Chapter 269
Nana tested the weapon, which was identified in her system as 'Rhodes Island Engineering Department Urgent Manufacturing - Lightweight Composite Beam Spear', then put it away. Calculating the time for the next batch of weapons to be deployed, Nana picked up her shotgun and left.
"They can declare war... then let us end it all."
PS: Waaaaaaah!
PSSS: We're starting to wrap up this volume... In the end, it'll still be all about fighting and killing.
Furthermore, what Nana received this time, Closure and her friends worked overtime to produce, was actually a composite beam spear used by the Striker GM in the Gundam universe.
It looks something like this ↑
This is roughly what it feels like to hold it normally (↑)
This is a retractable gun-like weapon equipped with two beam sabers; in its alien form, the surging beams resemble a dual beam scythe... It has a kind of rudimentary romance.
But no matter what, Nana has changed from someone who said "it's none of my business" in the first volume to someone who says "I'll end all of this."
After all, the emperors and generals in the Arknights world really do have a certain charisma, right...? What's more, Nana also has the blessing of the cybernetic ghost from the Previous Civilization... Although I haven't figured out how to deal with Priestess yet... After all, there's still too little information about her.
And so, let this war begin, a war to save more lives.
The 8th Spring of Siracusa: 303 Breaking Through the Siege
[I've sent out the announcement you requested... Unfortunately, the small family group represented by the Sicilians is currently arguing about who can present Valeria's head to Lady Sicilia to claim credit. They're gathered together, making them Tai He as targets for war... They're probably at their strongest right now, with the most united front, the most transparent orders, and the most aligned goals.]
[They currently control 40% of the judges in the court.]
[Feline of Rhodes Island, as my last act of concern for Little Lisa and my former subordinates, I can still assume you've long since left this city-state... or do I offer you a secret route, or is this battle something you absolutely must fight?]
"If not, how can I stand before Lisa in the future with a legitimate reason...?"
Watching helplessly as a child loses her family... experiencing something like this once is enough.
Activate the auxiliary turbocharger of the Originium Engine backpack, and ensure that the lightweight jets fixed to the back and ankles can be started at any time... These devices, which used to only assist in attitude control, now have to operate at full power and take on the responsibility of the main engine. The system contains adjustment records from the Engineering Department specialists such as Closure, and the timestamp of their last maintenance was a few minutes before the teleportation.
Even though the Rhodes Island Landship were thousands of kilometers away in Lungmen, this organization, like the ICA, never stopped supporting Nana.
"Combat briefing to begin. The Rhodes Island Trauma Team will now proceed with Valeria's defense... We will prove that Valeria was not the perpetrator of the so-called genocide."
[So, how are you going to prove it? Do you have concrete evidence that Valeria couldn't have done those things?]
Hearing Corleone's question, Nana glanced at the person in question. Seeing Valeria's dejected shake of her head, the black cat from Rhodes Island, holding her shotgun, said matter-of-factly:
"No!"
This is not the time for jokes.
"Although you say that, there is indeed no evidence... If Siracusa's laws are sound, then I would be happy to accompany my client to court to present evidence to prove her innocence."
"But the current situation is that those families have judged my client's crimes based solely on their own words... and are eager to 'execute' him. I do not condone this practice."
The group put on their armor-enhanced coats, then shouldered their packs and picked up their equipment.
Su Sulo patted the still trembling Angelina with a half-smile, her expression suggesting that 'she'd experience many more similar things with Nana.' Meanwhile, Folinic carefully helped Lisa check if her new coat fit properly, gently tugging to make sure the straps were sewn in place, so that the armor upgrade kit wouldn't become fatally loose as the girl moved.
As for Typhon, after reverting to his Sarkaz appearance, the little hunter took the magically folded black greatbow from his lower back... With the help of Nana's tactical equipment, she was now able to begin 'hunting' with this weapon.
"If Mr. Corleone is interested, he can first prepare to contact the evidence and witnesses that Valeria handled during her previous revenge. An Eradicator without family support could not have wiped out several small families in such a short time... and this is also the main reason why other families went to the Gray Table to protest."
"And we will then 'invite' the representatives of those families to court, bringing true fairness back to where it rightfully belongs."
[So, your plan is to just storm up to those cowards and bring them to a fair and just court? Leaving aside the fact that you only have two actual combat personnel... just look at how heavily guarded those guys are now, your operation could result in many deaths.]
"That's still better than your original plan to send Valeria to the Gray Table for execution and then take revenge by massacring the entire city."
