Deadlock

But you've got it all wrong.

Mmf!

Having trouble breathing? Feel like your lungs are on fire?

Ack... Guh...

It starts in your sinuses, then crawls down your windpipe, until it finally finds a home there in your diaphragm. All I have to do is wiggle my little finger and...

A stream of superheated air will shoot into your body, expand, ignite your organs, and erupt out of your pores.

The funny thing is, Lungmen might let you live. But me and my little finger...?

Aah! Gaaah...!

Won't leave any of you breathing.

Nooooo! L-let me go! Please!!!

Fine. I'll be merciful.

Officer! Over here. You take care of them.

And one more thing, my new Ursus buddy. You think next time you could actually make me break a sweat?

Hey, they made it.

Doctor, over here!

Hah. That was nothing.

How about next time I show you how to snap an arm 90 degrees without breaking the bone?

Hey, what's with that face...?

How long have you been at Rhodes Island? You're acting like you've never seen a fight before.

Compared to them, I'm a regular softie.

But of course. You think I'm the type to play it low-key?

If I can put the fear of Blaze into them, who knows how many others might just give up.

I have to play it up to make all my hard work worth something.

Let's not steer the Doctor astray...

Bunny!

Don't just scoop me up like a toy!

But you're just so soft...! Hey! Stop struggling! Just let it happen. I promise I won't bite!

Blaze... Stop... Can't... Breathe!

Phew.

We've only been apart for an hour! What's with you! Get serious!

I take it back. You're not cute.

......

That's enough...!

Woah, hey, I was just playing! Get out of my head! I can't take you screwing around with my emotions again!

Wait.

She's here with you?

Hello, I'm...

I know who you are.

Talk to my fellow Infected like that again and I'll tear out your throat myself.

Blaze!

Sorry, Amiya.

But that's the way it is. And she deserves a warning.

......

I'm out. Rendezvous at the next waypoint.

GreyThroat, Blaze may have misunderstood you.

It's fine. I really did say those things.

She shouldn't be dredging up your past to attack the person you are today.

Who knows? Have I really changed? Even I don't know.

......

I'm here because I wanted to do something. No matter what that Blaze says.

Sigh...

(Right... She's not Infected, so GreyThroat might not grasp the reality of Rhodes Island's current situation.)

(This operation could force her to decide once and for all... if she's going to stay or leave.)

(But she's gotten used to taking orders, and doesn't speak up much. Sometimes she does surprise, though...)

(There's no malice in her heart. She just needs a chance to find herself.)

(Still, she's strong and reliable. You can trust her, Doctor. And even if we can't help her, I know she can help you.)

Oh... where did Gavial go?

She can't do that!

Wait a minute, who taught you to think of her like that, Doctor? I mean, it's kind of true, but still...

We can't afford to make mistakes here. Hurry to the next waypoint and try to signal her.

Even if she's operating according to plan, there'll be trouble if no one's watching her...

We've got elite operators acting as squad leaders. They'll report in. Don't worry.

We stand at a crucial point in this joint operation. This is the decisive battle for Lungmen.

She has her own mission to command.

Superintendent Ch'en, as Chief of the Special Inspection Unit, will be deploying the best the L. G. D. has to offer against Reunion in service of our joint plan.

At the same time, she has to herd Reunion's main force to the target location, all while keeping any of their smaller teams from slipping into the slums.

And we, Rhodes Island, will keep moving through the waypoints on our patrol route, mopping up Reunion's squads along the way, pushing them to give up the fight.

Finally, we'll reach the target location at the slums and, together with the L. G. D., we'll deliver the decisive blow to Reunion's main force.

Considering the scale, there's relatively little Rhodes Island can do. But we'll execute the plan to the best of our abilities.

As for the issues that have come up in the course of our cooperation with the L. G. D.... Doctor, I promise to answer all our people.

But, Doctor, there is something only you can do.

Heh, good.

But it's not the kind of thing you'll have to put so much effort into.

Now's not the time to clam up!

Are you waiting for me to say more?

You could at least tell me what you're thinking, Doctor...!

No, that's okay!

This isn't the kind of thing you need to be so solemn about.

I'm going to call up Blaze and have her look after you. And for the little while until we meet up again, I need you to look after her too.

Ugh... I'm not talking about like in battle! I mean look after her psychology.

You know Rhodes Island has to fight the Infected sometimes.

Especially right now. Our cooperation with Lungmen has led to some friction.

Blaze is one of the elite operators we rely on for survival, yes, but her psychological state has an impact on her performance.

It is because she is so resolutely committed to our mission that her encounters with the Infected have the potential to influence her emotions.

Go on, Doctor. Treat it as an opportunity to learn what makes her tick.

Show your appreciation for her. Thank her for saving you back there. She'll eat it up!

I believe in you, Doctor! Go get 'em!

Their main force is engaging our other teams!

We will reach the target location ahead of Reunion and join the formation!

Tell them we need to eliminate all Reunion elements that have not joined up with their main force first.

Right. Got it!

Do what Superintendent Ch'en just said! Over and out!

How long has it been since we fought together like this?

I wouldn't say we're 'fighting together' now. It's more like we're 'co-belligerents.' How did you get back here anyway?

I've got my own motor pool, of course. How else do you think I saved Rhodes Island? Now what's got your panties in a twist? I can tell you're upset.

Hm. Let me think.

You need to think about it! Look at you looking for reasons to be mad...

Oh, right. You went behind my back to save Rhodes Island. You could have told me in private.

Was that embarrassing for you? Or you just don't like being kept in the dark?

Both.

Wowee... since when are you so direct? My old Officer Ch'en would talk herself in circles for hours...

Eyes forward!

L. G. D. defender squad, shields up! Play it just like we have a million times before. And never forget, your brothers and sisters are right behind you! Stand firm!

Hold!

Crossbows, nock!

They blocked this road too? Uh oh... there's nowhere to go! We're trapped!

Relax, we can break them! With me!

Hold!

Guards, ready!

Overrun them!

——Now!

Crossbows, first volley, fire!

Pikes up!

Don't let a single one of them out of our city!

Are you on site?

Yes, that's right.

I know. But the L. G. D. has their job to do and you have yours. Don't forget your role in all this.

Indeed. Lin Kojui is quite opposed.

But this matter is beyond him!

......

I've heard all the opinions from all the stakeholders. But there is no wiggle room here. I do what must be done.

Kojui's daughter will reach out to you. In the next three weeks, you are not to contact me. Everything goes to her.

I leave it to you. Don't worry. I am watching you.

...There's no need for that. The past is the past. And it stays in the past.

Right. To the peaceful and stable future of Lungmen.

Wei, old boy, we're brothers, of a sort, aren't we...?

So I'm asking you, for the sake of my daughter and her mother...

Honestly, should I even have to ask? Would you really refuse to help your own sister?

I've already decided on a name for my daughter. We'll call her...

...Talulah.

Don't take it to heart. I understand.

It's all very clear to me.