Léon: The Cat Killer

After finishing her laning phase with Ascaron, the kitten habitually rubbed its face against Ascaron's cheek.

“It’s okay. I also think my ears and hair, which haven’t fully recovered, look terrible, so I’m wearing a hat… Or… should I lend my hat to my sister? Amiya said that I look handsome even without a hat in this outfit… I guess so… I don’t really know much about these things.”

Seeing the kitten stiffly clutching its hat after it finished speaking, looking like it wanted to give it to itself but was also reluctant, Thea's smile became even gentler.

She smiled and smoothed down the kitten's bristling tail fur, then accommodating the kitten's rubbing against her face.

"...It's okay, my sister has a really powerful magician! He helped hide my horns, he's just as powerful as Medic, the cat's sister~"

"Oh...that hat...do you still want it?"

Smiling, Thea placed the red soft hat back on the kitten's head. To prevent the kitten from baring its teeth at Ascaron again, Thea picked up the kitten and took Amiya's hand, who was quite pleased with their conversation.

"No need~ We said we had a week to play, but considering the time needed to buy things and decorate the room, we can only stay outside for three days in reality..."

"Hmm...buying things? Decorating the room?"

Seeing the bewildered look on the kitten in Theresa's arms, Amiya pressed the elevator button:

"Doesn't Matilda want to add some things to the room? I remember Med...Medic always sleeps on the floor, right?...How about we go buy her something and prepare a surprise?"

"Okay! I want to go! It would be best to get a bigger bed so I can sleep in the same bed as Nana-neechan..."

"Ah... this won't do, your bed is actually quite expensive..."

……

……

……

Watching the elevator monitor, Kroos saw one adult and two children... actually, two adults and two children, leaving Rhodes Island. Her envy was palpable.

"Damn it, I want to buy some too... Why doesn't Tikkarendo support online shopping and home delivery?!"

"If we supported it, Lord Kal'tsit wouldn't have needed to personally negotiate with those business people..."

As she spoke, Warfarin tidied up the cryogenic blood sample preservation box that the Touch Mark operator had brought... but the two Blood Demons present looked at the test tubes filled with blood samples with disdain.

"So! If you're going to commercialize, go all the way! You call yourself the most advanced Colombian... because you're afraid of infected people, you don't deliver goods. I think they're less enlightened than the people of Casimir! At least the people of Casimir use drones for logistics..."

"Just stop complaining... If all else fails, how about you send His Highness a text message and ask him to bring you back a case of Coke?"

"...Ascaron will probably beat me up..."

"I think so too... Hmm? Did the ship's internal communication system just ring?"

"Ah, really... it's Medic's communication... using the Crisis Contract's data traffic... Let me see, requesting meteorological data analysis and comparison, disaster range prediction... Tikkarendo... 0.2%?"

Looking at the documents sent by Medic, the two blood demons remained silent for a moment. As Warfarin closed the cryopreservation box for the blood samples, it seemed as if time had just begun to flow again.

"The probability is really subtle... I don't know if she wants us to run or if we can stay here."

"Although there are signs of natural disaster, this prediction covers too wide a range, basically encompassing about a dozen cities around the Tikkarendo route... In any case, let's notify Kal'tsit first..."

"We're not going to make any preparations?"

"Warm up the ships, be ready to run away at any time... Kal'tsit said that we can be the spark, but we must never be the torch... When it's time to run away, we must run faster than anyone else."

"Do you need to tell me that?!"

After a moment of silence, Kroos looked pitifully at Warfarin:

"Should we bring Amiya back?"

"...Inform His Highness and Amiya of the news... Kal'tsit entrusted His Highness with the care of this ship, while Amiya is the actual owner of Rhodes Island... The situation depends on the decision of the three of them."

As she spoke, Warfarin glanced at the climate monitoring system, which was currently functioning normally.

"Even if it rains Originium from the sky, we still have to get this supply, otherwise we'll all starve to death, how will we save others..."

Besides, it can't be that bad luck, right...?208509369...

Looking at the signature on the information, Warfarin thought to herself, "Medic, whom I'm not very familiar with."

PS: Waa ...