After saying that, Nana looked at the other people in the group:
"The purpose of this battle was never to kill. They have strengthened their armor. If they know better than to fight back after they fall, then let them go."
"To prevent our non-combatants from being murdered, I require Su Sulo, Angelina, and Lisa to stay with me throughout the entire process... I know this will inevitably slow down our pace, but I can only move forward with you by my side... Sorry, just consider it a quirk of mine."
Looking at Nana, her expression was almost apologetic, her eyes seemingly filled with sadness... Su Sulo, who had just comforted Angelina, sighed again and patted Nana:
"It's okay. Folinic and I know how much the Little Cat incident affected you... Besides, I feel safer around you, so it's fine."
As Nana, guided by Su Sulo, looked at Folinic, Feline, who was wearing upgraded armor and short clothes, brandished her longbow:
"Medic, please don't forget, although my rank isn't high, I am indeed qualified to be a field combat operator... I will try my best not to hold anyone back."
Seeing Folinic's energetic appearance, Nana couldn't help but smile slightly.
"... Ha... Yeah, you've been working so hard, you definitely won't hold anyone back." (Er)
After seeing what Folinic said, Angelina, who had been watching from the sidelines for a while, felt she had to make a statement too. She raised her mass-produced staff and said, "Wow... I'll try my best too!"
Although the JK's last sentence sounded like she was saying, "I'll try my best to pay off my debts," Nana could tell she was very nervous. Nana thought for a moment, then patted the girl on the shoulder to encourage her. (Mio)
"I will do my best to ensure Lisa's safety... however... I rarely participate in group operations..."
"Valeria, feel free to do as you please... Angelina can now use her spells to 'reduce weight,' right? You'll be in charge of carrying Little Lisa around..."
Watching the brown-haired high school student JK awkwardly hug the blonde Little Fox, the latter, seeing her nervous appearance, even smiled and comforted her older sister.
Finally, Nana tossed her upgraded armor-clad coat to Angelina and Lisa, telling them to use it to protect their heads.
After all, these two were only responsible for running away with Su Sulo, the only one in the group who was currently unable to fight. Protecting their heads with their jackets would certainly reduce their vision a little, but not looking around too much... might actually be a good thing for the two children.
Seeing that Nana was truly determined to intervene in Valeria's fate, Corleone's subordinate handed Nana a simple hand-drawn map, which Nana immediately recognized as a sketch of the current street.
[... So, all I can do in the end is tell you the location of that cowardly gathering... witnesses, and suggestions for 'objections' to the judge at the Gray Table —I'll start preparing now... hopefully you can really bring them back to the bench.]
[Poor guys, they should even thank you.] Hey!
"Yes, otherwise... how many of these families would have survived in the end?" Shan
Using a narrative tone and rhetorical questions, Nana manipulated a dozen fully loaded rapid-load loader blades that floated behind her like Sankta's Light Wings, and led her team back into the lobby of the Continental Hotel, gun in hand.
After a few hours, the news that Valeria was here had spread to many families.
Seeing the various suits worn by members of different families following closely behind her team, Nana nodded to the Continental Hotel manager, who was also surrounded by numerous security guards.
"Don't worry, although I can tell they're in a hurry, I'll still follow your store's rules... However, before I leave, I might need some help."
With a soft tinkling sound as the gold coin was flicked through the air, the manager gracefully caught the third gold coin he received from Nana, his attitude immediately becoming respectful.
"Of course, Continental Hotel is dedicated to serving you."
"Go see a doctor. I'll try my best not to kill anyone... And I hope that when the court begins Valeria's trial, all the surviving family members will be conscious and able to enter."
"Understood, we'll contact emergency services right away..."
Clearly, Nana's disregard for the family members present was infuriating. As one of the family thugs in a white suit stepped forward to attack Nana, this taller-than-average Lupo was immediately punched in the stomach by Nana, then his neck was grabbed and he was pulled into a C-shape by Nana, forced to look straight at her.
"Don't make a move in Continental Hotel, or the Hotel will issue an arrest warrant for you... Do you think you can beat those security guards, or do you think your family will protect you, a nobody, from an endless horde of assassins?"
Saying things like, "You've escaped with your life," Nana carried the groaning giant away from the Continental Hotel. As the black-haired Feline's right foot left the last step of the Hotel, the crossbowmen who had been lying in ambush in the distance raised their weapons and unleashed a barrage of fire from the end of the road.
