Arknights:The Madman Doctor Strikes Again!

"Exusiai?!"

Jay, Amiya, and the others looked up to see a cheerful red-haired girl in a Penguin Logistics uniform sitting casually on the second-floor windowsill nearby.

As a Sankta, the bright halo hovering over her head was clearly visible even in broad daylight.

With a grin, Exusiai gracefully leapt from the window and landed beside Amiya, immediately ruffling her hair in a teasing gesture.

"I heard all about it! You guys at Rhodes Island threw a huge all-ship party just a few days ago, right? And you didn't even invite me? You were this close to Lungmen and still didn't call me? That's just mean!"

Although Penguin Logistics was technically just a partner of Rhodes Island, Exusiai's naturally friendly and outgoing personality had long since earned her a close relationship with the Rhodes crew, especially Amiya.

"Aha… Well, that party was kind of a last-minute thing. The Doctor talked Kelsey into it on the spot, so we really didn't have time to send out invites."

Amiya laughed sheepishly as she tried to escape Exusiai's hair-ruffling attack.

"Oh! That's how it was!"

Exusiai then curiously turned to Jay.

"So you're the Doctor, huh? Nice to meet you! I didn't expect you to be the kind of guy who could convince that old stick-in-the-mud. I'm impressed!"

"Doctor! If you ever throw another party, you have to invite me, okay? We're partners, after all. You can't leave me out!"

"Of course," Jay replied with a calm smile, reaching out his hand to her. "Better yet, why don't you just join Rhodes Island for good? We can party every day."

From Jay's perspective, the Operators working for Penguin Logistics were all elites. Recruiting even one of them would be a huge gain for Rhodes Island.

Hearing his offer, Exusiai's eyes sparkled as she raised both hands enthusiastically.

"Hahaha! Seriously?! That sounds amazing! I'm in! I quit right now and sign with Rhodes Island!"

"Exusiai, stop messing around. Don't forget we're still in the middle of the slums."

Thud!

A dazed Reunion soldier was suddenly tossed out of a nearby alley. Moments later, another girl in a Penguin Logistics uniform stepped forward. She had wolf-like ears and short, silver-gray hair.

"Hey! Texas! Where'd you run off to?"

Exusiai waved energetically when she spotted her partner.

Compared to Exusiai's bubbly demeanor, Texas was calm and silent, exuding a strange but powerful sense of reliability.

"I was tailing another Reunion squad."

She sheathed her longsword and pointed toward a dust-covered street up ahead.

"The main road ahead is completely blocked by Reunion forces. We should find another route."

"I-I know a way! There's a path if we go over the rooftops. It's safer, but a little longer…"

"Thank you, but that's too slow."

Jay, concerned about Misha's worsening Oripathy, raised his hand and with it, the massive slime blaster already reloaded and ready.

"Texas, just point me to where Reunion is. We're taking the shortcut."

To be precise, he intended to blast a shortcut straight through the Reunion blockade.

Jay first used his slime gun to take out the tightly packed and long-range enemies, then switched to Spartan Fury to charge in headfirst his fists and devastating low kicks knocking out any stragglers that survived.

"Whoa! Doctor! That weapon's amazing! Let me try it too!"

Exusiai's eyes lit up after seeing the gun in action, and she eagerly ran up to join the fun.

Texas, however, stared blankly at Jay fighting in the distance, then turned to Amiya in confusion.

"Amiya… isn't the Rhodes Island Doctor supposed to be a commander? Why is he out there personally fighting like that? And why is he so strong?"

"Ahaha… well, it's a long story…"

Once Jay had cleared the way by flooring every last Reunion thug in their path, the group resumed their mission to escort Misha to the plaza where Ch'en was waiting.

Along the way, Misha, who was about the same age as Amiya, began to open up more. Realizing Amiya truly wanted to help her, the girl's attitude slowly softened.

They even started chatting about making cute teddy bears together once everything was over.

Before long, they reached the agreed rendezvous point.

The area sat at the outer edge of the slum's central zone. Several Lungmen Guard Department patrol cars were already waiting there.

Ch'en and her squad stood outside the vehicles, awaiting Rhodes Island's arrival.

Exusiai and Texas chose to hide nearby. As Penguin Logistics agents, they clearly wanted to avoid contact with Lungmen's police.

Franka and Liskarm also kept their distance, not eager to interact with the infamous "demon inspector."

In the end, only Jay and Amiya stepped forward with Misha in tow.

"You're ten minutes early. Not bad," Ch'en remarked casually. "Hand Misha over. Rhodes Island's task is complete."

With no further pleasantries, she reached out to Misha.

"Come with me. Get in the car."

"Ah… ahh… ahhhhh…"

Even though Misha had mentally prepared herself, seeing the stern-faced Ch'en in person made her tremble with fear.

"Wait, Officer Ch'en."

Amiya stepped between them.

"Misha has acute Oripathy. I suggest letting her come to Rhodes Island first for treatment. Once her condition stabilizes, we'll hand her over to Lungmen. Would that be acceptable?"

"No."

Ch'en rejected the proposal without hesitation.

"Misha's identity is of critical importance. She must be handed over immediately."

"But… but…"

"This is non-negotiable!"

"I… I understand…"

Seeing how adamant Ch'en was, Amiya had no choice but to back down. Still, her heart grew even more uneasy.

"Officer Ch'en… can you at least tell us why you're so determined to find Misha? And why Reunion is after her too?"

"I don't have time to explain things to Rhodes Island. Just do your job and keep quiet."

Ch'en gave Amiya a cold glare, then grabbed Misha's arm.

"Misha, from now on, your safety is under Lungmen's protection. Get in the car."

Misha turned to look at Amiya and Jay with pleading eyes.

Amiya gave her a gentle nod of reassurance, and Misha hesitated a moment longer before finally climbing into the car with Ch'en.

"…Doctor," Amiya murmured as she stared at the vehicle. "We're allies with Lungmen. We have every right to know what's going on…"

She clenched her fists tightly.

"Besides… I have a bad feeling. If we part ways with Misha here, I don't think we'll ever see her again…"

"Her acute Oripathy could flare up at any moment…"

But even with those worries, Amiya could only stand frozen, watching helplessly as the car prepared to leave. Rhodes Island had signed a partnership with Lungmen, and violating Ch'en's orders would be disastrous.

Meanwhile, inside Jay's mind, the system issued a new directive.

Please choose one of the following options.

Rational Option: Do nothing. Let Ch'en take Misha.

Reward: +20 Rationality

Note: Misha survival rate: 5%

Mad Option 1: Go berserk and carry Misha back to Rhodes Island for treatment on foot.

Reward: Skill acquired: Bājíquán

Note: Misha survival rate: 50% due to travel time and other factors

Mad Option 2: Hijack the Lungmen police car and drive Misha to Rhodes Island for immediate treatment.

Reward: Skill acquired: Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique

Note: Misha survival rate: 95%

Warning: Choosing this will instantly brand you as a Five-Star Wanted Citizen in Lungmen. Proceed with caution.

Hidden Reward: Successfully ensure Misha's survival to unlock the side quest Recruiting Key Reunion Leaders.If failed, Rhodes Island will lose the chance to recruit FrostNova, Patriot, and other irreplaceable Operators.