Chapter 474 474 Returned With Gifts
Chapter 474 474 Returned With Gifts
Nobody challenged the military helicopter as it flew across Coven airspace, and not even the villages that it passed over gave it a second look. The sight of the cargo helicopters had become so commonplace to them in the last few days that they no longer worried about it.
Most of them didn’t know what was going on yet, but some of the villages had started sending out multiple loads a day, and the cargo containers were constantly moving back and forth overhead.
If anybody did care, it was only because of the noise, which carried, even from the higher elevation where the Fae Forest helicopter was flying. Most of the local ones only flew a few hundred metres above the ground to avoid long-range detection.
“There it is. That clearing on the left is the airstrip for the village we’re headed to.” Wolfe informed the Pilot, gesturing to a location outside the helicopter’s downward viewing window.
They had a map but no GPS system, as the helicopter was designed for anti-magic operations, so they had to visually locate the landing space.
Their airstrip had been expanded, and there were now lights and much more space, but that was definitely the right village. Wolfe recognized the mana disruption caused by the spells that they had cast on the area.
The copter circled, then came in for a steep descent straight down onto an open area halfway down the airstrip.
[Incoming craft, please identify.] Someone asked on the short-wave radio.
[This is Forest Grove One. Coming with supplies, as per our agreement.] Wolfe replied.
[Oh, Lord Noxus, it is good to hear a familiar voice. Any clear location is fine by us, and I will arrange a welcome party for you.] The man on the radio responded.
The pilot looked concerned at the wording but followed Wolfe’s directions down to the clearing and landed the helicopter with the cargo container doors facing the runway. That way, the local teams could easily unload it, whether that was right now or later if they had an empty container for her to take back.
Wolfe didn’t wait after they were settled and hopped down from the passenger compartment to walk to the rear of the craft and wait for the welcoming party to come to see him.
What arrived was a military cargo truck with eight armed soldiers and two old Witches, both of whom had large smiles on their faces when they saw Wolfe in person.
“We thought it was someone pretending to be you since it wasn’t the same plane you left in. This is quite the unit. Might I ask where you found it? The local Colonel asked, climbing down from the truck with his hand extended.
Wolfe gave the officer a firm handshake, then turned back to his ride.
“The Grand Dutchies left it sitting in the mountains last winter, and we patched it up to use for cargo runs. I know it’s a lot more gear than you were expecting in one go, but if we deliver three times as much, we don’t have to come quite as often unless you’re really moving the supplies.” Wolfe laughed.
“About that. We’ve got the leaders here already for a preliminary meeting, but we weren’t expecting you back today. In all, there are thirty-six villages that are either Morgana Witch-run or allied with Gormana who have come to a tentative agreement to work together in this region of the swamps.
Many of them are quite small, but the meeting today is to talk about what sort of benefits the alliance can offer them. Tell me, Mister Wolfe, what have you brought for us to market today?” The village Elder asked.
“That’s a far cry from the ten you said you could count on. Good work. We brought some spells, domestic magical items that our people like, household stuff, lots of enchanted clothing in all the latest Forest Grove fashions, and a selection of swords and bows enchanted to trade standards.” Wolfe explained.
The beastkin men were looking uneasily at the soldiers as they all stood by the doors of the container.
“Go ahead and open it up so they can sort through it and get it on display for their guests. Set up the various items like a market stall. Ladies, could you help them with the stalls to keep it off the ground?” Wolfe asked, calling back into the helicopter where Cassie and Priya were waiting.
The two witches hopped down, and the old woman smiled at Cassie before gasping and pointing at Priya.
“There’s more of them. The Rank Two Witches are multiplying, and this one looks like she’s from Sylvan Coven.” The old woman exclaimed.
“I’m from Forest Grove now, and you can call me Priya. I’m sure Wolfe mentioned earlier that we have a number of Rank Two witches and a fledgling witch training academy of our own, but it can be understandably hard to accept until you see it yourself.”
While she talked, Cassie was creating basic wooden tables angled up at the back to better display the goods, and the beastkin team was opening up the doors to the container so they could put everything on display for their customers.
“Go ahead and lend them a hand. If he brought them here, they’re not going to attack.” The Colonel instructed his troops, who moved with trained efficiency, to get everything out of the container and place it on the tables.
Someone must have sent a message to the village because there were a lot of old women headed their way, most with a younger escort and a handful of soldiers to make sure they didn’t get lost or, more likely, fall and hurt themselves.
Out in front of the pack was the old lady whom Wolfe had made a new walker for. Even from here, he could see the gleeful smile on her face as she made her way across the gravel surface of the runway toward them.
She likely would have waved at him if she could afford to take a hand off her enchanted walker, but as it was, she was making incredible time gliding across the ground. Her body might be failing, but her magic was as adept as ever.
“Mister Wolfe, you’ve come back. Where is that daughter of mine? We made cookies, and you simply must try them.” The old woman with her walker shouted from two hundred metres away, making Wolfe and all the soldiers chuckle softly at her enthusiasm.
“I knew this would happen. Now I’ve got to chase away another potential bride.” Cassie muttered.