Léon: The Cat Killer

"No, I'm glad you're willing to believe us..."

Seemingly understanding the difficulty of Nana's choice, the petite medic from Rhodes Island expressed her sympathy.

Nana chose this vehicle not only because she had a good impression of Outcast, who was also a Rhodes Island operator.

Most importantly, while Nana was arguing with her manager under the cover of smoke, this little fox and the person beside her were actually rescuing the wounded in the ruins of the Loken water tank...

Although the little fox seemed to be just a gofer and being ordered around by the Crisis Contract staff because of her age, Nana could tell that compared to other organizations that were also using this incident for publicity, these two seemed to pay more attention to fulfilling their duty as doctors—saving lives.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Sussurro from Rhodes Island Medical Center, and this driver is my colleague..."

"Call me Touch, hello, Miss Agent."

"...As for being a secret agent...actually, my operation this time was carried out entirely in my own name...ultimately, relying on the organization's power was a semi-forced choice..."

As she spoke, she tilted her head and glanced slightly out of the car. Because she was missing an eye, Nana felt that her sense of distance might be seriously impaired... Would she still be able to use a gun well in the future?

With these doubts in mind, Nana closed her eyes slightly... The two doctors in front of her had no fighting ability and no ill intentions, so the assassin relaxed a little at this moment.

Looking at the girl on the back seat, whose clothes were completely stained red with blood and who seemed to be sleeping soundly from exhaustion, Susuru kept calculating the girl's blood loss, complexion, and breathing... Although she wanted to take out her portable staff several times along the way, Touch beside her stopped her each time.

"Don't move... She's locked onto us..."

"...So, we are not her enemies..."

"How can you explain this kind of thing just by talking... Her current condition is probably more dangerous than that of someone with an acute infection."

As if realizing he hadn't explained himself clearly, Touch continued, while trying to drive as smoothly as possible:

"Of course, acutely infected people are dangerous because their condition is dangerous... but to say that this film is dangerous... is mainly because she herself is dangerous."

"...But she's just a girl who looks like she's not even a teenager..."

"Trust the veteran operator's intuition... Kal'tsit asked me to do this internship with you this time because she was afraid you would encounter situations that you couldn't judge based on books alone... Besides, Sussurro, aren't you also a race that seems to never grow up even after adulthood?"

As he spoke, Touch winked at Nana in the rearview mirror... and after noticing his senior's action, the little fox covered his mouth and turned to look at Nana.

Just as Touch indicated, Nana simply closed her eyes to rest; she didn't actually fall asleep.

"Um... I'm sorry! This is my first internship with my senior! I didn't mean to say anything bad about you!"

Seeing Su Suluo hurriedly pulling at the back of the chair and bowing in apology, Nai Nai smiled and waved her hand:

"It's nothing... Besides, I am indeed an adult... It seems like I was born to only grow this big, so it shouldn't be my problem?"

"I recommend getting a physical exam when you have time. Who can guarantee that their abnormalities aren't signs of a medical condition?"

My neighbor, Wu Lingjiu, thinks she's right.

Staring wide-eyed at the direction from which the voice had inexplicably reappeared beside her ear, Nana almost drew her gun if it weren't for the fact that her right hand was directly outside the car window... Nana's ears perked up noticeably, and Touch looked around the surrounding area, which they had just entered the city, with a puzzled expression:

"What's wrong? I didn't find anything wrong..."

"No...it's okay...the child's older sister agrees with what you said...but I...don't really want to go for a medical check-up...there's no medical facility I can trust..."

"Yi Lin Yi Shi Wu Jiu... Are you talking to this child's... sister?"

"This child's older sister isn't..."

After recalling the publicly available information from the media, but because Nana didn't seem to be joking at all, Susulu looked around for a long time with her tail hair standing on end before hesitantly asking:

"Um...this child's family members are your friends, right?"

"Yes, I am their neighbor...a friend...I live downstairs from them."

Thinking of the pseudonym she was currently using, Susuluo realized that Nana's smile was no longer a problem of illness:

“They’re all very nice people… The child’s two older brothers are a bit shy; at first, they would peek at me from behind the wall. Her older sister, Kate, works at the bakery on the street corner… She got into the local university, and her family saved up to open the shop for her… And her mother, Cole… even hosted us… Ah, um… Yes, we… will host me again? That would be wonderful…”

Seeing Nana holding the kitten, seemingly looking at others through the person in her arms and talking to herself, Susuluo's tail fur stood on end even more fiercely.

Touch's expression also turned serious:

"What I'm about to say might be harsh, but for the sake of the child in your arms, I need to confirm one thing... Are you conscious?"

"What does 'being awake' mean?"

"Do you understand the fact that this child's entire family died in that tragic experiment? Although I know you have a very close relationship with this child in various ways... if you yourself are more immersed in this tragedy than the child, I think you are not suitable to take care of this child."

"T...Touch-senpai...Isn't saying that...a bit too much?"

Ignoring Sussolo's questions, Touch, who was driving while keeping an eye on his rearview mirror, awaited the reaction of the man described as a 'brave doctor' and later revealed to be an agent of the Colombian government.

