Arknights? Yesterday's Arknights!!

"You've really worked hard, taking care of more than thirty children and looking after their food, clothing, and shelter," An Xin said, expressing her appreciation for Alina's difficult situation.

She shook her head. "No, it's not easy for Talulah and those who are responsible for collecting food. I'm just doing what I can."

As they talked, the two walked to a campfire, where, besides Talulah, there were two other figures.

A warrior clad in armor, as muscular as a small mountain, stood before An Xin, who was 1.95 meters tall. As a police officer, he had never neglected his training, but in front of this man, he was no different from an ordinary person.

The other was a tall girl with long, silver-white hair that covered one eye. Her delicate features were marred by a scar, but it did not diminish her beauty at all; instead, it added a unique charm to her.

She kept a cold face, which reminded An Xin of Chen Huijie, except that the two were very different. Chen Sir simply had a sour face, while this girl seemed to have an innate, unyielding melancholy.

Is this Patriot and his daughter Froststar?

Alina led Anxin over and introduced her to the two of them.

"Yelena! Mr. Patriot, let me introduce you. This is our new teacher, An Xin."

"Good evening you two."

Anxin was a little curious about the patriot's race, and Miss Yelena's rabbit ears gave her away.

It seems this father and daughter are not biologically related?

However, we cannot draw conclusions hastily.

He doesn't have a habit of prying into other people's privacy, but the police often observe other people, which is a minor flaw that's neither good nor bad.

“Sit down and have a drink. I’m Bozokasti, and this is my daughter, Yelena.” Patriot greeted him, but the girl named Yelena simply nodded and gave her name and code name.

"Froststar, Yelena."

Anxin and Alina sat down next to Talulah. It was clear that if the Reunion Movement disagreed, Frostnova and Patriot would definitely be united, while Anxin and Alina were directly assigned to Talulah's subordinates.

During these days of the Integration Movement, Anxin has completely figured out the structure of the organization.

While Talulah is nominally the supreme leader, Patriot and Frostnova actually have a high degree of autonomy.

Patriot was a soldier who led the Shield Guard, and everyone called him Captain. Frostnova commands a special forces team called Yetis.

If they do not agree with Talulah's orders, the people below will not agree with Talulah either.

As for the other infected individuals who were actually Talulah's forces, the chaos that ensued goes without saying.

An Xin sat opposite Shuang Xing and couldn't help but subconsciously observe her.

This displeased her.

He noticed this, immediately turned his head away, and looked apologetic.

Fortunately, Talulah had already started talking to Patriot, drawing Anxin and Frostnova's attention away from them.

Patriots raised the most practical question: "Talulah, we can't stay here any longer. We don't have enough firewood or food to support so many people, not to mention consumables like alcohol."

“I know, sir. But it’s safe here. We can rest and recuperate here. Getting food is indeed a bit difficult, but at least no one will die. As long as we manage the food distribution properly, we can hold out for a few more days,” Talulah replied.

Patriot shook his head. "If we keep going like this, we won't even have enough food to move to a new base. We have to leave as soon as possible."

“This…” Talulah paused for a moment, “Sir, I understand your concerns, but if we leave, we will definitely run into the Infected Patrol. I am not afraid of fighting, but I do not want to fight either.”

"So what do you want to do?" Patriot asked.

"During the day, the reconnaissance team discovered an Originium mine. Compared to the military police, I think the soldiers guarding the workers are easier to deal with."

If we can take control of that area, we'll have enough food for at least two months, and we can also save a number of infected people.

What do you think, sir?

Talulah quickly offered a solution, a smile playing on her lips.

Clearly, she had more information than Patriot and was confident that Patriot would agree to her proposal.

Talulah, you've really grown up.

An Xin glanced sideways.

As he expected, Patriot agreed to Talulah's proposal, and the two discussed some details and finalized a plan for a quick raid.

After the two of them skillfully discussed issues of attack, retreat, and resupply, he always felt that they were very familiar with the process, which suggested that the Reunion Movement had done this kind of thing quite often.

