Girls' Frontline: My Apocalypse with Dolls

Page 176

P.S.: A new volume has begun, and a long, sweet romance is starting. It's expected to be around 100,000 words (maybe more). At the same time, it will also lay the groundwork for the main storyline of the next chapter and prepare for the business war to begin, and introduce new characters. Please look forward to it!

"So, Commander, are we really going to set up camp in a place like this?"

AR15 stood still, watching Luo Fan, who had already buried himself in his work, and couldn't help but question his decision.

But the other party didn't seem to care: "Hmm~ This is the only sheltered area around here, and it also provides some protection from the rain. Who knows when we'll encounter a place like this again? Once this opportunity is gone, it's gone forever."

"But...but the snow on these trees is so thick..."

AR15 looked up, his eyes filled with worry. Putting aside the issue of the tent's durability, if he wasn't careful, it might be buried by the snow on the trees the next day.

Thinking about it carefully, she really didn't want a huge pile of snow to rush in when she pulled back the tent flap...

Luo Fan remained unmoved: "Just don't kick the tree for no reason. I believe you can knock all the snow off the tree with one kick."

“Yes, that’s true.” AK12, who was helping to secure the tent, smiled in agreement.

While there's no concrete evidence, judging from the effects shown in the story, military-grade dolls of the executioner and alchemist caliber could probably kick a tree askew, and the AK15 and 16-pigeon are even heavier, perhaps even capable of snapping a tree in half with their bare hands...

Luo Fan had his own judgment. This thick tree was the only sheltered area they had encountered during their nearly half-hour walk, and also the only relatively flat place besides the center of the main road. He didn't know when they would encounter such a place again. Moreover, Luo Fan couldn't see a single intact tree; almost all of them had been killed by the winter sun...

Observing the weather, the sky was clear and the air was crisp, so it was estimated that the weather would not worsen for a considerable period of time. It was basically possible that strong winds would blow the snow down. And indeed, as he said, as long as they didn't have time to kick trees, the snow wouldn't fall on their heads.

"Come on, let's get ready. It's getting late, let's finish quickly and get some rest."

Luo Fan extended an invitation to AR15, who was standing still.

Looking around, everyone was busy setting up tents, and they all looked close to completion. It wouldn't be a good idea to suggest they move to another location at this point.

"Oh, well..."

In the end, AR15 had no choice but to respect the other party's idea and join the team setting up the tent.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the rebellious squad...

AN94 glanced at AR15, who was dealing with the tents with Luo Fan, and asked in a low voice, "12, are we sure we don't want to stay with the Commander? It seems like someone's about to get the upper hand..."

Despite showing reluctance, AN94 chose to ask AK12 for his opinion before making a decision.

But AK12, who had always been the main wife, didn't even look up: "94, do you know about moderation?"

"But what does this have to do with us and the commander?"

AN94 still couldn't fully understand AK12's mysterious yet nonchalant attitude, or what strange things she might say next.

AK12 laughed and said, "When you slap someone every day, and there's a day when you don't, they'll thank you. When you give someone five dollars every day, and there's one less day, they'll hate you. Of course, this is in theory, and in reality, it's mostly not like that."

"......What?"

"Similarly, if rulers want to maintain their rule, they need to provide the people with appropriate benefits. They cannot be tyrannical, for water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it."

"You mean..."

"Hmm~ Although I am not the ruler, you sometimes need to give some benefits to people of lower status than you. You need to control the degree yourself. Although it sounds sinister and disgusting, sometimes it is necessary."

Actually, things aren't that serious; it's just a matter of feelings. AK12 was just using an example that's easy to understand. Of course, they wouldn't become hostile towards each other because of this.

"All right......"

AN94 had only a vague understanding of this, but judging from AK12's tone, she also thought it wasn't a good thing.

To put it bluntly, one cannot always monopolize the command position. For the sake of future "family relations," it is sometimes necessary to make appropriate concessions.

Perhaps the example I gave was a bit excessive...

"...No, 94, forget what I just said."

"Ok?"

AK12 stopped answering and went back to tidying up the tent.

