Arknights, I'm going to beat Kal'tsit, really?

Page 40

Defense Department operators swiftly mobilized, almost instantly turning the tide of the battle. Originium energy swords slashed, individual rocket launchers bombarded, and firearms fired in bursts—advanced technology applied to weaponry resulted in astonishing killing efficiency. The previously aggressive Reunion Movement was crushed in an instant.

Even when Mephisto activated his Originium Arts in an attempt to transform the wounded into new combatants, it was to no avail—his arts were not yet capable of growing limbs from the pieces of flesh.

"Who are you?! State your names!"

Enraged, Mephisto rallied his troops, and the three forces faced off in a pincer movement. He desperately wanted to know who had sabotaged the plan—Rhodes Island's infiltration had already been detected, but this particular force was one they couldn't have missed.

"I don't have the habit of introducing myself to madmen. Keep firing, and finish this quickly."

At Kane's command, the fully armed operators attacked again. Faced with such firepower, the remaining troops were naturally unable to resist and quickly collapsed, protecting Mephisto as he retreated—but before leaving, Mephisto was clearly unwilling to escape so easily, and subtly issued an order. As the order was transmitted, a building in the distance suddenly erupted with a strong Originium Arts reaction.

A purple arrow shot towards the Rhine Labs team with unparalleled force, its target Kane—that vengeful brat, relying on his powerful sniper, attempted to inflict heavy damage on Rhine Labs, planning to regroup, call for reinforcements, and then finish them off.

The attack was incredibly fast; only seasoned veterans from both Rhine Lab and Rhodes Island could react instinctively. Kane didn't even turn his head before the person next to him shoved him aside, trying to take the hit.

The purple arrow was already upon them, about to pierce Kane's back, when a dark green light flashed—the next instant, purple energy erupted, the powerful impact causing Rhine Lab's team to sway.

After the impact, everyone looked in the direction of the commander.

Two broken arrows lay on the ground behind Kane, and the one who blocked the attack was the smallest member of the team—her clothes were different from the others' uniforms, and apart from the color difference, they seemed to have no technological elements and were just ordinary casual clothes.

Faust, who witnessed this scene from the distant building, was horrified. His Originium Arts and crossbow skills made him almost the most terrifying archer in the Reunion Movement—but this time, he failed.

Retreat! Mephistopheles must escape quickly too! He had already seen the dark green woman's gaze through the scope, staring straight at him. Faust was certain—they had just exchanged a glance through the scope.

"Well done. Without your help, I probably would have been knocked unconscious by them."

Kane was joking. Two men had just lunged at him, trying to push him away, but he remained rooted to the spot. Seeing that Kane could withstand the attack, the two immediately released him and regained their footing.

"I'm sorry, Director, I'm just a little worried."

"It's alright, thank you for your concern—but I'm not so weak that I would be defeated by this kind of attack."

Kane ruffled Mon3tr's hair, seemingly rewarding her for intercepting the attack. Normally, Mon3tr might have responded innocently, but at this moment—she was intently looking at the team beside her, scanning each person one by one, trying to find a familiar figure.

Seeing her like this, Kane was a little annoyed. He tapped her head lightly and said in a low voice, "Whether you like it or not, you're mine now. Even if you see Kal'tsit later, she won't be able to do anything—remember our agreement?"

Upon hearing these almost threatening words, Mon3tr immediately looked away and gazed at him eagerly.

"How could that be... Boss, you know I listen to you the most. I just... haven't seen her in so long... Don't worry! I'll definitely follow your orders and won't cause any trouble."

Mon3tr hurriedly raised his right hand to swear, but because his sleeve was too long, his hand fell down halfway up—he looked so cute that even Kane, who had intended to give him a serious threat, was speechless for a moment.

"Good to know. Once we're out of the danger zone, we'll have a chance to confront Rhodes Island—that's when you can meet her. As for whether it'll be pleasant, I can't guarantee."

After years of lying low, Kane is no longer the same person he once was. Now, if he wanted to enter Kazdel, he wouldn't even need to infiltrate; he could simply send a letter to the Sarkaz court through official channels—after all, the Sarkaz's high affinity for Originium makes them suffer from Oripathy, and suppressants can alleviate the pain. The Sarkaz regent must be well aware of the weight of this bargaining chip.

"Um... thank you all very much for your help; we are from Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals... may I ask who you are?"

Amiya, always striving to fulfill her leadership responsibilities, spoke first. Looking at the little rabbit before him, trying so hard to maintain her composure, Kane truly felt the passage of time—something always particularly evident in growing children.

"We're from Rhine Labs, just like you, unlucky souls caught up in this riot. How about it? Want to evacuate together?"

