Alright then~

Since even his mentor had agreed, what else could Lynch say?

If the military had tried to force some people he didn’t want on him, he might have been able to find a way to tactfully refuse. Even if they showed up, he had ways to convince them to back out.

But these three girls... and the bond they had forged facing death together in the mines... how could he possibly refuse?

"Let’s go together then," Lynch said, waving his hand in resignation. "You don’t mind, do you?"

"Mm," Avril nodded gently, her cheeks seeming to grow even redder. Inwardly, however, she was murmuring to herself, ’Besides... it’s not as if it’s the first time I’ve shared a ride with him, or the first time he’s held me... and it’s certainly not the first time...’

The nearby Griffin Administrator sized Lynch up. This gentleman was well-built, but he was only wearing a Mage Robe, not Armor.

He then looked at Avril. Hmm, a slender young Priest. Her weight was probably less than a standard set of plate armor.

He quickly made a mental calculation and confirmed that their combined weight was within the Griffin’s carrying capacity. He raised no objections and respectfully helped the two of them onto the saddle.

Lynch was the first to mount the Griffin’s broad back. Once he was seated securely, he reached out and pulled Avril up, having her sit astride in front of him.

Avril naturally leaned back, nestling into Lynch’s arms. She gently gripped the handles at the front of the saddle, a sly little smile secretly appearing on her flushed face.

"Hold on tight," Lynch reminded her, then nodded to the administrator.

The administrator blew his whistle and unfastened the tethers.

The magnificent Griffin, "Thunderclaw," gave a powerful flap of its wings. A strong gust of air kicked up dust from the ground as its massive body leaped effortlessly, rapidly ascending into the sky on the updraft created by its wings.

A strong wind rushed against their faces, making their robes whip and snap.

Avril shrank back a little more, almost completely embedding herself in Lynch’s embrace. She squinted her eyes, feeling the warmth of his chest behind her. The blush on her small face never faded, and a small, happy smile graced her lips.

Lynch, however, didn’t have many romantic thoughts on his mind. He was more focused on the view from above.

Looking down from the Griffin’s back, the full majesty of the Red Ridge Mountains unfolded before them.

The continuous, grayish-brown mountain ridges looked like the spine of a great dragon. Mirror Lake was like a giant sapphire set in a mountain hollow, and Lakefront Town looked like a tiny model adorning the Gemstone’s edge.

’What a magnificent sight. No matter how many times I see it, I always feel so refreshed.’

’The scenery along the way is worth the price of admission alone~’

The Griffin flew smoothly along a preset safe route. After about two hours, the silhouette of a majestic city appeared on the distant horizon in Lynch’s view.

Orlando.

It was one of the North Wind Legion’s current command centers and logistics bases. From a distance, its walls were high and its banners were numerous, giving it a grim and imposing air.

As they drew closer, the Griffin rapidly descended, spreading its wings and gliding with Lightness toward a section of the city’s outer wall.

That was the military’s Griffin Station.

After the Griffin landed, a Griffin Trainer who was already waiting stepped forward to take the reins. He helped Lynch and Avril dismount and began to care for and stable "Thunderclaw," who was slightly tired after the flight.

"Sir, the Griffin needs to rest and eat for at least four standard hours before it can undertake another long-distance flight. During this time, our station can provide standard care services for a daily fee of three Gold Coins."

A staff member recited the prices expertly.

Lynch nodded with a blank expression and handed over three Gold Coins.

’They really charge for everything,’ he couldn’t help but complain inwardly. ’Poor people really can’t afford to mess with Griffins.’

He had already been to Orlando two or three times, so he wasn’t unfamiliar with the place.

With Avril following closely behind him, he confidently made his way through the military-only passage into the outer city, then hailed a two-wheeled carriage on the street.

This type of two-wheeled carriage had a covered passenger compartment in the back, protecting against rain and wind. It had glass windows on both sides to see outside, making it roughly equivalent to a modern taxi.

Of course, the cost of hiring a two-wheeled carriage was much higher than a taxi. Ordinary commoners would rather walk than spend the money to hire one.

"To the North Wind Legion’s quartermaster department," Lynch said to the driver.

The two got into the carriage. The driver cracked his whip, and the carriage began to RUMBLE down the street.

Orlando was a major city, far more prosperous and bustling than Lakefront Town. The streets were thronged with pedestrians, lined with the signs of various shops. Convoys of wagons transporting supplies were endless, and soldiers in Armor bearing the insignia of different units could be seen everywhere.

About a quarter of an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of an inner bailey-style building constructed from massive gray stone.

This place was originally the inner bailey of Orlando’s Lord, but it had now been temporarily requisitioned by the North Wind Legion’s high command. A significant portion of it had been allocated to the quartermaster department.

After showing their identification badges and going through the tedious identity verification and registration process with the guards at the gate, Lynch led Avril inside. He walked straight to the door of a room marked "Quartermaster Division 3" and knocked.

"Come in," a deep, resonant voice called from inside.

Pushing the door open, they found the room piled high with all sorts of file boxes and sample racks.

A chubby, middle-aged man wearing the uniform of an Empire civil officer was hunched over a desk, writing something.

Hearing the noise, he looked up. When he saw Lynch, his round face immediately broke into an enthusiastic smile.

"Well now, Battalion Commander Lynch, you’re here at last!" He put down his pen, stood up, and came around the desk to greet them personally. "That batch of equipment and some of the materials you ordered have all been prepared. We were just waiting for you to come and sign for them."