Outside, members of Black Rose were already waiting for him. Allen stepped forward and handed over a secured container.
"Alright. Deliver this to a man named Mikhail Victor—he's a member of U.B.C.S Delta. He should still be somewhere around the stadium area," Allen said to one of his operatives, a man named Vector.
"Understood. We'll carry out the mission immediately," Vector replied without hesitation. He then departed with two other male operatives, disappearing into the ruined streets of Raccoon City.
Allen turned his gaze toward Lupo, who was currently standing beside Bertha near another vehicle. This time, Black Rose had been split into two teams. One unit was assigned to deliver the vaccines, while the other was tasked with evacuating the girls—Alyssa, Becca, Laura, Katherine, January, and Cindy—out of the city before the situation deteriorated any further.
"I'm sorry… it looks like I won't be able to escort you personally this time," Allen said to the girls.
Almost instantly, they surrounded him, pulling him into a tight embrace, as if afraid to let go.
"It's okay," Laura said softly, though her voice betrayed her reluctance to part from him. "We just want you to be safe too. As long as you promise you'll follow us soon, alright?"
Allen smiled and gently returned the hug. "Don't worry. I promise—I'll catch up with you. No matter what."
Reluctantly, they nodded. The engines started one by one, headlights cutting through the darkness and smoke-filled air. As the convoy pulled away, Allen stood there for a moment longer, watching until the vehicles vanished from sight.
The city could be said to be fairly quiet this time, as Chief Brian had ordered civilians to stay inside their homes and keep their doors locked until the police could evacuate them to safer locations. Only the distant wail of sirens and the occasional sound of gunfire could be heard echoing through certain areas of the city, a grim reminder that the situation was far from under control. Streets that were usually crowded were now eerily empty, littered with abandoned cars and debris.
For now, Allen decided to simply head back into his apartment. He was starting to feel a bit tired of going out, and besides, most of the girls were already resting inside. Given the circumstances, staying indoors felt like the better choice—for the moment, at least—while Raccoon City slowly descended further into chaos outside.
.....
Meanwhile, in Runeterra.
Three days had passed since Raviel, Jill, Excella, Abigail, and Sarah left Bilgewater. Now, they were sailing across the open sea toward a land often spoken of in whispers and legends—the First Lands, better known as Ionia.
"Raviel, look… is that the land you meant? Is that Ionia?" Excella said excitedly. After two long days at sea, she looked genuinely happy, clearly unable to wait to finally set foot on solid ground.
"Yes," Raviel replied with a bright smile. "That's Ionia. Beautiful, isn't it? Especially that area near the mountains. It looks like the perfect place to build a grand mansion—somewhere Allen and all of us can use as a vacation retreat someday."
"Well, it really is beautiful," Excella said, her eyes scanning the horizon. "But it feels… different. Look at those plants—their shapes are so strange, almost unnatural."
Raviel only smiled in response as the ship began to pick up speed, cutting through the waves toward an archipelago wrapped in soft, drifting mist. The air itself felt lighter, as if infused with something ancient and alive. This was no ordinary land—it was a place where nature and spirit existed in perfect balance.
Their destination was Navori, located in the northern region of Ionia, accessible through winding river paths that flowed inward from the sea. As they drew closer, towering cliffs covered in lush greenery came into view, their surfaces adorned with glowing flora and twisted trees that seemed to sway gently, even without wind.
Jill watched the scenery in silent awe. The land felt untouched, pristine—almost like a sacred sanctuary long forgotten by the outside world. Crystal-clear waterfalls cascaded down the mountainsides, and the faint shimmer of spiritual energy danced through the air like fireflies.
Several beautiful birds with radiant feathers began to circle the ship, chirping softly as if guiding them toward their landing point. The mist parted little by little, revealing tranquil forests and rivers that glowed faintly under the sunlight.
"This place…" Jill murmured. "It feels alive."
Ionia welcomed them not with noise or force, but with quiet grace—an unspoken promise of harmony, mystery, and ancient power waiting just beyond the shore.
Meanwhile, at the same time…
Raviel casually lifted her hand, and in an instant, two dolls took shape out of shimmering light—one male, one female—both with pure white hair and delicate, almost lifelike features. She smiled softly as she looked at the pair, as if admiring a private joke only she understood. Then, with a small flick of her wrist, a portal opened in front of her—its shape resembling the face of an ornate clock, gears of golden light slowly turning within its frame. Without hesitation, Raviel tossed the two dolls into the portal, which closed silently a moment later, as if it had never existed.
"Hey, Raviel, what was that just now?" Jill asked, having caught the suspicious movement out of the corner of her eye.
"Fufufu~ nothing you need to worry about. It's a secret," Raviel replied playfully, placing a finger to her lips with an innocent smile that only made her look more suspicious.
Jill let out a quiet sigh and rolled her eyes. I knew it… Her instincts were screaming that this mischievous goddess had just done something incredibly questionable—or dangerous—but as usual, there was nothing Jill could really do about it. Raviel operated on an entirely different level, bending worlds and time as easily as breathing.
For a brief moment, Jill felt a twinge of envy. With power like Raviel's, there were no real limits—no locked doors, no impossible choices. She could shape fate itself on a whim. Still, Jill shook her head lightly, reminding herself that being human had its own meaning… even if traveling with a playful, unpredictable goddess made that belief harder to hold onto at times.
After two hours of traveling along the river, their ship finally came to a stop at a small harbor used by local fishermen. The area lay quite close to a place known as The Placidium, the most sacred site on the continent. One by one, they stepped down from the dock, their feet touching land that felt peaceful, calm, and filled with natural harmony.
They began walking toward the market area of the nearby village.
"Wow… this place is really beautiful," Jill said in awe.
Her eyes wandered across the scenery—traditional Ionian attire worn by the locals, flowing fabrics adorned with gentle patterns that seemed to mirror nature itself. The houses were even more breathtaking, grown directly from living trees, their trunks and branches naturally shaped into cozy homes as if the forest itself had embraced human presence rather than rejecting it.
Trees with leaves of soft pink, deep violet, calm blue, and vibrant green stretched high above them, their colors blending together like a living painting. Petals drifted lazily through the air, carried by a gentle breeze infused with the faint scent of flowers and fresh earth. Everything about the place felt alive, yet tranquil—like the land itself was breathing in slow, steady rhythm.
It was clear to all of them that Ionia was not just a land, but a harmony between life, spirit, and nature itself.
This place was vastly different compared to Bilgewater. Excella, Abigail, and Sarah also seemed to genuinely like it here.
"Alright, let's relax for a bit. I'll head over there first," Raviel said calmly. "I want to sell this ship so we can replace it with a horse-drawn carriage. There's no way we'll be able to explore this land properly on foot alone."
The girls agreed, then began walking toward the marketplace, drawn by the gentle sounds of merchants and the scent of fresh food. They planned to buy supplies and snacks they might need for the journey ahead.
Meanwhile, Raviel remained at the dock, negotiating with several locals. She stood confidently before an elderly woman merchant who seemed quite interested in the large ship.
"How about fifteen thousand gold coins?" Raviel said with a bright smile, her voice light but firm.
The old woman chuckled softly. "Young lady, that price is far too high. I might only be able to buy your ship for, at most, ten thousand gold coins."
Raviel placed a hand on her hip, unfazed. "Hey, isn't that far too cheap? Just look at my ship—it's large, well-built, and she can sail far faster than most vessels you'll find around here."
Even though the old woman was clearly fascinated by the ship, she simply couldn't afford to buy it at such a high price.
"I'm sorry, young lady. If the price is that high, I don't think I can purchase it," the old woman said honestly. Still, she didn't seem willing to give up just yet. "But perhaps you could lower the price a little? Maybe we can trade something to make up the difference."
"Hmmm… oh?" Raviel tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "If that's the case, do you have a carriage you could trade for it instead?"
"Haha! Of course," the old woman laughed warmly. "Come with me. I'll show you some of the finest carriages I own."
She gestured for Raviel to follow, leading her deeper into the docks, where rows of well-maintained Ionian carriages rested beneath wooden canopies. Each one was crafted with elegant curves, natural wood, and subtle spiritual motifs—quietly reflecting the harmony and craftsmanship that Ionia was known for.
Meanwhile, Jill, Excella, Abigail, and Sarah walked toward the marketplace area, which was formed from rows of tents made of woven leaves and polished wood. The roofs were supported by branches from old trees, shaped naturally into arches, as if the forest itself had willingly become part of the village. Soft wind chimes made from shells and carved crystal leaves swayed gently, producing calming, melodic sounds that blended with the whispers of the surrounding forest.
People began to notice them almost immediately. Their presence stood out—not just because of their unfamiliar attire, which was clearly different from the traditional Ionian robes, but also because of the aura they carried. In a land where harmony and balance were valued above all else, their appearance felt… foreign, yet strangely captivating.
Some villagers paused mid-conversation. Merchants stopped arranging their goods. Children peeked out from behind their parents. The women's beauty was striking, the kind that drew quiet stares rather than crude attention. Excella's confident posture, Jill's calm vigilance, Abigail's refined elegance, and Sarah's youthful charm made them look like travelers from legends whispered among storytellers.
Despite the curious gazes, there was no hostility—only intrigue.
"Hey, ladies, come over here. Would you like to buy some fruit? You can try them too—maybe you'll like them," one of the vendors said warmly as he offered several kinds of fruit.
Jill, who was immediately drawn in by the friendliness of the locals, stepped closer and decided to try some. Excella followed along, with Abigail and Sarah right behind her. The stall was filled with baskets of colorful fruit, each one giving off a faint, fresh aroma that felt strangely soothing.
"Hmmm… this fruit is really sweet," Jill said as she bit into one that looked like an apple, but with a bright yellow color similar to an orange. The taste surprised her—it was a unique blend, somewhere between blueberry and watermelon, refreshing and light, almost like nature itself was melting on her tongue.
"This one is called sunbloom fruit," the vendor explained proudly. "It only grows in Ionia, nourished by the land's natural harmony."
"How much is it?" Jill asked, clearly interested.
The vendor smiled widely, realizing he had found enthusiastic customers. He quickly explained the prices for each type of fruit and the various local foods displayed at the stall. Without thinking too much, Jill bought several kilograms of fruit along with a few unique snacks wrapped in leaf-like packaging.
Excella chuckled softly. "This place really is different from Bilgewater. Everything feels… alive."
Abigail nodded while looking around. "It's peaceful. Like the land itself is breathing."
Sarah quietly observed the surroundings—the flowing fabrics of Ionian clothing, the gentle chatter of the marketplace, and the soft rustling of leaves overhead. It was as if the entire market existed in harmony with the forest rather than cutting into it.
As the vendor handed over their purchases, he bowed slightly in gratitude. "May the spirit of Ionia guide your journey."
Jill smiled back, feeling an unfamiliar calm settle in her chest. This land wasn't just beautiful—it felt sacred, as though every step forward carried a quiet promise of serenity and mystery waiting to unfold.
******
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