The celebration outside continued long into the night.
Marcus could still hear it faintly from inside the command building.
Laughter.
Music.
Bottles hitting wooden tables.
Someone yelling loudly after drinking too much beer.
The entire base felt alive tonight.
And honestly, they earned it.
They crossed the Forest of No Return twice.
Fought giant tree monsters.
Survived flying vultures.
Returned alive with one hundred million kinah.
Nobody was sleeping early after that.
But Marcus eventually slipped away from the gathering quietly.
No announcement.
No speech.
He simply stood up from the table while the pilot and co-pilot argued loudly about whether the vultures were bigger than horses.
Marcus grabbed one last beer bottle before heading toward the main building.
Elaina noticed immediately.
"You're leaving already?" she asked softly.
Marcus glanced back toward her.
"Just for a bit."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You're thinking about equipment again, aren't you?"
