By late August, Kazdel welcomed two particularly distinguished visitors.
Felix had just finished signing a document handed to him by Loughshinny when he opened the meeting room door—only to find himself momentarily stunned by the sight before him.
Standing at the doorway were several silent guards clad in the military uniforms of Victoria, and seated inside were Duke Kent and his daughter, Delphine. For a brief moment, Felix wondered if he had accidentally walked into the wrong room.
"My apologies, Pioneer," Duke Kent began, inclining his head. "I inquired at the Windermere branch of Tomorrow's Development and learned you were here."
He looked different from when they last met in Siracusa—older, wearier. His once-dark hair had grown streaked with white, and the calm dignity on his face was now shadowed by worry.
Delphine, seated quietly beside her father, cast him a worried glance before lowering her gaze. She knew this was not her place to speak.
"The guards outside are from Windermere's garrison," the Duke continued. "Forgive me for coming at such a time—"
"Please, sit down," Felix interrupted gently, offering a reassuring smile as he shook the Duke's hand. "Tell me, what has happened in Londinium?"
Kent froze for a moment, fingers interlaced tightly as if to steady himself. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, but heavy.
"So… you already know?"
"I have my own intelligence network," Felix replied evenly.
"I see." The Duke gave a dry, self-deprecating chuckle. "If not for your earlier warning, I might already have been assassinated."
Delphine's eyes widened. She had never heard her father speak so plainly before. The weight of that admission chilled her to the core.
"Victoria," Felix said quietly, crossing one leg over the other, "is a vast cesspool. If you refuse to get your hands dirty and join the filth, you'll only stand out—and the others will make sure you disappear."
In his past life, Felix remembered this moment clearly. Around this very time, Duke Kent had already been dead—assassinated earlier that year on a train after a meeting of Londinium's dukes and earls. It wasn't hard for Felix to guess why: Kent had likely spoken too honestly or refused to align with the rest. In that world, anyone who didn't board the same ship as the other nobles… was silenced.
Kent's face was lined with regret. "Victoria today… is no longer the Victoria we once knew."
"You mean the matter of welcoming the Sarkaz into Londinium," Felix said, "or the infighting among the dukes?"
The Duke gave a bitter smile. "Naturally, the former. Many dukes were opposed, but it was Duke Cavendish who invited the neutral Sarkaz into Londinium, hoping to mediate the growing tensions among the nobility. Of course, this decision angered others. The nobles of Tara were especially outraged. Earl Warwick, for instance, believes the capital should never have been opened to homeless wanderers. Truth be told, most of the dukes share his sentiment."
Felix nodded thoughtfully but remained silent, his expression contemplative.
"I haven't seen Earl Warwick in a long time," he said after a pause. "How is he?"
Kent rested his chin on one hand, considering. "Warwick is an extraordinary man—an exemplary noble and a clear-eyed politician. He leads the Tara aristocracy, and many within Victoria's elite quietly fear his growing influence. Fortunately for them, Warwick's hand has not yet reached into the military."
"And the bloodlines of Aslan and Draco?" Felix asked. "Still no trace?"
The Duke sighed. "Perhaps that is Victoria's fate—to be ever divided by its own strife. Even if a true monarch were to claim the throne one day, it would be near impossible to restore the kingdom to what it once was."
He shook his head softly and laid a comforting hand on his daughter's shoulder.
"Pioneer," Kent said at last, voice steady but solemn, "I have a favor to ask of you. Please… look after my daughter."
Delphine rose abruptly to her feet, eyes wide in shock.
"Windermere remains safe for now," the Duke continued calmly, "but my daughter cannot live her entire life sheltered in comfort. This is her own belief as well—she wishes to stand on her own, not be protected forever."
He hesitated briefly before going on. "In fact, she had wanted to enter Londinium herself—to gather intelligence and report back to Windermere. But I deemed it too dangerous. The situation there is… volatile."
Felix's expression sharpened slightly. "You're referring to the dukes' agreement, aren't you? The one that requires each family to send a relative to Londinium as a hostage—so that if any side rebels, their kin will be executed?"
Kent nodded gravely. "Windermere is but a small city. Even so, I will never send my daughter into that viper's nest."
Then, standing, he performed a deep noble's bow.
"Pioneer, as thanks for this request—name your price. Whatever conditions you ask for, I will meet them."
