Chapter 186

Thanks to Huang's seemingly limitless energy and skillful arrangements, the group that had been blocking the landing area, exhausted, began their ascent towards the elevator on the fourth floor. The Executor, naturally, assumed Huang was the Rhodes Island representative among their group.

"I understand. In addition, I will complete the memorization and exploration of the surrounding terrain and passages within the next two hours. If there are any issues regarding my boarding procedures that require my personal presence, please notify me in the rest area two hours later."

"Or call the Laterano Notary Office via Intercity Network communicator, and be transferred to Federico's personal Terminal —codenamed 'The Executor' —I will arrive as soon as possible and complete the boarding procedures."

Seeing the serious expression on the man's face, Huang smiled as he signed the documents and urged them to hurry up and get on the elevator.

"Haha, although I had a feeling before, Mr. Federico is really a very serious person... It's okay to relax a little when we're on Rhodes Island, after all, we're not enemies, there's no need to make the atmosphere so tense."

"... I don't quite understand, I'm just following the proper procedures..."

"Perhaps your expression is too stiff? How about trying to smile?"

As the conversation continued, the elevator doors slowly closed amidst Huang's radiant smile... Then, looking at his reflection in the mirrored elevator doors and the exhausted expressions of the people behind him, the Executor tried to 'smile,' but all he saw was a forced upward curve at the corners of his mouth.

Is this a 'smile'? Qi

The Executor was unaware; he simply watched silently as Jessica and the others led everyone to the so-called 'rest room'.

Franka was the most relaxed person there; she simply collapsed onto the sofa.

The most uneasy one was probably Nagisa, peering out from the various 'windows' of the lounge, likely searching for the girl named 'Mika' who had volunteered to stay.

However, according to the Executor's recollections, this wasn't a compartment right against the ship's outer edge; the windows were images displayed on high-definition monitors, not real scenes. Therefore, hoping to see from the windows whether their comrades had returned was truly wishful thinking.

The Frostleaf girl, who had questioned herself about what to do if she were deceived by government officials a couple of days ago, relaxed here as if she were home. Her greatsword and halberd, which she never let go of even in her sleep, were casually leaned against the wall...

Although she still instinctively avoided straying too far from the weapons, the girl's practiced retrieval of a music player and headphones from the cabinet clearly indicated she was quite familiar with the place... The Executor remembered the look of disappointment on her face when she heard, "The Laterano Government won't allow this to happen, so I can't answer your question."

But what probably attracted the most attention from the Executor was the 'Medic'.

Although he already knew that this was not the person he had been searching for so long, the one who had caused the collapse of Loken Watertank business and was directly related to the church massacre... the disguise was so convincing that even the experienced Executor, comparing the photos provided by the Intelligence Department face-to-face, could not be determined by the naked eye.

Perhaps it's because he doesn't know enough about his target.

"We're safe here, Mr. Federico ..."

Finally, Sister Mary of Victoria entered the lounge with him. Judging from her words, the Executor believed she was still traumatized by the attack on the church school... Assessing the situation, he needed to soothe the psychological state of the church members.

"Based on my duty Executor of Laterano, I will do everything in my power to protect the lives and property of Laterano and members of the Church of England... As long as I am present, no one can cross my line to attack church members... Also, I have some doubts... Are those two children also Laterano?"

Hearing the Executor's voice, Mary turned her head in confusion at the little girl's voice at the door, and then the pink and green outfit that had run away immediately made everyone present tense.

"His Holiness the Pope said that the target, Nana Ivy, is a special Sankta, and there will be anomalies around her... Therefore, I don't intend to ask about the Halo surrounding Seia, Nagisa, and the previous Ms. Mika and Ms. Jessica ... But those two children just now, it seems they are..."

"Huh?! Them... them..."

They are Sarkaz, but for some reason they've become Sankta. They still have Sarkaz horns on their heads, but is it appropriate to say this to the Executor?

Mary hesitated, but even without her Halo, the Law against lying was still a virtue that nuns were bound to uphold.

Seeing that Mary's eyes were swollen with anxiety, as if she might faint at any moment, Jessica quickly stepped forward:

"They're fake Feline!"

As she spoke, Jessica struggled to overcome her urge to run away, and handed the paper cup of hot tea that had just been poured into the Executor's hand:

"Their cat ears and tails are made of fabric... because Nana... Medic is Feline, and their friend Rosemary is also Feline, so Ms. Athena, who takes care of them, made cat ears and tail decorations for them..."

