Chapter 80
Nana hopes the Little Cat can have ordinary happiness...
Even though 'Rosemary' is already quite unconventional.
"Since Rosemary can gain Halo through the Bruce family bloodline... then, can Little Cat use the 'spell' I'm using to suppress the Halo?"
Nana's question made Cole and Kate exchange a glance, and then they both shook their heads in concern.
Although Rosemary is known as a 'war sorceress', her knowledge and use of magic are actually quite rudimentary... to the point that when asked about it, she can only tilt her head and act cute.
Leaving aside the fact that ordinary Feline lacks the hardware compared to 'Bloodfiend'... just considering that Little Cat is still illiterate and hasn't left Kal'tsit's 'Little Class', don't expect her to master the complex and dangerous Teekaz Witchcraft.
So, is there no way to hide that triangular Halo?
That's not necessarily true...
With that in mind, Nana got up and washed up; she was going to look for the Little Cat.
With slight vibrations as the tall wheeled walking mechanism rolled over the tundra gravel, the liquid in the sink cup would occasionally sway back and forth. It seemed that even adaptive suspension could not completely eliminate the annoying swaying sensation when driving on rough wilderness.
Then, she found some dusty suitcases on the shelf, with a seal bearing Kal'tsit's signature affixed to the opening and closing...
Judging from the material of the letter paper on the seal, perhaps Nana's dear bonsai-like boss originally wanted to say something to Nana, but in the end, the letter was torn into a seal. Even though the assassin girl pieced it back together, all that could be seen was a tangled mess of threads that barely reflected Kal'tsit's feelings at the time...
It seems that Kal'tsit transformed all her words to Nana into this suitcase.
First of all, this is clearly not standard equipment for Rhodes Island; the locks on the matte alloy case are marked with Phoenix Shield, a silent indication of its Security Bureau.
Then, why did you bring this box?
Before Miss Assassin figured out how to open the mechanical lock and what was inside, let's take a look at the equipment Nana brought when she went to treat 'Halo'...
The Firearms Arts were stored in the Exploration Vehicle's armory, maintained by Jessica... Dangerous medicines were stored in the infirmary, categorized and overseen by Su Sulo and Folinic.
Killer gadgets like paracord bracelets and earphones were packed into her medical bag, while the equipment Nana never took off was now hanging on the coat rack in her room...
Knowing how thoroughly prepared she was for her trip, the fact that she had an extra suitcase beside her... which seemed to have been entrusted to her by her manager and specifically given to her by Kal'tsit... made things start to look strange.
Has the task requirement changed again?
With this question in mind, Nana placed the box on the bed... The petite, black-haired Feline, dressed in a surgical gown that served as pajamas, sat in front of the box, intently unlocking it.
The cat, whose tail was rarely allowed to roam freely, now lay casually on the bed, occasionally patting the bed gently up and down as a sign of its appreciation for its owner's attentiveness.
As the mechanical clicking sound rang out, Nana finally opened the mysterious package.
The first thing that catches the eye is the TDD express shipping order. After briefly glancing at the sender's address and Puff's 'Teresa Walter' signature to confirm that there are no dangerous items in the contents, the petite Feline, whose tail began to wag wildly from side to side, finally felt relieved and fully opened the box.
Using the reading light overhead at the Exploration Vehicle lathe shop for illumination, Nana first picked up the outermost layer of white fabric and spread it out... The delicate touch and the soft, highly elastic nature of the fabric quickly led Nana to determine that it was made of synthetic fiber. Key features included no seams, no place of origin, and no material label.
I pulled and rubbed it under the light to confirm it was free of static electricity. Changing the angle under the light did not change its color or light transmittance. The fine fleece surface also eliminated the need for a matte finish. More importantly, it is visibly warm to the naked eye... It's a very expensive-looking garment.
"... High collar... no, is it the high-elasticity design with a folded collar and folded sleeves?"
While muttering to myself, I changed into the Liquid Fabric that wears out with each use, making sure that even my fingertips were covered in slightly sheer black stockings, before putting on the winter base layer that my agent had TDD rush-sent.
The collar and sleeves were neatly folded and could be pulled up to the top of her head. The petite, black-haired woman Feline, looked at the dressing mirror inside the wardrobe. Her hands, exposed outside the sleeves, and the black stockings covering her legs, due to the thickness of the Liquid Fabric, revealed a hint of flesh. The pure white fleece top seemed to divide her body into three contrasting blocks of black, white, and black, creating a striking visual effect.
