"What is the status of the battle on your end, Second Lieutenant?"
Hearing these words, the man wearing the rank of Second Lieutenant began to struggle violently. Muffled sounds escaped his gag as if he were trying to scream, but he was unable to speak. The man looked at Talulah with pleading eyes, desperately signaling that he wouldn't leak anything—that he would even help them bluff their way through if she just let him talk.
"Second Lieutenant? Second Lieutenant! Dammit, are you even listening to me?! I told you to remain in the command center at all times and wait for my orders! Do not leave your post!"
The man on the other end of the radio was losing his composed demeanor, barking orders at the so-called Second Lieutenant in a fit of irritation. The officer on the floor could only wriggle like a maggot, silenced.
At that moment, with Talulah's help, Patriot finally managed to squeeze into the bridge. Carefully avoiding the low-hanging equipment above, he stood before the console and listened in silence to the scolding from the other side.
"Useless fool, give me the microphone! Then get back to where you belong!"
A majestic, authoritative voice rang out from the speaker, followed by the sound of shuffling. A moment later, the microphone was handed over, and the voice returned, now directed elsewhere:
" Buldrokkas'tee, Patriot... it is you listening on the other side, isn't it? Excellent. My prediction was correct; this fool was never your match."
Hearing the hint of joy in the voice, Patriot remained wary. He couldn't tell if this person was a friend or a foe, and he suspected a trap designed to lure him into speaking. He maintained his silence.
"Wonderful. The fact that you are safe means there is still hope for Ursus! Lord Patriot, you must not hand over the intelligence in your possession. I will send men to bring you directly back to the Imperial Capital! Finally, the future of Ursus is saved..."
Suddenly, a cacophony of noise erupted on the other end—the sound of the previous officer trying to interfere, a brief, violent struggle, and the faint thwip of a crossbow bolt entering flesh... until finally, only heavy, ragged breathing remained.
Everyone on the bridge could guess what had happened. They had supposedly intercepted something so vital it caused the mastermind to turn on his own, a treasure that could "save Ursus." The man at the microphone was likely an undercover agent who had now been mortally wounded just to deliver this message.
The drama was high enough for a spy thriller. The sounds of the struggle and the body hitting the floor didn't seem staged.
"Who are you? This 'intelligence'... what is it? Why do you say it can... save Ursus? And why... help us?" Patriot finally asked. What truly resonated with him was the man's passionate cry that the future of Ursus was saved. Had his country been facing some hidden catastrophe? If saving Ursus could change the fate of the Infected... for a moment, the hope he once held for his nation flickered back to life.
"I am but a nameless soldier who once had the honor of fighting by your side... a wretch who wishes to rebel against the corrupt noble houses. I admired your valor on the battlefield and believed a hero like you, who sacrificed everything for Ursus, should never be treated this way... cough, cough, cough..."
The voice grew fainter. It was clear his wounds were severe; if he let out his breath, his soul would surely return to the flag of Ursus.
"Remember my words! Not long ago, when you rescued the Infected from the mining districts, there was a mine with a massive warehouse! Inside... cough... you must have found a document! It is evidence of the nobility's treason..."
Talulah's heart skipped a beat. To think they sent a landship specifically for those papers! Did that mean... her actions had indirectly caused the massacre of the villagers and put the Guerrillas in danger?
"Our people will come to meet you! You must find a way to stay safe..."
"There is no need. That item you speak of... we do not have it. When we arrived... there was nothing left. Your sacrifice... has been in vain." Patriot interrupted. He did not give the man a beautiful fantasy before death; instead, he shattered it with the cold reality.
After a moment of silence, broken only by the man's coughing, he asked in disbelief: "How is that possible? They said... cough... the items were in the hands of the Guerrillas. That is why I endured the sight of these madmen slaughtering innocent civilians... how could it end like this!"
"Whether you believe it or not, we never obtained the... intelligence. In that mine, we didn't even find a grain of rice. Before we arrived, it had turned to... ash." Patriot stated again, making it clear there was no salvation to be found here. On the other end, the man began to whimper, which quickly escalated into a full-blown wail.
Hearing a hardened soldier sob like that made Talulah's heart ache. Although she hated the nation of Ursus, she held the highest respect for such a loyal soldier. Just as she was about to step forward and tell him the documents were actually with her, Patriot spoke again.
"Your sacrifice is not... meaningless! I now know... such intelligence exists. We will do our best to find it... and use it to save Ursus! Rest easy. You are a warrior of honor. Ursus will... not forget you!"
The man's crying softened. He grew calmer, though his voice was now a mere, trembling whisper.
"Thank you... Mr. Patriot! I have always believed the tomorrow of Ursus will be... more and more beautiful! My sinful life is about to fade... before I die, I have one last request..."
Talulah listened with sorrow. Soon, a soldier who loved his country like a lover would reach the end of his path. Tears even welled in her eyes. Like the Shieldguards around her, she remained silent, secretly deciding to tell him the "good news" that the intel was safe.
"Speak. I am listening," Patriot said, his voice flat and calm, perhaps numbed by the countless soldiers he had seen off.
"I wish... I wish that you... could turn into the most beautiful fireworks on the Ursus tundra, along with the landship Varyag!"
Talulah: "...!!!!!!!!!"
You bastard, you actually played with my feelings!