Ethel: "I have already submitted an application to headquarters, and reinforcements will be sent over soon. We need to be stationed here long-term, waiting for Hecate to attack the Farm."
Lyle: "There is a Mining Area between us and the Farm. If they want us to go support Hecate, wouldn't we have to set off days in advance?"
Ethel: "There is no need to go that early. Given the current situation, the earliest Hecate will head to the Farm is after June."
Lyle: "Fair enough then."
While the two were talking, Jessica finally pried open the locked room and found the safe inside packed half-full with gold bars.
Jessica: "No wonder they say doing anything beats working a regular job. In just this short while, we've made at least hundreds of thousands."
Ethel: "Our line of work makes money fast, but it's very easy to die."
Ethel: "First, let's renovate this place. We'll be living here for a long time to come."
Lyle: "No wonder you had us bring so many iron frames and mats before we left. So these are field cots."
Ethel: "What did you think they were?"
Ethel: "All right, talk less, and throw all the useless stuff outside to block the gaps in the Wastewater Treatment Plant."
Jessica: "What should we do with this IND50 and KN composite armor?"
Ethel: "Hmm, put them in the cabinet for now; we won't be needing them temporarily."
After finishing tidying up, they began to clean the place.
Ethel looked out the window, deep in thought.
Lyle lay down on the bed and let out a long sigh of relief.
Jessica sat on a chair, toying with the gold bars in her hands.
"Perhaps we can live a peaceful life here," Jessica said.
In the distance, large dark clouds drifted over, portending an oncoming torrential rain.
At that moment, a cold gust of wind blew, making the windows rattle. Ethel couldn't help but shiver. She walked over to the window, gazing at the darkening sky as a trace of unease rose in her heart.
"Looks like this rain is going to be heavy," Ethel said.
Lyle sat up from the bed. "Let's just hope it doesn't affect our plans."
Jessica put the gold bars away. "No matter what, we had better get prepared first."
The three of them began to bustle about, checking defensive measures and storing food and water. Just as they finished, the rain began to fall—at first just a fine drizzle, but in the blink of an eye, it turned into a torrential downpour.
The rain beat fiercely against the windows, and the howling wind raged outside. Ethel frowned; this weather gave her an ominous premonition. However, all they could do now was wait.
Lucy, Fania, and Muse came running in in a panic.
Fania: "This rain started so suddenly, my clothes are completely soaked!"
Lucy: "Well, look at you now, Ms. Frothy-Top."
Fania: "Get lost."
Ethel: "Go upstairs and take off those wet clothes, wrap up in a blanket, and don't catch a cold."
After Lucy and Fania changed and came back down, everyone gathered around, listening to the sound of the rain and wind.
"Feels like this rain isn't going to stop anytime soon," Lyle said.
"Let's just hope nothing unexpected happens," Ethel said, her gaze fixed steadily out the window.
At that moment, a sharp, urgent telephone ring shattered the silence inside the room.
Ethel picked up the phone.
"Uh-huh, okay, we understand, mm-hmm."
Ethel hung up the phone.
Lyle: "Who was that?"
Ethel: "Headquarters called to say that a sudden torrential downpour has hit all of Kamona. Reinforcements will have to wait until the rain weakens or stops before they can come."