Saiyan stowaways on the Ark

Destroy the arena, rescue the infected.

The authorities won't stand idly by.

But the two people in front of me said they would take responsibility for the consequences of their unauthorized actions.

The knights looked at the pit that seemed to stretch into the distance—they realized that this so-called "taking responsibility" was by no means surrendering or accepting legal judgment.

They would simply erase those who labeled them "sinners" and attempted to put them on trial as lightly as if they were the subject of a joke.

This is their "solution".

[Main Text] Terra's World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament. Debate Chapter: Chapter Thirty-Six: The Kind-Faced Scarred Uncle

While waiting for the doctor, thanks to the mediation of Suzuran and Bubble, Tommat and the others, who were unaware of each other's backgrounds, communicated with the group of infected knights who were inexplicably with Suzuran and the others.

The events leading up to their disappearance and reappearance in the arena unfolded before them—

"...When you saw Bardock with his fierce look leading a group of infected children, did you think he was delivering goods to the arena?"

After hearing this explanation, Tomat looked at Badak's face.

Then he nodded in agreement.

"I definitely have that feeling."

"Looks fierce? You're complimenting me."

Badak wasn't angry at receiving such a comment, since in his usual mindset, such words weren't considered offensive.

Then, changing the subject, he placed both fists on Lily of the Valley and Bubble's heads, pressing down and rotating them as he did so. He then gritted his teeth and said angrily:

"How could you two get lost together? If I were treating you like merchandise, I would have eaten you long ago!"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch..." Bubble covered her head and dodged away, her usual inexhaustible energy gone. She explained pitifully, "I just wanted to go to the toilet. It's not a big deal, so I didn't tell Uncle Bardock. Lily said she was worried and would come with me."

"...and then the knights who had been watching you took the opportunity to abduct them?" Thomas frowned, utterly bewildered by the two children's strange encounter. "Aren't you two going to offer any explanation?"

"It was quite chaotic at the time... Two older women suddenly burst into the restroom and said something like, 'Now's the time! Come with us!'... Then they grabbed us and ran... But they didn't seem like bad people, so we were unknowingly led to this area..."

Lily also escaped from Bardock's iron fist, lowered her head and pointed to her fingers, explaining the situation little by little in a very low voice.

According to her, after that, the two of them went down a small path to the underground, where they were required to wait before Thomas and his men came out and caused a ruckus.

As for the infected person testing device, it was treated like the same electric shock shackles as other infected people and was removed without explanation.

Although they tried to explain the situation afterward, the knights seemed to genuinely regard them as the young infected people who were originally to be sent to the arena.

"Then why did you bring them here? Since you already suspect Bardock is a human trafficker from the arena, why did you bring them here? Isn't this the most dangerous place for them?"

Seemingly noticing the contradiction between his motives and actions, Tomat asked the red-haired Zalak knight a question.

“There’s no other way.” She wasn’t stumped by the question and explained quite calmly, “It’s too far to escort them to the gathering area alone, so I plan to leave these two children in the knights’ waiting room first, and then take them back along with the other infected people we just bought.”

"purchase?"

Upon hearing a key word that caught her attention, Tomat immediately interrupted her explanation and asked a question in return.

"Huh? You didn't know?" Red-haired Zalak looked very surprised, so he explained, "In Kazimierz can redeem infected knights from the arena by paying enough money. They can be taken into the family as servants or attendant knights, but they cannot be taken into the regular knight order as members of the arena."

If Tomat's question surprised the other party by revealing her complete ignorance of Kasimir law, then her answer was equally unexpected.

This group of "kidnappers" who mistook Bardock for a human trafficker were actually using their identity as Infected Knights to help other Infected people gain their freedom.

"Although they will ask for very unreasonable prices, buying them off like 'items' is the only way to stop them from risking their lives in the arena."

Including this red-haired Zalak, all the infected knights present had emerged from numerous infected individuals through bloody and arduous battles to become knights with a certain status.

On their path to becoming Infected Knights, besides their own blood and sweat, there are also the lives of their companions.

There are opponents who are willing to kill in order to gain this sliver of hope.

There were also unfortunate people who were forcibly dragged onto the field without knowing anything about it.

But more often than not, what truly takes the lives of losers, or even those who have barely won, is often their indifference and interference on the field—the children waiting to die in the cages and the drones that appeared on the field are enough to illustrate this.

"So that's how it is. You used all the money and power you worked so hard for to buy and take in infected people, right?"

Tomat understood to some extent what these people were doing. At the same time, it seemed that Meteor had also managed to calm down the infected who had previously obeyed the arena staff through negotiations, and they had also come to this stand.

"Well... some people don't appreciate it and see obeying this system as their only means of survival. However, the vast majority are forced into the arena, so we should at least protect them as much as possible before they get hurt."

Upon hearing this idea, Meteor, who was present, asked a counter-question.

As for what she hadn't heard from the stands, she learned quite a bit from the infected people below.

It seems that although these people were driven by the staff, they were also privately in agreement with this act of liberation.

This is why the meteor also questioned their actions:

"But if you neither let them become Infected Knights nor gather them together, it seems like the Infected in Kazimierz don't have this option, right? They either become Infected Knights or accept exile—even if you say you're buying them as servants, wouldn't that be considered some kind of illegal gathering? Won't anyone cause you trouble?"

