Léon: The Cat Killer

"So~ I'm running away too~ Good luck, top student! Jessica, don't be sad, the captain is thinking of you~ Bye~"

Watching the dog-fox skip away after Nana as if he had been ordered to skip work, Razer smirked:

"Alright, since you're on business, I won't swear at you this time... you stinky fox."

"Wow, you two have a really good relationship."

Without refuting Huang's intrigued statement, Razer looked at the kitten being led by Sussuruo in warm-up exercises, swishing its tail and doing stretching gymnastics alongside Sussuruo, and asked:

"So... what exactly is the attack of Medic's adopted daughter... Operator Rosemary? Although Nana has told me several times that I have to get used to it, I still haven't seen how that child fights."

"Emmmmm... How should I put it... I can only say that it's something that's probably not even convenient to demonstrate... Of course, this isn't to say I have a problem with the Blacksteel members, but that kid's attack is really dangerous. If we were to demonstrate it seriously, Rhodes Island would be smashed through... That's about how inconvenient it is."

Listening to Huang's description, which sounded more like a description of shipborne artillery than humanity, Razer instinctively thought his old friend was joking, so he smiled and waved his hand:

"This is outrageous! How can someone just smash through a land-based warship like that?"

But seeing Huang's completely unsmiling and extremely serious expression, Razer's smile also became awkward:

"After all, even someone like us, known for our physical prowess, couldn't do it, let alone a little Philin... Surely no one can easily smash through a landship, right?"

"Perhaps you can exaggerate a bit more. Rosemary's attacks can not only easily smash through landships, but when she gets serious, she can even cause natural disasters like earthquakes... And according to current records, that attack, which wasn't even at full power, still triggered a magnitude 7 earthquake..."

"...Are we taking this child to Ursus to prepare to overthrow the royal family and install a new king?"

Seeing that Razer's expression was gradually becoming serious, Blaze shrugged:

“Medic said he wanted to take her along, and Director Kal'tsit agreed... Of course, it's possible that Medic is still weak and the little cat is worried about her, so she insisted on coming along... In any case, having an annihilation operator in the team is always a good thing. For example, when we are being chased by the Ursus nobles, we can really crush them.”

"...I always felt that your tone carried a hint of personal conflict."

"After all, I'm also an infected person, and you know how those Ursus nobles treat the infected..."

Shaking his head, Huang didn't say much on the matter. As the engineering department's Vulcan operator pushed the trolley to transport four tactical units to the training ground, it meant that Rosemary's training would officially begin.

While Vulcan was efficiently completing the order as usual and was about to move on to the next task, the kitten did not immediately begin teamwork training... but instead grabbed Vulcan first.

"Meow……"

"...Kitten? What's wrong?"

"My mother and sister asked me to commission you to make two more tactical units."

"...Mom, sister?"

After a moment of surprise, Vulcan, being an equipment specialist, didn't know much about the kitten's situation in the medical and operations departments, so she didn't pay much attention to the kitten's explanation.

"So, you want two more tactical units? Hmm... but based on your previous training results, the optimal number of tactical units is indeed four... if you increase it any further, your accuracy will decrease again."

"Hmm, so those two aren't for me..."

Wagging its tail and twitching its ears happily, the kitten took out its notebook, flipped to its old 'family portrait' drawing... and pointed to the person in the picture, which was also drawn on film but filled in with black watercolor.

"It's for Nana-neechan... for the Medic operator... You can add the guns that Nana-neechan is very good at on top! She's amazing with those!"

“...I see...However, Little Cat, your tactical equipment is a very complex thing. If you want to modify it, it will cost a lot...If it is settled with public funds, it will require the signature of the engineering department or the department head. In addition, it may also require magical coordination with the Medic operators...You have done those things before, just remind me of the process later.”

"Okay, I understand. I'll explain it properly to Medic Erlin Wuling Jiuliu... However, we'll be going on a mission soon, and custom-made parts might take a lot of time, so temporary use..."

"...Your tactical units have spare parts. How about temporarily assigning Units 5 and 6 to Medic operators?"

"Okay! That's settled then! I'm going to train now~"

"...Be careful with equipment wear and tear; maintaining your stuff is quite a hassle."

