“I need you both for a while.”

"I understand that, but why are you here Helen!?"

"It sounds interesting, so here I am. You don't mind, right Isaac."

He asked for us two, yet he got three people. Myself, Jackson, and Helena are following Isaac to his throne room after we left the meeting. This seems to be a private matter since he did not mention it when everyone was together.

Helena is really not needed here, and I feel like she will only be a bother. But knowing Isaac, he probably does not mind her accompanying us.

"No problem. It's for the better if you three go together."

"What do you need us for?"

"I'll need you three to deliver something to Salix City. This is the last city that needs this package. Give this to the Imperial Knight assigned to Salix and make sure only he knows you three are there."

"Package?"

"It's still in Senior Jade's laboratory. Pass by and give this to her, she will understand what I sent you there for. By the way, the package is quite heavy, so flying using Royal Gryphon is no go. I also want you guys to go as discreet as possible."

"Eh! We're going to walk 20 days carrying it?! Not to mention, the off-road path to Salix is full of thick forest."

"You can do it."

Isaac gave us a smile saying that we cannot back out on his request any longer. There is no point asking further since it is already decided-- We are sent away for a long trip to Salix.

With that being said, we are now headed to Senior Jade where we are supposed to get the package we need to deliver. I hope nothing bad happens when we visit her since her laboratory is filled with nothing but terrifying memories.

"Hey, Vaughn. Can I leave you the task of giving this to Senior Jade?"

"She still mad at you?"

"Yea."

"That's better. I am going to drag you with me."

I force Jackson to go inside the laboratory while Helena was simply following us. A little girl was caught sleeping on top of her desk when we entered the room. Her silver hair was visible even in this dark room which makes me wonder how it works. She may look young, but she is by far the oldest person in the authority.

She seems to have fallen asleep in the middle of tinkering whatever the strange device on the ground was. It is unusual to see her like this.

"Good evening, Senior Jade. We're here for this."

Jackson was supposed to be the one to show the letter to Senior Jade, but we gave the responsibility to Helena since she is here anyway. Making sure we were within a safe distance, I erased my presence while Jackson hides his face.

*Groan*

She woke up after a few nudges. After seeing the letter in Helena's hand, she stood up to get something behind the curtains without asking anything. I thought we will not be able to come out here in one piece, but it looks like there is no need to worry.

"Damn that King making me do all these complicated things. I'm going to ask for extra days off."

Clearly, she was very frustrated with the task given to her by Isaac. She came out of the curtains complaining. Although it did not take long for a big frame made out of steel was being dragged by a small girl. It must be what we are task to deliver.

"Hey, you three. Make sure you don't drop this ball or else it will be all useless. I don't want to be involved in fixing this thing again."

Unexpectedly, she was pointing at the ball that she was leaning on a while ago. It looks strange, but it does not look like it was something us two will have difficulty carrying on a Royal Gryphon.

"This? I thought Isaac would be asking us to bring a statue or something."

Now that she has the permission to do so, Helena came to pick the ball up. It barely fits her fist, so I have no doubt there is any trouble. But I am still curious about the frame Senior Jade dragged out.

*Crack*

'Crack?'

The source of the weird yet satisfying sound came from Helena who is still bent up for some reason. Guessing from her painful facial expression, she must have dislocated a bone or two while lifting it. Although this will not really affect her since she is going to put it back in order later on.

"Can you help me, guys?"

"What are you doing? There is a time and a place to joke around. I prefer i- Fuck! This is heavy!"

Jackson who came to help dropped to the ground when he took over Helena's spot. The object of interest barely moved from its original position. He attempted to pick it up once more but this time, every single muscle of his is working overtime. 'Is it really that heavy?' I wanted to say but decided not to because it will give up my presence.

After several breathing out loudly, Jackson finally was able to lift the strange device a metre off the ground.

"Idiots. Use this. That's why I brought it out."

"OH. That's better. Thank you, Senior."

She was pointing at the frame she dragged out a while ago.

Using it to cover the heavy object up, the frame began to shrink down and turn into a portable basket in which the ball fits perfectly. Jackson tried lifting it once again and now was able to lift it more easily. It seems to magically condense tightly when it was activated by Senior Jade. I do not really understand how her inventions really work, but every single one of these inventions was always helpful.

Nevertheless, it still looks heavy despite Jackson carrying it over his back.

While fixing himself to a more comfortable position to carry the package, all his effort of disguising himself was long gone. The cloth that was covering his face dropped down after Senior Jade coincidentally light up a candle lantern.

"It's you, brat. You dare come back here without paying for the damages."

"Geh!"

"What is she talking about Jack? You should never let debt be unpaid."

"Run! My debts can only be paid with my life."

"That's an exaggeration. Senior Jade will never do that."

Jackson was already running out of the room with the package on his back. I can see chains ready to latch some feet. I will not risk waiting for what will happen next and have already gone outside, faster than Jackson was able to escape.

We left Helena with a pissed Senior Jade, but I doubt she will do anything to her. Since she barely had any business with Senior Jade throughout the past, she will be fine-- probably. But it does not change the fact she became our scapegoat, so Jackson and I need to pay her back someway.

Leaving her alone might seem abrupt and inconsiderate, but we know what we are doing. We did all preparation then proceed to meet up again at the front of Isaac's castle. After waiting for half an hour, Helena was back again with the group. Now that we are together with the package in hand, we went out in the middle of the deep night heading towards Salix City.