I'm playing Frostpunk in Arknights

"We shouldn't waste time on this abandoned tower."

Abandoned? I'm brand new!

"FrostNova, can we wait a bit longer?"

Talulah tried persuading the white rabbit beside her. FrostNova simply snorted, glancing at the Snowforce squad and the guerrilla fighters behind her. They were all watching Alina at the center, wondering why someone capable of earning Talulah's patience had to be special. Some had even recognized Alina, the teacher.

"She's gone mad, in my opinion," FrostNova said bluntly. The garrison wasn't far away, and the guerrillas had just repelled their encirclement. "Talulah, the old man is furious. He doesn't understand why you diverted to this location off-route."

"I'm sorry. Please give Alina... Forgive my defiance. I'll accept any punishment."

FrostNova closed her eyes, resting without another word. She had only come to remind Talulah that her unauthorized actions had angered her father, the true leader of the guerrillas.

More infected were gathering under the energy tower. Wang Zhan asked Alina, "Are most people here now?"

"Yes, except for Patriot, who hasn't arrived yet," Alina replied, glancing nervously at a towering figure in the distance with crimson eyes that made her shiver. "Are you going to light the tower now?"

"Of course," Wang Zhan said. Any delay, and Talulah might face consequences. "Ask everyone to step back a bit."

"Talulah, can you have the guerrillas step back? The energy tower is about to be lit."

"Everyone, retreat five meters!"

Before Talulah could reply, FrostNova issued the order. She and Talulah locked eyes. "I hope you won't disappoint us, Talulah."

"Thank you," Talulah said. FrostNova seemed cold but was actually very gentle. Talulah moved back with Alina to a safe distance, waiting for the tower to ignite.

In Frostpunk, a single degree refers to 10°C, and each energy tower upgrade increases its range and raises the area's temperature by one degree. Wang Zhan opened the energy tower interface, selected Steam Level 1, and activated it.

The tower roared as its combustion chamber ignited the coal, powering the water pumps to draw water into the underground geothermal layer. There, immense energy instantly vaporized the water into high-pressure steam. This steam returned to the tower and was divided into nearly a hundred streams by the spherical steam core in the middle, providing power to other buildings. Any excess was sent to the upper thermal converter, which turned it into heat capable of melting snow.

A massive heatwave radiated from the base of the tower, melting the snow and exposing the black soil beneath. The hot air spiraled within the tower like a caged beast, and its light illuminated the entire canyon, banishing the darkness.

To Wang Zhan, this scene was nothing special—he had seen the tower ignite and extinguish countless times. But to the infected, who had wandered the snowy plains for years, it was breathtaking.

Shieldguards silently gazed at the tower. Their shields were planted in the ground, and the infected they protected basked in the warmth. Their waxy, emaciated faces showed rare contentment—they hadn't seen snow melt in ages.

Alina had known the tower wouldn't let her down, but its activation still left her momentarily stunned. Only when a drop of sweat slid down her fair face did she snap out of it, wiping it away with her sleeve.

"...Warmer than the sun," FrostNova muttered behind Alina, perhaps imagining the spring of the south.

Talulah, however, saw something more when the tower ignited: a vision of the future she'd often described to FrostNova and others—a future where all infected could gather under the energy tower, free from wandering, hunger, and the torment of snow and ice. A home for the infected.

She had always believed that leading the infected south and securing their rights from Ursus was the only way to achieve this. But now, the energy tower... It was an opportunity.

Talulah now understood why Alina valued the tower so much. It possessed both intelligence and the power to change the infected's fate.

"Now do you believe, Talulah?"

Talulah smirked, hands on her hips. "I believe it. The energy tower exists."

Wang Zhan resumed eating his meal. With the guerrillas convinced, perhaps they'd stay and work for... no, help build the tower.

"This tower is... magnificent."

Patriot emerged from the crowd. As he approached Talulah and Alina, the infected grew nervous, fearing the general might destroy this rare warmth.

The heat flowed through the gaps in Patriot's mask, warming his face. He was reminded of the Kazdel of years past, with its similar power reactors.

"Do you know where this tower comes from?"

"The tower has intelligence, but only Alina can hear it," Talulah replied. She even detected confusion in the giant's expression before he quickly accepted the situation. After all, as an ancient Wendigo, he'd likely encountered many divine and mystical beings.

The general lowered his head to meet Alina's gaze. Though she hesitated, she held his stare, likely emboldened by the presence behind her. Her attempt to steel herself amused Patriot.

"Can you ask this entity about its origins?"

Wang Zhan paused mid-bite. This old man was predictably cautious, but revealing he was a player—just data—was unthinkable.

"Alina, tell the general I bear no hostility toward the guerrillas and have no connection to Ursus."

"Mr. Energy Tower holds no hostility toward the guerrillas; he guarantees this," Alina declared boldly.

Patriot understood the underlying meaning: the entity meant no harm and wished to remain private. It would be impolite to press further, especially toward a being kind to the infected.

"I hope the guerrillas can assist in building the city," Wang Zhan said. It was best to state his intentions directly—military men appreciated straightforwardness.

"Patriot," Alina addressed him by his codename, which carried great weight across the snowfields. "Mr. Energy Tower hopes the guerrillas can stay and help build the city."

"I'm sorry," Patriot said solemnly. "We repelled the garrison today; they may already be tracking us."

While leaving infected behind to help was an acceptable compromise, Wang Zhan began brainstorming how to handle the garrison—because the odds of winning were slim.

Moreover, Frostpunk's tech tree had no military branch!

"Are you really going to do this, Patriot?" Talulah asked.

"Yes. The infected have wandered for too long, unable to preserve their strength," Patriot replied, voicing a hard-earned truth. He turned to Talulah. "You will stay and build the city."

Talulah readily agreed. Helping the tower build a city for the infected... She owed it gratitude.

"FrostNova, you stay as well."

FrostNova exhaled cold air, dropping the temperature around her. "Old man, you're losing it. The guerrillas can't function without me."