"Gods," Gawain said slowly, "possess supernatural abilities beyond mortal comprehension and lifespans beyond imagination."
He let out a faint snort. "But do not forget, when the Feranmuts once roamed Terra, they were the hunted. Whether in Kazdel, Victoria, or Great Yan, such creatures were never accepted by the people. Power that cannot be understood is treated as a threat and eradicated before it can take root."
Felix rested his chin against his hand. "So becoming a god or a Feranmuts is unlikely."
Gawain sighed. "Becoming a Beast Lord is even less possible. With your current strength, you have already brushed against the pinnacle of Terra. Why obsess over changing your form? You are who you are. Now that you have uncovered your bloodline, perhaps the path forward lies within the Teekaz lineage itself."
Continue upgrading?
Felix understood what Gawain meant. The Teekaz could not possibly evolve into some colossal monster. At least, that was the logical conclusion. Yet even as he thought so, he could not predict how the Ark would evolve in the future.
At level 240, he was already capable of facing Terra's strongest warriors head-on. If players truly reached that level in reality, the balance of the world would collapse. The sheer destructive force they could unleash upon one another would be enough to shake nations.
And at level 350, the outcome would be unimaginable. Hadn't his battle with the King of Nachzehrers, and the Blood Prince Duq'arael already torn the heavens and earth apart? What would Terra look like if countless players fought at that level?
The answer seemed obvious.
Felix stared into the distant sky and fell silent.
"What troubles you?" Gawain asked.
"Nothing. Where is Vina? Can you sense her?"
"She has been fighting alone for dozens of hours against the Steam Knight."
Gawain's voice grew solemn. "This is Vina's final trial. It is her rite of passage and her first step toward bearing the responsibility of Victoria."
Felix ascended the steps before the throne. "The late king once sat here."
"Yes. He handled the affairs of Victoria until the very day he was assassinated."
"…I see."
Felix ran his hand along the throne's armrest, then turned and sat down.
Nothing happened.
Hadn't they said he would dissipate upon sitting here?
"What is it?" Gawain asked.
"Just trying to see things from Victoria's king's perspective, I'll be going."
With a light wave of his hand, he pushed open the great doors and left the hall. Gawain watched his retreating figure before dissolving into a streak of golden light and vanishing.
As Felix walked down the corridor, Amiya suddenly collided with him. Her small nose wrinkled slightly as she grabbed his hand.
"Brother Felix, the war is over! Do you finally have time to chat and play with us?"
"What are you talking about?"
Still holding her hand, Felix walked forward. At the other end of the corridor stood Kal'tsit and the Doctor. Theresa and a grumbling, clearly irritated Wiš'adel stood nearby, speaking in low voices. As expected, Wiš'adel was not suited for diplomatic exchanges with Rhodes Island.
That evening, Felix received a report from Ulšulah. Nearly all of Duke Wellington's landships had been destroyed. Aside from the one he personally commanded, which moved faster than the rest, every vessel had been obliterated by bombardment.
Wellington's retreat toward the border of County Hillock no longer concerned Ulšulah and her forces. Their objective had been achieved. The Duke had lost most of his territory, and his military strength was crippled. It would be nearly impossible for him to assemble such an army again.
Several hours later, Vina emerged from underground, carrying the Sighs of the Kings. The first person she sought was Felix.
When he saw her, she was covered in wounds. Yet despite the blood and exhaustion, her smile was sincere and radiant.
Felix said nothing. He simply stepped forward and extended his hand.
Vina took it, their fingers interlocking.
"…?"
"Eh?"
She blinked. "Isn't that what you meant?"
"You will soon be the Empress of this nation. When we meet in the future, a formal hand kiss would be appropriate. Consider this practice." Felix smiled faintly, then sighed. "I didn't expect our parting to come so soon."
"No," Vina replied softly. "I am still an operator of Tomorrow's Development. That hasn't changed."
She gently patted the Sighs of the Kings at her side. "Though I have responsibilities now, and things I must do… sometimes I want to return to Tomorrow's Development."
"Then return," Felix said. "Go back to your other home. Take a look around. Rest for a while."
"I understand." Vina's smile softened. "And you are welcome to come back anytime."
Vina stepped forward and wrapped Felix in a tight embrace, her eyes shining with happiness. "Thank you… Victoria is ready to step into a new era."
"Shall we give each other a heads-up about the upcoming diplomatic engagements?"
"For now… I'll go call Morgan."
"Call Morgan?"
Felix chuckled. Vina gritted her teeth at the sight of his amused expression. "Your Highness, don't you have Loughshinny and Ines assisting you? I'm not good at these matters, so of course I need Morgan."
"All right."
The entire Glasgow gang, including Morgan, Indra, Dagda, Baird, and the rest, was drawn into Victoria's political maelstrom as Vina's personal guard. Even Cador, who once harbored deep resentment toward the nobility, was taken under Vina's command and assigned responsibility for maintaining order within the city.
Soon, Morgan arrived, and the three began discussing the upcoming diplomatic summit. Vina watched Felix closely. In the past, she had been preoccupied with the affairs of the action group. Even when she attended meetings, she often let discussions pass without much attention. Now, hearing Felix speak with clarity and noticing details that even Morgan overlooked, Vina realized how much she still had to learn.
Three days later, the Liberation King of Kazdel and the newly crowned Queen of Victoria, Vina Victoria, embarked on a week-long diplomatic visit. In the presence of both monarchs, they confirmed their future friendship and signed a non-aggression pact along with a trade cooperation agreement. In private discussions, they further solidified their alliance.
Victoria was about to enter a three-way power struggle, yet Vina felt confident. That confidence stemmed from her readiness to face Tara's Eblana, the newly risen Tara led by Loughshinny, and the challenges left behind by her predecessors. Still, Vina understood that she had much room to grow.
