Chapter 85

"Didn't you see? Ursus attacked me first. I was walking... right before I crossed the border, when Ursus ship suddenly drifted right in front of me, and a bunch of people got off, pointed at me, and said, 'You're the Infected, get back to mining!'... Didn't you see?"

As she spoke, Nana pointed to the Originium Crystals on her face, her Thought Chain Ring in full swing... The agent was searching for a reason to let them go.

Of course, as Kate let go, the Sarkaz youth fell flat on his back to the ground, then, with tears in his eyes, he covered the back of his head and cried out:

"Nobody knows anything about that! The fires in the ground fissures had all gone out when we arrived!"

"Alright, next question... Do you guys think I'm some kind of weirdo? I attacked Ursus to get revenge for them trying to capture me and take me to the mine without a second thought... I brought you guys along thinking you'd help with some chores, since I couldn't carry all that loot by myself anyway... But what's with this passive-aggressive strike? If you don't want to live, then go die somewhere else. I'm kind-hearted, and I can't stand seeing idiots die in front of me."

As Nana released the blood flow control of the Blood Demon Sorcery, the group, who had just experienced a heart-stopping moment, scrambled back a few steps. Finally, another black-haired Sarkaz woman, who seemed to share some blood relation with the young man from before, was the first to stand up and ask:

"You're not from the Court?"

"The Court? What the Court? Didn't I say from the beginning that I had nothing to do with those guys?"

Upon hearing Nana's words, the filthy Sarkaz woman seemed to have a glint in her eyes and quickly stepped forward, only to be dodged by Nana's filthy hand.

"Are you also a supporter of Princess Theresa?!"

"... Theresa... Your Highness... I'm not familiar with her, I've never met her, and she has nothing to do with me."

Nana patted the hem of her military coat and gestured to the forest, looking at the disappointed woman.

"Why do you all think that someone like me, heading to Ursus, is involved with either side of the civil war? It's obvious I was originally planning to flee... And you're getting a bit off-topic... Now I'll be frank, Ursus patrol ships could come at any time, and I'm currently seething with anger, planning to go and loot some money for my journey and maybe get some decent clothes... If you're interested, hide well, and I'll allow you to join in when it's all over... If you're not interested, stay away... Don't get in my way."

Anyway, this group of people will probably still spread the word about their unfortunate Bloodfiend, who's about to fight Ursus, everywhere they go for the so-called 'discount'... just like they've already told the other Mercenaries about this place.

Thinking about it this way, does it mean that my fabrication of information has already achieved a partial success?

Finally, all we need to do is deal with that guy who knows when Rhodes Island will pass through this area to divert attention.

Thinking this through, Nana turned to look at the Sarkaz youth:

So, what's your answer?

"... I can't decide that; I need to discuss it with... everyone..."

Just as Nana was about to nod, the old man, who had been so Nono before, suddenly became relaxed and no longer trembling and numb as before, as if he had suddenly become a different person, and said:

"Just agree. She really isn't the Bloodfiend of the Court..."

'She's not even Bloodfiend.'

When those words came through the Thought Chain Ring, Nana almost immediately cast a Hemolysis Spell on the old man... If what happened before was all a disguise, and even the Thought Chain Ring could only read a little bit of his surface thoughts, his behavior was just too outrageous.

However... that does explain why Nana always felt something was off about him... This person wasn't lying to Nana; he might have completely fabricated a persona for disguise.

Given the complete conflict between her own actions and perceptions, Nana naturally felt that everything he said was a lie...

"Ha... Don't look at me like that, your magic is still quite terrifying..."

As he spoke, he slightly straightened his clothes, which were hardly presentable, but with just a change in his expression and eyes, the old Sarkaz man instantly appeared wise.

"So, you've all been acting against me... You... no, who exactly are you people?" Lin

"You seem unaware of Kazdel's situation... We are... formerly subjects of Princess Theresa ..."

As he spoke, the old man sighed:

"However, now that His Highness has fallen, even the mighty Babel crumbled overnight... What does it matter whether we were teachers, naan bakers, students, or housewives in the past... We're all just people scrambling to escape."

"... So, Kazdel's situation..."

"The civil war is over... It was the defeat of our poor, respectable, and lovable prince..."

Seeing everyone's dejected looks, Nana asked in confusion, "Hey?"

"Shouldn't you be happy that the war is over? Or are you actually some important people under Princess Theresa who must be eliminated?"

