Arknights: Endfield story · Chapter II: Edge of the Abyss

'Twas One River That Gave Us Drink

Accept Tangtang's invitation and look for her.

6 scenes, 119 lines

1. Part 1

14 lines
Tangtang

Hey, kiddo! See these super runes? I'll trade them for the balloon!

Xiao Xiang

No way! Your runes are super buggly.

Tangtang

'Cos you got no idea what it can do! These are runes of protection! They're real expensive, you know!

Xiao Xiang

Mama warned me about nice strangers! Thieves and cheats!

Tangtang

Your Mama is wrong! I'm the Chief of Qingbo! A true hero!

Ugh... Am I that bad? And why does Darkmask get more popularity points while wearing that mean-looking mask?

When did you arrive?!

You're supposed to be my underling! How could you just stand by and watch?

Hmph.

Your choice

'Cos this is my turf, kiddo.

You're too majestic for most people, Chief.

While you're trying to steal that kid's balloon.

While you're being a nice stranger.

Of course, Chief. At your service, Chief.

2. Part 2

10 lines
Tangtang

Thanks a lot, Darkmask! I already got my eyes on this cute chubby thing! Always wanted to steal one for myself whenever I visit the city.

Hee. I didn't sneak here. I actually got an invite from the mad woman.

Yes she did. Mad woman got some really important biz for me!

I ... uh ... rushed here ... and skipped my lunch...

But ... this is also my very first time not sneaking around the city. BRRR —

YEH!! Mi Fu told me everything's on her tab! Let's grab a real feast and bankrupt that angry pink mop!

This doesn't feel right at all.

Your choice

So, why are you swaggering about in Wuling City?

Mi Fu invited you in?

Let's grab something to eat.

3. Part 3

25 lines
Tangtang

WAIT! No! NONONO! Not this place —

Da Pan

Endmin! Oh ho! And you brought guests again!

Hmm. I think I saw this girl before... AH! She's the one who mistook me for someone else!

Tangtang

NO! It's not me! I was never here... NEVER...!

Da Pan

It was you! You also mentioned the Darkmask too... Now I know you were talking about the Endmin!

Let's not keep you waiting. Come on in! I'll serve you in an instant.

Tangtang

*Sniff*! DELISH!

PERFECT! Mi Fu is a spice-simp, but I'm a Super Spice Chief!

I'm not a baby! Give me the spicy side!

Hssss... Whoo... Weee... Hssss...

I'M BURNING!!!

Damn you, mad woman! You lied to me!

Hssaaa — Hssaaa —

Who told me that Wuling Heat is child-friendly?!

*Glug-glug* I'm gonna ... hssss — hssaa — Beat up that evil woman...

Hnggh... It still burns...

Are Wulingers built different? What's wrong with their taste?

It's all because you're always dressed in black! Once we get back, I'll paint your mask red!

......

......

Your choice

You confused Mr. Da Pan for me?

Chief, let's get the spicy pot if you like the heat.

Chief, let's get the clean broth if you dislike the heat.

You should slow down a little, Chief.

Still on fire, Chief?

4. Part 4

12 lines
Tangtang

Yeah. I took care of Uncle Shang's biz. Did some yelling and some beating. The Chief finally got some time for herself —

Phew... Time to actually talk with some Wulingers.

Alright. Let's go and meet the one they call Madam Zhuang.

What da hell? I'm afraid of nobody!

I called you up 'cos...

I need a witness. Just in case that Madam Zhuang does not keep her words.

Hssss... It got to my nose as well... Hnggh... Hey, boss! Gimme some sweet rice cakes!

Da Pan

Alright. Coming right up.

Tangtang

Let me see. A Chubby Lung balloon and sweet rice cakes. At least I got something out of this visit.

Your choice

Chief, you here to meet someone at Wuling?

You called me because you're nervous, right?

She scares you, right? That's why you called me.

5. Part 5

26 lines
Tangtang

Eh... I, uh, heard Mi Fu saying that you like Chubby Lung so I got this nice balloon. Plus some sweet rice cakes. Mi Fu recommended the resto.

Zhuang Fangyi

I have you to thank for foiling the Stockade residents' attack on Wuling. I intend to provide some supplies as a token of our gratitude.

Tangtang

I'm also promising to keep my people in line. No more stupid idiots are gonna cause any more trouble.

