Arknights: The Life Inside-Chapter 70

ACE took a deep breath.

"Okay, now is not the time to chat. You're all infected anyway. I'm taking you to my friend's bar first."

Yoren nodded, following closely behind ACE with Snowsant as they moved swiftly toward the heart of the commercial district.

Unlike the outskirts, the commercial district was still alive. Even though it was past ten at night, the streets were filled with pedestrians. This metropolis in Colombia truly never slept.

ACE maneuvered through the bustling streets with practiced ease, skillfully avoiding the military and police on their routine patrols. Yoren, following closely behind, couldn't help but ask, "Brother ACE, you seem really familiar with Bra."

"Of course. I'm originally from Colombia, so Bra is practically my second home."

"I see."

"Stay close and don't make eye contact with the military police. My friend's bar is just up ahead."

Soon, they arrived at a bar tucked away at the very end of the street. Its name, Lose Demon, was etched into a dark, worn-out sign. The bar's facade was shadowy and foreboding, exuding an air of mystery and danger.

At this point, Yoren no longer cared whether the place was shady or not. What mattered was that he trusted ACE completely. If ACE ever betrayed him, Yoren would only believe it at the moment he was thrown into a cell. That was the depth of his trust.

Pushing open the door, they stepped into a dimly lit corridor. Two receptionists dressed in black approached as soon as they entered.

"Welcome. How many hours—"

"It's me. I need the sea bottom," ACE interrupted.

Yoren had no clue what sea bottom meant, but he doubted it referred to Haidilao. It had to be some kind of code.

The receptionists recognized ACE instantly. They exchanged a glance before one of them grabbed a radio, murmuring something into it. Without hesitation, ACE led Yoren and Snowsant deeper inside.

Despite the bar's ominous exterior, the interior was surprisingly spacious and tastefully decorated. The entire place had a cohesive style—dark hues, expensive materials, and an air of exclusivity.

It was prime drinking hours, and the bar had already drawn in a considerable crowd. But unlike the chaotic energy of most bars, the atmosphere here was oddly subdued. Soft music played in the background, and patrons sat quietly, sipping their drinks.

ACE didn't linger. He cut through the main hall, taking them into a secluded corridor.

During the brief time Yoren spent in the bar hall, he stole a quick glance around. Even with his untrained eyes, he could tell this place was high-end.

Then, his gaze landed on a lone man sitting at the bar.

The man was enormous, nearly two meters tall even while seated. His back was broad, his muscles layered like a fortress. He exuded an imposing aura, even at rest.

Though Yoren couldn't see his face, he caught sight of a gleaming metal object hanging from the man's waist. A gun—no doubt about it.

Yoren wasn't sure about Colombia's gun laws, but he knew one thing: even the military police patrolling outside hadn't been armed.

Lose Demon.

The name fit. This bar was dangerous.

Yet ACE encountered no obstacles. They passed through the inner corridors unhindered until they reached a secluded room.

Unlike the dark-toned bar outside, this private room was richly decorated. A chandelier cast a warm glow over elegant potted plants and solid wood furniture. A golden coffee machine sat on a side table, its polished surface gleaming. The sheer luxury of the room made Yoren pause.

In less than twenty-five minutes, he'd gone from the edge of survival to sitting in the lap of opulence.

Once inside, ACE turned to them. "Stay here and wait for me. Don't worry, this place is safe. I'm going to get your other friend."

Though they had just met, ACE seemed genuinely concerned about Ifrit, which aligned with his reputation—he never abandoned anyone. That was why the Death mercenary team had such a respected name.

Yoren had barely settled into his chair when he shot back up. "Brother ACE, I'll go with you."

"No. Too many people would be risky. I won't clash with the military or police—I'm a professional." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

"But—"

"Yoren, trust me. Just tell me what she looks like."

Yoren hesitated but knew ACE was right.

