A Maybach on a rainy night? Talk to my Levadin!

Mephistopheles picked up the notebook, but Faust grabbed him and dragged him to the back.

Talulah took a deep breath.

"Take what you've stolen and leave our camp."

"Aren't you going to give us some food? The environment outside is so harsh, we'll die out here without supplies," the leader began to bargain.

"Then how did you get to the camp in the first place? Don't make me say it twice, get out!!"

Chapter 80 Internal Strife.

The scenario they had envisioned—getting a sum of money—did not materialize, which was clearly unexpected for these infected homeless individuals.

"But everyone else left after receiving supplies. Are you going to treat the infected differently, or are you going to ignore us and let us die?"

The fact that they failed to extort supplies was acceptable to the few members of the group, so the leader began to question them.

"You still have the nerve to mention supplies? We don't even have enough supplies! You..."

Mephistopheles charged again, only to be pulled back by Faust once more.

The veterans of the Reunion Movement have all come from the guerrilla era, and they always show endless favoritism towards their partners who have supported them all the way. Besides, Talulah saved so many people, and these people have violated the organization's rules. Now they dare to ask for supplies, which is really too arrogant.

For the newcomers, the so-called rules and regulations, etiquette and morality are just formalities that hinder survival. What matters is what they can actually get in their hands. They see that the Reunion Movement talks a good game, but after giving them supplies once, they stopped. How can they go back on their word? Wouldn't everyone be left without supplies? They should fight for what they can for their own sake.

The infected people inside the venue were subtly divided into two factions.

Qian, Xun 9 Six Zero 1 ② ⑥ ② ⑦ Mountain Order

"Ah, you've shown your true colors. I knew all that talk about infected families was just a lie to deceive us. You just wanted us to be your slaves. Look, you've only robbed a few ordinary people and this is what happened. I bet you're ordinary people hiding among us infected spies!"

If Frostnova were here, perhaps she would speak up for her, but there were only two children present at the camp.

Talulah's fingertips clenched her clothes tightly. The other person's hypocritical words were like poisoned ice picks, digging into her taut nerves. A wave of scorching heat suddenly surged up from her chest and spread through her veins to her limbs.

She could clearly feel her temples throbbing, and a blinding red light flashed at the edges of her vision, as if a mass of magma was rising up her throat.

The surrounding air began to distort, the previously biting wind suddenly becoming heavy and stagnant. The snow, ankle-deep, was the first to react; the surface ice crystals melted rapidly in the invisible heat wave, revealing the dark brown permafrost beneath. Then, the nearby snowdrifts emitted a subtle yet dense "squeaking" sound, like countless fine needles rubbing together simultaneously, and white snow mist rose with the rising steam, weaving a hazy heat barrier around her.

Such a violent reaction naturally could not escape the eyes of those around them, and several wanderers also began to feel afraid. As the leader of the Reunion Movement, you may not obey Talulah's leadership, but you absolutely cannot disobey her force.

No one would doubt that being hit by a raging Talulah would definitely result in being torn to pieces.

"See? I told you so! You see, they're trying to silence you when you hit a nerve. The Reunion Movement is going to kill the Infected!!"

The infected homeless people naturally became afraid. They shouted loudly, hoping to attract some supporters and use the power of the crowd to make the other side back down.

It's ridiculous, but it's the only thing they can do.

The winners in the survival competition will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

However, no one responded. No one would risk offending the enraged Talulah for the sake of a few of them. Everyone in the Reunion Movement knew what kind of monster lurked inside that seemingly unimpressive body.

"Tallulah!"

A scream caused the heatwave surrounding Talulah to abruptly stop.

A young girl dressed in a simple, worn-out long dress ran up to Talulah's side. Her slender fingers, cool from the outdoor air, pressed firmly on Talulah's burning shoulders. Her knuckles turned white from the pressure, and a small patch of red, frozen skin was visible through the ripped cuffs, yet she didn't flinch from the intense heat: "Talulah, calm down."

These four words are like ice cubes thrown into boiling water, carrying an undeniable firmness.

Talulah's shoulder muscles, which were originally as taut as a red-hot iron, surprisingly relaxed slightly the moment they were pressed by those cool hands.

Her almost shattered rationality slowly returned upon hearing Alina's voice. She turned her head, looking at the girl's worried face. The grievances, anger, and helplessness she had forcibly suppressed surged up, swirling in her throat. She opened her mouth, her voice hoarse as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper: "Alina... I..."

“You don’t need to say anything more,” the girl interrupted Talulah, slowly walking up to her and facing the infected homeless people. “When we created this organization, we did say that we wanted to create an organization that would allow all our infected compatriots to live normal lives.”

