Ms. Theresa had made very bad plans, but in reality, the three of them didn't have to exert much effort.
Ivan's terminal received a communication signal from the Ursus regular army; they seemed to have captured something.
An abandoned mobile platform, and some Infected in not-so-good condition.
“Reporting, sir, during our sweep of the Reunion Movement, we found signs of human activity on this abandoned platform, and upon searching, we discovered these Infected.”
The commanding officer, upon seeing Ivan's golden double-headed eagle emblem, immediately saluted him.
This was an emblem only granted to the First Army Group stationed in Saint Junius, indicating that he had at least been reviewed by the Emperor.
At this point, no one cared whether he was Infected or not.
Which soldier, exiled to the frontier, would dare to investigate the capital's Imperial Guard?
And as for Xing Chen and Ms. Theresa, because of Ivan's care, the garrisons near Chernobog didn't dare to say much.
They probably still didn't know that their direct superior had already been invited to a sauna by the Imperial Guard and were still foolishly cooperating with the immortal Black Snake's charade.
“Let me see,” Ivan led Xing Chen and Ms. Theresa past the officer and approached the Infected.
“Stand still! Don't make me kill you all right now!”
The accompanying battlemage kicked one of the Infected, making the rest of them stand in a neat line.
“Hands out,” Ivan said coldly.
Dozens of Infected dared not delay, immediately exposing their hands to the cold wind.
As a soldier, he could clearly see who frequently used weapons, but these people... were all very ordinary refugees.
“Ms. Theresa, please use your witchcraft to examine them.”
It was almost impossible for Infected wandering in the wilderness, like the Sarkaz of Kazdel, not to have directly or indirectly taken other lives.
What Ms. Theresa needed to do was actually to pick out those individuals with extreme malice.
After all, killing out of necessity for survival was unavoidable.
If one had done everything right but still couldn't survive, then the fault certainly wasn't their own.
“He, he, and him, Mr. Ivan.”
Ms. Theresa pointed out a few people, and the garrison immediately understood, kicking those individuals, forcing them to kneel before the three.
“Clearly state your crimes, and I can grant you a quick death; otherwise...”
Saying this, Ivan gripped an Infected's finger and then forcefully bent it back.
“Each of you has ten chances. Now, begin.”
The lives of the Infected on the northern ice plains of Ursus were all quite similar, so everyone's narrative was monotonous.
The differences were merely in whether they killed a few more or a few less.
Anyway, they had no other pursuits beyond eating and killing.
“What about the Reunion Movement?”
“What Reunion Movement, great officer, we don't know...”
Before this Infected could finish speaking, he took a punch from Ivan.
Then, the remaining Infected confessed everything.
“Sorry, sir, I'll send a message to the garrison immediately to request reinforcements to search for that group of escaped Infected.”
“No need. You've done very well. Escort the remaining people away first.”
Upon receiving the order, the officer immediately nodded to the guards, who drew their scimitars and, one by one, stabbed the chosen Infected in the back, ending their lives.
“You continue to act according to your plan. Those Infected have fled into the mountains; sending troops to search rashly might result in losses.”
Ivan spoke from the heart. His service was in the western, relatively better-off regions of Ursus.
In those conquered areas, wherever the terrain was a bit complex, Guerrillas would sprout like weeds.
They were not Patriot's Guerrillas; they truly harbored a deep-seated hatred for Ursus.
“Understood, sir.” The officer saluted Ivan and prepared to leave.
“Oh, and continue to gather intelligence on the Reunion Movement, but do not take action. Some of them are very dangerous.”
“Yes, sir.”
...After bidding farewell to the local garrison, the three returned to the car and began to consider their next move.
“The Reunion Movement and Mr. Patriot's Guerrillas have already occupied the mountains and forests. They must have deployed a warning system, and forcing our way in will only lead to us being treated as enemies.”
Ivan took out a military map and marked it with some Ursus army symbols.
“Or we might not even encounter them.”
Ms. Theresa supplemented Ivan's words.
“So, we need some... disguise.”
Xing Chen thought of an old movie.
So, the three of them dug a large pit in a conspicuous spot in the forest and buried the car and equipment.
Changing into clothes stripped from a dead Infected, Ms. Theresa even specifically took out bandages, aged them, and tied them around Ivan.
Otherwise, his Ursus military demeanor would very easily arouse unnecessary suspicion.
“Alright, let's go over our alibis.”
Xing Chen took out slips of paper and handed them to Ms. Theresa and Ivan.
“Ivan, you are an ordinary Ursus soldier who was accidentally Infected and chose to seek refuge with the Reunion Movement to avoid punishment.”
Ivan nodded; this was similar to his real situation and very easy to understand.
“Ms. Theresa, you are a Sarkaz witch from Kazdel, hoping to find a chance to live with Patriot.”
Ms. Theresa suggested that it would be better to follow the previous script of a Kazdel noble.
“Whatever you want, as long as you think you won't arouse suspicion.” There was more than one way, as long as it worked. So he tore up the note he had prepared for himself in advance. “Then my identity might have to change. Hmm... a **? How about that?”
“Xing Chen, why do you like to belittle yourself so much?” Ms. Theresa was very displeased with the word “**”.
“At least I didn't add *,” Xing Chen also didn't want to always appear as someone who couldn't stand on his own, but his strength was truly insufficient. “Besides, isn't it normal for the Sarkaz of Kazdel to have **?”
“Hmm, I'm wondering, Xing Chen, are you too lazy to think, so you just let me be the master and do all the talking?”
“How could that be? You're overthinking...”
Ms. Theresa pouted, pretending to be angry, and stared intently at Xing Chen.
Xing Chen's eyes involuntarily moved away from hers.
“Oh, alright.” Ms. Theresa didn't object to taking on a bit more work; she just didn't like others belittling themselves.
However, she also admitted that Xing Chen's way of speaking was the most effective way to shut others up, and in terms of operational efficiency, it was the best choice.
“Let's go, we're heading into the woods to find people.” Ivan didn't understand what Ms. Theresa and Xing Chen were talking about, and as soon as they finished, he immediately began to act.