Chapter 311

Recalling the terrifying moment when the monster used Nonlinear Movement to place a knife directly at Jessica, almost slicing open her junior's throat, Nana paused for a moment and said:

"It's something of the same type as me."

Nana is an assassin, and the most dangerous time for an assassin is when they unknowingly become their prey.

Unless one is an extremely self-disciplined individual like Saria who is on guard almost at all times, even for an operator as strong as Blaze, facing an assassin who transcends the conventional three-dimensional space, the danger is among the most perilous of the targets Nana has handled.

Just as the Doctor was deep in thought, pointing at the tablet in front of him, Nana suddenly remembered that the group of people had identified her as the 'The Last Knight'... Although she didn't feel it was that important, Nana still meticulously reported it.

But when faced with such a matter that even involved events from sixty years ago, even the seemingly all-powerful Doctor, who commanded the winds and rains on the battlefield, couldn't help but show a slightly blank expression.

"This... is a little beyond my comprehension... Kal'tsit, do you have anything to say about what Nana said?"

Kal'tsit?

Following the Doctor's gaze Nana looked at the airlock alarm not far away. A moment later, Kal'tsit, unusually not wearing the potted plant skirt suit but a one-piece isolation suit... which was actually the inner lining of a full-size positive pressure protective suit, walked out of the gate.

Seeing that Kal'tsit's emerald hair was still sticking to her forehead with sweat, Nana looked around and then found something that looked like a disposable towel or a bed sheet in a Rhodes Island box labeled 'medical supplies'. She used it to wipe Kal'tsit's forehead, temples, and neck. At the same time, the floating Little Cat finally landed and brought a glass of cold water from the water dispenser.

"... The Last Knight, who supposedly 'died' while charging into the giant waves... That man did indeed have connections with the Church of the Deep and Aegir. It's said that his belongings were buried along with important items belonging to an engineering master who left Aegir, and I myself planned to send people to search for his belongings after leaving Lungmen... Now it seems that perhaps what this knight did back then was more than just 'charging into the giant waves'."

As she spoke, she finished the glass of purified water. Kal'tsit's cracked lips clearly indicated that she had been conducting intensive research in the laboratory provided by Lungmen for a long time... Nana didn't care whether her bonsai boss was researching the Seaborn or Demons; that wasn't something she should care about.

So, do we need to respond to this misunderstanding?

"The reason for interacting in an organized manner on this land is either to worry about being misunderstood by the other party, or to worry about our actions being misunderstood by the outside world... But what exactly are the actions of Rhodes Island's 'Knights' in Lungmen that require interaction with the outside world?"

When asked about Kal'tsit's question, Nana remained silent for a moment, then slowly shook her head.

"Since that's the assessment, then we don't need to pay attention to it... Although the emergence of news about 'The Last Knight' will definitely attract the attention of Kazimierz, we're not worried about any negative impact. In fact, Kazimierz's interest in Rhodes Island is part of the plan. So there's no need to feel burdened; just proceed as usual..."

Seeing Nana nod, Kal'tsit noticed that the white Little Cat had tried to sneak away with Nana while the adults were talking, so she picked it up. Rosemary immediately frowned and realized that Kal'tsit- sensei was about to give her another lesson.

The attempt to offer water was completely ineffective!

The Little Cat screamed inwardly, then got a smack on the head from its damned mother.

Although Kal'tsit couldn't see the interaction between the Little Cat and Cole, she noticed the little one in her arms looking downcast. Kal'tsit, who was very good at taking care of children, immediately rubbed the Little Cat's ears, and Rosemary's expression of comfort appeared almost instantly.

"Furthermore, regarding the Shanhai Congregation... Before the Great Yan allows us to intervene, getting too involved too directly could affect the harmonious cooperation we've worked so hard to build... The 'Beasts' are to the Great Yan what 'Demons' are to Ursus; they are in their core interests, so we shouldn't be too proactive in matters concerning the Shanhai Congregation."