"I see... That's perfect then. Please tell me their parents, their birth address, and their birth date. The priest's will happened to include an application for Holy City residency for Nana Ivy, which was a prerequisite for granting asylum to another target named Narcissa Matilda Bruce..."

"It's also the duty of the Executor to establish a household registration for the Sankta who were left behind. Let's do it together along the way."

Seeing the Executor solemnly taking out a file and starting to search for something, Jessica, knowing that things would get out of everyone's control if things continued like this, quickly looked to everyone for help.

Liskarm had just poured himself a cup of hot cocoa, sighed and got up.

"These things still depend on individual wishes... Let's leave aside the fact that those children can now have their own lives on Rhodes Island. Your Executor, you haven't commented on Jessica's Halo before; was it because the Holy City had already given some instructions?"

"Yes, although during the mission planning, after learning that other races had the Sankta Halo, many suggested that I take you all to the Holy City... His Holiness the Pope overruled the objections and insisted that this mission remain primarily focused on contact..."

"Then I think you should go see that child..."

By slightly and firmly interrupting the Executor, Liskarm successfully diverted the Executor's attention elsewhere:

"That child in your mission who needs protection during the execution of the will, and also one of the people who possess Halo because of your goals... Furthermore, is the reason you value Nana so much because of her ability to bestow Halo?"

Liskarm's direct question reminded The Executor of the investigation report he received from the Pontiff's Gun Knights when he was accepting the mission, and the conversation between the Pope and a group of high-ranking officials.

The big shots discussed many things, but the focus of their conversation was on the Sankta characteristics that the goal could give to others.

This undoubtedly transforms the Sankta's from a name referring to a blood-related race into a kind of 'profession' that can be held concurrently... To date, Laterano does not know whether this designation is based on trust or, as some have speculated, 'faith'.

But regardless, Nana Ivy held an extraordinary significance for Laterano, a fact that the Executor understood.

However, the Pontiff's Gun Knights's investigation into the target is not yet detailed enough. Although everyone already knows that the aura of the Sankta Halo basically related to Nana Ivy, Nana Ivy's journey from Laisenton to Ticarondo and then to the Snowfield has been kept secret for a long time.

Before confirming the truth behind the Halo- bearing ritual, the Executor knew it was best to maintain good relationships with his target and those around him. So, in the past, when someone mentioned that forbidden topics often resulted in being shoved into a shotgun's mouth, the Executor chose to... very tactfully end the conversation.

"I'm sorry, this is not a topic I can discuss. As for that child... is it Narcissa Matilda Bruce?"

"... Yes, of course, on Rhodes Island, you can call her 'Rosemary'."

"Code name Rosemary recorded... Well then, I will go see her as you recommended. Please allow me to now complete the survey of the surrounding terrain and passageways. As for Sister Mary..."

Just as the Executor was still hesitating about whether Sister Mary's stamina was still sufficient to keep up with him, Liskarm suddenly gave an apologetic look. Then, the not-so-tall Vouivre girl frowned as soon as she answered the phone, gave a brief reply, and hung up. She then pulled Franka up beside her and called out to Jessica was pretending to be invisible.

"Everyone, we have a mission. Blacksteel BPRS Squad, move out. Vanilla... ah, I won't contact Vanilla. It's just us going."

"What happened? So sudden..."

As she spoke, Jessica picked up her assault rifle again, her face crestfallen as she tucked the still-unloaded magazine into her pocket. Franka, whose nap had been interrupted, still wore a smile, but when she picked up her sword sheath, it seemed she had immediately activated the Thermite Sword's heating module... clearly, she still had quite a few complaints.

"The front desk reported that someone with government credentials forcibly broke through. Rhodes Island's operations team is in a difficult position. Ms. Kal'tsit called, hoping we could act as third-party security to stop them..."

"Huh? Government people? Where are they now? Where are we supposed to go to intercept them?"

"Enter the front desk through the login gate, and the highest floor accessible by elevator is here. Of course, we'll set up a defensive position right here."

As soon as the words were spoken, the three men, including Blacksteel, and an Executor who was about to familiarize himself with the terrain, stood in the corridor outside the elevator on the fourth floor, and the elevator doors opened.

An agent in a suit wearing sunglasses and equipped with a magical Terminal unique to Columbia agents bumped into the group with four Columbia soldiers dressed in sand-colored camouflage.

"Make way! By order of the President, I am taking Agent Number Seventy-Seven into custody for trial. Her alias is Medic, and her real name is Nana Ivy. Also, Mika, Nagisa, and Seia, who arrived here at the same time, are all key figures in the Laytonson Artificial Catastrophe Case... Please do not obstruct official business, Miss Blacksteel."

