The Terrifying Punishment Awaiting the Little One / I Won't Accept Being Called a Fake Fan...

As she spoke, Lena extended a hand and showed them the way to the house.

Hearing Lena's words, Happy Goat behind them visibly relaxed.

"Thank you, Miss Lena."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they walked inside.

Once inside the greenhouse, Silver Ash nodded. As a doctor, she was very satisfied with the environment here and agreed that it was suitable for Liz's recuperation.

Halfway there, she sensed someone watching her. Instinctively looking toward the source, she found a child holding a bottle nearly half her size in one arm and "drinking water" from it. At the same time, those eyes were curiously looking her way.

When Lena noticed Silver Ash's gaze, she assumed the other woman was worried that having a child here would be too noisy and disturb the patient's rest, so she hurriedly explained,

"That is Kanna. Although she looks quite young, she is an Elite Operator personally appointed by Kal'tsit. She and Leader Amiya often come here to rest as well, but they are both very well-behaved and will not make noise in the sanatorium. Please rest assured."

Silver Ash nodded. Whether as a qualified doctor or a flower enthusiast, if Kanna truly were a mischievous child, Lena could not possibly have let her stay here without concern.

Yet when she saw Kanna, she felt an instinctive fear for an instant. The feeling came and went quickly, and that was what puzzled her.

As Kanna gulped down her drink, she inwardly marveled. As expected of Silver Ash. She really is sharp-minded. I was only curious whether that sword strike that cleaved day from night could hurt me, so I briefly wanted to spar with her once. And she noticed it.

Because Nearl had told her about what had happened in the sanatorium before coming here, Silver Ash knew there was a child here. Just as she was still wondering about that strange feeling, Liz suddenly waved at Kanna.

The next second, amid a violent contraction of her pupils and a gust of wind, she discovered that the child who had been sitting in the little house was now standing before their group.

The Terrifying Punishment Awaiting a Hatchling

"Hello, I'm Kanna. Would you like some candy?" Kanna took a lollipop from her clothes and offered it to Liz.

Under Silver Ash's tense gaze, Liz accepted Kanna's candy with a somewhat weak smile and put it into her mouth. "Mm, I'm Liz. And the candy is very sweet. Thank you, Kanna."

"You're welcome, Sister Liz. If there's anything you want to eat, just tell Kanna. I know exactly where all the delicious food is in every shop on Rhodes Island, as well as what every cafeteria up and down the ship specializes in."

Unlike the tense people nearby, Kanna was very happy about Liz's response and, as usual, patted her chest as she made sweeping promises.

"Kanna, don't scare the guests!" Seeing Silver Ash's tense expression, Lena came over and led Kanna outside.

It was not only Silver Ash. Nearl beside her was also shocked. Before this, she had thought Kanna was merely a child who liked resting here. Even when Lena said Kanna was an Elite Operator of Rhodes Island, she had not paid much attention.

But that sudden burst of speed alone was enough to make her feel pressured. As a Kuranta skilled at running, Kanna's speed was not entirely beyond her reach, but Nearl would need to warm up and reach the peak of her sprint to attain it. Kanna, meanwhile, had moved as though taking an ordinary little run. The most frightening part was that she could ignore inertia and come to an easy stop.

Only then did Nearl truly feel that Rhodes Island was full of hidden talents.

Kanna did not resist as Lena led her away. Instead, she waved goodbye to Liz. "Sister Liz, next time I'll bring you some delicious desserts. The super, super delicious kind."

Liz looked completely unaffected. She even nodded at Kanna. "Then I'll look forward to seeing you next time."

"Whew! Finally finished." Kanna did not follow them afterward, instead returning to the little house. Before long, Lena came back with a relaxed expression.

"Kanna-chan, you mustn't scare guests like that again!" This was Lena's first time seeing Kanna's speed, but she was not overly startled. After all, over this period she had already heard Kanna's "glorious exploits" from other Operators and patients who came to the sanatorium. She had also heard about Kanna's ten-thousand-word letter of guarantee, so she had long expected Kanna to be quite capable.

"Okay!" Kanna humbly accepted Lena's criticism.

"Sister Lena, there's something I'm very curious about regarding the Infected." Seeing Liz had suddenly reminded Kanna of something she had wondered about before.

"Users of Originium Arts are basically all infected with Originium infection, right?"

"Of course. Most Originium Arts are released when the Infected use the Originium particles in their bodies to resonate with nature." Lena nodded. The method of using Originium Arts was practically common knowledge across the continent, so there was nothing to hide.

"I heard Amiya say that if an Infected person uses Originium Arts often and frequently, or if their Originium Arts are especially powerful, then every use deepens their infection?"

