Léon: The Cat Killer

2n-year-old 8-year-old Mio (Part 3) The Mystery of Medic: 053 The Second Day

Stepping on the crystallized earth, the sound of Originium cracking and shattering reminded Medic of echoes from the past.

The girl was incredibly sensitive to this sound, because it resembled the sound of a gun piercing glass. But the mission of Number Seventy-Seven was never just about killing someone... Nana valued all lives equally, but the value of life and death was never equal from the start.

At least killing requires a reason, but saving someone does not.

Cat Killer is now very grateful to her manager, 'Eternal Constant', whose years of careful guidance have prevented Nana from being unable to discern her current feelings.

This feeling of wanting to reach another person even through a storm... even if it is changed by the gaze of the Bruce family's dead souls, it cannot change Nana's longing for him.

The white film, which resembled clouds in her memory, was the softest thing in Nana's limited memories, but Cole, who was the first to bring Nana a gentle touch, was only slightly overlooked by the cat killer... When she looked back, she could no longer find her.

Miss Killer understands the fragility of life better than anyone, so she believes she should take full responsibility for the deaths of Cole and Kate.

But a cat that has never learned to love, or even been loved, doesn't know what to do next...

A killer with a completely blank soul and an inner void can only live by constant inertia.

She always told herself that the contract was still in effect and the blood money had not been recovered... Only by using this as a reason could she rightfully enjoy the gentle comfort given by the dead. As a substitute, the hollow killer completely put herself in the position of the little white cat's mother, trying to put into practice the image of a mother she had imagined.

According to the agent, no mother would abandon her child... so Nana has to go back to Matilda's side.

Even though Kal'tsit suspected that Nana only valued Matilda, a fellow survivor, as if it were a survivor syndrome, who would have thought that Nana actually longed for the embrace of Cole Bruce, which she had once missed?

However, only with Matilda can Nana touch Cole again… so this view of Nana as a child is subtly acceptable. No matter how far the deduction is from the truth, Narcissa Matilda Bruce is Nana Ivy’s ‘anchor point’… without a doubt.

...In the storm, even the brightest lights become hazy and uncertain.

Beneath the transparent mask, the single eye searching for its way home shone brighter than a headlamp.

The cat killer bent over, using the weight of its equipment to keep itself from being blown away, while crawling against the wind on its hands and feet up the tall, imposing crystal wall.

An obstacle called 'Nature' dragged the girl's feet, and an unstoppable natural disaster hung high in the sky, with lightning and thunder seeming to smugly laugh at the cats crawling on the ground like insects.

But, as a human, Nana only knows that... humans have never truly defeated insects.

As one explosive device after another was inserted into the hole Nana had carved out, and through the killer girl's seemingly inorganic countdown, the barrier with a drop of more than ten meters collapsed and shattered with an almost inaudible sound amidst the howling of the natural disaster.

Only the two people exploring the Black Steel International inside the car looked at the perfectly angled slope in front of them and slightly opened their mouths.

If the Black Steel duo had harbored some resentment at having to acknowledge a 'government agent' as their leader before, their obedience had increased considerably after exchanging a glance.

Although we don't know how many more tricks this captain has up his sleeve... just as the other party unknowingly transformed into 'Jessica' and convinced the captain, this elegant explosion could also convince Razer and Franka to obey the orders of a 'medicine'.

After all, explosives are a skill that PMCs, who are skilled in wielding swords and spears, can't just master easily.

"This slope should be steep enough for the exploration vehicle to drive up... Razer, you guys can give it a try. Also, this slope might cause some items inside the vehicle to shift... Everyone be careful not to get hurt."

[Understood... Aren't you getting on the bus?]

"I'll be assisting you from outside... The Originium from the explosion will shatter into a lot of dust. If the wheels get stuck, and we don't deal with it in time, the whole vehicle could be buried... If we detect any unregistered spell models, don't panic. It might be me taking action. I'll let you know before I do."

[Understood. We'll start climbing the hill once Jessica and the others have finished inspecting the warehouse.]

Hearing the communication drop, Nana looked at the flowing Originium crystals around her and scratched the power armor's visor... She was thinking about how to assist the vehicle in getting through.

Logically speaking, as long as Nana uses her most proficient Blood Demon Sorcery, and uses her own blood as a medium, let alone simply solidifying a 'Originium Plate' to support the vehicle as it passes over the blasted hill... Nana could even act as a humanoid Originium Cannon to ignite the Originium in this area.

Normally it's one thing, but to expose your skin and have blood drawn from wounds in a natural disaster environment? This is beyond just courting death... Perhaps carrying blood packs with you after this is the right choice.

However, considering that the medium of witchcraft also needs to be 'fresh', methods like using blood packs to create imaginary space to avoid falling kinetic energy can only be prepared for occasional missions.

After all, even Nana is wary of Oripathy.

The example of a former Colombian civil servant ghost who still doesn't really want to show his face in front of Nana is still right here.

Fortunately, Nana isn't a pureblood blood demon... She knows a few other things besides blood demon magic.

Thinking that the spells were conspicuous and completely contrary to the code of conduct for assassins, so they were rarely used, Nana slowly knelt down on one knee. She dug at the ground and found that it was full of Originium crystals and she couldn't dig up any soil. The girl pouted in despair.

After stealing a glance back to make sure her subordinates hadn't noticed her embarrassing behavior, Nana got up, scratched her back, adjusted her tail which was wagging wildly out of embarrassment... and finally, stomped heavily on the ground.

"Fellow countrymen of the earth, respond to me!"

As a large number of Originium crystals took shape under the spell's design, dust and debris mixed with soil condensed into a solid form, topped with two horns... but in reality, it was a giant humanoid with cat ears that rose from the ground.

Because Nana doesn't usually use this kind of witchcraft, she only wanted to pave a road. Unexpectedly, Nana couldn't keep her composure after summoning a humanoid creature... But since she had already summoned it, fortunately, Nana landed on the giant's palm. Then, using the lights of the exploration vehicle as a marker, the giant's other hand picked up a bucket made of several key components... The modern engineering machinery (?) created by witchcraft quickly pushed away the rock debris, compacted the road, and cleared the way forward.

Although this was Nana's first time using the magic of the Fertile Soil and Solid Stone Clan, it was clearly very effective in terms of infrastructure.

[Captain, we're preparing...the slope...that little hill?]

"Yes, as you can see, I leveled part of it."

Or rather, the largest fragment of Originium itself became part of the Mud Giant, and the leveled and compacted passageway was much more accessible to others.

She gave the giant the order to disintegrate at the side, then Nana grabbed onto the emergency exit outside the explorer's driver's compartment and banged on the window.

"I'll keep watch outside. You guys keep an eye on the equipment... Advance. Also, have the cargo hold prepare to pack my equipment and throw it out. My armor is covered in Originium dust right now, so I won't go in and contaminate the indoor environment."

[…Understood. Now we shall proceed. Please be careful.]

Responding once more to the dejected morale in the cockpit with the thud of banging on the glass, Nana attached the safety rope to the armored handrail on the vehicle's exterior, hoping to bolster the team's resolve.

Given the current situation, whether it's Blacksteel or Rhodes Island, in the face of the Cataclysm, every life should be used wisely. (Chess)

Otherwise... an even greater sacrifice would be inevitable. Yes.

Nana absolutely did not want that cloud-like kitten to become part of the sacrifice. (Witch)

Looking at the monstrous clouds that her headlamp couldn't penetrate, Nana sighed to herself... She longed to return to those peaceful, memory-filled clouds.

...X

... (

……Four

To the Blacksteel members, the black clouds were nothing but the embodiment of destruction.

Previously scheduled daytime deck watch and routine ship operations have all been suspended. Since entering the disaster cloud area, the Blacksteel Landship has been receiving a constant stream of emergency reports, and almost all of the ship's limited manpower has been deployed to unlimited damage control.

