Pardofelis felt that compared to the word "thief," the name "merchant" suited her better.
'Trading' was her innate talent. She just found some interesting things, then sold them to people who needed them.
This was also her survival method as a wild cat on Dusk Street.
Relying on some regular customers' patronage, her days were fairly manageable.
Today, she keenly sensed it was time to 'restock.'
At Dusk Street's end stood a recently constructed military base. As an alert cat, Pardo always avoided such dangerous restocking points.
But since this morning, gunshots had continuously transmitted from that military base's direction.
Normally, she definitely wouldn't have any thought of approaching. But because an error occurred during today's trade, she'd been chased for half the street by a customer.
After shaking them off, she arrived before this military base.
Originally she planned to leave. But relying on superhuman observation, she discovered this place seemed empty.
The heavily guarded sentries she'd anticipated were nowhere to be found. Only a silent base remained.
In that case, what was there to hesitate about?
"Get rich, get rich, meow~"
Bypassing alert devices, Pardo infiltrated the base's interior, then saw various firearms scattered on the ground.
She recognized at a glance—these firearms were all high-end goods for special operations, priced far beyond the mass-market junk in circulation.
"Mine, mine, all mine!"
Pardo carried a sack as tall as herself, packing up all the scattered weapons on the ground.
Each time a firearm fell into the pocket, she could hear the beautiful sound of bills passing through a money counter.
But soon, her expression turned bitter.
"Should have brought a cart..."
The sack still had plenty of space, but her strength could only carry this much.
After realizing she'd reached her limit, Pardo decisively chose to stop. Being able to live safely this long, she naturally knew greed was sometimes the last straw that broke the camel's back.
"Forget it. This much can still earn quite a bit. However, why are there so many scattered weapons here? Where did the people go?"
Since restocking was finished, she needed to satisfy the curiosity from her feline nature.
Then she stopped before a tightly sealed door.
"Strange, feels like there's a bloody smell..." After much deliberation, Pardo still didn't dare touch this door that made her uneasy.
Just as she prepared to withdraw, a suddenly ringing sound from not far away scared her into jumping.
After reacting, she discovered it was just a communicator that had fallen to the ground.
"What the heck, scared me."
Pardo walked over, tentatively picking it up. Discovered it was actually playing a news broadcast.
On the screen was a light purple-haired woman who looked extremely—even exceptionally—beautiful. At this moment, she stood on a podium. Behind her hung a huge flag bearing the moth insignia.
"I hereby declare—Second Fire Moth officially assumes all United Government authority."
"From this moment, we will unite humanity's strength, protecting everyone from Second Herrscher's threat."
"Herrschers are our mortal enemies!"
"But those vermin who slaughter compatriots under the name of protecting humanity are even more our enemies!"
"In Elysia's name, whether Honkai or vermin, we will fight them to the end!"
...
"Why do I feel this person is somewhat terrifying..." Pardo muttered a few sentences.
Innately keen intuition told her—best not to get involved with this woman. Otherwise, life would become quite unfortunate.
Suddenly, chaotic footsteps transmitted.
Pardo's face instantly showed terror. She looked left and right, ultimately focusing on scattered boxes placed not far away.
Those boxes originally stored supplies. But she'd just checked—inside was already empty.
Thus, without any hesitation, she opened a box top, throwing the sack in her hands inside.
Then her whole person jumped in, casually closing the box top.
After finishing all this, Pardo lowered her voice, ensuring she didn't attract the newcomers' attention.
But she quickly heard wailing pleas approaching from far away.
"Wait, don't kill me, don't kill me!"
"I've contributed to Fire Moth! I've bled for humanity! I have merit! You can't treat me like this!"
Hearing this extremely miserable voice, Pardo trembled.
But simultaneously, the feline curiosity on her body began continuously scratching her heart.
Thus, she still took advantage of the wailing's cover to make a tiny hole in the box, pressing her eye over.
When her gaze passed through the box, she saw a girl in military uniform with an expression cold as a puppet. Her light green long hair gently swayed, like faintly glowing tassels.
Behind her, several armed people in Fire Moth combat uniforms were escorting a continuously struggling, slightly overweight middle-aged man.
No matter how the escorted person struggled, this group arrived before the sealed door.
A Fire Moth combat uniform-wearing follower operated at the verification area before the door. The door soon transmitted opening sounds.
