Enciodes looked much the same as before; time had left no marks upon his face. If anything, he seemed more mature now, carrying the quiet authority of someone accustomed to command. Simply standing there, he naturally became the center of attention.
There was a saying that smiles never disappear, they only shift from one face to another. Enciodes wore a faint smile, while Gnosis Edelweiss, forcibly dragged from the research institute behind him, looked thoroughly displeased. As a scientist, Gnosis despised such ceremonial formalities. Though he appreciated Tomorrow's Developments for sharing research results and offering support over the years, his inherently reserved nature made him uncomfortable at events like this.
Felix and the other senior officials were among the first to step off the Venus. He walked forward a few paces; Enciodes did the same. After several years apart, they met each other's gaze and broke into laughter.
They exchanged a firm handshake, followed by a brief brother embrace.
Some of the newly recruited senior members of Tomorrow's Development widened their eyes in shock. Who was this man? How could His Highness embrace him so openly?
I wish His Highness would hug me too.
Only those who had worked in Kazdel understood that the majority of Kazdel's imported mineral resources came from Kjerag. Thanks to Kjerag's steady export trade, Kazdel's equipment production and infrastructure projects had maintained a reliable supply of materials.
"It's been a long time, my ally," Enciodes said with a smile, shaking Felix's hand once more. "Now even within Kjerag's borders, the voice of Tomorrow's Developments can be heard."
"It's still far from my ultimate goal," Felix replied modestly. "But Kjerag's rapid development in recent years is something we can both take pride in."
He chuckled softly. "I can't wait to show you what Kjerag has become."
Enciodes' tone and demeanor were no different from before, which was only natural. Both men stood as the de facto leaders of their respective nations. This so-called vacation might be for the operators and senior officials, but for Felix and Enciodes, it carried a different weight.
This meeting would shape the positions and attitudes of both sides for years to come.
Fortunately, their initial exchanges reassured Felix. The Enciodes before him was the same man who had once allied with Rhodes Island in his previous life. Though he had shown his stance clearly back then, he had never been overly zealous, displaying only mild curiosity toward the Doctor.
Felix could not be certain whether this Enciodes had walked the same path as his former self. Different experiences could reshape political attitudes and decision-making. With Felix's technological assistance, the unification of Kjerag had not been nearly as arduous as it once was.
Yet seeing Enciodes maintain his familiar composure, Felix kept his warm and gentle smile in place and quietly felt relieved. He valued Kjerag's diplomacy even more than that of Yan, Siracusa, or Kazimierz.
Kjerag focused on tourism. Though it possessed formidable military strength, it had no ambitions of territorial expansion. Such a moderate power was an ideal ally.
Most importantly, its senior leadership largely belonged to the Kjerag faction itself, leaving little room for internal strife or petty power struggles.
While Felix and Enciodes exchanged pleasantries, the other senior officials nodded to one another under their guidance. Compared to Tomorrow's Development's wealth of talent, Kjerag's Karlan Trade had a rather modest pool of upper management.
Of course, the number of high-ranking officials alone did not determine a nation's strength.
Chatting amicably, Felix and Enciodes made their way to the train station. There they saw numerous pack animals and an expedition team assembled. Enciodes smoothly returned to his role as leader, issuing instructions to the captains of both teams. With only one train and limited seats, some operators would inevitably have to travel to Kjerag by pack animals or on foot.
For the caravans and expedition teams, this was the equivalent of receiving distinguished guests. Tourism was Kjerag's hallmark industry, and many visitors eagerly chose to ride the rarely seen Kjerag pack animals. The caravan captain thumped his chest in pledge of loyalty.
Once aboard the green train, the senior officials from both sides took their seats. Felix and Enciodes moved to the front carriage, each accompanied by a personal guard. Felix was, as expected, accompanied by Ines. Enciodes introduced his own attendant, Matterhorn, whom Felix recognized from his previous life.
