Columbia is incredibly powerful.
Goki spent three weeks in Saint Foucault City, his main task being to find his prey.
The rest of the time, besides strolling with Skadi through other districts and enjoying the entertainment brought by modern technology, he helped Kaltsit purchase various medicines and Materials to assist her in treating patients and conducting experiments.
Ifrit had fabricated a remarkably reliable false identity for Goki and Skadi; no matter which agency checked their identities, they couldn't find any flaws.
During this process, even though he spent most of his time in the slums, Goki gained a particularly profound understanding of the nation's prosperity and strength.
Columbia's advancement and prosperity were completely incomparable to the decaying Iberia or the primitive and backward Sargon.
What did this nation, only a little over two hundred years old, rely on to develop from a few decaying border cities into the behemoth it is today?
Support for immigration policies provided a large workforce, the plunder and encroachment on Sargon, Bolivar, and Minos amassed vast wealth, and the high credit of the Columbia gold note gave the nation the upper hand in trade.
But ultimately, Columbia's strength stemmed from the nation's rapidly advancing technological level over hundreds of years.
The First Originium Industrial Revolution allowed Victoria to ride the coattails of Originium-steam energy development; the industrialization brought by steam engines led to an explosive advancement in Victoria's national power.
Relying on powerful steam armor, Victoria's Steam Guard successfully defeated the Gaul Empire's army, becoming the world's hegemon at the time.
But soon after, the development of Originium-electrical energy allowed Columbia to acquire one of the world's most powerful armies.
For a century, Columbia has never slackened its investment in technology; the entire nation provides substantial allocations and subsidies to numerous scientific research institutions, and once a Breakthrough technology emerges, the Columbia government immediately acquires and monopolizes it, ensuring exclusive access to advanced technology.
Not to mention Raytheon Industries, the world's largest defense contractor, which dares to claim second to none, is the king of war who can obtain small arms manufacturing licenses from Laterano and independently develop new weapon models.
Everyone knows that behind Raytheon Industries is the Columbia government, the world's largest arms exporter, who has made untold fortunes in other countries' wars and has instigated countless conflicts for wealth.
Columbia's army may not be as massive as the Ursus Empire's several army groups, but its technological level is undoubtedly the most advanced.
Military strength ensures national power, national power drives technological progress, and technological development continuously maintains Columbia's cutting-edge military level.
At least in theory, this is a perfect virtuous cycle.
Of course, there are no perfect nations in the world, nor is there a truly virtuous cycle.
The Columbia government's strong support for technological research has spawned numerous academic and monopolistic research institutions; their struggles for government funding have gone beyond the scope of healthy competition—
Academic plagiarism, patent squatting, hostile takeovers... under various forms of malicious competition, countless vested interests have emerged victorious in fierce struggles.
Every "Great Scientist" and "Great Inventor" with numerous patents and a renowned reputation in their field is also inevitably a major businessman and capitalist with countless companies under his name.
Many capable young Geniuses work for these academic overlords, selling patents at low prices, changing the first author of SCI papers to their names... countless prodigies graduating from prestigious universities, as employees of research institutions, constantly deplete their youth, burning their Life Qi in overwork, hoping to climb higher and eventually reach a position where they are not controlled by others.
This is also unavoidable, because if you don't acknowledge these Law of the game, then countless vested interests, with their mouths full of grease, will find ways to destroy you, preventing you from becoming their competitor in the future—too many monks, too little porridge; kill one, fatten a group.
After all, the fall of a Genius, while detrimental to Columbia's development, and some even a loss to humanity.
But... as long as there's enough in one's own bowl, who cares how much is in the pot?
"This is Columbia, the most advanced yet also the most brutal; it's not an exaggeration to call it the Law of the jungle—"
With her hands in the pockets of her green dress, Kaltsit stood at the kitchen door, watching Goki add expensive white sugar to the cooked oat porridge, waiting silently.
"I knew Parvis; back then, he was a young man who had only been out of his doctorate for two years, a Genius in the research of ancient Originium Arts. But later, his mentor suppressed him for a full decade, and even stole two of his patents—give it to me, I'm not afraid of the heat."
Taking the two bowls of oatmeal porridge Goki handed her, Kaltsit walked to the nearby dining table and placed the porridge in front of herself and Skadi.
The Little Orca was sitting at the table, knife and fork in hand, her face full of anticipation, her long legs kicking up and down under the table, waiting for Goki to feed her—Kaltsit even felt a little envious of her simplicity, able to accept others' kindness with a clear conscience.
