Chapter 216

Is it malicious intent or discrimination...? Those young people who are also in high school or college age, but their gazes seem to be full of scrutiny and contempt.

Considering the domestic situation and propaganda of Ursus, the arrogance of the Ursus people is a global consensus... Saria was able to discern these gazes, probably because she saw some people's 'foreign worship' and felt dissatisfied.

But the high school girl Nana was talking to was only discussing things from publicly available scientific journals... In terms of scientific research, Ursus... no, just the Chernobog laboratory massacre over a decade ago has made it one of the most disliked countries in international scientific discourse recently.

They haven't published anything worthwhile in the international scientific research community for a long time.

The girl before her seemed to Saria to have the air of a researcher, although the short-haired Ursus girl beside her appeared uninterested in her friend's hobbies, her reactions were perfectly normal.

So... the current seemingly fractured emotional state among Ursus's youth is perhaps a microcosm of the internal civil war within Ursus.

Expressing these sentiments, and during occasional conversations with Nana to verify her claims, Saria learned the full name of the girl before her, who yearned for Columbia's 'technological world': 'Furona Alexandra Scaya'... a

As Nana chatted familiarly, by the time Saria realized what was happening, the assassin was already addressing her by nicknames like 'Furona' and even 'Fufu'.

"... Has Columbia already become like this?"

"No, actually, many technologies published in journals still need to go through a period of commercialization before they can enter everyone's lives... and that requires the hard work of a large number of engineers and professional designers."

"While scientists certainly hold a similar position to 'inventors' in the past, it's best not to underestimate the role of others in the process." - Ling

Hearing Nana's reminder, the Ursus girl with long white hair, true to her name, scratched her ears on her head in a silly manner.

"I'm sorry, but... I've always longed for the feeling of creating new things in a laboratory..."

Having seemingly heard her friend say this many times before, the brown-haired Ursus girl, who had also introduced herself as 'Zhuoya,' rolled her eyes without giving her friend any face. "I..."

"Yeah, this guy's been saying 'I want to be a scientist' since he was little... It wasn't so bad when he was a kid, but he's high school now and he still likes to say that to everyone he meets. Honestly, Fufu, I'm starting to get fed up with you..." Ba

"Me! My math grades aren't very good! Zhuoya isn't either! She always says things like, 'I want to become a policeman like my dad...'"

"Hey! Fufu, you idiot, shut up!"

Watching the two girls start playfully bickering and getting along well, Saria said seriously:

"Having an interest is a good thing... Scientific research is a very tedious and dangerous thing, and if you don't have an interest, it's probably difficult to delve into it and achieve anything, fu... Flora, if you're really interested, I can write you a letter of introduction, and after you graduate, you can visit Rhine Lab in person, how about that?"

Although she knew Saria meant well, Nana couldn't help but wave her hand, as if trying to dispel the awkward silence, because of Saria's suggestion that ignored time and space.

"... Scientific research itself has no borders, although scientists themselves have... and compared to going to great lengths, Ursus itself has various universities and projects worth studying... Leaving aside Rhine Lab, what Saria means is that we look forward to your name appearing in Ursus's scientific journals in the future."

"Ah... this... thank you... although, it's too early to say that... I'm still a long way from university..."

Seeing her friend once again lost in longing and bashful contemplation, Zhuoya sighed, then looked curiously at Nana:

"However, Rhine Lab is indeed very far from here, and given the current situation... you two, you're not really here for sightseeing, are you... is there some... project that's worth researching, like the one you just mentioned?"

Without hesitation, Nana nodded. Her intention was to make her purpose known to everyone, so the white-haired Liberi girl pointed out the window... In the brilliant sunset of Chernobog, the black giant egg obscured half the sky:

"We came for that."

PS: Waaaaaaah!

PSS: Fufu is an original character from the novel "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" (V). Whether she will come to the island is still undecided, but her name is indeed... She seems to be very good at math... But don't expect me to write about her research process, after all, I, Axi, failed math.

As for Zhuoya, Arknights players should all know her... Since there's nothing to hide, I'll just tell those who don't know: she's the Rhodes Island operator 'Absinthe'... Well, she'll still be coming to the island.

6th Patriot's Gun: 237 The newcomer is hostile.

Revealing her purpose to a few children in a public setting like a train might seem like speaking too frankly with someone she barely knows, but Nana was actually addressing the stares directed at her.

Although it's unlikely the other party would completely believe it, and those glances weren't necessarily from Boris Boris's spies, the latter would definitely send someone to investigate 'Rhine Lab's performance and statements today.' As long as Nana and the other continue to act in accordance with their words and actions, but with other motives... they're telling the truth, but not entirely the truth. That's the essence of disguise... no, it's the essence of 'lies.'

However, Nana didn't intend to involve the two children she met on the street in her affairs, and at the same time, she wanted to ensure that the two high school students were not harmed by Ursus populism or possible crimes of passion.

Nana chatted enthusiastically with Fufu, from the train car to the subway station. The assassin's eloquent tongue easily kept the two children entertained for a while. By the time Nana said, "Although we'd like to say more, you two are now home," they had already been escorted to their doorstep by Nana and Saria.

Zhuoya and Fufu are true childhood sweethearts. They are not only classmates, but also live in the same government employee housing complex in the Core City Chernobog.

This saved Nana and her companion a lot of trouble, although the gatekeeper's gaze was quite piercing, probably because he mistook Nana for some kind of kidnapper... but that wasn't a big problem.

After waving goodbye to the two Ursus high school girls she had met, the two stood on either side of the completely dark street. As the streetlights lit up one by one, Nana stretched her arms and yawned in the cool breeze that brought down the temperature.

Nana fanned herself with her coat collar to cool off, looking at the buildings in front of her that had been renovated over the decades, with architectural styles ranging from classic Ursus classicism to the new Ursus style that had emerged in recent decades... a line of buildings that stretched to the end of the road, combining Ursus classicism with new materials and the Ursus national style with the flowing lines of Victoria architecture.

Unlike Columbia, which is constantly being demolished and rebuilt, highlighting the arbitrary nature of simply creating jobs for construction workers when residents are unhappy, Chernobog's urban planning is somewhat similar to that of the Great Yan... Based on the city's foundation and carrying capacity, the city's maximum size was determined from the very beginning.

Kal'tsit's blueprints may have been the dream of Emerald Feline, but looking at the diverse buildings before us, Chernobog now resembles vegetation growing wildly in the wilderness... It no longer bears any resemblance to Kal'tsit's blueprints.

Even so, the Ursus Art Nouveau, structuralism, the imperial style brought by the late emperor, and the rough concrete structure based on pragmatism are mixed together. At first glance, they seem chaotic, but in fact, they are based on the mottled traces left by the passage of time, which are revealed from the inside out.

These buildings are like the Tree Rings of a city's tree; by understanding the history of their styles and decorations, one can learn about the city's experiences and development.

Seeing Nana suddenly standing in the uniformly styled New Ursus architecture and exclaiming, "You guys really have it tough," Saria, who had been silently following along, suddenly turned around and reached out to shield Nana behind her.

"... Who is it?"

As a cacophony of footsteps, both disordered and composed, surrounded them from all directions, a man from Ursus, dressed in light police protective gear and wearing a suit jacket, trench coat, and felt hat, led the way, raising his hands and slowly approaching under the streetlights.

"Just as your partner said, they are just a group of civil servants who already have a hard time at work every day, and now they are being asked to work overtime."

As Saria felt Nana gently tugging at her arm, and seeing that although the group had come on strong, they had turned their backs to isolate the crowd after surrounding them, seemingly protecting them instead... Saria hesitated for a moment, then withdrew her hand from the suitcase containing her spell units and handed control over to Nana.

Held so close to her arms... Liberi asked, her ears trembling:

"So, who are you? Whom do you represent? Judging from your appearance, it seems we can rule out Grand Duke Baikal..."

"Haha, Miss Moore, you're joking. If it were that subordinate who practically had 'I'm going to destroy Chernobog's written all over his face, he would probably have already drawn his swords and spears to attack you all... Of course, it's His Excellency the Marquis who invited you all to his mansion for a rest. Please allow me to extend my hospitality."

As they spoke, three black luxury cars, seemingly imported from Victoria, silently drove up from the end of the road. The doors were respectfully opened by Ursus men dressed in suits and light armor, who appeared to be Boris Boris's private soldiers.

Judging from the fact that the person who greeted him and Saria was a woman, the Ursus people weren't as carefree as the rumors suggested... However, they weren't all dressed in formal attire, nor were they all wearing heavy military gear when they came to find him.

Wearing a bulletproof vest under a formal jacket is a gesture that both welcomes and indicates acceptance, while not abandoning the option of using force... What does that mean?

With this in mind, Nana let Saria, as if driven by professional Saria, begin inspecting the vehicle itself, while she continued 'chatting' with the guy who seemed to be in charge:

"Eh... you already knew my surname? You guys acted very quickly."

"You two didn't seem to be hiding anything... After all, you just walked into the city with the forged documents as if no one else was there, and even deliberately chose the busiest public transportation route. Compared to our actions, wasn't it you, Miss Moore, who was calling for us?"

"Well, perhaps I just need your help with my partner's accommodation problem... This..."

"Just call me 'Crow,' and you can call the woman next to you 'Swallow.'"

Nana glanced at the silent 'Swallow', then walked past her and met Saria's gaze.

The former head of security at Rhine Lab nodded to Nana; the convoy was safe, and nothing seemed amiss.

This disappointed Nana somewhat. She was wondering if she would get into the car and the entire convoy would be sent flying by Originium Bomb from the Third Army's sentries. If that happened, she and Saria could immediately infiltrate and lie in wait around the 'Sarcophagus'.

Just as the Crow said, Nana and Saria's entry was quite a grand affair... but did the Third Army really have no control over the city at all, or did they actually have some kind of tacit understanding?

In any case, let's give a shout-out to Boris. Although the Third Army has cut off Chernobog's access routes, the city's internal control seems to remain firmly in the hands of the mayor.

As Nana, seemingly unconcerned by Miss Swallow's scrutinizing gaze, gestured for Saria to get into the car, Swallow initially intended to sit in the back seat with Lynch, but prompted by Crow's gaze, she moved to the passenger seat... The convoy then started moving... The interior of the high-end sedan powered by Originium Engine was remarkably quiet, making even conversations much clearer.

"You two have traveled a long way and must be tired. I heard you're interested in the Sarcophagus. Fortunately, the mansion the Marquis has arranged for you is located near Sarcophagus... Of course, as the Core City and a future model for clean energy, it's a military-controlled area. So, aside from the mansion itself, you can move around freely. If you wish to venture deeper into the Sarcophagus, it's best to make arrangements with me or Swallow first..."

"To avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, and also as a gesture of hospitality befitting distinguished guests, you will always be accompanied by a designated person. This is the basic etiquette for entertaining guests in Ursus. If you have any needs, please feel free to ask. You are guests of the Marquis, so please do not stand on ceremony."

"If possible, His Excellency the Marquis has arranged a banquet for dinner tomorrow... The two of you can dine with His Excellency the Marquis after visiting the Sarcophagus tomorrow. At that time, His Excellency will answer your questions regarding cooperation and any doubts you may have."

Mr. Crow's voice was deep and resonant. He spoke with wit and humor, occasionally adding a barbed edge with perfect control. His wide vocal range and powerful volume made it hard not to wonder if he was using some strange vocal magic to bewitch people.

After all, it's very rare for Nana to find a stranger's words convincing. On the other hand, Saria didn't react to Mr. Crow's words at all, showing complete deafness. Her eyes and body were completely undisguised, which was a clear sign of her vigilance.

So, should we just agree to Viscount Baikal's arrangement and cooperate with him?

Nana could roughly guess what the other party wanted... Since they had found Rhine Lab, the first thing that came to mind that could solve their urgent problem was undoubtedly Rhine Lab's renowned experimental power armor... or even further, Columbia's Mechanical Hunter, which were modeled after the Steam Knight.

But Columbia and Chernobog are too far away to help in a crisis, so the other party's eagerness, aside from the fact that the local situation is extremely urgent for them... can only mean that they are eager for Saria and Joyce Moore's abilities.

Has it really gotten to the point where they even want to grab a passing cat's paw to help?

Judging from Crow's composed demeanor, it doesn't seem like he's really in the mood... So, from another perspective, as a member of Rhine Lab, is it really necessary for him to become so deeply involved with one side in the ongoing civil war?

It doesn't seem necessary... However, cooperating with them would allow us to avoid the investigation by the Sarcophagus Military District... so it's not entirely without its advantages.

After thinking about it for a while, Nana finally nodded, puffing out her cheeks slightly, under Saria's questioning gaze, clearly looking somewhat unwilling.

The subtext is: no rush, let's play along.

Nana was curious to see what that marquis was up to.

"Well then, thank you for your hospitality, Your Excellency Marquis and Mr. Crow... But, is your lodging also one of those surrounded by military camps?"

"Uh... haha, you're joking. Those soldiers were only responsible for protecting the Sarcophagus, and the mansion you live in was originally their command center, so it's just that... it's a little bit close by."

"Oh~↗"

Glancing at the Crow, who still maintained that businesslike demeanor, Nana finally sensed something was amiss.

Isn't this guy's persuasiveness a bit too strong? More importantly, why haven't I seen anyone else from the group say a word so far, besides him?

This reminded Nana of a classic hint in the ICA tutorial... not through magic, but through specific sound frequencies, combined with drugs, to make the target lose their vigilance or even directly 'fall in love with the speaker'... a ritual?

Of course, Nana prefers to call it subconscious hypnosis, and the key to this method is a quiet environment and a specific magnetic voice... a quiet street, a completely soundproof car body, ah, this Mr. Crow seems to have been speaking in that kind of voice all along.

Although the medication itself can be made colorless and odorless through proper combination, it can cause thirst and a bitter taste at the back of the tongue when inhaled through the nasal cavity... which is difficult for the person to detect.

If Nana hadn't felt something was off about the sudden pause in the other person's last sentence and immediately checked herself, she wouldn't have remembered this matter... Although their hypnosis seemed to have failed to work on her, who had developed drug resistance, as they wished from the beginning, going along with this hypnosis and enjoying good food and drink while being able to legitimately approach the Doctor seemed like an option.

But I feel that if I do that, in order to maintain the persona of being hypnotized, I'll have to go along with those potentially endless troublesome things.

Nana's face instantly turned cold, and she snapped her fingers next to Saria's ear... Just as Nana had predicted, even though Saria had been on guard, she was actually somewhat slowed down by the combination of the drugs and the sound.

"... Joyce?"

"It seems the Marquis and his men aren't as amiable as they appear... Let's get off here for now; I just saw a hotel sign by the roadside."

Although still a little dazed after being woken up, Saria immediately reacted when her eyes met Nana's golden gaze. She pushed open the locked car door... Amidst the deafening crash of shattered armor and blast-proof glass, the white-haired Vouivre slammed his foot into the ground from the speeding car. The high-end Originium sedan, with its hundreds of horsepower output, came to an immediate stop as if it had crashed into a wall, accompanied by the sound of cracking concrete.

Even the Crow driving the car was startled by the deployed airbag, and the man, who had maintained a polite demeanor throughout, finally showed a hint of emotional fluctuation as he watched the two people get out of the car:

"It can't be that bad... Miss Moore, wasn't our conversation quite pleasant?"

"I don't usually give a pleasant look to ill-intentioned attempts at persuasion, Mr. Crow."

As she spoke, Nana took out her suitcase from the transformed trunk. Under the gaze of the other two vans carrying bread, who drew their swords and spears from their waists and pointed their weapons at themselves, Medic reached out and took Saria's arm, who was about to punch the Crow. Clearly, Miss Vouivre had also come to her senses.

However, things hadn't reached the point of completely breaking ties with the other party yet, so Nana stopped her.

"To put it simply, I am quite dissatisfied with the 'autocratic' behavior of the Marquis's subordinates... Of course, everyone has a desire for control, so I understand. If Your Excellency can show enough sincerity, I wouldn't mind bringing my partner to tomorrow's banquet... As for tonight, well, just don't let me see your face again."

PS: Waaaaaaah!

PSS: My sleep schedule is a bit risky... My word count has dropped to 4k per day... Although I know I should work harder, I'm still in that pre-month depression phase... Let me adjust a little...

6th Patriot's Gun: 238 You are the one who came.

Ignoring the fact that Miss Swallow had reluctantly spent the night with her and Saria in the small hotel lobby, Nana was actually quite satisfied with her first day in Chernobog.

Without alerting the Old Nobles' Army, Rhine Lab, made contact with the mayor's faction on a relatively equal footing... although the other party was somewhat impolite.

But warnings and precautions are mutual; wasn't the other side also using this method to warn 'Rhine Lab,' repeatedly emphasizing their own ownership of the Sarcophagus during the conversation?

Although Nana knew better than anyone that, tracing back to the source, Kal'tsit was the legal owner of those Previous Civilization devices... saying that would likely cause the Ursus people to drop the factional accusations; they would simply say that the devices were in their possession, therefore they belonged to them. Furthermore...

So, does the ultimate Istina of everything boil down to whoever has the bigger fist being right?

Those powerful figures who have vanished from history probably have something to say about this... (Further details omitted)

Nana still remembers her manager's lament... Violence only invites more violence. If you see tyranny as the cure for everything, then all you will gain is the end of tyranny.

Ursus has already paid a heavy price for its tyranny; in fact, it could be said that its current predicament, both internally and externally, is directly related to its past acts of brutality.

Returning to the operational logic of the Rhine Lab duo, and Boris Boris's probing and maneuvering... these were all anticipated aspects of the plan. The fact that the other side didn't even resort to direct force suggests that Chernobog's condition might be worse than anticipated.

Of course, Nana wasn't saying that just because someone's actions weren't forceful, she should superficially assume they were weak... In this era of heightened vigilance among the Old Nobility, it was best to avoid conflict with Boris if possible. Nana actually had a rather favorable impression of this Chernobog controller who had single-handedly isolated Ursus.

This person seems surprisingly untainted by the mud... but judging from the Crow immediately started using subconscious hypnosis, it's probably not that simple.

"... Therefore, to survive amidst powerful enemies, one must be tougher than the toughest enemy, more ruthless than the most vicious, and more cunning than the most cunning... Only in this way can Chernobog, as an anomaly, take root in the economic lifeline of Ursus and become an important landmark that the Emperor and the Old Nobility dislike but have no choice but to rely on... But even so, facing a directly attacking army, being able to hold its own is probably the limit for Marquis Boris..."

As Nana sipped her first morning tea in Ursus, she remarked.

So, is violence truly the Istina of all things? The original sin of this land?

No, it's just that without violence, you have no choice.

As Nana watched the crow, who had been thoroughly humiliated by Nana yesterday, now rubbing his hands together with a forced smile as he Crow the two of them, Nana narrowed her eyes slightly and used her teacup to cover the corners of her mouth, which were deliberately adorned with a smile.