"However, the matter involves the Seaborn and something like the Demons Chimera has appeared. Doing nothing would be too passive... While the Guard Bureau is currently sorting through the relics of the Church of the Deep and using high-pressure water cannons to clean up your battle site, Medic, you can go back to the Rhodes Island main ship to take a look."

"That injured ninja is currently undergoing cognitive assessment over there... Also, have you forgotten about the other two new recruits you need to mentor?"

Hearing Kal'tsit's reminder, Nana recalled who the newcomer was, and was just about to say that Folinic would take care of Suzuran and Angelina when she suddenly saw Folinic, who was carrying a stack of documents, also only wearing the inner lining of her protective suit, come out of the isolation door.

"... Huh?"

Seeing Nana's dumbfounded expression, Folinic also let out a confused "Eh?" until Nana asked Folinic in a somewhat panicked tone about the two Little Fox she had brought back from Siracusa. Only then did Folinic point speechlessly towards the distant port:

"They're doing well; they're currently interning as support operators... kind of assisting the Medical Department... As for now, it seems they're accompanying that Lungmen ninja lady for a cognitive examination?"

Seeing Nana's "why" expression despite not saying anything, Folinic shook her cat ears, which were thicker than those of a normal Feline, and continued:

"It seems that Suzuran is very curious about 'ninjas'? Anyway, if you want to find them, then come to the main ship."

PS: Waaaaaaah!

PSS: Alright, let's take down some Seaborn, then it's time to move on to the Sui Fragments. Today, I, Nana, am going to unleash a barrage of Ora attacks on everyone!

9th Lungmen Seafood: 357 Rabbit, Fox, and Weasel

Knowing that her colleagues in various departments, including Folinic, who were familiar with her, were all assisting Lungmen and researchers from all over Great Yan in studying a series of methods for identifying, treating, and isolating Seaborn, she had no time to help take care of her child.

The thought that she might have left the two Little Fox she brought back in a completely unfamiliar place for several days filled Nana with anxiety.

She had promised Lisa's mother that she would take good care of her, and Angelina was going through a sensitive and volatile adolescence... The two children had traveled thousands of miles from home to live on Rhodes Island, only to be caught up in a chaotic mess of Catastrophes involving both Sui Fragments and Demons, like the Lungmen Seaborn. Whether this was an opportunity to broaden their horizons or simply bad luck, even Nana couldn't quite say.

Based on Nana's understanding of the current personnel agent, Orchid, the lady who claims to have been taking care of problem children could handle Popukar, her former Little Cat follower, so she must be able to get along with a well-behaved girl like Suzuran and a teenager like Angelina with ease.

Ultimately, Rhodes Island had no reason to treat its operators differently, and the only reason that drove Nana to rush to the port area without even having a drink of water was simply Nana's own sense of unease.

Once upon a time, Killer Number Seventy-Seven was someone who knew no fear, and could even be considered the embodiment of fear... But now, it's hard to say whether the Rosemary incident has given Nana an abnormal desire for control, making her more human or taking her further and further away from the 'normal person' she longed for.

Wearing the white lab coat she'd taken from Kal'tsit before leaving to cover her tactical equipment, Nana handed over command of the operation to Amiya, and, following Saria's advice, confirmed with the Doctor that there would be no immediate combat missions. Nana then decided to drive back to the Rhodes Island main ship.

Although it seemed that the main purpose of returning was to confirm the information about the Shanhai Congregation that had been missed with the ninja codenamed 'Bai Xue', Nana's first action upon returning was actually to contact the two Little Fox and arrange to meet them at the door of another subordinate's hospital room.

"So, sir, do you really have to make it sound like my condition has worsened and I'm on my deathbed? The last time I saw a doctor in a white coat with two auxiliary badges rushing into the ward... I vaguely remember it was a dark and stormy night, and the room was filled with screams..."

Looking at the Rope on the hospital bed, who was complaining but also had a slight smile on his face, Nana carefully checked the child's medical records. After finding nothing wrong, she looked up and asked with a slightly puzzled expression:

"Are you frequently hospitalized?"

"Um... no, I was just... going to the hospital to pick up some supplies... well, although the purpose was indeed medicine..."

