Regarding How I Was Picked Up and Adopted by Talula, Chapter 37

Patriot raised the spear in his hand. The captain actually disliked giving motivational speeches, but in truth, he himself had been dormant and enduring for too long.

"We are changing history, we are creating history—a history belonging to the Infected, to those who have left their homes, to the oppressed."

"Target: Chernobyl."

"Ooooh!"

The brief mobilization caused the embers to glow even brighter.

These Infected, ordinary people, men, and women—who would never have gathered together—their original fates would have ended in panic and curses, unknown to anyone.

Now, they had gathered together, ready to embark on the next chapter of history.

This was power—

The power called [Reunion].

(Group: 488749799)

53. The criminal persecuting JunJun has been found: @Daidai...

Within a sprawling and incredibly luxurious castle somewhere in Kazimierz City, countless Ursus soldiers patrolled and guarded the perimeter, weapons in hand.

This was the residence of Duke Baikal. Unlike the Rostov family's villa, Duke Baikal's estate was a standard, opulent "old noble" territory.

A magnificent castle that commanded admiration at first glance, outrageously large garden courtyards, towers that served no purpose but to waste resources, and—

Underground dungeons, formerly used to imprison criminals.

"Damn it, that bastard Andrevich actually dared to release those documents—Hey, Garson, how's the handling of the [Sacrifice] going?"

In the basement of Baikal Castle, Duke Baikal sat before a wooden table, cursing vehemently, a stark contrast to his elegant and composed demeanor earlier.

According to Baikal's original plan, he would continuously pressure and drain the Rostov family's energy, then find an opportunity to assassinate the family's head and heir, after which everything would proceed smoothly.

However, he hadn't expected the head of the Rostov family to go for a mutually destructive approach, exposing the dirt that could be used as bargaining chips. This action had thoroughly enraged Baikal.

"The effect has been achieved. Cities surrounding Kazimierz City have now stated they will not interfere with the Third Army Group's 'counter-terrorism operation.' We can proceed to the next step. Should I contact Legion Commander Kerk?"

Garson's voice came through the phone.

"Ah, damn it, I didn't need to involve the Third Army Group at all—damn Rostov!"

Baikal hung up the phone and simultaneously kicked a female Infected who had been chained to the wall nearby, her limbs restrained.

"Ugh—!"

The girl with short, reddish-brown hair let out a cry of pain, but she quickly endured the agony, fixing Baikal with a murderous gaze.

"What a terrifying look, but do you think anyone fears a hyena that's always chained up?"

"Grrr—!!"

The girl roared at Baikal, but he merely watched her with the eyes of someone observing an animal.

"You killed Sergei. I must say, that's commendable for a girl, but that guy was a dog with some value. Regarding that, how do you plan to compensate me for my losses?"

Baikal grabbed the girl's hair with one hand, pulling it back forcefully, forcing her to look up at him.

"Cough—Ugh!"

The girl, her mouth gagged with cloth, could only emit sounds that were neither roars nor cries of pain.

"I've decided. You'll be my next dog—chop off her tongue, sever the tendons in her hands. Toys don't need to speak, nor do they need to bare their claws at their masters."

Baikal ordered the masked soldier beside him before leaving the underground dungeon.

"..."

The soldier who received the order drew a dagger and walked up to the girl, brandishing the sharp blade.

Clang!

The dagger cut through the cloth binding the girl's mouth.

"You bunch of—"

"I am not the enemy."

As the girl was about to curse, the "soldier" spoke with a voice that was incredibly reassuring.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't stop the Duke just now. But it's alright now, you're very strong."

The 'soldier' removed their mask, revealing a fair and gentle face. Only then did the girl realize that this soldier was actually an Elafia girl.

Alina, disguised as a soldier, a "little deer"—the Commissar of Reunion—extended her hands and gently embraced the restrained girl.

"It's over now. You're brave, and I'll take care of things from here. I'll go find a spare key to help you escape."

"This has nothing to do with you! I'm going to kill that person...! He's also connected to my father's death!! I—I—"

The girl roared in anguish, while Alina gently stroked her, unconditionally accepting all the emotions radiating from her.

After a short while, the girl, who had been extremely agitated, gradually calmed down.

"Seeking revenge for your family alone? You are truly brave, but you don't have to bear everything by yourself, okay?"

Alina ruffled the girl's hair, and the latter also calmed her emotions.

"I am Alina. What's your name?"

"...Lyudmila."

"Then, Lyudmila, could you wait here for me for a moment?"

"...Mm."

The girl calling herself Lyudmila nodded slightly, while Alina smiled and got up, then began searching for a spare key to the underground prison.

"Infiltrate Duke Baikal's territory" - this was a mission Alina volunteered for, and one that only Alina within Reunion could handle.

