Chapter 223

Although Jessica's sudden display of affection surprised Nana, she was, after all, a junior whom her manager had asked her to take good care of for years. However, Nana didn't see anything wrong with this level of dependence.

Of course, it's impossible to say that the increased complexity of interpersonal relationships had absolutely no impact on the assassin.

A brief review and rational analysis of one's past experiences will reveal that the risks associated with one's actions are increasing exponentially.

From a lone Ghost to Silent Assassin willing to abandon all ICA employees for the sake of a mission, from National Laboratory employee only needing to ensure the success of his own operations to now having to relinquish his primary combat role, increase risks, and cultivate the confidence of Rhodes Island subordinates even with subpar weapons...

Nana could sense to some extent that sustaining people's lives and existence was far more difficult than simply destroying them.

The weight of life is so heavy, and carrying that weight naturally means self-limitation... For the sake of those he cares about, the killer's actions become volatile, and his bottom line begins to change... All of this seems to be justified.

So what about those parts that we 'don't value'?

They'll obediently do as they want... 'As long as things proceed this way, the assassin's bullets won't be fired'... right?

The answer, naturally, is no.

When the Exploration Vehicle entered Chernobog, Nana discovered that the industrial blocks that were said to be "use it as you please" were not as "free" as the words suggested.

Anti-ship weapons were mounted on the outer fence of the industrial area's elevator, and armed personnel in Chernobog Military Police uniforms watched coldly... As a non-main entrance, the fixed defense weapons here were not as intimidating as those on the main elevator, but the integrated single-mounted large-caliber omnidirectional turret mounted at the bottom of the Mobile Landmass, along with additional harpoon guns, were enough to dismantle the Exploration Vehicle into a pile of scrap metal.

This hairstyle made Huang, who was sitting in the driver's seat, very uneasy. Because it was nighttime, by the time he discovered that the target area had these features, it was already too late to turn around... Now the lives of everyone in the car were in Chernobog's hands.

"... Nana..."

"Yes, we're locked down..."

After a two-second silence, Nana patted Huang on the shoulder:

"Keep moving forward. Turning around directly would be too suspicious, and to achieve our tactical objectives, we need to at least enter Chernobog... In any case, once inside, we can avoid the mobile turrets and those fixed harpoons."

"Issue a general notice, especially to Weedy, who might not hear the alert while she's in the reactor compartment... Everyone, grab your field gear and wait in your cars in the garage. I'm going to talk to them later, so be prepared to abandon ship at any time... If they're hostile, I'll try to create an opportunity for you."

"PRTS, lock the system after Huang leaves the pilot's seat, hide the display of special-class compartments such as the reactor and armory in the system... Loading password, 2887."

At Nana's command, all the Terminal panels on everyone's devices suddenly flashed red, and all the lights in the Exploration Vehicle switched to emergency mode.

The flashing yellow warning lights gave the driver's cab a resolute air. As Huang and Liskarm drove the vehicle into the Mobile City, Nana watched the diamond-shaped cannon muzzle follow the vehicle until the firing angle was no longer permissible, and pondered.

How much of this was an automated system response from Level 1 combat readiness, and how much was part of communication between Chernobog and Rhodes Island?

Good news! Nana spotted Chernobog Mayor Boris on the industrial module High Table after the elevator was completely shut down... Since a high-ranking official was personally risking his life, he probably wasn't there to start a direct war.

But the bad news is that Boris has a very strong presence in the Warp... Great, so this small Chernobog has more than one of the Emperor's Blades? But Nana doesn't have Tactical Unit around her that can easily suppress the Demons Pollution.

Since she couldn't just remove the security forces around the Doctor, Nana simply drew her only legitimate Guardian Gun with her left hand... Even though she didn't have Non-Entropic Applications for 'special attacks', and she didn't want the Collapse Paradigm to accidentally harm friendly forces, 'Judgment,' which removes the Firearms Arts's power limit, was Nana's strongest single-target killing method at the moment.

Whether the other side is investigating the dead or is actually investigating this city that could easily become the second front of the civil war, if they want to start a war, Nana will fight them to the death... simply because the Inner Guards are just that dangerous to the rest of the team.

While the Chernobog system was waiting to connect to the Exploration Vehicle control system, Nana had already checked the status of all the weapons she had. The other two's equipment and backpacks were also nearby, and the three of them immediately entered combat mode.

