People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

Looking at Bozokasti with disappointment, Talulah sighed and gritted her teeth, forcing herself to say:

"Let me think about this some more."

“What’s there to think about…” Yelena wanted to say something more, but Bozokasti had already pressed down on her shoulders, and her bony head swayed slightly.

"Let the leader...think about it."

.......

Talulah returned to her tent.

She desperately hoped that the two proposals Bozokasti had just put forward were also illusions projected into his mind by the Black Serpent.

But she found it hard to deceive herself here.

This is typical Sarkaz behavior; demons are inherently inhuman.

I'm clearly thinking about the organization's future, why can't they understand? This recruitment benefits the organization, the people, and everyone, so why can't it be implemented? It's just a matter of the guerrillas suffering a little more. Why can't everyone put aside even a little bit of their personal interests?

Is there really no one who understands me?

"Talulah, what are you thinking about?"

A familiar, gentle voice rang in her ears. Talulah looked up and saw Alina bending down, staring at her with some concern.

Talulah sighed and poured out everything that had just happened and all the frustration in her heart.

Alina fell silent.

She didn't actually understand military affairs, but as a member of this team, she could tell to some extent that what Bozokastie and Yelena said wasn't entirely without merit.

But she supports Talulah.

What can you do when they're friends?

Alina gently ruffled Talulah's silver hair, offering a comforting smile:

"It's alright, it's alright, Talulah, don't be upset. The problem of food shortage is true, but we are not without channels to obtain food."

"In that case, I'll take some of the recent spoils and go to a nearby village to see if I can exchange them for some grain."

"Mr. Bochkastie and Yelena are also acting in the best interests of the Reunification Movement. What we need to do is not argue with them, but find a way to dispel their concerns. That is your responsibility as a leader!"

She bent down and hugged Talulah, saying earnestly, "Talulah, as a leader, you must not only point the way but also guide everyone to walk the path they are on and solve the problems we face. We can't ignore the cliff beneath our feet just because there's a garden on the other side!"

Talulah took a deep breath and nodded heavily.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Alina! Go and come back soon!"

“Of course!” Alina nodded.

Chapter 434 Alina: I'll be driven crazy by this blockhead sooner or later!

Ursus, tundra, guerrilla camp, corner.

Several newly arrived infected were gathered together. The leader, an Ursus, had a vicious expression and immediately uttered a curse:

"*Ursusese profanities*! We shouldn't have listened to your idiot's nonsense about food in the guerrilla camp! Brothers, Talulah is a liar, she has no intention of feeding us!"

The slightly shorter Ursus man, who appeared to be underage, looked somewhat frightened and immediately shook his head upon hearing this.

"No, no, no, boss, why would I lie to you? My brother joined the guerrillas last month, he told me himself! Talulah is a good person. Many times, she would rather go hungry herself than give up a bite to eat for everyone. She wouldn't abandon us..."

"A good person? Good my ass! Do you think I'm a complete idiot?"

The leader of the Ursus men spat and cursed through gritted teeth:

"I heard it all! Just now, that kind lady you mentioned was with that monster-looking Sarkaz, plotting to send us all to the disciplinary squad as cannon fodder! Tell me, what kind of good person could she be?"

"This...this can't be...!"

"What's impossible!" The Ursus leader cursed and kicked the short man who was about to say something, knocking him to the ground in the snow. Hunger and chest pain prevented him from getting up for a moment. The Ursus leader just shrugged and looked at the silent majority around him.

Besides him and the little brat lying on the ground, there were four other people gathered here, making a total of six, which should be enough.

He nodded and instigated:

"Brothers, the reason we're all gathered here is simple: we just want to make a living. I was tricked into coming here by this little brat. I had already decided that if Talulah was really willing to share a meal with us, I'd be willing to risk my life for him. But this dog of a bitch has a dream come true; he wants to use our lives to fill the sentry's cannon barrels! Can you accept such a beastly act?"

He stomped his foot angrily and shouted:

"I can not!"

"I've finally figured it out. We infected people don't have anyone we can trust. We have to rely on ourselves for everything! Let me tell you guys something: after I got infected, I somehow awakened Originium Arts, and my hearing is inexplicably much better than before. Otherwise, I wouldn't have overheard that woman and that Sarkaz's scheme. Besides that, I heard something else!"

