"!!!"
The moment they heard Nian wanted to film something.
Almost instantly, everyone's expressions fell. They turned away, lowered their heads, and avoided eye contact with Nian, afraid of being chosen as a main or supporting character again. However, when they realized it was a *documentary*, everyone looked up.
A documentary?
Oh, then it's fine.
Mainly.
That movie Nian filmed before was a lot of trouble. Everyone was dragged into it, and the result was truly, outstandingly awkward, making everyone reluctant to act in a second Nian film. A documentary was fine. Documentaries don't need actors anyway. Just let her carry a camera and wander around. It's not like they had to worry about Nian being in danger.
What a joke.
If a place was dangerous even for Nian, could anyone else even go there?
"I support it!"
Lucas Reeve was the first to speak.
He really didn't want to play two roles again, acting as both the supportive ghost and the villain. It was truly exhausting.
"Me too."
Surtr also raised her hand. The others also raised their hands one by one, expressing their immense approval of Nian's decision.
"Hmph hmph~"
Seeing everyone so supportive, Nian felt a little touched.
"I definitely won't let everyone down! I'll definitely win the award for Best Documentary Director next year!"
With that.
Nian energetically shouldered her camera, ran to the villa's rooftop, and took the automated [Stardust] shuttle, flying towards the Reunion Movement's location in southern Ursus.
After Nian left.
Everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"Phew... scared me to death." Franka let out a big sigh.
"I thought Miss Nian was going to shoot another movie. I'd already thought of an excuse to bail."
Franka used to enjoy filming movies, but she really didn't want to be in Nian's. Although the special effects and editing were top-notch thanks to the professional team's efforts, the... script was just too ridiculous... So ridiculous that after filming it once, nobody wanted to do a sequel.
"I was planning to use 'work at the company has been busy' as an excuse." Jessica also sighed in relief.
After all, in the movie, she didn't even play the female lead, but a rich girl who had a crush on Lucas Reeve but couldn't have him. Jessica really didn't want to watch Lucas Reeve play the romantic lead with someone else, unless... unless Nian agreed to let her be the female lead, and the kind that had intimate interactions with Lucas Reeve's character.
"However, shooting this kind of documentary about the Reunion Movement does have its uses."
Jessica said.
"After all, never mind Ursus, many countries across Terra have a... certain... perception of the Infected. They all think the Infected are some kind of demon. Although the effect of spreading awareness through a documentary is minimal, it's a way to let many ordinary people, or those who have never seen an Infected, re-acquaint themselves with the Infected community. They aren't bad people. Before they got sick, they were just like any other ordinary person."
Lucas Reeve nodded.
"Indeed. But... while the subject matter is good, Nian's filming skills are absolutely terrible. When Nian gets to Ursus, I'll probably have to watch over her to prevent her from filming useless and confusing footage."
Three hours later.
[Stardust] stopped at a certain distance from the Reunion Movement. Because Hoederer and his group were in the Reunion Movement, it wasn't convenient to expose [Stardust] to them. Anyway, the remaining few kilometers were nothing for Nian.
This was Nian's first time in Ursus.
Snowflakes drifted from the sky, blanketing the ground as if with a thick layer of frost. The whole world was white. The surrounding trees were tall and bare, their branches covered in ice.
Even in summer, it was still freezing cold here in Ursus, below zero.
Nian was dressed in the cool summer clothes she wore in Siesta—a short-sleeved shirt and white shorts. This weather, which would make an ordinary person shiver, had no effect on her at all. The biting, icy wind, sharp enough to pierce heavy cotton coats, couldn't penetrate Nian's skin in the slightest.
Nian didn't rush, but walked slowly.
After walking for about ten minutes.
The Reunion Movement's camp came into view. It was uniformly built with wood, the roofs of the wooden houses covered in snow. A thin wisp of smoke rose from the center of the camp.
When Nian was about to approach the Reunion Movement, she was blocked by a regular Reunion Movement soldier.
"Who goes there?"
Nian looked around with great interest, as if inspecting the place.
"It's Nian! Good afternoon, I'm here to film a movie."
"Film... film a movie??"
The young soldier froze.
What... a strange reason?
Just as the young soldier was about to report this upwards, Nian suddenly waved to someone straight ahead.
"Hey!! FrostNova, Alina!! Over here, over here!!"
"Miss Nian, welcome to the Reunion Movement."
Alina walked over with a smile.
She had also just learned from Lucas Reeve that Nian was coming. And her purpose was... to film a movie??
A documentary??
What... what a ridiculous reason.
Seeing that Miss Alina knew this young woman, the young soldier quickly stepped aside.
Lucas Reeve emerged from Alina's body.
Nian couldn't help but laugh.
"Hahaha... Lucas Reeve, your ability is just too convenient, isn't it? No wonder my Second Brother split his soul into more than 180 pieces. It's so convenient, right? I'm suddenly tempted to learn it too."
"Don't!"
Lucas Reeve quickly materialized a hand and tapped Nian lightly on the head.
"Specialized maneuver. Do not imitate."
"Your Second Brother and I are professional extreme sports masters. You don't need to copy us."
Nian laughed and habitually patted Lucas Reeve's back, but her hand passed right through him.
"I'm kidding. You really think I'm that stupid?"
"My Second Brother is stupid, but I'm not."
"Your Second Brother is stupid? Isn't he an old fox?"