I don't intend to give up on them... And I don't remember them as traitors, but people of my Fam.

Even if we got a ton of bad blood against Wuling, the only thing I want is the entire Stockade to live together as a fam.

Zhuang Fangyi

I accept your terms of parley, Tangtang.

Tangtang

Are you treating us as a charity case?

Zhuang Fangyi

No... Just a gesture of my goodwill. I'm extremely happy that someone from Qingbo Stockade visited Wuling City for an amiable discussion.

Hmm... If that does happen, my job might get a lot easier.

That being said, I'm actually very curious about your views on Qingbo City... Please have a seat, Chief. The tea has been brewed.

Tangtang

Big Madam... I mean ... Big Zhuang... Pffft. Viceroy! Yes! Viceroy Zhuang! Your Chief... PFFFFFT! Ahem. Your humble and nice little Tangtang...

Zhuang Fangyi

Ahem...

Mi Fu told me you're just a child. But I see instead someone with the dignity and bearings of a true leader.

Tangtang

That's why you're Mi Fu's Chief. She lacks your vision and foresight.

Supplies? If you're willing to give, then I don't see any problem taking some.

But I'm here to parley about some serious biz.

Zhuang Fangyi

I'm listening.

Tangtang

I know you've been raising an elite force for some major fight.

The Landbreakers messed up my place. I'm the Chief, so I'm gonna thrash them really hard. You don't even have to ask.

So in exchange, can you ... let those stupid Stockaders go? I'll knock some sense into them.

Zhuang Fangyi

Are you talking about the Stockade residents who joined the Landbreakers? But didn't they just betray you and Qingbo Stockade?

Tangtang

They called me Younger Dame, Tangtang, and baby girl... And they always had something for me when they came back to the Stockade. Candies, toys, and little red fins...

Zhuang Fangyi

Can you really bury the hatred between Qingbo Stockade and Wuling?

Tangtang

Did you just accept everything? I thought you'd ... start haggling like an angry skinflint or something!

Zhuang Fangyi

Wuling is a lot more generous than that. We are willing to provide the Stockade with both technology and supplies...

Tangtang

But aren't you worried about me? Give Chief Tangtang a few years and Wulingers like you would be begging my Stockade for protection! When that day comes, I'll name this place as Qingbo City!

6. Part 6

32 lines
Tangtang

This is it, Darkmask. I'm feeling much better already. Don't worry, I can walk myself back to my Stockade.

She said Wuling also lost plenty of people in that incident ten years ago... Was she lying to me?

You ... are not trying to defend her, right?

...I can't help but keep thinking about this. So many things have changed overnight. Why?

Right things start going wrong. Real stuff starts feeling fake. Even love got turned into hate...

I'm a Chief. And that means I can't leave my Stockade. Ffft. This won't work —

You're cheating!

You

To answer your question, Tangtang, you must embark on a long journey of learning and first-hand experiences.

Tangtang

Will Endfield give me that answer?

But what if ... if I didn't really feel like answering the question?

I know I'm not that bright. I can spend an entire lifetime pondering, and only end up answering a single question.

And even if I traveled a bit, saw plenty of stuff, and earned tons of experience ... I'll still carry the Stockade in my mind.

I will rename Endfield as Qingbo-Field! And I'll be your Chief Endmin! Once your Chief, ALWAYS your Chief!

Dark... Ugh. Welp, I guess I'll call you Endmin. For once!

Ooof. Do clever people always talk like that? Sounding smart is so tiring. It feels worse than getting into a fight.

I gotta think about Big Madam's every word. Is she for real? Is she out to rip me off?

No matter how I try, I could only see a tiny part. If I look at the same thing from somewhere else, it turns into something super different.

But ... Endfield is definitely on my list of destinations.

I'll buff my Stockade with Endfield tech!

See you tomorrow, Endmin.

Your choice

A viceroy's words are always well thought out.

Tianshi Zhuang is older, so she has a lot in mind.

If you visit Endfield, you might...

Come to Endfield.

Even if I spend all my Tangtang Certs?

You must find that answer on your own.

No. Endfield will teach you how, though.

We'll see about that.

Better start learning. Endmin work is hard.

She wasn't lying. I can vouch for her.

Well, what do you think? Was she lying?

Well, what do you think? Was I lying?