Arknights: It Can't Possibly Be My Fault... Right? — Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Skullshatterer

“Heya, boss! Finished the job already? How was Penguin’s service~?”

A flash of wine-red hair and a bright halo heralded the arrival of the speaker. The newcomer was none other than Exusiai, the notoriously energetic specialist from Penguin Logistics. She landed lightly on her feet, a cheerful grin plastered across her face.

“And who are these two?” She blinked, leaning in to look at Kai, who was currently sizing her up. She tilted her head, clearly not recognizing him from any previous briefings.

“This is Mr. Kai, and Miss Mon3tr. They are both operators from our Rhodes Island.” Amiya stepped forward to make the introductions.

Hearing Amiya use such a formal title for the eldritch summon made Kai stifle a laugh. The combination of ‘Mon3tr’and’Miss’ sounded entirely too polite for a creature of her nature.

“You can call me M3!” M3 raised a hand high in the air, making sure her very important opinion on the matter was heard by everyone present.

“Oh, so we’re all on the same side. Pleasure, boss. I’m Exusiai, an employee of Penguin Logistics.” She offered a crisp salute to the two of them before her expression shifted into something slightly more professional. “Boss, according to Penguin Logistics intel, the Reunion Movement has infiltrated Lungmen in large numbers. They are currently closing in on our location from multiple vectors.”

Amiya looked deeply troubled by the news. “Then our planned evacuation route…”

“Not an option, boss. There are enough enemies lying in ambush along that main road to form several choirs.” Exusiai pulled out a tactical map, tapping a specific sector. “However, I happen to know a detour they won’t expect.”

“What route? Is it reliable?” Liskarm asked, her shield resting heavily against her side as she evaluated the Sankta girl.

“Well, I need to scout it out first to see exactly how reliable it is. If anything comes up, please contact another Penguin Logistics specialist~” With a final wave and a bright smile, Exusiai hurried off into the alleys, leaving behind nothing but a slip of paper with the contact details of her coworker.

She truly was a whirlwind of energy.

Elsewhere in the labyrinth of the Slums, a group of Reunion Movement thugs had completely surrounded a lone Lupo girl. She stood in the center of the hostile circle, holding a freshly opened pack of chocolate pocky.

She let out a long, quiet sigh. “I just opened it…”

Without another word, she tucked the box safely into the inner pocket of her coat. Her golden eyes swept over the surrounding Reunion members, all of whom had shed their civilian disguises to reveal their masks and weapons.

“Come at me all at once,” she said, her voice flat and completely devoid of fear. “I’m in a hurry.”

By the time Kai and Amiya arrived at the pre-arranged meeting point, the fight was already over. All they saw was the Lupo girl casually munching on a chocolate stick, surrounded by a dozen Reunion Movement members groaning in pain on the cracked pavement.

“Rhodes Island. So slow.” She casually kicked over a Reunion caster who was struggling to push himself off the ground, sending him sprawling back into the dirt.

“You must be Miss Texas. I’m Amiya from Rhodes Island. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Amiya offered a warm, polite smile despite the chaotic scenery.

“Mn.” Texas responded coolly with a single nod. She swallowed her bite of candy and got straight to business. “The Reunion Movement has abandoned their initial disguises and started acting collectively. They probably won’t hide in the Slums anymore. They are heading our way right now.”

“Their target should be…”

Everyone’s gaze naturally turned to Misha. Noticing the sudden weight of their stares, Misha shifted her attention away from the beaten Reunion members on the ground and looked back at the group. Those people writhing in pain were all Infected too. A heavy pang of sadness tightened Misha’s chest.

Thinking the young girl was simply terrified of the violence, Amiya gently took her hand. “Don’t worry, Rhodes Island will protect you. We won’t let them harm you.”

“Mn…” Misha merely hummed a quiet response, lowering her head and saying nothing more.

“Exusiai has confirmed the evacuation route. I’ll take you there.” Seeing that the VIP and the escort team were all present, Texas turned on her heel and prepared to lead the way.

“Mn, okay,” Amiya agreed.

However, Kai lingered a step behind, his eyes scanning the shadows of the surrounding buildings. He knew exactly what the plot dictated for this specific moment. Another major player was about to make an entrance, but he had absolutely no intention of warning Amiya in advance and altering the timeline just yet.

“I’ve finally… found you, Misha.”

A towering figure stepped out from the intersection, blocking the street ahead. He wore a heavy tactical coat and a distinctive skull-like face mask. Behind him, dozens of heavily armed Reunion Movement soldiers poured out from the alleyways, cutting off the main escape paths.

“They have a leader! Be careful, protect Misha!” Amiya reacted with lightning speed, her rings glowing faintly. The entire Rhodes Island squad instantly shifted into combat readiness, weapons drawn and shields raised.

The masked leader paid the operators no mind. His gaze was locked entirely on Misha. When he spoke, his hoarse voice betrayed a deep, bone-weary exhaustion, carrying the weight of someone who had been searching for a very long time.

“You are…?!” Misha gasped, her eyes widening as she seemed to recognize the identity hiding behind that distorted voice.

Seizing the brief moment of stunned hesitation from the enemy ranks, Texas drew her glowing swords. She grabbed the nearest fire escape ladder and gestured sharply. “Up! Now!”

