Arknights: It Can't Possibly Be My Fault... Right? — Chapter 102

Chapter 102: Respectful Sisterly Friends

After quickly finalizing the basic framework of their plan, the group briefly ironed out a few lingering details before preparing to go their separate ways.

Kai was the last to make a move. He stood quietly in the dim light, watching Ch’en’s boots carry her briskly out of sight, followed by Jiu melting back into the shadows to return to Umbrella. Finally, he turned his gaze toward Lin Yuxia. The Rat King’s daughter was still standing there, her eyes slightly unfocused as she lost herself in thought.

“Is there something else?” Lin Yuxia snapped back to reality, her brow furrowing in curiosity.

Why did it feel like he had deliberately waited for the others to leave just to isolate her? A sudden, alarming thought crossed her mind. ‘Oh no… Could it be that since he didn’t get the chance to hit me last time, he’s planning to do it now?’

A rare wave of apprehension washed over her. It wasn’t entirely her fault for being paranoid; after the heavy, veiled words Kai had thrown around earlier, she couldn’t help but worry about her immediate personal safety.

“There is a little something, but nothing important. Mainly, I just wanted to thank you.” Kai waved a hand dismissively. Though he didn’t quite understand why Lin Yuxia had suddenly tensed up like a startled cat, he kept his tone light. “I was a bit too embarrassed to say it in front of everyone just now. Don’t mind it, though, not that it matters if you do.”

“Thank me?” Lin Yuxia visibly relaxed her guard. As long as he wasn’t going to resort to physical violence, she could handle whatever he threw at her.

“Yeah, thanks for protecting them.” Kai offered a genuine grin.

“So, you never actually believed I’d keep my promise in the first place. Is that it?” she replied, a hint of annoyance creeping back into her elegant voice.

“No, of course I believed you. It’s Wei Yenwu I don’t trust,” Kai said, his smile fading into something a bit sharper. “The Black Cloaks are ultimately his people, answering to his orders. The ‘protection’ I’m talking about isn’t just about saving the Slums from the original plan.”

“Oh…” Lin Yuxia’s eyes widened slightly as the pieces clicked into place. “So that’s what it is.”

“That’s what it is.”

“Alright then. You really are a strange person.” Lin Yuxia shook her head, her glass-like earrings chiming softly with the motion. “The things you say are strange, the things you do are strange, and your ideas are downright bizarre.”

“Just be honest,” she continued, her expression turning serious. “What exactly is that Umbrella thing?”

“Uh… you guess?” Kai smiled, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

“…Do you know what Swire would say if she were here?” Lin Yuxia stared at him, utterly speechless.

“Don’t say it.”

“Tsk. Then I’ll ask something else.” She crossed her arms, shifting her weight. “How did you even find out about these things? The purge plan for the Slums, and then… those highly classified decisions from above.” Seeing his mouth open, she immediately pivoted to the question that had been eating at her.

“Well, of course, I…”

“Don’t say you guessed it. I’m not that Silly Dragon who believes everything you say,” Lin Yuxia cut him off mercilessly, leaving no room for his usual deflections.

“You…”

“And don’t tell me to guess for myself either. I don’t like guessing games. You could at least give me a hint. How am I supposed to guess with absolutely nothing to go on?”

“Uh…” Kai scratched the back of his head, genuinely looking troubled by the restriction.

“Why’d you stop?”

“Actually, I can foresee the future, so I know about many things that are going to happen.” Kai spread his hands and delivered the statement with blunt, unapologetic honesty.

Lin Yuxia stared at him intently. Her gaze swept up and down his figure, as if seriously evaluating whether the man standing before her possessed the ancient arts of prophecy. Then, she let out a soft, exasperated sigh.

“And you say you’re not strange. Fine, if you don’t want to tell me, then don’t.”

“See, I tell you the absolute truth and you don’t believe me.” Kai shook his head, looking thoroughly wronged. “Might as well have let me say ‘guess and have fun’.”

Lin Yuxia rolled her eyes. “Only little kids would believe that story of yours. If you’re going to pretend to be a Cyclops, at least wear some lifts!”

“Hey! I’m 180 centimeters tall, that’s not short at all!” Kai retorted indignantly, his gamer pride wounded. “And I’m not lying. I really do know about the future.”

“Impossible. You’re 178 at most.” Lin Yuxia shook her head with absolute certainty. Her eyes were a flawless ruler. She then lifted a slender finger and pointed toward the distant entrance of the alleyway. “Alright, since you say you can really foresee the future, let me ask you a question. Is the next person to come out of that entrance a man or a woman?”

“178 is basically 180…” Kai muttered under his breath. He followed her gaze to the entrance, thought for a brief second, and answered with a hint of hesitation. “Um… a… man?”