The plan of these infected knights wasn't particularly clever; after all, anyone who runs the arena could easily guess that they didn't buy the infected to serve as their servants.

Planning riots, forming illegal orders of infected knights—or simply wanting to protect the infected.

Those people could come up with countless more plausible reasons.

And just as Meteor had feared, the red-haired Zalak gave a wry smile and said:

"Ha, we've been targeted for a long time. No matter how much money we pay or how legitimate our procedures are, they will investigate our purchase of infected people and try to find a reason to 'bring' the infected people back to this hell."

But she changed the subject and pressed Tomat and the others for answers:

"But you didn't pay any money, and you couldn't have blown up this arena with legitimate procedures, so who are you?"

This is a question that people often ask.

Tomat and Badak have developed a tacit understanding in their responses.

"Just a Saiyan passing by."

[Main Text] Terra's World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament. Debate Chapter: Chapter Thirty-Seven ////Operator Assault////

However, they did mention Rhodes Island in passing.

They also told the infected knights about the background and consequences of the "attack".

When they announced that they would provide aid to the severely injured infected, the knights all wore expressions of disbelief.

Only a very few people present had heard of Rhodes Island, since they usually spent a considerable amount of time in the arena and had no interest in anything else.

"It's a pharmaceutical company. Although it may have some advantages over the main website in other aspects right now, you can ask this person if you have any questions."

Thomas pointed to the shooting star beside him.

“She is more senior than me, and she can answer most of your questions.”

The meteor was taken aback by the sudden refusal to shoulder the burden.

The infected knights, whether by instinct or for some other reason, felt that communicating with Meteor would lessen the oppressive feeling, so they surrounded him and kept asking him questions.

But for Meteor, who was mainly involved in combat operations rather than technical personnel, many of the questions were beyond her ability to explain.

"Eh? Ah... Anyway, as Mr. Thomas said, I'll try my best to answer any questions you may have... However, I'm also a little unsure about the recent changes at Rhodes Island..."

While Tomat was somewhat at a loss due to the knights' various problems, he looked up at the ceiling above.

However, what he said was directed at the two junior operators:

"Alright, you two, you should worry about whether you'll get a spanking when you see the Doctor and the others—"

"Ah...? So I'm going to be punished after all... Wait, you mean the Doctor and the others have arrived?"

Listening closely, it seemed as if a cacophony of noise was suddenly coming from the outer area, reaching right here.

Actually, not much time has passed since that attack that impacted the entire city.

Many people outside the area did not have time to evacuate.

As they stumbled and tried to leave the increasingly chaotic underground arena, a large group of figures surged in from the outside, from what was originally the emergency exit and entrance passage.

"Heavyweight Operator, please block the passage."

At the front of the line, the Doctor waved to the other operators while giving orders through the communicator.

Immediately, a group of armored personnel carrying shields separated from the ranks behind them, raised their shields to form an impenetrable shield wall, set up a temporary defensive line, and raised the alert line.

"The vanguard will lead the way and scout ahead, while the guards will follow closely behind, focusing on maintaining order in the outer areas."

Another group of people rushed forward at an astonishing speed, where the outer arena was in chaos.

"Medical team, prioritize proceeding to the interior to provide emergency assistance to the infected located by Operator Thomas, and transport them to the ambulance and transfer them to Rhodes Island."

After the next order, medical personnel carrying various first-aid equipment rushed towards the passageway where the still unconscious staff member lay.

"Operator Thomas has blocked the roads to prevent the criminals inside from escaping—Gavial, you know what to do, right?"

The green-haired Adakris, wielding a long-handled, hammer-like spellcaster, swung his muscular arms a few times, gave an OK sign, and strode away.

"Alright, all sniper operators, take cover on the surrounding buildings and high ground."

After giving the final orders, the doctor cleared his throat and reiterated:

"—Remember, if anyone questions you, declare your identity and tell them, 'We are operations agents from the neutral medical organization Rhodes Island.'"

A group of armed personnel, dressed in unprecedentedly light armor, stormed into the arena, naturally making the situation even more chaotic.

Staff immediately pointed out that these people were not mounted police or any other law enforcement agency in Qazimir.

"Who...who are you! Don't you know this is the territory of the noble knight Lord Hal!? And there are many great knights and nobles here. Are you guys of unknown origin looking for death?"

"We are members of Rhodes Island, a neutral medical organization. We are conducting rescue operations here due to numerous issues such as illegal contracts, forced detention, and personal abuse. Our purpose is not to intervene militarily. All armed forces are here to ensure the rescue is carried out. Please do not obstruct us, or we will consider them as obstacles and eliminate them."

However, under their questioning, mentioning the name "Rhodes Island" would not be very effective due to the comprehensiveness of the intelligence.

However, for the PhD student, simply revealing his identity was enough; there was no need for the other party to truly understand anything.

This operation is to demonstrate Rhodes Island's presence.

The act of "demonstrating one's presence to the outside world" should have been carried out during the military exercises with the Knights of Conquest of Casimir.

But the doctor chose to bring it forward.

After Tomat relayed the situation to her, she had some new ideas and plans.