"The elderly and children are already being evacuated."
FrostNova pointed to the map. "To the locations we planned—those thirty-odd captured mines."
"Winter has fully set in on the tundra, and with war imminent, those nobles won't be sending anyone to restart the mines anytime soon, no matter how much they love money. They'll wait until we are annihilated before making a move."
This was standard experience for the Guerrilla. In the past, whenever they took a mine, they would execute the overseers and guards; rarely did anyone survive. The nobility wouldn't immediately send replacements because the risk of the Guerrilla lingering nearby made it a waste of resources.
"So, the six thousand elderly and infirm we've taken in can be temporarily moved to those mines. We've left plenty of supplies there. Our base's location is clear; those warships won't go hunting for stragglers until they've crushed us."
"If the battle goes well, we'll bring them back. If not..." She turned to Xia Yu. "Doctor, Alina, you are responsible for protecting the children. I'm leaving them to you."
"Help the children survive."
They claimed they wanted her to lead the children to safety, but it was a transparent excuse to push her away. They didn't want her involved in a brutal war.
"I will," Xia Yu nodded, glancing subtly at Talulah.
She wouldn't reveal her plan here. The Black Snake was listening.
"Then we're counting on you," FrostNova and the others in the tent sighed in relief. They had been deeply worried the doctor would refuse to leave.
"Once the children are at the designated outposts, the soldiers we've assigned will return to rendezvous with you. At that point, the Ursus military's logistics and supply lines are in your hands."
"Don't worry," Xia Yu replied with a faint smile.
Logistics? To hell with logistics! I certainly won't be going there.
"Then, it's our turn to fight," Patriot looked at the map. "Where is the Ursus military?"
"Expected to reach the southern town tonight, about a hundred kilometers from us. They'll launch their attack after reorganizing there."
A shieldguard captain frowned. "We only have one night left."
"And our strength?" Talulah asked. She had been busy raiding mines recently and hadn't kept up with the specific numbers.
"About ten thousand," FrostNova answered. "We've been evacuating people in stages, and with five or six thousand elderly leaving today, these are the only ones left to fight."
"Sounds manageable," Talulah smiled. "According to the intel, excluding the crew operating the warships, the Ursus army can only field about ten thousand soldiers for the ground melee."
"In a formal war, the accompanying infantry for ten warships should be much more than ten thousand," Patriot said, his brow furrowed. Having fought in the Ursus military for years, he understood their doctrine. "The behavior of Ursus is... awkward."
"If they look down on us, why send ten warships? If they take the Infected threat seriously, then ten thousand soldiers are far too few. If the Guerrilla splits up and flees, ten thousand men are nothing in this vast tundra!"
"I truly cannot fathom the intent of Ursus."
The battle-hardened veteran racked his brain but could not find an answer.
Xia Yu, however, knew exactly what was happening.
Kashchey couldn't actually allow the Infected to be wiped out; otherwise, how would he proceed with his grand plan? The ten warships were to ensure the Infected's resistance was crushed, allowing him to dismantle Talulah's psychological defenses. The ten thousand soldiers were a deliberate shortage, giving the Infected a chance to escape. The more who fled, the better; once he seized Talulah's body, those escapees would become the power at his fingertips.
It was a meticulous calculation. Patriot couldn't see it because he was trapped inside the game with limited information.
"Regardless, we meet the soldiers with generals and water with earth," Talulah said. Even if she didn't understand, she had to stand her ground. "Powerful warships and weak infantry—this is undoubtedly our best opportunity."
"If we can break the majority of their infantry, the ten warships will lose their reaching claws. Their naval guns cannot destroy the town's core framework; they'll only be able to stare at us in frustration."
"In that case, the tunnels we dug earlier will be useful," FrostNova said excitedly. "If we can avoid the shelling and get close to the ships, we might even seize one!"
"Those soft Ursus soldiers are no match for the Guerrilla. With Father leading the boarding party, we can definitely take a ship!"
"Don't be too optimistic, Yelena," Patriot shook his head. "Though we can deploy ten thousand armed soldiers, excluding our thousand Guerrilla veterans, the quality of the others is concerning."
"A month or two ago, they were slave laborers living in hunger and cold, their bodies ravaged by Oripathy. Even after two months of recovery, their physical constitution cannot compare to regular Ursus soldiers."
"And that's just the physical gap. These nine thousand people have only had a month of training at most. Even if the Ursus army consists of second- or third-rate units, their military discipline will still outweigh ours."
"The only thing our soldiers possess is a blood-deep courage born from the winter tundra and a life of suffering. It is a good thing; an army without courage is just a rabble. But courage alone is not enough."
"Courage cannot bridge the firing range of an Ursus naval gun."
"Capturing a ship requires careful planning," Patriot said solemnly. "If the opportunity arises, I will not hesitate. But until then, any reckless behavior will only bury us."
As they discussed, Xia Yu silently calculated the time.
Yes, it should be enough.
"We should get going," Alina noted the time, then turned to everyone in the room. "Everyone, take care."
"Yes, take care," the group stood up, looking at her and Xia Yu.
"Talulah..." Alina hugged her last remaining family member. "Stay alive."
"You too, Alina. Live," Talulah whispered in her ear. "If things become impossible... remember the letter I gave you. Take the doctor and go to Lungmen."
"...I'll be waiting for you there," Alina's voice cracked.
"Doctor Xia Yu," Patriot stepped toward her, speaking with gravity. "I'm entrusting the children to you."
"I will protect them," Xia Yu nodded with a smile. Yes, by way of total annihilation of the threat.
