The daily lives of the mechanical race known as the Meliras were not very different from those of ordinary Terrans. They were uniformly assigned to dormitories identical in style to those of other operators. However, due to the large number of weapons each Melira possessed, a dedicated armory was specially constructed for their use.
The four-person dormitory apartments were designed to be exactly the same as those of other operators, a clear indication that Felix treated them no differently from anyone else.
This sense of equality greatly pleased the Meliras. Even so, from the moment they were born into this world, they had regarded Felix as their creator. To them, he was both master and father. Their feelings toward him consisted only of loyalty and love, nothing more.
In that sense, they were the most stable and least likely to betray Felix among all races. Their initial favorability had already reached one hundred percent.
Over the following days, the Meliras split into different teams and traveled to various corners of Kazdel to observe and explore, much like tourists. Their observations and experiences were transmitted as terminal data to their respective systems, in a manner similar to Clever.
Unlike Clever, however, they possessed hands and feet, mouths and tongues. They could experience this land through all five senses, making their understanding far richer than mere data collection.
That said, each Melira was an individual. While they shared part of their data, memories tied to personal experiences remained private. Felix deliberately granted them this freedom. No two lives on this land were the same, and the Meliras were no exception.
This seemingly selfish choice stemmed from Felix's desire to truly bring the Meliras to life, rather than creating machines bound by a collective hive mind.
When traveling in groups, the Meliras would split up at lunchtime to visit different restaurants. Eating served as one of their methods of energy acquisition, and it was during these meals that their individual differences became most apparent. Some preferred sweet flavors, others favored spicy dishes. Some loved meat, while others enjoyed fish. Sometimes they chose eateries run by adventurers according to their tastes.
During meals, adventurers often approached and attempted to dine with them. Depending on their individual personalities, each Melira responded differently. Since they would inevitably encounter adventurers on future battlefields, their favorability toward players was capped at the level of friendship, roughly forty percent.
Every mealtime thus became a moment when players could sit face to face with their anime heroines. Even knowing it was artificial, even knowing the Meliras were mechanical beings, even knowing that their names had been chosen by the players themselves, joy still welled up whenever someone saw the two Meliras named Asuna and Rin Tohsaka chatting and laughing together over a meal.
The afternoons continued the reconnaissance work from the morning, while also involving interactions with operators from Tomorrow's Development. Through these exchanges, the Meliras learned about different cultures and personal interests, gradually forming a deeper understanding of this fractured land.
After dinner, they enjoyed a period of free time. Meliras with different personalities chose different activities before returning to their dorms to rest.
At first glance, it was no different from an ordinary day on Terra.
Felix nodded slightly as he reviewed the analytical data transmitted back by Clever. The Melira race appeared to have integrated smoothly. In the future, he might expand their numbers, but he also had to consider the broader impact of such a special race on the world. A thousand could be seen as a private armed force. Ten thousand would become a terrifying war group. A hundred thousand might be capable of erasing a small nation outright.
For the sake of Kazdel's future diplomacy, Felix was in no hurry. His contingency plans were already in place. How they would be used would depend on the movements of other powers and Kazdel's future policies.
"Brother Felix, you're finally back!"
Mandragora pushed open the office door, her slanted eyes giving her a fierce appearance. Yet the moment she saw Felix, her face flushed. As time passed, the once frail little girl had grown up. Proper nutrition had done its work, and though she was not especially tall, her figure had become graceful.
"How's school?"
"Hmm…" Mandragora replied. "I had to call in the parents of a few troublesome kids today. I didn't expect them to be the children of Mr. Hoederer's former subordinates. They kept apologizing and trying to flatter me, hoping I wouldn't tell Mr. Hoederer about something so embarrassing."
Mandragora could not help laughing as she spoke. She stepped forward, took off her coat, and sat down on Felix's lap.
"Now that you're back, you'll take us with you, won't you?"
After graduating from university, Mandragora worked in Iberia for a time, participating in many aspects of Tomorrow's Development. Later, she returned to Kazdel and began focusing on what she excelled at, serving as a caster within the organization. Because her former teacher was a Gargoyle, she maintained a close relationship with the Children of Mud. Mudrock, in particular, valued her abilities and recommended her as a teacher and instructor at the Kazdel caster Academy.
The scenes of Sister Degenbrecher and Sister Carnelian training them were still vivid in her memory. Mandragora wanted to push herself as far as she could. She did not need to prove anything to anyone. She already possessed enough confidence and had no need for further validation.
Tomorrow's Development are both a company and a family. Everyone only needed to do their part. There was no need to compete or compare.
This was Mandragora's answer. The Sarkaz were like this, and so were the Tara people in her heart. Unlike the past, when Earl Warwick had plunged everything into chaos, and before she had even fully severed ties with Victoria, the Tara nobles had already begun fighting among themselves.
Mandragora had since transformed into a caster instructor. Senomi and several other operators had gone to Kazimierz to take the knighthood examination. She herself was a member of the Fate Knight and had successfully passed the assessment to become a third-rank knight. With that, she could participate in official competitions and events held within mobile cities. Although she did not think highly of manipulated tournaments, she was currently assisting the action teams and had become a dependable aide to the Siege, second only to the Glasgow Gang.
Little Susie was no longer a child. After receiving the codename Goldenglow, she joined the logistics department. Her understanding of casters and her keen sensitivity to Originium art drew Saria's attention, leading to an invitation to work in the laboratory. Although Goldenglow's scientific foundation was only at a postgraduate level, Saria personally tutored her, helping her grasp electrical engineering. Goldenglow studied diligently, fully aware that this was a rare opportunity. She had heard of Felix's past "achievements," how he had earned multiple doctoral degrees in half a year. As Felix's woman, she blushed at the thought and refused to fall behind.
