Chapter 273

"Our destination, Lungmen, with administrative code 0019, is the youngest of the nineteen administrative divisions in Yan."

"So many people, drones everywhere! Whoa... what's that cannon barrel hanging under that drone? A flying city defense cannon?"

"No, that's the airway speeding and the monitoring system... By the way, in Great Yan, Angelina, you can't just fly around like you do in Siracusa and the wilderness. If it's a sensitive area, the Celestial Master might mistake you for an enemy and shoot you down."

"Huh--?!"

Regarding Su Sulo's conversation, which was more of a joke than a warning, Nana couldn't help but smile and add:

"That's true now, because the checkpoints themselves also serve the function of reconnaissance against external enemies. It might be easier to use Originium Arts in the city... However, we need to return to Rhodes Island through the checkpoints first, and then apply for entry procedures from Rhodes Island to Yan... Don't worry, Yan's attitude towards the Infected is relatively lenient among the core countries."

"If we were citizens of Yan, I remember we only needed to report our recent activities and health status to the Ministry of Revenue regularly to move freely... But as the Infected, we'll have to go through the Lungmen Quarantine Station's inspection before we can go to the docking port to return to Rhodes Island."

"... I saw many the Infected camping outside the outpost... and the soldiers were escorting the Infected to the tent area over there..."

Following Angelina's uneasy gaze, Nana glanced at the white tent before looking away.

"Those are temporary areas used to house severely the Infected... Some time ago Chernobog failed to follow the flight plan to avoid the Catastrophes due to the civil war, and this mistake resulted in a large number of the Infected. Those areas should be used as isolation areas to observe the stability of the patients' conditions."

"But don't worry about us. As Rhodes Island employees, even though most of us are the Infected, thanks to Rhodes Island's special disease monitoring and recording system, we should be able to avoid quarantine by showing our Originium activity data from the past three months... Don't worry, we'll be able to go home soon."

Although Nana gave her junior such a firm guarantee, things took a slightly unexpected turn.

As the vehicle entered the checkpoint, Nana submitted the monitoring data of everyone according to procedure. The inspection of the vehicle's luggage did not find any sensitive items. Just as Nana had assured them, as members of Rhodes Island, they did not need to be placed in tents and waste time like ordinary the Infected.

But things took an unexpected turn.

With their Oripathy infection status and entry checks all passed, theoretically everyone had completed the entry procedures. Nana entrusted Lungmen's transportation system to take the vehicle to be cleaned and sent to the parking lot of the Lungmen Checkpoint. Now, as they headed to the port area's elevator, the identity magnetic cards they had obtained from the checkpoint could not open the elevator door. Looking back at the dense sound of footsteps, Nana realized that her group was surrounded by four full-strength squads of Lungmen's security and military organization— the Lungmen Guard Department.

"Sorry, you are not allowed to enter the country at this time."

The Lungmen Guard Department members leading the group wore uniforms with the words "virtuous and talented" written in Yan script, and their words were equally polite... But faced with a mixed legion composed of heavily armored Shieldguards, Sankta Firearms Operator, and guards wielding longswords or casters wielding staves, not to mention the still-child Suzuran nervously hugging her tail, even high school student Angelina was so scared that she didn't know where to put her hands, showing complete bewilderment.

Folinic quickly stopped Typhon from drawing his weapon, while Su Sulo glanced at Nana's twitching index finger and, seeing no further instruction, raised both hands, thus providing Angelina with a role model.

However, Nana wasn't one to surrender easily. Donning her old Rhodes Island uniform jacket and reverting to her unassuming medical persona, Nana calmly picked up Suzuran, who was hiding behind her. She gently soothed the Little Fox's soft ears and ruffled Nana, then looked at the Lungmen Guard Department members with some displeasure.

"Excuse me, is there something wrong with our paperwork?"

"No, your paperwork is fine, it's just that your review process... has an additional manual review component... the six of you still need to wait for a senior inspector's manual review before you can obtain entry privileges."

"Was this just added?"

"From my perspective, I can only inform you that this is a normal legal process."

Nana gently smoothed the Little Fox's ruffled tail, her azure and emerald eyes growing increasingly indifferent to this statement that defied easy comprehension.

Those familiar with Nana would likely understand that this is the assassin girl starting to get angry.

However, this wasn't some chaotic wilderness, nor were they facing a weak the Dominion like Siracusa, outside the core of a civilization-cosplaying world... Nana still showed considerable respect for Yan and Lungmen.