From the 'lightly lit' air traffic control tower back to the heavily armored command center, the well-trained crew navigated the massive ship along a nearly fixed route. The first mate frantically assigned tasks to the crew, who were now in a state of emergency, while the captain, pipe in hand, calmly reviewed the reported damage and puffed on his cigarette. X

[Report on Dust Crystallization from Condensation Sources in Communication Antennas]

'Cleaned up; ship crew members have been quarantined for observation. Note: In addition to Originium-related subsidies, the person involved requested an extra ice cream as part of their late-night snack.'

Holding the pen, the captain's handwriting still retained its ornate Victorian style, while the playful content seemed to suggest that the situation was still under the captain's control.

"license."

[Regarding the clearing of Originium clusters in the gaps of the flight deck]

'Incomplete. Over forty people attempted to maintain the flight deck and large drone catapult, but abandoned the effort as the voyage progressed deeper into the area. The deck control crew tried to protect the catapult with tarpaulins, but based on the damage, their moving parts were found to be affected by Originium…'

"From now on, if we need to carry out such dangerous operations, we will first notify the heads of each department. We will also notify the logistics department to apply to headquarters for a brand new electromagnetic catapult. In addition, we will have the deck crew members undergo special medical examinations for ore sickness."

After signing his name, the captain took out the next report:

Regarding the unusual noises from the walking mechanism...

Before the captain, whose vision was already blurry, could finish reading the document, the sudden load on the running gear started rapidly with a creaking sound from the hull's buffer mechanism... Unlike the other crew members who were somewhat frightened, the captain, who had experienced even more serious situations in past battles, only swayed for a moment before immediately regaining his balance. The old captain even freed one hand to hold his hat.

"Don't panic, it's just that the running gear is stuck in a sinkhole... The driving crew should pay attention to power distribution, and the engine department should report the status of the Originium engine and drive shaft!"

Naturally, apart from the ship suddenly tilting, which startled a group of people and caused a few unlucky individuals to fall, and several plates being smashed and deformed in the galley, the ship only slowed down slightly, and there were no other incidents so far.

After receiving confirmation from all departments, the old captain put away the documents and gestured to the first mate, who then tidied himself up, as if he hadn't just almost fallen.

"Immediately begin the disengagement procedure. The shipping department will check the support condition of the running gear and dispatch a pilot to the affected running gear to prepare for independent navigation. Don't let us stray from the course for too long!"

The first mate's voice blended in with the crew members who were walking or running, while next to the black steel land-based ship, a smaller 700-meter-class vessel sent out a light signal, asking if they needed help to tow it... Of course, this suggestion was immediately rejected by the captain.

"In response, this route is different from the past. Please continue forward, 'Star of Tikkarondo'. Remember... even when the Scourge surrounds us, there are Scourge Messengers clearing the way for us further ahead."

"The Star of Tikkarundo responds: May our path be unobstructed!"

Hearing the first mate repeat the song, the captain nodded silently.

As the captain's coffee cup clinked from the vibrations of the nearby landship passing by, the supply ship, sharing the same name as Ticarondo, sped past the Black Steel landship at nearly its top speed.

This ship, which originally belonged to Ticalendo, was reportedly a private vessel that responded immediately upon learning of the rescue plan, and all its crew members appeared to be from Ticalendo…

Seeing the ship speeding away, the captain frowned slightly.

"Were they... speeding?"

"Yes, according to the route and speed standards given by Rhodes Island's Cataclysmic Messenger, they did exceed the standards a bit... After all, this speed was set based on Blacksteel ships, and having such a high-speed ship follow us so slowly is probably something that makes them extremely anxious."

"...If they're in a hurry to get out of the danger zone, that's fine... I hope they stay rational... Also, have the engineering department and the engineers from the crisis contract gather. While we have to stop the ship now, have them help check the No. 7 land-based equipment..."

The captain waved the documents in his hand and took out a gold-plated pocket watch to check the time:

"Although I'd like to say that this ship is even younger than my daughter, it's definitely reached the point where it's starting to have some problems. It's better to check now than to be caught off guard later... Let's go."

"Yes!"

………………

Ticalendo, Day 1 of the Cataclysm → Day 2.

Local time, midnight.

Mobile city underground middle layer...

