Chapter 404.2: End?

The strength type player replied, pulling the armor-piercing shell out of the chamber. He took a shell marked with ‘HE’ from the ammo rack and shoved it in.

"Loaded!"

"Fire!"

The deafening blast of the cannon followed, as 88mm high-explosive shells drew arcs in the sky. They landed on the hilltop of Falling Leaf Ridge, bursting into clouds of smoke.

At the same time, player after player holding assault rifles, led by their squad leaders, moved orderly through the smoke-filled camp, heading towards the direction of Falling Leaf Ridge.

Standing next to the truck, Escaping Mole raised his binoculars and glanced at the hilltop being suppressed by artillery fire.

There were no defensive works built there in advance.

It seemed that the Army never thought that one day they would be pushed onto the hill in such a sorry state.

"Tank platoon, alternate fire, maintain suppression. Cover the infantry's advance to the hilltop!"

Excited shouts came through the communication channel.

"Copy!"

The New Alliance's flag flew high in the sky, and with the breach of Falling Leaf Camp, there was no longer any suspense. All that was left to do was to clean up the battlefield.

Glancing over the camp, Escaping Mole saw the trembling survivors, their heads bowed. Eye Owe Money, Construction Boy, along with a group of people, walked in from the direction of the camp gate.

The expressions on the faces of the soldiers of the reserve army were filled with anxiety.

The identities of the people in front of them weren't hard to guess,

And even until the day before, they had been exchanging fire with them.

But, these people didn't make it difficult for them. They didn't even confiscate their guns. They simply pointed at the wall to get them to go watch the Army's prisoners.

As for the players who came along... They didn’t leave. Instead, they stayed.

"You guys came just in time, we’ll leave those people on the hill for you. Don’t blame us for not giving you anyone to kill.” Eye Owe Money said with a cheeky smile.

Standing next to Escaping Mole, Irena glanced at his back and curiously asked. "Where's Pangolin anyway?"

Construction Boy smiled. "The New Alliance's senior double agent has a new mission. He has to cover Cowley’s retreat.”

"Cowley?" Remembering the serialized posts about the battlefield he had seen on the forum, Escaping Mole immediately recalled the name, "The highest commander of theFalling Leaf Camp?"

"Yeah, that's him."

Seeing Eye Owe Money nod, Escaping Mole’s expression sank. "Damn, we let a big fish get away."

Eye Owe Money laughed, "Big fish? He’s just a slightly more important captain at best. The real fishes are on the airship!”

Escaping Mole sighed. "Alright, alright, let’s not waste any more time. We’ll clean up the battlefield.”

The gunfire on the distant hilltop had already stopped.

The infantry of the Skeleton Corps had already pressed forward, leading a few prisoners down the hill.

Looking at one of the prisoners, who seemed a bit different from ordinary lackeys, it seemed he might actually be a high-ranking officer.

With his eyes widening in surprise, Escaping Mole looked at the driver of the armored truck next to him and said, “Elf Wang, go west and look for Battlefield Cheerleader.”

The yawning Elf Wang rolled his eyes. "Fuck you, why don't you call me Elf King Wang?"

"Shut up and hurry. Catch him before he gets too far. Scare him with a burst of gunfire. When he retaliates, just pretend the engine got hit and yank the steering wheel like this..."

As he explained, Escaping Mole gestured with his hand.

A crafty smile appeared on Elf Wang’s face and he started his truck. "Ok, got it."

The armored truck carrying the quad-mounted machine guns started up again and left the formation. He drive west to fuck with Pangolin.

Escaping Mole waved his hand, leading the remaining players deeper into Falling Leaf Camp, ready to join his brothers in counting the spoils of war.

The Army had left quite a lot of supplies in the camp.

There were generators, nutrient paste synthesizers, a large amount of military supplies, some waste processing workbenches and manufacturing tools, and enough weapons and ammunition to arm half a division.

Without a logistical supply line, the Army could only produce the ammunition and chemicals by looking in the area.

In the temporary factory, they saw freshly machined gun barrels and bullets, and even some 100mm shells that hadn't been filled with explosives.

Among those prisoners, there were definitely some of the Army's technicians. Otherwise, wastelanders alone couldn't handle such high-difficulty tasks.

