"Hahaha, why would we scare you? Everyone's talking about Kanna's achievements since you came to Rhodes Island!" Seeing the main characters return, Misery, who was closest to the door, got up, opened it, and welcomed Kanna and Nian inside.
"You two have been wandering around all afternoon, I'm sure you've seen a lot of places. By the way, what do you think of Carlton City?" Kugen asked, serving each of them a cup of hot water.
"It's alright, I guess. While the lives of the Infected can only be described as barely adequate compared to non-Infected, compared to Ursus and some other places we've been, this is undoubtedly paradise. After all, here, the Infected are at least considered people, while in those other places…" Kanna didn't explicitly say it, but everyone knew the rest of the sentence—compared to Carlton, the Infected in those places weren't even considered human.
This was also a product of the polarization brought about by oripathy.
However, even in a city like Carlton, which was friendly to the Infected, it was because the nobles and wealthy merchants in the city valued the low cost of Infected laborers.
Although such wages and the danger of unemployment if labor productivity couldn't keep up were very inhumane, it was undeniable that this provided a place for most Infected who still had some strength and hoped to survive.
At least after working, they had money to buy equally cheap food, perhaps even a favorite piece of clothing, and if they saved a little, they could send some leftover money to their families.
So, even though all of Carlton fed off the surrounding Infected population like leeches, the Infected still held considerable gratitude towards these city officials. After all, compared to working in a dark mine until death without earning a single penny, the work here was undoubtedly paradise.
"There's nothing we can do, this is the fate of the Infected on this land… Once Infected with oripathy, all they bring to their families is a heavy burden and a body that becomes increasingly dangerous." Kugen shrugged at Kanna's words, appearing as if he had long seen through the world.
"Speaking of which, I saw in a newspaper on the way that some nobles in this area are recently trying to improve the status and treatment of the Infected?" Kanna said, pointing to an item in a newspaper she took from Nian's hand.
"Yes, that's true. Councilor Onst in the noble council is one of the few high-ranking officials who are close to the Infected. Oh, and she's also Miss Montblanc's teacher. Through Miss Montblanc, we had brief contact with that councilor, and we can confirm that she has no ulterior motives in helping the Infected… at least not overtly." Quercus leaned over to look at the report and said with a smile.
"Miss Montblanc?" Kanna thought, that's the name of someone at Rhodes Island.
"Aethelfreya Julii Montblanc belongs to a group in Victoria called 'Staff of the King.' She is their chief sorceress. Perhaps you know her better by her registered Operator name at Rhodes Island, 'Skyfire'."
When Quercus mentioned the Staff of the King, Kanna guessed her identity, and sure enough, after the reveal, it was that Fire Sister.
If she were to describe her biggest impression of Skyfire, besides being a "launch day powerhouse," it would be her status as one of Shaw's lifelong rivals. At Rhodes Island, if a fire alarm went off, if it wasn't Ifrit, it was highly likely to be Miss Skyfire.
As for Eyjafjalla? Kanna hadn't heard of an Operator named Eyjafjalla before leaving Rhodes Island. Perhaps she became an Operator after Kanna left or a few days before, as Kanna had been entirely focused on her team during that period and hadn't had much time to wander around Rhodes Island.
And back to Skyfire... In the game, she had the lowest status among AoE Casters. Her only advantage was the area stun from her second skill's meteor, but even that couldn't save her employment prospects. Or rather, in the versions Kanna knew, AoE Casters had almost zero employment opportunities due to their poor attack and range, to the point where they were considered undesirable even as 0-cost options in roguelikes.
However, in reality, she was indeed a master of Originium Arts (Fire). Aside from the flaw of easily burning her own clothes when exerting herself, her Originium Arts could be said to be flawless.
Seeing Kanna nod, as if she had recalled who Quercus was talking about, Quercus continued as if she had thought of something, "Speaking of which, Miss Skyfire is also in Carleton City. Since we're having a gathering tonight, why don't we invite her?"
"We don't have a problem with that, but from what I understand, Skyfire seems to be quite resistant to Reunion Movement. Are you sure she won't clash with Red if she comes?" Kanna had initially wanted to say yes, but then remembered that Skyfire was arguably the Operator who hated Reunion Movement the most on Rhodes Island, apart from the Refugees from Chernobog. She was a bit worried about potential issues.
"Don't worry, Miss Skyfire has been here before. She even specifically apologized for her previous opposition to us Operators who came from Reunion Movement on Rhodes Island. After all, we're all one family now, and her 'partner' didn't die at the hands of people like us. So, even if she still harbors ill will towards Reunion Movement, she has stated that she won't hold a grudge against those of us who have left," Red recalled. When he had met her at the office before, he had also been a bit worried because he recognized her as one of the people on Rhodes Island who had the strongest negative feelings towards them.
He had initially thought she was also a Refugee from Chernobog, but later learned through conversation that she was a Victorian. Her hostility towards Reunion Movement was simply because an unknown faction of Reunion Movement had accidentally killed 'Phil,' the pet kept by the Staff of the King, during a riot.
Later, he expressed his understanding. When the young girl left, she even enthusiastically said that if he encountered discrimination or injustice in Carleton, he could go directly to her, and she could use her status to help him resolve the trouble.
Only then did Kanna realize that Red and Skyfire had already met. Knowing that the two had not caused further conflict but had instead reconciled, Kanna patted her chest, relieved.
"Then it's no problem! Quercus, I'll leave contacting Skyfire to you!"
"Of course, no problem. I'm going to the main city anyway. Is there anything Kugen needs? Perhaps I can bring it back for you on my way!" Quercus stood up from the stool, elegantly picked up her small bag, said goodbye to everyone in the room, and then walked out.
"No need, the office has plenty of seasonings. But if you could, bring a few bottles of juice. After all, eating meat can get tiresome, and a little sweet and sour juice at that time would be perfect to cut through the richness," Kugen's voice came from the kitchen inside.
After Quercus left, the room fell into a brief silence. Kanna wandered around, touching this and that, until her eyes lit up and she pulled out a deck of playing cards she had DIYed in Wolumonde from her pocket.
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