A few days passed, and, sure enough, with the tacit help of Madam Z, Isaac's request was approved and immediately dealt with.
Some agents from the Foundation came by the facility where the Timekeeper team were being confined at, carrying with them various furniture, and Isaac paid them for their service.
Suffice to say, with the limited money he had, he almost sank to absolute bankruptcy. He simply just doesn't have any more money in his pockets.
Regarding his cabin and farm, on the other hand, it was turning out quite positively for him.
Initially, he just wanted something like a small shack — but with Druvis' intervention, it turned much better than what he had in mind. Additionally, the farm he talked about with Mr. APPLe had also gradually taken shape due to the farming tools that were also brought in.
As for the other secret project he was conducting regarding his fog, it was also progressing smoothly. So far, it had remained undetected by the Foundation — but that was only because he had yet to release it beyond the building they were in. If he expanded it suddenly, then perhaps it would be quickly noticed — as such, he'll slowly let it grow and unleash it fully once the time was right.
Overall, everything Isaac had wanted before the start of the third chapter was all here.
And now... It was time for it to start.
---
Vertin stored all of her belongings neatly in her room within the suitcase, making sure that they were all properly organized before she left. After making sure that they were all good, she decided to head out.
When she left her room, however, she met someone right outside waiting for her.
"Mr. Isaac?" She asked, looking at the young man whose body was leaning against the all. "What are you doing here?"
"...today's the day you sleep, innit?" Isaac slowly raised his head and looked at her. "That artificial... something... I don't remember what it was called, but it was a sleeping machine."
"The artificial somnambulism." Vertin clarified, her head tilting to the front a bit. Then, letting out a soft sigh, she continued speaking. "You're right. Today's the day. This process will take a long time to finish, so you might be recruited into the Foundation during my absence."
He coarsely chuckled.
"I trust I don't need to explain the overall feelings of everyone in the suitcase regarding their perception of the Foundation?" He narrowed his eyes, his voice bearing a sardonic tone. "You know what the current situation of the Foundation is in right now, Ms. Vertin. Joining them right now is like offering ourselves to the vultures."
Vertin became silent. She was no fool — she was a perceptive person and knew the worries of those under her. Among the arcanists she had brought back this time, Isaac was the one who — although hasn't spoken much about it — openly didn't want to be forcefully ingrained into the Foundation.
It was as if he held a silent resentment in his heart regarding them; yet keeps it bound and plays the fool to please them.
In fact, he doesn't even give an effort at concealing this aspect about him to her. It was as if he was openly telling her that that was where he was standing.
"Joining the Foundation right now would indeed endanger all of you." Vertin confided as she also leaned back on the wall and crossed her arms, imitating him. "The internal factional war that is on the horizon would drag everyone within the Foundation into it like an inescapable vortex. However, not all hope is lost."
"I respect all of your wishes, I really do. But I fear that we'd all be caught up in this political war and crumble helplessly if we don't have any means to protect ourselves." She paused, then, speaking slowly, she continued. "That is why... I sought the help of a committee member known as Madam Z to aid us."
"But that'll be difficult." Isaac chimed in, seeing the silver lining. "I've been wandering around the Foundation and know that the majority of the people in power here are part of that radical faction called Mankind Caucus who just wants to consolidate more power to themselves and control us arcanists. Hoping to win against them with our numbers is practically... Impossible."
"..." Vertin didn't reply. Frankly, she knew what he said was true — and that it was impossible to win with the odds they had. But she simply cannot accept it — she had dragged them all with her at a rather unstable moment in the Foundation.
Vertin and the rest came back when the two factions in the Foundation needed something to demonstrate their points — and they were the perfect target.
In other words, the moment they stepped foot in the Foundation, they were already seen as pawns.
But Vertin didn't want that.
Looking at Vertin's crestfallen expression, Isaac stayed silent for a few moments before offering a solution. "However... If you want, Ms. Vertin, perhaps I can do something about this."
"With your permission, I would like to join the fray." Isaac's tone and demeanor suddenly changed. "I can never see myself as a player in this chessboard that's being played by those above, but I can be a rather useful chess piece."
"Just say the word, and I'll help Madam Z with the best I can."
Vertin listened and didn't find any peculiar tone in his words. It was as if what he was saying was absolutely true, and that what he was proposing could help them.
Thinking back to his performance during their battle with the Manus Vindictae, she remembered him displaying behaviors of someone tuned in with the battlefield, able to deliver commands as well as showing qualities of leadership — all of which are also useful in this situation.
Now that she thought about it, she knew close to nothing about him. It might have been his jovial and skittish demeanor he always shows in front of them, but the way he acts in serious moments like these makes her think that his past must have been rather unique for him to be able to seamlessly switch between the two.
However, she noticed one particular sentence that stood out. Her eyes narrowed as she spoke with an inquisitive tone. "...what do you mean by all you can?"
"..." Isaac didn't immediately answer. A moment later, however, he smiled wistfully — as if curling up that smile carried unseen weights. "A fog is shapeless, Ms. Vertin, meaning that it can change to fit any situation. But more than that, a fog is also gray, neither in the light nor too in the dark — playing both sides in balance."
He then straightened his posture and bowed slightly in front of her. "If it means that I can protect everyone in this suitcase in your absence, then I can be a morally gray character to be used by Madam Z."
"What are you saying?!" Hearing this, Vertin's calm demeanor broke down for a moment. She frowned as she approached him, stopping him from doing that posture he was doing. "Do you understand what you're saying? What you're proposing... That's not something I want anyone under me to pay just for this reason. That is simply crazy."
He chuckled without uttering a word. Indeed, this quality of a worthy leader was what Isaac liked about Vertin the most, and the reason why he respects her so much. It was the qualities of a leader seldom seen in this day and age, or even in the past.
Hearing her opposition, instead of retorting, Isaac's smile softened as he stood up straight. Looking down at her, he spoke candidly. "It may seem crazy, but to me, it's just a choice. I won't lose too much, just myself. There are always some things that are more important than others."
"You..." Vertin's voice turned tremulous, unsure of what to do. Looking at Isaac's resolute eyes that seem to be determined to follow through with his absurd plan, she didn't know if she should let him do it or not.
If she let him do what he was planning, then there would be a chance that what will change in him later would be partially due to her.
In the end, with reluctance, she asked him a question, her hat covering a part of her face. "If you're confident in this... Then tell me, will you promise that you, too, would be safe at the end of this?"
"I promise." He nodded with a soft sigh. "I promise that while you're gone, I'll keep everyone in this suitcase safe and win our place in the Foundation by helping Madam Z. You have my word."
Hearing this sincerely warm voice, Vertin closed her eyes as she turned her head away. "You make it sound as if it will absolutely happen... Are you that confident in your abilities?"
He chuckled. "Of course. It's a promise I made, after all. Moreover — Ability is of little account without opportunity."
Vertin shook her head, clearly amused by his words, before walking down the hallway. Isaac followed right beside her with a soft smile playing on his lips.
As they walked together, Isaac looked at her figure and whispered a few words under his breath.
"I promise, Ms. Vertin..."
The scene soon changed, and Isaac was now standing behind a glass window surrounded by Druvis, Sotheby, Regulus, and Mr. APPLe.
They all looked at the glass pane window — into the bed in which Vertin, their leader, was now sleeping soundly and comfortably in white sheets.
Holding his hand up and placing it on the glass window, Isaac's promise reverberated inside his head, propelling him to fulfil them at any cost.
"I will win for you."
So sleep peacefully, Ms. Vertin.
---
Volume 1: Nameless Mist end.
Next: Volume 2: Unshackled