Léon: The Cat Killer

[…Leaving aside the fact that only your right eye is visible now…what if I told you she was also one of our companions?]

"……what?"

PS: Waaaaaah, kitty

Which unlucky little devil was ordered to assist the Department of Homeland Security, only to be pinned to the ground by agents and think he was about to lose his virginity?

PS2: My biological clock is a bit off... I haven't been able to think things through properly because I'm rushing to meet the deadline. I still need to catch up on the survival timeline and see if my brain is still working during the day.

PS3: Now we can reveal... or rather, we need to emphasize this information: firearms are devastating to lightly armored units... Nana's equipment can offer some protection against stabs and cuts, but taking a bullet... especially at melee range, will definitely result in serious injury. That's why Nana reacted so strongly, almost drawing her gun and blowing that crying cat's head off.

So, you took advantage of her one minute and then immediately tried to kill her the next... Suddenly I realize, Nana, maybe you have... um... a talent for being a scumbag?

Just kidding 2333

The Mystery of Medic 2: Episode 044 - An Awkward Encounter

For an assassin, if there's anything more embarrassing than killing the wrong person, it's probably almost killing one of their own...

Although Nana hasn't gone so far as to have a bizarre experience of killing her employer, as a salesperson who prides herself on her excellent business skills, Nana's current silence and the flushed face that spread from her cheeks to her earlobes are enough to show her current mental state.

Carefully carrying the black-haired Feilin lying on the ground to the bed, and then covering her with a blanket with embarrassment... Nana looked at the information about this little cat using her name as a pseudonym that her agent had sent to her on her phone. The assassin girl collected the scattered gun parts and carefully put them back together.

[Alright, although things didn't go smoothly, you did successfully enter the landship and meet the designated Stand... Let's talk about the apology later. How about we think about how to proceed?]

"……substitute……"

[Jessica...a full-time employee and dispatched operator at Blacksteel International...that's all the official information we have, but her identity is quite special...As the youngest daughter of Raytheon Industries, Jessica enjoys far greater access and freedom of movement within Blacksteel than ordinary employees. Using her identity will allow you to move freely in most land-based ship areas...]

[Regarding the help you received in the Contingency Contract lobby... all I can say is that the person who helped you has a very close relationship with Jessica...]

"Hopefully she won't tell her family..."

[That's hard to say~ After all, you just acted like a ghost... But as a dispatched operator, there's a 75% chance Jessica will become your subordinate after the cooperation with Rhodes Island is confirmed... Make it up to her then, wouldn't that be a way of repaying the benefactor who helped you?]

"……I see……"

Since she made a mistake, she should admit it. However, the assassin basically doesn't trust the probability mentioned by her agent... The world is so big, how can there be so many coincidences? You might as well say that the cause and effect of things were completely reversed from the beginning.

Because Jessica is about to start working at Rhodes Island through Kal'tsit's intervention, it's quite unexpected that the unseen intermediary from Thor Industries would be so willing to help Rhodes Island... Perhaps this explanation makes things clearer.

After confirming that the gun was undamaged, Nana placed it back on the bedside table of the cat who seemed to be crying even in her dreams. She then removed the cloak and folded it into the size of a bulletproof plate in a few quick movements. She glanced at Jessica's chest and, since she was lying down, clasped her hands together in advance to check the size before touching it.

"About... this size?"

First, she made a cloak with appropriately sized padding and attached it to the chest of her combat suit as camouflage and also as bulletproof cushioning. Then, when the assassin opened the wardrobe and saw the uniform black steel training uniforms, she frowned… these weren't the clothes Jessica was currently wearing.

[After all, Jessica was an expatriate, and her trip to Tikkarundo was an emergency recall... She didn't bring any change of clothes... Although Blacksteel had prepared a temporary room and change of clothes for the young lady who was coming with Thor, anyone with discerning taste would know that the young lady wouldn't wear this kind of material as underwear.]

