After confirming Lily was fine, Mark told her about the mysterious call. Lily nodded thoughtfully and took the phone, her fingers scrolling through the call log as she checked the number. It was unfamiliar, an unknown number flashing on the screen. "I'll call back on my way to the airport" she said, tucking the phone into her bag.
Mark offered to drive her to the airport, but Lily shook her head, her long hair swaying gently with the motion. "I'd rather take a cab, it'll save us time." she said with a smile, not wanting to inconvenience her parents with the extra trip. Despite having luxurious cars at her disposal, Lily preferred to totally depend on her parents ordinary life when she live with her parents in cove town, where she was just a daughter to her parents, but not a princess or any high profile figure.
With that settled, Lily booked a cab on her phone to LYRA international airport. Her parents lived in Cove town, a quiet place that wasn't as prominent as Lyra City but offered them safety and seclusion away from public attention. It took over one hour for her to reach Lyra International airport. She then made a call to arrange for her jet to be ready for departure within the hour. The response was swift and everything was in place for her trip.
Ten minutes later, the cab arrived, its horn beeping softly outside. Mark and Selina fussed over her, reminding her to take care, eat well, and stay safe. Lily listened patiently with a warm smile on her face. "Dad, Mom, seriously, I'll be back within a week this time. It's just a short trip" she reassured them.
"That doesn't change the things you need to take care of, sweetie. Listen to us and follow our words. Understand?" Selina's authoritative voice brooked no argument, her eyes firm yet warm with concern. Mark smiled at his wife's firmness, nodding in agreement as if to say, "Yes, listen to your mother."
Lily chuckled, the sound bubbling up from her throat as she wrapped her arms tightly around her parents. "Yes, Your Highness," she teased, her voice warm and affectionate. "Your humble daughter will follow your commands and dare not neglect." She pecked at their cheeks, her lips brushing softly against their skin before she slid into the waiting cab. As the cab door closed, Mark and Selina waved goodbye, their hands fluttering in the air as Lily's face appeared at the window, smiling back at them.
Once Lily settled into the cab, her smile vanished, and she made a call to her PA, Luke Reid. When the call connected, Luke's warm voice greeted her. "Good morning, ma'am." Lily's tone was neutral as she replied, "Good morning, Luke," and told him the task he has to do now. "Just put whatever work you have aside and take the blue USB drive from the inner secret drawer from my office table. Then head straight to Isveig City and pick me up from Welcaria airport. I'll be there in two hours, max." Luke's efficient response came through the line "Yes, ma'am." With that, Lily disconnected the call, the silence in the cab enveloping her once more.
After wrapping up her call, she dialed the unknown number. The line rang out, echoing in the silence of the cab. She waited, her eyes narrowing slightly, but there was only silence. Lily's brow furrowed as she glanced at the number on her screen and she dialed again, but the result was the same ringing, followed by silence. With a faint shrug, she slipped her phone into her pocket and turned her gaze outward, watching the city's blurred landscape rolled by.
Over an hour later, Lily arrived at Lyra International Airport in Lyra City, where a discreet escort awaited her arrival. She swept through the terminal, bypassing formalities, and boarded her private jet directly. As she settled into the plush leather seat, the scent of polished wood and soft leather enveloped her, and the luxurious amenities making her feel comfortable during the flight. After a seamless flight, Lily's private jet touched down at Welcaria Airport in Isveig City. As she stepped out into the crisp air, the icy chill enveloped her, and she shivered slightly. Bundling up, Lily walked briskly, her heels clicking on the ground. Once she was clear of the jet, she turned on her phone, and it buzzed with notifications, a missed call and texts from her parents. A smile played on her lips as she dialed their number, amused by their timing. When they answered, she reassured them she'd arrived safely and exchanged brief pleasantries before wrapping up the call, the cold seeping in around her.
Just as she ended the call, Lily's gaze lifted to meet Luke Reid, her PA, who emerged from the private VIP lounge, his footsteps purposeful as he approached her. The earlier amusement in her eyes faded, replaced by a more serious expression. Her thoughts snapping back to the situation at hand. She nodded curtly in greeting, her eyes briefly meeting Luke's before he handed her a warm woolen sweater from his bag and also took the bag slinging on her shoulder. The soft fabric enveloped her chilled skin as she took it from him. She was intensely sensitive to the cold, and Isveig City's perpetual blanket of snow made her easily infected to cold. Luke knew her well, and it was no surprise that he had packed the sweater, anticipating her needs. As she slipped the sweater over her blue and white striped shirt, she felt a surge of warmth instantly. "Thanks, Luke," she said. The cold receding as the sweater worked its magic.
As they headed towards the car, Luke opened the door for her with a gentle yet firm touch, and after she stepped in, he gave the bag to her and closed the door. The soft click of the door latch echoed through the air as he walked around to the driver's seat. Before starting the car, he met her gaze in the rearview mirror. "Ma'am, where to?" he asked. Lily let her head rest against the seat, her eyes drifting closed as she replied, her voice calm despite the urgency beneath her words, "To the military base. As soon as possible." Without hesitation, Luke started the car, the engine purring to life. They reached the base ten minutes later. As Luke prepared to step out, Lily's voice stopped him. "Luke, the USB drive?" Luke reached into his bag and handed it to her. She slipped the drive into her bag, her movements economical. "You can go back to AELIN city, Luke." she instructed, her tone firm and decisive.
