Arknights: It Can't Possibly Be My Fault... Right? — Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Suspected Kal’tsit

Yellow sand choked the air. A sky-filling curtain of dust settled over the smoldering city blocks, painting their entire field of vision in a sickly, murky ochre. A series of slightly chaotic footsteps echoed through the desolate streets, carefully handling past the hideous, jagged clusters of Originium crystals that had erupted from the pavement.

Amiya’s group pressed forward cautiously through the oppressive environment, eventually arriving at a torn-up plaza where Frostleaf’s squad had previously engaged the enemy.

“Amiya, there are traces of a fierce battle here.” M3 dropped to a crouch, her keen eyes sweeping over the scattered debris and the bodies littering the ground. “And many corpses… they all wear the uniforms of the Reunion Movement.”

She reached out, inspecting the fallen soldiers with clinical precision. “…The blood pooling from their lacerations has completely frozen into jagged ice shards, while the rest of their bodies remain entirely intact. This localized freezing should be Miss Frostleaf’s technique.”

“And the collapsed ruins over there were likely blown apart by Meteorite… I found fragments of her specialized arrows in the rubble,” Amiya added, walking over with a heavy heart.

Although they still hadn’t located Meteorite and the rest of the vanguard, Amiya allowed herself a quiet breath of relief. At the very least, the evidence suggested her operators were still alive and holding out somewhere in the urban maze.

The terminal secured in her pocket suddenly vibrated. She pulled it out to see a secure communication channel opening from Kal’tsit.

“Amiya, all rescue teams are currently prepared to withdraw to Rhodes Island. No Operator was lost in the primary mission, but correspondingly… everyone has exhibited varying degrees of severe frostbite. You must take this environmental threat seriously.”

“Frostbite?” Amiya frowned, her gaze sweeping the immediate area. They hadn’t encountered any abnormal temperature drops or corresponding traces at the scene. “I understand, Dr. Kal’tsit.”

“Mm. Additionally, all reconnaissance teams have reported that a highly specialized Reunion Movement squad is currently operating within the Abandoned City. Be extremely careful of their bizarre combat methods,” Kal’tsit instructed, her tone careful and measured.

“Yes, understood.”

“Also, Kai. Make sure he takes good care of you when necessary, and pay special attention to your rings.” Kal’tsit spoke with the absolute assumption that the transmigrated tactician was standing right beside the young leader.

Amiya shifted her weight, suddenly hesitant. “Um… Dr. Kal’tsit, Mr. Kai isn’t here.”

“Not there? Then where exactly did he go? Is M3 with him? Why didn’t you report this the moment you took command of the team?” Kal’tsit fired off the three questions at light speed, her usual icy composure cracking just a fraction.

“…Too many questions, Dr. Kal’tsit.” Amiya blinked, a bit dazed by the sudden interrogation.

A long, heavy sigh hissed through the terminal’s speaker. “Then answer them one by one. First, where did he go?”

“When we left the Slums, Mr. Kai said he had urgent matters to handle back there and mentioned that you had specifically authorized it. M3 didn’t follow him. Since it was a combat emergency when I took over the squad, I assumed you already knew…” Amiya spilled the explanation out in a single, hurried breath.

Kal’tsit fell silent. “…Fine. In that case, you and M3 must be extra careful.”

“Eh? O-okay.” Amiya blinked again. She had fully expected Dr. Kal’tsit to deliver a blistering scolding meant for Kai’s ears.

“That is all. I have pressing matters to attend to on my end as well.”

The connection severed with a sharp click. Amiya took a deep, steadying breath to center herself. Before she could move, a breathless reconnaissance Operator jogged up to her side.

“Amiya, our designated path back has been blocked. They’re trying to cut off our withdrawal route.”

Hearing the report, Amiya turned to look back at the intersection they had just traversed. Sure enough, several scattered Reunion Movement squads were now standing there in strict formation, watching them with predatory patience rather than charging in blindly like their fanatic comrades.

“…Ignore them. Our purpose for coming into this hell was never to run away. We continue forward.”

“Amiya~ over there!” M3’s energetic voice drifted down from the second floor of a semi-collapsed building. To determine their bearings more accurately, M3 had cleared the entire structure of hostiles—a task that had cost them precious minutes, but now seemed entirely worth the effort.

“What’s in that direction?” Amiya asked with a spike of urgency as M3 vaulted down to the street level. Her sixth sense hummed, insisting this was the lead they needed.

“I don’t know, the dust is too thick to see clearly. I could only make out someone engaging the Reunion Movement in heavy combat. I feel like it might be Officer Ch’en, or at the very least, Frostleaf and the others,” M3 reported, immediately taking point and leading the team toward the flashes of conflict she had spotted.

After handling through two ruined residential blocks, the group broke through into a wide, open plaza. The battle M3 had witnessed was already over. A single, proud figure stood in the dead center of the scorched battlefield, surrounded by defeated enemies.

“Miss Ch’en!” Amiya called out, unable to hide the relief in her voice.

“…It’s you. Sorry, I left the joint team without permission and caused you unnecessary worry.” Seeing the Rhodes Island leader approach, Ch’en smoothly sheathed her crimson blade and stepped over the rubble to meet them.

“No… it’s fine. The overall plan hasn’t deviated too much.” Amiya shook her head. As her eyes scanned the Lungmen officer for any hidden injuries, she asked in a hushed, worried tone, “Just… was that… Talulah earlier?”

“…I don’t know. I couldn’t catch up to her,” Ch’en confessed, her expression darkening after a heavy moment of silence. “It might have simply been an enemy trap designed to separate us.”

“Then do you intend to push deeper into the ruins? Would you like to move with our squad?” Seeing the precarious situation, Amiya extended the invitation, hoping to pool their strength.

Ch’en shook her head, refusing without a second thought.

“I need to go back and lead my own team. After pushing this deep, I’ve realized the tactical situation here is far too complex. Without my direct command, the Guard Department will find it nearly impossible to conduct an effective search-and-rescue.”

“In that case, Miss Ch’en, we can detach a squad to escort you…”

“No need.” Ch’en refused bluntly once more. She paused, her stern eyes sweeping over Amiya’s exhausted but determined face, and her tone softened just a fraction. “I mean, I am more than capable on my own. Rhodes Island’s numbers are severely limited right now; your companions need your help far more than I do.”

If Hoshiguma had been present to witness Ch’en speaking with such gentle consideration, the towering defender would have likely dropped her shield in sheer shock.

Seeing the officer’s absolute insistence, Amiya didn’t push the matter. The Lungmen guard was right; their own operators were still out there, bleeding and waiting for salvation.

“In that case, Miss Ch’en, please be extremely careful on your way back. Although we cleared out most of the enemies on our approach, there are still elite Reunion squads wandering the perimeter, and some are specifically lying in ambush along the withdrawal routes.”

“Mm. You all be careful as well. This place… something is very wrong here. I will lead my team to rendezvous with you later—if conditions permit.” Ch’en was never one to waste words. Having said her piece, she turned on her heel and disappeared into the swirling yellow dust.

“Miss Ch’en… she really is strong-willed,” Amiya murmured with a quiet sigh. She adjusted her grip on her caster unit and signaled her team to advance deeper into the infected zone. Even if they had to fight alone, Rhodes Island would never abandon a companion. ‘Jessica… you all must hold on just a little longer.’

As they ventured further into the heart of the Abandoned City, Amiya’s group finally closed in on the last known coordinates broadcasted by Frostleaf. But the moment they crossed the threshold into the new sector, a thick, nauseating stench of burnt ozone and charred flesh assaulted their senses.

Amiya wrinkled her nose, her eyes darting around to locate the source of the smell, when the air suddenly cracked.

“Amiya, look out!”

A searing red Arts projectile tore through the dust, curving from a blind angle straight toward Amiya’s vital points. Thanks to M3’s instantaneous warning, Amiya’s rings flared to life. She raised her hand, projecting a localized barrier of dark Arts that shattered the incoming spell into harmless sparks.

“Who’s hiding up there?!” Seeing Amiya was unharmed, M3’s demeanor flipped instantly into a lethal combat state. She kicked off the ground, blurring into a sprint toward the ruined building where the spell had originated.

“Tsk, did it miss…”

Deep inside the shadows of the abandoned structure, two Reunion Casters cursed under their breath. Seeing the terrifying speed at which M3 was closing the distance, they immediately scrambled to relocate to a secondary vantage point.

Unfortunately for them, they never got the chance.

“Ugh…!”

“You—what’s wrong with you?! Argh!”

M3 vaulted through the shattered window, landing gracefully inside the gloomy interior. She swept the room, ready to tear the ambushers apart, but paused. Strangely, she didn’t find the casters preparing another volley. Instead, she found two fresh corpses bleeding out on the concrete, and someone she hadn’t expected standing over them.

“Frostleaf!” M3 shouted the operator’s codename, her aggressive posture melting into pure joy.

The vulpo girl named Frostleaf slowly raised her head. She gripped her halberd tightly, her chest heaving with exhaustion. She stared at the newcomer, her eyes wide and her expression twisting into utter bewilderment.

“Dr… Kal’tsit?”

“It’s me! I’m M3!” the energetic girl corrected happily, waving her hands.

“Oh… right, I remember now. Sorry, I’ve been operating under high tension for so long my brain couldn’t process it for a second.” Frostleaf exhaled a long, shuddering breath, lowering her weapon. After surviving in such a high-pressure, life-or-death environment for hours on end, she genuinely thought she was hallucinating—seeing the famously cold Dr. Kal’tsit greeting her with a face full of bubbly sunshine was enough to break anyone’s sanity.

“It’s okay, it’s okay! We finally found you. Where are Meteorite and the others? Amiya has been worried sick about you!” M3 didn’t mind the mix-up in the slightest. She stepped forward, gently grabbing the exhausted operator by the arm and pulling her toward the exit to reunite with their leader.