[What should we do? Just strip them naked? Like we used to randomly pick an unlucky person?]

"...That won't work..." Phosphorus

【That's true~ What if they tell their family on you~ right?】

"...Even if you're being sarcastic and sarcastic, I won't lay a hand on my business partner again..."

[So you'd disguise yourself as a regular Blacksteel employee using her Blacksteel training uniform? Putting aside the fact that the Operations Department has restricted areas on the ship… just tell me how you're going to explain to the Sentinels why you're wearing Jessica's clothes…]

Ultimately, what the assassin needed was the identity of 'Jessica,' not the identity of an ordinary Blacksteel operator... the difficulty of their operations was fundamentally different from the start.

As for the assassin's integrity... hmm? Does she even have that kind of thing? The only reason still stopping her is probably that this unfortunate kid is her future colleague.

[Haha, just kidding. Even though you interrupted the call, Jessica will still receive messages from her partner asking her to cooperate with your operation... You can just change into her clothes...]

"...At least, this poor kid brought pajamas." V

Taking out the pink pajamas folded from her sports bag, Nana glanced again at the person she had just knocked down, sighed, and then began to grope him. (Toxic)

About five minutes... mainly because changing the unconscious person's pajamas took a lot of time, a black-haired cat-headed woman wearing an outdoor jacket that cost thousands of LMD, with a black steel armband and Velcro, and a medical goggles, walked out of the room. Unlike the simple disguises of the past, Nana now looked exactly like Jessica.

And through her noise-canceling headphones, which were countless times more advanced than those from the ICA, came the voice of her agent, at least ten to nine times clearer.

[It seems even your Originium Arts can't disguise your own flaws...] Ba

"Judging from the information you provided, this kid is usually quite reckless. When he first joined Blacksteel, he even frequently injured himself during training... Let's just say he accidentally fell and hit his eye..."

[...It seems more accurate to say that he didn't dodge it during training...]

"Although Jessica has a high status, her social circle is very small... and the people she spars with seem to be the same people all the time. This lie will be exposed in an instant."

"You can decide this yourself... But are you really going to entrust that little cat with sending your equipment back to Rhodes Island? Although I did say she's very reliable..."

Just as the manager seemed to be pondering whether it was too risky for Nana to pack up the valuable repeating Laterano gun and assassin tools and leave them for Jessica, even leaving an apology and a note entrusting her to take the items to Rhodes Island—a note that might expose their relationship—a sudden shipboard announcement made Nana prick up her cat ears.

[...Please note that the third shipboard meeting regarding the Tikkarendo disaster relief efforts will be held in the conference room. Department heads and operational personnel representatives are requested to attend and vote...]

[The meeting... might be able to confirm the captain's whereabouts; he should be there... With Jessica's status, finding a seat shouldn't be difficult.]

Just as Nana nodded and was about to head to the conference room according to the structural diagram brought by her manager, Yi Er, the voice behind her suddenly interrupted her.

"Jessica?"

She immediately focused on her current role, her eyes lacking confidence, as if she might cry, and the fidgeting with her fingers... all finished with her slightly drooping ears. Nana turned to look, and at the same time, her manager's information appeared in her earpiece:

[...Codename Vanilla, Jessica's fellow dispatched operator, belongs to the BPRS support operations team just like Jessica. Currently, both of them are being led by BPRS operators Liskarm and Franka on low-difficulty missions... She doesn't know Jessica's identity, but the two are already very good friends.]

"...Vanilla? Is...is there something you need?"

"Ahaha, actually I wanted to borrow Jessica's book... the one with the wildlife special..."

No matter which book it is, I definitely can't let you into Jessica's room right now, even if I dressed Jessica in pajamas!

"Um... it's a bit inconvenient for me to go to the conference room right now, Vanilla, would you like to come back tonight?"

"Well, it's nothing, it's just... I was just about to ask, Jessica-senpai, what happened to your eyes?"

