"Hah. It's been a long time, Your Highness, and you greet me with quite a surprise."
Nine walked half a step ahead of Felix, acting as his bodyguard. "Ch'en Hui-chieh actually treated you like that. Don't tell me you two really…"
"We're engaged," Felix replied lightly. "For now, there aren't any concrete plans for the future. There's simply too much going on."
He continued calmly, "This was an agreement made earlier with Chief Wei. Beyond that, there are elements of political alignment involved. In fact, he'd already had this idea back when Tomorrow's Development was still just a company."
They got into a business car. Felix rested his chin against his hand, leaning toward the window.
"Your Highness, where are we headed next?" Nine asked.
"This set of coordinates. It's Rhodes Island Pharmaceutical's temporary office. I'll be meeting up with them."
"Understood."
The black-clad bodyguard in the front seat bowed respectfully, and the car swiftly departed from the LGD headquarters.
Ten minutes later, Nine followed Felix out of the vehicle. Here, she saw several familiar yet oddly distant faces. Anthony was someone she knew, but the rest of the senior staff left little impression on her.
The message was clear. Felix was signaling that he regarded her as part of the upper echelon.
Nine smiled to herself. She understood his intent, and a quiet warmth rose in her chest. He didn't need to go this far for her to grasp what he meant.
Present at the site, aside from Anthony, were Jesselton in powered armor, the operations leader Siege, Ines in charge of reconnaissance, and Nearl, renowned for her formidable solo combat ability.
Rhodes Island's side was even more crowded. Not long after the meeting ended, their main forces began entering the city in stages. Elite operators led by Ace, Dobermann with scattered members of the operations teams, and mercenaries from Blacksteel Worldwide were all present.
Felix glanced in their direction a few more times. When Tomorrow's Development had just been established, he had originally intended to pay a visit to that veteran from Columbia. However, considering that most of Blacksteel's mercenaries were active in Columbia and had little overlap with Tomorrow's Development, the matter gradually slipped his mind.
Now that Blacksteel had accepted Rhodes Island's contract, it was clear Rhodes Island believed it lacked certain capabilities in this area. Given their shortage of mid-tier operators, this was only natural.
Ace and the other elite operators were former members of Babel. Dobermann and her peers, on the other hand, were training rookie operators who had only recently survived the Chernobog incident. Calling them veterans still felt inappropriate. Though they had faced life and death, with Felix as their greatest pillar of support, their actual experience remained limited.
This led to a scarcity of mid-level operatives. Not every mission could rely on elite operators, yet sending only rookies would inevitably lead to disastrous outcomes.
After discussion, it was decided that this round of mentorship and field experience would be handled internally by Rhodes Island. It was also part of their long-term planning.
"Have the operational directives been finalized?" Kal'tsit looked at Felix. "Will your side be the main force engaging the Reunion adventurers?"
Is this concern? Felix swallowed the question. "The adventurers are already prepared to face anything. You may think they have their own difficulties, but in truth, it's much the same as the Sarkaz. They fight for differing ideals and beliefs."
Amiya blinked with concern. She truly worried about the coming conflict. Although they had been the ones to take the initiative for what Rhodes Island needed, the thought of injuries and sacrifices weighed heavily on her, and she let out a quiet sigh.
After a brief exchange, both sides went their separate ways. What awaited them next was the battlefield.
———
Through the special passageways opened by Lungmen, the adventurers from the Venus entered the city one by one. Among them were the Third Legion, the Emperor's Children. Alongside them were players who had been quick enough to secure the Lungmen urban combat mission. Their faces were filled with excitement, as if they had just hit the jackpot.
The Lungmen guards standing nearby watched in speechless silence. They were already under immense pressure, having learned from the LGD that some of Reunion's infected had infiltrated the city. With their own lives now under threat, they stood watch in constant tension. Seeing the adventurers' carefree demeanor left them at a loss for words.
Compared to the players celebrating their PvP assignment, the Emperor's Children were far more restrained. As the strongest combat force among Tomorrow's Development's adventurers, they were to be split into multiple small squads and dispatched across the city to intercept Reunion adventurers. Their primary target was Laughing Coffin, the red guild with the greatest influence within Reunion.
Their arrival was bound to plunge Lungmen into bloodshed and turmoil. Those who could stand on the very front line were only them.
Only adventurers could defeat adventurers.
If the LGD were sent to intercept them, they might be able to stop the first assault. But once those enemies died and revived again, the despair that would bring to Terra's NPCs was unimaginable.
Thus, the responsibility naturally fell upon their shoulders.
"This is Lungmen's defensive layout."
A holographic map unfolded slowly before the Emperor's Children players, projected with crisp clarity. This was the map Ch'en Hui-chieh had handed to Felix, which he then forwarded to Kumori. Now, it was finally being put to use.
"The red-marked zones are the Lower City. These areas also connect to the sewage system leading outside the city, making them the most likely infiltration routes for Reunion members. We'll operate in squads of ten, conducting rotating patrols within the red zones. The moment we encounter yellow- or red-tagged players, we engage immediately."
Kumori paused briefly before continuing. "As for hostile NPCs with red tags, confirm their identity and eliminate them as quickly as possible. I've heard from Miss Loughshinny that Reunion has been inciting children to take part in combat. If you encounter infected children, knock them unconscious and bring them back for unified detention."
"Any questions?"
The players shook their heads in unison. Seeing this, Kumori said nothing more. After a brisk order to dismiss, she led the members of the Ice Rose team away at once. The remaining teams exchanged glances, then spread out like rainwater flowing into the sea, converging toward the Lower City.
