They both approached one another and hugged.

"I miss you," Elaina said.

"I miss you too," Marcus replied back and planted a gentle kiss on her head. "Let’s discuss things in my office. There’s more to share."

She nodded and turned, leading the way inside.

Personnel moving from one section to another, handling reports, logistics, and equipment checks.

A few glanced at Marcus as he passed.

Some nodded.

Others whispered quietly.

Word had already spread.

They entered his office.

Elaina closed the door behind them.

The noise outside faded immediately.

"...Alright," she said, turning back to him. "Start talking."

Marcus walked over and dropped his bag on the side.

"Mission’s done," he said. "Red Dragon’s down, which you already know."

Elaina crossed her arms.

"And?"

Marcus leaned back slightly against the desk.

"Sold the remains," he added. "Eighty million kinah."

That made her eyes widen.

"...Eighty?"

Marcus nodded.

"Split five ways."

Elaina processed that quickly.

"...Still a lot."

"Yeah."

He reached into his coat and pulled out a smaller pouch, placing it on the table.

"And I took another job."

That made her pause.

"...Already?"

Marcus nodded.

"One hundred million kinah," he said.

Silence.

Elaina stared at him.

"...Marcus."

He held her gaze.

"Half upfront," he added.

She let out a slow breath.

"...What kind of job?"

Marcus didn’t sugarcoat it.

"Escort mission," he said. "Forest of No Return."

Elaina’s expression tightened immediately.

"...You’re serious."

"Yeah."

"...You accepted it."

Marcus nodded once.

"I did."

She looked away for a second, thinking.

"...That place isn’t normal," she said. "Even by this world’s standards."

"I know."

"And you’re going alone?"

"Yes, it’ll be me and my crew. Besides, it’s just a transportation quest for me. We travel the goods, deliver it, and then we return here. As simple as that. Our guess will come in two days. The name is Merchant Kelly," Marcus continued,

"...he’s the one who set up the deal. Same guy who bought the dragon remains."

Elaina’s brows knit slightly.

"...I don’t like that," she said.

Marcus tilted his head.

"What part?"

"All of it," she replied. "High pay, tight schedule, dangerous route, and a merchant who moves fast enough to prepare contracts ahead of time."

Marcus let out a small breath.

"...Yeah. I noticed that too."

Elaina walked closer to the table and rested her hands on it.

"Did he tell you what you’re transporting?"

Marcus shook his head.

"No. Sealed cargo. High value. That’s it."

Elaina frowned.

"...That’s worse."

Marcus gave a faint smirk.

"Probably."

A short silence followed.

Then Elaina straightened.

"Very well, since this is a business, we’ll have to take it. If you think you can do it, I’ll fully trust you on it. So, he’ll come. We need to prepare for accomodation."

Marcus gave a small nod.

Two days later.

The sound of approaching wheels broke the usual rhythm of the base.

Not the hum of engines.

Not the familiar noise of equipment, it was a carriage.

It’s only a single one, drawn by two horses.

Marcus stood near the entrance, arms crossed.

Elaina beside him.

They both watched as it rolled in.

"That’s it?" Marcus muttered.

Elaina narrowed her eyes slightly.

"...Too simple."

The carriage came to a stop.

The driver stepped down first, then, Merchant Kelly.

Like nothing here surprised him.

"...Right on time," he said.

Marcus smirked faintly.

"Of course you are."

Kelly stepped aside slightly and gestured toward the back of the carriage.

"My cargo," he said.

One of his men moved forward and opened the rear. Inside was a single box, no markings or whatsoever.

Marcus stared at it for a second. "So that’s the thing we are going to transport? That box?"

"Yes, that would be it."

"You sure you are not going to tell us what’s inside?" Marcus finished.

Kelly met his gaze.

"No."

Marcus held the look for a second longer.

Then let out a quiet breath.

"...Yeah. Figured."

Elaina stepped forward, eyes still on the box.

"...We’ll treat it as sensitive cargo," she said. "No rough handling. No unnecessary exposure."

Kelly gave a small nod.

"That would be appreciated."

Marcus gestured toward the interior of the base.

"Bring it in," he said.

Two of his personnel moved immediately.

They approached the carriage and lifted out the box. They expected it to be heavy, but it was quite light.

The two personnel carried it inside without issue, placing it carefully on a secured table just beyond the entrance.

Kelly watched the entire process then he spoke.

"...Before we proceed," he said, looking at Marcus, "where exactly are you planning to transport it from here?"

Marcus didn’t answer right away.

He simply turned his head slightly.

Then raised his hand.

And pointed.

Past the main compound.

Toward the far side of the base.

Kelly followed the direction.

His eyes landed on it.

A large, dark aircraft resting on the tarmac.

Rotors still.

Crew already nearby, preparing.

The Black Hawk.

