Ark, they don't revolve around you

This country is really like frozen soil. Even roots cannot penetrate it and it is only getting more rotten.

Besides, the tundra is too far from the core circle, and Tallulah has a special identity, so it is even more difficult for her to meet Zhuang Ning...

"It's okay." Tallulah looked at him. "Three months ago, the Casimir people approached us and offered to provide grain and weapons. They even revealed information about the Ursus military on the border... Although you didn't say it, this must have been your doing."

Zhuang Ning expressed his assent in silence.

It sounds ridiculous that Casimir funded the Integration Movement, but it was indeed he who made it happen.

Casimir and Ursus are sworn enemies. In the ten Ursus-Ursus wars, both sides fought to the death. For Casimir, being anti-Ursus is politically correct. Why shouldn't we welcome an organization that is hostile to Ursus?

But the road to the tundra is long and difficult after all. Even if the tundra route hosted by the parliament is completed, the cost of funding money and food will be huge. Tallulah knew that Zhuang Ning must have paid a price to persuade Casimir to do this.

Zhuang Ning, however, never spoke up.

He even deliberately stopped Tallulah from revealing that he was involved.

It's not that he doesn't want to be a good guy, it's just that the identity of the Integration Movement is sensitive, and not even a little evidence of this kind can be left behind.

"Shuangxing, what about the Patriot's condition...and what about Alina?" Zhuang Ning asked again.

“It’s all getting better.”

Only then did Zhuang Ning feel relieved.

After the Reunion incident, Mephisto and Faust were placed under house arrest in Lungmen Prison, while Nine, Froststar, Patriot and other officers returned to the Tundra with the remaining shield guards and remnants.

Even if the reputation is ruined, at least the fire is preserved.

He and Froststar occasionally exchanged letters, and before Tallulah was brought back to the tundra, Froststar was his messenger.

"Four years have passed, Tallulah..." Zhuang Ning lowered his eyes with emotion.

In just four years, he has experienced so much.

I was clearly just an ordinary person before, but... could I achieve this?

"Tallulah, let's start the next plan..." Zhuang Ning's voice was like a hoarse and injured beast.

She should have been excited, but looking at Zhuang Ning, she couldn't help feeling sad, and her palm couldn't help but touch the back of his hand.

Gently grasp it, hold it tightly, and the two hands will overlap each other.

There was a warmth on his hand, very warm...Zhuang Ning still didn't move.

There was no resistance, nor any further expression, as if he felt nothing.

Today, the heat has no meaning...

Tallulah bit her lip, wanting to say something, but in the end she could only nod quietly.

She understood what Zhuang Ning meant by the next stage, which was a whitewashing of her and the "Integration Movement".

There is no doubt that during the time when the Black Snake was leaning over, Tallulah did many things that were not allowed.

The overwhelming reports almost characterized her as a conspirator, agitator, and a tyrant. The Ursus officials in particular used the most vicious words against her, portraying her as a demon who could incite the people.

If Zhuang Ning wants the integration movement to improve, these stains must be dealt with.

Fortunately, time can cover up many things, especially since most people are forgetful.

"Tallulah." Zhuang Ning said hoarsely, "Soon, Casimir, Longmen, Columbia, and Victoria will all have reports about you."

"In Casimir, we will emphasize the justice of the Integration Movement's resistance to Ursus. It is the tyranny of Ursus that led to your most extreme choice."

"You will be a leader who grows from peace to maturity, but the Ursus officials deliberately stigmatized you."

"According to the reports in Longmen and Dayan, you devoted yourself to the cause of the infected due to suffering, but time has made you a little extreme. Now you have turned over a new leaf."

"In Victoria, your identity as a descendant of Drake will be highlighted... As a noble, a royal family that has fallen to such a state, the royalists in the House of Lords will sympathize with you, and your actions to help workers and farmers will also win the favor of the common people."

"Colombia, just as we planned, your actions are a rebellion against dictatorship, a symbol of freedom and equality..."

Selective reporting ignores some truths and only focuses on the concerns of a certain country.

It goes without saying that these newspapers will give Tallulah and the integration movement a huge amount of public opinion momentum, and this is just the beginning.

"Afterwards, our people will translate these newspapers into Ursus and scatter them throughout Ursus..."

