Arknights: It Can't Possibly Be My Fault... Right? — Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Thank You

Smoke still curled from the shattered concrete on the top floor of the Lungmen Guard Department. The sharp, metallic tang of burnt Originium hung heavy in the air.

“Madam Ch’en! The entire squad has returned. No major casualties to report.”

“Good.” Ch’en let out a slow, measured breath, her grip loosening on her sheathed sword. “Take them downstairs to rest. There’s still plenty of work ahead of us.”

After the rooftop’s catastrophic collapse, the Rhodes Island operators had pitched in to help the LGD clear a makeshift staging area among the rubble. It was during this impromptu excavation that they uncovered the terrifying truth of the battlefield: dozens of unexploded, high-energy Originium bomb fragments buried in the masonry.

The massive explosion that had rocked the rooftop earlier hadn’t been Kai’s doing at all. In reality, Kai had scrambled to detonate those hidden charges in controlled, staggered batches. Based on the wiring layout the engineers found, a simultaneous detonation would have yielded only one result—the entire top floor of the Lungmen Guard Department would have been erased from the skyline.

“This sector is clear as well, Miss Ch’en.”

Seeing the LGD officer finish her report, Amiya stepped carefully over a pile of rebar to approach the Lungmen commander.

“Mm. Thank you again. All of you from Rhodes Island.” Ch’en offered a sincere nod, the usual harshness in her eyes softening into genuine gratitude.

“You’re very welcome. It’s exactly what we should do.” Amiya offered a playful wink. “It’s in the contract, isn’t it?”

“…Yes, the contract.” Ch’en swept her gaze over the surrounding ruins, taking in the scarred walls and shattered glass. “What are Rhodes Island’s plans?”

“Well…” Amiya tapped her chin, her rabbit ears twitching thoughtfully. “The crisis in Lungmen isn’t entirely over yet, is it?”

Ch’en nodded. “Indeed, though we are nearing the end. We have fully retaken the Guard Department… or at least, what’s left of it. The first phase of our operation is a success. The remainder involves hunting down the Reunion remnants and their roaming guerrilla units to drive them out of Lungmen completely.”

Amiya smiled, her expression brightening. “Then Rhodes Island will continue to fight side-by-side with the Guard Department—assuming you don’t mind our company.”

A rare, warm smile broke across Ch’en’s face. She reached out and gently rubbed the top of Amiya’s head. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, little rabbit.”

Amiya froze, completely caught off guard by the sudden affection. She shook her head back and forth, trying to escape the headpat, but couldn’t quite shake Ch’en’s hand away. Finally, she let out a helpless sigh. “Miss Ch’en… if you keep patting my head, it’s going to stunt my growth…”

“Haha, sorry. I just couldn’t help myself.” Ch’en withdrew her hand, chuckling softly at the young leader’s pout.

Amiya breathed a sigh of relief, smoothing down her hair. She then looked Ch’en up and down, studying her in silence.

The prolonged stare made Ch’en shift uncomfortably. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “What is it?”

“…Um, nothing.” Amiya shook her head, a gentle smile returning to her lips. “I just feel like you’ve changed, Miss Ch’en.”

The woman standing before her felt entirely different from the strict, unyielding officer they had first met at the Governor’s Office—the one who had harshly reprimanded them for being a mere few minutes late.

“…You think so too, huh.” Ch’en awkwardly scratched the back of her head—a nervous habit she had unconsciously picked up from Hoshiguma, though she rarely displayed it in public.

Across the ruined floor, Kai and Blaze stood by a massive window frame that had long since been blown to pieces. They leaned against the twisted metal, chatting idly as they watched the first rays of the morning sun pierce the horizon.

“Ah, the setting sun is infinitely beautiful…” Kai sighed, resting his chin on his hand with a look of deep poetic melancholy.

Blaze blinked, staring at him. “Setting sun? Are you blind? It’s literally morning.”

“…You just don’t understand poetry.”

“And I think you don’t understand basic astronomy,” Blaze retorted, rolling her eyes. She crossed her arms, her tone shifting to something slightly more serious. “Hey, tell me the truth. Did you let Mephisto and his goons slip away on purpose?”

“How is that even possible? Don’t frame me for treason, alright?” Kai threw his hands up in exaggerated defense. “If I wanted to let them go, would I really need to trigger a massive explosion right in front of our own people?” He pointed an accusing finger at the bomb casings being hauled away by the LGD. “I genuinely didn’t know that little psycho had planted so many explosives.”

