The Butcher of Sargon (LoL x Arknight Fanfiction)

In front of Garde, the white-haired Liberi girl suddenly collapsed, as if she were unconscious or in a deep sleep.

Judging from her attire, the girl seemed to be a staff member of Rhine Lab. However, it was already morning—what kind of staff member would skip work to hide in a corner and play hide-and-seek with someone?

Garde had a vague suspicion in his heart.

The girl's personal information surfaced in front of him.

#======#

Character: Joyce Moore

Code Name: None

Gender: Female

Combat Experience: None

Birthday: October 6

Race: Liberi

Height: 164 cm

Bust: 86.66 cm

Underbust: 73.99 cm

Waist: 60.23 cm

Hips: 89.98 cm

Oripathy Status: Confirmed infected

Physical Strength: Standard

Battlefield Mobility: Standard

Physiological Endurance: Standard

Tactical Planning: Standard

Combat Skills: Standard

Originium Arts Adaptation: Excellent

Evaluation: A researcher at Rhine Lab who sustained damage to her language and logical abilities due to involvement in certain human experiments. However, please note that she still retains human emotions and feelings.

#======#

So, it really is her!

Garde thought to himself, his crocodile-like face betraying little emotion.

If the cause of her collapse was an illness, then the girl's breathing should have been more rapid, and her expression more pained. Many pathological signs can be observed externally. However, the girl before him had even breathing, rosy cheeks, and looked more like she was pretending to sleep.

Garde couldn't help but reach out and poke the girl's cheek.

"Ptilopsis?"

At that moment, the girl, who had appeared unconscious, suddenly opened her eyes.

"Negative."

"Joyce Moore?"

"Affirmative."

The concise and clear dialogue made Garde momentarily suspect that he wasn't speaking with a person, but with a machine.

Hmm, a rather outdated machine.

"Why are you hiding here?" Garde asked.

The girl stared at Garde silently, dazed, as if she hadn't fully woken up.

"I'll ask differently."

Garde glanced outside and positioned his broad body to shield the girl.

"Are you hiding from other staff members?"

"Negative."

"Did you come out to buy something?"

"Affirmative."

"Then why are you hiding here..."

Realizing he was circling back to the same question, Garde quickly rephrased.

"Could it be that you walked here, suddenly felt sleepy, and decided to hide and nap?"

This possibility suddenly crossed Garde's mind.

Just as he finished speaking, he realized she was staring at him.

The girl looked straight at him, tilted her head, and replied,

"Affirmative."

So that was really the reason. He was only joking! Garde was both amused and exasperated.

"It seems I interrupted your rest, Miss Moore."

Garde glanced at his communicator. Kristen had already sent him a message about the meeting, but he wasn't particularly interested. He planned to handle this situation here and then visit Trimounts Institute of Technology in the afternoon.

At that moment, an unfamiliar voice sounded behind Garde.

"What— what are you doing? This is company property! Let go of Miss Moore, or— or I'll call for help!"

"Hmm?"

Garde turned to see a brown-haired Liberi girl standing behind him, panting and glaring at him.

"Miss Hemer?"

"Mr— Mr. Garde?"

The girl behind him was the student from yesterday—the one who had been with Parvis.

Noticing the fear in Hemer's eyes, Garde didn't seem to mind.

"It seems you've been taking care of this young lady, Miss Hemer. Her language and logic system seems to have some issues, along with slight hypersomnia. Please try not to let her wander around too much."

After speaking, Garde walked past Hemer. It wasn't until his figure disappeared that Hemer's tense body finally relaxed.

She hurried to Joyce Moore, the girl who would later be known as "Ptilopsis," and asked,

"Did Mr. Garde do anything to you just now?"

"Negative."

Hearing this, Hemer breathed a slight sigh of relief, then suddenly remembered her own behavior earlier.

"Oh no, my attitude might have been too rude. What if I made Mr. Garde angry?"

Although her mentor Parvis had mentioned that Garde wasn't part of the research department, he was still a high-ranking officer in security, while she was just a junior staff member who had only recently joined the company...

"Negative."

"Huh?"

"Based on Garde's danger level, if Mr. Garde were dissatisfied with Dr. Hemer, Dr. Hemer would have no means of resistance."

"...Are you trying to comfort me?"

