Lucas and I had stocked up on supplies as much as we could and made our way back to Scorpion Syndicate's old base. The sun was beginning to set as we entered the base, where Mr. Norman and Nolan were already waiting for us.
"Welcome back, Frankie and Lucas. How did your shopping trip go? Did you manage to purchase everything we needed?" Nolan asked with curiosity.
"Yes, we bought a substantial amount. The delivery is scheduled to arrive here by tomorrow morning," I replied.
Mr. Norman joined the conversation, inquiring, "And where is David?"
"Well, after our shopping, David mentioned that he had something to attend to and left," I informed Mr. Norman about David's sudden departure.
Mr. Norman responded with a hint of resignation, "I see. It would have been better if he had informed us beforehand, but that's just David for you." He wore a casual shrug, though his expression hinted at a touch of sadness.
Turning to Nolan, I inquired, "So, Nolan, what's the status on NS Scorpion?"
Nolan proudly listed the significant improvements made to the NS Scorpion. "Everything is done. As you already know, we've extensively modified the interior of NS Scorpion to enhance comfort. We've also upgraded its systems to be more modern. But that's not all. We successfully added the Mounted Aquarius and created a new interface for it, integrating it into the existing weapons interface."
Listening to the impressive upgrades, I couldn't help but be excited. "I see. So, that means NS Scorpion is now even more powerful than before. Now, where exactly is Mirage Island, and how long will it take us to reach it?" I asked Nolan, eager to learn more about our mission. Apart from the information Mr. Norman had provided, I had limited knowledge.
"Well," Nolan began, providing the details, "you'll need to travel northeast of Port Aurora. The route is mostly similar to the path taken to reach the Avian trade city. Mirage Island is approximately 3000 kilometers from Port Aurora."
"3000 kilometers! That's quite a distance. How long will it take for us to reach it?" I inquired with curiosity.
Nolan explained, "Well if we use the HydroVortex Engine instead of the NS Scorpion's standard nuclear reactor, we can get there in about five to six days. The original HydroVortex Engine in NS Scorpion was very outdated, so I replaced it with a newer model."
Understanding the timeline better, I said, "I see. In that case, we should aim to depart the day after tomorrow. Now, how many of us will be going on this mission?" I asked Mr. Norman, curious about the team size.
Mr. Norman replied with a casual shrug, "Well, it's just the four of us again."
*Sigh*
I let out a weary sigh and spoke, my fatigue evident in my voice, "Well, I expected as much. But unlike our previous skirmish with the slave traders, NS Scorpion requires a larger crew to operate efficiently."
Mr. Norman, equally worn out, nodded in agreement. "You're absolutely right. The problem is, there aren't many people who can come to our aid on such short notice."
He continued, his tired expression mirroring my own. "Given more time, I could have possibly recruited a few additional hands, but that's not the only issue. There's a scarcity of individuals who can effectively handle technology as advanced as NS Scorpion."
My thoughts wandered as I pondered his words. It was true; most people in this world were well-acquainted with HydroVortex technology, making them ill-prepared to grapple with the advanced technology from another realm. Just as I was lost in these thoughts, Lucas interjected.
Lucas proposed something quite intriguing. "Then why don't we bring some of the women who were rescued by Frankie along with me?"
His suggestion did make a lot of sense. Instead of recruiting entirely new individuals who would struggle with Earth's technology, bringing along a few of the rescued women who already had some exposure during our journey from Mermaid's Veil to Port Aurora seemed like a more practical solution. However, the idea of involving them in such a dangerous mission left me uncertain.
"Lucas, what you're suggesting is a really great idea, but I'm not sure if any of them would willingly accompany us on such a dangerous mission," I replied, wearing a complicated expression that mirrored my conflicted feelings.
"Well," Lucas countered, "you're right, but do we really have any other viable options? They don't necessarily have to come to the island itself. They could stay inside NS Scorpion while we search for the slaves."