"Ha, don't underestimate us. Even though I'm only twenty-two, I know that the False King's actions are a return to the tyranny of the past! He will only drag all our compatriots across this land to their deaths!"

Just as the young man who had been hung up by Nana was about to launch into a long speech, a woman who seemed to be his sister... or perhaps his mother, punched him from behind.

"Enough with the nonsense... In short, we do not recognize the False King, just as the Court has never treated us kindly since ancient times... We were quite startled to see you as a Bloodfiend, so we pretended to test you for so long... We apologize."

"... Does that mean you can escape the Bloodfiend of the Court by cowering and trembling?"

"Those guys... they're all arrogant and conceited... If we actually encounter them, and if we completely ignore their Outrage, they'll probably lose interest and give up after about five people have died..."

Seeing the old man so casually say something that Nana couldn't understand, Nana was stunned for a while before she reacted.

Before Bloodfiend Cat could say anything more, the man who was still holding a weapon in his hand suddenly let out a growl from his stomach.

"... How about we eat first? I remember there's still plenty of food on that ship."

Seeing that Nana really wasn't trying to fool them at all, the old man Sarkaz looked at Nana for a while before finally letting out a sigh of relief and bowing his head in gratitude.

"This is really... thank you so much."

4th Crimson Warm Winter: 087 A Monumental Lie

Actually, the food in the wreckage had already been scavenged by the homeless people. They had been hiding it before because they were afraid Nana would bring it up as her spoils... But looking closely, Nana didn't find anything of interest in those things.

After all, Black Horn and Yato had thoroughly looted the officers' private treasuries, and the Exploration Vehicle also had corresponding cold storage facilities to store fresh ingredients... But even the remaining ordinary soldiers' rations were a rare feast for the Sarkaz supporters of the White Emperor.

First came a small mountain of rye bread, and rye biscuits wrapped in parchment paper were also a staple food for Ursus soldiers. Nana didn't particularly like these sour-tasting foods; in fact, to maintain her Bloodfiend image, Nana avoided the Sarkaz's dining area...

Apart from the rye bread known as 'ryeba', the Sarkaz carried away in cloth bags a mixture of coarse grains that could be either soldiers' rations or pack animals' rations.

The Sarkaz woman, who called herself a housewife, cooked porridge in everyone's tin lunchboxes, and used what looked like wood or charcoal to season this coarse porridge. Fortunately, the high morale of the Ursus soldiers was not maintained by these dried meats.

After the wanderers set up ladders inside the capsized ship, they also found a considerable amount of canned meat in the locked cupboards, which had escaped being looted by Black Horn and Yato because they had been stored in the soldiers' mess hall.

"... Besides these, the other things worth loading are the butter and lard in the enamel mugs, some spilled flour that could be collected... and also tea, sugar, and pepper..."

Seeing the old man counting the bills and then staring at her, Nana understood what they meant.

"Give me some sugar and tea, and find me a storage box that fits my height... Weapon box preferred... Finally, do you have any clothes that fit me?"

"... If you're looking for attire that matches the 'noble' spirit of the Sarkaz... then I'm sorry, we didn't find anything like it on that ship..."

As the old man spoke, he glanced into the distance, where the young men carrying tightly packed cotton and black Ursus military uniform fabric were beaming with joy as they diligently stuffed them into the vehicle.

Although there were only about a dozen adults among them, one of the women was even a professional tailor. This meant that their rags could be exchanged for more practical items, and the caravan could continue northward despite the cold winds... escaping the pursuit and persecution of the southern the False King.

"However, if you mean clothing that suits you... perhaps our skilled tailors can offer some suggestions."

The old man's words surprised Nana:

"... You even have tailors?"

"Lady Athena was once the best tailor in the Tower. She even mended clothes for our dear prince, and the lace she made is the most beautiful in the last eighty years. Going back further, this honor belongs to her mother... and that noble white dress that she was entrusted to repair has not been discarded even now, as we are fleeing... Although your figure is nothing like the prince's, I believe her skills will not disappoint you."

With the elderly man, who claimed to be a 'teacher,' enthusiastically recommending her, Nana tilted her head slightly, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"It sounds like you're trying to get me to take something important from someone else... I feel like you're up to no good."

"... Or you could call it, our conscience is troubled, Your Excellency... Up to this point you have generously given us everything we need: warm clothing, food, supplies, fuel, and all sorts of odds and ends... We desperately need those, but the exchange is reciprocal, and we can't give you much in return."

