Chapter 114

After comforting FrostNova, the Medic team returned to the Exploration Vehicle. Medic left the handling of the deceased's case and identification to Yato and the former Mercenaries from the Disciplinary Department. Medic went straight to the lounge on the fourth floor.

Compared to the past, both the record player that no longer plays music and the incense that fills the corridor make people feel as if they have entered another world.

However, as the automatic door opened, Huang, Su Sulo, and Folinic, who were witnessing the Laterano ritual for the first time, learned that this was Mary performing Blessing... or rather, an 'exorcism' ritual for Franka.

"... They look quite serious. May we go in?"

As Blaze spoke cautiously in her ear, accompanied by Medic's uncomfortably twitching ear, Rhodes Island's black cat answered Blaze's question with a physical action.

She strode over to the sofa where Liskarm was resting with his head tilted back and sat down, clearly looking exhausted.

"Eh? Can I sit down?"

Seeing Medic's 'shh' gesture, Huang covered her mouth and sat down on the sofa. Su Sulo and Folinic, exhausted from the day, also collapsed there one after another... This was just a normal reaction for field personnel returning to the break room. Liskarm reacted the same way. Although she had returned before everyone else, she had been testing the Pollution checkpoints and worrying about Franka being Pollution... Now, looking at her restless sleeping face, it was clear that she had also expended a great deal of energy.

Because Liskarm looked to be in great pain, Huang was worried that the guy might also be Pollution and having nightmares. After gesturing to the bewildered Medic, he immediately went to the refrigerator in the lounge, grabbed a handful of frost, and then rolled it into a ball and covered Liskarm's forehead with it.

Of course, the consequence of doing so was that Ms. Liskarm, who was actually quite petite and cute, suddenly let out an extremely adorable wail... Huang herself didn't really look at Liskarm's ashamed and indignant expression. The big cat just looked at the still white and transparent snowball in her hand and breathed a sigh of relief. Obviously, her companion was just tired... She didn't turn black when she got covered in snow like those corpses.

Correspondingly, after kicking Huang Mao Mao's knee in a complaining manner, Liskarm reluctantly got up. Almost at the same time, Sister Mary's humming 'song' came to an end, and Rosemary, who had been holding Franka's hand the whole time, opened her eyes, then yawned widely, her ears crooked like Jessica's, looking listless.

In response to Rosemary's reaction, Mary picked up the makeshift incense burner that had just finished burning and said with amusement:

"This kind of ritual might be a bit boring for young children... Sorry."

Shaking her head, little Feline, as fluffy as a cloud, stretched on the bed. Then, seeing Medic standing nearby, her eyes lit up, and she immediately ran over.

"Ah... You two had so much fun playing together in the dream, but you still ran over to Medic the moment you saw him~ You really do respond to your preferences with the utmost loyalty, Rosemary."

"Miss Franka, are you... feeling any better?"

Franka's ears immediately drooped at Mary's question:

"At first, I felt like I had turned into bacon or a can of smoked fish... But then the Little Cat used Originium Arts to enter my dream, and that pitch-black world began to become visibly clearer~"

As she spoke, Franka made a strong gesture and winked:

"I feel great now, thank you, Sister May Ling."

"I simply recited all the scriptures and hymns I knew... I'm ashamed to admit that, as the officiant, I myself couldn't perceive whether the ceremony was effective."

"Let's just assume it works then~ At least Liskarm and I both got a good night's sleep, right? Huh--?!"

Looking at Franka, who was also making strange noises from stuffing snowballs into her collar, Liskarm snorted coldly:

"Hmm, it seems to be working... Don't glare at me, this is Pollution Identification Technique Huang, a member of the follow-up action team, personally taught me. That's what I'm called."

"Hiss... You really better get tested for Pollution... No, I'll test you again! Don't run away! You might get reinfected!"

"Do you think I'm stupid?!"

Seeing the two most boisterous members of the Blacksteel Team begin their usual chase, Su Sulo looked at the somewhat embarrassed Huang:

"Is this really a way to detect Pollution? You know... the only sources of Pollution we've confirmed are the dead and their bodies."

