Chapter 211
It would be safer to leave two Operator in the village before Amiya leaves.
Not long after, Amiya, who had been watching over the medical team during their surgery, arrived at the scene. The village chief and villagers were extremely grateful and wanted to invite the Rhodes Island group to stay for a meal.
However, Amiya refused the request, because they were only there to rescue people. They had no intention of taking advantage of the villagers' scarce resources.
Seeing that Rhodes Island was unwilling, the villagers spontaneously offered medicinal herbs and fresh fruit dug from the snow. Amiya couldn't refuse, so she thanked them and accepted some.
After the surgery was completed, everyone returned to their This Ship.
Amiya catches up with the Special Operations Team and thanks the Penguin Logistics Messenger:
Thank you so much for today.
"Stop, we didn't do anything, no need to thank us. Besides, it's our duty."
Seeing them board the This Ship with such grace, some prejudiced Operator couldn't help but feel ashamed.
275 Penguin Logistics' Rearguard Approach (4K)
In the time that followed, the special operations team received normal treatment from Rhodes Island operator.
When encountering villages with stranded residents, they will be asked to come down and participate in the defense work together.
At other times, Shi Lei would stay in his room, reading borrowed medical books day and night, like a sponge thirsting for knowledge.
As for the Medical Department's laboratories, he hadn't been there much. Mainly because he lacked practical experience; he would easily slip up if he tried to do anything, so he decided to focus on building a solid theoretical foundation first.
On March 11, Rhodes Island arrived at Yarbing, a small mobile town on the southern border of Ursus. The This Ship sailed to the boarding area south of the town to prepare for landing.
This time, Rhodes Island dispatched Special Operations Team, including two guard squads and three medical squads, totaling six teams and more than eighty people.
The group disembarked from the ship with Originium inhibitor, preparing to head into the city to treat the local infected.
Villages or settlements may not have clearly defined areas for infected individuals. However, larger towns will have areas where infected individuals congregate. Or, to put it more politely, Slums.
Shi Lei and other Messenger followed the medical team led by Warfarin, which was at the end of the six teams.
Amiya's medical team and ACE's guard team are conducting entry checks ahead.
Kal'tsit did not appear. She had been locking herself in the laboratory lately, seemingly conducting some kind of medical research, leaving all the trivial matters to Amiya.
The immigration officer was a gray-haired Ursus man with round bear ears. He noticed the three medical teams carrying a large number of inhibitors and asked:
"Are you bringing so much medicine into the city to resell it and make a profit?"
"No, we want to go to places where infected people are concentrated and treat them with these drugs."
"Huh, did I hear that right? Rescue the infected?"
Gray-haired Ursus chuckled, his expression mocking:
"Those lowly commoners, do they even deserve this medicine? Please, please stop wasting resources. How about this, I'll contact Marquis Andrei for you. He's the mayor of this mobile town, and he should be interested in these inhibitors and medicines. We can offer a high price to buy all of your medicines, how about that?"
Amiya shook her head and politely declined.
"I'm very sorry, sir. We are a pharmaceutical company on Rhodes Island, dedicated to helping those infected. These medicines are not for sale, so please allow us to pass. I can assure you that we will not resell these medicines once we enter the city."
Upon hearing this, a brown-haired Ursus immediately flew into a rage:
"Tsk, how ungrateful. Do you know who Marquis Andrei is? He's Seventh Group Army..."
"Enough, Ivanovich!"
Gray-haired Ursus interrupted sharply, his serious expression suggesting he was very angry:
"What's wrong with you? If they don't want to sell, fine, but don't bring shame to the Marquis's reputation!"
After saying that, he waved to his colleagues in the distance, signaling the staff to open the gate and let them pass:
"Your name is Rhodes Island, right? Actually, I was just bluffing you. I'm relieved to see that you stick to your principles and aren't those unscrupulous drug dealers."