Arrows rained down from the sky, and Nana raised the large man in her hand to shield herself and her companion behind her. As the big man writhed and howled in pain, tears and snot streaming down his face, Nana threw him back to the ground.
Although Nana used him as a shield, his suit, with its upgraded back armor turning it into a hedgehog, didn't suffer any fatal wounds like an arrow to the back of his head... It seems he not only escaped with one life, but at least two.
Before Nana could comfort the burly man who was crying as if his toes had been crushed, the guards wielding swords and daggers charged towards them from afar, shouting slogans:
"That woman is the target! The blonde one!"
"... Damn it, which woman?"
Now that she doesn't have to hold her daughter, Valeria, who has been trembling with fear these past few days, can no longer suppress her habitual urge to swear (just kidding).
Faced with eyes blazing with murderous intent, as if she were not human but a treasure chest overflowing with riches, Valeria, as the (former) Eradicator of the Gray Table family... at the top of the family's henchman ecosystem, immediately drew her steel-wire-embedded blade and charged into battle, transforming into a golden streak of light.
"You go deal with the archers first, I'll handle these thugs."
After Nana gave the order, the golden streak of light flashed like lightning, tracing a sharp angle across the street and dodging the charging guards. Meanwhile, Nana simultaneously raised two guns behind her.
When faced with an enemy force that outnumbers the ammunition in your guns, your first instinct should be to draw more guns!
"Hostile behavior confirmed. Attack initiated, targeting the torso."
The guns, without silencers, made a deafening roar when they fired. For Rhodes Island employees who were used to seeing Nana resolve issues with a single shot or without firing a single shot at all, the sight of her standing still like a turret, holding Firearms Arts, was truly unfamiliar.
The continuous gunfire sent bullets raining down on the charging thugs like a barrage. Whether they were shotgun pellets enchanted with the 'Heavy' spell or high-explosive pistol Etch Rounds, the impact on the armored thugs was no less than Nana's own heavy punch.
As the thugs in the first row fell with ferocious expressions, it caused some trouble for the thugs who continued to charge from behind. The thugs, who had closed the distance between the two sides with the help of their comrades, looked at the small-statured Feline in front of them with nothing but cruelty in their eyes.
In most people's eyes Firearms Arts users are the new-era casters... and all casters, unsurprisingly, have no way to deal with melee group fights, not to mention that the reload speed of Firearms Operator is much more noticeable than the casting speed of casters.
But as Nana holstered her pistol in her left hand and slammed the lead thug back into the charging ranks with a single punch, the assassin slightly raised her shotgun in her right hand. Behind her, an invisible hand deftly loaded eight shotgun shells into the loader.
She reminded her enemies in this way:
"You need to use melee combat to deal with me because that's the only way you can engage in combat, while whether I use melee combat or not depends on my mood."
As she spoke, Nana pressed the slide stop button on the M4. With a click as the barrel, emitting a wisp of smoke, closed, the shotgun began spewing flames again. No precise aiming was required; the difficulty was no less than shooting frisbees during ICA practice... Just aim in the general direction and pull the trigger, and the suit-clad thugs in front of her would fall to the ground.
As the shotgun was once again cocked empty, a new magazine was placed on the compact pistol in the upper part of the holster on the back of the waistband by an unseen hand.
He pulled it out and provided some help to Valeria in the distance who was still struggling with the snipers who had upgraded their armor... As Typhon's giant arrow behind her overturned half the street, Nana didn't even have to look back... Listening to everyone's "safety confirmation" reports one after another, Nana put away the 1 (six) Ling Er private Ba Jing 911 with only half the magazine... took a tube loader floating behind her, and filled the shotgun in her right hand again.
"Ignore the guys on the ground. The target is about three kilometers away. According to the map, we need to cross three streets, take down two outposts, and finally destroy the elevator in the target building, block the second emergency staircase, and then fight our way from the first floor to the area where they are meeting... or perhaps break into the second Safe Corridor from the target floor!"
With the suggested mission progress divided, Nana gripped the pure white shotgun with both hands and fired a single shot at the man in the distance who appeared to be a sentry or communications officer, taking him down.
"I'll lead the way, Typhon the rear, Folinic will only be responsible for protecting Su Sulo and Angelina. Angelina, if you and Little Lisa notice anything amiss, you can speak up directly... That's all, let's go!"
PS: Waaaaaaah!
Ray is so cute↑
The 8th Spring of Siracusa: 304 Negotiations Failed... No, don't you want to talk?
