the rescue team to the assembly point in the west to confirm the evacuation signal."

"……Uh-huh."

Lin Lu observed Doberman's ears and hair from a data-driven perspective, his attention wandering.

—Okay, I really want to touch it.

It looks very high-quality; I wonder what it feels like to touch. It seems like it would be very smooth...

"Doctor, can you hear me?"

"PhD?"

"Did you get disconnected?"

Dubin involuntarily frowned. She didn't have a deep impression of the doctor; it was only their first meeting, and she had only heard a few rumors about him.

Seeing this, Amiya quickly came over and said, "Dobermann, the Doctor isn't doing well right now..."

"What do you mean?"

"Simply put, it means... the doctor has lost his memory."

"What?!" Dubin turned to Lin Lu, tightening his grip on the whip. "We've lost so much, all for—"

“Dobermann!” Amiya emphasized, choking back Dobermann’s rude words. She didn’t back down at all. “The Doctor is still capable of commanding the squad. When Reunion sent a squad to hold off the E1 Operations Group, their main force was successfully subdued by the vanguard team under the Doctor’s command. At least based on the performance in this battle, I am willing to believe in the Doctor.”

"...I'm still not very willing to trust a stranger."

Dubin looked at Lin Lu, who still had his eyes closed and seemed indifferent, and couldn't help but get angry.

“If you think that ‘as long as you sit in the commander’s seat, you can relax and slack off as you please,’ I will definitely correct your thinking, Doctor.”

"Can I take that you have already approved me as the commander?" Lin Lu raised the corners of his mouth slightly.

“I don’t believe you.” Dobermann turned slightly, her back standing proudly like bamboo, her words sharp, “But I believe Amiya.”

“Doberman…” Amiya, who was anxious to protect Bo, wanted to say something, but Lin Lu stopped her by putting his hand on her shoulder.

“It’s alright, this is fine.” Lin Lu maintained his warm smile and said softly, “I don’t need your approval, I only need your obedience. Dubin, I believe you, who once served in the Bolivarian National Guard, must also understand this…”

Lin Lu narrowed his eyes slightly, his cobalt blue pupils radiating a deep and mysterious light.

"A team doesn't need the voices of two commanders."

Chapter Seven: Chess Pieces

Lin Lu looked up, opened his eyes, and gazed at the burning high-rise buildings, the destroyed streetlights, and the dark, overcast sky.

He was stunned for a full minute before finally loading the data map in his mind, letting out a long breath, and closing his eyes again.

He memorized the entire Ursus core area, including even the underground drainage system and the pipes connecting the Originium Engine.

If an unavoidable crisis were to occur, he could also directly break through the core area and separate it from Chernobog. The principle behind the mobile city is to divide an entire city into different parts, each equipped with its own Originium Drive System, allowing it to leave its original location at high speed in the event of a natural disaster.

Natural disasters are a collective term for the various natural calamities that frequently occur in the world of Terra.

Natural disasters include, but are not limited to, storms, snowstorms, heavy rainfall, floods, and even meteorite impacts. Natural disasters occur very frequently and their patterns are difficult to predict, forcing almost all countries to adopt the practice of periodically relocating their homes and settlements to avoid disaster.

A few regions are fortunate enough to be free from natural disasters year-round, but such environments are mostly unsuitable for human habitation.

"Doberman, where is our meeting point? Mark it on the map."

"...Doctor, can you see the map with your eyes closed?"

"Doberman, you look charming sticking your tongue out."

"I didn't stick my tongue out!"

Dobermann frowned, though she wanted to make a face, she held back. As the instructor of the Rhodes Island operators, her self-discipline was unmatched; perhaps only those who strictly adhered to the rules could share common ground with her.

Lin Lu casually said, "Sometimes, you can see more with your eyes closed, and besides, I don't want to lose the fighting power of my own people before the battle even starts."

"..."

Dubin stopped arguing. When Lin Lu had slightly narrowed his eyes earlier, it had made her hair stand on end and her skin feel a stinging sensation. Her definition of the doctor had changed because of this; this person who looked like the friendly older brother next door might actually be incredibly ruthless inside.

Lin Lu tapped the map displayed on the electronic device, tracing its outline with his fingers, aligning it with the data map in his mind. Seventy percent of the map matched; the map Rhodes Island obtained was never truly comprehensive, and the locations of some important facilities had been subtly replaced with inconspicuous places.

However, Rhodes Island's rescue team never intended to go there, so minor map errors weren't a big deal. After all, not everyone can be like Lin Lu, capable of digitizing everything in the world and strategizing with such authority.

"Then, I'll plan the rest of the journey. We'll avoid contact with Reunion soldiers as much as possible, unless absolutely necessary. As for the Ursus military forces... Hmph, we don't need to worry about them. Let them act all they want. Ursus is truly rotten to the core."

