Felix's cold laugh sent a chill through Saint Carmen's spine. By that logic, everything could be blamed on Aegir. They lived just across the sea from Iberia, yet had concealed the truth of the Seaborn so thoroughly...
But could the blame truly be placed entirely on Aegir?
Obviously not.
Because Felix had already made it clear: if the Seaborn were killed, they would not simply turn around and attack the Iberians without cause. In other words, this bitter cup had ultimately been brewed by the Iberians themselves.
"Your Highness, I would like to know about the future of these Seaborn..."
"With Kazdel still standing at the very front of the war, you are already thinking about how to deal with the Seaborn afterward?" Felix's gaze made Saint Carmen feel as though ice had been poured down his spine. He could sense the scrutiny in those eyes. Although Saint Carmen could claim golden age and experience than the Liberation King, he had to admit, with some bitterness, that the core of this land had already become the Liberation King and Kazdel.
Regardless of the Liberation King's near-divine combat power in single combat, and regardless of the threat posed by the battleships, the Liberation King alone, with the support of the Seaborn, already possessed the power to unify Terra.
"Teacher..."
Irene watched Saint Carmen's somewhat desolate figure and bit her lower lip. She did not know what to say. Since childhood, she had been taught that the Seaborn were mortal enemies. Even her home had been destroyed by the Seaborn and the Deep Sea Church. Her hatred for them ran deep.
And yet now she knew that the Seaborn had merely been a protective mechanism left behind for Terra by a previous civilization. If their predecessors had not provoked them and slaughtered them first, then perhaps the Seaborn might have coexisted peacefully with the Terrans all along.
That truth left Irene lost. She no longer knew what path lay ahead of her, nor where she herself ought to go.
"Irene."
"Teacher, I'm here."
"After this battle, the Inquisition will cease to exist."
"...Why, Teacher?"
"Because Kazdel will unify Terra." Saint Carmen's tone suggested that he had finally come to terms with many things. "Regardless of what the Liberation King himself may think, with such overwhelming power in its hands, Kazdel will inevitably take that step. Perhaps in five years. Perhaps in ten. During that time, Iberia will need Kazdel's strength... no, Iberia may well need Kazdel's protection."
"Teacher..."
"Although the threat of the Seaborn has faded, the Deep Sea Church still remains. Hehehe..."
"I truly wonder what they will think when they learn that the Seaborn they worship are nothing more than a cleaning device left behind by a previous civilization." Saint Carmen let out a hoarse, cold laugh.
"Irene, consider this my advice to you as your teacher."
"Teacher... please, go on."
"Leave this crumbling Inquisition and go to the Liberation King. Only there will you be able to see what this world truly looks like, and only there will you learn more... Iberia has already become your cage."
A wave of confusion washed over Irene.
She watched Saint Carmen's figure walking ahead of her, and for a moment, she lost all sense of direction. Amid the flow of people, she turned and looked back toward the Capitol building.
Taking a deep breath, she strode toward the hotel where the Iberian delegation was staying.
Although she had not made up her mind yet, Irene decided to take it one step at a time. As for whether she would join Tomorrow's Development or Kazdel... that could wait until after this war was over.
"It is rare to hear you use such harsh words. Not merely to scold, but to enlighten a young person."
Saint Carmen leaned against a street stall, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers. He glanced toward the speaker, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"That does not sound like you, Lady Kal'tsit."
"At the moment, I am only a doctor." Kal'tsit stepped forward with her hands in her pockets and looked up toward the Capitol building in the distance. "This is a calamity for all of Terra. Is it not too hasty to think about what comes after victory, Saint Carmen?"
"You think we will lose?"
"Victory and defeat cannot truly be measured in numbers. They can only be paid for with terran lives. Unfortunately, I do not enjoy calculating the odds of victory. But I do know that many of my compatriots will be sacrificed." Kal'tsit's tone remained calm. "While you and I are speaking here, Kazdel's military factories are fitting the armor onto a brand-new battleship. By the time this conversation ends, the ship's outer plating may already be complete."
"Have you ever thought about the future, Doctor Kal'tsit?"
"My imagination is not that rich, Saint Carmen. Whatever future you imagine for Iberia, I can assure you that it is not the one you think it is."
"Could you be a little clearer... Doctor Kal'tsit..."
Saint Carmen clenched the cigarette between his teeth.
"I believe I have already made myself quite clear. Terra's current condition cannot be explained in only a few words. I suggest you visit the research institute and read the new journal jointly published by the Kazdel Institute and Rhine Lab." Doctor Kal'tsit raised the green-and-white-covered book in her hand. "You do not need much scientific knowledge to understand it."
"..."
Saint Carmen flicked the cigarette butt into the nearby trash bin and walked away.
Kal'tsit glanced back at the Capitol building in the distance. For now, she served only as the Liberation King's physician, but after the war ended, where would she go?
Kal'tsit did not know the answer. She only knew that there were now only three people in this world who truly mattered to her: the Doctor, Theresa, and Felix, whom the Preserver had specifically asked her to watch over and protect before shutting down.
It had been an order, but Kal'tsit did not mind continuing to observe Felix.
___
At night, Kazdel came alive once more. Adventurers, delegations from across Terra, tourists, and merchants filled the streets with life. Every shop was packed inside and out. Some players who specialized in crafting were almost beside themselves with excitement. As the central city, Kazdel was crowded with people and flourishing trade. To them, it was obvious that a fortune could be made here.
The banquet hall within the Capitol was also brightly lit.
Tonight, there were no officials drinking as they discussed work, nor were there reception staff passed out from accompanying foreign delegations too enthusiastically. In the spacious hall, only three people sat at the table.
The attendants kept their eyes lowered, focused solely on serving the dishes. Each of them worked with absolute care, because the identities of the two people invited by Felix made them feel they had to give everything they had. They could not afford to bring shame upon Kazdel or upon the Liberation King.
Candlelight trembled upon the gilded candlesticks, and the crystal wineglass reflected the ruby at Loughshinny's ear. She had chosen it especially for tonight. Loughshinny did not usually wear jewelry, but this evening, for the first time, she looked exceptionally radiant, carrying both queenly dignity and her usual gentle calm.
Eblana's serpent-shaped golden bracelet slid lightly across the velvet tablecloth. Tonight, she wore a dark purple evening gown that revealed broad stretches of snow-white skin across her chest and back, smooth as carved alabaster. A purple gemstone pendant rested softly against her breast, and the faint upward curve of her lips made it clear she was in a good mood.
Silence lingered.
Then Felix's silver fork lightly tapped against the plate, and the crisp sound broke the stillness hanging over the table.
"The trade agreement with the Silver Court," Eblana said as she cut into a lobster tail, the tip of her silver fork, dipped in sauce, tracing a slow arc along the edge of the plate. "Little sister, are you really planning to hand it over to those exiled Gaulish nobles?"
Loughshinny's fingers tapped lightly against the rim of her glass, sending ripples across the fragrant aged wine within. "Sister, have you forgotten the influence that Gaul still holds?"
"Do those losers truly have any influence left? Whether it is you, me, or that Queen of Victoria leading her army into the old Gaul lands, would they dare refuse anything we asked?"
"Does my sister intend to threaten and intimidate them by force?"
"My dear sister, when you possess strength, others beg to cooperate with you. You do not beg them for some so-called peaceful alliance."
"Sister, I believe your method is wrong."
"Little sister, you are still as innocent as ever. It makes people want to cherish you."
Felix set down his knife and fork halfway through the meal. "The food you are eating tonight is among the best I've had in the banquet hall this past month. The lobster was caught from Siesta's inland sea."
"Then it was flown here, so that even in Kazdel, you can still taste the sea breeze."
He was telling the truth. The people of Kazdel lived well, and as its ruler and sole king, he could have eaten the most extravagant meals every day if he wished. But he did not. Instead, he redirected those expenses toward the military and other state matters. Most of the time, he ate ordinary home-cooked meals prepared by his lovers.
