62 Expedition (1/2)
Alma was amazed by the sight. She was thinking that Derrick spouted bloated statements, but she now realized he was right.
From Io's back, they could see everyone tirelessly working, making it look like a beehive.
After hovering for a while, they landed and Derrick showed her around the city and told her about its development. This was a business trip for the elf, so he had to make sure that Brigand obtained every piece of information that would be useful. Of course, that didn't include his military capabilities and his research on teleportation. That subject was too sensitive to be revealed to anyone outside of his inner circle.
”How have you done this?”
The elf was simply shocked that a city could appear in such a remote and hostile place.
”Long story short, I gave them a little 'push'”
The elf was perplexed by the answer but figured it was pointless to probe any further.
With the installations inspected, it was time to show her the market that would accommodate their goods for the time being. He obviously had plans to expand it in the near future.
When they arrived at the site, she was once again impressed. The space was large enough to let in troves of customers and its materials weren't bad. They were far from being on par with those in Terra, but for its first edition, it was plenty acceptable.
”What do you think?”
”I think my Master will invest a lot here. It's definitely an opportunity he has been looking for. Any particular goods you'd liked to be prioritized?”
After a second, he answered.
”Perhaps clothes, but I don't want to heavily index on that, which is why I asked to be as diversified as possible”
”Understood. When are we leaving?”
The visit had taken most of the day and night was already well on its way.
”We'll be leaving tomorrow morning. I'll arrange a place for you to rest”
***
Moira was gearing up while eyeing her teammates from head to toe. They were all muscular and pretty tall, with a slightly oppressing aura. These were apparently the best soldiers the Akata army had to offer. With no regards concerning her status, she advanced and met with the group of three. She wanted to break the ice and get rid of the awkward mood.
”My name's Moira. Who are you three?”
The three men were surprised by her straightforwardness, and they looked at each other before presenting themselves one by one. The first to do so had sleek features, brown hair, hazelnut eyes and a neatly shaven beard.
”My Lady, you can call me Terry”
The next one was the shortest of the three, and his features were rounder, with blonde hair, blue eyes and a mustache.
”My Lady, you can call me Henry”
”My Lady, my name is John”
After their presentations, they bowed in unison, to the dismay of Moira. As a fellow soldier, she hated to be treated like that by her peers. She reached forward and grabbed their shoulders to straighten them up.
”Please don't bow to me. We are equals on the battlefield, so honorifics are pointless”
However, she didn't expect that they would stubbornly refuse.
”My Lady, that would be disrespectful to you, but also to his Highness. We cannot acquiesce to your request”
Moira was secretly cursing Derrick. This man had power even when he wasn't there! She sighed and thought about giving up, but an idea crossed her mind.
”Fight me”