Arknights, I'm going to beat Kal'tsit, really?

Page 21

"Sir, how may I help you?" A waiter quickly approached Kane as he stepped into the shop. Kane glanced at him—he was indeed a Lupo.

“You can’t help me with anything.” Kane said calmly, walking straight to a luxurious leather sofa in the store and sitting down in a relaxed posture, even crossing his legs.

"Contact your store manager. He should have taught you what to do in this situation."

Even those waiters who can make it in a Texas winery, even if not gang members, are well aware of the ruthless rules of this path. The aftershocks of the Texas family's downfall are still lingering; the manager has long been replaced, and new rules have been implemented. The aura emanating from the young man with the gray wolf-like demeanor is no mere bluff. He understands: this is a struggle for Syracuse.

The waiter dared not neglect the matter and immediately withdrew to make contact.

Less than an hour later, a black luxury SUV with sleek, hard lines silently glided to a stop in front of the store.

A burly man in a bespoke suit, dressed in a Rupert, strode in. His face was calm, his sharp gaze sweeping over Kane as he tried to recall the face—was he a newly recruited henchman from some family? Or a representative of some Colombian power?

“Don’t bother, I’m not from any family in Syracuse.” Kane spoke lazily, breaking the silence, his golden eyes filled with contempt.

“But I belong to Texas. My request is simple: deliver a message to your superior, preferably directly to the Gray Hall—Things from Texas should be returned to their rightful owner.”

His commanding tone and arrogant, almost disdainful attitude infuriated the shopkeeper, who laughed in exasperation. If the order of Syracuse could be defined by such an ignorant brat in a few words, it wouldn't be the way it is today!

"Leave him barely alive," the shopkeeper coldly commanded, completely losing his patience. Now that it was confirmed he was a "Texas bastard" who had been living abroad, there was no need to test him further. Cripple him, then hand him over to Madame Sicily—whether it was to more "justifiably" control the remaining assets or to intimidate other families, it would be a considerable achievement for him, the executor.

Outside, a row of burly men in suits filed in. The last one slammed the heavy door shut and pulled down the blackout curtain—for the next ten minutes, this place would be completely cut off from the outside world.

"Heh..." Kane let out a soft, ambiguous laugh, slowly rising from the sofa, twisting his neck and clenching his fists.

"I gave you a chance."

……

ten minutes later.

The doors of the Texas winery were pushed open again. But the group of menacing thugs in suits who had entered did not emerge.

Instead, he was a stylishly dressed, relaxed-looking gray-haired Luper youth.

He strode out the door with light steps, as if he were simply finishing a routine shopping trip. But after taking only one step, he seemed to remember something, turned back, flung open the heavy door, and called inside:

"Remember—carry my words verbatim. Next time, I won't be so gentle."

Only after the figure completely disappeared around the street corner did a few passersby, unable to contain their curiosity, dare to peek out.

The winery was a complete mess. The black-clad thugs who had been standing in neat rows were now lying haphazardly on the floor. Several unfortunate men seemed to have been slammed against the expensive wine cabinets with tremendous force; broken glass and deep red wine mingled together, flowing freely over them and exuding a rich, sweet aroma.

The most shocking sight was in the center of the hall—hanging from the magnificent crystal chandelier, the store manager, his suit disheveled. He was using all his strength to desperately grip the tie that was tightly around his neck, trying to free himself. Each labored breath was accompanied by a slight sway of the chandelier.

These hellish ten minutes declared to him in the cruelest way: the story of Texas is far from over.

Chapter 58 Muirsey's Home

Last night's "visit" to the winery was tantamount to placing themselves in complete opposition to Madame de Sicily and even Syracuse. But Kane was not flustered—this was Colombia, and no matter how far Syracuse's influence extended, it could only carry out some low-level assassinations here. He didn't need to be as wary as those in Syracuse itself, constantly guarding against making enemies of the entire "world."

The next morning, Kane met up with Muirsey and Vienta as promised, and they quickly completed the filming of the remaining scenes. Thanks to the two leads' excellent on-screen presence and near-perfect performances, the initially anticipated tight week-long shooting schedule turned out to be quite relaxed. Of course, filming was only the first step; the subsequent editing work was equally crucial, requiring Kane and Muirsey to collaborate.

“All the footage is here, organized by scene number, and the clapperboard information is also very clear, so editing should be very convenient.” Vianta removed the storage unit from the drone and camera and solemnly handed it to the two “directors.”

"After the film is finished, please make sure I'm the first viewer!"

"Don't worry, you'll definitely get to attend the premiere," Muirsey assured her with a smile.

"Wow! That's amazing!" Vienta exclaimed excitedly. As the photographer, she was very dedicated. Muirsey and Kane wanted to pay her, but she readily refused—a good meal was enough for a friend's help.

