"The Doctor does not fully trust us yet."
At the Guerrilla's internal meeting, Patriot spoke to the group. "If we were to head to her tent with weapons now, we would only see her holding her staff and armaments in return."
"I expected as much," FrostNova said, glancing at her father. "But... Father, isn't your throat healed? Why are you still speaking with those pauses?"
"Force of habit. Hard to change," Patriot replied, turning his head away slightly in awkwardness.
"Back to business," he shifted the subject. "The Doctor's conduct is understandable. Such caution suggests she suffered greatly in the past."
Patriot took care to mind his tone, avoiding any unnatural stutters.
"Infected aren't all good people," FrostNova noted indifferently. "We've all fought our way through this. I don't think anyone here is that naive."
"Aside from anything else, don't the three scumbags Alina encountered two days ago and the traitors we found before leaving prove the point?"
At this, she looked directly at Talulah. "Doctor Xia Yu must have been betrayed before to be this guarded. We cannot fail her kindness."
"I propose that starting today, we strictly control personnel movement. I can guarantee that after today, some people will see their infection symptoms have vanished and think about leaving us to return to Ursus."
"We cannot let that happen. You all know what Doctor Xia Yu's Arts mean for the Infected. Once word leaks, we won't just be facing Infected Patrols."
FrostNova's expression turned grim. "Those nobles will stop at nothing to seize this power. Look at how greedy they are; the mines scattered like stars across the snowfields and the suffering of the Infected are proof enough. Their greed has no limit."
"Curing Oripathy—how much profit is that worth? It's enough to drive every Infected mad. If they control this power, the wealth would be endless. They will never let it go."
"And the flaw of the Arts—the fact they cannot truly cure Oripathy—isn't a flaw at all to them." She let out a cold laugh. "This power is perfect for them. They can continuously squeeze profit from the Infected, draining them to the very marrow."
"So for Doctor Xia Yu's safety, we must never allow her existence to be exposed to Ursus. If necessary, even if it costs the entire Guerrilla force, we must see the Doctor safely out of Ursus!"
"I don't think anyone would be that foolish," Talulah said, shaking her head. "Everyone knows the disease isn't fully cured. Why would they choose to leave under those circumstances? What if the condition worsens later?"
"Do you still not understand? When I say 'naive,' I'm talking about you, Talulah!" FrostNova sighed and fixed her with a sharp gaze.
Having spent time together, their relationship had grown quite good, but FrostNova wouldn't hold back when discussing such critical matters.
"If I recall, you and Alina dealt with a brat at noon because he was using the Originium crystals falling off his body as toys!"
"If people like that exist, why do you think no one is stupid enough to lose sight of reality and want to return to that wicked Ursus?"
FrostNova shook her head. "Talulah, you underestimate the bitter cold of the snowfields. Not everyone can endure it. Before, everyone gritted their teeth because Ursus left the Infected no way out."
"Now the crystals on their skin are gone. They look no different from ordinary people. If we continued south, perhaps they wouldn't have such thoughts, but we are turning back to the snowfields."
"Someone will surely harbor the delusion that they can blend in as long as they have no visible crystals!"
FrostNova spoke sternly, "We cannot afford the price of the Doctor's existence being leaked. On this point, the Guerrilla will not accept any of your objections, Talulah!"
"Not every Infected is of one mind with us. Don't forget what those Infected under your command did in the north after we left them supplies and the town!"
"Betrayal! They sent our base coordinates to Ursus! And you, Talulah, you're always so naive, thinking they were just seeking a way to live. You let them go."
"In the past, I could tolerate this. A bit of naivety wasn't a fatal flaw. I thought your plan to go south made sense, so we followed you all this way to find a path to survival."
"But now, Doctor Xia Yu has appeared. We cannot let you continue being naive. No matter what, the Doctor's existence is more important than our entire Guerrilla force!"
"Just as I said: if necessary, every one of us must die to cover the Doctor. I won't hesitate for a single second!"
Talulah opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.
Could she say she didn't actually oppose Yelena's plan, but truly didn't believe anyone was that mindless? Thinking of the examples Yelena gave, she wisely shut her mouth.
'Hmph, the Doctor is sleeping in your tent, so you have to sleep in mine tonight. I'll see how I get even then!'
"I've said my piece." Seeing Talulah's submission (not really), FrostNova huffed and tossed a piece of candy into her mouth. "Does anyone else want to—ah! Ptui! Ptui!"
