Léon: The Cat Killer

"As expected, I couldn't hold onto Meryl after all... Well, we can't just let the girl go into the disaster zone on her own..."

"That's what they say... Okay, let's go together."

"Everyone!~"

Watching the three newlyweds huddle together, Meryl came to Sussuruo, tossed the little fox who kept making puzzled noises into the air, and cheered her on... Meanwhile, the big fox next to her drank cola with its eyes narrowed into slits.

"She seems very happy~"

"...The new recruits from Rhodes Island are really energetic..."

"Um... don't just stare... Meryl too, put me down first!"

Seeing her office become incredibly lively after Yi Linglin's departure, Dr. Jenny's previously serious lips curled into a smile:

"Alright, alright, it's not a bad thing that young people are energetic... So, for the next meeting, everyone, come with me to see the captain."

"The land-based ships are currently under Level II martial law, and many areas are under lockdown. The shipping department is unlikely to process normal visitation requests at this time."

"Okay, thank you for your help then."

In place of Sussuruo, Huang responded to the woman before him, only to find himself unknowingly having a non-alcoholic beverage stuffed into his arms by the large fox.

"Alright~ now that we've finished the business, let's move on to the slightly delayed welcome party~ Razer! Offer your room and bathroom!"

"...Franka, if I remember correctly, we're in the same room..."

"Ah~ Is that so?"

"You..."

PS: Regarding Nana's combat suit

Anyway, everyone's just looking for the atmosphere, right? Finding the right pictures was quite a hassle...

PS2: There's also the usual meowing cat segment.

Today's sucking segment features the petite but very sexy General Golden Apple.

PSS: Information that can be released today...

The computer... seems to be fixed? Yeah, there's definitely no lag... even though I spent the whole time crawling around the desk fixing it... to install the new RAM, I had to struggle with that damned CPU cooler again for ages... I even bumped my head when I got up...

Although I did consider replacing it with a fully functional all-in-one liquid cooler... the advantage of air cooling is that it's hassle-free... and this cooler was a high-end product gifted by Hehe, and it's perfectly fine, so how can I just stop using it...

The only thing I'm a little resentful about is that... I didn't end up removing the heatsink to replace the thermal paste... mainly because if I did that, I might not have enough time to finish writing today... I really need to catch up on current tasks rather than rush through deadlines.

Ah Xi, get your act together!

The Mystery of 2nd Medic: 043 Land-based Ship Infiltration

Rewind a bit, and as the watch terminal reminded him of "three minutes before reaching the checkpoint," the small-statured Philin, whose body was shrouded in shadow magic, silently loosened his knees and stood up.

The silent mist swallowed the sealing tape, the opened cardboard box, and a black-haired cat's head peeked out... As the cat's ears twitched and rotated left and right like radar, after confirming that the warehouse was empty, the cat killer slowly straightened up from its half-squatting position... Its legs were a little numb.

The silent movement of the body, the rustling sound of the combat suit rubbing against the stiff cape, was completely masked by the noise of the cargo hold, and along with the noise, the conversation of the crew in the headset was also present.

[Communication in progress... Channel: Colombian government aircraft—Air Force Four.]

[Pass through the checkpoint immediately...]

[Confirmed, three minutes before passing the checkpoint... Yuju Ling warms her umbrella, pulls down the flag, and disperses.]

[Confirmation complete... By the way, didn't you find our mission this time a bit strange?]

[It's quite strange to send a small government commercial passenger plane to deliver disaster detection beacons... Our group is one of the few equipped with Originium-resistant communication modules, so it's not surprising that we received this order... But why insist on flying over the Black Steel Landship at such an awkward altitude of 1,000 meters with an overlapping flight path?]

Political factors are not within our consideration... perhaps it's some kind of veiled warning...

[Because of the Black Steel landship's refusal to fulfill the crisis contract? The government is quite annoyed.]

But tell me, what that captain said makes sense. Only a military like ours would be given a death order to fly over a natural disaster cloud... Who in the PMC would be willing to do that? How much money would it cost? And go to such lengths...?

