Chapter 247

But the other party only approached without doing anything. When the two were face to face, Nana had to look up slightly at the woman who was over 1.75 meters tall. At the same time, the assassin saw the shadow of her attributes in the other party's eyes.

"... Familiar snake eyes... You're Talulah's father, and now her mother? Anyway... Immortal Black Snake, what brings you here?"

"My unfilial daughter was taken care of by you before."

Looking at the smiling face of the white-haired Liberi before her, Nana couldn't quite grasp his thoughts; Koschei's expression control was clearly flawless. Nana could only toy with the enamel butterfly knife in her hand, a knife capable of obliterating his soul and consciousness. The night-sky-colored blade flashed up and down as a threat, as she asked:

"So, you're here for revenge?"

"Revenge? I have no grudge against you whatsoever."

"So you're saying you brought eight Inner Guards to block my way here to catch up? What do you want to talk about? Your experience raising your daughter? Well, I should apologize for that. My Narcissa doesn't need me to interfere... mainly because I have no intention of taking over my own daughter."

Even with such a blunt humiliation, the woman with snake eyes showed no change in expression; she even seemed to smile happily.

"Ha~ You're quite humorous. It's been a few years, and that silent Angel has become quite eloquent... I originally intended to invite you to my Landship as Ursus Nobility so that I could entertain you, but obviously, nouveau riche from Columbia just doesn't understand the 'sense of ceremony' of the nobility."

"Then let's be frank... I'm very interested in you... in your Rhodes Island plans."

After a moment of silence, the Black Snake revealed an expression that could only be described as alluring:

"How about letting me get involved?"

PS: Waaaaaaah!

The Chernobog's Blood Money: 277 History Lecturer, Kashena - Black Snake

"You?"

Black Snake's words overwhelmed Nana's mind. What did he mean by suddenly mentioning Rhodes Island?

Rhodes Island's plan itself being exposed wasn't a big deal, because unlike ordinary assassinations, helping others escape the battlefield wasn't anything shameful. But an immortal being who seemed to have Inner Guards support... especially one whose plans Rhodes Island had recently interfered with, suddenly approached her saying she'd had a change of heart and wanted to help those suffering on the battlefield?

Nana would only think that the other party was there to cause trouble and was plotting a new scheme.

"Black..."

"You can call me Kashena. I am currently being entrusted by the faculty and students of the Saint Petersburg Royal University to help the people of Chernobog, as a history lecturer."

"Or are you saying that I truly don't deserve even the slightest bit of respect from you? I came here with sincerity. Rhodes Island, you don't want that near-collapse Boris to know that you haven't actually left Chernobog for the past year, do you?"

"He blames his current predicament entirely on your reckless behavior."

"I only saw a threat. Who would bring eight Inner Guards and talk about something like 'You didn't want to either' with such murderous intent... If you think that Rhodes Island's ideals are something you can use, then you are very wrong."

"I do not accept threats, and Rhodes Island will not accept threats from any person or organization. You are free to notify whomever you want, and you are free to plot whatever schemes or tricks you wish."

"All you need to know is that everything in this world comes at a price. And please remember, whether in the past or the future, whether in the mansions of royalty or the bases deep in the mountains, my bullets are closer to you than your arteries."

As she spoke, Nana drew the Silver Dancer and held it to her left wrist, which was gripping the butterfly knife in reverse. The expensive, specially made high-pressure Originium bullet was aimed at the Black Snake who called herself 'Kashena'.

As the surrounding Inner Guards drew their swords, a bright white halo appeared in the black flames of Nana's left eye, where the pupil should have been... The Inner Guards, who used the same system's power, naturally knew that this was a symbol of pushing the 'The Dominion' to the brink of explosion.

The person in front of her, whether it was Sankta or Feline, wasn't bluffing! This person, who could drive a 'The Dominion' of equal or even higher level than the Inner Guards without needing special protective gear... she was truly prepared to fight eight Inner Guards simultaneously!

Among those who showed some degree of reaction, only the woman in black surprisingly maintained her alluring smile, her eyes filled with admiration and approval. It was as if the individual wielding this dangerous weapon, the one who had once extinguished her consciousness, was merely a kitten baring its teeth at her.

"... Such a strong fighting spirit. Sorry for calling you a nouveau riche from Columbia before... Perhaps you are the one who truly inherited Victoria's spirit of fighting on sight... Honestly, why didn't the 'Angel' in the Old Covenant finally descend to Ursus? Ursus is clearly the place where you can best utilize your talents."

"By revealing my confidential information in such a self-talking manner, it seems Black Snake, you're prepared to disappear along with these people..."

