After spending a tender afternoon together, Muelsyse returned with Felix to Rhine Lab as evening fell.
They parted ways at the entrance to their respective departments. The construction of the Horizon Ark Project had already reached its halfway point, and Muelsyse was steadily transferring the cultivated plants she had been nurturing into the garden's observation chambers. Felix's Mechanical Engineering Division was equally busy, assisting the Engineering Department with the facility's structural systems and automated assembly.
At this hour, the Mechanics Division was packed as usual. Although their elusive department head rarely appeared at Rhine Lab, everyone knew of him. Curiosity aside, the staff had heard enough rumors — their mysterious chief was known to be a prized ally of the military, and many believed Rhine Lab's stability owed much to his dealings with them.
According to last year's report by Justin from the Commerce Department, the Mechanics Division alone accounted for 46% of all corporate revenue. Nearly half of Rhine Lab's income — an astonishing figure that spoke volumes about just how much funding his division brought in for everyone else.
Inside the lab, Felix spotted Snowsant and Feist engaged in a group discussion. Both were just a year away from graduating university and already preparing to apply for postgraduate research. Their experience far surpassed that of their peers — and every department director at Rhine Lab would gladly write them a letter of recommendation.
When their meeting ended, Felix approached to chat, mainly about their future plans. Since they would both remain in Trimount for a few more years to complete their studies, he was curious whether they had considered what to do afterward. He needed talent — and he wanted to know if they would be interested.
Both Snowsant and Feist expressed their intention to join Tomorrow's Development under Felix's leadership after finishing graduate school. The news made Felix inwardly delighted, though a hint of guilt tugged at him.
Ah, Yara-mama, I swear I'm not stealing your people, he thought. They were mine to begin with!
Later that day, Felix attended a directors' meeting discussing Rhine Lab's future — new projects, next year's contracts, and upcoming research developments. Many of his old colleagues now had protégés of their own. He noticed a bespectacled young woman leaving alongside the ever-smiling "Old Goat," while Ferdinand departed with a blue-haired girl Felix had been introduced to before, heading to another meeting.
Kristen hadn't changed much — calm and collected as ever. Years of administrative work had made her quieter, speaking less and less unless necessary. Without the support of Saria and Muelsyse nearby, Felix suspected she might go an entire day without uttering more than a sentence.
Under the guidance of Nasti, the head of Engineering, Felix toured the still-under-construction Horizon Ark Project. Hidden deep beneath Rhine Lab's lower levels, the massive project was known only to a select few — the department heads involved in its design and construction. To the rest of the world, this secret facility didn't exist.
Its goal was simple, yet audacious:
To pierce the heavens.
By the time Felix returned to his villa, it was already past midnight. He fell asleep holding Muelsyse in his arms.
The next morning, he rose early to prepare breakfast for her and review the results of his Drone's scans.
And—believe it or not—it had actually detected something.
A lifeform bearing a near-identical signature to Lappland.
Leaving a short note for Muelsyse, Felix immediately boarded his personal aircraft and flew toward the last known location where Lappland had appeared — a small mountain village several dozen kilometers outside Trimount.
There, he found her.
Lappland was splitting firewood, her expression calm, a faint smile touching her lips. Her weapon — a razor-sharp longsword forged by the Siracusan family — rested unused beside her, its edge dulled with time.
When she spotted Felix, her eyes brightened. She waved cheerfully.
"Hey, if it isn't Brother Felix! Been a while, hasn't it?"
"Lappland… You've been missing for months. I didn't expect to find you still in Columbia," Felix said, startled. "I thought you'd gone back to Siracusa — my agents couldn't find a single trace of you."
She laughed softly. "Ah, when I was at my lowest, a kind soul took me in — even got me the medicine I needed. You know the Siracusan creed: 'Show me an inch of kindness, and I'll return a yard.' So, to repay the favor, I've been staying here in this village for a while."
Felix could see the scars around her eyes — deep, clean cuts left by blades. It was clear she'd endured a brutal pursuit.
"So," Lappland said with a sly grin, leaning casually against a tree, "how's Cellinia? Did she ever crawl into your bed?"
"…That's the first thing you ask about her?" Felix sighed.
Lappland chuckled, eyes glinting mischievously. "Ever since you gave Cellinia that gun, she's thought of nothing but you, Felix-kun~ Even while we were on the run, the thought of you kept her going."
Her smirk widened. "So? Did she?"
Felix paused for a moment—then nodded.
"Wow! Cellinia, that was amazing!"
Lappland clapped her hands, grinning wide. "That's just how us Siracusan folk do things!"
"Enough about Cellinia," Felix interjected, folding his fingers together. "Now let's talk about you, Lappland. Since I've found you, you know I won't simply let you go. The best option is for you to put down that axe, gather your belongings, and come with me. I'll settle your debts with this family and take you back to my home."
Lappland tilted her head, her silver hair glinting. "Wow, first time I've seen someone openly build a harem like this…"
"..."
Felix's face remained perfectly blank. Lappland laughed, standing up and stretching. "Fine, fine. I'll go with you, Felix-kun. I think I've finally figured out your overly sentimental personality."
"You're making the right choice," he replied calmly.
Lappland smirked. "And what if I decide to leave on my own?"
"Then I'll tie you up and place you next to Cellinia's room."
"…That's kind of creepy."
After that playful exchange, Lappland led Felix to meet the elderly woman of the household—an old grandmother whose kind eyes softened as she saw them. From her words, Felix learned she had a granddaughter serving as a dueling knight in the Kawalerielki, and seeing Lappland had reminded her of the girl she dearly missed.
Felix left behind a generous sum of money—enough to ensure the old woman would never want for food or comfort again. After receiving her heartfelt thanks, he departed with Lappland, returning to Trimount.
At the airport, Lappland curiously eyed the guards and officers stationed nearby. She noticed the restrained frustration and quiet discipline in their gazes. "What's with these guys?" she asked.
"I've had your wanted notice revoked," Felix said evenly. "From now on, you're free to travel anywhere in Columbia."
"Ha! They must be fuming."
Lappland deliberately strutted past them, a lollipop between her teeth and a mischievous grin playing on her lips. The officers clenched their fists tightly—memories of chasing her still fresh—but the military had cleared her name and even issued her a golden certificate, declaring her an ally. There was nothing the police could do now.
"So, Felix-kun, where exactly are you taking me? You're not planning to sell me off, are you? I don't even have a home anymore."
"The Saluzzo family," he said quietly.
"Oh, them." Lappland chuckled. "That old man kicked me out. Guess I did betray the family that day, huh?"
She shrugged, unconcerned. "Doesn't bother me. I was sick of that stuffy Siracusan family life anyway. Been wanting to leave for a long time."
They returned to Felix's villa. Muelsyse had already gone to work, leaving the place quiet. Felix led Lappland into a spacious bathroom.
"Eh? Felix-kun, you're not thinking…"
Lappland froze, a faint blush rising to her cheeks as a teasing smile curved her lips. "Don't tell me you've already grown bored of Cellinia~ or, do you prefer wild wolf?~"
"Take off your clothes," Felix said calmly.
"My, how impatient."
Still smirking, Lappland obediently removed her jacket, revealing faint traces of Originium crystals embedded in her skin.
"How long have you been infected?" he asked.
"Hmm… The Saluzzo bastards hit me with an Originium bomb." She shrugged as if it were nothing.
"Wait here."
From her earlier movements and the residual energy in her attacks, Felix had already suspected infection. With his background as a doctor of Originium engineering, the signs were unmistakable. As he stepped out, Lappland pursed her lips, then gave a dismissive hum—but she didn't leave. Instead, she sat quietly on the chair, waiting.
Before long, Felix returned with medical equipment. Having spent years under Kal'tsit's tutelage, he might not have been an expert surgeon, but when it came to caring for infected patients and prescribing treatment, few could match his practiced precision.
"It feels… a little itchy," Lappland murmured.
