"Mr. Reeve, please don't leave me!"
Jessica was crying her heart out. She tried to grab Lucas Reeve's hand, but it was like trying to scoop the moon from the water—she couldn't touch him at all.
Beside her, Franka's expression gradually darkened. Her usual playful demeanor was gone, replaced by a profound sadness. Her eyes were even turning red, a crystalline sheen welling up within them.
However, Franka forced herself not to let the tears fall.
It wasn't just Franka; Liskarm's face had also fallen. As for Magallan, though she didn't know Lucas Reeve well, she felt an inexplicable sense of reluctance to see him go.
Because...
Lucas Reeve was probably the only person in the world who could say her name correctly.
If Lucas Reeve died... wouldn't that mean there would be no one left on earth who could pronounce her name right?
Ahhh!!
No!!
At this thought, Magallan's expression became incredibly sorrowful, and she almost burst into tears.
"Ceobe doesn't want you to die!!"
Ceobe, standing nearby, was also extremely anxious, her adorable eyes welling up with tears.
The group surrounded Lucas Reeve, their grief filling the entire cave, as if he were about to die any second.
Lucas Reeve: "???"
He was a bit baffled by the situation.
"Um... well..."
After a long silence, Lucas Reeve wondered if he should interrupt this somber atmosphere. After all... only he knew that he wasn't going to die at all, yet everyone around him, including Jessica, thought he was on the verge of kicking the bucket. If he broke this 'sad' mood... wouldn't they be terribly embarrassed?
"Actually, there's no need to be so sad. Old age, sickness, and death are a natural part of life. Besides... when did I ever say I was about to die?"
Lucas Reeve's words stunned the group of five, who were still lost in their grief.
"???"
"But Mr. Reeve, your body right now!!"
Jessica rubbed her completely reddened eyes and said with a sob.
"I'm already dead. This is just a soul state. How could I possibly die a second time?"
"Waaaah!!!"
Instantly.
Jessica burst into tears again. Seeing Jessica cry, Ceobe followed suit and also started wailing.
"You idiot!!! How can you still be joking at a time like this!!!"
Franka, with reddened eyes, swung her hand at Lucas Reeve's body, but her palm passed right through him.
"But... I'm not joking... I've just exhausted my Spiritual Power and need to sleep for a while."
"???"
For a moment.
Jessica and Ceobe stopped crying, their red eyes staring at Lucas Reeve, who had become even more transparent.
"Don't try to comfort me, Mr. Reeve. I know... you're just saying you need to 'sleep' because you don't want us to be sad. You want to give me some comfort!! Right?!"
Jessica kept rubbing her red-rimmed eyes, her voice choked with sobs.
"Uh... that's really not it..."
Lucas Reeve was a bit speechless. Why wouldn't Jessica believe him?
"Then tell me! How long will you sleep!! I'll wait!! I'll wait for you even if it takes a lifetime."
"Um... a month..."
Lucas Reeve roughly estimated his current recovery speed. The remnant soul residing with Jessica should be fully recovered in about a month.
"Huh???"
Jessica and the other four were once again frozen in place.
They had expected Lucas Reeve to hesitate, then make up some very long slumber period to comfort them.
However...
The words "a month" left the five of them, who were steeped in sadness, completely speechless.
"Can you please stop joking at a time like this!! Mr. Reeve!!!"
Jessica was getting frantic, crying and shouting at the same time.
"It's true...."
"I don't believe you!!"
"Really..."
"I don't believe you!! Mr. Reeve must be trying to comfort me..."
Lucas Reeve: "...."
"Are you guys hoping I'll kick the bucket or something?"
Seeing Lucas Reeve's tone turn serious.
Jessica and the others finally realized that he might be telling the truth.
"You're really not going to die? Mr. Reeve?"
"I won't."
"You'll really only sleep for a month? And you'll come back to me in a month?"
"Yep!!"
"Swear it! I want you to swear it!!"
Looking at Jessica's reddened eyes, Lucas Reeve couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. The poor girl must have been heartbroken just now.
"I swear..."
Lucas Reeve slowly raised his hand.