"... They couldn't give a reason, only saying it was a sudden increase in manual review, and they even used such a show of force to scare someone from a medical company... Come on, would you like to repeat how to write the word 'normal'?"

Just as the other party remained silent, the Lungmen Guard Department members parted to make way for her, accompanied by hurried footsteps. Nana first saw the Oni Shieldguards, who had suddenly grown taller, and in front of her was a strange creature with horns and a tail, a race that required extra caution in the Great Yan... the Dragon.

As the royal symbol of the Great Yan Yan, the Dragon Clan has always held a position of great wealth and nobility.

Even without noticing the strange aura emanating from the opponent's longsword, the Rhodes Island team could deduce from this confrontation that the opponent must be a high-ranking official of the Lungmen Guard Department.

"Everyone, put away your weapons! I am Ch'en Hui-chieh, the head of the Special Inspection Group of the Lungmen Guard Department... Rhodes Island, right?"

It was clear that this blue-haired dragon lady with a ponytail was an efficiency-oriented leader. Upon discovering that Nana was the key member of the group, she immediately explained why everyone was being so wary of her at the elevator entrance:

"Regarding the war equipment in your checked baggage, and the traces of use on it, I request an explanation for the safety of Lungmen citizens and their property!"

"Well, we can understand carrying one or two prohibited items when you're out and about. It's just that you need to understand the rules for controlling these items in Yan. This is just a normal, reasonable legal procedure... But Ch'en, there are minors on the other side. It wouldn't be good to scare the children too much. Please enforce the law in a civilized manner."

Offering a gentle explanation completely disproportionate to his stature, he produced his employee badge, displaying the code name 'Hoshiguma,' and then, with an Oni, slightly bowed his head to look at the crowd:

"Furthermore, the previous duty team's decision to isolate you all from the dangerous equipment here as a precaution was a last resort. If this has offended you in any way, I apologize in advance. In short, the matter is not serious. How about we come to the conference room for a cup of tea?"

The two Lungmen police superintendents were one serious and earnest, and the other kind and approachable. However, Nana noticed that while they were talking, their hands were constantly on their longsword and the shield that looked like it could kill someone.

However, now that they know it's their own tactical equipment that's causing the Lungmen Guard Department to act so strangely, things have become simpler.

Thanks to Nana's cooperation, the Oni Police Superintendent readily agreed to reduce the number of the Guard Bureau accompanying them from four full squads to a light squad of four. Led by Ch'en Hui-chieh, the group entered a room that was probably not used often. Along the way, Hoshiguma intentionally or unintentionally moved closer to Nana and Lisa.

"This child is so cute~ How old is he/she?"

"Ten years old."

"Good girl, do you want some candy?"

Seeing Suzuran's polite refusal, and how she seemed to be much closer to the Rhodes Island Feline than to herself, a police officer... Hoshiguma didn't lose her smile, but continued to subtly probe the child's relationship with the others.

Nana knew what the other person was worried about, so she went straight to the point:

"This child became the Infected due to some events, and her mother entrusted Rhodes Island to treat her. We are here to bring her and Angelina back to our ship for examination and follow-up treatment... Of course, her theoretical knowledge and magical skills will not be neglected... For details regarding the arrangements and procedures for this child, please contact the Training Department of Rhodes Island."

"Oh, I see. That's something that wasn't mentioned in the reason for entry... So, Little Lisa, it really was your mother who wanted you to go with these older girls, right?"

Seeing Suzuran nod with clear eyes, Hoshiguma nodded in response with a kind smile. Then, he stopped insisting on staying by the little one's side and sat down with Ch'en Hui-chieh in one corner of the conference room.

At the suggestion of the two superintendents, Nana also gestured for everyone to sit at the other end of the conference table.

"I apologize, but due to the recent Catastrophes in the north, the influx of refugees has led to a surge in crime, and criminals are resorting to all sorts of despicable methods... including the exploitation of minors and crimes involving human trafficking... The staff on duty are paying close attention to minors to prevent this from happening."

"I understand, after all, none of us seem to be direct blood relatives of Lisa ..."

"But that doesn't mean you can bring that kind of war machine into Lungmen."

He interrupted Nana and Hoshiguma's relatively harmonious conversation with an extremely serious attitude. If the conversation with the tall police superintendent was like a gentle breeze, then this dragon always reminded Nana of the stone named Saria... Although she knew that the other party was just doing his duty, it was hard to say that Nana had no objection to such a rigid attitude.