Even with the power of the Black and White Twins strengthening him, this wasn't a battle. Ifrit needed to be extracted, not fought over. And Yoren didn't know the city well enough to plan an escape route. He could burst in and grab her, but then what? He'd get lost before the military even had to track him down.

He sighed. "Alright, Brother ACE, I'll leave it to you. She should be unconscious in the flames. Her name is Ifrit—a thin little girl about Snowsant's age. She's a Sarkaz, but her horns are crystallized, so she stands out."

ACE rubbed his chin. "Ifrit. Small girl. Sarkaz. Crystallized horns. Got it. You two stay put."

Just as he turned to leave, ACE paused. "Oh, by the way—if she wakes up, what do I say to make sure she trusts me? Any kind of signal?"

Yoren scratched his bald head, feeling his face heat up. "Uh... tell her that Yo-Yo sent you to save her."

"Yo-Yo?"

"Yeah..."

ACE gave him a long look before shaking his head. "Alright. I'm going."

As the door shut behind him, Yoren exhaled. He trusted ACE's skills, but that didn't mean he wasn't anxious.

Hemer had entrusted Ifrit to him. And barely a day after escaping, he'd gotten her caught in this mess. If Hemer found out, she'd probably claw his face off.

Safe as he was now, waiting was agony. The more he sat still, the more his mind spiraled with worst-case scenarios.

Snowsant fidgeted nearby before picking up an apple from the table. She hesitated and whispered, "Yoren... can I eat this?"

"Go ahead."

She frowned, rubbing the apple against her sleeve. "Let's wait and eat together when Ifrit comes back."

Yoren managed a small smile. "Yeah. Let's do that."

Ever since inheriting the power of the Black and White Twins, Yoren thought he was no longer an ordinary person. But reality proved him wrong.

To be honest, aside from being better at fighting than before, his survival instincts were still at a novice level. The feeling of being at a loss when encountering unexpected situations was frustrating. Even if he couldn't reach Saileach's level, at the very least, he had to develop the ability to handle situations as calmly as his big brother, ACE.

To steady himself, Yoren took a deep breath and forced himself to focus on other things.

As he calmed down, he realized the soft texture beneath his feet—it was a thick fur carpet. The ceiling above him was adorned with exquisite gold-threaded wallpaper, forming elegant patterns. This place was extravagant, far beyond what he had expected.

Yoren recalled his journey to Mandel City with ACE. Back then, they had agreed that next time, he'd bring a bottle of Wuliangye for his elder brother. ACE had laughed and promised to take him to a friend's bar for a drink when the time was right. Looking around now, Yoren was sure—this must be the bar ACE had mentioned.

But he had imagined something entirely different. He had expected a rustic little pub in a small town, a place where mercenaries gathered in an unruly yet lively atmosphere, drinking heartily, their laughter filling every corner.

This bar, however, was nothing like that. From the moment he stepped inside, he felt the weight of money, the burden of rules, and the cold gaze of those who looked down on the weak.

A sudden, heavy knock broke the silence.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Time had been tight when ACE left, so he hadn't explained much. Now, in unfamiliar territory, Yoren hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Uh... please come in."

The door creaked open.

A figure stepped in, lowering his head as he entered—not out of humility, but because he was simply too tall for the doorframe.

Yoren's brows furrowed instinctively.

What the hell? Can't I meet a normal person just once? This guy is massive. Is he a distant relative of Big Bob?

The man, dressed in black, loomed over Yoren, his sheer size blocking out most of the chandelier's light. With arms like tree trunks, he extended a powerful hand and spoke in a steady, deep voice.

"Hello, my name is Augur. I own this bar."

Yoren blinked, caught off guard. He immediately recalled the figure he had noticed earlier in the hall. So the man at the bar had been Augur.

His gaze flickered to Augur's waist, and sure enough, there was a gun strapped there—undisguised, unapologetic.