Lena looked at Kanna in surprise. If the previous question had been common knowledge, this one was information only a small number of people would deliberately seek out. "Amiya is right. Powerful Originium Arts and frequent spellcasting both cause the Originium concentration in an Infected person's body to rise rapidly. Do you have any objections to that, Kanna?"

"Not really. I was just thinking, Amiya said that the leaders and upper echelons of the nations across Terra are generally highly skilled users of Originium Arts. Then why do they tolerate the discrimination and oppression of the Infected by the uninfected? Shouldn't they favor the Infected more? After all, they're the same kind of people."

Hearing Kanna's question, Lena fell silent unusually. After a long while, she stroked Kanna's hair and softly said, "Sorry, Kanna. Sister Lena can't answer that question, and I don't know who can give you the answer. Perhaps you will have to seek it yourself. See with your eyes, listen with your ears, and finally gather everything you know in your mind. Then you may find the answer you need."

"Oh! Then I have another question!" Kanna raised her hand and continued only after Lena nodded.

"If those important people are Infected, do they often need to use spells to intimidate their subordinates like they do on television? If so, aren't they afraid their Originium infection will flare up? Do you think they use spells all cool and dashing on stage, then rush off to find a doctor for medicine and injections as soon as they get backstage?"

Hearing Kanna's words, Lena imagined the scene and burst out laughing. "Kanna, don't talk nonsense. Although many people in the upper ranks treat the Infected terribly, it cannot be denied that these people are what make this world relatively stable. They may not like the Infected, but the Infected do not need anyone else's affection. Our rights and our room to survive can be fought for with our own hands."

"I know. It means taking other people's roads and leaving them nowhere to go..."

Before Kanna could finish, Lena lightly tapped her on the head. "You child. I think I should offer Doctor Kal'tsit a suggestion. At your age, you should be going to school... Don't grow up without even knowing how to read."

Kanna was utterly shocked by Lena's words. She had never expected gentle and kind Sister Lena to harbor such vicious thoughts... School—what a terrifying word for a hatchling.

"Nooo! Kanna doesn't want to go to school..." she cried as her little legs flailed, and she ran out of the greenhouse.

Behind the little house, Silver Ash and Nearl were standing some distance away.

"What do you think of that child's question?"

"People of Terra are born with desires. As long as those desires remain, conflict cannot be avoided. This is not something the presence or absence of the Infected can change. At most, prejudice between the Infected and the uninfected intensifies those conflicts.

"There is no absolute answer to this question. Everyone looks in a different direction, so naturally they arrive at different answers. I think Miss Lena was right. Only after that child has seen it with her own eyes and felt it for herself will she understand the weight of that question."

Silver Ash recalled the time after she left the Absolutionists and wandered outside with Liz, and she let out a rare sigh.

After leaving the greenhouse, Kanna rubbed her belly... Judging by this feeling, it should be mealtime.

With that thought, she headed for the cafeteria. She also decided that, at least for the near future, she would not go to the greenhouse again. After all, if Lena passed that suggestion on to Kal'tsit, her carefree life of wandering around the ship would be over!

I Cannot Accept the Charge of Being a Fake Player

To be honest, plenty of people came along because Arknights fanfiction was popular... but being labeled a fake player over one setting is something I cannot accept.

Come to think of it, I was a proper launch-day player. Before I developed the bad habit of copying guides for leveling, I cleared every stage bit by bit on my own... I can still clearly remember that my first Operator was the JK girl Angelina... When I got her, the friends in the group said the account was ruined and told me to reroll...

I can't get pictures while I'm out right now. Once I get home, I'll post screenshots from this year's Integrated Strategies run to prove my innocence.

It's not that I refuse to accept criticism for mistakes... It's like my little chubby dragon getting mocked by some overpowered guy. You can call me bad, but you can't say I'm faking it.

And this argument has gone on long enough... I did not use a definite tone in that part anyway. "Basically" only means most of them, so naturally there are spellcasters who are not Infected.

Besides, Yostar is just a game company. What the hell do they know about Terra? protective doge face A thousand people have a thousand Hamlets. I'm only sharing the one in my own mind with everyone.

...I'll pad the word count a little more. Anyway, this is stuck in the main text. Mwahahahaha.

How Could There Be Other Cats?

When she arrived at the cafeteria, Kanna saw the members of Reserve Team A6 gathered together in the distance, while their captain, Zilan, was saying something.

The distracted Spot had been idly looking around when he happened to see Kanna approaching, so he waved at her.

She curiously walked over, naturally because of Zilan.

