After returning to Reunion, Talulah immediately reestablished a far stricter set of laws. She gathered the soldiers and made her stance unmistakably clear:
The ordinary villagers are not your enemies. The nobles who live in their fortified castles are.
Her firm words seemed to awaken something in the more fanatical Infected. Their rage, once blindly unleashed on helpless settlements, began to redirect toward the true oppressors—the nobles and their mobile cities. Before long, petitions flooded in, urging Talulah to lead them into battle and storm the nearest city.
Talulah, knowing hesitation would only cool their fervor, quickly decided on a date. At the start of December, Reunion would march to war against the nearest noble domain.
With that settled, she turned to her next order of business. FrostNova was to serve as the bridge of communication between Reunion and the Brotherhood—negotiating, exchanging information, and maintaining contact. Truthfully, Talulah no longer had many trusted officers capable of such delicate work. Alina could have handled it intellectually, but she lacked the strength to protect herself; running into a patrol would mean certain death.
FrostNova raised no objection. In her view, Talulah had already set a promising course; all that remained was to guide the movement down the right path.
As she walked through the encampment, FrostNova could hear the clatter of weapons and the fierce oaths of Infected soldiers preparing for the siege to come. The Yeti Squad had been assigned to the flanking diversion, while the vanguard and central army would be composed of regular Reunion troops. Still, Talulah had chosen to keep the Yeti Squad near her as a protective wing—a sign of deep trust.
Before the fighting began, FrostNova had one more duty: to visit the Holy Knights' Federation and meet with the three faction leaders to discuss possible cooperation and trade.
There was hope now, faint yet real—a light that, ironically, had been kindled by Felix. Thinking of him brought a wistful smile to Yelena's lips.
Sometimes, she couldn't help but miss him… the warmth of his hand against hers.
———
Felix, meanwhile, was completely unaware of the talks taking place between Reunion and the three player factions. His own troubles were far more immediate—and much louder.
The problem was none other than the Great Furnace at the center of Kazdel's mobile city.
His only companion this time was Muelsyse's water elemental clone. Lappland had been released to Lungmen to "go bother Texas," while Kal'tsit had departed with a reluctant Amiya and a well-supplied ACE, loaded with bottles of fine liquor. Felix had returned to Kazdel.
Winter in Kazdel was harsh beyond words. For the Sarkaz, summer was bearable; they could simply shed their clothes and endure. But in winter, the winds howled mercilessly across the blackened plains. The mercenaries' clothing—usually scavenged from one another—never fit properly. The cold cut through the loose sleeves like knives, making even the toughest Sarkaz shiver to the bone.
In such weather, most Sarkaz refused to take contracts. They preferred to huddle under blankets at home or spend their days near the city's great furnace, the heat of which kept the mobile city livable through the frigid months.
But what no one had warned Felix about—what truly made his head ache—was how this furnace stayed active.
Apparently, it was powered by Revenants.
Led by Luna, who was familiar with the workings of the "Soul Furnace," Felix stepped into the chamber—and was immediately assaulted by a cacophony of furious voices echoing from above.
"What the hell, it's a Sankta! Why is there a Haloed freak in our noble capital? Someone call the Sarkaz King! Have him strike this traitor down!"
"You wretched Sankta scum! Even if you destroyed our homeland and cast our kin into exile, you'll never crush our spirit! Our sacred loyalty to the Sarkaz King binds our minds as one, united in despair!"
"Waaah! Has Kazdel fallen?!"
Felix froze, his fists clenching.
What the hell—did I walk into a damn theater?
Rage boiled up inside him. The voices continued their self-righteous tirade, oblivious to the growing blue flames behind his eyes.
Luna's lips twitched. "Ah… don't mind them. The ancestors have always been like this. Every time someone enters, they start shouting insults. You'll get used to it eventually."
"Right," Felix said through gritted teeth. "So long as these old ghosts keep the furnace running, we're fine, yeah?"
He was here because reports had surfaced that the Soul Furnace was unstable—possibly on the verge of exploding within a few years. Alarmed, Felix came to inspect it personally. He hadn't expected to be verbally assaulted by a chorus of dead souls.
"Raise our pay! If you don't increase our wages, we're going on strike!"
"Yeah! Who are you to command us, you lowborn Sankta? Who gave you that authority? The Sarkaz King?"
"Filthy beggar from the countryside! Get out of our noble city!"
A cold, azure flame erupted behind Felix, illuminating the entire chamber. He let out a low, dangerous chuckle.
"I only keep you lot around because you're still useful," he said, his voice laced with mockery. "But if you really want to test me—tell me, do you want every Sarkaz in Kazdel to freeze to death this winter?"
"C-coward! Foul… despicable!"
"Kehehehehe…"
Felix grinned wide, pointing at the great furnace. "Keep talking. One more word, and I'll scrap this whole contraption, replace you with my mechanical forge, and make soul lanterns out of you for my home's decorations."
Silence.
Utter, suffocating silence.
The Revenants trembled within the furnace, their ghostly forms flickering. To them, the Sankta standing before them radiated an aura of such overwhelming menace that even the dead dared not speak.
No one wanted to find out whether he was bluffing.
Felix shook his head and walked away. To him, those old spirits were only good for one thing—annoying people. As for the furnace, he was already planning to dismantle it someday and replace it with a more advanced, urbanized model.
Why were Tin Man's kind so foul-mouthed anyway? He couldn't help but think W would get along with them quite well. Maybe he should assign her to help maintain the Soul Furnace someday, just so she could trade insults with the ghosts all day long.
Winter had arrived. Yet this year, Kazdel's mobile city was not filled with the usual cries and chaos. In the streets and alleys, the Sarkaz were dressed in thick, warm clothing—enough to survive the bitter cold. Even the mercenaries now wore standardized winter coats produced by Tomorrow's Development, allowing them to keep working despite the harsh weather.
Luna followed quietly beside Felix. Though he never said much, she truly admired the policies and laws he had enacted since taking control of Kazdel. As for Giles, he might not express it openly, but in his heart, he had already sworn loyalty to Felix.
The two walked past an intersection and noticed a group of Sarkaz teenagers, backpacks slung over their shoulders, heading home. Felix stood aside silently, waiting for them to pass before stepping forward again.
"I say," Luna suddenly spoke up, "when are you going to reveal that you're the leader of Tomorrow's Development?"
"When Kazdel's mobile city is fully rebuilt," Felix replied calmly. "Why so impatient?"
Turning slightly, he added, "If the ordinary Sarkaz were to learn that the leader of Tomorrow's Development is a Sankta, they might feel suspicious, even betrayed. What exactly do you want to express?"
"I just want them to know that a Sankta leading Kazdel's mobile city can be a good thing too!"
"Ah…"
Felix smiled. "Luna, hearing you say that makes me really happy. Thank you."
"W-who said anything like that!"
Luna quickly turned her head away, cheeks flushed, sputtering in protest.
Felix only chuckled softly. But as he turned back around, he noticed a small child standing at the street corner, watching him curiously. He hadn't used any concealment spell like the one Logos possessed; even so, he hadn't expected a child to linger there instead of going home.
He wasn't sure how much of their earlier conversation the kid had overheard, but he decided to pretend nothing happened and continued walking forward. Then, behind him, Luna suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
"Nymph? What are you doing here? I thought your home wasn't in this area?"
"Ah… Sister Luna, we moved here because the new residential district opened!"
A pink-haired girl ran up to Luna with a bright smile. Her horns were heart-shaped—quite unique.
Luna Bloodfallen was one of the more popular former members of Kazdel's military council. Strong in combat yet charmingly approachable, she was adored by many mercenaries and well-liked among children too.
Nymph proudly showed off her new backpack. "Look! I bought this from one of the adventurer ladies! She said it's a waterproof travel pack from Columbia—very sturdy and long-lasting!"
"Honestly, you should get some new clothes too," Luna muttered, sighing. "Your parents really are… ah, forget it. I just got my paycheck this month. Since I knew those two irresponsible idiots, I'll buy you a new outfit, all right?"
