Chapter 56: Gravel Versus Młynar

You are doing great right now.

Absolutely wonderful.

The thought that the highly anticipated ‘My Uncle Młynar’ storyline is about to begin fills you with an absurd amount of glee.

That dear, perpetually tired uncle is about to arrive on your landship to lead a wonderful life of getting beaten up by enemies while casually reading his newspaper, only to work forced overtime the second he puts it down.

It makes you want to hum a cheerful little tune.

In the laboratory, an exquisite suitcase sits perfectly packed.

Rapid-acting Life-saving Solvent, Clinical Originium Decomposition Agent Type-γ, and a fresh batch of Oripathy Suppression Pills…

in strawberry milk flavor, naturally.

While it is essentially the same old medical supplies repackaged in shiny new bottles, to the outside world, this represents a complete, advanced research and development chain.

If some foolish corporate spy were bold enough to steal it, they would be pleasantly surprised to find they could seemingly replicate the formula step-by-step.

Of course, only seemingly.

The meeting room surveillance feed shows the Kazimierz diplomats already waiting.

You stretch grandly, rolling your shoulders before pushing the door open.

“Finished talking?

Let’s go.”

The Kuranta worker sent by the Kazimierz General Chamber of Commerce maintains a steady, lifeless expression that practically screams about her ruined annual leave.

Caught completely off guard by your sudden entrance, her exhausted demeanor forms a sharp contrast with your own.

You are a man who loves grinding overtime, currently being forced to take a vacation by the entire landship.

The gloomy Kuranta stumbles, nearly dropping to her knees in sheer fright.

‘This living disaster is coming too?’ she thinks.

She does not know the full extent of your power, but she vividly remembers the last time a Rhodes Island director negotiated with you in the room.

The Commerce Union had been so terrified they ordered all employees to conduct a massive self-inspection, thoroughly investigating any lingering use…

including industrial spies like her who were secretly embedded in government departments.

One hundred and twenty pages.

A full one hundred and twenty pages of written reports.

She had spent her days grinding away in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and her nights passing first-hand intelligence to the Commerce Union, all while constantly looking over her shoulder to avoid exposure.

Being forced to make time for such a long, agonizingly formalistic report almost killed her at her desk.

That was just from one single meeting.

Now that this terrifying mastermind is personally traveling to Kazimierz, how much more paperwork will she have to write?

The poor Kuranta attempts one last, desperate effort to stop you.

“You are occupied with endless affairs, Doctor.

Kazimierz might not have prepared a reception worthy of your grand status just yet…”

You blink, genuinely puzzled.

Does a minor clerk dare to talk back to you now?

Has your deterrence aura faded already?

Still, you maintain your polite, untouchable facade, thanking her gently.

“I appreciate your advice, Miss.

But I am not occupied with endless affairs.

The operators are already helping me prepare the materials.”

The Kuranta lady’s gaze seems to grow even more resentful.

Before leaving the landship, you receive a rather unique parting gift.

Cliffheart solemnly places an ice-blue stone into the palm of your hand.

“My brother is busy and could not come see you off.

But he asked me to tell you that Karlan Trade stands on the same side as Rhodes Island.

If you go to Kazimierz, his name can also serve as a bargaining chip.”

You look down at the freezing gem.

Whoa, a piece of Eternal Ice?

Did Boss SilverAsh just get his first potential upgrade?

So this is how gacha potentials are triggered randomly in reality.

Stowing the Eternal Ice in your coat pocket, you feel genuinely touched, but your gamer logic rationally understands the truth.

It is purely because Rhodes Island provides too much value.

Even if you place SilverAsh directly on the chessboard as a pawn, it is only right.

He is simply speaking frankly to do you a favor.

Looking at Cliffheart’s slightly guilty expression, you realize something else.

If SilverAsh had come himself, he definitely would have said something even more dramatic and mushy.

Honestly, you would do the exact same thing in his shoes.

Compared to other games, the Doctor, as the player’s main avatar, actually does not have deep, intimate contact with many operators.

The problem with typical gacha games is that characters should have their own lives.

The problem with Arknights is that the characters have far too much of their own lives.

“Rhodes Island’s Doctor?

Please do not mind.

This is simply my own lifestyle.”

The pink-haired Zalak, Gravel, watches with deep satisfaction as the young man before her falls completely to the floor, chair and all.

Just a moment ago, he had looked so incredibly solemn and calculating.

Now, he is a flustered mess, entirely startled by her sudden kiss.

Who told him to be on guard against her standard greeting kiss from the very beginning?

“Making up for a late meeting gift.

You will not mind, will you?”

