Chapter 114: The Sorrow of the Weak (Part Two)

"Hello, I’m Zuoer, the current chief in charge here. Thank you very much for your support!" Zuoer stepped forward to shake hands. Regardless of their intentions, since they had brought medicine, it was only proper to show at least a minimum of sincerity, to maintain a respectful front.

However… Zuoer frowned as he glanced at the off-road vehicle behind Alice and Wick. Even if the vehicle was filled with medicine, it was but a drop in the ocean for nearly fifty thousand wounded soldiers at the base.

"Hello!" Old Wick shook his hand and said, "Time is tight, so let’s not waste words. Where is the wounded area? Just take us there."

"Are you a doctor?" Zuoer frowned. Under these circumstances, shouldn't they simply hand over the medicine? Why follow them? Could he be another well-meaning volunteer? After that meeting, his former superior had mentioned that this old man seemed to be a politician.

"Well..." Wick smiled gently, "No, I’m not a doctor. But you probably don’t know how to use this medicine properly; I need to apply it myself."

"Oh?" Zuoer’s expression turned guarded, his tone hardening a bit. "Is that so? You can demonstrate it here then. I’m curious—what kind of complicated method requires a politician’s personal intervention?"

"Seems like you have quite a prejudice against me, new leader!" Wick chuckled.

Zuoer frowned again. Although he was indeed the new leader now, such a direct address was a bit sensitive. He looked at him coldly. "Yes, sir, I do have some suspicions about you. After all, after you attended that meeting, our base was bombed. Strangely, you appeared outside the base unharmed. The situation is too bizarre; I have to keep some reservations about you." He paused, then added, "For the safety of those soldiers, I think you need to provide some credible explanation before I allow you through. I hope that’s not too rude a request?"

"Very reasonable..." Wick smiled without a care. "Alright, old man, I’ll give you some explanation."

He then opened the off-road vehicle’s door. What happened next almost made Zuoer and the soldiers behind him drop their jaws.

A cluster of glowing orbs, about the size of basketballs, floated out of the vehicle. Inside each orb, faint faces of children could be seen, emitting soft laughter as they joyfully drifted out.

Zuoer and several soldiers stepped back repeatedly, nearly sitting down in shock. Although the scene was eerie, they did not immediately draw their weapons. The magnetic fields emitted by these glowing orbs were gentle, filled with benevolence, evoking surprise rather than fear or tension.

"Then..." Wick stepped forward, smiling brightly. "Shall we head over now?"

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Although the scene was strange, Zuoer remained cautious. He first ordered some wounded to be brought over as a test. The glowing green orbs, true to their miraculous nature, worked wonders.

Wounds that had already become inflamed and suppurated visibly healed after a single drop of transparent liquid from the orbs. The effect was more dramatic than any movie special effect, astonishing Zuoer. After the initial trial, he gradually lowered his guard and allowed them to release the—or rather, as they called them, the "little spirits," a fitting name given their appearance—into the wounded camp in batches.

With so many wounded soldiers, there was no reason for the other side to use such elaborate methods to harm them. Even if left untreated, most soldiers wouldn’t survive. The initial cautious test was a prudent move. Upon witnessing the miraculous healing, Zuoer’s doubts dissipated.

In a temporary tent at the rear, Zuoer regarded the two men with newfound respect. His attitude had shifted drastically. Both their incredible healing methods and sincere intentions warranted this change.

Zuoer saluted them sincerely. "On behalf of the wounded, I thank you for this rescue. Please forgive my initial suspicion. I sincerely apologize to you here."

Old Wick smiled warmly, somewhat moved. Though Zuoer harbored reservations, he was fundamentally an honest soldier. Wick chose not to probe repeatedly but to proceed directly, as Sherlin had advised at the start.

Facing the grateful man, Wick nodded and said bluntly, "Our help is not free; it comes with conditions."

"Of course!" Zuoer’s grateful expression remained unchanged. "We all know that nothing comes without reason. But no matter what, you are now our saviors. As long as your demands aren’t excessive, we will comply."

"Sorry..." Wick’s face showed a rare flicker of reluctance, but he remained firm. "Our demands may be more severe than you imagine."

"Hmm?" Zuoer frowned, then took a deep breath, sitting cross-legged with a serious expression. "Please, go ahead."

"We need a batch of soldiers for a military strike on New Newton," Wick said gravely. Before this man, he could not use political rhetoric—only straightforward words.

"A military strike on New Newton?" Zuoer was stunned for a moment, then stood up with a smile, looking at him. "I thought you meant something else, sir. You really are..."

Wick was momentarily taken aback. Seeing the deeper gratitude on Zuoer’s face, he realized the man had misunderstood.

In fact, the misunderstanding was natural. Zuoer thought this man not only helped heal their wounded but was ready to help retake their city—a divine envoy sent from heaven.

One could stretch the truth to say so, but Wick, facing a fellow from his own dimension and seeing such a straightforward face, didn’t want to deceive him. Instead, he said solemnly, "I think you’ve misunderstood."

"Sir, what do you mean?"

"I mean..." Wick sighed, "You have misunderstood. Retaking the city is impossible in your current state."

"It’s not as you imagine..." Zuoer quickly responded. "Though the base was ninety percent destroyed, we still have over fifty thousand soldiers. Judging by your healing methods, they’ll regain combat readiness soon. Though the base is damaged, it’s not completely gone. We can assemble several armored units and modern troops without much trouble. Plus, we have a small airbase just dozens of kilometers away..."

"It’s because of that airbase that we came to you," Wick forced his voice cold. "Let me be frank: we need cannon fodder..."

"Wha... what?" Zuoer was stunned, staring wide-eyed. "Cannon fodder? What does that mean?"

"Literally what it says," Wick said coldly. "Perhaps you don’t know the truth behind this missile attack?"

The other man was silent for a long while, then his expression turned grave. "I really don’t know..."

"Then let me tell you..." Wick forced himself to sound harsh. "After all, cannon fodder should at least know why they become cannon fodder."