As the vehicle's control panel flashed, the bridge and passenger cabin doors were remotely opened. At the same time, the Chernobog Military Police rushed directly onto the bridge via the suspension ladder. There was no time for Hoshiguma and Liskarm to reunite with the others... Nana held a gun in one hand and made a defensive gesture with the other.

"This doesn't seem like the 'use' you've been told before... Mayor Boris."

Unabashedly displaying her Halo, she unfurled her incandescent Light Wings, and her chainsaw and shield shone with the magical light of Originium Arts. Nana pointed her revolver, enveloped in white light, at the hatch.

The armed personnel who had initially charged in with great momentum stopped in their tracks upon seeing the radiant white Halo and Light Wings. Ursus, who had fought against Laterano during the reign of the previous emperor, naturally understood what the dazzling Sankta Halo truly meant.

Nana's target wasn't these different armed personnel, after all, the person who had changed Boris's attitude so drastically, who used to say "as long as you can save Chernobog, I'll give you as much as you want," was now entering the bridge with those rhythmic breaths.

"... I've never heard of Rhodes Island's Medic being affiliated with Sankta... According to the records, you should just Feline..."

"Mature women all have their own secrets... This... Lord Blade, let's talk about this later. After all, even someone as good-tempered as me would be quite angry to be treated like this... Boris, please come forward. What have I done to deserve such disrespect?"

In an instant, the light that had cast long shadows on everyone flickered and vanished, the dazzling incandescence instantly shifting position. The Firearms Arts magic, capable of piercing the main armor belt of Landship, forced Boris to close his eyes in pain, but even so, the burning sensation in his temples caused him to involuntarily let out a scream.

"While I was risking my life to protect Chernobog, leading my men into the city at the great risk of Rhodes Island directly engaging the Nobles' Army, what greeted us were two anti-ship gun emplacements... Besides ordering my soldiers to storm the ship, you actually called me 'Feline, Feline'?! You wouldn't even address me as Rhodes Island's Medic!"

"Ah... I think there might be some... um... misunderstanding... Yes, it must be a misunderstanding. As you know, I'm also facing the relentless pressure from the Nobles' Army. A locked industrial elevator could easily become their weak point... Locking on anti-ship guns and boarding inspections are just standard inspection procedures in Ursus..."

Seeing Boris's pained expression, even tearing up from the bright light, and sensing a hint of fear, Nana felt the time was right and turned her attention to the other side:

"Next time, you can say something you can believe... And you, the Emperor's Blades, Ursus's Inner Guards... you seem to have some issues with me too?"

Seeing Nana's 'Judgment' that was practically aimed at Boris's forehead, and after Nana performed the Inner Guards's signature 'Space Jump,' he seemed to stop breathing. Only when Nana looked at him again did the Inner Guards, whose combat uniform was still very new and whose hand was always on the hilt of his sword, cautiously take a step forward.

"I think I understand why the commander has drawn my special attention to you... Although you may not be aware of the great and dangerous power you wield, you should have been warned... Being allowed to possess a 'The Dominion' is already a pardon from the Great Ursus, so why set foot on land that does not belong to you again?"

"... A pardon? Ah... you mean that warning from a year ago? Is that why you've come..."

Seeing that the other party didn't seem to have any intention of refuting her, Nana breathed a sigh of relief. After all, she had just thought that the other party was here to cause trouble for that silly girl from the beginning... In any case, it was good that they were willing to reason with her, since verbal sparring was easier than physical confrontation.

"Perfect timing. I'd like to ask, on what grounds did your Inner Guards prohibit me from entering the country a year ago?"

"Rhodes Island possesses a franchise granted by the Emperor of Ursus, through which Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals can legally operate in all cities within Ursus and handle issues related to the Infected, as well as possess all privileges related to the Contingency Contract... which naturally includes independent security and entry/exit permits."

"Your Inner Guards has forbidden me from entering the country... What, do you have more power than the emperor?"

"Let me be blunt, the permission your Emperor granted was to help us deal with this shitty the Infected in Ursus. In other words, it's to ease the conflict between you ordinary people and the Infected, and to help you resolve the root cause of your current civil war."

"Originally... this power was given to me, and what I had to do was very simple. It was nothing more than Rhodes Island doing what you Loyalist Faction wouldn't do, and Rhodes Island killing what you Inner Guards wouldn't dare to kill."

