Chapter 255

Seeing that Natalia's complexion had improved considerably after being comforted by her peers, and that she had started talking to her friends, Nana nodded:

"It doesn't seem serious enough to require a private room... Speaking of which, is there a patient named Zhuoya? She's also around this age."

"Let me check... I've got it, she's in a private room, and her examination sequence is quite early... Was it an injury you personally treated by Medic? Also, please remember to get her medical record signed again."

"Yes, I know."

With that, Nana bid farewell to the seemingly harmless basic ward... and after finding Zhuoya's private ward, Nana saw the gray-haired lady.

"Ms. Daliya... right?"

"... Yes, that is me..."

After exchanging pleasantries as if they didn't know each other, Nana looked at Zhuoya was wearing a breathing mask on the hospital bed.

PS: Waaaaaaah!

PSS: How come Nana's little bit of work is written so long... Anyway, it's a transitional section. Also, let me see the new SS, what kind of work has YJ given me this time?

8th Spring of Siracusa: 287 Shadow of Rhodes Island

Dalia, who had just come from the battlefield, was somewhat nervous. The gray-haired woman immediately stood up after Nana entered the room, wiped away the tears that seemed impossible to stop, and gave a somewhat forced smile.

"Are you... a doctor?"

"Yes, I'm from Rhodes Island's Emergency Medical Department. I'm here to check on the patient's condition... Don't worry, this is just a routine check-up."

Seeing Nana familiarly pick up the medical record book hanging in front of the hospital bed and start operating it on the tablet instead of asking her own daughter to undergo some additional treatment, and with little Feline, who was as cute as a cloud, following closely behind her, Ms. Dalia's expression visibly relaxed.

At first, Nana was a little nervous seeing Dalia's tearful appearance, but after reviewing Zhuoya's medical records and confirming her vital signs, Nana turned to comfort Ms. Dalia:

"Zhuoya, right... she's recovering very well."

"... Is that so? But... the doctor said it was... a fatal wound..."

"It was indeed a fatal injury, and because of the traces of Overheal, the patient's organs are at risk of failure... Please don't make that face. The deformities and organ failure risks caused by Overheal are mainly in the initial observation and treatment phase of the injury. Currently, Zhuoya's vital signs have entered a stable phase..."

As she spoke, Nana went to the girl's bedside to observe and treat her.

Because Zhuoya's heart and half of her left lung were pierced, Nana paid extra attention to the working condition of the newly formed organs... Obviously, Rhodes Island's Medical Department was also very worried about whether these organs, which were forcibly regenerated and restored by magic, could work normally, otherwise they would not have kept the oxygen mask and Emergency Pacemaker on even during the stabilization period.

However, what's most unexpected is that Loban actually sent his daughter to Rhodes Island... Nana originally thought Loban would leave his child in the big hospital in Chernobog.

Although Chernobog's hospital ground wards must have suffered heavy damage due to the shelling, the Mobile City's underground facilities always have redundancy and backups, so Nana didn't think Chernobog's standard medical care was much worse than Rhodes Island's.

"... Registration complete. In short, your daughter is now in a stable recovery period. We'll see when she wakes up... However, it's not a bad thing for her to remain unconscious for a while longer. After all, the Overheal has made her internal organs very sensitive and delicate. If she stays awake, she'll have to endure this adaptation process with willpower... That could be a very painful process."

Saying these words, whether they were meant to be comforting or not, Nana turned off her Terminal and prepared to leave.

"Um, please wait a moment."

However, Nana was suddenly stopped by Dalia again. Nana initially thought the lady just wanted to know more about Zhuoya's condition, but after Nana turned around with a businesslike smile, Dalia's next words made Nana's eyes freeze slightly: I

"Have we met somewhere before?"

"Is there such a thing?" (Delete)

"I think so, Doctor, you look very... familiar..."

"If I had to say, I was indeed in Chernobog last year handling the Sarcophagus Pollution. But I'm not very noticeable, so it's normal that you wouldn't recognize me if I changed my clothes."

Nana chuckled dryly, the terror of her identity being exposed resurfacing once more. She quickly tried to brush it off with a half-truth, but to her surprise, the gray-haired woman's eyes hardened, and she grabbed Nana as she tried to leave.