Soon after, Felix announced the return of his forces to the capital.
Before marching home in triumph, he posted a message on Tomorrow's Development's player bulletin board.
[You have triggered the S-Rank Mission [War Spreads Across the Land]. Accept/Abandon?]
[Mission Details: Victoria's political landscape has fallen into a threefold vortex. The legitimate monarchy faction Vina, New Tara under Loughshinny, and Dublinn Tara led by Eblana enter the final stage of confrontation. Talulah, as leader of the Ranger Guild, steps in as a mediator. Adventurers, choose your side.]
[Mission Requirements: Faction selection. You may join only one faction. Within two years, consolidate your power and prove to Terra who the true rulers of ancient Victoria are.]
[Duration: 730 days]
[Reward: 400,000 experience points]
[Special Reward: Unknown]
"They're here. They're finally here!"
"The mission everyone's been waiting for. It's finally happening!"
"Why are you already packing your bags?"
"I'm heading to Miss Loughshinny's New Tara. If I don't leave now, how long do you expect me to wait?"
The players erupted into chaos. Londinium instantly buzzed with excitement. Although many had already decided which faction to join, parting from their companions meant that the next time they met, it might be on the battlefield.
They joked about each other's choices, teasing that if they became enemies, they would settle things with a live PvP match.
The Emperor's Children Legion also received the notification. Due to previous events, Yang Yan XF and the others maintained high goodwill with Felix. From him, they learned there was no need to worry about the Legion's operations. A war of this magnitude was unlikely to erupt again within the next few years, and even if it did, a formal call to arms would be issued.
Only then did Kumori and the others feel at ease. They began packing and preparing to depart.
As planned, professional players split off in batches toward different factions. Their departures were grand and deliberate, making it clear to everyone which side they had chosen.
Yanfei's Yanyu Pavilion and Dandao Dantart's Blue Rain Team headed to New Tara together. Huangtian Houtu's Dynasty Team and Kumori's Ice Rose remained in Londinium, pledging allegiance to the new Queen, Vina Victoria. The Warrior Team and the Cloud Team traded barbs as they set off for County Hillock
Almost no professional teams chose to follow Talulah. From their perspective, she offered little in terms of missions or tangible rewards. Talulah's role was that of a mediator, focused on overturning the Victorian nobility's old order. To professional players, there was little profit in that path.
Talulah was chosen mostly by infected players and ordinary players, many of whom came from Victoria. Although conditions in Victoria were not as dire as in Ursus, the nobles there did nothing worthy of respect, and the infected were treated like refuse.
Faced with this swarm of aristocratic parasites, players naturally wanted to restore order and justice to Victoria. As a result, an especially large number joined Talulah's Ranger Guild.
They might not have possessed the finest equipment, but their numbers were overwhelming. Anyone who sought to oppose the Ranger Guild would only invite disaster, risking annihilation at the hands of enraged players.
___
When Ines returned to the Venus, she was startled to find the landship nearly empty. The adventurers had all vanished. Then she recalled Felix's plan from a year ago to draw the players into conflict within Victoria. It seemed the moment had finally arrived.
Still, as she looked at the vacant cabins, Ines felt a faint sense of unease.
"Your Highness said we have rooms as well?"
Manfred led several former Military Commission mercenaries down the corridor. Spotting Ines, he gave her a calm nod. The two would now be colleagues. Both had once been rising stars, one among Tomorrow's Development and the other within the former Military Commission. Naturally, they would crossed paths during the meeting.
Ines nodded. "The adventurers have entered Victoria to begin their war. During their absence, aside from a few who purchased permanent lifetime rooms, the remaining cabins can be temporarily assigned to you for the next few days."
"I see."
Manfred gave a low hum of acknowledgment. "I haven't returned to Kazdel Mobile City, even once since I left."
"You would be surprised."
Their conversation ended there. Manfred led his men inside to rest, while Ines turned toward the control room. The Venus's engineers were already at their stations. The engines were humming steadily, ready to depart from Londinium at any moment.
___
"The view of Londinium from this angle is truly spectacular."
Felix stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, hands tucked into his pockets, gazing at the Seventh District's shattered walls, torn apart by the Yamato Cannons. Londinium, a city that was never meant to fall, had once again been breached by the Tomorrow's Development.
"Fortunately, Princess Vina didn't mention compensation," Theresa said softly. "The walls of Londinium are forged from a special metal alloy and have stood for over a century. I heard the repair costs would reach at least seven or eight figures."
"Shouldn't nobles be the ones paying for something like that?" Felix shrugged.
He continued "It also gives Vina a reason to move against them, doesn't it? The path she intends to walk is not one the nobles wish to see. Some have already fled toward New Tara because of her actions."
"Has anyone chosen to go to Eblana?"
"Yes, a few. But they're merely opportunists. Eblana's Tara is led by Tara nobles. Without sufficient strength to offer, those who submit may meet the same fate as Victoria's Tara nobles once did. For aristocrats who value their pride above all else, how could they bring themselves to grovel so easily?"
"Adventurers will change Victoria's status quo."
Theresis had arrived late. He had just finished coordinating his subordinates with Tomorrow's Development' operators. Dressed in Tomorrow's Development' general's uniform, he had shed some of his former ruggedness, replaced now with a sharper, more formal air.
"I'm afraid Victoria will become one of the countries adventurers most aspire to visit in the future. And Your Highness, with your ties to Princess Vina and Miss Loughshinny…"
"The future of Victoria will belong to the Draco and the Aslan. My race is Sankta, isn't it?"
Felix smiled faintly. "In the long run, that may indeed be the optimal solution. But… we may not have much time left."