Dinner was enjoyed by the whole family. The atmosphere at the table was warm and lively. Madam Lin personally cooked a full spread, giving Felix his first taste of a true family feast. It was the kind of homely warmth that money simply could not buy. Lin Yühsia shared her dealings with black-market figures from various regions, while the old patriarch sat beside her, evaluating and commenting as if reviewing a student's assignments.
At that moment, he resembled a strict examiner far more than a father.
After dinner, Lin Yühsia stayed with her mother, chatting softly. Felix, meanwhile, stood with the old man on the balcony where the cool night wind drifted through.
Despite being a crime boss with plenty of money, the old man lived in a crowded apartment block. It made him seem closer to ordinary people.
"How's Kazdel?" he asked.
"As our main base, it's stabilized completely. The next focus will shift to the Venus, but Kazdel is still the heart of Tomorrow's Development and the Sarkaz homeland. We won't abandon it."
Felix spoke calmly about the plan for the coming years.
"The Victorian Royal Army has been restless. Honestly, I don't think the odds of them raising a sword against Kazdel are high. They're still uncertain whether they can even defeat the Legions."
"…So it will fall into chaos after all?"
"Victoria is bound to."
Felix delivered his conclusion without emotion.
"General Theresis isn't someone who would obediently leave Londinium just because some duke tells him to. Those nobles are truly delusional."
"War?"
"Yes. When it comes, I'll be there to disrupt the board."
The old man's gaze deepened.
"Victorian nobles are a problem that cannot be ignored."
"Cracking down on a few will keep the rest in line. And to be fair, not all nobles are blind. Some can still see the bigger picture."
A smile touched Felix's lips.
"I may not be able to swallow Victoria whole, but I can certainly turn it toward our side for good."
The old man clicked his tongue and looked up at the twin moons.
"You didn't use to have such ambition."
"I've simply realized that the people living under those useless nobles have worse lives than those in Kazdel."
Felix shrugged.
"If I have the ability to fix that, then I should."
The old man watched Felix walk away, then called out to his daughter.
"Go see him off."
Lin Yühsia went downstairs with Felix. Madam Lin moved to her husband's side, giving him a curious look.
"What's wrong? You're rarely shaken like this."
"These next two years won't be peaceful."
The old man sighed. In truth, he was worried for his daughter. Following a man with both ambition and power meant rising with him in success… but also risking ruin if he fell.
———
The next day, Felix arrived at Wei Yenwu's home with arms full of gifts. The old man was displeased, grumbling because Felix had visited Old Master Lin first instead of him.
Fumizuki covered her mouth, smiling quietly as the two exchanged jabs. Soon after, she went to prepare tea.
Wei Yenwu sifted through the gifts and said in a low voice, "Reunion Movement has been active lately."
Felix hadn't followed news of the movement for a while, but he nodded slightly. He knew Wei Yenwu was hoping for intel from him. Unfortunately, he didn't know much, and even the Brotherhood boards in the forums had little information.
After some casual talk, the topic eventually drifted back to Victoria.
"Victoria is a tough bone to crack. Their noble system reeks ten times worse than Yan's bureaucracy."
Wei Yenwu sneered. His disdain extended not only toward Victoria, but clearly toward Yan's officials as well.
"Once Londinium is taken, the rest of Victoria follows. The dukes' private troops… well, their real combat capability is questionable."
Then he looked directly at Felix.
"Do you intend to take Victoria, Felix Lanshem?"
There was a different light in his eyes—one reserved for equals, for those he viewed as standing on the same ground. It held inquiry and a hint of admiration.
Felix shook his head slightly.
"Victoria is already rotten. Taking it without breaking its outdated noble circle would achieve nothing."
Wei Yenwu chuckled, "Break it and start over, huh? Hahaha… After a few years apart, your standards have risen and your ambitions have grown."
"Lord Wei flatters me."
Wei Yenwu shook his head. "After the New Year, you'll be formally engaged to Little Ch'en. The same goes for Yühsia."