While Escaping Mole was checking the ammunition depot, Eye Owe Money and Construction Boy went to Battlefield Cheerleader’s tent.

That was where the officers of the reserve army were stationed.

Those officers' personal items, slaves, and some valuable goods were generally kept there.

Since they were going to scavenge the spoils of war... They had to start from their good brother’s stash!

Eye Owe Money and Construction Boy looked at each other and smiled as they walked to the tent.

Maybe it was because the two were laughing too lewdly, or maybe it was the blood-stained bayonet that was too scary, but when the Skeleton Corps attacked, the women cowered in the tents with their faces filled with horror.

One of the girls, slightly shorter with light brown hair, suddenly revealed a look of despair in her struggling eyes.

Since she could remember, she had heard the Army's instructors say that being the Army's dog was their honor; if they fell into the hands of those wastelanders and mutants, those weak and frail poor creatures wouldn't even have a chance to be whipped. They would either be tortured to death or skinned and thrown into a boiling pot.

Earlier, when General McClennan sent her and others to serve ‘Pangolin’, her heart pounded in fear. She was afraid that he would cook and eat her.

However, over the past half a month, she gradually discovered that the person wasn't as barbaric or evil as she had imagined. He was even nicer to them than the members of the Army.

Not only did he not force them to do things they were unwilling to, he even sympathized with them. He only sent them to do manageable tasks like washing clothes or the like.

To prevent them from being harassed by other refugees and wastelanders, he specially placed their tents next to his own.

It was also then that a thought formed in her mind.

It felt pretty good to be that guy’s servant...

However... That person didn't come back.

Clearly, he had bravely fought to the last moment and was killed by those ‘rebels’.

Rather than being captured by those demons, she might as well...

Watching the two dudes enter the tent, she revealed a look of determination before quietly grabbing the razor on the table. She raised it to her neck, intending to end her life.

Eye Owe Money, who was joking with Construction Boy, jumped in fright when he saw the girl's action.

Without asking for details, he hurriedly stepped forward, grabbing the girl's arm and prying the blade from her hand. He roared, "Are you crazy?"

The girl who was yelled at was obviously scared silly.

Her lips turned white as she bit into it, and her wide-open eyes were filled with horror as she stared blankly at the man in front of her.

"Uh, I heard this is called Stockholm Syndrome... But it doesn't quite seem like it," Construction Boy interjected. "Anyway, don't expect you to be able to explain it properly. Leave it to those who manage the re education department."

The New Alliance had a lot of temporary shelters.

They were similar to refugee camps, and they were used mainly to house and educate slaves redeemed from slave traders, as well as those rescued from marauders.

Most of those people have lost the ability to live in normal society after days of torment, whether mentally or physically, and they found it difficult to adapt to a new life.

Before letting those monitored individuals return to society, the New Alliance would arrange instructors to provide ideological education, teach them how to read and write, and, after they acquire at least one livelihood skill, register them for new resident identities and let them start a new life.

Even though those slaves of the Army were not tortured, they lived as slaves from birth. There wasn’t a longing of freedom in their eyes.

"This game is really fucking complicated..."

Officers knew to surrender when they couldn’t win, yet those cannon fodders were almost bleeding out...Those who seemed to be the most loyal were actually slaves...

Of course, it might not necessarily be loyalty to the Army.

Eye Owe Money sighed. Although he was intelligent, he didn't really want to think about those complicated issues.

Letting go of the arm he was holding, he threw the blood-stained blade aside. Ignoring the blood flowing from his hand, he took out a piece of paper and handed it to the girl who was intent on dying.

"This is... This is from Pangolin. Take it."

Looking at the paper in her hand, the girl looked puzzled. Clearly, she couldn't read.

Eye Owe Money helplessly took the paper back, cleared his throat, and read it out loud in his not very standard Federation language.

"Dawn City's hotel is hiring laundry workers. It’s a recommendation to Highway Town Inn. Old Man Hook is a good person. We reached out to help them when the marauders came."

"There is no slavery and no oppression in the land of the New Alliance. We established our nation and we swear under the flag never to submit to barbarism."

"Therefore, you also need not submit to me."

"You have learned the skills to make a living, you can and should go there, and live the life of a normal person."