"…She was my comrade."
Felix's hand gently brushed the surface of the coffin, his touch tender—almost reverent, as though the cold metal still held warmth and life.
"If you ever make it to Kazdel, you'll understand. She played a crucial role in helping me seize control of the Kazdel mobile city."
The players fell silent. A heavy, awkward guilt settled over them. They realized now that their earlier curiosity—so casual and eager—had bordered on sacrilege. Listening to the Pioneer speak of the woman's sacrifice, they felt as if they had profaned the resting place of someone truly important.
"Curiosity," Felix said softly, a faint smile touching his lips, "is part of terran nature. It should never be extinguished."
He looked around at them, eyes calm and steady. "I won't blame you. In fact, I encourage you to keep that spirit of exploration alive."
A notification flashed in the corner of their vision—[Affinity with Pioneer +1].
The players trembled in disbelief. The captain bowed deeply, voice trembling. "Thank you for forgiving us, Pioneer. We… we swear to keep this secret. No one else will know."
"Thank you, adventurers," Felix replied warmly. He turned his head slightly to glance at the girl resting within the coffin. Her serene face was framed by her hood, her lips curved faintly—as if lost in a pleasant dream.
When the door closed behind them, the players felt a strange heaviness in their chests. And yet, beneath that weight was a quiet satisfaction. The Pioneer—true to his title—had indulged their curiosity, taught them humility, and left them with something far greater than scolding.
This secret belongs to us now.
They exchanged silent looks of understanding. Somewhere far away, the forum posts about the "Chernobog Ruins" vanished without a trace.
Kal'tsit watched from the shadows as the adventurers spoke quietly with Felix. Some bowed repeatedly, their apologies never-ending. One female adventurer kept trying to hug him, only to stop at the last second, trembling with restraint. After a few minutes of hushed conversation, they said their goodbyes and departed the underground chamber.
"…What on terra just happened?" ACE asked, baffled.
"Nothing much," Felix replied lightly. "I simply satisfied their curiosity."
As he turned his gaze away from the exit, his expression cooled. "Doctor Kal'tsit, I suggest you strengthen your internal systems. My familiar managed to analyze and decrypt your security protocols in under two minutes."
Kal'tsit's eyes narrowed. "Understood. But before that, I need to see it for myself."
She led the group back into the basement. After verifying the program and running diagnostics, Kal'tsit approached the coffin and looked down at the slumbering Doctor inside.
ACE sighed quietly, while Amiya stood beside him—her expression anxious and sorrowful, eyes fixed on the woman in the coffin. She wanted nothing more than for the Doctor to wake up soon.
Once the reconfiguration was complete, Kal'tsit turned toward Felix.
"Regarding this organization," she said evenly, "I'd like to discuss it with you in detail."
"Then allow me to share my thoughts first."
Felix leaned against the cold stone wall. "I understand your intention to create a new organization—to move freely across this land. I can support that. In fact, I'm willing to invest. Not as a gamble, mind you, but as a stakeholder."
Kal'tsit was silent.
He waved a hand dismissively. "I have no interest in meddling with your internal affairs. Honestly, even without me, you could establish your organization within a year. I'm merely accelerating the process."
"Is this an investment from Tomorrow's Development, or from you personally?" she asked.
"I represent only myself," Felix answered plainly.
Kal'tsit nodded slightly. "An organization dedicated to saving the Infected while accepting private commissions… that's a rare thing in this world."
"It's similar to Blacksteel International or Tomorrow's Development," Felix said, folding his arms, "but you have a unique advantage—medicine.
"Right now, Tomorrow's Development imports nearly all of its medical supplies from Columbia. We still can't manage full self-production. If your organization can achieve significant breakthroughs in medical science, we could partner with you again, much like we once did with Babel."
Kal'tsit's eyes glinted faintly. "I'll give you my answer once I return."
"Good."
Felix wasn't in any hurry. Taking Amiya's small, soft hand, he led her back to the surface. The sky had already darkened, the streets quiet under the weight of dusk. He suggested that they spend the night here. ACE agreed—flying the transport now would only draw attention, and the lack of external lighting made takeoff too risky. Better to depart at low altitude in daylight.
Kal'tsit listened to ACE's reasoning and voiced no objections.
Afterward, Felix returned to the city center with his companions and checked into a hotel. Once everyone had washed up, he settled comfortably on the sofa, leisurely enjoying a book of Ursus poetry and literature.
Summer days were long, and dusk had yet to fall. With some time left before dinner, Felix knocked on Kal'tsit and Amiya's door. It was Kal'tsit who answered—her expression as calm and unreadable as ever. When she heard that he wanted to take Amiya out for a walk, she hesitated for only a moment before nodding in agreement.
Amiya's face brightened instantly. She clasped Felix's hand, and together they stepped out onto the streets of Chernobog.
Though this was not a city famed for tourism, it still had its noble avenue, markets, and scenic spots tailored for travelers. The little Cautus girl needed to see the beauty this world still held, and as they strolled, Felix introduced her to the customs and charm of Ursus culture.
By the time they reached the noble district, the streetlights had already begun to glow. From the observation platform, the city center spread out before them in glittering detail. It might not have possessed the refined grace of Victoria's architecture, but its fusion of steel modernity and traditional urban design held its own unique allure.
"It looks so lively over there," Amiya said, pointing toward a brightly lit mansion not far away.
Following her gaze, Felix gently patted her head.
"That's a noble estate. Around this hour, their banquet is probably about to begin."
Seeing Amiya's puzzled look, Felix took her hand and led her toward the mansion.
After crossing just one block, the number of cars along the street began to rise. Felix gave a quick glance and immediately recognized that most of the passengers were members of Chernobog's noble class.
In a mobile city like this, nobles were both its rulers and its lifeblood. Of course, such a city would not host dukes or grand lords—these were the upper echelon of minor nobility.
From his brief observation, Felix concluded that the nobles gathered here were new blood. The old aristocracy had earned their titles through military merit, but with the growth of commerce and industry, a new generation of wealthy elites had risen—men and women who made their fortunes through trade and enterprise, encroaching on the influence of the old families. The conflict between the old and the new had already begun.
These people, Felix noted, wore their success on their faces—radiating confidence and the polished poise of high society. Yet they lacked the sharpness, the hardened edge of those who had once faced the battlefield. There was no trace of killing intent or command presence in them. These were unmistakably new nobles.
"Amiya, would you like to take a look inside?" he asked.
"Eh? Can I really?"
Amiya looked tempted but hesitant, afraid she might trouble her "big brother" Felix.
He looked over her traveling coat and shook his head lightly.
"Only if we change your clothes first."
"Eh?"
Ten minutes later, Amiya's appearance had completely transformed.
She now wore a newly purchased black dress, its daring cut revealing just a hint of her back. The outfit added a subtle air of maturity to the young girl, and the small crown-shaped accessory in her hair gleamed softly under the lights. Flustered, Amiya hid behind Felix, her cheeks flushed—she had never worn anything so elegant before, and the exposed back made her feel shy beyond words.
The noble boulevard lived up to its name—luxury boutiques remained open even at this hour. Felix, now in a sleek suit, gently took Amiya's small hand and led her forward.
"Do you two have an invitation?"
At the entrance, a polite attendant stepped forward to ask. From his practiced eye, it was easy to tell that the young Sankta man and the Cautus girl before him were not on the guest list. This was, after all, a gathering of Ursus nobility—outsiders of their races had never attended such an event.
However, the attendant quickly noticed something different about Felix.
The man exuded no visible aura, yet his presence drew the eye irresistibly—like a natural leader whose every gesture commanded attention. His composure and quiet confidence created an unspoken pressure that demanded respect.
It was a kind of charisma that words could not describe.
Sensing this, the attendant immediately straightened his posture. Guests like this were not to be turned away lightly. Even if their names were missing from the list, exceptions could—and should—be made.
That was how nobles operated.
Felix noticed another attendant quietly slip away toward the mansion, no doubt to report to the host. He said nothing of it, only smiled and replied,
"Our invitation was unfortunately misplaced on the way here."
The attendant blinked in realization and nodded quickly.
"Ah, I see! Please, sir and madam—this way."
He gestured respectfully toward the entrance. Amiya, who had been worrying moments earlier about the missing invitation, suddenly found herself being led by Felix through the gates and into the mansion's courtyard.
Amiya looked up at Felix with wide, curious eyes.
"They really just let us walk right in?"
"Indeed."
Felix chuckled softly and patted her head, speaking in simple words she could understand.
"When someone is strong enough, they never need an invitation."
"Like Brother Felix?" she asked, tilting her head.
"One day," he said with a faint smile, "you'll be like me too—strong in your own way."
