The Keel Is Ready

Preparations need to be made in advance.

The Ursus people have become accustomed to Rhodes Island's constraints, to Rhodes Island punishments, and to Rhodes Island orders; in the future, they will become even more accustomed to... joining Rhodes Island's army.

The slip of the tongue refers to a militia group that is spontaneously organized by the community and prefers to purchase weapons, equipment, and instructors from specific companies.

In the days to come, these refugees will be "cared for" in an unusually brutal manner by the militia and Sarkaz. They will learn how to take care of themselves... how to accept and nurture their bodies as infected individuals, through beatings and kicks.

If they can't do it, then the "little dad" will teach them with a stick.

Although the natural environment of Kjerag wasn't particularly good, it was free from Catastrophe, and the abstract divine authority of the Manjushri had a relatively limited influence on the population. Enciodes Silverash, naturally, couldn't empathize with Ursus's unique personality, nurtured by both humanity and nature.

Doctor. Oute is the commander of the field operations department and a top scholar in Originium. He can easily be dragged away by others for various reasons.

However, Enciodes Silverash also wanted to see this... otherwise, how could he see Rhodes Island clearly?

"You've finally arrived." The Snow Leopard said confidently.

Kal'tsit nodded slightly. "I've arrived."

"So, the contract..."

"Regarding Enya joining the Field Operations Department..."

"Ah?"

"Um?"

Enciodes Silverash was somewhat taken aback. "Enya joined the Field Operations Department?"

Oute had actually said this to him, but at the time, Enciodes Silverash's assessment was that it was "disturbing people's minds."

"Isn't the contract supposed to be signed when your tech officer arrives?" Kal'tsit asked, puzzled. "Doc Otter has already finalized it."

After reviewing the situation again, Enciodes Silverash felt somewhat relieved— Rhodes Island's field operations were not entirely dangerous.

Besides, since Kal'tsit came to him, as a parent, he could easily sabotage the whole thing.

But, do you want it?

He countered, "What do you mean by saying Doc Otter has already finalized it?"

Kal'tsit handed over Enya's application form, then stated matter-of-factly, "Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals has never overturned Doc Otter's decision."

Why is that?

"... Speaking of which, why is Doc Otter the head of the field operations department?" Enciodes Silverash already had a vague guess.

"The Field Operations Department doesn't have a real head," Kal'tsit said. "Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals' Field Operations Department has two branches: the Action Department and the Operator Training Center."

The concepts of fighting and practicing are easy to understand.

Enciodes Silverash nodded.

"The basic operational structure of the Action Department is the 'Operations Team,' which typically consists of an experienced Operations Team Leader and eleven Operators. Elite Operator provide decision-making input to Rhodes Island's leaders through simple majority voting."

In other words, it's a military democracy based on combat power... much like the tri-race conference in Kjerag.

The leader of Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals...? Isn't that Cautus?

No matter how powerful she is, it's impossible for her to establish a professional organization like Rhodes Island at her age. Therefore, this power must either come from inheritance, or...

Enciodes Silverash probed, "Then the Elite Operator must prefer a commander who can lead them to victory."

From one victory to another, until the kingdom fell, just like Corsica.

Kal'tsit nodded. "That's why Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals has never overturned Doc Otter's decision."

However, during both the Babel era and the original Rhodes Island era, there were instances where girls made decisions to seduce Oute...

Faced with the traitorous Sarkaz, Oute had already accepted the world and couldn't bear to execute him. So Theresa overturned that decision and personally killed the traitorous Sarkaz.

During the original Rhodes Island era... Oute wasn't just pushed aside; he was literally pushed aside. Luckily, Oute managed to release Hakimi from a desperate situation, otherwise he probably wouldn't have escaped the Priestess gravity field.

Kal'tsit closed her eyes, her resolve growing stronger.

Although Oute is now psychologically in his youth and no longer feels close to the macrocosm of Terra, he still sees the shining individual as someone he can communicate with and interact with.

He persisted in adhering to his own technological approach.

The ungrateful Snow Leopard interrupted Kal'tsit's reverie, asking, "What's the relationship between Miss Amiya and Doc Otter?"

Kal'tsit remained silent—given her own identity and actions, if she answered "adopted daughter," then she herself had done something bad, and something very, very bad.

To give an example, it's like how Lot's two daughters treated their father in the biblical story...

But if we don't use this term... it seems even worse in a practical sense.

"I understand." Enciodes Silverash nodded solemnly.

No, what do you understand?

Kal'tsit's silence was like a tacit agreement to Enciodes Silverash.

He inquired about the relationship between Amiya and Oute in order to rule out a certain possibility.