Delphine opened her mouth to protest, but a stern glance from her father silenced her.
Across the table, Felix remained silent, his fingers lightly rubbing together as he contemplated the weight of what had just been entrusted to him.
"I need a promise from you."
"Please, go on."
"I need an ally," Felix said calmly. "When I eventually enter Victoria, I'll need your assistance. I know that you'll be the one to replace Delphine in Londinium. Of course, I won't ask you to betray your so-called noble alliance. Will you agree to this promise?"
An intangible vow — far heavier than gold. Compared to this, a large sum of money would have been far easier to accept.
Duke Kent gave a soft chuckle. "You're quite ambitious, Pioneer."
"I'm no king," Felix replied.
"You're too modest, sir."
The Duke sighed, a hint of awe in his voice. "Everything I've seen along this journey—every transformation in Kazdel—it's unbelievable. And all of it exists because of you."
"You flatter me," Felix said with a small smile.
Felix's thoughts drifted to Earl Warwick, From behind Earl Warwick, Felix caught a glimpse of Eblana's shadow. In the past, Warwick would never have been so bold—let alone openly oppose a Victoria Duke's opinion. Years ago, he had always played both sides, cautious and reserved. Despite being a leader among the Tarans, he rarely clashed with the nobility of Victoria.
It seemed that in recent years, the Earl's fortunes had been quite favorable. As for Eblana—the puppet he intended to raise—Felix didn't believe for a moment that she was as harmless as Warwick imagined.
In truth, Felix had already known of Eblana's ambitions back when he left Victoria. Now, even from outside the political whirlpool, he had become entangled with Loughshinny. That alone meant one thing—someday, he would return to Victoria. But in what capacity, and with what face… only time would tell.
Duke Kent departed swiftly, taking several Victoria soldiers with him. Only one woman remained—silent and steadfast—standing behind Delphine as her guard.
"What is it you plan to do?" Felix asked.
Delphine shook her head. In truth, she had originally intended to infiltrate Londinium herself, to gather intelligence for her family and study the city's inner workings.
Now, however, her father had taken on that mission, while she found herself in distant Kazdel—under the rule of Pioneer, a Sankta by blood, and a man far removed from the politics of Victoria.
"What did you study in the military academy?"
"Intelligence analysis and military organization."
Felix nodded. "For now, familiarize yourself with Kazdel's current situation and administrative systems. After that, you'll join the communications and intelligence division under my command. Of course, you may continue maintaining contact with Windermere—consider them one of my allies as well."
Delphine straightened and gave a crisp military salute. Her discipline reflected the firm traditions of the Victorian army—orderly, unwavering, and efficient. This was precisely what Felix admired most about Victorian soldiers.
After seeing Delphine off, Felix instructed Loughshinny to look after her, then returned to his office. He glanced over the list of factions before turning to the item tab, where a crystal pulsed with faint light.
[Zero-Type Sarkaz Castle Siege Battle]
The name said it all—a simulation of the legendary siege of Kazdel City. As usual, Felix tweaked the conditions for obtaining the mission crystal: Earn 100,000 contribution points. Once satisfied, he released the quest to the public.
Ever since he had watched the walkthrough of Midnight Rain Knight: Desperate Edition, he sometimes regretted that he wasn't a player himself. If he were, he could have experienced the thrill of exploration, the tension of battle, and the exhilaration of defeating the final boss firsthand.
That joy—the players' joy—was something forever beyond his reach.
Within the mobile city of Kazdel, the old Military Commission had been dissolved. In its place now stood the United Kazdel Parliament, founded by Felix himself. Before any new law or policy was announced, it would first be presented in this Parliament, where the upper echelons and elite representatives gathered.
Among them were dozens of distinguished mercenaries, handpicked from Kazdel's many companies, invited to participate in shaping the city's future. Adventurers were included as well—led by Yang Yan XF and several members of the Strategy Division—as were Captain Cabus of the Warrior Squad and Lao Silais of the Liquid Team. When they received their invitations, they had trembled with excitement—some nearly kneeling to kiss Ines's feet in gratitude.
Those players even secretly joked about calling him His Excellency Chancellor of Kazdel.
Familiar faces like Giles, Luna, and W also sat among the Parliament's members. However, W often clashed with former members of the Military Commission, their arguments escalating into verbal duels. Luna, never one to hold back, would frequently retaliate, and before long, the two were locked in a contest of sharp tongues.