Mr. Norman offered a more direct solution. "Lucas, that's a great idea, but we should ask them directly before making any decisions. Why don't we bring them here? We can explain our situation to them, and if any of them are willing to accompany us to Mirage Island, we can bring them along."
Lucas agreed. "All right, I'll go gather them. Just wait a few minutes," he said before heading off to find the woman.
After a few minutes, the five women gathered together, including Lara, the beautiful blonde woman, and Ava Miller, the mother of Grace Miller, one of the children who had been sold as slaves by the cannibalistic pirates. They exchanged confused glances, clearly unsure of why they had been summoned.
"I know you all must be confused, but we need your help," Mr. Norman began the conversation.
He went on to explain the events that had transpired until now, including the identity of the scar-faced man he had been interrogating for the past few days.
Lara, piecing it all together, muttered to herself, "I see. So, that guy is the leader of the slave traders. That's why you brought him here."
Lara expressed her willingness to help. "Well, if we're just going to stay inside NS Scorpion the whole time, then count me in. I can assist you guys with operating and cleaning NS Scorpion, but that's the most I can offer."
I reassured her, saying, "That's more than enough. We'll handle the rest; you just look after NS Scorpion."
Suddenly, a voice filled with both sadness and determination spoke up. Ava Miller, the mother of the missing child, declared, "If we're going to save my baby girl, then I will also accompany you to that slave island. I will do whatever it takes to save my baby."
Moved by her unwavering determination, I replied, "I understand, Ava. We'll do our best to help you find your daughter."
Mr. Norman turned to the other three women, his gaze searching for their responses, but they remained silent, avoiding his eyes.
*Sigh*
Mr. Norman let out a sigh and addressed the other three women with a reassuring tone. "Look, ladies, we're not forcing you into anything. If you're not feeling comfortable accompanying us, you can just look after Scorpion Syndicate's old base until we return."
The other three women exchanged glances, and one of them, with a hesitant voice, said, "Th-then we will just stay here and look after it," her words coming out in a stutter.
"That's perfectly fine. But I have a small favor to ask. Please make sure to feed Daniel Kim, the scar-faced guy who is in the dungeon below. He is very weak now, so you don't have to worry about him. If you need anything or if there are any emergencies, contact David," Mr. Nolan informed the other three women, providing them with clear instructions.
They all nodded, but one of them asked with a puzzled expression, "How can we contact him?"
Nolan, realizing the omission, responded, "Oh right, I forgot about it." He reached into his bag, the one he usually carried with him, and handed me and Lucas something.
I examined the object in my hand. It was essentially a smartphone with a wooden back, unlike anything I had seen before. Instead of the usual metal or plastic, the back was crafted from real wood. The sensation of holding it was warm and natural, and the wood grain provided a cool, unique look.
The wood was smooth and nicely polished, making it comfortable to hold. Surprisingly, despite being made of wood, it felt sturdy, thanks to some protective coatings.
I gazed at Nolan, my confusion evident, and asked, "Isn't this basically a smartphone?"
Nolan's face lit up with a grin as he clarified, "No, this is called EcoSync."
"EcoSync? Isn't this what you were talking about back during our time with the slave traders' capture mission?" I asked him, my curiosity piqued.
"Indeed it is," he affirmed, his enthusiasm growing. "EcoSync has a multitude of functions like a camera, video recorder, voice recorder, calendar, alarm, and more. These are just a few examples; this device is capable of many more things than that."
"I'm grateful that you got this for me, but it's essentially a smartphone with a wooden back panel," I expressed with a complicated mix of surprise and disappointment.
The surprise stemmed from the fact that this world had something so similar to a smartphone, while the disappointment arose because it was almost too similar. Even in another world, I found myself confronted with a device that resembled a smartphone. Why couldn't things be more unique? These thoughts filled my mind as Nolan began to speak once more.
Turning his attention to the women, he said, "As for you ladies, I'll get each of you your own EcoSync tomorrow. I was a bit busy today, so I only got one for Frankie and Lucas."
Lara reassured Nolan, saying, "That's perfectly fine. We can wait until tomorrow."