5.15 - Seira and Keira

Parks and Jogging Areas, QRF Element Complex.

0905, 18 Aug 2025

Two days ago Vex completed the survey in the Herron Mountains, and before going back to Harley Quine, he studied the report's summary made by Lieutenant Colonel Slane.

Hundreds of farmers and agricultural experts from the Northern Coalition were invited to attend an agricultural seminar held on Berril Plain. The seminar only lasted 12 days, but according to ADG that time span was more than sufficient to provide the necessary knowledge for the participants.

Since the Northern Coalition had to sell Nouel up to a certain quota to Kingdom Makai, some land would be sacrificed to plant Nouel until it was damaged before it was repaired. Meanwhile, the rest of the land will be planted with foodstuffs while reconditioning it until it is ready to plant Nouel again.

The costs of the seminar and accommodation for the participants were fully borne by Amethyst Merchant. The farmers will even get superior Nouel and various food plant seeds for free.

A few days ago the seminar was finally over, and all the Northern Coalition farmers led by an agricultural expert named Maester Rig sent their deepest gratitude to ADG and Amethyst Merchant.

Maester Rig even volunteered to become an intern at ADG. After intensive examination by IDG, it was concluded that Maester Rig was a fanatical agricultural engineering enthusiast who was not tied to any authority or group. So Lieutenant Colonel Slane gladly granted Maester Rig's request and even designed a mission for him.

Maester Rig was asked to provide counseling on the regions along the entrance to Desolate Land. There are 18 Regions in total, starting from the Region bordering the North Coalition to the Rowane Region which is the most north border right before Kingdom Horrep.

The goal that must be achieved by Maester Rig is to increase the production of foodstuffs such as wheat and other cereal crops. As well as making sure that the 18 Regions near the entrance to Desolate Land are willing to open new Nouel farmlands.

Apart from Tuscan and Tarai Region which opened Nouel farmland up to a radius of 20 km from Desolate Land entrance which has now changed to South High Road, other regions only opened Nouel farmland up to a radius of 50 km from South High Road.

If the 18 Regions agree, then a 900x30 km new Nouel Farmland will be opened. While TF Amethyst will provide security from Dangerous Wildlife.

Regarding the purchase of Nouel from the 18 Regions, Lieutenant Colonel Slane will hand it over to the Northern Coalition.

From the start, there was no binding agreement that participants in Berril Plain seminar had to sell their crops to Amethyst Merchants.

However, Lieutenant Colonel Slane had already proposed a trading scheme that would make the Northern Coalition sell whatever they could offer to Amethyst Merchant.

Because, other than exception items such as firearms, explosives, radio communications, vehicles, and other equipment that could provide strategic and tactical advantages, Amethyst Merchant was happy to sell all the commodities it had to offer, and the Northern Coalition absorbed it like dry fields soaking up rainwater.

So far, the quota of commodities requested by the North Coalition has far exceeded the initial target, and the North Coalition has even started selling it to 18 regions that Maester Rig will visit. 

Moreover, the Nouel price offered by Amethyst Merchant is slightly higher than the price offered by Kingdom Makai. So outside of the mandatory quota, it is certain that the Northern Coalition will sell their remaining Nouel to Amethyst Merchants, and will even actively buy Nouels from other regions.

The incident on the Berril Plains had indeed delayed Amethyst Merchant's plans to enter Makai Royal City. However, since Amethyst Merchant got the opportunity to spread its wings to other places, Lt. Col. Slane wasn't too disappointed.

For today, Vex decides he's going to relax the whole day before returning to Harley Quine this afternoon. He sat on a wooden bench enjoying the morning air while beside him lay Big Brown, a German Shepherd ex-K9 of QRF Unit who had been with him since he arrived in Magwurt City.

Vex was about to inhale deeply when two little girls appeared out of nowhere and looked intensely at Big Brown.

Both of them have cute faces, brown hair that falls straight down their backs, and wear matching pants and t-shirts.

The older girl turned towards Vex before saying.

"Uncle, can we play with the Doggie?"

While holding back laughter in his heart Vex answered.

"Of course you can, but introduce yourself first, then call me Lucan, and this is Big Brown not Doggie."

After nodding her head three times, the older girl then pointed at her own nose.

"Seira, 6 years old."

Seira then pointed to the younger girl.

"Keira, 4 years."

"All right, now you can play with Big Brown."

As soon as they got permission, Seira and Keira immediately stroked Big Brown, who seemed to enjoy it.

