CHAPTER 121: A SMALL CELEBRATION
XENON WINGATE
PRESENT DAY - 18 HOURS BEFORE THE PSYCHIC AMPLIFIER'S ACTIVATION
I have completely regained my strength for some reason. I felt that my heart is stronger than ever before, and my magical energy has been completely replenished. Recovering all my memories might be the key to all of it, and I have to thank everyone for that.
But we still have something to do. The Global Psychic Amplifier, which is the last of its kind, is bound to activate in less than a day. Right after I have disclosed the information about the mind-controlling device, the emperor immediately ordered a fleet to raid the Cherry Island. Cherry Island falls under Elysia's jurisdiction, and arriving on that island is not bound to be an easy task.
Even though Eldritch is dead, even though Elysia is left without a leader, the military defenses on that island are superb. It's the second most-guarded place in Elysia. Ever since I was a White Ghost, I have known the security on that island. They protect it dearly for it contains the key to Eldritch's failsafe world domination scheme. We will be expecting dragon knights that are the most loyal to the Eldritch dynasty.
As for this operation, the Emperor of Alterra will be coming with us together with his five Pentagram Knights. Of course, the remaining member of the black operations; Danielle, Alphonse, Z, Serena, and I; will be joining the fleet. The past wars between the countries have exhausted most of the empire's war resources, and we can't risk the fate of the world. Alterra is going in with all they got. Fifteen airships, twenty dreadnoughts, and ten carriers are bound to travel in the Elysian Ocean just to find the island.
We have boarded the airships, and there are roughly ten hours before the entire fleet arrives at Cherry Island. Time is of the essence, so I have to use these remaining hours to rehabilitate myself. I had a relaxing warm bath, had a nice haircut, and shaved my mustache and beard that has never been cut ever since I went out in prison. Good thing the airships have convenient facilities to groom me. Correction; it's my lovely dragonoid who is grooming me.
"You look nothing like a prisoner anymore. Now you look like a baby! A baby who is bound to be possessed by the dark lord~" Serena teased me when she finished cutting my hair. This is the first time we've bonded ever since I got out of prison, so I won't be bothered by her sarcastic rants.
I chuckled. When Serena noticed me laughing, she pressed her face forward and looked at me eye-to-eye. She made a gentle pat on my head as if I'm her dog.
"Are you feeling okay now, Xen?" She asked.
"Never been better," I said. "I think I can fight five days in a row with this condition!"
"How about your heart?" Serena asked with a worried and caring tone.
"I'm completely fine," I answered. "I don't know why, but I think my heart has been revitalized. I don't think it will shut down after a month just as the doctor said."
"That's good to hear~," Serena said with a tear-jerking smile. Suddenly, she stood up and held both of my hands. "Let's go back to the lounge and let's have our dinner with the squad."
"Yeah."
While we're on the corridors of this airship, I noticed that Serena did not let go of my right hand. Her grip on it is as tight as if she does not want to let go of me even for a second. I find it really comforting and I felt guilty at the same time. I feel like I have to apologize for what I have done, for my outrage that tried to hurt her when I was possessed with my wrath.
"Serena, I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I purposely got left behind back in the raid in Elysia. I'm sorry if I took my plans for revenge on my own. And I'm sorry for not realizing your plot about faking your engagement with Eldritch."
"Mmm. Mmm." Serena shook her head and turned to me. Her crimson eyes passionately locked to mine. "I understand you, Xen. You wanted my hands to be clean. But I'm no longer a fragile Dragonoid girl that needs to stay pure forever. I need my hands to get dirty too since I already told you that we're in this together. I promised you to help in your revenge, so I did my ways to contribute. I can't clean a dirty well without getting dirty first."
"Serena…" Seriously, this girl makes me cry. Hearing her charming words made me feel guilty a little bit more. I regret hiding everything from her. I am a fool for pushing her away from me, even though she is the only one I had in this world.
I clenched my fists and tightened my resolve. I had made my revenge on those three bastards that ruined my life, so all that is left is to settle my future with Serena.
"Serena… After this operation… I wanted to talk to you about something…"
Serena innocently tilted her head like a clueless kitten. "Eh? Why not tell it now?"
"It's because the time is not right yet."
Right after that conversation, we already found ourselves in front of the door to the lounge. When I opened it and made an entrance, I was surprised that my friends had thrown a party for me.
"Welcome back, Xenon!" Everybody cheered. Alphonse, Z, Danielle, and even the Pentagram Knight Jerick is here, together with his wife to celebrate my arrival. Heck, even Duke Corasell and his small daughter are here. There are colorful designs on this small lounge, and Z created magical fireworks in this very room. The sound of the party poppers almost made my ears deaf.
"Welcome back, Senor." Danielle approached me and handed a cake. "This is a great reunion for our squad! We are really glad that you have come back to us!"
"Yeah, dipshit!" Alphonse blew out a party horn. "We are also here to celebrate your cocksucking days out of the Elysian gulag!"
"Yes!" Z cried excitedly as she waved her wand, which immediately released a fountain of rainbow sparks thereafter. "We need more fireworks for you to celebrate!"
"Sir Xenon Wingate," Jerick stood up and saluted. "We are all glad to have you back."
"Glad to have you back, Sir Wingate!" Duke Corasell shook my hand. It was the very first time this handsome duke greeted me first instead of approaching Serena. "I am so pleased that you have reunited with Serena!"
"E-Everyone…" I was about to be brought to tears when I saw my friends celebrating. These are the people I have made friends with during my stay at Alterra when everything has left me. These are the friends who trusted me, even though they had doubts, they continued to believe that I am innocent. I am glad to say that these companions I had for the last three years were a lot better than the fake people I have met back in Elysia.
Suddenly, Serena went in front of me and gave out the futuretech glove to my hand. With a smile, I equipped it to my left hand, making the device beep "Futuretech Glove Online." Then I wiped my tears and made a huge yet simple proclamation to everybody in this lounge.
"I'm back."
"Whoooooooooooo!!!" Everybody cheered when they heard me say such lame words. Alphonse blew out the loudest party horn ever, and Z unleashed her fireworks indoors that threatened to make flames out of this airship. Everybody applauded in this small celebration that seemed a certain bliss for me.
We are noisy, so it's not surprising that somebody else would barge in this private lounge. When the door opened, the man whom I least expected to see in this celebration made his appearance. It was Emperor Sirius Elkyria himself.
"When I heard explosions outside, I thought we were under attack." The Emperor glared at us with his cold eyes. He's chinned up, meaning that he's looking down on us.
"Y-You're highness!" Everybody stopped what they're doing. Alphonse spit out the party horn, Danielle hid the cake behind her, and Z dropped her magic wand that continued to unleash colorful sparks. All the people in this room stood up in honor of the presence of His Majesty.
"Y-Your Highness, h-how can we help you?" I asked my trembling jaw. I know that holding a party in this lounge is forbidden especially that we're going to have an operation in less than a day. We would get suspended for sure.
However, the emperor's face immediately lightened when he revealed a luxurious bottle of liquor from his back. With a smile, he answered my question as he put the bottle on the table. "Well, I glass would be a start."
"I-Is this...!?" I gasped. I looked at the alcohol label and confirmed that it is the finest liquor that has ever invented, with 95% proof! It's the well-known Johnny Simba that costs the same as a hectare-wide mansion!
"Gather around, ladies and gents." The emperor said. "We are going to celebrate the return of my finest dragon knight, Sir Xenon Wingate!"
"Yeaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!" Everybody cheered.