Chapter 192 - Prepared and Ready for the Unknown!
I headed out to shop for personal supplies for the expedition, starting with a visit to Dominic Cruel Workshop to request an overhaul for the Bloomstar Galaxy. Since I'll be away from the city for a while, this is a good opportunity for a thorough maintenance check.
"Leave this to me. We've got some improvement parts, so it'll run even better."
"Alright, take your time. And don't forget about the second one, okay?"
"When you get back, we'll have the prototype ready. Honestly, it's been a real challenge, being so different from the first one."
Doc grumbled but seemed genuinely pleased. The second model, a mid-sized vehicle smaller than the Bloomstar Galaxy, is progressing slowly but surely. I'll keep my hopes up for it.
After leaving the workshop, I walked down Sixth Avenue, greeting many familiar faces. I got caught by Torietta-san for a body measurement and had to listen to Bruno's complaints, but I managed to reach my destination mostly on schedule.
I walked into a high-end store on Central Avenue without hesitation, and a familiar voice greeted me.
"Welcome, Yukarinowe-sama."
I arrived at my favorite high-end accessory store. A familiar salesperson greeted me with a warm smile.
Collecting accessories with magical properties is one of my many hobbies. I thought I might find something useful for the expedition, and the salesperson quickly led me to a private room.
For a while, I listened silently as she introduced her recommended items. The sales pitch was a bit annoying, but she knew my interests well, so her selection and explanations were quite informative.
"......That's all. Among the new arrivals, I would recommend this for you, Yukarinowe-sama."
"Interesting. I'll take a closer look at these earrings. The magical effect is better than I expected, and I particularly like their lightness and design."
They were clip-on earrings with intricate designs of small flower buds, exquisitely cute and elegant. The open buds contained opals, which were stunning.
The earrings emit a faint, pleasant aroma, much like perfume. While they're not suitable for combat due to their ease of falling off, I was quite taken with them, especially the floral scent.
Though not directly useful for the expedition, I decided to get the earrings for everyday use. Then, I turned to the main item I was interested in.
"And this ribbon, it's amazing."
It was a black velvet ribbon with a smooth texture, formal yet simple. I don't usually wear ribbons, but the magical properties of this one are impressive.
According to the salesperson, this magic item offers powerful protection against lightning, capable of deflecting even direct strikes. It's said to be effective enough to keep you unharmed even if you flew into a thundercloud.
Albert, who will be joining the expedition, is a skilled lightning mage. Given the range of his attacks, this ribbon would be invaluable.
While I'd like to see it in action, the fact that this high-end store doesn't deal in inferior or fake items gives me confidence. A top-tier magic item could easily have such effects. If it works as described, it would be a very useful item.
"Indeed, Yukarinowe-sama has a keen eye. This piece was purchased directly from the Magic Item Guild's sales department and is a top-quality item, both in origin and effect. It is a bit expensive, but I'm confident you'll be satisfied."
"Directly from the guild? That's impressive."
"Thank you. I think it will complement your hair color beautifully."
"Hmm, I don't usually wear ribbons, so I might wrap it around my wrist."
"That wouldn't work. It's designed to be worn in the hair to activate its full effect."
"......So there's a condition?"
Apparently, the ribbon absorbs magic power from the hair to function. When I held it, it felt normal, but when I touched it to my hair, it stuck and I felt a slight draw of magic power. It's designed to be difficult to remove once tied in the hair.
I usually wear my hair up with a hairpin or let it down, but tying it up once in a while might not be bad. A black ribbon would be visually acceptable.
"How about it?"
"Today, I'll take the earrings and this ribbon."
"Thank you for your purchase. The cases for both items are complimentary."
After the usual transaction, I paid and left the store, feeling satisfied.
I then headed to a street stall to enjoy a leisurely snack, a rare moment of relaxation. It's important to take breaks; otherwise, the mental strain can be too much. I should make sure everyone gets some downtime too.
With the equipment and supplies ready, the next step was to finalize the team and set the departure date. The outsourcing went smoothly, giving us a significant reserve of combat-ready members. The team I entrusted to join the expedition was even stronger than expected.
As planned, Albert, the Third Combat Unit leader, was included. He excels in close combat with a hammer, ranged attacks with a bow, and wide-area magical assaults, all while bringing valuable experience from his past as an adventurer.
Liliane, the Ninth Combat Unit leader, also joined. She's one of the best for wide-area high-damage combat and, like Albert, has extensive experience in long journeys and outdoor activities.
Given that Albert, Liliane, and the former adventurers were going, other members wouldn't be left out. Naturally, this included Ophelia, Mia, and Verone, who were once part of a five-person adventurer party.
Ophelia's combat skills are unmatched, Mia's scouting abilities are exceptional, and Verone's craftsmanship is invaluable in various situations.
In the end, the five of them joined without much discussion. While I was pleased, it took some effort to convince others who wanted to join.