Meanwhile, as researchers, Pascal and Mrs. Grey were not suited for this kind of work, so they chose to stand aside and wait and observe the situation nearby, their heights forming a stark contrast.

With no cars passing by on the road, they gazed at the endless grass, savoring this rare natural beauty.

To be honest, after not having a warm cup of coffee for so long, Pascal felt he was starting to experience withdrawal symptoms.

Without electricity, the water temperature is not high enough to brew instant coffee. Even if you wait long enough for the coffee to brew, it will have lost its original flavor, so drinking coffee becomes meaningless.

Since there's nothing else to do, the only option is to find common ground with people who share similar interests...

"It's been quite a while now, what are your thoughts on him?"

Pascal broke the long silence between the two and quietly posed a question to each other.

Mrs. Grey glanced at each other.

"he?"

"Ah."

An eerie silence fell over the room once more. It was unclear whether Mrs. Grey was pondering the question or simply hadn't given it a second thought.

......

After a while, Mrs. Grey slowly spoke, still maintaining that indifferent tone.

"I don't have any particular ideas, I'll just do what I'm supposed to do."

It was very formulaic, and the cold tone seemed to suggest that it wasn't a lie, complementing his icy image.

"really?"

According to Pascal's observation, the other party was not completely devoid of emotion. To give a simple example, she still felt disgust for ugly things, and even Nieto had his own joys and sorrows.

Therefore, she didn't think Mrs. Grey always acted strictly by business. After all, the last time in Raccoon City, when Lovan and the others were on a night mission, Mrs. Grey had left home without permission, and when she returned, there was blood on the hem of her white dress. This confirmed to her that Grey had his own ideas while "working" and used his own special methods to better complete any "work" for him.

213 Old ginger is spicier.

Pascal casually draped his arm over the other man's shoulder, pointing at the busy Luo Fan with an air of "Look, that's the boss's," even though it was a bit strenuous for her to stick her arm around his shoulder and maintain that position...

Mrs. Grey's body trembled slightly at the other person's movements, but she neither answered her question nor stopped the other person's actions; she just stood there dumbfounded.

“Tell me, I know you have some different opinions. Look at Adeline, she's so smart and cute as an ordinary Nieto, shouldn't your emotions be richer than hers?”

Although reality is cruel, the fact that they are Nieto will not change. And if Adeline, a mass-produced Nieto, can generate her own independent will, how could the more advanced Lady Grey not be able to do the same?

Moreover, judging from the last night's negotiations, the other party is also a very shrewd person, and it is impossible for him not to have his own independent thoughts and will.

Pascal's casual banter gave Mrs. Grey a strange feeling, and she couldn't help but look away into the empty space.

“Adeline…I’m not like her.”

Pascal was still unable to grasp the other layer of meaning in the other person's words; she could not yet perceive the difference between Nieto and Nieto, after all, she had seen too few samples with her own eyes.

As individuals with independent wills, Mrs. Grey and Adeline are different. Adeline is still younger than herself, and she may be better at fighting against the past.

The younger the calves, the stronger their desire to break free of their chains and return to the outside world. Elephants that have been in the circus longer, however, usually lose the will to fight and may even advise the calves not to waste their energy, but to focus on performing better in tomorrow's show and earning more food...

For some reason, Mrs. Grey remembered a song she had stumbled upon in the Commander's music library a month ago.

They might still be popular in the Commander's era, but compared to their time, they might seem a bit old.

But after listening for a while, she fell in love with the song.

Bohemian Rhapsody

She once found a sense of resonance in the lyrics of this song, but now, thinking about it, perhaps it resonates more with mass-produced Nietzscheans like Adeline...

“I am a pitiful child. I don’t need sympathy because I can always come and go as I please.”

"Pull the trigger, and the gun fires, and the man dies."

"Mom, life has just begun, but now I've gone far away and forgotten about it."

"Mom, oh, I don't want you to cry."

If I don't return by this time tomorrow, let life go on, as if nothing happened.

"It's too late, my final resting place is approaching."

"My spine started to tremble, and I was in unbearable pain all over my body."

......

Is this her story, or the story of mass-produced Nietos like Adeline?