"But as we've said, as human beings, there are things we should do and things we shouldn't do. Perhaps before joining the organization, you've lived all sorts of lives and had your own lifestyles. However, when joining a new place, you must learn to abide by the local rules. This is common sense that everyone possesses."

"The surrounding villages are a vital channel for our organization to exchange supplies with the outside world; you could say they are our food lifeline. However, because of your actions, one of our important food routes has been severed, and everyone will face the reality of food shortages in the future. And the price for all of this is that basket of potatoes and bread in your hands."

Alina's few words instantly changed the atmosphere in the camp. Although they couldn't understand other things, they understood that they would have less food. Obviously, when they heard that it was because these people were starving in order to get enough to eat, their original emotions changed from support to hatred.

"You're a beast! You've ruined everyone!"

"Damn it, what are we supposed to do now?!"

"This bastard actually dares to ask for supplies! The leader is really giving you a lot of face!"

The camp was instantly abuzz with excitement. When it came to their own interests, things suddenly became much simpler, and the infected people present couldn't wait to snatch the supplies back from their arms.

The group of people, who had suddenly become the target of everyone's condemnation, huddled together, looking around in panic, never expecting that the situation would suddenly take such a dramatic turn.

"Everyone, calm down," Talulah spoke, silencing the commotion. "We are, after all, compatriots. I do not wish for compatriots to fight each other. Let them leave... and never let them come back."

"Yes, get out!!"

"Get out of here!"

The atmosphere in the camp was electric.

Amidst shouts of anger, the vagrants slunk away, clutching the stolen food. Their faces hardened as they looked at Alina standing before Talulah.

He almost succeeded... that damn woman...

Chapter 81 It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early.

The homeless infected individuals were eventually driven out.

Back at the camp, Talulah's palms had long since cooled down, but she still held Alina's hand tightly and refused to let go.

"Alina, is your hand alright?"

The canvas of the rough tent was lifted by the evening breeze, revealing a straw-covered ground inside. Talulah pulled Alina to sit down by the fire, and in the flickering firelight, she carefully examined the hand that had just been on her shoulder—the fingertips were smudged with dirt, and there were several small scratches on the back of the hand, probably from being caught on thorns while running through the bushes. What alarmed her even more was the abnormal redness on the knuckles of the palm, marks from being burned by the high temperature.

Her fingertips gently brushed across the reddened skin: "You shouldn't have rushed to my side like that... The temperature at that time was enough to burn you."

"Our little tower has grown up and is starting to learn to care about others?"

Alina laughed and joked, seemingly unconcerned about the injury on her hand.

"Alina!!"

Talulah's voice rose slightly: "You...you know what I'm trying to say."

“I understand, little Talulah, I’ve always understood,” Alina gently stroked Talulah’s cheek.

"Little Tower, as a leader, you must learn to control your emotions and not let them control your thinking. This is exactly what Black Serpent wants to see you like this."

"I'm sorry... Alina..."

QQ: 81 49 03 7 98

“Stop saying sorry all the time. We, Talulah, are hardworking leaders, aren’t we? Alright, don’t just sit here. Those vagrants have plundered the village, and the nearby villagers will definitely report it to the patrol. You must go and lead a patrol as soon as possible; we can’t let the news get out.”

Work is indeed the best way to eliminate chaotic emotions. When you're busy, you don't have time to think about anything else. Hearing Alina's words, Talulah also realized the seriousness of the current situation.

"I understand. I'll go find someone to increase the patrol area right away. You wait for me at the camp."

Thinking about the potential crises in the camp, Talulah couldn't sit still any longer. She grabbed her greatsword and hurriedly rushed out.

Before Alina could react, she felt a gust of wind whistle by, and suddenly she was all alone, with only Talulah's words slowly melting away with the cold wind outside the fireplace in the tent.

She couldn't help but chuckle, "Oh... Little Ta, you're still like a child."

Slowly standing up, brushing the hay off her clothes, Alina picked up her basket: "Little Ta is working so hard, I can't just stand by and watch."

Food shortages at the camp were almost a certainty, so I had to do my part.

She had helped several children in the villages learn to read before, so if she went to help them trade some food, she probably wouldn't be kicked out...

Because of the previous infections among the homeless, Alina couldn't go to the nearby villages, so she had to go a little further to exchange for food.

She is well-liked, has a quiet temperament, and is not aggressive. Ordinary villagers are quite willing to communicate with her.

……

Alina's fingertips were red from being rubbed raw by the rough linen when she stuffed the last piece of potato into the bag.

To get this food, she practically emptied her pockets of everything of value she had—a copper button she'd taken from her old coat, a few bundles of dried herbs, and a straw rope she'd spent half a month weaving. After haggling with the villagers for a long time, they reluctantly pushed a small bag of black bread, half a bag of potatoes, and a few handfuls of dry, hard oatmeal onto her.

