Chapter 93

That's alright then.

"Medic is here right now, and Rhodes Island will not attack any legitimate Ursus units in the course of its operations... unless, of course, they insist on attacking us... As for them being attacked by a Sankta with Laterano Gun... that has absolutely nothing to do with Rhodes Island."

While talking about Liskarm, he nudged Jessica, who was wearing a Rhodes Island uniform and a short skirt, and had even put on pantyhose to ensure a similar appearance:

"What do you think, Captain?"

"Huh?! Ah... does this count as role-playing time now?"

"... Until someone comes back... there's no need to be too nervous. If you forget to listen carefully, I'll say 'Medic' has been busy organizing the flight log lately, so he's not in good spirits..."

Seeing poor Jessica dressed like a 'medic' with teary eyes looking at him and the others, Huang took a big gulp of his non-alcoholic beer, then turned away, pretending not to see her.

"So, what did that person want us to do? Is there any new information?"

As the big cat spoke, it teased Rosemary with its tail, and just as the Little Cat grabbed the big cat's tail, little Feline, as ethereal as a cloud, said as if it had nothing to do with her:

"... According to my sister, the people following us might not be Ursus soldiers, but members of the Black Emperor Faction in Kazdel... I'll go check when it's light."

Seeing the Little Cat pinching its paws and starting to play with Huang's tail like a cat toy, Folinic, as the Little Cat's guardian, couldn't stand Huang's carefree personality. It seemed that this big cat had no manners whatsoever that of a lady of the Feline... Out of consideration for Rosemary's growth, and to prevent the Little Cat from becoming a stray cat while her mentor was on a mission, Folinic picked up the Little Cat and placed it on her lap.

As if by conditioned reflex, the Little Cat immediately puffed out its chest, tucked in its belly, and brought its legs together. Only its tail unconsciously smacked against Folinic's hand, gently patting it, as if pleading for its original form.

"If they are from Ursus, we can only let them follow us as usual. If they don't attack us, there's nothing we can do about it... Faced with such surveillance, it was a precautionary measure for the senior to get out of the car early and have Jessica take over from her."

"But if what's following us isn't Ursus but Kazdel's Hatred Faction... then things will be simple."

Nodding, Rosemary seemed to be back in her etiquette class with Amiya, her posture dignified. Even Cole, who could be quite strict, couldn't help but admit that Kal'tsit had indeed taught the Little Cat very well.

"My sister's advice is that if it's the Black Emperor Sarkaz, then we should use force to drive them away... If they threaten us with Rhodes Island's assets in Kazdel, then we should allow their officers to board the vehicle and watch the surveillance footage... If they react hostilely after boarding, then we should eliminate them completely... In the first phase, my sister allows Tactical Unit; in the second phase, she said we can use 'Angel'... to eliminate them in 'Saint' form."

Although her words were still somewhat incoherent, everyone understood what Rosemary was conveying. Su Sulo wasn't a combat member, so she simply nodded in agreement. As for Durin, although she had been placed on the most conspicuous single sofa in the lounge by Yato, this did not prevent her from falling into a coma-like sleep.

Considering that she would most likely remain stationed in the engine room for tomorrow's operation, Yato noted down an item in his memo to send Durin the meeting outline before going to bed, so that the child wouldn't be clueless about what to do when he woke up.

As for Black Horn and the Ranger, they knew their captain's attitude as soon as they heard that they were allowed to eliminate opponents in the guise of 'Angel' or 'Saint'.

"... Completely severing all spies... Is the... Big Boss still worried about being exposed? Or is he planning to transfer the refugees here? Is driving away the tails to prevent them from getting in the way?"

"No, I believe this is all preparation to justify subsequent investigations..."

Seeing the young people looking at him curiously, the Ranger lowered his voice, chuckled, and continued:

"After all, whether our captain is planning a raid on the mines or taking the missionary route through Laterano, this tail is a huge problem... The Ursus are hindering the Guerrillas route, and the Black Emperor Faction certainly won't tolerate missionaries... So, both morally and logically, we have to get rid of them... even allowing the use of 'Angel'... This means we have to wipe them out completely..."

Seeing the seemingly admiring attitude of the Savra Ancients, Yato looked around and, seeing that no one objected to the 'Captain's' decision, humbly asked:

"Does the experienced Ranger have any suggestions?"

"Huh? A suggestion... Although we call it a 'crew' to the outside world... a frigate equipped with new-style naval guns, plus two 'Angel'... a war sorcerer who can fly, and a gunner who uses a repeating Laterano Gun... if I had to give a suggestion... it would probably be the choice of the battle location... considering the worst-case scenario, and taking the complete annihilation of the enemy as the premise... let me see, here seems to be a suitable place on the map."