Hemer was at a loss for words. She sighed and grabbed Ptilopsis's hand.

"Why did you run out here?"

"The popcorn supply is insufficient."

"Oh no, I forgot! We planned to watch a show together today."

"Body recovery detected to be satisfactory. Independent action is feasible."

"No, no, I promised you!"

Hemer was currently juggling two responsibilities—assisting her mentor, Parvis, with a research project and taking care of the girl in front of her.

After staying up all night moving lab equipment, Hemer's head was still a bit foggy. Luckily, the lab was located in the lower district of Trimounts rather than outside the city, which made it much easier for her to take care of Ptilopsis.

"Still, I should find a chance to apologize to Mr. Garde. Professor Parvis also hopes I can establish a good relationship with him," Hemer muttered to herself. She was somewhat afraid of Garde. While he was undeniably handsome, like a movie star, his towering height made her feel uneasy.

It might sound impolite, but standing next to Garde, it felt like they were two entirely different species.

Adakrys were also Terrans; Garde was simply taller, stronger, and more handsome than the average Adakrys. She had no reason to fear him!

Hemer tried to reassure herself.

After the brief encounter, Hemer took Ptilopsis to buy some things.

<+>

Meanwhile, after parting ways with Hemer and Ptilopsis, Garde soon encountered Orba, who was also heading toward the meeting room. From today onward, they would be colleagues.

Garde explained briefly, stating that his position was mostly honorary. He had other responsibilities and would only assist if needed.

Orba didn't seem to mind; it was evident from Garde's position.

Trimounts was Rhine Lab's headquarters, and it didn't necessarily require a Head of Defense. If Kristen had arranged it alone, some employees might have had different opinions. However, since it was Saria's recommendation, Garde's presence seemed more like a precautionary measure.

Orba, who had no ambitions for power struggles, still found the idea of competing for authority troublesome. Thankfully, that wasn't the case.

The following meeting wasn't particularly long. Kristen disliked lengthy discussions, so she spent less than half an hour summarizing Garde's appointment.

She also announced her intention to transfer some of her shares to Saria and to release an official statement at a press conference in a week.

The press conference was scheduled to highlight Saria's accomplishments during the Sargon operation and to reassure department heads.

Those who wanted to resign had already done so. Those who stayed were either loyal employees, individuals tied by vested interests, or hesitant double-dealers.

Before each round of funding, the company reshuffled to counter external capital.

For now, none of this concerned Garde.

After Kristen announced his appointment, Garde left for the metropolitan area where Trimounts Institute of Technology was located, carrying recommendation letters from both Saria and Kristen. He intended to meet the office director of Trimounts Polytechnic University.

With the dual endorsements and significant financial backing, even if Garde couldn't enroll as a full-time student, he could at least become an exchange student.

The only issue? Garde got lost!

Terra lacked the convenience of mobile navigation. Although he had taken a taxi to the university district, the area wasn't home to just Trimounts Polytechnic.

There were dozens of institutions, including Trimounts Academy of Defense, Trimounts Military Command Academy, and Trimounts Medical University. The map alone was overwhelming.

Fortunately, the university district was full of students. Garde quickly found someone to ask for directions.

"Excuse me, do you know the way to Trimounts Polytechnic University?"

From the back, the person looked like a girl about his age, short in stature, with a build similar to Razer's—slightly plump, but in a flattering way.

In this context, "plump" was a compliment, akin to certain eras where fuller figures—symbolizing ample curves—were considered beautiful.

From Garde's perspective, he can only vaguely see the outline of the girl in front of him, which is already very impressive

Reality wasn't like fiction—girls didn't have chests like footballs or watermelons. Terra wasn't some fantastical realm from a game like Azur Lane.

Of course, in public, Garde wouldn't intentionally stare at anyone. It was just that his excellent eyesight had caught the detail from a distance.

"Trimounts Polytechnic University? I know where it is. My school is right next to it. But why should I tell you?"

Hearing Garde's question, the young Vulpo woman turned around. She had been joking, but her expression froze as soon as she faced him.

Garde's towering frame loomed like a mountain above her. Even though he maintained a reasonable distance, his 2.2-meter height created an overwhelming sense of pressure for someone just over 1.6 meters tall.

That said, for most girls, such height brought a sense of security rather than threat.