Kane's attitude was very mild, trying to show that he had no ill intentions towards Rhodes Island—but in reality, he was just looking for a suitable place to contact the Doctor after leaving the Upper City, where the main force of the Reunion Movement was stationed.

"Rhine Lab? Is that the company in Colombia that developed the Oripathy inhibitor?!"

“Yes, Charlie—show them.”

At Kane's signal, a defense officer rolled up his sleeve, revealing a black Originium crystal on his arm—if this thing were exposed on the streets of Ursus, the military and police would be alerted and arrive in no time.

"We are powerless to do anything about this natural disaster, let's work together to escape. You... well, you have more wounded—follow us, let's go."

Kane's performance was superb; he truly deserves the title of genius who won the Blue Cardwood Best Screenplay Award for a single film.

Amiya was overjoyed. She realized that besides Rhodes Island, there were other people in the world who harbored lofty ideals—like the people before her, who, like Rhodes Island, could overcome difficulties together. If the occasion hadn't been inappropriate, she almost wanted to step forward to thank them properly and propose cooperation.

Compared to the young and inexperienced Amiya, Ace and Doberman, two seasoned veterans, were much more clear-headed. They exchanged a knowing glance, understanding each other without saying a word.

It's all too coincidental—Liao Yinqi (Part 1) 2 Dad IVba is like a script meticulously designed by a professional screenwriter. Whether it's Rhine Life, far away in Colombia, suddenly appearing in Ursus and just like them being caught up in the Reunion Movement riots, or this location... unless the other side is also stationed near the Coffin Research Institute, there is absolutely no way the retreat route could pass through here.

However, given the opponent's formidable strength and equipment, Rhodes Island could not afford to engage in conflict with them, and thus had no choice but to follow their lead.

The two groups appeared to be cooperating, but in reality, they maintained a considerable safe distance. They advanced gradually, relying on the reconnaissance capabilities of Rhodes Island operators and the firepower of Rhine Labs, quickly escaping the upper city and entering the lower city.

Along the way, a dazzling golden Pegasus led another Rhodes Island squad to join them.

“Margaret—it’s so reassuring to see you.”

“I arrived the moment communications were cut off, but it seems you can escape danger even without me.”

Margaret Nearl looked around at the Rhodes Island team. Although everyone was injured, at least no one had been killed, which was the best news.

"No, without their help, we would probably still be stuck here waiting for your support."

"Oh? Who are they?"

After Ace shared the information she already knew and her suspicions with Margaret, her previously eager gaze cooled slightly. She stared at Kane, who was talking to Amiya, trying to see through him—but her knightly intuition failed her at this moment. She felt as if she were facing the high-ranking officials of the Grand Knights, unable to understand their thoughts or their preferences.

"Thank you all so much for your help just now—if there is an opportunity, please accept our gratitude. Rhodes Island will definitely become a reliable business partner of Rhine Lab."

Clearly, the still inexperienced Amiya has not yet learned the art of business negotiation; partnerships cannot be decided solely by enthusiasm and gratitude.

"Haha, Miss Amiya is so cute. Seeing you reminds me of the children from Katus I've met before—I might even have held you. After all, there's a saying in Rembitox: Rembitox's children are everyone's children, isn't there?"

In reality, Kane had never been to Rembiton, nor had he ever met the children of the Catherines—but it is true that he almost hugged Amiya; if Theresa hadn't stopped him, his hand would have already reached out to Amiya.

"Rembit does indeed say that, and the people there are very hospitable."

"But as partners, there's no problem—I have something I want to say to someone on Rhodes Island."

"Who is this? If you're lucky, Mr. Kane will have a chance to meet them after leaving Chernobog."

Amiya was very enthusiastic and did not suspect the person in front of her of any suspicious motives. Because she trusted everyone on Rhodes Island, she felt at ease letting Kane go to find the person he wanted to see.

"Oh... thank you very much. The person I'm looking for—is the evil spirit of the Tower of Babel. Do you remember him?"

Upon hearing Kane's words, Ace and Dobermann immediately became alert, hurriedly calling out to Amiya and rushing to her aid. Several operators around Amiya also acted quickly, trying to get her out of Rhine Lab's range.

But it was too late—Kane's hand shot out, and the other prepared defense team members quickly subdued the Rhodes Island operator. The petite Amiya was no match for him and was captured and held in his arms in the blink of an eye.

- U705.COM First published: "Alright, Doctor—let's get to know each other again."

Chapter 97 Precys and the Doctor

With Kane's sudden attack, the already tense atmosphere between Rhodes Island and Rhine Labs instantly escalated, and the two sides were immediately on the verge of conflict. While Ace and Margaret were the only two Rhodes Island members who required attention, they were not considered a real threat to Rhine Labs. Rhine Labs held too many trump cards: if you, with your rich combat experience and formidable strength, defeated the retired veterans of Columbia...