As the elderly man drew a circle on the electronic map on the Terminal, PRTS began automatically generating an operational plan based on the meeting minutes. The operational plan was then reviewed and approved by Yato, and finally confirmed by 'Medic'...

Although Jessica had previously questioned whether such a procedure was still valid, Su Sulo replied, "That person personally transferred her authority to you, so of course it's valid."

Thus, the daily meeting of the Exploration Vehicle was adjourned... and everyone's conversation gradually veered off course.

As Durin woke up huddled in his coat and began his usual routine of asking Black Horn for the meeting minutes, Little Cat seized the opportunity when Folinic and Su Sulo were distracted while discussing the drug inventory, and swiftly reached out to press down on its unruly tail!

However, because he pressed his hand on Folinic's thigh, Folinic made a very cute sound... Afterwards, the entire lounge fell silent.

As Black Horn and the Ranger left arm in arm, drenched in cold sweat, what happened next will be left unsaid for now.

Let's skip the sleepless night of the assassin explaining to her newly found burden that she's neither a Fallen Angel nor a Laterano fugitive, and fast forward to Sister Mary's point where, although she still doesn't think Nana, with her fallen angel Halo, is a good person, she acknowledges her actions in helping the Sarkaz and thanks her for saving her and Frostleaf.

After a night of debate and the collective assurances from Sarkaz representatives like Ah Fu and Eileen, along with the emotional support from the young Sarkaz girls, Mary finally began to believe that these Sarkaz were not like those barbaric Mercenaries who would indiscriminately slaughter the members of the Laterano Church.

The reason why Nana went to such lengths to explain is also closely related to the fact that there are a large number of Sarkaz Mercenaries groups currently operating in Ursus.

As dawn broke, the Sarkaz, amidst the chaos, began to move the campsite back to the trucks in an orderly fashion... Mary watched as the adults carefully bypassed the two sleeping little girls and Frostleaf, carrying the items with utmost gentleness, their eyes softening considerably.

"... Do Sarkaz also make that kind of expression?"

"As a nun, I believe your understanding of doctrine is too influenced by external factors... As a preacher of the Gospel, how can you prejudicially exclude the Sarkaz from the Gospel?"

Before the ashamed Mary could answer, Frostleaf, who had been woken up by the noise around her and was now wearing the new clothes given to her by Lady Athena, squinted and covered the Originium Crystals wound she had previously treated with her hand, saying:

"Because those slow-reacting gentlemen and ladies were already killed on the way..."

Seeing Nana raise an eyebrow, signaling her to continue, Frostleaf prepared to get up, but just as she stood up, she noticed the two little ones tugging at her as the cold wind blew into the blankets, so she had to sit back down.

"... by the Sarkaz Mercenaries, Your Excellency... Sister Mary's companions, the missionary team that originally intended to support the Infected, engaged in battle the moment they met the Sarkaz Mercenaries..."

"Afterwards, the scattered 'The Guerrillas' blamed Mary and her companions for their losses... Those guys had no basic respect for the Laterano Church; another priest was executed on the spot, and all the squad's belongings that Sister Mary was holding were stolen... including two Laterano Gun..."

Lost in her memories, Frostleaf didn't see Nana's eyes light up when she heard "Laterano Gun." Nana didn't even pay much attention to what Frostleaf later said about the group that had been scattered by the Sarkaz and was preparing to intercept the Rhodes Island Exploration Vehicle because of a shortage of Oripathy medication...

After all, it's enough to know that we suffered an undeserved disaster. As for Frostleaf herself, she was imprisoned along with the nun because of her repeated strong opposition... and her weapons were still left with Sister Mary's belongings at a material storage point... which is the 'Easter Egg Point' in the Guerrillas slang.

After the Sarkaz finished moving their belongings, and the two young girls, still half asleep, were urged by Eileen to get up and wash, Nana interrupted Frostleaf's conversation about how the scattered the Guerrillas in the car were going to 'sell' her and the nun to a larger the Guerrillas further north...

There was too much information, too much fragmentation, and too much triviality... Nana didn't really want to hear about the Guerrillas hundreds of kilometers away; she was more curious about those two Laterano Gun.

"... Those two Laterano Gun... were they Sister Mary's Guardian Gun?"

"... That's not the case. After all, I'm not Sankta... I'm not even a warlock... One of those guns is a relic from a senior, and the other I picked up from the feet of a slain warrior when our group was scattered by Mercenaries. That former garrison member who was responsible for protecting us was ambushed and instantly knocked down... no, it seems he was blown up... Are you interested in those two guns?"

Nodding, Nana made no attempt to hide her desires:

Do you know their sacred names?

"... You actually know such professional terms... Let me think... Those two guns, the longer one, the soldier seemed to call it 'Springfield'... and the senior's belongings... it was a very heavy pistol."

