Mostima lifted her head from Felix's chest, a faint trace of warmth still lingering on her cheeks as her fingers idly traced slow circles against her lover's skin.
"Laterano already knows," she said softly, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "The Notarial Hall hasn't taken any drastic action. It seems His Holiness understands your stance. Kazdel and Laterano have always been at odds. I never expected the Pope to make this kind of choice."
"Laterano never wanted war," Felix replied calmly. "They were victims in the past."
He rested his head on one hand, enjoying Mostima's gentle touch. "Kazdel's history is a dark one. Once you read it, guilt follows naturally. They were the ones who started the wars, and also the ones who lost them. Now, as the King of Kazdel, I have to fill in the gaps left by the former Sarkaz King's actions. Countless wars were waged in the past, but all I can do now is resolve those legacies as carefully as possible."
"Fortunately, Laterano sees it the same way." Mostima murmured.
"Yes, His Holiness wants to convene the Summit of Nations under Laterano's name, and Kazdel will definitely be invited. Peace between leaders is necessary. History can't be erased, so the only choice is to guide people toward the future."
Mostima gave a lazy hum. "You've finally reached Siesta. Try to relax a little, Felix. You're exhausted after all that diplomacy, aren't you?"
"I do want to rest," he admitted, "but there's still business to settle first."
"You're far too busy," Mostima said, climbing onto him with a teasing smile. "Half the operators went to Dossoles, the other half followed you here. As the leader, shouldn't you take a break? Also... Hehe, We're still a bit away from Siesta. Shall we continue?"
How could he possibly refuse?
Ten hours later, sunlight spilled across the land. From the deck of the Venus, the distant volcano rose along the coastline, with a dense, lively city clustered at its base. That was Siesta, cradled against the volcano's shadow.
The Venus slowly came to a halt. From here, the only way forward was by yacht. Crew members carrying bags of every size disembarked and headed toward the nearby port.
After spending a little more time with Mostima, Felix cleaned up and changed. On the tarmac, he met Loughshinny and Mountain, who would accompany him to meet Herman Doykos of Siesta.
The other senior members had their own plans, and Felix had no intention of dragging them into business matters. Once discussions were over, Loughshinny and Mountain would enjoy their holiday as well.
This business trip could easily pass as tourism in disguise.
The moment they arrived, Siesta's atmosphere washed over Felix like a scene straight out of a tropical film. Heat rolled in with the salty sea breeze, and the surrounding architecture blended resort charm with island flair. He could almost picture people laughing and running along the beach. When he shifted his gaze, however, he found an older man waiting for him.
The man was a middle-aged Liberi with pink hair. He extended his hand, smiling warmly. "Welcome to Siesta, Mr. Pioneer."
"You must be Herman Doykos," Felix said. "Managing such a vast tourist city while maintaining independence under Columbia's pressure is no small feat."
"Just call me Herman."
Herman didn't feel like a career politician. His manner was closer to that of a seasoned businessman. The three of them boarded a jeep and drove along sunlit roads as Herman proudly introduced the city.
"When people speak of Siesta, they always mention the Obsidian Festival," Herman said. "It's our liveliest season. Every summer, all our hotels are fully booked. Visitors come from all over Terra. During the festival, many facilities and services are free, so please enjoy them, Mr. Pioneer."
"I've also arranged a private beach to relax," he added. "If you have any further requests, just let me know and I'll do my best to accommodate them."
He continued driving. "Once our discussion is finished, I'll need to leave Siesta for other business. If you require anything, my secretary, Cronin, will assist you."
The jeep stopped in front of Siesta City Hall, and Herman led the three of them into a conference room. He wasted no time getting to the point.
"I invited Mr. Pioneer here to discuss a business proposal."
Felix took a seat and nodded. "Mayor Herman, which products or services of Tomorrow's Developments are you interested in?"
"Drones," Herman replied with a smile. "To keep pace with the times, I believe establishing a drone network throughout Siesta and gradually integrating drones into daily life would be an upgrade, both for everyday convenience and for tourism."
Felix was momentarily taken aback. He had not received a drone order in quite some time. The Columbian military now only commissioned half-body armor, while other regions such as Kazimierz and Lungmen had placed their orders long ago.
Since acquiring the Clever, Felix himself had rarely relied on ordinary drones. The Clever could directly command them, leaving only a few players who had not yet obtained it still using drones in operations.
Felix glanced at Mountain, then leaned back slightly. Mountain leaned forward with a polite smile. "Mayor Herman, may I ask how large a deal you have in mind?"
___
Half an hour later, Herman and Felix shook hands solemnly in front of City Hall. Herman looked noticeably relieved, as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Standing behind him was a white-haired Liberi, his secretary, Cronin.
"Cronin, Mr. Pioneer are our honored guests. Please ensure all of their needs are met while I'm away."
"Yes, understood," Cronin replied with a courteous bow.
Herman truly seemed pressed for time. He quickly got into his vehicle and departed. Cronin then turned to Felix and bowed again. "Your Excellency, if there are no further arrangements, I will escort you to the residence prepared for your stay."
Seeing this, Mountain and Loughshinny took their leave for the time being. They had not expected the negotiations to conclude so quickly; they had estimated several hours at least. Herman's swift agreement came as a surprise.
Mountain and Hellagur had already made plans to go drinking, while Loughshinny and Frostnova intended to shop for swimsuits.
Cronin drove the jeep at full speed, taking Felix to a seaside villa. The estate was spacious, bordered by white sand and the deep blue of the inland sea. The view was breathtaking. Here, there was no city noise or music, only calm and silence.