Amiya sensed something was amiss with Ursus's seamless emotional shifts. However, the immediate priority was treating the infected; they decided to enter the city first.
"Thank you so much, sir."
"Haha, you're too kind. There aren't many companies like yours that genuinely care about those infected."
Amiya nodded and thanked her again.
She led the medical team and ACE led the guard team through the checkpoints into the city.
Watching the six teams pass through the checkpoint and disappear into the distance, the brown-haired Ursus scratched his head:
"Cavalieri, you're just letting them in like that? I thought you were going to take over this batch of medicine."
"Foolish! Ivanovich, you're a complete idiot! How many soldiers do we have at the border checkpoint? Do you think we can defeat so many of them?"
"This..."
"We'll definitely let them into the city first, then contact the Marquis to send troops to surround them. Even if Lord Andrei doesn't need these medicines, we can give them to his brother's Seventh Group Army. If they're happy, they might reward us with a few official positions."
"Haha, Cavalieri, you've been smart since you were a kid, much smarter than me. But there's one thing I'm still a little worried about."
"Which point?"
"What if this Luo Island has a powerful background?"
"What's there to be afraid of? The medicine will already be in your stomach, are you going to throw it up? Just find a few prisoners, convict them, and execute them in the square with their faces covered."
They demand an explanation, so give them one. Given the high level of secrecy surrounding the Seventh Group Army's laboratory, there's absolutely no way they could have found the medicine hidden inside.
"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"
Seeing Ivanovich give a thumbs-up, Cavalieri grinned crookedly:
"Alright, you hold this position for me. I'm going to make a phone call, I'll be right back."
ACE, carrying his shield, stepped to the front of the group:
"Amiya, do you really trust that man? I have a feeling there's something wrong with him."
"Brother ACE, I know he has a problem. But if we have a direct confrontation with that man, we won't be able to get into the city. We need to hurry and save as many people as we can. If they send people to surround us, we can evacuate in advance and activate the emergency Plan B for the rescue operation."
Rhodes Island's efforts to help those infected are met with incomprehension in most areas. This isn't the first time something like today has happened.
Based on past experience, from the time customs clearance staff report upwards through the chain of command to the time it takes for forces to be assembled at higher levels, it will take them at least half an hour to an hour.
This period of time was enough for them to treat many infected people and evacuate safely.
Scout, the sniper from the first team, stepped forward:
"I'll lead my men to seize the high ground. If I notice any unusual movement, I'll notify you via Walkie-Talkie."
Captain ACE adjusted his sunglasses and said:
"I will contact the This Ship and have the third and fourth escort squadrons prepare for combat and provide support at any time."
"Okay, Mr. Scout, Mr. Ace, thank you for your hard work."
Seeing that the first guard team had broken away, Amiya turned to the members of the first medical team and said:
"Everyone, we need to pick up the pace!"
The special operations team, at the very back of the column, noticed that some of the guards had left the group, which aroused their suspicion.
Just as they were about to send someone to inquire, Amiya's voice came through the Walkie-Talkie:
"Doctor Zhongli, the situation has changed!"
"Some forces in Yarbing are likely interested in the Originium inhibitor we carry. We need to treat as many infected people as possible before they can muster their forces. Considering your lack of mobility during the combat medical tests, I hope you can act as a support in the middle, covering the first medical teams' retreat back to This Ship."
The diameter of this Mobile Cities is nearly ten kilometers. If Shi Lei were to retreat first, the safety of the other medical team members could not be guaranteed, so he spoke up:
"Miss Amiya, I fully agree with your tactical arrangements. As Messenger for Penguin Logistics and as employees of Rhodes Island, we will hold our ground in the most dangerous positions and ensure that the money you spent on this contract is not wasted."
You can have the second guard team provide backup; our Special Operations Team will cover the Rearguard. Stay here to protect the medical team members until they are all evacuated.
Amiya on the other end of the Walkie-Talkie fell silent.