Lin Lu said calmly, his simple words revealing a wealth of information.

Amiya seemed to be deep in thought, as if she had made a connection to something, and her expression grew increasingly grim.

"PhD--"

"Amiya, don't worry so much. Let's talk about some things when we're safe. Time is precious." Lin Lu interrupted Amiya's question, glancing at the other members of the rescue team. Fortunately, these agents were all sensible and didn't eavesdrop on their leader's conversation.

"Um……"

Amiya lowered her ears slightly, her mood somewhat downcast.

Once an idea takes root, it spreads uncontrollably, especially among those who are willing to think about it.

Amiya then realized that the situation was worse than she had imagined.

"The wind is quite noisy today."

Lin Lu glanced at the unusual dark clouds, lost in thought.

"The wind has brought some bad things with it, hasn't it?"

Lin Lu calmly spoke to Amiya and Dobermann, and the two instantly understood what the doctor was implying.

"Amiya, have you told the Doctor... about Rhodes Island detecting that a catastrophe is about to strike Chernobog?" Dobermann asked Amiya in a low voice.

Amiya shook her head. She didn't know how the Doctor knew about this. Could he predict natural disasters just by looking at the sky? Even a seasoned messenger of natural disasters couldn't do that, right?

"How much time do we have left?" Amiya asked in a deep voice.

“Three and a half hours… In three and a half hours, the natural disaster will engulf this city.” Dubin’s face was grim. The rescue team had risked their lives to come and rescue the doctor. This was their only chance. “If we fail to leave here within this timeframe, everything will be over when the natural disaster strikes.”

"I understand."

Amiya turned and nodded to Lin Lu.

"Stand your formation! Everyone, get ready! Let's move out to the assembly point!"

……

Chernobog, the central city.

The once bustling streets have lost their former glory, and the once vibrant shops are now only scarred by the devastation of war.

The area has been almost completely suppressed by the Reunion Movement. Apart from a few military and police personnel who are still putting up a stubborn resistance, no one can stop the infected from advancing.

Cries and agonizing screams echoed beneath the thick, dark clouds as Ursus citizens, captured alive by Reunion soldiers, were stripped of their weapons and placed in the plaza. Those who resisted were killed on the spot, while the survivors huddled together, trembling with fear.

A woman begged the other party to spare her child, but was kicked back to the spot.

"When you laughed and burned my brother to death in this square, who heard my cries?"

The soldier said coldly, as he drew his long knife and held it to the woman's neck.

"This is the last warning. Stay here."

No matter how much the citizens pleaded or cried, the Reunion Movement soldiers here remained unmoved.

Some were directly persecuted, some witnessed their loved ones die tragically before their eyes, and some were already trapped in despair, on the verge of death. They all shared the same identity: Oripathy infected. Oripathy is theoretically a 100% fatal infectious disease. Currently, there is no medicine on the market that can completely cure the disease; only medications that temporarily alleviate symptoms and slightly reduce the Originium fusion rate are available—all of which are merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause.

If the disease weren't contagious, they might have received better treatment, but unfortunately... people are afraid when facing death.

This fear will turn into a flame of hatred.

People's thoughts shifted from "I don't want to die, I don't want to get Oripathy" to—it's all the infected person's fault! They're already dying, yet they drag others down with them. Can't they just find a quiet, secluded place to die peacefully? Why do they have to walk so brazenly down the street! I understand now, this infected person must be trying to drag everyone down with them. Arrest him, arrest him, arrest him and execute him!!

It seemed as if there was no place for the infected in this world, especially in the war empire of Ursus. Ursus's political propaganda instilled fear of the infected in its people, so when it came to capturing them, the public naturally took it for granted and applauded.

Even the demonstrations to expel infected people have become legitimate, and passersby are encouraged to join the frenzy to eradicate the infected.

"You, you lot, keep your arrogance while you can! When the imperial cavalry arrives, it will be your death day!"

A high-ranking Ursus man stood up and roared. He seemed unable to contain his anxiety. As a superior man, he had accumulated political capital by trampling on the lives of infected people in a politically correct way, thus securing his official career.

Imagine a white sausage on your plate jumping up and poking your fork; how could you stand that?

At the same time, he thought to himself that this was the most dangerous period, but also the best opportunity to demonstrate his value.

Throughout his tenure, he consistently projected a diplomatic image of bullying the infected, demonstrating to the public his ability to do so and publicizing his resolute fight against them, thereby gaining the support of the radical people of Ursus.

He believed that as long as he could weather this storm and the military and police reinforcements arrived to suppress these villains, his unwavering loyalty to Ursus in times of crisis would qualify him to run for the Imperial Senate seat in Chernobog.

But what he could never have guessed was...

The great Chernobog was merely a pawn.

Or--

He was just a discarded pawn.