Chapter 179

"I know, but our goods are piled up so loosely, and the ground is all muddy. It's not that easy for a fire to start... And it's so cold, we can't even use magic to keep warm. If we can't even have a smoke, then we might as well just kill me."

Seemingly confirming his companion's statement, the other person immediately accepted the cigarette offered by the other.

But the two men searched themselves thoroughly but couldn't find a lighter. Faced with their companion's questioning look, the guy who had offered the cigarettes awkwardly shrugged.

"The lighter seems to have fallen into the break room... No worries, I have a plan."

"Hey... you can't use magic, or these guys will gang up on you."

"Don't worry~ Watch me."

As he spoke, the member of the Instruction Corps grabbed the Artificial Angel next to him and made it point its fingertip at the cigarette butt:

"Let's light a fire."

"Command confirmed, ignition."

As the lifeless Artificial Angel silently lit a cigarette with its fingertips, the man lit his own cigarette and offered the butt to his companion... Then, the two of them looked at the Artificial Angel who had been swarmed and pinned to the ground, no longer visible, and quickly waved their hands.

"Stop! Stop! Everyone get up!"

"Command confirmed..."

Although they had acted as quickly as possible, when the Artificial Angel had lit the fire came into view, her disheveled appearance left even the onlookers, including Nana, speechless. The perpetrators exchanged bewildered glances.

"Holy crap... they really meant it, a full-on assault... Hey, are you okay?"

"Command confirmed... Rib fractures, multiple complex fractures in the right arm... Combat... Cannot proceed."

The silence lasted until the cigarette was finished; neither of the two Instruction Corps members spoke until finally, when the man who had asked her to light it sighed.

"Alright, go back to the lab for treatment... I can't take it anymore. They were already so intelligent during their last training session, how did they turn out like this again..."

"It seems the personality data wasn't synchronized before being released, they're in a hurry to move... After all, the Salaru Organization seems to have been sealed off by the National Guard, and Atlas has also shut down. If we don't hurry, we won't even have enough manpower to move the goods."

"I think that at this point, we don't need to care about the goods anymore..."

At this point, the soldier from the Instruction Corps looked around again, ordered the Artificial Angel to stand guard five meters away, and then lowered his voice:

"Did you hear what they were planning to do next while you were in the lounge?"

"I don't know, the section chief only said to escape... he looked like he was terrified of that Ghost..."

"Not going to Victoria?"

"What... what are you talking about?"

At this point, the other person also looked around uneasily, making sure even the Artificial Angel couldn't hear him before continuing:

"Boss, you can't stand the word 'escape,' don't you know that? Are you out of your mind?!"

"But aren't the staff members talking about this?"

"Researchers? They can decide that? With Saralu's information, researchers can live a life of luxury anywhere... Compared to them, what happens to us is more important... You know, our escape this time was so chaotic, we know things we should and shouldn't know. You don't really think we can just sign a confidentiality agreement and retire, do you?"

"You're right... but these guys are on the verge of collapse, and the boss keeps arguing with the section chief. I feel like it's only a matter of time before they break up."

The two were silent for a moment, then the guy offering the cigarettes threw away his cigarette butt and said with a smile:

"If we break up, do you think we can take one or two of those kids with us?"

"... I always felt you were too friendly to them... Is that your type?"

"I don't really think so, but how about we consider a well-behaved, obedient maid with some fighting ability? Even if we don't consider using her for sexual purposes, we'll most likely be wandering Mercenaries soon... You're not expecting to have a chance to go to those shops in the city, are you... And most importantly... I think they're cleaner than those shops."

"Holy crap, what you said does seem to make some sense?"

Seeing the two men lead their patrol again, Nana emerged from the shadows somewhat bewildered.

What were those two talking about at the end? Was it something I'd never even considered before?

After realizing what had happened, Nana blushed and wanted to call the police...

However, after ruling out things that shouldn't be her concern right now, Nana still analyzed this unexpected information.

Firstly, the Artificial Angel currently seem to be in a very passive state, rigidly following orders, which makes Nana feel that her chances of taking advantage are even greater.

Then there seems to be a disagreement within the Archaeology Division... Since the head of the Instruction Corps is arguing with the department head, it's easier for Nana to find her target. In the past, when she was in a better mood, Nana might even have considered sneaking into the Artificial Angel's group to observe them up close and have some fun.

But not today. Nana came to this mission with the mindset of attending a funeral.

I came to attend the funeral of those four little ones who didn't even have names.

The sacrifices were the three people who had caused their unfortunate lives.

Calming herself down, Nana continued on her way.

As the assassin left the storage area, the enemy patrol density instantly decreased... After all, if everyone was focused on the nooks and crannies, it was understandable that no one would notice a black-haired woman in a suit and pleated Feline walking down the main road.

By casually picking up a pebble and tossing it to distract the enemy at the last intersection, Nana successfully entered the livestock pen area filled with various boxes. After that, Nana became quite adept at navigating the area.

