Jesselton and the other operators stepped out of the meeting room. When they saw Sonya leading the group of Bear girls, they withdrew their gazes without a word. Although Jesselton cared deeply about the fact that unknown Ursus had entered the King's sanctum, he restrained himself. The image Tomorrow's Development presented to the outside world could not be allowed to end in his hands, otherwise he would have to take his own life to atone.
The doors here were kept open at all times so that the police could communicate freely with Tomorrow's Development's operators. Police officers entering was normal enough, but these young Bear girls were another matter entirely.
Jesselton gave them a brief look before turning away. After him came Mountain, Mudrock, Qalaiša, W, and the others filing out one by one. As they passed in front of the Ursus girls, the presence they carried and the confident smiles on their faces made Sonya's eyes sparkle.
This was… way too cool.
What she had experienced at school was nothing more than childish scuffles. Only now did she realize that knocking everyone down with her fists at school meant nothing. Making something of herself on the land of Terra with those same fists was what she should truly be doing.
But considering Chernobog's current situation, Sonya took a deep breath. What could she even do right now?
W glanced at Anna. Ever since acquiring drone, she liked to keep it in stealth mode and hover beside Felix. It was not because she cared about him personally, but because as a subordinate, she needed to respond instantly if he had any urgent needs.
She had heard Felix's promise to the girl named Anna. While she was certain the King would not take an interest in an Ursus girl with neither chest nor hips to speak of, when W noticed the slightly haggard Natalya, she clenched her teeth.
She looked down. She could not see her own feet. Good, her confidence returned. After all, she was a Sarkaz woman. Her charm far surpassed that of Sankta women.
Did they even understand the value of a Sarkaz woman's… assets?
W's gaze made Natalya shrink back slightly. She had no idea why the white-haired, red-eyed Sarkaz had been staring at her for so long. Under Ines's gentle guidance, the group entered the meeting room.
Before them sat a Sankta with a golden crown halo, leaning back in a comfortable golden leather chair behind the round table. A screen composed of electronic components floated before him. His short gray hair stirred slightly in the breeze from the window. Hearing their footsteps, the electronic screen folded away at once, and a pair of clear golden eyes turned toward the Ursus girls.
All of the Ursus girls present, including Sonya, flushed immediately. Under that transparent golden gaze, they felt as though every stitch of clothing had been stripped away, leaving them completely exposed before the young man.
His presence embodied legitimacy, eternity, order, and singularity.
Perhaps even the Emperor of Ursus did not possess such an aura. Though he was looking at the Ursus girls, it felt as though he was gazing into their very essence, their souls.
Sonya's face burned red as she lifted her eyes to meet his. Anna had already passed her blushing stage. She hugged her books tightly and lowered her head slightly to hide the color on her cheeks. Lada stared at the young man in a daze, looking as though she might start drooling at any moment.
A sickly flush rose on Natalya's face as her full thighs pressed together unconsciously. Rosalind blinked boldly, while Zoya lowered her gaze, feeling her heart racing too fast. If she looked any longer, it might beat even faster.
Ines sat to the side of the meeting room. Faced with this scene, she felt a speechless sense of helplessness. She knew well that the King's charm was unmatched. Among Tomorrow's Development's leadership, the men were utterly loyal to him, willing to go through fire and blades at his command. The women were equally loyal, though that loyalty carried with it a layer of admiration toward him as a man.
As far as she knew, Luna had shown interest in Felix from the very beginning. Qalaiša and Mudrock often found themselves staring at his face after he became King. Even W seemed to be a bit… Ines pondered for a moment before shaking her head. She only hoped W would have the courage to move forward. After all, while the King appeared imposing, he was quite easy to talk to in private.
Seeing the Bear girls staring at the King in a daze, their faces filled with the fluttering hearts of young maidens, Ines almost could not bring herself to shatter their fantasies.
But as the King's subordinate, it was something she had to do.
"Cough."
The light cough was like ice dropped into hot water, instantly lowering the temperature, though the cup itself remained warm, much like the girls' flushed cheeks.
"Good morning,"
Ines said gently, then turned toward Felix. "This is Tomorrow's Development's leader, Felix. Do you have something you'd like to discuss with us?"
At Felix's own request, Ines did not mention titles such as King of the Sarkaz, King of Liberation, or Pioneer. It was meant to avoid stirring the girls' curiosity. However, she seemed to have forgotten that among the operators, the word "King" was already spoken constantly.
Sonya came back to her senses, feeling a restless heat rise within her. Staring at someone else's leader for so long was completely unprofessional. Realizing this, she cleared her throat and bravely looked once more at the silent Sankta youth, whose expression carried a faint, encouraging smile.
"My name is Sonya. I'm a student at Peterheim Middle School."
She began with a simple introduction. "With Chernobog on the verge of falling, I hope to offer what help I can through student organizations. Tomorrow's Development saved the lives of my family and my friends, so I want to repay that debt."
"As for future plans, I haven't thought that far ahead. I just want to do whatever I can right now."
Her words were concise and direct. For a student, being able to speak fluently in front of Felix without stumbling was already proof of considerable courage.
"You're still students,"
The young man spoke for the first time. His voice was magnetic with calm authority. "I don't want to demand anything of you. At your age, this kind of work is not appropriate. It's too dangerous for you. Tomorrow's Development does not force minors into combat."
"…Are you looking down on us?"
Sonya clenched her fists and lowered her head. She knew everything he said was true. They were only students. Above them were adults, grown men and women, police officers. How could such responsibility be placed on students like them? It was far too dangerous.