"Actually, there are clear methods for detecting Pollution..."

Folinic's words immediately drew everyone's attention. Accustomed to being the center of attention, Folinic rarely felt stared at like this, and unconsciously shrank back, covering half her face with her teacup.

"That... you know, the Little Cat camera, the one with the Originium Dust Layered Imaging camera... Didn't Medic-senpai say that in the end they used that guy to confirm the 'mastermind'?"

Folinic's words made Little Cat suddenly realize something and she clapped her hands. But just as Little Cat was about to summon Tactical Unit Five, Medic quickly picked Little Cat up and stopped her.

"I believe you memorized the route from the top hangar to here, but you shouldn't do this inside the ship, what if someone gets hurt?"

As she spoke, Medic spun the Little Cat around, then placed Rosemary back on the ground. The black cat from Rhodes Island looked at the others:

"I remember everyone saying that the modification of that tactical equipment was done by Durin?"

Huang: "Well, because the Little Cat came back once saying that it was too far away to see clearly... We initially suggested that the Little Cat bring a telescope, or use the Terminal's built-in camera for aerial photography... At that time, Operator Durin was slacking off in the lounge, and suddenly popped up and said that she could modify a more efficient aerial photography device that didn't require so much trouble..."

Nodding in confirmation of Huang's statement, Folinic continued:

"Since Tactical Unit Number Five and six are actually Medic's equipment, Little Cat rarely uses them in combat, Number Five was modified... What do you think of the results, Medic-senpai?"

"Obviously, it's very good. I'm even thinking of turning Unit Six into a dedicated reconnaissance Tactical Unit as well."

It was originally just a joke, but the Little Cat seemed to take it seriously. Just as everyone was chuckling, Rosemary tugged at Medic's clothes and shook them for a long time.

"No, that won't work, we won't be able to fight..."

"Actually, Little Cat you use Tactical Unit like that, I have a new perspective on how to use that thing..."

Seeing the Little Cat tilt its head slightly and twitch its ears as if it were full of question marks, Medic chuckled and picked up the little guy to stroke its fur.

"Medic... how are we supposed to fight?"

"Since we can place high-performance cameras on Tactical Unit and connect them to our eyes, I think it's not impossible to also place the Guardian Gun on them, and have the spellcasting units activate the Firearms Arts for us..." Qi said.

Although it was just a joke, Medic actually thought the modification was feasible... It's just that the others don't use guns much, so they didn't really notice it. Liskarm and Jessica instantly reverted to 'lonely Little Cat's mode after entering, looked on incredulously.

"It's already difficult enough to fire Firearms Arts by hand, Medic, you actually want to control the firing through a spell unit? It's not like it's Originium Cannon or Columbian Replica Gun..."

"Well... um... I think it's very possible..."

Looking at Jessica with a panicked expression, whom he felt was highly likely to be the culprit, Liskarm racked his brains for a long time, trying to figure out how his disciple could have become so... clueless...

But then she remembered that her junior was no longer the little Feline who trained her courage in Blacksteel. She was now a collaborator with government agencies, openly using espionage equipment, and, like Little Cat, had gained a halo of Halo from Medic. Guilt

The shooting feel of someone with Halo is naturally different from that of a trained Firearms Arts muggle like herself. Thinking of this, Liskarm's expression towards Jessica inevitably carried a hint of jealousy... Why couldn't she have such a good thing?

"Um... Liskarm- senpai... um... please don't look at me like that..."

"... Well, it seems the Halo really has changed you a lot... Suddenly I'm starting to envy you!"

Before Liskarm could finish speaking, she found herself being embraced by someone of a certain element. Clearly, this person was none other than Franka.

"You're just jealous of Jessica, aren't you? Why don't you, Liskarm, get all the exclusive paperwork done like I did? Then we can be directly incorporated into Medic's private team, and who knows, we might even be able to get some special privileges from the relevant authorities!"

"You know perfectly well that I signed a long-term contract with Blacksteel just like you... You stinky fox, have you gotten fatter again?"

