Arknights: The Cycle of Light and Darkness

"Yu, aren't you curious why that young man was so polite to me, and why I was so lenient with him?"

The old Dragon King lay on his dragon throne, his eyes narrowed, looking at his strategist beside him. At this moment, he no longer showed the anguish he had earlier; the pain of losing his eldest son seemed to have no effect on his emotions. However, the occasional flicker of pain in the corner of his eye still revealed his true inner feelings.

"This subordinate dares not presume to guess His Majesty's intentions."

The strategist named "Yu" showed no change in expression, as if he truly had no thoughts on the question posed by his monarch.

"Ah, you... you are too honest, only knowing how to protect yourself wisely!"

Ao Xing sighed. He knew his own temper. As the saying goes, accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger, and even his own son tried to scheme against him. And this most trusted strategist actually unconsciously maintained a certain distance from him. In all of Great Yan, he, the dignified Emperor, couldn't even find one truly close person!

(Perhaps... that's also why Jue'er chose to leave me...)

The old Dragon King let out a long sigh, waved his hand at those around him, signaling them to withdraw, leaving only himself and Yu.

"...Does His Majesty have something to command?"

Yu's attitude remained just as respectful, but Ao Xing merely gave a bitter smile, shaking his head: "No, just listen to an old man... complain."

"Yes—Your Majesty."

"...The question just now, even if you didn't ask it, I knew you wanted to understand, but dared not."

"This subordinate dares not...!"

"Alright! Don't play that game with me!" Ao Xing's temper was also ignited by Yu's respect, but the next second it turned into a desolate sigh: "I am lenient with that Revy kid because I... knew him a long time ago!"

"A long... long time ago?!"

Yu's heart skipped a beat, but quickly returned to normal: "So that Sarkaz gentleman was actually an old acquaintance of His Majesty? I never knew..."

"More than just an old acquaintance?"

Ao Xing snorted heavily: "Yu, don't misunderstand—that kid's age, though still different from this old man's, isn't that far off. Hmph... he can be considered half a friend of mine."

"Friend!"

Yu's heart almost churned with turmoil. This old man before him might seem like a pitiful, aging figure, but in reality, he wielded absolute power, his status and strength almost equivalent to a god! Ordinary people couldn't even meet him, and to be his subject was already a great favor... And no one in all of Great Yan dared to claim to be a friend of this supreme ruler!

"You naturally have your doubts."

Looking at his strategist's unconcealed surprise, Ao Xing seemed to feel a mischievous pleasure: "But I didn't lie to you. As early as 70 years ago, I already knew this guy! But back then, he had another girl with him... hmm... she should be long gone now, no need to mention her!"

"70 years ago..." Yu carefully mulled over the old Dragon King's words, then his face suddenly changed greatly: "Could he be..."

"Indeed! This fellow is precisely the commander of that Night Reapers unit, one of the three dukes of Kazdel in the past."

The old Dragon King sighed: "It's a pity... that fellow only helps that princess of a fallen nation, but refuses to help me! Clearly he himself has half of Great Yan's bloodline, yet he still considers himself a Sarkaz!"

Yu clenched his fist. Now he understood why His Majesty would call "Revy" a friend. If Revy's identity was truly as His Majesty claimed, then this person was indeed far from simple. Even if he was just a Duke of Kazdel, linked to the legendary experience of the "Night Reapers" commander, Yu had to concede. Such a person... truly had the qualifications to be His Majesty's friend!

"Then since that's the case—"

Before Yu could finish, his words were interrupted by the old Dragon King: "Do you think I don't want to? It's not that I don't desire it, but that I cannot!"

"This..."

"This person is arrogant and proud. Unless he genuinely pledges allegiance, no method can make him loyal!" Ao Xing sighed regretfully: "Yu, haven't you noticed his saber?"

"Saber? What saber?"

Yu was somewhat confused and perplexed. He was a strategist, but also a mere tactician with no physical strength. He knew nothing of fighting and killing. A hint of disappointment flashed in Ao Xing's eyes, but he still reminded him: "This guy has reforged this saber now... He calls it Snow Princess, but I, this old man, know the name of this saber before it was reforged:"

"That saber, is Tianlang Hunt! If I'm mistaken, then I'm blind!"

"Tianlang Hunt... Demon Saber!"

Yu gasped: "Could he be this generation's Greedy Wolf?!"

"That's right." Ao Xing nodded: "His father was the previous generation's Greedy Wolf. And he truly passed down all his skills, and that Tianlang Hunt."

"..."

Yu fell silent, but deep within him, an extremely unsettling thought began to slowly stir. The legend of "Sha Po Lang" has been a taboo of Great Yan since ancient times. Legend has it that this name corresponds to the three underground heroes: Seven Killings is the thief who stirs up the world, Po Jun is the general who sweeps across the land, and Greedy Wolf is the treacherous and cunning scholar. When the three stars converge, the world changes hands, irrevocably! Therefore, the Great Yan imperial family has strictly guarded against these three stars for generations, even resorting to mass killings...

But why would His Majesty... and that Regulus Harvey... Yu suddenly remembered the young man with the great spear whom His Majesty had brought under his command—that person had no name, only the fierce spear "Thousand Armies Breaker" in his hand, and that terrifying codename: Po Jun! The fierce spear and the demon saber have appeared, then the legendary fierce sword "Seven Nights Cold," and that legendary thief who stirs up the world...

"Your Majesty... what exactly do you intend to do?!!"

Just as Yu was lost in thought, Ao Xing suddenly seemed to remember something and laughed: "Oh, right, since there's nothing else, tell Po Jun to make a trip to Rhodes Island... I also want to see what's so special about the pharmaceutical company that managed to recruit that kid!"