Kelly didn’t speak for a second.

"That," Marcus said simply.

"What is that?" Kelly asked.

"That is called a helicopter. We use it for transportation. It should get us across the Forest of No Return. It’ll be on the recipient in an agreed time," Marcus continued, "...it’ll get us across the Forest of No Return fast. No need to drag this out on the ground."

Kelly kept his eyes on the aircraft.

"I see. I would like to see it," Kelly said.

Marcus glanced at him.

"See what?"

"How it works," Kelly replied. "A demonstration."

Marcus looked at him for a second.

Then gave a small nod.

"Alright," he said. "You’ll see it properly."

He turned and started walking toward the helicopter.

Elaina stayed beside him, her arms crossed as her eyes briefly scanned the area, making sure everything was still under control.

Kelly followed behind, silent, observant.

The closer they got, the more the aircraft dominated the space.

Marcus stepped up to the side door and knocked twice.

"Prep for demonstration," he said.

The pilot inside leaned out slightly.

"Copy."

The crew moved fast.

They had done this enough times that there was no confusion.

No wasted motion.

Marcus turned slightly toward Kelly.

"...Stay behind this line," he said, pointing to a marked strip on the ground. "It’s going to get loud."

Kelly gave a small nod and stepped back as instructed.

Elaina didn’t move.

She was already used to it.

Marcus stepped closer to the aircraft and grabbed a headset, placing it over his ears before climbing halfway inside.

"Quick run," he said into the mic. "No full departure. Just lift and hover."

"Understood," the pilot replied.

Marcus stepped back down and closed the side door.

Then he walked back to where Kelly was standing.

"...Watch closely," he said.

The engine started.

A low hum.

Barely noticeable at first.

Kelly’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"...That’s it?"

Marcus didn’t answer.

The sound grew.

Deeper.

Stronger.

The rotors began to move, then faster and faster.

The noise built rapidly, filling the entire compound.

Wind kicked up across the ground.

Dust scattered.

Loose cloth and papers nearby fluttered violently.

Kelly instinctively adjusted his stance, coat shifting in the sudden gust.

"...That’s just the start," Marcus said.

The rotor speed increased again.

Now it was loud.

Constant.

A heavy, rhythmic force pressing outward.

Marcus raised a hand.

"Lift."

Inside, the pilot responded immediately.

The helicopter rose off the ground.

The helicopter didn’t lurch or struggle as it left the ground. It rose cleanly, almost unnaturally steady, like something that had done this a thousand times before and saw no reason to make a show of it.

The landing skids cleared the concrete by a meter, then two, then held. No swaying, no drifting. Just a controlled hover, held in place by a constant, heavy thrum that pressed against the chest more than the ears.

Marcus watched Kelly instead of the aircraft.

That told him more.

Kelly had taken a step back earlier when the wind picked up, but now he had steadied himself again. His eyes followed the machine closely, not with panic or awe, but with focus. The kind of look a man gave when he was trying to understand what he was seeing and how it could be used.

The helicopter adjusted slightly, nose dipping forward just a fraction before correcting itself. It slid sideways a meter, then stopped mid-air as if something had caught it and held it there.

"Hold it," Marcus said, not shouting, just speaking into the headset mic clipped near his collar.

"Copy. Holding," the pilot answered.

Kelly’s gaze flicked toward Marcus for a moment, then back to the aircraft.

"It stays like that?" he asked, voice raised just enough to cut through the noise.

"As long as we want," Marcus replied. "Within reason."

The wind from the rotors pushed harder now, flattening grass, dragging dust across the ground in a steady sheet. The carriage they had arrived in creaked faintly under the pressure, its canvas cover snapping at the edges.

Kelly narrowed his eyes slightly, watching the way the helicopter corrected itself every time it shifted.

"No visible support," he said, half to himself. "No enchantment array, no stabilization circle..."

Marcus gave a small shrug.

"Doesn’t need one."

Kelly didn’t respond right away.

The helicopter moved again, this time forward, then eased back into position. Smooth. Measured. Every motion controlled down to the smallest adjustment.

Marcus let it run for a few more seconds before raising his hand again.

"Bring it down."

"Copy. Descending."

The aircraft lowered just as steadily as it had risen. No drop, no sudden movement. It settled back onto the ground with a firm but controlled touch, the skids meeting the concrete without a bounce.

The rotors kept spinning, though slower now. The noise didn’t disappear, but it eased enough that conversation didn’t require raised voices anymore.

Kelly exhaled, long and slow, like he hadn’t realized he’d been holding it.

"That... changes things," he said.

Marcus reached up and pulled off the headset, hanging it loosely around his neck.

"That’s what I told you," he replied. "We’re not dragging your cargo through a forest full of unknowns if we don’t have to."

"Okay, I have full confidence you can transport the object. Very well, let’s proceed."