Isabel's proposal to join the Shadow Order.
If it had been the old me, I would've refused without even a second thought.
Back then, I had no way to resist the Shadow Order—I would've been dragged along by their will. And if that had happened, I would have become a pawn in their grand design, and Ark might already be on the verge of being split in two.
But now, things had changed.
My relationship with Isabel had shifted, and the balance of power was no longer in the Order's favor.
If anything, I held the reins now.
"You probably already know enough about us, so I won't waste time explaining," Isabel said again. "Carl Marcus, come with us."
"You mean… you want me to join the Shadow Order?"
"That's right."
"I've already interfered with your plans. You still want to make that offer?"
"…You said it yourself—you intervened because our plan couldn't succeed as it was."
"I did say that."
"Then join us. With you, we can succeed. No—we need you, Carl Marcus."
"Hmm."
Truth be told, I already knew my answer. But I feigned hesitation, letting the silence linger a moment.
During that pause, Isabel anxiously read my expression.
"..."
It was almost amusing to see the ever-composed Isabel acting like this, but I restrained my laughter.
["…Master?"]
'What?'
["Your face looks smug. It's annoying."]
At Esther's comment, Isabel stopped scrutinizing my expression and asked,
"…Do you need more time to think?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Then give me your answer. Will you join us, or not?"
It was time to decide.
And everything had gone exactly as planned.
"I'll join the Shadow Order."
My decision was simple.
To move forward with the Order.
That didn't mean I was fully committing to their path, of course.
As I mentioned earlier, joining the Order now was a very different thing than joining in the past.
'Letting the Order control me would end badly. But if I'm the one steering them, it's a different story.'
The Shadow Order was the most powerful and influential clandestine organization both inside and outside Ark.
If I could leverage that power, it would be a major asset in protecting Ark.
'Besides, Isabel's personal ambition… is something I find intriguing too.'
While the Order's goal was to seize Ark, Isabel's ambition was something else.
Right now, she couldn't pursue it due to the missing sail that should've been in the White Line. But if that sail were ever found, everything would change.
'Not that I know where it is…'
I'd learned about the sail purely by chance, after all.
'Anyway…'
When I accepted the offer, Isabel's voice became a bit more serious.
"…Are you sure this isn't a hasty decision? Once you're in, you can't leave."
"I know. I don't mind."
This was the moment I'd been waiting for.
To protect Ark, I had to get involved with the Order eventually.
Their goals would eventually clash with mine, so it was better to be at the center of things when that happened.
"…Alright. You're one of us now. Welcome to the Shadow Order, Carl Marcus."
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Then… I'd like to introduce you to the others. Will you come to the hideout now?"
Hmm...
I considered it briefly, then shook my head.
"No. Another time. I've got something to take care of first."
Meeting the other members right away wouldn't be a bad thing, but I felt the urge to return to my hideout.
I'd been away for too long, and there were things that had been nagging at me.
'I really have neglected it.'
Now that the urgent fires were out, it was time to go back and check.
'I'm also curious… about what might be going on there.'
Seeing my reluctance, Isabel simply nodded.
"Alright. Next time, then."
I gave a small nod and turned away.
She turned around too, and we parted ways as naturally as if it had been scripted.
'Now then…'
I looked toward the direction of my hideout in Yeongsan Noah.
It was time to return.
* * *
Once I arrived at the hideout, the first thing I did was check its condition.
'Hmm…'
As expected, there were no signs of intrusion or missing items.
I'd chosen its location carefully so it wouldn't be easily discovered, and when I left, I had activated a cloaking sheet with stealth capabilities.
'Let's see…'
I went straight for the communication terminal in the corner.
I'd ignored the voice from it before, but now… it was time to pay attention.
'I think I might finally remember who it was.'
If the voice belonged to who I thought it did, I couldn't just brush it off anymore.
I had been putting it off, but that couldn't continue.
["What are you doing? That piece of junk won't help much."]
"I figured it was time to respond."
["Huh?"]
Unfortunately, the terminal didn't immediately spring to life with a waiting message.