Lin Yuxia simply stared at him. ‘If it’s a man, it’s a man. Why do you sound so unsure?’

But before she could voice her critique, a figure draped in a heavy black raincoat dashed out from the designated entrance.

“Yes! See!” Kai pointed triumphantly, his face lighting up. “A man. Now do you believe me?”

Lin Yuxia rolled her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time that night. “That was just a fifty-fifty blind guess. And besides…”

The Black Cloak jogged up to Lin Yuxia, coming to a crisp halt before reporting. “Miss, that Miss Jiu inside has something to discuss with you.”

The voice that echoed from beneath the hood was clear, melodious, and undeniably feminine.

“And besides… this Black Cloak is a young lady,” Lin Yuxia finished her sentence, a light, airy laugh escaping her lips.

“Nani?!” Kai stared at the operative in utter disbelief. How could there be a female Black Cloak? That wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the plot!

“Alright, go play by yourself. Next time we meet, if you’re actually willing to talk, then we can chat.” Lin Yuxia turned away, dismissing him with a graceful wave of her hand. “The exit is over there. I won’t see you out.”

“Tsk, a crushing defeat!” Kai grabbed his hair in exaggerated frustration. So close to looking cool. What a shame.

Meanwhile, within the sterile, brightly lit corridors of the Rhodes Island Medical Department…

“M3, you’re too close… it’s affecting me a bit,” Misha said helplessly, adjusting the collar of her crisp Medical Department intern uniform.

“Ah, I’m just worried you might make a mistake.” M3 scratched her cheek, looking somewhat embarrassed as she shuffled a few steps back. She was simply used to hovering; Kai never minded when she invaded his personal space.

“I’m just following the book to assess the patient’s infection level. What mistake could I possibly make?” Misha sighed. She picked up a thick, brick-like medical tome from the bedside table and began flipping through its dense pages with intense concentration.

“Strange… This step only says to draw blood, but doesn’t specify from where or exactly how much…” she muttered, her brow furrowing in deep thought. “To be safe, maybe I should draw a few tubes first?”

Hearing this, Skullshatterer, who was currently lying flat on the pristine hospital bed, immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

“Um… Misha, no, Sis, I think maybe it’s better to have this Miss M3 supervise from the side…” he stammered, his eyes darting nervously toward the gleaming medical instruments.

He had finally managed to arrange everything at the mining site, delegating his Reunion duties just to get away and visit his sister. Yet, the moment he stepped foot on the landship, he was ruthlessly dragged into the Medical Department for a mandatory, exhaustive set of check-ups. Just as he was finally lying down to catch his breath, Misha had dropped by to visit, experienced a sudden burst of academic inspiration, and promptly requisitioned her own brother as a practice dummy.

“I think… having a professional guiding from the side is quite necessary…” Skullshatterer’s voice trembled with a desperate, overwhelming desire to survive.

“Tsk.” Misha clicked her tongue, sounding entirely too much like a certain green-haired medic. “Why are you making so much trouble just to help out as a patient?”

Skullshatterer genuinely felt like crying. He wasn’t just making a fuss over nothing. When he first arrived on the island, he had already been ambushed by that terrifying Dr. Warfarin, who had drained a concerning amount of his blood for those supposedly ‘necessary’ check-ups. If Misha took a few more tubes now, he was absolutely certain he would pass out from severe anemia.

“Just lie down properly when you’re told to. Don’t make me hit you. Teacher taught me some real skills,” Misha scolded, raising her chin with a hint of aggressive authority.

M3 watched the exchange from the sidelines, clicking her tongue in quiet wonder. As expected of Gavial’s direct disciple. She was certainly learning the curriculum comprehensively, physical threats included.

“…Miss M3…” Skullshatterer pleaded in a frantic whisper. Seeing Misha unwrap a terrifyingly large syringe with a look of pure academic determination, he had no choice but to beg the silver-haired woman for salvation.

M3 casually looked away. ‘Ah, this ceiling is really bright…’

“Watch the needle!”

“No, Sis!!” Skullshatterer shrieked, desperately thrashing to dodge the sharp tip Misha thrust toward his arm.

“You even call me ‘Sis’ just to avoid a simple check-up? Hold still and watch the needle!”

M3 watched the affectionate siblings wrestle on the hospital bed, giving a slow, gratified nod at the heartwarming family bonding. As the chaos unfolded, she couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh. Another figure involuntarily popped into her mind.

What was Kai doing right now?

Honestly, running around outside playing hero all by himself, leaving her completely idle on the ship. When he finally got back, she was definitely going to get her revenge. Hmph!