She had long forgotten everything, only remembering that it was Paradis who had created all of this, and that they could no longer return to that world.

Despite the turmoil churning within her, no one can understand her now.

Pascal still chose to ask in a joking tone: "It's just that your temperament and appearance are different, tell me about it."

She still really wanted to know what the other person thought.

Mrs. Grey, who had long regarded Pascal as a friend, after much deliberation, decided to share some of her thoughts.

"Me? ...Nothing interesting, just respect and trust."

She believed she had spoken fairly enough, and that was indeed her opinion. As for what others called "love," she had not yet fully understood it. Based on their words and actions in the name of "love," Mrs. Grey did not believe that her feelings for Lovan contained any "love" in them.

"Yeah......"

That's it?

Pascal glanced at the other person, only to find that the other person was staring intently at the man who was working with AR15 not far away, with no confusion in his eyes.

Perhaps they are more like fanatics than followers.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately swallowed her words, leaving only an ambiguous smile.

Love is not something that can be given or taken away, nor can it simply disappear. Although Mrs. Grey herself did not think so, her actions hinted at it to some extent.

After all, given Mrs. Grey's extremely rational personality, it's unlikely that she would wholeheartedly help someone, or perhaps she hasn't met the right person yet. She would definitely hold back and leave herself a way out. In the past, in Paradis, she was just like countless other Adeline, being manipulated by that damned William.

But speculation is just speculation, and only she knows the actual situation. Pascal dared not draw any conclusions.

"Ah, okay."

Pascal gently patted the other man's shoulder, then walked alone towards the tent where Lovan was.

Let her judge for herself who is right and who is wrong; too many words would only seem pale, powerless, and meaningless.

Mrs. Grey watched the other person leave with a somewhat bewildered and impressed expression. After a moment's thought, she chose to walk in the opposite direction from the other person.

She went to Adeline's tent; she needed to clear her mind and understand what she was really thinking...

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Pascal mimicked the winner's movements, spinning twice with a smile as he moved, before plunging headfirst into the tent that Lofan had set up.

She had prepared everything, including a sleeping mat, sheets, and blankets, so after lying down, she wrapped herself in the blankets and seemed to fall asleep.

Luo Fan and the girls looked at each other, somewhat stunned.

But they were mostly angry. She had run away last time and came back again. They had to admit that experience really does matter.

Although they still respect Pascal, career and love are two different things!

So, AR15, ignoring everyone's gaze, went into the tent on its own and hid in a corner where no one could see it from the outside.

"Uh......"

It turns out that AR15 was securing the tent with the commander from the beginning for this reason; she had planned it all along!

WA and Dreamer watched the two who had long since disappeared from the spot, their teeth itching with hatred, as if they were about to pull out their weapons.

Now only Luo Fan remains standing alone outside, enduring the gazes of dozens of hungry wolves.

"Um, you guys should finish up and get some rest. I won't bother you anymore, I'm leaving now..."

214 Dilemma

"You two are pretty clever, aren't you? Everyone else was still busy outside setting up the tents, and you managed to sneak in without anyone noticing?"

After zipping the tent up tightly, Luo Fan sat to the side with his arms crossed, looking at Pascal and AR15 who were already lying down with a mixture of exasperation and amusement, not knowing what to do.

Actually, it didn't really matter who slept with him. He just thought the decision-making process would take at least a few minutes, but two people took advantage of their proximity and didn't give anyone else even a chance to try.

And that was indeed the case. Each team had its own plan and prepared a set of excuses, but the surprise attack by the two people completely disrupted the rhythm.

It's like two old men playing chess, with several "loyal ministers" on both sides pointing and discussing the next move and how to achieve final victory, when suddenly an old man with a long white beard appears and overturns the chessboard.

What's even more infuriating is that they can't even lift a finger...

Luo Fan secretly opened his eyes, only to find that the two of them did not show any obvious reaction.

"Fell asleep?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Pascal, who had already covered himself with the blanket, started snoring. AR15, on the other hand, was a little shy and only adjusted his posture slightly, seemingly neither denying nor agreeing with what Luo Fan had said.