A Vulpo Lady's Life as a Rhodes Island Operator

But as she walked... Fengling seemed to notice something was off.

"This feeling... That item... It isn't moving, is it?"

Could it be someone's pet?

That was not impossible.

The biggest job Fengling had ever taken was helping a wealthy man passing through the Lungmen Slums find his cat.

So it was entirely possible for the "item" corresponding to this inspiration to change locations.

And for now, its movements seemed rather regular.

In that case, she needed to pick up the pace!

Fengling was somewhat familiar with the target's location. She had been there not long ago.

It was farther inside the Medical Department.

However, Fengling had not gone any deeper during her previous physical examination.

The route she had just taken was still fresh in her mind, so it did not take long to find the target.

Moreover, this inspiration had occurred inside the Rhodes Island landship. There was no soil here, so there was no possibility of something being buried underground.

As Fengling neared the target, she spotted it at a glance...

A puddle... of liquid, and a picture book discarded on the floor.

So why was there a highly suspicious puddle of liquid inside the generally dry environment of the Rhodes Island landship?

Fengling's intuition had always been accurate.

It looked like ordinary water, but it carried an indescribable sense of fluctuation.

Even if... it did not quite resemble Originium Arts, it was definitely man-made.

More than that...

This puddle of liquid gave off an inexplicable sense of being alive.

Fengling had seen Originium Arts that used some kind of medium as material before.

But regardless of the method, making that medium disappear would most likely render the other party's Originium Arts ineffective.

Hmm... Should she test it?

Fengling first picked up the picture book from the floor without giving anything away.

"Oh dear, leaving this puddle here could make someone slip."

Fengling snapped her fingers.

A gentle whirlwind formed beside her.

It was enough to dry the floor.

"It. Had. Better. Be. Cleaned. Up. Properly."

She enunciated every word, her voice carrying a faint threat.

As for whether the other party might be an extremely socially anxious colleague?

Well...

If that really happened, Fengling would definitely apologize properly.

Under Fengling's little threat, nothing unusual seemed to happen.

Without hesitation, Fengling directed the whirlwind at the liquid.

"Hey, you little fox!"

The real owner behind her finally panicked.

The puddle on the ground swiftly stirred, avoiding the whirlwind before gradually gathering into shape.

It looked like a young girl.

As for why Fengling used the phrase "looked like"... she knew that this land had quite a few long-lived races.

Long, straight flaxen-green hair.

Pointed ears.

A peculiar headdress on her head, seemingly made from several leaf-shaped pieces.

A loose white lab coat like one worn by a researcher, apparently fitted with additional waterproof material.

She even carried an umbrella with her...

However, the badge she carried was clearly not the triangular Rhodes Island logo.

It was a Möbius strip.

"An intruder?"

Fengling's gaze immediately turned unfriendly.

As a newly hired employee, Fengling did not mind putting on a good performance!

"What intruder?" The pointed-eared girl blinked innocently at Fengling. "I'm just a poor, lonely girl passing by!"

Great. She should just trigger the alarm.

So Fengling made as if to raise the alarm in the most straightforward way possible—she only needed to unleash a somewhat noisy Originium Art. With surveillance spread throughout the Rhodes Island landship, even if this was likely one of the few blind spots, such a disturbance would definitely be detected.

Of course, she was only pretending.

Because Fengling did not really believe that this short intruder had gone unnoticed by Rhodes Island.

Come on, even she could sense something wrong after getting close. How could a place as large as Rhodes Island have failed to notice?

"Wait, wait, wait! I'll explain!" The pointed-eared girl hurried forward and grabbed Fengling.

The girl's hand felt very cold.

Although the other party did not seem hostile, Fengling still tensed up and remained wary.

But clearly, the other party had reservations as well.

She did not want to truly fall out with Rhodes Island.

"I'm Muelsyse, Director of Rhine Lab's Ecology Section. I only came to Rhodes Island to visit a friend."

The pointed-eared girl—Muelsyse—briefly revealed her identity.

"I really won't do anything strange. I'll leave as soon as I've seen my friend."

