Chapter 119

Hearing this, Ines, who had been silent all along, finally looked up, glanced at Lemuen, and frowned slightly, saying, "You went to steal things from the Babel?"

"What do you mean by stealing? That's searching!"

Lemuen immediately objected, retorting, "We don't steal things."

The three members of the team now understood that, strictly speaking, the search interface was more often a creation out of thin air.

There's no way to explain the strange things on the Sarkaz mercenaries.

Whose mercenaries are covered in light bulbs and cement?

And what's with all this random electric diamond hammer stuff? Are they mercenaries or a construction crew?

Besides, where would the Sarkaz get guns and bullets from?

Lemuen interrupted the pointless debate, saying, "You'll find out later, Miss Ines."

Ines then fell silent and refocused her attention on breakfast.

Lemuen added, "Let's wait for him to come down. Once he's down, we can set off."

At the same time, in the study.

Han Fei has already received the two handwritten letters from Lamat.

To distinguish them, Lamat deliberately used different envelopes: the one with thorn patterns was for her child, Logos, while the one without thorn patterns was for Theresa.

Actually, there was no need for that; Han Fei had already signed the envelope after receiving it.

[Letter to Theresa]

[Letters to Logos]

The power of GTI technology!

Han Fei looked up at the woman behind the desk, enveloped in a tranquil atmosphere, and asked, "Do you need me to deliver any messages? Or is everything written on paper?"

"It's all in the letter."

Lamat's voice remained gentle, like the wisps of incense in a study, carrying a soothing power, "Please, just deliver them safely."

"Please rest assured, madam."

Han Fei nodded slightly, his promise resounding, "Mission accomplished!"

He paused, the taste of that warm and comforting breakfast still lingering on his tongue, the meticulous care that the person before him had personally provided to soothe the traveler, now manifested in the sincere smile in his words:

"Madam, if I ever pass through the River Valley again, I look forward to tasting your unforgettable cooking once more."

"Consider it a pre-booked comfort for the return journey?"

His words, imbued with the brightness unique to young people, naturally linked a serious entrustment with an expectation for "next time," a hope imbued with the breath of life.

Sunlight streamed through the study's windowpanes, dancing across his smiling face.

Lamat sat upright behind her desk, the morning light outlining her serene figure.

Han Fei's bright words, carrying a clear expectation for "next time," were like a pebble thrown into an ancient pool, creating a new, warm ripple in her heart.

Beneath the veil, her lips seemed to purse very lightly before slowly relaxing.

The phrase "booking a return journey for comfort" carries a slyness unique to young people, making a serious matter seem trivial, yet it feels strangely comforting.

She could almost picture him returning home after completing his mission, weary from his journey, with the same bright smile, asking her for the "pre-arranged" comfort.

He always managed to find a way to imbue the silent River Valley with the vibrant life force of his world.

A brief silence flowed through the study, with only the rising trail of incense smoke clearly visible.

Lamat did not respond immediately. Her gaze seemed to pierce through the veil, landing on Han Fei's eyes and brows, which were shimmering in the sunlight, and it was as if she had pierced through time, seeing a figure from the future returning with morning dew.

Finally, her ethereal voice rang out, softer than incense, carrying an almost imperceptible warmth subtly imbued by the word "appointment":

"The gates of the River Valley are always open to trustworthy messengers."

Lamat's fingertips unconsciously and very lightly traced the edge of the smooth tabletop, as if caressing an invisible promise.

Her gaze shifted from Han Fei back to the desk, as if stating a routine fact about entertaining guests in the territory. But the last sentence she added gave this "openness" a deeper meaning:

"However, Mr. Han Fei, fulfilling your current duties as a messenger is the prerequisite for obtaining that 'comfort'."

Lamat's tone remained calm, yet it was like a heavy stone thrown into a still lake—a safe return.

The sunlight seemed brighter at that moment, gently enveloping the invisible yet quietly woven expectation about the future between the two people in the study, an expectation imbued with the warmth of everyday life.

That anticipation is like the ink still wet on a letter, waiting for the traveler to return and add new footnotes.

Volume 1: Chapter 151 The Babel, Looking Forward to Traveling With You

(ps: If you encounter duplicates, refresh the page first. There are three dots in the upper right corner; click them to refresh the chapter content and it will work normally.)

When Han Fei left the study and returned to the dining room, breakfast was over, and his teammates were chatting.

Han Fei approached and greeted her, saying, "Have you all finished eating? If you're done, pack your things. We can thank Lamat later and then we can leave."

After saying that, his gaze fell on Ines and he asked, "How are you feeling? Are you still in pain?"

"It has subsided."

Ines said calmly, "It lasted for about 12 hours. When the pain came, I could barely move normally; I couldn't even lift a finger."

"A very harsh punishment."

Han Fei nodded knowingly. Ines had only had a thought at the time, and hadn't even completed the action before being tormented by pain for 12 hours.

If they actually did the action, wouldn't they be tortured for an entire day?

At this moment, Texas spoke up, "Boss, we're all packed and ready to go."

"OK."

Han Fei then turned his attention to the girls and said, "Let's say goodbye to Ms. Lamat and then we'll be on our way."

Lamat had at least hosted them for one night; it would be extremely rude of her to leave without a word or even a farewell.

Before the words were finished, light footsteps echoed from the stairs. Lamat appeared at the restaurant entrance.

Lemuen immediately rose, gave an elegant bow, and said in a soft, gentle voice, "Ms. Lamat, thank you for your hospitality. We will always remember this kindness and offer our sincerest gratitude."

Texas stood up as well, nodding succinctly and firmly. "Thank you for the hospitality."

Lemuen's smile was as bright as sunshine, and she gave a thumbs up. "That's right! The bed is super comfortable, and the breakfast is super delicious! Thank you!"

