The Crimson Rain didn’t stop until midnight yesterday. After the storm, Sophia, Emily, Charlotte, and the rest of the five teams made it back to the Ice Regint’s main camp one after another.
This disaster had cost them dearly - 127 female mbers dead, 37 vehicles wrecked, and countless supplies ruined.
Inside the RV lounge, Liana hadn’t slept a wink. Her bloodshot eyes locked on a list in her hand as she reported, "Just last night, we burned through two-thirds of our ammunition. Right now, we’ve got 1,199 rifle mags, 2,977 pistol mags, 774 grenades, 19 rockets, and 48 flathrower fuel canisters left..."
She flipped another page. "As for Crystals, we used up 112 in total. That includes 85 Fire Crystals and 27 tal Crystals..."
After three minutes of reading out numbers, she sighed and set down the list. "That’s all I’ve managed to count for now."
The RV was thick with smoke. Today, Magnus was smoking with Charlotte. Emily reached for one too, but Charlotte stopped her.
Magnus looked at Charlotte and asked, "Charlotte, you and Chloe - where were you guys hiding yesterday? I combed half of Southriver City and didn’t see anyone."
Charlotte replied, "Our squad wasn’t too far from the main convoy when the downpour started. We made it back soon after you entered the city. Barely suffered any loss."
Chloe added, "We noticed sothing was off and quickly ducked into a hardware store with a storage area in the back. Stayed hidden there till past midnight."
Magnus nodded. That explained why no one had shown up in Chloe’s team earlier.
"Magnus..." Emily watched him carefully. "Will there be more Crimson Rain like this?"
"I’m not sure," Magnus replied without thinking. "In my mory, there was only one Crimson Rain, and it wasn’t supposed to happen until six months later..."
He didn’t realize his slip, but the others noticed right away.
"What?" Sophia questioned sharply. "What do you an - ’in your mory it was six months later’? Are you saying... you can predict the future?"
Charlotte snapped her head towards him. "mory? You said mory. That ans you’ve seen all this before?"
Everyone stared at him, stunned.
Realizing he’d said too much, Magnus quickly backpedaled. "No, no, I ant... I have a feeling. A hunch, really. Based on... observations."
None of them looked convinced.
The truth was, Magnus had too many secrets. That blue-fire wooden log just discovered, how he’d predicted the apocalypse spot on, how he knew so much about Sophia and Grace - that neither of them had known him before, yet he acted like he did.
He also sohow knew their backstories, private stuff - even Sarah’s birthmark. Way too many unexplainable things.
The won surrounded him with question after question. Magnus couldn’t keep up, and in the end, he clamd up. No matter what, he wouldn’t spill the truth. He couldn’t tell them the truth.
What was he supposed to say - he ca from the future? He thought about it. Maybe he could. The questions, the pressure, had him wavering. Weighing the pros and cons... but in the end, Magnus chose not to reveal anything.
After nearly an hour of pointless grilling, he finally changed the subject. "I think we should stay here for three days."
"Three days? Why?" Sophia frowned.
"To make up for the losses," Magnus said plainly. "Southriver City’s big. There’s no garrison here, still no sign of any major survivor groups. That ans the supplies are still untouched. Charlotte, Sophia - you both went into the city yesterday. What’s your take?"
Charlotte nodded, "It’s loaded with resources. I was gonna bring it up when I got back anyway."
Emily added, "She’s right. Most of the supplies haven’t been touched. Our team even found a police supply depot yesterday. Didn’t have ti to break in yet."
Only Liana looked troubled. "But Magnus... are you sure there won’t be another red rain today?"
"Shouldn’t be."
Before yesterday, he would’ve sworn that with full confidence. But after what happened... even he wasn’t so sure.
Still, walking away from such a rich city empty-handed? That would be a waste.
After a quick discussion, the team reached a consensus. Magnus didn’t hold back - he went big this ti. He split off almost the entire Ice Regint to scavenge Southriver City, aiming to bring back ten, twenty tis what they’d lost.
"Emily, Sophia - you each take 300 people and sweep from east and west. Hit every market, hardware store, sports shop, garage. If it’s useful, bring it back."
"You want each of us out there with 300 people?" Emily blinked, stunned.
"Yes. All 300," Magnus said without hesitation. Before she could raise more objections, he turned to Liana. "Liana, I need you too. Take 100 who can drive. Your job’s vehicles. If you find working trucks, send them straight to Emily and Sophia. They’ll need them for hauling."
"Got it." Worry still shadowed her face, but as the logistics head, Liana lit up at the idea of a full-blown supply run.
"Chloe, take 50 with you," Magnus continued. "Head to the villages around Southriver City. Focus on unfound teorites."
"gan, Amber - you’re on the sa job. Each of you gets five squads. Fan out. Hit different directions. Search villages. Find those teorites."
The three won nodded in unison.
"Charlotte." Magnus turned last to her. "You’re up too. Take 50 through the residential blocks, schools, hospitals. See if there are survivors. And grab whatever dical supplies you can carry."
The Ice Regint was down to 1,047 mbers. Magnus just sent out 900 of them.
And he wasn’t done - Abigail and her sister, plus Margaret Fuller, each got a new assignnt on top of that...
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