Chapter 147
"After all, selling people across borders, especially targeting one's own soldiers, is unheard of. It undoubtedly involves a large amount of bribery and could even uncover an entire chain of vested interests... If you want to live a normal life in the future, I actually suggest you summarize your experience in writing and publish it through a publishing house or news agency..."
"However, if it were me, I definitely wouldn't be able to swallow this insult. So, we could also consider... other channels... to make the relevant people pay the price directly. But this isn't the proper legal route. If you want to protect your rights this way, then... you at least need to be closer to us in terms of relationship..."
"Of course, you have time to consider it. If it really doesn't work out, you can try the conventional route first. If you still feel you can't swallow this insult, you can contact us again later."
"And the next one is this maid... I remember you're a Sarkaz?"
Seeing Eileen gracefully bow and nod, her short black hair and fair neck, combined with her antique maid outfit, made the manager exclaim in admiration... Elegant, truly elegant.
"Your demand is that your people be able to live normal new lives... Hmm, did Nana agree to that? In exchange, you traded a large amount of information and secret techniques to Nana as payment..."
As the agent continued reading the documents, the maid interrupted her:
"That was only part of the reward. As the greatest return for giving us a new life, we have decided to regard Nana Ivy as our future 'lord'... A total of twenty-four people will pledge their loyalty to our lord."
"... Emmm, I understand... so, you've already built a sufficiently close relationship with 'us'?"
As he spoke, the manager glanced at Nana questioningly. Upon receiving an affirmative answer, the manager smiled and put away the information he had been giving. Resting his chin on the back of his hand, he scrutinized the black-haired maid before him, asking with a forced smile:
"So, what are you anchoring your guarantee on? Don't tell me it's trust!"
"By the power of Sarkaz Sorcery, and with my life as collateral, our loyalty is absolutely genuine."
The manager looked at her again, asking with his eyes, and when Nana unconsciously touched her tail and nodded, the manager frowned in slight distress.
"I see... I understand. But this involves some confidential discussions within our organization, so let us escort Sister Nun and Miss Frostleaf to rest first... After all, they are Nana's friends and contacts with Rhodes Island, so we've prepared apartments for everyone. Of course, if you're not comfortable with apartment life in Columbia, we can also book the Hotel for you... Hmm, speaking of which, what's the identity of this purple-haired lady carrying the big box, Nana?"
When the agent asked about this, the Kitty Killer tilted his head, organized his thoughts, and then spoke:
"Our relationship... is probably closer than Eileen's... but not quite to the level of Little Cat."
"Hmm... I understand."
Despite saying that, the agent looked completely bewildered. While the others also had various expressions, Frostleaf and Mary exchanged a glance and realized that a barrier had suddenly appeared between them and their friends.
"In short, my men will arrange accommodations for the two of you... Don't worry, your friends will catch up soon. The main issue is that this place isn't really suitable for hosting Laterano and the government court investigators... We'll have a little private talk, please don't worry about the details."
Seeing that Mary and Frostleaf finally looked at her, Nana nodded to them with her usual clear gaze:
"The agent is trustworthy, we'll come find you later... You can tidy up the room first."
Seeing that Nana also said so, Frostleaf, who was holding Mary's hand, nodded hesitantly:
"... Okay, how do we contact each other?"
"Just use a Rhodes Island communicator; it's compatible with the Columbia Intercity Network. If you're unsure how to set it up, just ask PRTS..."
Having discussed these details, Mary and Frostleaf finally left the underground area with a man in a suit. Based on Nana's experience, they would probably leave through a clothing store.
Then, the manager shifted to a more relaxed posture, seemingly choosing the order of the questions to follow, and looked at Nana:
"You actually promised these White Emperor immigrants a new home... The political implications of this... well, I guess you didn't consider that."
Without expecting a response from Nana, the manager simply looked at the elegant and poised maid before him with his usual smile:
"Although Nana says she trusts you, I can't immediately let you all get involved in Nana's life, or even her work... I think everyone understands now that she's not just Rhodes Island's 'Medic'... In fact, Rhodes Island borrowed Nana from me, and she still has her own job to do."
Realizing that his possessiveness had led him astray, the manager quickly shut up and steered the conversation back on track.
"So, Miss Maid, what are your impressions of the shop we came into today?"
"The shop owner seems to know the adults quite well?"
