Léon: The Cat Killer

Looking towards the distant horizon, another 'morning star' is faintly emitting its light...

The guidance is still ongoing...

continue……

With difficulty, Nana, whose mask was full of cracks, raised her hand and discovered that she didn't have a second gun that could be fired.

"...Shouldn't we have left that gun with Jessica?"

The arm, which had already begun to crystallize Originium, stubbornly pointed to the sky. The empty medicine MOD box had been injected with its only stimulant... Unable to perform its original mission, it kept flashing an icon for Nana that needed Originium Blocker. Unfortunately, Nana no longer had even a single drop of that medicine.

However... this doesn't mean that Nana couldn't respond to the rising morning star.

Blood spread all around, mixed with Originium dust, and the black liquid gradually rose, pointing to the horizon like the girl's hand.

Even if the halo and wings of light disappeared, perhaps that God discovered the villain who stole her power... But... the Originium Arts engraved in her bloodline did not abandon Nana, and the black semi-solid object shot into the sky like an arrow...

Then, it was as if a piece of the natural disaster cloud above Nana's head had been bitten off, and the dark cloud, which was over several thousand meters high, was sucked into the center and then suddenly spread out... A ray of sunlight briefly shone through this gap onto the ground.

The girl, whose arm had lost all strength, could only let her hand fall onto the ground covered in Originium dust with a thud... Nana lay there weakly, the sunlight shining on the clouds, the edge of which was white and soft, reminding her of a certain little film, and the gentle woman who had first invited her to their home.

“…Cole…Kate…Are you still here…”

Feeling the pain spreading from her arm to her shoulder, the one-eyed girl sighed... She had indeed become weaker than before.

However, everything that needed to be done has been done...

Agent 77 did not shamefully abandon his mission.

So... I guess the mission is complete?

The girl assumed that... As the black-haired Felin's breathing gradually weakened, her single eye still retained the light of the sky filled with dark clouds.

She may have proven to those she had forgotten that... this stolen power... was not just something to be used for killing and fighting.

She truly brought hope to others.

She was so certain of it.

The girl fell asleep contentedly.

In the darkness, Nana suddenly remembered what she had promised to give to the little guy when Kal'tsit told her to use hair growth serum on the kitten before she went on her mission.

“Ah… I’m sorry, Matilda… I think I… forgot…”

Should I bring her a gift from Letania?

………………

"...Was there a pillar of light over there just now?"

"It sounded like there was an explosion... or maybe it was thunder."

Listening to the conversation of its tall 'friends' beside it, the little white cat seemed restless all day.

Following the gaze of the two Sarkaz mercenaries, Matilda could also see the pillar of light that pierced the sky... Although it looked like a thin line from here, it was very conspicuous because of the dark clouds all around.

"Teacher Kal'tsit, what is that...?"

"...This might not be good news...hurry up a bit."

Nodding, the kitten floated up, so that no matter how fast Kal'tsit walked, the kitten could quickly catch up.

Thanks to the mediation of Kal'tsit and the Colombian Department of Homeland Security, except for a few districts that were forcibly decoupled early, all other districts in Tikkarondo were supplied with supplies to Block 4... With the help of the Sarkaz mercenaries, the pipeline damage was not significant, and the infected block, which successfully completed the internal circulation switch, was successfully activated a day ago and arrived at the Tikkarondo city assembly point.

But this does not mean the end. The people seeking help everywhere and the order beginning to crumble indicate that the impact of the natural disaster has only just begun.

With the help of the transport boat, Kal'tsit was able to reunite with Theresa and the others... She entrusted Amiya with the task of handling the subsequent takeover of Rhodes Island and Columbia. Kal'tsit spent the entire day in the operating room treating people who were seriously injured due to the natural disaster.

Even though Rhodes Island's main ship was already in place, and its high-standard operating room, along with medical operators like Kal'tsit and Touch, had already saved many people from the brink of death... a 700-meter-class Rhodes Island was still far too small in the face of a city area stretching for several kilometers.

Throughout the day, life continued to slip away, and Kal'tsit witnessed yet another death.

And now, a phone call she didn't want to answer but had to take came on.

[Kal'tsit, perhaps I don't need to remind you of Ivy's importance... but judging by her speed, she should have met up with you three days ago... why hasn't she appeared on the channel yet?]

Looking at the silent Kal'tsit, the manager pursed her lips, but her bloodshot eyes, filled with resentment, showed no sign of backing down.

I don't object to you helping others, Kal'tsit... but that child must mean an immense deal to you too; she trusts you as much as she trusts me... Don't tell me you're now following the Hooded Man's ways...