"Don't say that. After all, as the incarnation of Ursus, it's natural to be concerned about what happened when one of the fingers that walks the world suddenly disappears... And it's surprising that the investigation into the 'Silver Dancer' traces back to Columbia. As I said, they're just a group of nouveau riche who have made their way to the bottom of the Gaul corpses."

"Compared to them... Rhodes Island, you... and Kal'tsit, who also left a deep mark on world history, are far more interesting than those nouveau riche. So believe me, I have indeed come with good intentions."

"As for the children around me, they are just doing their jobs, but the current civil war and minimizing its damage are more important than investigating the deaths of their two colleagues in Chernobog or even the cause of the Pollution leak."

"So let me say it again, I'm very interested in Rhodes Island... in your plan to protect more people off the battlefield, and I'd like to get involved as well."

"Of course, this is not a guarantee that university history teacher Kashena can give. Now that the Emperor has granted you legal access, my permission will be the final door for you to realize your ideals... This is the guarantee of Ursus, the immortal Duke Koschei."

Looking at the woman in front of her, who claimed to be a university teacher but whose every move exuded aristocratic air, and who was looking at her with such expectant eyes, Nana would probably have stood on end with her ears and tail bristling if she hadn't been maintaining her disguise and using Chimera magic.

After all, the other party's gaze, which was like that of a licker, made Nana think nothing more than that the Black Snake was eyeing her body.

This woman was accompanied by Inner Guards, who were undoubtedly symbols of Ursus's political authority. Her claim that she was the embodiment of Ursus might not be an exaggeration. With such skilled Inner Guards supporting her, even the emperor's decrees might not be as effective as Black Snake's words.

But here's the problem: what went wrong with the 'Black Snake' who allowed Talulah to kill him, watched the Reunion Movement emerge in his territory, and tacitly approved the birth of FrostNova and countless other tragedies on this black land, that suddenly said he wanted to help ordinary war refugees?

It's as funny as the day a crosstalk performance by the Great Yan stops being funny.

The various unknowns and the benefits that could be gained by agreeing to them constructed a dazzling array of Istina in Nana's mind, like the brilliance on Starpod. This complex understanding of human relationships seemed to have exceeded the limits of Angel who had only recently become socialized.

Nana lowered the muzzle of her gun slightly and asked the question that had been bothering her:

"You'd be that kind?"

"This is truly... a misunderstanding I don't know how to assess. In your eyes, am I really just a guy who only knows how to cause trouble? If that's the case, how could I have been given the right to be the Ursus avatar, and how could I have so many Inner Guards following me around?"

"You don't actually think they're all my 'fingers' or 'eyes,' do you? The power of the Warp is poisonous to me, as you yourself have confirmed. My reincarnation technique cannot be used on the Inner Guards or on someone like you who has acquired the same power as the Inner Guards. Does that make you feel a little more at ease?"

Like soothing a wary child, Liberi, dressed in a black dress, took two more steps forward. The 'Angel' who had wiped out 'humanity' several times in history merely frowned and did not pull the trigger.

"Everything I've done is for Ursus. I'll do anything to make this country prosperous... Whether it's stealing the Little Tal from Lungmen or letting you annihilate me if I'm about to Collapse, outsiders who don't know the truth might misunderstand me, but I've never had a single regret... It's all for Ursus."

"Of course, you probably just think I'm crazy for saying such slogans. As someone who knows the truth of the Old Covenant, witnessed the Khan's cavalry trampling the earth, and watched that lord destroy Kazdel, all I did was to prevent Ursus from ending up like those city-states of the past, with nothing left but bones."

"Compared to you... and Lord Kal'tsit, I am just a harmless Liberi."

"If you've judged me as an Untouchable based solely on Little Tal's limited description, that's truly regrettable. But if you've directly identified me, and Ursus, as an enemy... that's... a truly chilling thing."

That's enough.

Speechless, Nana interrupted the Black Snake... mainly to stop her from giving that chilling, licking look that sent shivers down her spine. She corrected him somewhat impatiently:

"The official government of Ursus is now His Majesty Emperor Feodor Vladimirovich, Rhodes Island has obtained entry permits from him... We don't need you, Black Snake."

"Oh? If that child's words truly represent Ursus, then the country wouldn't be in such a state now just because I stopped interfering in politics... Too many people are dissatisfied with him, my dear 'Angel'... Ideals alone cannot satisfy the people."

"So, is it acceptable to simply steal a child with territorial legal status from another country and treat them as a potential reincarnation target?"

Seeing that Nana was still fixated on this matter, Black Snake gently played with the ends of her hair:

"You even know about this? Or did Little Tal tell you himself? I used to think the ICA was an organization entirely supported by your personal efforts... but if you can really investigate to this extent, then you are a qualified intelligence agency."

