An Aura Farmer's Guide to Another World
Chapter 70: Babilus The Port Town

Chapter 70: Babilus The Port Town

The airship gracefully landed in the waters of Balilus and navigated towards the port, coming to a halt behind three massive ships, each ten times the size of our own.

The five of us ascended the staircase and made our way to the deck. There, Lana was greeted by the Captain, who was clad in a crisp white military uniform and a sailor hat.

He gestured towards the seaport where two sailors stood beside a staircase extending to the ground.

Lana led the way, and we trailed behind her. As she stepped onto the staircase, the sailors saluted and maintained their position until all five of us had disembarked from the airship.

The town of Babilus lay before us, blanketed in snow. A colossal mountain, resembling a volcano with its tip covered in snow, loomed in the background.

A military officer, dressed in a green uniform and white gloves, opened the door to a waiting carriage, gesturing for us to enter.

With Lana leading the way, the five of us boarded the carriage pulled by two white horses.

The four of us sat on one side, while Lana sat opposite. She opened a rectangular window and discreetly peeked toward the officer controlling the horses.

"Who is leading the Brigade?" she inquired.

The officer turned over his shoulder, his head covered by a military fleece cap. "That would be Colonel Paul."

Lana lifted her chin to get a better look at the officer. "Take me directly to Paul," she instructed.

The carriage passed through the town along a wide cobblestone road. Unlike Silverbell and Velmora, Babilus’s houses were predominantly bungalows and two-story buildings, reminiscent of the medieval age.

Residents, bundled in thick, fur-trimmed cloaks, woolen tunics, and insulated boots, moved through the snow-dusted streets.

Surprisingly, none of them wore suits or dresses. Some carried frozen fish attached to both ends of a stick hoisted on their shoulders, while others transported wildlife likely hunted from the nearby forest—our next destination.

Our carriage left the town and made its way to the forest near the mountains. Upon arrival, the carriage passed through a military camp, where tall green tents were scattered across the snow-filled grass.

Through the window, I observed troops walking in tight formations. Some had started a fire and were sitting on wooden logs around it, while a group of fifty soldiers, clad only in green t-shirts and camo trousers, marched in unison through the snow, singing a catchy song at the top of their lungs.

The carriage stopped in front of the tallest tent, which was surrounded by four officers with their hands clasped behind their backs.

Lana stepped out, and we followed her into the tent. Inside, a chandelier with seven candles hung from the ceiling, illuminating a table laden with reports and maps.

We maneuvered around the table and walked toward a man seated behind a desk, with a small gas lantern in front of him. He was writing on a scroll while holding a telephone speaker pressed close to his ear.

Immediately upon spotting Lana, he rose to his feet and saluted her. "Good morning, General."

Cupcake dragged a chair in front of the desk, and Lana sat on it, crossing her feet. "At ease, Colonel," Lana said. "Please, have a seat."

Paul was clad in a dark green, double-breasted military jacket decorated with numerous gold buttons. A gold braided cord hung from his right shoulder, and a brown leather belt with a holster for a sword was visible around his waist, setting him apart from the rest of the troops.

"As you discussed over the telegraph with Emily, I am taking over the operation for a week," Lana stated.

Paul took a clipboard from his desk and handed it to Lana. "The brigade is comprised of five thousand troops, among them, fifty Second-Lieutenants who recently graduated from the academy are placed in charge of one hundred regular troops who don’t have a core."

Lana read the report for a while, then looked up. She handed the report to Cupcake, who was standing to her left, then turned to Paul. "You have divided Fish Island into five sectors, and you believe the Key is located in Sector C."

Paul nodded, then reached for his drawer and produced a file. He opened it and pulled out ten black-and-white photos of villagers engaged in everyday activities. "Julian Evergreen was planted in the village as a spy. He took these photos of the primary suspects. That kid is a prodigy; he will be assisting you once you land on Fish Island."

Lana took the photos from the table and shuffled them like poker cards, observing them closely. Afterward, she placed them back into the file and shoved it toward my chest. "We will take the pictures," she said.

Lucy, who was standing behind Lana, placed her hands on the chair Lana was sitting in. "A whole brigade has been prepared for the operation. Are you expecting the five of us to replace them and fulfill their duty?"

Paul offered a gentle smile toward Lucy, adjusting his hat in the process. "My boys will join you after you find the key and destroy it. Your squad will handle the alpha, and my boys will handle the hordes of monsters that will emerge after the key is killed."

Evelyn crossed her arms and walked to one of the pillars supporting the tent, leaning against it. "I thought this was some special training hidden from the world on a small island, which would torture us and force us to the breaking point; however, it seems it’s just a regular operation. What a disappointment."

Paul’s smile faded, and in an instant, he flash-stepped and appeared before Evelyn. He grabbed her neck and slammed her onto the desk located at the center of the room, pinning her against it.

Slowly, he twisted her hand like a bolt in the opposite direction until it made a breaking sound. "How dare you speak to Lana in that manner?"

Evelyn twitched her ears, heat crept up her neck, and sweat beaded on her forehead. "Are you mad?" she asked, her cheeks gradually turning pink.

"What does it look like to you?" Paul asked, twisting her hand further until the sound of bone cracking was heard, then stopped. "Apologize," he instructed.

Evelyn’s body began to convulse, and saliva drooled from her lips. She glanced at Paul with her head slammed against the table. "Do your worst," she said with the most excited voice in the world.

’Snap!’

Paul broke all three joints on Evelyn’s left arm and released it; her hand fell onto the table like a rag.

He returned to his desk and sat down, glancing up at Lana. "I am sorry you have to witness such a thing."

Lana crossed her legs and glanced toward Paul. "She is a nutcase; punishing her is more like a reward."

Evelyn rose to her feet, and her hand snapped back together and healed instantly. "Let’s do it again," she glanced at Paul. "What should I say next to get you mad?"

"Evelyn, please!" I spoke to her.

"Fine," she glanced away, puffing her cheeks with air like a balloon.

Lana took a piece of paper from her cleavage and handed it to Paul. "This is my unique radio number; use it to contact us in case of an emergency."

Paul collected it and placed it inside his drawer. "Oliver, the village head, is our asset. I have arranged for him to receive you at his house; your cover is that you are going to Fish Island to train in the mountains."

Lana stood up and approached the exit with the four of us trailing behind her. She waved at Paul without turning. "Prepare the things I asked you for; we will follow the fishermen’s ship tomorrow and head to Fish Island."