Additionally, Grady, the deputy chief of the Intelligence Bureau, would be joining. This was an opportunity to inspect the southern and western regions, and Grady volunteered, with Josephine's approval. It would be a great chance to utilize his skills and gain valuable experience.
Valeria, the Head of Presidential Security, would also join to fulfill her duties. While her firepower in group combat isn't as high, her speed and disruption tactics would be valuable, especially in forested areas where visibility is poor and her keen senses would excel.
These were the members joining me on the journey.
The absence of five combat unit leaders naturally caused some contention. However, it was decided that this would be a chance for deputies and assistants to gain more experience and handle the increased tension in my absence. While it was a bold decision, it made sense.
However, with seven senior members joining, the junior members from the Combat Support Unit would be limited to two, primarily for managing the equipment and handling any issues with the movement magic items.
Considering the possibility of going alone, I felt we had a solid and well-equipped team. With them, I was confident we could exceed Rosmerta's expectations.
On a side note, the martial members like Gradena, and former adventurers like Roberta and Violante, also wanted to join and protested quite a bit. While I understood their desire, we couldn't spare more members due to their current responsibilities. It was a tough call.
For transportation, we would use two large jeeps and a small armored vehicle, with the latter primarily carrying supplies. We expected to face mainly monsters on the journey, and we wouldn't be slowed down by the forested areas. Protecting the supplies was our priority.
Initially, we planned to leave three days after the Crimson Knights from the Royal Capital, but we changed our plans. We decided to take a significant detour and leave earlier.
Our strategy was to follow the path cleared by the knights. The detour would likely take some time, but we weren't worried about catching up. In fact, it would be better to meet them closer to the western continent.
The main reason for the early departure was to explore potential opportunities in the southern continent during our journey.
While the Kikyo Society's role isn't to lead the charge, being a supporting role isn't very exciting. We aim to achieve our own goals, considering the future of many apprentices and the society's growth.
Of course, there's a risk of coming up empty-handed, but we won't know unless we try. It's the same spirit as not getting up without a fight.
The day before departure, we had a final meeting where the Intelligence Bureau reported an interesting lead.
"The lost treasures of the Five Great Families?"
"Exactly. Their wealth didn't vanish overnight. Some of it is reportedly in the southern continent."
Three of the Five Great Families, the McDallian Family, the Snake Head Society, and the Gandrault Gang, had diverse operations. Some of their activities, including drug production, were linked to the south.
"Is there a specific connection between the south and these families?"
"We have several pieces of information, but the most reliable is that the south was a production site for drug raw materials. These families had both external supply routes and their own production systems. Some of these raw materials are confirmed to be in the south."
That makes sense. Producing the raw materials is more profitable than importing them. While there's a risk of being caught by the kingdom, setting up production in a less regulated area like the southeastern region would be appealing.
However, dealing with drugs isn't in our style. The idea of burning it all was also discussed.
"Of course, it's not about the drugs themselves, but what we can do with them."
"For example, if they had large fields for raw materials, could we repurpose them? But we'd need to find suitable plants. Maybe use it as a hideout?"
"Creating a hideout sounds interesting, but managing it would be difficult at this time."
"If it's a field, there might be other uses, but if the raw material is tree sap, we'd need a processing plant."
"Unfortunately, we don't have specific details. We'll have to verify on-site."
"If it's a field, there might be suitable crops."
"That's a good point. We'll have the expedition team investigate this detour."
Any information is better than none. We agreed to investigate the site. While Lily had some ideas, the others were less forthcoming with suggestions.
"Alright, let's have a grand send-off party! I wish I could go too."
"Me too. It would have been great."
"I know, but it can't be helped. It's a bit disappointing."
Some members were understandably disappointed at not being able to join. If we can clear up some tasks, I can assign them external jobs. If the southern opportunity proves fruitful, we'll have more chances to participate.
While they can manage things in my absence, there was one more thing to discuss.
"Let's wrap up the expedition talk. You know about the members joining us while I'm away, right?"
"You mean Caroline? We're preparing to receive her. We'll discuss the specific tasks and procedures with her."
"Good. I wish I could have met her before leaving, but she should join us soon. I'll leave the color district to her discretion. This will help us discuss more profitable ventures."
"Yes, with apprentice promotions and external commissions, it's important to increase revenue. It's great to have such opportunities."
"Alright, that's it for now."
"Yukari-dono, while I'm concerned, I think your journey will be more challenging."
"Haha, that's true. With someone like Yukari around, staying in the city might be easier."
Siegrune's ominous prediction was met with laughter, but I couldn't argue.
They can be annoying, but a difficult journey might be more interesting than a boring one. Besides, it's my first time leaving the Kingdom of Brenark and venturing into the unknown. The excitement of exploring a new world was palpable, and my heart raced with anticipation.
With everything prepared, it's time for a real adventure.
I'll be leading a team on what should be a comfortable journey, but who knows what will happen.
Will it be a smooth trip, or a series of challenges?
This is the first step into the unknown. Stay tuned for the next chapter: "The Suspicious Shack."