Hello, Arknights

Chapter 280 The Shining's Commission

"Nightingale, you're looking for me... Miss Shining?"

Ling, who thought something had happened to Nightingale and rushed over without even having breakfast, was stopped by a white-haired and white-horned Sarkaz woman with a sword from behind as soon as he entered the room. He shifted his eyes slightly and saw the Shining in the full-length mirror beside him.

It was still early and no one was in the medical department. Shining was on night shift last night and he did not see Nightingale.

Perhaps the person behind me is the "nightingale" who called me over.

"Are you planning to compete with me to see who's faster?" Shining glanced at his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist, staring at his expression meaningfully.

Ling Dengxian smiled bitterly and sighed, "What else? Just sit there and wait for death?"

"I thought you'd be more relaxed? After all, you're here to see Liz."

"If I had been prepared, I wouldn't have discovered it when the sword was at my neck."

Shining smiled softly and released his weapon, the object falling to the ground with a sound, he looked down and saw that the "sword" was actually just a scabbard.

"You have good skills and high awareness. You are worthy of being Operator White Dove." Shining was generous with her praise, but Ling Dengxian saw something else in her eyes.

"...Did Kal'tsit tell you something?"

"What was said? No, nothing - whether it was or not, this is the answer, you should know it." Shining opened the door to the inner room and motioned for him to come in and talk to prevent any medical operators who arrived earlier from hearing the subsequent conversation.

"The look in your eyes now is exactly the same as those elite operators... well, there's a little difference, but in general, don't mistake me for that 'white dove', it'll make people uncomfortable." Ling Dengxian said seriously.

"…I'm not curious about Bai Ge. I've never met that elite operator. I'm paying attention to you only because of Liz. She recognizes you. I have a commission to ask you for help." After Ling Dengxian entered the room, Shining closed the door, turned back and pressed him on the chair with his hand. He paced for a while, walked to the back of the table and sat down gracefully. Her eyes under the robe were deep and distant, as if penetrating his soul, waiting for his reaction.

"Related to Liz?"

"It's also related to Lin Guang."

Ling Dengxian was silent for a moment. He thought about various possibilities, raised his head slowly and firmly, chewed Shining's gaze inch by inch with his eyes, and tapped the armrest of the chair with his fingertips:

"Okay, but since it's a commission, I have a condition in exchange."

Shining smiled and nodded: "As long as it makes sense."

The relationship among the three apostles is not something that can be inserted by simple friendships, and Ling Dengxian is not so self-conscious as to think he can fit into any circle.

He could have a good relationship with Liz, he could be close to Lin Guang, he could even deepen his relationship with Shining, but - he couldn't step into the true bond of an Apostle.

That is their unique bond.

Putting forward conditions is also a search for his own positioning and a manifestation of his attitude; he will not cross the line in a self-righteous manner.

"So what is the content of the commission?" Ling Dengxian asked seriously without rushing to propose conditions.

"Black Steel International brought some news about Casimir. The auditions for the new Knight Competition in Casimir have begun. At the same time, there is also a lot of bad news. The conflicts among the infected people in Casimir are getting worse and worse. Margaret has agreed with us that she will go back at this time."

Ling Dengxian pondered for a moment and wondered, "Then... whether it's from the standpoint of Rhodes Island or your friendship as an apostle, you shouldn't come to me for a favor, right?"

He knew that Rhodes Island would not sit idly by and watch the widespread infection problem, and he might have to go to Casimir at that time.

"You're right... but... this time is an exception." Shining showed a solemn expression, with a serious look and a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

"I have something I have to do, and it's extremely dangerous. I can't bring Liz with me like I used to. That's why I've entrusted you to take good care of Liz while I'm away.

"Liz has been trapped in the cage for too long. I don't want to see her look lonely again."

Ling Dengxian stared at her and spoke slowly: "Then, logically, I should ask why it was me.

"But I won't ask, because she is Lizzie. Operator Nightingale can smile happily, and I don't think that face should be sad."

"Then I will also put forward the conditions for my transaction."

"Please say."

The young man was silent for a long time, then he spoke softly -

"I understand, but due to some concerns, I will tell you about your problem after I come back, okay?"

"Your Liz is in my hands, there's nothing wrong with that." Ling Dengxian smiled, stood up and extended his hand to Shining.

"Then the deal is done." Shining held his hand, and Ling Dengxian's momentum collapsed instantly: "Sister, be gentle, it hurts."

"Come on, I'll meet Kal'tsit soon, and Nightingale will be temporarily assigned to your team."

Ling Dengxian rubbed his hands and sighed that the team finally had a proper medical operator.

"By the way, let me ask you one more question. Miss Shining, why did you leave this time? Or was there any important issue that forced you to leave the Apostle Team?" Ling Dengxian saw the conversation end and remembered this doubt and asked.

