Chapter 277: Chapter 277- Join

It was a busy scene around the new mobile base as the crew finished their final preparations. Packs of supplies were being passed through the side hatch, with Clarissa and Zoe efficiently stowing them inside.

Beatrix arrived, a single, worn travel bag slung over her shoulder. She observed the activity with a look of profound relief. "Finally. We’re leaving."

Emma, bouncing on the balls of her feet with excitement, turned to her. "Sensei! Did you say goodbye to everyone?"

Beatrix ran a hand through her hair briefly, her expression unchanging. "Do I look like someone who has friends here? There’s no need for such sentimental formalities."

Clarissa, overhearing this, offered gently, "But Miss Beatrix, they are our acquaintances. It’s polite to—"

"Unimportant," Beatrix cut her off, her tone final. "We weren’t close. Let’s just go."

The driver’s side door opened and Julian stepped out, the low rumble of the engine idling behind him. His sharp eyes scanned the group. "Is everything loaded?"

Celestia, having just completed a mental inventory, nodded. "It appears so. All essential supplies are secured."

"Wait! My things aren’t all in yet!" Veronica called out, pointing to a stack of three meticulously organized cases and a large wardrobe trunk.

Emma groaned. "Veronica! How do you have this much stuff? We’re not going to a ball!"

Beatrix sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why isn’t all this just in Julian’s inventory? It would be infinitely more practical."

Aya, who was helping Veronica with the last case, quickly shook her head. "N-no, that would trouble Julian too much. And this way is simpler. Once everything is inside the vehicle, Julian can store the entire mobile base in his inventory all at once. It’s... more efficient."

Julian gave a curt nod, confirming Aya’s explanation. His Inventory skill could handle the vehicle as a single, massive object far more easily than managing dozens of individual, disorganized items. It was a logical system.

Without another word, he walked over to Veronica’s remaining luggage. He didn’t comment on the amount. He simply placed a hand on the wardrobe trunk and the stack of cases, and with a soft glow, they vanished.

"Hey! Be careful with the folds in my—!" Veronica began to protest, but Julian was already turning away.

"Everyone, get in," he commanded, his voice cutting through the last-minute chatter. "We’re leaving now."

The heavy doors of the mobile base sealed shut, muting the sounds of Meltdown. Inside, the hum of the engine was a steady, reassuring presence.

The interior, though compact, was efficiently organized. And in one of the newly installed reclining seats, Fey was already fast asleep, her breathing deep and even, completely dead to the world.

"Some people have all the luck," Veronica remarked, glancing at the slumbering engineer with a mix of annoyance and envy. "She gets to sleep through the boring part."

Aya, sitting nearby, offered a gentle smile. "She worked very hard to finish this for us. Let her rest."

Beatrix, who had been critically examining the vehicle’s interior with her sharp eyes, gave a rare, non-depressed grunt of approval. "The space is well-utilized. It seems we won’t be driven to madness by claustrophobia on long journeys. A minor miracle."

Julian shifted the vehicle into gear, and with a low growl, it began to move, rolling through the compound’s streets towards the main gate.

As they drove, Emma piped up from the back, a thought suddenly occurring to her. "Hey, Julian? Are we really not gonna go find Kevin? We don’t even know where he is."

"Unnecessary," Julian replied, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Kevin won’t die that easily. He’ll turn up when he turns up." His tone held a thread of grim respect for his friend’s stubborn resilience.

They were approaching the main gate, the sentries waving them through. Just as they were about to pass onto the open road, Julian’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror.

He saw a small figure, carrying a large pack, running frantically after them, ignoring the stares of everyone around her. Her voice, faint but desperate, carried on the wind.

Julian’s foot pressed the brake, bringing the heavy vehicle to a smooth but definite halt.

Celestia, ever observant, immediately asked, "What is it? An issue with the vehicle?"

Julian didn’t take his eyes off the mirror. "No," he said, his voice calm. "It’s Dori. She’s chasing us."

A stunned silence filled the cabin for a moment, broken only by Fey’s soft snoring. Then, everyone scrambled to look out the rear windows.

There she was, Dori, her face flushed from the effort, her eyes determined yet filled with tears, waving one hand frantically while the other clung to the large travel bag Mr. Leighton must have helped her pack. She was making a desperate, public, and utterly heartfelt bid to join them.

Julian sat for a moment, his hands resting on the wheel. The others watched him, waiting for his decision. The low hum of the idling engine was the only sound inside the vehicle.

Then, with a quiet hiss, he activated the hydraulic door release. The heavy door swung open, revealing a breathless and tear-streaked Dori standing there, her large pack slung haphazardly over her shoulder.

Before anyone could speak, she bowed deeply, her voice trembling but clear. "Please! Let me come with you!"

Emma was the first to break the silence, her face splitting into a wide grin. "All right! Dori’s joining the party!"

Veronica sighed, massaging her temples. "This is becoming a caravan, not a tactical unit. Does everyone in this city just decide to follow him on a whim?"

Beatrix merely adjusted her glasses, her expression one of profound boredom. "One more, one less. It makes no difference to me. Just find a seat and don’t block the aisles."

Julian’s gaze was fixed on Dori. He saw the determination in her eyes, the finality of the packed bag. He saw the scared girl from the schoolhouse who had grown into a capable scout, and he also saw the potential complications.

"Why?" he asked, his voice now filled with genuine curiosity.

Dori straightened up, meeting his eyes with an unexpected bravery. "Because my place isn’t back there anymore. It’s... it’s wherever you’re all going. I can be useful! I’m a good scout, and I can fight! I don’t want to live a safe life and wonder ’what if?’ for the rest of my days." Her voice broke slightly on the last words, but she held her ground.

Clarissa, her heart melting at the display of raw courage, was already moving to help Dori with her pack. "Welcome, Dori. We’re happy to have you."

He gave a single, curt nod.

"Get in," he said. "We’re wasting daylight."

"And welcome to the team, Dori."

A wave of visible relief washed over Dori, and a fresh, happy tear escaped as she scrambled aboard, Clarissa guiding her to a seat.