The leader of Azazel's camp—or rather, its general—was an elderly Liberi.
When Felix followed the infected doctor into the tent, he found that aside from the white-haired Liberi, there was also a young girl who, despite her appearance, did not seem like a child at all. Her eyes carried a depth and clarity far too mature for her age.
"So, you're the Pioneer," the old Liberi said.
He extended a hand. Felix shook it firmly. The man was considerably taller and broader than him. If not for the infected doctor's explanation that this Sankta intended to make a charitable donation to Azazel, the general likely wouldn't have granted him an audience.
On this land, Sanktas were symbols of justice—but Hellagur had long since stopped believing in absolutes. Since taking charge of Azazel, he had learned to view every person and every promise with cautious skepticism.
"Is Azazel planning to leave Chernobog?"
Felix gestured toward the map laid out on the table. Red pins marked a winding route leading toward a distant hill far from the city. If the mobile city began to move, their current location would be cut off from all supply lines—dood to isolation.
"…There's no other choice," Hellagur replied, folding his arms. "The citizens inside the city have grown afraid of the infected camp. They've filed multiple petitions to the authorities. Within a month, the Inspection Corps will likely arrive to drive us out. Better to leave on our own terms than be forced out."
"Do you have enough dicine stored?" Felix asked.
"Never enough," Hellagur said grimly. "Azazel serves as a hospital for the infected—a place where they can find a brief mont of peace. The drugs we use are obsolete, leftovers from a bygone era. The rchants who still trade with us only sell what's been discarded. Truthfully, the fact that any rchant is willing to trade at all is a blessing."
He fell silent for a mont before turning back to Felix. "What is it you want, Pioneer?"
"I'll arrange a bulk shipnt of dicine to Azazel," Felix said casually. "From Columbia's recent production—formulas designed to slow the progression of infection."
He shrugged lightly. "I don't want anything in return."
"Why us?" Hellagur asked sharply. "Why Azazel? There are countless infected across this land—why choose us?"
The young girl nearby looked like she wanted to speak, but Felix only smiled. "Because one of your doctors gave my little sister a bottle of dicine. That's all."
Hellagur's lips moved slightly, but no words ca. Felix continued.
"I'm the leader of Tomorrow's Developnt. Within our ranks, we accept not only the uninfected—but the infected as well."
"I hold no prejudice against the infected, General. In truth, I'm dissatisfied with Ursus as a whole. Perhaps we'll be in contact more often in the future."
Hellagur warned solemnly, "We can never be enemies of Ursus. The Empire bestows only illusion and disgrace upon those it calls traitors."
Felix's smile didn't waver. "It was Ursus who betrayed its people."
"…Don't say that," Hellagur muttered, as though the strength had been drained from him. He turned back toward the map table, unwilling to continue.
Felix's expression remained calm, his heart steady.
The players born in Ursus, those currently active within its borders, and the infected players in the northern regions—all shared the sa sentint: hatred for Ursus burned deep in their hearts.
Felix himself felt little fondness for the nation. Its cruelty toward the infected was only part of it—the true disgust ca from its rotten politics, the oppression of its citizens, and the hellish labor camps that consud terran lives like fuel.
A country like this… he thought, deserved to be burned to ashes and rebuilt from the ground up.
In a few years—by version 3.0's late stage, or perhaps the start of 4.0—the arrogant nobles who once sneered at players, and those "benevolent aristocrats" who lured them into the mines, would all face brutal retribution.
Especially the so-called "War God's Bloodline" players of Ursus descent—those ones hated the Empire with a passion that burned hotter than fire.
anwhile, Amiya had found soone her own age.
"My na's Amiya. What's yours?" she asked with a gentle smile.
"Neon…" the girl replied softly.
"That's a really pretty na! Um, how long have you been living here?"
"About a year," Neon said, her voice calm and composed.
There was sothing markedly different about her—an air of maturity that ordinary children didn't have.
Amiya, too, had changed since receiving the Black Crown. Under Doctor Kal'tsit's guidance, she had grown into a dependable young girl. And so, the two of them—children who should have been laughing and playing—sat quietly side by side, chatting softly in a way that seed far older than their years.
Felix handed Hellagur a list of dications.
Aside from a few drugs that could only be obtained from Columbia's dical circles through special channels, everything else on the list was composed of dicines available on the open market.
Felix could acquire them easily.
Azazel, however, could not.