However... even in winter, the inner layer is still a lightweight fleece that emphasizes the body's curves, clearly showing that even after three years, the manager's aesthetic hasn't changed at all.
"... So, you gave me thermal underwear... why not a pair of long johns?" Si
Nana rummaged through her suitcase but couldn't find the thermal underwear she was looking for... but she could picture her manager's awful face: 'Cold? If you're cold, just cover your lower body with more Liquid Fabric,' she thought.
Ignoring the digital snow camouflage holsters and gear, Nana first rummaged through the boxes for the special agent equipment. After all, her manager couldn't possibly allow herself to withstand the freezing temperatures while simultaneously completing a mission... so leg protection was definitely a must.
Since it's not just simple, reliable clothing, it must be something on a higher level... like Liquid Fabric. Three
Of course, this wasn't an answer we arrived at, but rather the result Nana saw...
The white, liquid-like plastic container sat calmly in the center of the alloy suitcase... Was it to suit the Snowfield? So, whether it was gear or warm clothing, the agent gave it pure white or white camouflage tones... Even the Liquid Fabric, which had been used in black for the past five years, appeared in other colors for the first time this time.
Opening the plastic can disguised as 'paint', Nana made sure it was indeed Liquid Fabric... She wasn't just being presumptuous... like thinking the other party had sent expensive equipment when it was actually a prank like a can of pure white camouflage paint.
However, Nana unexpectedly discovered a problem while using it.
In the past, to replenish Liquid Fabric of the same color, you could simply blend them together... but nowadays, white and black fabrics seem to have a slight discrepancy in blending due to their different colors.
Nana couldn't blend them together; even if she liquefied them all and wore them back on, they would still be clearly black and white... If Nana didn't mind looking like a zebra or if it was simply for disguise, it wouldn't affect its use.
But... it's too ugly... Nana means that these black and white lines, clearly distinguished as 120320748, are still too avant-garde.
In the end, Nana separated the black and white versions, putting the white fabric back into the paint can, and also not wearing the matching snow digital camouflage gear... The old version of the black gear was very thin and light, Nana liked very much.
Thus, donning cat-ear headphones and donning her Rhodes Island coat and light blue pleated skirt uniform in black stockings, Rhodes Island's 'Medic' finally returned to the front lines.
"... Aside from the underwear (Liquid Fabric), the only other equipment that's left is the spellcasting unit set, right...?"
Looking at the extra set of the Security Bureau spellcasting units that had been specially sent to the box, designed to be used with the snow camouflage, with the outer shell also modified to match the camouflage, Nana scratched her head, somewhat at a loss for what to do.
The Columbia Security Bureau's agent spellcasting unit mainly consists of two parts: a 'wrist Terminal's and a 'shoulder spellcasting unit'... It is not only a Columbia Security Bureau agent, but also has a large number of tactical functions.
Putting everything else aside, the Originium-Resistant Communications Circuit and military-grade casting units alone are enough to push the price of a single set above one million Columbian Dollar...
As for its built-in advanced information functions such as friend-or-foe identification, real-time friendly force positioning, and synchronized tactical Command System, it can undoubtedly greatly enhance the team's cooperation capabilities... Whether giving the second Terminal to Rosemary or to Yato, the A4 Action Group's combat effectiveness will be visibly improved.
However, Nana is now having some doubts... whether she can, or rather, whether she has the right to, give the Security Bureau's equipment to people who are not members of the Security Bureau.
Troubled by this, Nana, who hadn't used the Security Bureau's agent Terminal in a long time, silently tried to find the Security Bureau's employee handbook after hearing the soft, female AI's notification that "agent detected online"...
"Um?"
Blinking, she glanced again at a name in the 'Action Permit' that shouldn't have been there. Nana licked her lips, tilted her head, and then used the AI assistant inside her agent equipment to connect to the Exploration Vehicle's PRTS system.
"Bridge, this is Medic. Tell Jessica to wait for me in the lounge. Also, clear the lounge... I have something to discuss with her."
[Huh? Ah... Jessica... Jessica received this...]
