"Laterano will take the lead in this conference," Felix said calmly, his fingers interlaced. "As a nation of exceptional standing on Terra, they will undoubtedly position themselves as guides, leading the countries of Terra forward."
"Your Highness, what do you believe we can achieve at this international conference?" Theresa asked.
Felix's gaze was steady. "I want Sankta followers."
"You're going to…" Theresa's eyes widened. "Wouldn't that start a war?"
"Losing a hundred or so people won't change anything," Felix replied evenly. "Besides, there are already hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Sankta who have broken away. They came to that land because of their own ideals. Laterano will not stop them, because it is their choice."
"I understand. What should we prepare?"
"Troop training."
Theresis, who had been standing silently at the side, stepped forward at once.
"Although the war in Victoria has ended, that does not mean Terra is free of conflict," Felix continued. "Kazdel is a land shaped by war. Who knows which nation may turn its eyes toward us next? General Theresis, your task is to train Kazdel's soldiers. At the same time, select ten of the most elite warriors to join the guard accompanying me to Laterano. They will be responsible for protecting me and my companions."
"Understood."
Theresis' handling of domestic affairs had never been remarkable, but his military talent was undeniable. The Military Commission's defeat had not stemmed from incompetence; it had been crushed by overwhelming technological superiority, a battle fought across generations of advancement. Facing the high-tech weaponry of Tomorrow's Development, traditional forces had stood no chance.
The siblings left together, working under the same roof once more after a long separation.
"In diplomacy and political sensitivity, I am no match for him," Theresis admitted frankly. In the past, revenge had consumed him, narrowing his vision and blinding him to much else. Now, he could finally think clearly.
It was time to make up for what he lacked.
"You've decided to go with him?" Theresis asked.
"Yes. His Highness is a rare existence in this world. It is my fortune to stand by his side."
"There is much we share in common," Theresa added with a gentle smile. "I can assist him greatly, both in work and in life."
Theresis nodded quietly. If only the two siblings had not encountered the Black Crown…
The crown's fate was likely already sealed with that child. As for his sister's path, Theresis could only offer his blessing.
Even if he wished to object, he could not defeat Felix. So he chose not to dwell on it.
Theresa tilted her head thoughtfully. "Brother, you should recruit a few adventurer subordinates."
Theresis paused and turned toward her.
"Adventurers sometimes see and understand more than we do," she said with a smile. "They possess a unique perspective and remarkable insight into politics and strategy. In many ways, they are natural-born generals and tacticians."
Theresis' eyes widened before he nodded solemnly. "I will do so."
The very existence of adventurers had once astonished him. What unsettled him now was their extraordinary aptitude in both political and military matters. It was a frightening thought. Perhaps in future wars, their intervention alone would suffice to resolve everything.
Theresis departed, weighed down by contemplation. Theresa, meanwhile, headed toward the conference room with a light expression. She still needed to discuss with the former members of the Military Commission what responsibilities they would undertake next.
After its great victory, Kazdel entered a rare period of calm. Yet as the New Year approached, the city grew lively once more.
Felix soon received a letter from Ling, who was currently in Yumen. The letter invited him to visit the Yan, particularly Yumen, to experience the sandstorms of Yan for himself.
For now, Felix set the invitation aside.
The office was quiet despite the festivities outside. Then the arrival of an operator broke the silence.
"Skadi, you're back." Felix straightened in his chair.
Skadi smiled, then glanced at the two women behind her.
He understood, yet still asked, "And these two are?"
"Gladia, a member of the Abyssal Hunters. Skadi has always been under your care."
The speaker was a white-haired woman with red eyes. In truth, all three women standing before him shared the same pale hair and crimson gaze.
"This is my teammate, Specter," she said calmly.
"What business brings you to me through Skadi?" Felix asked in an even tone. "I know nothing about the Abyssal Hunters. I've had little contact with Skadi, and I know even less about the two of you."
"Seaborn. You've seen this kind of creature before, haven't you?"
Felix gave a slight nod. "What about Seaborn?"
Gladia fell strangely silent for a moment, then turned her gaze toward Skadi.
Skadi drew a slow breath and spoke softly. "I can hear Seaborn's voice. I heard them mention your name."
"In what context?" Felix frowned, a chill running down his spine. Why was this happening?
He composed himself quickly. "You three must be exhausted. Why not rest for a while in Kazdel Mobile City? We can discuss Seaborn another day."
After a brief pause, he added, "I've long wanted to visit the Iberian coast again. Perhaps next time, we can go together."
"Very well. Thank you for your understanding."
With that, Gladia departed swiftly with the other two. As they left, Felix could still feel Specter's gaze lingering over him and the office.
Seaborn… repeating his name?
He pondered the thought. He knew little about the Seaborn. In his previous life, they had been nothing more than enemies to defeat in exchange for merit and loyalty points. Beyond that, even if players had been curious about their origins in the abyssal depths, there had been no way to uncover the truth.
For now, he set the matter aside.
___
At last, the end of 1098 arrived.
Blessings and gifts poured in. Loughshinny and the Nearl sisters sent New Year greetings from New Tara. Talulah, Alina, and Ch'en Hui-chieh each wrote with their own wishes. Vina also sent a New Year's gift.
And there were many more.
After reading the letters, Felix looked up at the night sky. His thoughts drifted to Victoria and its current state.
In the single week since Kazdel's departure, Victoria had undergone tremendous change. Vina, now both Speaker of the Imperial Council and Queen, ruled the nation. Of the eight dukes who once held seats on the Council, fewer than half were present. Several who had sided with Duke Wellington during the war had already fled to the Tara region when they sensed the tide turning against them.
Vina carried forward the pioneering spirit of Tomorrow's Development. She opened the Imperial Council to the public, abolishing the restriction of eight seats, and encouraged civil officials to volunteer for membership. Unlike the former dukes, who had been distant and arrogant while the rich feasted and the poor froze, and whose council sessions revolved around trivial profits, Vina sought discussions on Victoria's weaknesses, its need for reform, and its future potential.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Lettou, once part of the Londinium garrison, fled back to the Kingdom of Basse-Gaule after the war. To his dismay, he found that Silvercourt, where New Tara was located, lay uncomfortably close.
Kingdom of Basse-Gaule had always been a small kingdom, its military strength inferior to that of the greater noble powers. Lettou's dream of restoring Gaul was now completely shattered. Survival alone was difficult enough, and so he chose to lie low.
Within Victoria, nobles who did not align themselves with Vina were systematically removed by her calculating subordinates. Politics was often like this: refusing to choose a side meant being eliminated. Many of these nobles had already maintained secret contact with Tara's aristocracy, so mercy was never an option.
With Vina's tacit approval, some nobles wept and begged for forgiveness. Others traveled to Londinium in person, offering apologies and additional wealth in exchange for retaining their status. The adventurer teams dispatched to collect debts had terrified them.
A small number, after consulting Duke Wellington, decisively gathered their wealth and personal guards and fled overnight to seek refuge in the Kingdom of Tara.
It was almost absurd. Vina had not originally intended to destroy them, yet their speed in fleeing was astonishing.
A few escaped, but most remained. Beyond Victoria, many nobles in Kingdom of Basse-Gaule and around Silvercourt chose not to flee, unwilling to abandon their familiar mobile cities.
After all, those willing to discard everything and venture into the unknown were always in the minority.
And so, the Ranger Guild found its opportunity to shine.
Felix learned of all this through the forum. That time, while the Venus was still on its way back to Kazdel, Talulah and Ch'en Hui-chieh had already led a group of players in a raid on Duke Wellington's mobile city. The duke himself was absent, and it could even be said that he had half-abandoned the city, yet his foundation remained intact.
The Rangers Guild was discovered by Wellington's private soldiers the moment they entered the city. The soldiers recognized the emblem of Tomorrow's Development, and a clash erupted immediately. Most of the players were ordinary adventurers, and they struggled against the higher-level private troops. The battle quickly turned fierce. In the end, Talulah stepped forward, forcing back the noble soldiers and declaring the Rangers Guild's position with unwavering resolve.
They had no intention of fighting the private army to the bitter end. Their goal was to expose Duke Wellington's misdeeds to the public and to help the citizens who had suffered under his arrogant and oppressive policies.
When she finished speaking, the gathered onlookers broke into loud cheers. The private soldiers ultimately withdrew. Some chose to abandon the noble estate and become mercenaries. Others joined the Rangers Guild, inspired by the ideals Talulah had proclaimed. Of course, there were still those blindly loyal to the duke. Talulah's solution for them was simple: knock them unconscious and confine them temporarily in the dungeon, releasing them once the Guild departed.
In just two days, through the combined efforts of Talulah, Alina, Ch'en Hui-chieh, and the other operators and adventurers, the regime established by Duke Wellington collapsed almost overnight. The gold and silver he had hoarded were redistributed to improve the lives of the citizens, and his pro-noble tax policies were abolished outright. The common people were moved to tears and expressed deep gratitude toward the Rangers Guild.
To be fair, Duke Wellington was not the most outrageous among the nobles. Felix recalled the faintly contemptuous tone Anthony had used when reporting on several sycophantic aristocrats and shook his head. Those in power were rarely admirable, and Wellington was no exception.
Within the duke's former territory, many young and able-bodied men chose to join the Rangers Guild. They had once been destined for Wellington's army, but with that parasite gone, they now had other paths to follow.
The Guild's wages were modest, yet they could pursue their ideals and discover that this was truly the life they wanted.
Felix smiled as he read the reports. He stretched, then turned his gaze toward the night beyond the window.
Thus, 1098 came to an end. Perhaps it was because of the war that time had seemed to pass so quickly. Yet he knew he did not have much time left.
At the beginning of the new year, he might encounter many familiar faces in Laterano. Given the significance of the International Conference and his personal attendance, it was likely that prominent figures from other nations would also appear.
After that, he would travel to Iberia, and perhaps even to Yan.
He did not intend to make a spectacle of his trip to the Yan. His purpose was simple: to learn from Ling and better understand how to grow stronger.
And at the end of the year, Columbia awaited. By his estimation, the project should be nearing completion. Soon, Kristen would achieve her dream. He wondered how many people would feel both awe and sorrow when that moment finally arrived.
This time, Kristen would not be alone.
The door was pushed open quietly. Under the warm orange light, a cascade of blue hair shimmered softly.
"Stop working and come take a walk with me," Mostima said, extending her hand toward Felix.