Saiyan stowaways on the Ark

"Snapped!"

Thomas snapped his fingers, snapping Black out of his reverie as he was lost in thought about Ceylon.

Seeing that the other person had recovered from their pensive look, Tomat continued:

"Although I don't think anyone can see the signs of damage now, we shouldn't mention our actions to the mayor or the people at Rhodes Island. After all, it was a private operation—if we really have to say anything, we should say that we helped arrest someone."

In Siesta now, the ground is littered with rubble and craters, making it impossible to check which one was made by someone else in the chaos.

Tomat's instructions were also to prevent anyone from asking too many questions.

Although I know people will say I was slacking off when I get back.

"Grani and the others sent a message saying that most of the operators have now returned to Rhodes Island."

On the way back, the group jumped between tall buildings without stopping.

Skadi, on the other hand, had plenty of time to review the messages that had been sent earlier.

With the majority of refugees housed, the most important tasks now are treating the wounded and searching for the very few remaining in the city.

"That huge monster just left..."

Skadi may not join the search and rescue operation, as it is not her area of ​​expertise.

Skadi looked somewhat lost, as she felt confused because she hadn't done well at something she "should have been good at."

The unconscious participation in group activities, rather than continuing to go it alone, indicates that she has developed a sense of timidity.

"What? You want to see me one more time?"

Tomat, who hadn't noticed—or rather, hadn't paid any attention to Skadi's changes, responded in this way upon hearing it.

Frostnova, standing beside her, also seemed hesitant to speak.

She was still unsure whether Skadi knew Tomat's secret.

Even if I have a lot of questions now, I'm not sure if it's a good time to ask.

"...No, I'm just a little surprised."

Skadi's expression remained as calm as ever.

She looked at Tomat, who had disappeared along with another person after the conflict in the building, and frankly revealed her feelings about the conflict with the giant ape.

Skadi seemed to still feel the warmth of the force the giant ape had exerted when it pushed her away.

But can that really be called "pushing away"?

Isn't that just like a human impatiently waving away flies and mosquitoes?

Skadi, who had always maintained an overwhelming advantage over any enemy she faced, at least after landing, has now reversed her position for the first time.

"Those who believe they can freely wield power actually possess such insignificant power. In comparison, even 'gods' seem insignificant. Gods can be harmed and killed, so what about this?"

Skadi's memories, along with her narration, take her back to a more distant past.

Those were her memories from when she was still living in Agor.

She was not alone at that time.

Countless of her kind can fight alongside her against the unfathomable evil and darkness.

No matter if the opponent is a monster or a god, no matter what price they pay, they are the ones who will ultimately emerge victorious.

But now she couldn't break through the flesh of a monster.

Is it because they didn't have weapons?

But her weapon, that enormous sword, was merely icing on the cake.

Even if they had weapons, did the giant apes not have any?

Skadi didn't think she could escape unscathed after facing its breath attack.

In Agor, a civilization of great prosperity, even in the most advanced military fields, few weapons have been seen that can compare with it.

"In the end, it means that even when I'm on the ground without water pressure, and there's nothing to oppress or bind me, I'm still not free enough, or rather, not strong enough."

Freedom requires either a powerful force or sufficient personal ability.

Skadi thought so too.

In such situations, even if the strong bind themselves with rules, even if they are in a cage, it is still an embodiment of "freedom".

Because she is showing the outside world that "I have the freedom to break free from constraints, and I only follow the rules because I want to."

When one is powerful enough, lack of freedom becomes a way of demonstrating freedom.

Skadi wanted to project more complex emotions, but now even that composure has been shattered.

"Are you starting to fear that you can't protect something?"

Frostnova looked at Skadi, who seemed quite surprised by her words, and tentatively tried to guess what she was thinking.

"It's worse, because I might not even have the confidence to protect myself, I'll lose my strength, I'll lose my freedom."

Skadi responded, then continued in a tone tinged with an extremely faint sadness:

"As for protection... I've always been the one protecting others; no one can protect me."