"Tallulah, the Reunion Movement will be fine. Trust me."

This is the counterattack after lying dormant.

Apart from the support in terms of medicine and supplies, this is all Zhuang Ning can do for Tallulah and the New Integration Movement for the time being.

——And he still felt it was not enough.

"That's enough." Tallulah turned her head away.

She should really be happy, but the more she heard him say that, the more uncomfortable she felt...

None of what he said was out of consideration for himself, and he would never mention to Tallulah the hard work he had put in.

They were once in the closed room of Rhodes Island, and she watched this slightly naive man come up with ridiculous plans one after another.

At that time, the doctor was not so lonely. There was still hope in his eyes, and he was still willing to smile...

Tallulah didn't know what was going on.

All Tallulah knew was that the people who sneaked into her room when no one was around were sighing more and more often.

"I'll do it well..." she said to him, and also to herself.

She is a sinner.

She was destined to burn herself for the rest of her life. She had been thinking this way since she broke away from the black snake.

But this is actually a kind of arrogance, isn't it? After all, she can't even ignite a person's heart...

For countless days and months on Rhodes Island, all they could do was watch the man who came in excitedly step into the abyss little by little.

Since there is no way to stop it, just fulfill his wish.

The doctor said he wanted to go home, so help him and spare no effort.

The two hands were inexplicably clenched, feeling the warmth and coldness passed from each other.

She saw Sora, the idol, begin to sing on the stage, the melody filled with laughter and joy.

—Dear, don’t you know?

——Don’t you know how wonderful life is?

——What will your dream be like?

——If I look into your eyes, tomorrow will welcome you.

——It makes people smile. Life is so beautiful... (Note 1)

Note 1: The lyrics are from "Akira", the Arknights EP by Hypergryph. When I first heard it, I thought it was a song by Showa.

I happened to hear this song when I was writing it, and I thought the lyrics were quite fitting.

After all, life is so beautiful.

Chapter 21: Empty Place

The atmosphere reached a climax, with wave after wave of enthusiastic voices. People's emotions are often easily affected, especially in such occasions.

But his brow, his expression, and his gaze did not change.

Even though he is in such a fanatical organization, his mind remains clear and is not disturbed by external things.

That’s good…

"Let's stop here." Zhuang Ning said calmly to the girl next to him, "Tallulah, you should go."

Tallulah nodded slightly and stood up.

"It should be safe to leave, right?" Zhuang Ning asked her.

"Nine is in charge. She knows Longmen very well."

"Take my greetings to Xiang Jiu." Zhuang Ning smiled, and was also curious about the new leader of the Integration Movement. "If one day, she lets down her guard, we can meet."

"Will do."

Tallulah sank silently into the shadows.

At this time, her steps were very light, as if she was an ordinary person.

She did not attract any attention along the way, and no one noticed anything unusual, until a little flame burned on her fingertips in a deserted alley.

"You can come out now, w."

Before the flames climbed into the darkness, the girl in the shadows finally jumped out, her hands raised high with a helpless look on her face.

"Ah, Chief." W smiled warmly, "It's been a long time."

She seemed to be unaware of the murderous intent coming towards her.

"How did you find me?"

"I used to be a cadre of the Reunion Movement, so I must know something about the inside story... Oh, Chief, don't be so unfamiliar." W smiled, and he had grasped the switch in his raised hands without knowing when.

She herself is a girl who is like a bomb. God has given her too much talent in setting traps and planning tactics.

"How about that." W pursed her lips, raised the corners of her lips, and looked a little gorgeous. "Guess, did I set up the bomb before I came out?"

They were once comrades in the Reunion Movement, but unfortunately, W was a traitor to the Reunion Movement from the very beginning. It was partly her fault that they lost so badly.

But for Tallulah now, nothing matters.

The flames dissipated, and she said, "If you want to find Zhuang Ning, you can go. He is a serious person and he will never leave before the concert is over."

"You talk as if you two are very close, Chief. Have you forgotten that you were defeated by him?!" Another sneer.

w smiled and mentioned that topic deliberately, observing Tallulah's expression.

She saw only stagnant water.

After saying this, not even a ripple was created.

“I see.” Tallulah raised her face, her red eyes reflecting her smug expression, “Wow, you really haven’t changed in these four years…”

"Ok?"