16 Expedition Take-off (1/2)

”How did it turn out this way?” Grumbled Linneia while biting on her last piece of vacuum-packed honey glazed dried fish unhappily. The crown princess was in her rarely seen bad mood. Her mood turned a shade darker when she fished in her sleeve to get a new unsealed pack of the popular savory delicacy only to find that there was none left. In her anger, she had finish up all of them without realization.

She was looking out of the side window of the top secret military high-speed bullet train unhappily. Their destination was the northernmost secret military outpost of the empire before they need to embark on an air-travel journey towards the extreme north. Although she was not happy, Linneia agreed in her heart that the flying car recently developed in their empire was still not as fast as the bullet train introduced by her ancestor centuries ago.

Rasha noticed Linneia's foul mood but shook her head slightly and sighed. Usually their princess was charismatic, very hardworking, with excellent interpersonal skills. She could mask her emotions well and placed forward priorities where it mattered most.

She realized since the princess was in contact with the immortal king, her mood had been quite low; she had not managed to hide her negative emotions as good as usual.

”I'm sure His Highness Roland knows what he was doing.” Raksha try to coax Linneia awkwardly.

She was a straightforward, hard headed woman. She was not used to cajoling people gently. Everything was settled with a single strict order from her. That's why she chose the military rather than the politically drenched City-hall government officials.

However, this time it was the crown princess, not her subordinates. She could only treat her as she treated her pampered little niece.

Adjutant Solstis was sitting at her side, not commenting a single thing. He kept mum while raising an eyebrow slightly before resuming his stoic attitude. As the adjutant of Raksha, he only followed Raksha's order and nothing else.

Solstis pretended busy with the administration of the helpers joining their expedition in the other coaches by fiddling with his cerebral connector core seriously. They had brought along around thirty helpers consisted of exemplary researchers, soldiers and attendants in tow.

Linneia was reminiscing back at the time after the immortal king's grand public lecture when she had gotten an order from the immortal king to lead a long term expedition with General Raksha, Melati and little Frieda.

They were briefed on the route and coordinates of the illusive intact ruin left by a long-lost civilization that was mentioned before the Grand Lecture. It turned out that the immortal king was not going to lead them there as he had delegated the job to the crown princess.

The princess was fuming inside and leaked a little of her attitude as she tried to counter-negotiate her attendance; she really wanted to lead the Negative Particle Density Research Group. It was after all the groundbreaking research to date which will be used as the core to both other research groups.

The Interstellar Gate Research Group was more like an expedition group rather than a real research group to her. Who knows if the ancient artifact spoken by her ancestor was still there after all this time and whether they can utilize it or not.

Everybody was especially concerned when the immortal king finally divulged the exact coordinates of the ruin. It was so far away! In the Forbidden I-zone area to boot!

Nobody even step foot in that area. The area was charted out by her ancestor king himself a long time ago and yet to be explored by anyone due to its harsh conditions.

Immortal King Roland only needed to clear his throat sternly to remind Linneia that his words were final without uttering additional explanation. The sisters involved with the expedition were so scared, as General Raksha moved forward and touched Linneia's shoulder to rouse her from continuing this folly.

It was unwise to enrage an ancestor of the nation for selfish reasons.

The immortal king gave an approving glance towards Raksha as all of them retired from the ancestor's study.

Later that night, the four witches settled their prior engagements and get ready to board the first high speed military train early next morning.

”Princess Linneia, don't be upset.” Little Frieda who sat opposite her hand out a red translucent strawberry-shaped lolipop with a concern look adorning her cute childish face. She heard sweet things could make an upset person calm down.

Beside her, Melati blinked a few times and gave a reassuring smile towards the princess. The gentle matured gaze made Linneia felt ashamed of herself.

Linneia took the lolipop from the little loli with a resigned look. ”You win. Thanks, little Frieda.” She extended her hand forward and rubbed little Frieda's head dotingly until she purred happily. She could never stay angry in front of this cute little babe.

It must be harder on little Frieda as compared to her. She was still so green but had to join the expedition too. She even took the initiative to sooth her with her favorite sweets.