Congratulations, you will now face Mon3tr, the Deputy Director of the Defense Department. If you happen to possess the noble blood of a Protoss or a member of the Sarkaz Royal Court, and defeat the lone Mon3tr with your unparalleled talent and power, she will surely call for backup—at which point, the Rhine Lab mechs, already waiting on a nearby rooftop, will descend from the sky. The combined computing power of the mech pilots and Mon3tr will weave a deadly trap, beginning a merciless slaughter.

If, even in such dire circumstances, you can still unleash your potential and push Originium Arts to their limits to achieve a reversal at the cost of Oripathy—then you will be worthy of being sung as an epic, on par with historical heroes; the fearful will dread you as a natural disaster, and your followers will worship you as a god.

Then, Kane will give you a "heroic ending"—being ambushed and killed from behind by a despicable villain, with the Originium inside your body becoming the final step to kill you; even if you are not infected and are not afraid of the Oripathy outbreak—Kane's Originium knuckle duster can turn you into an infected.

"Stop! Don't hurt the child! What exactly is your purpose!?"

Margaret utterly despised Kane's hostage-taking behavior; in the knight's eyes, it was the most despicable and vile tactic. But this trick was so frequently used by villains precisely because it was so effective. With a slight exertion from Kane, Amiya showed signs of pain as she struggled to breathe—every move Kane made tick on the nerves of the Rhodes Island crew. They wanted nothing more than to rush forward and tear Kane to pieces, yet they feared he would preemptively strike Amiya.

"Your target is me, right... Let her go, and I'll do as you say."

At the most tense and stalemated moment, the Doctor, who was hiding behind the Rhodes Island team, pushed aside the shoulders and backs in front of him and stood in front of Kane with his frail body—at this distance, Kane could take him down in an instant.

"Doctor! Don't come any closer!"

"Please come back with me. Doctor, that man is dangerous!"

Despite Amiya's and the others' attempts to dissuade him, the Doctor refused. He couldn't remember his past at all, nor did he know what kind of person he had been—but he just felt that he shouldn't hide or remain silent at this moment. The child named Amiya had cared for him ever since they first met, her eyes filled with worry at the slightest disturbance, and the arm that had been supporting him, though so thin, conveyed a resolute strength.

Even when the stern female instructor questioned him, she still trusted him without reservation—even though he himself was still so confused.

The Doctor knew that if he gave up on Amiya, he would be consumed by regret for the rest of his life.

Therefore, the doctor chose to follow his heart—perhaps this did not fit their impression of the "doctor," but he would never go against his own feelings at this moment.

"Hmph... It seems those scholars who claim that memory determines a person are completely wrong. It is the soul that does—Doctor, although this is our first meeting for you at this moment, in reality, this is the second time."

Seeing that Kane seemed to have no intention of harming the Doctor, Ace, Margaret, and Dobermann slowly approached from behind. They didn't attempt to ambush and seize Amiya, but instead expressed their support for the Doctor through silent action. They knew the Doctor was there for him, and judging from their tone, there was a past between them.

Margaret and Dobermann joined Rhodes Island in recent years and never fought alongside the former "Babel Tower Evils"; however, those seasoned elite operators, the backbone of Rhodes Island, have all praised the Doctor's brilliant strategies. When missions fail or the situation turns unfavorable, people often whisper, "If only the Doctor were still here."

All those who come after can only piece together an image from the words of others.

But the trust they've built with their reliable partners is enough for them to fight for—anyone who can win over those guys must be pretty good.

This is why Dobermann was so distressed when he learned that the doctor might have amnesia.

But now, Dobermann might have to change his mind—even if the Doctor has forgotten his expertise and can't develop a cure for Oripathy, he is still the most important person in Terra!

“My memory is a blank… I remember language, instinct, but who you are, who I am—I remember none of it… No! You, you! I remember—you are… Kane, yes, your name is Kane!”

The doctor was explaining his situation when his gaze fell on Kane's face through the mask. Seeing Kane's poker face, a flash of lightning struck his mind—a name was suddenly recalled.

As Kane's "real name" was revealed, the Rhodes Island operators behind him all memorized it.

“Ju Er Jiu Liu (Nine) Umbrella Eight - U705.COM First Release / Still Remember Me…”

Kane has two guesses: First, this memory occurred relatively late, and because it was vivid and profound, even the Demon King's methods could not completely erase it—just like the fragments about Precy that the Doctor occasionally flashes back to later.

Secondly, this was also a contingency plan left by Theresa. After reading through the Doctor's memories, she realized the immense threat Kane posed, so she deliberately left this message, hoping that Rhodes Island, after awakening the Doctor in the future, would learn about this hidden enemy through him.