Contrary to expectations of immediate denial and genuine mental abnormality, the black-haired girl fell into thought.

"...I think I'm probably conscious...I know my state might not be right...but I can definitely hear what they're saying, and at its strongest, I can even clearly see their faces..."

"They are indeed still alive... They say this is the result of my Originium Arts... But as an agent, I have never encountered a similar situation before... So even I find it quite incredible."

"Don't rush to say it's a mental problem... because I wasn't the only one who noticed the deceased... this child could see it too."

At this moment, not only was Susuluo's expression indescribable, but even Touch's first reaction was, "Both of them should be sent for mental health treatment."

Although Nana had lost an eye, she shouldn't be unable to see clearly at such close range inside the car... She could sense the unspoken advice from the two doctors: "Why don't you go see a doctor?"... But obviously, it wasn't the right time yet... And just as Nana had joked before, she couldn't find a trustworthy medical institution right now.

She could have trusted the ICA before... but now... she's still under observation by the Department of Homeland Security.

"In short, we also need to report this situation to the committee... Please understand, this is for the sake of Matilda's health and well-being..."

"Hmm...it doesn't matter, it's all the same."

With a shy smile, Nana picked up Matilda and left as the convoy stopped. Next, the kitten would be taken to the hospital for a thorough examination, and its condition would be made public.

Then it was just a matter of waiting for the agent to win custody, so that Nana could legally take her away from the public eye... Of course, it could also be illegal, and Nana could accept that.

As for the two doctors from Rhodes Island, I probably won't see them again... They are good people, and Nana doesn't want to involve them if possible.

Interacting with kind people, even just having a conversation, can be uplifting... Nana talked so much with them in the car, partly because she wanted to find a safe haven to confide in...

They are doctors, and they wouldn't go around talking about their patients' affairs... And even if they did, others would probably just think that 'Nana the Doctor' was too traumatized by the tragedy of the Bruce family after this incident, and that she had developed mental problems.

In fact, Nana was certain that Kate and Cole's constant chatter between her and the kitten was due to her own witchcraft... No one else could help her with this, so if she couldn't stand it, she should talk to someone to adjust her mood... If she really couldn't find anyone, she could complain to the ghost... It seems that the last explanation is easier to keep secret?

Thinking this through, she slid the WA2000 she was still wearing behind her back. Its gun case and accessories should have been recovered by the security bureau... With such a large weapon, her tattered clothes, and her eye injury... Nana, exuding the aura of a battlefield, had attracted a lot of attention since entering the hospital.

Nana really observed all of Matilda's examinations at the hospital with a very iron-fisted attitude... Anyone who didn't know better would think she was with those people in military uniforms.

That's right, military personnel also came to the hospital... They said it was to prevent Nana, reporters, and employees of the crisis contract and other partner companies from clashing with people who didn't know the truth, so they set up a very basic isolation barrier.

The cat killer had no hope that this perfunctory security would be able to deter people with ulterior motives... but it seemed that the military personnel had their eyes on him the only thing that mattered.

Of course, many onlookers who weren't soldiers were also staring at her... Nana thought it was probably because of the makeshift bandage that was completely stained red around her left eye...

…Two lei orders no eight hundred and three hundred million…Mio

……100 million

……q

"Um...how about...let me at least give you some basic wound care..."

The examination at Matilda is almost complete, and the child has been placed in a hospital bed. Rhodes Island intern operator Sussurro, who was supposed to leave upon arrival but has stayed to accompany the child, is now, encouraged by her senior, mustering the courage to begin speaking to Nana.

“…This…you should know my current situation…I won’t leave this child, even if you say the treatment room is next door, I won’t go.” Wu

"Why...why? Your injuries are very serious..."

“This child… I originally had five years to notice their plight… but I didn’t… Today, I had at least five minutes to consider whether to save them… but my hesitation… ultimately led to Matilda losing her last family member… I promised that friend I would take good care of her… I will not give those with ulterior motives any more chances…”

Seeing that Nana seemed determined to stay by the kitten's side, Susuluo opened her mouth slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she said nothing. (Nine)

The little fox with long, pinkish-purple hair first sighed and raised her hands in surrender, then patted her medical-symbol messenger bag, the same one Nana had: [Unintelligible]

"Well... how about here? Although I feel it's a bit much not to use the existing hospital equipment... but if you insist..."

"...Actually, I was originally going to handle it myself..."

Saying things that would make a real doctor's blood pressure spike, Nana looked at Sussurro, who was clearly terrified but still showing her the medical staff, and finally nodded:

"...Don't use anesthesia, don't do anything unnecessary...like movements that might obstruct my vision...Also, treating me might get you involved in a conspiracy about this child...If something happens, you should stop immediately and lie down...You're a good doctor, and you'll definitely become a respected physician in the future...So take care of yourself."

"Ah... um!"

