Arknights: It Can't Possibly Be My Fault... Right? — Chapter 94

Chapter 94: The Atmosphere Ruiner

“Miss, most of the Infected have been safely relocated,” a Black Raincoat reported, his posture rigid and respectful as he stood by Lin Yuxia’s side in the dimly lit corridor.

Lin Yuxia gave a slight, acknowledging nod. The ambient hum of the underground safehouse vibrated faintly beneath her boots. “Good. How are the Lungmen Guard Department and Rhodes Island faring on the surface?”

“They are advancing steadily. The majority of the Reunion Movement’s forces have been driven deep into the Slums. Additionally… our scouts have discovered traces of a highly specialized Infected squad operating in the perimeter.”

“Hmm… keep a close watch on them. Do not engage under any circumstances unless absolutely necessary.”

Lin Yuxia paced in place, her heels clicking softly against the concrete as she lost herself in thought. The situation in Lungmen was a powder keg, and she was sitting right on the fuse. A moment later, the heavy sound of approaching footsteps broke her concentration. Another Black Raincoat hurried over to deliver an urgent report.

“Miss, someone is requesting an audience with you.” The man knelt on one knee, bowing his head as he presented a small, worn object. “She said that if you see this, you will understand immediately.”

“Hmm? This is…” Lin Yuxia plucked the wooden plaque from his gloved hand. Her fingers traced the rough, carved number ‘9’ etched into its surface. Her expression shifted into a complicated grimace. “Tsk. Take me to see her.”

She tossed the token back to the guard and quickly followed as he led the way through the twisting underground passages.

“No scent of blood… the perimeter is heavily guarded, and I can even hear children laughing…” Nine stood in a quiet corner illuminated by the harsh, flickering glare of emergency lights. She muttered softly to herself, her voice barely carrying over the distant hum of machinery. “It seems Lungmen hasn’t quite…”

“Hasn’t quite what?” Lin Yuxia’s voice echoed from the far end of the corridor.

Nine lifted her gaze, her eyes narrowing slightly as the pink-haired woman stepped into the light. She noticed immediately that the mafia heiress had come without her usual entourage.

“Just you?” Nine asked, genuine puzzlement coloring her tone.

Lin Yuxia rolled her eyes, casually tossing the wooden plaque back through the air. Nine caught it effortlessly. “Of course it is just me. Otherwise, was I supposed to bring a whole squad of Black Raincoats to arrest you? Our great, esteemed senior from the Guard Department.”

“That was a very long time ago,” Nine replied, shaking her head slowly. The weight of her past seemed to pull at her shoulders.

“It has only been three years…” Lin Yuxia’s sharp gaze drifted from Nine to the silent figure standing just a half-step behind her. The man was dressed in civilian clothes that hung awkwardly on his frame, looking exactly as though he had just raided a random citizen’s wardrobe in a hurry. “Are you not going to introduce your companion?”

“This is a friend of mine from the Reunion Movement,” Nine introduced him with perfect, unruffled calm.

“A friend from Reunion?” Lin Yuxia raised a delicate eyebrow, her tone dripping with skepticism. “Then why is he dressed so… locally?”

“I could not exactly have him stroll in here wearing a standard Reunion uniform. I simply grabbed a few spare garments from an abandoned residential block on the way,” Nine explained smoothly, swiftly steering the conversation back to her actual purpose. “So, those Black Raincoats outside are indeed under your direct management?”

Lin Yuxia withdrew her scrutinizing gaze from the mismatched ‘friend’ and gave a brief nod of admission. “Yes. They are all listening to my orders for the time being.”

“I see… So all those Infected who mysteriously went missing from the Slums are currently being detained down here by you?” Nine asked, her calm eyes locking onto Lin Yuxia’s striking features.

“You seem to harbor some deep prejudice against me. They are all doing perfectly fine, thank you very much. Calling it ‘detained’ is a severe exaggeration of the truth.”

“You know my prejudice is not directed at you…”

Lin Yuxia shook her head, feigning complete ignorance to the underlying accusation. “So, it has been a long time since we last spoke. Did you risk coming all the way down here just to chat about this? To criticize my methods?”

“…That is not what I meant. Also, stop talking like that Little Tiger.” Nine shook her head gently, a faint trace of nostalgia in her voice.

“Tsk, who in their right mind would want to copy her?” Lin Yuxia clicked her tongue in sheer annoyance, crossing her arms over her chest.

“That exact reaction is very similar to hers as well.”

“…Hmph.” Lin Yuxia clicked her tongue again, this time with open disdain. She felt as though she were dealing with a second Ch’en. “Fine. Since you are not here to criticize me, you must have some other grand scheme in mind, right? Out with it.”

Nine remained silent for a long, heavy moment before finally speaking. “I want to go see them. Is that acceptable?”

