Francesca was well aware of Altaïr and the others' concerns. After her thorough explanation, they were visibly much more at ease.
Even Altaïr, the wariest of the group, did not believe Francesca would conceal any unfavorable information. After all, she was Isis's elder sister and a member of the expedition team herself.
He certainly knew that the massive island known as Tidal Island must harbor dangers, but this was an expedition, not a picnic. How could there be no danger? With the Guild and the Royal Paleontology Scriveners directing the effort, ample supplies, and every kind of support they might need, these were practically the best conditions anyone could ask for on such an expedition.
They were far less concerned about compensation. With Lady Francesca overseeing supplies and personnel, she certainly would not let them be shortchanged.
"Then we're down to just one last concern," Altaïr said, glancing at Nymera.
Nymera gave him a slight nod, indicating that he could speak for her.
Altaïr continued, "As you know, circumstances sometimes force people to leave.
We'd like to know whether, in an emergency, we would be allowed to temporarily step away from the expedition to attend to something that absolutely required our presence."
"Something that required your presence? Such as?" Francesca asked.
Nymera took over. "If disaster struck our homeland, would we be allowed to leave and defend it?"
"Ah, so that's what you meant." Francesca's expression relaxed. "Of course. If something truly urgent came up, I'd even lend you my private Airship."
"P-private Airship, meow?" Sajji, curled up on the armrest of the sofa, twitched his whiskers.
"I can mobilize the Sterling Merchant Guild's Airships at any time. I called it a private Airship. Is there a problem?"
Sajji drew his head back. "...No problem, meow."
Francesca shifted into a more comfortable position. "To be honest, the situation with the Monsters on Tidal Island is still completely unknown.
Some of the Hunters who applied also said that if the expedition brought them up against certain dangerous Monsters, they wanted to reserve the right to withdraw from the team.
I thought you were getting at something like that too."
"How did you respond?" Altaïr raised an eyebrow, curious.
"I told them to their faces that it was no problem, then found a pretext to reject them afterward," Francesca replied without the slightest attempt to hide it.
Isis seemed a little puzzled. "Was that request so unreasonable?"
"No, it was perfectly reasonable." Francesca pursed her lips. "So reasonable, in fact, that there was no need to bring it up in the first place.
It's just like accepting a quest at the Guild Hall. Would you go out of your way to ask the guild receptionist, 'Isn't this Monster too dangerous? Can I abandon the quest halfway through?'
The recruitment notice made it perfectly clear that the Guild would lead the expedition. The Guild would also dispatch a dedicated team to establish a Guild Hall responsible for drawing up and issuing quests to the Hunters.
If all of that has been stated clearly and you're still quibbling over every detail, you're just wasting everyone's time.
Retreating when you encounter a danger you can't handle is only natural. No one would think twice about it.
But if merely hearing that there's a dangerous Monster on the island makes you think about quitting the expedition and leaving Tidal Island altogether, do you think this is some kind of picnic? Timid and hesitant, already plotting your escape before you've even set foot on the island... Someone that gutless isn't fit to join an expedition!"
Curled up on the thick carpet and half asleep, Pawdrick cracked one eye open and said languidly, "I can't believe the day has come when you're the one saying that, meow."
"Shut it!" Francesca shot to her feet in indignation. "Those were my mother's exact words. You got a problem with that?!"
While Francesca and her Felyne partner carried on their spirited exchange, Altaïr exchanged a few quick words with his two companions, and they soon reached a decision.
"Lady Francesca," Altaïr called, raising his voice slightly.
"Really asking for it..." Francesca grumbled as she settled back onto the sofa. Then her expression shifted to eager anticipation. "So? Don't you want to hear more about the compensation package?"
"No need. Whatever the compensation is, arrange it as you see fit." Altaïr smiled. "The three of us are joining."
Isis beamed, clearly overjoyed that they would all be working together from now on. "From now on, we're all working for Sis Francesca!"
