Chapter 1487: Chapter 1485: A Helping Hand
Looking at the dazed expressions of the crew, Goring felt some sympathy. He reached out and patted Bob on the shoulder, saying, "Locomotive Captain, I know you didn’t want this outcome, but reality is like this. Anyway, thank you and your men. Next, I’ll have someone arrange a place for you to stay, and then we’ll talk about other things."
"Captain, we..." Bob wanted to say something more, but he was interrupted after just starting to speak.
A soldier rushed in from outside the tent, his clothes covered in blood, reeking of gore, pantingly reporting, "Ca... Captain, the two salient groups to the south have been hit by continuous assaults and can’t hold on any longer. They’ve withdrawn. Over thirty percent casualties, currently regrouping at Camp One. Do you want to take a look?"
"Alright, understood." Goring listened without wasting words and stepped outside.
Bob watched Goring’s back, opened his mouth, but ultimately didn’t say what he wanted to say next.
A civil servant in the tent walked over, glanced at Bob, and made a gesture inviting him outside: "Mr. Locomotive Captain, shall I take you to your accommodations first?"
"Ah, okay." Bob’s team followed the civil servant out of the tent.
Once they stepped out of the tent, they realized a lot had changed outside during the time they were inside.
Before they entered, the atmosphere at the Grey Parrot Reinforcement Group encampment was serious, but quiet and orderly.
Now that they came out, the place looked completely different—numerous soldiers were running swiftly across the camp, some carrying supplies, others moving blood-covered injured soldiers, constantly shouting.
"Reserve squad, reserve squad, immediately support Defence Line Two!"
"Shells, a load of shells, get them to Defence Line Nine immediately!"
"Physician, physician, there are wounded, this is the first one, at least sixteen more are coming!"
"Seventh battalion..."
Outside these calls, the constant explosions at the defense line at the camp’s edge, mixed with the screams and cries of abnormal creatures, could be heard, sending chills down one’s spine, giving the impression that the horde of abnormal creatures might break in any moment, trampling everything.
With much difficulty, under the civil servant’s guidance, Bob and his group reached the front of their designated lodging tent, covered in sweat from fear.
The civil servant settled them in, stating that the situation at the camp was rather urgent and he couldn’t stay with them longer, before quickly turning and leaving.
Bob and his group understood, as times were different now, and silently sat down in the tent, exchanging helpless glances in long silence.
The tent they were now in had much worse soundproofing than the captain’s previously—inside the tent, they could still clearly hear the sounds outside.
Explosions, roars, and screams constantly filled their ears, making their hearts pound with fear.
After enduring this for quite a while, the driver, Buddy, couldn’t help but mutter quietly, voicing a complaint: "At that time, we should have just driven back."
Bob heard this and glared at Buddy, scolding, "You think we’d be safe if we returned to Redstone City? Besides, the journey back is longer—can we truly make it?"
"I..." Buddy sighed, lowering his head, pulling at his hair, "So what do we do now?"
"Just wait, we can’t help anyway," someone said.
Just after those words were spoken, footsteps came from outside the tent, and then the curtain was pulled aside, revealing the civil servant who had led them there earlier. It was unclear what he had gone through, but although he was a civil servant, his chest was stained with a patch of blood, though it didn’t seem to be his own blood, more likely from a wounded or an abnormal creature.
During their initial walk, Bob had asked for his name, so seeing him now, Bob asked in surprise, "Mr. Lex, what happened to you? Is there anything we can help with?"
"Uh, Locomotive Captain, don’t worry about me, I just got my clothes dirty while helping move the fallen soldiers," said the civil servant, named Lex. Then his expression turned serious, "However, there is indeed something I’d like to ask your help with.
The situation at our camp has deteriorated with more intense attacks and serious casualties creating personnel gaps, so even I’ve been called in. The Captain asked if you’re willing to step out and lend a hand. We don’t need you to actually fight, just help with transporting goods, carrying the wounded, and some auxiliary work."
"This..." Faced with Lex’s sincere gaze, Bob blinked, and behind him, the entire crew went silent. The experiences on the locomotive still vivid, to be honest, they really didn’t want to go through it again. Even if not engaging in combat, auxiliary work still had its risks.
Bob could clearly guess what the rest of the crew was thinking, pursed his lips, and looked at Lex: "Mr. Lex, can you give me two minutes to discuss this with my men?"
"Sure, I’ll wait for your response a bit away from the tent, Locomotive Captain," Lex nodded and turned to walk out of the tent.
Once Lex left, Bob turned to the crew and, after some thought, spoke seriously: "We are responsible for the locomotive operation, combating abnormal creatures isn’t really our duty. Logically, under the current circumstances, safely delivering the supplies here is already exceeding task completion.
However, if the situation weren’t critical, the Grey Parrot Reinforcement Group here wouldn’t ask us for help—they wouldn’t want to lose face.
We can certainly refuse their request, after all, we don’t fall under the Grey Parrot Reinforcement Group’s jurisdiction, but they had better withstand the horde of abnormal creatures, otherwise, if the line breaks, we’ll all die here.
That’s all I have to say—even though I’m the Locomotive Captain, I won’t force you. I hope you all make an independent choice you won’t regret. That’s it."
Finishing, Bob looked calmly at all the crew members.
After a solid ten seconds of silence, Frank was the first to raise his hand, his eyes flickering as he said, "Locomotive Captain, I’d like to help?"
"You help? Why, Frank, are you not afraid of your calamity anymore?" Bob asked.
"Actually, aren’t we already in a calamity now? What can fear change?" Frank said, and as he spoke, his eyes gradually brightened as though he’d understood something, "Besides, through all these calamities, I’ve survived, so who’s to say this misfortune isn’t perhaps fortune?"
"Alright then." Bob nodded, "Now with you, that makes two of us willing to help—anyone else?"
Bob looked towards the others.
After a while more silence, others gradually raised their hands.
Philip thought for a bit and also raised his hand.
In the end, aside from a few, most of the crew decided to help.
"Good, then let’s go." Bob looked, nodded in satisfaction, and led the group out of the tent without further delay.
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