Franka, who had been holding onto Razer no matter how much Liskarm struggled, immediately let go when she heard Liskarm say that.

"You've gained weight again?! How could this be...?"

Ignoring the changed topic on the Blacksteel Team's end, Su Sulo silently finished her black tea, then looked at Medic, who was playing with Rosemary cat ears.

"Leaving aside the modifications to Firearms Arts... Medic, you've decided to equip Tactical Unit Six with the Originium Dust Imaging Module as well, haven't you...?"

"Well, it's currently the only visual method that can identify Pollution... but the accumulation of Pollution certainly can't be determined by simply touching a handful of snow..."

Although the source has been identified, it is precisely because the source has been identified that Medic is so hesitant to act... This has put Miss Black Cat in a bad mood.

"Anyway, aside from heavy equipment like Tactical Unit... if possible, let's also look into personal equipment that can allow everyone to immediately determine the level of Pollution... I don't understand mechanical matters very well, so let's discuss it with Durin later."

"Hmm... well, let's move on to Wu Linjiu now..."

"Now? Now I'll sleep... Everyone must be exhausted from testing the waters and running for their lives today... Incense is said to improve the sleep environment... I'll rest here tonight... PRTS, my follow-up work will be arranged by you, the team leaders, and the department members according to their authority... Thank you."

She was too lazy to even take off her clothes, mainly because she was going to have dinner with FrostNova and the others later. Medic thought she was just going to take a nap, but she didn't expect... she hadn't really had a proper rest in a while.

Medic, holding the Little Cat, almost immediately fell asleep after relaxing, which surprised Rosemary... because she knew how insecure her 'Nana' sister was.

And the thought that Nana, who three years ago was too scared to even lie in bed and always carried a gun, even her potted plants... she meant that even when Kal'tsit came in, she would be pointed at with a gun, was now sleeping in a place with so many people around.

Does this mean she truly considers everyone as her companions?

The Little Cat obviously couldn't tell the level of sleep of a seasoned assassin, but that didn't stop everyone from shushing each other, and then simply sat on the sofa, propping themselves up on one person's lap and lying haphazardly without moving.

Soon, the members of the Human Resources Department action team who were on field duty today all fell asleep.

Everyone was fast asleep, except for Mary, who felt out of place. After greeting the awake Little Cat, she took Frostleaf to the third-floor cafeteria.

But before Rosemary could even enjoy this... time alone?

Soon, PRTS received an application from a member of the Welfare Department who wanted to enter the fourth floor.

The Little Cat had initially thought that if it was work, she would definitely help others cancel their appointments, as everyone was exhausted today... However, the PRTS screen showed that this time, it was two Little Cat?

Of course, Rosemary had seen them... They were part of a refugee team, now the two little ones in the Welfare Department.

But for some reason, they have two cat ears on their heads that look like those in the video, and even cat tails made of the same black fabric behind them?

[Narcissa, don't forget you're the older sister now.]

Seeing her mother, who had been watching her greedily craving Medic's embrace, giving her these instructions, the Little Cat reluctantly got up from the sofa, then reverted to her expressionless state and began to handle her work.

What Rosemary didn't see was Cole's sly smile as he picked up Medic.

P. S.: I'm not sure if this kind of daily interaction plus equipment upgrade chapter counts as a daily chapter. As for whether everyone likes battles, or prefers to see the preparations before battles or the reasoning behind events... in short, we need everyone's feedback in the comments to know your reactions.

Let's have some comments! QAQ

PSS: Also, regarding the handling of Black Snake and Talulah... does anyone have any good ideas...? If we let Medic decide for himself, it'll probably turn into something like kidnapping foreign nobles... (headache)

PS22: I feel like I'm about to be roasted... There's a depressing feeling of becoming food...

PS2: Meow Meow Cat

4th Crimson Warm Winter: 119 Aili, Xiya, Cat

Aili and Xiya... After spending some time in the car, these two children were completely different from before. The change in their attire and the ample supplies made their complexions noticeably better than before.