Using those shelters, we advanced along the deserted drainage ditches on the outskirts. Because the livestock pens had also been raised, we moved along the edge of the stone foundations, making us virtually invisible.

But because Nana heard a familiar sound from the phone's attachment in the open space beside the livestock pen, the assassin quietly stopped in her tracks.

That was one of the mission targets, the commander of the Archaeology Division Tactical Instruction Corps, a man with Perro distinctively hoarse, booming voice: Scar

"Listen to you bunch of trash! You were born to stop that Catastrophes, your flesh and blood are the disaster itself! But without tempering, you're utterly useless, even as XXX, you'd be too soft! You're not even human, just a lump of human-shaped flesh! You must develop yourselves through training, become the killing machines you dream of. Those who hesitate even in a brawl have no value! And this guy who became crippled because he deliberately broke the rules has no value even as a piece of flesh!"

"Are you trying to cripple yourself to avoid the upcoming battle?! I will never allow that! This is the fate of worthless pieces of flesh!"

Hearing the violent stomping sounds not far away, followed by the cracking sounds of bones breaking, Nana lowered her head slightly, even her heterochromatic eyes were hidden under her bangs... But the conversation didn't seem to end after this brutal slaughter. After another ten or so violent stomps, until even the sound of broken bellows was no longer audible, the target continued with a slightly satisfied tone, "Slip..."

"Very good, no crying, no laughing! You're not human, you're just pieces of meat that I wouldn't feel bad about throwing away at any time! The other group members can leave, but the group that violated the rules will be punished! Take off your clothes and do push-ups! Clothes, shame, and personal will are all unnecessary for you! Train until I call it a stop!" Yi

Just as Nana was beginning to discern the number and location of the people nearby by listening to the sounds, and was considering whether to make her move there, a voice suddenly appeared from inside the livestock pen... presumably someone leaning out of a window and shouting, causing Nana to change her plans. The new voice shouted to the target:

"Boss! The section chief says he needs you to go again."

"... Damn it, is this ever going to end?... Okay, I'm going now."

As the footsteps gradually subsided, leaving only the soft breathing of the Artificial Angel training overhead, Nana tightened her grip on her suitcase, placed the Silver Dancer back into her thigh holster, and continued forward.

The area around the livestock pens and command post was filled with all sorts of people from the Archaeology Division, creating a noisy atmosphere. Nana also took the opportunity to listen to what they were saying.

Without exception, the destination of their escape is the topic of concern for everyone now... What Nana finds rather strange is that more than half of them seem to believe that the target of their escape is Victoria.

This puzzled Nana, because the conversation she overheard between the main target, Section Chief Liberi, and Commander Perro was also about this topic.

Because of the house separating them, Nana had to rely on confiscated spy equipment, using headphones to pick up and amplify the sound, and it took her a full forty minutes to eavesdrop on their conversation.

It contains a lot of emotional arguments, but if we condense the content, Nana thinks the most valuable sentences are these:

--

"No, I never explicitly said I wanted to go to Victoria... though it's not impossible..."

"Isn't it strange? Suddenly everyone seems to be talking about going to Victoria? And none of us are from Victoria, nor do we have any way to get there..."

"The way you put it... it seems like this topic is indeed very deliberate... Has the Ghost already been spreading rumors among us? Going to Victoria would be falling right into SHD's trap?"

"Damn it, stop staring at that Ghost all the time, okay? It's always about Ghost, Ghost. If you don't like the food, it's Ghost. If you don't enjoy drinking, it's Ghost. Even when you're in bed, you're talking about Ghost."

"Your life is ruined by the No. 0 Prototype in the Applied Division Department! Why don't you take a look at Victoria... Sell all your shady information, then we'll pay off our subordinates, and everyone can go their separate ways and find a good place to live a peaceful life, okay?!"

--

The two then got into a heated argument, and Nana decided not to listen any longer.

With the locations of the two targets confirmed and the situation at the camp roughly clear, let's... check on the condition of the 'Sacred Remains' before the final battle.

PS: Waaaaaaah!

Woof woof cat. jpg

Jessica is, of course, a cat↑

PS2: While writing today's update, I was reminded of the only 'normal person' in the YJ storyline who was infatuated with Skyfire's beauty.

Of course, because the regimental commander of the Instruction Corps valued military discipline highly while also having an affair with the section chief, the living conditions of Number One to Number Four were not actually as bad as one might imagine.

It's just that the people in charge of educating them are inhuman... This also explains why the Instruction Corps maintained considerable loyalty to the section chief.

The regimental commander loves the section chief, which is the only explanation I think the Instruction Corps hasn't turned against them yet... It's a bit awkward, but just enjoy it for fun, after all, they've already entered the countdown to their deaths.

Cruelty will die cruelty, greed will be destroyed by avarice... As for those who are obsessed with climbing and seeking the glory of the Creator, they will inevitably end up with nothing.

5th Laytonson's Ghost Assassin: 196 Like it here?

Wandering around in a camp full of enemies is an activity that puts a lot of strain on the heart.

It took Nana several hours to infiltrate the heavily guarded house, which was also sniped from above.