"Ha... I was thinking about something while walking and then I bumped into something... I was so careless..."

Seeing Jessica scratching her cheek shyly as usual, Vanilla tilted her head and quickly dismissed the awkward feeling in her heart:

"So Jessica is really worrying... It must be inconvenient to have only one eye, what if you bump into something on the way? I'll go with you."

"Huh? Uh... Well, thank you, Vanilla."

"After all, you've helped me a lot in the past~ But going to the conference room at this time... does that mean you're really concerned about Tikkarendo?"

"Ah."

She didn't refuse when the other person casually took her hand, and Nana wondered if they were always this close. As for the matter of Tikkarendo, Nana also wanted to gather some information.

"Captain... are you still not letting us depart?"

"The old man's attitude is very firm... He's usually very friendly when he greets people... It's a good thing he doesn't confront the natural disaster directly."

"...Maybe...that's true."

But for people caught in a natural disaster, it's pure torture... and the same goes for someone who hopes to receive all the help they can.

It's because they know that for them, not confronting the natural disaster directly is the right and appropriate choice, and no one will say that there's anything wrong with what they're doing... Otherwise, why would they need to hire an assassin to issue an ultimatum?

"But... if possible... I still hope that more people can be saved..."

"Jessica!"

Suddenly, another voice called out her 'identity' from behind. At the same time, the sound of footsteps and the soft touch that fell on her back made Nana let out a pitiful whimper, almost in her true nature.

“Flanca-senpai…”

"You got it right~ but there's no reward... Hmm... Jessica, have you lost weight? Remember to train in moderation..."

While saying this, Jiu Wuling Si Lin Wuqun released the cat in front of her whose core was not a person at all. Looking at the medical eye patch on 'Jessica's' left eye, both the two members of Black Steel BPRS and the Rhodes Island members who were with them were stunned.

"Jessica, what happened to your eyes?"

White-haired Vayvan frowned, wanting to confirm, but Nana dodged him. Fortunately, this action was in line with Jessica's personality. Vanilla, standing to the side, let out another wry laugh.

"It seems like Jessica bumped into it herself..."

"...That was really reckless..."

Seeing Razer's reprimanding tone masking deep concern in her eyes, Franka glanced at the Rhodes Island members behind her who were giving her strange looks and tapped her palms together.

"Speaking of which, isn't there a top-notch doctor right here? Could he take a look at Jessica's injury?"

"Yes, yes..."

As she said this, Susulu subconsciously checked the medical kit that Medic was carrying.

But looking at the 'Jessica' in front of her... Sussuruo looked at the eye patch and it seemed more and more familiar...

You're clearly a Medic, aren't you?

Although medical eye masks are readily available, after wearing them for a few days, there will inevitably be some signs of use remaining...

Susuru didn't even bother to think about the ridiculous thing that an eye patch with the residual aura of Medic medical medium magic was on 'Jessica's' face... Nana, can't you even find a new eye patch?

"Then, please give us some... space to circulate... Huang, take out your phone and give us some light..."

"okay……"

The two Rhodes Island members, one big and one small, simply pulled 'Jessica' aside to a corner. Although the action seemed a bit sudden upon reflection, well, she's a doctor, so the Black Steel Comedy Team still showed her ample respect...

After using Huang to block the view of others, Sussuro removed Jessica's blindfold and pouted at the penetrating wound that couldn't be faked. Nana could only secretly hold up her fingers and beg the two to keep it a secret.

Susuluo and Huang certainly wouldn't undermine their colleague's request... While everyone else was discussing the meeting, Susuluo quietly asked in a low voice:

"So, where's the real Jessica? You didn't kill her, did you?"

"...I just let her sleep in her own room..."

The brief conversation ended there. Susuluo, feeling that the medical equipment packaging had already been removed, helped Nana with her wound care again. After putting Nana's eye patch back on, she gently wrapped a bandage around it to secure it in place to prevent Nana from giving herself away.

