231: The warmth of homecoming

Crossbell East Station, Platform

The locomotive's whistle echoed on the platform as the train slowly pulled in. Lloyd and Noel, carrying their luggage, exited the carriage with the flow of people.

"Finally, we're back..." Lloyd took a deep breath, the unique moist air of Crossbell filling his nostrils, carrying the familiar scent of the city.

Noel smiled as she looked around: "It feels like it's been a long time since we've been back."

Just then—

"Lloyd—!!"

A emerald figure burst from the crowd like a cannonball, crashing straight into Lloyd's arms!

"Whoa!" Lloyd stumbled a few steps, nearly falling, but he still managed to firmly catch the small figure. "KeA?!"

KeA looked up, her big green eyes sparkling with excitement: "Welcome back! KeA missed you so much!"

Her small hands clutched Lloyd's lapels tightly, as if afraid he would disappear again.

Lloyd knelt down and ruffled KeA's hair: "I missed KeA too. But, why are you here?"

"Hehe~" KeA chuckled proudly, "Chief Sergei told KeA! He said Lloyd would be back today!"

"So KeA dragged Elie sister along to pick you up!"

"Elie is here too?" Lloyd looked up and around, and sure enough, he saw that familiar figure not far away.

Elie MacDowell stood by a pillar on the platform, her golden hair glowing softly in the setting sun. She wore a simple white shirt and a dark blue skirt, holding a bouquet of flowers, smiling as she looked their way.

"Lloyd, Noel, welcome back." Elie walked over and handed the bouquet to Lloyd. "You've worked hard."

Lloyd took the bouquet, his cheeks slightly flushed: "Th-thank you..."

KeA tilted her head, looked at Lloyd, then at Elie: "Huh? Why are both Lloyd and Elie sister's faces red?"

"Eh?!" Lloyd and Elie froze simultaneously.

"Pfft..." Noel couldn't help but laugh, "KeA, you shouldn't ask questions like that directly."

"Why not?" KeA blinked innocently, "Elie sister clearly said I could ask any question!"

Elie's face grew even redder: "K-KeA! That was about questions related to studies..."

"Hahaha!" A hearty laugh came from nearby, "Looks like I arrived just in time."

Everyone turned to see Chief Sergei striding over, followed by Noel's sister, Fran.

"Chief!" Lloyd immediately straightened up. "We're back."

Sergei patted Lloyd's shoulder: "Well done. I've read the report, and your performance in Altair City was excellent."

"Sister!" Fran rushed to Noel, and the two sisters hugged tightly. "I missed you so much!"

Noel gently hugged her sister: "I missed you too, Fran."

Just then, a lazy voice came from behind the pillar: "Oh dear, I almost missed a good show~"

Wazy Hemisphere stepped out of the shadows, his green hair casually tied back, a playful smile on his lips.

"Wazy!" Lloyd looked at him in surprise, "Why are you here too?"

"Of course, I'm here to welcome our hero~" Wazy chuckled as he approached. "And by the way..."

He suddenly leaned close to Lloyd's face, almost touching him: "To confirm if someone used my information in the right place~"

"Whoa!" Lloyd abruptly took a step back, almost bumping into Elie behind him. "W-why are you suddenly so close?!"

Wazy laughed heartily: "Your reactions are still so amusing, Lloyd-kun~"

Elie shook her head helplessly: "Wazy, stop teasing Lloyd."

"Alright, alright~" Wazy raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "But seriously, how is Ernest doing?"

Lloyd composed himself: "Thanks to your information, we were able to find him in time. However..."

He hesitated: "Something unexpected happened later."

"Oh?" Wazy raised an eyebrow. "What unexpected thing?"

"That..." Lloyd looked at Sergei. "Chief, I might need to report in detail."

Sergei nodded: "Let's talk about it back at headquarters. But before that..."

He looked around at everyone, his expression becoming serious: "I announce that starting today at 18:30, the Special Support Section is officially resuming operations!"

"The members are as follows—"

"Leader, Lloyd Bannings."

Lloyd straightened his back: "Yes!"

"Deputy Leader and Liaison Officer, Elie MacDowell."

Elie smiled slightly: "Understood."

"Garrison seconded member, Tactical Advisor, Noel Seeker."

Noel gave a standard Garrison salute: "Received!"

"Special Consultant, Wazy Hemisphere."

Wazy lazily waved his hand: "Oh dear, I'm finally a full-time member~"

Sergei's gaze finally rested on KeA: "As for KeA..."

KeA immediately raised her small hand: "KeA wants to help too!"

Sergei smiled: "Then continue in your role as mascot."

"Yay!" KeA jumped with joy. "KeA is also a member of the Special Support Section!"

Everyone looked at KeA's innocent and lively demeanor, and couldn't help but smile.

"Additionally, given that not all members have arrived yet, the higher-ups have granted a few days of vacation. There's no need to rush to work before the vacation ends. As for now—"

"I'm treating everyone to a meal."

"Yay!" X6

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the platform, casting long shadows of everyone. The bells of Crossbell rang in the distance, as if welcoming their return.

A few days later, Special Support Section.

After over a month of renovation work and two days of thorough cleaning, the Special Support Section headquarters was reopened.

The familiar office, the familiar sofa, the familiar orbal terminal. Lloyd stood at the doorway, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.

"Finally, we're back..."

Elie walked to his side: "How does it feel?"

"Very nostalgic." Lloyd smiled. "Although I've only been away for less than a month, it feels like I haven't been back in a long time."

Noel had already started tidying her desk: "Even though this place was a construction site two days ago, it still looks very clean."

"Fran helped clean it up." Elie explained. "She was busy all day yesterday, she really worked hard."

Wazy had already collapsed onto the sofa: "Ah~ The sofa here is the most comfortable~"

KeA looked around curiously: "Is this where Lloyd works?"

"That's right." Lloyd knelt down. "It's KeA's home too from now on."

"Yay!" KeA cheered. "KeA wants to help Lloyd organize documents!"

Elie chuckled: "That might have to wait until KeA is a little older."

Just then, Chief Sergei pushed the door open: "Is everyone settled in?"

Everyone nodded.

"Very good." Chief Sergei took out a document. "Tio and Randy should arrive by tomorrow. Even though not everyone is here yet, there's already too much to do. So, let's get to work."

"Here is your task list for the coming days."

Lloyd took the document and quickly scanned it: "Investigate abnormal energy fluctuations in the Old Town... Assist the Garrison with patrols... And..."

His voice suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Elie leaned over to look. "'Investigate the mysterious Scholar, Dr. Katja'?"

Noel looked up in surprise: "Dr. Katja? She's in Crossbell?"

Chief Sergei nodded: "According to immigration records, a female Scholar identifying herself as Dr. Katja Rosenberg arrived in Crossbell three days ago and is currently staying at a hotel near the Rainbow Theater."

"Her whereabouts are mysterious, but some have witnessed her frequently entering and exiting the Epstein Foundation."

Lloyd and Noel exchanged glances.

"It seems..." Lloyd said softly, "we'll be seeing her again very soon."

A ray of morning light passed over the roof in front of the Special Support Section building, through the window, and spilled onto the office floor.

As Crossbell's new destiny was about to unfold, the Special Support Section, set off once more.