The trial was over.
All members of the Reunion Movement had received their due punishment. With the exception of Mephisto and Talulah, no one raised any objections to the verdicts.
Mephisto had long since abandoned any hope of continuing to live. From the moment he was captured by Jesselton, he had already foreseen his fate. What truly disturbed him was not the sentence itself, but the fact that he and Faust were assigned to different juvenile detention centers. He had once believed that he did not care what his future held, as long as he could remain with his friend.
That hope was shattered during the escort.
Mephisto struggled violently against the Lightbearers' restraints, desperately trying to rush toward Faust, but it was futile. His body was firmly restrained.
Faust turned back and met his gaze. Mephisto' eyes were filled with reluctance and anguish. Faust said nothing. He simply turned away and allowed himself to be taken by the Lightbearers.
Mephisto stood there in a daze, like a fool frozen in place.
No one pitied him. The Lightbearers roughly forced him into a prison cart and drove off in the opposite direction from Faust.
His future was set. He would spend his remaining youth in a juvenile detention center, and once he came of age, he would be transferred to prison to serve out his life sentence.
Talulah walked forward with her hands bound, lips pressed tightly together, without a word.
She had wanted to die. Desperately so. Yet she had been saved by Alina, FrostNova, and those Reunion members who had once been abandoned by "her," as well as adventurers who were once comrades and later enemies. Now, her heart was filled with conflict. She believed her sins were far greater than six months of imprisonment. In her mind, death would have been the proper ending.
But she had survived.
And now, Talulah forced herself to look ahead. Not because she was fantasizing about life after her release, but because she was trying to understand what she could possibly do in the future. Her dangerous identity, her burning temperament, her ideals that had once died and now lingered like embers. What path remained open to her?
She could not stay in Kazdel forever, and she knew she would not simply stop. Whether she returned to Ursus to settle her score with the Black Snake, or chose to remain distant and observe the development of Tomorrow's Development, Talulah understood one thing clearly. She was bound to this land and could not remain a bystander.
"It's over."
No one knew who said it first.
The people of Ursus wept. Some murmured quietly to themselves, while others clutched one another and sobbed. The Ursus agents maintaining order lowered their heads deeply toward the distant direction of their homeland.
Father. Mother. Elder brother. Elder sister. Younger brother. Younger sister. The sinner has been judged. Please rest in peace. I will live on and do my best.
Thus, the Chernobog and Kursk incident finally came to an end. The perpetrators were executed or imprisoned, and the survivors continued forward.
Felix withdrew his gaze. Hoederer and the others rose from their seats. This chapter had closed, and it was time to look further ahead.
"Your Highness, what is our next strategy?"
Back in the office, Loughshinny was giving Felix a massage. Over the years, she had grown intimately familiar with Felix's body, knowing where pressure would bring relief and where it would draw a soft, comfortable sound from him.
"In Leithanien, we received a response from Empress Hildegard Grimmacht, the so-called 'Ruthless Authority' of the Twin Empresses," Loughshinny said softly. "She expressed interest in Tomorrow's Developments' approach and satisfaction at Kazdel's current peace. In fact, Empress Hildegard had always supported war during the previous conflicts with Kazdel."
She paused and poured more essential oil into her hands before continuing. "Kazdel has changed greatly since then. Empress Hildegard has invited Tomorrow's Developments to Leithanien for talks."
"This is different from Madame Sicily," Felix said quietly, enjoying the steady pressure of Loughshinny's hands. "In Siracusa, it was purely business. The Madame Sicily kept a clear distance. Even though Siracusa has left Leithanien, it still lags slightly behind in both strength and diplomacy."
"Well," Loughshinny said after a brief pause, "you had just returned from Siracusa when the messenger from Leithanien arrived. That timing feels… deliberate."
"I don't think it's a coincidence," Felix replied calmly. "The messenger is testing Tomorrow's Developments' stance. Madame Sicily is shrewd and speaks only of profit. The Twin Empresses have yet to receive clear information, but they already know we are heading toward Siracusa."
He closed his eyes slightly. "This invitation gives us a chance to clarify our position and decide where we stand in the future."
"Will there continue to be friction between Leithanien and Siracusa?"
"After all, Siracusa was once separated from Leithanien. On the surface, everything appears calm, but deep down, the Leithanien nobility still looks down on the Siracusan families."
Felix straightened his posture. "I will accept Hildegard's invitation. The Venus will depart for Leithanien immediately."
"Yes. And what about Kjerag?"
"The messenger will relay my intentions to our allies. Kjerag is small, and Kazdel is small, but in the future, these two places will become the core of this land."
Felix paused briefly. "It may still be too early for Kjerag at present. The Victorian Dukes still treat it as their own backyard. But I believe our allies will not continue down that path. Please pass this message to Miss Kjera. As a former member of the clergy, she can offer valuable advice regarding Kjerag."
"I understand."
With the destination decided, the Venus began preparations for departure. This time, many chose to remain behind. Giles, Luna, and others stayed to help revive industry and assist Hoederer in managing Kazdel. Those who boarded the ship were primarily members of the mechanical race, the Melira. They replaced part of the crew and took responsibility for the Venus's central control systems.
Once everything was ready, the landship powered up and slowly departed. Less than a month after her return, the Venus set sail once again.
Summer was approaching. The weather grew hot and humid, ideal for planting. Felix leaned back in his office chair, watching the scenery outside the window change from barren desert to experimental fields filled with automated modules. He smiled faintly.