Beyond the players from the Venus, adventurers stationed at the Lungmen branch also sprang into action. They donned their latest equipment and rushed to the front lines, watching every entrance leading into the Lower City to prevent the appearance of infected individuals or red-named players. Their combat strength might not have been exceptional, but their numbers were overwhelming.
"Over here! Four red names!"
The sharp shout shattered the hum of traffic. The last scheduled tram streaked past with a screech as a player crouched atop a pedestrian overpass spotted four red-named players lurking behind an electrical box not far away.
The Tomorrow's Development players showed no hesitation. They immediately drew their crossbows and fired.
The four red-named players were instantly riddled with dozens of bolts, their bodies bristling like hedgehogs. One unlucky soul took a bolt straight to the head, collapsing on the spot as his respawn countdown began. The remaining three fled in desperate panic.
"Close the perimeter."
The Tomorrow's Development players began to regroup.
At the meeting that had just concluded, Siege had coordinated patrol and guard zones with Dobermann. Now, she was leading former members of the Glasgow Gang alongside operators from the action teams, moving in tandem. They were methodically screening infected individuals one by one, following the Lungmen registration data issued by Officer Ch'en.
The Lower City of Lungmen was home not only to the infected, but also to people from the very bottom of Lungmen's social strata. Even so, those at the bottom held deep contempt for the infected. After all, no matter how poor they were, they did not suffer from Oripathy.
"Damn it, where do you think those infiltrating infected can run?"
"They're just a bunch of brat infected. After we kill them, we can toss their bodies straight out of Lungmen."
The shouting came from ahead. Siege's expression hardened as she tightened her grip on her warhammer and strode forward.
Dozens of ragged Lower City residents were swinging crude weapons, their faces twisted with ferocity, like beasts defending their invaded territory.
At the center of the mob were several children, all Ursus boys and girls. Fear was etched across their faces, and some had already broken down in tears.
"Talk! Where are the rest hiding?"
"Where are the other Ursus infected? Speak!"
A thick arm clamped around a young girl's throat, hoisting her into the air. Just as she was about to suffocate, the mobster was kicked hard from behind.
Bang.
The warhammer smashed into the ground. Standing tall, Siege looked down coldly at the thugs who had fallen back in terror upon seeing the action team operators behind her.
"If I see you bullying the weak again, what you receive won't be just a single kick."
"You're siding with the infected now?"
The rioter cursed loudly, pointing an accusing finger. "There shouldn't be any infected in Lungmen! Infected should all die!"
"Dagda."
Dagda stepped forward, seized the man by his collar, and hurled him into a nearby alley.
That utterly indifferent gaze toward life itself forced the mobster's filthy curses to die in his throat.
"Begin the operation."
As the mob cursed under their breath and dispersed, Siege turned her gaze toward the slums. "There are infected children inside. Remember our protocols."
The action team answered in unison, "Protect the children."
With Siege's approval, the team split into multiple squads and moved out.
She then looked toward the three children sitting on the ground, wiping their tears without making a sound.
For children of their age, they were already strong enough.
"Th-thank you, big sister."
The eldest boy wiped his eyes and stood up, his voice hoarse as he expressed his gratitude. As he moved, Originium crystals beneath his collarbone were exposed.
"Do you need help?"
Siege asked gently. When it came to infected children, she always had patience and compassion. "It's too dangerous here. How about we take you somewhere safe?"
"..."
The boy hesitated, stammering for a long while without giving an answer.
At that moment, an operator from the action team stepped forward from behind Siege. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing black Originium crystals embedded in his skin.
"Big brother… you're infected too?"
"Yes," the operator replied with a smile, gently patting the boy's head. "So you can trust us. Please, let us help you."
"Okay!"
The boy took the crying girl by the hand. The three children brushed the dust from their trousers and hurriedly led Siege and the others deeper into the slums.
As they moved, Siege relayed information through the terminal. A group of Reunion-affiliated infected children had been found in the slums. Medical operators and supplies might be required.
"Sister Misha!"
The children called out beneath a stretch of ruins. A white-haired Ursus girl stepped into Siege's view. Seeing the children unharmed, she let out a breath of relief. But when she noticed Siege and the operators behind them, she instinctively pulled the children behind her.
"Don't come any closer. My claws are sharp."
Misha's voice was cold. "What do you want here? We don't have anything to give you."
"Calm down," Siege said evenly. "Put down your weapon. We mean no harm."
Just then, the children spoke up in her defense.
"Sister Misha, they're good people. They even gave me candy."
"Yeah, Sister Misha, the big brother and sister are really nice."
"They even treated my wound where I was bleeding."
Children rarely lie, especially to someone like Misha who had been with them for so long.
Confusion flickered in Misha's eyes. "Who exactly are you?"
"We're from Tomorrow's Development, an organization where the infected and the uninfected coexist."
"You're joking!"
Misha's voice sharpened. "In Ursus, infected are treated worse than trash. In Lungmen, infected are treated even more harshly than criminals!"
"An organization where infected and uninfected coexist simply cannot exist!"
Siege let out a quiet sigh. "But right now, you have to believe us."
"You've been used, Misha. You and the infected children of Reunion. After entering Lungmen, you diverted attention in the Lower City, giving more infected the chance to slip into the city."
"Lungmen is searching for the infected."
Siege glanced at the children beside her. "Whether adult or child, the treatment is the same. In this situation, there will be no leniency."
"Misha, you only have one choice. This is not a threat. It's advice."
She pointed to Misha and the infected children behind her. "Trust what I'm saying, and come with us."
"…Trust seems unnecessary when there's only one choice."
"You're wrong, Misha," Siege replied calmly. "Those who trust us will obtain what they seek."