Chapter 113
"Even if Franka cannot hear the oracle of Sankta, I humbly beseech the Savior of the Earth to grant Franka spiritual peace..."
Listening to Medic's seemingly plausible explanation, Sister Mary gradually began to consider its feasibility... and the possibility of faith combating Pollution.
[Will this work? I mean, Lady Franka isn't even a believer, let alone possessed by an 'Halo'... Even if she prays to our Lord for protection, if it doesn't bring her any solace...] "It's alright. Even if it doesn't comfort Franka, it's a great encouragement to believers like us. I'll have the Little Cat with Empathy magic help Franka experience inner peace. Rosemary and I share a deep connection with the 'Lord.' Hopefully, this method will help her recover from that terrifying darkness as quickly as possible."
[I understand, so the materials...]
"I'll have someone from the Welfare Department help you prepare it."
After confirming the details one last time, Medic hung up the call.
Above their heads, white contrails circled the sky before reluctantly departing. Then, with nothing better to do, Huang, carrying a chainsaw and having evaporated a large patch of snow to prevent the Black Snow from the battlefield ruins from spreading, approached Medic.
"You let the Little Cat go home first?"
"Well, what we need to do next is thoroughly analyze this area... I don't think this place is suitable for Little Cat."
Looking at the pile of corpses in the distance, which Folinic had temporarily covered with a dismantled tent, Huang also curled his lip:
"Yes, roughly speaking, there were about ten cars stopped here, and the victims... the corpses, including those crazy Reunion Movement, numbered over a hundred... In addition, about forty people's flesh has disappeared..."
"I understand... How was the determination of the Pollution medium made?"
As they talked, the two walked towards FrostNova, passing through the area where the snow had been melted by Blaze. Seeing the Black Snow blocking out the area, Medic put on another layer of medical gloves over his leather gloves, and then tried to pry at the ground.
"Will Black Snow turn into black water when it melts? And this black soil... is it its original color, or is it a result of being stained?"
"Most of the land in Ursus is black."
FrostNova looked up, answering Medic's question, followed by the Shieldguards's adjutant, who appeared fully armed, seemingly anticipating battle.
"Furthermore, the Pollution land resembles lifeless 'gravel,' but the earth does indeed possess a resistance to 'Pollution.' The captain once spoke of the Sami people's Land-Will Theory... Although from a modern perspective it is utterly incomprehensible heresy, as a region even closer to the 'source of Pollution's than Ursus, the Sami people's theory has indeed driven them to persist in their war against the source of 'Pollution.'"
"... In other words, the Sami people actually have a way to deal with Pollution... Ursus should have one too, otherwise the birth of the 'Inner Guards' would be impossible."
At this point, Medic glanced at his adjutant and FrostNova, neither of whom seemed inclined to speak, and the black cat from Rhodes Island sighed helplessly:
"We know absolutely nothing about these key technologies."
"You said Rhodes Island was here to investigate, I thought you were prepared..."
"We prepared a full stockpile of drugs for the Infected, as well as enough food and supplies to relocate a settlement to Columbia, but the Ursus authorities, who should have been focused on Pollution control, seem to be allowing the Pollution to spread... This is something I didn't expect."
With this response to his adjutant, Medic steered the conversation back to the main point that had everyone at a loss:
"Regarding the deceased, after identifying them, I suggested that the bodies and their belongings be disposed of together."
"Cremation, or inactivation followed by pulverization as part of the late-stage treatment plan for Oripathy... There is an Originium device on the first floor of the Exploration Vehicle used for the harmless disposal of the Infected... Based on current experience, it seems that once the physical medium becomes a truly inanimate object in our understanding, the Pollution can no longer continue to spread."
Seeing Medic's questioning gaze, FrostNova was stunned for a moment before realizing that he was asking for her opinion. Then, the White Rabbit shook her head.
"Okay... for now, the safety of the living is the top priority... but, Lieutenant, has the old stubborn man ever mentioned how to deal with Pollution? You should have fought alongside him against the 'Pollution entity,' right?"
FrostNova's words made the Shieldguards fall into deep thought. The usually resolute and composed Uncle Feline's tone became uncertain at this moment:
"That was an operation that could be completed with the support of the army group, where they only needed to hold their own positions... Although I have seen the captain perform the so-called 'sealing'... but that's probably not something we can do."