Seeing Rope's slightly embarrassed finger tap, Nana didn't press further, but simply patted the little guy's head:

"It's alright. From now on at Rhodes Island, in addition to the operator's own medical insurance, things like Oripathy inhibitors are also employee benefits... If nothing unexpected happens, you won't need to go to those public hospitals anymore."

"Really?! So Hoshiguma- neechan really did find me a good job~ I'll have to find a chance to treat you two officers to a meal next time~ Sir... oh, I should say Captain?"

"Whatever you like, it's fine with you."

"Well! Captain, what did you think of Grandpa Dong's place we visited before? His Scale Balls are indeed the best in Lungmen, and even I can afford them!"

Seeing the girl's Rope, sparkling eyes and seemingly drooling lips, Nana chuckled and poked her cheek.

"You actually have savings?"

"No! Miss Orchid said she specially approved my salary for this month!"

Seeing that the girl seemed completely unaffected by the near-death experience, and that her physical and emotional state were stable, Nana felt relieved. After exchanging a few words with Rope, and feeling the curious gazes of the two girls behind her, Nana turned to let the other two little ones come to Rope's side:

"Come on, let me introduce you. This is Rope, my current support staff in Lungmen... She was introduced by the local Guard Bureau and joined as a special operations operator... Although we directly included Rope in the operations team because of the Guard Bureau's introduction, you are essentially colleagues."

Seeing that Rope unconsciously leaned back slightly after meeting Suzuran's innocent gaze, as if feeling ashamed and wanting to look away, Nana gave Suzuran an encouraging look. The golden-haired Little Fox then flicked its long tail and stepped forward gracefully to introduce itself:

"Hello, Sister Rope, I'm Lisa, codename Suzuran. I'm currently interning as a support operator... Did you really think I looked like a helpful person when I walked in just now?!"

Faced with the bright, sparkling eyes of the Little Fox, Rope scratched her cheek sheepishly.

"... Oh, right... Sorry, I'm not very good at judging the age of other races... Are you actually very young?"

"Lisa is twelve years old. She's already an adult who can live independently without her mother."

Seeing the Little Fox twitch its ears smugly, Rope, who had left home at a similar age and was only Seventeen, covered his mouth in surprise, then looked at Angelina with even greater astonishment.

Feeling that as an adult she should be more reserved, Ms. Angelina maintained a smile throughout, hoping to make a good impression on this woman who was, in a sense, her fellow student... but...

"Are you twelve years old too?!"

"... Why did you come to that conclusion?! We're practically the same age, aren't we?!"

Seeing Angelina's tail wagging anxiously as her composure was shattered by a single sentence from Rope, Nana covered her mouth slightly with amusement.

She could understand why Rope reacted this way; it was probably because the Little Bunny had been treated by Su Sulo at the frontline hospital.

Most people wouldn't pay special attention to someone's age or other private information if they saw it. Even if they did, they would just say something like, "You look so young," and move on.

But Rope was a pickpocket by trade, and this street-smart Little Bunny must have his own theories on how to observe the details of his targets. The driver's license on the back of Su Sulo's work badge and the Siracusa identification in her wallet clearly showed her age... This is why Rope judged that Suzuran had a similar build, was an adult, and instantly connected it to the fact that he might be about to die.

I have to say, the little guy has a pretty quick and easy way of thinking.

As for Angelina was still arguing that she was the same age as him and not an old woman, and trying to make Rope realize that Vulpo's age was correct... well, although she was a little pitiful for being accidentally hurt, the three of them seemed to get to know each other very quickly, and Nana's goal was achieved.

After letting the little ones make a ruckus for a while, the topic gradually shifted to how the Little Bunny got injured, and then fast-forwarded to Nana's current progress, as the on-duty nurse came to change Rope drip.

Nana didn't stop Rope from telling his new friends the story of the 'sea monster destroying the house'. After all, no matter how detailed the description, Rope, who had been observing from afar, was still far from the real secret... And seeing Suzuran and Angelina so engrossed in the story as if they were there, Nana hoped that they would forgive her for leaving them on the ship and forgetting about them for two whole days, now that they knew how dangerous things were.

