Chapter 272: Chapter 272- Gift

The celebration eventually wound down, a clear success by all accounts. Notably, Julian never did cross paths with Kevin, the man having seemingly vanished with Belle for the remainder of the evening.

Now, Julian sat in a plush chair within Lord Glaine’s opulent office, posture relaxed but eyes alert. He faced the City Lord himself, who wore a congenial smile. Behind Glaine, Sebastian stood at his usual post, stern and impassive as a statue.

"Well, now that the festivities are concluded," Glaine began, steepling his fingers. "It’s time I presented your group’s reward. I trust you didn’t think I’d forgotten?"

Julian’s expression remained neutral. "The thought had crossed my mind."

Glaine let out a hearty laugh. "I’m not that forgetful, my boy!" He gestured to Sebastian without looking back. "Sebastian, if you would."

With a curt nod, Sebastian moved to the large double doors, opened one, and gestured. A moment later, a woman sauntered in.

She was tall with a languid posture, her eyes half-lidded as if she’d just woken up. She gave a lazy, two-fingered salute in Julian’s direction.

"Yo, Captain. Surprised?" she drawled. "Turns out, I’m the prize."

Julian stared, his brow furrowing in genuine confusion. He turned his gaze from the woman—Fey—back to Lord Glaine. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Exactly what Fey said," Glaine replied, his smile unwavering. "She is the reward. I’ve arranged for her to be transferred to your team’s command."

For one of the rare times in his life, Julian was at a loss for words.

Glaine continued, mistaking his silence for pleasant shock. "I thought it was a brilliant solution! What does a man who can acquire almost anything himself truly need? I’ve heard you have an... appreciation for capable women. So, I’m giving you one you don’t already have! A unique addition to your collection."

"I don’t consider people to be objects or gifts," Julian stated, his voice cold and flat.

He then looked at Fey. "And why aren’t you protesting this?"

Fey shrugged, a picture of utter indifference. "Meh. Not too bothered. As long the workload is light, it’s all the same to me."

She tilted her head, a flicker of amusement in her sleepy eyes. "What’s the matter? You think I’m not attractive enough? I think I’m plenty attractive."

Julian’s analytical gaze swept over her. She was attractive, with a model’s height and proportions. Her Liquid skill was versatile and powerful.

On a purely practical level, she would be a valuable asset. But his mind immediately went to Clarissa, Veronica, Emma, and the others.

His situation was already complicated enough, he couldn’t just blindly accept another woman, especially not one delivered like a commodity.

"This is..." Julian began, but Glaine cut him off.

"I understand it’s unconventional," the City Lord said, his tone shifting to one of faux apology. "But the truth is, I couldn’t think of a single material reward worthy of your contributions. My apologies if this disappoints you."

Julian knew better. Glaine was many things, but not foolish. This wasn’t a misguided gift; it was a calculated move.

He was likely placing Fey within Julian’s team to keep a closer tab on them, or to offload a potentially troublesome but skilled asset. He was giving Julian a "gift" that was also a burden.

"It’s not about disappointment," Julian said, his voice low. "It’s about principle."

"Hey," Fey interjected, her lazy tone cutting through the tension. "For what it’s worth, I’m a pretty decent engineer too. Know my way around gadgets and vehicle mods. Probably better than anyone you’ve got."

That gave Julian pause. Engineering. His modified vehicle, their equipment—having a dedicated, skilled engineer would be a significant long-term advantage.

He looked at Fey again, not as a "gift," but as a potential resource. Glaine’s maneuver was transparent and manipulative, but the strategic value was real.

He weighed the political annoyance against the tangible benefit. The benefit won.

After a long silence, Julian let out a short, quiet breath. He met Glaine’s eyes, then Fey’s.

"Fine," Julian said, his tone making it clear this was a tactical acquisition, not an acceptance of the premise. "She can join. But she follows my orders. Understood?"

Glaine’s smile returned, full and satisfied. "Of course! I knew you’d see reason!"

Fey just gave another lazy shrug. "Sure thing, Captain. Just don’t expect me to be a morning person."

Before they could leave, Glaine gestured, and Sebastian presented a heavy case, opening it to reveal a collection of high-grade Zombie Crystals and several other rare, useful materials. "A small token to supplement the main reward, of course. For your... continued endeavors."

Julian gave a curt nod, storing the entire case into his inventory without another word. The transaction, in his mind, was now complete.

He turned and walked out of the office, with Fey following a few steps behind, her hands in her pockets and her posture still radiating an air of nonchalant boredom.

As they walked down the corridor, Julian’s mind, ever practical, was already running calculations.

’Another woman... I didn’t expect this.’

His thoughts immediately went to his most vital asset: his modified vehicle. ’My current ride won’t be enough. It’s already crowded. Since she’s an engineer... I’ll have her build a new one. A larger model, capable of transporting everyone comfortably and with enhanced defensive and offensive capabilities. That will be her first assignment.’

His internal planning was interrupted by Fey’s lazy drawl from behind him.

"So, Captain," she began, her voice laced with a casual curiosity. "What’s the grand plan? Just wandering the wasteland without a map? Or are you one of those do-gooders, playing the hero for every sob story you come across?"

The word "hero" made Julian let out a short, derisive snort. The concept was too simplistic, too naive for the world they lived in.

"I move for my own reasons," he stated flatly, not breaking his stride or looking back. "My goals are my own. I’m not a hero."

A faint, knowing smirk touched Fey’s lips. That was the answer she had expected, and frankly, the one she preferred. It was far more interesting than self-righteous heroism.

"Good to know," she murmured, her eyes scanning the compound they were walking through, already assessing its structural integrity and potential weaknesses. "That makes things simpler."