Although Zilan was the captain of Reserve Team A6, she rarely actually appeared around A6 Squad. As a sophisticated city woman who seemed better suited to an office than battle, she spent most of her time during her stay aboard the ship busily going back and forth between the Human Resources Department and the Medical Department's counseling room.

Of course, that did not mean she neglected her team members. It was simply true that Kanna had not met her very often.

When Zilan saw Kanna, she nodded. Tsukikage, who was sitting beside Popukar, also voluntarily made a space for Kanna.

"Our mission this time is to travel to Blacksteel International and receive a batch of medical supplies. Besides our squad, Huang and the assault squad under her command will accompany us as escorts. I hear Blacksteel International will also send an exchange delegation aboard with us, so this escort mission represents the face of Rhodes Island. I hope everyone can control their emotions as much as possible and not let outsiders look down on us."

Kanna's eyes lit up at Zilan's words. A Blacksteel International exchange delegation! It looked like the rich cat lady was coming. As far as she knew, Rhodes Island and Blacksteel International had a very good relationship, largely thanks to Franka and her partner Liskarm, former members of Blacksteel International's B.P.R.S. who had boarded the ship before Kanna.

After joining Rhodes Island, Franka's outstanding combat experience had led to her being appointed as a swordsmanship instructor for reserve Operators while she received treatment for Originium Infection. Aside from someone like Kanna, who had skipped ahead immediately after boarding due to special circumstances, everyone would learn from Franka to some extent.

Because of that, everyone had heard plenty of interesting stories about Blacksteel International from her.

However, because Kanna had skipped ahead, she had never received their training.

Everyone was actually looking forward to this mission.

After finishing lunch, Kanna took Popukar's hand and quietly chatted with her. Popukar was especially excited because she was going out on a mission, and Kanna worried that she might get too excited and cause trouble.

Anyone familiar with Reserve Team A6 knew their individual circumstances. Kanna was afraid something might go wrong halfway through. She did not know what Kal'tsit was thinking, assigning this kind of mission to the most unstable A6 team. Wasn't she afraid of exhausting Huang's cat squad too?

Still, Kanna would not presumptuously go to Kal'tsit or Amiya and say something as ridiculous as, "Reserve Team A6 is unsuitable for field missions." That would only make the A6 members feel that Kanna looked down on them.

Besides, Huang's "explosive drummer cat" squad and Blacksteel International personnel would be accompanying them both ways. As long as nothing unexpected happened, it was basically a sightseeing trip.

Soon, urged by Tsukikage, Popukar waved goodbye to Kanna. Although they would not leave the ship until tomorrow and it was only just after dinner, they had to return and hurry up with packing their equipment. It would be awkward if they discovered they had forgotten something when it was time to depart tomorrow.

After Popukar left, Kanna was joined by Rosemary and Amiya. They too had learned that Popukar was heading out on a mission, and Rosemary showed an envious expression.

However, Rosemary also knew that her current condition was unsuitable not only for leaving the ship, but even for freely using her Originium Arts. This was to prevent her from losing control again.

"Come to think of it, I saw a Feline around your age today, and her hair was white too!" As they walked, Kanna remembered the Sarkaz she had met during the day and spoke up.

"Her name is Gloria, though she calls herself Nightmare. She's a very interesting person." Seeing Amiya and Rosemary look over, Kanna continued.

"Oh, Gloria. I've met her before. I think you saw her in Miss Lena's greenhouse, didn't you?" Recognition appeared in Amiya's eyes when she heard the name. Gloria was somewhat like Rosemary. Both were Felines, both had white hair, and the power within both of them came from "another person."

It was also Gloria's multiple personalities that left a special impression on Amiya, the "mind-reading master." Amiya knew that due to her psychological condition, Kal'tsit had arranged for Gloria to receive psychological treatment in Lena's Sanatorium Courtyard.

Hearing Amiya and Kanna's words, Rosemary tilted her head in confusion, seeming unable to understand. They were together almost every day, so how had the two of them suddenly found another cat?

Only after Kanna said she would find time to introduce Rosemary to Gloria did the small unhappiness in Rosemary's heart fade away.

The three of them spent time wandering around the ship together until it was time to rest, then said goodbye.

Early the next morning, Kanna was summoned to the Control Room after getting up. Seeing Kal'tsit's meaningful expression and Amiya's look of sympathy from nearby, she instinctively sensed that something was wrong.

Just as she tried to quietly slip out of the Control Room unnoticed, Kal'tsit raised her head from the documents she had been focused on.

"Come back..." Those two simple words shattered Kanna's plan.