"My relationship with her doesn't need your nonsense here, Eternal Constant... Regarding Nana, I just saw something very ominous... And considering that TDD may not have the opportunity to convey further intelligence updates... the possibility that Nana chased after her there and doesn't know how to continue is quite high."

Please tell me what your next move is.

"Although Rhodes Island did not fully accommodate the seriously injured in District 4, the lack of basic equipment gives us ample reason to set sail... Rhodes Island owes Nana a great debt of gratitude during this natural disaster; that temporary Originium engine never shut down during the disaster... We will go to her, right now."

"...I'm not in Tikkarendo...but like we agreed, you'll take good care of her...right?"

"...I keep my word."

After hanging up the phone, Kal'tsit waved, and the Sarkaz warrior beside her pointed at Ziqi Lingwanwusi Liubaqiqi. Ziqi reluctantly stepped forward, and Kal'tsit's question went straight to the point:

"Have Theresa and Amiya returned to the mothership?"

"Your Highness and that person are currently on Rhodes Island. Would you like to see them?"

"No, I need to go to that pillar of light... Rhodes Island will set sail immediately. Everyone, please notify all military units to take roll call and confirm the number of personnel before departing."

As she spoke, Kal'tsit glanced in that direction again, where the previously continuous lines of light had now become just a halo... The sunlight pierced through the Scourge clouds and fell upon the ground.

The kitten floating nearby tried to drift away uneasily, but Kal'tsit caught it, catching the kitten whose mental chains were somewhat confused...

Although the child's logical thinking ability is not yet fully developed, it is normal for the child to have a premonition.

Holding the whimpering white kitten in her arms, Kal'tsit connected with Kroos's communication system:

"You're aware of the plan?"

[Hmm! It's reinforcements, right?]

"Not only that, but more importantly, the people who brought reinforcements are probably there too... but that commotion didn't sound like a signal flare..."

[...It's somewhat like our witchcraft, but in a natural disaster environment... I understand, Rhodes Island, set off immediately to bring our hero back!]

As the suspended stairs and passageway gradually separated, the people of Ticalendo stopped their work upon hearing the ship's horn signaling its departure. Even Beagle, who was listening to a local Rhodes Island employee explain the Oripathy prevention process, paused his note-taking and looked up uneasily.

"A ship has set sail urgently... Isn't Rhodes Island the only ship still docked here?"

"Hmm... It can only be our mothership. But why is it suddenly setting sail now... I can't figure out why... But I guess something must have happened again."

Looking around, almost everyone who had received the anti-Originium infection drugs distributed by Rhodes Island was praying devoutly to the sound of the ship's horn. Beagle looked at the Colombian coat of arms, which was a little dirty on his chest, and gently touched it, sending his sincere blessings to the departing ship.

"Well then, let's do our best. Let's go help clean up the city later!"

"Ha...I think you might have some issues with me..."

……wife

As they moved further away from the temporary assembly point in Ticalendo, the atmosphere on the bridge of Rhodes Island was heavy.

Warfarin was practically forced into the captain's position, while Kroos constantly adjusted the signals, searching for the special distress signal Kal'tsit had mentioned.

"Over there...over there...Nana-neechan is over there!" Lin

"Yes, Warfarin, turn in Matilda's direction."

Kal'tsit seemed to believe more in the spiritual connection of the kitten than in the completely undetectable radio waves.

This continued for quite some time, the struggles of the kitten in Kal'tsit's arms mingling with Kroos's exclamations.

"Found it... Get all the elite operators except Warfarin in position. Touchmark, prepare the operating room. ACE, I'll go with you..."

[Ah, it sounds like she was the one taking care of Huang the whole way... It's only right and wrong to bring her back...] Si

Kal'tsit originally intended to entrust the kitten to Amiya's care, but this time, even with Amiya's comforting words, Matilda clung to Kal'tsit's clothes and refused to let go.

Upon meeting her gaze, Kal'tsit sighed and agreed to the little one's mischief:

"Okay, you can come too... but you mustn't get in the way."

"Ok!"

Taking the elevator, the little white cat put on heavy protective gear in the preparation room... Because she had promised Kal'tsit that she would not cause trouble, the little white cat, though clumsy, also put on the heavy protective gear.

Fortunately, this did not affect her flight.

As the A3 team disembarked, the little white cat looked helplessly at the devastated wreckage of the Cataclysm, now reduced to nothing but Originium crystals, and finally looked at Kal'tsit with a pitiful expression...