However, reminded by Rope's animated description of how Medic transformed into a knight and fought the sea monster, Nana herself remembered why she had chosen Rope's ward as the meeting place.

She was also going to meet the ninja lady who was resting in the VIP ward on the same floor. Apparently, Folinic said that Suzuran and Angelina were in charge of the reception.

After Rope finished recounting how she outwitted and outmaneuvered the sea monster, using Medic's bulletproof uniform to deflect the deadly crossbow bolt, Nana took a sip of water while the girl was talking, her throat dry, and asked Suzuran about the ninja.

"Is Medic referring to that ninja? Hmm... I'm a little concerned because I overheard something related to our hometown..."

"So that's why you took this job from Folinic?"

Seeing the girl nod uneasily, Nana tried to touch the Little Fox's ear like Kal'tsit had done. Although Suzuran looked a little startled and surprised, she didn't pull away from Nana's hand.

"Don't worry, Suzuran's willingness to take on tasks shows she has a strong sense of responsibility... Folinic really praised you."

Of course, this is a lie... Folinic was so busy under Kal'tsit that she couldn't find her way around, didn't have time to praise the Little Fox in front of Nana. She even came out to deliver a document, told Nana about the person she had almost forgotten about on the main ship, and then plunged into the Three-Defense Laboratory... Only Nana, who has an extremely strong Empathy, could make such a statement that was not a lie even with her eyes closed.

To be honest, Folinic does feel better when she talks about Suzuran... Clearly, her life in the gang in Siracusa hasn't caused any educational problems for the little one. Although she hasn't met many people yet, she already shows signs of having excellent interpersonal skills that make her universally loved.

Seeing that Nana seemed eager to meet her after asking about Bai Xue White's location, Suzuran, who was only nominally an intern and actually waiting for Kal'tsit to free up time to teach the children, eagerly tugged at Suzuran beside Angelina. Then, together with her older sister, they grabbed the hem of Nana's white coat.

"Um! If you don't mind, let us lead the way!"

Watching the Little Fox sway its tail, hands on its hips, as if deliberately trying to show 'I'm comfortable here,' Nana turned to look at Angelina. Compared to Suzuran, Angelina's behavior was perhaps more normal... Nana meant, more like the awkwardness a normal person would feel in an unfamiliar environment.

"... Although I'm not sure if leading the way counts as a support operator's job, we have indeed become quite familiar with Miss Bai Xue these past two days. With us there, Miss Ninja might be more relaxed."

Nana noticed the slightly strange expression on Angelina's face when she mentioned ninjas. She knew the girl was probably thinking of that guy from her hometown who made a threat and then ran away. Perhaps they really did have a connection with 'ninjas'?

"Well then, please."

"Okay! Well then... Rope, you should get some rest too! This time, you can't sneak out in the middle of the night to rummage through the vending machines again!"

It seemed that Suzuran had inadvertently said something significant, but Nana was busy with other things, so the black cat in the white coat just stared speechlessly at the scratching Little Bunny, then turned around and closed the door helplessly.

Upon meeting Suzuran and Angelina's gaze, Nana said helplessly:

"Next time, I'll bring her some food supplies or snacks..."

"So, it seems Rope was hospitalized because of a specific nerve injury? Can she eat those things?"

Clearly, Nana, who only has expertise in external injuries, would find it difficult to answer Angelina's question... The three of them looked at each other in Rope, it seemed that whether or not they could have an extra meal would ultimately depend on what the attending physician, Su Sulo, would say.

I wonder when Su Sulo, who is also from Vulpo, will be able to meet up with Nana again. It seems like it's been a while since the two of them last got together.

Sigh, the dorm rooms are just a few steps apart, but it feels like we're worlds apart. Is this what it's like to be a medical worker?

With a completely bewildered sigh, Nana arrived at the VIP ward of the Medical Department on the same floor. The assassin could sense that someone was indeed inside; even Suzuran and Angelina could hear the not-so-suppressed conversation inside... It seemed that the ninja wasn't alone in the room?