Amiya glanced down at herself, then compared her height to his.
"But… I'm not like you. I don't have the kind of power you do. I probably never will."
"Strength isn't only about power," Felix replied gently. "Tell me, do you think Doctor Kal'tsit is strong?"
Amiya nodded her little bunny head at once.
"The reason the mercenaries respect her isn't because of her combat ability," Felix continued—though, truthfully, Kal'tsit's strength was formidable. "It's because of her medical skill, isn't it?"
"That's true!" Amiya's expression brightened, her ears twitching as a sweet smile spread across her face. "I understand now, Brother Felix. I'll do my best!"
"Good girl," he said warmly.
The two of them stepped into the nobles' grand hall. The scene was little different from the banquets Felix had attended back in Victoria—save for one thing. The nobles of Victoria wore their virtue like a mask, hiding corruption behind a façade of dignity. To outsiders, their hypocrisy was obvious, their decay laid bare beneath the surface of polished manners.
The Ursus nobles here, however, were different. These were the new elite—merchants and industrial magnates. They might harbor ambitions of political power, but for now, they shared a common enemy: the old nobility who still held the military reins. For the time being, they stood united in a bloodless struggle for dominance.
Their arrival, unsurprisingly, drew subtle glances from many in the room. Amiya fetched a plate of pastries and a drink for Felix, who accepted a glass of juice and took a slow sip.
The nobles' attention lingered briefly on Amiya but quickly shifted away. To them, the Cautus girl was merely the servant or attendant of the Sankta man beside her. It was Felix—smiling pleasantly, composed and unassuming—who seemed the true anomaly here, an uninvited guest walking boldly among them.
Before long, a middle-aged Ursus noble approached with a courteous smile.
"Good evening, sir. I am the host of tonight's gathering and the master of this estate. On behalf of the Rostov family, I welcome you."
"Felix Shawn Lanshem," he replied, extending his hand. "But perhaps you may call me the Pioneer."
The noble's eyes lit up, and his smile grew even warmer.
"So it is you! The name 'Tomorrow's Development'—I've heard it even here in Ursus."
"Oh?" Felix's interest was piqued. The words might have been flattery, yet the man didn't sound insincere. There was only one explanation: this count had a genuine interest in Tomorrow's Development.
A businessman, Felix thought with an inward smirk. They always spark to life the moment they sense opportunity.
He followed the Count Rostov to a quieter corner of the hall. Several nearby nobles watched them discreetly from a distance.
"So then," Felix asked casually, "what sort of trade does the Rostov family wish to discuss?"
"Minerals," came the reply.
"Ah…" Felix gave him a sidelong glance. "You mean those contaminated ores the infected dig out of the ground?"
Ursus ore was famous—or rather, infamous. Most of it, mined by infected laborers, was heavily polluted and unusable without tedious purification and refinement. Felix mentioned this lightly; he didn't believe the count could be so foolish.
"Refined minerals," Count Rostov clarified with a polite smile. "I've heard that Tomorrow's Development possesses a remarkably advanced industrial network. I was hoping to establish a trade deal."
"And what do you want from me in return?" Felix asked.
"We'll provide the ore—and money, of course. In exchange, we'd like to purchase equipment and weaponry from you."
Felix's expression sharpened slightly, a glint of amusement flickering in his eyes.
"And perhaps," he asked with a knowing tone, "you'd also like me to assign a military instructor or two to your city?"
"Ahaha, my good sir, whatever do you mean?"
Count Rostov laughed it off, then lowered his voice with a more candid tone.
"This is all for the protection of Chernobog… and of my family. Our business has grown large enough to attract enemies, you see—too large for some people's comfort."
Half-truths wrapped in diplomacy. Felix heard them all and simply smiled.
Weapons and soldiers—he didn't believe for a second that these were meant for defense against common thieves. But since the count was playing dumb, Felix decided to do the same.
"Oh, but I've yet to introduce my daughter!" Rostov said cheerfully. "Pioneer, this is my beloved daughter—Natalya Andreyevna Rostova."
He led forward a young Ursus girl dressed in an elegant gown, barely of middle-school age. It wasn't unusual to see children of nobility attending such banquets.
Felix smiled and shook the girl's hand politely.
Then his gaze drifted toward Amiya, who was nibbling her cake in small, careful bites.
This one, he thought with quiet amusement, will one day become your Operator.