As she spoke, Mary used pebbles to sketch a detailed 'sketch' on the ground... Obviously, as a clerk, Mary didn't know the name of the gun; her job didn't require her to know such things... But Nana did.

"... Desert Eagle?"

Nana had seen it in the encyclopedia, and the manager's evaluation of it left a deep impression on Nana:

"This is truly... a rare find..."

As dawn broke, sitting in the swaying back of the wagon, Nana reminded the Sarkaz to be careful not to give anything away with their disguises, while glancing at the nun whose appearance was completely different from the disheveled group in the group.

Thanks to the seamstress's repairs and Nana's magical cleansing, their team now not only has a gun-wielding Sankta but also a proper Laterano nun, significantly improving the team's 'disguise'.

But Nana wouldn't be careless, because Kate had sent over PRTS's battle plan today. Coincidentally, the shortcut that Nana's convoy was to take was to cut across the planned combat zone.

This is certainly not a bad thing. Nana even deliberately chose a time and route that would make it easier to meet the Court... The three parties will be within visual range when the Rosemary flies over the enemy.

Nana set the observation distance for Ah Fu to be five kilometers.

While this distance still requires careful target confirmation for the military, and is a distance within the operational range of ordinary infantry that allows for both advance and retreat, it is undoubtedly a lethal attack range for Nana's WA2000 Guardian Gun...

Nana's appearance to provide support was something Rosemary hadn't mentioned yesterday. Although for Nana's team, the urgent task was to clear out the 'Easter Egg Point' hiding place containing the Laterano Gun before those the Guerrillas remnants, retrieve Frostleaf's weapon, and if possible, also visit the Guerrillas stronghold for a 'learning tour'.

The main purpose is to learn their communication methods; it's not just about superficially moving warehouse goods.

As the muddy road carrying the three trucks gradually revealed a thin layer of snow, and Nana saw the forest at the far edge of the road, she told Ah Fu to stop... Then, without getting out of the truck or turning off the engine, Nana, for the first time in front of others, formally took out her precious Guardian Gun from the weapon case and looked into the distant forest through a gap in the tarpaulin inside the truck.

After waiting for a while, Frostleaf looked at the gun barrel that had passed over her shoulder and asked in confusion:

"... What are we waiting for?"

"Waiting for a signal."

"What signal?"

Hearing Frostleaf's question, Nana unconsciously looked up at the car roof.

Just as everyone was feeling bewildered, a sudden, violent earthquake swept through like a shockwave... Then, a series of creaking sounds, as if the earth were being crushed, or as if they appeared directly in everyone's minds, swept across the sky.

The sharp whistle and the sonic boom's shockwave intertwined to create the most basic declaration of power. (Weeping)

"Hmm, this signal."

Nana slightly adjusted the magnification of her weapon's scope and began to observe the chaotic battlefield, a scene of carnage.

PS: Temporary replacement...

PS2: I need an IV drip today too, I wonder if I'll have to be given a temporary one again... I'll try my best to avoid it...

PS3: After this incident, I feel like I've become quite depressed. (shakes head)

PS4: Meow Meow Cat

4th Crimson Warm Winter: 097 Patience

Generally, no one uses an 'earthquake' as a signal to begin taking action...

But as cracks appeared in the ground, the rubble and soil of the Frozen Tundra liquefied due to the vibrations, turning into a gaping maw that devoured everything. Even if it was only for a moment, this sudden attack that caused moving vehicles to sink abruptly would throw even the soldiers of the Kazdel Military Council into chaos.

Then came a loud bang overhead... Although it arrived late and was a bit too loud to hear clearly because it was a continuous blast, it was still as powerful as thunder.

The accompanying sound was a high-pitched engine roar, but no matter how fast the vehicle accelerated, the Sarkaz inside only felt themselves sinking.

Past training had instilled in the soldiers an instinctive urge to dismount and engage in combat, but the tremors continued. The ground resembled a swamp or a body of water, and the soldiers, armed with weapons, were instantly engulfed as soon as they stepped out of the vehicles... The screams, mixed with the surrounding mud and tundra gushing outwards, created a scene reminiscent of the apocalypse.

"Don't panic! Wait until the shaking stops before slowly pulling yourself out of the ground!"

As the commander of this mission, Manfred, renowned for his outstanding military achievements in the past Civil War, quickly reassured the soldiers, and the chaotic scene subsided rapidly. After the tremors stopped, the soldiers didn't have time to worry about the vehicle stuck in the ground; instead, they pulled their legs out and quickly formed a battle formation. Then, they looked towards the... shield that had fallen from the sky?

