Berry dismissed the original arrangement without a second thought.
...
Yellow sand, the desert, and the solar windmills lazily turning in the sun.
This was the most tranquil scenery one could find in the Badlands.
At least it was much more peaceful than when a sandstorm arrived.
Given that the Hive Tower didn't have any extra vehicles right now, Mitsuhide borrowed Kikyo's motorcycle and rode out of the city.
He drove quietly through the Badlands for a while.
There were no Wraiths or other night-roaming ghosts out to cause trouble.
It seemed that although he hadn't checked the almanac before heading out today, it was still a good day.
After driving on the main road of the Badlands for a while, Mitsuhide gripped the motorcycle handlebars and swerved, steering the heavy motorcycle onto a small path leading up a hill.
After weaving through the cactus forest and shrubbery on the slope, he rounded a corner, and the view suddenly opened up.
On a small flat area behind a hillside, countless Nomads vehicles were parked, with tents and tin houses scattered in between. One could faintly hear the voices and music from the camp from far away.
This was the Aldecaldos camp.
Mitsuhide had been here once before with Panam Palmer.
"Hey, relax, that's Panam Palmer's friend."
On the iron rack atop a truck, someone pushed down the gun their companion had raised.
The motorcycle stopped in the grass beside the camp. Mitsuhide got off the bike, and two Nomad gunmen walked toward him.
"Welcome to the Aldecaldo Family camp, Panam Palmer's friend."
The one in the lead tilted his chin at Mitsuhide, which counted as a greeting.
"Hmm, it seems my reputation is quite loud."
Without a helmet—which would normally incur a fifty-dollar fine—Mitsuhide got off the motorcycle, looking at the two strangers who knew who he was, his expression showing some surprise.
"Panam Palmer has told us about you; you've helped her quite a bit."
"Since you're a friend of Panam Palmer, you're a friend of the Aldecaldos. The camp welcomes you."
With one hand gripping the gun holstered at his waist and the other shaking hands with Mitsuhide, the Nomad gunner wearing a vest nodded at him.
"Is there a party going on in the camp?"
As the two spoke, hearing the lively sounds from the camp, Mitsuhide tilted his head in curiosity to take a look.
"Yeah, what else? In these badlands, there's only the sun and abandoned windmills. Without beer and friends, everyone would've gone crazy long ago."
Well, that made some sense.
Listening to the other man's words and the lively commotion in the camp, a sense of nostalgia welled up in Mitsuhide's heart.
Berry and V had once been members of a Nomad clan.
She still hadn't forgotten that sense of family, where everyone lived together and relied on one another.
...
"Hello there, friend of Panam Palmer!"
"Hey, kid, nice armor. Want a polish? I'll give you thirty percent off, just because you're a friend of Panam Palmer."
"Ah, I've heard Panam Palmer mention you. Good work."
Guided by the gunner, Mitsuhide walked through the tents and campfires of the camp. Although Mitsuhide didn't recognize any of the Nomads he met, they seemed to know him well.
Each one either raised a beer bottle or nodded in greeting to Mitsuhide.
It made Mitsuhide feel a bit flattered.
Was he really that famous in the Aldecaldo Family?
As if sensing Mitsuhide's confusion, the gunner leading the way explained.
"Don't worry, everyone means well."
"Panam Palmer has returned to the clan, and we're all very happy. Plus, you have to understand, everyone is going crazy from being cooped up in this desert. Panam Palmer brought back quite a few stories from her trip."
Well, so everything about him was already known?
Mitsuhide muttered to himself.
He only hoped that when Panam Palmer told the stories, she had painted a glorious image of him.
He certainly didn't want the story of him being taken down by Goro Takemura in a few moves to spread throughout the entire Aldecaldo Family.
"Hey, Panam Palmer, I've brought your friend over!"
Just as Mitsuhide was lost in thought, the gunner's shout brought him back to reality. He looked over and finally saw familiar faces.
Next to an RV stood a parasol, with a table set up underneath, where three people were sitting.
All acquaintances.
The dorky Panam Palmer, the balding Mitch, and the hooded kid, Scorpion.
They were all there.
Upon seeing Mitsuhide's figure.
Panam Palmer stood up from her chair, holding a beer bottle, and waved.
"Hey, Mitsuhide, over here."
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