"Heh, heh, heh~~ Isn't this little Kanna? What brought you to the training room to play?" Hardbrick simply could not get angry at such a little girl, so he could only force an unwilling smile and ask.
Kanna casually pulled a lollipop from her pocket and handed it to Hardbrick. "Why is it so empty around here?" she asked, despite already knowing the answer.
"Specter. The nun who's training over there."
Hardbrick had never imagined that a little girl would offer him a lollipop, but faced with those bright, blinking eyes, he unusually did not refuse. He even started chatting with Kanna.
Kanna had run all over the place before and interacted with them plenty of times, so everyone knew her well. They knew she was sharp despite her age and did not treat her entirely like a child.
After taking the lollipop and skillfully popping it into his mouth, he suddenly felt the strange looks around him.
Looking up, he saw everyone staring at him with contempt. Who would have thought that this burly, thick-browed man had a hobby of swindling lollipops from little girls?
"No, listen to me! Kanna gave me this candy herself! She gave it to me herself! Kanna, Kanna, help me explain..."
But when he turned to find Kanna, he discovered she had vanished. Looking up again, he saw that she had already reached Specter's side.
"Disgraceful." "Scumbag." "Bad guy."
Amid countless disdainful looks from people who did not know the truth, Hardbrick turned into a melancholy soft brick and hid in a corner, drawing circles as he glared at the crowd.
Kanna did not notice Hardbrick's sorrow. Instead, she walked to a spot not far from Specter.
"Little one, you'll get hurt if you come too close!"
Spotting Kanna approaching, Specter swung the chainsaw in her hands, sawing the target before her until sparks flew everywhere.
"Specter, your movements have a feeling Kanna can't really describe. Hmm~~ Kanna thinks you'd look really pretty dancing!" Though Specter's movements seemed exaggerated and somewhat unrestrained, Kanna could see a trace of dance within them.
"Dancing? Hehehe... perhaps!" At Kanna's words, something seemed to appear in Specter's eyes, and a hint of remembrance surfaced on her face. It quickly faded away.
Yet as her expression calmed, Specter's movements became even fiercer. It was as though an enemy she deeply hated stood before her, and she was determined to tear them into powder with her chainsaw.
Kanna did not move away because of Specter's abnormal behavior. Instead, she stood boldly nearby. After watching for a while, she came to a conclusion: Specter's attacks truly carried the feeling of ballroom dancing. A classic line from the Virtuoso perfectly described Specter in battle—I bloom in slaughter, like a flower at dawn.
Beautiful,
Elegant,
Fierce,
Extreme.
Once Specter had completely focused her attention on the target, Kanna slowly backed away after getting a good look. She did not continue disturbing Specter's training.
"Tch, you've got guts. Look at everyone else—never mind getting close, they don't even dare stand nearby. No one can be sure whether that woman will suddenly lose it. You know nobody can take a hit from that thing in her hands."
After Kanna returned, Hardbrick, who was responsible for safety, finally walked over and cautiously glanced at Specter. Only after confirming that she was not paying attention to him did he breathe a sigh of relief.
Kanna turned to look at Hardbrick, feeling rather surprised. It had only been ten minutes or so. Why did he look like he had aged years? He also seemed much more exhausted.
"I—"
"Little ancestor, isn't Lena's greenhouse fun enough? This place is dangerous, so stop wandering around here. If something happens, I'll be strung up from the bridge."
Seeing Kanna about to speak, Hardbrick practically bowed his head in supplication, only begging this little Demon King not to torment him anymore.
"Uh..." Kanna was confused as she watched Hardbrick look as though he was about to burn out. She had not done anything. She had only come to watch Specter for a bit. Still, since Skadi was not around and she had already enjoyed Specter's "battle dance," there was no point staying. Aside from the targets, the training equipment here was useless to her.
With that in mind, she stopped "making things difficult" for Hardbrick and darted out of the training room.
Seeing Kanna leave, Hardbrick collapsed onto the floor. Thank goodness, that little ancestor had finally gone.
Before he could relax, the sound of a chainsaw spinning rose beside his ear.
"Sorry, coming through."
"Eek!" He sprang up from the ground and turned around, only to find Specter standing behind him.
Specter looked at Hardbrick, then at her weapon. "Sorry, I forgot to turn it off."
