Rhodes Island does not exist.

—That's right, the Alyosha who disappeared earlier is still living in a maintenance pipeline somewhere unknown, and in the days since he disappeared, several more victims have appeared.

This is why the demand of those refugees was expanded to include "eliminating the integration movement".

However, the current situation has come to this.

Unless more radical events occur, the current conflict will not be catalyzed.

That's what the doctor just said.

He wanted to salvage the situation before the conflict fully erupted and the contradictions became irreconcilable.

That's right, even now, he still thinks he can save everything.

"Hopeless, absolutely hopeless."

Walking down the corridor outside the command center, W had a gloomy smile on his face.

She knew the doctor was right.

But she also knew two things the doctor hadn't mentioned.

First of all, Rhodes Island is now facing a resource crisis. From food and water to medicine, everything is rapidly depleting.

She didn't care about the other operators, but she herself hadn't eaten for almost two days, and water was only used to the bare minimum to sustain her life or moisten her lips.

Although she has now received a can of drinking water from the Doctor, which has eased her symptoms somewhat, what about the other operators?

Secondly, given that even Rhodes Island operators themselves are struggling to obtain adequate daily supplies, the refugees' situation is only worse. That's why they attempt to seize the observation tower, hoping to gain access to the vast resources stored within.

But this was a mistake.

It couldn't have been a worse mistake.

In W's own words, they crossed the line.

Just like the minefields on the battlefield of Kazdel, although the Sarkaz mercenaries have never had much of a concept of morality and righteousness, some kind-hearted guys will still put a thin line in front of the minefield to warn people who are not involved in the battlefield.

So, what if you see that line but still choose to cross it...?

I've seen far too many people like that.

There were so many pieces of corpses blown into the air that she couldn't be bothered to count them.

And now, what the refugees are doing is precisely this kind of "crossing the line".

So, what constitutes crossing the line?

—To be an enemy of Rhodes Island.

The refugees did what even the prisoners of the Reunion Movement dared not do.

Controlling the observation tower is essentially a form of hijacking Provence, which is Rhodes' messenger of natural disasters.

However, w can understand this behavior.

After all, those refugees must have been starving and delirious.

She had heard that in those regions ravaged by great disasters, desperate inhabitants would even resort to cannibalism. So, since humans in dire straits could betray even their own family, it was not surprising that they would turn their anger towards their benefactors.

"This group of people chose a path that was destined for self-destruction."

W loaded the last bullet into his Originium launcher and walked towards the elevator with a smile.

It was wrong of them to occupy the observation tower on Rhodes Island in order to survive.

Threatening Rhodes Island operators with their lives is wrong.

Negotiating with Rhodes Island... is making a mistake on top of a mistake.

-

"Ding."

The elevator doors on the eighth floor opened in complete silence.

This place should have been filled with endless noise and clamor, playing a fierce rhapsody together with the Originium dust outside the window.

But now, only Originium Dust's solo is repeatedly tapping by the window, like the drummer in the band who's holding the team back.

"Are you... Doctor?"

The guard operative standing by the elevator raised his tired eyes and recognized the newcomer.

"It's me. You should continue to rest and conserve your energy." The doctor stopped his luggage, indicating that he didn't need to make any unnecessary movements.

"But Doctor, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be...?"

"Don't worry about me." The doctor shook his head, put his index finger to his lips, and whispered, "I just came to see everyone."

The doctor's gaze swept over them.

At this moment, the communal hall on the eighth floor is not as lively as it was a few days ago.

Now, only the young children and teenagers from the Integration Movement and refugees remain lying in hospital beds. Some stayed because of illness or injury, while others were too young to participate in the activities of the adults.

About three days ago, after another member of the refugee camp was killed by Alyosha, the conflict between the two sides reached a critical point and a minor skirmish broke out.

Ultimately, the conflict ended with the intervention of Rhodes Island's armed forces, but at the same time it led to a complete break between the radical factions on both sides, making the already distinct two forces even more clearly separated.

As refugee groups launched a major offensive against the observation tower area the day before, the communal ward was emptied, leaving only the group of teenagers and innocent children.

Incidentally, thanks to intelligence provided by an insider in the logistics department, the refugee troops did not use ordinary transfer methods at all. Instead, they used Rhodes Island's hidden maintenance passage and climbed directly from the eighth floor to the sixteenth floor where the observation tower was located.

Their informants in the logistics department had already prepared their transfer route and specific targets, so much so that they completed the transfer with almost no obstacles along the way.

After the refugee groups completed their transfer to the sixteenth floor, the eighth floor became completely quiet.

However, if we have to say, the disappearance of refugees is only one of the reasons.

The scarcity of resources is the biggest reason why they chose to remain silent.

By simply not speaking or doing anything unnecessary, you can avoid extra energy consumption.

Even though they held such beliefs, upon seeing the doctor appear, these distressed and desperate boys and girls still peeked their pale faces out from under the stained sheets and whispered their calls to the doctor.

"You've all managed to hold on," the doctor said with a smile, approaching each of them and spreading his love equally, gently stroking their foreheads with his large hands. "If you could hold on for two more days, perhaps the dust storm would stop."

Unlike their older or predecessors, the doctor did not spread despair, but instead planted in them the belief called "survival".

He hopes to change the mindset of this generation, and then let them convey this change to their descendants and friends, and pass it on forever.

Even if this illusory future has no end in sight.

Even if they might die of hunger or civil unrest tomorrow.

even so.

Even so, he didn't want them to die in despair.

Chapter 178, Chapter 177: The Dawn Front

"Ding."

The elevator doors opened on the fifteenth floor.

