NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 363: Finally, Safe Arrival at the Capital
After successfully escaping from the strange dimension, Jeremy's first action was to check on the Goddess of Life and Bonnie. The Goddess of Life appeared to be in relatively good condition; after all, she possessed immense strength. Despite sustaining some injuries, her powerful abilities allowed her to recover quickly. Stay tuned for updates on empire
Bonnie, on the other hand, was free from the mutations but remained unconscious.
"How should we wake her up? Is her current state of unconsciousness still a lingering effect of [Moon]'s power?" Jeremy asked, uncertain of the best way to revive Bonnie. He decided to ask the Goddess of Life directly.
The Goddess of Life examined Bonnie carefully.
"Your friend isn't in any serious danger. I will use my life force to heal her injuries, but she'll still need some rest. Once she wakes, she should be back to normal."
With that, the Goddess of Life began channeling her life energy, gently healing Bonnie's wounds. After a short while, Bonnie's condition visibly improved, though she remained asleep.
Realizing her work was done, the Goddess of Life decided it was time to leave.
"I must return to my previous instance as soon as possible. If I stay in the real world for too long, it will start to have adverse effects on me as well."
Jeremy nodded in understanding.
"I understand. Then please, make your way back quickly!"
With Jeremy's acknowledgment, the Goddess of Life's form began to shimmer and fade. In a few moments, she transformed into a green light and vanished entirely.
After her departure, Jeremy suddenly heard the rumbling sound of helicopter engines approaching from above. Looking up, he saw the emblem of the Moonlight City Bureau of Special Situations.
"Liam, you sure work fast! I'm feeling a bit exhausted myself, so I'll leave the rest to you!" Jeremy called out to the helicopter overhead before closing his eyes. It was clear he needed some rest after everything that had transpired.
As the helicopter descended, Liam and Ritchie gradually took in the scene on the ground below.
Seeing that both Jeremy and Bonnie had their eyes closed, Liam and Ritchie instantly grew tense.
"Hurry up and land! We need to check on Jeremy and Bonnie immediately!" Liam urgently shouted to the helicopter pilot.
Ritchie, however, didn't wait for the helicopter to touch down. Without hesitation, he jumped out and made his way quickly to where Jeremy and Bonnie were lying. After a closer look, Ritchie let out a sigh and muttered, "Do you really have to worry us like this? Couldn't you have held out just a few more minutes before passing out?"
It didn't take long for Ritchie to determine that Jeremy was, in fact, fine—he was simply resting. Bonnie, on the other hand, was in a slightly worse state, but she wasn't in any immediate danger.
As the helicopter completed its landing, Liam rushed over to join Ritchie.
"What's the situation? Are they alright? Can we get them out of here safely?" he asked in one breath, his voice filled with urgency.
Ritchie didn't answer right away, letting out a sigh instead. This only heightened Liam's anxiety.
"What's wrong? Tell me! I need to inform the others as soon as possible!" Liam pressed.
After a moment, Ritchie replied,
"Jeremy just needs some rest—he's sleeping now. We only need to get him onto the helicopter. Bonnie's condition is a bit more delicate; we should bring her back to Moonlight City for further treatment."
Ritchie's words finally allowed Liam to relax, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Good, that's a relief."
The weight of the situation had clearly been pressing down on Liam, and now that some of the pressure was lifted, he quickly turned to practical matters.
"We only have one helicopter, so let's take both Bonnie and Jeremy back to Moonlight City. Benjamin will want to see Bonnie as soon as possible."
Just as Liam finished speaking, he and Ritchie heard another round of helicopter engines roaring from above. This time, the aircraft bore the insignia of the military headquarters—a sure sign that it had been sent from the capital to provide assistance.
The helicopter descended slowly, and as it landed, a stern-faced colonel stepped out, assessing the situation with keen eyes.
"What's the status? Are they both in stable condition?" he asked, his tone laced with both concern and command.
