I'm fighting Kal'tsit? Really?

So the moment the two left the lounge, Kal'tsit couldn't wait to speak:

"Don't lay a hand on her, Gerald."

"Attack her?" Gerald shifted his gaze from M3 to meet Kal'tsit's pleading eyes, and said somewhat subtly:

"Grandma, I'd at least take my time to heal your body before letting you fight me. How old is that child? Even if I were desperate, I wouldn't be that horny, would I?"

“Your hypocritical lies disgust me.” Kal’tsit was clearly furious and began to breathe heavily. “Or you have a mistake in your perception of past memories. I’m pretty sure that in the more than three thousand times we’ve fought, I was in a state of incomplete recovery at least a thousand times.”

Oops.

If he fought Kal'tsit once a day on average, it would take at least eight years. Considering his habits and Kal'tsit's current condition, he would more likely only fight Kal'tsit once every three or four days.

Looking at it this way, the fact that he didn't get bored in the dream could only mean that Kal'tsit was also slowly improving.

That's interesting; it seems his approach was indeed correct.

"Roar!" Upon hearing this, the M3 in his arms let out an excited roar—after all, Kal'tsit hadn't recovered much, and it was still able to fight as usual.

“Alright, let’s not talk about those trivial matters anymore. I won’t lay a hand on that Amiya.” Gerald shook his head. “Even if she is the successor of the Demon King, her power is still too immature. If all her abilities come from inheritance, then there is no point in challenging her.”

"An unexpected statement." Kal'tsit frowned, clearly not quite believing the other party's words.

“Children need time to grow up,” Tenma replied simply, his gaze drifting away. “If an adult can’t even do this, and just indulges in their own selfish desires, using them as tools, then I’d rather just die. That way, at least it won’t hinder my children’s growth.”

There was a moment of silence between them.

“Amiya will not be a tool.” Kal'tsit’s expression finally relaxed, and her face softened a bit. “That child will be our hope, and also Theresa’s… choice.”

"I have no doubt that the fact that a young girl like Katarina could inherit the Demon King's power and reach this level in itself signifies her immense potential."

Gerald seemed to read the other person's underlying meaning, and casually remarked, "Let's leave the topic of that child here. Now, I need you to answer one question for me:"

What exactly is Rhodes Island?

--------

The Demon King's Throne.

This was a brief explanation from Kelsey, who also explained to Gerald what they had been doing for nearly half a century.

From the Tower of Babel to the Sarkaz civil war, from Kazdel becoming a mobile city to the civil war between the twins... Although there were obviously some stories that Kal'tsit herself found extremely painful, her perspective as the storyteller did indeed outline the general contours of the story for Gerald.

While he himself was fighting on the battlefield of Kazimierz, an even larger-scale bloodshed erupted on the other side of the world.

The story ends with the death of the Demon King, and Rhodes Island is built on the ruins of the Tower of Babel, with the young Katart becoming the captain of the ark.

Furthermore, Gerald could clearly sense the complex emotions in Kal'tsit's words when she mentioned a name called "Doctor".

At the same time, both of them noticed something—a reason why, despite Kal'tsit clearly knowing that Gerald was not born two hundred years ago, she never went looking for him in the years that followed.

The banshee's curse.

"The former mistress of the valley deliberately hid your name in the river of history, making it impossible to access or mention, not even to me."

When she mentioned this, Kal'tsit's expression was very complicated. "Of course, this was also within my expectations. After you left, that lady never allowed me to set foot in the valley until this day. It wasn't until you appeared in front of me that this part of the curse was broken."

"She knew you would wake up at this time; in other words, you told her yourself what the history you knew was like."

Kal'tsit continued, "While you were alive, whenever I wanted to ask you about the future and medical checkups, you always dodged the question... This differential treatment was truly unpleasant. But in any case, I hope that you will now choose to undergo a medical checkup at Rhodes Island."

Her gaze lingered on Gerald for a moment, her fingers tapping lightly on the table as if considering her words, before she finally spoke slowly:

"And Gerald, I hope you can sign a cooperation agreement with Rhodes Island."