The situation felt oddly awkward. It was like being taken to a friend's house, only for the friend to step out suddenly, leaving him alone when the friend's parents came home. No matter how close he was to ACE, the fact remained—this wasn't his turf. It felt strange being here, a known infected person, and having the owner himself greet him first.

Feeling the pressure, Yoren stood up from his seat and reached out, his hand almost laughably small in comparison to Augur's.

"Hello, Mr. Augur. Sorry to trouble you. I'm a friend of Mr. ACE. My name is Yoren."

Augur withdrew his massive hand and waved off the concern with a chuckle. "No need to be so formal. ACE and I have been brothers for over a decade. Anyone he brings here is a friend of mine."

Settling himself onto the sofa, Augur picked up a cigar from the coffee table.

"Want one?"

Yoren quickly shook his head. "No, no, I don't smoke."

Augur smirked. "Well, I suppose neither of you will mind if I do."

Snowsant muttered under her breath. "But I don't like the smell of smoke."

Yoren subtly nudged her and mouthed, "Just bear with it. This isn't our place."

Despite the casual conversation, an instinctual sense of awe crept into Yoren's gut. Augur wasn't just a bar owner. His every movement, every glance, carried the presence of someone who had seen countless battles and wielded undeniable power.

Augur lit his cigar, his thick muscles shifting with ease. Even without knowing his combat skills, Yoren could tell—this man could probably punch through a wall. If he ever got serious, he'd be a walking tank.

In the past, Yoren would have instinctively avoided someone like this, afraid of being crushed underfoot.

But he wasn't that weak, ordinary person anymore. Given another twenty days with the Black and White Twins, he was confident he could take this giant down and pin him to the ground.

A deep voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Young man, you seem very curious about me."

Yoren coughed awkwardly, realizing he had been caught staring.

"Ahem. I was just admiring your physique. I'm a little envious."

Augur chuckled. "Heh. My size is an anomaly, even among my kind. Some things can't be envied. Just like how I envy your slim build, haha."

His easygoing nature eased Yoren's nerves. As he relaxed, he finally noticed the pair of small, round ears atop Augur's head.

"Brother Augur, are you from Ursus?"

"Yes. Surprised to see an Ursus outside of Ursus?"

"Is it that rare?"

Augur took a slow drag of his cigar. "You don't know much about Ursus, do you? Columbia is a multi-ethnic country. You can see people of any race here—except for two. Ursus and Sarkaz."

Yoren frowned. "Why?"

"For Ursus, it's history. Columbia and Ursus have a long-standing conflict. People believe that unless an Ursus becomes infected, they'd never willingly leave their homeland. And they're not wrong. As for the Sarkaz, it's simpler. Almost every surviving Sarkaz is infected."

Yoren's respect for Augur grew. He could look at his own race objectively—clearly, he wasn't just a brute.

As if reading his thoughts, Augur laughed. "Don't be so surprised. I may be Ursus, but I grew up in Columbia. Had a rough childhood, but I clawed my way up. Joined the Colombian Youth Army. That's where I met ACE. Been over ten years now."

"I see."

Augur's openness made Yoren feel comfortable. There was no need to hide anything here.

"Brother Augur, I should be honest with you. I'm an infected. ACE brought me here to lay low. I thought you should know."

Augur barely reacted. He took another slow puff, then exhaled. "I appreciate the honesty. But it doesn't matter to me. I'm infected too."

Yoren froze.

An infected, living like this? Running a bar in Bra City's commercial district? This wasn't what he expected.

Augur smirked. "You're surprised. That's because you haven't looked closely at the world yet. Rules exist for those who can't break them. But when you're strong enough, those rules no longer apply."

He flicked his cigar into the ashtray, then pulled out a sleek black card, handing it to Yoren.

"Young man, I see something in you. You're not there yet, but someday, we may need each other. Take this."

Yoren took the card—and his breath caught.

"Who... who are you?"

Augur simply smiled.

On the black card, beneath a phone number, was a simple logo.

[Black Steel]