After everyone else had experienced the earthquake, and some had even fallen and nearly been buried alive, a huge shield, painted with '01', which at first glance looked like a block of iron, stood perfectly upright on the ground.

The cold metal stood erect against the Sarkaz soldiers, like a tombstone.

As blue electricity spread outward from the shield, the young Sarkaz officer could feel the massive Originium Arts fluctuations engulfing his entire squad. As an officer, he immediately took out his spell unit to prepare to rouse them and fight back, but he found that the opponent had simply begun to rise silently.

Without ritual countermeasures or magical retaliation, the Originium Arts, whose true nature was unknown, simply 'existed' here... The radiating current left ripple-like patterns in the air, and Manfred's first reaction was that the opponent's ritual had gone wrong and was about to backfire.

But as his gaze continued upwards from the shield, and he saw the expressionless figure hovering above Feline, Manfred knew he had misunderstood... The surge of electricity, seemingly like an overload, wasn't some kind of loss of control or rampage...

It was merely the natural flow of blood, similar to breathing or the pumping of blood in a heartbeat; the shield was nothing more than a feather or a bird in flight... As the heavy steel returned to the sky as if it were nothing, Manfred frowned as he watched Little Feline, surrounded by Dead Soul and dressed in Rhodes Island uniform, staring at him expressionlessly. He took out a compass... The instrument, specifically used to indicate the location of those who had used Witchcraft, now spun aimlessly as if it had lost its soul.

It was shrouded in Witchcraft, and the source... Manfred didn't want to admit he'd been chasing the wrong person for days... but the dense clusters of Dead Soul in the sky were undoubtedly a prime example of Witchcraft.

However, his target was the supporters of the White Emperor, the Sarkaz, not any Feline.

Among the white-clad soldiers, Manfred, dressed in a black Nobles' Army uniform, looked troubled, as if struggling with something. Rosemary glanced around at the trees affected by her spell—some snapped in two by the impact, others uprooted and lying on the ground due to liquefaction—and after confirming through her Thought Chain Ring no Sarkaz were lying in ambush, she looked at the trackers who were not as expected:

"They're not from Ursus... Why are the Sarkaz following us... robbers?"

The Little Cat's childish assertion enraged the Sarkaz soldiers, but Manfred stopped his subordinates from reprimanding him, looking instead at the young magic master with a bewildered, Dead Soul -stirring appearance, wings of steel constructed from Originium Arts...

"No, we are not robbers... we are regular troops of the Kazdel Military Council..."

"How come Kazdel's regular army is on Ursus soil...? And most importantly, why are you following us...?"

As he spoke, six numbered steel artifacts pointed towards the ground. The immense surge of Originium Arts sent chills down the spines of all the Sarkaz, while the Little Cat slightly pursed its lips, seemingly poised to attack at any moment.

"Depending on your response, I may launch an attack."

"... Rhodes Island is going to attack the Kazdel Council's forces?"

[The committee didn't contact Rhodes Island, mainly... to ask him why he was being followed.]

Looking at the little girl... who might no longer be a little girl Feline repeated the words of the male Dead Soul behind her. Although Manfred didn't know why Feline could also become Dead Soul, he could tell from their expressions that he was facing a family.

Taking two steps forward to stop the Little Cat from staring at the warlock in the group, Manfred turned his gaze to Andy:

"... Sir, I was merely carrying out official duties... The Kazdel Committee is investigating rebel forces, which shouldn't affect Rhodes Island's own mission."

[... Can you see it?]

Andy was taken aback for a moment, but then casually stepped in:

[Whether it has any impact or not is not something you can define for yourself... An international company being followed by a group of troops from another country on third-party territory is problematic in itself. Or do you want us to contact the Ursus authorities to handle this matter? You can simply say that you suspect we are harboring the rebels you've hired.]

Although Manfred knew that most Dead Soul were unnatural beings who had suffered persecution and were tormented by their memories to the point of madness, the way this Feline undead had spoken so frankly had left him speechless for a moment...

Seeing the Rosemary's poised 'weapon', Manfred put one hand behind his back in a battle-ready gesture and asked:

"... So, you really did harbor the rebels?"

[No.]

How can you prove...?

[Why should we prove anything? You're the ones who have doubts, and you're the ones who, after being discovered, are armed and ready for a shootout... You just raised a doubt and then shifted the blame to us? I suspect your real purpose is even a shootout itself...]

"... If that's the case, we would have attacked while you were resupplying in the village... We even waited until you left before searching for what we wanted in the village, just to avoid Rhodes Island suspecting anything..."

[Heh... What, we should thank you? Thank you for turning the village's impression of Rhodes Island into 'the guys who lead the way for demon bandits'? Are you falling behind us now to do it again?]

Andy's words made Manfred frown. The young Sarkaz officer could only patiently say: