Hearing Jeanne mention her Wyverns, Patriot understood perfectly how terrifying such creatures could be, especially since the forces currently arrayed against them had no effective countermeasures for aerial threats.
Every nation on Terra had, at one point or another, envisioned an airborne army. However, due to the high concentrations of Originium dust in the atmosphere, all theories regarding the sky remained nothing more than fantasies. Patriot never expected that he would witness the first high-altitude strike in the history of Terra. For a veteran of countless wars, it was a rare stroke of luck to see such a historical shift in warfare.
"I heard you were planning to cooperate with other squads, weren't you? Why don't we use this operation as a test? Besides, it would allow us to leave a portion of our own people behind to protect the village."
At this, Jeanne recalled Talulah mentioning that everyone was somewhat worried—or rather, lacked trust—regarding the integration of other squads. Much like when FrostNova first met Jeanne, the general rule on the tundra was suspicion and guardedness, even among those sharing the same plight.
The best way to bridge that gap was for two groups to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in battle. Facing a common enemy had a way of dissolving the defenses in people's hearts.
"That is a sound idea," Patriot agreed deeply. "This will indeed be a fierce battle. Those willing to fight alongside us are those we can eventually learn to trust."
While Patriot had agreed to Talulah's plan of unifying the snowfield squads, he had no desire to see cowards or opportunists joining their ranks. This battle would serve as a crucible. Whether a squad was there to fish in troubled waters or intended to flee when the going got tough, a single test would reveal their true colors.
"Then it's decided. We'll contact the other squads first to see who is willing to move with us, and then we'll gather everyone for the operation."
Talulah also approved of the suggestion. Though she advocated for taking in all willing Infected, at this early stage of the movement, a screening process was necessary. At the very least, those who fled during the heat of battle wouldn't be executed as deserters, but they would never be trusted with important tasks or the front lines again.
As the preliminary battle plan took shape, Talulah began to worry about another issue: where to put the survivors once they were rescued. The village was already at capacity. It seemed the establishment of a new settlement had to be moved up the schedule.
What a headache, she thought. How is it that on Jeanne's first day back, my to-do list has only grown longer? Talulah felt like she was playing a city-building game where, in the middle of development, a hundred notifications suddenly pop up, demanding tasks be completed within a strict time limit. In a game, someone might just delete the save and restart. Unfortunately, they were in reality; there was no "restart" button.
She could, theoretically, ignore the captive miners and focus solely on development until the new village site was ready. But she crushed that thought the moment it appeared. It was obvious the enemy wasn't even trying to hide their presence—they were waiting for her to discover them and attempt a rescue. It was a blatant provocation. If Reunion didn't act, the authorities might simply bury the miners alive once the excavation was finished. To them, the Infected were an inexhaustible resource.
"Kashchey? Are you there? Are you there?"
Suddenly, Talulah realized that the forces at the mine were undoubtedly connected to the nobility. Her "double agent"—the one residing in the Ursus Imperial court while acting as Reunion's unwilling spy among the aristocrats—might know something. It had been a long time since Kashchey had piped up. What had that chatterbox been doing? Usually, he couldn't go a day without annoying her several times.
"Next time, don't ask if I'm 'there.' Just state your business. Once you're done, I'll decide if I'm 'there' or not."
It was clear that while his recent activities were a mystery, his mood was quite good. Despite nearly having his existence snuffed out not long ago, he still had the spirit to joke around.
Talulah proceeded to describe the location Jeanne had found, specifically the stockpile of heavy weaponry that had no business being in such a remote area.
"So, do you know anything from your end? A situation like this has to be linked to the nobles, right?"
"What are you dreaming about?" Kashchey sneered inwardly. "Do you think those fools would tell me when they're stirring up trouble out there? We were only allies by convenience; I'm not their parent. Why would they report their little schemes to me?"
In truth, Kashchey knew the nobles only cooperated with him for profit. Many of them looked down on him, the "Wicked God," from the bottom of their hearts. He guessed this was a small move by those who didn't want to align with him—a plan to let Talulah's forces stumble into an unexpected trap and suffer heavy losses. They hadn't expected Jeanne to stumble upon it by pure chance while driving back. It was simply a twist of fate.
"I see. Then I'll have to send my own scouts. But seriously, what have you been up to? You've been so mysterious lately."
"Hunting!" Kashchey ground out the word through clenched teeth.
As a vengeful spirit, he could hold a grudge for years—he'd been obsessed with Wei Yenwu for decades simply for being kicked out of a city. This time, someone had threatened one of his most precious possessions: his own life. The only reason he hadn't slaughtered the offender's entire household that very night was that his temperament had "improved" slightly.
"Thanks to Jeanne's 'gift,' we finally have enough evidence to arrest that particular noble. And since that fellow is on the absolute fringe of the aristocratic faction, he's the perfect whetstone to test my blade." Kashchey didn't bother hiding his murderous joy.
"You killed them?" Talulah asked, fearing he'd wiped out the family just like he used to do to his political opponents. Then again, neither side in this conflict was "good," and she didn't care how bloody their infighting became. She loathed the nobility—especially those who trampled on human life so casually.
"How could I? They're currently being interrogated! You have no idea how 'exciting' the situation in the St. Chrysosburg court is right now!"
The nobility clearly didn't intend to back down. Accustomed to the Emperor's historical concessions, they were currently bickering and stonewalling the throne. Even with concrete evidence of the crime, they found every excuse to demand the noble's release. Simultaneously, they were busy bribing interrogators, hoping someone would "accidentally" use too much force and kill the prisoner. Their goal was simple: ensure the Emperor never learns what the prisoner knows. Even as a fringe member, he was a tool they had used, and tools could be dangerous if they talked.
"Is that so? Then I wish you a pleasant time playing in St. Chrysosburg."
With that, Talulah cut off the connection. she had zero interest in their power struggles. However, the fact that the Emperor and the pro-war nobles were locked in a tug-of-war over a prisoner was good news for Reunion. At the very least, they wouldn't have the energy to focus on the tundra, giving the movement a precious window to develop.