“ACE is using signals to locate Nana… Your Originium Arts are more affected in this environment than mechanical ones, not to mention you haven’t even learned how to use your powers yet.”

"How do you use this power?"

Suddenly, Kal'tsit, wearing a white coat, overlapped with Loken's figure...

Despite their completely different attitudes towards them, they asked the same question to the kitten.

Just as the kitten stood there, bewildered and stunned, ACE suddenly waved his hand:

"Found it!! It's here!!"

As the group quickly assembled with their equipment, Kal'tsit soon discovered Nana lying in the center of a sintered crystal, her equipment severely damaged, thanks to ACE's digging.

Seeing the girl lying there silently, her right hand pierced by the Originium Crystal, the members of the Third Action Team were immediately silent... They wondered if it was because they were too late that they had lost a friend they had just met forever.

Kal'tsit immediately took out a terminal and connected it to Nana's equipment. Rhine Lab's system responded very quickly. Kal'tsit's gaze swept over the number that showed a 75% cell binding rate but whose vital signs were still above the baseline... Then, as if she had been prepared, she took out an automatic injector.

"Everyone, what follows is classified information... What you saw and found was Nana Ivy, who was slightly injured and unconscious due to an Originium explosive... You didn't see any humanoid Originium... Do you understand?"

"I understand... but is there any hope for her?"

It seemed that ACE's words had triggered something in the kitten, and seeing the little white kitten looking at her expectantly, Kal'tsit's previously hesitant attitude immediately became firm:

"Yes, this is 'Doctor's'... special medicine... but it can't be mass-produced at the moment, there's only this one experimental sample... do you know what kind of threat this kind of information leak would pose to us..."

Watching Kal'tsit inject him as if trying to soothe her own anxiety while muttering things that all the operators present already knew, ACE smiled and shrugged. He was happy that Rhodes Island's trustworthy friend had survived.

"Of course, everyone here is a senior agent handpicked by you... The so-called elites are precisely the standard of trustworthiness, aren't they?"

However, at this point, ACE had to look at the little white cat that was clinging to Nana but seemed unsure how to exert any force, only able to whimper pitifully:

"But what about this child? She's probably the most likely one to leak the secret."

After the injection was completed, Kal'tsit carefully put away the syringe that had been filled with bright red liquid. Then, she picked up the seemingly mute white kitten and looked at everyone present.

ACE, Outcast, Scout, Misery, Raidian, logos, Ascalon… Some of these people were placed under Rhodes Island because they were tired of the conflicts, while others were temporary personnel borrowed by the princess and were still under the command of the Tower of Babel…

But whatever insignia they wear now, there is no doubt that they are trustworthy.

Holding the kitten, Kal'tsit looked at everyone:

“Then let’s raise this child together… Even if it’s because of Nana… because of Medic’s efforts for Rhodes Island, I think we should respond to her with all our might… And Matilda, you have plenty of time to think about where you want to use your power… But before you figure it out, I think you need to learn how to use it first…”

"Hmm? Hmm..."

Looking at the kitten whose gaze seemed to be drifting, Kal'tsit asked directly:

“We will teach you until Medic is healed… until she is back in your life… just as I promised you before… but first you have to be willing to learn.”

"This is a difficult and painful process, unlike Amiya's usual playfulness. If you are determined to become one of us... to become an asset to Medic... then you will inevitably have to go through this stage..."

Looking at the kitten's trembling lips, although she didn't speak, the little white kitten choked up and nodded repeatedly like a real child.

Looking at Kal'tsit, whose expenses for raising children were always different from others, Misery tilted her head:

"...Well, how about we give her a code name first? This can be seen as a way of saying goodbye to her past self."

"A ceremony...?"

Seeing Kal'tsit looking at her, the kitten paused for a moment... then she tilted her head, because she heard her family's encouragement and advice.

"Um……"

"So, do you have any favorite names?"

“...Rosmontis…”

Despite not understanding it, the kitten sensed Nana's subtle thought process through the words her mother uttered, and felt everything her mother had observed along the way. The kitten then made a somewhat hasty decision about how to use her power.

"rosemary?"

“Hmm… Rosemary… Mom said it can make people who can’t face their memories brave… Mom once hoped to use that song with rosemary to ease Nana’s pain… But… now Nana’s memories… seem to… even death has become a relief… Am I… becoming a burden?”

Clutching tightly to Kal'tsit's clothes, the kitten shook its head frantically in frustration:

"No, I'm not a burden... I'll do what Mom couldn't do. I'll become Nana's 'Rosemary'!"

Yes... so be it... let us fill in this poor guy's memories...