"How is Ms. Alina doing?"
"She's temporarily out of the danger zone, but since she already suffers from Oripathy, it will take time to determine whether this injury will worsen her condition."
Folinic flipped through Alina's medical report and spoke softly. "We've prepared the latest Columbian-developed medication for her. Her Oripathy should remain stable."
"She's a hero. She deserves this much from us."
Loughshinny nodded gently. "The other Reunion members who were with her are heroes as well."
"The medical staff were all shocked," Folinic continued. "Most of them suffered injuries that should have been fatal, yet their physical condition and mental state are still remarkably good. They never gave up."
Folinic smiled, but after a moment the smile faded slightly. "Miss Loughshinny… what about Talulah?"
"She is a criminal. But before that, she is a patient. Fulfill your duty as a doctor."
"I understand."
After Folinic left, Loughshinny fell into brief contemplation. Judging from the current situation, the Reunion Infected still did not know that Talulah had been taken away and were continuing to fight inside Lungmen. Meanwhile, there was still a small pocket of Reunion Infected inside Kursk that needed to be dealt with. With that in mind, Loughshinny contacted His Highness via her terminal.
"Loughshinny, what is it?"
The call connected quickly, and she reported everything that had happened in detail.
In truth, Felix had learned of the Brotherhood's astonishing feat even earlier than Loughshinny. To be honest, watching the players use their lives to hold Talulah back, and seeing Alina and the Infected who followed her awaken Talulah, had stirred something in him. The emotional intensity was undeniably dramatic, but undeniably powerful.
Now that Talulah had been captured, most of Reunion's leadership had either been arrested or brought under control. As for what to do next, Felix had his own plans.
Whether Reunion as an organization should continue to exist was something he needed to discuss face to face with Talulah. He had to know what path she truly wanted to walk. As for the other leaders, Mephisto in particular, killing him outright would almost be too lenient. The troops warped by his Originium Arts were all genuine madmen. Fighting them carried an even higher risk of infection and danger.
Felix had learned plenty about Mephisto's deeds from Yelena. Frankly speaking, executing him a hundred times would still not be enough. Still, he considered first treating the Originium crystallization in his throat, then exiling him to a prison in Kazdel to farm the land. How many years he stayed there would be Felix's decision.
Skullshatterer… he sighed. He had to admit that Talulah, or rather the soul that had occupied her, was frighteningly persuasive. She had drawn countless young children into her command, turning them into fanatics.
Felix did not know the full extent of Skullshatterer's crimes, but the assault on Lungmen's civilians by the caster squads was an undeniable fact. He would not spare him simply because his sister was a pitiable Infected. Someone might pity him, but who would pity the civilians killed by Reunion?
"What are you thinking about?"
After the call ended, Yelena knocked and entered the room. After resting, she looked radiant, her cheeks flushed with color, no trace of her former pallor. Felix stepped forward and placed a hand on her forehead.
"What are you doing? I'm not sick."
Yelena rolled her eyes lightly.
"Your body temperature has stabilized. That's a good sign. You'll need to take your medication regularly from now on."
"…I know."
She responded softly, resting her cheek against his warm hand like a kitten seeking warmth.
"Do you know Patriot's current location?"
After their brief moment of closeness, Felix asked the crucial question.
"Before I left, Father received Talulah's orders. If nothing has changed, the Shieldguards should already be approaching Lungmen."
"…So in the end, Patriot will still come to Lungmen."
Felix shook his head and gently patted Yelena's hair. "Today, work together with Hellagur. The Yeti Squad has just begun Oripathy treatment. It's not suitable for frontline combat today. Leave the reconnaissance to you two."
"Mm."
Yelena rose on her toes and pressed a light kiss to Felix's lips.
"I've always missed the time when we first met and spent those days together."
Yelena smiled as she spoke. "We were both fighting for the rights of the Infected. You had your battlefield, and I had mine. Back then… perhaps we weren't ready yet. We didn't know how to compromise with each other, because we each had our own goals."