Seeing that the Shieldguards seemed to be still hesitating, Medic calmly said:
"Even if it's just for reference, it'll be helpful. After all, we don't have time to go to Sami to hire professionals to handle these things right now... So even if it's just for reference, even if it can't be as effective as the original, it'll be good to have something to imitate."
"Alright... since you've said that... but I still feel that it's a skill that can't be imitated... it's the 'cannibalistic' Witchcraft unique to the Wendigo... the captain sealed the source of the Pollution by 'eating' the other party... it seems that the process mainly requires an altar that spreads Originium Dust... but beyond that, I really know nothing."
Hearing Shieldguards's words, FrostNova pinched the bridge of her nose helplessly:
"This is something you really can't learn..."
"That's not necessarily true."
Medic's words surprised everyone. Medic then reconnected the communication with the Exploration Vehicle, and then Ah Fu from the Welfare Department answered the phone.
After Medic explained how Wendigo sealed the Pollution using cannibalism, Ah Fu's calm and steady voice soothed the restless hearts of the people present.
[... Ah... eliminating 'Pollution' through the ritual concept of 'eating'... although it sounds like just 'eating,' it's essentially an exploitation of the Teekaz ritual, after all, it's being 'eaten.']
[The Wendigo's feeding is a conceptual declaration, declaring that the object being fed becomes its nourishment... Therefore, sealing 'Pollution' magic is indeed feasible... Even if 'indigestion' occurs because 'entropy' itself doesn't easily disappear, the ritual of 'feeding' locks it in... You can think of it as the Wendigo storing it in a separate 'stomach.']
[Because it doesn't come into contact with real matter, it naturally loses the ability to continue Pollution its surroundings... An unconventional seal, sealing the unreal within the unreal... Hmm, quite valuable for reference.]
"So, we can do something similar?"
Yes, it's possible, requiring only a few similar prerequisites...
Ah Fu's words made FrostNova and Shieldguards eagerly press their eyes against the communicator. Unable to bear their blank stares, Medic had no choice but to put the communicator on speakerphone. Meanwhile, Su Sulo and Folinic, having completed the registration of the deceased, returned to Medic's side. Even Jessica, responsible for guarding the surroundings, curiously turned her ear towards Medic.
[A necessary prerequisite is that you must possess the magic to create independent spaces... something like the Witch King's Tower, which constructs a world through song. For the Sarkaz, however, it's the Cyclopes' survival skill... manipulating a night-sky-like darkness to tear open wounds in the world... Some believe it's merely an illusion affecting the medium of reality, while others genuinely believe the Cyclopes can see through space and time, thus fulfilling their mostly tragic prophecies...]
"That sounds difficult..."
[Is it difficult? For Teekaz, it's just an instinct ingrained in his blood... And if he could create an isolated space, sealing the 'Pollution' would be simple... But if he couldn't...]
"Is giving up the only option?"
[Not really... 'Pollution' isn't actually that powerful. Otherwise, back when the 'source of Pollution's roamed the earth, the Teekaz would have long since perished from the torment of these outer stars.]
[But clearly, the earth remains the same, and nature continues its cycle... I've noticed that you sometimes like this, wanting to resolve every single thing you encounter without leaving any future problems. While this is certainly a virtue, sometimes you can also trust in nature's self-cleaning abilities.]
[Just like these 'Pollution,' they haven't caused any major problems so far, and haven't even become what's called 'the Emperor's Blades.']
Hearing Ah Fu's apparent attempt to persuade Medic to give up on treatment, FrostNova frowned and asked:
"So, you mean those continuous stretches of Black Snow... covering the Infected corpses with some kind of black, slimy stuff... can just be left alone?"
[... I didn't say that... Generally speaking, once it's confirmed that the corpse has completely become inanimate and will no longer enter the natural... or more accurately, the 'feeding' cycle, once it reaches this point, it can leave the rest to the earth for self-purification.]
[Generally... about ten years... is enough for those 'Pollution' to completely die out...]
"Because they were 'forgotten'?"
Medic's words elicited a laugh of admiration from Ah Fu:
You're very perceptive.
"If possible, I'd like to handle every obstacle encountered during the mission flawlessly. And since you mentioned the Cyclopes ritual... I suppose you didn't bring it up specifically to dampen my spirits?"
[... I don't know if you received any reports from 'Lady Nana'... but Teekaz's 'ritual'... is anything but benevolent.]