"A big, open announcement?"
"The upper circles will all know."
Felix frowned. "And the Capital City…?"
A hint of bitterness appeared at the corner of Wei Yenwu's mouth. He sighed. "Even if Baizao hears of it, nothing will come of it."
"Alright."
Since Wei Yenwu was taking responsibility for everything, Felix felt no need to worry. In truth, he also felt it was time to give his women proper status. Of course, this engagement was only the beginning. Mostima, Lemuen… they all deserved grand weddings.
Being engaged didn't mean getting married immediately. Felix wanted to solidify his bonds with the remaining girls too, but he was simply too busy to deal with matters he once considered trivial.
If he went to propose to Mostima and Lemuen, he'd have to go to Laterano—and Felix suspected he might be cut down by the executioners before he even reached the city gates. If he went to Trimount to find Muelsyse, the military would probably capture him before he even stepped into the city. The situation was… complicated.
When Ch'en Hui-chieh learned about the engagement from the email, her expression turned red and pale all at once—an expression that could only be described as truly spectacular.
Hoshiguma and Swire noticed something was off. They stepped behind her and glanced at her screen, both wearing the unmistakable look of gossip-hungry onlookers.
"Oh? Not bad, Old Ch'en, you're getting engaged?"
"Well, it makes sense. The rice roll dragon is almost thirty—no, wait, you're already in your thirties, right? Still unmarried, never even dated. I'm honestly shocked."
"Missy, don't be like that. Being in your thirties still counts as a maiden, right?"
"…My apologies."
Hoshiguma and Swire took turns poking at her, making Ch'en Hui-chieh's cheeks turn bright red. She quickly closed the email. Remembering the report that the Venus had appeared in the uninhabited zone outside Lungmen, she let out a quiet sigh. The calm, undisturbed mindset she had earlier while working was gone.
"It's just an engagement."
She repeated the words to herself.
"But Old Ch'en, you do like Felix. That's the truth, isn't it?"
Ch'en Hui-chieh gave a small nod, then pressed her lips together. "I do have feelings for him… but engagement, and marriage… those things still feel distant to me."
Hoshiguma smiled. "Old Ch'en, if an opportunity like this were placed before me, I don't think I could bring myself to refuse it. Felix has been waiting for you. Don't let it slip away."
"Opportunities don't last. Right now, he's waiting for you. If you hesitate, he might move forward without you."
Ch'en Hui-chieh shot Hoshiguma a surprised look. "You don't usually talk like that."
"Just speaking from the heart."
Hoshiguma gave a small, quiet shake of her head.
Swire let out a huff. "A remarkable young man choosing to get engaged to the rice roll dragon… Ugh, damn it, why?"
Ch'en Hui-chieh ignored Swire's defeated wailing. She merely nodded lightly. Just as Hoshiguma said—opportunities vanish in an instant. She understood that well, yet she had spent this whole time desperately trying to avoid the issue, as if avoidance could magically make everything disappear.
But the world kept moving. In the shadows beyond her sight, Felix had already achieved so much. And he was still waiting for her.
Although this engagement was proposed by Wei Yenwu—and to Ch'en Hui-chieh, it carried the hint of a political marriage—she felt unprepared. In her own eyes, Felix's current status and position were far above what she could ever reach. That made the engagement seem rushed.
She wasn't planning to refuse. In the future, Felix would certainly be surrounded by women. Both Lungmen and Yan would need several women capable of holding Felix's heart to maintain peace with Kazdel. Looking around, she truly was the most suitable candidate in Lungmen.
Though that sewer rat and Felix had their fair share of affection, the two were more like partners—their relationship driven more by mutual benefit than politics.
The matter of the engagements was settled just like that. After replying to the email, Ch'en Hui-chieh forced herself back into work mode, yet her thoughts drifted nonstop toward the future. What would her life become? Would she continue living in Lungmen, waiting for Felix to return every so often? Or would she give up her post and board the Venus alongside him?