Tonight's dinner with the draco sisters Eblana and Loughshinny was certainly the finest meal Felix had eaten in quite some time. The last time he had dined this well had been last year, when the Emperor of Yan visited Kazdel.
Eblana lightly licked her lips, the tip of her shoe brushing against Felix's trouser leg beneath the tablecloth. "More than seafood, I would like to taste the century-old wine stored in your cellar." Her tongue swept lightly over the sauce at the rim of her glass. "I heard such wine is the treasured possession of every Sarkaz King, never opened lightly."
Loughshinny's napkin drifted to the floor. As she bent to retrieve it, the necklace hanging over the deep V of her gown swayed against her chest, the pale white jade moving before Felix's eyes. "Speaking of wine cellars, there are two fine vineyards within New Tara's territory. The business we discussed with the old Gaulish nobles was precisely about wine." As she straightened, a strand of her hair brushed across the back of Felix's hand. "Your Highness, I brought a bottle of red wine from the year 1060. I would like to share it with you."
Eblana's soft laugh was icy, like the hiss of a serpent. "Sister, you should tell those greedy nobles that negotiating with them is a favor you grant them, not some equal discussion." Her bare foot slowly traced upward along Felix's calf. "Perhaps I should teach you, little sister... How to truly tame them."
Loughshinny noticed the movement beneath the table, and a silver spoon slipped into the cream soup. As she rose, the strap of her dress slipped half an inch from her shoulder. "Your Highness does not want a decorative vase." She touched Felix's lips with a fingertip marked by a dot of cream. "And I wish only to be his reliable, trustworthy, and dependable wife."
"Hehehe..." Eblana laughed softly.
Loughshinny smiled, leaned down, and kissed her man.
"So, did you come here today to argue, or to celebrate?"
Felix supported Loughshinny's softened body, glanced at her, then at Eblana, and smiled. "I remember you once said that the bloodline of the Draco must continue. Is this what you meant?"
"Indeed. On this land of Terra, only you are worthy to be my king. Only you... can be my king."
"Mm."
Felix extended a hand. Seeing this, Eblana let out a cold laugh and stepped forward, taking most of his weight into her arms. Her body was so cold that it reminded one of smooth, chilled jade. Through her essence, Felix could sense Draco's flames, the flames that symbolized death.
Loughshinny looked at her sister. "So, you finally got what you wanted?"
"What I desire is surrender of body, mind, and soul," Eblana exhaled softly.
Loughshinny muttered a curse under her breath and lowered her head.
A moment later, on the large bed, heat met cold.
Felix was certain that Eblana had come all the way from Tara intending to work together with him. The Kingdom of Tara was already rotten beyond saving. Its industry was inferior to Victoria's, and though it possessed a large labor force, everyone acted independently. And then there was Earl Warwick, the "teacher" of Eblana and Loughshinny, who had been found dead in his castle some time ago. Adventurers were suspected, but no evidence could be produced. In the end, Eblana stepped forward, united the people, stabilized the chaotic noble circles, and the matter was allowed to fade away.
He glanced once at the Draco sisters, still asleep upon the bed, then straightened his clothes and left the bedroom.
There was only one day left before the war conference began.
"Your Highness, a military report has arrived from the Sami front."
Felix took the battle report Asuna had sent from Ines. It contained details of the legion's achievements, supply transport, casualty numbers, and more. But one point in particular caught his attention.
The report stated clearly that the demons seemed to have mastered a kind of adaptive evolution. Not a fundamental evolution, but a targeted one. To put it simply, if incendiary shells had once been able to burn the demons to ashes, then now they had evolved thickened flesh, and the flames could no longer penetrate their defenses.
Such evolution was undoubtedly terrifying, because weapons and methods of attack were limited, while evolution itself was endless.
"Have military intelligence begin planning the next phase of operations, then draft a report for me." Felix handed the bulletin to Ines. "And keep a close watch on supply transport."
"Understood!"
Felix nodded.
The demons' evolution might well be connected to the shattering of the starpod.