"Yes, that tailor was able to serve as our dedicated tailor because he was blind... Originally, the logistical supporters I chose for Nana were all similar people."
"She is skilled in her work, conscientious, and would never let personal feelings affect her... In my opinion, loyalty is not something that can be maintained indefinitely. My reason for selecting employees in the past was to ensure that they would support Nana even if they were disloyal."
"You say Witchcraft connects you and Nana. I don't understand this kind of thing, and I won't offer any opinion... But, I'll respect Nana's choice for now..."
"Although this clothing store isn't our own brand, the land and that old tailor have indeed served the organization for many years, even serving as Nana's dedicated support personnel... Now that I think about it, the old lady is well past retirement age. If you can truly prove your loyalty, then I will gradually fill you into Nana's support team... Damn it, normally combatants shouldn't have explicit contact with the logistics team, so wouldn't you say I'm actively helping you get rid of the organization's influence?"
Nana didn't comment on her manager's troubled expression, after all, she had never considered such a thing... And after confirming that she would be working at the shop supporting Nana, Eileen had no other opinions... After all, as long as they maintained contact with Nana, they could obtain the protection of this powerful 'lord'.
Regardless of what the agent says, the Sarkaz trust this disguised 'Cat Bloodfiend'.
"So, finally... it's this Miss Typhon, right... You said your close relationship with her is second only to your relationship with that Little Cat?"
His gaze darted back and forth, and the agent finally shook his head:
san UM "I can't see it clearly."
PS: Information and leads regarding personnel that can now be made public.
Mary is waiting for the Notarial Hall Executor to come and protect her and take her away.
Frostleaf – began to pursue the matter of how her abduction should be accounted for through formal legal channels.
Eileen —Although the manager was reluctant, since Nana had agreed, she reluctantly agreed to put these Sarkaz into Nana's support team.
Typhon... well, her mind was a complete mess, like a typhoon, and she didn't understand anything.
PS2: Meow Meow Cat
5th Laytonson's Ghost Assassin: Typhon joins the hunt at 157
The reason Typhon is here is very simple. Compared to Eileen, with whom he has had a considerable amount of exchange of benefits, the reason Nana considers Typhon to be a closer person is quite simple—because he can't be left unattended.
After learning the reason, and seeing that Nana had even made Lycoris's uniform for the purple-haired girl, the manager looked at the hunter child who had come to the city from the countryside with great interest.
The manager paid particular attention to this girl, who, although not yet fully an adult, seemed to have perfect nutrition and exercise, resulting in a figure even better than Nana's... muttering the ridiculous statement, "So Nana likes this type," before stopping the tasteless joke after being tapped on the back of the head by the Kitty Killer.
"I see, I understand now... This is the result of all my efforts over the years... Now, it's not just lovable children like Narcissa that you can't help but help, even with just a little interaction... Hmm, while it's touching to see you so emotional, the thought of you taking a completely clueless child on a mission makes me very uneasy."
After a pause, the agent continued, "Another one, Yi Qi Shi Wu Jiu, seems to have a scar:"
"So, do you still want the companion I prepared for you?"
"I won't refuse any help... but if it's unreliable, please allow me to return it."
Seeing Nana's rare quirky remarks, the manager, realizing that things had been said enough, smiled and got up to lead everyone towards the clothing store aisle.
"Don't worry, after all, you've been away for a while, and you need a reliable advisor to understand the changes in the city... And if you ask me about everything, you know, sometimes I won't be able to answer your questions by chance."
Nana tilted her head in surprise at her manager's words. Did she mean that they wouldn't keep in touch through the combat recorder like they used to?
That makes sense, though. Since it's a proxy war between gloves, it naturally won't be recorded in as much detail as a formal mission.
Just like those behind the gloves who asked them to attack the ICA, the agent's main task afterward will probably be stabilizing the government and wrangling with the opposition in the Security Bureau... Just thinking about it makes Nana's head start to ache.
"So, this is a rare opportunity for you to lead a team again. Do you need to find something new to practice on?"
"... No need. Those guys have already caused us trouble on the way. If possible, I'd like to start working immediately."
As they spoke, the group returned to the tailor shop... The old man wasn't surprised by the agent's sudden appearance, or rather, similar incidents had happened more than once or twice before.
Upon learning that a child named Eileen would be his assistant, and that she explicitly stated it was to help Nana, the old tailor laughed heartily.
