Rizty wiped the sweat from his forehead as he stacked the last of the crates inside the massive vehicle. He had heard Mario call it a truck, a term unfamiliar to him until now. From what he gathered, the Alliance had something similar but were supposedly much smaller.

  If the Alliance had machines like this, did that mean they were helping Mario and the Governor? Had they struck some secret deal? And if so, what did that mean for Lina? Rizty glanced at the others, but no one else seemed to be questioning it. He kept his thoughts to himself for now.

  He looked over at John, who was awkwardly trying to make conversation with the Grayman—the same enigmatic figure Rizty had last seen more than a week ago during Count Orlon’s capture. Meanwhile, the rest of their group was busy settling in, rearranging supplies and securing what little space they had in the small room that would serve as their sleeping quarters.

  Just outside, Rizty spotted that man again—this time in conversation with Governor Lane. The stranger had dark hair and a lean, almost wiry build, noticeably taller than Lane, who had to tilt his head up slightly while speaking to him. His clothes were plain, unremarkable, almost too ordinary, presumably he was trying not to stand out. Yet, despite his unassuming appearance, Rizty couldn't shake the feeling that there was something unusual about him. After all, why would the governor be speaking so intently with someone who looked like just another townsman?

  His musings were interrupted when a woman entered the vehicle, struggling slightly as she climbed the access rails. Without thinking, Rizty stepped forward to help, steadying her as she made her way inside. It was only after she was safely aboard that he realized who she was—Lady Emilia.

  Straightening up, he quickly bowed and greeted her respectfully. “My lady,” he said, nodding as he stepped aside to give her room.

  Emilia gave Rizty a small nod of gratitude. "Thank you," she said, brushing off her skirt as she steadied herself. Her gaze swept over the interior of the vehicle before settling back on him.

  "You and the others," she continued, tilting her head slightly, "you're the ones going with Mario, aren't you? I assume that's why you were allowed in here."

  Rizty straightened, glancing toward his companions before nodding. "Yes, my lady. We were assigned as his escort."

  Emilia smiled faintly, but the expression didn’t last long. She let out a quiet sigh, her gaze wandering around the vehicle's interior. "I wish I could go with you," she admitted, almost to herself.

  Rizty studied her for a moment, trying to gauge what she truly meant. Was it simple curiosity? Or something else? Before he could dwell on it further, Mario’s voice cut through the air.

  “Alright, everyone, we’re leaving! Get in and get settled!”

  With that, Zed and Lane approached the vehicle as Mario climbed the retractable ladder, his boots clanking against the metal rungs. Behind him, Tek and John waited for their turn to board.

  Inside, Risty, Emilia, and the others, already seated, exchanged uncertain glances. Not knowing where else to go, they instinctively gathered in the briefing area, where a row of seats lined the interior. The space was enclosed, almost claustrophobic, with no windows anywhere in sight. The only source of illumination came from the thin strips of light embedded along the walls—something that still baffled Mario. He had seen electric lights before, particularly the bulky, yellow-glowing bulbs used in the Alliance Academy, but these were entirely different. Sleek, bright, and eerily efficient, they cast a crisp, white glow that filled the space without flickering or producing heat.

  He had first noticed them inside the Manufactory, lining the warehouse interior and stretching along the perimeter. But seeing them here, seamlessly integrated into the vehicle, only reinforced his amazement. How can something so thin provide such powerful light? He shook his head, filing the thought away—just another mystery among the many surrounding Zed and his technology.

  At only 2.5 meters wide, the interior left little room to move, forcing some to sit while others leaned against the walls. Those who managed to claim the seats sank into the newly installed upholstery, exchanging surprised glances at the unexpected comfort.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Tek, however, was a different story. With his massive frame, he had no choice but to hunch slightly, his head nearly grazing the ceiling. Despite the awkward positioning, he remained stoic, shifting just enough to avoid knocking into anything. If he was uncomfortable, he certainly didn’t show it.

  Mario clapped his hands together, drawing everyone’s attention. "Now that we’re all here, I think some introductions are in order," he announced.

  Mario gestured to the man standing beside him near the entrance to the driver’s seat.

  "First things first—this is Mr. Zed. He’s the reason we’re all standing here right now. Our benefactor, our... let's just say, 'very generous friend.' None of this—" he spread his arms, motioning to the vehicle they were in, "—would have been possible without his initiative and resources."