As Ms. Dalia clasped her hands together and brought them close, before Nana could react with discomfort, the woman seemed to transform back into the well-mannered and knowledgeable lady she once was.

"Yes, exactly as Loban said..."

"That?")

"Because Loban had been complaining for a while about his spellcasting baton being taken away—but I could tell he was actually quite relaxed when he said it. The police department's work at the time actually received help from Rhodes Island... Thank you very much." —Jun

"... That was the result of the combined efforts of all the field staff; I just did what I was supposed to do..." (Sheep)

As she said this, Nana thought of how her insistence and stubbornness had led to the continuous weakening of Chernobog's strength, and how Boris himself had eventually died at her hands. She felt a pang of regret.

As Dalia moved closer to Nana again, Nana, who was already feeling a little guilty, unusually took a half-step back.

"Um... Ms Dalia?"

"Hmm... as expected... it still looks very similar..."

"What?"

"Nothing..."

It seemed she had given up? Dalia didn't continue with her seemingly pent-up thoughts, and after Nana tilted her head in confusion and opened the ward door, Dalia's mutterings made Nana break out in a cold sweat:

"After all... Feline is Feline, Sankta is Sankta... they can't possibly be the same person..."

The ward door slammed shut. Seeing Nana's bewildered expression, Rosemary, still clutching Nana's tail, shook her hand.

"Nana, didn't you say there was more work to do later?"

"Hmm... By the way, Narcissa..."

"Um?"

"Have I become rusty with my skills?"

As she spoke, Nana took out a small vanity mirror and looked at herself. Although she wasn't using her usual full disguise, her attire and demeanor had completely switched to 'Medic' mode.

Assuming that Loban kept the secret, Dalia actually thought that 'Medic' and 'Arius Squad Mercenaries' were similar in disguise... Nana really couldn't understand it.

These two disguises are completely different in terms of eyes, temperament, manner of movement, clothing, hair color, and eye shape... How did she come to the conclusion that 'Medic' and a certain Sankta look like the same person?

In the end, it was the prevailing notion that racial characteristics could not coexist that interrupted Dalia's thoughts; otherwise, Nana felt that her disguise would have been exposed on the spot.

With the question, 'I've become weaker? And who is it because of?' in mind, Nana sighed as she checked the documents, then followed the PRTS's directions to the location of the Doctor.

Obviously, as a VIP who had just returned from Chernobog, two days was simply not enough time for her to complete the series of medical examinations arranged by Kal'tsit. She was currently still in the core area of the Medical Department, but fortunately, she was not in a state of surgery or closed observation, Nana could go see her.

However, standing in the corridor leading to the deepest part of the Medical Department, Nana suddenly stopped.

The Little Cat holding Nana's tail was initially puzzled by Nana's inexplicable behavior, but soon, the seemingly lazy Little Cat perked up its ears and looked towards the empty space beside the corridor.

Is anyone there?

Perhaps because it was Rhodes Island, her 'home,' the Little Cat had no sense of danger. She just sensed something was there and came out from behind Nana to investigate... But the little one had only taken two steps when Nana grabbed her back, because something resembling murderous intent emanated from the unknown entity that was hiding somewhere.

Calling it murderous intent doesn't quite fit, since that feeling was more like a sense of 'disallowed' than murderous intent... Did the Little Cat not have permission to meet with the Doctor?

Furthermore... since when did the number of SWEEP personnel who can remain hidden on board for extended periods increase from one to three?

Taking a deep breath... The assassin's heterochromatic eyes lit up with a faint glow and fire. Rhodes Island should still be safe. Nana was very familiar with the scent and magical touch that the Little Cat had tried to touch. That gaze was sensitive and gentle. Although she was still an unqualified assassin as always, and had many problems as a bodyguard, Nana knew this person very well. She had passed by this person many times when she entered and exited Kal'tsit's office in the past, so she was quite familiar with her.

However, one of the other two had a more distinct scent, probably belonging to the Zalak clan... It seemed that the other party had triggered 'Feline Sickness' because of her, and Nana was all too familiar with the scent of fear yet forced composure.

This is a kind of instinctive fear that only appears when the small Zalak race encounters the large Feline. Victoria Feline scholars believe that this may be based on a kind of animalistic instinctive reaction when humans were still uncivilized.