"Sonya…"
Anna pressed her lips together. She understood the emotions boiling inside Sonya, her sincere desire to see Chernobog return to peace. But the King's words also made sense.
"I'm not looking down on you,"
Felix waved his hand, and the atmosphere shifted from heavy to lighter at once. "It's simply that you're too young. Handing adult responsibilities to you would be our failure. Sonya, was it?"
"Yes."
Sonya straightened her chest.
"I can feel your resolve. I'll grant you a temporary external membership with Tomorrow's Development. Your duties will be distributing supplies to civilians, guiding students, and maintaining order when necessary. Is this something you can handle?"
Light flashed in Sonya's eyes. This was exactly what she had hoped for. While not being able to step onto the front lines was a slight disappointment, after witnessing Operator Mountain's combat strength the day before, she understood that the other operators were on the same level. That realization left her with a sense of frustration. With people like them around, there was no place for Sonya and the others on the front line.
"Understood. Please entrust this responsibility to me."
Sonya's voice rang with conviction.
Felix nodded slightly. After confirming with him, Ines stood up. "Please follow me. I'll register you as temporary external members."
Sonya nodded firmly, while Rosalind beside her broke into a smile. The group followed Ines out of the room.
"Natalya, please stay behind."
Felix's words made Natalya, who was walking at the rear, stop in her tracks. Surprise flickered across her face. Sonya, walking ahead, turned back and looked at Natalya, whose complexion seemed unhealthy, and said simply, "Natalya, we'll wait for you outside."
"…Thank you."
The meeting room door closed once more, leaving Natalya alone facing Felix. Under his calm gaze, she had no idea what he intended to say.
"The noble quarter is currently gathering more than a thousand Infected."
That single sentence drained the color from Natalya's face. Her lips trembled, and tears slipped from her eyes before she could stop them. She was only of middle school age. Even as a girl from a noble family, she had borne far too much pressure. That she had not broken down already spoke to her resilience.
"The nobles' forces are still holding. They have equipment that Tomorrow's Development supplied in the past, so they won't fall immediately."
Felix's tone remained even. "We should all do what we can."
"…Thank you, Your Highness."
Natalya bowed deeply. She did not ask for anything, nor did she beg Felix to save her parents. Were her parents more important simply because they were nobles? Were the parents of others any less so?
What right did she have to ask him for anything? Did she possess anything that Tomorrow's Development valued? Did she have any bargaining chip that could move Felix's heart?
Aside from this body of hers… but how could she harbor such a sordid thought and use it to speculate about His Highness's intentions?
His Highness was right. At this moment, all she could do was what lay within her own abilities.
With that realization, resolve returned to Natalya's expression. She bowed to Felix once more in gratitude, then pushed the door open.
She was met by a row of expectant gazes. She looked at them one by one, and finally offered Sonya a faint smile. "I'm fine now."
Sonya was surprised by the change in her demeanor, but still nodded. At the front, Ines turned with a smile and continued leading the Bear girls onward. As expected of His Highness. With just a few words, he had pulled Natalya out of despair and self-doubt.
As for the noble quarter, she had indeed heard rumors about it. However, the more pressing issue now was that the remaining forces of the Reunion Movement had discovered the direction in which Chernobog's residents were retreating. According to footage relayed by drones, at least tens of thousands of Infected were advancing toward the school district, including high-ranking members of the Reunion Movement's main force. Facial data analysis identified them as the cadres Mephisto and Faust.
As for where this intelligence came from, it was said to have been obtained by adventurers who had infiltrated the Reunion Movement as undercover agents.
Sonya followed Ines into another room. There, she saw a mechanical sphere floating in midair. Being new here, she knew which questions to ask and which to keep to herself.
"This is Clever. A mechanical construct created by His Highness. Your data will be logged into Tomorrow's Development's system here,"
Ines explained. "Although you are temporary external members, you still enjoy certain internal permissions. You'll be able to access past data and historical records."
Sonya stared intently at the drone for a long moment before speaking. "If I want to join Tomorrow's Development as a full member, what procedures would I need?"
Rosalind, standing beside her, hesitated as if wanting to say something, then stopped. She seemed to have thought of something and chose not to continue. In truth, she also held a favorable impression of Tomorrow's Development and had been saved by its operators. She simply wanted to observe their conduct a bit longer and review their historical records before making a decision.
Ines was not surprised by Sonya's question. She smiled lightly. "There's no need to rush becoming a full member. You don't even know yet what Tomorrow's Development truly aims to do. Why not first take a look at our history and the purpose behind our founding?"
Sonya and the others nodded in agreement. With Clever's assistance, they were registered as temporary external members and issued standard Tomorrow's Development combat uniforms. Sonya liked hers immediately. Though it lacked the flashy appearance of powered armor, once she put it on, she felt her body grow lighter, as if she could swing her baseball bat faster. The chill in the air also seemed less biting after she donned the uniform.
While Sonya was savoring the feel of the suit, Rosalind tested her strength with a few punches. Anna had already begun browsing Tomorrow's Development's history with Clever's help. Not only Anna, but Natalya, Lada, and Zoya were doing the same.
A future where the uninfected and the infected could coexist in harmony. Tomorrow's Development counted both infected and uninfected among its operators. It had risen from humble beginnings. Those who followed the righteous path found many allies, while those who strayed were left behind. When Felix first founded Tomorrow's Development, only a handful of like-minded companions stood beside him. Step by step, he expanded, drawing in countless adventurers during his journeys. From the days of weakness, they had accompanied Tomorrow's Development all the way. No, Tomorrow's Development had also been supporting those adventurers, the two advancing together.
"…This is the kind of organization I want to join."
Sonya murmured softly.