"I didn't expect that you would actually choose this method."
After hearing the demands stated by Talulah, Kal'tsit looked at her for a moment and spoke slowly. However, she did not refuse the things Talulah had proposed. The other party actually wanted her to serve as a teacher for their own doctors for a certain period and, while she was at it, help examine the physical conditions of the Infected in their village. Compared to demanding supplies or intelligence, this was simply the most troublesome choice, especially for someone like Kal'tsit.
This wasn't because the task itself was complex, but rather because the energy and time consumed by doing such a thing were simply too much. But since it was the request put forward by the other party, and she indeed needed these two fellows, she had no choice but to nod and agree.
"One month. I will stay here for one month at most. During this period, I will conduct detailed physical examinations for all of you and teach your doctors as much as possible."
Kal'tsit thought for a moment before fixing this period at one month. Even if she wasn't at Babel during this time, the now-recovered Doctor could stabilize the situation. If the time were any less, she wouldn't be able to accomplish much even without eating or sleeping. If it were any more, she would worry about problems arising on Theresa's end.
"Very well. Then we shall trouble Doctor Kal'tsit for the coming period."
Hearing that Kal'tsit was willing to stay, even if only for a month, Talulah felt that the harvest for the doctors on her side would definitely not be small. She had personally witnessed how powerful this doctor's medical skills were; an Infected who was on the verge of death due to an Oripathy outbreak had actually been saved by her. At that time, Talulah had intended to even hire the other party, but back then, thinking about how low the possibility of success was, she gave up.
As for the specialized medicines for treating Oripathy or other pharmaceutical data she possessed, Talulah believed that even if she obtained them, she wouldn't be able to acquire medical equipment of that caliber. Rather than letting these trade secrets gather dust here, it was better to maximize the efficiency of what could be used to expand her own medical team.
Of course, this was also based on the condition that no soldiers were sacrificed in this operation. If they had suffered painful losses this time, she would not have agreed to the other party's proposal. At that time, she would have had to give everyone an explanation, and these captured people would be the best explanation—even though she didn't much support the idea of taking action against prisoners.
"Since that is the case, let me handle this matter first before discussing other things. By the way, someone from your side also needs to sign the Covenant. Who will it be?"
Seeing that this matter was settled, Kal'tsit stood up, intending to go out and find those fellows to finalize the arrangement once and for all. Although this would make her appear very eager to take over these people, for her, with every passing minute, the risk of Babel's actions being exposed increased by one fold.
Upon hearing that they needed to provide someone, the two of them turned their gazes toward Patriot, the Sarkaz, almost at the same time. Talulah felt that this matter, after all, involved the old gentleman; combined with Patriot's status, he was perfectly suited to sign this agreement. As for Jeanne, she knew clearly that it was useless for her to sign; this Court Covenant would not have any effect on her and might even be destroyed. Because the principle of this thing was still a form of spell, and since it was a contractual spell that could affect the self, its effect on her was nearly zero.
"..."
After Kal'tsit walked out of the room, she didn't go to attend to the group of Sarkaz on the ground immediately but instead turned her gaze toward the barrier-like thing formed by the Shieldguards. When she approached this barrier emitting a faint, dim light, she could clearly feel the Mon3tr within her body expressing some resistance to this place. The Mon3tr, which was usually somewhat lively and active in her eyes, seemed to have fallen into a state of hibernation near this barrier, and even the frequency of its communication with her became very low.
"A miraculous spell. It doesn't look like any type of spell I've ever known. Its existence is... far removed from the spells I understand."
Kal'tsit saw the miraculous nature of this spell at a glance—or rather, it truly was so if it could still be called a spell. Its mode of existence was completely different from the research on Terra; it didn't rely on Originium as an energy source, and its basic structure was even vastly different, as if they were two separate systems entirely. Such a spell couldn't have been puzzled out by a person relying on their own wisdom; something so systematic must have undergone a long period of accumulation before it could be achieved.
If she hadn't heard from the Doctor about the possibility of this Jeanne's true identity, Kal'tsit probably would have first speculated about who was supporting them from the shadows.
"Is that so? I don't quite understand the principles of this thing myself. In this camp, only Jeanne can figure out what the specific principles are; it's already not easy for everyone to barely manage to use it."
Patriot answered after hearing Kal'tsit's praise. He himself was also very curious about this wonderful thing, but unfortunately, Sarkaz couldn't learn it. This thing was born with an inexplicable hostility toward Sarkaz; judging from Jeanne's own mutterings, if their bloodlines were any purer, it wouldn't just be hostility. But what did "purer bloodline" mean? His bloodline was already the purest; if he were to go a step further, what would he need to do? He didn't have a single clue.
"Ah, Mr. Patriot... and this Feline lady, you've come!"
Mudrock, who was staring intently at the group of ruthless people inside, also hurriedly stood up to check the situation when she heard someone walking up from behind. When she saw that Patriot was among those who came, her tensed heart finally landed, and she subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. Until she saw Kal'tsit standing beside him with a cold expression, and her smile froze on her face once again.
She had seen this cat before—the one who accompanied Her Highness. There should also be a giant, black, unidentified creature beside her. What sin had she committed? Why was it that even though she had clearly broken away from Kazdel, the big figures of the two factions were meeting here again? And when did this person arrive? Why hadn't she noticed her arrival at all just now? Thinking of this, Mudrock recalled how she had lost her composure earlier upon seeing the Confessarius and the Sanguinarch; she probably didn't notice then.
"Yes, we've come here to talk with them." Patriot also saw the somewhat nervous Mudrock; looking at her expression, it seemed she was somewhat doubting her own life?
The Confessarius also saw Kal'tsit walking toward them, and in his heart, he began to wonder what the purpose of her coming here specifically to save him was. He didn't quite believe that this Dame would risk coming to this place just for the sake of the Sarkaz to discuss sparing his life with these fellows. But in the current situation... it could only be said that as long as she didn't ask him to assassinate Theresis, anything could be discussed.
The Sanguinarch to the side had no time to mind the matters here; he was currently playing a "jigsaw puzzle" inside his own body, attempting to piece his shattered bones back together to recover a bit.
"How does it feel to be captured alive by others while believing you held a great advantage, you two?"
Kal'tsit stood outside, calmly looking at the two leaders inside; it was impossible to tell whether she said this to mock these two fellows or to ridicule them. However, these two people didn't reply to anything, merely looking calmly at Kal'tsit as she approached, waiting for what their final sentence would be.
"If you are sincerely surrendering, then sign this Covenant! One more thing: hand over the communicator you use to contact Theresis."
Kal'tsit held up the Covenant made by Theresa with one hand and reached out toward the Confessarius with the other, demanding the items she wanted to obtain.