Without waiting for Hardbrick to react, she shouldered the chainsaw and left.
"Damn it!" Hardbrick, who had always been praised by the team for possessing a heart as firm as stone, could not help blurting out a classic Yanese curse.
After leaving, Kanna heard a massive rumble coming from the Medical Department. Curiosity piqued, she slipped over there.
Upon arriving, she found a huge gash torn abruptly through the Medical Department. Several doctors lay collapsed on the ground, huddled together and trembling in fear, while a Sarkaz man on the other side held the unconscious Rosemary.
Accompanied by a series of footsteps, Kal'tsit arrived with several people.
After glancing over the chaotic scene, she sighed softly. She had been too hasty. The recent peace had made her forget that Rosemary was a "bomb" that could easily be set off.
"Notify the engineering team to carry out emergency repairs. Are any of you injured?" After speaking to someone beside her, Kal'tsit asked the doctors at the scene.
"No. Luckily, LOGOS appeared at the most dangerous moment and restrained the patient." Though they had nearly died moments ago, the doctors quickly regained their composure and reported the situation to Kal'tsit.
"All right. This was my mistake. If any of you feel unwell, I approve one week of leave. I'll take this child away first." Kal'tsit sincerely apologized for her poor arrangement, then glanced at LOGOS, signaling him to carry Rosemary and follow her.
"Take Rosemary to Lena's greenhouse! She's most stable there." Just as Kal'tsit was considering whether to send Rosemary back to her dormitory or arrange a secure, controllable location, Kanna's voice came from beside her.
Secret Infiltration
Hearing Kanna's words, Kal'tsit looked over and saw Kanna standing by the breach, gazing worriedly at Rosemary.
"Wasn't Rosemary asleep? I was the one who personally took her back," Kanna asked in confusion as she looked at the unconscious Rosemary.
"Sigh, this is my fault. Her examination should have been done long ago, but she has always been extremely wary of medical personnel. When I went to see her just now, I found her sleeping soundly, so I thought I would conduct the basic examination while she slept. But after bringing her over, something else required my attention, so I arranged for another doctor to receive her. I didn't expect this to happen."
Kal'tsit unusually did not speak in riddles. After rubbing her brow, she followed Kanna toward Lena's greenhouse.
Once they arrived, Lena learned why they had come and hurriedly led them inside. Though Rosemary might destroy her greenhouse if she woke up and lost control again, Lena did not hesitate in the slightest.
Before long, Rosemary's fingers twitched, and everyone understood that she was about to wake. They watched her tensely while LOGOS silently began gathering power, prepared to restrain her again if she lost control.
After waking, Rosemary smelled a scent that put her at ease. When she opened her eyes, she saw those familiar dragon horns and those eyes full of concern.
"I'm sorry," Rosemary said softly. She remembered what had happened earlier. She had been sleeping peacefully when she suddenly woke and found herself back in a hospital room. Her emotions had spiraled out of control, and she had nearly hurt the people beside her.
"There, there! This time, it wasn't entirely your fault." Kanna gently pinched Rosemary's cheeks, soothing her tense emotions.
Seeing that Rosemary had not lost control after waking up, LOGOS silently withdrew his Arts.
Only after Rosemary peacefully fell asleep again in Lena's arms did the others finally breathe easy.
After leaving the room, Kanna noticed that LOGOS kept glancing at her intentionally and unintentionally. She tilted her head and stared back at him with puzzled eyes. "Is something wrong?"
"I heard about you on my way back. Over this period, I've also heard what other Operators have said about you."
"Well? Isn't Kanna amazing?" Kanna proudly raised her head and asked in a smug tone.
LOGOS had never dealt with a child like this before and did not know how to respond, so he could only fall silent.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything? Do you think Kanna isn't amazing enough? Want to have a little spar?" As Rhodes Island's greatest show-off, this was the first time in LOGOS's life that he had been pressed against a wall by a little girl.
He had heard ACE say before that Kanna was difficult to handle, but he had not believed it. Outcast had also said that although Kanna was a little mischievous, she was very obedient and highly intelligent. Thus, he had merely thought of her as a troublesome child with some cleverness. He had never expected her to be this much trouble.
For once, the heir to the Banshee King sent Kal'tsit a signal for help.