Smiling, he watched the kitten fly away. Vulcan, using his prosthetic leg, got to his feet. Seeing the kitten then playfully engage in a frenzied grazing game with his teammates, he sighed.

"……so good."

……

……

……

"That's great~ that car seems to still be usable."

"It's great that Black Steel International conveniently recycled the truck bed parts from that vehicle... I was already prepared to buy new parts..."

As they left the communications room, it was unclear whether Franka or Dr. Franco had more influence, but in any case... after learning that 'Rhodes Island's Medic operators wanted to reclaim the exploration vehicle,' Blacksteel International readily explained the vehicle's current situation and assured that they would use a transport aircraft to deliver it to Rhodes Island, ensuring that 'Rhodes Island Medic operators' would not be delayed in their work.

Franka, however, saw it clearly: it was probably just that the Medic operator had a lot of influence...

After all, he is a hero of Colombia, the light of Ticalondo... Now, any company that makes a living in Colombia will give Rhodes Island face, let alone when 'Medic Operator' personally asks for him, Blacksteel will certainly not refuse.

After all, Blacksteel gained a lot of fame along with Rhodes Island three years ago. In addition, Blacksteel now has a deep collaboration project with Rhodes Island on the treatment of infected people. The infected employees who were previously in Tikkarondo have now been basically transferred to Rhodes Island.

Rhodes Island is currently the preferred choice for Blacksteel to house injured operators, and is also the largest supplier of Originium blocking drugs. Furthermore, Blacksteel is not only the origin of Rhodes Island's regular employees; the doctors at Rhodes Island's logistics sites, who previously lacked protection, now have Blacksteel's infected operators providing escort and undertaking tasks similar to couriers in drug delivery.

Without Rhodes Island's support, Blacksteel would be doomed, not to mention the infected problem from three years ago, just the return of treatment costs to normal would be enough to make it explode... After all, Rhodes Island's medical care... was truly a labor-for-medical exchange, which, when converted into costs, was basically non-existent.

Rhodes Island, in addition to its main land-based ships, relies on Blacksteel PMC for over 40% of its logistics and support, especially in dangerous and war-torn areas. The cooperation between the two sides, which began three years ago with a natural disaster, has now deepened to an almost entangled level.

It's hard to say whether the lower-level staff on both sides view each other with the attitude of "your home is my home"... There are only four operators like Franka who have both Rhodes Island and Blacksteel armbands on the main Rhodes Island ship, but they are commonplace in Rhodes Island's bases around the world.

Seeing that Nana was still puzzled, Franka simply comforted her:

"After all, Blacksteel didn't hold back either. They used that vehicle for three whole years... They've already made back the maintenance costs, and there's definitely more to go... However, I don't know if any parts in the carriage need to be replaced... At least rearranging it will take a lot of work... So, we really need a dedicated logistics team to take care of that vehicle... Six people? Vanilla's skill level should be enough."

"...Is Vanilla's logistical skills really that good?"

"No, I was just using an example."

Seeing Franka's bright smile, Nana twitched her cat ears, then blinked her distinctive heterochromatic eyes and looked at someone passing by.

"At the very least... you need to have logistics and maintenance skills, right? Why don't you do it?"

"what?"

Kroos was a little confused when Nana suddenly grabbed her, as she was holding a can of cola in one hand.

"What do you say?"

3rd This Land: 073 A4 Operations Group

"So, let's go to the Ursus snowfield together..."

"No! No way! I won't go! Don't even think about it! Even if Kal'tsit hangs me on the antenna, you won't let me leave the warm command center!!"

Carefully placing the cola on the table, Kroos then clung to the partition pillar like a monkey possessed, seemingly glued to the wall, letting Nana drag and pull at her. Her coat and T-shirt bounced back several times, but she herself remained completely still.

Seeing that this guy refused to move like a bat that was completely averse to light, Nana said helplessly:

“But… if our team is deployed in a large vehicle, we’ll definitely need to have engineering personnel with us… If you don’t go, I’ll have to ask Kal’tsit to find someone from the engineering department for me, which means I’ll still have to ask you, right?”