"As for Little Tal... after all, I had high hopes for her. She will become a leader; she is a born leader. Even without my interference, the Reunion Movement has completed its mission, Ursus is no longer a stagnant pool... Although the civil war was merely 'self-digestion,' it was still better than the half-dead, paralyzed state the young emperor was in when he took the throne."

"... So, kidnapping Talulah and trying to completely brainwash and control her is to use her legal basis as a pretext to declare war on Great Yan or Victoria... The intelligence is correct; you are far more dangerous than the legends of Ursus describe."

Seeing that the 'Angel' before him had once again decided to keep her distance, the Black Snake smiled and opened her arms wide:

"So what if I admit it? I've been planning to make Ursus great again... But it's not quite what you think. Choosing war was the choice of the previous emperor... Just like Talulah chose the Infected this time, so will I choose the Infected... As members of Ursus, their choice is naturally Ursus's choice as well."

"But now it is you who need to make the choice, my dear Angel... You let my Little Tal go, and without her, Ursus's continued forceful push for war will only result in another forty years... Just as the late emperor could not make the people of the occupied territories truly become 'Ursus,' I also see this as 'Ursus's choice.'"

"After reviewing history, I realized that the Infected overthrowing the Old Nobility was also a path for Ursus to become great again, just as the former slaves of Ursus overthrew the Elders rule of the Eagle Clan. This is simply the beginning of a new cycle, Ursus's rebirth from the ashes once more."

As he said this, Black Snake turned to look at the few lights, the sobs mixed in, and the sounds of what seemed like a conflict between the children, with a few clanging sounds, but the camp quickly returned to calm:

"But in any case, the people are the lifeblood of the nation. If you truly believe I have ill intentions... then consider this my attempt to stop the bleeding for Ursus... After the pain subsides, the Giants of the frozen land will awaken, and from the far north ice plains to the southern coast, the glory of Ursus will return to the earth. This is my purpose."

Faced with such a... "frank" Black Snake, even Nana, who was extremely wary, couldn't help but lower her arm:

"... I'm pretty sure you're hiding a lot of things..."

"But aren't we the same kind of people? We'll do anything to achieve our goals. I originally thought our conversation would be pleasant."

Sheathed her pistol, and Nana's left eye returned to normal. Now equipped with tactical gear, the 'Angel' didn't even glance at the Inner Guards who no longer posed a threat. Nana left with these words before turning and departing:

"Words can be deceiving, and I won't believe what you're saying... But you can try it. If you really succeed, then we can talk about... your so-called Ursus incarnation."

Watching the dark mercury Halo disappear into the darkness, the Inner Guards, whose arms had been tense, tried twice before finally sheathing his sword.

"What a... rude fellow..."

"If you had the ability to take on eight opponents and not be at a disadvantage, I think you might have been even more rude than her... As someone of my kind, she's considered quite approachable."

Seeing the displeased Kashena beside him, the Inner Guards, who was two heads taller than his 'superior,' respectfully lowered his head and said apologetically:

"I'm sorry, Mr. Snake..."

"Never mind, although after my investigation I think your two colleagues were probably used as fodder by the 'Angel.' Judging from their reaction of not letting us leave, that's probably true... Angel only show such killing intent towards hostile targets during combat; this is a summary of records from the last twelve hundred years..."

"... Are we just going to let her go like this?"

Seeing the Inner Guards's unwilling expression, Kashena understood his feelings, but her expression was still quite... reluctant.

"Otherwise, if the Angel of the Old Covenant were to enter their merciless form, they would truly slaughter their way from Chernobog to Saint Petersburg, and then wipe out everyone within a 30-kilometer radius of Saint Petersburg... Didn't I show you the records before we set off? The 'Angel' once rained fire upon a city-state and turned a city of usurpation into a pile of salt. You don't think I'm exaggerating, do you?"

"How could I dare... However, given the current state of our national policy and the influence of our external reputation, simply cultivating good relations may have limited effect."

"Just say it's ineffective... but it's not completely useless, at least our heads are still on our necks, aren't they?"

With a sigh, Kashena... or rather, Black Snake looked helplessly at the dark sky above the industrial zone: [The text abruptly ends here, likely due to an incomplete sentence or a formatting error.]

"... Angel... every time she appears, a 'Apocalypse' recorded as a great calamity for humanity will occur... and the most recent Catastrophes on par with the 'Apocalypse' are the Scorched Windlands created by Khan's Heavenly Path, and the 'Great Silence' that silenced the entire southern land... If we don't want something similar to happen in Ursus, then it's best to go along with her wishes and send her back to where she came from."

Hearing the Inner Guards' agreement, Black Snake didn't continue.

