Arknights: The Prophet of Penguin Logistics — Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Preparing to Depart Once Again

“That is not destruction, nor is it a disaster, and it is certainly not punishment; that is a broad and universal love.”

Ah, that dream again.

Lynn yawned, dragging himself out of bed as the bustling noise of the city filtered through his window. Dreams were always like that—formless, lacking a clear beginning or an end. By the time he was fully awake, the cryptic visions had already dissolved into fragmented memories, quickly swept away by the morning clamor.

“Time to head out again. I really don’t want to…” he muttered, rubbing his temples.

If he survived a dozen more jobs like this, maybe he could afford a small apartment in Lungmen. With a bit of savings, he might even be able to retire from Penguin Logistics. But trading ten years of his life in a high-risk meat grinder just to afford a down payment? Lynn couldn’t say if the math actually worked out in his favor.

He stood before the bathroom mirror, running a hand through his messy hair. He brushed his teeth, splashed cold water on his face, and slipped into his Penguin Logistics uniform. Staring at his reflection—a young man who, despite cleaning up, still radiated an inexplicable aura of exhausted decadence—Lynn let out a heavy sigh.

Before he transmigrated, he had been suffocated by rising prices and housing costs. Now, in another world, the exact same problems haunted him. The cost of living in Lungmen was astronomically high, making saving money a Herculean task. Besides, thanks to a sudden bout of ‘saintly syndrome’ the other day, he had handed over every last cent of his savings to Officer Ch’en.

Looking back, shouldn’t he have kept a little bit for a down payment? The rest he could have just paid off through sheer grit.

Another boring workday awaited.

Lynn dried his hands, pushed open the bathroom door, and stepped directly into the chaotic epicenter of Penguin Logistics.

“And let me tell ya, I barely even pushed, and that whole car just flipped right over! Didn’t expect the suspension to be that light,” Croissant boasted, straddling a chair backward with a triumphant grin.

“Wow, could Texas do that?!” Exusiai chimed in, practically vibrating with energy.

“I can’t. Shut up,” Texas replied flatly, not looking up from her gear.

“Is my apple pie not here? I swear I left a slice on the counter. Sora, aren’t you going to play some rock music to get the blood pumping?”

“If Texas-senpai wants me to…” Sora offered, her cheeks dusting pink.

“Why are you here again?” Texas sighed, finally glaring at a certain silver-haired Lupo.

“What’s wrong? Do you have a problem with me, Texas~?” Lappland purred, leaning against the doorframe with a dangerous, delighted grin.

Two women made a play; seven women made a circus. If you divided them into pairs, trios, or quartets, how many overlapping dramas were unfolding in this single room?

Lynn—the physically frail, endangered species of the group who possessed the worst stamina and could easily end up strapped to a medical stretcher—stared at the bevy of beautiful girls crowding the lounge. He walked over, patted the triumphantly bragging Croissant on the shoulder, and pointed toward the window.

“Why aren’t we boarding the vehicle yet?”

“The camper’s still getting its water and power topped off. Gotta make sure everything’s ready to roll,” Croissant replied easily.

“So… aren’t there a bit too many people for one job?”

“No problem, no problem~ It wouldn’t matter if we added four more! Didn’t you see the new rig? The boss really knows how to treat his employees.”

Lynn raised an eyebrow and glanced out the window. Parked on the street below was a monstrous, super-sized off-road camper that swallowed up a full third of the avenue, prompting a chorus of angry honks from the blocked traffic behind it.

This time, the passenger manifest was absurd: two security specialists from Blacksteel International, Sora, the four core members of Penguin Logistics, and Lappland, who had somehow managed to invite herself along. Rumor had it that Lappland had shamelessly clung to Sora’s leg, crying and begging the idol to ‘help a sister out for the sake of liking the same person.’ For whatever reason, a deeply blushing Sora had actually dragged the unhinged Lupo onto the team roster.

That brought their numbers to eight—double the original plan. Their usual transport wouldn’t have stood a chance.

Fortunately, Sora’s agency was highly invested in their idol’s safety during this joint filming operation. While the agency staff had departed early, Sora had insisted on traveling with the Penguin Logistics crew. The result was the behemoth currently idling outside.

It boasted complete life-support facilities, heavy impact-resistant plating, and military-grade chemical defense systems. There were even dedicated firing ports and concealed light cannons to deal with highway ambushers. The trade-off was its sheer bulk; it took up two and a half lanes. If they weren’t parked on a major thoroughfare, the L.G.D. would have towed it by now.

Adding to the absurdity, the vehicle’s exterior was plastered with a massive Penguin Logistics logo right alongside glossy promotional art of Sora. It was a bizarre, heavily armed collaboration. Lynn couldn’t even begin to fathom what kind of shady backroom deal their mysterious boss had struck with the idol agency.

He only knew one thing for certain: this road trip was going to be agonizingly loud.

Eight people. Even in his past life, during primary and middle school field trips, Lynn had never been surrounded by more than five people at once. And now? Seven incredibly capable, high-caliber beauties were standing right in front of him. It was a feast for the eyes, a scenario anyone would envy.

…Wait a minute.

Was it possible? Had the ultimate fantasy he harbored before transmigrating just quietly come true?

Staring at the lively group, Lynn’s sleep-addled brain suddenly plunged into deep thought.

Transmigrate to another world? Check. Meet a cast of beautiful girls? Check. Get swept up in dangerous adventures? Check. Live under the same roof with said girls? Check.

If he looked at the raw data, didn’t this perfectly match the exact formula of a brainless, overpowered isekai protagonist?

His groggy mind spun the evidence in the silliest direction possible and arrived at a flawless conclusion: I’ve hit the jackpot.

The fateful encounter? Yes. The suppression of enemies? Yes. The hidden cheat ability? Yes. Taken in by a harem? Yes. What was missing? Absolutely nothing.

The next steps were obvious.

“…Croissant,” Lynn murmured.

“Hmm? What’s up?”

“Am I incredibly popular right now? Because no matter how I look at this, it feels like I’ve stumbled into a harem.”

Croissant’s cheerful expression vanished. She stared at him with deadpan seriousness. “…Prophet.”

Lynn, still half-asleep, blinked.

“Do you wanna go back to Lungmen Hospital and stay for a few more days? I’m serious, your concussion definitely hasn’t healed yet.”

Lynn sighed, the illusion shattering. “…Fair point.”

“Wait, your head really hasn’t healed?!”

“No, I meant it’s impossible for me to be in that kind of situation. Why are you suddenly yelling?”

“Alright, enough arguing. The camper’s water and power reserves should be fully charged by now.”

Watching the two of them bicker over nonsense, Texas swept a cool, disdainful glance over the room and clapped her hands once to command attention.

“Everyone, do a final gear check. If you’re ready, let’s board the vehicle and move out. This camper is an auto-navigation model from Rhine Lab; most of the interior systems are managed by a built-in butler. If you need anything, just ask the AI. Any questions?”

“No!” seven voices chorused in unison.

“Good. Prepare to depart.”

With a sharp snap of her fingers, Texas turned and was the first to stride out of the dormitory.