Amidst final farewells, Xia Yu, Alina, and over a hundred soldiers set out with the children.
★ ★ ★
"...Doctor," Alina spoke up from inside the truck, staring at the pitch-black night sky. "You know, don't you?"
"Are your thoughts correct?" Xia Yu smiled. "Of course I know. You weren't exactly hiding it..."
"Sorry, Doctor, for dragging you into this," Alina said wearily. "You could have ignored us."
She had been taking care of the children throughout the trip, and it was exhausting work. Trying to soothe frightened children to sleep was no small feat.
"If I had no power—if I were so weak that no one would spare a glance no matter how loud I screamed—I probably couldn't have helped you," Xia Yu said seriously. "But I'm this strong. If I can't act according to my own heart, then what do I need this power for?"
"So, no need to apologize. I chose to meddle in this business myself."
"Come with us to Lungmen, Doctor," Alina suddenly suggested. "The tundra... is just too hard to survive in, after all."
"Trust me, when you're carrying this many Infected, it's hard to survive anywhere," Xia Yu said, reaching out and clenching her fist against the night sky. "To live on this suffering earth, you need this."
"A fist?"
"The fist is power!" Xia Yu looked at her hand. "Only by striking out a path with your fists do you have the right to live according to your own will."
Xia Yu really liked that sentiment, though the original owner of that quote—the leader of the Power Gang—was actually the person who trusted his own fists the least, preferring schemes and betrayals.
"You really are different, Doctor," Alina said, looking into Xia Yu's eyes. "I've never seen hesitation in your gaze."
"I have it too," Xia Yu closed her eyes. "I just don't show it in front of you."
"That alone is impressive," Alina sighed. "I can never understand these things."
"Also, Doctor, can I ask you a question?"
"Ask away."
"That day... why did you suddenly decide to stay?" Alina asked. "I could tell you didn't want to get close to us at first."
"Why do you think I did?" Xia Yu asked with interest.
"...Talulah, right?" Alina answered softly.
"You're sharp," Xia Yu nodded.
"Not sharp at all," Alina said helplessly. "It's just that you spent too much time looking at Talulah."
"So, can I ask why?"
"Can't it just be that I didn't want to see the last remaining Draco descend into darkness?" Xia Yu joked.
"But in your gaze toward her... occasionally, there's a... malice I don't understand," Alina's voice trembled slightly. "I don't understand, Doctor."
"I really don't understand."
"Doubtless, you are a good person. You've treated so many patients and offered help to everyone. But Talulah... why..."
"It seems you observe very closely," Xia Yu sighed. "I suspect even Talulah hasn't noticed."
"Of course she hasn't; she's just a fool," Alina said, looking at Xia Yu. "I don't have the talent she and Yelena have to carve out a future with Originium Arts."
"I can only do my best to help the Guerrilla with chores like looking after children. Because of that, I've become extra attentive to people's eyes and feelings."
"Children are the most honest and the ones who need guidance most. I developed this habit over the years."
"And when I look at you, Doctor, you truly make me feel lost."
"You only feel lost because you don't understand this world," Xia Yu said, patting her shoulder. "Do you really want an answer?"
"Yes."
"Then sleep first," Xia Yu pulled the blanket over her. "Even if the truck is a bit bumpy, you should get some rest."
"Tomorrow morning, when the sun rises, I will give you an answer."
"But the tundra these days... is covered in thick clouds," Alina whispered. "There won't be a sun."
"There will be," Xia Yu smiled at her. "Trust me."
Alina looked at Xia Yu, then at the sleeping children, and finally closed her eyes.
Xia Yu watched her and sighed.
'Come then, Black Snake. Let's see if you're truly as shameless and despicable as I think.'
★ ★ ★
Alina was startled awake by the screeching of brakes.
She opened her eyes to find the day had long since turned bright. The children in the truck were also woken by the driver's sudden stop. They were incredibly well-behaved; even in their fear, they only covered their mouths and cried silently. They were children raised in suffering.
"Laval, what happened?" Alina hurriedly leaned out toward the veteran shieldguard in the driver's seat.
"...We're in big trouble, Alina," Laval sighed, reaching for his weapon. "Take the children and run, Alina. Run!"
"We might not be able to stall them for long!"
Only then did Alina realize enemies had arrived. She looked ahead to see five black silhouettes looming in the wind and snow on the wide road.
"Are those enemies?" Alina asked hesitantly. "Only five? A trap? An ambush?"
"No, five is enough," Laval looked at Xia Yu. "Doctor, I'll have to trouble you. We will do our best to stall three of them for you!"
As a shieldguard veteran, he had the privilege of seeing such people alongside Patriot. Even the Captain only dared to say he could win against three—and that was spoken while he was ravaged by illness. It was enough to illustrate the terror of the enemy.
After all, that was the Captain.
The escorting veterans armed themselves, preparing to fight for their lives.
Xia Yu looked at Alina.
"You asked for an answer last night," Xia Yu drew her sword and stepped forward. "Now, I'll give it to you."
"The Ursus Inner Guards aren't something any random nobody can mobilize."
"Surrender," the five silhouettes approached. Their gaze never lingered on the Guerrilla veterans; instead, they all fixed on Xia Yu.
"Your Arts are valuable. Ursus grants you the right to live."
"Tell me," Xia Yu said, donning her helmet. A brilliant smile played on her lips. "If I pluck your heads and toss them to Kashchey, will he find it a pleasant surprise?"
"I'm quite annoyed, honestly. Kashchey really looked down on me, didn't he? Is it really just the five of you? I was prepared to slaughter an entire army."