Asura in Arknights

"Show some self-awareness as a prisoner, and don't answer my questions with questions."

P.S. What a lousy job! I'm working overtime like crazy. I'm thinking of quitting and running away. The annoying thing is that my uncle works at the company, so I can't just quit directly. I'll wait until I finish my current project before leaving, otherwise it'll be hard to see him later.

Chapter 71 Negotiations Break Down

Xue Si's face immediately darkened.

He just lost, that's an indisputable fact, and even with the advantage of geographical dominance, he still suffered a crushing defeat.

Even though there was part of the reason for his underestimation of the enemy, Xue Si also understood that if it really came down to a fight, he probably wouldn't be a match for this person, not to mention that there was a group of Yan people watching him from the sidelines... He really didn't know where these monsters came from.

The situation is beyond human control, and Xue Si is not so naive as to think that these people would not dare to attack him.

So when Li Ang questioned Simone just now, he remained silent, because it wasn't Simone's fault. If he were in Simone's position, he couldn't think of a better choice either.

After a moment of silence, Xue Si slowly said, "Then let's make a deal."

"Didn't you want to go to the Skadino Mountains? Give me that pendant and tell me where you found it, and I'll make an exception and allow you to participate in this mountain festival, how about that?"

“Make an exception? No, there’s absolutely no need for you to make an exception. The mountain is right there, and we’re not disabled. Can’t we just walk over ourselves?” Li Ang raised his head slightly, pointing his nose at Xue Si with a disdainful look. “The price you paid wasn’t enough.”

Li Ang keenly sensed that the pendant held extraordinary significance for Xue Si, or rather, that the pendant's owner was extremely important to them. Therefore, Li Ang simply raised the price to see how Xue Si would react.

As for Magellan, there's no rush. Those two can't escape. Right now, the initiative is in Li Ang's hands, but if Xue Si finds out about Magellan's situation, the situation will reverse.

"you!"

A flash of anger crossed Xue Si's eyes, and a bluish-gray light surged from his body. However, the talismans attached to his body emitted an even stronger light, suppressing the light emanating from him.

Clutching her chest, Xue Si gasped for breath in pain.

“I advise you to be honest,” Li Ang said, seemingly in good faith. “If you want to get this pendant back, simply bringing us in isn’t enough.”

"Without my help... even if you know the way in, you'll never reach the end!" Xue Si shouted viciously, her face contorted with rage. "You can try if you don't believe me!"

Li Ang raised an eyebrow in surprise. This guy's attitude was really tough. Did he figure something out? Or... was he just being stubborn?

"Just like I said before, give me the pendant and tell me where you got it, and I can take you into the mountains. I can also let bygones be bygones regarding the kidnapping of me."

"Go ahead and pursue the matter if you want, we don't mind at all," Li Ang shrugged and said. "Am I right, Your Excellency?"

Jingzhe nodded silently and did not refute.

Jingzhe was a smart man. Although he didn't know what Li Ang had brought out, what he was doing was undoubtedly very beneficial to them. Under these circumstances, Jingzhe didn't mind standing up for Li Ang.

However, if it really comes to the point of no return, she really isn't afraid.

Seeing that Li Ang and Jingzhe were unwilling to give an inch, Xue Si's lips trembled slightly, and the expression on her face was no longer as ferocious as before.

Won.

Seeing Xue Si's hesitant expression, Li Ang knew that the other party was already considering backing down. He just didn't know what price Xue Si was willing to pay to get the pendant in his hand.

As a top expert in a country, the things he brings out shouldn't be too bad. Moreover, since Xue Si has already given in, it's necessary to subtly probe Magellan's issues as well.

Just as Li Ang was pondering how to extract information from her, something unexpected happened.

A small crack was opened in the four-sided screen, and a figure squeezed in from the outside, shouting excitedly, "The road into the mountains has been determined! We can set off anytime now!"

It was Magellan.

Oh no… Li Ang sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. How did those people outside let Magellan in like that?

He didn't plan to let the two meet until he could get the secret of that aura out of Xue Si. He couldn't let Xue Si notice the abnormality in Magellan's heart. But Magellan's sudden appearance completely ruined Li Ang's previous plans.

As expected, when Yuki saw Magellan suddenly barge in, he was stunned for a moment, and then the expression on his face gradually changed from astonishment to ecstatic joy.

His tense body gradually relaxed, and he leaned back in his chair, speaking slowly and deliberately, "I think it's necessary to modify the deal we just discussed."

