Chapter 37 - Cutting meat (3)

A few minutes later, Peter reappeared, carrying two boxes – one made of iron and one made of wood – each the size of a small barrel. Without any apparent effort, he climbed onto the freight car and set them both down with a dull thud.

Opening the iron box first, he revealed the thermally insulated interior, which still maintained a cool temperature. "Cold milk, yogurt, coconut water, cheese, chocolate, wine, juice and fruit salad."

Without giving time for reactions, he opened the other, wooden one, with a snap. "Bread, dried meat, salami, chestnuts, walnuts, honey, cereal bars, boiled ostrich eggs and dates."

Billie's eyes shone like two shooting stars. "Have I told you I love you, Peter?" Without hesitation, she jumped to hug him tightly.

She was something normal for him, but even so, it was a little difficult to get used to, since despite being tall, both Millie and Billie were taller than him. Billie, for example, was almost 15 cm taller and when she hugged him like that, she suffocated him tightly in her breasts.

"Yes… You always say that, Billie." He calmly freed himself from the hug with a relatively strong push and then turned his gaze to Millie. "And Mary and Edith? Where are they?"

"Ah… long story." Millie, who wasted no time in sitting down and starting to eat, took a bite of bread before continuing. "They went looking for the carcass of a rock scorpion."

Peter frowned, crossing his arms as he looked out at the desert. "… I think this conversation is going to be too long." He glanced at the piles of cargo on the sandy desert floor and sighed. "Eat quickly. As soon as we're done here, we'll go after them. I don't want to take any risks by staying here too long."

Billie stuffed a cereal bar into her mouth and mumbled between bites. "They said they'd call as soon as they were done."

"They're unlikely to finish before us." Peter picked up a waterskin and took a sip before looking at them again. "If they don't call, I will. In the meantime… explain to me properly what happened."

His tone wasn't harsh, but it did carry a slight reprimand, as if he already imagined that this story involved more complications than the two of them were willing to admit.

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As time passed, the air was saturated with the heavy smell of the viscera mixed with the damp earth, but it was strongly neutralized by the constant Neutralizer that was blasted every 5 minutes around the area.

While Mary and Edith worked, their nimble hands cut, separated and analyzed the scorpion parts. The carcass, now without the protection of its exoskeleton, looked like an alien creature, a mass of shapeless fragments scattered across the tarps.

The process was meticulous, each movement requiring precision and concentration, as if a mistake could compromise the entire analysis. Of course, the meat didn't need as much care, since it wasn't as precious as the Crotalus's meat, but Mary was eager to make the most of every resource.

Edith, with her gaze fixed on the viscera, wasn't interested in the meat and other less useful and valuable parts, but she continued to cut and separate without discussion and with focus.

Her fingers moved automatically, but her mind was distant, absorbed in the complexities of the material trade and the next steps of donation and sharing of profits.

Mary observed her friend, finding the deep silence a little uncomfortable, so to break the tension she made a provocation. "I believe you weren't impressed with the Crotalus either, were you?"

"No. It was very dangerous, deadly to us, but a common specimen in general would hardly be a top predator in a Forbidden Area or high-level Aura Zone. But for this damn desert, yes, it is the top of the chain…" She replied, without enthusiasm as she spoke, preferring to focus on her work.

"You could be a little more humble. But anyway…" She arched an eyebrow, challenging. "And that Blood Crested Eagles what did you think of it?"

Edith's eyes lit up instantly, and her previously impassive face lit up with a rare enthusiasm. "It was absolutely phenomenal. A living masterpiece." She took a deep breath, still visibly absorbed.

"About fifteen meters tall, clearly young, probably three or four years old, practically a baby for a Blood Crested Eagle… But the body… my God, that structure and physique… A perfect combination of strength, speed, and endurance. It was at the peak of level 4, without a doubt, probably in less than a year she'll reach level 5..."

Edith paused, now completely absorbed in her analysis, her gaze distant. "What really impressed me, though, was the coordination. This wasn't just a wild beast, Mary, she was clearly very well trained. It wasn't just the brute strength, but the way she controlled her body, how she reacted to each attack. This wasn't natural instinct—it was pure technique."