Regardless of the situation, after Little Suzuran volunteered to ring the doorbell to ask if she could enter and received permission, little blonde Vulpo tiptoed and swiped her assistant staff card to open the VIP ward's access control.

Watching Nana smilingly as she carefully placed her work card into her breast pocket, the Little Fox earnestly wagged her finger and said:

"Sister Folinic instructed us that as assistants, our work cards grant us access to most areas, and we must make sure to keep them safely in our pockets after use!"

"Yes, that's a good habit, keep it up!"

Although it was a bit strange for Nana, who often attacked innocent security guards in order to seize access control, as the automatic door to the ward opened, the white-haired girl of the Anaty race appeared before Nana in a slightly weak state, having removed her mask.

Also appearing here was a unicorn-like Ancients dressed in Higashi- style brocade and adorned with magnificent accessories. Who was she?

"Ah, Aunt Wen Yue."

"Ah, we meet again, Little Suzuran, Little Angelina... and this one... Hmm, let me guess, since you're wearing a white coat, you must be a doctor? But, I don't think I've seen you before?"

Just as Nana was about to introduce herself, hearing the wary undertone in the calm tone of this Ancients, she was interrupted by Bai Xue on the hospital bed:

"Madam... this person... is the one who rescued me the day before yesterday. He does seem to know Lisa and the other person well, so he should indeed belong to Rhodes Island."

Although Bai Xue's tone sounded somewhat awkward, as if she wasn't used to the Great Yan language, seeing that the atmosphere had eased slightly, Nana still put on a professional smile and decisively stepped forward:

"I'm Medic from the Emergency Medical Department, and also the head of Rhodes Island's Trauma Team. The frontline operations are now mostly over, and because I was a little concerned about our Lungmen partners, the injuries of our newly recruited operators... and the new recruit I forgot about on the ship, I hurried back home..."

He spoke with a slightly self-reproachful tone about how he had entrusted Suzuran and Angelina to Rosemary, thinking that the two newcomers would be handed over to Folinic afterward. However, he ended up witnessing Folinic discovering at the front-line research institute the somewhat alarming fact that the children might be left without anyone to care for them...

Nana managed to smooth things over by patting the two little ones' heads amidst Suzuran's "Lisa doesn't care" and Angelina's "Senior, your reaction is too exaggerated. We're just newbies, not newborns Nana."

Although her purpose in visiting them was indeed to do so, her visit to Bai Xue had another motive... This was even an action driven by efficiency, and Nana was worried that it might taint the pure feelings between the three of them. This was also the kind of thing that the assassin girl still couldn't understand at all.

Upon hearing that Nana was the person in charge of the rumored 'Rhodes Island's final defense line', and after checking Nana's work card to confirm her identity, she introduced herself as 'Wen Yue'. The Ancients lady from the ancient people, who didn't seem to come from an ordinary family, immediately shed the distance she felt at the beginning of their meeting.

"So you're the Elite Operator who rescued Bai Xue. You really can't judge a book by its cover."

"... Looking inconspicuous is my habitual way of dressing; after all... being fully armed in a mobile hospital would be too conspicuous."

Nana's statement unexpectedly drew confused glances from Bai Xue Wen Yue, given that Rhodes Island had quite a few fully armed personnel.

The security checks from the public level to the medical level are multiple times, and in the lower areas there are also suspicious places like the LycoLyco Café, which is frequented by former intelligence agents. Bai Xue would never mistake that kind of familiar aura.

But since Lungmen and Rhodes Island are currently in a honeymoon period, there's no need for Bai Xue to point out the unusual nature of Nana's words on this issue.

The ninja in the hospital gown simply bowed.

"DEMO, Bai Xue DESU. A mere ninja is nothing to speak of, but please allow me to introduce... the young lady— Madam Wen Yue, wife of the Governor."

Watching the other person stammering out lines that only appear in period dramas, Nana almost forgot about the identity of this Ancients in front of her.