The choice between the 'horns' and the 'Halo' that caused the most conflict has clearly been made. Compared to the black horns that represent their bloodline, people seem to prefer that they live like the Sankta.

The two children covered the small horns growing vertically from the top of their heads with cat-ear headbands. These headbands seemed to be modified from combat headphones, and their velvet covers also covered the children's ears, making them look very warm.

As for the tail, Rosemary deliberately reached out and tugged at it, only to discover that the 'tail' was actually the 'belt' that went through the slotted coat.

A wide belt woven from synthetic fibers is neatly cinched outside the pleated skirt, and the Rosemary- scented shirt, pulled out slightly, can cover part of this system of clothing.

Should we let them get used to it in advance?

Rosemary had no idea about this. Accustomed to carrying a backpack rather than wearing full gear, she was completely unaware of something that most operators had to pay attention to every day.

After all, not many people can run a hundred kilometers round trip in a single day like Little Cat.

However, Rosemary is now wondering if her nickname "Little Cat" is no longer appropriate after having these two fake cats.

After all, there are two 'kittens' that are even smaller than herself.

Qun Lu Ba Jiu Ba Lin Si Lin Wu "Rosemary ~"

"Sister Rosemary, look at our new clothes!"

As one of the few people her age on the ship, Rosemary got along very well with the two little ones. Not to mention how much Rosemary cared about Aili and Xiya from the very beginning... When the two little ones woke up at Rosemary's birthday party, they could feel from the start that they had an unusual tacit understanding with this older sister.

Aside from Medic's tacit Empathy, most of the crew simply saw the three children as having gained a deep and unique friendship that only children could have.

Rosemary first patted Aili, who had jumped onto her, and then looked at Xiya, who was showing off her 'new clothes' by slightly pulling up her skirt. Just like her older sister did before sending her to school, she helped Sia re-tie the red ribbon under her collar.

The slender, bright red ribbon, carefully tugged and twisted by the girl, transformed into a hollowed-out bow. For children who grew up amidst war and smoke, this was already a remarkable and beautiful decoration.

Seeing Xia's happy expression, Rosemary smiled slightly. While helping Aili was shaking her arm, re-tie the ribbon, she also thought to herself... she could take care of children like her older sister now.

Her mind was wandering somewhere, but Rosemary could still mimic her older sister's manner of speaking to the little ones:

"... However, the new clothes are a different color."

"Hmm~ Sister Aili is red with red trim, I'm green... Sister Rosemary is mature sky blue! That makes three different colors."

Rosemary patted the bright golden heads of Xiya and Aili, who were both leaning in, and then led them towards the elevator.

"Rosemary, look, I can make the same =w= face as you now~"

"0 w 0!"

"Ah~ that's the expression, so cute~"

"Sister, you... are so childish... Rosemary sister, tell me about today's flight. You hit some bad guys today, didn't you?"

As Xiya reminded her, Rosemary's cat ears twitched. The last person she'd met her gaze—a completely black figure with only its head seemingly on fire—thought of their Reunion Movement uniforms. Rosemary shook her head.

"Perhaps they are just a few pitiful people... They may have been forced into this situation, or they may have already died... Their bodies are being controlled, which is why they are fighting us."

"Oh dear, the corpse has been controlled too. Has it turned into Ghouls? How pitiful."

"Like Carrion Eaters... I understand..."

Rosemary wasn't surprised by the new words that the twins would occasionally utter. These two little ones were very familiar with all sorts of wild beasts and monsters, but when it came to things in the city, they couldn't compare to her... Rosemary was a city cat, and Medic had also said not to compare yourself to experts in areas you're not good at.

The Little Cat has a remarkably open-minded attitude.

"Hmm, similar... but maybe different... those things are 'poisonous'... Sister Franka was poisoned, and afterwards she had terrible nightmares."

"Hmm, the Carrion Eaters' army also produces something like a poisonous mist after they die... However, I remember the teacher saying that it needs to be dealt with by a doctor quickly, otherwise people can easily die..."