Felix listened to the overlapping voices buzzing around him. To be honest, his head was starting to go numb. He understood that everyone wanted to board the ship, but he truly had not expected everyone to want it. Seriously? Was there not a single person willing to stay behind and hold the fort? This was supposed to be a prime position.
Yet every Sarkaz present, whether from the former Babel or the former Military Commission, insisted on following Felix onto the landship.
Felix rubbed his brow in mild irritation. His original plan was for Ulšulah to continue commanding Kazdel. She had the talent for it, and bringing her aboard might waste her abilities. But after some thought, he acknowledged the years of hard work she had put in. She deserved a chance to return to the central command and rest. He could always send her out again later.
It resembled the administrative practices of the old Capetian realm. Noble administrators sent to govern distant provinces gained invaluable experience, yet their absence also removed them from the heart of courtly intrigue. But absence never meant obscurity—when such men returned to the royal court, their arrival often marked the beginning of a shift in power.
Ulšulah had been at Kazdel from the very beginning of his rise. Her loyalty and dedication were clearer to him than anyone else's. Naturally, he intended to bring her aboard this time.
As for the rest, Felix leaned toward appointing Hoederer as the executive officer. Hoederer could be rough around the edges, but he never faltered in critical matters. His reputation among the Sarkaz mercenaries was solid enough to convince the masses.
Ines had followed him for a long time. Felix knew she was attentive to every detail, but she often needed guidance in broader strategy. If he had to choose a personal subordinate, he would prefer someone like Ines. But Hoederer had proven his loyalty as well. As a vanguard and pillar of stability, Hoederer could shoulder the responsibility.
"Enough."
Felix spoke calmly, cutting through the ongoing arguments. The room immediately quieted, all eyes turning to the king seated at the head of the table.
"Hoederer."
"Here."
Hoederer stood upright, composed, and offered a small respectful bow.
"You've served in Tomorrow's Development for many years. Everyone has seen your work. If we had to name someone who best represents a mercenary's successful transformation into an operator, the answer for most would be you."
Hoederer looked slightly embarrassed. "I… don't dare accept such praise."
"What about your old subordinates?"
"They've been running errands. These days they're transporting supplies for adventurers in the Frontier District."
Felix nodded inwardly. "Call them back to assist you. You'll need reliable people at your side."
Hoederer bowed deeply. His old mercenary group had once worked for multiple factions before joining Tomorrow's Development. He had long worried about how others viewed their loyalties, and his men had stepped back once he entered upper management to avoid causing trouble. In truth, Hoederer felt he owed his former comrades. Since the king had spoken, it was time to bring them back.
"Hoederer, you'll need to devote your full attention to Kazdel over the next few years."
Hoederer wanted to board the ship, but he understood. This was the King's trust in him. That trust was exactly why he had been placed in this position. He bowed low. "As you command."
"Ines."
Ines stepped forward, meeting Felix's gaze calmly.
"You will assist Hoederer. The two sides will still need messengers. This responsibility falls to you."
Ines nodded. The work was similar to what she had done in the early days, carrying messages between both sides. Now that aircrafts existed, communication should arrive within a day or two unless unusual circumstances arose.
"Giles."
The towering goliath stepped out.
"As a member of Saviadel, you must select a reliable goliath to oversee Kazdel's city defenses in your place."
Joy spread openly across Giles's face. He bowed deeply in acknowledgment.
Nearby, Yang Yan XF recorded everything with fervent loyalty. As members of Tomorrow's Development, they felt enormous satisfaction in their early decision to join. They had watched the Pioneer rise from an ordinary merchant to the leader of a powerful force, and now the King of Kazdel. The adventurers had accompanied him along the way, but the most important factor was the Pioneer's own character. Otherwise, how could a Sarkaz submit to a Sankta?
Even W, once the loudest and most foul-mouthed critic, could barely keep herself from hesitating and muttering whenever she saw Felix now.
It was impossible to bring everyone aboard. He couldn't just leave Hoederer with an empty shell. Felix had long since decided who would go and who would stay. He waved his hand to dismiss the meeting and told the upper brass to wait for further notice after returning. They left somewhat uneasy. As for Hoederer and Ines, they remained. W had intended to leave, but seeing the two stay behind, she stopped in her tracks.
"Your Majesty, I… have something I wish to ask."
"You don't need to be so formal with me, Hoederer. What is it?"
Without realizing it, Hoederer himself was starting to speak more formally.
"If you intend to go to Londinium… please take me with you."
"Alright."
Hoederer bowed again, glanced at Ines, who returned a polite nod, and the two quietly left the room. They still needed to discuss the future direction of Kazdel's governance.
W looked at Felix. "I thought you wouldn't let Hoederer stay behind. Kazdel is yours, after all."
Ever since Felix had been called king, most of the high-ranking members addressed him as such. Of course, there were exceptions. That was why he said "most," because W never called him King. Perhaps in her heart, the only King of Kazdel would forever be Her Highness, the Sarkaz King Theresa.
Felix never forced anyone to call him king. A title was merely a form of respect. At the very least, W insulted him far less now. Her words were still barbed, but at least the range of topics they could discuss had grown compared to the past.
"Kazdel is mine, but it is also Tomorrow's Development's, and it belongs to every Sarkaz."
He spoke calmly. "I said this from the very beginning. You just never believed it."
"But… Her Highness entrusted Kazdel to you. How can you hand it over to someone else so easily?"
"I am not abandoning Kazdel, W."
Felix's voice softened. "Kazdel has been rebuilt. It is the result of all our efforts. I am leaving now because there are many other places on Terra that need Tomorrow's Development, that need us."
