Chapter 161: Departure


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    Chapter 161: Departure


    <strong>━━━━━━━━┛?( ∞ )?┗━━━━━━━━</strong>


    As they walked along the passage, not a single other prisoner was seen. The entire prison seemed deserted, with hardly a few cells to be found.


    It appeared that this was a facility designed for holding a very specific kind of individual- a rather special group, if one will. How fortunate.


    They proceeded down the long, dimly lit corridor, and the heavy iron gates were opened, revealing a fortress-like exterior guarded by stern sentries.


    Carter had been walking behind Athena, but now he had moved alongside her.


    "We’ll need to wait for the others. They''ll be here soon," Carter said, his wordsced with barely contained frustration, which he made an obvious effort to suppress.


    Such haste. It seemed those others were just as eager to leave, likely fearing theplications that could arise the longer they tarried.


    We? It seemed Carter had been left behind once again, which exined his current anger.


    Amunications officer approached at this moment, giving Carter a nod before, to his disbelief, addressing Athena directly, “Please, Chief,e with us. It’s time to prepare your belongings.”


    “What?” Carter’s eyes widened in astonishment. “You’ve got to be mistaken! I’m the one in charge of this operation!”


    The officer regarded him with an impassive gaze, then stated tly, “This is an order from above. Please don’t make things difficult.”


    Carter immediately fell silent, an apology on his lips as he realized there was no point in arguing. He had no desire to return to that ce again.


    Athena followed the officer as they departed. Carter stood rooted to the spot, a heavy weight pressing upon him as he mulled over his next move. He nced towards where Athena was being led, wondering exactly where she was going.


    If it weren’t for his family still needing him, for the sake of his own pride, he would have long since chosen to end it all. They said he was here to keep an eye on Athena, but who could truly say what might transpire along this path?


    He had never despised his own nature so much as he did at this moment. Had he been a little more astute, perhaps a little sharper, his fate might have been quite different.


    Athena nced at therge, conspicuous group surrounding her and nodded.


    “Please, Mr. Carter, wait until the team is assembled. Then, make your way to the city gates and await further instructions.”


    “…Yes.”


    Such a spectacle in escorting her- it was as if they were announcing to those watching in the shadows that she was not in danger. Packing up her belongings was a matter of formality, really- a means to have her personal items transferred into their custody.


    The group acted much like they were escorting a prisoner, though in truth, Athena did indeed find herself in the role of one.


    The crowd that passed by regarded her with hushed whispers, their conversations constrained by the presence of the stern guards. Even the usual chatter was suppressed by the weight of her reputation.


    The journey was uneventful, though it seemed that the usual carriage stationed outside had been removed. They instead led her directly into the Eagle w Bureau, where it was conspicuously empty.


    It seemed that Yuris had taken the rest of the staff on a mission. What had urred, she couldn’t be sure.


    Once inside her office, it was clear that nothing had changed. Everything remained just as it had been- exactly as she left it. Even the stack of documents she had carelessly ced on the desk before her departure had not been moved an inch.


    The men brought in arge stack of files and ced them before her- documents rting to properties and financial transfers, all requiring her signature.


    Without hesitation, she took up the pen and signed her name with a swift, fluid motion.


    One of the men, wearing white gloves, neatly arranged the papers before pushing up his sses.


    “All done, now, please, Madam Athena, open the hidden door.”


    “Hmm?”


    These men surely didn’t believe there was some form of security mechanism they were too afraid to touch, did they? Sometimes, those at the top made things far moreplicated than they needed to be.


    She understood their caution, though; after all, to the outside world, she was considered something of a madwoman. Who would leave a room such as this unsecured?


    With little fanfare, she opened the concealed door before them, leading them into a small chamber. She watched as they meticulously carried her things out one by one.


    As Athena surveyed the tiny room, a wave of nostalgia crept over her. It was strange, seeing everything emptied. This was the first room she’d entered, and it would be thest one she left.


    As everything she worked hard so far has gone away.


    The room was soonpletely cleared, and she was instructed to be thest one to leave. Standing at the door was one of the men, waiting for her.


    He had been standing there for a long while, watching her closely. When it became apparent that she was neither going to take anything nor say anything, he asked, “Don’t you need to contact anyone to let them know you’re still alive?”


    His words were well-spoken, but she saw them for what they were- nothing more than a hollow courtesy.


    “I don’t need to. They only need to know I’m still breathing.” Athena rubbed her sore wrist, the injury still not fully healed. Yet, picking up the ck Abyss Axe, whichy nearby, was no trouble at all.


    Having confirmed that Athena had no other actions in mind, the man said, “Chief Athena, please, follow me.”


    She nodded in acknowledgment and followed him out of the Eagle w Bureau.


    They made their way to the city gates, which, though usually quiet and deserted, were now teeming with people.


    It wasn’t long before she spotted an old acquaintance- Babron.


    If the Babron she hadst seen had been a bold and ambitious schemer, this version of him seemed to have aged prematurely, his once-proud demeanor now giving way to a more wearied, drained expression.


    Athena did not believe for a moment that his current state was the result of living too luxuriously after vanquishing a great foe.


    No, after all, he had invited the wolf into his den- one disguised in sheep’s clothing. After eliminating external threats, internal strife was inevitable.


    So, she had assumed Babron would avoid meeting her, yet here he was, making the long journey to see her personally.


    He still held his ck cane, though it was notablycking the gem that had once adorned its top.


    Upon seeing Athena, he broke into a wide grin, the people apanying him following suit in a wave ofughter.


    They showed no care for her expression or the weight of her gaze.


    “Chief Athena, your willingness to go to the frontlines in such a time of national crisis is truly admirable!”


    “But the road to get there may not be so peaceful. Please, do take care!”


    If one were unaware, they might have thought that Athena and Babron were old friends.


    Athena could already predict the headlines in tomorrow’s newspapers. She didn’t need to see them to know what they would say.


    After all, this wasn’t the first time such a scene had unfolded. The surrounding reporters were numerous, and the crowd watching the spectacle was no small group.


    Babron was quite adept at manipting public opinion.


    But all of that was hardly the reason for his personal visit. As he handed her a set of official documents and armor, he also offered a small object- an exquisitely crafted trinket, bearing the imperial seal of the White Grand Empire.


    Athena epted it without hesitation, aware that it would bring with it some reliable new allies as well as crucial paperwork.


    With the farcical farewell ceremony concluded, Athena’s group, now a total of fifteen, finally set off.