"Uh..."
"This is a sad past."
"It's so sad, so let's not talk about it, okay?!"
Hong Meiling recalled the past with a look of deep sorrow, but she quickly realized that Sakuya might be watching her through the television back at the Scarlet Devil Mansion, so she knew she absolutely must not seek her own demise.
Flandre harbored no doubts and turned around to ask the question that had been lingering in her mind.
Hearing this, Hong Meiling stroked her chin, mentally evaluating the overall strength of these Sarkaz, before speaking up.
"Although there are only three young, able-bodied men left among these Sarkaz, their physical baseline is actually quite solid."
"However, their equipment is terribly scarce."
"If they really fight those Pincerbugs head-on, they can win, but they're bound to get hurt."
"And if they're unlucky, people might die."
Hearing this, Flandre glanced over at Ch'en sitting nearby, who gave a subtle nod to indicate she had heard everything as well.
Yet, hearing it didn't mean Ch'en could simply hand out official military aid.
Flandre scratched her cheek, instinctively sensing that asking for more official intervention was pushing boundaries, so she let the matter rest.
Meanwhile, over in the Sarkaz camp.
Mountain Hammer called the other two young men over and shared the warning Flandre had just passed along.
After listening to the situation, the young men frowned deeply.
"Brother Hammer, what do you think we should do?" one of them asked, his voice laced with concern.
"Since we plan to lay down roots here, that Pincerbug Swarm must be dealt with," Mountain Hammer stated without a second of hesitation.
"Ten kilometers might sound like a bit of distance, but for a swarm of Pincerbugs, this entire basin falls squarely inside their hunting territory."
"If we don't want the elderly and children to suffer an ambush while gathering firewood, we have to strike first."
"Iron Pin," Mountain Hammer turned to the younger man, "head over there tomorrow to scout the layout and map out the terrain around the marsh."
"If we're going to fight, we must wipe them out in one single sweep. None left behind."
"But we don't have enough men, and what about weapons?" another survivor interjected anxiously.
"As for weapons, if we scrounge up every piece of scrap metal we brought from Kazdel, we can assemble fifteen or sixteen usable blades," Mountain Hammer reasoned calmly. "As for manpower, we mobilize everyone between the ages of ten and fifty and put them through basic tactical drills for a week first."
"When we arrived, I noticed a dense bamboo grove to our west," he continued. "Assign a few of the women to harvest bamboo to fashion arrows and spears. When the time comes, the three of us will each command a unit. As long as we keep the younger ones protected, clearing out those fleas won't be an impossible task."
Mountain Hammer had already mapped out a rough strategic framework on his way back to camp. Once he laid out the details, the others nodded in firm agreement.
With the survival strategy settled, the group dispersed to rest.
"Officer Ch'en, do you really think these Sarkaz can handle those Pincerbugs on their own?"
Just as Ch'en was turning to head into her tent, the HR officer called out, his voice hesitant.
"Do you think they can do it?" Ch'en countered calmly, meeting his eyes.
"To be honest... I don't know," the officer admitted, leaning back against the patrol vehicle. "You know I grew up near the Leithanien border."
"Ever since I was little, I've heard terrifying legends about the Sarkaz, so I've always had an instinctual fear of them."
"Before coming out here, I really didn't want them settling near our borders."
"But after seeing them up close... I realized they're just a broken group of ordinary people desperately searching for a peaceful life."
He sighed, his eyes conflicted. "Honestly, my feelings are a complete mess right now. I'm worried they'll get torn apart by the Pincerbugs, yet at the same time, I can't help but worry they might turn around and harm Lungmen."
Ch'en stopped in her tracks, looking back at him with a steady, resolute gaze.
"That is precisely why Uncle Wei sent Flandre and me out here. If they are truly ordinary refugees seeking a quiet life, vast Lungmen can easily find room for a few dozen Sarkaz. Go to sleep. Don't overthink it."
Ch'en patted his shoulder reassuringly.
