Miss Vulpo's Life as a Rhodes Island Operator

This Cautus girl looked tiny. Even counting her Cautus rabbit ears, she was only about as tall as Fengling, and she definitely did not look very old. Yet she seemed to know far too much.

Meanwhile, Fengling herself appeared somewhat out of her depth. Her own upbringing had left her like a frog at the bottom of a well when facing these unfamiliar fields—utterly insignificant.

This short stretch of road was gradually coming to an end.

Rhodes Island's landship loomed larger and larger in Fengling's eyes.

She could even hear the poor soul tied up like a caterpillar on the bridge cursing and shouting.

Things like, "Kal'tsit, you old hag, let me down already!", "A Bloodfiend will never surrender so easily!", and "Not even room and board will do!"

All sorts of rather baffling remarks.

"...Amiya, is the one hanging up there... really alright?"

Fengling looked up at the "caterpillar." Pale white skin almost devoid of color, pointed ears, and what appeared to be fangs. Other than that, she could not make out much.

Still, she could more or less confirm that it was a "Bloodfiend," one of the Sarkaz.

"That's just Doctor Kal'tsit's little punishment for Doctor Warfarin... Doctor Warfarin sometimes does rather strange things." Amiya explained. "But Doctor Warfarin is an exceptionally skilled physician, and one of Rhodes Island's founding members!"

A Bloodfiend doctor...

Well, this really was a very strange medical company.

Although Rhodes Island seemed strange in every possible way, now that she had come this far, she still had to handle the matter at hand.

At least take a look. If it did not work out, she could just leave.

"By the way, Amiya, is Rhodes Island still hiring?"

Fengling asked.

Miss Fengling Wanted to Improve Herself

"Hmm, Sister Fengling, do you want to join Rhodes Island?"

After hearing Fengling's question, Amiya considered it for a moment.

"We really are short on manpower, and I can recommend you. But whether you pass the assessment will depend on your own efforts, Sister Fengling."

Amiya looked at Fengling.

For an instant, Fengling felt as though she had been seen through completely.

At that moment, she felt that the one standing before her was no ordinary Cautus girl.

"Sister Fengling... you're Infected, aren't you? It isn't obvious from the outside, but you used Originium Arts to help me earlier, didn't you? Even though you weren't carrying any Arts Unit."

Fengling froze for a moment. Then she blinked her right eye and smiled playfully at Amiya. "Mm, so please keep your voice down. I snuck over here. Even if I ultimately can't join Rhodes Island, please don't report me!"

"Rhodes Island follows the rules, but we're not that rigid... You don't need to worry about that. Even if Sister Fengling is discovered by then, we can use the excuse of temporary employment to ensure that you leave here safely."

Amiya smiled gently. Despite her small frame, she gave off an intensely accommodating feeling.

"Consider it a little extra for helping me!"

Wow... Amiya really did not let a single drop slip through.

She had addressed Fengling's concerns while quietly drawing a line in the sand.

"However, if Sister Fengling only wants to receive treatment aboard Rhodes Island, you don't necessarily have to join Rhodes Island as an operator."

"Many people aboard Rhodes Island who aren't operators receive treatment as well."

"Apart from certain restricted areas of Rhodes Island, there isn't much difference. Medical expenses can also be paid through some simple Logistics Department work."

"Of course..." Amiya looked calmly at Fengling with eyes like a blue lake. "We respect Sister Fengling's own choice."

"If I join Rhodes Island as an operator, I'd naturally receive better pay, right?"

Fengling said casually.

Amiya neither confirmed nor denied it.

Although Rhodes Island hoped to provide everyone aboard with the best possible conditions, that was simply impossible under their current circumstances.

And from a practical perspective, even if they could afford it, doing so would not be wise given the present situation.

Still, Amiya kindly reminded her, "Sister Fengling, internal operators don't have easy jobs, and field operators may even face life-threatening danger in many situations. So if you truly choose to join, the necessary assessments are unavoidable. That isn't only for Rhodes Island's sake, but also to be responsible toward the operators on duty."

Fengling nodded.

A breeze passed by, making the three tails behind her sway slightly in the wind.

The wind chime hanging from the side of her coat also rang, "Chime~ chime~."

Amiya had already made herself very clear.

It seemed that Rhodes Island was not particularly welcoming toward people who lacked even this basic awareness yet wanted to become operators.

Fengling did not find anything wrong with that.

But the more Amiya spoke like this...

The question in Fengling's heart grew stronger and stronger, until it hardly even needed to be called a question anymore.

