Chapter 573: Escorting Weapons
"The base is full of capable people, so they must have already considered these factors. While making ice blocks is convenient for preservation, it requires a lot of saltpeter."
Evelyn Ford glanced at the time. "Let’s set that aside for now. I’ll prepare a remedy to prevent colds. Everyone needs to drink a bowl."
After she prepared the cold remedy and set it to simmer, a cry of surprise came from outside about two hours later. Quincy opened the door to check and discovered the rain had stopped.
"Evelyn, you were right! The rain stopped."
"Dad, is the sun out?" Zoe asked, her wide eyes fixed on Quincy in anticipation.
Quincy shrugged. "Not yet."
After the rain, everyone who had been caught in it came down with a cold, and the hospital was once again packed. Although the special medicine was effective, one pill didn’t make a person immune to all illnesses. The hospital brewed large vats of remedies to help patients with colds ward off the chill. While the flu wasn’t a fatal disease, it still took time to recover.
A severe cold could also cause coughing, a dry and hoarse throat, a runny nose, dizziness, and diarrhea.
Five days after the rain, both Liam Sterling and Rhys Chase came to the Undercity. Liam Sterling looked exhausted. He had injured his left calf, which was in a cast, and he was using a crutch.
"What happened?"
Liam Sterling looked a little embarrassed. "They were breaking up iron ore at the arsenal, and I was standing too close. A shard of it hit my calf. It’s nothing serious. I’ll be walking normally again in a few days."
"That’s some bad luck. There’s a saying that it takes a hundred days to heal an injury to the bone. Looks like you’ll be laid up for three months." ’He must have fractured it, otherwise they wouldn’t have put it in a cast.’
"I’ve already approved three months of leave for him. Liam Sterling will be recovering here in the Undercity during that time, so I’ll have to ask you all to look after him."
As soon as Rhys Chase finished, Quincy slung an arm around Liam Sterling’s shoulder. "No problem, leave it to us. Liam, this is a blessing in disguise! Now you can finally get some proper rest. Look at those dark circles. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were completely worn out."
"You’re the one who’s worn out," Liam Sterling retorted, jabbing Quincy in the stomach with his elbow.
Rhys Chase had come to the Undercity mainly to discuss matters concerning the arsenal. A large number of weapons were to be produced, and he didn’t trust storing them anywhere besides Evelyn Ford’s space.
"Ronan, Evelyn, after the first batch of weapons is produced, a portion needs to be delivered to the Third and Fourth Bases. The quantity is too large, and transport by either plane or truck carries risks. That’s why I’d like to ask you two to handle the delivery."
Evelyn Ford and Ronan Kendrick exchanged a look but didn’t agree immediately.
"Besides you two, there will be others on the transport team. They’re all my most trusted people, completely reliable."
Of course, there were benefits to escorting the weapons. In addition to their usual twenty-percent share of the profits, Rhys Chase mentioned that the Third and Fourth Bases had considerable amounts of jade and gold.
Of course, what interested Evelyn Ford the most was the Hooper Family at the Third Base.
"How will we get there? By truck or by plane?"
Rhys Chase’s brow relaxed slightly. "By plane. After that rain, the road conditions are likely to be a problem. A round trip by truck would take several days, which is too much of a waste of time. It’s better to just fly directly."
"When do we leave?"
"In half a month. The arsenal has just been reactivated, so production will take some time."
’Transporting weapons to the Third and Fourth Bases wasn’t unconditional aid; it was a trade for resources. When it came down to it, the two of them were no different from couriers.’
"Alright, we’ll do it."
——
「Half a month later.」
Evelyn Ford and Ronan Kendrick arrived at the base’s arsenal. It was their first time setting foot in the facility. Just as they had imagined, the arsenal was imposing and solemn, with four armed soldiers guarding the entrance. Before going inside, they had to be checked with a scanner for any dangerous items, cameras, or listening devices.
Once the scan was complete, the two were led through the first main gate. A heavy iron door slid open automatically, revealing crates upon crates of weapons. The soldier who had brought them in turned to leave, and the iron door slid shut behind him.
Ronan Kendrick scanned their surroundings. After finding no surveillance equipment, they began to store the crates.
The warehouse was about the size of a basketball court, and all the weapon crates were sealed. Evelyn Ford wasn’t curious about what was inside—whether it was rifles or pistols, Gatling guns or explosives. Once all the weapons were stored away, Ronan Kendrick took her hand and led her back to the iron door. There was a green button beside it. He pressed it, and the door opened again. Two armed soldiers stood outside. Seeing them emerge, one of the soldiers greeted Ronan Kendrick and led them toward the exit.
When the two of them emerged from the arsenal, Rhys Chase was already waiting at the entrance. Liam Sterling was still in the Undercity, recovering from his leg injury.
"This is Ryan Rowe. He’s also my assistant. He was away on a mission and just got back a week ago. He’ll be assisting you throughout this trip to the Third and Fourth Bases."
Evelyn Ford could tell at a glance that this Ryan Rowe was a trained fighter. Compared to the gentle, scholarly Liam Sterling, Ryan Rowe seemed more like a bodyguard.
Ryan Rowe stepped forward to stand before Ronan Kendrick. He was about the same height as Ronan but more powerfully built. He had a buzz cut and a scar on the bridge of his nose. His gaze was as cold and sharp as a falcon’s, and he radiated a powerful aura. This was no ordinary man.
"I’m Ryan Rowe," he said. "Mr. Kendrick, I’ve heard a great deal about you. I look forward to working with you on this mission."
Ronan Kendrick gave a slight smile. "Hello."
Ryan Rowe gave Evelyn Ford a slight nod. "Dr. Ford, hello."
Evelyn Ford and Quincy had contributed the formula for the special medicine, a fact that everyone under Rhys Chase’s command knew. As such, Evelyn’s name was practically legendary among them.
"Hello, Mr. Rowe."
After the introductions, Rhys Chase began to brief them on the mission.
"We’ll be trading with the Third Base for cotton, sugar, corn, potatoes, and coal. From the Fourth Base, we’re getting wheat, medicinal herbs, rice, and petroleum." Rhys Chase looked at Ryan Rowe. "And also jade and gold. Get as much as both bases are willing to trade."
Ryan Rowe nodded. "Understood. I guarantee the mission’s success."
"And don’t worry about the others," Rhys Chase assured the pair. "They’ll be perfectly safe here in the Undercity."
’I could let the others stay in my space to be safe,’ Evelyn considered, ’but the Undercity is very secure. Besides, everyone just finished the wheat harvest. They should get some proper rest.’
When they reached the base’s airfield, the others had already boarded the plane. Evelyn Ford and Ronan Kendrick had no luggage, and their seats were together. As they boarded, the few people who had been chatting together all looked up at them in unison.
"At 10:00 AM sharp, the plane will depart on schedule. Will all passengers please return to their seats."
There were two pilots and two logistics personnel on the plane. Including Evelyn Ford and Ronan Kendrick, there were a total of eight people carrying out the mission.
It was Ronan Kendrick’s first time on a plane, and he stared out the window with a frown.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"It’s a little stuffy."
Evelyn Ford took his hand. "It is a bit stuffy. I have an eye mask if you want to wear it and get some sleep. It’s only a forty-five-minute flight to the Third Base. We’ll be there before you know it."
Ronan Kendrick’s lips curved into a smile. "I’m not scared, don’t worry."
At ten o’clock sharp, the plane began to taxi for takeoff. Evelyn’s ears went deaf for a moment.