Ark Chess Player

"He and Alex are not related by blood. But Black Nugget values ​​him highly and cherishes him." Patriot has a good memory, or rather, it is because of his excellent memory that he is trapped in the bloody memories and cannot escape. "He is doing well and has become an officer. He inherited Black Nugget's gunblade."

“But he’s still a child,” Herag said calmly.

“Yes,” Patriot replied, meeting Hrag’s slightly reproachful gaze directly. “But he is also an infected person.”

"..."

The two fell silent, the air heavy as if filled with seawater, making one feel a weight on their shoulders.

Hiding in the ruins, Guard was also speechless. As an infected person, no one understood the meaning behind Patriot's words better than him.

After a long silence, Patriot spoke first: "I will find out who did it at the clinic. This is unusual."

“No need. With you here, the possibility of Reunion taking the lead is decreasing.” Hrag waved his hand. “After all, it’s not surprising that a clinic that only treats the infected would attract some crazy people. I was prepared.”

"...I don't know. The Reunion Movement is scattered, with many factions, and there are barriers between us."

Patriot slammed his massive halberd into the ground, extended his right hand to Hrag, and said earnestly, "General, you can join the Reunion Movement. Ursus must be liberated. Infected and ordinary people alike, living in equality, must be fought for by our own hands."

"..."

Herag looked at the Patriot's outstretched hand, shook his head slightly, and raised his left hand to point to a building.

"Look, that building pierced by Originium, a dilapidated high-rise. It used to be a shopping mall, and the residents of the surrounding three blocks relied on the department store for their livelihood."

Patriot understood what Hrag meant, silently withdrew his hand, and said helplessly, "The Cataclysm destroyed Chernobog. It destroyed the fortress, the city, and the illusion. I disagree with the way it was done, but it was necessary."

Herag raised his hand and drew a line in the air, vividly describing, "Once upon a time, one end of the colorful lights was tied to the top of its clock tower, and the other end hung from the fence at the crossroads. Every twinkling bulb emitted a warm glow. Children ran around in the mall, and adults followed behind, laughing and telling the children to slow down. Everything was wonderful."

“Infected people do not have the right to enjoy these things,” Patriot said coldly.

"You want the light bulb to light up, while I just want to build another shopping mall. That's the difference between us."

"—You would never have compromised like this before."

"Perhaps. Rhodes Island may not be a bright place, but I have no feelings for this land either."

Guard, who was eavesdropping in the shadows, was startled when he heard a familiar name.

Rhodes Island!?

People from Azazel's Clinic...are coming to Rhodes Island?

Guard pricks up his ears, suppressing his restless heart to avoid revealing his whereabouts in a moment of excitement.

"Ah, I know, Rhodes Island."

Patriot nodded slowly and sighed deeply: "The Reunion Movement has received orders to attack Rhodes Island."

"..."

Guard felt a chill run down his spine, clenched his fists, and pressed his forehead against the hilt of his knife.

Amiya, Instructor Dobermann, the Doctor, and her... How are they all? Will they...? The more Guard thought about it, the more frightened he became, and his heartbeat became erratic.

Herag frowned deeply: "Although I had heard about it before, I don't understand why Rhodes Island would choose to enter Chernobog at this time. They are regarded as enemies by everyone. Why would they risk such a trip under the calamity?"

"Regardless. It's just that I couldn't stop the conflict."

Patriot's gaze swept past Hrag, glancing at the seemingly deserted ruins, and he said slowly, "But I never expected that the winner would be Rhodes Island."

Herag asked, somewhat puzzled, "What?"

"At the time of the incident, I was on the east side of the central city, occupying the armory. I witnessed with my own eyes all kinds of weapons being drawn and bowing down in submission. In the distance, sword light soared into the sky, breaking through the clouds of disaster, and the earth returned to light. As a warrior, I could feel the soul of a swordsman, the ultimate in martial arts."

"Rhodes Island is worthy of your presence, General."

Chapter Forty-Eight: Hoping they can get along well

Guard was somewhat speechless.

When did Rhodes Island develop such a strong swordsman?

Could it be that woman—no, that woman wasn't involved in the rescue plan.

If she were there, infiltration would be impossible; she would probably just wield her greatsword and demolish everything in her path from the heart of Chernobog.

It can't possibly be a PhD, right? Hahaha... uh, it actually seems quite possible?

Anyway, it's great that everyone on Rhodes Island is safe and sound.

Guard rested his forehead on the hilt of his sword and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Rhodes Island, does it have that kind of strength?" Herag asked doubtfully.

“The warriors of Rhodes Island also have a reason to fight. I respect them, so I did not kill those who were in distress.”

Patriot turned to the side, glancing at the makeshift logistics area where the survivors discovered by his squad had been brought.

When Talulah, the leader of the Reunion Movement, was knocked unconscious by the Doctor from Rhodes Island, the Patriots volunteered to take charge of the area and search for survivors.

He knew what the consequences would be if he allowed a twisted brat like Mephisto to take charge of the central city of Chernobog, especially the people of Rhodes Island would be held responsible.

