Arknights: The Cycle of Light and Darkness

Time ticked by—minute by minute, second by second.

Li Rufeng's hands remained tightly around Revy's throat, and yet—sweat had begun to bead on his forehead.

With his strength, he could crush a steel rod, let alone a human neck. Had it been rebar, it would've already been twisted like a pretzel.

But this Sarkaz from Rhodes Island had been strangled for five minutes, and he still stared back at Li Rufeng with a faint smile—as if they were still politely sitting across from each other at the negotiation table.

No…It was worse than that.

For a moment, Li Rufeng had the illusion that—

The one being choked... wasn't Revy at all.

It was as if his own posture had been seized by a towering shadow, rising from the earth behind him.And the man in front of him—slender as he appeared—was casting a monstrous, devouring silhouette, slowly swallowing Li Rufeng's own shadow whole.

The one being strangled…Was him.

"So, Chief Li," Revy's voice came soft, yet chilling,"are you going to keep playing this little game with me?""Give me more proof you're abusing your authority and assaulting a foreign diplomatic agent—""—or shall we sit back down and continue our talk?"

His tone was oddly seductive—like a whisper at the edge of a cliff—mocking, calm, and dangerous.

Damn it...!

Li Rufeng squeezed his eyes shut, torn internally.And at last, unwillingly, he let go.

He had lost.In every sense of the word.

From the beginning, he'd had no solid grounds for arresting a Rhodes Island operator. He had leaned on his authority to forcefully suppress the legal reality—but if this were exposed, he'd be the first one thrown under the bus.

So he had resorted to violence—hoping to extract just enough evidence to retroactively justify his actions.

But now…

"It seems… Chief Li has made the right decision."

Revy gently brushed off the front of his coat, as if clearing away a speck of dust.Yet at that moment, Li Rufeng dared not dismiss him for even a second.

This man was terrifying.

He had revealed no visible strength, yet effortlessly neutralized both verbal pressure and physical force.

And he did it with casual ease.

"Huff… huff… huff…"

Li Rufeng gasped for air.He could no longer raise a hand against this man.

He'd been crushed in pure physical power—and if he now drew a weapon, it would only further humiliate the reputation of Yan's police force.

Revy said nothing.

He simply righted the chair he'd kicked aside earlier and sat back down, facing Li Rufeng once more.

"Huff… huff… What… do you really want?!"

Li Rufeng locked eyes with him, refusing to show weakness—even now, even after being crushed.

"I told you from the start," Revy sighed, a little exasperated."We just want to retrieve our people... and our cargo."

"But from beginning to end, we've been treated as the villains."

"Honestly, I've felt none of the 'legendary hospitality' Yan is known for."

"Hospitality?" Li Rufeng sneered."Oh, Yan is certainly hospitable—when friends arrive, we welcome them with fine wine.But when wolves show up... all they get is a shotgun."

"So what now?"

"The people—I'll release them. But the cargo? Not a chance!"

Li Rufeng slammed the table, fury burning in his voice."I don't know who orchestrated this deal, but as long as I am Chief of the East Capital Guard Bureau—you will not get 'him' out of this city!"

"See, that's why I say... your kind of loyalty is just blind obedience."

Revy shook his head with visible disappointment.

"So then, tell me—what side do you think Rhodes Island is on? The conspirators'? The royalists'? Or perhaps… the Crown Prince's?"

"I don't care who you side with!"

Li Rufeng banged the table again, his Ursus bloodline practically flaring through his skin.

"No matter what side you're on—to me, and to Yan, you're still outsiders!"

"Rhodes Island claims to be a neutral medical institution—why are you meddling in Yan's internal politics?!"

"Let me clarify three points."

Revy raised three fingers.

Then lowered one.

"First: Rhodes Island has not—and will not—intervene in the politics of any nation. Our neutrality is the foundation of our cooperation with countries around the world."

"But—!"

Li Rufeng started to object—but stopped when Revy's cold gaze swept over him.

"…Fine. Continue."

"Second:""Rhodes Island did not initiate this deal. In fact, we were forced into it—because we couldn't afford the consequences of not cooperating with 'that person.'"

Li Rufeng didn't speak.

Instead, he started thinking—hard. Trying to pull meaning from Revy's riddle-like phrasing.

Revy clearly wasn't being cryptic for fun. There was a reason he had to phrase things this way. Some invisible boundary he couldn't cross with direct speech.

Who was "that person"?

Who could possibly dictate terms to Rhodes Island—an organization that prided itself on neutrality and independence?

"Third," Revy dropped his last finger—and a cold smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"This deal... is purely transactional. There are no political motivations involved."

"And East Capital... was never the starting point of the deal. In fact—it's the final stop."

"!!"

A realization struck Li Rufeng like lightning.

His entire body jolted. He stared at Revy in disbelief.

"Don't forget," Revy continued, eyes sharp,"The trade was already arranged in the Imperial Capital."

"Now ask yourself—who has the power to organize such a deal inside the Emperor's domain?"

"Who could escort 'him' all the way from under the Crown Prince's nose...to here, in East Capital?"

"Never forget—"

"That is the foot of the Dragon.""The heart of the Empire.""The shadow of the True Dragon himself."