The heavy gates of the stronghold closed behind them, shutting out the late autumn chill.
Josie Quinn placed the heavy cloth bag, filled with one hundred and sixty-three Second-order Crystal Cores, on the desk in front of Julian Ford.
"The Crystal Cores are all here. It's enough for a round of upgrades for the stronghold's core members." A hint of delight laced her calm voice.
Anything that made her feel safe and secure was enough to make her happy.
Julian Ford didn't touch the bag of Crystal Cores. His gaze landed on her face instead. "Did you run into any danger?"
"We did, but our abilities are unique, so we managed to cleverly avoid them."
Julian Ford put down the documents he was holding, stood up, and walked around from behind his desk to stand before her.
"You've gotten thinner again. Get some proper rest now that you're back. You can let others handle those things."
Josie Quinn smiled and nodded, then voiced her concerns.