Because Garde was extremely handsome!

Appearance mattered greatly, especially in social interactions. If Garde's looks hadn't perfectly matched Terran standards of beauty, the Vulpo girl might have already drawn her weapon and screamed for help.

For the girl, achieving victory over stronger opponents was nothing new. However, the difference in height often translated into a difference in physique. If the person in front of her had once been a soldier or mercenary, she figured it might be wise to make a quick exit.

"Um, sure."

"What?"

"If you're willing to pay, I can take you to Trimounts Polytechnic University for... a hundred— no, fifty Columbian dollars as compensation," Garde offered.

Initially, he had planned to say a hundred but quickly revised it to fifty, thinking a hundred might be too much.

Having grown up in the rainforest, Garde had a very vague concept of money. Based on his shopping experience yesterday, he temporarily equated the purchasing power of Columbian dollars to that of his past life's Chinese yuan.

Fifty bucks to ask for directions seemed normal, right?

In reality, the purchasing power of Columbian dollars was far higher than Garde imagined.

In Columbia's slums, three cents could buy a bowl of sour bean soup, five dollars could buy a decent set of clothes, and a hundred dollars was equivalent to a public university student's monthly living expenses.

Watching Garde nonchalantly offer what she usually spent in half a month, the Vulpo girl couldn't help but wonder if Garde was just finding an excuse to strike up a conversation and possibly even "sponsor" her.

If it had been three years ago, she might have agreed.

After all, Garde was handsome, tall, and exuded a strong sense of security. Coupled with his wealth, if he had a sweeter tongue, few girls would resist such an offer.

But now, with just one more year of school left before graduating, she was confident she could secure a good job in Trimounts.

She no longer fantasized that a wealthy, good-looking man like Garde would genuinely commit to her. Money earned through her own efforts was the most meaningful!

"Sorry, I was just kidding earlier. If you need to go to Trimounts Polytechnic University, I can take you there now."

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

Unaware of the girl's internal monologue, Garde nodded, thinking that offering money right off the bat might have been too crude.

<+>

The two didn't talk much along the way. The girl gave a brief introduction to the surroundings but didn't elaborate further.

Garde hadn't realized how vast the university district was. Even with the girl's guidance, it took over twenty minutes to reach the gates of Trimounts Polytechnic University.

However, as they neared their destination, Garde pointed to a sightseeing tram approaching from a distance.

"Couldn't we have just taken that?"

"Heh, since it's your first visit, you have to walk! Walking is the best way to experience the charm of Trimounts's university district!"

The girl puffed out her chest confidently, her demeanor suggesting, I'm right because I said so.

"In that case, would you like to grab a bubble tea nearby? Consider it my way of saying thanks," Garde offered.

"Hmm, I suppose that's fine," the girl replied after a brief hesitation.

"It's just a drink; what harm could it do?"

She had half-expected Garde to use the opportunity to continue flirting with her. To her surprise, after buying her drink, Garde simply bid her farewell and headed toward Trimounts Polytechnic University.

"So he really was going to Trimounts Polytechnic..."

Not believing for a second that Garde could be a student there, the girl sipped her bubble tea and reflected, Wait, does this mean I missed out? Maybe he really was just willing to pay fifty bucks for directions!

Whatever, it was on the way.

Leaning her chin on her hand, she gazed at Trimounts Polytechnic University's grand, gilded gates. Then her eyes shifted to the older, somewhat rundown campus next door—her own school.

Trimounts Academy of Defense, Biochemical Protection Division.

After graduation, she would most likely end up working at a security company like Blacksteel International, donning bulky protective suits and dealing with areas filled with chemical fumes, toxic substances, and harmful radiation.

One misstep, and she could contract Oripathy.

She hoped to save enough money before that happened.

The girl had a dream: after graduation, she wanted to travel the world. The only reason she chose her current major was because of its strong job prospects.

Graduates of the Academy of Defense often faced harsh realities—without a specialized skill set, nine out of ten would struggle to make a living.

Slurp...

Sitting in the bubble tea shop, she thought, I won't admit it's my first bubble tea this year, all because I've been saving money.

They weren't lying; this stuff's actually pretty good.

Her musings were interrupted by a surprised voice.

"Franka? What are you doing here?"

<+>

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