Before she finished, the incredibly spicy taste of the candy slammed into her taste buds. FrostNova had never experienced such a shock. She jumped up instantly, gasping for air, her face turning bright red.
"Did you forget your Oripathy was suppressed?" Talulah instinctively handed over a cup of water. "You still dared to eat that candy."
"I... hiss... I'm not used to it yet... hiss..." With watery eyes, FrostNova took the cup and downed it in one go—Pffft!
"This is hot water?!"
"Uh, sorry," Talulah realized her mistake and said hurriedly, "I forgot! My apologies, I'll go find some ice water right now!"
She was about to run out when Alina pulled her back with a helpless look.
"It's just hot water," Alina sighed. "FrostNova, can't you just use one Originium Art to turn it into ice?"
FrostNova and Talulah looked at each other. The former gripped the cup and activated her Arts. Instantly, frost covered the cup and the temperature plummeted.
"Sigh..." FrostNova took a mouthful of ice water, holding it until the burning sensation in her mouth faded before swallowing slowly.
"Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose," Talulah said apologetically.
FrostNova glanced at her. Well, it's still the same clumsy Talulah. She probably didn't mean to retaliate for what I said earlier.
After all, she was truly naive; she wouldn't seek revenge for that.
"It's fine. I was just stunned by the spice," FrostNova sighed. What else could she do? Just chalk it up to bad luck. "I forgot my condition. I'm no longer that person who couldn't feel much taste."
Hearing this, Patriot's eyes beneath his armor stung. He nearly shed tears on the spot.
He still remembered the day he rescued this child from the mines. She was thin and small, timidly holding his hand. Over the years, Yelena had done so much for the Guerrilla. Her condition worsened sharply with every use of her Arts... she had even lost most of her sense of taste, relying on that homemade spicy candy—which an ordinary person couldn't stand—to feel a flicker of warmth.
As a father, he had been unable to do anything.
FrostNova, still sipping the ice water, suddenly felt a weight on her head. She looked up to find her father's right hand gently stroking her hair.
"Forgive me, Yelena," Patriot's voice was low. "All these years... you have suffered."
"I am an inadequate father."
"What are you saying?" FrostNova was stunned, then quickly lowered her head to hide her reddening eyes. "Didn't we all go through this together?"
The Shieldguards nearby remained silent. On the other side, Talulah and Alina exchanged a look, their hands quietly clasping beneath the table.
They were all each other had left as family.
"Alright, why so sentimental?" Finally, FrostNova broke the melancholy atmosphere. "Everyone's illness is being treated. Isn't that a good thing?"
"Back to the point. If we're going north, we need a place to settle."
"I think that abandoned mobile city is a good choice," Talulah spoke up. "First, it's large and has existing housing. Winter is coming; we can't keep living in tents."
"Second, we captured it before and are familiar with the terrain. It can be easily retaken. It's more than enough to settle our thousand people."
She continued seriously, "And as a mobile city, even if it's abandoned, there's a chance to repair it. If we can fix it, it becomes a trump card regardless of how Ursus reacts."
"Furthermore, we're definitely going to launch a major attack on the mines to rescue our compatriots and obtain Originium ingots. Those rescued will also need a place to stay. With the Doctor's presence, more and more Infected will gather. Ursus won't sit idly by."
"If we build a village, we'll be forced to abandon our home and flee whenever an Ursus fleet arrives. But if our base is on a mobile city, we can take our home with us."
"But what if Ursus sends a fleet to surround us?" Patriot asked. "A mobile city cannot outrun a high-speed warship."
"Then we fight. There's no other way." Talulah's expression was calm. "It's time we gave up our illusions. No freedom is won through compromise and flight. No matter what we do, as long as we continue to grow, we will eventually end up as enemies of Ursus."
"War requires more than just determination," Patriot said slowly, looking at Talulah. "Ursus warships are invincible. Even if I and the Shieldguards went all out, we'd be lucky to ambush and stall a single one. And Ursus warships never deploy alone."
"And do we even have a choice?" Talulah looked up and countered. "Will the Guerrilla stop attacking the mines? Stop saving our fellow Infected? Stop seizing Originium ingots to treat everyone's Oripathy?"
"We can't stop. Since we'll reach that day sooner or later, we might as well prepare early."
Indeed, they had no choice.
If the Guerrilla were the type to give up, they wouldn't have survived twenty or thirty years of wind and snow in the harsh snowfields.