PS2: In the original story, at this point in time, Theresa should be with the Doctor, fighting her brother to the death in Kazdel... Does this mean I'm leaving my avatar alone in her room?

Well... anyway, consider this a foreshadowing of the later interactions between the doctor and Medic...

PS3: Yesterday's blow was a bit too strong... I've been feeling dizzy all day... I need to catch my breath... I'll try to write more in the next update...

I'd also like to ask for a vote...

The Mystery of Medic 2: Chapter 037 - The Storm Is Brewing

"Natural disaster...predicted? Of all times, at a time like this..."

Looking at the message from Warfarin, Theresa's eyes showed a hint of helplessness.

Not far away, two rabbits and cats dressed in clothes with the Rhodes Island logo were admiring the sparkly handmade jewelry at a street stall.

Although many of those ornaments weren't made of precious metals, Amiya, thanks to Kal'tsit's influence, could at least recognize the antique brass and platinum plating. But the other little cat, Matilda, was fixated on a bag of glass beads that the vendor had casually placed in a corner, unable to move...

Those were toys she used to play with in Wilson's apartment, but the kitten felt she was all grown up, so she just looked... Meanwhile, Amiya listened intently as she introduced other metal ornaments to herself.

"There's a 0.2 percent chance we'll be affected by the natural disaster... That's Medic's opinion. Ascalon, what do you say?"

[Clouds in the sky, a drop in temperature... the only other unusual event that could be considered a sign of a natural disaster is the solar halo over Letania. Generally, this would be considered as an earlier-than-expected cold wave in Colombia... although it's a bit earlier than last year, it's still within the normal range.]

“You know that’s not what I want to hear…”

[If there is indeed a possibility of being affected by a natural disaster, considering Rhodes Island's current supply reserves, I suggest that everyone except for the shipping and engineering departments immediately assemble at the Rhodes Island office in Ticalendo...]

"Let Rhodes Island leverage its independent fleet advantages to first escape the disaster's reach. Then, under the name of Rhodes Island Corporation, take control of the shelters and inventory the city's disaster reserves... If necessary, then use the absolute strength of the Sarkaz Royal Court soldiers to maintain order, implement a rationing system according to Kal'tsit's instructions regarding extreme conditions, and while using the mobile cities' more robust and comprehensive shelter facilities to avoid the disaster, activate the mobile cities to leave the disaster's reach, and finally evacuate safely..."

Having laid bare all of her little follower's thoughts in one breath, Theresa let out a heavy sigh, her smiling eyes crinkling at the corners:

"Then, we will once again antagonize a newly emerging nation over the so-called sovereignty issue, and in order to divert the attention of the disaster victims, the Sarkaz Exclusion Act will also be introduced in this country... Just by speculation, it is clear that this will be another victory for... my brother's... theory..."

"...That kind of thing is too far removed from me. If it really is a natural disaster, people will fight with all their might to survive...so I wouldn't be surprised by any kind of behavior they might exhibit..."

"...But I'm still here, soaking in the sun?"

I will obey Your Highness's orders.

Tilting her head, with her stiff, imitation-looking 'cat ears' on her head, Theresa's thousand words ultimately turned into a sigh.

A moment later, Amiya and the kitten got up from the stall. Theresa quickly regained her composure and then gestured to her phone... This obvious gesture made Amiya notice her unread text messages.

The kitten and the rabbit huddled together, and the two who had been chatting and laughing just moments before suddenly fell silent.

"A...a natural disaster?"

Even though she was expressing her amazement, Amiya instinctively kept her voice as low as it could be, given the nature of the disaster… Although she had witnessed the terrifying spectacle of natural disaster clouds reshaping the landscape several times from the bridge of Rhodes Island in her short life, those were all during Contingency Contract operations led by Kal'tsit.

Hearing about the natural disaster while Dr. Kal'tsit was away, the little rabbit froze in fear...

"Amiya, Amiya, scroll down, there's more below, it's a message from Teacher Kal'tsit..." (Neighbor)

"Hmm? Hmm! Hmm... She said we should follow Sister Thea's instructions and listen to her arrangements..." Yi

Seeing Kal'tsit's message, the two little creatures, cat and rabbit, suddenly felt like they had found their pillar of support again, their eyes sparkling as they looked at the fake film beside them.