"...Okay, that's all right now."

"Thank you, Dr. Sussuro."

"You're welcome, 'Jessica' operator."

"Oh, it's all taken care of... but it seems like it's gotten even worse."

Faced with Franka's probing questions, Sussuruo didn't dare mention that her injuries were already quite severe. She simply smiled wryly and offered an explanation:

"Because the subsequent redness and inflammation will cause the entire eye socket to swell up... One eye patch alone won't be enough to cover it up..."

Regarding Sussurona's claim of "affecting appearance," Razer, who had seemed quite serious the whole way, tilted his head in confusion:

"...We are PMC, we won't laugh at our teammates because of a little setback..."

"Well, well, Jessica is a young girl too. Although it looks a bit serious, everyone is used to her hurting herself every now and then, isn't that right?"

Razer and Franka engaged in a heated debate on the point that 'Jessica's willingness to hurt herself is a sign of immaturity,' and they arrived at the conference room amidst their bickering.

The Mystery of Medic 2: 045 May God Guide Us

Although meeting Sussuro and the others was not part of the plan, it was still a good thing to be able to legitimately follow the BPRS members to the conference room and get a seat.

The fact that Nana thought this way fully demonstrates that the meeting itself made very little progress... She didn't see the captain; the shipping department representative just held up a piece of printed paper and used the questions on it to silence everyone.

Despite Nana's view that Sussurro had done his best to explain Rhodes Island's position and the help that Kal'tsit, the agent, and Medic had sought throughout the incident, as well as the crucial role that Blacksteel International Landship played in providing that help, Sussurro was ultimately unable to convince the shipping department representative.

Firstly, the shipping department made it clear that they could not afford the loss of personnel and equipment not belonging to Blacksteel. Secondly, Blacksteel was the only large Columbian ship nearby. Together with the two other high-speed ships that Kal'tsit had found, they were the closest rescue force for Tikkarondo. However, only Blacksteel could handle city-level relief supplies. If Blacksteel remained silent, the rescue for Tikkarondo would not arrive for several months or even half a year.

"Ultimately, it seems to be a matter of risk... His key point of argument has always been that he's not confident he can navigate an old-fashioned warship with a top speed of no more than 23 knots unscathed through a natural disaster zone. Once the disaster enters its final solidification stage, even a single piece of Originium could destroy both personnel and equipment..."

At this point, Nana silently typed a coded communication message for her manager using her fingers:

"How can we ensure that this ship can pass through the natural disaster unscathed?"

[From the very beginning, this assumption was flawed, because no one could guarantee it... But, if we're talking about reaching the destination with minimal losses... with resources, manpower, and equipment almost entirely dependent on Blacksteel's decision... what they're probably lacking is...]

"...a navigator who dares to point out the way forward in the face of natural disaster..."

"...This is a very risky idea...Personally...and with Kal'tsit, neither of us supports you doing this...But you are the one who ultimately makes the decision, and the organization always only cares about results...You know that, Number Seventy-Seven."

There was silence on the other end of the headset, with only scattered whispers of discussion in the meeting room. Seeing the heads of various departments at Black Steel looking worriedly at their phones with voting pages in hand, Nana raised her cat ears in annoyance… but immediately reverted them to Jessica's half-drooping shape.

"It seems like everyone is having a hard time making a choice..."

She had unknowingly moved closer to her again. Nana wondered if she was overthinking it, but this future colleague named Franka always seemed to have a subtle smile in her eyes when she looked at her.

"After all, it's about putting your life, responsibilities, obligations, and your shining ideals on the scales to choose between... Anyone would find that extremely difficult."

As she spoke, she stretched, revealing the swordswoman's beautiful figure, and continued:

"It seems this is another complete victory for the shipping department... If we keep dragging this out, we might actually be able to hold out until the Cataclysm ends..."