Alina often watched from the sidelines as the boy named Orson desperately worked hard for everyone.

Before she knew it, the thought, "I must do something for him too," appeared in Alina's mind.

All this time, she had been earnestly protected by Talula and Orson, treated like a fragile work of art.

This wasn't what Alina wanted. She wished she could also rush to the battlefield with them, in her own way.

Alina began to think about what she could do, and what she ultimately found was her Originium Arts – a subtle Originium Art that could put those around her into a state of [Relative Tranquility], allowing them to ignore her presence.

Later, Orson named this Originium Art [Akari Mode].

"...What a cruel sense of humor."

Alina walked through the underground prison, where many cells still bore unwashed bloodstains and unknown skeletal remains.

Her objective was to observe Duke Baikal and the structure of the castle. While carrying out the mission, Alina also realized something – this Duke Baikal extremely enjoyed tormenting Infected individuals for his own amusement.

The girl named Lyudmila was also captured after assassinating a researcher, then imprisoned here, destined to become the Duke's plaything.

At the end of the prison, Alina saw the key. But just as she was about to pick it up, a questioning voice from another soldier came from behind her.

"Halt. What are you doing?"

"...The Duke ordered me to bring that assassin to the interrogation room."

Alina silently fabricated a reason.

"What's there to interrogate? What could someone like that possibly know."

"Orders are orders."

"Tsk... What does Baikal want anyway? These old nobles are simply insane... Take it."

The soldier grumbled and gestured for Alina to hurry up and take the key, while Alina raised an eyebrow slightly at the soldier's complaint.

—It's different from what I expected. The Army Group doesn't seem to be unconditionally obedient to the old nobles.

Having obtained the key, Alina returned to Lyudmila's side, unlocked the chains, and crouched down in front of her.

"Your foot is injured. I'll carry you."

"But... there's no way we can escape like this."

"Don't underestimate me. Because I'm a weakling with no combat ability, I have my own way of fighting. I've already memorized all the shortcuts, blind spots, guard patrol routes, and shift change times in this building."

Alina said proudly, trying to convince the trembling girl before her.

—I can't fight directly like Orson, Talula, or FrostNova, but that doesn't mean I have to wait passively in a safe place for them to return. I will use the way a [weakling] should, and step onto the battlefield with them.

"Are... are you okay?"

Lyudmila gently hugged Alina and asked in a small voice.

"Mhm, you're much lighter than I imagined. Hold on tight."

Alina replied with a smile, then gently left the underground prison.

As they passed a corridor with a study, Alina noticed a blueprint. It hadn't been there yesterday.

Since she had to leave, Alina only glanced at it briefly. What was on it seemed to be some kind of extra-large propulsion device.

So large... it seemed like it could be used to move a city.

"..."

Alina seemed to have thought of something, but her priority now was to escape Duke Baikal's territory.

The soldiers stationed here were all excellent. It was precisely because of this "excellence" that the shift change routes Alina had observed earlier remained unchanged.

Finally, the two of them escaped from the vineyard behind the castle without any major incidents.

"See, we escaped."

Alina took off the Ursus soldier's uniform. Her silver-white hair and fair, slender skin made Lyudmila realize with surprise that this little deer was even thinner than herself.

Moreover, on the right wrist of this Elafian, beneath the glove, there was nothing.

"Thank you for your help, Alina..."

"Thank me later. Let's go meet up with my companions first."

"Companions...?"

"That's right. A fighter who's a bit straightforward but full of passion, and a clumsy boy who always makes me worry."

Alina smiled as she introduced Talula and Orson to Lyudmila.

But the moment Alina thought Orson might be wrestling with Talula alone, the smile on her face instantly froze.

Of course, Alina's worries were unnecessary; Orson was still at Peterheim Middle School.

Wrestling with W.

"Oh, right, Lyudmila. This question might hurt you, but... why were you captured? It might help us."

"I... mm..."

Mentioning this, Lyudmila's expression instantly became somewhat embarrassed.

"Sorry, forget it if it brought up bad memories—"

"I... I accidentally fell into a pit while running away..."

Lyudmila answered awkwardly.

"—I see, you've had a really tough time. You should get some good rest after we reach the stronghold, Miss Lyudmila."

Alina replied with an awkward yet polite response, while remembering something Orson had done in the past when they were in the North—

"What are you doing, Orson? Why are you digging pits around the camp?"

"This isn't digging pits! Alina, you probably don't know, but our Reunion is still short one special operator, and this is my recruitment method!"

"Hmm, by digging pits?"

"This isn't just any pit digging; I call this the JunJun Trap."

...It was probably a coincidence. Everyone slips up sometimes.

Thinking this, Alina suddenly heard Lyudmila cry out beside her.

"Ugh!?"