Pegasus leaned back slowly in his chair and glanced silently at Kal'tsit: "I'll be returning to Kazimierz next."

“I understand.” Kal’tsit understood the meaning behind his words, and she simply nodded solemnly: “Rhodes Island does not want a large-scale upheaval within a country, but it will not refuse to let a trustworthy ally and friend take control of the current situation. Whether it is to cure more infected people or to prevent Kazimierz from eventually collapsing.”

"Is this from the perspective of a friend or a business partner?" Gerald asked.

“Both,” Kal'tsit paused, a rare occurrence, “but mostly the former.”

"That's fine, as long as you're willing to take the risks. Also, that little rabbit is your current CEO, so don't overlook her ideas."

Gerald smiled upon hearing this, and finally nodded in response, saying, "I'd be happy to hear your current perspective; after all, so much time has passed, and many opinions should have changed."

“Just like before,” Kal’tsit said with a faint smile, which she quickly concealed. “I will have a doctor from the medical department take you for a medical check-up later. After the check-up, many things will become clear.”

Seeing that the other party had agreed to her request so readily without even making a request, Cat's mood rose again. So she casually picked up a cooperation contract from the table in the lounge and placed it in front of Gerald: "Also, regarding your ability to go back in time... there are currently two speculations."

Tenma didn't even look at it before signing his name on it.

If this lynx really wants to do something, he can just take M3 away and leave Kal'tsit all alone. Anyway, this kid seems much closer to him than its owner.

He raised his head and looked directly into Kal'tsit's hesitant gaze: "Tell me."

“The first possibility is related to your bloodline.” Kal’tsit put away the contract Gerald had signed and prepared to have the personnel department’s operative proceed with the next step of approval. “Your Kuranta traits are very prominent, so the situation can only exist in latent characteristics, such as a unique reaction formed by hybridization with some other gods, or even—the behemoth.”

"A behemoth?" Gerald was taken aback, clearly not expecting Kal'tsit to bring up such a possibility.

"Whether it's a relic left behind by some behemoth, being made His agent, or being a fragment that split off from a behemoth yourself, it's possible that you possess an extraordinary authority."

Kal'tsit looked at Gerald's body and nodded: "This possibility obviously exists, but the methods of verification are different. A simple blood test may not reveal any clues. A simpler way is to actively seek out other behemoths of the same kind... However, in the current Terra, behemoths are dwindling, so this method is almost impossible to succeed."

"If you have some free time one day, you might want to go to Great Yan or Shelag, where traces of giant beasts are still preserved."

"Hmm, then they'll probably be very strong, right?" Gerald's mind had completely drifted away from Kal'tsit's point of view. "I'll go if I have the chance."

When he came to his senses, the lynx in front of him was staring at him with a look of "I knew it" disdain.

“The second one,” Kal'tsit finally sighed, rubbing her temples, “have you heard the story of the King of Kings?”

“Of course, Lucas, hailed as the King of the Past and Future, discovered the sacred artifacts in Sargon and established the calendar, thus giving rise to the first year of Terra.” Gerald nodded, suddenly realizing the implication behind those words: “You mean—”

"Yes, although the past thousands of years ago cannot be traced, you can believe me if you have any contact with that so-called 'holy relic'."

She nodded slightly: "Then, perhaps we can truly understand the essence of time and go back to the past."

------

While Kal'tsit was gradually forgetting about something and chatting happily with Gerald,

The employment contract for the cooperative operator was quietly passed through the hands of Rhodes Island's head of personnel, a certain Heartbreaker whose name was completely scribbled into squares, and distributed to subordinates for handover and equipment adjustment.

The comprehensive physical examination, also known as the "six dimensions" by Rhodes Island operators, is an important ceremony that can only be conducted upon joining or promotion. It is a crucial standard that every operator should regard as a goal for future advancement.

Well, in the eyes of some operators, this is actually just extra overtime.

For elite operators, their duty is to oversee the security environment of the testing site to prevent highly destructive mages from causing massive damage to the ship.

