Arknights: The Life Inside-Chapter 71

For Yoren, there was no way he didn't recognize this name.

There was no doubt—this was the world-renowned international security company, Black Steel International.

Yoren quickly recalled what he knew about Black Steel International. According to official records, it was a private security consulting firm and one of the most prominent security contractors. Their services ranged from providing elite armed forces to handling high-risk special operations.

To put it bluntly, if a small-time street security firm grew to dominate the industry, it would be called a high-end security firm. If a mercenary group became the gold standard in private military operations, it would be called Black Steel International.

Beyond their standard security forces, Black Steel also had a classified division specializing in biochemical protection—BPRS. According to available intel, BPRS was one of the few professional units dedicated to handling Originium-related incidents and infected individuals. Officially, their scope extended to various fields, including disaster logistics and engineering rescue.

But Yoren knew better. That was just the public-facing story. In reality, BPRS wasn't about charity or humanitarian efforts. If the payout was good enough, sure, they might step in for post-disaster engineering work. But that wasn't their true purpose.

Everyone in Terra knew where the real money was—Originium. And the only way to obtain it was by venturing into catastrophe zones. An elite unit capable of operating in those high-risk areas? That was the real reason BPRS existed.

Ogur studied Yoren with a smirk.

"You recognize the organization on that card?"

"Black Steel International?"

"Bingo. Looks like I don't need to explain anything."

To be honest, hearing Black Steel International made Yoren's heart race. After all, in his past life, they were one of the most famous factions in Arknights, home to familiar operators like Franka, Razer, Jessica, and Vanilla.

But he quickly calmed himself. This wasn't a game. This was Terra, and the year was 1093. Jessica and Vanilla hadn't even joined Black Steel yet. Razer and Franka were likely still rookies—if they had joined at all.

What mattered now wasn't where those operators were but rather the man sitting in front of him. Black Steel's existence was crucial. Three years from now, they would forge strategic ties with Rhodes Island. And this business card? It wasn't just an introduction—it was a turning point that could reshape history.

Yoren held the card, then raised his gaze.

"Ogur, are you with Black Steel?"

"Well, you could put it that way. But to be precise..." Ogur leaned forward slightly. "Black Steel is mine."

"...Yours?"

Ogur's smirk widened. "Yeah. I founded Black Steel International. I don't get involved in the day-to-day missions anymore, but I'm still the highest authority."

Yoren kept his face neutral, but inside, he was taking deep breaths.

Holy shit. This guy is the boss of Black Steel?!

No wonder the VIP section behind the bar was more luxurious than the main floor. No wonder they took in an infected person like him without a second thought. No wonder Ogur carried himself with the kind of arrogance that only came with real power.

Because he had every right to.

Black Steel International. The important part wasn't Black Steel—it could've been White Steel, Bronze Steel, whatever. What mattered was International.

To Yoren, that word didn't just mean their operations were global. It meant Black Steel wasn't bound by any nation's laws. Their clients came from every corner of the world. Even a powerhouse like Rhine Lab relied on Columbian government support for its secret experiments and military security.

But Black Steel? They didn't need any country's approval. They had their own money, their own forces. They headquartered in Columbia as a courtesy, but Yoren was sure they had silent agreements with governments everywhere. No one wanted to make an enemy out of war specialists like them.

And now, Yoren finally understood Ogur's earlier words:

When you become strong enough, the rules made for ordinary people no longer apply to you.

For someone like Ogur, carrying a gun wasn't even a question. Hell, if he wanted to drive a tank through the streets, the military police would probably just look the other way. His status as an infected person didn't matter either. In fact, many members of Black Steel, especially BPRS, were infected. It didn't make them weaker—it gave them purpose.

Black Steel had rewritten the rules of survival for themselves in this world.

Realizing he was in the presence of someone this influential, Yoren instinctively grew cautious.

If he wanted to survive in this world—no, thrive—he needed to treat Ogur with the respect he deserved. He wasn't nearly qualified to stand as an equal to this man.

Ogur seemed to notice his internal struggle and let out a casual chuckle.

"Relax, kid. Don't get so worked up. I told you my identity because I see potential in you, not to intimidate you."

"Heh." Yoren forced a smile.

Maybe it had been a while since Ogur had a casual chat with someone outside his usual circles. He lit another cigar, exhaling a thin stream of smoke before speaking again.

"When I left the Columbia Boys' Army, I was about your age. Had nothing. And now, here we are. Time flies, doesn't it?"

Yoren wasn't sure how to respond, so he just nodded. "Yeah... time's fast. Where does it even go?"

"So remember this—don't let your identity as an infected hold you back. The strong don't follow rules. They make them."

To be honest, Yoren wanted to slam the table and yell, You think I don't already know that?! Why do you think I came to this world in the first place?!

But of course, he couldn't say that.

Instead, he nodded humbly. "Mr. Ogur, you're clearly a successful man. I've learned a lot from you."

Ogur laughed. "Oh, don't butter me up. I don't need an apprentice. We're just having a chat—like normal friends."

The boss of Heigang International was different. At least his attitude made people feel comfortable—he didn't have the arrogance of a nouveau riche at all.

As the saying goes, a king is never created by chance, but by extraordinary strength. Otherwise, why had so many retired soldiers failed, while only Augur succeeded? This was the difference in vision, in ambition.

Yoren thought about it carefully and realized he didn't need to be so tense.

Augur had been right—maybe one day, they would need each other as friends. To put it bluntly, Augur had simply recognized Yoren's future potential. Right now, he might not even be worth a penny in Augur's eyes, but that didn't matter.