In today's modern society, this "Feline Sickness" was initially considered to be a kind of inspiration. However, due to the Originium Arts revolution, the gap in individual combat power between various groups has narrowed rapidly. Among the Zalak clan, "Feline Sickness" has gradually been regarded as a kind of shame engraved in their bloodline, a manifestation of their weakness and lack of effort.

However, a small minority of Zalak people still believe that this instinctive reaction is a sign of the other party's strength... Because of this inexplicable belief, Nana once suffered a lot when dealing with a Zalak gang in Columbia.

Nana really didn't want to chase after those mission targets who would turn and run away as soon as they saw her a second time.

As for the new SWEEP member who is suspected to Zalak, Nana thinks it's best to leave him alone, mainly because the other party is standing not far from her familiar aura, and the two of them are guarding the main passage to meet the Doctor on the left and right.

Let's assume this is an effective security measure... But, in Nana's opinion, the third person, this guy who had inexplicably appeared behind her and was less than seven meters away from the Little Cat, was just too impolite.

Keep in mind that Nana is practically a strategist in Kal'tsit's SWEEP unit, so what's with this attitude of wanting to kill at any moment? Is this murderous intent towards a colleague serious? Should I take it seriously too?

Picking up Rosemary, who was somewhat confused due to the chaotic aura, Nana, a little angry, pulled out her baton and turned to look at the source of the third and most threatening aura:

"Please don't scare children, okay? Even if you're a member of Sweep, you shouldn't look at your colleagues like that, right? Or are you an enemy who sneaked into Rhodes Island during the chaos?!"

Sensing the slight softening in the other person's gaze, seemingly born of doubt, Nana confirmed that it was SWEEP, not an outsider as she had guessed.

"So, aren't you going to come and meet me? We're colleagues, aren't we...?"

"... SWEEP is a purge defense organization; there is no such thing as a colleague..."

As a hooded, purple-haired Sarkaz slowly appeared, Nana glanced at the other two positions where they were preparing to dispel their concealment, but were ultimately gestured to stand by by the purple-haired Sarkaz woman.

"However, we are certainly not the enemy."

Although it seemed somewhat deliberate for Nana to say those words now, as the assassin confirmed the other party's badge and put away her baton, Nana's gaze towards the Sarkaz in front of her became increasingly confused:

"Have we... met somewhere before?"

Despite the other party's silence, Nana still managed to retrieve the information about this person from her well-organized mental world.

"This aura... you belong to Theresa's side..."

As the name 'Theresa' was uttered, and seeing the purple-haired woman, who was a head taller than her, lower her head with a look of melancholy in her eyes, Nana suddenly remembered that the Doctor had been killed along with Theresa.

In contrast to the Doctor, it seems that the prince, who was beloved by everyone, will never return.

"... Feel sorry."

"No need. Your Highness's accident is a disgrace to my life... And we have indeed met before, back when you first came to Rhodes Island with this child. Now, I am the head of SWEEP, providing counter-infiltration services for Rhodes Island."

"I'm quite familiar with most of Rhodes Island's Elite Operator, but you're one of those who joined later and whose identity is questionable... I didn't appear in front of you directly before because, despite Ms. Kal'tsit vouching for you, I still thought you needed to be observed."

"This is normal procedure, there's no problem... It's just that we need to be gentler with the child, after all, Narcissa... Rosemary is very sensitive."

Nana seemed quite angry, her tail bristling as she pointed a finger at herself and rambled on about Rosemary. The purple-haired Sarkaz, Ascalon, a former Babel intelligence officer, glanced hesitantly at the Little Cat whose eyes remained completely expressionless.

Amiya sometimes gets startled by her own silent presence, so this Little Cat probably already noticed her... How could those emotionless emerald eyes possibly be anything but 'sensitive'?

Ascalon knows Nana; after all, 'Medic' has a resume that shows she's dedicated to Rhodes Island, and her contributions to the Rhodes Island over the years are undeniable. Furthermore, she has the access granted by Kal'tsit, Nana can directly meet with the Doctor without any problem.

Her main request was to stop 'Rosemary'. Everyone knows that Medic is Rosemary's guardian, but Ascalon felt that Medic might not be aware of this Little Cat's battlefield activities over the past year.