The leader of the Ursus people kept everyone in suspense.

"If I were to reveal what's going to happen next, we'd all be in the same boat. If you want to leave now, it's not too late."

His gaze swept over the remaining four Ursus men, all of them emaciated and pale. They exchanged glances, hesitant but none actually taking a step to leave. Only the small man who had been kicked down got up and turned to leave, but before he could take a step, a rock struck him on the head. He felt a burning sensation on the back of his head, stumbled, and fell to the ground. Before he could even react, the leader of the Ursus men rushed forward, picked up a blood-stained rock, and struck the small man twice more on the back of the head. Only after the small man twitched twice and lay still did the leader stand up without changing expression and look at the other four.

“This kid’s brother has a job in the guerrillas. He’s a menace if he’s left alive. We can’t let him get away. It’s alright, any of you who want to leave can try.”

He chuckled, washing the blood from his hands in the snowdrift. He glanced at the four men, who all shook their heads rapidly. "A joke? Try it? Who dares to actually try?"

The child on the ground still had juice oozing from his head.

"Very good. It seems everyone understands, so I won't keep you in suspense any longer."

The leader of the Ursus men nodded and said,

“That woman Talulah has a friend who’s going to a nearby village with the guerrillas’ spoils to exchange for something. Let’s follow them, ambush them, rob the food, divide it up, and go our separate ways, how about that?”

............

Talulah was somewhat uneasy in the camp.

She didn't take it seriously at first. After all, she had just had a disagreement with Yelena and the captain, and the problem of feeding two hundred people hadn't been solved yet. She had many worries, so it was normal for her to feel uneasy.

Just moments after Alina left, she volunteered to visit the refugee camp where the guerrillas were operating. The camp was mostly inhabited by the elderly, women, and children. Lacking combat strength, they could only help with logistical tasks, such as sewing clothes and shoes, preparing meals, and occasionally, under Alina's guidance, organizing rehearsals of dances or plays to allow the soldiers to relax during their breaks from fighting.

Alina is a small leader in this group. She also teaches the refugee children to read and write and tells them stories. Ino and Sasha (Mephistopheles and Faust) are among these children.

Because most of the people in the refugee camp are not in good health, in order to ensure their survival, this group actually consumes more than half of the food that Talulah's team consumes.

Talulah's purpose in coming here was to try to persuade everyone to reduce the rations. She wanted everyone to suffer, and she would take the blame, while the good rations would be used to support the other two hundred people.

Then, she did indeed bear the infamy, but unsurprisingly, she was also kicked out.

The lobbying was completely ineffective. No matter how Talulah described the reality or painted a picture of the future, everyone only cared about one thing: "Are you going to cut back on our food?"

A small favor is appreciated, but a large one breeds resentment. It's true that Talulah gave them food and saved their lives, but that doesn't mean she can reduce their rations now—that would be tantamount to murder!

Then was before, now is now!

After several hours of back and forth, almost to the point of exhaustion, they still hadn't managed to reach an agreement on a single condition. Talulah pursed her lips and could only slink away from the camp amidst the boos of the adults and the skeptical looks of the children.

The sun had set, but Talulah's unease only intensified. She suddenly realized that despite being stranded in the refugee camp for so long, she hadn't seen a single person who should have been there long ago.

Why hasn't Alina come back yet?

Talulah's ominous premonition reached its peak, her heart raced, and she took off running towards the camp.

There was no tent of their own, no temporary shelter for the two hundred newly arrived refugees, and a slight disturbance seemed to be taking place in the northwest of the camp. But that was where Captain Bozocasti and Yelena were stationed; the Shield Guards and the Yeti Squad were resting there. Alina rarely went near that area, and besides, the route back from the nearby villages wouldn't pass through there...

Yes, the village!

Without thinking, she ran towards the outside of the camp.

She was completely unaware of Yelena's calls as she hurriedly ran towards her from behind.

"Talulah? Talulah! Wait a minute, there's a solution to the food problem..."