Ines and Matterhorn sat nearby. Enciodes produced a bottle of wine called Spring in the Snowy Realm and handed it over. Judging by its packaging, it had been aged for many years.
A trace of nostalgia flickered across Enciodes' face as he looked at the bottle. "This comes from the Silverash family. My parents built the brewery and began producing it, but after they passed away, production ceased. We only resumed it in recent years."
"This bottle was brewed in the 1070s, when my parents were still alive. I'm overjoyed to meet my ally this time, so of course I had to bring out a good wine to celebrate."
Felix accepted the glass from Enciodes. He studied the nearly pure, translucent liquid and lifted it to his nose. A light fragrance greeted him first, followed by a rich, mellow aroma that stirred the heart. He smiled faintly. "With this color and this bouquet, it truly deserves the name Spring in the Snow Realm."
"Haha. Cheers."
After a sip, their conversation gradually shifted to the international landscape and the developments of recent years. Enciodes mentioned that although Kjerag now enjoyed autonomy, it was still difficult to refuse the demands of the Victorian nobles.
"Victoria will descend into chaos soon. In the short term… no, within a year," Felix said, revealing part of his intelligence network at just the right moment. The Sarkaz in Londinium had already begun preparing for war, while the other Grand Dukes and nobles seemed to pretend they saw nothing.
Enciodes' gaze sharpened. "My Ally, you're referring to the Military Commission?"
"Yes. They won't let this pass easily. Londinium is their capital in name; the current Victorian nobles are merely deceiving themselves. This internal conflict could reshape Victoria's entire political landscape, and we would have a legitimate reason to intervene."
"A struggle for the final authority over Kazdel?" Enciodes chuckled softly. "But I believe Kazdel has already made its choice."
"After that, on our march to Londinium, there will be only one word awaiting us: victory."
Felix left the rest unsaid. In his eyes, there were no eternal enemies, only eternal interests and good businesses. He did not truly regard Theresis as an enemy, merely a political opponent. Did he want to kill Theresis? Not particularly. They shared no blood feud. In fact, Felix even felt a trace of gratitude. Had Theresis not sent an assassination squad that forced Her into temporary slumber, Felix might never have taken control of Kazdel so cleanly.
What Theresis sought was clear: to plunge the land into war once more. From what Felix had learned from him, Theresis intended to use Originium to assimilate the land, meaning that everyone would become infected, or at least that was how Felix currently understood it. He also believed war would forge greater unity among the Sarkaz.
Felix did not agree with Theresis' vision. As for the Military Commission, it could be incorporated later.
"Then let us wish our ally a decisive victory," Enciodes said, raising his glass.
From war, their discussion turned to modern technological development. Kjerag now ostensibly received technological support from Kazdel, which was almost laughable given Kazdel's widely known limitations. They're long known fought with wooden firearms and stone spears; iron swords and similar equipment were already considered advanced.
In truth, Kjerag benefited from Felix's personal technological backing. Enciodes understood this perfectly, which was why his attitude toward Felix had always been distinct.
"You want to build battleships as well?"
Felix laughed, clearly intrigued by the topic.
Enciodes nodded. "Kjerag will eventually become modern. The railway is only the beginning. Our communication network now covers the entire territory, and the sightseeing cable cars are under construction."
"Our tourism industry is advancing rapidly, but when it comes to protecting Kjerag, we still require our ally's assistance."
Though Ines did not appear to be paying attention, she caught every word. The fact that they could discuss battleships so casually revealed Kjerag's significance in Felix's heart. It was not merely a partner, but a true ally and comrade-in-arms of Kazdel. Otherwise, Enciodes would never have broached such a subject.
Since battleships had been mentioned, support from Felix's side seemed inevitable. What concerned Ines most, as his secretary, was what Enciodes intended to offer in return.
Felix understood the urgency behind Enciodes' words. For Kjerag, there were only two paths: stagnation or continued strengthening. To remain as it was would change nothing. The Victorian nobles would continue taking whatever they pleased, even conscripting people within Kjerag's territory under the pretext of noble authority.