Nian said: "Anyway, in the hearts of all us siblings, my Second Brother is a real dumbass."
"Urk...."
Lucas Reeve fell silent.
"Actually, 'dumbass' and 'stupid' are two different things. A dumbass is a dumbass, stupid is stupid..."
Nian waved her hand. "Close enough."
Lucas Reeve slipped back into Alina's body, and Alina and FrostNova gave Nian a tour of the Reunion Movement camp.
At this time.
Hoederer's squad, sitting near the Reunion Movement, had naturally also sensed Nian's arrival.
Ines strode over.
"How's the situation, Ines?"
"Still not much of an opportunity. The surveillance from these Shieldguards hasn't relaxed at all. It's impossible to get a message out."
"Mhm.. Thank you for your hard work."
Ever since arriving at the Reunion Movement, Hoederer had been constantly looking for a chance to send out intel. However, Hoederer had completely underestimated the Reunion Movement. Before coming, he thought the Reunion Movement was just a self-preservation group formed by Infected, huddling together for warmth. He assumed their discipline would be extremely lax, and even if it was strict, they couldn't possibly monitor them to the point where they couldn't even send a message.
However.
Upon arriving at the Reunion Movement.
Hoederer was a bit stunned.
Not only was Hoederer stunned, but the captain of the Sarkaz mercenary group, Garson, was also stunned.
This was a destitute organization of Infected huddling for warmth??
Although life was indeed a bit hard, they had wooden houses to live in, stoves for heating, meat to eat, vegetables to eat, and even rice and soft bread. This food might be ordinary to city dwellers, but to the Infected, and even to Hoederer's team of Infected mercenaries, this food could be described as absolutely rare.
This was completely different from what they had imagined before coming!!
And...
Before they came, they never imagined the Reunion Movement would actually have.... a legendary Wendigo, and battle-hardened Ursus Shieldguards!!
These Shieldguards were extremely strong, not inferior to Sarkaz mercenaries.
Damn!
It was precisely the surveillance of these Shieldguards that made it impossible for Hoederer to send intel out. Even a sparrow flying away from Hoederer's residence would be intercepted.
Moreover.
The other side seemed to suspect him.
During these few months, there were several times when the security relaxed, but any normal person would know this was clearly a trap to 'fish' him out!!
And...
As time passed.
The Sarkaz mercenaries who came with them... were already saying "our Reunion Movement" this and "our Reunion Movement" that, as if they had completely integrated and become Reunion Movement people.
After all, life here was too comfortable.
Even if Sarkaz fought for something, wasn't it just for a peaceful life?
But what about the Reunion Movement?
It was full of fellow Infected, and there was even a Sarkaz mercenary squad called Mudrock's squad. The original Reunion Movement Infected were all very easy-going. They didn't discriminate against Sarkaz at all, didn't call them "demon-spawn". They genuinely treated them as comrades, as friends. And there was food. Every meal had white rice and white steamed buns. There was meat twice a week, and fresh vegetables.
They even had Oripathy suppression medication that was unimaginable in the outside world. And with each new generation of upgrades, the effects of these drugs were getting better and better. Since joining the Reunion Movement, no one in the mercenary group had died from Oripathy.
This kind of life.
For the Sarkaz, was practically the paradise they had always dreamed of!!
It was too wonderful!!
Only a fool would want to leave such a life. Only someone with a problem in their head would want to leave here and return to their former nomadic life. And... strictly speaking, the Reunion Movement could also be considered part of Kazdel. After all, a pure-blood Wendigo was here.
The pure-blood Wendigo is the king of the Wendigo clan, so the pure-blood Wendigo belongs to the Royal Court.
And the Royal Court, in Kazdel, is one of the ten highest-ranking lords under the Demon King. So, strictly speaking, they could barely be considered subordinates of the pure-blood Wendigo.
Mhm!
All one big family!
That was a good reason.
Some mercenaries had even found partners within the Reunion Movement, and their sense of belonging to the Reunion Movement grew stronger and stronger.
This was not good for Garson, the mercenary captain.
He really didn't want a situation where he'd wave his hand one day and say, "Brothers, it's time to leave."
And then no one follows him. That would be disastrous.
He arrived as a captain, but he'd leave as a general with no army.
Even W was now saying "our Reunion Movement" this and that. Her relationship with Talulah and Alina was genuinely good, linking arms and all. In Talulah, W even saw a shadow of the person she once served. Although the ideal was laughable... the ideal was grand!
W didn't know Hoederer's plan, so she subconsciously thought Hoederer was just here to join the Reunion Movement and didn't overthink it.
In fact.
Ines also really liked the current life in the Reunion Movement. Her relationship with Alina, FrostNova, and Mudrock was quite good.
However, she couldn't help it. She had sworn to follow only Hoederer. The direction Hoederer pointed was the direction Ines would advance.
"How about... we look for another chance later." Hoederer slowly stood up.
"Old Mister Patriot invited me to play cards. It would be disrespectful to refuse."
Garson: "????"
————————
"So, that's the script."
Nian explained the script in detail to Lucas Reeve, FrostNova, Alina, and Talulah.
The next second...
Everyone froze.
Talulah couldn't help but retort: "Do you think our current situation as Infected isn't miserable enough?"
Lucas Reeve couldn't help but cover his face.
According to Nian's script, the Infected would become the most badass group of people in the world. If this was filmed, not only would it fail to gain sympathy for the Infected, it would attract even more hatred.