Simultaneously, a thick bloody smell transmitted from within.
Seeing this, the detained overweight man struggled even more desperately.
"No, I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"
"I have merit for Fire Moth! You can't treat me like this!"
Hearing this, the military uniform girl ahead turned back, looking at him coldly. A nearly emotionless tone rang out.
"Your so-called merit refers to conducting human trafficking using your position?"
"I'm not the only one doing this! If I didn't do it, someone else would! If those old guys didn't have demand, why would I do this?! Why don't you kill them?!"
"Who said they could escape?"
"What?" The overweight man looked at her in disbelief.
"Don't worry. You'll all die." The military uniform girl coldly declared.
"Alexander, former Fire Moth Seventh Logistics Department Director, has committed crimes against humanity. Your crime warrants execution."
"According to the great 'Elysia's' instructions, you—death penalty!"
As her words fell, the Fire Moth combat personnel restraining Alexander dragged him into the door.
Pig-like screams and pleas continuously transmitted. But ultimately, all fell silent after a gunshot.
"Report, Officer Lu. Criminal has been executed."
"Very good. Many vermin on the list await cleanup. We must continue working hard."
"All for Elysia! Loyalty!!!"
After everything was handled and the door closed, these suspected Fire Moth people left.
Before leaving, the girl called Lu swept her golden eyes toward the box's direction but didn't investigate further.
After withdrawing her gaze, she left without looking back.
Inside the box, Pardo felt her small heart received a critical hit. Her whole person shrank in the box, not daring to breathe heavily.
After confirming no figures remained around, Pardo poked her head from the box, surveying surroundings with a terrified expression.
"She discovered me, right? She definitely discovered me, right?"
"No good. Too dangerous here. Must run quickly!"
After confirming those people temporarily hadn't returned, Pardo flipped out from the box, grabbed the spoils picked up from inside, and smoothly left Fire Moth's base.
After completely distancing from the base, watching the bustling crowds and vehicles on the street, she truly breathed relief.
"Running here should be fine, right?"
Feeling the heavy sack behind her, Pardo became happy again.
"Made a fortune! Although the process was somewhat winding, let me pick up a huge bargain!"
"Hehe, after processing these goods, temporarily won't worry about food and clothing~"
"However, these things are somewhat sensitive. Need to find a reliable channel to sell..."
Fantasizing about a beautiful life, Pardo hummed an unknown tune, walking toward Dusk Street. That place lacked outside prosperity but was her home... although she didn't like this 'home.'
"Hope I can quickly forget things in my brain. Otherwise might have nightmares tonight."
Pardo's face showed lingering fear. Thinking of that group's ferocity just now, she couldn't help shivering.
"Speaking of which, those fierce people—they're all that Elysia person's subordinates."
"These people are already so terrifying. What kind of horror must the woman named Elysia be?"
Pardo felt appearance was truly deceptive.
In the news just now, she'd seen 'Elysia's' appearance. Clearly looked quite gentle. Didn't expect to be so brutal.
Thinking of this, Pardo couldn't help sighing.
"Truly can't judge by appearance. Fortunately, such big shots couldn't possibly notice me. Otherwise would be really unlucky..."
Pondering recent experiences, Pardo didn't notice ahead of her walked a dispirited figure. Until she was knocked down by a force soft yet resilient.
"Ow!"
Inertia fell on her body, making Pardo's body unstable. She sat on the ground at once. Pain from her buttocks made her wail.
At this moment, a gentle voice transmitted.
"Oh, sorry sorry, my mistake~"
Eh, why does this voice sound somewhat familiar?
Pardo puzzledly raised her head, seeing a pink-haired girl.
Although hair color and pupils differed somewhat, this person's appearance was clearly the Elysia just seen in the news.
"Oh, so it's Elysia... Ah!!!"
Pardo's small face was instantly drained of color, deathly pale. Cold sweat seeped from her forehead. A pair of beautiful pupils continuously trembled.
In her eyes, the pink-haired girl ahead first opened blood-dripping red lips. That gentle smile also seemed mixed with something terrifying...
"Meow! Don't kill me—!"
...
"So nice~"
"Streets are lively. Also no terrifying gravity field woman coveting my body. Really hope such life can continue~"
On the street near Dusk Street, Elysia leisurely walked, watching crowds passing beside her. Felt her body and mind were healed.