Such examples are not isolated incidents on Rhodes Island. For instance, there was the little fire dragon that arrived on Rhodes Island a few years ago, and later the seemingly harmless little sheep, whose environmental impacts were devastating. This doesn't even include the orca lady who later single-handedly skinned the entire arena with her greatsword.

Since then, whenever elite operators receive news about personnel assessments, they almost always have to cover their eyes and make up their minds before they can take the first step to accept the fact that they have to work overtime, even though bonuses are still paid, it can't make up for their feelings.

Therefore, the elite operators who had just arrived near the most famous "One More Drink" bar on Rhodes Island, preparing to sprint to the front desk before the end of their shift, were suddenly met with the devastating news from the HR department.

"Ugh—why would someone conduct employee evaluations right after get off work?!" The usually energetic big cat couldn't hide its frustration at this moment. "And it's in a place so close to a bar! Couldn't the HR department contact us tomorrow?"

"Oh, don't cry, don't cry." A gentle and kind Liboli immediately came to the big cat's side and gently patted her head. "This also means that Rhodes Island will have new allies joining us. The more forces that can help us, the better it is for us."

Meanwhile, Fydia, sporting a full beard, was looking at the information transmitted through the terminal: "The specifications for the combat skills test seem to have increased a bit. It looks like the personnel department thinks the scale of the upcoming battles will be quite exaggerated... The opponent looks very young, yet he has such strength... He should not be underestimated."

"Ah, really."

Huang's spirits were quickly calmed down, and she immediately opened the terminal on her phone to check the instructions they needed to take. She soon turned her attention to the target's name and ID photo: "Wind Chaser? And the race is Kuranta, is he a knight like Nearl?"

"And look, Logos, doesn't he look a lot like you?" She picked up the terminal and said excitedly in the direction of a certain banshee, "Logos?"

However, the person who was just beside her suddenly vanished into thin air, as if he had never been there at all.

"This is the first time I've seen him use the Banshee's spell so directly." As Logos' partner, Rhodes Island's mechanic Mechanist had noticed his unusual behavior early on, and after a moment of thought, he asked a shocking question.

“Although talking about other people’s family relationships in private is a very bad thing to do, and I hope to repent for it later... but do you think it’s possible?”

"—Is this his illegitimate child in Kazimir?"

Chapter 92 Let's think about how to deal with the lynx's wrath first (6K)

Considering the overtime work of elite operators, Ms. ■■■, the head of the Human Resources Department, very considerately arranged a reverse onboarding process for Gerald.

The physical examinations were postponed until tomorrow, and today the HR staff were to prepare the testing venue in advance—this is usually uncommon. Considering the large number of people Rhodes Island needs to train, physical examinations are generally only scheduled for one day later, with a dedicated venue set aside for the examinations.

Clearly, special methods are needed for special people.

The moment this demon sensed the existence of the Pegasus, it realized the limitations of ordinary methods.

Leaving aside how the operators who follow him should adjust their mentality to avoid exploding, the maintenance of the site alone would be an astronomical figure. The aura of the Banshee and the Blood Demon... not to mention that the unique "stench" of the Blood Demon monarch has only appeared once in the past hundred years. No matter how the Blood Court changes and adjusts afterward, it is not so easy for a strong person with the power of the court's main force to emerge.

The aura of a king of the royal court was layered upon layered, and this combination just happened to appear on a Pegasus? Moreover, this Pegasus just happened to be an old acquaintance of Kal'tsit, and just happened to be an Originium Arts user who manipulates wind?

Very well, she now fully understands that this is not something she can interfere with.

The only thing she could do at that moment was to get the resume into the hands of the young master of the Demon Queen's Court as soon as possible.

Then buy melons and watch the show.

Go to the Kroos shop to buy some sunflower seeds and fruit, check if your department's employees are working patiently, then slowly walk to the training ground's monitoring room, and while you're at it, say hello to the last bearded uncle to arrive:

"ACE? Shouldn't you be preparing for a real-world test?"