Oute effectively controls the violent branch of Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals and is essentially supported by everyone. If the nominal leader of Rhodes Island is related to Oute by blood, there is a possibility that Oute could act as the "King's Uncle's" proxy.

Even now, without revealing their identities, they won't even mention being "adoptive father and daughter"... such a cautious attitude...

It can't be wrong.

That little rabbit might indeed be the leader of Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals, or perhaps, emotionally, she really is their adopted daughter...

However, the identity of a company employee and loyalty to the head of state are two different things.

Oute and Kal'tsit currently have no children. If Amiya is designated as Oute's adopted daughter for the sake of temporary convenience, a series of inheritance issues may arise subsequently.

It would be better to keep things ambiguous from the start.

In this way, whether Gaul regains its kingdom or Oute continues his exile, this organization will not be easily torn apart.

Enciodes Silverash understood.

No, what do you mean, "What do you mean, 'what'?"

Chapter 265 The Dragon Bone is Ready

The tall, Liberi man exclaimed incredulously, "Enciodes Silverash Silverash! Have you lost your mind!? Or has Rhodes Island used some strange Originium Arts on you!?"

"You're actually planning to propose such a condition?!"

"No way! As the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Karlan Trade, I resolutely refuse to sign this memorandum!"

January 20, 1097, 14:58:56, Number Fourteen Facility, Temporary Ferry Terminal.

He said something like that to the co-founder the moment he stepped off the ship... No wonder he's Noesis.

"You'll understand once you get to know it." Enciodes Silverash had completely anticipated Noesis's reaction, and he didn't refute it, simply saying, "Take the necessary equipment and let's go to the Rhodes Island main ship."

Noesis asked in surprise, "You... are you serious?"

He took the memo out again and looked at it.

As Noesis walked and flipped through his memos, Enciodes Silverash led the way. This habit of reading while moving and glancing at the road out of the corner of his eye might be one reason why Noesis wore glasses?

"Yes, I'm serious."

"Is this also about introducing foreign influence into Kjerag?!" Noesis complained. "If they establish offices and grant them the power to create autonomous regions for the infected, while simultaneously giving them the authority to monitor whether factory workers are infected, it's tantamount to allowing Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals to expand freely in Kjerag!"

"Not to mention prioritizing their medication purchases and buying them insurance!" Noesis bit his nail. "That means..."

Strictly speaking, Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals is a group of Doctors Without Borders.

"You don't believe that kind of nonsense, do you?" Noesis said. "A giant corporation that has grown to this size cannot function without the support of the regime!"

Indeed, but their regime is gone.

Enciodes Silverash was very confident in his discovery.

Of course, from a certain perspective, even if he was misled by Oute, his guess wasn't entirely wrong.

"They even have quite a few Kjerag," Enciodes Silverash changed the subject. "I even saw Steward's children among the new recruits they're training."

"Steward ..." Noesis quickly recalled the family.

Besides "butler," this word can refer to many other jobs, such as flight attendant or catering staff. But if someone takes pride in using it as a family name, it most likely refers to "butler."

"It's us...the Steward from south of Kjerag, isn't it?" Noesis asked. "That boy...I remember him working as a guide for merchants and as a model for merchandise displays."

"As expected of 'Edwig,' what a qualified archivist!"

"You know I hate that—and, at least use the word 'historian'!"

"Haha!" The pressure that had been weighing on Enciodes Silverash's heart had eased somewhat over the past few days. He pointed to the Rhodes Island flagship, which was also docked at the ferry dock, and said, "Right here."

"What a huge guy!"

Moreover... this design is completely unfamiliar! That device is a Catastrophe early warning system, and... a mining device? An exhaust pipe for refining equipment!?

Early warning of Catastrophe, autonomous mining and refining capabilities...

This thing! If it cruises on a fixed orbit, then it has complete self-sufficiency!

"It can't compare to a proper Mobile City, can it?"

"That's why I'm so impressed!" Noesis sighed. "This is a ship, after all!"

He estimated. "Over 500... no, about 600 meters long! The width is unclear from this angle... about 140 meters high..."

Noesis turned around and asked, "What is its speed?"

Enciodes Silverash stroked his chin. "I remember that according to the data they gave, the top speed was about eighty kilometers per hour?"

"It's practically a Mobile City in the making..." Noesis exclaimed. "No wonder they chose to build a new ship. If they continued to modify it based on this existing vessel, it might be deemed a mobile piece of land by other countries and banned from entering the country!"

Enciodes Silverash, you've really struck gold!

They can build ships and mobile land parcels!