The open-air area of the royal estate was massive.
The night was as black as ink, illuminated by dazzling lights.
But at this moment, the night sky above was completely lit up by hovering private jets and helicopters.
The aircraft maintained absolute safe distances, circling high above.
The most striking detail was that each fuselage bore the insignia of a different nation.
Massive golden banners hung from the aircraft, unfurling in the night breeze.
[Welcome home, Miss Serena Lancaster.]
[The Royal House of Albion wishes Miss Lancaster a perfect Debutante Gala.]
[The Élysée Chancellery presents its gifts in deep gratitude for Miss Lancaster's life-saving grace.]
[The United States Medical Coalition respectfully congratulates Miss Lancaster on her return.]
[The Valerian Prime Envoy respectfully presents a homecoming tribute.]
[The Global Scientific Consortium pays tribute to Miss Lancaster.]
[In the name of the nation, we offer our highest respect to Miss Lancaster.]
[The Lancaster Pearl returns in glory.]
[May Miss Lancaster enjoy peace and joy for all the years to come.]
...
Banner after banner.
Stretching across the night sky.
Then, countless drones ascended from the far side of the estate.
First, they formed the Elyndor flag.
Then, they shifted into The Lancaster Crest.
After that, the image flowed and changed.
The drones formed the radiant, beautiful silhouette of a young woman in the sky.
Her long hair blowing in the wind, her features cool and aloof.
It was Serena.
A second later, the silhouette dissolved into slowly blooming silver cloud-pattern flowers.
All the points of light merged into a massive line of text—
[Tribute to the Global Hero, Serena Lancaster. Welcome home.]
The entire night sky over Vaelion City was almost completely illuminated by this utterly stunning aerial celebration.
The distant skyscrapers, streets, and traffic all boiled over with excitement at this sudden, grandiose display.
Countless people stopped in their tracks, looking up at the night sky.
Special envoys representing heads of state stepped out of the cars one after another, accompanied by translators and protocol teams.
The leading white-haired, blue-eyed envoy stepped forward first, offering a solemn bow to Serena.
"Miss Lancaster, thank you for saving our nation's chief bioengineering expert in Severia."
"Our head of state specifically ordered me to come and present these gifts."
As his words fell, the protocol officer behind him stepped up.
The list of gifts was unfurled.
A string of numbers and names of rare items made the eyelids of everyone present twitch wildly.
Immediately after, the second envoy stepped forward.
Speaking in halting Elyndorian, he enunciated clearly, "Our head of state, on behalf of all the people of our nation, thanks you for rescuing nineteen of our top experts during the Severia operation."
"Hearing of your return home today, I was specifically ordered to bring the highest honors."
Another envoy stepped up.
"Miss Lancaster, the people you saved were not just our experts, but our nation's scientific hope for the next ten years."
"Please, you must accept this gift."
And then another: "Miss Lancaster, thank you for saving the founder of our neuromedicine field."
"This is our nation's gift to you—the usage rights to a private medical research island."

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Messing With Her? Are You Crazy!