Upon hearing this, Li Ang's face darkened.

That bastard really knows how to take advantage of any opportunity... He definitely noticed.

"Lord Justice, I will report everything you have done today to Her Majesty the Queen. We will then formally protest to the Yan Kingdom through diplomatic channels." Xue Si spoke confidently before them, "And that pendant, it is a priceless treasure of our Sami people. No matter where you obtained it, please return it immediately, otherwise..."

Li Ang had no intention of listening to his long-winded nonsense. He took two steps behind Xue Si and chopped him directly in the neck with a chop.

"Gah—" Xue Si cried out and fainted with her eyes rolled back.

"You talk too much nonsense," Li Ang said coldly.

Seeing what was happening before him, Magellan asked hesitantly, "Um...did I come at the wrong time?"

“It’s not just bad timing, your arrival at this time is absolutely terrible,” Li Ang sighed.

There's no point in lecturing Magellan now; it's not any of their fault, they were just... simply unlucky.

Under these circumstances, Li Ang didn't want to talk to Xue Si anymore. Who knew what kind of outrageous conditions he would demand? It would be better to use force to coerce him later.

So what if they offended him? Anyway, after leaving Sami, he and Adele will never set foot in this godforsaken place again. Do you think these Snow Spirits can go to Kazimierz to settle scores with him?

That place is now considered Li Ang's stronghold.

Seeing that the negotiations had broken down, and unwilling to have been used as a pawn for nothing, Jingzhe decided to ask Li Ang for clarification: "Can you explain what happened just now? And what is that pendant in your hand?"

“…Something related to Xue Si, which I obtained by chance.” Li Ang was silent for a moment before replying, “It has nothing to do with this matter, and I will handle the trouble it brings myself.”

"Then that's settled."

Seeing that Li Ang didn't want to talk about it, Jingzhe simply nodded and didn't press the matter further.

After dealing with Jingzhe, Li Ang asked Magellan, "Magellan, you just said the route has been finalized?"

“That’s right. I’ve identified another route into the mountains that can bypass the blockade at the Sami’s entrance and merge back into the original road from the other side.”

"Okay." Li Ang nodded emphatically.

"There's no need to wait until tonight, let's set off now, Miss Jingzhe, what do you think?"

"Is everything alright?"

Chapter Seventy-Two Leaving the City

Jingzhe was initially hesitant, but when Li Ang said he was confident he could evade all surveillance, she agreed without hesitation.

The earlier you set off, the fewer potential problems there will be; there's no reason to refuse the Awakening of Insects.

So Leon and Adele returned to their residence to prepare what they might need after setting off.

Although the two lived in different rooms, the thin walls here were obviously not very soundproof, and Li Ang could even hear Adele's somewhat heavy breathing.

After changing into his armor, Li Ang walked to the wall and leaned against it, whispering, "Adele, are you nervous?"

The sound did indeed reach Adele's ears next door, and Li Ang could feel her breath catch in her throat for a moment.

"...Yes, I'm really nervous right now."

After a long pause, Adele finally answered.

"Why don't you stay here for now? With people from the Dali Temple here, I can rest assured."

After hearing Adele's answer, Li Ang finally revealed what had been troubling him for so long: "I will bring your uncle and aunt back."

Originally, they only came here to look for traces of the Nauman couple, but unexpectedly they found their remains directly, which was completely contrary to their initial plan.

Making a daughter collect her parents' bodies... how cruel that is. Li Ang didn't want to put Adele in a difficult position; he could easily do it himself.

So, how will Adele answer?

-------------------------------------

When Li Ang and his companion returned to the Dali Temple's headquarters, the five men were already fully prepared and waiting there for quite some time.

Adele's answer did not surprise Li Ang. After more than half a year of trials, Adele's heart was no longer as fragile as before. Having come this far, would she really back down here?

of course not.

Li Ang respected Adele's choice, so he didn't try to persuade her any further.

"Sorry we're late, it took us a little while to prepare."

"It's alright." Jingzhe didn't seem to care that the two of them were late. "Let's get straight to the point. How do you plan to avoid the city's surveillance cameras?"

Hammerford may be a small town, but it has everything a mobile city should have: surveillance cameras and surveillance technology are everywhere.

After learning about the city's unique characteristics from Simone, Jingzhe realized that the surveillance devices they had found earlier were likely only a small part of the whole.