Vex thought Seira and Keira would take Big Brown to run around the park or play the frisbee that he happened to put next to Big Brown. However, Seira and Keira just stroked Big Brown starting from the head, back, and then changing to his stomach.  Even so, from the laughter of the two children it seemed that they were very happy with what they were doing.

Without realizing it, Vex smiled too whenever Keira and Seira chuckled, and it didn't feel like the time went on until lunchtime finally arrived.

Vex began to wonder where Seira and Keira's parents were, and how they could leave their child in the park alone for nearly two hours.

With a tone as gentle as possible Vex asked.

"Seira, where are your parents?"

Without turned towards Vex and continuing to caress Big Brown's stomach, Seira answered.

"Jessie lives in California, and Daddy's go to a very far place."

"Then who are you currently living with?"

"Big Sis Lan."

Of the thousands of TF Amethyst personnel there is only one person with the first name 'Lan', and it just so happens that Vex knows her.

First Lieutenant Lan Yan'er, the best psychologist TF Amethyst has. Born to a Chinese couple with Canadian citizenship. When she tried to get a scholarship to major in surgeons from the Canadian Navy, Lan Yan'er was instead directed to take a scholarship to major in psychology.

Lan Yan'er completed her psychology education brilliantly, and she has a very solid experience through a Canadian government-sponsored humanitarian mission. She later also succeeded in getting an assistant surgeon's certificate.

With the expertise and field experience she had accumulated, Lan Yan'er should have become a Lieutenant Colonel.  However, her love for fieldwork made her repeatedly refused promotions.

Medic Quarter personnel nicknamed Lan Yan'er as Madona, short for Primadona which refers to the many men and women who send her love letters. Meanwhile, the children in Settlements 116 called her Miss El-tee.

And the relationship between Vex and Lan Yan'er could be likened to water and fire, after Lan Yan'er found out that Vex was trying to evict the children from Settlements 116 while they were in Medic Quarter.

'Feck me.'

Vex sighed silently as he recalled the sharp gaze Lan Yan'er gave when they accidentally passed each other on Harley Quine.

Even so, it doesn't mean that Vex then has negative sentiments towards Seira and Keira just because they are relatives of women who are hostile to him.

'Well, I think there's nothing wrong with me taking these two kids out to lunch before taking them home.'

Vex then turned to Seira and Keira before asking.

"I'm going to have ice cream, would you two come with me?"

Seira tilted her little head for a moment before asking back.

"Is Big Brown coming?"

"Of course."

"Then we'll come too."

A smile immediately bloomed on Vex's lips while he carried Keira and took Seira.  Together with Big Brown, the three of them then walked towards Chow Hall.

- - - - -

Chow Q, QRF Element Complex

1215, 18 Aug 2025

Chow Q is a Chow Hall devoted to personnel who has duty rotation in QRF. Therefore, is not strange that many visitors to Chow Q wear full-body gear and carry weapons. Some of them even brought Javelin or Carl Gustav.

Chow Q's interior is far from the military style and looks more like a mid-class restaurant.  The available tables consist of a table with two chairs or a table with four chairs.

The menu at Chow Q is also two levels higher than the rest of the Chow Hall, with 23 hours of opening and closing hours of 23.00 - 00.00 for cleaning.

After washing their hands in the sink beside the entrance, Vex immediately led Seira and Keira to the queue. First, he helped Seira and Keira get their lunch before leading them to a table with four chairs. Only then did he take his lunch with some raw sausages for Big Brown.

Vex was just sitting down after placing his lunch tray on the table when Seira asked.

"Lucan, where's the ice cream?"

"After lunch, you two can get as much ice cream as possible."

Seira and Keira nodded together and the lunch began.

The menu at Chow Q was not designed as Kid Meal, so Vex had to make sure that Seira and Keira could enjoy their lunch without using a knife and just using a fork.

Vex skillfully separated Keira and Seira's fried chicken from the bone, then cut it into one small bite.

"Aaaa ... ..."

Without any warning, Keira who was sitting beside Vex suddenly approached while opening her mouth. Vex smiled reflexively, then fed Keira a piece of fried chicken and asparagus.

At the same time, Seira looked expectantly at him, and Vex responded by feeding the child.

Several female QRF personnel tried to suppress their laughter when they saw Vex feeding Seira and Keira, but Vex ignored them. This is not the first time he has fed a child in a public place.

After Seira and Keira finished their lunches, Vex took them to the dessert counter to get ice cream, and while Seira and Keira were enjoying ice cream, he ate his lunch.

*****