Chapter 31 Safarza (1/2)
Nix dropped off the product as promised at the boutique.Mina tagged along and left right away to run some errands.They tentatively planned to meet at the portal platform in Jenza at noon.
That gave him a chance to visit Hyai at the Kindled Spirit in Cyphix.Morning time at the inn was always a bit slow.They didn't serve breakfast so generally the staff spent that time cleaning and prepping for the rest of the day.
Hyai was carrying an enormous bucket of potatoes when he saw her, without any hesitation, he followed her into the kitchen and rolled up his sleeves.
”Nix!”She set the bucket down on the kitchen counter and hugged him tightly.
He sighed contently, there was something overwhelmingly warm about Hyai.”You wash em and I'll start peeling.”
Hyai raised an eyebrow, not sure if he was serious.”Can you peel potatoes Nix?”
”With my dexterity?Like a champ.”
He helped her in the kitchen most of the morning.They talked mostly about the rumors concerning Alpha.”I'm not convinced that Alpha is some super-powerful person.It's just as likely that he or she is a jeweler and nothing else.”
Hyai was slicing long thin strips of meat while Nix talked.They had long finished the potatoes and moved onto other things.”This artifact you mentioned, if he had a dozen of them; What would he be able to do?”
Nix whistled softly, ”just about whatever he wanted to.It's a quick strike army that could be inserted anywhere.I don't even want to think about it.”
Colonial System Message: Portal connections to the continent of Broyan are temporarily out of service.
Nix sat down the knife he had been using and looked at Hyai.”Why would all the connections to Broyan portals be closed?”
”A few years ago, the portal to Cella was closed when the city came under attack.”
”I'm going to take a look, it's nearly noon anyway so I need to head back to Jenza.”He handed Hyai a box of clothes he had made for her and then gave her a quick kiss before heading out.
”Nix? ”She looked at the box in her hand and then at the quickly fleeing culprit.”Spoiling an old woman?”
Nix laughed and waved goodbye, ”guess so.”
He picked up Mina at the Jenza portal and then activated Deep Blue.”We need to find out what's going on in Broyan.”
Colonial System Message: The Kingdom of Valis has come under attack.
Colonial System Message: The Kingdom of Neptia has come under attack.
Colonial System Message: The Kingdom of Trifelez has come under attack.
Colonial System Message: The Kingdom of Berma has come under attack.
A few minutes later, his entire raid team along with a few Aquarion additions was sitting on the top deck of Nix's houseboat.He handed out custom wolf-masks to everyone in the raid. ”Is that every kingdom in Broyan?”
Pon shook his head, ”There's a small island kingdom called Safarza that is highly defensible and its shores have embedded cannons.There are only three major cities in Safarza and no portal platforms.”
Pon used his hud to show a map of Broyan.Just off the west coast was an isolated landmass nestled in numerous mountain ranges.
Nix whistled, ”no wonder it hasn't been taken.What's our easiest entry point to Safarza?”
Jun Li had been sitting next to Pon, she pointed to the far western continent. ”Jhabi to the west, it will be a few hours by Manta.That's really our only option.”
”Prep for an extended stay on the western side of Safarza, from there we can move into the Berma kingdom and figure out what's going on.”He glanced up at Min who was watching quietly, ”we'll need about twenty Aquarion fighters, that will keep our strike group at thirty.”
Mina nodded, ”this will be a good time for us to build trust with the kingdom's under attack.”
Juni was using her hud to organize everything. As an experienced raid leader, she knew exactly what to do. ”I'll prep for a tent city and a month worthof supplies.”
”Thanks, Juni, I'll be relying on your experience during this operation.”Nix examined his own wolf-mask while Semmi talked about supplies with Pon and Juni.”We'll try out our newly acquired night capabilities to gain an advantage.
Satisfied with her list, Jun Li forwarded to Nix. ”You'll have to take me to Jenza for a supply run.”
”Let's go now.”Nix grabbed her hand and activated Deep Blue.