The smartest person in Free City was undoubtedly Skeleton King Leonäfa, but intelligence alone was not enough. He also needed to understand the Ratfolk.
In that respect, Leonafa might know less about the Ratfolk than the Centurion did.
Annan arrived at Street Sweeper Base. They had certainly lived up to their belief that, to eliminate the Ratfolk, they first had to understand them—even after Free City had taken to the sky, they still hid underground like rats.
The Centurion's answer was: to understand the Ratfolk, you first had to become one and learn how they thought.
"Really?"
"When have I ever lied to you?"
As she spoke, the Centurion hunched over like a Ratfolk and circled Annan, hissing in a low voice, "Human thing, you smell delicious..."
"Do you think this is fun?" Annan stared at the Centurion without expression.
She straightened up. "Don't be so serious. We have to learn to find something that keeps us grounded amid the pain."
"And for you, that's tormenting other people?"
"Heh..." The Centurion chuckled. "The Ratfolk's greatest threat is the Rat Tide. Floating City has already avoided the most dangerous part. Next, they might send interdimensional rats and blinking rats."
"What are those?"
"Interdimensional rats burrow into another plane, travel to where Free City is, then jump back out. Blinking rats can teleport short distances. They're natural assassins."
"Do we have any way to counter them?"
"Have your Mage Tower keep a close watch on magical fluctuations in the city. If you spot them early, they won't do much harm. Individual Ratfolk aren't as strong as they are in a group."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Annan felt as though he was squeezing toothpaste from a tube. The Centurion only revealed a little more each time he pressed her.
"What would