People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

Before him, after undergoing scientific verification and being recognized as the world's most effective "Russian tap-and-repair method," the door that was supposed to be broken finally began to slowly move and close its two doors.

Logos, Kroos, and Ascalon stood at the corner of the corridor, witnessing all of this.

Kroos remained silent; even without Ascalon speaking, she could sense something in the scene.

Logos pursed his lips, and the bone pen in his hand spun faster than ever before, as if trying to soothe its owner's restless heart.

Ascalon, on the other hand, wore a serene smile that Logos and Cloos could never have imagined. A certain light seemed to gleam in her eyes as she gazed at the door, at Ernst, as if looking towards a past that wasn't distant, yet irretrievably lost.

After a long while, her lips slightly parted, and a gentle voice emanated from her mouth:

"that's why."

"Ascalon, don't dwell too much on the past."

Logos gritted his teeth, lowered his voice, and spoke up to remind them.

He didn't dare to speak loudly, and he lacked confidence when he spoke.

Unfortunately, he really had no right to educate Ascalon.

After all, you see, you're numb too.

Chapter 463 Kal'tsit: It must have been the snow leopard!

When Shining pushed Nightingale's wheelchair out of the control center with Amiya and Kal'tsit, they were greeted by this strange scene.

Ernst squatted in front of an automatic door in the corridor, his expression grave, as if he had suffered a severe blow.

Actually, the kicker kicked the little finger.

Miss Ascalon, who is rarely seen in public on the ship, was huddled in a corner of the corridor with Mr. Aifanir, the infamous and unprecedented male banshee lord of Kazdel, and Miss Kroos, the chief engineer of Rhodes Island, peeking out and looking in Ernst's direction.

"What...are they doing?"

Shining paused, looking at Amiya beside her with some confusion.

Amiya, who had been so enthusiastic since arriving on the island, and even apologized to Shining after the "inspection" for doubting her, didn't answer her this time. She opened her mouth slightly, as if thinking of something, and after a long silence, let out a long sigh.

It was visibly disheartening that her expression turned sour; even her usually erect ears drooped down in sadness.

Shining was even more confused. Unable to get an answer from Amiya, she turned to look at Kal'tsit.

Kyle looked in Ernst's direction and clutched his chest.

"Heh... cough cough cough!"

You, you little brat, you did this on purpose, didn't you!

Before she could explain to Shining, Kal'tsit rushed forward, blocking Ernst's view and cutting off everyone's line of sight. She patted Ernst's shoulder through gritted teeth.

"Mr. Ernst! What are you doing here?"

"Ah, Kal'tsit."

Ernst was startled and waved his hand somewhat awkwardly.

"It's nothing, I... I'm fixing the door."

"Don't fix it!"

"Kelsey said firmly. Noticing Ernst's questioning gaze, and realizing that her voice had indeed been a little too loud, she explained,

"Mr. Ernst, there's no need to trouble yourself with repairing the door. The Rhode Island Engineering Department will take care of it."

As she spoke, she turned to the side, her cold gaze falling on the figure at the corner of the corridor who, sensing the danger, was trying to slip away, and called out:

"You agree, don't you, Kroos?"

Kroos paused in her flight, closed her eyes, and a helpless, bitter smile appeared on her lips. She turned around, transforming back into a hardworking ox or horse, and walked forward with a forced smile.

“Yes, yes, Kal'tsit is right. I came here to deal with this door.”

"Look, I even brought my drone."

She pointed to the small bat-shaped drone beside her. Ernst nodded, seemingly understanding.

Although he had never seen a drone used to repair a door before, it was already impressive that this thing could fly in this place without crashing into the wall, let alone perform such a high-precision task.

Are you planning to emulate our "Russian repair method" and let a drone "take a picture"?

Oh no, it should be called the "Little Life Repair Method".

But considering that this is Super Terra with its excellent matchmaking system, Rhodes Island is a remarkable organization, and Kroos is a hardcore and ruthless person with the position of chief engineer, with such a full stack of buffs, it doesn't seem so strange that she could do such a thing.

She'll make a Gundam model for Ernst tomorrow, and Ernst says he can accept it.

However, after being held down by the door for several minutes, Ernst's foot was almost healed. In addition, he noticed that more and more people were gathering around, so Ernst didn't plan to stay there any longer and be stared at by so many people like a rare snow leopard.

He asked Kal'tsit:

"Where are Kal'tsit, Hinterlea, and Viviana?"

"They're touring Rhodes Island's training area. I'll show you..."

Just as Kal'tsit was about to say "I'll take you there," Logos suddenly appeared and grabbed her hand, gently shaking his head.

Kal'tsit glanced at the Banshee Queen with some doubt, then changed her words:

"Amiya will take you there. I have some things to take care of."

Amiya, who had been feeling a little disappointed, had now composed herself and walked forward with great enthusiasm, taking Ernst's hand:

"Dr. Kelsey still has a lot of work to do and can't rest now. Shall I show Mr. Ernst around?"

"But Amiya is still so young..."

Ernst hesitated for a moment before glancing at Kal'tsit. His purpose in searching for Kal'tsit was, of course, to continue digging into this ancient lynx who had lived in the Terra melon patch for thousands of years, and to savor some of Terra's long-standing melons. Amiya, however, was likely unaware of those matters.

But as soon as he turned his head, he felt a pressure from his right hand and couldn't help but turn back.

Amiya still had a smile on her face.

“Mr. Ernst, although I am still young, I am also a leader of Rhodes Island. You certainly won’t treat me like a child, right?”

Right?

For some reason, just hearing that sentence now makes Ernst feel a heavy pressure.

He shook his head, laughing at his own sensitivity.