So Kane and Muirsay split the bill, treating this meritorious official to an authentic Gallic meal. Although the Gallo-Pacific Empire had long since perished in the flames of the War of the Four Emperors, its exquisite culinary culture has endured in the high society of Victoria and Colombia.

After the meal, Vianta left first—as a high school student with clear goals, studying ecology at Trimont Polytechnic University was also her dream, and she still needed to work hard for her studies.

"With her talent and experience, it's almost a certainty that she'll become our junior next year," Muirsey said, watching Vinta's departing figure with admiration in her voice.

"Her parents are experts in the field, and she has been exposed to it since childhood. Her current level is more than enough to be an assistant to a university professor."

After seeing Vianta off, the heavy responsibility of editing fell on the shoulders of the two of them.

“Editing is a huge project; it definitely can’t be done in a day. How about online coordination afterwards?” Kane suggested.

“Hmm…online communication is too inefficient; many details need to be finalized face-to-face,” Muirsey tilted her head and thought for a moment before suddenly suggesting.

"Kane, if you don't mind...would you like to come to my house?"

"?"

The offer was unexpected, but undeniably tempting. Kane, of course, had no reason to refuse.

“If you don’t mind, why would I refuse?”

"Then let's go!"

Led by Muirsay, the two took the city rail and quickly arrived at a well-known student apartment area near Tremont Polytechnic University. The streets were filled with energetic university students.

“I live on the third floor, it’s not high, let’s take the stairs.” Muirsays took out his access card and swiped it to open the apartment door.

The two walked upstairs and arrived at the door of room 301.

"Welcome—remember to take off your shoes." Muirsey opened the door and stepped aside to let Kane in.

Kane quickly scanned the studio apartment: a typical hotel-style layout, compact yet fully functional. There was a shoe cabinet and storage shelves by the entrance, followed by an open kitchen, a small dining table, a bathroom, and a combined living and bedroom area.

Though small, the room is fully equipped, revealing the owner's ingenuity and taste in every detail. The room is very clean, with items neatly arranged, and full of personal touches: a wardrobe occupying an entire wall, crammed with fashionable items; mountains of ecology and environmental science books and materials; and movie posters, trendy toys, and fashion magazine freebies scattered throughout.

"How is it? Although it's small, I spent a whole day carefully decorating it!" Muirsey said with a hint of pride, clearly expecting feedback.

"The design is very tasteful," Kane exclaimed sincerely.

"If I ever decorate my house in the future, I'll definitely ask you to be my consultant. In a room like this, you can just curl up on the sofa and do nothing on a rainy day and enjoy yourself."

"Thank you for the compliment! What about you? Do you also live in student accommodation?" Muirsey only knew that Kane was also an orphan like herself, but she knew nothing else about him. They had known each other for half a year, was this progress a bit slow?

“I inherited my parents’ old house, it’s in a rather remote location on Henry Avenue. You’re welcome to come visit sometime.” Kane still remembered this “starter kit.”

“It’s a deal!” Muirsay rarely visited other people’s homes—because seeing other families happy and harmonious only made him sad.

Muirsey took out drinks and snacks from the refrigerator, and the two of them squeezed in front of her computer, immersing themselves in editing. They got into the zone very quickly, and discussions began rapidly: selecting and discarding scenes, switching perspectives, choosing background music... Time flew by in their focused concentration.

As dinner time approached, Kane prepared to leave—staying any longer would cross the line of friendship.

"Could I use the restroom?"

“Ah…uh, of course, no problem.” Muirsey hesitated for a moment in her reply, though she quickly covered it up, Kane keenly noticed it.

What could be so embarrassing to see in the bathroom? Considering Muirsey was a woman living alone, Kane figured it probably contained her underwear or something similar. He decided to keep his eyes glued to the toilet. He quickly finished his business, restraining himself from glancing around the entire time.

However, just as he turned to leave, something unusual caught his eye—a bathtub had been crammed into this tiny bathroom? It seemed Muirsay had a habit of taking baths?

But the water... what's even stranger is that the bathtub was actually full of water.

It was too clear... Without light refraction, the water was almost imperceptible. The water was unusually pure, and Kane even wanted to get closer to take a closer look—was it some kind of water purification experiment? Or a miniature ecological model? He didn't understand the professional field, but he knew the principle of "don't touch what is improper," so he suppressed his curiosity and quickly opened the door and left.

"Well then, Muirsey, see you tomorrow." Kane said goodbye from the entrance.

"Oh, okay...see you tomorrow." Muirsey's cheeks flushed an unnatural red as she saw him off, her rare shyness making Kane even more certain that there was some "secret" in the bathroom.

"Don't worry," he added considerately.

