Chapter 30, Part 1: A-Guang Enters the Dragon Gate

Chapter 30: A-Guang Enters Lungmen

Several cars were parked in the slots at Lungmen’s Wolong Airport. The dim streetlights cast a glow upon a windshield, revealing the cold, sharp features of a young man. The night breeze stirred the hem of his jacket. Resting on the hood of his car was a cup of hot cocoa; white steam rose from the rim, only to be scattered by the wind.

The young man lowered his head to read the documents in his hands. It was the list of Rhodes Island operators arriving to support Lungmen, sent over four hours ago. By his calculations, they should be arriving soon.

"Elite C-level Medical Operator Ansel: a young physician with pink hair and red eyes, possessing remarkable medical expertise. Formerly a member of Reserve Team A4. Enjoys late-night snacks, prefers quiet environments, and is a creature of the night."

"C-level Guard Operator Popukar: a member of Reserve Team A6. Try to keep her in a conflict-free environment. Do not attempt to provoke her. Likes A-Guang."

"Elite A-level Specialist Operator Red: Lupo race. It is advised that other Lupo avoid approaching her. Likes A-Guang."

What is with the "Likes A-Guang" part?

The young man stared at the page, completely bewildered. He could not grasp what the author of this temporary Rhodes Island file was trying to convey. Could it be that they all possessed a children's toy named A-Guang?

He looked further down to the final temporary file.

"Normal Operator A-Guang: Rhodes Island logistics personnel. Skilled at childcare. No other special abilities. Do not allow him near any dangerous people or objects."

"The leader of this support squad is A-Guang."

The signature at the bottom of the file read: Warfarin.

These were the operators sent to support them from Rhodes Island? One night owl, two children, and someone tasked with babysitting? When did Rhodes Island turn into a kindergarten?

Suppressing his frustration, the young man reread the files several times before finally accepting the reality.

A roar echoed through the sky as an aircraft emerged from the clouds. After circling a few times, it slowed and landed at Wolong Airport. The Rhodes Island support team arrived fashionably late. A young man wearing a newsboy cap walked out unsteadily, clutching a little girl in his arms. His face was deathly pale, as if he had just survived an abysmal journey. Beside him, a pink-haired girl walked with vigor and high spirits, showing no signs of fatigue.

It wasn't until they walked closer that the young man saw another girl in a red coat trailing behind the man. She was gripping his clothes, her head occasionally bumping into his back; she was clearly so exhausted she could fall asleep the moment she hit the ground.

They looked nothing like operators sent for a mission; they looked more like a family coming to Lungmen for a vacation.

The young man felt a wave of despair, but orders from above could not be defied. He braced himself, walked up, and extended his right hand toward the only man in the group: "Greetings, I am Liang Chao, a Senior Superintendent of the Lungmen Guard Department. Are you Mr. A-Guang from Rhodes Island?"

The man called A-Guang looked startled. A second later, he gripped Liang Chao’s hand, his tone enthusiastic: "Officer Liang, I am A-Guang. These are my companions—all of them."

Liang Chao wore a forced smile, his hand subtly pulling away before he turned toward the pink-haired girl. Beneath her youthful, beautiful appearance lay a hint of shyness. The file had noted she was an elite operator.

Liang Chao thought to himself that while Rhodes Island was rumored to be a place full of eccentrics, a girl as fresh and elegant as Miss Ansel was rare, even in Lungmen. Beneath her beauty, she carried a sense of heroic spirit—a temperament he had only seen in the top brass of the Guard Department. Yet, it was different; the Chief’s aura was like a sharp blade that would cut you if you weren't careful, while Miss Ansel's spirit was like the afternoon sun—bright, warm, and incredibly comforting.

Pushing the wild thoughts from his mind, Liang Chao said sincerely: "You must be Miss Ansel, right? I’ve heard so much about you."

Ansel’s face showed confusion. He turned to Zhou Jinru and asked: "What is he saying? I don't understand Lungmen dialect. 'Dog-yang dog-yang'? What does that mean? Is he insulting me?"

"No, he's complimenting you. Mr. Liang Chao is saying you are very famous, like thunder in his ears, and that he admires you greatly."

Is that really so?

Ansel remained skeptical. Why was the Doctor trying so hard to suppress his laughter? Could he actually be insulting him?

Zhou Jinru’s facial muscles twitched as he fought to keep from laughing out loud: "Ha, it's like that. Officer Liang, why don't you arrange the accommodation first? We’ve been traveling all day, and we're exhausted. Whatever we need to discuss can wait until after tomorrow's morning tea."

Ansel didn't look pleased. Liang Chao, realizing it was a language barrier, saw A-Guang mutter a string of words and wondered if he were secretly mocking him. He said: "The Guard Department has already made arrangements. Our Chief had an urgent matter and couldn't come personally, so he specifically instructed me to take you all to the most luxurious hotel on Golden Peony Street."

Zhou Jinru nodded, placed the sleeping Popukar in the back seat, and fastened her seatbelt. He brought the drowsy Red into the other side. Although the back row was a bit cramped with three people, he did it to keep an eye on the two children with their strictly timed biological clocks.

It wasn't easy to go on a trip, and he hadn't expected to moonlight as a nanny. When he got back, he would write a piece of documentary literature: *Transmigrated to Arknights: Life as a Nanny*. It would definitely be a hit.

Red and Popukar leaned against his shoulders on either side, sleeping soundly without a trace of defense. The scent of shampoo from the little girl's hair drifted into his nose. Zhou Jinru remained motionless, maintaining his posture like a monk in meditation.

Ansel sat in the front, nearly pressing his face against the window, looking around. Lungmen held a tremendous fascination for him.

"Mr. A-Guang, I heard from the Chief that this contract involves significant danger. I wonder what Rhodes Island's follow-up support plan is?"

Liang Chao waited for a long time, only to find that A-Guang, the leader of the support squad, was actually sleeping, showing zero sense of crisis. He couldn't help but ask.

Zhou Jinru paused for a moment. Liang Chao caught the blank look on his face in the rearview mirror. Zhou Jinru replied, completely oblivious: "There is no follow-up plan. It’s just us. It should be fine. We all bought employee accident insurance, so you don't need to worry about that."

Employee accident insurance? They hadn't even started, and they were already thinking about what to do if an accident occurred? Did all Rhodes Island operators have such an indifferent attitude?

And yet, their own Chief of the Guard Department had spent time training at Rhodes Island. It was said that there used to be an incredibly brilliant Doctor at Rhodes Island—invincible and peerless—who could ensure zero casualties in every operation they commanded. They could always sense danger before it descended, avoiding countless needless sacrifices.

Liang Chao felt deeply disappointed. Rhodes Island had gone silent a year and a half ago, which was also when the Chief returned to take his post. No one knew what had happened to Rhodes Island, and the Chief never spoke of it. Perhaps something had gone wrong.

"Mr. A-Guang, just make sure to look after your own safety."

Zhou Jinru heard the undisguised disappointment in Liang Chao's tone. He attempted to sense his emotions a few times, but the Superintendent's feelings remained stagnant. Perhaps he was unable to sense anything beyond the four basic emotions.