Chapter 86 - Departure for the Royal Capital!
The day finally arrived for our departure to the Royal Capital.
I, as usual, completed my early morning training, took a refreshing shower, and finished breakfast. Everything was in perfect order.
Our luggage was already loaded onto the large jeep and the armored personnel carrier, so all we needed to do was board. There was no last-minute preparation needed, and we had plenty of time to spare.
I sipped my coffee, waiting for the group to gather. How elegant. It looked like we would have a smooth journey.
By the window, I looked down at my upgraded black coat. The elegant coat now bore the new engraving magic, and the gas purification effect had been thoroughly tested. There was nothing to fear.
A few members' coats had exceeded their capacity and exploded, but we managed to complete the engraving for everyone. Charlotte, having fulfilled her mission, was already working on the next challenge. It was impressive.
While idly reflecting on the past few days, I recalled the unveiling of the monstrous armored personnel carrier, which I unfortunately couldn't attend. I missed seeing everyone's reactions.
When I returned to the headquarters, the topic of conversation was all about it. I wished I had been there!
The captured members of the Gerdodus Marquis family were still confined in their cells. Although there weren't many of them, as we had already released those from Exembra in exchange for compensation, they remained in custody.
The cells were equipped with toilets and washrooms, and we provided them with meals. They were not at risk of dying, and after the initial interrogations, we didn't pay them much attention.
One problem arose, however. The Gerdodus Marquis family's second son had lost both his arms. Should we take care of him? No, but he couldn't eat properly, and he was a valuable bargaining chip. In the end, it was easier to just heal his arms. Rosabel and Colette's existence was already known, so there was no point in hiding it.
Initially, we had considered having Kikyo Society members take care of him, but everyone was busy, so we decided to let others handle it. The maids from the Marquis family's hideout, who had nowhere else to go, were hired for this task. They were paid by the Marquis family, of course.
With the maids taking care of the captives, we didn't need to worry about it, and we almost forgot about their existence. We still needed them, though.
"Yukari, are we meeting at the outskirts garage once we're ready?"
"Yes, Gradena. I already said goodbye to everyone last night. Just meet at the outskirts garage when you're ready."
"If we have time, I'll do some shopping."
"Sis, we're coming too!"
"President, I'll see you later. Excuse me."
The remaining members of the third combat unit, including Albert and Mia, also left. Now, only Valeria and I were left at headquarters. Everyone else was busy with last-minute preparations.
Earlier, I had peeked into Valeria's room. She was excited about the trip and carefully selecting what to bring. It was nice to see her so enthusiastic.
The night before, we had a grand farewell party to wish the expedition success. It wouldn't be a long journey, and we would meet again soon.
We had already informed our allies about the expedition, so there was no need for unnecessary worry.
I had been reading a magazine and sipping coffee, but Valeria was nowhere to be seen. We had plenty of time, but I had some errands to run. I didn't want to rush her, so I decided to leave without her.
I went to her room to say goodbye.
"Valeria, I'm leaving first."
"Oh, Onee-sama, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."
"It's fine. Meet you at the assembly point later."
"Yes, Onee-sama. See you later."
My luggage was already loaded onto the jeep, so I left with nothing but what I usually carried in my coat. I took a leisurely walk to the end of Sixth Avenue, to the Dominic Cruel Workshop.
The vehicle I would use for the trip was neither the jeep nor the armored personnel carrier but my beloved Bloomstar Galaxy. I had asked Doc to maintain it, and now I was here to pick it up.
"Doc, I'm here!"
"Oh, it's you. Everything's ready."
He had replaced various parts due to wear and tear from frequent use.
"You're lucky. If I were younger, I'd want to go on a long ride too."
"What are you talking about? You don't look like you're going to collapse anytime soon."
I exchanged a few jokes with the still-energetic Doc and climbed onto my motorcycle.
"I'm sure you'll get into some trouble again, but come back safely!"
"Heh, I'll bring back a souvenir or two. You can look forward to it!"
The black and silver motorcycle gleamed in the sunlight as I rode it smoothly. There was still time, and I had nothing else to do, so I decided to head to the garage.
When I arrived at the outskirts garage, many members were already gathered. They were early, which was impressive.
I entered the garage, and the first thing I saw was the armored personnel carrier. It was the first time I had seen it since the initial inspection, but it looked very different now. It was completely transformed.
"What on earth is this?"
The once rugged armored personnel carrier had been transformed into something extremely flashy.
The front was adorned with a large Kikyo Society emblem in purple, which glowed like neon. Surrounding the emblem were glowing panels with intricate patterns.