Muelsyse put away her somewhat deliberately mischievous expression and spoke seriously.

"Your friend..." Fengling held the picture book she had just picked up. That faint feeling seemed to be coming from somewhere not far ahead. "Is she in that direction?"

Fengling pointed toward the wrong path at the fork ahead.

"No. She's in Ward 06 of Rhodes Island's Medical Department."

Muelsyse shook her head and gave the exact location she wanted to go to.

Though Fengling had no idea where this so-called Ward 06 was...

At that moment, a short, melodious tune suddenly sounded throughout the Rhodes Island landship.

"Ship-wide announcement—Operator 'Fengling,' please proceed to Ward 06 of the Medical Department. Repeating: Operator 'Fengling,' please proceed to Ward 06 of the Medical Department. Dr. Kal'tsit is waiting for you. End of announcement."

Fengling shrugged.

Just as expected. With an intelligent AI as powerful as PRTS, how could it possibly have failed to discover an intruder?

And that Dr. Kal'tsit looked like the kind of person who was definitely not to be trifled with!

"Let's go, Miss Muelsyse. Looks like we'll have to travel together for now?"

"Ha... Fine." Muelsyse let out a soft sigh.

Since her actions had been openly called out, she had to give some kind of explanation, though it probably would not be a big deal.

"Then lead the way, Miss Fengling of Rhodes Island."

Chapter 11: A Glimpse of the Future

Fengling naturally had no idea where exactly Ward 06 of Rhodes Island's Medical Department was.

But she had happened to learn from Muelsyse that the owner of the picture book in her arms was currently in Ward 06.

That made things easy to find.

Thus, looking entirely at home, Fengling found the Medical Department's Ward 06 mentioned in the announcement.

And Dr. Kal'tsit, whom she had met once before, was already waiting at the entrance.

"Dr. Kal'tsit." Fengling greeted her politely, then pointed at Muelsyse behind her. "She..."

"I already know what happened."

Uh... That sounded rather familiar.

It was as though, when Fengling had met Dr. Kal'tsit last time, Kal'tsit had also looked at her and said something similar...

And that all-knowing air about her did not seem fake at all...

Fengling silently labeled Kal'tsit in her heart: She knows everything.

Kal'tsit looked at Muelsyse. "Ifrit's vital signs have stabilized. At least for now, her Oripathy will not threaten her life."

So Muelsyse had come to Rhodes Island looking for someone named "Ifrit"?

Fengling quietly glanced at the cover of the picture book.

Although the lettering was somewhat... abstract, the name was clearly written on it.

"Ifrit" in Victoria language.

"Ahaha..." Muelsyse gave a slightly awkward laugh. "Thank you to Rhodes Island for saving Ify. I had long heard of Dr. Kal'tsit's capabilities, but this is my first time speaking with you... Still, Dr. Kal'tsit, you know me?"

"The last Water Spirit... Traveling through a water clone truly allows you to avoid Originium's effects."

"...That wasn't the level of 'knowing' I meant."

Muelsyse could clearly no longer suppress her surprise.

What she had meant to discuss with Kal'tsit was her "social identity," because aside from her close friends, she had never discussed her race with anyone.

Yet Kal'tsit had pointed out her "racial essence."

That feeling of being seen through completely made Muelsyse unable to ignore Kal'tsit's presence any longer.

In a sense, it was also Kal'tsit's subtle warning.

Rhodes Island knew everything about you. It simply was not on guard against you for now, but do not try anything reckless.

"When you have time next, Dr. Kal'tsit, could you talk with me?"

"Any time."

Though she looked quite cold and aloof, Dr. Kal'tsit seemed willing to satisfy other people's thirst for knowledge.

"Then may I visit Ify now?"

Kal'tsit gave a slight nod, granting Muelsyse's request.

"Whew..."

Only now could Muelsyse finally relax.

At least she could accomplish her purpose.

After all, the water clone's lifespan was limited, and she could not waste any more time.

And this trip had brought some unexpected gains as well.

Rhodes Island... This company might not yet stand out at present.

But no one could underestimate the influence it would have in the future.