  Zed gave a small, almost dismissive wave and nodded. His expression remained unreadable, as if he didn’t care much for the attention. Risty eyed him warily, still unsure what to make of the man. Around him, the others exchanged glances, some nodding in quiet realization while a few whispered among themselves.

  Risty overheard Lumen lean toward Evasco, muttering, "I thought he was just some town administrator."

  Mario continued, motioning toward the massive figure standing toward the back. "And the big guy over there is Mr. Tek. You might remember him from our mission to ‘arrest’ Count Orlok."

  A muffled snicker echoed through the group. Lane smirked, while Emilia simply rolled her eyes.

  Mario continued, "Mr. Tek will serve as our liaison to Mr. Zed, which means he won't be joining us. He’ll be staying here in Lina."

  John let out a disappointed groan. "Aw, man, I thought he was coming with us!". Tek, hearing John’s complain just smiled.

  Mario continued, "Now, the seven guards who will be accompanying us…" At his words, the seven escorts stiffened slightly, exchanging glances as they hadn’t expected such a formal introduction.

  Mario smirked before gesturing toward one of them. "The one seated near Emilia is Risty—the man bold enough to climb onto a floating device to take Count Orlok into custody."

  As all eyes turned to him, Risty instinctively stood up, his posture stiff. Awkwardly, he bowed his head toward Mario, Lane, and Zed before quickly sitting back down. A faint blush crept onto his face, betraying his discomfort at the sudden attention.

  "The other one in the gray shirt is… John, if I remember correctly?" Mario said, tilting his head slightly as if trying to recall. John immediately straightened up, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Yes, my liege, you remember correctly," he said, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

  "Alright, next we have the pair standing at the back—Lumen and Evasco," Mario announced, gesturing toward the two near the entrance to the cramped crew quarters.

  Lumen, the taller of the two, gave a small nod and raised his hand in acknowledgment. His darker complexion contrasted sharply with Evasco’s paler skin, making them an oddly matched pair at first glance. Evasco, simply smiled and offered a curt nod, his eyes scanning the room as if taking everything in.

  Mario searched the room, his eyes landed on an old man slouched in his seat. “Old man Nil, you there?” he called out.

  Beside him, Fairchild glanced at the bearded old man and gave him a nudge. “Grandpa, the second boss is calling you,” he whispered.

  Old Nil stirred, stretching his back with a groan before lazily raising his hand. “Aye, I’m here, mi’liege,” he said, his voice rough with age and lingering drowsiness.

  “Sorry, old man, I know it’s past anyone’s bedtime, so I’ll make this quick,” Mario said with a chuckle.

  Old Nil gave a slow nod—though no one was quite sure if he was still listening or had already drifted back into the dream world.

  Mario pressed on. “Now, the handsome young lad next to Old Nil is Fairchild.”

  A few snickers followed, and Fairchild immediately turned red at the attention. He hesitated, then awkwardly raised a shaky hand, completely forgetting to stand up.

  Mario smirked before finally pointing at the last member of the group. “And that leaves Mikael.”

  Mikael simply grinned and gave a casual wave, unfazed by the introductions.

  “And I believe you’re already familiar with the three of us—Governor Lane, Lady Emilia, and myself, Deputy Governor Mario,” he said, gesturing toward each in turn. Then, with a slight nod, he turned to face the others. “Alright, focus up. Mr. Zed has something incredible to show us. Mr. Zed, if you will?”

  Zed stepped forward, a knowing smirk on his lips. “Thank you, Deputy Governor. What I’m about to show you—just try not to be too amazed.” With that, he pressed a button nearby. The lights dimmed, plunging the room into near darkness. A moment later, a hologram flickered to life—a three-dimensional image hovering in midair, casting an eerie glow across the space.

  The reaction was immediate. Several of the guards tensed, eyes wide with disbelief. Emilia let out a small gasp, her fingers instinctively gripping the armrest of her seat. Risty and John exchanged uneasy glances, while Fairchild practically flinched.

  Only Tek and Lane remained unfazed. Even Mario’s jaws went slack.

  Meanwhile, Old Nil… didn’t react at all. He remained perfectly still, either unworried by the spectacle, or more likely, deep in sleep.