Although the suited agent said that, Liskarm was not someone who would be easily intimidated. The girl stood still with her shield raised, while Jessica took the opportunity to occupy a shooting position at the edge of the corridor, pointing her assault rifle at them all.

Only Franka, with her hand on the hilt of her sword, smiled and took two steps forward:

"The Medic I know is a doctor who is in charge of Rhodes Island's Emergency Medical Department. Her main job is to provide first aid for external injuries in harsh environments... First of all, there is no Agent Number Seventy-Seven here as you mentioned. Secondly, even if you want to arrest someone, please show a proper arrest warrant instead of forcing your way in based on your strength."

"Finally... in accordance with the Rhodes Island security agreement and the Columbia Castle Law, you are hereby ordered to leave immediately."

As Franka spoke, Jessica, standing nearby, promptly released the safety of her weapon with a crisp 'click,' while Liskarm, holding a pistol fully charged with Originium Arts, pointed it at the man who claimed to be obeying the Führer's orders.

"Furthermore, I must remind you that the two ladies, Mika and Nagisa, who entered Rhodes Island earlier, as well as the patient Seia... are all members of the Laterano Church. Their status as nuns is administratively equivalent to Laterano citizens. If you want to take them away... shouldn't you ask this Executor?"

"Executor?"

Seeing the wink from Liskarm, the Executor mentally reviewed the Laterano regulations, realizing that he indeed needed to register the three with Halo in Laterano, and that they were indeed eligible for church protection, the expressionless man took his spear from his shoulder.

"According to the agreement between Laterano Holy City, the Church, and Columbia authorities must present a Notarial Hall seal when arresting members of the Church or citizens... Now please present evidence that proves the crimes of those three individuals, as well as the arrest warrants you mentioned, issued by the President of Columbia."

"If it is legal, I will act as the Executor to ensure the impartiality of the punishment of Laterano criminals."

While not explicitly biased according to Liskarm's claims, the Executor believed he had acted impartially enough and would not obstruct local law enforcement. However, he was concerned about the potential for defamation against members of the Laterano Church...

That depends on whether the gun in his hand agrees.

Seeing the agent's twitching lips, the Executor skillfully pulled back the bolt, ejected a live round, inserted a blank, and held the gun upright.

"Second reminder: Please present relevant evidence and arrest warrants. If you cannot, then your actions are undoubtedly illegal, and I will launch an attack after firing a warning shot. Blacksteel's allies, please cooperate with our operation."

"Oh ho~ I like your decisive and straightforward approach~"

Just as Franka drew her Thermite Sword, the lead agent gritted his teeth and said:

"Okay, I don't have the arrest warrants for Mika and the other two yet... but I do have the local government's arrest warrant for Agent Number Seventy-Seven, the leader of the illegal organization Lycoris! And Medic was the stand-in she used before. Also, I remember Blacksteel isn't clean either. And that black cat over there... your name is Jessica, right? That person used your identity to do bad things. If we don't arrest him, you won't be able to clear your name!"

"So, in the end, you weren't actually looking for me..."

Amidst everyone's surprised gazes, 'Medic' emerged from the lounge, scratching his long, black hair, which had become slightly disheveled from leaning against the sofa.

She is certainly not Medic; she is Inoue Takina, who has maintained this facade until now.

"So, what kind of person are you looking for? And once we prove we have nothing to do with that person, you should give up, right?"

"Enough with the nonsense, we'll know whether it's a sham or not just by applying some hair dye revertant!"

The agent in front of him pulled out a bottle of hair dye in one hand and a transmitter-like device in the other, revealing a confident smile.

Although Takina saw Jessica shaking her head at her, Takina still took two steps forward so that Jessica wouldn't become an obstacle to Nana and Principal Mika's return later...

Everyone originally thought that the so-called physical examination would just be to check whether there was a mask on the face or Originium Arts influence, and then check the natural color of the hair, and that would be the end of it.

But to everyone's surprise, this guy who claimed to be a special agent splashed a bottle of some unknown liquid at them. Then, while everyone was on the defensive, he smiled and pressed the transmitter in his hand, sending out a probe-like object that was inserted directly into the back of Takina's head.

"Now! Return to No. 0 Prototype!"

P. S.: Waaah... I feel like I didn't finish this part, but it's 6:30, so I won't add any more. I'll move on to the next chapter...

5th Laytonson's Ghost Assassin: 203 Isn't this pretty good too?