Kal'tsit patted Kanna's dragon horn. "All right, Kanna. I happen to have a mission here. Are you willing to take it?"
"Of course! Hehe, Kanna is an Elite Operator."
"I received word that more than a dozen Infected are secretly gathering in a rest area on the lower level. Red happens to be busy, so go help me investigate. You're also a member of S.W.E.E.P., so you can learn what this position entails." According to Kal'tsit's intelligence, the people gathering were ordinary Infected. Even if some had ill intentions, they could not possibly harm Kanna. Kanna's childish appearance also made her well suited to such a mission, so sending her to investigate what they were doing would also get LOGOS out of trouble.
This was the first solo mission Kanna had received, and she was a little excited.
Before Kal'tsit could even tell her where they were, Kanna skipped away.
After Kanna left, LOGOS straightened his collar and vanished from where he stood. He swore that unless it was necessary, he would never appear before Kanna again. Children these days were too terrifying for someone as simple as him to handle.
After reaching the ship's lower level, Kanna suddenly realized that she did not have an exact address. Rhodes Island's lower level was not small, and finding more than a dozen people secretly hiding somewhere to discuss secrets would not be easy.
She immediately felt that she had been tricked. That old woman Kal'tsit had malicious intentions, using a mission to fool an innocent little hatchling like her.
Beep, beep, beep!
Just then, her communicator sounded. After she opened it, Kal'tsit's cool voice came through.
"The room where they gather is generally located among the lounges in Area E. However, those people have some counter-surveillance awareness and use a different location each time, though all are within Area E. You will need to find them yourself. Remember, your task is only reconnaissance. Unless necessary, avoid exposing yourself."
Kanna beamed after hearing that. "A secret infiltration mission! Kanna knows this stuff really well, just like an assassin. As long as no one discovers her—by taking care of everyone who discovers her—she can easily complete the 'infiltration.'"
She patted her chest and promised Kal'tsit that she would complete the mission perfectly.
Just as Kal'tsit began to feel an ominous premonition, Kanna decisively cut off the communication.
Kanna was fairly familiar with Rhodes Island's lower level. When she had mapped out all of Rhodes Island's surveillance, she had gone everywhere, especially the lower level—after all, the exit was located there.
Kanna soon reached Area E and began pricking up her ears to listen for movement around her. Of course, to avoid drawing suspicion, she continued walking down the corridors as usual with a curious expression on her face.
Inside a room in Rhodes Island's Area E, several leaders were brainwashing the others.
"Think about it. Rhodes Island took us in, but what do we have? No wages, no compensation, no freedom. They keep us alive with medicine diluted who knows how many times, making us work every day for those damned doses and often forcing us to work overtime. Originium infection lasts a lifetime. Just because we have this disease, do we have to sell our lives to this cursed Rhodes Island in this sunless place forever? Can you tolerate that? I know I've had enough."
The nameless leader spoke with great passion. Combined with his constantly waving hands, his words were highly infectious, and quite a few people present became restless after hearing him.
"We want freedom! We want medicine! If Rhodes Island won't give it to us, then we'll take it!"
When Someone Doesn't Appreciate Kindness
Just as the man up front spoke himself red in the face, a round of applause sounded.
He initially thought some fool had bought into his nonsense, but when he looked up, he saw a child wearing a white T-shirt with the large words "Poor Chest" written on it.
He frowned. "Where did this little kid come from? This is a meeting for adults. What's a brat like you sticking your nose in for?"
"Don't be like that. Kanna thinks what you said was pretty interesting. Keep going. By the way, what's our organization's platform? What's our current goal? What direction are we taking next? Do we have comrades who share our ideals? What's the overall objective..."
"Hey, hey, hey, if we rob the medicine, how do we distribute it? How do we retreat after taking it? You can't possibly expect us to charge in with nothing but your mouth, right? Rhodes Island has so many Operators. What if we meet resistance? As far as Kanna knows, Rhodes Island has quite a few Sarkaz casters, and its top leadership is the core of the Medical Department. If you charge in like that, never mind taking the medicine—getting into the Medical Department at all would be a miracle."
Seeing two of the leader's lackeys moving to seize her, Kanna nimbly kicked off with her short legs and hung from the ceiling, gripping the gaps in the ventilation vent with both hands. She smugly wagged her tail while questions continued pouring from her mouth.
The Infected who had just been swayed by the man began having doubts after hearing Kanna's words. After all, they had seen the well-equipped security forces when entering Rhodes Island. If there really were casters among them, one person might be enough to wipe out everyone participating here.
Furthermore, the leader could not answer any of her questions. He only angrily ordered his men to capture the child, making them doubt what these people were actually planning.
Some of the quicker-thinking ones were already preparing to leave. Rhodes Island was not that big, and if so many people gathered here were discovered, what if the management decided they posed a threat and threw them off the landship?
Kanna had just successfully found this group secretly gathered together. Thanks to her small stature, she had evaded the leader and his lackeys' notice, slipped into the crowd, and "joined" the gathering with the intention of watching a show.
The gathering did not disappoint her. There really were people with a death wish trying to set their sights on Rhodes Island. She just did not know whether this had been a spur-of-the-moment idea or whether outside forces had pushed them toward it.
After he finished speaking and she saw some people being swayed by his inflammatory words, she decided that most had been tricked into coming and did not need to be buried alongside this leader. That was why she spoke up, using a teasing tone to show the participants how unreliable the people above them were.
At that moment, the man's lackeys were stacking themselves into a shaky human pyramid as they approached Kanna, intending to capture this brat who was getting in their way.
Just as the hand of the person at the top was about to touch Kanna, she swung both hands and leaped onto the door.
Then, without the slightest hurry, she pulled out an ID badge from her pocket and hung it on her chest before taking out a communicator.
"Kal'tsit, you heard all that, right? So, how should Kanna deal with this?"
"Yes. Arrest the leader and all his lackeys. As for the other participants... if they are willing to promise not to take part in any more destructive actions against Rhodes Island, let them go." Kal'tsit's voice came from the communicator, clear enough for everyone present to hear.
The leader immediately flew into a rage upon hearing Kal'tsit's words!
A mere child dared to say she would arrest so many people here? On what grounds?
Though he lacked much talent, he had at least secretly learned some Originium Arts. A mere child would be no more than putty in his hands!
It was precisely those Originium Arts that had given him ambitions beyond his station.
Feeling faint fluctuations arise around the leader, Kanna knew he was about to use Originium Arts. She stopped playing around. There were so many people here, and she would be scolded if this guy hurt them with his Arts.
With a sudden burst, Kanna lightly leaped over everyone's heads and landed before the leader.
"Little Jashin flying kick—ptui! Take this, Nightfall Kick!"
Before her words had even faded, the leader's head slammed into Kanna's leg. The tremendous impact sent him spinning once through the air before he crashed headfirst onto the ground.
Kanna glanced at the unconscious leader, who was barely still breathing, and then at the accomplices nearby, whose mouths hung so wide their jaws nearly dropped. Proudly patting down her clothes, she pointed at the badge on her chest and said,
"Rhodes Island Internal Security Force S.W.E.E.P. is handling this case. Aside from the leader and his accomplices, everyone else must leave immediately. One minute from now, anyone still in this room who did not take part but remains here will be considered an accomplice."
Though it seemed absurd that such a small child was a Rhodes Island Operator, the leader lying beside her was undeniably real.
After hearing Kanna's words, the people who had been misled into coming immediately fled outside in panic. The accomplices had initially wanted to blend into the crowd and escape as well, but when they reached the doorway, a streak of purple light flashed before them. Visible currents of electricity then blocked the entrance.
"I only said they could leave. I never said you ringleaders could go! Don't worry. Since Kal'tsit received word of this, the team should already be on its way. Rest and conserve your strength. Otherwise, if you get dumped out in the wilderness, you might collapse from exhaustion before you even make it out."
The accomplices' faces turned extremely ugly at the scenario Kanna described, because that was already the most merciful possible outcome. On most landships, anyone caught attempting to incite rebellion would be dried beneath the bridge as a warning to everyone else not to entertain such thoughts.
"Either way, we're dead. Let's fight her!" Faced with the dead end approaching them, the men's eyes reddened. They all drew the weapons hidden on their bodies and charged at Kanna, intending to subdue her and use her as a hostage to threaten Rhodes Island's leaders.
Before you continue