Nymera nodded with a smile. "We look forward to working with you, Lady Francesca."
"All right!" Francesca's eyes crinkled with a smile of her own. "The final preparations for the expedition's departure are already underway, so there's nothing for you to worry about.
Until then, you're free to do as you please. Just be back in Dundorma before the end of January. We'll depart from Dundorma Harbor at the beginning of February and head straight for Tidal Island.
Oh, right, this is going to be a long voyage, so I imagine you'll have quite a few things to bring.
Should I arrange a small Airship to transport your equipment, materials, luggage, and anything else? If you have too much, a cargo Airship with a heavier payload would work just as well."
That casual display of wealth left Altaïr and the others blinking in astonishment. Even Isis was somewhat taken aback.
As far as she could remember, Francesca had almost never drawn on the Merchant Guild's resources. Her allowance had been even smaller than Isis's own, and whenever she traveled, she had to save up and buy her own Airship tickets at the ticket office.
As if reading the surprise in Isis's eyes, Francesca chuckled. "That's different. I don't lightly draw on the Merchant Guild's resources for personal matters. That would come at a cost.
But this isn't personal business. Transporting the equipment and supplies of the Hunters accompanying the expedition is part of the official preparations, isn't it? So go ahead and use those resources without a second thought!"
In the end, Altaïr and the other two were too embarrassed to borrow one of the cargo Airships whose payloads were measured in tens of tons. The three of them hardly had that much to transport. One small Airship would be more than enough.
Lambert still wanted to accompany them, but Altaïr promptly hauled her back home and told her parents that she had signed up for the expedition.
As expected, the two emotionally expressive musicians immediately teared up.
Once the expedition departed, Lambert and her parents would probably not see one another for the next two or three years, so she would spend these last two weeks keeping them company.
—--
With Lambert staying behind and their party one person lighter, Altaïr and the other two took the "dedicated Airship" back to Metapetatto.
When they arrived at the Guild Hall gate, all three stopped in their tracks. For a moment, they felt an odd reluctance to push the gate open and step inside.
Truth be told, they had not actually spent that long in Metapetatto, only three or four months in total.
Altaïr and Isis had spent longer in Val Habar, and Nymera had spent longer in Geo Wandreo.
So why did they feel guilty only when leaving this place? After a moment's reflection, Altaïr sighed softly. "We're still too young and too easily won over."
"We let the Guildmarm's constant 'darlings' go to our heads, meow," Sajji said with a shrug.
"..." Isis reached out and flicked Sajji's ear.
"Let's go. Hold your heads high. We haven't done anything to be ashamed of." Altaïr took a breath and pushed the gate open.
Behind the Quest Counter, Noya, Metapetatto's Guildmarm, was dressed as usual in her sapphire-blue uniform, her chin propped on one hand as she stared vacantly at the Guild Hall's entrance.
The instant Altaïr and the others pushed the door open, Guildmarm Noya's eyes lit up. She hurried out from behind the counter and came forward to greet them.
"My dearest darlings~! You're back!"
As she spoke, she dabbed the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, then gave a half-genuine, half-feigned sniffle. "I was afraid you'd gone off to Dundorma this time and weren't coming back..."
"..."
Isis stared blankly up at the ceiling. Nymera lowered her gaze to the tips of her toes. Even Altaïr, who had been about to speak, found himself struck speechless.
Clawdia, seated on Hibiki's back, rolled her eyes at the three of them and spoke up. "Of course we had to come back first, meow. After all, we hadn't checked out of our rooms or collected our luggage, meow.
Please cancel our registration with the Metapetatto Guild, meow. We're joining an expedition, and we won't be back for two or three years, meow."
"?!"
Noya's mouth dropped open. She pressed both hands over her heart and stumbled back two steps.
The young sapling had already run off, and now Noya's three grown trees were leaving too.
(Translated by yourtl.app)