[Donaldâs Perspective]
âNow, the unconscious man is very important. We need to get answers to a lot of questions from him.â
I said to Armstrong, âI didnât bring many people with me. Most of them are on patrol. Iâll deploy more people over. But before that, I need you to make sure that person is alive and strictly watched. Alpha, can you do it?â
âIâll send special forces to guard him,â Armstrong said hesitantly. âBut if heâs really the attacker and can unleash that terrifying attack at any time, Iâm worried about the safety of our people guarding him.â
âIn that case,â I mused, âBenjamin will be there all night. I can ask him if thereâs any way to disable him.â
âThat would be best.â
âBut we still need more men, and we have to do our best to avoid casualties.â
âIâll set up new security measures to prevent everyone from going out. Supplies will be sent in by the special forces. I also want to organize everyone to participate in training. Iâll channel a portion of the combat manpower to train the residents in self-defense should anything happen.â
âThat way, the patrol will be short-handed.â I frowned. We had maxed out our manpower under the current arrangements. If Armstrong transferred people out, the loopholes in our tight security would definitely increase. âCivilians donât need to fight. They just need to have our protection.â
âI disagree, Your Majesty.â
I looked at Armstrong in surprise. He continued.
âThereâs no telling what would happen. I donât want our pack to be defenseless.â
This was the first time Armstrong had opposed me. He had always been sincerely making plans for his pack. I admired his courage and sense of responsibility. However, I would not easily change my decision. âYou mustnât touch your manpower.â
I said, âBut I can lend you the assault team. Every day, after they finish their patrol, theyâll spend an extra hour to guide your training.â
Armstrong looked surprised at my decision. He opened his mouth and finally lowered his head and said,
âThank you, Your Majesty.â
âItâs our shared responsibility to protect the Silver Moon Tribe. Our goals are the same. Neither of us wants to have casualties again.â After saying this, I heard Elliot contacting me with his Mindlink.
[Your Majesty, Benjamin has found something new. He wants you to go over and take a look.]
[Is it related to the unconscious person?]
[Yes.]
[Iâm on my way.]
I told Armstrong about it quickly, and we went to the hospital ward where the man was placed.
There were Karl and the two Silver Moon Tribe warriors who were tracking him in the room. Benjamin was waiting outside the door, looking at us with a serious expression.
âWhat did you find?â I asked.
âI just reexamined his body thoroughly,â Benjamin said. âI found that his organs are failing in various degrees, and there are needle marks on his body. Itâs very much like the after-effects of injections.â
Amstrong and I exchanged glances.
Drugs. That was one of my earlier guesses.
âYouâve always done research on drugs. Can you determine what this is?â
Benjamin shook his head and said, âI know that some drugs can excite the nerves and cause fatigue as a side effect afterward. But this person is completely exhausted and his organs are permanently damaged. I donât know anything that can cause such damage. Generally speaking, the effects of a drug are proportional to its side effects. Looking at it this way, the drug enhancement must have been astounding.â
âCan you determine when he will regain consciousness?â
âDoes His Majesty want him to wake up as soon as possible?â Benjamin asked.
âThe sooner, the better.â
âI can use some methods to stimulate his nerves and speed up his awakening, but it might have repercussions for him,â Benjamin reported truthfully.
I fell silent. We didnât know for sure who this man was. If he wasnât an attacker as weâd expected, or if he was one of the innocent victims, we couldnât accelerate the awakening by hurting him. It would be inhumane.
âHow long would it take to use normal methods?â I asked.
âWellâ¦â Benjamin hesitated. âHeâs badly injured. His bodyâs self-recovery mechanism is not working properly. Heâll have to rely on some external force to help him repair and heal. I estimate itâll take at least three days, but heâll wake up within a week.â
There were two attacks in two days. Whether it was three days or a week, it seemed too long in this situation. However, there was no better way at the moment. I sighed and said, âThen letâs do it. Try to wake him up as quickly as possible without hurting him. We need this person.â
âYes, Your Majesty.â