"Really? That's wonderful! I was worried about who would take care of the customers who have been getting their clothes done here after I'm gone... You've come at the right time, you've come at the right time..."
"Are our clothes finished?"
"Of course, it's already packed. Are you going to take it yourselves, or should I send it by courier?"
"We'll take it ourselves, thank you for your trouble."
Picking up the thick bundle, the group bowed slightly to the old tailor and then left.
When Nana returned to the square, she Lycoris see the group of 'first-year' students in beige uniforms that she had seen before... It seemed that she had not guessed wrong. That should have been a decoy team covering for the manager, and it was even hard to say whether their level was at the White-Clad Level.
If that "bait" was just a performance, then Nana strongly suspects that those four were Red-Clad Chiefs of the same rank as herself... But thinking about it carefully, that seems unlikely. After all, only one Red-Clad is produced per class, and Nana knows that many Chiefs have either died in battle or retired due to injuries. The ICA doesn't have that many people to waste.
Contrary to Nana's plan to leave immediately, the manager took out the room key that had been booked earlier and went to the 'The Hotel' in the center of the underground plaza.
"Well, just to be safe, I'm not going to just walk away like that, so you can arrange the work here... From now on, Eileen and Typhon will be registered as people you're in charge of. As for whether they're employees (ICA members) or civil servants (Security Bureau members), that's something you'll have to decide for yourself... After all, you're a minister-level person on Rhodes Island now, so you shouldn't need me to arrange these things."
As they talked, they entered the Hotel. The two Blue Lycoris had already checked the room beforehand. There was nothing special about the process of everyone entering the room, except that Typhon's exclamation was a bit too loud.
After all, it's the child's first time seeing a luxury the Hotel and so many glasswares; everyone should be understanding.
While the clueless Typhon was looking around, the agent exchanged contact information with Eileen. After that, the maid was left to act alone, supporting Nana's work at various support points as instructed.
Just figuring out the way would probably be a huge workload; hopefully, Eileen's maid spirit can compensate for the fatigue of memorizing all the codes and secret passages.
The agent's instructions were very businesslike, and his stern expression suggested that some personal feelings might have been mixed in.
But this wasn't without its advantages; at least the process of arranging work for Eileen was very smooth, and before Typhon had even finished exploring the room, the agent had already turned his attention to Nana.
"First... look at this, it's a Christmas present."
Unpacking the wooden weapon case the manager had prepared in the room, the matte, compact pistol nestled in soft, molded foam, with its glossy walnut wood grip, presented an almost overwhelming allure to Nana.
Seeing his Kitty Killer's slightly open mouth, clearly showing satisfaction, the manager also smiled happily.
"The compact M1911 adds the highly praised thumb safety and muzzle hammer accessories, and of course, the suppressor accessories you often use can also be installed and used normally... Although it is Columbian Replica Gun rather than the real Laterano Gun, I entrusted Blacksteel to complete the tuning of this pistol, and its shooting accuracy and Originium Arts conductivity are beyond doubt."
"However, this gun was commissioned for you three years ago after I learned that a handgun you had ordered had been blown up... I just didn't expect that its arrival would be delayed by three years."
"Fortunately, before it reached you, I commissioned Blacksteel to perform a modernization and maintenance... Of course, the pistol optical sight, which you've always hated, is just an optional accessory. After all, you don't want your skirt being pulled up by the sight again, do you?"
Seeing that Nana's expression was blank, but her nimble fingers expertly checked the gun's condition and listened to the firing pin, the manager smiled and took out another weapon case.
"And then, this is the Christmas present for this year... To celebrate the successful completion of your Ursus mission, I have once again commissioned these two full-size combat pistols— 'Silver Dancer' —based on your magical characteristics, to replace the firearms you previously had custom-made at the ICA." Zero
As Nana's eyes lit up again as she pulled back the holster, the crisp metallic sound echoing through the room, and under the bewildered and impressed gazes of Eileen and Typhon, the manager proudly introduced Nana to the artifact she had commissioned for 4.5 million Lungmen Dollar: It was...
"Semi-handcrafted by master craftsmen of Yan, except for the matte, frosted finish on the slide's anti-slip texture, the rest of the holster and receiver are mirror-finished... Although the craftsman complained that it might not be suitable for actual combat, and as a work of art it lacked aesthetic appeal, he originally wanted to add micro-carvings to the receiver and slide, but I refused... I think its shimmering silver appearance makes it perfectly suitable as a symbol."