"At worst, they revoked our authority and issued another order for us to leave. After that... the Infected had a way to survive and were somewhat more obedient, and the emperor could even gain a reputation for being considerate of his father's former subordinates."

"The Loyalist Faction's factories gained workers, and the corrupt officials who were sucking the blood of the state were also dealt with in the process... It should have been a happy event for everyone, but there were always people who, in various ways, posed as our comrades and created obstacles for us!"

Seeing the Inner Guards unconsciously draw his sword, Boris was already sweating profusely. Realizing she had used too much force, Nana took a deep breath and adjusted her tone, which seemed to have inadvertently revealed her true feelings:

"But don't worry, 'Lord' will forgive you, your sins will be pardoned, even though your reactions during your journey to Paradise made me... unable to help but laugh. But the disease called stupidity will be cured... all I need to do is send you to 'Lord' to repent."

As she spoke, Nana even turned the hammer, and it was hard to say how much of that rapid-fire complaining was genuine.

And looking at Boris Earl, who was now being 'Judgment' once again because he was positioned to the left of the other man, the Inner Guards, facing another 'The Dominion', began to unusually consider his words:

"I think you're complicating things... Phil... Rhodes Island Medic agent... I can vouch for Boris Earl. He may have overdone things a bit while escorting you into the city, but the vehicle checks and the security measures when the external elevators were open were absolutely necessary."

"My presence here might be the root of your misunderstanding, but I'm only here because the situation in Chernobog is indeed complicated. I'm investigating a murder targeting one of our kind. Chernobog is in turmoil right now, so when I hear that an international company is suddenly being unusually attentive, I need to do some investigation."

"As you said, the Inner Guards has no authority to restrict His Majesty's permission... and I think, after the explanation, you shouldn't be so agitated... Take back your the Dominion, Medic. I don't deny His Highness's authority, but please also respect... the traditions of Ursus."

Nana showed a knowing expression upon hearing the rather elaborate explanation from the Inner Guards.

Ursus tradition?

Does this mean that once you seize an opportunity to try to force the other party to serve you by force, and then, after realizing that things are unacceptable from a moral, rational, or even violent standpoint, you change your tune and put on a facade of freedom, democracy, and openness?

From this perspective, perhaps Nana preferred the initial unruly demeanor of these bears.

At least that way Nana could actually fire a couple of shots to vent the frustration that had been building up inside her... but that only applies to the Nana of the past.

Thinking of the teammates, including Amiya, still in the garage, whose lives and destinies could be changed in a single thought... Now that Nana has taken on the responsibility of others' lives, she can no longer do whatever she wants as before... She only now understands what 'venting' means.

As the violent law enforcement by the Chernobog Military Police became more civilized under the orders of their mayor, Nana also put away her 'Judgment' that she could use against the Inner Guards at any time.

Although the other party seemed to have given in and began resupplying the Exploration Vehicle's reactor Originium and depleted water tank after inspecting the vehicle, Nana knew that the other party had come for her, the 'holder of foreign the Dominion ', from the very beginning.

After all, if an Inner Guards died suddenly in Sarcophagus and didn't want to provoke his own colleagues, then the recorded the Dominion holders in the vicinity would be perfect scapegoats.

Regardless of whether the other party did it or not, taking control first is always the right thing to do.

Nana also thought this logic was sound, so she adopted a rather vehement stance, invoking the royal authority that the Ursus people could not openly defy.

Even within the intelligence circles of various countries, it's common knowledge that the sudden death of the late Emperor Ursus was inextricably linked to the Inner Guards... but Nana openly invoked her royal authority, and whether it was a marquis or Inner Guards... aside from the Old Nobility Faction who had already openly broken ties with the current emperor, everyone else had to give her face.

The problem is, if some brilliant detective really does emerge and discovers Nana's connection to the assassination of the Inner Guards... then even the emperor can't save them. Nana will have no choice but to openly take control of the Core City of a Mobile City.

Putting aside the inherent difficulties of the process, even if the Doctor were rescued in this way... he might still be severed by Kal'tsit in the name of Rhodes Island.

Nana was mentally prepared; it was simply a matter of becoming a 'Ghost' again.

... vessel

With the 'misunderstanding' cleared up, Nana rode in the mayor's limousine, and the convoy from Rhodes Island and Chernobog headed towards the 'mansion'... well, the place where Saria was.