Although Goki kept saying he could do everything, Kaltsit still felt a bit bad, and finally put down her research to come to the dining room to help serve the meal.
"He moved to Rhine Lab and spent over thirty years climbing to the position of Structure Department Director. In his remaining years, he probably wanted to achieve something before he died... I'm not at all surprised by his end; if he had been a long-lived Sarkaz, he might not have been so insane."
Recalling the Liberi named "Parvis," Skadi could mostly only think of that vibrant, ambitious young man.
Time is merciless, but Kaltsit had grown accustomed to it—she had seen too many people who were frustrated, unfulfilled, and eventually died in madness.
"Ah, that sounds really pitiful. No wonder that old guy desperately wanted to get his hands on that Spell model in the end—he actually did it."
Shrugging, Goki could only sigh with regret—he had seen many such people not only in Byrgenwerth but had also killed quite a few.
During this time, Goki had already told Kaltsit part of the truth about his experiences in Sargon.
This included Rhine Lab's excavation work, and also the "Sha Zu" who had been tormented by her riddle-like personality for an unknown number of years.
Goki took out the chicken cutlet, fried egg, and bacon from the electric griddle and placed them on a plate full of vegetable salad. Goki then poured hot soy milk from the coffee machine—soybeans and coffee beans are both beans, so it's normal to make soy milk, right?
"It's also a good thing he died, otherwise Rhine Lab wouldn't have laid off some personnel due to internal strife, and it gave me, a stowaway, a job opportunity—here it is, time to eat, time to eat."
Finally, serving himself a bowl of oat porridge, Goki came out with a fusion of Chinese and Western, nutritionally complete breakfast, setting it out for the three of them one by one.
"Yay—"
Skadi cheered, gracefully took the plate, sat next to Goki, and began to gobble down her food.
Oats, this cold-hardy crop from high latitudes, is a staple food for the poor in northern Ursus to fill their stomachs, but in Columbia, it is a green food for health and wellness.
The poor in Columbia may be destitute, and many are often homeless, but numerous welfare organizations frequently distribute free Materials, so starvation is not an issue.
And now, in Kaltsit's clinic, the person in charge of procurement and daily chores is Goki himself—Kaltsit doesn't have time for these trivial matters; if Goki didn't take care of it, she could live her whole Life Qi on instant noodles.
Although at first she found it troublesome and told Goki not to do such extra things, no matter how long Kaltsit had lived, she was still an ordinary person with normal taste buds.
She ate instant noodles, drank energy drinks, and even injected herself with stimulants, all just to avoid wasting time on research and treating patients.
Now, with Goki helping to prepare hot, delicious, and nutritionally complete meals, delivered right to her, without needing to waste any time, Kaltsit wasn't foolish; she naturally knew what to choose.
Picking up her knife and fork without ceremony and spearing a piece of fried egg, Kaltsit maintained a tense, serious expression even while eating.
"The world is not lacking people like Parvis, but when he disregards the Life Qi of others, and even starts using human bodies as experimental subjects, he no longer deserves to be a researcher."
Recalling the out-of-control Alfonso, Kaltsit swallowed the meat in her mouth, her tone exceptionally cold.
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Although that snakehead was a bastard, before that, he was a living human being.
"—Ifrit Project, through my own channels, I found an experimental project that Rhine Lab and the Columbia military are collaborating on... The purpose is not hard to guess, either to develop new Spell weapons or to create new biological weapons."
Kaltsit calmly stated the research content, which was top-secret for Columbia; she hadn't just been a doctor in the slums during her months in Columbia.
However... in an information-driven society, the name Kaltsit can no longer be easily concealed as it once was.
In ancient times, she could openly walk around under the name Kaltsit, but now she can only hide herself and use an alias outside.
"The Ifrit Project, led by the Structure Department and the Defense Department, with the Energy Department and the Engineering Department also participating, is Rhine Lab's current research focus, and it utilizes many technologies that humans should not possess—"
Taking a sip of oat porridge, Kaltsit stuck out her delicate pink tongue.
Although her hands weren't afraid of heat, as a Feline, she naturally had a cat's tongue that was exceptionally sensitive to heat.
"The God of Burning Wind you encountered might only be a part of what they referenced. I believe Rhine Lab has the... prey information you're looking for."
Concise and to the point, Kaltsit revealed some of the data she had collected over several months.