“I was completely focused just now. I didn’t look at or touch anything except the toilet. You can relax now.” With that, he slammed the door shut.

Muirsay, inside the door, was stunned upon hearing this—there was a huge misunderstanding!

She rushed into the bathroom. The shelves contained only basic toiletries; common women's cosmetics and skincare products were almost nonexistent—not out of frugality, but because she simply didn't need them.

"What an idiot." Standing in front of the shelf, "Mülseth" complained softly. Her body instantly lost its form, turning into a puddle of clear water that quickly flowed into the drain and disappeared.

At the same time, the eerily pure water in the bathtub seemed to come alive, silently rising and gathering, outlining the silhouette of a girl, and then solidifying into form—a water sprite lightly stepped out of the bathtub and picked up the wet clothes on the ground.

Muirsey looked at the unpartitioned toilet area with annoyance—Kane's every move here was a live broadcast to her, who was in a water-like state!

"Ah—everything's been seen! I'm so embarrassed—!" Muirsey covered her face and squatted down, wishing she could just vanish on the spot. She had planned everything perfectly, but she had overlooked this one thing!

Chapter 59 Getting Rich Overnight

When Kane returned to Henry Avenue after having dinner out, it was already late. But his doorstep was greeted by the first wave of "visitors."

Several men dressed in well-tailored black suits, carrying metal briefcases, stood solemnly like statues in the shadows of the porch, their presence heavy and imposing.

“Wow, I don’t remember booking a housekeeping service today.” Kane’s tone was relaxed, but his eyes sharpened.

“Good evening, Mr. Kane Mordred.” The leading man stepped forward. In addition to his black suit, he wore a signature white hooded coat, and his face was covered by a plain white mask without any patterns—this distinctive attire belonged to the elite "Mouth of the Giant Wolf," directly under the command of Madame Sicily. He bowed slightly, his tone carrying a formulaic respect, but the gaze behind the eyeholes of his mask held a scrutinizing quality.

"We have come on the orders of the Lady of Sicily."

Kane extended his hand, making a brief touch before letting go. The Sicilian woman's reaction was faster than expected, and her attitude was intriguing. He opened the door and led the group inside.

At Kane's signal, only the masked man took his seat at the head of the table, while the other men in black stood behind him like a silent protective wall, creating an oppressive atmosphere.

"Madame Sicily has been informed of your request." The masked man's voice came through the mask, slightly deep.

"After verification, your marriage to Miss Cellina Texas is indeed confirmed. First of all, please allow me, on behalf of Grey Hall, to extend my belated congratulations to you both on your marriage."

His words sounded incredibly sincere, and Kane simply nodded slightly; both were well aware of the true nature of this "marriage."

“Therefore, as a new member of the Texas family, you do indeed have the legal right to reclaim the properties under their name.” As soon as the masked man finished speaking, a man in black stepped forward, placed a metal filing box on the table, and opened it—inside were neatly stacked stacks of property ownership documents, clearly showing the Texas family’s main properties in Colombia!

Kane's pupils contracted slightly. When did the Syracuse become so "easy to talk to"? Unless... the Sicilian lady had discovered some information about him that shouldn't have been discovered? How could that be?

"However, allow me to remind you," the masked man said, his tone becoming serious.

"The Texas family has a long history of crimes—counterfeiting currency in Colombia, bribing the judiciary, assassinating business rivals…and has blood feuds with many families in Syracuse. When you take over these businesses, these troubles and pursuits will also be transferred to you and Miss Cellina."

So this was the trap. While Colombian legal issues could be resolved with money and influence, the country's rules were full of loopholes for the wealthy; as long as bail was paid, nothing was impossible. The real killer move was the inevitable, furious retaliation from the major Syracuse families that would follow the takeover of the property. This was a trap set by the Sicilian woman.

"Hmph..." Kane let out a short, cold laugh, his eyes showing no fear.

"Then let's wait and see if the wolves of Syracuse really have the guts to come to Colombia and bare their teeth at me. In my impression, wolves are usually intelligent predators who know how to assess the situation and won't seek their own death."

The certainty and disdain in his words revealed his rank. The Syracuse family couldn't cause him trouble because the will of the Wolf Lord Zarro was suppressing them! They couldn't defy the fangs of their beast lord!

Upon hearing Kane's almost explicit declaration, the masked man's previously composed demeanor was finally shattered, and through the eye holes of his mask, one could feel the sudden sharpness in his gaze!

Lady Sicily had already sensed something amiss—the various families' hunt for the Texas descendants had abruptly ceased, as if they had collectively forgotten their inherent greed. The only thing that could bring such unity to the fragmented Syracuse could be the will of the Wolf Lord! The key question was: was it Cellina who made the deal with the Wolf Lord, or this mysterious Kane before them?