Yelena called out loudly, but could only watch Talulah's figure disappear into the twilight. She frowned, somewhat puzzled.

"What's going on here?"

Yelena pursed her lips, turned her head to look at the two conspicuous foreign guests beside her, and sincerely apologized:

“Excuse me, Miss Angelica, Mr. Clausewitz, Talulah seems to have something to attend to. It’s getting dark, so why don’t you wait here for a moment while I go find her?”

"It's alright. Let's go together; maybe I can be of help?"

The Sarkaz girl named Angelica smiled and pointed to the shimmering halo above her head.

"It's getting dark, but darkness can't stop us Sakortas!"

Beside her, the Sarkaz elder Clausewitz, whose head was adorned with jet-black demon horns and who should never have been present with Sarkaz, nodded:

"The Holy Mountain Order, following the instructions of the vanguard, has traveled a long way from Laterano to the Tundra. The journey has been arduous and has taken several months, all for the sake of seeing the legendary Tundra guerrillas in person. Now that we have arrived, it is only natural that we must take these last few steps to see Talulah. Let us go together."

“But…” Yelena hesitated, “The tundra is dangerous at night, you two…”

“I have a gun.” Angelica drew her shotgun from her waist and gave a benevolent smile.

Clausewitz casually removed his staff from his back: "I have some medical knowledge, which may be useful in case of emergency."

Yelena glanced at the two of them, somewhat stunned.

The adorable Sarkaz, with her pretty face and slightly chubby cheeks, held a shotgun with four dark, gaping muzzles. Beside her, the Sarkaz, dressed in black robes, with a fierce look and scars on his face, pulled out a staff, looking like a nurse.

What's going on? Angels performing physical exorcisms, and demons healing the wounded?

Did you get your positioning wrong?

Surprised as she was, Yelena couldn't refuse any longer since the two had already brought it up, so she nodded and said, "Come with me."

.........

In the forest.

Talulah was somewhat dazed. She reached out, trying to pull up the Elafia girl who had fallen to the ground, but only managed to grab an empty sleeve.

Alina's expression was somewhat sorrowful; the pain was secondary. She could feel the blood draining away, the vitality waning, and even more so, her own powerlessness, as well as the grief and regret of her friend kneeling before her.

“Talulah........”

She called out softly.

Talulah snapped out of her daze and tried to carry Alina, who had fallen to the ground, on her back:

"Don't speak, Alina, stay awake, stay awake. We'll go back to camp together, and there's medicine...we'll go together..."

"Actually, I think... you should let me go..."

Alina said weakly.

But Talulah shook her head firmly.

Let go of Alina? Impossible!

Even at this point, you still have the energy to play puns with me? You're in great spirits!

Alina was unaware of Talulah's thoughts, and when she told Talulah to let go, she meant it.

Xiao Ta, you lack common sense! How could you dare to take the blame for my injury?

The pain from the laceration, coupled with being carried on Talulah's back, and the fact that Talulah was a hybrid of Drak and a dragon, meant that although her tail wasn't thick, it was indeed very hard.

How should I put it? It's a physical pain, like I'm about to split open.

But Alina reconsidered and decided against it.

Even if she returned to the camp, she knew there was no medicine there to save her in her current condition. It was better to stay like this, close her eyes on Talulah's back, and enjoy this last moment of peace.

That's right, I can't tell her how I feel right now. Otherwise, she'll probably feel terribly guilty.

“Talulah…”

"Don't speak, Alina!" Talulah growled, suppressing her anger and sorrow, interrupting Alina.

Alina was immediately somewhat helpless.

Why aren't they letting us speak yet? We've run out of things to say.

She ignored Talulah and was about to continue when she saw a strange light appear in the woods not far away, vaguely revealing the figures of three people.

Alina's eyes brightened, and seeing that Talulah was still looking down, she reminded her:

"Talulah, look ahead."

"Alina...I...I will, I promise you, I definitely will!"

Alina felt that her already dizzy and lightheaded mind, which was already feeling dizzy from blood loss, was about to be cleared up by this blockhead.

She stretched out her only still functional hand, pinched Talulah's soft flesh, and weakly laughed and scolded.