In truth, the drugs the infected managed to buy from black-market rchants were long expired—and priced outrageously high.
But what could they do?
They were infected, after all.
Hellagur looked down at the long list of dicines and let out a quiet sigh.
"Pioneer… what is it you seek from us? My loyalty? Azazel's?"
"Perhaps," Felix said casually. "But I won't force either of you to swear allegiance to ."
He waved a hand, unconcerned.
Once upon a ti, he might have been desperate to win over a man as strong as Hellagur.
But after spending so long on this land, he'd learned that forcing things never bore sweet fruit.
Everyone had their own path, and besides—he had no branch of Tomorrow's Developnt operating within Ursus. Even if they did swear loyalty, how could he guarantee their safety afterward?
It was like how he'd always wanted to recruit Closure, yet she remained playfully evasive.
Even ACE, with whom he shared a solid friendship, had chosen not to leave Rhodes Island—continuing instead to chase Her Highness's ideals alongside Doctor Kal'tsit.
Hellagur was indeed powerful, and his na carried weight within Ursus's governnt.
But even if Felix gained his loyalty now… what assurances could he offer in return?
"I just hope Azazel will have a safe future," Felix said softly.
That was his blessing.
He reached into his coat pocket and set a small bottle of dicine in front of the young girl, Neon. Then he gave Amiya a gentle smile, took her by the hand, and strolled away.
Hellagur and Neon stared at the bottle he'd left behind.
After a mont, Hellagur sighed.
"Take it."
"The Pioneer… he seems like a good person," Neon said quietly as she picked up the bottle, instinctively speaking up for him.
Hellagur gave a weary smile.
A good person, indeed.
Who else would freely give dicine to an infected child?
That kind of kindness was almost saintly—like a living miracle walking the terra.
If only we'd t soone like him sooner…
Perhaps then, Neon's illness wouldn't have grown so severe.
Hellagur's gaze drifted toward the map spread across the table.
The Pioneer… Tomorrow's Developnt…
He etched the na—and the man—deeply into his mory.
———
When Felix and Amiya returned from the bleak infected camp to the city of Chernobog, the little Cautus girl's mood was subdued. She sighed quietly.
Though they were once again among the bright lights and crowded streets of a moving tropolis, she couldn't stop thinking about the infected living out there in the desolate wastelands beyond the walls. No matter how she tried, she couldn't feel happy.
After returning to the hotel, Kal'tsit imdiately noticed Amiya's expression. The cold-faced feline doctor turned her sharp gaze toward Felix, silently demanding an explanation.
"I just wanted to show Amiya what Ursus really looks like," he said calmly. "It wasn't exactly a pleasant trip."
"You—" Kal'tsit began, her tone sharp, but Amiya tugged at her sleeve before she could continue.
"Doctor Kal'tsit, it's okay," Amiya said softly. "I just… saw a lot today. I need a little ti to think."
ACE chuckled faintly. "Looks like Amiya's growing up."
Kal'tsit gave Felix a long, complicated look before sighing. She pulled open the door, gesturing for him to co in.
Felix stepped into the room shared by Kal'tsit and Amiya.
Kal'tsit and the others were discussing the very topic Felix had raised earlier: the creation of their own independent organization.
ACE was one of the earliest followers of Her Highness—among the most senior and most loyal. Compared to him, others like Logos possessed stronger Originium Arts, more varied abilities, and formidable combat skill, but they had joined Babel much later.
After the Doctor's betrayal and everything that followed, Kal'tsit now chose to consult with those whose loyalty she trusted most.
"So," Felix asked, "what have you decided?"
Kal'tsit replied steadily, "We've agreed to form an organization that will aid and treat the infected—while also recruiting those with the will to help as Operators."
She paused briefly, giving Felix a faint, unreadable glance.
"In the future, we plan to operate internationally—accepting local contracts to fund our work and continue supporting the infected."
Felix blinked, then smirked faintly as realization dawned.
Wait a second… does she think I'm stealing her business model?
How ironic. When he'd founded Tomorrow's Developnt, it was Rhodes Island Pharmaceutical Company that he had originally aid to emulate.
'Heh… Kal'tsit,' he thought, amused. 'Now that the tables have turned, how does it feel?'
"I don't mind," Felix said aloud, smiling lightly. "Do you think Tomorrow's Developnt's rcenary contracts have ever affected Blacksteel International's work?"
He shrugged.
"They're an old, well-established rcenary company. If they don't mind, why should I?"
"Let's get to the main point," he added, his tone turning businesslike. "What's the na of your organization, and where do you plan to begin?"
Kal'tsit gave a small nod.
"Rhodes Island Pharmaceutical Company."
"We were delayed because of the Doctor," Kal'tsit said calmly. "That setback slowed our plan to return to Rim Billiton for resupply. The original schedule was to replenish there before heading to Columbia to recruit personnel."
"Doctors and scientists, I presu?" Felix asked.
Kal'tsit didn't nod, but her silence confird it.
Felix already had a number of Columbian scientists working under him. As long as they were paid and provided with proper laboratories, they could produce results endlessly. It was the one departnt he never had to worry about.
"As for the money needed for supplies…"
Kal'tsit's gaze lingered on him, direct and unblinking, before she realized her boldness and slowly looked away.
A faintly mischievous smile tugged at Felix's lips. In his eyes glimred a mix of cool detachnt, mild indifference, and playful confidence. To see this cold-faced cat acting so hesitant—how rare.
"…"
Sensing the odd tension in the air, ACE turned to look out the window, pretending not to notice.
Felix's gaze drifted to Kal'tsit's lips. This cold, stoic cat… who would've thought she's still this charming?
"…We may need your assistance, Pioneer," she finally said.
"Calling your student by a codena?" he teased lightly.
"…We may need your assistance, Felix," she corrected herself, voice low.
Watching her struggle to say it, Felix couldn't help the small surge of satisfaction that welled up inside him. Hah, last life I worked myself to the bone and never once saw you smile. Now… I finally have your heart, don't I?
"Of course," he said, tone shifting smoothly back to business. "But let's leave the contracts and share agreents for later—once we return to Rhodes Island landship."
Felix clasped his hands together, the image of a proper businessman once more. If he had a pair of gold-rimd glasses right now, he might have pushed them up just for effect.
"As for the supply issue, that's easy enough to handle. I have plenty of contacts in Lungn. If you're looking to buy at favorable prices, you can co with on a trip there."
Kal'tsit's brow eased for the first ti. "You've walked this land for many years. Knowledge and experience have made you stronger."
After dinner, they spent the night resting at the inn. By morning, Felix's group set off on the return journey. Though the circumstances leading to all this had been unusual, the outco was, at least, satisfactory.
Once they returned aboard the Rhodes Island, Kal'tsit imdiately convened a high-level eting. All senior staff and elite Operators were present. The sight of the Pioneer, seated on equal footing with Doctor Kal'tsit, drew little surprise—so even greeted him warmly.
Among them were Logos and Mantra, both of whom had fought alongside Felix during the Kazdel siege. Logos, cold and composed as ever, carried a subtle note of respect in his tone that Felix could sense. Even Scout, the Operator with the rifle taken from a Sankta soldier, gave him a nod of acknowledgnt.
Kal'tsit watched as Felix easily conversed with everyone around him, laughter and small talk flowing naturally. For a mont, she felt almost… like the outsider.
A Sankta who once conquered Kazdel itself… she thought. Such a feat belongs only in fairy tales—or in those popular light novels from Higashi, like "That Ti I Got Reincarnated As A Sankta" Or "Starting As a Sankta, Building the Strongest Divine Empire."
During the eting, it was decided that Felix would invest in Rhodes Island Pharmaceutical, acquiring a 35% stake. He would participate in decision-making whenever possible; when unavailable, eting summaries would be sent by ssenger to Anthony in Lungn.
As for the minor affairs of managent—Felix couldn't be bothered. He was, by nature, a hands-off type. Truth be told, he hadn't forged tal since his last retreat; his "blacksmith's soul" as a production-class NPC had long gone dormant. Tragic.
"Pardon , Pioneer."
After the eting, Logos and Scout approached him. "Before we depart, may we enter the Frontier District? We'd like to purchase so supplies."
"Why ask ?" Felix replied with a small grin. "Kazdel is a free land. I've never restricted anyone's entry or exit."
He clapped his hands lightly, as if struck by a thought. "Actually, this works out nicely. They should be arriving soon. Co—I'll show you what I envision for the future of the Sarkaz people. You two can give your opinions."
Logos and Scout exchanged puzzled glances, but they followed Felix without protest, climbing into the vehicle bound for the Frontier District.
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