[The Cyclopes's magic can manipulate space, allowing his third eye to pierce through it. However, witnessing that unchangeable pessimism and the torment of being a mere bystander is more than just a torment to the soul... This ability fixes your future to a tragic death.]
[Not one or one kind... but infinite... all possible, most tragic, utterly inhuman deaths are about to befall you... this is a self-inflicted curse... the observed future will Collapse into an unchangeable reality...]
[Paying such a heavy price just to isolate a no-man's-land from 'Pollution'... let me tell you, it's utterly... reckless.]
Seeing Medic fall silent, even the pink-haired Little Fox doctor and the usually jovial big cat Blaze were shaking their heads and pulling Medic along. FrostNova and Shieldguards exchanged a glance, then cautiously extended their hands:
"... Well, I also think the price seems a bit too high... and... among us... there shouldn't be any of those so-called Cyclopes... or is it that the Sarkaz of the Welfare Department have a way to complete this ritual?"
Reminded by FrostNova's words, Medic held his friends' hands to reassure them, then smiled at FrostNova.
"No, of course they didn't... but... my Originium Arts are rather special. If there's a corresponding ritual process, I can force it to run by paying a higher price... However, as everyone has said, this price seems a bit too severe... so let's dispose of the bodies as best we can, and then leave the rest... to this land. Ah Fu, thank you for your trouble. We'll return to the Exploration Vehicle after we've dealt with the bodies here. Medic, call ended."
Drip--s
Hearing the busy tone from the other end of the microphone, Ah Fu gracefully put the receiver back.
Thanks to the extensive internal communication network of the mobile Exploration Vehicle, similar to the PRRS system, the elderly person didn't need to go to the fourth floor to answer the phone. This meant that, apart from a few Welfare Department administrators and PRRS staff, no one else heard the previous conversation.
As for the last part of their conversation, the old man could only shake his head at Eileen, whose face was filled with worry. "Let..."
"I hope our beloved sir truly has no intention of doing that... After all, Teekaz hybrid... though we don't know how she became one... she can certainly use Teekaz magic... but Cyclopes magic is far too peculiar, using it in this situation... it's a waste of talent, a complete waste of talent."
"Compared to these matters, teacher, don't you think we know far too much about the refugees? Leaving aside Lady Nana... even FrostNova seems to have vaguely sensed something."
"Whether others notice or not is none of our business." Qi
As he said this, the old man straightened his tie:
"Miss Nana is undoubtedly a pragmatist; until we become completely useless to her, there's little need to worry about everyone being abandoned."
"But, teacher... it's not a long-term solution for you to keep displaying such extraordinary knowledge... Have you forgotten why the Court is so determined to hunt you down? It's because you know too much..."
Hearing Eileen's worried, slightly choked voice, Alfred smiled and patted his last student with his rough, white-gloved hand:
"Then let my 'uncommon knowledge' be the final sacrifice... I will give an explanation to Lady Nana and that prince... It is a reason that can satisfy both of them at the same time, a reason they cannot refuse."
Ah Fu's words made the maid clutch the hem of her skirt, made of high-end Sarkaz fabric... And looking at the old man's slightly hunched back, Eileen hesitated for a while before picking up the PRTS Terminal and turning to leave.
The black cat of Rhodes Island seems unaware that it has forgotten an important element.
Rhodes Island...
Looking at the huge tire tracks still clearly visible under the moonlight, the young Sarkaz officer looked at the compass in his hand again. Although the needle had shifted and pointed towards Saint Petersburg earlier, it had now stabilized and was guiding the newly assembled Sarkaz troops to move northwest.
"Although I don't know why the Ursus Army Group suddenly made such a strange move... but it just so happens..."
Raising their sabers to point the way, the Carrion Eaters army began to advance.
"You won't get away this time, you traitors!"
PS: Waaaaaaah!
I feel like I'm almost out of cat illustrations... and what's even more frustrating is that I can't finish telling the story, which means I can't progress further...
So, it seems the only solution is to add more chapters?
Well... let's add more... that's the only way.
4th Crimson Warm Winter: 118 Tactical Unit Modification Plan
From a Medicaid perspective, the process of identifying the deceased was conducted very crudely.