"Kazdel has solved its food problem. The future of Sarkaz children will no longer be limited to becoming mercenaries."
Factories could provide employment, and food processing facilities also required manpower. If everything were handled by machines alone, the energy consumption would be far too great to sustain.
___
Talulah sat alone in her confinement cell. Her treatment was decent. She received three meals a day, along with snacks, more than enough to sustain her. Most of her time was spent facing the wall, lost in thought.
She was thinking about what she could do in the future.
Then, a distant rumble reached her ears.
She recognized the sound immediately. It was the Venus powering up.
Felix had left Kazdel. He might return someday, but he would not remain here permanently.
Because there were still things Felix needed to do.
"Talulah, you have a visitor."
The tall, expressionless Goliath guard opened the door. Startled, Talulah stood and followed him to the visiting area, where she saw a familiar figure.
Alina sat across the window, dressed in simple home clothes, a serene smile on her face.
"Ah…"
"Talulah."
Alina's smile widened slightly. "I heard you're still reflecting on your actions."
"It's what I should do," Talulah replied as she sat down by the window. After a brief hesitation, she asked, "You… didn't leave with Felix and the others?"
"No. I learned a great deal from Miss Loughshinny before. She said I needed to improve my practical skills, so I volunteered to stay," Alina explained. "Hoederer has a heavy clerical workload here and needs reliable people to assist him. I wanted to train my internal affairs abilities here. And most importantly, you're still here, Talulah."
Talulah opened her mouth, but faced with her friend and that gentle smile, shame always welled up inside her.
"Talulah."
Alina's voice was exceptionally soft.
Talulah looked up.
Alina smiled warmly. "His Highness has great expectations for you. He hopes you'll learn how to properly use your power. I will always stay by your side."
"Alina…"
___
Aboard the Venus, the players closely followed every movement of Meliras. Meanwhile, within the upper offices, Nearl finally managed to meet Felix, a rare occurrence.
She had always been diligent, training alongside the other operators and assisting in the medical department. Though her days were busy, Nearl found fulfillment in her work. This time, however, she had come with a request.
She was here to ask Felix for leave.
"You said… your sister wants to participate in the 24th Kazimierz Knights Major?"
Felix shifted his gaze from the scenery outside the window to the woman beside him. Margaret Nearl looked even more striking after years of rigorous training. Though undeniably beautiful, she carried an unshakable knightly presence that set her apart.
Nearl sensed Felix's gaze. Her face flushed faintly, and she let out a light cough.
"Maria has already registered for the special tournament qualifiers as an independent knight," Margaret said. "I only learned about it through a letter from Aunt Zofia."
"An independent knight," Felix replied calmly. "I suppose she really is your sister. Does she intend to follow the same path you chose?"
"I don't know what Maria is thinking," Margaret admitted. "But I am a little worried. I'll suggest that she join the Fate Knights, though I can't be certain what decision she'll ultimately make."
"With Zofia watching over her, Maria should be safe for now," Felix said. "Still, as a member of the Nearl family, every move she makes will draw attention."
He turned back toward the window. Four years had passed in the blink of an eye, and his own identity had changed once more. He wondered whether entering Kazimierz again would truly be as peaceful as before.
"If you want to go, then go," Felix said. "Treat it as an assignment. And this is my personal advice."
"Please speak, Your Highness."
"Your sister is no timid filly bound to the stable. She is a filly prepared to break into a full gallop," Felix said gently. "With an older sister like you, it's only natural she wants to follow your footsteps and eventually surpass you. I don't have siblings myself, but I understand how powerful it is to have someone you admire."
Felix reached out and patted Margaret on the head before continuing. "If Maria wants to try, then let her. We can always handle the aftermath. Besides, Tomorrow's Developments have an office in Kazimierz. If the Chamber of Commerce pushes things too far, we can intervene."
"Ah…"
Margaret instinctively leaned back, ears twitching, and Felix withdrew his hand at once.
"I'll inform Tomorrow's Development Branch within Kawalerielki to make preparations," Felix added. "After our visit to Leithanien, the Venus may head to Kazimierz."
"Thank you."
As she left, Margaret let out a quiet breath of relief. Whenever she stood too close to Felix, her heart would race uncontrollably. As a knight, she did not shy away from understanding what this feeling was. At first, she had seen Felix as an older sibling, but through time and countless interactions, that affection had begun to change.
Margaret had always walked a righteous path as a knight. Yet when it came to this feeling, she knew one thing clearly.
Love was as important to her as her chivalry.
She would not abandon her ideals for love, nor would she deny her feelings for the sake of her ideals.
With that resolve, Margaret lifted her gaze. Before traveling to Kazimierz, she still had her duties to fulfill as an operator.
Two weeks later, the Venus crossed into Leithanien territory.
"Master, we are approaching the outskirts of the mobile city of Vyseheim. A docking request has already been sent."
In the bridge, Asuna relayed the report. She smiled upon seeing Felix and stepped forward, speaking briskly.
"Considering that we hold an official invitation from the Twin Empresses…"
"They approved our dock request, Your Highness," she continued. "What are our next steps?"
"We'll dock at Vyseheim for resupply and conduct exchange activities," Felix replied calmly. "Leithanien values music. This time, we may recruit several operators proficient with musical instruments."
"Master, your command is my will."
Felix looked toward the distant mobile city, now becoming a small dot on the horizon. "Inform the operators that we'll be staying for roughly ten days."
"Master, do you wish to enter the city personally?"
"Yes," Felix answered. "Though I can't say I'm particularly interested in the nobles here."