She remembered what the owner of Penguin Logistics had said on the day she signed the contract.
"I can guarantee that there will be no casualties in missions involving Zhongli."
Amiya later went to investigate Zhongli's deeds in Lungmen.
Content like summoning Catastrophe Meteorite with bare hands, which is obviously fake, was immediately eliminated.
Official records show that Zhongli participated in a raid by the Lungmen Guard Department on illegal organizations in districts 19-21 at the end of last year.
He shone brightly in this operation.
The Originium Arts they employ can provide shields to the Lungmen Guard Department officers, protecting them from various attacks. This superior protective ability makes them an even more reliable option for Rearguard.
"Okay, Doctor Zhongli. I'll leave the Rearguard duties to the Special Operations Team. Please don't push yourselves too hard, and if you notice anything amiss, please contact me immediately via Walkie-Talkie!"
"No problem. Don't worry."
After discussion, Amiya adjusted her plans.
The escort team will seize high ground, provide long-range fire support, and contact other teams on the This Ship.
The second escort team retreated and dispersed in the middle of the route. They provided cover for the medical team that had finished treating patients to withdraw, and were ready to support the Special Operations Team that had volunteered to cover the Rearguard.
Following directions from the citizens, the Rhodes Island Islanders quickly arrived at the Slums of Yarbing.
The number of infected people here far exceeded the medical team's expectations. On this lifeless street, almost all the pedestrians were infected.
There are explanations for why infected people are generally from poor families.
Ursus has abundant Originium Mine, but the money flows to nobles and high-ranking military officials.
These upper-class individuals rarely come into contact with Originium products in their daily lives. By staying away from sources of infection, it is naturally difficult for them to become infected.
The poor, having little savings, are forced to resort to manual labor, such as mining for Originium Mine, to make a living. Coupled with poor living conditions and other factors, this results in a rate of over 99% of the poor becoming infected.
They were not initially infected with Originium-related illness.
It's not poverty that's the problem.
"Free inhibitors! Those who need them, please line up. We won't be here for long!"
The Doctor's shout immediately attracted the attention of many infected people on the street.
They looked at these outsiders who had barged in, their eyes filled with more confusion and bewilderment.
"Free Originium inhibitor!"
A terminally ill infected patient, filled with doubt, volunteered to try it. He only had a few days left to live anyway; if it was genuine, it might prolong his life. If it was fake, he'd die anyway, since he was going to die sooner or later.
After receiving the injection, the infected man clearly felt the pain in his body gradually subside, which made him excitedly shout to the passersby who were watching nearby:
"It's true!"
"The Originium inhibitor is real!"
This statement was like throwing a sheep into a pack of wolves, attracting the greedy gazes of countless passersby. They rushed forward as if they'd stumbled upon a supermarket giving away free eggs:
"Excuse me, let me give you a shot!"
"Give me one more shot, my friend needs it!"
"I'm his friend, give me two injections!"
Upon learning that the inhibitor was real, infected people from the vicinity flocked to the scene, causing chaos.
Seeing this, Exusiai leaped onto a red hydrant that couldn't be pumped out. She raised her musket and fired two shots, knocking down the small chess piece hanging from the roof.
"Listen up, everyone! Line up to get your medicine! Anyone who dares to scramble for it, I'll reserve a property in a prime location in hell for you in advance, no cheating!"
This tactic of using violence as a threat is very effective.
The infected people quickly lined up and stopped rushing forward.
They are now unarmed, without even a weapon to resist. To lose their lives for an injection of Originium inhibitor is simply not worth it.
Three medical teams, totaling more than forty people, spread out along this main road. They took out inhibitors from their medical kits and began administering injections to the infected individuals on site.
Before administering the injection, Medical Operator will apply iodine to the injection site on the infected person's left arm. The conspicuous color of the iodine helps prevent the same infected person from receiving multiple injections.
Every Medical Operator acted swiftly, because Rhodes Island always races against time in operations.