The rain was still pouring down, but Rhodes Island, having communicated with Kal'tsit, received authorization from Ticalendo, and even permission from the President of Colombia to move freely, had now indeed completed the last piece of the puzzle in communicating with the locals... official authority.

With this connection, even the most repulsive Sarkaz mercenaries would appear handsome to the locals.

But this meant nothing to the kitten; her mind was filled with thoughts of 'Nana has come to find me'... Then she listened intently to the clanging sounds from the ceiling.

She was waiting for Amiya to finish what she was doing, and she was waiting for Rhodes Island to allow her to go to the rainy wasteland.

Ordinary people are certainly not as adept as artificial war sorcerers. After passing a shelter and discovering that it was controlled by the Red Hand Gang, the group, who had been fleeing all the way from the factory area, finally had a place to rest.

Cloaks and robes are required to be hung at the entrance before entering the shelter, and those injured on the way can receive treatment from Dr. Sarkaz... In addition, the Red Hands also have medical personnel wearing white coats, but who look more like mechanics than doctors.

With manpower shortages, and besides Rhodes Island's team, the shelter itself also has wounded personnel. Anyone with medical skills is a 'doctor'.

As the group began to rest, people ate and drank and tended to their wounds, small and large, casual conversations began.

"...This natural disaster is too terrible."

"The mid-level shelters are fairly sturdy; the Originium rain won't hit here for a while... but it's hard to say what will happen after that..."

"As expected, we still need to activate the Originium Furnace and the walking mechanism to evacuate the disaster area... Speaking of which, there have been strange noises coming from the pipes since just now?"

Hearing the uneasy murmurs from the citizens—people who usually spoke to him with friendly smiles—Elwa, the local gang leader, was the first to wave:

"That's the core city and other urban areas being flooded with water and liquefied gas..."

"You know Elva?"

"Yes, this is it. These are the terms that Rhodes Island people helped negotiate..."

Seeing all eyes fixed on her, Amiya opened her tired eyes, but still managed a smile that could instantly win people's favor:

"This is also to trigger the self-rescue conditions of the automatic locking mechanism within the city block... It can be considered our trump card for self-rescue... After all, if there is a shortage of water and electricity, then how to survive is a problem, let alone how to deal with natural disasters."

"Using the key provided by the government, we will later help activate the city and follow Ticalendo's trajectory... Hopefully, by then..."

Before Amiya could finish speaking, a furious roar suddenly echoed from outside the door, reverberating throughout the middle floor along the steel frame structure:

"El-wa!!"

As the shelter door was pried open, a tearful Fonti tribesman suddenly lunged at Elwa, whose fur was standing on end.

"Elva, I'm so glad you're alright!"

"...Lei Lei Shi? I'm not a kid anymore, everyone's watching. You're acting more like a gang leader!"

After being severely reprimanded by his adopted daughter, the robust, hoofed man, whose head could touch the ceiling of the shelter, nodded and listened as Elva recounted how they evacuated the people, how they contacted the authorities in Tikkarundo, and how they reached an agreement with Rhodes Island.

The man nodded repeatedly for the sake of it all, finally looking at Amiya with surprise:

"Oh, so you mean not only is our internal circulation not completely damaged, but we've also been replenished with a large amount of basic resources?! This way, even if we're really stuck here for the winter, it doesn't seem so hopeless... Rhodes Island, huh?! I've only ever heard that you guys are kind to the infected, I didn't expect you to have such a good relationship with the government?!"

"...Actually, the head of our medical department has some connections with the Colombian government...As for myself...as you can see, I'm still...too young...I can't really claim any 'connections'...huh?!"

Before Amiya could finish speaking, Lei Shi lifted her up high as if she were his own daughter.

This sudden move nearly made the mercenaries raise their weapons, but the kitten didn't react... she didn't sense any malice from Lei Shi.

The cloud-like kitten didn't seem to be a victim of the suffering on earth. The kitten, whose body was even clean, floated in mid-air, hugging its knees and standing alone.

After Raise, the gang leader, lifted Amiya high in the air, all the Red Hand gang members present smiled at the 'Rhodes Island mercenaries'...Sarkaz. But Raise then shifted the topic to activating the walking mechanism and the Originium engine: