Girls' Frontline: My Apocalypse with Dolls

Page 373

YYY, I'm almost tempted to skip straight to the daily life section. The high-intensity battles just leave me with nothing to do, and my combat skills are terrible. It's so frustrating.

Plan 554 is thwarted.

While the two were discussing privately, the ship girls opened the windows and launched their carrier-based aircraft. They were only the size of model airplanes and the indicator lights were not turned on, making it extremely difficult for the military to notice these tiny things.

The girls quickly realized from the straight lines of the ship's rigging that the four new friends belonged to an aircraft carrier that was still in service today. Although its performance might not be comparable to that of modern aircraft carriers, it was more than enough for special forces that lacked artillery support and wide-area reconnaissance capabilities in environments without electricity.

“Be patient, Commander, we will find your enemies soon,” Kaga said, a sly smile gradually appearing on his face, “and then slaughter them all.”

"Let's take a detour; we don't have that ability yet..."

Luo Fan sighed inwardly, thinking that he was indeed a battle maniac, completely incompatible with the image of this quiet and intellectual white fox woman.

Luo Fan's answer seemed to dampen her spirits for the game, so she turned her attention back to the window and waited for the carrier-based aircraft to return.

However, in such chaotic times, they will definitely have plenty of opportunities to show their skills; the time just hasn't come yet. For now, they must remain in hiding and wait for the right moment...

Two minutes later, Shoukaku returned to Luo Fan's side, playing the flute. In the instant he turned around, he attracted the attention of Akagi and Taihou.

"Commander, would you be so kind as to listen to me play a tune?"

Xianghe's smiling face was a clear demonstration of the saying "a woman dresses up for her lover," but it looked suspiciously like she was deliberately stirring things up. Luo Fan suddenly felt a pang of panic and waved his hand in a gesture of apprehension...

"Hmm... Let's wait until we get back. Your senior from the First Carrier Division is keeping an eye on things right now."

The man glanced at the red fox and phoenix feathers by the window and couldn't help but feel a sense of ants gnawing at his skin.

But this only made Shoukaku even happier: "Oh dear, are you afraid of Akagi-senpai? Don't worry, although I am the only one left in the Fifth Carrier Division, with Jiangfeng by my side, I am still confident that I can protect you. So why don't we make the best of a bad situation when we have some free time?"

Goodness, even the minotaurs have to rely on you. However, Jiang Feng, who was mentioned by chance, just frowned and glanced at the two of them before continuing to read his book.

After his brain worked at full speed, and considering the circumstances, Luo Fan finally came up with a plausible excuse. He said seriously, "But as you can see, we are standing on a desolate battlefield. How can we enjoy ourselves to the fullest? Why not wait until we return victorious and visit my humble abode, where we can have some fine wine? I will accompany you there to the very end."

"Oh~ the Commander's house? Sounds nice, and there's even alcohol?"

"Yes, it's a cocktail made by mixing various Western spirits and fruits. I personally make it, and it's refillable."

Speaking in the style of Sakura Empire ship girls is, to be honest, a bit tiring...

"Okay, it's a deal~"

After saying that, Xianghe took the opportunity to lie down and snuggle into Luo Fan's arms.

However, an unpleasant voice immediately rang out from the window: "Shokaku..." Akagi gritted her teeth, yet still maintained that extremely aggressive smile: "As a junior, isn't this overstepping one's bounds in the game?"

Xianghe snuggled into Luo Fan's arms again: "Reason is a woman's virtue. Thanks to this, I seem to be out of place with you, senior."

"Ugh...!"

Just as Akagi was about to step forward, Kaga pulled her back. Turning around, she saw that all the carrier-based aircraft had already returned to base.

Despite his anger, Akagi temporarily prioritized the bigger picture and began processing the intelligence.

Shoukaku displayed its ship equipment to the public, retrieved its carrier-based aircraft, and said softly, "Let's see what the little guys brought back..."