Luke was hesitated and tried to say but Lily didn't give him chance and reassured him. "It's fine, Luke. I can manage this cold for one day. I'll be in Aelin City tomorrow" she said, her tone brooking no argument. Luke nodded and agreed reluctantly. "Okay, Ma'am." As her loyal PA, Luke's concern stemmed from his duty to ensure her safety and comfort. After Lily stepped out of the car, Luke drove away into the snowy landscape. A couple of soldiers stood waiting for her at the entrance, their faces stern and respectful. They escorted her through the corridors, the sound of their boots echoing off the walls, until they reached a room where several high-ranking officers awaited. General and lieutenant general stood among them, their faces grave. Lily entered the room, even her presence commanding attention, her behaviour was amicable and she greeted them with a respectful nod. "Good morning, Officers." The officers returned her greeting, their voices firm and professional but one could hear the little softness in their tone when greeting Lily.
Two years ago, Knights Empire, Lily's vast conglomerate, had secured a high-stakes defense contract with the military of FREYNE country. The project, shrouded in secrecy, tasked Knights Empire with providing cutting-edge technical security and support. Only a select few within the company and high-ranking military officials were privy to the details. To ensure the project's success, Lily had personally overseen the tightening of technical security measures. Leveraging her expertise, she had integrated advanced technologies into the military's systems, including sophisticated cybersecurity protocols to protect against cyber threats, advanced surveillance drones, and biometric identification systems. She had also designed and installed specialized technology in military aircraft and vehicles, enhancing their capabilities. Furthermore, her team had developed secure communication systems and encryption technologies, ensuring seamless and protected communication between units. With her systems in place, the military could detect and counter threats with greater efficiency, integrating various technologies to enhance overall technical support. Lily's work had not only bolstered the military's defenses but also demonstrated the strategic value of her conglomerate's innovative solutions.
Lily's technical expertise and innovative solutions had been instrumental in supporting the military beyond the scope of the contract. The military was deeply grateful for her contributions, and military were aware of her dual identity as the mastermind behind Knights Empire and the princess of Halcyon Kingdom, Lily Lellen. As a prominent figure in the kingdom, Lily had proven herself to be a capable and visionary leader, working tirelessly alongside Crown Prince Zerus to ensure the prosperity and peace of their people. Her reputation for excellence and dedication to her work had earned the trust of her kingdom and even her excellence was known by many countries.
When Lily proposed the defense technology contract, the military was surprised by the technical security she offered and remembered how people talking about her excellence and agreed to the defense contract between them expecting her excellence in their military too. As expected, they were thoroughly impressed by her innovative technical solutions and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional results. The military held her expertise and leadership in high esteem.
Today, Lily's visit to Isveig City was prompted by a critical situation that was the kidnapping of a researcher who had been working on a groundbreaking neutralizer for a deadly chemical gas. The researcher had been making significant progress, but his abduction, along with sensitive project details, research materials, and a prototype, posed a catastrophic threat. The kidnappers had deliberately left a trail of clues, taunting the military with a challenge. Tracking the leads, the military discovered that the kidnappers were likely hiding deep within the Caligo forest, far beyond Freyne's borders. A large-scale rescue operation was launched at midnight, with troops deployed to the area. However, just as they were approaching the forest, disaster struck. Two aircraft, the CH-17 ERYAN and UH-8 HAWK, vanished without a trace. All attempts by military ATC (air traffic control) to reestablish contact or locate the aircraft failed, as the signals and communications from the rescue team were abruptly severed. The situation had taken a dire turn, prompting Lily's urgent meeting with the military officials.
Lily could grasped the gravity of the emergency and sprang into action without hesitation. She swiftly opened her bag and took out the laptop from it and began typing furiously. The room fell silent, punctuated only by the rhythmic click-clack of her fingers flying across the keyboard as lines of code streamed across the screen. Her task was to pinpoint the location of the missing troops or flight.
Early this morning, a special forces unit was selected for a rescue mission to locate the troops who had gone missing the previous night, as well as a researcher. However, Lieutenant General had suggested seeking Lily's expertise before deploying the team to search and rescue, and they had promptly reached out to her. Thankfully, she agreed to help, instilling renewed hope that she could pinpoint the missing personnel's location. As they waited for Lily to work her magic, the special forces unit stood on high alert in another room, prepared to embark on the mission at a moment's notice. The air in the room was thick with anticipation, punctuated only by the soft sound of typing and the hum of urgency.
Usually, tracing them was impossible without signals or location intel. However, about a year ago, Lily developed a revolutionary technology, installing it in aircraft and naval vessels. This advanced system can locate units in emergency situations or loss of contact. It can even launch a thumb-sized surveillance ball, providing critical aerial or naval reconnaissance. Most notably, the system operates independently, requiring no external signal, activation is enough to track the location. This innovation has the potential to transform search and rescue operations. Lily had specifically designed this technology for situations like this.
For the past 10 minutes, Lily had been working on activating the system, her fingers flying across the keyboard without pause. Without looking up, she asked, "Officer, aircraft names?" The system was integrated into every aircraft and naval vessel, so the name was crucial to identify the specific device to activate. One of the officers in the room provided the names "CH-17 Eryan and UH-8 Hawk." Lily nodded quietly, her fingers continuing to type furiously as she entered the details. Finally, she lifted her head, her eyes locking onto the officers. "Another 10 minutes, officer," she said, her voice calm and confident.