Throughout the entire meeting, An Xin didn't get a single word in. The little girl he once had to save had grown into a qualified leader.

However, An Xin didn't feel neglected at all. Being with a gentle and understanding girl like Alina wouldn't evoke that kind of feeling.

I suspect that the woman named Froststar thought the same thing.

By the time Talulah and Patriot finished discussing all the details, it was already very late.

The firewood crackled and popped in the flames. Patriot left first, and it seemed the rest of the conversation would be the three girls chatting about everyday things.

An Xin brazenly stayed behind, intending to discuss the issue of universal education with Talulah.

He briefly explained the plan.

Talulah frowned: "You mean, we go out to fight during the day and continue studying at night?"

"Yes, that's the only way."

“I’m afraid that won’t work. I understand your thinking, but I don’t think the infected will go. Even if I force them to study, it won’t be effective.” Talulah shook her head.

“Really? What if we start with small-scale learning?” An Xin said. “No matter what, only by learning to read can we learn more profound things.”

“I know.” Talulah paused for a moment. “Forcing them to study will only provoke their rebellious nature and make them complain about the reduction in their rest time.”

"Really, is there no other way?" An Xin pursed her lips. "Actually, I think that if you were to organize this team on your own, it wouldn't become bigger or better."

This is already the peak of the Reunion Movement. If we expand any further, you won't be able to fully control the team.

Literacy is meant to help those infected understand what they are fighting for. With a shared belief and a common goal, they can go further.

Talulah, literacy and basic education are essential for an army.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Choice

“I understand what you’re saying, but there’s nothing I can do for now. Could you stall for a bit? I’ll have someone spread the word. I can’t guarantee how many people will volunteer.”

Talulah's expression was serious. Having received Koschei's full education, she naturally understood that the biggest difference between herself and ordinary infected people was that she had her own beliefs.

The source of these beliefs is her education, which enabled her to distinguish between right and wrong.

"Is this the only way?" An Xin sighed.

Even if he and Talulah are acquaintances, this is the best outcome they can achieve at the moment.

To achieve more results, you need to have your own team, or at least become a cadre in the Reunification Movement.

He said, "Thank you."

"Why should you thank me? I should be thanking you instead." Talulah smiled. "You're also thinking about the team. It's me who can't fully support you, and that's my dereliction of duty as a leader."

After listening to Anxin and Talulah's debate, Frostnova seemed thoughtful, and a hint of curiosity appeared in her eyes as she looked at the blond youth.

Is literacy really that important?

She stared at the blond youth.

Anxin was still talking to Talulah about some things, such as the team's organization and how to select the leadership team.

In the world before the time travel, even a child would know the general structure of the Chinese army and understand the importance of a clear system for the military.

Talulah nodded repeatedly, her gaze serious, not daring to relax for a moment. She simply found paper and pen and wrote down some of what An Xin had said.

Although Patriot came from a military background, he didn't care about these things.

His past of being ostracized in the military likely made him unwilling to talk about these things.

By the time Anxin and Talulah finished discussing the team's structure, it was already past midnight.

"It's too late today, let's talk about it tomorrow night." A glimmer of hope appeared in Talulah's eyes.

Many things require a little practice, and An Xin, who came from the police force, helped her a great deal.

At least, before, she would only organize the infected into small teams and assign them different tasks.

Looking at it now, it does seem a bit rudimentary.

An Xin looked up at the moon and nodded. "It is indeed very late, so we'll head back now."

“Okay.” Talulah nodded.

Alina greeted her and then went back with Anxin.

A series of footprints were left on the snow. Before returning to the children's room, Anxin was called away.

"Well, please wait."

He and Alina stopped and turned around. Only then did he realize that the unfamiliar voice belonged to the girl with long white ears.

Alina blinked. "What's wrong, Frostnova?"

"I have some questions for you, Anxin."

Perhaps it was because of her status as a teacher that Frostnova used the word "ask for advice".

"Me?" An Xin was a little surprised. She hadn't said a single word to him during the party.