Hello, Arknights

Chapter 238 Weird Dream, Cocktail Party Proposal

Early in the morning, Ling Dengxian stretched and sat up, only to find that he was in a wrong environment. He rubbed his eyes, but there was still mist in front of him.

I haven’t woken up yet, I’m still dreaming, and it’s this strange dream space again.

He immediately realized what was happening and remained calm.

"Now that you're awake, why don't you come here on your own initiative? It's good to chat and relieve your boredom."

The tip of a slender tail poked his face, leaving a playful ink spot. Helplessly, he sat up, crossed his legs and looked at the culprit beside him.

"Well, good morning."

"Good morning, would you like some wine?" Ling smiled brightly, wrapped his tail around the gourd and lifted it up and shook it.

"Who would drink so early in the morning..." Ling Dengxian frowned and waved his hand, "Besides, I can't drink much."

"You won't get drunk in your dreams, how about some?"

"Don't give me that. I remember you weren't against urging others to drink..." Ling Dengxian was stunned. When did he know that the person in front of him didn't know how to urge others to drink?

He had only known her for a short time.

"Why are you standing there? If you don't want to drink, then don't drink. I helped you before, so you should at least say thank you, right?"

"…I don't know why…I can't explain it…"

The blue-haired dragon girl was slightly startled, then smiled with relief, nodded and patted his shoulder: "I see, so that's the case, that's right, that's right...

"The old friend gently strokes the eyebrows of the present person——"

Ling Dengxian's eyes widened slightly, and white light expanded from the corners of the eyes of the person who was very close to him. Reality was gradually pulling him back.

When he opened his eyes, he saw the ceiling of the dormitory.

He gently stroked his eyebrows, as if there was some non-existent warmth left there.

"The old friend gently strokes the brow of the present..." He pondered for a while, and finally the sunlight shining through the porthole reminded him that it was time to get up.

After washing up, he picked up the toothbrush, looked up, and stood there in a daze, his fingers trembling slightly.

On his cheek, a slowly fading ink spot made him feel a little short of breathing.

He turned around in horror, and at the same time, a small sky blue dragon tentatively poked its head out from under his quilt.

"...When did you come?!" Ling Dengxian was stunned.

Black Steel International Headquarters.

"Sister Jessica, relax, it's just an escort mission, it's not difficult."

"Yeah... that's right, it's not difficult... Ugh, no, we were escorting materials before, this time we're escorting you!" The black-haired film girl held her head and wailed, and the black steel staff beside her couldn't help but whisper to each other:

"Let's just say, is this Miss Jessica's first time doing a long-distance escort?"

"No, but it seems like this is a handover of operators. Miss Jessica has to escort the new Black Steel to Rhodes Island and then bring the operators from Rhodes Island back. In the past, other senior operators served as captains, but this time she is asked to be the captain."

"But... isn't it a bit weird that the newbie being escorted comes to comfort the escort captain..."

Jessica's ears moved, tears flashed in her eyes: "...'Xiao Xinhuo', I really can't do it..."

"Sister Jessica...your shooting performance is better than most of them. I hope you can realize this." The red-haired and black-eyed Volper boy tried hard to give a smile that he thought was encouraging.

"Wow... that kid's expression is so terrifying..." The Black Steel operator who was passing by twitched his eye.

"...I'm sorry, Sister Jessica, I may... still not be very good at this." Xinhuo lowered his head and gripped the weapon more tightly.

"No... I'm too weak... Xiao Xinhuo, you have great potential. It would be better if you could change your personality... Wow, let's not talk about this for now. Let's count the number of people. It's time for us to set off." Jessica rubbed her eyes, checked her equipment, and when she looked up again, the newcomers were ready.

"Well, then, let's go... Focus and pay attention to the front."

Following Jessica's order, the Black Steel reserve operators, who inexplicably felt the pressure, also took action.

Wolper from Yan State, whose real name was Yang Hao and codenamed Xinhuo, couldn't help but sigh.

"When you were planning to bring me back..."

With tears in his eyes, he was hesitant, but he still did not change his plan to take a scavenger orphan away from the wilderness.

“…Is it really necessary to go to Rhodes Island…Ore disease…Is there any difference between an infected person and a non-infected person in front of a sword and an axe?” A hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, and his immature face, which had not yet fully grown up, showed helplessness that was not right for a 15-year-old.

The wilderness, filled with natural disasters, bandits, bounty hunters, and wild beasts, is the best place for a person to grow. But if one grows too quickly, he may grow into a deformed tree.

And Yang Hao was lucky, he was picked up by Jessica.

But he has a very strange personality. He thinks more and speaks less. He is only better in front of Jessica.

"I hope Rhodes Island can make people's eyes shine..."

Rhode Island.

Ling Dengxian stretched lazily, and the screen of the communication terminal suddenly lit up. He looked down and saw an ID he had never seen before, probably a contact that had been arranged during the configuration.

"'Get off work at 4am'? Who?"

Ling Dengxian scratched his head, and the little dragon in his arms also poked its head out from his collar and looked at the phone screen curiously.

'There's a regular cocktail party tonight. Please do me a favor and attend.'

"Who are you?"

"I'm the doctor, nice to meet you."

"Doctor, you'd better work hard." Ling Dengxian was about to refuse. If Kal'tsit knew about this, it would probably be the legendary punishment of hanging the bridge.

'No, you'll need my approval for your holidays from now on!'

"Oh." Ling Dengxian was about to put away the communication terminal.

"...Operator White Dove, please be sociable."

"Thank you. I'm very sociable."

'Cocktail parties are a major feature of Rhode Island.'

Ling Dengxian was somewhat helpless: "Why are you so persistent..."

Just as I was about to refuse, a message from another contact appeared on the communication terminal.

"Operator White Dove, if she insists, you can accompany her to supervise her, but be careful not to let her play too much."

Ling Dengxian couldn't help but ponder. He felt a lingering sense of disharmony. Although the doctor had been replaced, the relationship between them shouldn't be so subtle, right?

The person who sent the message was Amiya.

"How did you know she was looking for me?"

'Because I'm standing right behind the doctor, she didn't notice me.'

Ling Dengxian couldn't help but smile.

He thought about it and replied to the doctor: "Okay, when do we meet?"

'Okay! I'll come find you later. Look forward to tonight's party. You won't be disappointed.'

"Party?" Ling Dengxian put down the terminal and unconsciously stroked the head of the little dragon in his arms, with a lot of thoughts in his mind for a moment.

He recalled the time in school, the flickering nights, the cheering people, the lonely shadows, and the unreachable distance.

Lowering his eyes, the little dragon raised his body and rubbed his face. His face felt slightly cool, but his heart was filled with warmth.

"...Thanks," Ling Dengxian smiled with relief, "I forgot to go to the engineering department before, I really have to go today."

When he stumbled to the engineering department, it seemed like some kind of coincidence that people came from three directions. On Ling Dengxian's right was Skadi with white hair and red eyes, and on his left was Wolper with white hair and red eyes.

All three of them were going to the engineering department, but when they met at this moment, they were inexplicably unable to speak.

"...Ah, are you two going to the Engineering Department? I'm new here and I have trouble finding my way. Can you give me a ride?"

Volper took off his headphones, stared at him, then looked at Skadi, then said helplessly: "Me too."

Skadi was silent for a moment, then nodded: "I'll lead the way."

Then the two of them saw her moving her right hand and right foot at the same time and walking in front.