The meeting ended soon after the three revealed their identities. Everyone left as if waking from a dream. Of the four figures capable of shaping Victoria's future, one appeared to be an enemy, while the other three were all operators of Tomorrow's Development.
Was something like that even possible?
In the conference room, only Felix remained, still radiating the charisma bestowed by the title of Dawn Flash, along with three others who exchanged bewildered looks.
Loughshinny let out a soft sigh. In truth, she had never wanted this position, nor had she wished to compete with her sister. To her, Tomorrow's Development was home, a place of warmth and belonging. She was unwilling to leave it, unwilling to abandon this haven.
Talulah turned her head away, refusing to look at Felix. In fact, she did not want to focus on him at all. She did not know when it had happened, but his presence had grown increasingly overwhelming. Even without looking at him, she could feel the pull he exerted, a powerful attraction that made her yearn for him while simultaneously scolding herself for such thoughts.
Her relationship with Felix was strictly one of superior and subordinate, unlike that of his other women. Talulah clenched her teeth. She disliked this feeling deeply. Admiration and affection were not the same thing. She was convinced that what she felt was merely appreciation, unlike the fondness those other women held for him.
The Siege wore a complicated expression. She had never intended to reveal herself so soon. Tomorrow's Development would eventually march on Londinium, and Felix would one day face General Theresis. When that time came, she would stand at his side, just as she had promised when she joined Tomorrow's Development.
But now, with the Tara army occupying County Hillock, everything had been accelerated. The Tara nobles had already made their move by pledging themselves to Earl Warwick, and the Draco hidden in the shadows was the source of his confidence. This forced the former legitimate royal to realize that she could no longer wait.
"Your Highness, I would like to hear your opinion on this matter," Talulah spoke first. To be honest, she had little interest in the so-called struggle for royal power. Her goal was clear: to follow Felix in realizing her ambitions and, in doing so, atone for her past sins.
"The Tara people already have a leader, Eblana. This is the choice of some Tara people, and also the choice of the Tara nobles," Felix said slowly. He continued, "Siege's title carries legitimacy and meaning. As long as you, Siege, return to Londinium, many who remain loyal to the former royal family will surely rally to your side."
"Loughshinny, do you think your sister's actions are justified? As a Taran legitimate royal bloodline, the Six ringleaders, and the atrocities committed in County Hillock had all been orchestrated by her. Did you truly agree with that path?"
Loughshinny shook her head sadly, pressed her lips together, and replied, "Although this method may be effective in the short term, it is far too brutal and dark. I cannot condone it."
"She told me she would lead the Tara people in revenge against Victoria, and we have all seen the process of that revenge through the records," Loughshinny continued. "She raised her blade against the innocent, no different from how the Victorian nobles once oppressed the Tara people."
Her words drew the attention of Talulah and Siege. Loughshinny lifted her head, her gaze firm. "Your Highness, I want to tell the Tara people that there is another path they can take. Beyond revenge, there is a brighter tomorrow waiting for them."
Loughshinny turned toward the Siege, took a deep breath, and said, "Even if Miss Vina is of royal blood, I will not retreat on this point."
Vina nodded slightly, placed a hand over her chest in respect, and replied, "That is a noble ideal. I do not mind having one more competitor."
Talulah glanced at Loughshinny and Siege, feeling that she truly had no reason to involve herself in Victoria's struggle for supremacy. She frowned and looked back at Felix. "Your Highness, what did you mean when you said the people would decide?"
Felix smiled. "Exactly what it sounds like."
"The Tara nobles currently control the lands south of County Hillock. It may look insignificant on the map, but in reality it consists of only a few hills. This is directly tied to the limited size of the Tara nobles' territory."
He pointed at the map, drawing the attention of the three women. "Our current target is Kazimierz. Once the Kazimierz campaign concludes, we will formally begin our advance on Londinium, the final battle. It will also be the war between the Military Commission and Tomorrow's Development. I have inherited Theresa's will, and this time, we will truly unify Kazdel."
"At that point, Vina, you and your companions will join us in the assault on Londinium. After the mission is complete, you will remain in Londinium as an operator of Tomorrow's Development and, at the same time, as a candidate for the throne of Victoria."
Meeting Felix's serious gaze, Vina drew a deep breath and slowly nodded. "I understand."
"Loughshinny, I understand what you want to do. I will grant you a territory in the north of Victoria, beyond Windermere, where a large number of Tara people also live. After completing your mission in Kazimierz, you may choose to bring your people there and take command of your own army. The simulation course is over. Now, the decision rests with you as a leader."
Loughshinny parted her lips slightly, then nodded gently. Her eyes were filled with a firm yet tender resolve.
Talulah pointed at herself. "What about me? What am I supposed to do?"
"Talulah, you will act as a Ranger to maintain order within Victoria. You are Draco, but you have no ambition to become king. Because of that, the role of Arbiter suits you well. I will assign you a neutral landship, allowing you to move freely throughout Victoria."
Before Felix could finish, Talulah's eyes lit up. "As an intermediary, I can judge whether law enforcement power is being abused within the territory. Basically, I'd be doing what the Kazimierz Rangers do, right?"
Felix let out a low grunt and nodded. "More or less. Since this is what you want, this role fits you perfectly. Having personally experienced the suffering of the Infected, you will be able to deliver justice to the people of Victoria who are still in pain."
Talulah clenched her fist tightly.
"So… it's a three-way balance of power between three factions now?" Loughshinny asked softly, her tone uncertain. "Then… do we need to gather followers on our own?"
"Victoria's survival will disrupt the balance of Terra," Felix replied quietly, tapping a finger against the table. "Once Victoria falls into chaos, Kazimierz, Columbia, Bolívar, and Leithanien will all be drawn in, and the land will be consumed by war. That is why Victoria must be stabilized."
He continued, "I will inform the operators of Tomorrow's Development through a mission briefing. They will be told about the future plan and that they have the right to decide Victoria's future."
"As for who they choose," Felix added calmly, "that will depend on your speeches."
He nodded once more. "I, as the leader of Tomorrow's Development and Kazdel will also send a letter to Eblana, inviting her to a meeting. The topic will be the Throne Conference."
Vina was the first to stand. She bowed deeply to Felix. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Your Highness. I… I don't want to run anymore. This is my responsibility, the burden of leading the people forward. I won't run. I will fight."
"Stand proud, you're strong."
Those words placed Vina on equal footing with him. They struck her deeply. In the past, she had been no different from a stray dog. Tomorrow's Development had taken her in, trained her, and given her a place to grow. Now, he had given her another chance. She did not know how to repay him. No amount of emotion or material reward could ever match what she had received.
Loughshinny looked at Felix with quiet affection. This had once been her dream. After joining Tomorrow's Development, she had gradually set aside that past, one she neither cherished nor longed for, even after fierce arguments with her sister. Yet leading the Tara people forward and giving them a brighter future was a responsibility Draco could not escape, and she no longer wished to run from it.
The two women walked away slowly, leaving Talulah seated alone.
Felix glanced at her, puzzled. "What's wrong?"
"Did you plan all of this a long time ago?" Talulah asked skeptically. "Isn't it too convenient? Three of the four contenders are from Tomorrow's Development, and all of them hold high positions."
"On this land, I'd call it coincidence," Felix replied. "Victoria is an obstacle Kazdel cannot avoid, and beyond that lies the entanglement between Draco and Aslan. Do you really think I foresaw all this when I first met Loughshinny?"
Talulah shook her head. Felix was not someone who could see the future. Just like when he recruited Siege, he had not planned that far ahead.
"I'll go make some preparations too," Talulah said, waving her hand as she strode away. "Though I doubt I'll have many followers."
Her tone sounded self-deprecating, but Felix could hear the warmth beneath it and knew she did not truly mean it.
Talulah wanted to do these things. She wanted to atone for her sins, and she would pursue that path without hesitation.
The Venus continued its slow journey toward Kazimierz. Before even entering the country, Tomorrow's Development received invitations from the Grand Knights. There were two in total, one from the Chamber of Commerce and another from the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi. Given the current reputation of the King of Kazdel, it was only natural that both factions sought to reestablish contact and forge new ties.
As Loughshinny, Mountain, and the others continued assisting Felix with diplomatic affairs, the player forums erupted into chaos. Countless posts flooded the boards, tagging Terra Times and demanding an immediate update. This was a massive plot reveal, one that could dramatically reshape the later stages of Version 3.0.
An hour later in the real world, Terra Times released an emergency special report.
"Hello everyone, it's been a day. This is Xiaolang." The man with Lupo ears nodded and bowed toward the camera. "Today, I'm bringing you some explosive news, which some Tomorrow's Development players may already be aware of."
"The legitimate heirs to the Victorian throne are Draco and Aslan. In a previous mission carried out by a professional team, they clashed with a Draco woman named Eblana from the Tara nobility. As the trump card of the Tara nobles and a legitimate heir to the throne, she is destined to enter the struggle for Victoria."
"But the next three candidates are even more impactful."
"Loughshinny, the second-in-command of Tomorrow's Development, needs no introduction. As one of the earliest veterans of the organization, she is a Draco and the younger sister of Eblana. She has openly expressed her intention to lead the Tara people toward a brighter future, which means she will also take part in the contest for the throne."
"Siege, whose real name is Alexandrina Vina Victoria, belongs to the Aslan race. She is the leader of Tomorrow's Development's operation team, known for her calm, reliability, and role as the team's dependable elder sister. As a descendant of the former Victorian royal family, she is a legitimate heir to the throne and has clearly stated her determination to compete."
"And the last one is the most shocking of all. Talulah, whose race is Draco. Who would have imagined that the leader of the Reunion Movement carried the blood of Draco? Neither you nor I could have predicted this. Her black and red flames are not Originium Arts, but the innate flames of her race. Although she has shown no interest in the throne, as a Draco, it is hard to believe she will remain uninvolved in Victoria's fate."
Xiaolang's expression grew serious. "Now that the identities of the four successors to the throne have been confirmed, each with their own political stance and objectives, do you still remember the ending of the Version 3.0 PV?"
"The four colors of flame represent the King of Dawn, Eblana, Loughshinny, and Talulah. When you also consider Vina's identity as the future Queen of Victoria, that sword is very likely the king's sword, her sword. Together, they strongly point toward the main storyline of Version 3.0: the battle for supremacy in Victoria."
"The ultimate PVP showdown that every player has a chance to take part in."
Xiaolang's voice rose with excitement. "Now is the time to fight for the ruler you believe in. Choose your king, choose your queen, and fight for them. I believe the King of Dawn will give us that choice."
"And this also marks the beginning of the second large-scale PVP event in Arknights MMORPG, following the Kazdel Civil War PVP that defined Versions 1.0 and 2.0."
"And you, my friend, are you ready?"