Although Sussuro was encouraged and full of energy, his hands still trembled when he saw Nana unwrap the bandage that was so thick it could draw blood... This kind of battlefield surgery that forcibly increased the difficulty of treatment, and the debridement without any anesthesia, was still too much pressure for Sussuro, who had previously focused on researching Oripathy and circulatory internal medicine.

So Touch changed into a pair of medical gloves and went over too:

"I'll help too... You don't mind, do you?"

"Ah."

Seeing that the two Rhodes Island doctors had been accepted and had begun treating the 'hero' from the news, the hospital's own white coats wanted to step forward, but were immediately forced back by Nana holding a gun in one hand.

"I don't know you guys, and it's not safe here, so please don't come in and join the fun..."

At this moment, Nana's black cat ears stood up, and her intact right eye looked at the kitten in front of her, as if the two busy people in front of her did not exist... Only the blood flowing down her left cheek and her right eye that refused to close proved that she was still upholding the contract.

P.S.: I had to go to the toilet today... and my writing was interrupted repeatedly... I've been writing since midnight, and I get interrupted every few words... I wish I could move my desktop computer to the toilet... I don't know if this has affected the flow of the writing... but at least my writing is very disjointed.

PS2: It seems that the assassins all have a similar scene of being on guard while receiving medical treatment before launching their counterattack... although I only realized this after I finished writing it...

PS3:

1st Rosemary Embrace: 023 Abruptly Ended

Nana was actually prepared for a do-or-die situation. In her opinion, if someone wanted to take Matilda away, the hospital examination phase would be the best time to make a move... because if it were her, she would make her move at this time.

So she personally checked every single one of the kitten's examinations, using the hospital environment to block off every possible way out of the way. Even when she arrived at the special ward where countless eyes were watching, she was unwilling to leave or even clean up her disheveled appearance.

But the bleeding wound needed to be treated, just as a wounded heart needs time to heal... Nana eventually accepted Susuro's insistence as a doctor, although it's hard to say whether the cat killer's willingness to accept treatment was partly motivated by a desire to feign weakness and lure the enemy... In the end, Nana didn't face the enemy attack she had envisioned until her wound was treated.

This was completely unexpected for Nana...

The soldiers outside the door seemed to be dutifully sealing off the area, while staff wearing crisis contract badges and red vests moved back and forth, occasionally exchanging information about the processing progress in the laboratory.

The short, pink-haired doctor beside him carefully explained the precautions for treating his injuries, as if all the conspiracies surrounding the Bruce family had vanished in that instant...

The moonlight shone down, but the assassin's doubts only deepened.

[Latest news: The military has backed down.]

It wasn't until her manager brought the latest information that Nana seemed to understand why she was so nonchalant.

Williams confessed to all his crimes without reservation, handing over all the research data and experimental information on the Originium Organs project... Verified by the Rhine Life Energy Department, this data was complete, from theoretical design to experimental procedures... The military got what they wanted.

"What about the ICA?"

The ICA has also made it clear that it will continue to adhere to its original guidelines... Do you remember your employee handbook?

"...We will not accept a second mission from the same target..."

Although this regulation only applies to expatriate employees, the fact that half of the Loken Tank Experimentation Park was wiped out, Loken Williams himself was sentenced to at least 100 years in prison, the Crisis Contract was generating a huge media frenzy, and the Melander Foundation was also involved... the nature of the incident has been definitively established, and even the president cannot overturn it.

What role does the 'organization' play in this?

['Referee'... one of them. Unfortunately, our main focus is on dangers that could trigger catastrophic changes in the world... If you hadn't ultimately chosen to join the Security Bureau, giving us an excuse to get involved, these kinds of illegal experiments wouldn't be within our jurisdiction... Compared to public agencies, the ICA is clearly more free, which is why I need you, Seventy-Seven.]

As a newly established organization in a newly emerging country, we lack excellent frontline personnel... This often leads to a situation where, even if we know something is happening, we can only pretend to stand by and do nothing... This is still a political act to project an image of our country's strength and power to the outside world.

"So the truth is that our organization's higher-ups can only stand by and watch. If they really try to intervene, they are powerless to do so and will only end up getting burned and dying?"

It seems that the tasks on the organization's side are several levels more difficult than the ICA's civilian disputes...

As she pondered this, Nana heard a knock on the door outside the ward. It was the security agents she was meeting for the first time that day, who had brought something.

Besides the firearms briefcase that she could immediately spot as potentially revealing her identity, which she had left at the lab, Nana also saw a suitcase, and... a potted plant...

Yes, it's my own pot.

However, it's still in the planning stages, and Nana doesn't quite understand why her manager brought the potted plant... If she had to say what it has in common with the weapon case and suitcase, it would probably be that all of these things were bought for her by her manager.

You're very perceptive, but speaking the truth can be too hurtful...

"Acknowledging reality is fundamental to our work...and...why did you have someone bring the potted plants?"

Nana carefully wiped the surface of the potted plant with her hands to remove the dust. Although there wasn't much, she still wiped it meticulously.

"You don't want me anymore?"

[Shouldn't my first reaction be that you should be out on fieldwork?]

"Now?"