“Oh…” Blaze rubbed the back of her neck, looking a bit apologetic. “It’s just… you always act like you know absolutely everything before it happens. I figured it was part of your grand master plan.”

Kai waved her off. “I do know a lot. Things you can and can’t possibly imagine. But that?” He gestured to the rubble again. “That was a surprise.”

“…Tsk. Show-off.” Blaze curled her lip, leaning back against the wobbly window frame.

“I’m serious! Keep doubting me, and I’ll start leaking all your deepest secrets.”

“What secrets? Now you’re just talking nonsense.” Blaze arched an eyebrow, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

“I know all about you and your father.” Kai crossed his arms, putting on a smug, knowing expression that practically screamed, Beg me and I might tell you.

Blaze stared at him for a solid three seconds before bursting into laughter. “Ha! Wow, what a rare and forbidden truth. I also know about me and my father. He’s my dad, and I’m his daughter. new stuff. So what?”

“I’m serious…”

“I’m serious too.” Blaze grinned, nudging his shoulder. “Hey, don’t make that face. Of course I believe you. It’s just that Dr. Kal’tsit told me something before we deployed—actually, she seems to have told all the Elites…”

“Told you what?” Kai leaned in, his curiosity piqued.

“She told us…” Blaze dragged out the syllables, a wicked smirk spreading across her face. “Guess for yourself. Don’t you know everything?”

“…You’re really asking for a beating, you know that?” Kai’s face twitched. “Who taught you how to leave people hanging like this?”

“Scout. He loves pulling that crap.” Blaze let the cool morning breeze wash over her face, her feline ears twitching happily. “Don’t let his stoic, honest-guy routine fool you. He’s actually the craftiest bastard of us all.”

“Oh…” Kai rubbed his chin. He hadn’t actually interacted much with the Sarkaz sniper. Scout always felt a bit elusive, a ghost on the battlefield. Most of what Kai knew came from the other Elite Operators; Misery, in particular, was always complaining about Scout’s antics.

“Hey… didn’t he slip away with someone back in Chernobog?” Blaze’s eyes lit up with excitement at the mention of her comrades. “He sent a secure message saying he ran into an ‘old acquaintance’ and took his squad to help them out.”

“Actually, I bet those people lured him away with something interesting,” Kai mused. “‘Old acquaintance’? It couldn’t be his former mercenary buddies, could it?”

“Uh… well…” Kai scratched his cheek, suddenly feeling a bit awkward discussing the meta-plot he had actively derailed to keep Scout alive.

Blaze didn’t notice his hesitation and sighed dramatically. “The end result is that us old-timers are left doing all the heavy lifting he was supposed to handle. He really doesn’t make things easy for us.”

“Well… with great power comes great responsibility,” Kai offered sagely.

“Ha. ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ Have you been studying Yan culture too?”

“Would you believe me if I told you I’m actually from Yan?” Kai smiled. It wasn’t exactly a lie, considering his past life.

Hearing this, Blaze turned her head, her golden eyes locking onto Kai for a long, quiet moment. The boisterous energy faded, replaced by something deeply sincere. She looked back out at the rising sun, the golden light catching the edges of her wild hair.

“…Maybe. Regardless, thank you.”

“Thank… me?” Kai blinked, completely thrown off by the sudden shift in tone. “For what?”

“Thank you for letting them come home.” Blaze turned back to him, looking straight into his eyes. “That’s what Dr. Kal’tsit told me before we left. She said you’re the reason we didn’t lose anyone in Chernobog. So, when we finally get back to Rhodes Island, I’m treating you to a drink. The kind of night where we don’t stop pouring until we physically can’t walk home.”

“Oh…” Kai rubbed the back of his neck, a warm feeling blooming in his chest.

“What? You look like you don’t want to drink with me.” Blaze leaned in close, flashing a playful, toothy grin. “I’m a real beauty, aren’t I? It’s an honor.”

“…I just know I can’t outdrink you,” Kai muttered, shaking his head. And what do you mean ‘real beauty’? We’re bros!

“Haha! Perfect! It’s a deal then.” Blaze slapped him on the back hard enough to make him stumble. “You missed out last time. When we get back, I’m dragging Ace, Mechanist, Sharp, and the rest of the crew into this. We’re going all out!”

Faced with Blaze’s overwhelming, suffocating hospitality, Kai had no choice but to nod in defeat.

However, as he imagined the sheer volume of alcohol that group could consume, he had a sinking feeling that a certain green-haired, dedicated doctor was going to have an absolute meltdown when she saw the state of her Elite Operators.