They attacked outwards from the street, breaking through the defense line of low-level thugs guarded by the family outside the Continental Hotel. After that, Nana and her group were met by the family soldiers who had rushed to the scene after hearing the news.
Unlike the soldiers of the core countries, the family soldiers of Siracusa, despite having the name 'soldier,' still dressed like thugs in suits.
But... after being screened to have similar heights, and with identical, uniform movements as if they had trained countless times, and then pointing their weapons at their targets in unison with the angry shouts of the accompanying family leaders—the sight of arrows and spells being unleashed at once unexpectedly gave Nana a glimpse of the disciplined army.
These regular soldiers, during the battle, were less boisterous and more desolate and solemn than the thugs. The not-so-wide streets were quickly occupied by the soldiers, who advanced layer by layer. Faced with a rain of arrows and spells, although Nana and Valeria could continue to advance, for the safety of those behind them, Nana led everyone into a small alley for temporary shelter.
It seems that even though Siracusa has withdrawn from Leithanien's 'Golden Law Movement', the legacy of the former empire still leaves its mark on the family.
If Nana hadn't repeatedly confirmed that the jazz music, seemingly coming from nowhere, was really just the sound of a record player in a roadside cafe... the assassin might have been genuinely afraid that a Golden Law Guard or the Emperor's Imperial Guard would suddenly appear at the next intersection.
"They're under pressure. Keep an eye on that intersection. Guards, advance!"
Hearing the gang Guardian Gun still issuing orders, Nana drew her revolver, used it to pinpoint the location of the sound, and then poked her head out and fired a shot, sending him into a deep, infant-like sleep.
"... Are the people of Siracusa all this bold?"
"Nana, are you referring to the fact that those guys dared to keep pushing forward even after you took them all down? That's because the family has a pretty good compensation process for its soldier-level thugs..."
"No, I meant those guys peeking out from the buildings on both sides of the street... Why aren't ordinary people leaving the scene when there's a street shootout?"
"This... is probably normal for family feuds. Ordinary people using family matters as stakes and topics of conversation is also a way of life?"
Although it sounds absurd, it sounds incredibly believable coming from Angelina, a local. As the family soldiers who had already rushed up the wall to her, Nana dodged their slashes first, then turned around to avoid another person trying to grab her gun. She fired her Guardian Gun in quick succession, emptying the magazine and taking down the first few who were charging at the front. Then, she picked up the shotgun shells hanging on her sling and habitually shoved them into the mouth of the next person.
Just before firing, Nana realized that she hadn't actually come to kill anyone.
"Oh... no... sorry, let's try again!"
He pulled the shotgun back, revealing two teeth, then lowered the muzzle and fired at the other man's chest... Afterwards, he even wiped the muzzle with the other man's clothes, looking slightly disgusted.
"That's right."
"What the hell?! Aren't we still trapped in this alley?!"
Seeing Valeria, who had just tried to imitate her by leaning out to throw a knife but failed and ended up being pushed back by the enemy's arrows, Nana complained. Seeing this, Nana also tried to peek out to observe the situation... but as soon as her cat ears appeared, she heard the whooshing sound of magic arrows being shot at her, which startled the Rhodes Island black cat so much that her ears turned into airplane ears on the spot.
After a moment of lingering fear, Nana touched her head and discovered that her soft, adorable cat ears were undamaged. Then, in a fit of vengeance, she imbued the next bullet of her Guardian Gun with a powerful flash spell... Since you enjoy staring so much, let's see what a flashbang looks like!
'Bang--!'
"Ah--! My (Siracusa swear word) Flash!"
Although this time it successfully elicited screams and howls from the other side, Nana guessed that if she stretched out her hand next time, she would be beaten to a pulp... So, while the other side was still cursing, Black Cat put away her revolver, took out a shotgun and filled the magazine... Then she beckoned to Valeria with her finger, signaling her to attack with her later.
Although lying down in a skirt against the wall while pinned down doesn't look very good, it's a viable alternative to being on the side of the enemy team aiming at your peek-out.
This stemmed from the fact that using vehicles as cover and shooting at the opponent's feet with the wheels of the vehicles allowed Nana to make accurate shots with her long gun... And ever since the opponent's first leader was sent to enjoy a sleep like a baby, all the shouting and yelling commands have disappeared. Nana was very glad that she had studied a lot of small techniques on how to attack with minimal openings in the past at the ICA.