The others simply watched—half amused, half resigned—as if observing two unruly children in the middle of a heated squabble.
Within the mobile city of Kazdel, new buildings were rising one after another.
At the forefront of this great construction effort stood Mudrock, now serving as one of the chief engineers of the Kazdel Council. She had gathered around her a team—the Mudrock Squad—composed of over a dozen Sarkaz mercenaries skilled in earth-type Originium Arts.
Their battlefield was not one of blood and fire, but of stone and steel. Their mission was piling and construction—a duty just as vital as any war. The pay was generous, and even the battle-hardened mercenaries who once lived by the blade had no complaints. Every day, they toiled happily, laying the foundations of a new Kazdel—brick by brick.
By mid-August, news that Felix had long been waiting for finally arrived.
Rosebloom, ever his loyal agent, brought word from Bolívar—the city of Dossoles was requesting a contingent of external mercenaries to suppress the local Bolívarian army and "stir the waters."
The message came directly from Dossoles' mayor, Candela Sánchez, herself.
Unfolding the letter, Felix glanced briefly at the lavish gifts of Dossoles' specialties that accompanied it. Tomorrow's Development's mercenary division—was never short on business, but this was something else entirely. A job of this scale would inevitably pit them against Bolívar's official military forces.
Still… it was an opportunity too valuable to pass up.
Dossoles had long been a strange city—its hands in many pots. It was connected to the Singas Dynasty, the Coalition Government, and the true Bolívarians alike. Yet to those same Bolívarians, Dossoles was nothing more than a city of sin. And now, during their famous Summer Festival, it seemed Candela had chosen to play a very dangerous game.
With that thought, Felix instructed Ines to summon the mercenaries he had personally selected and lead them to the Packa Industrial District—the heart of Kazdel's heavy industry.
It was a sanctuary for manufacturers and production specialists. Many crafting-oriented players favored working there—not only for the atmosphere but for the chance to trigger rare NPC missions that rewarded them with unique skill books and blueprints.
Felix's own armament factory had just been completed days earlier. Inside, there were no terran workers—only rows of automated production lines, each one powered by precision machinery. After his identity scan, the great steel doors opened wide, lights flickering to life as mechanical arms whirred into motion. The rhythmic hum of gears filled the air.
This was the heart of Tomorrow's Development.
Every piece of mechanical armor and weapon used by its players and Sarkaz soldiers was forged here.
With the engineers' recent level-ups, equipment quality had also advanced significantly. Felix inspected the newest model of Tomorrow's Development Standard Combat Armor, nodding in satisfaction.
The design, he noted with faint amusement, did an excellent job of accentuating the Sarkaz's naturally imposing physiques.
Well—except for Ermengarde the Lich, of course. She simply didn't have much to accentuate.
Ermengarde: "(💢◠ᴗ◠) 🔪"
Hearing Ines's voice echo from the entrance, Felix turned slightly.
"Pioneer, I've brought them."
Before him stood a newly assembled mercenary regiment—around thirty Sarkaz mercenaries and several dozen adventurers. Among the group, Felix immediately recognized two familiar faces: Sorlesar, captain and caster of the Blue Rain, and his deputy, Dandao Dantart.
The latter was already on the verge of tears—no, actually crying outright.
These mercenaries and adventurers had been handpicked by Hoederer and Ines themselves—each one a Sarkaz elite. Loyalty had been the first and most critical criterion. All of them had chosen Tomorrow's Development over the rival Frontier District without hesitation.
And now, for the first time, they stood before the man of legend—the Sankta, founder and leader of Tomorrow's Development… the uncrowned king of Kazdel.
"Tch… you've got to be kidding me."
"Wait, wait—no one told us about this!"
"..."
A low murmur spread among the mercenaries, but order soon returned.
The adventurers, meanwhile, stared in awe at the Pioneer, eyes alight with anticipation.
Felix clasped his hands behind his back and spoke:
"Race does not define honor. I have seen Sarkaz who embody the nobility of the finest knights… and others—of different blood—whose hearts are darker than the cruelest undead."
He paused, letting his words settle into the silence.
"To carry the name of Sarkaz across all of Terra, I have a mission—one that only you can complete."