Since being targeted by that terrifying woman suspected of coveting her body, Elysia was mentally haggard, always worried the other party would suddenly jump out from somewhere and beat her to her knees.
However, fortunately, since coming to Eden's place to stay, such crisis sense gradually disappeared.
Originally she was staying at Eden's residence on Mu Continent. But recently, Eden's newly built villa named 'Golden Courtyard' was completed, so she brought her flying over to visit.
"Speaking of which, is Eden hiding something from me?" Elysia was suspicious.
Although this period was very happy, Elysia always felt the other party seemed intentionally concealing something. However, this feeling was very slight. She also couldn't be certain whether her feeling was wrong.
"Probably an illusion. After all, how could my good Eden possibly hide things from me?~"
"Impossible, absolutely impossible."
Thinking of this, Elysia shifted her gaze to the street ahead. While walking, she hummed a cheerful tune.
But soon, she discovered something wrong.
"Strange, why do I feel everyone's gazes toward me aren't quite right?"
Thanks to extremely high appearance value, Elysia also often encountered frequent turnarounds. But most times were amazement at her appearance.
Now, she always felt these people looking at her with gazes full of other indescribable things.
Like... fear?
Elysia was surprised momentarily, then smiled, feeling she was overthinking.
"How could anyone fear the cute pink fairy lady? Should be my makeup today having some problems..."
At this moment, a voice transmitted.
"Mommy, that sister looks like the one in the news!"
Elysia looked over, discovering a little girl holding a balloon. At this moment, she stared wide-eyed at herself.
Seeing this, Elysia raised her hand, face showing a perfect smile. She prepared to greet the other party.
But the woman beside the girl—after seeing Elysia—her expression drastically changed. She hurriedly covered the child's mouth, then carried the child and ran away.
Elysia's raised hand froze. Frozen along with it was the smile on her face.
"How... how could this be?"
Elysia questioned her own charm, becoming somewhat dispirited. She didn't even notice someone colliding head-on.
"Ow!"
Until an alarmed cry transmitted from ahead, Elysia reacted. She hurriedly looked forward.
A pretty girl sat on the ground, currently wailing. A sack scattered beside her.
The moment she saw the other party, Elysia felt her beautiful girl radar activate. Even the sadness just now dispersed.
"Oh, sorry sorry, my mistake~" Elysia's face pulled into a perfect smile, wanting to help the other party up.
Very good. Use apology like this to get close to her. No one can resist fairy lady's cute smile. No one...
"Meow!"
"Don't kill me—!"
Elysia saw—this cute girl like a puffed-up husky, panickedly stood up, then shouldered the heavy sack and rushed out.
Her expression so terrified—like seeing some terrifying murderous maniac.
Elysia's extended hand froze.
Frozen along with it was the smile on her face.
...
After United Government headquarters was blasted, a piece of information rapidly spread across the globe.
—That was 'Elysia's' declaration before United Government
The general content was: To counter the threat Herrscher of the Void brought, from this moment the entire United Government entered emergency state.
United Government authority was completely taken over by Fire Moth and entered wartime state.
However, although Elysia-led Second Fire Moth killed United Government's high-level members, entire human civilization didn't fall under their control as anticipated.
Only because original United Government high-level Nicholas escaped from Fire Moth's arrest operation—a Fire Moth operations staff member named Mu loyally protected him, taking advantage of chaos to rescue him.
Now, Nicholas had returned to the temporary Schicksal organization he controlled and declared Second Fire Moth an illegal organization.
Therefore, the current situation on Earth could be roughly divided into Schicksal organization and Second Fire Moth.
Schicksal organization controlled Europa and Oceania. Second Fire Moth controlled Americas and Africa. As for Mu Continent, currently governed by the Science Union, temporarily hadn't expressed a stance.
So while Earth was full of vitality, what about humanity's civilization's enemy—the most wicked Herrscher of the Void?
"Hehehe, two sides clashing, vermin dying violently—good death, meow!" In the Kuiper Belt, Lucius controlled Unit Sirin sitting on a giant rock. Looking at information transmitted from Earth, he couldn't help showing a bloodthirsty smile.
Now both Fire Moth and Schicksal organization had completely fallen into his hands. The reason they still clashed was just borrowing this to pull a list, cleaning out vermin among them.
"However, time to reel in the net. The guest from Venus has arrived. Definitely need to 'entertain' them properly."
"Since you came, don't leave!"
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