"First, I need to change this person's..."

"Call me Chen."

"... According to Chen, the equipment was sent to Rhodes Island. I never intended to send it to Lungmen. The assumption that it would harm the people of Lungmen was unfounded from the start."

"You're supposed to be a medical company, yet you're accumulating war equipment in your medical practice and within your own company? You use that stuff to save people?"

"... I don't deny it. But please don't tell me, Chen, that you think practicing medicine in the wilderness only requires a doctor and medicine... That's not saving lives, that's sending people to their deaths."

While speaking, he picked and chose from the PRTS's automatically generated report to compile a record of Tactical Unit usage time and handed it to the other party, but Chen didn't seem satisfied.

"That's all?"

"What else do you need? You just need to confirm that it has never been used in Yan... More details involve our company's confidential information, and I am not authorized to show them to you."

"Then I have no authority to grant you entry into the city. After all, allowing a suspected latest-generation Columbia military aircraft to enter the country is beyond my personal authority... Please leave."

Listening to Ch'en Hui-chieh's serious narration, Nana remained silent for a moment, then turned her head to look at the equally silent Hoshiguma... As the black-haired girl crossed her arms and supported her chin, Nana voiced a guess in her mind:

"Excuse me, is this your own idea, Chen? Or... is it a requirement from Lungmen?"

After a brief silence, Nana noticed a hint of annoyance in the other person's eyes, but the other person responded very quickly, as if that emotion had never existed.

"No comment."

"... I see, I think I understand... Then please return our vehicle and luggage."

As she spoke, she took out her phone and connected to the Intercity Network. Nana quickly saved her combat log and sent it directly to Rhodes Island. Things took an unexpected turn.

The fact that the Tactical Unit was being targeted was completely unexpected for Nana, since similar equipment was quite common in both the Great Yan and Columbia. It was simply a matter of whether there were sufficiently skilled pilots and a willingness to pay for such equipment... Lin

If there's anything special about Nana's equipment that could catch the attention of Great Yan... then Nana's first thought would be the Collapse Paradigm inscribed in her Tactical Unit.

Moreover, what troubled Nana was that her equipment contained more than just the Collapse Paradigm; her Halo Command System also had corresponding interfaces within the Tactical Unit... Nana had absolutely no idea what the consequences of leaking these things would be.

What Nana wants to know now is whether the uniqueness of her equipment was discovered by the other party during a last-minute inspection, or whether the other party had noticed it much earlier.

This can perhaps be gleaned from the subsequent answers given by the two superintendents.

"Sorry, war machines are still too sensitive... so... well, we can't return them to you until you've completely retreated to a safe distance from Lungmen."

Clearly, judging from his tense posture, this Chen was prepared to be scolded by Nana, but contrary to everyone's expectations, Nana simply nodded and then immediately picked up Lisa beside her.

"I understand. We will immediately withdraw from the safe zone. If your company still refuses to return my personal belongings by then... well, I can't complain no matter what happens."

Seeing that Nana seemed to realize something and immediately turned to leave, Ch'en Hui-chieh and Hoshiguma exchanged bewildered glances.

By the time Hoshiguma realized what was happening and got up to try and stop her, Nana had already left the meeting room with her entourage.

"Wait... Ah, the time... it seems we're still some time away from the time the Ministry of Works requires..."

"Far from it, and frankly, I hate these demands... Secretly withholding other people's things and then making us deliberately delay things, what exactly did the Ministry of Works detect on those things?"

After a moment of silence, Hoshiguma glanced at her partner beside her, who was constantly shaking his leg:

"So, Ch'en... what do you mean? There's still no response from Governor Wei?"

The blue-haired woman took out her phone and glanced at it; her brows were so furrowed they looked like they could crush Originium Slug.

"No, I don't know what's wrong with him. This is completely unlike him... The Ministry of Works is the same. He suddenly jumped in front of us like a madman and demanded that we keep that machine... They were clearly saying they were communicating with Rhodes Island, but who knows where that communication went... That black-haired Feline looks more and more menacing. I'd be happy if he made it seem like we were the ones who did all the bad things."

As she spoke, the blue-haired woman, her brows furrowed, picked up the paper cup her subordinate had brought and downed the hastily prepared tea in one gulp. This was something she had taken from her wealthy colleague's drawer specifically to demonstrate the Guard Bureau's sincerity, but the colleague hadn't even glanced at it before leaving.

"(Lungmen profanity), a dignified police superintendent is doing something that looks like robbery... We're not Victoria, for crying out loud!"