Finally.
Under Lucas Reeve's oath, the five of them believed his words. He was really just going to sleep, not gone for good.
Jessica took some tissues from Franka, wiping her already red eyes and nose as she choked out, "Then why... why did you say such tragic things earlier..."
"What did I say?"
"You said... you told me to stay strong in the future. It sounded... like you were saying goodbye to me..."
"But... we are going to be apart for a month. Can't I say goodbye for a month-long separation?"
Finally, amidst Lucas Reeve's humorous words, Jessica's tears turned to laughter. She wanted to summon the courage to hug him, but with so many people around, she was too embarrassed.
Watching Lucas Reeve's gradually fading figure.
Jessica wanted to say something, but didn't know what to say. In the end, just as Lucas Reeve was about to disappear, she mustered her courage and said one last thing.
"I!! I will wait for Mr. Reeve to come back, I swear!! While Mr. Reeve is away, I will make myself strong enough!!"
"Good girl~"
Lucas Reeve patted Jessica's head, then looked at the others, as if to ask if they had anything to say.
Franka turned her head, secretly wiping away the tear tracks from the corners of her eyes, trying her best to maintain her usual carefree image, but her red-rimmed eyes betrayed her.
"Hmph.. what's there to say, it's only a month... If I had to say something... um..."
"Remember... to come back on time... otherwise, Jessica will be heartbroken..."
"Of course!"
When it was Liskarm's turn, she was silent for a moment before speaking slowly.
"You must come back. Our squad can't be missing a member..."
After Liskarm finished, Ceobe, who could wait no longer, wiped her eyes and said, "Next time you come back, remember to treat Ceobe to meat!!"
"Definitely!"
Finally.
When it was Magallan's turn, she looked as if she had been holding it in for a long time. After a moment of thought, she gathered her courage and shouted loudly.
"Please! Mr. Reeve, could you say my name one more time?!"
"???"
"???"
Five faces of bewilderment.
Even Lucas Reeve scratched his head, speechless.
Magallan was way too fixated on her name.
In the final second before he vanished.
Lucas Reeve slowly called out, "Miss Magallan."
"Wuwuwu!! Mr. Reeve, you're my kindred spirit!!"
Magallan was ecstatic. In all these years, he was the first person to pronounce her name correctly!! He was simply an angel sent from heaven specifically to say her name!!
Finally...
Lucas Reeve dissolved into particles of light and disappeared.
The group stood there for a long time without moving. After a good while, Franka was the first to speak up.
"Let's go! It's not like he isn't coming back! Let's head back to Columbia!"
"Yeah!!"
Jessica carefully placed the necklace back around her neck, tucking it inside her clothes against her skin, as if only this could bring her peace of mind.
However.
At the thought of returning to Columbia.
Only Magallan had a long face.
"Wuwuwu!!! My drones, my vehicle!! Why am I so miserable!!!"
Jessica felt a bit guilty.
Magallan really was in a pitiful state. Not only did she have to pay a hefty mercenary fee, but she had also lost all her equipment in one go. She had truly lost the farm and the farmer.
"Um... Miss Oatmeal, take this card. After you get back to Columbia, you can use it to get two new custom drones and a transport vehicle from Raythean Industries headquarters, free of charge... Raythean Industries and my family have a *little* bit of a connection..."
Magallan: "???"
Beside them, Franka's expression turned slightly strange.
No way! It can't be!!
I hope it's not true, I hope it's not true!! How could Jessica possibly be!! That's Raythean Industries!!
Franka remembered her dream.
A wave of social anxiety washed over her.
————————
"Sigh~ Back in this 'prison' again."
As his consciousness returned to his main body, Lucas Reeve felt the familiar darkness and confinement. It wasn't strange, just like a rich young master used to a multi-million square foot villa suddenly moving into a tiny, shabby room of a hundred square feet—it took some getting used to.
Still, he only had to wait about a month before he could continue his adventures in Columbia. No rush, no rush.
Moreover.
After defeating the tree monster.