After Kanna walked to the desk, Kal'tsit pinched the bridge of her nose and said with a hint of fatigue, "Outcast has gone out on a mission. Before leaving, she said that it was not good for you, Kanna, to continue wandering around the ship with nothing to do. Given that you are strong enough, and based on what I have learned from the other Operators, you do not know much about Terra or most of its history and cultures. Therefore, it has been decided that we will find you a teacher to make up for your cultural education..."

To Kanna, Kal'tsit's words were like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. She had hidden for so long, yet she still could not escape cultural classes.

"After careful consideration, I have found Doctor Grace Arizona from our Medical Department to teach you general cultural courses. Grace Arizona comes from an old Victorian noble family and has an excellent understanding of the customs and cultures of Terra's various nations. You will study diligently under her."

After hearing Kal'tsit, Kanna's whole body seemed to turn gray and white. Her mind was filled with terrifying things such as classes, memorization, and exams.

On the other side, Kal'tsit summoned Kanna's teacher.

Grace was caught off guard when she learned that Kal'tsit wanted her to teach the child before her cultural courses. However, she quickly calmed down and agreed to Kal'tsit's request.

"Hello, my name is Grace Arizona. You may also call me Weifeng. I hope we get along well in the days ahead." Weifeng knew a little about Kanna. Ever since Kanna came aboard, she had constantly refreshed the Operators' understanding of what was possible. The news that she had become an Elite Operator and joined SWEEP at such a young age had spread across the ship. Even without meeting her, Weifeng knew there was a very young Vayvan on Rhodes Island with terrifying skills and an appetite even more terrifying than her skills.

A Newcomer Appeared on Rhodes Island

As she left, Weifeng was not troubled by suddenly being assigned a task outside her duties. In fact, she was rather happy.

From the conversations she had heard, she knew that Kanna was very close to Rhodes Island's leader, Amiya, and also had good relationships with most Elite Operators. One of Kanna's guardians, Outcast, was highly popular on Rhodes Island.

She was already an Elite Operator at such a young age, so she would surely become part of Rhodes Island's core leadership when she grew up.

For Kal'tsit to let Weifeng teach her was an enormous sign of trust.

After taking the downcast and sighing Kanna to her office, she first poured Kanna a cup of hot water. Then, after sitting down and considering a teaching plan, she spoke.

"Kanna-chan, I do not know what your current level of learning is. Doctor Kal'tsit's direction was for you to learn about the customs and cultures of Terra's various nations. So, how about we set the study hours from two to five every afternoon, with one day off after every three days of class? Lessons can be held right here in my office."

Now that things had come to this, Kanna could only nod and accept Weifeng's suggestion. At least there would be one day off after every three days, and classes were only in the afternoon. She would still have mornings and evenings to play and sleep in. To Kanna, this was already the best possible schedule for studying.

"Mm~ I still need to prepare the course material, so how about we begin the first lesson tomorrow afternoon?" Since Weifeng had agreed to teach a child, she felt she had to be rigorous about it.

She decided to assemble a set of teaching materials and teach Kanna bit by bit. To obtain the materials, she could gather some from her colleagues. There were quite a few Operators on Rhodes Island who liked books. She would start with Victoria, which she knew best, then slowly fill in the rest. She believed it would not affect the progress of the lessons.

Afterward, Kanna left Weifeng's office. She was very angry at that moment, so she decided to take revenge on Kal'tsit. As for her method of revenge—she would eat Rhodes Island bankrupt.

That day at noon in the cafeteria, the Operators saw a hatchling with an unhappy face, eating bowl after bowl until the cafeteria was running short on food.

Kal'tsit felt no pressure about that. There were so many Operators under her command that one hatchling could not possibly eat Rhodes Island bankrupt.

Over the next period, Kanna was no longer as carefree as before because she had to study.

Still, when she arrived at Weifeng's office early the next day after lunch, it was a pleasant surprise for Weifeng.

After Kanna left yesterday, Weifeng had spent the entire afternoon arranging lesson plans. That evening, she heard the story of Kanna throwing a tantrum and eating an entire cafeteria empty.

At the time, she had worried that Kanna might slack off and not come to class. She had even prepared a plan for how to find Kanna if she failed to show up.

Yet Kanna, whom everyone described as mischievous and troublesome, had arrived early on her own with a small backpack.

Of course, for Kanna, this was merely a habit left over from more than a decade of schooling.

After all, one of the most basic requirements for becoming a good child in a teacher's eyes was not being late or leaving early.

The learning progress afterward also delighted Weifeng. It was quick and steady throughout. Kanna often drew inferences from one example to another in class, and the questions she raised frequently went straight to the heart of the matter.

More than once, even Weifeng, who considered herself fairly knowledgeable, felt somewhat overwhelmed when faced with Kanna's rather tricky questions.