When she walked over to Flandre's side, she found that both Flandre and Hong Meiling had already zipped themselves tight inside their heavy thermal sleeping bags, fast asleep.
Seeing their peaceful faces, Ch'en let down the canvas tent flap and retired to her own quarters.
The next morning, Flandre woke up to the soft, rhythmic crunch of footsteps echoing across the morning frost.
Rubbing her eyes as she stepped outside, she saw the Sarkaz had already organized themselves into three distinct groups. One scout was heading out toward the eastern wetlands. A second team was trekking toward the western bamboo grove.
The rest who possessed any lingering physical strength had gathered in the center of the basin, undergoing rigorous drill training under Mountain Hammer's watchful eye.
Before long, the rest of the Guard Department squad emerged from their tents, silently watching the bustling activity across the field.
"It seems that Sarkaz leader knows what he's doing," Hong Meiling observed, crossing her arms as she offered a rare word of genuine praise. "Train the unit first, then strike. The man clearly has real field command experience."
Ch'en gave a quiet nod of agreement. Fifty Pincerbugs was a formidable threat for unarmored civilians; rushing in unprepared would have led to a slaughter. Taking a week to organize was the smartest tactical choice they could make.
By now, the Guard Department officers had stowed their field tents and gear into the rear of the transport. Ch'en's team was ready to head back to the core district to submit their official report.
Before climbing into the driver's seat, Ch'en pulled two standard-issue Guard Department longswords from the vehicle's armory rack and handed them directly to Flandre.
"Take these two blades over to them," Ch'en said softly.
"Ah? Why me?" Flandre asked, tilting her head in confusion.
Ch'en reached out and gently ruffled her golden hair.
"Because I don't need to earn their personal gratitude, nor do they trust me." Ch'en explained patiently. "Moreover, as a Blood Demon yourself, delivering these weapons from your own hands will anchor their loyalty even firmer to Lungmen."
Flandre held the heavy scabbards, still feeling a bit perplexed. Wasn't Sister Ch'en the niece of Governor Wei Yenwu? Wouldn't it make more sense for an official relative of the city's ruler to bestow the gift?
"Go on," Ch'en urged with a subtle grin. "We still have to report back. If we're late, that cat Beatrice will throw another wild fit. Oh, and remember to tell them what I said..."
Flandre had no choice but to memorize Ch'en's words word-for-word, clutching the two longswords as she hovered over toward Mountain Hammer.
"This is what Sister Ch'en asked me to give you," Flandre announced, holding out the weapons. "I hope these two swords help you clear out the bugs. Sister Ch'en said she doesn't expect you to bring grand benefits to Lungmen—as long as you live good, honest lives here, that's enough."
Mountain Hammer took the twin longswords, unsheathed a few inches of cold steel, and his eyes instantly flared with awe.
Though these were merely standard-issue blades for Lungmen's frontline law enforcement, Wei Yenwu had never skimped on equipping his Guard Department. While they weren't masterwork Arts-conductive artifacts, for destitute wasteland mercenaries, steel of this caliber was an unimaginable upgrade.
Passing the weapons to the young men beside him, Mountain Hammer dropped heavily to one knee in the direction of Flandre and Ch'en.
"I, Mountain Hammer, swear upon my life today—from this day forth, my people shall remain forever loyal to Lungmen! Should I ever break this oath, may I perish beneath these very blades!"
Flandre turned back, giving him a cheerful wave of her hand before hopping lightly into the backseat of the transport.
Under the watchful, reverent gazes of the entire Sarkaz community, the heavy vehicle kicked up a trail of dust, speeding back toward the towering skyline of Lungmen.
"Will they really stay there peacefully?" the HR officer asked from the passenger seat, his tone still carrying a trace of lingering uncertainty.
"As long as they want a stable life," Ch'en replied, her voice filled with quiet confidence as she looked out at the passing landscape. "Lungmen might not offer them luxury, but surviving here will always be a thousand times better than rotting in Kazdel. If peace is what they truly seek, they will never choose to leave."