"No, no, no, asking me to find someone and designating me to go are two different things... Besides, I'm not only responsible for maintaining Rhodes Island, but I'm also responsible for the system maintenance of PRTS. It's impossible for me to go out with you for any reason."

Seemingly having had her fill of silliness, Kroos jumped back to the ground and picked up her cola again.

"However... if the Personnel Department's action team is indeed going to deploy in large vehicles this time, instead of using public transportation, like last time... then they really should be assigned an engineer."

"...What about the Wendy you introduced me to last time?"

Nana's words seemed to have hit Kroos's sore spot again, and the Blood Demon, who was chewing on a soda can, exaggeratedly bit through the aluminum can with his small sharp teeth: Three

"All I did when I introduced you was say you were the perfect substitute... Did you really have to drag away my only senior engineer right now? She just took over the sterile renovation of the medical area, which means I only had time to slack off and drink cola after I gave her half the work... You can't make me work overtime just because of a joke..." Ling

"Then tell me which other engineers from Rhodes Island can join the group..."

Seeing Nana's "you have to give it to them no matter what" attitude, Lucille was anxiously wringing her hands... She knew all too well how busy the Rhodes Island engineering department was. Logically, all departments on Rhodes Island were currently undergoing their own necessary renovations—the pharmacy, blood bank, wards, dormitories, garden herb greenhouse... engineers were needed everywhere to produce blueprints; where would they find the manpower?

"...Don't talk like engineers are cheap and everywhere, okay? Even Wendy's resume was only found because I was quick to spot her... By the way, aren't you in HR?! Why don't you do some HR work and hire more technical staff?" Qi

"Even if you tell me that, I haven't really seen many resumes for technical staff... Aren't most of the technical staff at Rhodes Island people retired from the Operations Department?"

Hearing Nana's words, Kroos's voice abruptly stopped, like a goose being grabbed by the neck... Then, as if reminded of something by Nana's words, Kroos's eyes lit up:

“Right, full-time professional engineers are hard to find, but there are plenty of operatives with engineering skills… Anyway, you just want someone to help maintain the vehicles and handle logistics, right?… Then why not go to the A4 Operations Team?”

"...A4 Operations Team..."

"They are veterans of Rhodes Island; Captain Yato has eight years of service experience..."

"Has Rhodes Island been established for eight years?"

"...Ahem, anyway, Yato is a veteran operator, her skills are decent and she's a steady person. Logistics tasks are a piece of cake for her...Most importantly, the A4 operations team has a Dulin codenamed Dulin."

"Dulin..."

Upon hearing about this race, Nana quickly recalled the information about this race from her mental database.

Their short, childlike stature, coupled with their advanced machinery manufacturing industry that has produced extremely efficient mining equipment, and their technology, which follows a completely different path from that of surface nations, seems to enable them to live an ideal, self-sufficient life underground.

Their efficient mechanical technology means that even when they are on the ground, they often don't stay long... because compared to their homeland, even Colombia probably can't call itself 'advanced'.

How could someone from the Durin race be staying at Rhodes Island as an operator?

Nana suddenly became interested in her.

"...Is it Dulin, the kind of person who's very good at mechanical maintenance?"

"Although he's employed as a sorcerer here, as a Dulin, how can he not be good at mechanical maintenance? You know, any Dulin from the underground, even if they're not professionals, are mechanically skilled enough to be a mechanic. After all, mechanical knowledge is part of their compulsory education... In the end, Nana, you want a maintenance person, not a senior engineer to draw up new blueprints for you. So stop focusing on Wendy and me, go find the A4 action team."

Seeing Kroos's recommendation, Nana used her access to the personnel department to find the blonde girl codenamed 'Dulin'... After confirming that 'mechanical repair' was indeed among her abilities, Nana let Kroos go.

“Alright, since you put it that way... Franka, you should go back to the training ground first. I bet none of you Blacksteel Group members have ever seen my kid fight before, so go and get used to it... I'll go and contact the leader of the A4 Operations Group first.”

"Okay, then we'll see you in the lounge after lunch~"

After bidding farewell to Franka and Kroos, carrying a very rare large gun, Nana wandered around Rhodes Island...

She had just contacted the A4 task force through Rhodes Island's local network, thankfully without the frustrating situation of Nana having to search for someone only to find them missing.