W stared into Felix's eyes, as if trying to find something hidden within them.
"W, you are naturally coming with me."
Felix let out a small laugh, then pushed the door open and left.
Once he was gone, W climbed onto the conference table where the meeting had been held. She traced the spot where Felix's hand had rested, her expression unreadable.
Thud.
She tapped the tabletop lightly, as if knocking against someone's body instead. With a soft huff, W hopped off the table, ready to return and pack her things. After all, she was getting on that landship too, wasn't she?
The people of Kazdel still stood outside the city gates, curious and watching. Felix returned to Tomorrow's Development headquarters. There, he met Duke Kent. The duke had gone back to Windermere once and had now returned, this time bringing a guard of several hundred men.
"Sigh… I don't even know how I should address you anymore."
Duke Kent wore a kind smile and gestured politely. "My apologies. My daughter is being playful. She and her friends have not returned yet."
"Your Grace and I have known each other for a long time. Just call me Felix. You have raised your household well. Delphine has many friends at school, and her teachers are quite fond of her."
Once Felix was seated, the duke sighed. "The situation in Londinium… My wife wished to intervene, but without the support of the other dukes, it is impossible. We have already given up on speaking at the dukes' council."
"A wise decision… though unfortunate for those soldiers who still believe they fight for Victoria."
Felix's words carried a deeper meaning. "During my personnel last visit to Londinium, Meteorite wrote in her report about a special force known as the Tempest Platoon. I wonder whether their future lies in fighting for the crown or for Parliament."
This was a lie. Meteorite had never reported anything about the Tempest Platoon, nor had she heard of them. Felix mentioned them only because he felt it was a pity. In his previous life, he had learned from the operator Bagpipe about the Tempest Platoon' sacrifices, their helplessness, and how their captain had barely survived.
Victoria was already rotten. That was what Felix believed. If Victoria had talent to spare, why not bring them here instead?
Ah, he had forgotten something. Siege had been doing mercenary work with Tomorrow's Development for quite some time. She would also be boarding the landship. In his previous life, by the end of 3.0 and the beginning of 4.0, the Victoria arc had yet to conclude. How could he give up such a perfect opportunity and let the original plot unfold untouched?
"Lord Felix, the Tempest Platoon are a secret military force directly under Parliament… but the Parliament of today no longer has its former honor. It has decayed. The Tempest Platoon followed the wrong master. Their fate may…"
Duke Kent, who had navigated the aristocratic circles for many years, immediately understood Felix's implication. He was simply expressing interest in the unit.
If this had been earlier, Duke Kent would never have shown such enthusiasm. But things were different now. Felix and the landship Venus behind him had proven without doubt that if he ever intervened in Victoria's war, he would become a force impossible to ignore.
Because of that, the duke's attitude toward Felix had shifted. If their interactions in the past had been between equals, then now, without even realizing it himself, Duke Kent was already thinking from both Windermere's position and Felix's position whenever he spoke or acted.
"They still serve Parliament. That is blind loyalty."
Felix frowned with a sigh. "In their hearts, they serve Victoria. But good soldiers follow orders. So they can only follow Parliament."
"Your judgment is correct, Lord Felix. Even we of Windermere cannot interfere with the Tempest Platoon… unless."
The duke cleared his throat twice. "Unless the Sarkaz completely fall out with Parliament. If Parliament were to be taken, then perhaps you could…"
Felix smiled without answering. Duke Kent also laughed. He reached for a bottle of red wine on the shelf. "A specialty of Windermere. Estate wine from the year 1080. Every sip has a deep lingering flavor."
"Lord Felix, please."
"Please."
With a faint warmth of drink in his veins, Felix returned that night to his room at Tomorrow's Development's Kazdel headquarters. He had not yet gone to bed when someone knocked on the door.
Opening it, he found Ulšulah, freshly bathed and dressed. Her pink eyes seemed ready to overflow at any moment. When she saw Felix, she whispered softly, "My King…"
"Please… grant me your favor."
The door closed quietly behind her.
Meanwhile, Duke Kent was still savoring the taste of the wine. Victoria's future was bleak. By all logic, he should have been the one most anxious. But today, King Felix had subtly revealed his stance. That made the duke consider another possibility. The role Windermere would need to play in it was something worth pondering.
"Father, you're still drinking."
"You're back, my proud daughter."
Duke Kent smiled gently at Delphine. She was surprised. In her memory, ever since they left Londinium, her father had worn constant worry, always staring at maps and sighing heavily. Why was he suddenly relaxed?
"You saw the Venus, didn't you?"
"Yes… I went with Adele and the others. It's an enormous landship."
Delphine hesitated. "Much larger than Windermere's flagship."
"That is only what you see on the surface, Delphine."
The duke's smile deepened. "What do you think of Lord Felix?"
"…"
Delphine seriously considered the question. "He is very capable. He rose from the leader of Tomorrow's Development to become the King of Kazdel. He is remarkable."
"And besides that?"
"…He has means, and ambition."
Perhaps embarrassed to say it, her voice grew softer toward the end.
The duke laughed. "My daughter, there is nothing shameful in that. Compared to the dukes of Victoria, Lord Felix is like light. Yes, he has methods and ambition, but what he created in the end is a wonderful Kazdel. Before coming here, what was your impression of Kazdel?"
Seeing his daughter fall into thought, the duke nodded silently.
When the time came, if Lord Felix sought to claim Victoria… Windermere's stance would need to be decided carefully.
He was not the kind of noble who would treat his daughter as a bargaining chip. But he could not ignore the truth. The King was young, ambitious, and powerful… and if Delphine herself showed interest in that direction,
He would not object.