Felix had never expected that Goldenglow, who in his previous life had merely maintained battery power systems, would embark on the path of a scientist in this world. This realization reassured him that taking care of them had been the right choice.
As for Ella, now bearing the codename La Pluma, she remained busy and content running her shop each day. From time to time, she joined operators on missions, going out to show off her skills or hunt wild game for her bar.
"We'll be conducting a handover soon," Felix said. "Some operators from the Venus will remain in Kazdel to continue development, while another group will board the Venus to explore this land." He paused briefly. "If you want to go aboard, submit an application to Clever. I'll approve it. But have you thought about what you want to do on the Venus?"
"I'll continue being an instructor," Mandragora replied. "I want to learn from Sister Degenbrecher and Sister Carnelian. Of course, I also want to take part in missions and get to know the operators of Tomorrow's Development better."
"Mm."
Felix gently stroked her head, and she closed her eyes, visibly relaxing.
"By the way, Brother Felix," Mandragora said. "Everyone knows now that the trial will be held in five days. Will we be able to attend?"
"Jury registration hasn't closed yet. If you want to participate, you can try," Felix said after a moment of thought. "You already know what they've done. They indiscriminately slaughtered innocent infected people in past battles. Ursus did not try them, nor did Yan. In the end, the right to judge them was handed over to us."
Mandragora frowned in confusion. "Those infected were Ursus citizens. They clearly should have had those rights…"
"If Ursus tried them, it would expose deeper problems within Ursus and amplify the voices of the infected there," Felix replied. "The infected have already dealt a serious blow to the Ursus government. While Ursus will not change its stance toward the infected, it will not escalate matters at this time."
"As for Yan," he continued, "they also have their own infected issues. Do you know how many infected traitors Lungmen uncovered this time?"
"Old Man Lin has gone on a killing spree," Felix said calmly. "As for why so many infected were drawn to Reunion, it's closely tied to Lungmen's own infected population. After this war, Lungmen will undergo a major reshuffle."
Mandragora's eyes darted about. "I heard that Officer Ch'en from Lungmen also boarded the Venus. What a pity for Lungmen to lose someone so talented."
"It's understandable," Felix replied. "Ch'en Hui-chieh wants to see more of the world."
Mandragora suddenly reached up, turned Felix's face toward her, and bit him lightly.
"You're talking about other women again. I'm getting jealous."
___
In recent days, Felix had returned to a life of comfort. After handing over all official duties to Hoederer, Loughshinny, and the other senior officials, he moved back into his residence in Kazdel Mobile City. His days were spent browsing the internet, watching dramas, and scrolling through forums. When he felt like it, he would also do some metalworking. During this period, he naturally rotated the women around him on a daily basis, which could be considered compensation for the exhausting workload he had endured earlier.
Fortunately, his physical endurance was more than sufficient. Every morning, he could still rise from bed and walk about with ease, while the girls slept soundly until noon.
___
Justizpalast, Nürnberg, Kazdel.
The day of the trial arrived.
Felix did not attend in person. Instead, he observed the entire proceedings as a spectator. The Goliath City Defense Force was responsible for maintaining order. Judge Lavinia presided over the court, while the members of the jury had already gathered outside the courthouse early in the morning.
This time, there were no individual defendants.
Or rather, every agent who had participated in the operations at Chernobog and Kursk was a defendant, including those who had survived those two cities.
Members of the Reunion Movement, shackled with bracelets and anklets, along with red-named players, were escorted to the court by the Lightbearers and the Emperor's Childrens. What greeted them was a suffocating, silent fury.
The Sarkaz had lived lives steeped in danger, but as mercenaries, they adhered to a code. They did not slaughter innocents indiscriminately. In their eyes, the people standing here were no longer terran.
"By what right do you judge me? Do you even have that authority?"
"Let me go! Let me go!"
"You're infected too. Why are you just standing there and watching?"
"I'm innocent! I was just following orders!"
Sensing the solemn yet oppressive atmosphere, the infected erupted into curses. Some trembled uncontrollably, as though they already understood their fate.
"Silence," Lavinia said, her voice firm as she held the law code in her hands. At this moment, she was the law. She was justice.
"Please rise. Court is now in session. Maintain order," Lavinia continued. "This courtroom exists for open and lawful proceedings. All observers are required to remain quiet and refrain from disrupting the trial."
Everything proceeded with textbook precision. Soon, the defendants were brought forward one after another.
"Adam murdered ten civilians in Chernobog and stabbed eighteen others, causing them to become infected—"
The first infected rioter was presented. After deliberation, the jury reached a unanimous decision.
Death.
"Solis killed eight residents of Chernobog, murdered seven students, and stabbed twenty-five people, causing infection—"
The second, the third, and the fourth defendants followed. Each verdict was the same.
Death.
At the sight of this, many Ursus agents broke into tears, their eyes red and swollen. Most of their parents and relatives had perished in that disaster born of both nature and terran cruelty. Toward these Ursus criminals, they felt nothing but boundless hatred and rage.
Once the Reunion thugs were dragged away, the next group brought forward was the red-named players. They hurled insults and threats at everyone present.
"We are immortal. As long as you live, we'll be waiting in the shadows for our chance to kill you!"
The players from Tomorrow's Development responded with cold sneers.
If the death penalty was ineffective, then perhaps life imprisonment would suffice.