"Thank you… thank you for waiting for me here, Felix."
She smiled softly. "I had already resigned myself to death. I thought you and I would never meet again. But… thankfully, there was you."
She gently tapped Felix's chest. "I know you have many bonds, many girls you want to look after. But there has to be a place for me in your heart, understand?"
"Otherwise…"
Yelena bit her lip, then let out a quiet sigh. "I can't even think of what to say anymore. After all, this life of mine was saved by you. Just… do as you see fit."
She snorted lightly, then turned and left with effortless confidence.
Outside the tent, the remaining members of the Yeti Squad were waiting for her. There were two fewer than yesterday. Due to the worsening of their Oripathy, they had been ordered to stay behind in the camp for blood sampling and further examinations. If their data still failed to meet the standards, they would require continued observation and treatment, which also meant they would have to leave the Yeti Squad.
FrostNova felt no particular reluctance. To her, the Yeti Squad's final destination was a quiet retreat into the mountains. Farming, hunting, living simple lives together would be enough. But all of that depended on one premise: that the Infected and the uninfected could truly coexist. Otherwise, the fighting would never end.
"Big sis, you look… healthier than yesterday."
Petrova looked at FrostNova's face with some confusion. That healthy flush of color made her wonder if it was the effect of yesterday's special medicine.
But hadn't the doctors said it was a slow-acting drug? Could it be that Big sis's medication was different, with immediate effects?
FrostNova gave a small nod and smoothly brushed past the topic. "And you? Have you all been taking your medication on time?"
"I did."
"I took it last night. I feel much lighter today."
The Yeti Squad members shared their reactions after taking the medicine. Hearing this, FrostNova's lips curved slightly upward. Felix had told her that all the Infected in the camp would be given the latest medication from Columbia, without charging anything.
Now, as Felix's woman, she couldn't help but think on his behalf. Would doing this cause a financial deficit?
Felix had shown her Tomorrow's Development's profit and loss statement from the past year. The string of zeros behind those numbers had made her dizzy.
This was what Tomorrow's Development was now. Their operators were spread across Terra, in every corner of the land.
"Today, we'll be conducting reconnaissance with Mr. Hellagur to ensure there are no Reunion Infected remaining on the streets."
"Understood."
Big Bear scratched his head. "Boss, if we run into Reunion Infected, should we try to persuade them to surrender?"
FrostNova slowly closed her eyes. "Within Reunion, there are people who genuinely want to fight for the rights of the Infected. There are also those who, once they gained power, turned their blades on innocent people. We'll have to judge that for ourselves."
The group nodded in agreement.
They met Hellagur at the entrance of the camp. The sturdy middle-aged man, or perhaps elderly man, was dressed in Tomorrow's Development's tailored uniform, a long blade hanging at his waist, longer than usual. Several operators had already gathered in front of him. Judging by their attire, they appeared to be from the Action division.
"Seriously… I didn't expect my first assignment to be working with the old man."
A short-haired girl muttered quietly from within the crowd.
"You're here."
Hellagur nodded to FrostNova and the others. "I've already been briefed by His Highness. Welcome to Tomorrow's Development."
"Yes."
FrostNova's reply was brief. She had only heard about Hellagur from Felix. According to him, once Hellagur joined Tomorrow's Development, it was only a matter of time before he would occupy a position comparable to Loughshinny and Anthony. Loughshinny handled administration, Anthony commerce, and the energetic man before her was likely responsible for military affairs.
Though Anthony was no slouch in combat, his exceptional talent in business stood out more.
After exchanging nods, the group set off toward the depths of the slums. Along the way, the streets were eerily quiet. Even the mobs that had once crouched in corners when FrostNova entered the city were nowhere to be seen.
Hellagur spoke as he led the way. "The residents of the slums were evacuated overnight by the Guards Bureau yesterday. They've been relocated to the stations near the border with the Central District. They'll be safe there."