Mary smiled at the corner of her mouth, with a hint of irony. "Will you need a tissue, Edith? You're drooling…" She couldn't resist the joke, but she knew her friend's enthusiasm was genuine.

Edith, however, didn't seem to notice Mary's tone. She was absorbed in her vision, as if she could see the Eagle before her. "I would give everything I have, absolutely everything, just to see a day of training from this creature," she murmured, as if talking to herself.

"Watching how it responded to each command, how the adjustments of position happened so naturally. It was like watching a ballet, Mary, but with the strength of a monster. The precision was unbelievable. The control, the ability to move with such agility... that's not something nature gives you for free. It comes from brutal training." She looked at Mary, her gaze determined and passionate.

"I bet she wasn't just a fighting animal, and her eating Crotalus's aura sensitive points reinforces that. I believe she was the pet of the same people who were with the Holy Dragon Lady who was there…"

Mary snorted, unable to contain a smile at how fascinated Edith was by the idea. "You seem a little obsessed to me, Edith."

Edith took a deep breath, her expression distant, but with a sparkle in her eyes. "And maybe I am, Mary… I think I need to go to Nenvia, I need to know everything about this matter and I need to find out if she really belongs to someone connected to the Dragon Lady Crimmont." She seemed determined, as if she couldn't let go of this obsession.

Mary, looking more pragmatic, shook her head. "Please, Edith, let's not plan any expeditions to Nenvia until the festival in Cendris is over." She sighed, turning her attention back to the scorpion. "Did you forget that Peter planned our vacation?"

Edith seemed to finally come back to the present. But before she resumed separating the scorpion's parts, she couldn't help but mutter one more time. "I need to see it in action, Mary. That alone would make it all worth it."

Timm Timm Timm 

The rhythmic sound of the Auvox vibrated in Mary's bag, breaking the dense silence that enveloped the canyon. Edith, her hands still dirty from the dissection process, paused for a moment, wiped her fingers on the fabric of her pants, and picked up the device.

 "We're at the bottom of the canyon," she said bluntly as she answered. "Progress is slow, but we're making progress. We've installed a lift system. I'm going to send out a signal to locate you. Get ready." Her voice was firm, sharp, and full of focus.

Wasting no time, she ended the call and put the Auvox back in Mary's bag.

"Are they done yet?" Mary asked, without taking her eyes off her work.

"Yes. They just need the signal to find us."

Edith raised one of her hands and, with a simple movement of her fingers, channeled her aura. The air around her shimmered for an instant before a sphere of fire appeared on the tip of her index finger. With a quick gesture, she shot the incandescent projectile upward.

The fireball cut through the darkness of the canyon like a comet, rising higher and higher until it exploded in an intense and persistent light, leaving a flaming trail that took almost thirty seconds to disappear.

"They should be on their way now. Let's keep going while the team organizes itself."

Mary just nodded, without slowing down. "Okay, we can't waste any time."

Minutes later, the tremors of footsteps caused sand and dust to fall from the top of the canyon. The team had finally arrived. Up above,

Billie and Millie were the first to climb down from the carriage, moving to the edge to assess the system of ropes and pulleys that Mary and Edith had prepared.

Peter followed close behind, closing the distance as he surveyed the scene with an experienced eye. With a quick glance, he understood what needed to be done and began to assign the tasks.

"Millie," he called, placing a light hand on her back. "Come down with a sturdy crate. I want everything tied down securely before we pull. Is that okay, dear?" His voice was soft, almost affectionate, as he made the request.

Millie blushed slightly, looking away, but smiled at the corner of her mouth. "Sure…" she replied, unfazed by the touch.

"Billie, you'll be in charge of pulling the load. After that, we can finish our snacks. Deal?" He held up his palm in an excited gesture.

Billie smiled and patted his hand without hesitation. "Deal!"

Peter nodded, satisfied, and rolled his shoulders to ease the tension. "Alright, girls. Get to work."

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