[A soldier's honor... especially for a high-level mech caster, is not something easily obtained... Countdown before passing the checkpoint: three, two... Cargo alarm, hatch opened?]

[Let's take a look at autonomous driving...]

As communication fell silent, the two pilots retrieved their staffs and Colombian-made replica guns from under their seats… They first checked the cabin's access control, then covered each other as they slipped into the cargo hold.

Upon inspection, they found a separately packaged cardboard box whose locking mechanism had torn the box, and a rope had somehow managed to press down on a remote control inside, its yellow flashing indicator indicating it was activating was clearly visible.

"What is that?" Zero

"Government relief supplies... a master key used to bypass mobile city block permissions to open the core hatch."

"...Shouldn't we be thankful that it can only open the hatch and not remotely shut down the engine or something?" (Seven)

Ignoring his companion's Colombian joke, the captain checked the operation log on the cabin door's electronic panel, and after confirming that this was indeed the remote control that had unlocked the crew, he shook his head: [Sound of something]

"Stop joking. This thing can open all the automatic doors in every Columbia Mobile City, and every single one of them is on record. We can't afford to be responsible if it gets lost... But it's really strange... They've brought out something like this, yet they couldn't even spare a decent box. What were the ground crew thinking?" Wu

"Is it possible that it didn't even come with packaging... After all, look at this behemoth, comparable to a terminal, and look at this outer armor... Forget about packaging, I think it would be fine even if you threw it into an Originium reactor."

After this lighthearted remark, the co-pilot took out some tape and reinforced the package with it before the two returned to the cockpit.

In the time it took to say those few words, without even informing the crew about boarding, the cat killer, who had always been a mystery, silently watched the altimeter on his watch.

A howling wind swept past, and the one-eyed girl could no longer measure distances with her eyes as she used to… Fortunately, instruments could replace instinctive estimations, and skill and Originium Arts could compensate for her lack of physical strength.

As the landship revealed its mountain-like base to the girl, the cat killer, who was about to crash into and become 'Nana-chan', suddenly pulled out a blood bag from under his cloak and threw it to the ground.

With a soft "plop," the blood pack hit its target directly below, the bright red liquid radiating across the military armor steel, followed closely by the black figure that crashed into it.

The bright red, radiating bloodstains seemed to transform into a portal to another dimension. The girl, falling freely, made no sound, like a drop of water plunging into the ocean... only as the bright red bloodstains turned pitch black, and a girl's human form, kneeling on the ground, slowly emerged.

It took about thirty seconds for the pool of black blood to return to human form, and another ten seconds for the bloodstains on the assassin's body to begin to fade, revealing her thin clothes.

As the bloodstains on the ground climbed up the girl's body, the crimson liquid turned into mist and concentrated towards her left eye. The respirator covering her face emitted a hissing sound as it started, marking the girl's first breath since returning to human form.

Once its mobility was restored, the cat killer's first reaction was to pull up its hood, then reach out and stroke its cat ears. The combat recorder activated, and the watch and the magical medium on its shoulder glowed with an orange-yellow Originium light… This was proof that they were functioning normally and connected to the local network.

"Agent 77 has successfully arrived at the Black Steel Landship. Mission commencement."

[I heard you clearly. The organization's hackers have stabilized your covert access to the Black Steel Intercity Network; they haven't detected you... In addition, our hackers found the maintenance blueprints for the Black Steel Landship, which seems to frequently deal with unauthorized passengers in the wilderness. They have blocked all intrusion routes...]

To make it easier for you to meet with the captain, I've mobilized the organization's space-manipulation mages.

Using magical mediums for scanning, they can teleport you approximately ten meters into the ship's interior in one go... or you can have them send you some of the organization's gadgets...

The organization recently received a miniaturized sample of the Steam Knight's weapon. After optimization, the lightsaber, powered by pure Originium, can slice through the ventilation grilles like butter.

[But the captain of the Blacksteel Landship is a veteran; he specifically ordered alarms to be installed at all the weak points of the entrances and exits… Whether you use these external reinforcements to overcome the most difficult obstacle in one go, or conserve their energy to assist you throughout the rest of the journey… it's all up to you.]