Above the windshield was another glowing Kikyo Society emblem with a sign that read "Kikyo Society" in glowing letters. Other parts of the vehicle were covered with various words and phrases, such as "Beautiful Beast," "No Fights, No Fun," and "Women Have Guts." It was overwhelming.
The name "Delta" was prominently displayed next to "Kikyo Society" in glowing letters. It was quite a sight.
Of course, the flashy design wasn't limited to the front. The sides of the vehicle were covered with realistic paintings of Kikyo flowers, the Romariel Mountains, and piles of gold and gems. The name "Delta" and "Kikyo Society" were boldly displayed on the sides. It was clear that the roof was also decorated, though I couldn't see it from where I stood.
It was... something else.
"Amazing! It looks incredible!"
"You understand, Yukari! How does it look?"
It was Gradena, the acting vice-commander of the Kikyo Society, who had transformed the armored personnel carrier. She was the culprit.
But I had already accepted this bold design. It was quite impressive and perfectly suited our style.
"You've outdone yourself."
"I named it 'Delta.' It's a bold and majestic design, don't you think?"
"You did a great job, Gradena!"
While we were excited, some of the younger members looked unsure.
"We're actually riding this?"
"I didn't expect the president to accept it so easily..."
"What are you talking about? It looks awesome!"
Some members seemed to appreciate the design. Not everyone had the same taste, but it was clearly impressive.
Still, how did it end up like this? When did this happen?
"When I saw it, I fell in love with it and just had to make it even better. Hehehe."
Gradena blushed, looking embarrassed. Well, it was pretty cool!
"By the way, why 'Delta'?"
"Glad you asked! Delta is the nickname for the highest peak in the Romariel Mountains. I took the name from there."
I knew the official name of the mountain, which was hard to remember, but the nickname was a good choice. It had a nice ring to it.
"Delta" also reminded me of words like "Destroy," "Destruction," "Desire," and "Desperate." In that sense, it suited us.
Despite the unexpected transformation, everyone had gathered, and the atmosphere was a bit awkward.
In any case, everyone was here.
We would use the armored personnel carrier, two large jeeps, and additional vehicles and motorcycles that members had brought on their own. Valeria had brought her own super-sport motorcycle, and Ophelia and Albert had cruiser-type bikes like mine. Even Josephine had a stylish mid-sized four-wheeler.
Not just the officers but many young members had brought their own vehicles, eager to show off their prized rides.
Someone had even commissioned a custom dune buggy. While it didn't have spiked shoulder pads or a mohawk, it was still a bit much.
Still, I couldn't complain, as I had brought the Bloomstar Galaxy. A large group might be a bit much, but it would be fine.
I decided to focus and conduct the final checks.
"Ophelia, thanks for bringing them. Did everything go smoothly?"
"Yeah, they were pretty quiet. It would have been more exciting if they had tried something."
The guests we were transporting to the Royal Capital, including the Gerdodus Marquis family's second son and his companions, plus the maids, would all be loaded onto the armored personnel carrier. They were valuable bargaining chips, and as non-combatants, they needed to be protected from threats like magical beasts and bandits. The heavily fortified Delta was the best choice.
They were now quietly waiting in a corner. The nobles who had initially complained loudly were now much more subdued. They looked quite worn out from the repeated interrogations and time spent in confinement. Even the overweight ones had slimmed down a bit, which was a good thing. They should be grateful.
During the journey, they would stay at inns, along with the maids. We had considered keeping them in the vehicle, but there was no need for that. They weren't likely to try to escape, and if they did, they would know the consequences for their families. They could stretch their legs in the inns, and it would be easier for us to manage them.
I had some concerns about leaving the city.
We had experienced multiple attacks, and it was natural for me, as the president, to worry about the remaining Kikyo Society members.
Of course, I trusted their abilities, which was why I was going on this expedition. However, worries were still worries.
So, I decided to take a precaution.
It was the item I had received from the Grand Master of the Anastasia Union.
I had almost forgotten about it, but it was time to use it. The promise of the Anastasia Union to support us, even if only once. I would call on them now. If nothing happened, that was fine too. But the peace of mind was worth it.
I had secretly asked the Grand Master's sister to arrange it. This would serve as an additional insurance.
All expedition members were ready, the supplies were packed, and there were no concerns.
"Everyone, double-check your belongings. We're leaving!"
"Let's go!"
"Yay!"
After the busy days in Exembra, the expedition to the Royal Capital could also be a kind of rest and a chance to enjoy the journey. We could take our time and even make a few stops along the way, if the mood struck us.