After dealing with the Reunion members responsible for covering their rear, Chen contacted Hoshiguma of the Special Inspectorate. They planned to make the Guards Division the main force, with Rhodes Island responsible for search and assault, determined to rescue Misha. Amiya suggested that professional matters should be left to professionals, and Penguin Logistics was the ideal choice for searching and finding people.
Not long after, Hoshiguma finally arrived at Chen's location.
"Sorry, I was held up by that person for quite a while." Hoshiguma added, "But I was genuinely startled by that Sarkaz's strength."
On the battlefield, Hoshiguma didn't seem particularly striking, but standing beside Chen, even with her slight hunch, she was still half a head taller than Chen. How imposing! Moreover, according to Hoshiguma, W was likely as strong as a six-star Operator.
"To the two special operatives, the kidnappers' whereabouts have been pinpointed." Standing beside Hoshiguma, Amiya appeared rather petite. Penguin Logistics' efficiency was truly impressive! In such a short time, they had located Misha and were discreetly tracking her.
The scene then shifted to Misha.
"You shall be called Misha." A Reunion member wearing a white mask spoke with a hint of respect, "Skullshatter spoke of you for so long; today, I finally get to see you."
Evidently, these Infected had long heard of Misha from Skullshatter. So, what was the relationship between Misha and Skullshatter? Mo Zhi's mind was filled with a large question mark.
"I've got it!" Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Mo Zhi, and she slapped her thigh with a loud smack. "I should have realized this earlier!"
"Twins, fraternal twins!"
"Misha and Skullshatter are twins???" Connecting this with the main chapters of the second volume, Mo Zhi quickly pieced things together.
"But their father was a politician in Chernobog. If the Reunion hates Chernobog so much, why did Skullshatter join the Reunion?"
"Bloody hell!" Mo Zhi spread her hands. "Great, one problem solved, and countless others pop up."
"Let's keep watching." She rolled her eyes. "What else can we do?"
"Why join... the Reunion?" In the game, Misha, who had just contracted Oripathy, couldn't comprehend their violent actions.
"Why?" The member's emotions surged violently. He gritted his teeth, "My wife, my child... they all died at the hands of Chernobog's people."
"The fate of Ursus Infected is worse than that of beasts."
"Destroy Chernobog...? As revenge, it's too light, too light..." He became increasingly unhinged. "How much Infected blood is on their hands?!"
"Misha, we are feared, manipulated, insulted, persecuted—"
"Simply because we are Infected."
Finally, he chuckled self-deprecatingly, "That's all there is to it." It was as if he were commenting on something trivial. Despair is greater than death of spirit. For Infected in Ursus to say that 'Infected here are worse than beasts' speaks volumes about the inhuman treatment they must endure. Psychological distortion is child's play in comparison.
Is it contradictory? *Arknights* is such a contradictory work. Everyone feels differently facing such circumstances. No one can truly empathize.
Is Rhodes Island wrong? In Mo Zhi's opinion, Rhodes Island is not wrong either. Their starting point was also to improve the status of Infected and ease humanity's attitude towards them. It's just that the methods employed differ. Amiya chooses to influence through love, while the Reunion led by Talulah makes the world fear them, forcing the world to truly acknowledge Infected. To go deeper would be philosophical.
Mo Zhi shook her chaotic mind; a few simple lines of dialogue made her think so much.
"Ivan, come help carry the wounded." From a distance, Skullshatter walked over.
"Understood."
"..." Misha looked at Skullshatter, her expression shifting. "...Ya—"
"No." Skullshatter raised a hand to interrupt. "I have abandoned that name."
"Why?"
"The person I was is dead."
"You can just call me Skullshatter." Skullshatter asked, "Are you a little scared?"
"Skull... shatter?" Misha murmured softly. She looked up and asked, "Why?"
"You will understand." Skullshatter continued, "When everyone knew you had drifted to Lungmen, they all volunteered to rescue you."
"In Lungmen, we have taken in many Infected."
"But you, you hurt others." Misha retorted. "I don't want to. Why do Infected—"
"An eye for an eye, it is only right." Skullshatter said, "The Ursans say that towards loved ones, one should be as warm as spring."
"But towards enemies..."
"What is it?"
"Do you know?" Skullshatter's voice grew agitated. "No—you—you don't know."
"Damn it!"
"Riddle-mongers get out of Terra!" Mo Zhi's head throbbed. These twins were both riddle-mongers, only saying half the story, which drove her mad!
'Agreed!'
'I'm very curious if they are brother and sister, or sisters, or...'
'Will Misha be persuaded to join the Reunion?'
'To be honest, Infected are truly shaped by their environment. I feel like if the Reunion saved the Doctor, it would be fun to stand with the Reunion, right?'
...
The viewers were letting their imaginations run wild, discovering many interesting points, and Mo Zhi agreed.
"Don't say it, I think so too." She nodded in deep agreement. In this world, for Infected, their birth environment basically determined their faction. There's no right or wrong; the wrong is this world!
Returning to the game, Skullshatter recounted his past. He questioned Misha, asking why she, standing right there, didn't do anything when he was dragged away as an Infected. But Misha was just a child then. Facing those thugs, where could she muster the courage to confront them? She could only watch them beat her mother. Leaving a bloody trail in the snow... Later, the Reunion rescued Skullshatter. From his perspective, everyone in the Reunion lived a hard life, but now they saw hope. Skullshatter didn't blame Misha; he knew that no child at that time would have had such courage, and he was no different. His current courage was given by the Reunion. The Reunion was his faith. Skullshatter didn't force Misha to join the Reunion. He merely told Misha that she was now also an Infected, and the Reunion would fight to the end for the freedom of Infected. Misha still showed some resistance, "But you destroyed Chernobog, and many innocent people were among them."
"Innocent?" Skullshatter smiled. "Who isn't innocent?"
"Who considered us?"
"When we were dragged to the mines, when Ursus abandoned us in the mines and frozen fields, letting us die in the bitter cold, did anyone object?" Skullshatter's voice became fervent, his facial muscles trembling slightly under the mask as he uttered each word, "Did anyone stand up and object?!"
Every word struck the heart, piercing the souls of every viewer present.
PS: Three chapters today, a new start to the new year. I plan to have at least three chapters daily from now on, with no upper limit, let's push for it again!! (Please give me more data support!!)