Chapter 724: Chapter 724: Airplane

She was very grateful to Evelyn Ford and Wendy for giving her dignity and respect in the final stage of her life.

"What is the world outside like?"

"There are trees, rivers, mountains, and many people."

Leah smiled. "I still prefer it here."

She gave Evelyn Ford all the heirlooms passed down through her tribe. In the box were several yellowed books and scrolls made of animal hide, covered in their tribe’s script written with colorful pigments. She also gave her the earthen bowl and the dried mouse meat that hung in the stone house.

"Evelyn, these colored pigments are so beautiful."

Evelyn Ford didn’t let Wendy touch them. Instead, she quickly put the scrolls away. Leah and her family would never know that the true culprit that had made them all terminally ill was the colored pigment on the scrolls. It was made from radioactive minerals. With prolonged contact, the body’s organs would fail, leading to a slow, chronic death.

Leah revered these scrolls as if they were divine. Evelyn Ford didn’t tell her the cruel truth. She left her a few bottles of painkillers and special medicine, then took Wendy back to the space.

In the clearing in front of the log cabin, Ronan Kendrick had already started up the helicopter. It was a large model that could seat thirty people. The others stood in the small garden before the cabin, looking up with envious expressions.

Miles Vaughn stroked his chin. "Ronan Kendrick is seriously amazing. He learns everything so fast. I should have gotten a pilot’s license years ago. But watching him, it doesn’t look too hard. I’ll give it a try later."

"Oh, give me a break. You, fly a helicopter? We’re trying to get home, not get ourselves killed."

Quincy had just shot back, and sparks flew between the two of them. Just as they were about to start a real argument, Ethan Dawson came over and stood right between them, separating them.

Just then, the helicopter slowly descended and landed steadily. Ronan Kendrick opened the cockpit door and jumped straight down.

"Are we ready to leave?"

Ronan Kendrick walked up to Evelyn Ford. "We are. Is everything outside taken care of?"

"Yeah. I left her some medicine, but she’s just waiting to die."

Evelyn Ford glanced at the group. "Who wants to ride in the helicopter?"

"Me," Quincy stepped out from behind Ronan Kendrick. "I want to sit in the cockpit. I’ll be Ronan’s copilot."

Evelyn Ford raised an eyebrow. "You, his copilot? Be careful he doesn’t get annoyed and throw you out the window."

"He actually would do that. I guess I’ll just sit in the passenger cabin then."

"Anyone else?"

In a moment of unspoken agreement, everyone raised their hands. It was clear they all wanted to experience what it felt like to ride in a helicopter.

"It’s an hour at most from here to the base. Anyone who wants the experience, get on. We’re leaving right away."

Once everyone was settled in the passenger cabin, Evelyn Ford sent them, helicopter and all, out of the space.

Gazing at the distant stone house and the two eagles circling above it, Evelyn Ford took one last long look before getting into the cockpit.

"Let’s go."

The helicopter took off smoothly. Evelyn Ford turned her head to look at Ronan Kendrick. He wore protective sunglasses, his expression serious and focused.

"If you get tired, take a nap. We’ll be home when you wake up."

Evelyn Ford took out her phone, aimed it at him, and started snapping away. CLICK, CLICK, CLICK. "This phone’s memory is full again. It already has over a thousand videos and tens of thousands of photos."

"That’s impressive," Ronan Kendrick praised sincerely.

"Of course I’m impressive. But you’re not bad either, learning to fly a helicopter so quickly. Teach me when we get back."

"Okay, I’ll teach you."

As the helicopter rose into the sky, Evelyn Ford gazed at the clouds and couldn’t help but start humming a song. Ronan Kendrick watched her with a smile.

’We’re almost back at the base. This mission can be considered a success. I’m never making a deal with that old fox Rhys Chase again. Even though this mission came with a lot of unexpected rewards, the misery of riding a horse is just unforgettable. I never want to go through that a second time.’

The helicopter flew at a steady speed. Evelyn Ford took off her headset and went to the passenger cabin in the back. It was the first time flying for Zoe, Annie, and Wendy. The three of them were so excited they didn’t know what to do with their hands. Zoe was pressed against the window, staring at the distant clouds that looked like cotton candy. Even the adults weren’t much calmer. Taylor Vance’s eyes were a little red. He thought of Zion Lowell, and of the family and daughter whose fates were unknown, whom he might never see again in this lifetime.

"Helicopters are amazing. Such a long journey, and we can get home in a flash. If we’d had a helicopter before, we wouldn’t have had to travel so arduously and suffer so much."

"Aside from Miles Vaughn, Wyatt Vaughn, Ethan Dawson, and Mr. Vance, who here isn’t dirt poor? Even with Miles’s family being rich, he doesn’t have a private jet. You think getting a helicopter is a simple matter?!"

Evelyn Ford stood at the front, holding a cup of tea, and looked at Quincy, speechless.

"If only we’d met Mr. Vance sooner, we could have asked him to get us a helicopter."

Evelyn Ford smiled faintly. "Mr. Vance would have thought he’d run into a lunatic and had you thrown out. Alright, in another twenty minutes, we’ll be entering the Khoros Steppe. After the helicopter lands, we’ll take a truck back to the base. We have another twenty minutes of flight time. Enjoy the rest of the trip, everyone."

After speaking, Evelyn Ford turned and went back to the cockpit.

Twenty minutes later, the helicopter began to descend. As it slowly emerged from the clouds, Evelyn Ford saw a vast, green steppe below. ’We’re finally back. The round trip took almost three months. I wonder how the base is doing.’

After the helicopter landed securely, everyone reluctantly left the passenger cabin. Evelyn Ford put the helicopter away and took out a truck from her space. This time, it was Ethan Dawson’s turn to drive.

The truck entered the base’s perimeter. In the distance, patrolling soldiers approached with their guns raised. Ryan Rowe and Liam Sterling went up to talk to them. After they presented Ryan’s ID, they were allowed to pass without issue.

The weather at the base was excellent; Eldoria had clear, blue skies. Upon entering the base, Evelyn Ford saw the lush Four Seasons Green lining the road. There were many residents on the street, all busy heading to or from work. Hearing the truck’s horn, some of them reacted, quickly dodging to the side.

Ronan Kendrick took Liam Sterling, Ryan Rowe, and Flynn Hansen to the office building to find Rhys Chase. The others took the truck back to the small courtyard house.

Wendy, thinking about her work at the hospital, also got out at the base. Back at the courtyard house, Officer Graham took out his key and opened the door. The yard was relatively clean, but since there had been a windstorm on the afternoon they left, quite a few tiles and stones had been blown into it.

"We’re finally home. It wasn’t easy."

"I thought it was pretty easy. Two hours ago we were still in Devil’s City, and now we’re at the base."

"Stop talking nonsense and get to cleaning."

The next-door neighbor was peeking and peering from outside their door. Seeing that they were back, they couldn’t help but come in and ask where they had been all this time.

Quincy got rid of the busybody with a few quick words. After they tidied up the courtyard, Evelyn Ford took everyone back into the space.

「The Base Office Building.」

Rhys Chase was in a meeting when his assistant suddenly walked in.

"Director, Assistant Sterling and the others are back."

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