After the fierce scuffle with the Turncoat Rook was over, I returned to the Shadow Order's hideout together with him.
"Kuh… My side still hurts where it was pierced."
"You're just whining. You're already healed."
"Healed or not, a hole's a hole. Don't you agree?"
The Turncoat Rook spoke shamelessly for someone who had just been defeated.
Originally, with his strong pride, this would have been unthinkable — but it was possible now because Janus had fully subjugated him.
'Though he's completely unaware that anything's wrong.'
Other members might have found it suspicious, but most of them were either away from the hideout or busy with their own tasks.
"Where's the Commander?"
When the Turncoat Rook asked Sofia, who was lounging on the sofa watching Ark news broadcasts, she replied.
"Not sure? She went out briefly earlier."
"Yeah?"
"By the way, what did you two do outside? It was pretty noisy."
"Something happened."
"What? I'll find out anyway once I check the CCTV."
"Then check it."
"Pfft."
Sofia waved her hand dismissively.
"Too much effort."
"Then don't ask."
"I won't."
While the Turncoat Rook and Sofia exchanged their idle chatter, Isabel returned.
Seeing her, Sofia asked,
"Where did you go?"
At Sofia's question, Isabel paused for a moment in thought, then slowly opened her mouth.
"There was an intruder."
"What? Where? Did you catch them?"
"They got away."
Sofia and the Turncoat Rook's expressions stiffened instantly.
They clearly understood what Isabel's words implied.
"...Did you identify them?"
"No."
Sofia's already tense face hardened even more.
Knowing Isabel's capabilities well, it was quite a shock that she had been unable to catch or even identify the intruder.
"Then… what's the plan?"
The Shadow Order operates from the shadows behind the Ark.
Naturally, if their location or existence had been exposed, swift and appropriate measures had to be taken.
"I don't think the hideout's location itself was compromised. They probably came because of the commotion from Carl Marcus and Rook's fight."
"A fight? Those two fought?"
Isabel gave a small nod in reply, prompting Sofia to shoot a chilling glare at me and the Turncoat Rook.
"Idiots. Really great job."
The Turncoat Rook clamped his mouth shut as if he had nothing to say, and I, too, remained silent without offering any defense.
Seeing this, Isabel eventually spoke again.
"Anyway, everyone be cautious from now on. Also, we'll be abandoning this hideout soon. Sofia, start preparing for the decommissioning."
"Got it."
"...Understood."
Sofia and the Turncoat Rook nodded.
It was a shame to abandon the hideout, but it was the right decision.
Once a hideout was discovered, continuing to use it would be nothing short of foolish — especially for an organization like the Shadow Order, given their true purpose.
'Still… who was it that showed up?'
Even I hadn't anticipated that someone would come looking because of my fight with the Turncoat Rook.
After all, Belcus was a remote and desolate area, even by Ark standards.
'Moreover, the fact that Isabel failed to catch them… whoever it was, they're no ordinary individual.'
Isabel was considered one of the strongest in the Defense universe at this point.
For someone to avoid her detection and escape — it meant the intruder was anything but normal.
'And to think they even avoided Esther's attention...'
Several faces flashed through my mind.
Powerful figures within the Ark.
Overlords beyond its borders.
And others...
'Given that this is inside the Ark, there aren't many possibilities...but I can't say for sure.'
Most of the Ark's strongest had fixed responsibilities, making it unlikely they would wander freely.
'Hmm.'
Either way, the investigation would be left to Isabel and the Shadow Order.I decided to push the matter from my mind.
Right now, it wasn't something I needed to be concerned about.
At that moment, Isabel approached me.
"Carl Marcus."
"What is it?"
"Do you have any guesses about the intruder?"
"None."
"...Really?"
"Yeah."
Isabel looked like she was half-hoping I had some magic answer, but I wasn't lying.
I truly didn't know who had been observing us.
"...Alright."
"Yeah."
Isabel withdrew, unable to press further.
If I didn't know, there was no way to conjure an answer.
"Esther, what about you?"
["Sorry, Commander. I don't know either. I only realized there even was an intruder because you told me."]
"...Got it."
Still unwilling to give up, Isabel had asked Esther — but naturally, Esther, who had been with me the whole time, had no clue.