After observing the model-sized carrier-based aircraft, MG4 tugged at Alpha's sleeve and whispered, "Are there... chickens in there?"

"It seems so..."

Before long, black and white photos were taken out of the ship's equipment space. Although they were full of historical atmosphere, at least they were clear and almost the entire bridge and its surroundings were photographed.

"Tsk tsk, apart from its timeliness, it's much better than drones."

MDR picked up a photo and examined it closely. She was right. Apart from not being a real-time view, this reconnaissance method was far superior to drones in terms of concealment, and it was also extremely flexible, as it did not need to stay in one place to maintain operation.

Now that they have all the necessary information, the subsequent arrangements will be much easier.

“Look, the riverbank stretches for a hundred meters from west to east,” M16 shook his head, whether with regret or distress, it was hard to tell.

“They’re all refugee camps…” M4 said in a deep voice.

Some photos show large numbers of wounded being transported elsewhere, medical and food supplies scattered around, tents bearing the Red Cross, people awaiting food rations, ragged people, stationed soldiers, and officers issuing orders...

Contrary to expectations, this was not a military camp; it was a lifeline that also served as a troop transport route.

Everyone remained unusually silent, their thoughts revolving around the same idea: what to do next...?

Luo Fan also had a cold face, and he hesitated again.

“Commander,” AR15 handed back the photos, his expression also grim, “I remember your plan was to blow up this bridge to disrupt military personnel transport, right?”

Like the striking of a bell, the girls all looked up, waiting for Luo Fan's answer.

They might have to consider what blowing up the bridge would mean. In terms of scale, there are hundreds or even more than a thousand refugees. Due to the expansion of the quarantine zone, evacuation is not possible. Many people rely on this bridge to survive, or even escape their suffering and return to the safety of the city.

With the airport inoperable, there was no air route to take them away. The military wouldn't risk sending refugees via other routes either, as it was too far. River transport was even more impossible, as there were no specific safe routes, and the river was too long, making the transport of the wounded a pipe dream.

The shortest route out of the city from this area is the Newinstein Bridge, and blowing it up would be tantamount to killing thousands of lives...

"What does that have to do with us?"

Taihou's leisurely tone carried an undisguised ruthlessness: "The Commander's victory is paramount. How could such a great achievement be hindered by a group of strangers?"

"Hmm, why pity a group of people who will never see each other from birth to death, especially... insects that will hinder the commander's plans!"

This time, Akagi and Taihou surprisingly did not have any disagreements.

Tirpitz, standing in the corner, frowned slightly as she observed everything. She was the gunner for this operation, yet she remained silent, letting the overwhelming malice flow into her cannon.

......

555 Destroy the bridge

"..."

Luo Fan was still undecided, partly due to moral constraints and partly because he cared about the girls' opinions. He ultimately didn't want those girls who still maintained their kind nature to see him as a murderer who wouldn't even blink if blood splattered on his face.

Despite the numerous evil deeds they had committed along the way, Luo Fan absolutely did not believe that people like the Little Princess, RO, and Xiao 9 would condone his acts of killing.

?????????

Thousands of people—that's not a number that can be easily measured...

At this moment, Shoukaku raised his hand and stroked Luo Fanna's face from below, which was weathered by long-term illness and war, slowly making him look at him.

It was as clean and pure as the flute music that resounded freely in the mountain stream, yet it seemed to conceal something terrifying, like a calm lake surface concealing a bottomless, pitch-black abyss beneath.

That didn't belong to a single girl, but to every girl like them who carried the weight of their past. And the eyes that looked at the man were filled with empathy and a willingness to share the insignificant kindness amidst the evil deeds.

"Speechless with self-reproach and regret, do what you want to do," Shoukaku spoke slowly, then smiled calmly: "Those who walk the path of strangers, they do not deserve your pity..."

......

"Action, Tirpitz, prepare to fire the main guns."