The colonel dispatched by military headquarters didn't actually seem particularly concerned about the safety of Jeremy or Bonnie. His inquiry was more a formality than genuine interest.
Liam quickly responded, "Jeremy is in decent condition, but Bonnie's situation is more serious. That's why I'd like to bring them both back to Moonlight City."
Barely had Liam finished when the colonel cut him off with a firm retort.
"If Jeremy is unharmed, then he must be taken to the capital immediately! Are you not aware of the direct orders from military headquarters?"
The tone was blunt and rigid, and both Ritchie and Liam felt a surge of irritation at his attitude.
Ritchie, never one to be intimidated by officials, was about to offer a sharp rebuttal. However, Liam, who saw value in maintaining a cordial relationship with headquarters, quickly intervened.
"It's true that the military and the federal government want Jeremy in the capital as soon as possible," Liam said diplomatically. "But given recent events, Jeremy needs some proper rest. I think bringing them to Moonlight City first poses no issue."
Neither Liam nor the colonel seemed willing to compromise on their goals. As their disagreement continued, a faint, weakened voice suddenly broke through.
"I don't need to return to Moonlight City," Bonnie murmured. "I can accompany Jeremy to the capital. Besides, the medical facilities in the capital are indeed better."
Bonnie's words left Liam with no choice but to relent. Jeremy, who had now opened his eyes, added his voice to the decision.
"I agree with Bonnie's suggestion. Take us to the capital. With your protection, we shouldn't face any more threats, right?" Jeremy said, casting a calm, piercing gaze toward the colonel with a faint smile.
The colonel nodded slowly.
"With our escort, neither you nor your companion will face any further danger. If there's nothing else, let's proceed immediately."
With that, he turned his gaze to Liam and Ritchie.
"This matter is settled. You both should return. I'm sure there are plenty of pressing issues in Moonlight City awaiting your attention. No need to waste more time here."
Without further delay, the colonel ushered Jeremy and Bonnie onto the helicopter. Ritchie and Liam could do nothing but watch as the aircraft lifted off, taking their friends toward the capital and into the unknown ahead.
"Are all those people from military headquarters always this arrogant? Do they not know the meaning of respect or even basic courtesy?" Ritchie asked Liam with a slight frown of confusion.
Liam gave a wry smile. "The folks at military headquarters all consider themselves the elite, the pride of the nation. They're not likely to show much respect to anyone else. Believe it or not, the one we dealt with was actually pretty polite."
After saying this, Liam immediately dialed Benjamin's number.
"Mayor, I've confirmed Jeremy and Bonnie's status. They're both fine, and the helicopter from military headquarters has already taken them. They should arrive at the capital soon. Bonnie will likely be able to reach out to you shortly. My task here is done, so I'll bring the Special Team members back as soon as possible."
With his report complete, Liam gathered his team and started the journey back.
In the Moonlight City mayor's office, Benjamin finally relaxed upon receiving the news. "Heading to the capital might actually be the better choice," he muttered to himself. "At least now, my daughter will have the protection of some powerful allies within the family."
Benjamin had long hoped Bonnie would go to the capital. Although the journey there had its share of unexpected twists, knowing that Bonnie and Jeremy would soon reach the capital safely was enough to ease his worries.
Just as Benjamin finished speaking to himself, Howard entered the office without delay.
"I just received a report from military headquarters. They've safely retrieved Jeremy and Bonnie. In about three hours, they'll arrive at the airport in the capital, so you should be able to speak with Bonnie soon."
Howard watched Benjamin closely as he delivered the news, but seeing no change in Benjamin's expression, he realized that Benjamin already knew.
"So, you're already informed. It seems Liam's response time is still faster than that of those people at headquarters," Howard remarked, slightly impressed.
Benjamin nodded with a smile.
"Of course. Liam is the most promising subordinate I've ever promoted. I have no doubt he'll continue to prove himself invaluable. In time, he may even become the second most capable person after Jeremy."