If we were to operate at night, Jingzhe would also allow me to avoid most of the surveillance devices under the cover of my magic.

But if it's during the day, you not only have to watch out for surveillance cameras, but also avoid the gaze of pedestrians on the street. The combination of these two factors makes the difficulty increase several times over.

At least Jingzhe couldn't think of any way to leave the city at this time.

Because she was confident in Li Ang's abilities, Jingzhe summoned Xuancheng and arranged the plan after she left. She wanted to see how Li Ang would get the seven of them to avoid the tight surveillance network.

"Actually, there's nothing special about it. You just need to follow me," Li Ang replied with a smile.

"..."

Jingzhe's brows were furrowed so deeply that they almost formed a "川" shape, indicating that she didn't quite believe what Li Ang was saying.

Seeing this, Li Ang did not explain his perception to Jingzhe. He simply said, "If you don't believe me, we can split up."

“My companions and I will leave the city now. You can take your men and move out at night. You can meet up with them outside the mobile city. I have no objection.”

“…No need, just do as you say.” Jingzhe thought for a few seconds and decided to trust Li Ang this time.

Operating in two groups would not only be troublesome, but even if they acted at night, Jingzhe had no complete plan to keep it from all the Sami people. Seeing how confident Li Ang was, it would be better to trust him this once.

"Then follow me. But remember, before we leave the mobile city, you must do whatever instructions I give, understand?"

Everyone nodded in agreement, including Simone.

She was quite cooperative. As for the other troublemaker, he had already been imprisoned by the Dali Temple people using special magic, deprived of his five senses and the ability to speak and move, and was carried on Simone's back.

These restrictions can only be lifted after he leaves the mobile city.

The team, led by Li Ang, was roughly divided into three parts.

Besides Li Ang, Magellan was also at the front, because he would need Magellan's guidance and help once they entered the snow mountain.

Jingzhe lagged behind the two of them, keeping an eye on the troublesome Xuesi duo to prevent them from causing any trouble on the way.

Adele and Xuancheng brought up the rear of the group.

Leon led the six people, sometimes walking and sometimes stopping. Sometimes they would skip the alleys and head straight for the main road, which made the others, except Adele, tremble with fear, afraid that after they crossed the next intersection, a group of fully armed Sami soldiers would block their way.

However, nothing happened.

Not to mention Sami soldiers, they didn't see a single person along the way, as if everyone had thoughtfully avoided them—of course, such a thing was impossible.

Following behind and watching the whole way, Jingzhe still couldn't figure out how Li Ang did it.

"They're out already?"

Standing on the edge of the city wall, Xuan Cheng looked at the snow-white earth in front of him with a look of utter disbelief.

When he led his men on an operation a while ago, he lost countless hairs trying to avoid surveillance. Even so, there were still many areas he couldn't enter. How could he walk out of the city like Li Ang strolling around?

"Otherwise, do you want to fight the guards?" Li Ang said with a shrug.

This was no challenge for Li Ang at all. The entire city's surveillance network was completely transparent to him. Even if there were any surveillance devices that he couldn't avoid, he could remotely influence their operation and make them only temporarily malfunction.

For him, it was the pedestrians running around who were more troublesome. To avoid them, Li Ang took many detours.

"Then we'll go first, don't tell me you can't get down from here."

Without waiting for the others to reply, Li Ang picked up Adele and jumped directly off the moving city, which was dozens of meters high.

Chapter Seventy-Three: Entering the Mountains

The jump from a height of over ten meters was only a blink of an eye. Just before the two landed, a gust of air suddenly appeared from beneath Li Ang's feet, supporting their bodies and allowing Li Ang to land steadily on the ground.

At this moment, Adele belatedly realized what was happening. She tapped Leon's helmet, seemingly scolding him for acting recklessly again.

Li Ang chuckled, put Adele down, and didn't refute anything.

A few seconds slower than the two of them, the others also jumped off the edge of the mobile city using their own methods.

Magellan was lifted down by a drone, which was unremarkable and nothing special. However, the actions of Jingzhe and the others were quite surprising.

The one who made the move was Xuan Cheng. He held a talisman between his fingers, and under a faint glow, gravity seemed to have no effect on them. The four of them landed lightly not far from Li Ang.

It seems there's a reason why Jingzhe chose Xuancheng out of so many people.

After landing, Jingzhe glanced at Li Ang's feet and nodded thoughtfully after seeing the traces left by the airflow.

Wind...?