"What? A Resonator is overclocking? Okay, okay, I'll handle the transfer right away. I'm on my way to assist."
"Troublesome… so troublesome…"
Xiulan hung up the call and turned to the group with an apologetic expression. "In short, you're here to provide support, right? First, I need your help with something."
"The wounded are already being transported down, but they need someone to receive them. Right now, I have to deal with the overclocked Resonator, so… could I trouble you to meet the injured and ensure their safety?"
Though Lucian had been joking around, he understood the urgency of the situation. His earlier banter had just been to lighten the mood.
"What exactly do you need us to do?" Lucian asked.
"Just make sure they're safe when they arrive. The medical staff will handle the treatment."
Rover: "Got it. Leave it to us."
Xiulan nodded and hurried off.
Though Rover had come to the frontlines to search for clues about the keepsake, as the saying goes—since we're already here…
Clearly, the safety of the wounded was far more important than any leads.
Besides, the clues the Magistrate had given them might very well have been intended to lead them in this direction.
If Rover had such deep ties to Jinzhou, and if seeing the statue of Jinzhou's Sentinel had triggered some memories, then perhaps witnessing the battlefield firsthand would also bring something back.
On the way to the wounded, Jianxin couldn't help but sigh:
"I never realized how busy the military is… It looks like they don't even have time to drink water."
Yangyang, as a member of the Midnight Rangers, was all too familiar with this:
"Supplies, medical care, repairs, personnel, logistics… Only if they work efficiently amidst the chaos can the frontlines hold."
Jianxin took a deep breath. "So this is what war looks like in our world… I never knew the situation was so dire."
Having grown up in the mountains, she hadn't even fully grasped the stories of Jinzhou City, let alone these deliberately concealed truths.
Yangyang reassured her: "Most people never witness these scenes, so not knowing is the norm."
Lucian also felt like he'd gained new perspective. In his past life, he'd only ever seen such things in videos—never firsthand.
"I think this is what the military wants. They want people to live carefree lives, not in constant fear and worry."
Yangyang nodded in agreement.
The place Lucian had lived in his past life was peaceful and stable, but that peace had been built on the silent sacrifices of those who bore the weight.
...
When the group arrived at the camp, wounded soldiers were everywhere. Most bore horrifying injuries—scars left from battling countless Tacet Discords on the battlefield.
They approached one soldier who was shouting:
"I told you, this little scratch doesn't mean I need to come down! Let me go back!"
Jianxin rushed forward, alarmed by the gruesome wound on his chest. "Please calm down! Your wound hasn't stopped bleeding!"
The soldier waved his arm dismissively. "What's a little blood? Losing an arm wouldn't stop me either!"
Rover said flatly: "Now's not the time to be stubborn."
The soldier remained defiant. "I'm not being stubborn!"
"My Resonance ability lets me heal on my own—it's just taking a bit longer this time! Save the medical supplies for those who really need them!"
Lucian rubbed his chin. "So there are Resonance abilities like that… I thought they were all just for attacking."
At that moment, the system chimed in:
[Resonance abilities vary widely. Some people's abilities are weak, only useful in daily life, while others can play a major role in specific fields.]
"I see… Right now, I can only gain Resonance abilities through affinity, so I'll need to interact with more Resonators…"
So far, he'd only obtained one ability from Jianxin—a wind-based skill.
Though the system labeled it as a specific skill, now that he was officially a Resonator, he could develop new abilities on his own rather than being limited to preset ones.
Nearby, a medic sighed in exasperation. "Stop moving! Our diagnostics don't lie—just stay put!"
The medic gestured for the group to help restrain the soldier.
After some struggle, the medics finally managed to treat the stubborn soldier.
Next, they followed the medics to another soldier who was half-sitting, his leg bandaged and his back covered in bloodstains.
He was panting heavily, clearly in pain.
Jianxin crouched beside him, concerned. "Are you alright?"
"I'm… fine… Just… having… trouble breathing…"
Once again, the group helped the medics stabilize him.
Looking around, most of the other wounded had also been temporarily treated and were now stable.
A medic wiped sweat from their brow and smiled at the group. "Thank you for your help. You must be tired—take a rest."
Jianxin still looked worried. "Their injuries seem so severe…"
The medic reassured her: "Don't worry, they've all received proper treatment. They'll recover in time."
"Ever since General Jiyan reformed the military and established the Midnight Rangers, the state of the wounded hasn't been as horrifying as it was decades ago…"
The medic sighed before continuing: "The veterans say that back then, there were still many ordinary people in the army. The battlefields back then… the stench of blood in the air couldn't even be washed away by heavy rain."
"Compared to those days, things are much better now."
"…These wounds are proof that they've fought off thousands of ferocious Tacet Discords."
"Every Resonator in the Midnight Rangers can take on a hundred enemies. Those who come down with injuries like these must have taken down at least that many."
Rover's expression was solemn. "They're all heroes."
Lucian mused: "So the Midnight Rangers are that impressive… No wonder General Jiyan is so revered."
In just two days in this world, he'd already heard General Jiyan's name mentioned multiple times.
Jianxin took a deep breath. "Protecting the nation, saving lives, aiding the people—these soldiers have done it all. In comparison, my efforts seem so insignificant."
Lucian patted Jianxin's head but said nothing.
After all, even he had just been given a lesson—one he might never have learned in his past life.
The medic smiled. "Don't say that. Without your help, we wouldn't have finished so quickly."
"Now that the wounded are stable, if you still have business to attend to, you can go ahead."
Jianxin clasped her hands together. "My apologies for the disturbance. I came here to find the quartermaster."
She hadn't forgotten her goal—the Midnight Ranger they'd met earlier said Zhiyuan had been taken by the quartermaster…