At this point, Tomat spoke up.

He didn't comment much on Skadi's topic of protection, but instead spoke about her attitude towards power:

"Is there no freedom without strength? Is freedom something so inconvenient?"

[Main Text] Siesta's Hottest Holiday: Chapter Sixty-Four: No one understands Tomat better than me.

While Tomat and Skadi were passing the time, they talked at length about the relationship between power and freedom.

Meanwhile, the Doctor and others, who were waiting for the operators to assemble and prepare to be dispatched to Siesta for follow-up rescue work, deliberately focused their conversation on some of the Rhodes Island operators.

Rhodes Island's operators come from diverse backgrounds.

From an ordinary medical student to a strange doctor in the underground black market, from a military police officer who graduated from a respectable academy to a mercenary who kills without hesitation.

Some are struggling to make ends meet and can't afford to eat, while others are born into wealth and spend lavishly.

Even more so, some have complex political backgrounds and are of great significance to multiple countries.

As for why a pharmaceutical company would have these people—who knows?

However, they are not talking about this type of operator right now.

The Doctor's initial expression of admiration for Kal'tsit and others led them to shift the conversation to something that had always been a concern for many.

Those are the people on Rhodes Island who possess extraordinary combat abilities.

Some elite operators possess abilities that are still within the realm of human comprehension.

Slice through enemy cover, weave a dense rain of arrows, and defend against powerful firepower...

Although they possess overwhelming combat capabilities, they can still be suppressed by sheer numbers.

However, some individuals, even those who do not possess the title of elite operator, can still suppress any opponent with ease.

There is simply no possibility that it can be defeated by relying solely on modern military industrial systems or the number of soldiers.

The only one who can rival it is another individual of the same level.

"It's hard to believe that Miss Nian actually volunteered to participate in the previous evacuation... including her sister."

While compiling the mobilization report, Amiya looked at the previous records and was quite surprised and moved when she saw the names Nian and Xi on them.

After all, the Nian sisters undoubtedly belong to this category as well.

At the same time, because they were told "not to pay too much attention to or interfere with their behavior," and they are not usually seen actively participating in operations, it is hard to believe that they took the initiative to use their abilities to evacuate the people this time.

"But Operator Thomas hasn't shown up. Do you realize something?"

As a veteran, Kal'tsit was obligated to attend such large-scale mobilizations. While preparing with Amiya, she overheard Amiya's reflections and suddenly asked a question that made Amiya somewhat flustered.

Both Nian and Xi, two operators who are usually not very proactive, have taken action, while Thomas, who is usually quite willing to help others, has disappeared.

Moreover, the giant ape reappeared when he was gone.

It even deviated from the information provided by Tomat...

"Gudu."

Amiya swallowed nervously. This unusual connection made her worry that Kal'tsit might have realized something.

The Doctor also stopped what he was doing and looked at Kal'tsit.

"What...what do you mean? I don't understand what Dr. Kal'tsit means."

Amiya wanted to respond to Kal'tsit's question in a normal way, but she couldn't help but stammer.

"I mean... the relationship between the giant ape and operator Thomas might be much more complicated than we imagine."

The doctor immediately approached and asked questions, driven more by curiosity than anything else.

What did you discover?

Amiya, however, almost suffered a heart attack.

Are the secrets of the giant ape and Tomat about to be exposed?

"Operator Thomas... may be driving the giant ape."

Kal'tsit calmly and confidently stated her conclusion.

—Then Amiya turned her head and breathed a sigh of relief.

"How is that possible? Commanding such a monster? How did they manage to hide?"

The doctor, of course, expressed his unwillingness to believe it.

This fantastical assertion is something even more beyond our comprehension than the very existence of Thomas.

Moreover, the giant apes in Longmen at that time were full of aggressive intentions.

"After eliminating all the impossibilities, the only possibility is the answer."

But Kal'tsit had plenty of confidence in her judgment.