“Them? The Infected? Why?” Lin Yuxia frowned deeply, firing off three questions in rapid succession. It was already a massive breach of protocol for her to meet Nine alone like this. Now the defector wanted a guided tour of the refugee camp?

“I want to take them away from Lungmen.”

“…Are you playing a joke on me? Leave? To go where? To join that violent Reunion mob tearing up the streets outside?” Lin Yuxia demanded, her displeasure flaring into open hostility.

“There is always somewhere to go,” Nine replied flatly, completely unfazed by the sudden spike in tension.

“Give me a proper, logical reason.” Lin Yuxia neither agreed nor refused. She simply stood her ground, demanding a solid justification from her old acquaintance.

“Lungmen no longer has a place for them. Even if they manage to stay safe under your temporary protection this time, what about the next time? And the time after that?”

“Tsk, why do all of you suddenly care so deeply about these Infected?”

“I am also Infected.”

“I know that, but this goes completely against the rules, do you understand? Besides, what could you possibly accomplish even if you see them? Give a rousing speech? Will they even want to follow a stranger? Are you entirely sure you can lead a massive group of civilians out of this warzone alive?” Lin Yuxia did not have the luxury of worrying about the next time, or the time after that. She had to manage the bleeding present.

“Nine, do you have any idea what fate originally awaited them?” Lin Yuxia stepped closer, looking fixedly into the older woman’s eyes.

“I only know their current fate.”

“Why are you just as impossibly stubborn as Ch’en?” Lin Yuxia snapped crossly, throwing her hands up. “Did you slip and hit your head on the pavement when you came down here?”

She took a breath, trying to rein in her frustration. “Setting aside my Black Raincoats, outside there is the Guard Department, Rhodes Island, the Reunion Movement, and even the Inspectorate. Which one of them will easily let you leave?”

“I…” Nine opened her mouth, fully prepared to state that these were all tactical problems that could be solved with enough planning. But the moment the first word left her lips, a sharp voice shattered the heavy atmosphere.

“Not a single one!”

Nine whipped her head toward the dark entrance she had just come through. Standing in the archway was a familiar silhouette, the unmistakable shapes of two swords hanging securely at her waist.

“Tsk, why is she here too?” Lin Yuxia groaned, immediately recognizing the figure. She instinctively glanced left and right down the corridor, half-expecting a certain sharp-tongued feline to pop out of the shadows as well. Fortunately, the tiger was nowhere to be seen.

“You… why are you here? What are you doing?” Nine asked, her voice dropping into a gloomy register. She had never expected Ch’en to abandon her critical post as the commander-in-chief of the frontline Guard Department just to track her down in a sewer.

“Me? I am here to drag you back to the squad, of course! You went AWOL without official permission, broke into a private residence, crossed a public street without using the designated crosswalk, harbored intentions to betray the organization, incited unnecessary conflict among Lungmen public officials, and single-handedly planned a great Lungmen rebellion!” Ch’en rattled off the absurd string of crimes in one massive, uninterrupted breath. Each accusation was vastly more ridiculous than the last, leaving Nine completely stunned into silence.

“…Has she been acting like this lately?” Nine stared, her jaw tightening as she slowly turned her head to look at Lin Yuxia.

Lin Yuxia let out a long, suffering sigh and massaged her temples. “I do not know. She was acting exactly like this when I spoke to her over the comms earlier. Who knew she would actually bring this circus act in person?”

“And you! You pink-haired sewer… er… meatball head… wait a second.” Ch’en suddenly stuttered, her fierce momentum crashing into a brick wall. She awkwardly reached into her uniform pocket, pulled out a crumpled little slip of paper, and squinted at it under the dim light. She cleared her throat and continued reading aloud: “Gloomy pink-haired sewer creature, heinous meatball head, destroyer of Soup Dumplings…”

Before Ch’en could finish reciting the bizarre list of insults, Lin Yuxia quickly raised a hand, her face flushed with a mix of anger and sheer second-hand embarrassment. “Stop, stop, stop! If you have forgotten the damn words, just do not read them, okay? And what is all this absolute junk? Did that Char Siu Cat write this garbage for you?”

“…Since you already figured it out, you can read the rest yourself. The ones at the very end are a bit too dirty. I cannot quite bring myself to read them out loud in polite company. Also, do not tell her I showed you this later.” Ch’en calmly walked over and handed the crumpled slip of paper directly to Lin Yuxia, her expression entirely deadpan.

“…So what exactly is going on here?” Nine asked, barely managing to keep her facial muscles under control. “Those severe crimes you mentioned…”

“Oh, the Char Siu Cat came up with those too. If you have a problem with the charges, go find her later and file a complaint.” Ch’en waved her hand dismissively, tossing the blame without a second thought. Then, she straightened her posture, her expression shifting back into the hardened mask of a Lungmen officer. “But, I am entirely serious about arresting you.”