"But we cannot involve the Doctor," FrostNova interjected. "Doctor Xia Yu is kind-hearted and willing to save us Infected, but we cannot drag her down this path of no return because of our ideals!"
"If we can't win... I have one last resort." Talulah took a deep breath, her eyes filled with complex emotions. "I have... some connections in Yan."
She was reluctant to have anything more to do with Yan, but with the Doctor's existence... if the Guerrilla lost, the Doctor shouldn't be caught in the crossfire.
"If things become impossible, I will arrange for people to take the Doctor to Lungmen for refuge. Rest assured, I will stay behind to fight until the very last moment."
"Besides, Yelena, the matter of the Doctor absolutely cannot be hidden," she sighed. "Maybe it works for now, but once we return to the snowfields, we'll inevitably take in more people. With more eyes and ears, and with the Doctor being so conspicuous..."
"It's only a matter of time before word gets out. You call me naive, but I think you're much the same."
FrostNova fell silent. She knew this was unavoidable.
"How about we hide the Doctor's existence for now?" Alina suggested. "Not from our current companions, but by uniting with them to hide it from the Infected we rescue later."
"The Doctor's Arts can be cast without being seen. We can tell them it's the effect of a Prehistoric Relic." She sighed. "I don't know how long we can hide it, but it will buy some time."
"Or simply find an object to pose as a relic for the Doctor to use while casting."
"That's all we can do," Patriot nodded. "Alina, I'll leave this to you. Make sure to explain the stakes clearly to everyone."
"Understood," Alina nodded.
"Now, about that abandoned town to the north," Patriot looked at Talulah. "I recall some Infected chose to stay there. How should they be handled?"
These were the people FrostNova mentioned who had betrayed the Guerrilla, which was why Patriot used the word 'handled.'
"Them... we'll look for them. If any are still alive, they're likely in the mines." Talulah knew Patriot was testing her.
"Those people were fools, thinking they could exchange our location for safety with Ursus. We used the information they leaked to fight a solid war of annihilation and open the way south."
"Would the Patrols—who failed to get a piece of the Guerrilla—let them go? They're Infected too. Would the Patrols be polite? They'll certainly take out their frustration from our ambush on them."
"It's a question of how many of those who stayed behind are even alive now."
Patriot nodded in satisfaction.
That was precisely why he hadn't turned back to purge the traitors; they would pay the price for their own stupidity.
The Infected Patrols were ruthless. Expecting them to be reasonable with Infected... hah.
He had always thought Talulah refused to pursue them out of naive kindness, but she clearly understood the fate that awaited them.
"Next, we will launch a massive assault on the mines to rescue the Infected," Patriot said, looking around. "Ursus won't watch from the sidelines. They'll send at least one fleet to suppress us..."
"Fleet? What fleet?" Just then, someone pulled back the tent flap and walked in, asking curiously, "Why is the atmosphere so heavy?"
"Doctor?!" Alina stood up immediately. "Are you alright? Why didn't you rest longer?"
"Don't worry, I'm fine. I was just tired from overcasting. A few hours of sleep did the trick." Xia Yu smiled at her and sat down beside her.
Only then did everyone notice the Doctor had changed her look. The thick armor she usually wore was gone, replaced by a set of female protective gear that was sleek yet practical. The hood and cloak featured a thin, transparent black gauze-like material, giving her a mysterious air.
Furthermore, this armor produced almost no sound from moving plates, and her footsteps were nearly silent; otherwise, they would have noticed her approach.
"What fleet were you all discussing?" Xia Yu asked.
"We were saying that attacking the mines in the snowfields will draw an Ursus fleet to wipe us out," Talulah said, looking seriously at Xia Yu. "Doctor, it doesn't matter much to us, but we fear involving you."
"Just a few warships?" Xia Yu laughed. "It doesn't matter. Let them come. As for being involved? It's hard to say who's involving whom."
"As for the fleet, let them come. If there are no more than three, I can destroy them head-on!"
The group nearly leaped up in shock.
"Doctor, those are three warships!" FrostNova felt compelled to emphasize.
"Only three warships," Xia Yu smiled slightly. "A small problem."
If you asked why she was so confident, it came from her research over the last few hours.
Truly, she wondered who invented the Elden Ring—it was simply too useful.
Just now, she had discovered a new way to play.
It seemed the Elden Ring could link with the Remembrances in her inventory! This was going to be fun!
While she was full of confidence, a speck of darkness slowly emerged deep within Talulah's pupils.
Arrogant!