She was clearly still astonished that the Angel seemed to have been tamed and controlled by Lord Kal'tsit, who had shackled her with a bond called 'ideal'... This was likely the result of Lord Kazdel's forceful seizure from that nouveau riche nation... Considering their ancient practice of maintaining the balance of power, this did align with Kal'tsit's logic.

Although the Black Snake was indeed disappointed that the Angel hadn't come to Ursus.

"Let's go... Next, we need to fulfill our promise to the Angel..." (Surname)

"Snake Lord, do you wish to meet Boris?"

"No, Boris is a hysterical piece of trash. Remember him. This is what happens when you can't distinguish the abilities of an 'Angel.' Although he's not considered an enemy, this is the consequence of being targeted... Go find Grand Duke Baikal and ask him to leave a way out for our people with some dignity."

Black Snake's words surprised the Inner Guards; behind them seemed to be the idea that 'Duke Koschei' didn't even want to appear before his fellow Grand Duke, Baikal. (Mio)

Kashena seemed to sense her subordinates' hesitation; after all, at the Grand Duke's level, the Emperor's Blades was no more noble to them than to an ordinary envoy.

"Don't worry, if he's not respectable, someone will make him respectable... What we need to do, as you said, is to stop Ursus's bleeding." Ling

PS: Waaaaaaah, cat!

Wait, Suzuran seems to belong to the canine family... (thinking)

PSS: I'm wondering if a Black Snake who understands the bigger picture is giving the Doctor and the others a cheat code... But Black Snake who doesn't understand the bigger picture in front of Nana... that seems inconsistent with her character who planned the entire Ursus War.

Come to think of it, Nana was Kal'tsit's handpicked anti- Seaborn weapon... so picking up the Doctor from Ursus was a really convenient thing, I won't make it too complicated... The black teamwork here can be seen as foreshadowing Ursus's later entry into the Catastrophe Counteraction Alliance.

Ursus may be a cradle of suffering, but suffering will be overcome by the people, who have the right to break free from suffering and pursue happiness... That is Nana's role.

Chernobog's Blood Money: The Scars of 278 Student Council

The appearance of the Black Snake gave Nana a lot of urgency... Even though Nana can gain a great advantage over the Inner Guards by using tactical equipment, this cannot change the fact that the Inner Guards also has an almost indelible suppressive power over ordinary Rhodes Island operators.

With eight Inner Guards on the opposing side, engaging in conflict with Black Snake would essentially put everyone on the team in danger... Nana's threat to Black Snake is exactly the same as the Inner Guards' threat to the others, which is the main reason why Nana has always maintained restraint.

As for Black Snake's seemingly well-intentioned statement, Nana was skeptical... After all, aside from their conflict over the Reunion Movement, neither Rhodes Island nor the ICA had any real connection with Ursus.

Although Nana's actions were all based on the premise that Black Snake was deceiving her and hiding something from their side... what if it were true?

If the immortal Black Snake is truly satisfied with Ursus's seemingly self-correcting 'civil war' and begins to plot the next era of Ursus unity, then even Kal'tsit, who seems unchanging in expression, will eventually smile at Ursus's transformation.

As for how Ursus's changes will affect this land, that seems to be beyond Nana's personal control... but she looks forward to it.

When Nana found the rest of the 'Arius Special Operations Team', the cat was surprised to find that everyone was covered in dust and dirt.

"What? You guys got into a fight with that Student Council?"

Seeing the confused expressions on everyone's faces, Nana gestured for Huang to speak, since command of the team naturally fell to Huang, who was also Top Operator, when she was not around.

"There wasn't a fight, it was just an accident... We were talking to the Student Council members when something seemed to break out not far from the camp... Nana probably heard the explosion too..."

"I heard it, and that explosion... it didn't sound like an ordinary explosive... was it Originium Arts? Or... was it from Oripathy?"

Seeing Huang nod with a wry smile, Nana's gaze swept over Weedy's obviously used High-Pressure Water Cannon:

"How is the aftermath being handled?"

"Due to insufficient equipment, we could only barely suppress the spread of crystalline dust by using water guns, but the Pollution itself will spread along the waterways... It has been confirmed that this cannot be stopped... In addition, the Pollution at the atomic bomb site is now a fait accompli..."

Seeing Weedy's occasional nausea due to her germaphobia, Huang took over the conversation:

"The epicenter was the Student Council's supply depot, and now two-thirds of the supplies belonging to the Student Council faction have been Pollution."

With another sigh from Huang and his retelling of the story from the beginning, Nana finally understood the whole story.

The cause of the matter is simple: a child who became the Infected during his escape was looking for a medicine to suppress his pain. With supplies becoming increasingly scarce in the surrounding small groups, the only way for him to obtain such a rare commodity as medicine was to go to the Student Council, which had inherited most of the original academy's supplies and still occasionally distributes them to the surrounding areas.