As the de facto ruler of Syracuse, the Sicilian knew better than anyone the land's predicament—shrouded in the shadow of the ancient Wolf Lord, it was steeped in the primal law of the jungle, like a pile of loose sand unable to unite. If this continued, it would eventually be devoured by its covetous neighbors, especially the Electors of Letania—Syracuse had gained independence from Letania. But to rid itself of the Beast Lord… how easy could that be!

Now, a "variable" has emerged that could influence the Wolf Lord's decision. Madame Sicily wants to find out his background.

"As a return gift for Madame Sicily's kindness..." Kane suddenly stood up, walked to the cabinet next to him, casually picked something out of it, and threw it on the dining table.

"Please give this to her—a Lupo beast tail. I hope she likes it."

That was Zaro's broken tail, and shadowy energy seemed to still flow through its fur.

The men in black behind him stirred, their hands unconsciously reaching for their waists. In Syracusan culture, a wolf's tail symbolized humiliation and a declaration of war! But the masked leader abruptly raised his hand, an invisible pressure instantly subduing his subordinates. As an elite of the "Mouth of the Giant Wolf," his knowledge naturally far surpassed that of his men. He knew the terror of the "Wolf Lord," and he also recognized the unique mark left on the tail that belonged solely to the Wolf Lord.

He took a deep breath, and through the mask, his voice was more solemn than ever before: "On behalf of Madame Sicily, I accept this... unique gift. And please, please accept our goodwill as well."

The member of "Mouth of the Giant Wolf" held the authority to decide on this mission, and at this moment, he made his judgment. He clearly realized that the man before him who dared to draw his blade against the Wolf Lord and leave behind "spoils of war" was worth far more than the wealth of the Texas family! Gray Hall had to try to win him over!

In the presence of the Sicilian lady's personal guards, most of the Texas family's businesses in Colombia were officially transferred to Kane Mordred's name. As for how to recover the intricate trade routes and illicit assets deeply rooted in Syracuse, that was left for the new owner to figure out.

Kane's decision was simple—if the original families no longer accepted the Texas trade routes, Kane would kick them out; because in the future, Kane's industries would grow, and thanks to his own learning ability and the technology left over from the previous civilization, his level would rise higher and higher—in short, if you don't buy, there are plenty of others who will.

As for those gray or even black industries, they can bring in a lot of profits in the short term, but in the long run, they will eventually be eliminated.

Therefore, rather than pursuing a future campaign, it would be better to do a favor now and transfer Syracuse's properties to Madame Sicily—consider it a gift for their initial cooperation.

Chapter 60 The First Appearance of the "Preserver"

With only five days left before the start of the school year, Kane needs to complete the takeover of the Texas family's businesses within that timeframe—frankly, there simply isn't enough time. The Texas family's core operations aren't in Tremont, and to personally oversee the process, he must leave Tremont and travel to other mobile cities in Columbia. If he were to handle this personally, it would take far more than five days.

However, Kane was in no hurry—Madame Sicily had already efficiently completed the initial "cleanup" of the business: those corrupt officials who held positions without performing their duties and lined their own pockets had long been eliminated. She had handed over this highly efficient system to Kane before she even had a chance to enjoy it herself.

Now that he has the vault key, bank account, and property title, Kane has decided to maintain the status quo and let things run their course for a while, before carefully reviewing and eliminating redundancies later when he has more time.

Today, he had to deal with Kristen's matter—just last night, he and Muirsey had finally finished editing the film. This morning, however, Kristen suddenly sent a message, sounding anxious, saying she had something important to discuss and asking if he was free.

A few days ago, Kane had informed the young lady of his return to Columbia. Kristen would take time each day to chat with him, sharing her recent research equipment and new topics that interested her. Kane was naturally delighted—the more outstanding Kristen was, the stronger Rhine Life would be in the future. Learn! Of course, learn!

But the hastily sent message this morning revealed panic, indicating that they had encountered a tricky problem.

This is my address. Please come quickly; I need your help.

This is the latest message. Kane tried to reply, but all his subsequent messages went unanswered. The scene is reminiscent of the opening of a Columbia Pictures horror film—and Kane is the protagonist caught in the vortex of his girlfriend's mysterious SOS message.

However, unlike the helpless male protagonists, Kane is fearless—Terra's strongest female ghost is his backer, and most of the other "demons and monsters" have to give him some respect.

Following the address, Kane arrived at Tremont's affluent neighborhood. The landscape of this relocated area was completely different, with villas, manors, and even imitations of Gallo- and Victorian-style aristocratic castles.

His destination was a detached villa—clearly one of the Wrights' legacies. It would have been a warm and comfortable place for the three of them to live; but now, Christensen was probably all alone, and it's no wonder she longed for friendship so much—the loneliness of facing an empty mansion alone was not pleasant.