"Brother, the task of promoting the artwork is all yours!"
"Hehe, didn't you ask A-Guang if you could make a female character? Your chance to wear women's clothes is here!"
"Try black stockings too!"
"Don't forget Teng Teng's artwork!"
"Get losttt!!!"
Someone's heartrending shout echoed across the airport runway. Amid everyone's laughter and farewells, the cargo bay door of the Orca transport slowly closed.
The drum-shaped engines sprayed azure arcs downward, lifting that massive body from the runway and carrying it steadily forward.
Bearing the friendship and blessings of the people in the southern River Valley Province, that dim blue streak vanished beyond the distant horizon.
It would bring even more back here.
Among the crowd outside the airport, Dolly clasped her hands before her chest and silently offered a blessing.
After the plane disappeared from view, she quietly turned and left the crowd.
Old White, Ye Shi, and Gale stood on the outskirts of the crowd. One suit of power armor, two exoskeletons, and an "Alpha Dog" at their side—the lineup was quite extravagant.
Walking up to Dolly, Old White tapped his helmet twice and unlocked the faceplate.
"We'll take you to Boulder City... but are you really not going to wait here for him to come back?"
"I need to go back to work," Dolly said somewhat awkwardly, looking at the power armor before her. "Um... I can't afford that much payment."
Old White smiled. "That guy already paid us, so don't worry about it. We'll get you there safely."
Dolly froze for a moment.
"How much did he give you?"
"At least three meals' worth," Old White said with a grin. "Talking money between brothers hurts feelings. Oh, and don't even think about paying for him. We don't accept payment from anyone else."
Since Old White had