Gravel smiles, her golden eyes curving playfully as she crouches down.

She reaches out, gently wiping the faint lipstick mark from your cheek with her thumb, before easily pulling your frail body back up to your feet.

Hiss.

A complete miscalculation.

The sheer momentum of the plot armor failed you.

You subconsciously touch your face again, feeling as if your earlobes are about to catch fire.

You remembered from the game lore that Gravel kisses people when they first meet as a form of polite knightly etiquette.

But you completely failed to consider that she could charge up her attack and detonate a damage-over-time effect in the very next round.

“No, why did you have to do that kiss?

I have been on guard for ten minutes straight!” You try to stay on the floor and refuse to get up, but you are once again shocked by the terrifying arm strength of a Tier 4 Campaign Knight.

The smooth, toned muscle curves of Gravel’s wheat-colored arms flex slightly under her sleek outfit, lifting your dead weight effortlessly.

“Because you kept dodging.

I became even more curious about what your actual reaction would be to a kiss.”

“So, are you satisfied now?” You feel entirely self-defeating, plunging into a deep crisis of masculine dignity once again.

Gravel smiles warmly.

She bends down, kneeling gracefully on one knee, and presses her lips to the back of your hand.

“Of course.

I am very satisfied.

You are a very interesting person.”

Three minutes later, you successfully kick the roguish yet entirely composed Gravel out of your temporary room.

Why is the start of this Kazimierz expansion so wrong?

Under normal narrative circumstances, shouldn’t the Commerce Union step up to let you show off?

Shouldn’t they act arrogant so you can slap their faces, get into danger, run errands everywhere, and finally solve the grand conspiracy?

Why are they acting more honest than quails?

The ones who should be honest are not, and the ones who absolutely should not be are acting blindly devoted.

Why are Terrans so open?

It makes you, a guy who had to secretly watch movies under the blanket in high school, look as conservative as a cloistered Liberi monk.

Calm down, Doctor.

Calm down.

Terrans have their own lives.

She just happens to be interested in something about you.

You need to cool down and stop hissing in reaction to every casual word she drops.

Business first.

You need to go out and inspect the current political situation in Kazimierz.

As soon as you push the door open and step into the hallway, a shadow drops silently from the rafters.

Gravel lands perfectly on her feet.

“Doctor, have you finally forgiven me?”

“I…

I am going for a walk.”

Gravel tilts her head, a sweet smile playing on her lips.

“Then I shall accompany you and ensure your safety.”

Enough.

The biggest threat around you right now is her.

“Uh…

I mean, you can take a break.

Enjoy your own life.

I will not monitor what you do.” You try to struggle against the inevitable.

“Doctor,” Gravel says, delivering another shocking statement.

Her voice is sincere, candid, and entirely blunt.

“I do not mind you monitoring me.

And right now, according to my orders, protecting you is my life.”

The silence in the hallway is deafening.

No.

Where is the endless suffering of this land?

Where are the struggling Infected?

Where is the grand, tragic predicament of Kazimierz?

Your art style is completely wrong.

Is no one going to do anything about this sudden genre shift?

At this exact time, deep within the Nearl Family estate, a tired man sits alone.

Under the dim, flickering yellow light of an oil lamp, he takes out a somewhat rusty longsword and wipes the blade carefully.

The scent of old steel and quiet nostalgia fills the heavy air.

‘Good work, little guy.

Take a break.

Do you want to check out the surrounding villages?

I remember your previous ideal was to be a carefree wandering knight.”The enemy has not retreated yet.

If I leave, you will be in danger.

Protecting you is my current ideal.’In his memory, his younger self had been exactly the same, wiping his sword while answering the older man in a deadpan, serious manner.’Being a wandering knight can only save a few people.

By following you, I can save more.

Right now, you are my life.”Wow.

Little Młynar has grown up.

Uncle is so gratified.’ That person had teased him in an exaggerated, dramatic tone while trying to pat his head, only to have his hand swatted away in annoyance.’You are only a few years older than me!

Why do you insist on calling yourself my uncle!”Mm-hmm.

Because it gives a sense of reliability!’

Młynar pauses his movements, staring at his own reflection in the dull steel.

Now, he has also reached the age of being an uncle.

Unfortunately, he is still not as good as that man.

He is not even sure he can protect the children of the Nearl Family.

[Rhodes’s Note: “My Uncle Młynar” is a meta-joke referring to Młynar’s in-game mechanic where he stands on the battlefield reading a newspaper, passively tanking enemy hits without fighting back until his skill is activated.]

[Rhodes’s Note:

Enjoying the operation so far, Doctor?

(This daily grind literally pays the landship’s rent!

to use the links!)