FrostNova nodded lightly.
Along the way, they encountered several Reunion Infected who had fallen behind the main force. Before Hellagur could say a word, the operators of the Action Team surged forward and subdued them. In the ruins, they also found several children trapped beneath collapsed beams, barely clinging to life. The group hurried into action, carefully rescuing these Infected children who had fled from Chernobog.
Hellagur watched the scene in silence. There were already far too many children in the camp. As a father, scenes like this weighed heavily on his heart. In the King's camp alone, there were already hundreds of Infected children, and the number in other camps would only be greater.
What should be done with these children troubled him deeply. Their parents had long since perished in that catastrophe, and even if the war ended, could they truly return to their homes?
Standing from the perspective of Tomorrow's Development, Hellagur found himself unable to make a clear judgment. Though personally invited by the King to join the organization, he believed it was still too early for him to wield real authority or influence over decisions.
He needed more conversations with the King. A quiet voice within him told him that, in the end, the King would reach the same conclusion he did.
"Who's there!"
His thoughts were abruptly cut off. Hellagur sharply sensed someone watching him from the shadows. He drew his long blade in an instant, a soaring edge of killing intent bursting through his attire. With a single powerful step, he vanished from the sight of all the operators, leaving behind a group of stunned faces, mouths agape.
"That person really is… your dad?" someone whispered.
"Uh… yes," came the hesitant reply.
Neon stared wide-eyed in the direction her father had gone. His speed was simply unbelievable.
On the other side, Crownslayer was once again cursing her luck. What kind of monsters were in Tomorrow's Development? Every attempt at observation or spying was detected. The last time she had watched their leader, she had nearly been cut in half. Now she had only glanced at the commander of this action team, and he had already noticed and was racing straight toward her.
He was already right in front of her.
Crownslayer drew the dagger at her waist, despair filling her eyes as she stared at the massive blade in his hand, nearly as tall as she was.
"Damn it…"
On the battlefield, reach was everything. She was a scout, specialized in reconnaissance and assassination. Why did she always run into monsters like this?
She tore off her mask, and a cloud of gray mist instantly enveloped her hiding place. Just as she was about to flee, the flash of a blade was already before her eyes.
Sword light surged, shredding the gray mist in an instant. The tip of the blade stopped at her throat. Cold sweat streamed down Crownslayer's face. Her eyes burned with fury, teeth clenched. Her body had surrendered, but her spirit had not.
"That uniform," Hellagur said calmly. "You're one of Reunion's higher-ups, aren't you?"
"Kuh… why?" she forced out.
"The King said that those in white uniforms are ordinary operators," Hellagur replied indifferently. "Those dressed strangely are the leadership. And judging by you, you specialize in scouting, don't you?"
Crownslayer let out an undignified gasp. The man's gaze was as sharp as his blade.
"Put down your weapon," Hellagur said, his tone unwavering. "For you, this is the best possible outcome."
"…"
Crownslayer lowered her dagger. She pulled her mask back on, her lips moving beneath it. "I understand. Could you put the sword away now?"
"Of course."
Hellagur sheathed his blade. Crownslayer did not dare to flee. She knew that no matter how she tried to escape, the man before her would not hesitate to cut her down without another word.
Without gloves or restraints, the Action Team operators watched as Hellagur brought back a masked woman from the street corner. She followed behind him, clearly unwilling.
Hellagur nodded and briefly explained her identity. Only then did the operators understand.
"FrostNova!"
Crownslayer stared in shock as she saw a former comrade-in-arms now standing among the members of Tomorrow's Development.
Hellagur gave a short acknowledgment. After seeing FrostNova exchange a glance with her, he said, "She'll be placed under the Yeti Squad's custody."
"No problem," FrostNova replied coolly, her gaze meeting Crownslayer's.
Crownslayer.
Do you truly have the right to join Tomorrow's Development?