"Although we defeated two demon generals this time, we also lost many comrades. We still know nothing about that mysterious woman from the demon realm or the Demon King. While the battles across various regions have slowed for now, who knows when the Demon King's army might strike again? We need to plan for the long term," Judo analyzed the situation. Emily added, "The power that woman displayed far exceeded our imagination. Whether it's her wide-range attack magic or her ability to use teleportation magic single-handedly, her abilities are completely beyond mine—surpassing me by several levels." "Yes, even my final trump card was easily neutralized by her. Can we really defeat such an enemy? Though my master passed all his powers to me, I don't feel confident of victory," Kaia said helplessly, reflecting on the battle. "Why don't we visit the barracks to check on everyone? With three generals gone, the troops are leaderless," Sisi suggested. Kaia and the others agreed.Bona and her father arrived at the base, where soldiers stood guard at the entrance. Bona's father asked about the situation, but the soldiers refused to share details, citing military confidentiality. As Bona and her father grew increasingly anxious at the gate, Kaia and his group happened to arrive. "What's going on up there? Let's take a look," Kaia said. They approached the scene. "Please, make an exception! I just want to know how Brother Bai is doing. He's part of the expeditionary force," Bona pleaded. "And you are?" Emily asked her. Bona's father explained, "Are you the Hero Squad? My apologies for the intrusion. One of our family members is a soldier in the expeditionary force. Hearing that the force returned with heavy losses, we came to inquire about him." "I see. What's his name? I'll check with the personnel department for you," Kaia offered. "His name is Bai. He has short black hair and a build similar to yours, big brother. Please, we're counting on you," Bona replied eagerly. "Alright, it's inconvenient to talk here. Please come inside with us," Kaia said. The group entered the barracks, where they consulted the personnel officer and reviewed the records of active and missing personnel. They discovered that Bai was listed as missing. "How could this be? I don't believe it!" Bona cried out, on the verge of tears. Emily quickly comforted her. "We're so sorry. It's our fault. We underestimated the demons' strength. Once we entered the demon realm, our forces were scattered and faced powerful enemies. We suffered heavy casualties. In the end, the enemy spared us and drove us back. Otherwise, we might all have been wiped out," Kaia said, bowing in apology. "Some of the missing personnel may not be dead. They could still be stranded somewhere in the demon realm. Your brother might still be alive. Don't lose hope. We'll return to the demon realm soon and will do our best to find him," Emily reassured her. "Really? I believe Brother Bai is okay," Bona said, wiping her tears. After escorting Bona and her father back, the group felt heavy-hearted. "We don't even deserve to call ourselves heroes anymore," Judo remarked. Kaia, silent, went to visit the troops in the camp. The wounded had mostly been treated, thanks in large part to Emily's efforts. The injured soldiers greeted Emily with respect, and she responded with a warm smile. "What do we do next? Disband the expeditionary force or stay at the base?" Judo asked again. "People came from far and wide to support us, and we got half of them killed. Are we just going to send everyone home now?" Sisi retorted sarcastically. "Let's discuss this later. For now, we focus on taking care of the remaining team members," Kaia said.On the way home, Bona looked forlorn. "Dad, I don't know how Brother Bai is doing. I hope he's safe in the demon realm." "I hope so too. We have to believe in him. Don't forget, he once defeated the demon army and saved everyone. He'll surely turn danger into safety this time too," her father said comfortingly, though he was deeply worried inside. "(Bai, you must come back safely)," he prayed silently as he drove the carriage.
