"That was certainly a... bold plan," Jeanne said after a long silence, a note of grim respect in her voice upon hearing the details of Theresis's scheme from Kal'tsit.
She truly hadn't expected the Regent to harbor such wild ambitions. What shocked her even more was Kal'tsit's implication that he had been on the very brink of pulling it off.
That was the part Jeanne found hardest to wrap her head around. No matter how fractured Victoria had become, how could its people stand by and allow Sarkaz forces to seize their capital? What on earth were those high nobles thinking?
"There were likely many players working behind the scenes," Kal'tsit said, a rare trace of relief evident in her tone. "Fortunately, his plan was thwarted by your intervention. Had he succeeded, all of Theresa's recent efforts would have vanished like smoke, and the Sarkaz would have been dragged straight back into the dark ages."
The relief in Kal'tsit's voice was plain as day. It wasn't hard to imagine how the rest of the world would view the Sarkaz if Theresis had carried out his takeover.
He would have shattered everything Theresa had fought so hard to build. In truth, that might have been his exact strategy—to force Theresa into a corner where she had no choice but to align with him, knowing full well she would never abandon her people.
"You had better keep a close eye on him, then," Jeanne warned, shaking her head. "The man nearly turned the continent upside down with only a fraction of his followers in Victoria. Now that he's back in Kazdel, he's right in his own backyard."
Jeanne couldn't quite wrap her mind around their decision to keep him around. Why would Theresa leave such a dangerous figure by her side instead of locking him away in a high-security facility? Or did even Kal'tsit believe he was harmless as long as Theresa was watching him?
Reading the concern written clearly across Jeanne's face, Kal'tsit easily guessed what was troubling her. Truth be told, it was a worry Kal'tsit shared.
"In all honesty, I also believe leaving Theresis at Theresa's side carries significant risk," Kal'tsit admitted quietly. "My primary concern was that family ties might tempt Theresa to show him leniency once again. However, Theresa is no longer so naive. She understands what must be done. Possessing the authority of the Lord of Fiends, so long as she hardens her heart, Theresis will find no opportunity to strike."
It seemed certain events had transpired in Kazdel that were best kept confidential. If word got out, it could trigger widespread unrest. Had Theresis truly been brought under control?
"What is the real reason for keeping him alive?" Jeanne asked, voicing her main suspicion. "Is his strength truly indispensable to your plans right now?"
It was the only logical conclusion Jeanne could reach, and likely the main reason the decision had been made after much deliberation among their leadership.
Amiya turned her head to look at Kal'tsit as well. The young girl was clearly curious about the matter, though seeing how buried in work Kal'tsit had been over the past few days, she hadn't found the heart to ask. Now, with Jeanne taking the lead, Amiya seized the chance to satisfy her curiosity.
"Putting it that way isn't entirely inaccurate," Kal'tsit explained, her gaze darkening slightly. "Though Theresis does not hold the title of Lord of Fiends, he is far more than just Theresa's brother. In Kazdel today, his legend still carries immense weight. A great many Sarkaz revere the Regent, even after everything he has done."
Kal'tsit's eyes reflected a deep, weary helplessness. Both Jeanne and Amiya could tell she had dealt with the Regent enough in the past to know exactly what kind of figure he was.
"To those unfamiliar with Kazdel's history, Theresis might look like nothing more than a usurper who seized power," Kal'tsit continued. "Yet within Kazdel, a considerable number of people still align with his ideology. For that reason, keeping him around yields far greater utility than simply making him vanish."
There was a bitter edge to Kal'tsit's voice. This outcome was far from her ideal choice; given the chance, she would have preferred to see him locked away to spend his remaining years in isolation, rather than remaining beside Theresa as a volatile threat.
"Furthermore, his military intellect remains undeniable," Kal'tsit added thoughtfully. "A day may come in the near future when his tactical expertise is required—assuming he is willing to cooperate when the time comes."
Catching the unspoken implication in Kal'tsit's words, Jeanne pondered it for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Amiya, however, looked between the two of them with a faint pucker on her brow. Did she somehow miss a few minutes of the conversation? Why did she feel completely out of the loop?
"Dr. Kal'tsit! Everything you asked us to prepare is ready," an operator reported, running up to them. "We can begin letting the people outside step aboard now!"
Rhodes Island was finally prepared to receive the Taran refugees and Infected waiting outside, having set up temporary living quarters for the long journey ahead.
"Understood. I will be right there," Kal'tsit replied, exchanging a quick look with Jeanne.
After days of intense preparation and meticulous planning, Rhodes Island was finally embarking on this daunting relocation effort. The crew had poured immense effort into ensuring everything was ready for today.
"Let's go inspect the housing arrangements and processing stations first," Kal'tsit suggested. "We can discuss Kazdel further once we are on the move. We will be relying on your intuition to help guide our steps."
With that, Kal'tsit led Jeanne and Amiya out of her office to check on the temporary accommodations prepared for the incoming refugees.
The "housing" consisted of several cleared-out cargo holds fitted with temporary partition panels to create simple private compartments. While rudimentary, it offered a clean and secure shelter.
"These are the temporary quarters," Kal'tsit explained, gesturing to the spacious hold. "Tarans who have tested negative for Oripathy will reside here for the time being. The conditions are somewhat basic, but functional."
Jeanne looked up at the towering ceiling of the hold, surprised to learn Rhodes Island possessed cargo bays of such immense scale.
"It's already a huge step up," Jeanne noted approvingly. "For temporary housing, no one could ask for much more."
Compared to the cramped, chaotic conditions the refugees had endured back in Hillock County, this was a massive upgrade. Jeanne knew firsthand how much effort it had taken to keep everyone safe until Rhodes Island arrived.
"Still, clearing out so many large bays must have taken serious effort," Jeanne asked curiously. "Where did you move all the cargo and patients that were stored here before?"
She knew Rhodes Island rarely traveled with empty holds; Kal'tsit was hardly the type to let valuable landship space go to waste.
"The extra cargo and long-term patients were temporarily left at our Chernobog branch," Kal'tsit answered smoothly. "Since our final destination is Chernobog anyway, we can simply reunite them once this operation wraps up."
Jeanne smiled in admiration at the solution. How had she not thought of that? Rhodes Island had a substantial outpost in Chernobog, offering more than enough space to store supplies.
"If everything is in order, let's get started," Jeanne said, turning toward the exit. "The sooner we get these people safely to their destination, the sooner you all can stop running yourselves ragged."
Side by side, Jeanne and Kal'tsit made their way toward the main boarding ramps of the landship, where a massive crowd of Victorians was already craning their necks in eager anticipation.
When the massive steel hatches of Rhodes Island slowly opened, the anxious crowd—mostly Felines—erupted into excited chatter, their doubts vanishing as the crew stepped forward to greet them.
"Everyone, please form an orderly line and have your documents ready for processing," Amiya's soft voice resonated clearly through the loudspeakers. "Rhodes Island Pharmaceutical will handle this relocation effort, and we promise to bring every single one of you safely to your destination..."
Looking at the earnest young leader addressing them, the crowd's eyes softened with warmth and trust, and the long queue slowly began moving forward.