Seeing the old man's meaningful tone, Nana put her hands in her pockets and her expression became serious:

"I don't need to do anything with people who can't even afford to eat."

"That's the problem... Right now, we, a group of people who are struggling to even eat, still want to continue trading with you... Therefore, following you is the way to increase the survival rate of us poor souls, and if the price is His Highness's relics, I think it's worth it."

"... I don't think that will work. Your goal is to escape, right? Where is your destination... Victoria? Columbia? Or Great Yan? Something that doesn't exclude Sarkaz and provides a place for the Infected to support themselves... But I'm continuing north..."

"North... you're going to Ursus?"

The old man glanced at Nana strangely, his gaze still wise:

"If you're planning to head north as a... Bloodfiend noble, then I think you might need us even more... The nobles of Kazdel have never been lone wolves, especially Bloodfiend... A lone Bloodfiend either represents the start of a bloodbath or signifies defeat in a family feud and impending death... Either way, it's not a sign that one should act alone..."

In reality, I just wanted to pin the blame for attacking the Landship on a non-existent Bloodfiend, deal with the pursuers, shake off you witnesses, and then Bloodfiend Nana would have completed her historical mission...

Why does it seem like things get complicated every time they get through your mouth?

Seeing Nana's clearly reluctant expression, the old man put one hand behind his back, his thin clothes swaying slightly in the cold wind, and skillfully struck a noble pose...

Although at first glance this may seem like a rather old-fashioned Victoria aristocratic ceremony, considering the evolution of aristocratic etiquette throughout the Teekaz, including that of Gaul... what this elderly Sarkaz is doing may actually be the proper Kazdel aristocratic ceremony.

"Here, you can immediately acquire a noble team... We have cooks, tailors, farmers who know how to herd livestock, beautiful young Sarkaz girls, strong young men who can take up arms and serve as a symbol, and even a mechanic... Even the young children are all hardworking and efficient; no one is a burden..."

"... But the problem is... I don't have to be the Bloodfiend... All I originally wanted to do was get some revenge and run away..."

"Oh, of course, you can. Just like you could simply leave us behind and go your own way... So why did you allow us to touch your spoils... Your gaze has never been 'Bloodfiend' enough from the start... And I was thinking, perhaps I can help you achieve your goal."

The old man's conversation was almost relentless... Nana knew what he wanted; he wanted to give this group of people a guarantee... As long as Nana could give them a guarantee, not only would the White Emperor's relics be at stake, but they themselves would also become a force that Nana could control.

They will pledge allegiance to themselves.

But verbal statements have no binding force, and this group can offer Nana very little benefit. They were just strangers who met by chance... Nana can understand their desire to grasp at something as a lifeline, but for an agent, it is purely a burden.

So, should we just leave it alone... and let it live or die as it pleases?

Nana can't do it.

This not only contradicts the Security Bureau's own slogan of rescuing innocent people, but also causes Nana immense torment regarding her beliefs...

His mentor, a priest who upheld his faith until his death, could make a promise and carry it out for Little Cat he had just met, yet he himself was to let a group of innocent people harmed by war die in the wilderness... Was Tai He?

Seeing the old man still keeping a very humble posture, Nana walked to a relatively secluded corner where she could avoid being seen by others.

"... Honestly, you've been of little help to me... but I can definitely get you out of here..."

Seeing that the old man seemed about to say something, Nana waved her hand:

"Of course, I'm not saying this to bargain, I'm just telling you the reality... Besides, as you've noticed, although I use Bloodfiend Witchcraft, I am indeed not Bloodfiend... Whether it's my understanding of customs or habits, to a 'teacher' like you who knows so much, it might indeed be full of flaws... So here's the question... I'm neither from the Court, nor do I know anything about Queen Theresa's situation, I'm not even Sarkaz... Would you dare accept help from someone like that?"

"Why not... We ultimately trust Princess Theresa for a better future... But that princess was defeated by the history of the Sarkaz bloodline. Even if we have countless ideas to change things, in the end we can only settle on the single goal of 'survival'."

"Even if it's your enemy who comes to your aid, it doesn't matter?"