She weighed the portions: the black bread was enough for the children's breakfast, the potato soup would last for two meals, and the oatmeal soaked in snow water would fill their stomachs. The little ones at the camp who were always complaining of hunger could finally eat their fill for two days without worry.

Alina couldn't help but smile, and her steps became lighter. She walked towards the camp through the thin snow, the hem of her tattered long skirt sweeping across the snow and making a soft rustling sound.

She even hummed a nursery rhyme she had heard as a child, the tune a little off, but her joy was palpable.

This sense of ease and anticipation came to an abrupt end with a crossbow bolt stuck in the ground.

The crossbow bolt, planted squarely in front of him, is both a warning and a notification.

Sure enough, several infected homeless people dressed in tattered clothes slowly emerged from their hiding place, one of whom wore a particularly eye-catching red knitted cardigan.

"Is it you?"

Alina tightened her grip on the basket, watching the approaching group with wary eyes.

"That's right, it was us. When you kicked us out before, did you ever think about this now?"

The leader of the wanderers approached Alina, brandishing his knife.

"Your camp isn't giving us supplies, so if we want to survive, we have to rely on scavenging ourselves. Who knew we'd run into you? This is really... we can only blame our bad luck."

He stretched out his arm: "Give me the things."

Alina was unwilling. These things were the children's hope. What would happen to the children if she handed them over?

"Why are you doing this?"

"Didn't I make it very clear to you? We just want to live. I don't eat people, but people want to eat me!"

"We could have gotten the supplies and left, but it's all because of you! You've forced us to wait in the freezing cold for people to rob us! We only killed a few ordinary people, and you're kicking us out?"

"Bring the things here!"

Alina continued to retreat.

"damn it……"

The leader of the wanderers gripped his longsword and strode forward. Before he could make a move, a whooshing sound rang in his ears. He instinctively turned his head and caught a glimpse of a dark brown shadow rushing towards him with a gust of wind.

It was a long-handled fire axe, with a bright red blade and a slender handle.

There was no time to parry or anything; he didn't even see the color of the axe blade. The next second, a sharp crack pierced his eardrums—a sound more piercing than the cracking of tree branches in winter, like countless bones being crushed in the same instant.

The axe blade slammed into his left eye socket, its savage force piercing through his entire skull. Dark red blood mixed with brain matter gushed out from the groove in the axe blade. The leader's body stiffened abruptly, his long sword clattering to the ground. He remained in a striding stance, but no longer uttered a sound.

The momentum of the long axe did not diminish at all. Dragging his lifeless body, it slammed it hard into the giant tree behind him, making a dull thud.

A strange flower of blood bloomed instantly on the tree trunk, and the corpse hung between the axe handle and the tree trunk like a rag, its limbs still twitching unconsciously.

①0㈠②②/⒊澪⒐ノ╲

"who!"

"Are you a member of the Reunion Movement?"

The remaining vagrants were instantly terrified. Some frantically drew their short knives from their waists, while others stared intently at the long axe embedded in the tree trunk, making strange hoarse noises.

Two of them suddenly lunged at Alina as if she were a lifeline—they knew that the girl in the tattered dress was her weakness, and that kidnapping her would give them a way out.

Without any warning, a giant wave of flames suddenly rose from the ground. The crimson flames, like giant pythons that had come to life, twisted and writhed in mid-air, carrying temperatures high enough to melt steel, illuminating the entire snowfield as if it were daytime.

The flames blocked their movement and their escape route.

Talulah! We are all infected! You can't kill us!

The wanderer at the front was forced back by the flames, his face already scorched red. He futilely waved his dagger, his voice filled with dying despair, "We just want to live!"

The flames are silent, they simply burn relentlessly.

The wave of fire did not stop at all, and rolled forward like a flood bursting its banks.

Crimson flames licked at their clothes, instantly igniting a raging inferno. Their screams were shattered halfway through their throats by the scorching air. They rolled and scratched in vain in the inferno, trying to extinguish the flames on their bodies, but the leaping flames seemed to have a life of their own, clinging tightly to their flesh.

In just a few breaths, the flames gradually subsided. Only a few twisted and deformed charcoal pieces remained, still emitting wisps of smoke. The human-shaped outlines that were once discernible had now blended into the scorched earth.

"Talulah...!!"

Alina gasped in shock at the horrific scene around her.

More than herself, she was worried about Talulah's condition. She had killed someone; had she been blinded by rage? Had the Black Serpent succeeded?

But what came into view was a girl with long, fiery red hair, and the surrounding flames seemed to be alive, slowly bowing to her.