Luo Fan picked up his weapon and then tidied up his equipment, appearing unwilling to talk further.

No one questioned anything further; they simply picked up their own parts and embarked on their journey once more, having already clearly identified the direction of their next path.

The group quickly moved to the riverbank, where the ship girls transported everyone to the undefended area on the other side. It was a magical experience; being carried on the backs of the ship girls and riding on their ship equipment to surf across the river was even a bit thrilling.

The girls were first sent to the other side for reconnaissance and area clearing, while Lovan set off last, traveling with Tirpitz and Sirius.

Upon reaching the middle of the river, Tirpitz sent Lovan behind Sirius, preparing to fire the main cannon to destroy the bridge.

Just as Sirius was about to leave with Luo Fan...

"commander."

Sirius intended to ignore him and leave, but she could sense that Luo Fan had turned around on the ship's rigging.

She was somewhat annoyed that Tirpitz would actively interfere with Lovan's choices...

Thus, the three of them stopped in the middle of the river, seemingly regretful of parting. Although their hearts were as calm as the still waters of the river, the constant surging of the current seemed to be pushing something, drawing out some indescribable restlessness from the depths of their hearts.

After a moment, Tirpitz took the initiative to extend her hand, displaying the glittering gem on her ring finger to the man. It was so dazzling on the ink-black river surface that it seemed as if the moonlight was swallowed up by this small token.

“I can understand your choice and reasons, and I understand why you are hesitant. A successful war sometimes does have to abandon a lot of moral factors, but Commander, you must not forget why you made this choice. Is it inevitable, or is it adding fuel to the fire? The two are worlds apart.”

The female general, a woman of refined character, raised her hand again, seemingly hinting at something: "Just as that comrade from the Fifth Carrier Division said, follow your heart. Some things are inevitable, and you may be confused at times, but that doesn't mean we can despise or forget them. Because we know we are moving towards a greater goal, and it is precisely because we believe in our hearts that this goal is right that we cannot forget the evil things we have done. Commander, you are doing a great job of being willing to go to the front lines and witness all the horrific things that have happened. You truly deserve to be called the lonely queen of the North, the one who can melt the ice in her heart."

Just as she had always played the role of a wise and virtuous general by Luo Fan's side, even now, she had not wavered in the slightest because of his choice, but instead encouraged and supported him. That indifferent smile came from her approval and heartfelt blessing.

Luo Fan was taken aback at first, but then, his extra worries vanished with a faint smile and a kiss on the ring.

“Danke, meine Konigin.”

"Perhaps I rarely interact with others, even those of the Ironbloods, but now, I am happy to say to you..." Tirpitz nodded slightly, his lowered hat brim and resolute smile resembling that of a true queen from the sea: "May the Ice Flower of the Ironbloods endure forever with you."

......

When Luo Fan and Sirius returned to shore, the surrounding area had already been cleared by the girls. This area was not within the military's sphere of influence, so they could prepare to leave directly without worrying about being seen.

"Master, the cleanup is complete. Once you and Tirpitz are ready, we can set off."

After hearing Dido's report, Luo Fan nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to look at the bridge standing in the cold wind a hundred meters away.

A crossroads of civilizations, a lifeline in the apocalypse, yet still a crumbling edifice, unable to escape its fate of destruction, a truly lamentable sight.

The girls were also watching and waiting to witness this moment, to see if their new partner truly possessed the power of destiny.

"Commander, we are ready to launch and await instructions."

“Hmm,” Luo Fan casually brushed aside his bangs, which were being blown about by the night wind, to conceal the fact that his hair was beginning to gather in place: “Fire.”

boom!

Several deafening roars echoed across the river, far surpassing the firepower suppression they had used in the city. The massive waves whipped up by the explosions were the best proof of this. The flames tore through the night, making it as bright as day. Whether weary or alert, all eyes would become dull and filled with fear tonight. No one could have imagined that such a catastrophe would befall them.