At this moment, two Rhodes Island operators, who had been separated by the natural disaster, have regained consciousness from minor injuries and are assisting Patriot soldiers in treating others in the logistics area. They were not coerced, but rather volunteered to help rescue people, whether civilians or infected, at the Patriots' suggestion, with a mixture of belief and doubt.

“General, when you leave, please take them with you. I will have my soldiers escort you out of the city. No one can stop you.” Patriot turned around, looked directly at Hrag, and said in a deep voice, “I promised them that I would not force them to stay unless they wished.”

"...Your style remains unchanged. However, if your leader challenges me, I won't make things difficult for you."

"No, General."

Patriot thought for a moment and said confidently, "She's still unconscious."

"Ok."

Now that things have come to this, Hrag had nothing more to say, except that his impression of Rhodes Island had become even more blurred.

How could a pharmaceutical company have a ruthless person who can withstand natural disasters... But then again, if a former general can open a clinic, then it's not a problem for the leader of a pharmaceutical company to be a king.

"patriot."

"General, please speak."

"Answer me, is this war justified?"

"Of course. Our war is just. Otherwise, countless sacrifices would be meaningless. General, we all know the real answer."

Hrag fell silent, seeing another layer of meaning in the Patriot's reply.

Starting a war is never just.

Massacres caused by natural disasters are certainly not the right thing to do.

However... those infected no longer have time to choose.

For those infected, hell might be a little warmer and more comfortable than Ursus.

When infected people appear on the streets, anyone can physically attack them. But the infected people cannot fight back. Even if some people with a conscience cannot bear to watch and seek help from the military and police, the first thing the military and police do when they arrive is to use batons to knock down the wounded infected people, tie their hands and feet through thick protective gloves, and drag them away by the back of a car.

No military or police personnel will ever inquire about the details or reasons behind the incident. No matter how hysterically the person seeking help shouts, the infected person will not receive fairness or justice.

This was a relatively mild approach in recent years. In the first two years after the new emperor took office, blood shrouded the empire, and countless infected were escorted to Originium mines, where they could die at any moment. This warlike, world's leading war power was far more ruthless when it turned its guns on its own people than on foreign invaders. Many innocent people died unjustly, falsely accused of being infected and executed on the spot. After death, who knew whether they were truly infected? No need for autopsies, no need for verification; they were sent directly to the graveyard.

The endless darkness drags the infected into despair.

Whether it's Patriots or Helag, those who once stood on the sidelines deciding the course of a war actually knew the truth in their hearts.

What infected people need is not to huddle together in the shadows for warmth, to lick each other's wounds for comfort. They don't need anyone to tell them that if they just held on a little longer they would see hope, because they have never seen hope. What they need is for the blades that once slashed them to be taken away and returned to them with their own hands.

They need a leader, not a saint bound by morality and conscience, unable to act, spouting meaningless rhetoric that can't convince anyone but himself, a useless bum who knows nothing but platitudes. They need a ruler who dares to shed blood and sweat, with clear goals and a willingness to sacrifice.

Talulah is such a character.

Therefore, the Reunion Movement has grown from a small group of less than twenty people many years ago into the world's largest infected organization, capable of suppressing an entire city.

Even if the ultimate fate of the Reunion Movement is destruction, they are willing to accept it, but they cannot fall before a second "Reunion Movement" emerges.

A single spark can start a prairie fire.

"They cannot have died in vain; their deaths must have meaning."

Patriots stand tall and straight, like unyielding swords and halberds, reaching for the sky and standing firm on the ground.

"I fight for the Infected. I fight for Ursus. I oppose the Empire. Not the land, not the people, not Ursus itself."

"If it was the Minister of Medicine who caused this situation, he would be the enemy."

"If it was Parliament's doing, we will overthrow Parliament."

"If it's an army, create conflict and destroy the army."

"In the past, Ursus was a just war; now, for the infected, war is just. I fight for justice. Justice will always belong to Ursus."

Patriot's voice was broken and intermittent, but the weight of his words was still palpable, and his profound conviction resonated in the hearts of every listener. Hrag felt a pang of regret; if Oripathy hadn't infected his throat, the Reunion Movement would likely have had a completely different face.

Words are always a power.

Guard leaned against the ruins, his eyes filled with confusion, but he could sense the patriot's unwavering will.

Is the Reunion Movement really as he originally thought?

Pure thugs, destroying the city, slaughtering civilians, letting natural disasters sweep through the city, and utterly wicked.

What if there's a misunderstanding?

Not all infected people are good people, and not all ordinary people are bad people.

Guard clenched his fist, making up his mind.

He wanted to verify it himself and see for himself.

You should know that the doctor once praised him as someone with potential.

—If Guard knew that Lin Lu once praised Melantha's potential as a thousand times that of his, I wonder what he would think.

"General, the Reunion Movement is always open to you."

Patriot once again extended an invitation to Hrag, even though he already knew the answer.

As expected, Herag slowly shook his head.

“My war is over. I have no connection with Ursus anymore. Everything has faded with time. I no longer care about this country as much as I used to. Forgive me, but the one standing before you now is just a spineless coward.”

"No! No, you are not."

This is the loudest roar a patriot has ever made.