As she spoke, Nana canceled part of the Witchcraft. Blood mist enveloped the Halo, and the dim red light shone outward like a blood moon in the mist, radiating a deep crimson... As the blood- Light Wings slowly unfurled, Nana had once again changed her identity and persona. She was now 'Fallen Angel Cat'... Nana didn't even dare to actually reveal her Cross-Star Halo, which was far brighter than that of an ordinary Sankta, mainly because the brightness was too high and might attract the attention of others.

The sudden appearance of the Halo and Light Wings did cause the old man Sarkaz to instinctively take a step back, but he quickly came to his senses and muttered, "So that's how it is," as if he had imagined many reasons why Nana did this.

Of course, Nana wasn't in the mood for playing riddles with him. It wasn't impossible for Nana to help based on her faith and goodness, but first, they had to be able to adapt to living among other races...

If these followers of the White Emperor are truly willing to uphold the ideals of their deceased leader and live peacefully with other races, then not only Rhodes Island, Nana could even arrange for them to settle in Columbia through the Security Bureau.

But for now, let's test Halo mettle of Lin Yiqi and his group of winemakers with my own disguise...

"So, you're even willing to accept Sankta's help?"

"... I think there's no doubt about that... we will pledge our loyalty to our protectors."

Seeing that the old man was surprised but did not change his mind, Nana sighed, feeling that she had inexplicably increased her workload.

"Well then, let's go... Notify the others, and hurry up and hide the stuff. Then continue digging fortifications... Once I've dealt with the second Landship, I'll loot it a bit and then leave."

"Understood, but before that... are you really going to operate under the name of 'Bloodfiend Noble'?"

"Maybe. Leading a team that's mostly old and weak, if it's under the Bloodfiend's name, it might save some trouble?"

"Then... you should design a crest... and print it on... in the past it was on the back of the hand, now it seems the Bloodfiend have become quite casual, but if they want to indicate that someone is their subordinate or someone they protect, they usually print it in a very visible place..."

"Um, you should already know that I'm not actually the Bloodfiend, right?"

"Of course, this is all for show... After all, your goal is simply to make others think that 'the Bloodfiend Noble attacked the previous Landship,' isn't it... And since that's the case, you don't need to completely destroy the visitor. You can just 'visit' as a Bloodfiend Noble would... The Ursus people won't conduct a large-scale investigation into a Bloodfiend Noble. They'll just pass this matter on to those arrogant guys in the Court with a diplomatic communication that has no follow-up... Then it becomes a mess, and no one knows the truth anymore."

Seeing Nana suddenly become wary and stare intently at him, the elderly Sarkaz revealed a gentle smile:

"No one saw Rhodes Island's Exploration Vehicle sink the Ursus warship, I guarantee it."

... Lin'er III is similar to...

Nine days had passed since the border patrol boat lost contact, Ursus Third Army reluctantly dispatched search and rescue personnel under Dunkel's urgent reprimand.

Meanwhile, the 1,000-meter-class high-speed warship responsible for the search finally located the patrol ship, which was still burning with crimson flames and had only its hull remaining, through the drones of the mechanical sorcerers.

When they set off, they imagined many possible scenarios... such as an attack by the Silverlance Pegasi, Sarkaz refugee revelry, a warning from the Snowfield Guerrillas, or even a small-scale skirmish by the Fifth Army... But they never imagined that when their Landship found its target, it would see a pure white girl with red eyes drinking tea, supported by maids, butlers, guards, and servants, propping up a tea table next to the wreckage.

The quadcopter drone repeatedly switched control permissions at high altitude to confirm that it wasn't a hallucination being perpetrated by a particular operator. It wasn't until the girl on the tundra pulled it to her side via a bright red thread, and Nana, her face paler with a touch of makeup, answered the call, speaking almost emotionlessly:

"I've been waiting for you for a long time. Now, prepare the ceremonial procession for receiving nobles. I'll be there soon... We need to have a serious talk about your shameless attack."

As he spoke, the Militia series drones, which were heavily armored and designed to get close enough to calibrate artillery fire, were instantly sliced to pieces by Bloodfiend Demon Cat's magic.

After confirming that there were no other drones around, Nana finally breathed a sigh of relief and put down one of the containers she had been carrying... or rather, she put on another mask:

"The Bloodfiend nobles' tone is really difficult to deal with... And who's coming with me? You?"

Looking at the somewhat nervous Sarkaz girl, Nana tilted her head and then looked at the old man in the tailcoat, which was a modified Ursus military uniform:

"It's actually quite dangerous... At least we could have used a woman with combat experience or ability... or couldn't we just use a man?"