After all, this Little Cat kitten's behavior over the past year had caused quite a stir among the entire Rhodes Island Elite Operator community.

Let's take a look at what the operator named Rosemary did in Columbia. Judging from the reports alone, it seems that she only destroyed illegal laboratories, rescued trafficked experimental children, wiped out gangs involved in human trafficking, and finally exposed some officials involved in the operation.

But this is only something that has been made public.

The laboratory invaded by Rosemary was a scene resembling Catastrophes disaster; all the white equipment had been torn and crumpled into indescribable shapes.

In the testimonies of the rescued children, the experimenters were described as being thrown and torn in the air like rags, suggesting that the psychological stress inflicted during the Little Cat rescue process was even greater than the experiment itself.

Although Outcast himself denied SWEEP's question about whether things went out of control during the Little Cat mission, Rosemary's combat recorder does show her looking at the police and other friendly forces on several occasions during what appeared to be out-of-control battles.

The eradication of the gang was a massacre; this seemingly childlike guy possessed a cruelty hidden beneath his lazy exterior...

Yes, Ascalon knew that in the vote among Elite Operator, most people, including Kal'tsit and Amiya, were willing to believe that the child could control herself, and that she was indeed as non-aggressive as she appeared.

But Ascalon was still unwilling to gamble. She couldn't tell whether the expressionless man who had kneaded the officials protecting the illegal industry chain into a pulp was acting out of careful consideration or just a cruel whim like a child.

She couldn't tell which side of Rosemary was truly her—her usual lazy, cloud-like Feline and her battlefield-crushing performance like a war machine... At least, in Ascalon's judgment, 'Rosemary' was a dangerous factor for the Doctor.

In response to her report, Kal'tsit made adjustments... For example, the Rosemary Special Assault Team was established. This team was operating under anonymity within the Rhodes Island operations team, Doctor currently does not have command of this team, which essentially cuts off the Doctor's chance to meet this destabilizing factor.

But Ascalon never imagined that in the end, it would be Medic, the seemingly most considerate and excellent employee of Rhodes Island, who would bring something as explosive as Rosemary to the Doctor's private medical examination area.

Let alone preventing Rosemary from meeting the Doctor, Ascalon was extremely worried that the fragile neck of the black- Feline girl in the film would be accidentally broken by the war machine in Medic's arms just from seeing Medic holding Rosemary.

In response to Ascalon's explanation, Nana blinked and then gave a slightly strange smile, one that seemed apologetic yet also like she was crying.

"I see... The Little Cat actually told me about her previous mission experience..."

"And you..."

As she spoke, Ascalon glanced at the little Feline, who was dozing in Nana's arms like a cloud... Seeing the indifferent look in her eyes, Ascalon chose to speak frankly:

"Don't you think there's something wrong with Rosemary Operator's combat strategy?"

"Hmm... Before answering that question, I'd like to know, Ascalon, how much do you know about Rosemary?"

"To the extent that they reviewed the operational mission files."

"Then it's normal for you to have such concerns... After all, it's difficult to express a person's judgment solely through words or some other medium... Besides, you've only read Rosemary's combat file; you haven't truly experienced her past or the reasons why she acted the way she did."

Ascalon frowned slightly at Medic's smile, still not thinking there was anything wrong with her behavior... In fact, there really wasn't. If Nana were in Ascalon's position, she wouldn't have allowed Rosemary to contact the Doctor without fully understanding the situation.

But Ascalon seemed somewhat displeased with Nana's nonchalant demeanor. This fellow assassin, with a hidden blade strapped to his wrist, said to Nana:

"Putting aside the fact that Rosemary doesn't have the authority to meet with the Doctor, I think her behavior during the mission was already very abnormal... As her guardian, you should let her return to a normal child's life."

"But... what exactly do 'ordinary' and 'common' refer to?"

Nana rubbed the cat's head vigorously, feeling a bit amused at the fact that she was now forced to discuss strange topics with her colleagues because of the little girl's unrestrained venting during the mission. Seeing Rosemary's expression of knowing she was wrong but not correcting it and knowing she would do it again, Nana put her down, since she didn't have the authority to see the Doctor.

The two assassins watched as the Little Cat prrped, stuck out its tongue, and then trotted away. Ascalon frowned, while Medic laughed heartily.