What followed was a chaotic brawl that was resolved in just two seconds, triggered by the Executor opening fire.

The soldiers behind the agent seemed to have been caught off guard; before the Executor pulled the trigger, they were simply holding their weapons casually, without even aiming them at their target.

After all, in Columbia, no one can refuse the president, and no one can defy the president's authority.

But this is just common sense in the heart of Columbia, and it's ineffective for the Executor... or even for the Rhodes Island Human Resources Department squad.

As Takina was 'attacked', these people were quickly subdued... It can only be said that the Executor and Jessica still maintained their rationality. Their bullets were mostly aimed at the chest, where the armor was thickest, but even so, they rendered several soldiers unable to move, and could only watch helplessly as shields or Thermite Sword made intimate contact with them with a whistling sound.

As for the 'agent' who struck first and was kicked by Takina reflexively... even after being pinned to the ground by the Executor and his hands were bound tightly, he was still struggling to look at 'Medic,' who was covering his head wound with his hand:

"The Personality Maintenance Device should also be effective for you. Now... answer the others here... are you Agent Number Seventy-Seven!?"

"Of course not!"

As she spoke, she kicked the person in front of her in the lower body again. With a dizzy spell, when Takina came to her senses again, she was already being held in the arms of the Medical Department who had rushed over after hearing the news.

As the healing spell began to take effect, the tension from being attacked inexplicably disappeared, and Takina immediately fainted.

This infuriated the person treating Takina. They had initially thought it was nothing serious, seeing their new baby so lively and energetic. How could she collapse as soon as they started treating her?

The thought that this person was the one who dared to lay a hand on even Demons, and that she would get into trouble in her hands... Although she didn't think it would be a serious matter, she couldn't accept even being given the cold shoulder! She had worked so hard to build up her goodwill, and she was even counting on her to give her some new Chimera blood!?

The thought of being tormented and scratched by that kitten when she needed blood made Warfarin's eyes widen instantly.

"What's going on? What's going on? How dare someone lay a hand on you on Rhodes Island? Kal'tsit, have you been inactive lately? How come even cats and dogs dare to bite you?"

"... Blood... Bloodfiend--!?"

"Hmm?~"

While making strange noises, the white-haired Bloodfiend used his right hand to grab the 'agent' by the neck and lift him up.

Although the kitten Kal'tsit brought back was essentially a field worker, the Emergency Medical Department is still part of the Medical Department. Warfarin hasn't seen such a brave individual in a long time—daring to attack someone from Rhodes Island 'Rhodes Island Medical Department.

"Hey, you still recognize me? And do you know her? Let me remind you, even Melander, who's been doing whatever he wants these past few years, has to bow his head and address her as 'Lady Kal'tsit'... What kind of thing are you to dare attack my doctor on my 'Mr. Blood's' turf? Tell me! Who sent you to cause trouble!?"

"I... I was just following orders..."

"An order? Oh, I heard it when I was walking over in the corridor. You want an arrest warrant? You don't have one? You want evidence? We're here to provide you with evidence... Open your dog eyes and look carefully! Isn't my Medic's hair her own?!"

"Yes... yes!" Lin

"Is she the person you're looking for?!" Fin

No, it's not...

"Then why don't you get lost?!"

"But... well... let's put it this way, I was given a death order, even if it means dying here, I have to confirm the identities of these two people... Could you let Jessica try this hair dye remover as well?"

Seeing the shameless guy making demands even while she was choking him, Warfarin was about to increase the pressure on her, but then Kal'tsit grabbed her.

Under Kal'tsit's gaze, Jessica took out another medicine bottle from the other's pocket and sprinkled the medicine on her hair... Of course, it wouldn't bleed color.

"Now that you've seen it all, get out of here with your men! Even your president has to treat us with respect... Who do you think you are, barging in here knowing nothing? This is a privately owned Landship; if you get destroyed like this, the Castle Law will cover it... Speaking of which, you were assigned this kind of mission, did you offend someone in your own unit?"

Seeing the other person coughing and crawling towards the elevator on all fours, Kal'tsit, who had remained silent, coldly glanced at the 'agent' while having several other soldiers take their wounded away.

"I will complain to the President about what you have done... Whether you were acting on orders from the Archaeology Division, the Laytonson New Municipal Administration, or from some other department or gang, or even with 'intelligence' support... Medic is now just a surgeon and Catastrophe Messengers. Please give a full report of this to the person who ordered you here."

As the elevator doors slowly closed, ACE and other Elite Operator had already assembled and were waiting downstairs to kick these uninvited guests out of Rhodes Island.