"Hodahl."
Several voices greeted him.
The hidden cameras in the car subtly scanned the surroundings, recording the figures. From now on, this car would only be operable by a few important individuals.
This was a theft prevention measure, unlike the common antique cars on the market, which could be easily stolen by cutting a wire.
"Greetings, ladies, gentlemen, and domestic assistants. Michael, I salute you."
"I am pleased to serve you."
The voice, somewhat mechanical, lacked true emotion, and the salute was simply a programmed action.
A projection of an angel appeared at the front of the car, though the image was somewhat blurry, devoid of a clear face or gender.
"Is it not fully set up yet?"
Having had some experience with it, one could tell at a glance that the system was incomplete.
"Yes, it's up to you to finalize it. Feel free to discuss."
Zhao Lun boarded the car, and the ladies followed.
Hodahl's return was not just to drive—driving was secondary; he surely had matters to report.
With the company's expansion, Zhao Lun had entrusted them with responsibility, and Hodahl had been handling the company's security development, resolving various unofficial issues.
Thanks to his efforts, after the last attack, he had become even busier, dealing with various troubles from the shadows, ensuring the company's stable growth.
Judging by his calm demeanor, it seemed that there had been no significant issues during this period.
The car started, slowly leaving the manor.
"Woof!—Woof!—"
"Chirp!"
Several pets seemed to sense Zhao Lun was leaving again and came out to see him off.
"Meow~ Meow~."
A few kittens, already a little bigger, joined in, curiously watching the people in the car with their innocent eyes, making them incredibly cute.
Zhao Lun rolled up the window.
"Stay home and guard the house."
He spoke to the pets, then closed the window. As he left under their watchful eyes, the car slowly drove away.
"How's it going? What's the attitude of those people towards the Hunter's Guild?"
"They're eyeing our company's pharmaceutical products. Some have sent people to infiltrate, while others are negotiating, hoping to cooperate with our guild."
With the guild's growth, information about its valuable resources inevitably spread, attracting greedy people.
"Cooperation? Not likely."
"Yes, they would prefer to acquire us outright."
"Acquire? Just swallow us whole."
"Exactly."
"Those who genuinely wish to cooperate, we will accommodate. But those with ulterior motives, hm! Let them see what we're capable of!"
With those instructions given, the matter was settled.
The car sped up, and the cold air rushed in through the window, making everyone feel refreshed yet chilled.
"The temperature's been dropping rapidly lately."
Angela shut the window, remarking.
Last year, the weather hadn't turned this cold so quickly, but this year, the chill arrived early. Some plants couldn't withstand the sharp drop and had started to wither.
"This is normal. I estimate it'll take some time for the changes to stop."
The mysterious fog near the manor had started to form, altering the environment. Though it was improving, it also became more dangerous.
"Be careful. If it gets unbearable, you can always move somewhere else."
Zhao Lun expressed his concern, worried they might not handle the sudden danger.
"Don't worry, boss."
"I've selected several plots. If you agree, we can try to purchase them."
Monica nodded in agreement. As a competent assistant, she understood the importance of considering her boss's safety, a quality Zhao Lun greatly appreciated, as did the others.
"Are you buying land, boss? I think it would be good to buy some elsewhere."
"Yes, large plots. Ideally a ranch for horse riding."
"Riding horses, archery, hunting—this is the life!"
"Indeed. You all decide. It'd be best to buy a few properties, maybe one in London so we'll have somewhere convenient to stay next time, and another in Gaul, Paris. It would be great to have a house there… Of course, we'll pay for it."
"That's no problem. We're already planning to buy some land to build our branch offices!"
As they spoke, the mood lightened, and they forgot about the impending parting. The car sped through the town, quickly heading away.
As they left the manor behind, the scorching sun raised the temperature, and opening the window let in the hot air.
The last of the summer heat had arrived, the final hot days of the season.
Looking outside, they saw people wearing sleeveless T-shirts and skirts.
"This feels normal!"
Autumn had arrived, and during the first part of the season, temperatures often rebound. It was easy to feel the warmth returning here.
Their manor seemed to be in the midst of deep autumn, with temperatures in the mornings and evenings even lower than outside.
"The morning temperatures are not high, which is normal."
With that, the window closed, and the car accelerated.
This car was incredibly fast, with the "Eye of the Sky 1" satellite guiding its speed according to the road conditions. The spacious interior was comfortable, and the car's speed was hardly felt, only a slight sway. Everyone was very pleased with the car's performance.
In less than an hour, they arrived at the nation's capital, London, where they finally slowed down.
The bustling metropolis was as lively as ever, and the streets were crowded, making it impossible to maintain speed.
The vehicles on the road were still the same antique cars, and their modern car stood out, drawing many curious glances.
"Why don't they upgrade to newer cars?"
Maria wondered aloud.
When she first visited, the streets were full of these old cars, and years later, nothing had changed. It seemed like they hadn't progressed at all.
"Heh."
Her words made everyone on the car laugh.
The air was polluted with exhaust from the old cars, so they closed the windows.
The three ladies were already famous actresses, so they couldn't linger here. If they did, the relentless London paparazzi would swarm them, hindering their plans. To minimize trouble, they tried to stay out of sight.
The car arrived at the station, and the group concealed themselves slightly before disembarking, with still an hour until the train departed.
This time, they didn't visit the restaurant they had last time but went straight ahead.
The atmosphere of parting returned, and no one could muster much cheer.
"Alright, this is where we part."
"Goodbye, brother."
"Alan, don't forget to come back for Christmas!"
"Boss!"
"Heh, goodbye."
Parting is always painful, but it's for the sake of future reunions.
Zhao Lun smiled, waved, and then turned, disappearing into the station as the others were left in a quiet melancholy.
"Let's go! To the airport!"
"The airport?"
"Today, Mulan is coming. We're going to pick her up!"
"She's coming? How come we didn't know?"
"You've all been too worried about the boss's matters, you've completely forgotten about Mulan."
"…"
Passing through the walls, amidst the bustling sounds and the hoot of owls, Zhao Lun entered a familiar corner. Seeing it all, he felt at home, the freedom in the air felt refreshing, and even the atmosphere seemed to have improved.
"Hey! Move aside."
Someone was coming behind him, heading towards the distant car.
Zhao Lun didn't move aside. Instead, he quickened his pace, boarding the Hogwarts Express swiftly. His belongings were packed light, and he moved with ease, quickly reaching the front.
"Alan!"
No sooner had he boarded the train than someone called his name.
"Hi! Hermione!"
"We have a spot here, Alan!"
"Oh! Penelope! Hello!"
"Come on, this way."
It was familiar faces, and before he could say anything, they pulled him into a compartment.
Zhao Lun sensed the strange atmosphere and obediently followed them.