With that in mind, Yoren let go of his restraint. No matter how powerful Augur was, it had nothing to do with him—at least not yet.

Augur wanted to chat like an ordinary friend, and Yoren had no problem with that. Thanks to his close friend Zhang Yuan, Yoren had sharpened his ability to argue and banter to a fine edge.

Tucking the business card away, Yoren leaned in casually and grinned.

"Alright, I'm not one for formalities. ACE is my big brother, and you've been his good friend for years. To show some camaraderie, I'll just call you Lao Gu."

Although Augur had encouraged a relaxed atmosphere, Yoren felt that might've been a little too casual, so he quickly added, "Heh, it's just that your name is kind of a mouthful. If you don't like Lao Gu, I can change it."

Augur paused for a moment before throwing his head back in laughter.

"Haha! Lao Gu—it has a nice ring to it. Feels familiar."

"As long as you don't mind."

Yoren let his gaze drift around the room.

"Lao Gu, Heigang International is famous. This bar—this wouldn't be your headquarters, would it?"

"Of course not," Augur smirked. "This is just my private retreat. Black Steel's headquarters isn't even in Bra City. It's quite grand, though. If you ever get the chance, you should come see it."

Yoren had asked on a whim. He never actually thought this bar could be the heart of Heigang International. A company of that scale would have a headquarters as imposing as a high-end military base.

He glanced at the time—ACE had been gone for over twenty minutes. If all had gone smoothly, he should have found the unconscious Ifrit and was bringing her back now.

Augur leaned back into the sofa.

"You don't have to worry about your friend. With ACE's skills, retrieving someone from those clueless military police is a simple task. Even if something unexpected happens, I'll find a way to get your friend back."

Yoren exhaled, feeling reassured. According to Hemer's plan, Rhine Life wouldn't realize Ifrit had escaped for some time. The military police in Bra City only saw her as an infected girl who could start fires, not as an experimental subject fused with the Flame Demon Stone. Even if ACE made a mistake, Heigang's influence could still tip the scales.

Not that he thought ACE would make a mistake.

That thought led Yoren to another question.

"Lao Gu, I remember ACE's mercenary group was called Death. Did he join Heigang International?"

"No," Augur said after taking a long drag from his cigar. "ACE hasn't joined Heigang. We're just friends; we don't share any business interests. Of course, I've invited him more than once, but he's refused every time."

"Why?" Yoren asked, genuinely curious.

Augur exhaled a cloud of smoke, eyes distant. "I know ACE. Once upon a time, I was like him—I wanted to change things. But after leaving the Youth Army, I realized the heavier the change you want to make, the more wealth and power you need to match it."

Then, Augur smiled, a little self-deprecating.

"I built Heigang International from nothing. It took over a decade, but I achieved a level of wealth and power that most people can't even imagine. And yet, when I finally had it, I realized I had forgotten what I wanted to change in the first place."

Yoren understood. Augur hadn't forgotten—he had simply stopped thinking about it. Because after more than ten years, he had come to terms with a brutal reality: even with an organization as powerful as Heigang, some things could never be changed. The conflict between the infected and the uninfected. The slow decay of the world.

Augur had abandoned his youthful ideals, choosing pragmatism over dreams.

But ACE was different. He had never given up. Yoren knew that was why, in three years, ACE would join Rhodes Island.

That realization shifted something in Yoren.

Augur was right—the bigger the change you wanted, the greater the power you needed.

The black and white twins had given Yoren incredible combat ability, but raw strength wasn't enough. The world wouldn't confront him in a fair, open fight.

Some things couldn't be solved with brute force. A tiger couldn't defeat a pack of wolves, because wolves weren't just strong—they were adaptable. They could navigate any environment, outlast stronger opponents, and drag them down over time.

That was what power really was.

The same rule applied to Terra. To survive, Yoren needed more than just strength. He needed allies, information, influence, money. A pack of his own.

Augur had done it—Heigang International was proof of that.

Vina had done it—the Glasgow Gang's reach was undeniable.

Rhodes Island would do it three years from now, becoming the most formidable armed medical organization for the infected.

But Yoren's ambitions didn't stop there. Rhodes Island wasn't his endgame. Because he knew Terra was even more complicated than it seemed.

The world was a massive black vortex, shrouded in mist.

His next stop was Victoria, where the fog was thickest.

Thinking back to his first meeting with Vina in Ursus, Yoren realized she had foreseen the storm brewing in Victoria long before anyone else. That was why she spared him in that Chernobog alley.

Vina had been preparing—gathering wealth, building influence—getting ready for Londinium's reckoning.

[I had a dream, where the sun rose beyond my reach. My home was lost to me, and I could never return.]

Yoren refused to let those words define Vina's future. No matter what she faced, he would stand beside her.

But even that was just one piece of the puzzle. What did he need to amass before he could face the mission given to him by the one lurking in the shadows?

How could he rebel against the gods and rebuild the tower to heaven?

If Amiya and Tallulah represented two extremes—mercy and wrath—then his path had to be something else entirely.

Amiya couldn't save everyone. A kingdom built without sacrifice would crumble under the weight of its own ideals.

Tallulah couldn't rebuild the world through bloodshed. A future born from violence would only breed more hatred.

It had been three years since the Chernobog uprising. That was the moment this era had begun. Without realizing it, Yoren, Amiya, and Tallulah had each chosen their own road.

Now, they would carve the future of this world—each in their own way.