Chapter 266
December 21
Ever since her talks with Talulah broke down, Alina has been in a depressed state. She's stopped taking care of logistics and left everything to her deputy.
Due to a shortage of manpower, she had no choice but to return to work and lead the transport team to the terminal control tower.
Compared to a few days ago, the Originium spikes emerging from the ground are enormous. They resemble black bamboo shoots fallen from the sky, starkly positioned between residential buildings and skyscrapers. However, the Rhodes Island members are all Infected and will not be affected by the Originium.
Many asphalt roads have also cracked, forming huge gaps that cannot be filled.
The Cataclysmic Clouds in the distance is already visible to the naked eye. It is expected to make landfall in Chernobyl this week, but the exact time is unknown.
While passing by Peterheim Middle School, Alina discovered many rotting and foul-smelling corpses outside the school.
She frowned deeply, unable to bear the sight. Leading the transport team, she wanted to get through the area as quickly as possible.
But the images in my mind are like a short film, lingering and impossible to shake off.
Alina learned from the logistics team members about the crazy things that cadre Mephisto had done here.
After sealing off Peterheim Middle School, he deliberately instigated conflict between aristocratic and commoner students. He also withheld supplies, refusing to distribute them to the students. This led some students to resort to cannibalism in an attempt to survive.
Alina could not accept this kind of evil deed.
They don't seem to be fighting for the infected; they're more like Demons trying to satisfy their own selfish desires!
Alina felt extremely unwell and vomited repeatedly while leaning against the transport vehicle. The logistics team had already experienced similar situations in recent days and could only offer verbal comfort.
What's truly chilling is that this was something they could easily uncover. The truths that certain officials are unwilling to reveal are the most bloody and brutal!
An hour later, the logistics team arrived at the command tower.
Talulah's guards will pile up all the supplies from the surrounding plots here so that they can take them back.
Alina wanted to see Talulah and tell her about the matter, but was stopped by the guards.
Her desire to see him was strong; she stood beneath the control tower and shouted loudly, but received no response. She persisted for two hours, but still saw no one.
Talulah, she's right up there!
At that moment, Alina felt her heart turn cold.
She couldn't understand how the person who wanted to create a better tomorrow for those infected could end up like this.
Just as she was on the verge of despair, a certain image suddenly flashed through Alina's mind, and a glimmer of hope appeared in her heart.
Since Talulah is beyond redemption, she'll go to Lungmen to find Mister Zhongli. Only this man has the power and the right to end this absurdity!
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December 22nd, 11:00 PM
The This Ship arrived in Chernobyl this afternoon. The five squads rested overnight, ready to set off at dawn tomorrow to rescue the Doctor.
The Medical Operator Phoebe and the Operator Melantha, from Reserve Op Team A1, walked onto the deck.
Bathed in the pale moonlight, they gazed at the Cataclysmic Clouds over the nearby city. They had a feeling that, given its current distance, it would make landfall in Chernobyl tomorrow.
On the wasteland outside the Mobile Cities, countless huge and sharp Originium crystal cones have appeared out of nowhere.
The black Originium blends seamlessly with the night, resembling a quiet yet dangerous color.
Phoebe and Melantha came to the deck for some fresh air because they couldn't sleep. With such an important operation to rescue the Doctor tomorrow, how could they possibly fall asleep so easily?
Fortunately, the reserve team was only responsible for supporting the evacuation, not the E1 to E5 Squad who were at the forefront of the battle. In comparison, the risk level was not that high.
"Huh?"
Phoebe tilted her head and vaguely saw a figure. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was Scout, the captain of E5 Squad.
"Senior?!"
Both she and Melantha Operator who joined Rhodes Island later, while the other was already an elite Rhodes Island Elite Operator. Whether considering seniority or their shared Sarkaz identity, these two young girls certainly deserve to be addressed that way.
Scout turned around at the sound, quickly recognized the two members of the preparatory team, and said with a smile:
"It's so late, go and get some rest."
"We couldn't sleep, so we wanted to come out for some fresh air."
"Senior, don't you have an important mission tomorrow? Why don't you get some rest?"
Scout brandished a cigarette, using his hat to shield himself from the light.
"No rush, I'll go back after I finish this one."
Phoebe leaned against the cold railing, and after a moment, she took the initiative to start a conversation, saying:
"Senior, I actually agree with the plan you proposed at the strategy meeting. This operation to rescue the Doctor is extremely dangerous. If we can get Mister Zhongli to help, our safety will be greatly guaranteed."
As for why Kal'tsit was so determined not to hire Mister Zhongli, each Operator had a different opinion.
As Elite Operator of Rhodes Island, Scout feels it's necessary to say a few words at this time:
"Well, Doctor Kal'tsit is absolutely right. Personally, I really hope Mister Zhongli can protect us. But we also need to be careful not to rely on him too much."
On the brutal battlefield, only by constantly maintaining a sense of insecurity can one keenly perceive impending danger and react in time. Mister Zhongli's abilities are too exceptional; Doctor Kal'tsit's insistence on not hiring him may have its own considerations.
"That makes sense."
Phoebe nodded and didn't ask any more questions. It was Melantha beside her who noticed something on Scout's wrist. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a rock-made bracelet:
"Senior, what is this?"
Scout glanced down and grinned:
"This is a tracking device that Doctor Zhongli left behind when he was in Trimon. I wanted to return it afterwards, but he said he didn't need it anymore and kept it as a talisman."
At this point, he made a self-deprecating joke:
"Maybe when I die someday, Mister Zhongli can use the positioning device to help me collect my whole body."
"Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey!"
Upon hearing this, Phoebe immediately corrected her:
"Senior, you mustn't curse yourself like that."