Felix was gently applying a cool ointment over the Originium crystals embedded near her skin. The chill that spread at first slowly turned into a faint, ticklish sensation.
"This should help slow the spread of the crystals," he said evenly. "As for your blood Originium levels, we'll have to wait for the test results."
He handed her a pill, watching her swallow it before continuing, "Normally, I advise the infected to avoid intense physical activity—especially combat—but you're probably going to ignore that, aren't you?"
Lappland grinned, her sharp canines glinting. "Ha! You really do know me, Felix-kun."
With a teasing smile, she added, "I think I'm starting to like you."
"I'll be staying in Columbia for a few more days," he replied calmly. "After that, you'll come with me to Lungmen."
"Got it~" She sighed dramatically. "But seriously, Felix-kun, you've gotten so much more talkative over the years."
"That's what happens when there's too much to handle."
He put on his coat and ruffled her hair absentmindedly. Lappland closed her eyes, almost purring in contentment. He told her to rest—though he knew perfectly well she wouldn't stay still for long—then stepped out, heading toward Rhine Lab.
The moment word spread that he'd returned, the military summoned him for a string of meetings. During one of them, a high-ranking officer cautiously asked about the current situation in Kazdel.
Felix didn't hide much. He shared general information—Kazdel's current stability, the remnants of its command structure, and its collaboration with Tomorrow's Development. Compared to Columbia's geopolitical rivals—Bolívar, Leithanien, even Victoria—Kazdel's single mobile city hardly posed any threat.
What he didn't clarify, however, was just how close that cooperation had become.
To the generals, Felix's candor was reassuring. In their eyes, he was firmly aligned with Columbia's interests—someone whose goodwill could, perhaps, extend Columbia's influence into Kazdel itself.
After securing two lucrative contracts with the military, Felix held a two-hour strategy meeting with Ferdinand. They discussed future research directions and, at length, Rhine Lab's growing security issues.
With official and military contracts expanding, espionage attempts had become increasingly frequent. After receiving Saria's approval, Ferdinand installed a full corridor lined with the latest defense mechs—his idea of paradise.
He grinned like a child with a new toy. "This might just be the best day of my life," he told Felix.
That evening, Felix met Muelsyse for their long-overdue date. The two of them sat on Rhine Lab's rooftop, surrounded by lush plants. Reclining on the lounge chairs, they watched the stars in comfortable silence.
There was something about Muelsyse that always brought him peace. Perhaps it was her connection to nature—or perhaps it was simply her presence—but being close to her, Felix swore he could smell the faint, earthy fragrance of old forest wood.
He wrapped an arm around her slender shoulders, a bittersweet thought crossing his mind. Muelsyse and Mostima had both been there since the beginning—his first, quiet promises of love. But duty and distance kept them apart. Even with water-spirit projections bridging the gap, sometimes only a real touch could ease the weight they both carried.
He gazed up at the stars, murmuring inwardly: When the Princess's dream comes true—when white flowers bloom across all of Kazdel—then I'll bring Muelsyse there. That will be the day it truly feels like home.
Just then, his terminal buzzed sharply.
Ring, ring—ring, ring—
The sound broke through his thoughts. Felix sighed, giving Muelsyse an apologetic smile as he sat up and answered.
"I can't help but feel you always know exactly where I am, Tin Man."
Ordinarily, his terminal couldn't receive Tin Man's calls outside of Trimount. The fact that this one came through meant Tin Man already knew he was nearby.
"Oh, please," the voice crackled through, smoke-tinged and casual. "You know the Maylander Foundation's tight with the military."
Felix could almost picture the man on the other end—leaning back, cigarette in hand, exhaling a trail of white smoke.
"Don't tell me you're after intel on Kazdel again," Felix sighed. "If you're thinking of returning there, fine—but only if you join Tomorrow's Development. You know what I mean."
A low chuckle came through. "Maybe one day. But for now, there's something urgent."
A pause.
"I'm downstairs—at Rhine Lab. You'd better come down. Right now."