I can upgrade the shelter-Chapter 509 - 507: Defenders of the Homeland (3rd Update)

The arrival of reinforcements instantly resolved the dilemma faced by the medical research institutions.

The rebels who had originally besieged the area had completely withdrawn, leaving only some barriers they had previously erected nearby.

However, these posed little more resistance than papier-mâché to the reinforcements equipped with two Titans.

Thus, after the reinforcements cleared the garbage in front of the medical research institutions, the trapped rescue team could follow them and leave.

From the perspective of the reinforcements’ commander, this task was somewhat simpler than imagined.

Of course, this was mainly thanks to the Titans and heavy mechas. Otherwise, relying solely on ordinary soldiers to breach the multiple barriers set by the rebels would have been very difficult.

At the very least, those piled-up obstacles were not something easily broken through by sheer manpower in a short time.

But with the Titans, they could just ram or forcibly dismantle those barriers, which posed no real obstruction.

The commander, having witnessed the actual effect of the Titans, even thought that in urban warfare, such a behemoth was more useful than a tank.

This made the commander gaze more eagerly at the two Titans.

Aside from the commander’s fantasies about the two Titans, the trapped individuals inside the medical research institutions began preparing to evacuate upon the arrival of the reinforcements.

However, only the trapped personnel from the Flame Country’s rescue team were preparing to leave with the reinforcements, while the Lucia medical researchers expressed their intention to stay and continue developing a vaccine against the epidemic.

"Sorry, we can’t leave; this is our job and mission, and we must complete it," an elderly female medical researcher from Lucia said to Hu Jie with a smile, very seriously, "As a doctor, I can’t stand by idly as a disease rages. As a Lucian, I can’t do nothing while my country suffers. If I’m destined not to leave here, let this be my last chance to protect my country and my people."

As Hu Jie watched this woman, she realized that, although they had worked together for quite some time, it was her first time closely observing this seemingly oldest female medical researcher from Lucia.

The woman was quite elderly, her thin frame appearing almost skin-and-bone, a stark contrast to the typical well-built Lucian females.

Her hair was already gray with traces of gold visible, suggesting that in her youth, she must have been a beauty.

Considering her age, Lucia should have been part of the Suyia era during her youth, and she likely experienced the collapse of that red nation firsthand, coming from that time.

This helped Hu Jie understand, as some people from that era still held onto their former beliefs, ideals, and love for their country.

The woman seemed to understand Hu Jie’s expression, and after giving her a hug, she said, "I envy you all, having a great country to love and fight for. I once had a similarly great country, but sadly, it’s no more."

After speaking, the woman pulled a red notebook from her pocket and handed it to Hu Jie.

It was a very worn red notebook, its corners frayed to whiteness, but its surface was clean, showing signs of being well cherished, with the embossed gold letters and the Suyia emblem still visible.

The notebook was thin, but something seemed to be sandwiched inside. Upon opening it, Hu Jie found a golden medal, with a profile of the great revolutionary mentor who founded Suyia in the center.

"This is something I earned in the past. I’m giving it to you as a keepsake," the woman said, embracing Hu Jie once more.

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The rescue team left with the reinforcements, and ultimately, all the Lucians stayed behind.

The people from the Flame Country did not persuade them to leave, as everyone has their own duties and tasks. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Although the rescue team wanted to stay and assist in vaccine development, their country sent troops from afar to rescue them. With riots occurring, staying wasn’t a suitable choice.

Perhaps developing a vaccine is crucial, but staying now is not only irresponsible to themselves but also disregards the effort of the country that sent troops to rescue them from afar.

So, despite wanting to stay and help the Lucians develop the vaccine, the rescue team ultimately took a sample of the extracted virus strain and left with the reinforcements.

However, before they left, they pushed back the obstacles they had cleared earlier, sealing the entrance to the medical research institution from the outside to prevent further trouble from rebels for those Lucians remaining inside.

While not very secure, it would at least buy more time for those inside.

Moreover, the commander of the reinforcements informed the Lucians that they had dug a channel from the ground. Although it wasn’t completely dug through, it was at least two-thirds deep. While the people from the Flame Country wouldn’t continue digging, it wouldn’t be too hard for the Lucians to complete it themselves.

On the way back, the reinforcements were prepared for another potential encounter, but whether it was because the rebels realized they couldn’t stop them, thought there was no need to intercept since the rescue succeeded, or were previously intimidated, no one blocked their way.

The reinforcements and the rescue team smoothly left the underground of the Lucia Capital and returned to the two arks.

However, because both the reinforcements and the rescue team returned from the infected area, they needed to be quarantined for observation, as wearing fully enclosed protective suits couldn’t guarantee they weren’t contaminated with the virus.

So, even though the country decided to withdraw them, they couldn’t leave immediately.

While they could quarantine back home, it was also partly their desire not to risk bringing the virus back before a vaccine was developed.

Back on the ark, Hu Jie returned to her room and revisited the red notebook and medal given to her by the elderly Lucian woman, examining them closely.

This was the highest medal awarded during the Suyia era, recognizing outstanding contributions in socialist construction and national defense by individuals, collectives, agencies, social groups, and units.

The reason inscribed in the red notebook for this elderly Lucian woman receiving the medal was to honor her exceptional contributions to treating the wounded during the Che City incident.

She had defended her country and people once, and now it was the second time.