According to PRTS records, the A4 task force had just completed its acclimatization training and was undergoing maintenance at the Rhodes Island.

Ironically, the A4 task force's leader, Yato, has eight years of combat experience, Dulin has two years, and the other two... Blackhorn also has eight years, while Ranger, though less experienced, is still a veteran with five years of combat experience... But the A4 task force was only established in early 1093, and has only been around for a few months.

So what were they doing before the A4 task force was formed?

The same problem exists with the E3 task force.

The term "E3 Operations Team" existed even before Rhodes Island was established... but the registration date of Rhodes Island's E3 Operations Team does not match the operation records of operators such as ACE at all.

Before becoming Rhodes Island operators, these people must have been operating as A4 or E3 teams of some other organization... It's easy for Nana to analyze this kind of thing, but if we're going to really delve into it, Nana has no interest in it.

As a special agent, it's a matter of experience not to be curious about what friendly forces are trying to hide... What if you actually discover something and get yourself silenced?

The agent, who had been sent by the ICA to eliminate witnesses several times, was certain of this in his heart.

It seems that because Nana's account had high privileges, A4 Action Group's Yato replied quickly, but by the time she realized what was happening and called to inquire about the situation, Nana had already found the door to their lounge.

Perhaps to accommodate Dulin, who is accustomed to underground life and suffers from narcolepsy, the A4 Operations Team's lounge and its corridors are designed with very soft lighting.

Walking here, Nana even had the illusion that it was already bedtime... In addition, after this walking tour of Rhodes Island, Nana also discovered some outfitting issues on Rhodes Island... For example, some automatic doors were broken and needed to be opened manually, and some walls and corridors were not painted... Let's put these aside for now.

What surprised Nana the most was the layout of the A4 Operations Team's lounge.

With a casual "hello," Nana was ushered into the lounge by a masked Rhodes Island operator.

"Um... I'm sorry, we were on a mission outside and didn't live here. Then we formed a four-person team and left before we could set up... so this place has been kept as a warehouse ever since."

Looking at the lounge, which resembled a courier warehouse, Nana saw that the large room was filled with cardboard boxes, each labeled with the name of a member of the A4 Action Team to indicate the status of its owner. She wiped away imaginary sweat.

"Hmm... It's nothing, but some furniture is still needed. It can effectively relieve fatigue, and the effect should be better than that air mattress... Although, you may not have time to set up the lounge again."

"Captain Nightblade should have seen this; I have already sent a request to PRTS to mobilize Operations Group A4... Once the landship arrives in Kazdel, you will join the Personnel Department's Special Operations Group in the rescue operation for the Ursus infected."

"You will be part of the support team for the personnel department's operational forces, responsible for the maintenance of vehicles and equipment, as well as logistical support... You may also be responsible for some long-distance transportation work..."

"Given that this mission may involve direct combat with the army, military personnel, or nobles, I will try my best to keep everyone away from the battlefield... Vehicle information is in the mission file, and vehicle maintenance may be entrusted to Operator Durin..."

As was her habit, she got straight to the point about the mission, but just as she was finishing, Nana suddenly realized that Yato seemed to be the only person in the entire rest room.

"...Um, where's Operator Durin?"

"Hmm...she's under that soft-sided inflatable boat..."

As Nana's expression turned strange, because Yato's eyes were covered by a mask, Nana couldn't see her eyes, but judging from the twitching corners of Yato's mouth, she was probably not calm at the moment.

At Yato's prompting, Nana began to search the room carefully, and next to the conspicuous black air mattress, she heard faint breathing sounds.

The funny thing is that Dulin didn't sleep in the bed... she chose to crawl under the bed.

If you look closely, it's actually an air mattress with an air boat stacked on top of it; if you don't look closely, you might mistake it for a large mattress.

Normally, Nana would have lifted the mattress to see what was going on, as was her habit.

After all, as an action team member, not being present when the mission was assigned meant missing out on a lot of crucial information... However, considering that her arrival here was purely a surprise attack, and that Dulin's file also described his morbidly excessive sleepiness... Recalling the girl in the file who looked about the same size as Rosemary, Nana gave up the idea of ​​flipping over the other person's bed.