Hello, Arknights

Chapter 242 Black Horn and the Ranger

The first half of the reception in Rhodes Island was peaceful, at least the first half.

Not drinking at a cocktail party would ruin the atmosphere, Ling Dengxian understood this, but he really couldn't drink too much, so he could only make up for it with a glass of alcoholic beverage, just like the Husky among a pack of wolves.

"Are you nervous?" Ace patted his shoulder and motioned him to sit down, but the doctor raised his hand and waved. The doctor's dress was not conspicuous, but it was quite easy for her to attract the attention of the two men.

"What's wrong, Doctor?" Ace waved a bottle of wine in his hand at her, and the Doctor nodded happily.

"Let him chat with me. As for Little White Pigeon, let him go shopping by himself. After all, for newcomers, attending a cocktail party is a good opportunity to expand their social network." Precious took the bottle and smiled at Ling Dengxian, "But remember to pay attention to the mission target so that he doesn't get abducted."

"Doctor, I really hope that you can have some awareness in this regard as this goal..." Ling Dengxian was helpless.

"Yeah, let's go."

Ace, who was watching the interaction between the two, was drinking with a calm expression. When Ling Dengxian looked at him, he smiled again and nodded, showing encouragement.

Ling Dengxian sighed, but he didn’t think this was a bad thing, although he was still a little shy in his heart that he was unwilling to admit.

"...So what should I do?" Ling Dengxian looked around. At this moment, he really hoped that his colleagues from Penguin Logistics were there, even if it was Lapland.

In his impression, socializing at cocktail parties was always something that adults had to deal with, and he was a boy who was deliberately ignored by the fireworks, laughter, and groups at school parties.

In this situation, his growth in this aspect was minimal, and as he thought, he was still a teenager.

He quickly got out of this predicament, not because he suddenly got the idea, but because his aimless stroll was kindly interrupted by a ghost man who saw his situation.

"Hello, new face. Do you mind having a drink and chatting together?" The masked ghost was very tall, half a head taller than Ling Dengxian. At first glance, the black horns on his forehead seemed to be integrated with the mask.

"Hello... This is my first time attending a cocktail party, and I feel a little uncomfortable..." Ling Dengxian's attention was strangely on the other person's mask. According to the common sense before the time travel, masks were not daily clothing recognized by the public. Because of daily interpersonal interactions and equipment usage, if people often wear masks, it would cause very troublesome consequences unless they live alone or have some other special lifestyles.

But in Terra, people seem to be more accepting of such personal privacy.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Blackhorn. I'm performing the duties of a heavy-duty operator in Rhodes Island. I joined the company a few years earlier than you. I'm from the East."

"Bai Ge, a newcomer, a reserve guard operator. My last job was at Penguin Logistics in Longmen." Ling Dengxian suppressed his nervousness, then thought of his own situation and raised his glass hesitantly: "Um, Brother Black Horn, I can't drink much..."

"It's okay. Not everyone is good at drinking, right?" Ling Dengxian couldn't see Heijiao's expression, but his voice made people feel safe. It had nothing to do with strength, but a kind of reassuring appeal.

"Brother Bai Ge, have you met any friends on the island who you can talk to?"

"Not bad. I already knew them on the island, but they had an appointment today and had to go to the greenhouse to help. I was planning to go too, but unfortunately a certain doctor was a bit persistent and pulled me over."

Listening to Ling's serious mumbling after finding an outlet, especially the strong emotions in the part about the doctor, Hei Jiao laughed: "It sounds like the doctor cares about you a lot, which is a good thing."

"That's true, but I still prefer to take my time... and I... have my own pace."

Ling Dengxian has always distrusted the social circle built solely by recommendations. After all, some children will never make friends in their entire lives. However, perhaps this is also due to some envy he had long ago.

"It's good to have your own ideas. It's very good. After all...if I had always listened to others, I wouldn't have the life I have today."

This sentence applies to anyone who has experienced ups and downs, and Ling Dengxian naturally did not despise this sentence, nor would he despise the person who said it seriously.

"Well, it seems like it would be a waste of such a good atmosphere if we continue to talk about this. White Pigeon, do you know which part of our island's cocktail parties is the most anticipated?"

"I'm listening." Ling Dengxian's eyes lit up. It was impossible for him not to be curious. This was also a good opportunity for him to get to know Rhodes Island.

"Of course I have no problem telling you... But unfortunately, I heard from Stormeye that Operator Huang was held down by Kal'tsit for a medical examination today. I guess he will be less enthusiastic tonight."

Ling Dengxian was slightly stunned. He recognized this code name, or rather, after going to Ursus, he remembered the forgotten plots bit by bit. However, the only role it could play now was to allow him to have an impression in advance when he heard the names or code names of certain other people from certain people.

And Huang is one of them.

I remember that in the original world line, this youngest elite operator was firm in his stance and brave enough to fight for his life, but he was a little afraid of a doctor in the medical department. Who was that? Gavial? I think that was the name - wait, that day Zilan warned him not to get hurt because Gavial was on duty.

The one who could make elite operators avoid him like snakes and scorpions... What kind of doctor did he pass by that day...

Having said that, it’s really a pity that I can’t see her today.

"Then what kind of person is she?" Ling Dengxian couldn't help but ask. He increasingly realized that what he knew in the original world was only a very small part of Terra. Moreover, he had experienced a lot of things, and now he gradually realized that many details and major events had undergone unknown changes. Now that memory also had a big deviation from reality. In the future, he would still need to face more things himself.

"She is a straightforward, passionate and pure person. Even though she has become an elite operator and is required to be more stable, she is still one of the most energetic ones." Black Horn smiled, "However, every time I mention her, I can always feel the coexistence of headaches and happiness."

"Oh...it sounds like she is quite popular." Ling Dengxian nodded, and his impression from the original plot was confirmed.

"Generally speaking, this is the case...but recently there have been some conflicts between that girl Huang and Operator Graythroat, and everyone is a little worried." The person who took over the conversation very naturally was a Safra with a blue scarf around his neck and white scales. Seeing Ling Dengxian looking at him curiously, he raised his glass to him as a greeting. His red vertical pupils tried hard to show kindness, but his race and the appearance of an ancestor made his efforts ineffective.

Ling Dengxian had seen him in the cafeteria before. He seemed to be very old and very popular among the children.

"Ah, old ranger, you are here? Where are Yedao and the others?" Heijiao motioned Ling Dengxian to move with him. The man sat down carefully paying attention to his tail. Although he looked like Safra, Ling Dengxian could feel the heat from him.

"Ye Dao said she was feeling a little uncomfortable and would come over later. Du Lin said she wanted to sleep for a while and would come over with Ye Dao then."

"Then I'll go take a look and bring some medicine over." Hei Jiao stood up after hearing that. "This is Bai Ge. Please keep him company for a while, old man."

“Leave it to me.” The ranger nodded.

"Is this your first time seeing a Savran, kid?" The ranger noticed his gaze.

"No, I have a friend named Safra...but she is a little different from you." Ling chose his words casually. He was not sure whether the other party would mind his appearance.

After all, he is not a cute child.

Wait, what did the ranger call me just now?

"Haha, because of the appearance of the ancestors, right? Is it your first time seeing the ancestors of Savra?" The ranger laughed out loud.

"Yeah." Ling Dengxian admitted this. He didn't know how the unlucky girl Ye Ban was doing now.

Somewhere in the wilderness far away, a Safra girl who was sitting in front of a campfire with a group of sleeping beasts to keep warm sneezed.