"Sofia, strengthen perimeter security while you handle the decommissioning. We have to uncover the intruder's identity."
"Understood."
It was clear Isabel was deeply wary of the unknown intruder.
Reasonably so — few had ever sensed the Shadow Order's presence within the Ark.
The Shadow Order had operated from the shadows for so long, doing whatever it took to remain concealed.
And now, the previously relaxed atmosphere within the hideout grew tense.
Everyone had always been working on their tasks, but now there was a noticeable urgency.
Of course, I personally had nothing pressing to do.
["You seem so relaxed."]
"I'm new here."
["Should you really be so proud about that? "]
"They'll give me something if they need me."
Whether I'd obediently do it was another matter.
As I idly observed the changing dynamics inside the Shadow Order, I ended up with some unexpected free time.
Until that moment.
Rumble-rumble-rumble───!
Tremors shook the hideout.
Given the construction of the Shadow Order's hideout, any noticeable tremor meant something significant was happening.
["Master."]
'I know.'
Even without Esther's warning, I could sense it.
'Hmm...'
I approached a window.
At first glance, it looked ordinary, but it was equipped with the Ark's most advanced optical cloaking technology — completely invisible from the outside.
And then I saw it.
A foul, ominous aura blanketing the Ark's sky, and from beyond the horizon, the clouds began to roll in.
["Master..."]
Naturally, this wasn't a typical weather phenomenon.
No — in this wretched world, perhaps it could be called "natural" in a twisted sense, but still...
'It's here.'
The Wave.
It had begun.
* * *
"Rook, have you seen the cereal that was here?"
"I ate it yesterday."
"If you ate it, you should have replaced it."
"I forgot."
Despite the ominous signs of a Wave that could destroy the Ark, the inside of the Shadow Order's hideout remained as peaceful as ever.
Not that it was surprising.
After all, the Shadow Order's goal was never to protect the Ark.
["...I already knew, but wow, these people really are carefree."]
Having gotten used to helping me block Waves, Esther clicked her tongue in disbelief at the Shadow Order's attitude.
Apparently, my diligence had rubbed off on her.
'Well, when you work hard, lazy people start to annoy you.'
In short, Esther had become a bit of an old nag herself.
Of course, not everyone was slacking off.
Even now, despite appearances, the original goal of the Shadow Order had been to dominate the Ark.
And to rule it, the Ark had to survive.
'So then...'
Feeling the need to move, I rose from my seat.
"Where are you going?"
"Outside the Ark."
"Outside?! During a Wave?!"
Sofia spoke with sheer disbelief.
Reasonably so — venturing outside during a Wave was suicide.
"That's why I'm going."
"...What?"
At that moment, the Turncoat Rook spoke.
"Carl Marcus, this way."
"Got it."
Watching us, Sofia still looked exasperated.
"...Rook, you're actually going to guide him outside?"
"I am."
"Did getting punched by Carl Marcus finally knock you senseless?"
"Who got punched?"
The Turncoat Rook growled, but there was no real bite behind it.
Having been subjugated by Janus, he no longer took such defeats personally.
"Just let them go."
At Isabel's words, Sofia turned to her.
"Are you serious?"
"I am."
"...Fine. Whatever. But if any of this brings danger or exposure to the Order, I won't forgive you."
"No need to worry."
After the brief conversation, I followed after the Turncoat Rook.
"Here."
The Turncoat Rook led me underground, pressing a few hidden buttons.
Furniture slid aside, revealing a massive steel door.
A secret passageway connecting the hideout to the outside of the Ark — a joint project created long ago by the Turncoat Rook and Isabel.
"Let's go."
As the Turncoat Rook naturally took the lead, Isabel called out.
"Rook, are you planning to go too?"
"Yeah. Felt a bit stiff after moving around earlier. Thought I'd stretch out a bit."
It was an odd thing for a monster to say, but then again, the Turncoat Rook had always been an odd one.
And now, subjugated by Janus, even more so.
"Alright. Be careful."
"Sure thing."
Their farewell was casual — surprisingly so, considering we were heading out to face a Wave.
But such was the trust Isabel placed in the Turncoat Rook.
"Let's go."
Together with the Turncoat Rook, I stepped into the passageway.