CHAPTER 35: SHE’S READY

"You seem to be enjoying your exploration here in our base," a voice suddenly came from behind.

Serin jolted and turned and saw a familiar figure. It was Albert Spencer, the one who owns this huge land.

"Uhm... Sir Albert..." she fumbled with her hands, unsure whether to bow, salute, or just stand still like the soldiers did. She ended up doing none, just staring awkwardly.

Albert didn’t seem bothered.

His gaze briefly shifted—from her, to the burger still in her hands, then to the small cluster of soldiers pretending they weren’t eavesdropping.

"You tried the burgers," he commented. "Good choice. Staff Sergeant Burke makes the best ones out of all our field cooks."

Serin glanced down at the half-eaten burger, then back at him. "It’s... very good," she said honestly.

"So, I see that you are doing well now. May we proceed for questioning? We really need to know about this world as you may have noticed, we don’t look to be a denizen of this planet."

"Uhm...okay..." Serin softly accepted.

"Great, we’ll talk about it in our office, if you would be so kind as to follow me," Albert said, gesturing to the parked JLTV.

Albert led the way with an easy stride, not rushed, not overly formal—just measured. Serin followed a step behind, clutching the burger like it was some kind of grounding charm.

The soldiers nearby silently watched. Some nodded respectfully toward Albert, some gave subtle glances at Serin. None mocked. None stared too long. Just quiet acknowledgment—like they understood something about her that words couldn’t quite explain.

Albert opened the passenger door. "Careful stepping up. The handle is there."

Serin stared at the handle, then at the seat. It was high. Too high. She hesitated—unsure if she should try to climb like scaling a carriage or jump like mounting a horse.

Albert noticed.

He walked toward her, quietly placed his hand on the metal foothold, and said, "Use this. Step here, then hold onto the side rail."

She nodded slowly and followed them. It was easier than she expected. She sat—soft, cushioned, and stable. The inside felt like another world—glass screens, strange glowing markings, switches, radios crackling faintly with distant voices.

Albert shut the door gently, then took the driver’s seat.

The engine came alive with a low rumble—not thunder, not growling, just steady power.

As they moved, Serin stared outside the windows—watching soldiers drilling, forklifts carrying crates, engineers welding, aerial drones launching, trucks transporting cargo, and the gigantic gray plane in the distance slowly taxiing down the runway.

It was all surreal.

Moments later, they reached the command center.

Albert parked the JLTV in the designated slot beside the main administrative building—flat concrete marked with white lines, bright floodlights mounted on poles, cameras angled at every approach.

Serin stepped down carefully, shoes touching the pavement with a soft thud. She followed Albert toward a reinforced structure—nothing like stone keeps or wooden garrisons. This place was built from hard angles, metal frames, thick glass panels, and concrete walls painted in muted gray. It didn’t look temporary. It looked... permanent. Prepared.

Two soldiers stood outside the door—uniforms crisp, rifles slung, not tense, just alert. When Albert passed, both straightened automatically and saluted.

Serin flinched—involuntary, small.

She didn’t know what that gesture meant. But she noticed what it wasn’t.

Albert returned a small nod, then held the door open for her.

"Inside," he said quietly.

She stepped in.

The air changed again. Outside was humid, but inside it was chilly.

Albert led her past the operations pit, past officers and analysts who paused briefly to look at her. No whispers. No hostility. Just acknowledgment.

They reached a separate office—glass wall, blinds half-closed.

Albert opened the door.

The room was quiet. Clean. A large desk, chairs, a wall map, and a small tray with a coffee pot and sealed bottles of water.

He set his helmet on the desk with a soft clunk and gestured calmly.

"Sit wherever you feel comfortable."

Serin hesitated... then chose the chair closest to the window. Her hand briefly brushed the glass.

Smooth. Cold. Perfectly shaped, without ripples or flaws. Not like handmade panes she was used to.

Albert sat across from her. Not behind the desk, not in a position of height or distance—just across from her, as if this was a conversation, not an interrogation.

She noticed that.

He took a breath. Not rushed. Not stern.

"Before we begin," Albert spoke, "you should know—this is not a military interrogation. I won’t force you to speak. I won’t push you if it’s too heavy."

She nodded silently.

"I just want to understand," Albert continued. "Your world. Your people. The dangers you’ve seen. So we know how to help... and how to survive here."

For a moment, Serin stared down at her hands.

They didn’t shake this time.

She drew in a slow breath.

"I will tell you what I can," she said softly.

Albert nodded once. "Also, I want to add that we already spoke with the natives, one of which is a Village Elder from Aldo Village named Harvin. I will tell you what we learn from him and then we can work our way up."

Serin simply nodded again.

"We learned a lot from Harvin," he began. "He told us where we are—Aldo Village, part of the eastern frontier of a country called Altfordia. He said this world uses something called the Solar Calendar."

Serin listened quietly, eyes lowered, but she didn’t seem confused. She understood those terms well.

Albert continued, "He told us about the Adventurer’s Guild... how they take contracts for monster hunting, escort missions, guarding nobles. Sounds like a mix of freelance mercenaries and scouts. He said smaller villages like Aldo get ignored. Too small. Too poor. No strategic value."

Serin’s fingers slowly curled around the edge of her chair.

"He told us about goblins," Albert said quietly. "About how villages disappear—burned, raided, emptied. How no one comes to help. No soldiers. No guild. Nothing."

"Yes," Serin said softly.

"Okay, now that you know what we know, we can start with a name, age, where you are from, general information."