Arknights: The Life Inside-Chapter 94

Using this city as a starting point, Yoren had decided to establish a powerful force—one strong enough to support Vina whenever she needed it. But not just her. This force would be his shadow, following him wherever he might go, even outside Victoria. It would be a foundation that could prop him up when he needed it most.

The thought had lingered in Yoren's mind for some time, yet he'd never been able to shape it clearly or summon the will to act on it. Until now.

Something about the way Baldhead had described the distribution of gangs in Victoria stirred something primal in Yoren. It was like hearing the call of ancient war drums, the echoes of the Three Kingdoms battling for dominance. It made his blood boil. He didn't just want to watch the chaos. He wanted to dive headfirst into the mud, kick it up, and make waves.

It wasn't just impulse. Yoren wasn't careless. This may not have been the safest or most strategically sound route, but for the long term—this was the road he had to take. Strength alone wasn't enough. Influence mattered. Reach mattered. He needed to become someone who could tip the scales of the world.

So he made up his mind.

Once Yoren decided on something, he never turned back. Even if the path was filled with fire and nails, he would walk it. With his stubbornness, though, one thing was guaranteed: the enemies waiting for him at the end would not be ready. They were in for a disaster.

This time, he wouldn't wait at home while trouble came knocking. No, now he would be the one making the first move.

He turned to Hurd, who stood quietly behind him.

"Second Uncle, don't worry. You saw it earlier. I'm pretty good at fighting."

Hurd frowned. "But you can't spend your life brawling with people like this. If they get hurt, we can replace them. You only have one life."

Yoren gave him a twisted smile. "That's easy. If a water pipe keeps leaking and I can't plug it, I'll just cut off the water supply."

Hurd blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Second Uncle, let's go back inside. I want you to tell me everything about the demolition plan and that bastard nobleman."

Back inside, Hurd laid it all out. A former teacher, he was precise and thorough. His explanation gave Yoren a clearer picture than he could have ever hoped for.

As he listened, Yoren's eyes burned brighter and brighter.

It wasn't just about the Leaf family. It wasn't just about this street. The truth was much bigger.

The Liye family—a second-tier noble lineage—had been entrenched in this city for generations. Their power was deep-rooted and quietly oppressive. And it all stemmed from one reason: six kilometers north of Hapi City lay one of Victoria's rarest assets.

A light manganese ore mine.

In a world like Terra, where rare minerals were practically gold, this was massive.

Yoren recognized the name. Light manganese ore. It couldn't be artificially synthesized, only dug from the earth. And this wasn't a game. This wasn't a mission to collect materials for elite operators. This was real.

According to Hurd, this ore had countless uses: it was a powerful reducing agent in the metallurgical industry, stripping oxygen from molten steel to create flawless, non-porous ingots. It removed sulfur, enhanced ductility, toughness, and wear resistance. The best steel in Terra—carbon steel, hybrid blends, D32 super alloys—all required it.

But that wasn't all.

Light manganese ore was also a critical ingredient in the processing of A-grade and B-grade originum stones.

That meant one thing:

The Leaf family held a resource that was not only valuable in Victoria, but in every corner of the world. Other countries would kill to get it.

The Liye family, with their mines and two chemical plants, could refine it cheaply and sell it at exorbitant prices. If they wanted even higher profits, they smuggled it, avoiding tariffs entirely.

Hapi City hadn't always been a city. It was just barren land until a wandering geologist named Hapi discovered the ore. The city that grew around the mine bore his name.

The Liye family had built their empire here, and now they wanted more. They were eyeing Kilt Area A for their third processing plant.

But there was something darker.

Light manganese ore released a gas during processing—toxic to all living things. Even with protection, long-term exposure was lethal.

This was why Hapi City had become a special administrative district. Outside the clean main city, suburbs like the Kiln District held those considered expendable.

And here, the Kiln District was split into three zones: Area A housed mostly ordinary citizens. Area B was mixed. Area C was full of the severely infected and dying.

Unlike other cities, Hapi had a policy: legally infected citizens could earn housing if they worked in the plants for over a year. The wages were high. The offer sounded fair.

But it was a death sentence.

Inhaling the gas would slowly kill them. The housing? Reclaimed after their death and handed off to the next desperate soul.

The factory got fresh workers. The Liye family got endless, cheap labor.

Hurd refused the demolition. He refused to surrender their homes to such evil. If that plant was built in Area A, the entire district would be poisoned. A man like him might have lived to seventy. But with this? He'd be lucky to make it five more years.

Yoren clenched his fists as the truth settled in his chest like iron.

It was no longer just about power.

It was about justice.

The amount of information Yoren had just absorbed was overwhelming, but it was clear that it thrilled him.

Putting the factory aside for now, Hapi City—despite its absurd name—held two natural advantages that were incredibly promising.

First, an immense light manganese mining area. Second, a legal and social privilege granted to infected individuals.

Due to the factory, many infected people lived in the Kilt District, and rather than being destitute, they were surprisingly well-off. Their accelerated physical deterioration made them more willing to spend money, attracting waves of ordinary merchants to District B. Over time, many non-infected settled there too. The district wasn't as prosperous as the city center, but it had everything—shops, restaurants, small malls, and entertainment venues.

Yoren curled his lips, amused.

No wonder his second uncle didn't seem to care about their infected status. In this city, infected people weren't as discriminated against. While they didn't enjoy the complete freedom citizens in Victoria did, they could still coexist peacefully with others. That was rare, not just in Victoria, but worldwide.

As for that massive light manganese mining area... Yoren could practically smell the money. Someone else's money, sure—but the kind of money that made him green with envy.

Later, he found a map of Hapi City at Hurd's house.

While it was considered a medium-sized city, the map revealed it was surprisingly expansive. The population was sparse, and the layout resembled Mandal City, which Yoren had visited once.

The map marked the locations of the Lieye family's two chemical plants—one on the eastern edge, one on the western. The mines were up north. Kilt District, where Yoren currently was, sat in the south.

He narrowed his eyes.

This old fox Tangde from the Lieye family had a huge appetite. Maybe he'd even hired a Feng Shui master—wanting to surround himself with wealth and control.

Yoren picked up a pen and drew a large X over the chemical plant on the west side.

"Don't want a chemical factory +1? Sorry. I don't agree. In fact, as a meeting gift, I'll make it a chemical factory -1."

That afternoon, Yoren sent ACE into the main city to pick up some supplies—raincoats, children's masks, high-end health supplements and groceries, and most importantly: mobile phones.

The health products and groceries were for his second uncle and aunt. Since he was spending Hemer's money, it was only fair to buy something for them. Besides, Yoren had a strong hunch that if things went well, he'd be leaving this modest life behind for something grand—something maybe even absurdly successful.

As for the phones, each person got one. Although their interface was different from what Yoren was used to in his original world, his otaku instincts kicked in, and he figured them out easily.

It was the first time Turtle and Ifrit had used mobile phones. Honestly, Yoren had always thought Turtle wasn't the brightest, but compared to Ifrit, her learning ability was impressive.

She pouted her lips and studied her phone seriously. Soon she'd learned how to call, save contacts, send texts—and even play Snake.

Ifrit, on the other hand, struggled.

She stared at her phone like it was a final boss with impenetrable defenses, eyebrows furrowed tightly.

She was utterly hopeless with electronics, had no comprehension skills, and had only ever learned basic life skills from Hemer. Her only talent? Arson.

"Ugh! What kind of crap is this? I finally typed it all and now it's gone?! Die!"

She hurled the phone toward the ground.

"Hey!" Yoren dove forward, catching it just before it hit the floor.

He stood, glaring at her.

"What a disgrace."

Dusting himself off, he saved everyone's numbers into her phone.

"Take this. You don't need to call anyone—just pick up if it rings. And if you dare throw it again, I'll have your second uncle and grandpa take away your food."

"Tch, my second uncle won't listen to you."

Yoren dragged her to a quiet corner and whispered.

"You know he cares about you."

Ifrit blinked. "Of course."

"Then you've gotta help the family."

"What do you mean?"

Yoren leaned in and shared the plan.

As she listened, Ifrit's face twisted into a mischievous grin.

"Hehehehe."

That night...

Two mysterious figures in raincoats and cartoonish masks quietly left Hurd's house.

ACE drove them to the western district, where they slipped into the shadows and approached the Lieye family's massive chemical plant.

No doubt—it was Yoren and Ifrit.

Guided by the map, they quickly spotted the dark silhouette of the factory.

Ifrit, wearing a mouse mask, was barely containing her excitement.

"So, what do I do?"

Yoren, in a kobold mask, replied calmly:

"Nothing too complicated. Just burn everything you can. I'll be right by your side to protect you."

"But I don't have any Originium."

"Here."

He handed her the bracelet Hemer had given him—pure S-grade Originium. Though it had been used before, it still held ample power. Unless she detonated a whole city block, it would last a while.

Ifrit took it, eyes glinting.

"What about you?"

"Don't worry. I can still use my power without the stone—it just takes a toll on my body. But I can manage. Worst case, I'll take the bracelet back temporarily. We'll get out safely."

Midnight.

Yoren checked the time, then adjusted his mask.

"Ifrit, it's go time. For the light manganese ore!"

"Let's go! For my second uncle and grandpa!"

Two days later, news spread across Victoria.

Late at night, a devastating fire erupted in a chemical plant in southern Victoria. It was followed by a massive explosion. Nearly two-thirds of the facility was destroyed. Miraculously, there were no casualties—everyone had gone home for the night.

Preliminary estimates said the fire caused over 40 million Tera in losses. Machinery and materials were completely lost. Witnesses claimed the fire started fast and raged out of control within seconds.

"I just finished dinner and went for a walk, then BOOM—it burst into flames! Scared me half to death! What caused it? How would I know? Probably karma for some dirty business they were doing."

—Said a passerby wearing a kobold mask.

Northern Victoria, Londinium.

On the top floor of a sleek skyscraper, Vina sat behind a black desk, a massive steel hammer resting in the corner behind her.

Clad in a fitted black jacket, she read the paper intently.

[Chemical Plant Fire in Southern Victoria]

She looked up, golden hair catching the light. Her eyes were sharp, thoughtful.

"Kate, what do you make of this?"

Kate stood nearby in a black suit and sunglasses.

"Vina, this wasn't an industrial accident. It feels deliberate."

Vina nodded.

"That light manganese mine has been under the Lieye family's control for years. They work closely with the Fredo Chamber of Commerce and ship their ore straight out of the southern port—bypassing the north entirely."

"Do you think it was the Haimen Gang? Fighting over profits?"

Vina thought for a moment.

"I doubt it."

"Same. The Haimen Gang dominates maritime smuggling. Fredo's goods are crucial to them. Even if there were disagreements, they'd use muscle—not sabotage. Destroying the Lieye factory would cut off their own revenue."

She folded the newspaper and walked to the wine cabinet, pouring herself a golden drink.

Standing at the window, she stared out at the glittering city below.

"Kate, keep your ears open. We might not control the south, but if a threat grows, it could reach us. I want early warning."

"Understood."

Vina took a slow sip.

"Every major event leaks a detail that changes everything. I've got a feeling about this one."

Clouds rolled in, dimming the sunlight over the city.

Kate glanced out the window, voice low.

"Heh. I've got a feeling too. The south is about to change."