The number of artifacts, which were deliberately piled up and showed signs of damage, did not match the number of the deceased's remains. Not to mention that a considerable portion of the bones had been roasted and crushed in a campfire for a long time, and could only be mixed with wood ash and washed before the number of the deceased was determined by weight.
In addition, because many of the deceased were the Infected themselves, the Pollution from Originium Dust after their deaths greatly interfered with the identification of the deceased... Due to the 'Pollution', Medic cannot return either personal belongings or ashes to their families.
Finally, the solution devised by FrostNova and her adjutant was... Rhodes Island would create a batch of identification tags, similar to military dog tags, and give them to FrostNova and the Shieldguards. They would then use the information recorded on these tags to search the camp for people who might recognize the deceased.
Rhodes Island, on the other hand, digitized this identity information and marked this potentially Pollution intelligence in read-only mode. While informing the outside world, they sought assistance from legitimate individuals with knowledge of the 'Pollution'.
"... That concludes the handling of matters related to the deceased. Do either of you have anything to add?"
Shaking her head, even with a critical eye, FrostNova couldn't find fault with Medic's arrangements any further... After all, to deal with the Pollution any further, they would have to consider the supposedly 'highly costly' Sarkaz ritual. FrostNova had seen her adoptive father use Witchcraft before, and she understood that as a 'medical science popularization' team in name only, what they were doing had already exceeded their duties.
Medic hadn't thought that far ahead, after all, the worst-case scenario for this mission was an inevitable confrontation with 'The Emperor's Blades'...
Compared to these flashy Pollution and various bizarre rules that seem to be at the level of consciousness, what Medic, as a Columbia agent, should be considering is how to provide a reasonable explanation for Ursus after the worst-case scenario, and how to prevent this country, which has exhausted the benefits of the war, from baring its teeth at Columbia in desperation.
Clearly, the correct choice would be to avoid direct contact with the Inner Guards who was flashing an eerie light during the Shadow Overlay Reconnaissance... No matter how much trouble he causes, he's ultimately only causing trouble for Ursus.
However, as an operator of Rhodes Island, 'Medic' shouldn't just stand by and watch...
Kal'tsit once said that Rhodes Island's ideal was not just to 'cure' a disease, but to eliminate the suffering of the people on earth.
Her agent taught her that she should use her energy to improve the world, and that the term "people" should not only refer to the people of Columbia.
The priest also instructed her that the reason for creating Paradise was never because of her identity, nor was it related to people's status... Even unbelievers, as long as they are willing to walk toward the light, can carry stones to build walls, believe in the miracle of Laterano, and build a Paradise that belongs to everyone.
Medic's life, the people who taught her and guided her, all proved through their actions that this world shouldn't be so bleak, so the black cat of Rhodes Island also felt it was her duty to help FrostNova and her kind...
However... this involves military representatives from two countries... if their confrontation with the Emperor's Blades, or even the use of force, is brought to the public eye, the consequences could be far worse than Rhodes Island's attack on the Ursus Army Group.
Even if Medic is silenced by the Security Bureau, Kal'tsit will reveal Medic's high-ranking agent identity to prevent Rhodes Island from becoming a victim... At that point, things will turn into Columbia's proactive provocation against Ursus.
For the old nobles of Ursus, this was a pretext for war delivered to their doorstep.
Of course, Columbia's territory is located at the westernmost edge of this landmass, and there is still a considerable distance between it and Ursus, which occupies the eastern and even the far north.
At the same time, even Ursus, unless someone is completely incompetent, wouldn't consider a direct confrontation with Columbia, whose overt military strength has already surpassed that of Victoria... But what if they use that as an excuse to demand westward expansion?
Along the way, there are states like Kazimierz and Sami, and even the seemingly weak and internally complex Grand Duke Victoria with her throne vacant... Will they be forced to choose sides?
Even if Ursus were granted permission to operate Mobile City, and their cities moved to countries with better environments, would they still leave?
These are things that Medic has to consider.
The conclusion of their thinking is that if there is a legitimate reason that Ursus could use to take action against the Inner Guards they had previously observed, then Medic can proceed with impunity.
Now, the best course of action is to collect the bodies of these victims, to prevent further Pollution of the Snowfield as much as possible, and to offer some solace to FrostNova and her companions... that should be about the limit.
Going deeper, aside from the chilling political implications of the actions themselves... Medic also needs to be mindful of the losses incurred by Rhodes Island's operations.
Their acts of helping others are not entirely without cost.