Amiya pulled the frozen Misha along by the arm, and the group rapidly ascended the side of the building, leaving the street level behind just as the Reunion soldiers surged forward.

“Amiya, Amiya! Up here, yes, right above!” A clear, ringing voice echoed down from the ledge. Exusiai leaned over the parapet, waving her arms. She had just returned from scouting the upper levels and quickly pointed the way, helping the operators haul themselves onto the flat concrete roof.

Amiya caught her breath, looking across the vast, uneven expanse of Lungmen’s skyline. “Are we really transferring via the rooftops?”

“Of course, boss! This route is absolutely foolproof!” Exusiai laughed, spinning her submachine gun on her finger.

However, reality immediately challenged that claim. The harsh whine of thrusters filled the air, and several Reunion Movement members wearing heavy jetpacks descended from the sky, landing heavily to block the only bridge connecting to the next block. Down below, the sound of Skullshatterer’s heavy explosive rounds blowing through the fire escape doors signaled his rapid approach. Now, there was no choice but to fight.

“Exusiai, the enemies have also made an unexpected entrance…” Amiya pointed out, her tone laced with mild exasperation.

“No problem, boss! Watch this! Let’s rock and roll!” Exusiai shouted. She raised her vector, her halo flaring with intense light. A torrential downpour of rubber bullets erupted from the barrel, striking the jetpack soldiers with pinpoint accuracy and knocking them right off the edge of the roof.

“Path clear, let’s go, boss~” Exusiai flashed a bright peace sign and took the lead, sprinting toward the designated extraction zone.

But right as they crossed the gap, a sudden crisis struck. Misha, who was still being pulled along by Amiya, stumbled heavily.

“Amiya… I… I feel a bit dizzy…” Misha whispered. Her legs gave out completely, and as if losing all the strength in her bones, she collapsed forward, fainting directly into Amiya’s arms.

“Misha? Misha?! Medic! We need a medic here!” Amiya dropped to her knees, supporting the unconscious girl while shouting for the squad’s medical operator.

The medic rushed over, quickly scanning Misha’s vitals and checking the dark crystalline growths on her skin. “It’s an Oripathy flare-up. The condition is quite serious. Immediate treatment is required or her internal organs will begin to crystallize.”

Amiya’s heart sank as she understood the sheer gravity of the situation. She remembered the cryptic warning Kai had given her earlier about the girl’s fragile state.

“You all take care of her. We’ll break through the encirclement first,” Amiya commanded, her voice hardening with resolve. Once they reached safety, she would formally apply to the Lungmen authorities to bring Misha back to Rhodes Island for complete treatment. She had promised to protect this girl, and she intended to keep that promise.

Under the expert navigation of the Penguin Logistics duo, the squad tore through the remaining rooftop blockades and finally descended to the rendezvous point. Not far away, standing beneath the glow of a streetlamp, Officer Ch’en was waiting with a heavily armed Lungmen Guard Department escort team.

Before Ch’en could even issue a formal greeting, Amiya stepped forward, her expression fierce. “Officer Ch’en, regarding this child… I don’t know what exactly Lungmen needs from her, but her physical condition is critically poor right now. I hope that after this immediate matter is settled, Misha can come to live at Rhodes Island to receive proper medical care.”

Ch’en frowned slightly, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. “That wasn’t part of the original agreement.”

“But Officer Ch’en!” Amiya stepped closer, her voice rising with agitation.

Before the situation could deteriorate into an argument, Kai smoothly stepped between them.

“Amiya, calm down,” he said quietly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He then turned his full attention to the strict Lungmen officer. “Officer Ch’en, I believe this request is not excessive for Lungmen. We are currently in a cooperative relationship, bleeding on the same streets. As far as I know, what you need isn’t Misha herself, but the information tied to her. Consider granting her medical asylum as Rhodes Island owing Lungmen a significant favor.”

Ch’en narrowed her eyes at Kai, analyzing his calm demeanor. She looked past him to the pale, sweating girl unconscious in the medic’s arms. After a tense moment of silence, the Lungmen officer gave a curt nod. “We’ll discuss the logistics of it after this operation is over.”

The LGD escort team quickly moved in, securing Misha onto a stretcher and rapidly departing toward the inner city safehouse.

Almost simultaneously, the deafening roar of a localized explosion shattered the quiet of the street. The Reunion forces pursuing Rhodes Island had finally caught up, flooding the intersection behind them.

Franka hefted her thermite blade, the metal glowing with intense heat. “The escort team has left safely, but it seems these guys aren’t planning to let us walk away easily.”

The enemy vanguard charged with reckless abandon. The Rhodes Island operators and the two Penguin Logistics specialists moved forward to form a defensive line. At first, they managed to hold the choke point effortlessly, but as the minutes dragged on, the sheer volume of enemies pouring out of the woodwork kept increasing.

Standing at the rear, the Doctor directed the squad’s formations, but even the seasoned tactician was starting to sweat under the relentless pressure.

“Is it just me, or are these guys literally multiplying?!” Liskarm shouted over the din of battle, raising her heavy shield just in time to deflect a lethal strike from a Reunion vanguard.

At that exact moment, a massive explosion blew apart a nearby barricade. The Reunion Movement leader, Skullshatterer, stepped through the smoke and fire, finally arriving at the absolute front lines.