If Goki hadn't come, she would have infiltrated Rhine Lab herself, but now, there was clearly a more suitable candidate.
"Awoo—I want to go too! The Defense Department, isn't it just like the Sea Watch? I've seen how they work, I want to apply with Goki too!"
Having quickly devoured her breakfast, Skadi raised her right hand, patted her chest, and volunteered herself.
Although she couldn't do anything else, she was very good at fighting!
"The Defense Department isn't hiring security guards, but people who have both combat capability and relevant medical and biological knowledge—I can provide you with remote technical support to ensure you pass the interview. As for Skadi... Hmph, don't be silly."
Kaltsit sneered, her face full of disdain—sending Skadi on an infiltration mission would be like telling her to just go tear down Rhine Lab.
"Hey—mmph."
"Eat, eat—"
Skadi immediately got angry, but Goki quickly stuffed a piece of bread into her mouth, stroking her head to calm her down.
"I can also do some simple makeup for you, to adjust your appearance. The Defense Department and Structure Department have different scopes of work, so the Structure Department researchers who participated in the Sargon operation basically won't recognize you—but there's still danger. Any exposure, and you'll face Columbia's top combat power, and might even draw hostility from the military."
Looking at Goki, Kaltsit waited for his decision.
"This is a dangerous job, where you could lose your Life Qi at any moment. To go or not to go, the choice is yours."
She never liked to deceive others into working for her; she would only state the pros and cons and offer choices.
She did the same with the little boy named Elliot back then, and in the end, that young man chose to stay—hearing Goki relay the boy's greetings, Kaltsit even thought for a few seconds before recalling the little boy she had casually saved back then.
Sha Zu chose the path of revenge, which Kaltsit did not approve of, but she understood his decision. If he were still alive, the two might cooperate again in the future.
However, compared to the dangerous weapon in Elliot's mind, Kaltsit always felt that the man in front of her, the Knight, was even more dangerous.
No, it was more like... strange.
"How could I not go? If it comes to a fight, aren't Skadi and you still there... Kaltsit, if you're afraid of it being too hot, next time I can cool the porridge down beforehand?"
Compared to Rhine Lab, which he was definitely going to, Goki was more concerned about Kaltsit's slightly scalded expression just now, asking with concern—a devoted sycophant.
Sycophant? No, this is his future wife, by internal designation!
"...I hope you put more effort into our upcoming operation. I will provide you with technical support; miniature earphones and cameras are already prepared."
Twitching her cat ears on top of her head, Kaltsit gave Goki a sidelong glance, but didn't say much—she was already used to it.
Goki's personality was just like that; whether it was Skadi, herself, or other people who came to the clinic, Goki would greet them with a smile.
This mad hunter, who was incredibly ruthless to his prey, was exceptionally kind and caring towards ordinary people.
He referred to those deities as "Great One," and like Kaltsit herself, he never held any reverence for them.
However, even Kaltsit couldn't bring herself to view deities as prey—but Goki seemed accustomed to it, not finding such a thought at all out of line.
In short, Goki was indeed a... strange person who didn't quite fit the Terra style.
Even if he didn't intentionally hide it, there was simply too much unknown about Goki.
Thinking of this, Kaltsit's perpetually icy face, for once, showed a slight ripple of emotion.
"Alright, since you've agreed, I will fully cooperate with this operation—we'll each get what we need, but before that, we need the latest first-hand intelligence."
"Then, happy cooperation—hmm?"
No sooner had he spoken than Goki, sensing something, turned his head and looked out the door of the small clinic.
"Ha, your intelligence is here—Kafka, hurry up, I made an extra portion especially for you."
Soon, the petite Liberi girl appeared in the clinic, smiling cheerfully.
"Hehe—I knew you were the best, Brother Goki, your cooking is getting better and better."
With nimble steps, Kafka, her face wreathed in smiles, sidled up to Goki and directly took a piece of his half-eaten bread, stuffing it into her mouth.
This month, the intelligence peddler had grown accustomed to freeloading meals.
"Don't worry, Brother Goki, starting today, you will definitely become a good worker for Rhine Lab—for this meal, I'll reveal one piece of intelligence for free: the interviewer for the Defense Department this time is Saria, you know?"
Kafka said mysteriously, smiling at the now familiar Goki.
"Oh? Then... that's interesting."
Goki raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips.
Things were getting even more interesting.
And so, the Hunter of Yharnam was about to become an exploited worker in Terra.
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