Los Angeles defector

Rumor

Isabella arrived at the Independent Regiment this morning and took up the position of Political Work Officer. Her accommodation was arranged in the regiment's medical team. The medical team of the Independent Regiment did not have a doctor. It's worth noting that in those days, doctors were a precious profession, with only one doctor for the entire division, stationed at the field hospital directly under the division headquarters. The Independent Regiment's medical team consisted of three men and two women, all medical soldiers, living in tight quarters. Isabella was arranged to stay with the two female soldiers.

When she pushed open the door to the kitchen, she witnessed a scene so absurd and shocking that it filled her with both surprise and anger. At the same time, she saw that detestable bronze face that made her seethe. He had actually joined the team. How could he have the audacity to join the resistance army? How could the resistance army accept such a scoundrel! The calm that had gradually settled within her over the past few days was disrupted by this sight, and she found herself unable to eat the lunch. She left directly and returned to the medical team.

The dormitory was very simple, lacking in furniture and decorations. Isabella remained silent as she vigorously cleaned a window, scrubbing it repeatedly, and mercilessly swept a spot on the floor over and over again. She tore apart the neatly folded bedding and luggage, refolding them forcefully. Just as she finished folding, she would mess it up again and refold it, repeating this process over and over, yet unable to soothe the pain of old wounds resurfacing.

It wasn't until a pair of braided hair peeked mischievously at the dormitory doorway that Isabella halted the torment she was inflicting on her belongings. She quickly smoothed out the disarrayed hair on her forehead, wiped a bead of sweat from her cheek, and managed a forced smile, saying, "Hey, come on in, girl."

When they first stayed in the nameless village, Isabella met this mischievous little girl. Isabella liked her, as everyone's reasons for liking someone or something are never the same. Isabella liked the little girl because she was a child of the resistance army, because she had a poignant yet extraordinary childhood. In Isabella's eyes, Emily was like a delicate flower bud under the military flag. Jason, on the other hand, liked the little girl for her sincerity, resilience, and indomitable spirit. To Jason, Emily was a shining key that could always, inadvertently, unlock his untamed heart.

With a playful smile, Emily squeezed through the doorway and said, "Aunt Isabella, I saw you just now and wanted to talk to you, but you were walking too fast. That's why I came here."

At this moment, although Isabella's fluctuating heart was somewhat relieved, it had not completely calmed down. The mention of 'Aunt' from Emily's mouth stirred something within her. Unable to resist, Isabella said to Emily, "Girl, from now on, you're not allowed to call me Aunt!"

"Huh? But you've always been called Aunt, right? Why do you want to change it?" Emily blinked her eyes in confusion.

Isabella unceremoniously flicked Emily's nose with her finger and said, "I'm only ten years older than you. I'm not that old. Stop asking so many questions. From now on, just call me 'Sister'."

Emily, who couldn't possibly grasp these nuances, nodded readily and said, "Okay, then I'll call you Sister Isabella from now on."

Looking at the young girl in front of her, Isabella felt much better. She grabbed Emily's hand and said, "Come here, look at how dirty you are. How can you look like a girl? Let me tidy you up first." She then fetched water and carefully washed Emily's face and hair, before sitting by the bed to help her comb her hair and braid it into small braids.

"Alright, you little one, I never imagined you would become a young warrior in the resistance army." Isabella said as she carefully combed Emily's hair.

"Hehe, of course! They all think I'm too young, but if we lined up everyone from the Independence Brigade, how much do you think I fall behind them? What do you think?" Emily asked with a smile.

Isabella smiled and said, "Yes, you're amazing. By the way, I wanted to ask you, what was going on in the kitchen courtyard at noon?"

"We were with the guys from the Second Company..." Emily was about to say casually, but then she suddenly remembered that Isabella was sent to the Independence Brigade as a political worker, and even though she was young, she grew up in the military. Emily knew what a political worker did, so she quickly changed her words, "We were catching mice with the Second Company."

Isabella raised her hand and lightly tapped Emily on the head, saying, "You little rascal, if you keep making up stories, I'll see through your lies."

"I swear, we were really catching mice." Emily stubbornly insisted.

"Catching mice? Why were so many people gathered around to watch?"

"They are cowards, afraid of mice."

"Catching mice? Why was there a person in the middle of it, with even his pants... well, you know?"

"The mouse crawled into his pants, that's why."

Pfft — Isabella finally laughed.

"The headquarters was using a villager's yard, with a main hall and two side rooms. In the main hall, there was a square table with seven or eight stools around it. On the wall facing the entrance hung a portrait of God. Although the resistance army did not engage in these superstitious beliefs, since they were borrowing the house, the portrait remained hanging without being taken down."

"Jason and Slashmaster, facing the portrait of God across the square table, stood straight without glancing sideways. On one side of the table, Staff Officer David Ding sat on a stool, peeling peanuts with his head down, eating as he peeled, as if the two standing at attention didn't exist at all. The commander paced back and forth behind them with his hands behind his back."

Slashmaster, with a bandage wrapped around one shoulder, stared fixedly at the portrait of God. "God, you are a hero, a champion. Could you please show some mercy, bring justice, and just jump out of the painting now and strike down Jason beside me with a single blow."

Jason also stared at the portrait, but absentmindedly mistook it for another scenery. She had never imagined that, after putting on the military uniform, her originally cold and beautiful phoenix eyes would exude an extra spirited charm. She was like a bright moon, though cool, yet fair, radiant, capable of dispelling darkness.

After swaying for a while, the company commander finally spoke up, "Hey, what's the matter with you two? Are you finding my camp too small to accommodate your divine presence? The folks from Nameless Village haven't settled their accounts with you yet, and now that you've just arrived at Great North Manor, you're already starting to mess around? Slashmaster, at least you're a platoon leader. Tell me, what exactly are you guys up to in the mess hall?"

Slashmaster immediately replied loudly, "Reporting to the company commander, we did not start any conflicts. It was just a rumor spread by the new recruits. Second Platoon warmly invited Sandy Sniffles to have a meal, but they were coldly rejected by Ninth Squad. That's how it all went down."

Things almost happened, but didn't actually happen. Slashmaster isn't a fool, so who would admit to something that didn't occur? Just looking for trouble, aren't we?

"Oh? Second Platoon warmly invited? Good." The company commander then turned to Jason and asked, "Jason, what do you have to say?"

Jason also clearly understood Slashmaster's explanation. From the battle in Nameless Village, it was evident that Slashmaster was not a reckless person but a decisive and tough character with exceptional qualities. The reason given was well crafted and deserved agreement. Therefore, Jason responded, "Reporting to the company commander, it is indeed the new recruits spreading rumors. Ninth Squad warmly invited Sandy Sniffles to come back for a meal, but they were coldly rejected by Second Platoon. That's how it all went down."

The company commander stood behind the two of them, chuckling, "Oh my, didn't expect both of you to be so warm-hearted? So warm-hearted that Sandy Sniffles doesn't even have pants to wear? So warm-hearted that Sandy Sniffles is left bare-bottomed? You're still pretending to be good people even at this point. Alright, you better not give me a reason to catch you off guard. Slashmaster, with the high spirits in Second Platoon, there's no need to rest from injuries. Starting tomorrow, you'll help Third Platoon build houses. Jason, Ninth Squad, you don't get to laze around either. Starting tomorrow, you'll join the new recruits to fix the training ground. Good people should do good deeds. Now, get lost!"

Jason and Slashmaster walked out of the company headquarters together. Slashmaster used his eyes to tell Jason, "You just wait, we're not done!" Jason responded with a defiant look, "I'll be waiting, do whatever you want!" Then the two went their separate ways.