Lamat's gaze quietly swept over the several girls before her, each with a distinct style yet brimming with vibrant life. Beneath her veil, the corners of her delicate lips finally couldn't be suppressed, and a subtle yet genuine smile quietly appeared.

The River Valley has indeed been silent for far too long...

The Banshee who have long inhabited this place feel only deep awe and obedience before her. Who would dare to show even the slightest hint of "usurpation" before the ruler of the royal court? It is an instinctive respect for ancient majesty.

But these young people are different.

From them, Lamat clearly sensed an aura completely different from that of the Banshee —an unreserved youthful vigor, a surging, inexhaustible life force.

This warmth, like a ray of sunlight thrown into a deep well, stirred a subtle yet undeniable warmth in her long-dormant heart.

Birds of a feather flock together; people of similar social standing group together...

This statement is indeed true.

Lamat's gaze, as if drawn by invisible threads, unconsciously drifted over Han Fei's face beside her.

This young man, whose every move exudes warmth, and his companions, like extensions of his own radiance, emanate the same intense and undeniable youthful vitality.

At that moment, a clear thought suddenly arose in Lamat's mind: getting to know this group of young people seems... not so bad.

At least, they brought a completely different breeze to this River Valley that had been silent for a century—a breeze carrying the fragrance of green grass and the scent of sunshine, full of vibrant energy.

"There's no need to be so formal."

Lamat gracefully clasped her hands in front of her lower abdomen, her voice as gentle and soothing as a morning breeze through the courtyard, "It is the host's duty to treat guests with courtesy and make travelers from afar feel at home."

Her gentle gaze swept over the young faces, her eyes seemingly carrying warmth. "Seeing you all enjoying yourselves here makes me truly gratified."

After a brief pause, her voice seemed even gentler than the morning breeze, carrying an almost imperceptible invitation to the future:

"Then, I wish you all the best on your trip."

Lamat's gaze finally settled on Han Fei, and a faint yet clear warmth quietly spread through her ethereal voice:

"And if you ever pass through this River Valley again and do not find this place too simple, the doors here will still be open to you."

After bidding Lamat, Han Fei and his group left the River Valley.

At this moment, the Babel Organization has withdrawn from the Mobile City of Kazdel and is anchored on the border of Kazdel. This is undoubtedly an extremely long journey.

Even worse, they had no means of transportation and could only trek on foot.

It was during this extreme long-distance journey that Han Fei's advantages as a digitized body truly became apparent.

While his short bursts of power might be limited by the rapid depletion of his stamina bar, his extraordinary recovery speed becomes a decisive factor once the distance increases—he can fully recover his depleted stamina in just 24 seconds. This makes him the undisputed endurance core of the team.

That is precisely why.

Later in the journey, Han Fei started cosplaying as a porter carrying bags.

Ines was always on his shoulder.

In other words, Han Fei's current equipment isn't considered heavy.

If he wore a Titan Body Armor and carried Ines, he wouldn't be able to move.

--The Titan Body Armor is Delta Force's top-tier level 6 body armor, but it also has significant drawbacks. It's heavy and slows you down considerably, making running and aiming slower.

Without a fully upgraded Special Operations Center, wearing the gear will make you feel heavy, and if you lose a gun, you're doomed; you won't be able to run anymore.

They endured wind and rain for three whole days.

On the fifth day after arriving in Kazdel, Han Fei and his group finally caught sight of the outline of the Babel.

The massive mobile warship that was unearthed—the precursor to Rhodes Island —was already taking shape.

However, to Han Fei's surprise, they encountered no guards or obstacles along the way, until they approached Rhodes Island. The group approached the behemoth without any hindrance.

"Strangeness..."

The unusual silence immediately alerted Ines. She frowned. "As far as I know, the security here should be extremely tight. How could it be like this?"

Before the words were finished, a clear explosion suddenly came from inside the warship, making the air seem to tremble.

Wow!

Lemuen immediately jumped up, pointing at the warship, "Is there a fight going on inside?"

"It seems so."

Texas frowned slightly and said, "Remember those assassins we encountered on the road? The boss said their mission was to assassinate the Demon King of Kazdel. Perhaps they've already arrived."

Han Fei already had a guess, but he didn't say it out loud. He waved his hand and said, "We'll find out what's going on by going in and taking a look."

"How do we get in?"

Lemuen looked up at the enormous warship before her and clicked her tongue in amazement. "I always thought Kazdel was pretty poor, but I never imagined they had this kind of technology. They actually managed to build something this big."

"This wasn't made by Kazdel."

Han Fei casually explained, "Kazdel doesn't have that capability; they even have trouble maintaining their Mobile City."

Han Fei remembered that the plot mentioned that once, after the Mobile City of Kazdel passed through Catastrophe, its power system was damaged, and it took ten years to repair it and restore the Mobile City to its normal speed.

Upon hearing this, Ines cast another probing glance at her.

Although she knew the man before her was exceptionally knowledgeable, she was still slightly surprised every time he casually revealed such secrets.

Noticing her gaze, Han Fei raised an eyebrow and smiled, "You think I can be used as a ticket? Don't just stand there, Miss Guide, it's time for you to show your professionalism. We don't know which way this iron door opens."

"Come with me."

Ines withdrew her gaze, turned, and led the way, her tone tinged with caution, "But don't get your hopes up too high. The defense system is extremely tight; without permission or inside assistance, we can't board the ship."

"Lead the way with confidence, I have a plan." Han Fei remained brimming with self-assurance.

Ines said no more and led the group westward along the massive steel hull of Rhodes Island.

A few minutes later, a heavy, tightly closed hatch appeared on the horizon.