"Oh... Kal'tsit, she just dumped you all on me like that... She really has a lot of nerve."

"If even you trust them, then Dr. Kal'tsit probably won't trust anyone... These data... are they Medic's assessment? The probability seems quite low... but just to be on the safe side, Sister Thea, let's make some preparations."

"Hmm, that's possible... but I'd like to hear Amiya's thoughts."

Seeing Amiya begin to ponder, while Matilda fiddled with her phone looking through Medic's signatures and photos, Theresa, feeling she had some understanding of the two children's thought processes, picked up Matilda and then took Amiya's hand, letting her walk and think as they went.

"Hmm... my idea... to gather everyone's strength... to fight against natural disasters?"

"That's a great idea. Unity is the foundation for combating disasters beyond human control... But, in the face of natural disasters, everyone's only thought is survival... What if the people you want to help try to seize limited food and supplies in order to survive? What will you do then?"

"...Huh? Food is limited?"

"Well, a major reason we're still in the market instead of returning to Rhodes Island is that Rhodes Island itself is running low on supplies. With natural disasters often lasting for months, to ensure that the incapacitated patients on Rhodes Island have enough food to survive, the operations team and... most of my entourage have left Rhodes Island..."

"Either we're very lucky and the natural disaster doesn't reach here until we finish resupplying... or what if this city is about to fall apart... Amiya, what will you do then? You know, even such a huge city can't be without everything... to get all the supplies that people need to those who need them... then, Amiya... as the leader of Rhodes Island, what will you do?"

Seeing Theresa still 'forcing' Amiya, the real kitten in the fake Feline's arms was a little unhappy... After trying to push the other's chest with her hand, but finding that the other's arm did not budge, the kitten puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction:

"Why are you asking us this kind of question... Didn't Teacher Kal'tsit say we should listen to you? Can't you see that Amiya is very troubled..."

Seeing the kitten push its chin away with both hands in dissatisfaction after speaking, Theresa reluctantly put the kitten down and then led the two little ones forward by their hands:

"Haha, I've already decided what to do... But, isn't that how life is? There will always be unexpected and unacceptable things that happen... It might be a long way off for you, Kitty, but... Amiya... she'll probably encounter similar things many times in the future... Whether it's unhappiness or pain, many things can't be solved by staying put... Just like some truths that everyone understands, but things will inevitably develop in the direction that no one wants... So Amiya, what's your choice?"

Urged on by the white-haired 'fake film' beside her, the young girl from Caster nervously clutched her chest and uttered something extremely difficult:

"...I...I...at the very least, I want the people I know, my companions, to survive. If I can take care of everyone, that would be wonderful...but if doing so would hurt my companions...then I'll protect them......"

"It's like there aren't enough supplies. If even the rationing system taught by Dr. Kal'tsit can't guarantee everyone's survival... then those of us who can't help the doctor should seek survival in cities with more abundant supplies..."

"Yes...we're going to the safe house in Ticalendo on Rhodes Island to make contact with our companions scattered throughout the city...at least, to protect everyone."

Seeing the little rabbit make its decision, but then sadly curl up its arms as if its heart was aching... Theresa smiled, but she could empathize with that pain.

"Yes, good boy... Kal'tsit has taught you very well... I can rest assured now..."

"...Te...Thea, sister?"

"Hmm~ It's nothing... Look, Rhodes Island's office in Tikkarendo... We've arrived."

Following Theresa's gaze, the two little ones realized that they had unknowingly left the bustling market... This was a residential area surrounding the Tikkarendo Originium Processing Plant, where people of various races watched the three of them with suspicion, calmness, or ulterior motives.

Amiya, who had been forced to make an unwilling choice, felt even more listless as she sensed the complex emotions around her. Looking at the hostile emotions around her that seemed to devour her completely, Amiya fearfully hid behind Theresa.

Correspondingly, when the cat, who is capable of sensing thought, discovers that her friend has been bullied, her tail straightens and her fur stands on end, making it appear at least three times thicker... If she could at least 'scare' Ascalon into submission, then for these strangers who seem to have ill intentions, the cat's first reaction is to use Originium Arts to break off a building and smash them... That's exactly what she did at the Loken Water Tank.

