Chapter 475 Elinor Volunteers for Battle
Steven smirked and shook his head. "You can't even protect yourself. You want me to babysit you on the battlefield?"
Sure, battlefield doctors were crucial, but they couldn't be a liability.
Elinor retorted, "Before, it would've been a hassle to bring me along. But this time, it's a big battle. There'll be plenty of logistical support."
"Not just us, but all the allied forces will have their own logistics teams," she added.
Henry nodded in agreement. "Elinor's right. This time, we've got the top five forces in Starlight City coming together. This fight won't be over quickly."
"If it's a long battle, logistics are key. Especially medics!" He looked at Steven earnestly. "You've always been cautious, and we've never had casualties. But that might not last forever."
"You know how common death is on the battlefield. Doctors are essential."
Steven hesitated. He was strong, but in a massive melee, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't get hurt.
In the brutal cold of minus sixty degrees, any injury could turn into tissue necrosis. Worst case, it could mean disability or death.
If they got hurt, it would be a nightmare.
Plus, for the future, his team needed to adapt to harsh environments, even battlefields.
After thinking it over, Steven nodded. "Alright, you can come. I'll make sure you stay in the rear. Hide well and treat us if we get injured."
Elinor beamed and hugged Steven, her eyes sparkling. "Got it, I'll do my job as a doctor!"
Seeing Elinor's enthusiasm, Aubrey jumped up, not wanting to be left out. "Steven, take me too! My shooting's gotten way better."
Steven glanced at the short-haired girl and said calmly, "Did you forget that guns don't do much against zombies?"
Aubrey's face fell.
Steven cut off any further discussion. "Except for Elinor, no one else is coming. Stay in the shelter until it's finished."
Aubrey sat down, disappointed, while Cindy stayed indifferent.
There wasn't much they could do.
Emilia and Nora looked relieved. They didn't have Elinor's guts to follow Steven into battle.
They had no combat skills and would likely die if they went. Staying in the safe shelter was the best option.
Aubrey helped Steven check the snowmobile, making sure it was safe and refueled.
Steven and the others checked their weapons and gear. Once everything was ready, they prepared to leave.
Before heading out, Steven handed Elinor a silver pistol. "Guns are pretty useless against zombies, and you can't handle big weapons. Keep this for self-defense. It's great against people!"
The immediate crisis was the zombie horde, but Steven wasn't about to play nice with the other major forces. They were still potential enemies, just temporarily teaming up for mutual benefit. Who knew who might stir up trouble?
Elinor had practiced shooting. Her aim wasn't perfect, but it was good enough for self-defense. She took the gun and tucked it into her combat suit.
The group hopped on two snowmobiles, sealed the shelter, and headed to the Snowfall Cult headquarters in the Seldwa District.
At the Snowfall Cult, they were scrambling to prepare, knowing the investigation team and other forces were on their way.
Otha and his crew arrived first. Neil led a group of priests and clergy to greet them. Well, "greet" might be a stretch—there wasn't time for any fancy reception.
Otha and the others didn't care about formalities. When they arrived, they saw bloodstains everywhere, severed limbs not yet cleaned up. In a corner, someone was gnawing on a bloody piece of a giant rat.
They took it all in stride, being battlefield veterans.
Neil approached Otha and the others, nodding. "Welcome to the Snowfall Cult! We don't know why you suddenly called for all major forces to gather here. Is there a plan?"
"If you could've given us a heads-up, we could've been better prepared."
Lanny sneered, crossing his arms. "With your place in this state, what kind of preparation could you make? We're here to help you solve problems, just follow our lead."
Neil's people bristled at Lanny's words.
Lanny raised an eyebrow. "What, you got a problem? Want to step outside and settle it? I can take you all on!"
Dean couldn't hold back, baring his teeth. "Don't be so cocky! Even if the folks from Silvercrest District are tough, we're not pushovers!"
"Dean, shut up!" Neil snapped.
He then apologized to Lanny. "Please excuse him, the recent heavy casualties at Snowfall Cult have everyone on edge."
Lanny wanted to say more, but Otha gave him a look, and he clammed up.
Otha turned to Neil. "We'll discuss the plan once everyone else gets here."
He didn't want to explain everything to Neil alone.
Neil smiled. "Alright, would you like to rest inside first?"
He gestured for the investigation team to follow him to the church's rest area.
Otha led the way, the others close behind.
As they walked, Otha asked, "How many people have died here in the past few days?"
Neil hesitated, then answered quietly, "Continuous battles have caused thousands of followers to die at the hands of zombies. Some were infected and couldn't be saved, so we had to humanely deal with them to prevent mutation."
Otha raised an eyebrow. "How many exactly have died?"
He needed the specific numbers to gauge the impact of the zombie horde on Snowfall Cult.
Neil paused, hesitating. "I'm sorry, we haven't kept an exact count. The estimated death toll... should be around three to four thousand."
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