"Um... I guess the power is a pretty good gift?" I replied, unsure of what she was getting at.
She chuckled. "No, I mean a tangible item, something you can actually use."
Silence fell between us as the elevator doors slid open.
I had no idea what to say. I didn't want to seem greedy or demanding.
"What kind of motorcycle do you like?" Dove asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
My heart skipped a beat.
Here we go again... another extravagant gift?
I hesitated, then finally blurted out, "I think... something with a 1000cc engine."
"Oho~ You've got good taste. We'll ask Yolan to create one for you."
"She can build a motorcycle?!" I asked, incredulous.
"Well, she can make the parts, And she's quite skilled at assembling them."
My jaw dropped. The sheer audacity of their abilities never ceased to amaze me.
Ting!
The elevator doors slid open, revealing a scene of controlled chaos. Papers were scattered across desks, monitors displayed complex diagrams and charts, and the air crackled with a palpable tension.
"Aaaagh! The courier is late again!" Irune wailed, her face buried in a stack of documents.
Yolan lay sprawled on the floor, her arms outstretched in a gesture of utter defeat.
"What's going on here?" Aca whispered to Vill, who stood beside her, a grim expression on her face.
Vill's eyes met mine as we entered the room. "Good afternoon," she greeted us with a forced smile.
Everyone else looked up, their faces brightening momentarily at the sight of Dove and me.
"Good afternoon, What's happening here?"
Yolan groaned, pushing herself up from the floor. "The shipments to Europe are delayed again, The cargo ship carrying our materials is stuck in a storm somewhere in the Indian Ocean," she said, her voice laced with frustration.
"Not again, We're going to miss our deadline." Irune lamented, throwing her head back against her chair.
Vill sighed, her usually calm demeanor faltering slightly. "We'll find a way to make it work," she said, though her voice lacked its usual conviction.
"We always do," Dove chimed in, her tone reassuring. She turned to me, her eyes softening. "Don't worry, Xian. These things happen sometimes. We'll figure it out."
I nodded.
"What about the new metal alloy we were developing for the military? is that affected too?" Aca asked, her voice a mix of hope and concern.
Vill nodded grimly. "Yes, That shipment is on the same vessel. This could be a major setback for us."
A heavy silence fell over the room. The atmosphere was tense, the unspoken fear of failure hanging heavy in the air.
"We need to find a solution, we need to find it fast."
I looked at the faces of my family, their expressions a mix of worry and determination. Despite the setbacks, they refused to give up. They were fighters, survivors, and I was proud to be one of them.
Clap!
Dove clapped her hands, bringing everyone's attention back to her. "Okay, guys, how about a little break?"
Everyone perked up, eager for a distraction from the mounting stress of the delayed shipments.
"How about we make Xian's 1000cc bike?" Dove suggested, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
Yolan practically leaped onto the table, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Let's go! I have the perfect modifications in mind to make it super fast!"
I was taken aback by her sudden enthusiasm. "A-Ah, yeah..." I stammered, unsure of what to expect.
"Watching Yolan assemble a motorcycle is always entertaining," Irune remarked, a playful smirk on her face.
Aca stretched, cracking her knuckles. "Time to head to the warehouse then?"
Everyone nodded in agreement, their excitement palpable.
Everyone bustled out of the office, their energy renewed by the prospect of creating a custom motorcycle. I found myself squeezed into the elevator, sandwiched between Yolan's towering frame and the shorter members of the group.
"Press the garage button!" Irune yelled, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Move, I can't reach it!" Vill complained, her voice muffled by the crowd.
Dove pushed through the throng, her fingers finding the elusive button. "There we go, You guys are being too dramatic."
The elevator descended smoothly, and the doors opened into a spacious, brightly lit garage. Several cars were parked there, but one vehicle in particular stood out: a large, black van that could comfortably seat seven people.
Well, at least it can fit everyone, I thought, relieved that we wouldn't have to squeeze into multiple cars.
We all piled into the van, me sitting in the front passenger seat next to Aca, who was taking the wheel. The rest of the girls settled into the back, their chatter filling the air as we pulled out of the garage.
"Let's go to the warehouse!" Irune yelled excitedly, her enthusiasm bubbling over.
"Alright, alright, Hold on tight, everyone!" Aca chuckled, starting the van's engine.
With a lurch, the van pulled out of the parking garage and onto the city streets, its headlights cutting through the darkness as we sped towards our destination.
The van bounced along the bumpy road, the chatter of the Unveiled girls filling the air. I sat quietly, absorbing the information they shared about their family history, their powers, and their secret mission. The more I learned, the more I realized how deeply intertwined my destiny was with theirs.
"Hey, Xian. What kind of power do you think you'll have?"
I shrugged, unsure. "I have no idea, maybe I'll be able to control fire, or water, or..." My voice trailed off, my imagination running wild.
"Maybe you'll have the power of super strength!" Yolan suggested, flexing her biceps playfully.
"Or the ability to teleport!" Aca chimed in.
Suddenly, I remembered that Vill hadn't responded to my message. "Ah, Vill," I said, turning to her. "I think you didn't see my message."
Everyone stopped talking and looked at Vill.
"Really?" she asked, a surprised expression on her face. "I don't check my messages very often. What did you want to ask?"
< Chapter 040 > Fin.