She let out a faint sigh, her mind in complete turmoil.
During the New Year celebrations, Felix hosted a grand banquet at the Lungmen Restaurant for all members of Tomorrow's Development. Their annual gathering still had to be held; only this time, the hosting and agenda were left to Loughshinny and Anthony. Felix only needed to deliver the opening remarks and appear during the raffle.
This year's raffle prizes included, but were not limited to, pets, mechs, housing, and even residential rights aboard the Venus. Both players and Terrans had an incredible time. In the end, Felix waved his hand generously and gave money to everyone.
Even those players who were not in Lungmen received Felix's New Year greeting from the King of Dawn at the same time. One by one, they found themselves tearing up. The feeling of being cared for was simply too heartwarming.
'1096...'
Felix raised his cup and drank with the leadership of Tomorrow's Development. The year 1096… From this year onward, peace would disappear from this land. In its place would come all sorts of conflicts and wars. And this year, version 3.0 would finally begin.
In 1096, he was ready for everything.
Before resting that night, Felix noticed the water clone elf Muelsyse pacing back and forth in his room. When she saw him, she immediately took a few quick steps forward. "Kristen is looking for you. It's urgent."
The alcohol in Felix's system cleared at once. He coughed twice. "Did something go wrong with the construction of the Horizon Ark? Or did the military show up?"
"She didn't tell me. She just wants to share a set of coordinates with you."
Muelsyse quickly scribbled a location on a piece of paper. Her eyes shifted slightly. "It's on the outskirts of Trimount. Probably not the military… maybe she found something valuable and wants to show you."
Felix tapped his temple. "Alright. I'll wash up, then you're coming with me to Trimount."
Muelsyse happily followed him into the bathroom. "I'm a water clone, so bathing together is no problem."
"Aren't you afraid of melting?"
"This isn't a horror movie! I control my water clones properly!"
The bath that should have been sensual somehow turned into a comedy of back-and-forth banter. Once Felix washed off the scent of alcohol and changed into fresh clothes, he headed out of the hotel with Muelsyse at his side.
The pilots had not rested at all. Especially those who flew Felix's private plane; even though they were celebrating the New Year with great enthusiasm, the moment Felix needed them, they entered work mode without hesitation.
On the plane, Felix slept for a while, and by the next morning they arrived at the coordinates.
There, he found not only Kristen, but also Nasti, the head of mechanical engineering. Nasti gave him a brief nod in greeting, while Kristen quickly stepped forward. "Happy New Year. Sorry to call you out on the very first day."
"I don't mind personally. What's going on?"
"I need your strength to crack a program."
Kristen turned and climbed into an off-road vehicle, patting the seat beside her for Felix to follow.
Her decisive tone made it easy for Felix to adapt to the situation. He sat in the passenger seat, with Muelsyse behind him. The four of them drove through the forest not far from Trimount.
"How… how has Saria been lately?"
Halfway through the drive, Kristen could no longer hold back the question.
Felix smiled. "Saria is the director of a research institute in Kazdel now. When I go back next time, I plan to invite her aboard the Venus."
"I see…"
Her words trailed off. Felix knew she wanted to ask more but could not find the right way to speak.
"In a few years, when Columbia's military and government begin tearing each other apart, Saria will be able to return."
"Mm."
Kristen gave a soft response. The journey continued for another hour until they reached an abandoned factory. The four of them got out. Felix looked around. The facility seemed like an old military site; remnants of military presence could still be seen here and there.
"What I want to show you is deep inside. A place even the military didn't discover."
Kristen led Felix into the facility. Though it had been abandoned for years, there were no signs of contamination. The deeper they went, the fewer traces of artificial construction appeared. By the end, the surrounding walls looked almost naturally formed.
A single door stood at the end of the corridor, pitch-black and unlike anything made in this era.
'All these things remind me of Assassin's Creed...'