After cutting off communications, Nana tilted her head as she looked at Jessica's name on the agent equipment, 'Raythean Industries Special Permit.' Finally, she habitually touched her collar, realized she didn't need a tie, and shook her head with Nana smile. The cat picked up the suitcase... preparing to hand over the equipment to the only two people here who were legally allowed to use it.
P. S.: I'm so dizzy from being hit by the fish... Did I accidentally put the supplementary temporary text into the main text again? Oh well, I'll just keep writing.
4th Crimson Warm Winter: 081 System Matchmaking
The Exploration Vehicle's lounge and dormitory are on the same floor and right next to each other. Through a bright corridor with handrails on both sides and not too cold, Nana even has time to have a sip of her 'morning' coffee when she gets to the lounge.
Although TDD's supplies mean the coffee here is all instant powder, it's more suitable for a cat accustomed to the fast-paced city life... She can't even compare the refinement of coffee versus coffee beans...
Of course, this only means that the assassin is always fair in her treatment of people and things. In the face of death, no one is more noble than anyone else... This applies to people, and it also applies to objects.
When Jessica nervously knocked on the door, the assassin, whose body had warmed up considerably, gave this... unlucky guy she remembered, a slightly business-like smile.
"Jessica?"
"... Ah, um... Captain, Medic, you wanted to see me?"
"Come, have a seat."
While talking, she gestured for the person of her race, whose hair color was very similar to hers, to sit down. Nana poured him a cup of coffee first, and then, as the other person politely picked up the cup, Nana activated the Security Bureau's watch Terminal.
"This is Medic, cockpit responds... Jessica and I will begin a secure call in the lounge. The PRTS system may temporarily suspend lounge monitoring and combat recording... Don't panic, that's normal."
[Cockpit view... By the way, Nana, you're not planning some weird or outlandish scheme again, are you?]
Hearing Huang's tone, as if he were about to come over just by smelling the scent, Nana sighed:
"Of course not, I already said Jessica is still here... We need to discuss some... restricted topics... non- Rhodes Island systems..."
Ah... I understand~
"... Also, could you please let Rosemary know? I need to speak with her. How long until she's back?"
[... Hmm... it'll probably be several more hours... the Little Cat's been obsessed with high-speed cruising lately...]
"Then I'll go find her later. Mr. Black Horn and Old Ranger, please help me prepare my Tactical Unit..."
[Judging from your tone, you can fly too?]
"Even the Little Cat used my Halo, so what's so strange about me using her Originium Arts... Medic, call ended, offline."
Ignoring Huang's curious shouts during the communication, Nana turned on her watch and then had 'Anna' disable some functions of the onboard PRTS with her own permissions. She then looked at Jessica, who had calmed down a bit from the hot drink.
"Alright, now it's our turn..."
"So... our captain is finally going to take that gun back? I've taken good care of it. Are you going to use it for this mission?"
Seeing Jessica seem relieved, her cat ears twitching, Nana shook her head.
"No, you'll still be using that gun, mainly the kind that fires repeatedly... Besides you, no one else can afford the ammunition consumption... The reason we specifically asked you to come here this time is because of something else."
Clicking on the 'Joint Operations Permit' between the Columbia Security Bureau and Raythean Industries, one finds... the name 'Jessica' prominently displayed among Raythean Industries' collaborators.
"Three years ago, you were a partner of the Columbia Security Bureau ... and you helped me in my mission to communicate with the captain of the Blacksteel Landship ... Did you know that yourself?"
Nana's question was rather serious, and Jessica, who had been quite lively just moments before, immediately wilted in the face of Nana's earnest question.
"... Yes... yes..."
"But you are clearly an employee of Blacksteel Worldwide, yet you have a deep cooperative relationship with Raythean Industries?"
"... Raythean Industries... is... a family business..."
At this point, Jessica, with her ears drooping, nervously fidgeted with her fingertips:
"At the time, I thought it was just a regular favor... but I specifically checked the visitor list for that day... and you weren't there..."
As Jessica spoke, she would sneakily glance up at Nana's reaction every now and then, but to her disappointment, Nana just pointed at the watch Terminal without giving any affirmation or pointing out what was wrong with her.
From Jessica's perspective, Nana's actions made her feel extremely... tormented.
"So, you voluntarily became my... Columbia agent's assistant... So how much do you know about the Columbia Homeland Security Bureau?"