Because of the many times she had to wait for the wandering soldiers to leave, and the occasional need to retreat to other cover due to blocked roads, by the time Nana returned to the livestock hut, it was already past lunchtime.

It was precisely because the soldiers all rushed off to eat that Nana's movements became much smoother... But although there were fewer people wandering around, the basic guards were still present.

Getting into the cowshed itself wasn't difficult, but getting into the laboratory required passing through an underground corridor guarded by two people with only one entrance and exit.

An environment where even peeking out is easily detected is a major obstacle to 'infiltration'.

After all, the enemy wasn't stupid. The irregular calls during the observation period alone made Nana's cat ears twitch in frustration, and even her tail started swishing...

What kind of lunatics are these people? The first call was half an hour apart, the second one was less than ten minutes later, then it was fifteen minutes later, then twenty minutes later... It seems that the interval between calls is entirely based on the mood of the security department head rather than some kind of pattern.

Regardless of the guards' feelings, the erratic calls certainly deterred Nana from her plan to kill the gatekeeper and go in to check the situation... After all, if even a predictable safe time couldn't be estimated, it was possible that she would be caught like a turtle in a jar the moment she entered.

Being surrounded is a minor matter; the real absurdity is that the target escaped. Does the Ghost Assassin even care about his reputation?

Just as Nana was wandering back and forth at the crossroads between the livestock pen and the fishpond, searching for the hidden entrance to the laboratory that she didn't know if it existed, another piece of information suddenly appeared and made Nana prick up her ears.

One of the voices sounded familiar, and upon peeking, Nana was surprised to find that it was the person who had first told her about the 'laboratory'? The one... from the Finance Division?

Finance Division? What a coincidence, Nana still has a position in the Finance Division at the National Laboratory... But if Nana remembers correctly, isn't the laboratory's Finance Division a cover for SHD agents?

But that person... seems to really be working as the Archaeology Division's accountant?

"Hey bro, you know that green monster? It seems like it got transported to that underground lab..."

"Ah, that's right... Something like a truck, with the Halo of Sankta, came rushing over. It was terrifying, like a truck."

This conversation seemed familiar... Nana, realizing what was happening, had already drawn her Silver Dancer, ready to shoot the 'Finance Division member' at any moment.

Although the others in the camp understood why the 'finance' seemed so excited, after all, it was the first time they had seen the 'Sacred Remains,' and anyone who wasn't a researcher would definitely be startled.

However, in Nana's view, this suspected SHD member was discussing the same topic with the researcher and then talking to the Instruction Corps members about the same thing, which was clearly an intelligence gathering activity.

But will SHD agents investigate the Archaeology Division by going to their camp to gather intelligence through subtle questioning? Now that the agent has regained support, the Archaeology Division's supporters within SHD are no longer causing trouble, and even Nana can access information about Isaac through SHD's Anna.

Otherwise, why would the Instruction Corps abandon all SHD agent equipment? Even if that equipment were only given to Artificial Angel without independent consciousness, they would still be excellent agents capable of taking on ten opponents at once.

While Nana was still hesitating about the origin of this 'finance,' the two of them delved deeper into their conversation as they lit cigarettes and exhaled smoke. The members of the Instruction Corps complained for a while about the process of stuffing the 'Sacred Remains' into the laboratory.

"... I see, so there's a freight elevator outside the farm..."

"Yes, but that elevator only goes in and doesn't go out. Otherwise, the server relocation wouldn't have been so troublesome. All the tapes and hard drives had to be moved in and out of the barn by handcart, which was incredibly inefficient... Ah!"

As the members of the Instruction Corps gasped in surprise, Nana unexpectedly noticed that the Artificial Angel the two had sent to keep watch had gathered around. A group of tiny Feline stared intently at the Instruction Corps members, repeatedly saying in their inorganic eyes and voices, "Violation detected."

Because all four of them were repeating the same phrase in unison, even though they were immediately stopped, the series of warnings made the three people present frown.

"... Stop, stop, it's so noisy... Well, you see, this is something we shouldn't be talking about."

"Well, it's fine, I'm already very satisfied... I've never heard anything this interesting before."

At this point, the 'Finance' adjusted his glasses and then performed a Victoria gentleman's bow in a gesture remarkably familiar to Nana:

"Come to think of it, it seems like our escape target is Victoria?"

"Ah?"

Seeing their conversation progress from the monster in the lab to their escape to Victoria, from evading Columbia's pursuit with the support of the Council to their lavish plans after selling the 'Sacred Remains,' and combined with his excessively polite manners, Nana roughly knew who this person was.

Gray Hats were used by secret agents serving the Victoria Council and various noble families.

Now everyone in the camp seemed to have a reason to flee to Victoria, even though there was no clear destination.

As security personnel for National Laboratory, even if the Instruction Corps soldiers lacked sufficient experience to confirm that the other party was "Gray Hats," they were certain that the other party was a leaker with ties to Victoria's interests.

If things were developing normally, the Instruction Corps soldiers should now order the Artificial Angel to arrest him.