Arknights: The Prophet of Penguin Logistics — Chapter 63

Chapter 63: The Fragrance Lingers on the Hand That Gives Roses

Mayer was a good comrade. After their lengthy exchange of ideas, Lynn had finally and successfully confirmed this fact.

Although her current mechanical dogs suffered from a myriad of technical bottlenecks, placing them an impossibly long distance away from anything resembling a true “Nano-Disaster,” having a clear direction meant having hope. Compared to the exhausted, skeptical researcher from just an hour ago, Mayer now seemed to radiate an inexplicable, frantic mental energy.

People rarely said it out loud, but everyone entertained fleeting fantasies of saving the world at least once in their lives. The difference lay in the aftermath. Some people saw reality for what it was, realized their own limitations, and chose to remain silent while bitterly mocking those who still tried. Others chose to climb that seemingly unreachable peak anyway, willing to bleed just to add a single brick to the foundation of humanity’s future.

Terra had its fair share of deep-rooted, systemic problems. But watching Mayer with her intensely serious expression, practically tearing through the paper as she furiously scribbled down new schematics and theoretical frameworks, Lynn felt that this world was still entirely salvageable.

It was precisely because these researchers buried themselves in such grueling, thankless work that society could enjoy its current colorful diversity. Without these pioneers dragging the era forward by the teeth, humanity might still be sitting in the mud, waiting for fruit to drop from the trees. For that reason alone, Lynn always held a deep, quiet respect for such individuals.

Rather than interrupt the sudden storm of inspiration that had taken hold of her, Lynn simply kept his mouth shut. He reached for a plate of delicate pastries left on the table, quietly helping himself to the food and enjoying the rich flavors while she worked.

A short while later, Officer Ch’en stepped back into the secluded area. She took one look at the scene and offered Lynn a slight nod.

“You two had a productive chat?” she asked, her tone carrying a hint of relief. “That’s good. Lynn, if you’re finished here, there are a few people I intend to introduce you to.”

“Mm, alright.” Lynn wiped his hands with a napkin and stood up. “Mayer, I’ll be taking my leave first. If you ever find yourself with some free time, you can come look for me at Penguin Logistics.”

“Go on, go on,” Mayer muttered dismissively, not even looking up from her frantic sketching. “Just let me think about these variables first…”

Leaving the inspired researcher to her own devices, Lynn fell into step behind Ch’en, following the L.G.D. officer out of the quiet corner and toward the main seating area of the newly integrated department.

Even at a celebratory banquet, the unspoken hierarchy of Lungmen was on full display. Someone like Mayer, an outsider cutting into the established group, was naturally ostracized. She had been seated at the absolute edge of the venue, practically exiled to a separate table. Scattered around her were a few other fringe figures, their weary postures and guarded eyes making it easy to identify them as refugees from Columbia.

The recent civil war in Columbia had triggered a massive exodus of talent. While these displaced professionals were often easier for higher-ups to control and trust due to their desperate circumstances, earning the trust of their new colleagues was an entirely different matter. Internal friction was everywhere. Lynn even spotted a few formal suits that were clearly repurposed Blacksteel International Operator uniforms, the original company logos hastily and crudely crossed out with dark thread just so the wearers could blend in.

It looked a bit ridiculous, but the raw, desperate survival instinct radiating from those individuals commanded a certain grim respect.

Thus, while the Eternal Life Agency had ostensibly been integrated into a single, unified department, the internal fault lines were glaringly obvious.

The core faction was anchored by Chief Executive Wei Yenwu and the central pillars of Lungmen. This included Lynn himself, sitting comfortably as the third shareholder beneath Wei and Madam Fumizuki. Directly under their umbrella were the L.G.D. elites and specialized operatives. They had their own internal friction, but they undeniably formed the first-string team.

The second tier consisted of the peripheral departments: the Lungmen Fire Department, external medical support, Data Department analysts, and other logistical branches. While they were technically part of Lungmen’s main forces, a subtle barrier separated them from the core combat Operators. They were numerous, tightly knit, and formed the second-largest clique at the banquet. The people Ch’en wanted to introduce him to belonged to this exact category—her direct subordinates, responsible for external pursuit and field investigations.

The final, lowest tier was made up of the displaced experts and foreign scholars. Some hailed from the frozen ruins of Chernobog and the Ursus Empire, some were wandering researchers from Laterano, and others were corporate defectors. The most prominent among them were the former Blacksteel mercenaries, alongside brilliant minds from Rhine Lab and Umbrella research facilities. These experts, whether their specialty lay in taking lives or saving them, clustered together based on their former corporate affiliations, nursing drinks in small, isolated groups of three or five in the darkest corners of the hall.

Altogether, this newly minted department boasted over a hundred personnel in its initial establishment phase. It was a genuinely grand gesture on Wei Yenwu’s part.