But in any case, now that you still remember yourself, things will be much easier.

“I have two requests—if you complete them all, I will release the girl.”

"You said."

The doctor's attitude was neither humble nor arrogant. This was not a drifting, aimless mentality, but rather the composure he displayed after a brief test and learning that he also had a hand – he possessed an innate ability to communicate, empathize, and engage in strategic dialogue.

"First, let our medical staff give you a physical examination. Don't worry, it won't harm you, and it might even help you recover from your sickly state quickly."

"What about the second one?"

"The second one is more private—I'll tell you this quietly to someone while you're checking."

After Kane finished explaining the terms of the deal, the Rhodes Island staff behind him began urging the Doctor to refuse; even Amiya said urgently, "Doctor, don't worry about me—Rhodes Island can't afford to lose you! Mr. Ace! Please take the Doctor away quickly!"

Amiya became agitated, and the blue rings on her fingers glowed intermittently—in sync with her emotional fluctuations; dark red energy flickered faintly from the Originium lesions on her hands.

"Hey, you can't just use this ability recklessly."

With a thought, Kane quickly calmed Amiya's Originium Arts, and the flickering black and red energy extinguished—it seemed this young Demon Lord was still unable to control that powerful force; her mastery of Demon Lord power was far inferior to Theresa's. Kane could easily control and smooth it over.

"How could this be?! My Originium Arts..."

Amiya calmed down from her shock. She wasn't proud of it—but she knew very well what resided within her; it was entrusted to her by the most respectable and gentlest person. But this power was too violent; the targets in the training ground would be completely shattered under her attacks; Dr. Kal'tsit had repeatedly taught her to learn to control her emotions and her power.

Amiya intended to unleash this violent power—to destroy the plans of those behind her—but they were able to suppress her Originium Arts!?

"Calm down... Amiya, we won't hurt the Doctor—trust us, okay?"

Mon3tr walked over to Kane, reached out and gently stroked Amiya's head through her sleeve, brushing her soft bunny ears aside, and soothed her in a soft voice.

Looking at this "enemy" before her, Amiya found herself unconsciously filled with trust. She understood where this feeling came from—

"Teacher Kal'tsit?"

For a moment, Amiya was in a daze, feeling that the person in front of her looked remarkably like Kal'tsit, as if it were truly her comforting her.

This sudden display of tenderness caught both sides off guard.

Rhodes Island's side: "What is she talking about? She's got a knife to Amiya's throat, and she suddenly touches her head? Is this some new kind of threat?!"

Rhine Lab's side: "Wait, what's the deputy director doing? Weren't we supposed to force them to submit through violence? Why are we suddenly being so conciliatory? But this atmosphere doesn't feel right."

"I promise you. Come on—I will comply with your request."

The doctor had already seen the situation clearly: First, they were no longer in a position to negotiate, as the gap in strength between the two sides was too great; but the other side still left a sliver of room for maneuver—so they should seize that sliver of room to gain more.

What if the other party kills the hostage afterwards?

All the Doctor could do was order all Rhodes Island operators to retreat immediately. He didn't know who these people were, nor did he know what connection he had with them in the past—but he understood that he couldn't let so many people die in vain because of him alone.

"A wise decision, as expected of you."

The Doctor was invited to join Rhine Lab's team, while Kane continued to control Amiya and confront Rhodes Island.

The defense team members weren't skilled in medicine, so the task naturally fell to "field medic" Mon3tr. She quickly took out portable medical equipment from her backpack—they looked small and simple, but a single set cost as much as an entire laboratory; this was Rhine Lab's pinnacle achievement in the field of miniaturization and precision.

Mon3tr swiftly drew two vials of blood from the Doctor and then monitored several of his vital signs—although the values ​​were all within the normal range for Terra, from the perspective of the pre-civilization, the Doctor's body was extremely weak. The damage he suffered primarily affected his brain; while the sarcophagus did its best to heal him and prevent him from becoming demented, the cost was that his physical condition was severely depleted.

According to Terra's method, it will likely require long-term recuperation—or treatment by Kal'tsit herself using precious medicines left over from the previous civilization.

But now, Rhine Lab has made significant progress in life sciences; with each injection of precious nutrients into the doctor's body, his vitality will be rapidly restored. Hopefully, this will help him return to Rhodes Island to fight against the Reunion Movement.

"So, what is your second request?"

Looking at the Mon3tr that had been injected into him, the doctor felt inexplicably kind and trustworthy, as if it were true, as she had said, that it would not harm him.

But he knew very well that Kane had another unmentioned request—and that was probably his main, most ulterior motive.