"... Government departments? Business partners of the family company... mainly my sister has a lot of collaborations with them... in addition, the Contingency Contract also has close ties with the Security Bureau..."
"So, what were your thoughts when you accepted the task of helping me?"
"... I... I just..."
Is it just obeying orders from home?
Holding the Terminal and recording audio, Nana was conducting a special recruitment process according to the standards for temporary agents... Just as she had prepared beforehand, agent equipment is not something that just anyone can use, but Jessica had been on the Security Bureau's cooperation list three years ago, belonging to the Security Bureau's cooperative non-staff personnel.
She has the right to access Security Bureau intelligence and is not bound by confidentiality regulations. With Nana's high-level agent privileges, as long as Jessica possesses a basic spirit of dedication that aligns with Columbia universal values... then Nana can recruit collaborators during operations and elevate the privileges of unofficial personnel...
Although they were originally just unrelated tools who became interns helping out, the trainee agents or assistants could now openly use agent wristwatches and spell units... This obviously improved their team's combat effectiveness.
In addition, Nana also wanted to use this method to determine the principle of Halo amplification... After all, agents' synchronized spell units, due to the need for mutual cooperation and spell frequency tuning, can establish a special resonance similar to the Originium Arts local area network.
The practice of enhancing different types of Originium Arts through joint use by multiple people to strengthen the entire team has long existed in the Colombian Military, but due to cost considerations, it has only been provided to advanced units such as Mechanical Hunter.
As for high-ranking agents... there simply aren't enough people to form teams... most of the other high-ranking agents also have their own teams... Of course, Nana isn't concerned about teamwork.
Assassins accustomed to acting alone might consider group operations... primarily because of the Halo that suddenly appeared on them, seemingly capable of transmitting power through the Originium Arts network.
Since Rosemary can benefit from the Bruce family's 'network' or its own Halo, then similarly, the agent team's network should also be able to obtain the same or even similar benefits.
Although, at its core, Nana's behavior is very similar to using herself as a medium to allow others to exploit the 'master's' fighting power for free.
But if Nana's guess is correct, her team will then have at least three combat-capable individuals at the level of Elders... That's enough to launch a mental attack on a Mobile City... Of course, Nana won't put it into practice.
So... let's return to the Security Bureau's theoretical test for Jessica.
What is meant by 'universal values'...? Although Nana could probably write a proper sociology paper on this topic, Nana already knew perfectly well the standards for becoming Security Bureau.
If Jessica's answer is something like 'obeying orders from home'... then Nana cannot give her the watch.
Just like the questioning Nana experienced... the only quality one must have to become Security Bureau is the ability to stand up for others in a crisis of social disintegration.
Since it was just a recruitment drive for trainee agent assistants, Nana didn't even need her to actually face those dangers... As long as Jessica showed the willingness to confront difficulties and extend a helping hand to those in distress, Nana would consider her qualified.
Clearly, in order to properly hand over this equipment to Jessica, the assassin had set rather low standards... This was partly due to Jessica's usually overly cautious behavior.
As for Nana's question, Jessica hesitated for a long time, then looked at the screen projected Terminal her wristwatch and said with a dreamy expression:
"I just felt... since the goal is to help the people of Ticarondo, it's worth a try..."
"Even if you succeed, you'll have to go into the Catastrophes zone yourself... Don't you think it's... a bad deal? You provide the help, but you still have to go into dangerous territory yourself..."
Shaking her head, Jessica looked at Nana with a strange expression.
After all, such a question coming from someone who single-handedly plunged into the deepest reaches of the Catastrophes was utterly unconvincing... Jessica simply found it amusing that a hero known as the 'Light of Ticarondo' would ask such a question:
"No, because... I really want to help everyone..."
Nodding, Nana saved the recording to her Terminal, opened her suitcase, and presented Jessica with her new equipment, including a wristwatch Terminal, tactical gear with a shoulder backpack, and a white Liquid Fabric. She smiled again and said:
"... Although it sounds like you still lack confidence, Jessica, you've passed the test... As a senior agent of the Security Bureau, I authorize you to use the following technical equipment... Of course, you can read the specific confidentiality regulations regarding the Security Bureau's existence and its internal intelligence on your own in the Terminal."
"Ah?"