Ch’en stopped near a table occupied by a few distinct figures. “This is Operator Hoshiguma, a core member of our assault team,” she said, gesturing to a towering woman. “She possesses overwhelming physical resistance and vanguard capabilities. She once withstood a concentrated barrage from over a dozen hostile Originium Arts casters without breaking the line. She is our premier combat expert.”

Lynn looked up at the female Operator. Including the imposing oni horns curving from her head, she was easily a full head taller than him. He offered a warm, relaxed smile and extended his hand.

“Ah, hello. It’s very nice to meet you.”

Hoshiguma’s grip was firm but surprisingly gentle, her green eyes studying him with casual interest.

“And this is Shaw, whom I briefly mentioned to you before,” Ch’en continued, gesturing to a much smaller, highly alert Operator nearby. “She is a fire safety expert. She has proposed several highly unorthodox but effective theories, and possesses a deep understanding of the psychological behavioral patterns and escape routes of serial arsonists. She serves as our special consultant.”

“Hello, nice to meet you,” Lynn greeted smoothly.

“And that person over there is…” Ch’en paused, her brow furrowing as she scanned the immediate area. “Wait a moment. Where did Swire go?”

“She said there was some trouble at home, so she had to head back early,” Hoshiguma replied casually.

The tall oni then tilted her head, her curiosity finally getting the better of her as she looked at the young man standing behind her superior. “Who’s this?”

“He is the Prophet, Lynn. An Operator who is… exceptionally outstanding in sensory abilities and tactical foresight,” Ch’en explained, shooting Lynn a brief glance before turning her attention back to Hoshiguma with a deepening scowl. “Never mind that for now. Swire just left the meeting? At a time like this? Does that spoiled feline have absolutely zero sense of organizational discipline?!”

“Well, she said she knew you would say exactly that,” Hoshiguma noted, a faint, amused smile tugging at her lips. “So she already paid a lump sum directly to Lord Wei Yenwu to serve as the department’s operational slush fund. The only condition was that she bought the right to leave these tedious meetings whenever she pleases. She’ll do the actual field work, but she refuses to sit around listening to speeches.”

“Rules are rules!” Ch’en snapped, her voice rising over the ambient chatter of the banquet. “Just how much money does she have to think she can trample on L.G.D. regulations right off the bat?!”

“She covered the department’s entire annual operating expenses.”

“…Damn it.”

Ch’en’s expression instantly darkened into a storm of conflicted frustration, her jaw clenching so hard her teeth ground together audibly.

Sensing the perfect opportunity to slip away before the office politics dragged him under, Lynn feigned a casual glance at a nearby wall clock. “Officer Ch’en, I actually still have some pressing matters to attend to, so I’ll be taking my leave as well.”

“Hm? You’re leaving already?” Ch’en blinked, her anger momentarily derailed as she watched him step back. “Is there anything I can assist you with?”

“Ah, no. To be entirely honest, a high-profile venue like this isn’t really suitable for someone like me. It wouldn’t be good if my presence caused any unnecessary friction,” Lynn said with a self-deprecating chuckle. “So, I’ll head out now. If any serious issues arise, just give me a call directly.”

Ch’en sighed, the tension bleeding out of her shoulders. “…Alright. If there are any issues, I will contact you.”

“Oh, right. One last thing,” Lynn paused, his tone shifting into something slightly more authoritative. “Regarding Mayer from Rhine Lab. If she submits any requisition requests, please satisfy them to the absolute best of your ability. Consider it a personal request from me, the third shareholder. If the bureaucracy gives you trouble, you can just funnel all the compensation money I donated directly into her budget. I firmly believe she is going to build something truly remarkable.”

Looking at Ch’en’s thoroughly puzzled expression, Lynn didn’t bother offering any further explanation. He merely smiled, turned on his heel, and walked away from the glittering vanity fair that he had no real place in.

There was an old saying: The fragrance lingers on the hand that gives roses.

If Mayer were left to her own devices, she would find it nearly impossible to move a single inch through Lungmen’s suffocating red tape. But with the backing of his massive financial compensation and Ch’en’s direct protection, the brilliant researcher would finally have the pristine development environment she needed.

Doing this was essentially spending Wei Yenwu’s political capital and face to fund a foreign scientist, but Lynn didn’t regret it in the slightest. For something that possessed the potential to advance the technological progress of the entire era, a little lost face was a remarkably cheap price to pay.

‘Another good deed done for the day.’

Stepping out into the cool night air of Lungmen, Lynn looked up at the neon-lit sky. He stretched his arms high above his head, popping a stiff joint in his shoulder, before leisurely making his way back through the bustling streets toward the chaotic warmth of Penguin Logistics.