Patriot silently took the bottle of medicine and drank it all in one gulp.
Poison? The other party didn't need to resort to such methods.
The cool medicinal liquid carried a slight sweetness, a sensation like melting snow spreading throughout his body. The originally horrifying burns gradually disappeared, leaving only a faint layer after a short while.
Pink, furry wolf ears twitched among the distant trees, and picturesque eyes secretly observed the scene from there.
"Come out, they're not a threat."
Kevin said indifferently.
Not a threat = weak.
Upon hearing this, the Shieldguards' expressions twitched. However, since even the Captain had been defeated by this man, perhaps this small grievance wasn't unbearable?
"Ah, ah-choo—"
Fiammetta's cloak behind her was already soaked with melted snow, her clothes clinging tightly to her body, outlining the girl's graceful curves.
Her wolf ears twitched slightly, shaking off the water droplets clinging to them.
Like a swift young swallow, her light figure quickly returned to Kevin's side.
The girl observed Kevin from the corner of her eye, an inexplicable sense of reassurance rising in her heart. That feeling was so comforting and familiar, as if the panic and fear she had experienced in the past few days were completely cut off from her.
Kevin handed her the map. Understanding his intention, Pozëmka obediently took it, then spread it out on a flat patch of ground, carefully examining it.
The map was large, almost half a person's height when rolled up. Pozëmka leaned over it slightly, her sharp eyes scanning inch by inch, comparing. Her pink wolf tail swayed back and forth, as if happy to be able to demonstrate her value.
The Shieldguards remained silent. Verifying authenticity was human nature. Moreover, they had been enemies just moments ago, so being cautious was quite normal.
"Mr. Kevin, the map is genuine."
She had seen it in her father's study before. Although she couldn't remember every single detail, her keen mind made comparing some relatively obvious features on the map quite simple.
"Mhm."
Kevin nodded. After receiving his signal, she gently rolled up the map, stored it away, held it in her arms, and stood gracefully beside Kevin.
"You have the map now. We're even! Let's go."
The Shieldguard still harbored resentment in his heart, but reason told him not to provoke the man before them. Evacuating with the injured Captain and comrades was most important.
"Wait."
Kevin's calm voice made them pause their steps.
Eliminate the root of the problem!
As soldiers, that was their first thought. Since they were already enemies, they must not be left alive.
Everyone solemnly raised their shields, preparing for Kevin to suddenly attack!
"I said, this is a transaction."
"?!"
...
Evening,
The Shieldguards stared with complex expressions at the tall man squatting by the campfire.
Indeed, despite displaying such aggressive behavior, his true purpose was actually for a transaction.
As payment for taking the map, he would help the guerrilla force with one task. Most importantly, the Captain had actually agreed!
Patriot also sat silently beside a large rock, quietly watching the fire burn. Paired with his fearsome and majestic armor, he resembled a dormant giant beast.
Regarding Kevin, he had his own considerations.
Tomorrow's target was a fairly large-scale mine on the snowy plains, guarded by a small military unit along with several tactical squads.
Correspondingly, the number of Infected gathered within the mine was also quite substantial.
Both he and a Shieldguard squad had sustained significant injuries. If they proceeded with the original plan, the guerrilla force would inevitably pay a greater price and suffer more sacrifices.
However, time was of the essence. The planned time agreed upon with the spy infiltrated into the mine was tomorrow. When they attacked, the Infected would simultaneously stage an uprising. Changing plans at the last minute was already impossible.
Therefore, Kevin's request, although strange, could indeed be considered timely assistance for them.
As for conspiracy?
Someone who could easily annihilate an entire squad didn't need such flashy methods. Patriot had a clear understanding of the power of that firearm Kevin had displayed.
Moreover, he hadn't even used his full strength.
Pozëmka also learned about the "guerrilla force's" objective from the Shieldguards' words.
In their brief conversations: mines, Infected, oppression...
Each matter was so heavy for someone like her. She knew such things existed but never imagined that in her homeland, Ursus had reached this point.
In truth, ever since leaving the noble mansion and during her escape journey, she had repeatedly refreshed her understanding of her homeland: barbarism, darkness, oppression.
Those lifeless citizens without hope.
Those villagers whose very survival was precarious yet were still squeezed by the Inspection Teams for every last drop of blood and bone.
Those Infected who lacked even basic human rights, driven like livestock under whips in dim mines...
Even though she had been well-protected by her father, she thought that through those precious books, she could have a basic understanding of a country's dark side.
But now she finally understood what her late father meant by those earnest words:
"Words are indeed powerful; they can carry many things: culture, decrees, history... But their writers are not necessarily so. They often distort or conceal certain 'inappropriate' things for various reasons. Light doesn't extinguish there one by one; before witnessing the buried secrets and gloom firsthand, it has already fled."
Just as she was lost in thought, the cook's shout broke this oppressive atmosphere.
"Captain! Dinner's ready!"
"Mhm... You... together?"
Patriot stood up, casting a large shadow on the snow. Fine streams of snow rustled down through the gaps in his armor.
—
"Yours. Take it."
"Thank you."
"Mhm. Take his portion over too while you're at it. There's borscht over there; help yourself."
A Shieldguard carried a small basket of coarse barley bread, distributing it to everyone.
Pozëmka took two pieces of barley bread and politely thanked him. This softened the Shieldguard's attitude somewhat as he pointed towards the soup pot hanging over the campfire.
However, he still didn't dare get too close to that icy fellow, so he simply entrusted her to take it over for him as well.
...
"Hiss~ Hot! Hot hot! Mr. Kevin, time to eat~"
A slightly clumsy figure burst into Kevin's field of vision, breaking him out of his daze. He looked up.
The Lupo girl held two pieces of barley bread tucked under her elbows and carried two steaming bowls of borscht in her hands.
When she reached Kevin's side, she eagerly set down the soup bowls. First rubbing her slightly reddened hands from the heat, she then handed one piece of barley bread to Kevin.
The satisfied and eager smile on her face made it difficult to utter words of refusal.
Collection:
[A Map Collection Repeatedly Refined]
Effect: Can view events and enemy intelligence at each node along a route.
Description: A map collection that has been refined multiple times; the weight alone conveys the heavy sincerity of its creator. However, even after several version updates, the position of the original map hasn't changed at all—placed on top. It is a slightly yellowed Ursus military map.