"Aside from the standard features like the thumb safety and the new quick-release muzzle assembly, the hand grip perfectly conforms to your hand shape, and the ammunition is still the familiar.45 caliber... Although there are now new etched templates for 9mm, whether you want to use the new stuff is up to you to decide..." (Qi)
Seeing Nana happily holster the Silver Dancer in her thigh holster and then tuck the compact pistol into her waistband, the manager silently unpacked the package he'd brought from the clothing store, revealing a brand-new, bright Lycoris uniform.
"It's been so many years since I've seen you wear this outfit... Do you still remember your original disguise?"
Nodding as he removed his Rhodes Island uniform, without changing into his innermost winter gear, Assassin Number Seventy-Seven solemnly completed his identity change in front of everyone.
First, she turned her hair into a brilliant gold, like the sun. Then, her eyes turned crimson with the magic. After that, whenever Nana put on her business smile, she seemed to have returned to the era when blonde hair was considered beautiful in Victoria times.
Although the assassin now possesses expensive weapons she never dared to dream of back then, along with the support of the entire organization, her job duties seem to have remained unchanged for years... Smiling, Typhon, and Eileen, despite having seen her before, still twitched at the corner of her mouth when she actually saw her cat ears disappear, bowed slightly. Nana took the 'Backpack' handed to her by her manager... It was filled with magazines and tactical equipment, Lycoris's universal gear.
In the past, Nana had several Backpack of different styles but the same function in the safe house. However, the government auctioned off that safe house, and the thought of it still makes Nana's blood boil.
"Hmm, it looks exactly like the 'Ghost' I remember... But, it's not really appropriate to show yourself to people in this form, is it? After all, this is the grand performance announcing your return..."
As she spoke, the manager took out a set of cosmetics from her handbag... After Nana's expression instantly fell, revealing her obvious dislike for makeup, the manager smiled and gestured for Eileen to leave:
"It seems, Nana, you still need quite a bit of time to recall how to perform missions in urban environments. It's different from missions in the Catastrophes or in rural areas like Ursus. I think you really need to recall the basic attire that a city woman must learn... At least you need to set an example for your new apprentice, right...? As for your friends' whereabouts, I'll send them to your phone later. Whether you meet them before or after the mission is entirely up to you..."
"I won't disturb your preparations any longer, Number Seventy-Seven."
"As for you, Miss Maid... let's start by understanding Nana's job duties... the following section contains confidential information, please listen carefully..."
"Kitty Teacher..."
"From now on, call me Senior Angel."
As she spoke, Nana drew a circle above her head, and Typhon looked at the Halo that resembled mercury in amazement, but quickly dismissed it and continued to look at the dress in his hand... After all, for this country boy, compared to the Halo above the Kitty Teacher's head that made him question his existence, the dress in his hand was much more difficult to obtain.
"Um, senior... I still want to ask... wearing this uniform, does that mean..."
"This means you have officially become my disciple, the person closest to me besides Little Cat... This organization is my deepest secret, because if I leave you alone you will surely die. So I have revealed this secret to you, and if I cannot keep it a secret, your fate will probably not be much better than those who carelessly violate the taboos of other tribes."
Seeing the bitter expression on the purple-haired girl's face, Nana finally figured out how to communicate with this child who didn't understand anything.
She doesn't agree with common sense, and the best way to impart experience is to plan her life using various 'taboos' as reasons... Although Nana knows that such a brutal education will definitely make her suffer in the future, it's still okay as an urgent means of instruction.
Anyway, after living with me in the city for a year or two, she'll definitely know everything she should and shouldn't know.
After helping Typhon change out of the bodysuit that was supposedly purchased by Alki and from outsiders, which he could still wear even as his figure continued to grow, and the coat that was more than two sizes too big, Typhon surprisingly did not show any discomfort when wearing clothes that fit him properly for the first time.
She even excitedly asked Nana when the mission would begin.
"As for the mission, there's no rush... I'll tell you the details on the way. Right now, while Mary and the others are setting up the room... we have a lot of other things to do."
"Other things?"
Nana gave her a helpless look at this clueless disciple who knew nothing but eating, sleeping, and fighting Demons. Then, she straightened her blonde hair and said with a smile that even Typhon found a little strange: