"In previous counter-insurgency operations, 8th Division never took the initiative to propose a retreat." Tsuchiya Fourth Seat explained, "For the captain to take the initiative to order a retreat can only mean that the situation has reached an emergency where withdrawal is inevitable."
Lin Nan glanced at the unaware soldiers in the distance and asked in a low voice, "But if we retreat, Rust Face what will happen to the enemy troops here?"
"Now is not the time to think so much. Let's prepare the team members for transfer first!" Tsuchiya Fourth Seat turned around and prepared to leave for mobilization.
Lin Nan raised his eyes and looked at the blue-black Hell Butterfly flying above his head, and said in confusion:
"By the way, why weren't all the strongholds equipped with Hell Butterfly before? This thing is so convenient for transmitting orders, so we don't need to separate several teams to go to each stronghold to notify the team to return."
Tsuchiya Fourth Seat didn't even look back:
"It's just a fighting habit. Except when we go to World of the Living to hold a soul burial ceremony, we don't like to carry this thing with us in counter-insurgency battles. Although it is convenient for conveying orders, it never knows how to hide and often exposes our position."
As he said that, he looked back at the Hell Butterfly on Lin Nan's head, and murmured, "After tonight, I may carry it with me every time I go on a mission!"
Under the supervision of Tsuchiya Fourth Seat and Lin Nan, the remaining team members quickly arranged the important materials in the camp and made many simple stretchers to hold the injured.
Only Lin Nan himself has the authority to enter the captain's temporary office, and he can only organize it himself.
It took Lin Nan more than half an hour to classify and package various documents according to categories. These documents were all important documents related to combat deployment, logistics supplies, etc., and not a single word could be left behind.
He had just finished categorizing the files. At the same time, Katori and the accompanying Soul Reaper happened to step into the gate of 8th Division's residence.
Katori originally wanted to order the troops to leave immediately after returning to the camp. But he did not expect that the first thing he saw after entering the camp was corpses covered with white cloth on the ground.
It was only now that she learned about the attack on the camp.
Katori was filled with grief and anger, and shouted the name of deputy captain Nagano:
"Nagano Yasuko! Get over here! Why didn't you report such a big thing?"
The ordinary team members present saw for the first time that the usually easy-going and calm Captain Katori was so furious, and they were all too frightened to speak.
Lin Nan heard the sound and walked out of the captain's office. He happened to meet Tsuchiya Fourth Seat who was running all the way to greet the captain.
Seeing Katori's face flushed with rage, Lin Nan suddenly felt a little unbearable. He stepped forward quickly and whispered in Katori's ear:
"When we were outside and had not yet fully retreated to the headquarters, the station was attacked by a large-scale attack by men in black. The station did not have enough combat power at the time. Vice-captain Nagano and nine other Seated Officer were all unfortunately killed."
Katori was stunned for a moment, looking at Lin Nan with peach blossom eyes in disbelief:
"Dead...Nagano is dead?"
Lin Nan nodded helplessly. "Ukitake and I were also attacked by men in black on the way. Ukitake was unconscious and was sent back to the captain's office first. I went to organize the withdrawal of the remaining strongholds alone.
When we came back, the fighting here at the station was over. I heard that deputy captain Nagano was besieged and died while protecting the office."
Katori was stunned for a while, took a deep breath, and asked Tsuchiya Fourth Seat: "Are you the only one with the highest Seated Officer on the scene? Nagasawa Third Seat?"
Tsuchiya lowered his head in shame. "Nagasawa Third Seat was also killed in the battle."
"Since the enemy is so fierce, why don't you send a message through Hell Butterfly as soon as possible after the war!? If the enemy comes back before we return to our base, will you just wait to die like this?" Katori broke out again.
Others present were silent. Lin Nan pursed his lips and wanted to speak out to persuade, but seeing the situation in front of him, he closed his mouth again.
At this time, Katori is the captain, so he cannot ask for trouble. Besides, there is a saying that the combat quality of the Soul Reaper team members is indeed not very good.
Moreover, I did not immediately think of sending a message to Katori through Hell Butterfly. This scolding was not unjust.
Katori The remaining fire was still lingering, and he laid out the remaining work with his eyes wide open.
There are only five Seated Officer left on duty at the moment. She appointed one person to gather the team members who were still mobile and capable of fighting, and lined up to stand by; the other person gathered the surviving students and lined up to stand by.
There are three remaining Seated Officer, and two of them are responsible for leading people to assemble the trolleys used to load the wounded, corpses and documents during evacuation;
The last person is responsible for organizing the wounded and waiting for the pallet to be assembled to move the wounded as soon as possible.
"That's it, take action now. Within half an hour, I want to see the team set off. Lin Nan, come back to the office with me to collect the documents." After arranging the work, Katori returned to the team leader's temporary office with a frosty look on his face.
Lin Nan looked at Tsuchiya Fourth Seat who was being scolded so much, and smiled helplessly. After a few people nodded to each other, they left and went about their own business.
Back in the office, Lin Nan saw Katori standing in front of his desk with his back to him, without saying a word.
Apart from Ukitake's inaudible breathing, there was no other sound in the room.
Lin Nan slowly came behind Katori, feeling the sadness on her body, and could only tentatively say:
"Um... I have sorted the documents here by category. As long as they are loaded into the car, we can leave at any time; Tsuchiya and I have also arranged other evacuation preparations in advance... Do you want to take a break?"
Suddenly there was a blur in front of his eyes, and he felt a soft touch coming from his chest.
Katori threw himself into Lin Nan's arms, tightly wrapped his hands around Lin Nan's waist, and pressed his face firmly against his chest without saying a word.
Facing this sudden hug, Lin Nan was a little overwhelmed, and he didn't feel complacent at all.
He knows that Nagano Yasuko has been the vice-captain of Katori since 8th Division existed.
According to Tsuchiya's description, Nagano is like a sister in the eyes of Katori. Even though Nagano's combat ability is not strong, she is still responsible for the work of the team.
A comrade whom he had known for at least two hundred years passed away. This was the reason why the first-generation captain remained silent at this moment.
Although she said nothing, Lin Nan could feel that sadness, like turbulent sea water, was constantly washing over Katori's heart, seeping out from every inch of her skin and every pore.
For such a girl who has always shown strength to the outside world, when her close friend passed away and she really felt that she was about to collapse, her only expression was to suppress her emotions and not let herself express them.
If sadness is a turbulent sea, at this moment Lin Nan is willing to let his shoulders and chest turn into tall mountains.
Katori This small boat, which was about to be overturned by wind and waves, needed a place to shelter her from the wind and rain and provide her with a few minutes of stable shelter.
Lin Nan opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He raised his hands, gently put them on Katori's shoulders, and held her in his arms.
After working hard for a long time, he managed to squeeze out a low sentence from his throat:
"You really want to cry, don't you? Then cry out..."
Katori's body immediately began to tremble violently, and tears instantly burst out of his eyes.
She desperately suppressed her voice, and at the same time pressed her face harder against Lin Nan's chest, fearing that her cries would be heard by people outside:
"Nagano is dead..."