Listening to the agent's explanation, standing atop the Black Steel Landship's control tower, the Cat Killer glanced up at the grid antenna that had instinctively flashed past as he fell, then casually tossed a remote-controlled bomb onto the shortwave antenna responsible for long-range communication. Medic... no, it was Nana who hoped this backup plan wouldn't have to be used.

[Thinking of retreat before victory... a good habit. By the way, Rhodes Island's vehicles are approaching. Once they board, they'll definitely demand to see the captain immediately... that's an opportunity to confirm the captain's location; it's best not to miss it.]

Looking around, the assassin first glanced at the huge hole at the bow of the ship... That was where the main guns used to be, but Black Steel seemed to have converted it into a drone support platform. The structure that was originally used to support the huge breechblock was converted into an elevator that could transport large war drones like the JF-17 Thunder... However, the condition of the hangar is currently unknown, so it may be considered as an alternative route for invasion.

Moving the gaze further back, the only possible infiltration routes in the center of the ship, aside from the ventilation ducts equipped with numerous alarms, were probably the secondary gun turrets.

These cannons, with their 18-inch bores, were more than enough for a girl's slender body to squeeze through the muzzle... and the turret itself should have a loading system leading to the ammunition magazine, making it a perfect route for infiltration.

The problem is, setting aside the fact that the Blacksteel crew operates under the strict strategic watch system of the Victoria Fleet, there are definitely guards stationed in the secondary gun turrets. Just thinking about breaking through the breechblock in the narrow confines of the gun barrels makes the girl's head itch...

Most importantly, Nana doesn't know if those cannons are loaded... What if she climbs to the end and finds a cannonball pointing at her head, and then has to climb back the way she came? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?

Completely rejecting the idea of ​​infiltrating from the secondary guns, Nana's gaze passed over the sprawling, massive turrets and turned toward the stern of the ship.

A land-based ship must have a standby air transport runway as well as elevators and unloading areas for large manned aircraft.

As a means for crew members to shop online, and considering the different sizes of transport vehicles, goods are often scattered and pushed around in the unloading area from time to time... This is normal whether on a land-based ship or in a mobile city.

Compared to heavily fortified gun emplacements or ventilation shafts that were already in a state of combat readiness, Miss Assassin felt it was more feasible to have the crew of the Blacksteel Landship take her inside…

Having made this decision, the girl, who was standing at the highest point of the entire ship, jumped down once again.

He tied the dagger to the paracord around his wrist to create a temporary safety rope, and used windowsills or handrails as footholds along the way, avoiding the windows along the control tower. Finally, he pulled himself up to the top deck by clinging to the narrow side strip of the ship's side.

Having put away her ropes and dagger, the assassin now faces her first challenge... the deck watchmen and the loitering idlers.

The girl didn't know if these people were just bored or if it was part of their job, but they actually had the leisure to point and comment on the distant disaster clouds from outside the deck of the land-based ship, right on the outskirts of the disaster zone.

Fortunately, they were mostly concentrated in one direction, so Nana only needed to guard against the black steel deck patrols carrying crossbows.

[The patrol teams... this was all arranged by that captain... two people per group, three groups per team, each team responsible for a section of deck, and they switch defense zones after each patrol round to prevent any attack where a team is wiped out without anyone knowing... As an infiltrator, how do you feel about this meticulous type of player?]

"...This is terrible..."

While complaining, she activated Originium Arts under her feet. As Nana once again felt the sticky sensation of blood under her feet, the assassin who had been clinging to the side of the ship felt as if she were stepping on the ground as she stood on the vertical deck.

Cat first tried to let go, and after confirming that her spell could work on the surface of the ship, the girl crouched down, brushed past the escort team along the way, and ran towards the stern of the ship.

Along the way, the cat killer running on the wall seemed to make eye contact with someone who was looking out the window... Just as Nana left the window, but was still in the other person's field of vision, her little hand had already raised the muzzle of a gun, when the manager's voice in the earpiece stopped Nana's action.