"Haha, I had someone else do it for me today." The reliable operator wearing sunglasses gave Heart Demon a thumbs up. "Logos was very energetic today. Not only was he the first to arrive, but he also used his authority to change all the testing rules. He personally verified the specific values ​​throughout the entire process."

“He also told us that if anyone asks whether this complies with the regulations, we should say so.” ACE proactively pushed open the door in front of her and gestured for her to come in. “The appraisals that he personally handles are more ‘accurate’.”

"Hmph, a spoiled brat." The Heart Demon sneered and curled his lip. "After all, he wrote the standards and procedures for the adaptability test. Today is his good day, so I won't bother with his behavior that violates the rules. Kal'tsit will take care of it anyway."

"So, that news is true?"

ACE raised an eyebrow, hiding his gossipy gaze behind his sunglasses: "According to the Mechanist, the new operator is Logos'... uh, a blood relative."

He continued, "The analysis was incredibly detailed. They even brought Mandra over to do some personality profiling and facial comparisons, and the final results were quite worrying."

"If you want to die, don't let your blood splatter on me." The Demon of Whip Hearts walked into the room without looking back. "If you really anger that little banshee, it'll be interesting if she doesn't bless you."

"Oh, you're joking again."

ACE recalled the sea of ​​fire in his memory, considered the consequences of angering the banshee, and finally kept his mouth shut.

Although he was pretty sure Logos wasn't the type to jeopardize his companions' lives over trivial matters, he figured if Logos were to cast some prank spells, they probably wouldn't feel good about it.

"I suggest you all keep quiet. If you're going to be an observer, try to avoid being gossipy."

It was rare for Xinmo to utter a serious word. She silently gazed at the elite operators gathered around the monitors, intently watching the footage, and said to ACE beside her:

"Aside from the battlefield and Originium Arts research, I've never seen him so serious."

"This will be a very important day for him."

--------

On the other side, Gerald gently stretched his shoulders and quietly followed behind the small guiding robot floating in mid-air ahead, slowly moving towards the training ground.

He walked through a neat corridor and around several complicated corners, with the engineering department's guiding robot moving steadily ahead of him, projecting directional signs with pale blue beams of light.

As he strolled along, he quietly observed the surrounding facilities.

Every few dozen meters along the wall, a small electronic screen was installed, displaying real-time updates of various news and notifications from within Rhodes Island. Occasionally, operators passing by would consciously stop and steal a glance at him with curiosity and caution.

He placed the clothes Saria bought for him in the changing room, and to prevent them from getting torn, he changed into a more combat-ready operator outfit.

Despite it being just a contract for a cooperative operator, Kal'tsit is treated like a regular operator in terms of benefits. Not only can he be equipped from head to toe like a knight, but his arsenal also includes Margaret's signature two-handed hammer, and a wide variety of other weapons, all supposedly crafted by the famous Minoan artisans on Rhodes Island.

In the end, however, he decided to keep the family sword at his waist.

Although it was no longer as sturdy as it used to be, he had eventually grown accustomed to carrying it with him—besides, Ramalen, who had returned the sword to him, must have had other plans.

As he opened the door to the training ground, the corridor gradually widened, and the view became brighter. He could faintly hear a sound like a fan spinning at high speed not far away.

Before him, the guiding robot slowly stopped moving, its body slightly rising, and a blue beam of light projected a mark pointing to the heavy metal door in front of it.

Gerald nodded slightly, watching the large door slowly open to both sides, revealing a large, brightly lit space inside the training field.

He stepped inside, gazing up at the ceiling suspended in the distance. The dome seemed to extend infinitely, shaping the scene here—nothing but the surrounding walls. Basic facilities and ubiquitous mechanical products had vanished, leaving only the figures in the distance and the robot behind him to illustrate the current situation.

This feeling...

Like the Tower of Words in the valley, it made him feel unexpectedly comfortable.

"Who are you anyway?"

In the empty space, there was only one person standing there.

She uttered a question to him, as faint as a murmur, yet deafeningly powerful.

……