Scout smiled and stubbed out his cigarette. Holding the butt in one hand, he said to the two Sarkaz girls:
"Haha, I'm going downstairs first. You guys get some fresh air and rest early. Don't be too stressed during the day. Goodnight."
"Okay, goodnight, senior."
December 23, midnight.
Three to four o'clock every night is the time when a person with a normal sleep schedule is most sleepy.
In preparation for today's attack, the infected members of the Rhodes Island rested for half a day in advance. After eating and drinking their fill, they gathered at midnight.
But they were not in a hurry to set off; instead, they were waiting for the right opportunity.
Talulah was still dressed in her Eldest Daughter attire, her eyes sharp. The supplies she had gathered from the land over the past few days were less than she had expected.
According to feedback from locally infected individuals, a significant amount of aristocratic property remains unaccompanied within the city. This alone makes the risk worthwhile for the Rhodes Island.
Talulah now broke too. Her financial situation is almost the same as the guerrillas'.
Although I managed to buy a large amount of Lungmen ingredients at a reasonable price through Zhongli last time, I spent all my money then and now I don't have anything of equal value to exchange for them.
The crops grown in Schuratzburg City are ready for harvest. However, with a population of tens of thousands, even with frugal living, they still consume a large amount of food every day.
Once the food supplies run out, there will be a major problem.
When the Rhodes Island only had a few hundred to a thousand members, Talulah didn't feel any pressure at all. A little food was enough to sustain them for a long time. But now, the scale is completely different.
She felt as if she were strapped to a high-speed chariot, unstoppable as it charged forward.
Those infected face social discrimination and already lack resources. To survive, they are forced to plunder others to accumulate resources. However, this only exacerbates the conflict between the two sides, creating a vicious cycle.
If we insist on being the good guys and forcibly stopping this war machine, the only outcome will be the organization falling apart. To survive, we have no choice but to plunder resources.
Regarding Alina's mention of the issue of dealing with non-infected individuals, Talulah previously held incredibly naive ideas. She believed that attacking cities was merely to secure shelter for the infected and was unwilling to invade any more territory.
But sometimes, leaders are not in control of their own destiny.
An attack is an attack, and an invasion is an invasion. No matter how you try to whitewash it, it's an indisputable fact.
Talulah remembered clearly the look of hatred on the faces of the non-infected people who were driven from their homes. She would never forget it.
But if they don't do that, they can only watch helplessly as the infected members of the Rhodes Island starve to death.
Talulah was unwilling to accept this outcome.
She didn't want to hear the children's cries of despair, nor did she want to witness the disintegration of the Rhodes Island's leadership.
This is a very real problem. To survive, one must sacrifice the interests of others.
Just like the ideas instilled by that old Koschei, the essence of war is resource trading. Although I'm reluctant to admit it, there's some truth to it.
This trip to Chernobyl, to plunder the city's wealth before the Catastrophe strikes, is the least bloodshed and most cost-effective option.
As for the military police and civilian police, Talulah didn't consider them human beings. These official forces who violently treated the infected deserved to die.
Talulah could sense that her subordinates were starting to become somewhat disobedient. But she couldn't do anything about it, or rather, she had the means but didn't want to.
That old Koschei taught her how to manage these subordinates. Talulah knew all about methods like making an example of someone to scare the rest, or killing someone to establish authority, but she just didn't want to do it that way.
Ultimately, it's because the situation of this group of infected people is too special. They had suffered oppression before and were forced to join the Rhodes Island.
If she uses swift and decisive methods to punish the troublemakers among the cadres, it might be effective in the short term, but it will most likely provoke a strong backlash in the long run.
Talulah couldn't explain this art of managing people to Alina. A farm girl born in the countryside couldn't comprehend the content of aristocratic education.
If I told Alina the truth, one worry would become two. She might try to help with good intentions, but it would often only make things worse.
Talulah chose the path of restoring the glory of the infected. She knew the road ahead was fraught with difficulties and never expected anyone to make it to the end.
It's better not to reveal the truth than to stay out of the room. At most, she'll be sad, but it won't affect the overall situation.
Talulah knew she had a few disobedient officers under her command. Considering the current need for manpower, she chose to leave them alone for the time being. She would eliminate them when the time was right, thus giving her a legitimate reason to take control of the army.
December 23, 6:01 AM
Five Rhodes Island squads, totaling 65 people, set off to begin the plan to rescue the Doctor.
However, Amiya and the others noticed something amiss when they entered the second plot of land.
The plots of land that should have been separate were now inexplicably connected. Above the stealth route, the sounds of fierce fighting could be heard: the whistling of crossbow bolts cutting through the air, the shattering of glass, and screams echoing throughout.
Even worse, the signal was completely lost.
Amiya tried to contact Doctor Kal'tsit, but to no avail. She discovered that the signal was blocked and she could not communicate with the outside world using the Walkie-Talkie.
What exactly happened outside?
When the two teams arrived at an underground pipe, they heard a news broadcast on a television above:
"LMC News exclusively reports that an infected group called Rhodes Island attacked the Chernobyl district early this morning. However, they have been stopped by local military police and armed police. For safety reasons, residents are advised to stay home and avoid going out."
Amiya had heard of the Rhodes Island, but she never expected them to be here.
Seeing the drastic change in the city's situation, the ACE captain, who had been acting alongside him, asked in a low voice:
"Shall we continue?"
Amiya learned from Kal'tsit about the Doctor's importance to Rhodes Island. Even though she was currently unable to contact the outside world, she would not give up.
"Have PRTS replan the route! We must rescue the Doctor before the Catastrophe strikes!"
December 23, 6:30 am
Alina escaped yesterday, avoiding the Rhodes Island and the Ursus army.
After walking for more than ten hours, I finally arrived at the Lungmen Border Inspection Station this morning.