Don't worry... you'll see that person often in the future...

"So...she's our partner at Blacksteel...that person from BPRS?"

"Hmm, since this concerns Rhodes Island, let's talk about it after you switch back to your Rhodes Island operator identity... We've reached the rear platform... How are you going to get the crew to open the door for you?"

Clinging to the edge of the ship, the young girl cautiously peeked out half her head. Seeing that most of the crew members at the stern were on leave and not very careful about their positions, she immediately darted into the cargo area at the stern and casually tore off a notice from the cargo area sign.

Just as Nana was checking the delivery time of the black steel watch, the warning lights that suddenly lit up in the surrounding area startled the cat.

【Oh... 5 PM... isn't that exactly the delivery time? Perfect timing, number 77.】

"Give me a cardboard box, one that can hold me, quick..."

Hearing the crowd gathered below the elevator waiting to pick up their packages, Nana quickly unfolded the cardboard box her manager had sent her and slipped herself inside.

Then, amidst the cacophony of voices outside, asking questions as packages were being handed over, Nana finally remembered to ask a crucial question:

"Does this cardboard box... have a recipient's name label on the outside?"

Of course I wouldn't make such a mistake, but considering you're definitely destined to disappear, I chose someone from the start who could act as your substitute... and who would be easy to talk to afterwards, as the recipient.

Before Nana could ask who was so unlucky as to be targeted by the manager, a faint, weak-sounding girl's voice came from outside the cardboard box:

"My...delivery? But my custom-made gun and Originium etching bullets should have arrived by now...Is this some kind of free gift...or did my sister send it?"

Anyway, just don't open the package now.

Perhaps Nana's prayers worked, because Nana's box gradually disappeared from the noise of the crowd and was quickly placed down.

The assassin waited for a moment, listening to the unknown girl muttering things like "I need to call to confirm" and "Was it sent to the wrong address?"... As the automatic airlock closed again, silence fell, and Nana poked her head out again.

I don't know who the manager chose, but she was so careless as to bring a random package back to her room. Nana knows that her sneaking away will definitely cause her trouble... I just hope that she is really easy to talk to, just like the manager said.

Just as Nana was about to leave after using witchcraft to destroy the cardboard box along with the forged delivery slip, the assassin opened the automatic door to the room. The two black-haired cat heads were now facing each other at close range, speechless... Nana, who was almost pressed against her, could hear the other's phone still ringing.

'Not connected yet! There's still time!'

With one hand around the waist and the other covering the mouth, she dragged the person back into the house. As the door closed, Nana casually knocked the mobile phone out of the person's hand.

"you……"

Before the other party could react, bright red blood formed a dagger in mid-air, piercing through the phone that had just been connected. After confirming that the call had been disconnected, the girl in film that Nana was holding down began to struggle.

Seeing the other person reach down and pull out a Laterano gun from his back waist, Nana was startled.

"save--!"

Before the other person could cry for help, she reached out to cover their mouth, but because they were struggling so hard, Nana's hands weren't big enough and she almost couldn't cover them. Two of her fingers slipped and were stuffed into the other person's mouth... But pressing down on their tongue could also stop them from crying for help... As for the sensation, Nana wasn't in the mood to care about that.

The key point is the handgun the other party pulled out!

With her other hand extended simultaneously, she grasped the slide and used her fingers to deflect the hammer, while simultaneously casting a spell to disrupt it... Using her understanding of the structure of the old-fashioned Lateran gun, Nana quickly disassembled the opponent's gun slide and locking safety mechanism with one hand, making it look as if she had dismantled the gun by touch.

Undoubtedly, this reaction intensified the already tearful Film Girl's struggle, but thankfully she didn't pull out a second gun.

Amidst the despair in the other's eyes, Nana took the disassembled sleeve, clenched her fist, and slammed it into the other's neck. The struggling ponytail-haired film girl rolled her eyes and fainted instantly.

Upon seeing Nana pull out her gun, the manager, who had also been stunned, quickly stopped her:

【Wait!】

"...She saw my face..."