Arknights: It Can't Possibly Be My Fault... Right? — Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The Lungmen NegotiationYou're reading this on the wrong site. This chapter was translated by Elysian Reads and posted for free at elysianreads.com — if you're seeing it anywhere else, it was copied without permission. Read it at the source so the people who actually did the work get the credit.

The two of them left the cafeteria, the clatter of trays fading behind them. It had to be said—M3’s petite frame was an absolute lie. The girl had just polished off enough food to feed three grown men, leaving Kai staring at her empty plates in mild disbelief.

“By the way, M3, what about that Sarcophagus? Did you just chuck it somewhere?” Kai asked, recalling his chaotic fight with Talulah. He hadn’t seen the ominous device since the dust settled.

“I had Blaze haul it away,” M3 replied, happily rubbing her slightly rounded stomach. A good mood naturally meant a bottomless appetite. “It’s probably sitting in the Engineering Department right now. When Kal’tsit saw the thing, she actually called you reckless.”

“Alright, let’s just leave it with Engineering then. We don’t exactly need it at the moment.” Kai had briefly entertained the intrusive thought of climbing inside just to test it out, but common sense quickly won out. The machine radiated bad news.

“Oh, right,” M3 chimed in, suddenly remembering her actual duties. “Kal’tsit also said you need to tag along with Amiya and the Doctor. You’re heading to Lungmen to meet her.”

Kai blinked. That lined up perfectly with what Y.P had mentioned earlier.

“Tsk, tsk. And here I was racking my brain for an excuse to follow them to Lungmen once this was over,” Kai muttered, clicking his tongue in amusement. Was the plot just handing him free passes now?

“What did you say?” M3 asked, having just waved to a passing Operator and missing his quiet remark.

Kai waved a hand dismissively. “Nothing. Come on, let’s go round up Amiya and the others.”

The towering facade of the Lungmen Governor’s Office loomed overhead, an imposing monument to the city’s wealth and authority.

“Mr. Kai, according to Dr. Kal’tsit’s coordinates, this should be the place,” Amiya said, double-checking her terminal.

Kai nodded, scanning the perimeter. His gaze locked onto a young woman standing near the main gates. She had striking blue hair, twin draconian horns, and an expression that looked like it could freeze boiling water. Officer Ch’en.

“You are fourteen minutes late,” the blue-haired officer stated, her brow furrowing in sharp disapproval. “That is fourteen minutes of my time pointlessly wasted.”

Before Kai or the Doctor could even attempt an excuse, Ch’en cut them off.

“I am the Chief Inspector of the Lungmen Guard Department, Ch’en. Your Rhodes Island representatives have already made initial contact with Chief Wei. Follow me.”

With a sharp pivot, she marched through the grand doors, expecting them to keep up.

Kai, Amiya, and the Doctor exchanged brief glances. Given the delicate nature of this diplomatic mission, they had kept their entourage painfully small. It was just Kai, whom Kal’tsit specifically requested; the Doctor, who needed to consult with Kal’tsit; Amiya, acting as the Doctor’s shadow; and M3, sticking close to Kai.

The group of five stepped into a breathtakingly opulent reception hall. Warm, golden light cascaded from the high ceiling, and the rich, earthy fragrance of premium tea hung heavy in the air. At the far end of a polished long table sat the legendary Governor of Lungmen, Wei Yenwu, leisurely brewing tea for the woman seated across from him.

Kal’tsit.

It was a well-known fact that Kal’tsit practically ran on black coffee, yet she sat there, politely sipping the traditional Lungmen brew without a hint of distaste. Setting the delicate porcelain cup down, her expression remained entirely neutral.

“A simple quarantine of the Infected cannot counter the Reunion Movement,” Kal’tsit stated, her voice slicing through the quiet elegance of the room. “I presume the Lungmen Guard Department is more aware of this than anyone.”

She didn’t blink. “Without the assistance of Rhodes Island, if Lungmen relies solely on its current containment strategies, this city will suffer catastrophic losses in the face of Reunion’s impending assault.”

“Perhaps Lungmen has ample experience subjugating defenseless, disorganized Infected,” Kal’tsit continued, her tone measured but razor-sharp. “But the Reunion Movement… they are a militarized organization. They are violent insurgents. Lungmen lacks both the specific experience and the unconventional means to handle them.”

She leaned forward slightly. “Only the Infected can effectively combat the Infected.”

Wei Yenwu merely smiled, the expression not quite reaching his calculating eyes. “When it comes to dealing with crime and foreign aggression, I assure you, the Guard Department is more than capable.”

