Arknights: The Cycle of Light and Darkness

"You... you're talking nonsense! I... I don't believe it!" Li Rufeng roared, like a wounded bear.

Though his lips uttered disbelief, his heart had already accepted more than half of it. Revy said little, merely guiding him to contemplate the matter himself. Despite never having considered such a possibility before, it was evidently clear, upon careful thought, that this "impossible answer" now indeed seemed to be "the most likely answer".

Yet, despite this realization, Li Rufeng still refused to believe. Until just moments ago, he had viewed "that lord" as someone misled and deceived, and the "cargo" transported by Rhodes Island as nothing more than a sacrifice in a political struggle, or simply a mere transaction.

But what if all of this had been "that lord's" plan from the very beginning?

Then everything he had done, would it not be laughably foolish?

"Sometimes, if you think carefully, you'll realize just how foolish your past self was," Revy sighed leisurely, his gaze falling upon Li Rufeng, who now appeared outwardly fierce but inwardly weak, even disheartened and pale.

"Let alone Rhodes Island, no one on the entire continent of Terra possesses such ability," Revy continued. "Without the true dragon's consent, who could brazenly lead 'this one' out of the Imperial City?"

Li Rufeng remained silent, simply slumping onto the stool, his back seeming to hunch even further.

"That's why I said, your actions are nothing but foolish loyalty—you, who believe yourself to be immensely loyal, even feigning cooperation with the First Prince's faction just to firmly grasp a part of 'this one' in your hands, are unaware that your actions are, in the eyes of 'that lord' whom you serve, the real trouble".

"'That lord' will not spare you simply because of a misunderstanding," Revy's voice grew sterner. "When the true dragon's wrath pours forth, don't even mention yourself; the entire East Capital City will be powerless to stop it".

Li Rufeng completely recoiled into his chair. Revy sighed again; this was his second sigh.

"I'll be taking our people with me now... Afterwards, I'll be heading to the Panlong Association. You still have some time to consider things on your own; I hope you make a wise choice".

— — — — Divider — — — —

"Has Father King already learned about the attack on Rhodes Island?" a young voice spoke, though his tone carried a weary note quite unbefitting his youth.

"Reporting to Your Highness, His Majesty should have already received the news," an older voice replied, full of vigor. "But there has been no other movement from the palace. Perhaps His Majesty is still preparing to move against the Panlong Gang?"

"No, if Father King were to act, he would directly target the Qing Gang—or, more likely, he would directly target me".

"His Majesty has always tolerated Your Highness's actions, even deliberately paving the way for Your Highness's ascension. Surely this time too..."

"No, it won't be like that. This time is different," the young Highness seemed to shake his head, sighing. "This time, I crossed the line—and Father King has never tolerated those who cross the line".

"But Your Highness, you are, after all, his First Prince, the Crown Prince..."

"The most heartless are imperial families. When the time for reckoning comes, what matters if it's the Crown Prince, what matters if it's father-son affection, or fraternal bonds...!" The Highness's voice trembled, then regained its calm. "It's just that, now, I can no longer wait. This matter is already an arrow on the bowstring; it must be loosed!..."

"Your Highness is wise. Should we also make preparations?"

"Go. You cannot expose yourself now. Do not let Father King suspect," the young Highness waved his hand, dismissing the kneeling person from his sight, then stood tall, looking at everything familiar before him.

Beneath one person, above ten thousand? ...How utterly ridiculous!

Entering the palace gates is like entering a deep sea. Princes and royal descendants may appear self-satisfied, yet they tremble with fear, unable to take a single wrong step

.

He recalled his second brother, whom he had framed and persecuted, now a half-mad, half-foolish person. He also remembered his fourth brother, who had glared fiercely at him before his execution, dying with his eyes wide open. And his seventh brother... even in his current state, he still refused to let him go.

He reached up and touched his chest. Conscience, perhaps, had long been torn apart, smashed, and then burned to ashes the moment he became the Crown Prince...

Smiling self-deprecatingly, "His Highness" walked to the window. Outside, the peach blossoms still bloomed brilliantly, and sunlight dappled the ground through the branches, yet it seemed unable to penetrate the small space where he stood.

If one is a light seeker, one must be determined to sacrifice everything—or be swallowed by shadows and fall into eternal sleep.

— — — — Divider — — — —

"Mr. Revy, thank you for your help this time," the Rhodes Island operator, clad in his uniform, repeatedly expressed his gratitude to Revy.

He clearly remembered the verbal sparring between this man, the previous corpulent police officer, and Li Rufeng, the director of the East Capital City Guard Bureau. He also recalled how this man, with a casual squeeze in front of him, had snapped the steel handcuffs.

The Rhodes Island main ship... sent a monster to support us, huh...

"No need to thank me. Even if I hadn't come, they wouldn't have made things difficult for you; at most, they would have pressed you for transaction details," Revy waved his hand. "And they would have released you quickly—after all, Great Yan is a society governed by law. Director Li's previous harassment of me was out of necessity; he wouldn't do the same to you".

"Is Mr. Revy going to the Panlong Association now?"

"Panlong Association? I do intend to meet with them". A cynical smile once again appeared on Revy's face: "However, I need to bring my two assistants along first".