The only alternative was to grow stronger. The rapid changes in Kjerag had already unsettled certain Victorian nobles, some even showing open displeasure. While no large-scale invasion had occurred, subtle warnings, whether deliberate or not, were ever-present.
Although Kjerag possessed the modern Tschäggättä, their combat capability was insufficient against the specialized forces of the Victorian nobility.
Battleships, as strategic-level assets, were not rare among Victorian nobles. Many owned at least one, and some commanded several. Felix knew that the Windermere family, with whom he maintained close cooperation, possessed five medium-sized battlecruisers, two large battleship, and countless smaller vessels.
Felix did possess another battleships of his own, but they remained dormant within Kazdel's factories and were rarely displayed. Those vessels existed solely for war. Their internal facilities were never designed for comfort or travel; his Imperial Fleet keep growing and they were built for combat, nothing more. He could not possibly disembark from his flagship, the Venus and transfer to a battleship. Such ships simply could not accommodate that many people.
Beyond landship vessels, Felix had also learned through his intelligence network that the Military Commission was constructing airships. In truth, his own machinery factories were doing the same. He never fought a battle he was not confident of winning.
He turned his gaze back to Enciodes and gave a slight nod. "Since our ally has made such a request, we will naturally offer our full support. However, Victoria is destined for turmoil. Would our ally be interested in taking advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness to expand its territory?"
A broad smile spread across Enciodes's lips as he studied Felix's face, as though weighing every implication. "Thank you, my ally. It is my honor, and Kjerag's as well, to cooperate with you."
He then shook his head. "Kjerag has always adhered to a non-confrontational foreign policy. We have no intention of encroaching upon Victoria's lands, despite the pressure they continue to exert on us."
"I see."
Felix nodded, a trace of regret flickering in his heart, though he also felt reassured. An ally could not be too aggressive; otherwise, Kazdel might one day be dragged into unnecessary conflict.
Of course, if that same ally were to display the right amount of ambition, Felix would not hesitate to play along. With Tomorrow's Development and players unafraid of death, unification of Terra would not be impossible.
The train sped through the snowstorm, the peaks of Kjerag rising into the clouds. After passing through a tunnel, the city of Turicum gradually came into view.
The green train slowed to a halt. Enciodes and Felix stepped down one after the other onto a carpet woven from the hide of some unknown beast. Before them stood the remaining high-ranking officials of Kjerag and Karlan Trade. Felix noticed, however, that Enciodes's expression was stiff and faintly displeased.
"That is Karlan Saintess and people of Vine-Bead Court. Kjerag is, after all, a religious nation. Though she occasionally involves herself in internal affairs, it will not affect our relationship." Enciodes's calm tone carried an unmistakable firmness. "There will be no dissent."
Felix smiled without replying. He had some understanding of Kjerag's internal situation. Two forces currently vied for influence. One was Karlan Trade, led by Enciodes, now the most powerful faction, dominating both commerce and military affairs. The other was the Vine-Bead Court. Before Enciodes's return, they had held absolute authority in Kjerag, but since his arrival, their influence had steadily diminished.
Nevertheless, Kjerag remained a religious state. The Vine-Bead Court's nominal authority still played a vital role in stabilizing the hearts of the people.
Enciodes had not invited anyone from the Vine-Bead Court. These so-called holy figures were coveting the authority in his hands. It seemed the time had come for the Tschäggättä to remind them of their strength.
He cast an indifferent glance at the current Karlan Saintess, his sister, Enya Silverash.
She ignored him entirely. When her eyes fell upon Felix, a faint blush colored her cheeks. Taking a few steps forward, she gently clasped Felix's hand.
"You must be the legendary King of Liberation. On behalf of the Vine-Bead Court, I welcome you to Kjerag. You may call me Enya."
Enciodes's voice turned cold. "Felix is my ally, not yours."