Lucas Reeve had obtained another large portion of Prayer Power, an amount that was even greater than all he had previously acquired combined. As a contemporary young man with excellent saving habits, Lucas Reeve only spent a third of it on reconstructing his physical body, saving the remaining two-thirds for a rainy day.
The power of the Holy Lance was immense.
But it could only be used as a final killing blow. Even though this Holy Lance was just a projection of a fraction of its power, activating it had taken the entire strength of Lucas Reeve's remnant soul, and even then, he hadn't unleashed the projection's full potential, only a part of its power. For now, Lucas Reeve didn't plan on strengthening the Holy Lance projection.
He had his offensive measures now.
For his next few wishes, Lucas Reeve decided to choose some functional abilities. He couldn't have only offensive skills; one or two immensely powerful abilities were enough. In certain situations, functional abilities could be incredibly important.
Just as Lucas Reeve was debating whether to sleep through the next month.
His main soul seemed to sense something unusual.
Lucas Reeve looked to the northeast.
"What a coincidence. A soul fragment actually recovered at this time. I'm idle anyway, might as well go take a look."
——————
After emerging from the Blackflow Sea of Trees.
Franka immediately dialed the only emergency communication line to have a Blacksteel Worldwide rescue team come for support.
Two hours later.
A low-altitude aircraft bearing the Blacksteel Worldwide logo slowly landed in front of them.
Back in Columbia.
Magallan dejectedly bid farewell to the group and returned to Rhine Lab alone. Although she had lost a vehicle and two custom drones on this trip, the rewards were substantial. At the very least, Magallan had recorded a lot of incredibly precious footage. It was worth it!
After parting ways with Franka and Liskarm.
Jessica and Ceobe returned to their residence together. For Ceobe, who was visiting a modern metropolis for the first time, everything was new and fascinating. It was the first time she had seen skyscrapers piercing the clouds, the first time she had seen metal boxes running endlessly on the ground. When the aircraft descended from the sky, Ceobe was so frightened that she hid behind Jessica on the spot. If not for Jessica's constant reassurance, Ceobe really wouldn't have dared to board the aircraft.
After ordering a huge feast for Ceobe, Jessica slowly dialed a number.
"Miss~"
"Uncle Jones, I'd like to order some custom weapons, a lot of them... is that possible?"
A gentle male voice on the other end of the line chuckled.
"What are you talking about, Miss? Raythean Industries is your family's business. The entire staff of Raythean Industries is ready to fulfill any of your requests at any time."
"Thank you."
———————
Meanwhile
In the frigid ice plains north of Ursus.
The snowflakes fell like goose feathers, or like torn cotton floating in the air. The land was covered in ice and snow, a boundless expanse of white as far as the eye could see. Few crops could survive in such harsh weather.
At this moment.
Deep within the ice plains, a small village was hidden among the snow-capped mountains. The roofs were covered in thick snow, and one would be hard-pressed to spot the village's existence without getting close.
Inside the largest wooden house in the village, three people were sitting, seemingly discussing something.
One of them, a woman with a troubled expression, had curly and beautiful white hair, with a pair of sharp dragon horns on either side of her head. She was stunningly beautiful, but her beauty also held a hint of heroic spirit. Her gray eyes were firm and profound.
"Senior Patriot... we're running low on food again..."
And the figure across from the young woman was enough to give an ordinary person nightmares just from a single glance.
Standing a full three meters tall, his burly frame was as sturdy as a small mountain. He wore a suit of power armor battered by war and the elements. The bullet holes and sword slashes on the armor seemed to indicate that this person was no simple character. Most shockingly, he wore a goat's skull as a helmet, and the crimson glow flickering in its eye sockets was chilling to the bone.
At that moment, another beautiful young woman with deer antlers spoke softly, "Talulah, there's still some leftover equipment and money in the camp. I can go to the nearby villages and trade with the locals for some more food..."
Talulah shook her head.
"Alina, you shouldn't go to other villages for now. The Infected Pickets have been increasing in number around here lately. It's too dangerous to go in and out so frequently... Besides... it will also make the villagers wary. It would be troublesome if they reported us..."
"Mm..."
Alina nodded dejectedly.