Although the leopard is not very capable, the little rabbit can still be lifted with one hand. What kind of pressure could a twelve-year-old girl, whose fur hasn't even fully grown, possibly have?

She's even more ruthless than Defiance!

The three great pleasures of life are: gossiping, petting cats, and being a little nervous. Being a little nervous is too painful, so let's put gossiping aside for now. As for petting cats, he's used to petting Encia, and he's already used to petting himself. If we round it up, petting little bunnies is also an option.

Ernst patted Amiya's head and nodded;

"Alright then, I'll leave it to the CEO."

"Yes, Mr. Ernst, this way!"

Ernst wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that Amiya's smile, which hadn't changed at all, seemed to have brightened up a little.

Is the lighting on Rhodes Island also malfunctioning?

Filled with doubt, Ernst was half-pushed and half-pulled by Amiya, and they crossed the automatic door and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Meanwhile, Kal'tsit turned her head to look at Logos and Ascalon, who had finally revealed himself, her brows furrowed.

"So, Logos, Ascaron, what do you want from me?"

Kroos, who wasn't named, breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed her plan to disguise herself as a passing engineer had been successful; Kal'tsit hadn't grouped her with Ascalon and the others.

Then Ascalon added:

"Kroos is here too."

Kal'tsit looked down in surprise and glanced at Kroos, who was adjusting the gate. Kroos did not look up. Her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally died. At this moment, what was working was just a hardworking corpse.

"So, what brings you here?"

Kal'tsit said again,

“If you want to continue monitoring Ernst, I stand by my previous opinion that this work needs to be suspended.”

But Ascalon shook her head; she hadn't come for that reason.

This made Kal'tsit's expression soften and relax slightly.

Ascaron straightened his expression and said seriously:

"Kal'tsit, I'm here to submit my application for off-ship assignment."

Kal'tsit's heart, which had just settled down, suddenly pounded, almost leaping out of her throat and hitting the ceiling.

"what?"

She barely had time to let out a cat-meme-like gasp before Ascaron continued:

"At the same time, the overseas assignment I plan to apply for is Rhode Island's office in Sherag!"

"No, Ascalon..."

Kal'tsit opened her mouth, about to say something, when Ascaron raised his hand for the third time and unleashed the Contingency Contract Championship-level Control Chain!

"You don't need to stop me with procedural issues. I have specifically reviewed the relevant regulations for Rhodes Island operators applying for overseas assignments. As Rhodes Island's most important partner, and arguably the most important right now, our office in Seraphim clearly lacks an operator who is experienced, capable, and has the appropriate status and influence to oversee it."

"This person can be someone else, or of course it can be me. There is no problem with the process."

Kal'tsit blinked, her eyelids twitching rapidly:

“But Ascalon, Rhodes Island still needs…”

For the fourth time, Ascalon cleanly interrupted Kal'tsit, using a poignant rhetorical question:

"Aren't you already red?"

Kal'tsit's body trembled slightly, but she still gritted her teeth and said:

"Red isn't mature enough, Ascalon. What will happen to Amiya if you leave?"

"Amiya..."

Ascalon's only worry was her.

To be fair, Ascalon didn't have such deep feelings for Amiya. Including the remaining Babel Tower members on Rhodes Island, were there really that many people who were so loyal and respectful to this child who was by Princess Theresa's side?

Not necessarily.

In ancient times, as centralized monarchical autocracy continued to strengthen, emperors would prepare a team in the Eastern Palace in advance for their crown prince's succession. They would also arrange for several capable ministers to be imprisoned and granted amnesty after the crown prince ascended the throne. Before their death, the emperor would eliminate the wings—or behead—of those powerful ministers who the successor might not be able to control.

And what about the Demon King? Theresa's death stemmed from an assassination attempt. She may have indeed chosen Amiya as her successor in advance, but with the Kazdel civil war raging, where would she have found the time to cultivate a team for Amiya?

Amiya's only true supporter was the doctor who found her.

Most of the other Babel loyalists didn't take Amiya, the demon lord from another race, seriously at all; the great rebellion in Babel after Theresa's death is the best example of this.

Ascalon couldn't even remember how many comrades he had killed back then, comrades who had fought side by side with him and whom he could entrust his back to.

The reason why the former Babel Tower members who remain on Rhodes Island follow Amiya can be summarized in one sentence.

[This is because I cherish the special favor shown to me by the late Emperor and wish to repay it to Your Majesty!]

Kroos was a blood demon engineer whose talents were discovered after being dragged from her home by Theresa; Aifanil was proof that Queen Mother Ramallen of the Banshee Royal Court supported Theresa during the civil war; and Ascalon...

"Just like you said, I'm just stuck in the past and have nowhere to go."

Ascaron said.

"Kal'tsit, I'm not abandoning Amiya. I just want to leave Rhodes Island for the time being."

"If, as you say, our hatred for Theresis, and the hatred between Babel and Theresis, is merely a knot in the hearts of a few of us present, and will not affect the overall strategy of Rhodes Island (Ascalon's Secret Records), then I believe you will not be able to live without a bloodstained and rusty knife."

Ascalon took a deep breath and made a promise:

“And when you, when we, finally settle that score with Theresis, I will come back. No matter what, I will come back.”

Kelsey's question is actually a classic slippery slope fallacy.

Ascalon never said she wanted to leave Rhodes Island; she only wished to temporarily leave the ship as an office operator. Her departure wouldn't actually have any consequences, because if Rhodes Island truly severed ties with Babel as Kal'tsit had said, the medical company wouldn't attract any attacks outside of business.

The only problem is that companies may be able to sever ties, but can people really completely sever ties with their past?

Kal'tsit pursed her lips, her gaze, filled with a last glimmer of hope, falling upon Logos beside her.