Inside the car, for reasons unknown, Boris, besides Nana and Rhodes Island CEO Amiya, also invited Ptilopsis into his vehicle.

His smooth-talking, almost Victoria aristocratic manner made Nana a little worried that he might have noticed something, but Nana had already brushed him off by saying that Joyce was a business partner who had asked her to take care of someone, and it would be inappropriate to say anything more.

Only the Ptilopsis operator can handle this situation alone.

"Ms. Moore, your sudden disappearance worried me greatly. I'm so sorry you had to go through that ordeal; it was my fault for not treating you well... However, the fact that you were on Rhodes Island's Exploration Vehicle is quite a pleasant surprise. Rhodes Island is the 'trustworthy partner' Ms. Saria mentioned."

Seeing the Ptilopsis's expressionless face, Earl, Boris regained his usual composure, smiled and said:

"Although we only met once, please allow me to make amends for my previous mistake..."

Although this explanation was quite subtle, Nana, as the person involved, immediately knew that Boris was testing her again... Was his suspicion of Saria extending to Rhodes Island?

Or is it that self-doubt never disappeared from the very beginning?

After all, Nana didn't know how much information the other party had about him, but he had never met 'Ptilopsis' before; he had only met his subordinate agents.

If Joyce says something wrong at this point, even if it can be confirmed that Rhine Lab and Rhodes Island are in a state of cooperation... the two groups are not even considered to be on a 'temporary mission'. With Saria already revealing her desire for the 'Sarcophagus', if the connection between the two sides is confirmed, then Rhodes Island's true purpose will also be exposed.

It's hard to say whether Nana felt the urge to draw her gun again, but the Ptilopsis gave Nana a look, and the assassin immediately suppressed her killing intent.

"Logically speaking, a single meeting is insufficient; Joyce has never met you before... This is our first meeting."

Yes, it's my own diary report.

It was sent back along with the encrypted message at the time... It can only be said that as the data administrator, the Ptilopsis must have read the entire text.

Seeing Boris patting his head and saying he'd misremembered, only Amiya echoed him with a smile, seemingly mimicking someone else's mannerisms. Nana and Ptilopsis exchanged glances, but neither of them showed any smile.

"In short, welcome to Chernobog Mansion, this is where I entertain foreign guests... It just so happens that Ms. Saria is also here... That lady has helped me a lot, and I imagine that everyone from Rhodes Island will be working closely with us from now on."

"Please feel free to arrange your rooms as you see fit. If you have any needs, just ask the maid... As for more detailed cooperation details, let's wait for that person's return and finalize them at tomorrow's banquet."

After escorting the Rhodes Island members to the military mansion, the three Ursus- style jeeps from Rhodes Island came to a stop, and the eleven people got out with their equipment and backpacks. Everyone marveled at the luxurious mansion.

Whether it was because Nana's near-outburst had frightened Boris, or because the Inner Guards had informed him that ordinary guards were ineffective against the 'The Dominion'... in any case, most of the soldiers who originally guarded the mansion in the military camp were transferred to the main gate of the Sarcophagus.

Saria, who was previously under house arrest, has now successfully rejoined the team.

As they watched the limousine drive away, Nana and Boris knew that the two sides could no longer cooperate as they had initially done as a 'government' and a 'company'.

Since both sides are vying for the initiative in cooperation, there must be a focus of contention.

Will Rhodes Island really react with the same fierce intensity as the Inner Guards, ready to confront them head-on, just because they feel 'disrespected'?

Nana didn't know how the other person would view her 'performance,' and their 'cooperation' began in this kind of mutual, unpredictable exploration.

PS: Waaaaaaah!

PSS: I unknowingly used some... references... Although I don't think they were bad references, they seem to be commonplace in various books... Please forgive me if they caused discomfort... I will try to reduce the amount of content that breaks the immersion in the story in the future.

6th Patriot's Gun: 247 Falling into a Trap

Although Nana never intended to cooperate honestly with Chernobog from the beginning, this was only their third meeting, and the atmosphere was far from harmonious... It seemed like they were about to clash at any moment... It all happened too fast.

Chernobog enters its rainy season in July, and the oppressive atmosphere is weighed down by the heavy clouds. The sound of the pouring rain seems to wash away the gloom for everyone.

Nana, now dressed in her full Rhodes Island uniform, sat at the bar by the window in the mansion. In the shadow of the lamplight beside her lay the iconic silver Firearms Arts of 'Medic' from the Ursus files... In the eyes of the assassin, Amiya, still a 'young girl', was smiling and chatting with the local business representatives who had come with Boris, dressed in a black gown.

The renowned Ursus orchestra, which had reportedly performed in Leithanien, played soft banquet music by candlelight, while people in formal attire clinked glasses. Some angrily denounced the Third Army for being unreasonable, while others raised their glasses to pledge their loyalty to Boris... And many more, though already aboard the sinking ship of Chernobog, wore different expressions, some worried, others glancing at Amiya in the room, clearly plotting something.

It seems that even the most enlightened and progressive entrepreneurs and businessmen in Ursus's various classes unconsciously wear strange expressions when they see the Infected.

Originally, Nana should have been on Amiya's side, but since there were two other people who volunteered to be Amiya's protectors beside the Little Bunny... Putting aside Folinic, since Huang patted her chest and said that she would protect Amiya, Nana decided to take a short break today while continuing her tug-of-war with Boris and the Inner Guards.

Unlike the Little Bunny, Huang and Folinic did not change into the formal wear sent by the Marquis... Of course, there was also the factor that those two styles were not suitable for the Infected to wear, but the main reason was that, given the current very strained cooperation between the two sides, Amiya wearing that outfit was enough to show Rhodes Island's attitude.

Even with the power outage, the banquet with music and dancing at the mansion continued uninterrupted. The flames flickered on the exquisite candlesticks, and several drinks of various kinds had already been finished. Nana, whose bartender appeared stiff and somewhat unnatural, disciplinedly checked everyone's condition.

In the second-floor banquet hall of the Chernobog Sarcophagus Mansion, used to entertain visitors, Marquis Boris hosted the banquet as promised in celebration of Rhodes Island's arrival.

Those invited here are all close associates of Boris the Marquis... I mean, those on Boris's pirate ship.

Everyone here is a wealthy merchant whose entire fortune is tied to the Core City's land holdings, or to Chernobog's trading position in Ursus. Given their need to counter the Third Army's ill-intentioned blockade, the arrival of Rhodes Island, an international corporation, is a natural ally for them... and a powerful potential partner with its own Landship and independent Security Department.

Although none of these people expressed any expectation that Rhodes Island could actually defeat the Third Army, Rhodes Island had the ability to bypass the Third Army's access to and from the city, which was the fundamental reason why they were all subtly probing Amiya.

Unfortunately, Nana is unlikely to leave Chernobog in less than six months, so the merchants' idea of having Rhodes Island help them smuggle themselves out is unnecessary... After confirming that these people weren't interesting, Nana shifted her gaze to another corner of the banquet hall, where Saria and Ptilopsis were dealing with guests who had inexplicably approached them.

Saria's relaxed demeanor, holding a wine glass and talking animatedly, was reassuring. She would occasionally clink glasses with people in military and police uniforms to exchange greetings... Perhaps because she had previously cooperated with and guided the commander of the troops sealing the Sarcophagus, their relationship was clearly quite good... Of course, Nana also had a good relationship with Loban. It can only be said that compared to the nobles whose minds were full of various tests, speculations, and unfathomable intentions, the more straightforward Ursus soldiers were much easier to deal with.

Saria is different from Amiya, who needs help dealing with her surroundings. The former head of Rhine Lab Defense Division seemed quite adept at this kind of situation, and Nana only glanced at her before paying no more attention.

Another pair worth mentioning are Mika and Typhon, who are being looked after by Franka... Unlike everyone else, whose expressions were somewhat gloomy, the Sarkaz and Sankta (fake) were the most eye-catching people at the event. Their attention was entirely on the buffet, and their smiles and infectious energy were the strongest at the banquet.

As a private banquet hosted by the Marquis of Ursus, the quality of the pastries and dishes at the mansion likely represents the highest level in the Core City Chernobog.

Nana examined the pastries, drinks, and various Ursus and Gaul dishes in the venue... and found them all to be of very high quality.

Well, if I had to nitpick, the seafood wasn't very fresh... The sashimi with scales smelled a bit strange, perhaps because of the power outage; the cold storage couldn't withstand the summer heat.