But I hadn't expected instant results—I clipped it to my waist and started tidying up the hideout.
Time passed.
Chzzk. Chk—
A burst of static crackled from the comm terminal.
As if answering my long wait.
["Is… anyone there?"]
The voice that followed was familiar.
* * *
A familiar face appeared.
Someone I had seen for so long… someone deeply cherished.
But she turned away—coldly—and left.
「"I have to go."」
I reached out, but she was already out of reach.
「"Don't go…"」
I begged, hand outstretched.
But her voice was as cold as ever.
「"Don't stop me. I have to go."」
Her hand, brushing mine away, felt like ice.
Please don't go.
I begged again, but it was a voiceless cry.
「"This is all… for the ambition."」
With those final words, she disappeared.
Alone in the world, I whispered to myself,
Don't go.
Please.
"…Ah."
Tatiana Belov woke with a start from the nightmare that had haunted her for over a month.
"…Haah…"
She reached for a water bottle by the bed, struggling to steady her breath.
Her mouth was dry. Her throat parched.
She still hadn't forgotten.
The day Sophia left.
"…Why…?"
She still didn't understand.
Why Sophia had made that choice—or why she had done something so unthinkable.
「"You won't understand. Not now. Not ever."」
Sophia had said those words.
And she had been right.
Tatiana still couldn't understand why Sophia had done what she did.
Knock knock—
"…Come in."
At her words, the Belov family's attendants entered the room to prepare her morning routine.
"Would you like to eat first? Or perhaps—"
"No, I don't need anything. Could you leave, Bianca?"
"I'm afraid we can't do that. We've been ordered by the Capo to stay by your side, Miss Tatiana."
"…Sigh."
Tatiana was no longer staying at the Navy Line's officer quarters—she was now housed in the Belov estate.
A direct order from the Capo.
"…Do as you wish."
She was practically dragged by the attendants through her morning preparations—washed, dressed, and made presentable.
It felt like she had become a caged songbird, nothing more than a decorative pet.
"The Capo has requested your presence at lunch."
"…Understood."
Tatiana wasn't a fool.
She knew exactly why the Capo—her father—had summoned her back to the estate.
Still, she pretended not to know.
Because if she acknowledged it fully, she didn't think she could emotionally survive it.
"And Lord Ivan has asked for some of your time as well."
"…My brother?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Ivan Belov.
Now a key figure in the defense of the Navy Line—and Tatiana Belov's older brother.
But this invitation was hardly innocent.
Tatiana knew it, yet had no real grounds to refuse.
"…Alright. I'll speak with him separately."
"Very well."
The Belov estate felt like a prison.
Which, in some ways, wasn't far from the truth.
The estate was guarded with more vigilance than most high-security facilities.
So, it was only natural that Tatiana felt imprisoned when inside it.
No—her entire life felt that way.
A life lived according to the Capo's will.
She had tried to break free from that noose before, yet in the end, she had returned.
"..."
The Belov estate was terribly lonely.
Sophia, the only emotional anchor Tatiana had ever had here, was gone.
Now, there was no one left.
Nothing.
"Leave me alone now, please."
"Yes, Miss."
Left alone in her room, Tatiana gently ran her fingers over a communication device she'd given to someone long ago.
There was no reply.
The person who had received it must've either lost it or shoved it in some forgotten drawer.
That knowledge filled her with a kind of sorrow she could no longer express.
Even if she was a Belov, she couldn't force someone to care.
"Help me…"
As always, she whispered into the silent communicator.
She knew there would be no reply.
And yet.
If—if—someone were to hear her and answer…
Just that would be enough.
"Is… anyone there?"
Of course not.
She knew this.
But Tatiana couldn't hide the heaviness in her chest.
She already knew no voice would respond, but hearing that silence confirmed again left her in despair.
"Is… anyone there?"
Then—
Chzzk, chzzk—
For the first time ever, the communicator crackled to life.
A familiar voice spoke through it.
["What do you need me to help with?"]
So familiar.
Unmistakable.