W walked out of the compartment with a light step, carrying his high-energy stone launcher on his back.

As the Doctor mentioned earlier, a team composed of many high-ranking Rhodes Island operators is gathering at the safety exit leading to the sixteenth floor, ready to storm the upper floors occupied by the mob.

“Miss W.” One of the operators recognized her and nodded to her.

"Are you all aware of the situation above?" W asked the operator who greeted her directly, "For example, how many people are on the other side, where and what kind of traps they have set up, and other such information."

"I understand the general idea," the operative nodded. "But even if I understand, it won't be of much use."

"Because the separators in the observation tower are in their hands, right?" W sneered and shook his head. "As long as someone else has leverage over you, then whatever you do will be restricted."

“...Yes.” The operator sighed.

"Then why did the Doctor send you all here?" W's curved gaze carried a hint of coldness as he swept his eyes over the operator's shoulder and then over the others behind him. "If you can't do anything, then don't assemble the troops in the first place."

“No, it’s precisely because there’s still something we can do that the Doctor sent us here.” The oni woman wearing an eyepatch stepped out from behind the operator and spoke to W.

"Ah, I remember you, you're Yato." Despite being away on business for a long time, W had no reason not to recognize this veteran operator who had served since the early days of Rhodes Island.

"And your code name is known to everyone." Yato smiled faintly.

"Is that so? I didn't even know I was that famous." W gave his usual strange laugh and slowly walked to Yato's side. "So? Is there anything you can do? The Doctor has already told me all that nonsense about negotiation and setting conditions."

"So, do you think the Doctor will agree to those conditions?" Yato countered.

“Him?” W shook his head. “I’d rather believe he went to lick Theresis’s shoes.”

"—That is, if licking Theresis's shoes actually works." Yato sighed.

"Huh?" W looked at Yato with a strange expression. "What are you saying?"

"I'm talking about what happened to the princess back then." As one of the most senior members of Rhodes Island, Yato still spoke frankly even when facing W, who could make most operators back down.

“If licking Theresis’s shoes could save Princess Theresa, then the Doctor would definitely do it.” She spoke clearly, her words devoid of any personal emotion, simply stating the facts.

The black blindfold covered her eyes, preventing others from seeing what her expression was.

"……you're right."

Surprisingly, W didn't get angry when faced with the topic of Theresa.

After all, the person standing in front of her had the qualifications to bring up this topic, and most importantly, she also agreed with what the person said.

“The Doctor is indeed the kind of person who can do such a thing.” W paused for a moment, briefly putting away her usual smile. “He would never hesitate to give anything to save others.”

“Yes,” Yato nodded, “but this time, the conditions offered by those thugs up there are not what they seem, and the predicament we face is not just theirs.”

“Most of the people who know the inside story have gathered here.” W scanned the crowd in front of him and recognized some familiar faces. “Everyone must understand the resource crisis we are currently facing.”

“That’s why we’ve all held back and haven’t made any moves against those guys on the sixteenth floor.” Yato placed his right hand on his scabbard and sighed. “...It’s not nice to say this, but everyone on Rhodes Island wants to recover the supplies in the observation tower. The current struggle is less about protecting Provence from harm and more about becoming just like those thugs.”

“We just have an extra reason to be called righteous compared to the thugs.” W’s smile returned to her face. “Don’t forget, both Provence and the supplies in the observation tower are the property of Rhodes Island. Our actions are entirely legitimate self-defense, while they are just a bunch of shameless robbers.”

“You’re right, but I still hope both sides can be saved… Maybe it’s because I’ve worked alongside the Doctor for too long and been influenced by his naive idealism.” Yato shook his head with a wry smile.

"The kind of idealism a PhD holds... is not just simple idealism."

W toyed with the Originium explosive detonator in his hand, leaning against the wall and smiling.

"A mere idealist could not possibly build such a towering mobile fortress in the boundless wilderness."

“He may have ideals, or he may be overly kind, but he is definitely not a simple person.” W said, tucking the detonator back into the strap at his waist, then stepped forward and patted Yato on the shoulder. “So, what exactly is your plan? Tell me now.”

-

Eighth floor, Rhode Island Hospital, communal ward.

"Okay, it's okay. Just sleep well like this, and you'll be able to see those fairy tales that are just for you in your dreams."

The doctor pinched his index finger and thumb into the shape of a bird's beak, gently pecked the head of an infected child, and watched her drift off to sleep.

He sat on the edge of the mottled bed, an old, tattered Ursus storybook lying quietly on his lap.

He has been telling this little girl bedtime stories since just now.

And now, the little girl is sleeping peacefully.

"Um... Doctor." A passing medical operator approached the Doctor hesitantly, looking somewhat troubled, and said, "I've heard about what happened at the higher-ups. Is it alright if you don't handle it?"

"I'll stay here." The doctor smiled gently and nodded to the operator. "Even if I went there now, I wouldn't be of much use. It's better for me to stay here and do my job as a doctor."

“The children will definitely thank you,” the operator replied with a smile, but the anxiety on her face hadn’t disappeared. “I’m just worried about what will happen if you don’t go…”

"Oh, sorry, I'm on an internal line."

The doctor pointed to the communicator with the green light on next to his ear and made an apologetic gesture to the operator.

A crackling sound indicates that the communication network is connected.

"Miss W has gone to the fifteenth floor." A familiar voice came from the communicator.

"She still went... But with Yato and the others there, W shouldn't cause any trouble," the Doctor said.

"Okay, then shall we proceed as planned?"

"Ah."

-

Thank you segment.

Thanks for the blade, thank you.