"... Therefore, the Ministry of Works' requirements are..."

"Who cares! The favor has already been done, and they've seen the item. Even according to the proper procedures, we should take it back and return it to them..."

Do you think you can get it back?

"... I'm more worried about what Feline might do if we don't get the items back..."

As she spoke, she gripped the hilt of the sword that had been trembling since they met. Ch'en Hui-chieh rarely saw Chi Xiao so excited.

"Anyway, let's go and entertain them first. Swire has already returned the items to the expedited Ministry of Works."

Sighing as she rose, Ch'en Hui-chieh looked out the window at the Rhodes Island Landship in the harbor, her heart filled with unease. Caught between her reckless superior and the powerful figure Chi Xiao was wary of, if her premonition was correct, there was a high probability of a fierce battle today.

"Let's go... I hope things don't get that bad."

PS: Waaaaaaah!

PSSS: Unbeknownst to many, Nana has become a special individual who requires entry restrictions and whose unique characteristics necessitate the use of illegal means by relevant personnel.

But her initial concept was really just to be a regular Feline. (scratching head)

9th Lungmen Seafood: 309 (Cat sneaking around)

As they left through the checkpoint gate, the Rhodes Island walked briskly ahead, with two senior superintendents chasing after them—a scene that possessed a strangely comical quality.

Nana knew what the other party was going to do, and the other party was terrified mainly because they didn't know what Nana wanted to do.

This person's equipment could be suddenly seized by the Ministry of Works' Heavenly Master, who would even confiscate it if the person lay on the ground and acted shamelessly. The government's rhetoric, which would usually take ten days or half a month for an ordinary company, was seen through in an instant... After realizing that the key was not in his hands, the other party left without even glancing at him, seemingly obediently acting according to his demands, but his eyes and words were full of violent remarks that were about to break through the bottom line.

Ch'en Hui-chieh grew up in Lungmen. As a senior superintendent of the Lungmen Guard Department, with the backing of Yan, she was confident in facing even the Ursus regular army head-on.

But... what if things were wrong on our side from the very beginning?

What if, after the countdown ends, the other side really resorts to violence in front of everyone across the land? Should Lungmen respond or not?

If they refuse, where will the dignity of the Great Yan be? If they do respond, how should we view Lungmen's inclusive and open city-state policy?

Strictly speaking, a medical company would never be in direct conflict with a city-state's government. However, recalling the timeline for the activation of the war machines in Siracusa that this person had given her, Ch'en Hui-chieh was certain from the beginning that the other party was not an ordinary medical company.

Of course, as long as she pretended not to see it, and if the other party wanted to make a big fuss, directly dispatching the Guard Bureau to suppress it on the grounds of endangering public safety was also a good way... But Ch'en Hui-chieh just couldn't get past her own conscience.

The confiscation of the other party's belongings was already the limit of the Ministry of Works Guard Bureau to use its power to intimidate people. If it continued, Ch'en Hui-chieh would probably lose heart and think that there was no justice left in the entire court.

How can Ch'en Hui-chieh, who grew up immersed in classic Yan such as "The greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people," view her superiors? How can she, who aspires to bring fairness and justice to Lungmen, face her work again?!

So instead of trying to buy time with the Rhodes Island people, she simply frowned and shut herself off.

Seeing that Ch'en wasn't trying to stop the mission target and was biting his lip in deep thought, Hoshiguma knew that he was the only one who could ease the situation now.

Judging from the previous conversation, the other party is someone who responds better to gentle persuasion than force. It might be good news that Ch'en, with his fiery temper, has wisely kept quiet.

"Hey, wait a minute... please wait a minute..."

Because Nana's group included petite individuals like Su Sulo, whose strides were not large, Hoshiguma was able to catch up with Nana and her companions quite quickly.

"I think we can talk again..."

"There's no need for that... After all, the decision to confiscate our equipment probably wasn't made by either of you... or even by Lungmen itself, so I don't think we have anything to discuss."

"So tell me what your plans are? Saying things like 'at that time' is really frightening..."

"This is because I'm worried that you all don't know just how special my equipment is. Even on Rhodes Island, those things were handled by specialists... So who exactly withheld my things?"

While talking to Nana, Kal'tsit checked her phone for messages, but Kal'tsit, who usually replied to her own messages instantly, was now seeing her own briefing as 'unread'.

The other group messages sent to Huang and other Elite Operator and department heads also went unanswered.