Of course, at least there was a normal adult present. Theresa first smiled and took the kitten, which showed signs of preparing a spell, then picked up Amiya... After exchanging elegant smiles with the strangers around her, the elegant princess led the two children into Rhodes Island's office...

Those who hadn't realized they'd been given a second chance at life reacted in various ways when they saw them enter Rhodes Island's office. Some suddenly realized what had happened, while others clicked their tongues in frustration, but in the end, they all abandoned their little schemes.

Rhodes Island's office in Tikkarondo is a small place with only one person in charge... After all, the proper treatment center with doctors stationed there is far away in the Tikkarondo commercial district... This place is actually just a transit point for Rhodes Island to distribute drugs to the infected.

"Huh? What a rare guest... Are you colleagues wearing those uniforms?"

But aren't these two colleagues a bit too young? Although the person with Oripathy who's with them does seem to have quite severe symptoms…

A local Rhodes Island operator, unable to afford specialized protective gear and forced to wear goggles and a dust mask at all times, made this assessment before frowning and glancing at her watch:

"Is it...something urgent? Why don't we talk as we walk?"

"Ah...we're in a hurry...ah no no no, we're not in a hurry, it's not even confirmed yet...anyway, let me introduce myself first, I'm Amiya...um, the Amiya who signed the contract in your employee handbook...sorry, we decided to come here at the last minute during our resupply at the main ship...we didn't bring any gifts..."

Looking at little Caster's somewhat shy expression, even with her large hood and veil, the local operator could still see her surprise, her mouth agape.

"...My boss came to this lousy place to visit me? Why would I have such a dream..."

"Hey! It's not a dream. Anyway... how about I treat you to dinner later... Also, is this the storage box for the blocking agent? Are you going to deliver the medicine? We'll go with you... There are some things you might need to decide on soon."

"Um...that sounds pretty serious...what's going on? Am I getting a promotion and a raise?!"

Seeing the person in front of her suddenly surge in aura, Matilda was still unhappy even though she knew the other person wasn't bullying Amiya... So she secretly activated her telekinesis and gently pushed the other person back a step... It felt like a strange wind suddenly swept through the room.

"...Ah, I'm so sorry...So, what brings you here so suddenly, Mr. CEO?"

While talking, she dawdled and made preparations to leave the firm. Seeing how unnerved she seemed, Little Cat, arms crossed, said:

"It's a natural disaster."

"……Hi?"

“Ticarendo may be affected by the natural disaster, although the probability is not high, but we are here to see if you are prepared... or if you might accidentally die.”

Although... Matilda's statement was somewhat problematic, the way the local operator rode his tricycle with three people (one adult and two children) along the way clearly showed that he had taken the cat's words to heart.

Using the intercity network, she did indeed, at Amiya's request, request the local disaster messenger to explain the situation to the headquarters in Ticalendo, the business district.

Under these circumstances, the three cats, on Amiya's terminal... accessing the Crisis Contract channel as the CEO of Rhodes Island, saw a very unexpected figure.

"Nana-neechan—!!"

Yes, during the live broadcast of the Crisis Contract, the black-haired, one-eyed Felin, dressed in a Rhodes Island uniform, is currently submitting an action request to the Crisis Contract as a messenger of the Cataclysm.

[So, the next contract... Rhodes Island medical operator in Columbia... Miss Medic.]

[...She hopes that twelve regional authorities, including the governments of Colombia, Letania, Casimir, and Ursus, will adjust the natural disaster threat level of over one hundred mobile city blocks, including Ticalendo, to a yellow alert...]

The reason is that an Originium dust storm is moving with the winter cyclone over the Columbia Plains and is brewing and traversing over these countries. As the activity of the Originium dust increases, it could potentially form a highly threatening 'active Originium rain' that returns to the ground at any time...

In the scene, the staff in suits are passing around the disaster data collected by Medic in the solemn council chamber. However, everyone's expression is very calm. Some people did not even open the thick data book before pressing the veto.