"I hope you enjoy your vacation, Your Excellency."
Cronin bowed respectfully and handed Felix a terminal with both hands. "If you need anything, please contact me."
After that, he bowed once more and drove away.
Felix watched the car disappear, then turned and entered the villa. After turning on the air conditioning, he sank into the soft sofa, raising a hand to shield his eyes from the bright sunlight.
Herman's contract was not particularly large. In the current state of Tomorrow's Developments, drones were no longer as valuable or profitable as before. Yet Herman had gone to considerable lengths to personally invite Felix for this discussion.
Moreover, he had left in such a hurry after the meeting, as though something urgent awaited him. Felix had never visited Siesta in his previous life, so he did not know what was happening here, but he could sense that Herman's haste was not due to a simple emergency meeting.
No matter what occurred, Siesta held no strategic value, and no one here posed a real threat to Felix. Even if chaos erupted, it would not spiral out of control. Before he needed to act, the operators would already have moved.
Perhaps Herman had foreseen potential turmoil and that was why he invited Tomorrow's Developments. Felix closed his eyes. In any case, allowing Tomorrow's Developments a period of rest was a good thing. After an exhausting summer of diplomacy, they deserved to embrace the inland sea and enjoy the Obsidian Festival.
___
Mostima took out her terminal, a mysterious smile appearing on her face.
This subtle delight did not escape the notice of Lemuen and Lemuel. The two looked at Mostima at the same time.
"Mostima, what is it?"
"The Felix's business has been settled," Mostima replied lightly. "The mayor of Siesta provided him with a massive villa, and I already have the address."
"Huh? Are we staying together?" Lemuel tilted her head. "By the way, we haven't even booked a hotel yet. Where are we supposed to stay?"
Hearing her sister's words, Lemuen couldn't help but pat her on the head. Although Lemuel had matured a lot, as a woman she still had plenty to learn.
Fiammetta frowned. She still had no idea what these people were talking about.
"Didn't we say we were going to pick out swimsuits?"
"Yeah, yeah. So, has Dawn Destroyer decided what color swimsuit to buy yet?"
"Don't call me by that code name…" Fiammetta sighed, rubbing her forehead. Being around Mostima always gave her a headache. "We're not on a mission this time. Just call me by my name."
"Hmm, what color swimsuit should Fia wear?"
Amid the playful bickering between Mostima and Fiammetta, the four of them entered a women's swimwear store. The place was packed. Nearly half of the customers were operators from Tomorrow's Developments, along with many adventurers. The shop owner was beaming, clearly delighted by the day's sales.
Lemuel blushed faintly as she looked toward the deepest section of the store, where the more daring swimsuits were displayed. Instinctively, she covered her eyes with her hands.
"Does Lemuel want to buy those?" Lemuen whispered into her sister's ear.
Lemuel's ears turned bright red. "W-What? No way! I don't know how I'd ever face anyone wearing something like that!"
Mostima calmly selected a mature-style black swimsuit that boldly revealed a large expanse of skin. Nearby, Fiammetta paced in front of another rack, choosing a more conservative red swimsuit. She glanced at the one Mostima was holding and pursed her lips slightly. She knew exactly what her former surveillance target was planning.
"Lemuel, how about this one?" Lemuen said gently.
She guided her sister to a rack and pointed at a white swimsuit with tasteful cutout designs. It wasn't as revealing as Mostima's, but it still showed quite a bit of skin. Lemuel hesitated. To be honest, she really wanted to buy a one-piece children's swimsuit like the ones she had just seen. But after thinking it over, she blushed and nodded. "Th-This one… it's nice!"
"Then go try it on."
Lemuen watched her sister head into the fitting room and let out a soft sigh, struck by how much she had grown. She then turned back to the racks, scanning them thoughtfully.
"Hmm… there are quite a few competitors."
___
Another swimsuit shop was just as crowded, though the difference was obvious. Nearly everyone here was a Sarkaz woman. The reason was simple: the swimsuits in this shop were generally one size larger, apparently because the shop owner herself was a Sarkaz woman.
W examined her reflection from every angle, still dissatisfied. She had already tried on five swimsuits and hadn't found a single one she liked.
Qalaiša and Mudrock, who had come along this time, had already made their choices. Their styles were on the conservative side, but they suited them perfectly.
W had tried a conservative style as well, but it was clearly not for her.
"Ines, why are you just standing there watching me?" W snapped, baring her small fangs at Ines behind her. "Don't you have a swimsuit to pick out?"
"I already picked one," Ines replied calmly.
W stared at her in disbelief. "When did that happen?!"
"While you were agonizing over colors," Ines said, holding up the swimsuit in her hand. The red-and-black color scheme matched her usual outfit perfectly. It was obvious how well it suited her.
"You're showing way too much skin," W muttered, blushing despite herself.
Ines glanced at her indifferently. "These are adult swimsuits. The ones you were looking at earlier were for Sarkaz children. Of course they have more fabric."
"Ines, do you want to fight?"
"Hehe."
Now thoroughly annoyed, W stormed over to the rack, grabbed a white swimsuit at random, and disappeared into the fitting room. After a short while, her voice rang out from inside.
"Ines, come help me see how this one looks!"
"Alright, alright."
Ines smiled faintly and walked toward the fitting room. W was always full of worries, yet she still charged ahead without hesitation. Ines, on the other hand, remained rational and composed.
Perhaps she should learn something from W's reckless straightforwardness.