Kal’tsit knew exactly what the man was doing. He wasn’t just defending his city’s pride; he was deliberately stalling, forcing Rhodes Island to sweeten the deal.and support the real translator.Read at elysianreads.com This is a stolen translation. You're reading this on the wrong site. This chapter was translated by Elysian Reads and posted for free at elysianreads.com — if you're seeing it anywhere else, it was copied without permission. Read it at the source so the people who actually did the work get the credit.

Right on cue, the Governor took a slow sip of his tea. “One of the ‘items’ Rhodes Island is requesting simply cannot be exchanged for the meager conditions you currently offer.”

He set his cup down. “To compensate for Lungmen’s expenditure of resources, I have only two conditions. First, Rhodes Island must assist Lungmen in resolving this immediate crisis. That includes neutralizing the internal threats within our borders and handling the fallout related to Chernobog.”

“And the second?” Kal’tsit asked after a brief, calculating silence. The first demand was entirely expected; it was their primary objective anyway.

“As for the second… we can discuss that after you complete the primary mission.” Wei Yenwu chuckled, smoothly brushing the topic aside as his gaze shifted toward the doorway. “Ah, look. New guests have arrived. We mustn’t neglect them. Serve the tea.”

He gestured vaguely, then looked back at Kal’tsit, his polite smile hardening into something far more dangerous. “If you feel you cannot accept these terms, then the previous arrangements we discussed—as well as the assets Rhodes Island desires…”

He let the sentence hang, fully trusting Kal’tsit to catch the threat.

Watching the Governor casually strong-arm them, Kal’tsit felt a flicker of quiet resignation. Rhodes Island had no use here. If they wanted to dismantle Reunion and secure a safe haven for the Infected, a powerhouse city like Lungmen was their only viable anchor.

Kai stood quietly beside Kal’tsit, catching her eye. Her gaze was a silent, absolute command: Do not speak.

Kai took the hint, keeping his mouth firmly shut.

“Rhodes Island accepts your conditions,” Kal’tsit said, her voice dropping to a glacial chill.

“Then allow me to congratulate you all. You have earned the trust of Lungmen.” Wei Yenwu gestured toward the blue-haired officer with his ornate pipe. “From this moment on, Officer Ch’en will serve as your primary liaison.”

After politely declining Chief Wei’s offer for a sightseeing tour, the Rhodes Island delegation exited the Governor’s Office.

“Dr. Kal’tsit, why did we have to agree to such unreasonable demands?” Amiya finally asked, her frustration bubbling over the moment they were out of earshot. Wei Yenwu had acted like a greedy corporate shark, squeezing them for every drop of value while holding their objectives hostage. To Amiya, offering their lives to help a city that treated them like disposable tools felt deeply unfair.

“It’s alright, Amiya,” Kai said softly, resting a comforting hand on the young Cautus’s head. “Kal’tsit has her own judgment. She’s doing this to secure Rhodes Island’s future. Wouldn’t you agree, Doctor?”

“Hmm…” The Doctor remained silent, head tilted slightly as if mentally untangling a complex knot.

They soon arrived at Rhodes Island’s temporary safehouse in the city. Upon entering, Kal’tsit immediately instructed Kai to wait in her quarters, stating she needed to discuss a separate matter with Amiya and the Doctor.

Kai frowned, a bit puzzled. What kind of classified briefing required kicking him out of the room?

The answer became obvious a few minutes later when the Doctor and Amiya hurried out of the safehouse. Kal’tsit had undoubtedly dispatched them to make contact with Penguin Logistics.

If the timeline held up, that meant he would be seeing Exusiai and the rest of the crew soon. The image of a lively, red-haired Sankta with a halo and a submachine gun flashed through his mind, bringing a faint smirk to his lips.

But first, he had to deal with the woman in charge. Kal’tsit had mentioned she had something important to discuss with him alone.

Kai pushed open the door to Kal’tsit’s temporary office.

The first thing he saw was M3 sprawled comfortably across the leather sofa, staring at the ceiling and muttering to herself. “Kal’tsit, do you think I can become stronger? If I get stronger, would I be able to do a better job protecting Kai, Amiya, and the others?”

“Yo,” Kai called out, stepping into the room and waving at Kal’tsit.

She was seated behind a heavy oak desk. Kal’tsit had this incredibly specific, slightly intimidating habit—no matter what room she claimed, she always positioned her desk to face the door directly. It made her look exactly like the final boss of some underground syndicate.

“You’re here,” Kal’tsit said, taking a slow sip from a freshly brewed mug of black coffee, finally back in her element. Her piercing green eyes locked onto him. “Sit.”You're reading this on the wrong site. This chapter was translated by Elysian Reads and posted for free at elysianreads.com — if you're seeing it anywhere else, it was copied without permission. Read it at the source so the people who actually did the work get the credit.