“…Kazdel.” Taking a deep breath, the white-haired and white-horned Sarkaz looked back.

Ling Dengxian was stunned. This was a place that almost all the Sarkaz people he had met mentioned. It was clearly a strange event that caused the entire region to disappear, and it was also the fundamental reason for the extremely sparse population of Terra Sarkaz. However, few major countries took it as a warning, and few even mentioned it...

He thought of W, the crazy Sarkaz woman who brought him the white and gray swords and also introduced the name "Kazdel" to him.

Ling Dengxian suddenly realized that many of his mysteries were related to Kazdel, but he had abnormally ignored this before. Although it might be because he was forced to make a living at the time, the white and gray swords were always by his side, and it was unlikely for him to forget them given his personality.

He looked at Shining and knew that he would not be able to get any more information, so he did not continue to ask.

When Ling Dengxian left the medical department, Shining was about to go find Kal'tsit, but unexpectedly, she was found by the other party first.

The white-haired Filin had a calm face, and it was hard to tell whether she was happy or angry, but her silent eyes undoubtedly conveyed a silent question. Shining sat opposite her, feeling somewhat guilty and silent, waiting for Kal'tsit to speak first.

"...Why do you do this?"

"I think... he has a right to pursue his doubts."

"There is a hidden story here that you don't know. You are being reckless."

Shining choked for a moment and asked, "Is it a big impact?"

"Objectively speaking, it's not a big amount. But, as someone who knows the situation... this is making it very difficult for me to handle."

Silence fell again. Shining didn't get a definite answer, but he knew that things were not irreparable: "Do you need me to do anything to remedy this?"

"Now that things have come to this, I can only say that you can do whatever you want, but you must not deceive him." Kal'tsit said seriously, "He is actually very stingy."

"It doesn't look like it."

"He is just being reasonable, which does not conflict with his stinginess."

"In other words, there is a decision..."

"Humph... This kind of statement, which is close to the common people, is closer to his essence of 'ordinary'."

"I have approved Nightingale's transfer, but you should be prepared. If she applies to go to Casimir with Lin Guang, I will not refuse."

Kelsey looked at Shining's expression and said helplessly: "Well, you do this to deal with this situation."

After finishing her conversation with Kal'tsit, Shining changed shifts, stood up and walked out of the medical department, walked through two corridors, and saw the people waiting for her. She frowned and quickly figured out many things:

"Are you trying to trick me into doing this?"

"I'd be really sad if you said that... I really care about you guys... I should say 'I learned you were going to take action, so I got some information', right? After all, you would have discussed this with him even without me asking, right?"

"But once you open your mouth, it's hard not to be suspicious."

"…I'm sorry. I'll make it clear next time."

Seeing that the other party apologized straightforwardly, Shining didn't want to pursue the matter any further and just sighed. Seeing that she didn't hold on to the matter, the other party cleared his throat and leaned closer and said, "By the way, let me guess, if you want to make up for it and try not to affect it, then you should just be 'missing' temporarily, right?"

"…How much did you hear?"

"I was there when you were discussing this. I left something at the medical department yesterday and passed by and listened in out of curiosity."

“……” Shining’s blood pressure rose a little.

She could only blame herself for focusing all her attention on Ling Dengxian. She knew that he had recently obtained an equipment that could hide his body, but he could be discovered if he paid a little attention.

"Don't look at me like that... I'm just reminding you half-jokingly. If you leave for too long, Liz might have developed some unspeakable relationship with him when you come back..."

"...Doctor, I have to go." Shining's face darkened and he said goodbye.

Precious looked at Sarkaz's leaving figure, and her eyes became deep. Every word she said was true, including her pursuit of many questions and her concern for the operators.

But why do I feel a little uneasy?

She sighed softly. She naturally hoped that she would not make any mistakes, or at least not make any irreparable mistakes.

The white-haired and white-horned Sarkaz left the landship. In the slowly rising sun, she walked out from the dust, holding a sword, and saw the person who was waiting for her.

"Is the news accurate?"

"Of course. After all... I have to put aside the task at hand. I hope Bai Ge won't cause too much trouble..."

"...I am becoming more and more curious about the secrets behind you and White Dove...Maybe I avoided many core events and missed a lot of things back then..." Shining narrowed his eyes, but just sighed, with no intention of getting to the bottom of it.

Wu sighed, turned around and reminded him again not to take any risks when he was not around. Lukasech and W looked at each other and shrugged helplessly.

Lukaszech is barely strong enough, but he is an outsider and W is too weak.

Therefore, this time, the task of following Ling Dengxian with Casimir and his group had to be handed over to the two of them.

"I hope everything goes smoothly."