If operators on duty had to face so many hardships...

Then...

What about you, Amiya?

That uniform proved that Amiya had received Rhodes Island's "approval" as an operator under those same conditions.

After their conversation, Fengling could no longer see Amiya as a "child."

That small body seemed to already bear so much.

The corners of Fengling's lips lifted.

Rhodes Island, which had managed to raise Amiya, truly seemed like a very interesting place on this land.

"Mm, I've decided!"

The box Fengling had been carrying was finally placed at its destination.

"I choose to take the employment assessment!"

Fengling lightly stretched her arms, easing her slightly sore muscles.

"Alright." Amiya nodded firmly, her cheeks bright with a smile. "Then I'll recommend you shortly. Please wait a moment."

Under Amiya's guidance, the boxes Fengling had carried were stacked inside Rhodes Island.

Only then did Fengling have time to take a good look at this imposing landship.

The docking area was still bustling with people, but everyone working here was a Rhodes Island operator.

Bright lighting guided the operators in their work.

All kinds of autonomous robots moved back and forth as well, sorting the goods sent aboard and transporting them to designated locations.

The huge Rhodes Island name and the company's upright triangular logo were painted in an extremely conspicuous place visible the moment one entered the landship.

It was quite impressive.

Just then, a somewhat rough voice called out.

"Amiya."

A burly, short-bearded man in a tactical vest and sunglasses walked over.

Fengling glanced at him.

Her sense of danger made her body tremble instinctively.

If they clashed, he was not an opponent she could take lightly.

And... he would be extremely difficult to defeat.

Fengling made that judgment almost immediately.

Yet before Amiya,

his attitude seemed somewhat respectful.

"Ace, there are still about three boxes of supplies left. Please keep an eye on them. Afterward, have the Logistics Department settle the workers' pay promptly."

Clearly, Amiya was in a position to issue orders.

"Leave it to me." The burly man called Ace answered.

His voice boomed, powerful and full of vigor.

Then he left, seemingly beginning his work.

The temporary porters hired in Lungmen only needed to stack the goods at the docking area of Rhodes Island's landship. They did not need to deliver them inside.

Yet Ace did not question Amiya bringing a stranger aboard Rhodes Island at all.

Fengling was not stupid.

Being inexperienced did not mean she failed to understand how people and society worked.

Rather, forced by her circumstances, Fengling had probably put most of her skill points into negotiation.

It was just that... those skills did not seem especially useful at Rhodes Island for the time being.

Rhodes Island... was a rather high-level map.

Still, after surviving for so many years in the slums, Fengling had learned to read the room if nothing else.

She had casually helped someone incredible!

A young lady?

No...

The correct answer had already surfaced in Fengling's mind.

It was just... that answer was too absurd... so absurd that even after nearly ruling out every other possibility, Fengling still could not believe it.

"Amiya... don't tell me you're Rhodes Island's... leader?"

"Ahaha..." Amiya laughed awkwardly, but did not deny it. "It is only because Doctor Kal'tsit and everyone else support me that I've made it this far. Right now, I'm still very immature."

Fengling's eyes widened slightly, her astonishment plain to see.

Managing her expression was usually something Fengling did quite well, but she had received slightly too many shocks today.

Seriously... it seemed she needed to calm down and work on improving herself... in every respect.

The little scuffles she had gotten into in the slums and the small tricks she played before those thugs would only keep her stuck at that level in the end.

Fengling silently remembered today's experiences.

Employment Physical Examination

"Amiya, don't you need to get back to work?"

Lying against the machine with her body relaxed, Fengling wore only a simple set of underwear. Electrodes were attached all over her body, while the display screen beside her showed data she could not understand in the slightest.

"Since I recommended you, Sister Fengling, it's only right that I accompany you through these employment procedures. Besides, I'm mostly done with work now! It's free time!" Amiya looked at Fengling's largely exposed body. Her tender, fair skin seemed to shimmer faintly, and a trace of envy occasionally flashed in Amiya's eyes. "Sister Fengling, you take such good care of your body. It's beautiful."

She was so young, and she was already paying attention to things like that?

Fengling could not help feeling a little amused inside.

Still, loving beauty was an instinct for girls in itself.

However, Fengling had not really done much special maintenance. It was all very basic... resources had to be prioritized, after all.

Her skin was naturally excellent, though she did not know the exact reason.

A short while later.

"Miss Fengling's basic report can be generated now."

At that moment, the Feline doctor with cat ears spoke with a slight frown, her eyes seemingly full of confusion.