A salvo of main gun fire tore the Newinstein Bridge to shreds. Although one or two shells still fell into the river, the ones that hit successfully destroyed its more than forty-year lifespan, sinking to the bottom of the river with a large number of fragments.

The transport convoy still in the middle of the bridge was not spared; it was torn to shreds by artillery fire before it could even feel the pain.

The shockwave even shattered nearby light bulbs, so after the shelling, not only the bridge itself, but the entire refugee camp was plunged into complete darkness. Even from a distance of a hundred meters, intermittent screams could be heard, occasionally accompanied by gunfire...

"The fireworks were truly spectacular, but many people didn't seem to enjoy them."

Kaga stood on the railing, quietly enjoying the fleeting, breathtaking view before her. Her inner and outer calmness was chilling in the face of this instantaneous destruction.

The girls were shocked; they hadn't expected the firepower to be so real, destroying the bridge in such a state.

"If we had had companions like that back then, would the outcome have been different...?"

PS: OK, off to take the exam. Don't worry about me, we'll talk after the exam.

556. Standoff

The booming cannon fire evoked memories of the past, and although the scene differed greatly from the original and the targets were completely opposite, it still left people feeling disoriented.

Yes, this time, with such strong teammates accompanying them, the outcome should be different, right...?

After Tirpitz returned to port, the group cleaned up the scene briefly and then continued towards the city. Along the way, Taihou even said that she would use her carrier-based aircraft to finish off the enemy, but she was stopped by Luo Fan and Jiang Feng.

"Oh dear, what a pity, it's unpleasant that we can't eliminate all those who are hindering the commander..."

Faced with Da Feng's complaints, Luo Fan understood perfectly that the most effective way to dispel her idea was to tell her, "What you're doing will only make me more unhappy."

Of course, he would never say that. Although the problem might be solved quickly, Luo Fan did not want to stifle her nature. After all, he knew all too well what Da Feng was most afraid of.

So even if there are some awkwardness in our personalities, let's just keep things as they are, it's fine...

Using a privately built network, people can plan and navigate simple routes using GPS. However, this side of the bridge is much more bustling, so there is more damage and more places to hide.

Moreover, the bustling city center lacks the back alleys they frequent, resulting in fewer relatively safe routes.

"It's quite lively here. Wars on land are indeed very different from those on the boundless ocean."

Akagi is conducting reconnaissance of the surrounding area using carrier-based aircraft, but unfortunately, apart from the zombies everywhere and occasional firefights, it is difficult to obtain any more useful information. It can only tell them which detour to take.

To be honest, although I don't like it, asking locals for directions is indeed the best way to understand the current situation. It's always better to have someone answer your questions than to be left guessing on your own. But the question is, which side is more friendly, and how do they find these people?

“Look over there,” Helian patted Lofan’s shoulder and pointed to the sky, saying in a deep voice, “Another airdrop is coming, shall we try our luck?”

Does that mean going to the airdrop site and waiting for someone to come and collect it? Perhaps, besides the military, locals might come too; they've already seen that last time.

"Hmm, let's give it a try and see if we can find some friendly people to talk to."

It's too much trouble for them to search for it themselves; they don't have the time or inclination to do it slowly.

After tracking for a period of time, it was confirmed that the airdrop landed on the rooftop of a large office building. Excellent! It disgusted not only them, but also the military personnel themselves.

There is no elevator, and the situation inside the building is uncertain, so anyone who wants to get supplies has to risk climbing the stairs.

However, this is the best opportunity they can seize right now, so go for it. They're just zombies; they won't kill them.

However, the environment was still extremely filthy, with stench and corpses. Fortunately, we were prepared this time, so it didn't affect our ability to move around, but the sticky feeling under our feet was still unbearable.

The office building was very large, so to minimize noise, the snipers and observers waited and kept watch in nearby buildings. Lofan and Helian each led their teams up two staircases. When the indoor environment was restricted from making noise, it was especially important to avoid having many people.