"Thank you, Sister Luna!"
Felix's lips twitched slightly. At that age, shouldn't she be calling her Aunt Luna instead?
A moment later, Luna suddenly turned her head. Her wine-red eyes gleamed with killing intent.
Yikes—such sharp intuition.
Felix immediately looked away, only for the little girl, Nymph, to take a few quick steps forward and stop in front of him.
"Mister, are you one of them?"
So, she really had heard everything.
Felix crouched down and smiled at Nymph. "My name is Felix. It's nice to meet you, Nymph."
"Then! Thank you, Brother Felix."
Nymph blinked her innocent crimson eyes, her smile both pure and charming. "I've always wanted to thank you in person!"
"Before Tomorrow's Development came, everyone was so anxious all the time. It felt like there was no tomorrow after today. People used to fight over scraps of dry bread, but now the shopping district is open, and the Sarkaz who've found work all have smiles on their faces."
Felix returned her smile. "Have you been to the shopping district yourself, Nymph?"
"I have~"
"Which shop do you like the most?"
"Hmm… the Adventurer's Hot Spring! The water feels really nice, and the sweet milk they serve afterward is delicious."
As Nymph spoke with a bright, adorable grin, Felix felt his mood lighten.
Damn it, he thought. Isn't this exactly why I'm working so hard in Kazdel—to protect that smile?
He had been to Kazdel in his previous life, back when the civil war had ended and the place had fallen into total neglect. Walking down the streets then meant risking being robbed at any moment by mercenaries. Fights broke out constantly, and merchants who came here were doomed to lose everything they had. People lived from one meager meal to the next, drowning in hardship.
Now, even though Kazdel lagged behind other major mobile cities in many ways, it was moving forward—slowly but surely. Felix had both confidence and time. He believed he could rebuild Kazdel's mobile city into something new.
When she opened her eyes again, he wanted to take her hand and walk with her through the streets of a reborn Kazdel.
Through Nymph's eyes, Felix seemed to glimpse that future.
He rose to his feet and gently patted her head. "When I look into your eyes, I get the strange feeling you can see right through me."
"That's normal," came Luna's voice from behind him. "Nymph's race is known as the Djall. They draw sustenance from the hearts and minds of others. They sincerely invite people to share their deepest secrets, then store those emotions and memories within themselves, savoring them across time."
"Djall?" Felix muttered. The ability reminded him of a creature with a squid-like head from another world's mythos. Wait—that one was called a Mindflayer… though honestly, not much difference aside from the face.
"They're a very rare race," Luna explained. "Her parents asked me to look after her. Of course, I'm not the only one who received that request."
"Feeding on the mind, huh…" Felix murmured, resting his chin in thought.
Seeing his expression, Nymph panicked and quickly waved her hands. "U-um! We don't do that without permission anymore! It sounds scary, but it doesn't hurt at all—it just feels like your mind goes blank for a moment! I've never even tried it myself!"
Felix's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "So… what would happen if I let little Nymph taste my mind?"
"Well…" Luna looked uncertain. "Whatever secrets or experiences you share might end up in Nymph's hands as leverage, perhaps?"
She shrugged slightly. "I'm not a Djall myself, so I don't really know the details. But… are you seriously considering it?"
"Have you ever experienced it?" he asked.
"I have—once, with Nymph's mother."
Crossing her arms, Luna continued, "It's just sharing a secret. Nothing that serious. If you want to try it, I won't stop you."
Felix lowered his gaze toward Nymph, who looked up at him, blushing furiously.
"I-if Brother Felix allows it," she stammered, "then… please accept my first time!"
"W-what the hell are you saying?!"
"Why are you hitting me?!"
Felix jabbed a finger toward Luna forehead. "Next time, you're sitting with W at dinner. That's final."
"Why?! That's humiliating!" Luna snapped, gritting her teeth. "Do you know how old I am? Sitting with a kid—really?"
"No reason. Just because."
Rubbing his shoulder, Felix glanced again at Nymph's flushed face.
For crying out loud, he thought. Did I misunderstand her… or did she misunderstand me?