At last, everything was ready.
The Kronos Union would join the Rose Line to prepare for the coming multi-wave, and the Sandstorm Company, true to its mercantile nature, would fulfill its role in activating the Silk Road.
'Then…'
The long campaign that began with preparations for the Silk Road was finally drawing to a close.
Of course, strictly speaking, it was more of a beginning than an end—but even so, this was one major hurdle cleared.
["Are we heading back now?"]
'Yeah.'
Esther looked like she wanted to say something but simply shook her head.
Not inclined to press her, I mounted Horus.
[Kihihit!]
It was time to return to the Ark.
* * *
Upon arriving at the Ark, I went straight to the Rose Line to meet Ganesha Tripathi.
I could have met with Gulshan Tripathi, but it was easier in every way to deal with someone like Ganesha, who bore me goodwill, than with that scheming old man.
"You've arrived."
As soon as I reached the Tripathi estate, Ganesha Tripathi greeted me like he had been expecting me.
Given the current circumstances, it wasn't surprising he'd be waiting.
'The Kronos Union… hasn't arrived yet, huh.'
Also expected.
This time, the Kronos Union wasn't just mobilizing a few teams like before—it was moving the entire faction.
Had I not informed the Rose Line and Isabel beforehand, the Ark might have interpreted the movement as a declaration of war.
"The Kronos Union will arrive at the Rose Line soon."
"Yes, we've confirmed it."
It seemed the Ark had already noticed the massive military movement—Ganesha Tripathi was aware of the advance.
"There were concerns raised from the White Line and Red Line, but no direct opposition."
"I see."
As expected, Isabel had clearly understood what Esther had relayed.
"Actually, there's something I wanted to tell you."
"What is it?"
"We have a visitor."
"A visitor?"
"Yes. Someone here to see you, Carl Marcus."
A strange thing to say.
Not just anywhere, but someone waiting for me at the Tripathi estate?
'Hmph…'
And Ganesha Tripathi's tone was rather curious, too.
This was Ganesha Tripathi—the heir to the powerful Tripathi family, second only to the top figures in the Rose Line.
There weren't many people who could show up at the Tripathi family as a formal guest and say they were waiting for me.
"Shall I bring them in?"
"Go ahead."
I needed to at least see who it was, so I nodded.
Knock knock─
"Come in."
And then the door opened.
The face that entered made me pause.
Familiar, yet unexpected.
Honestly, I had never imagined she would appear here.
"Sorry for the sudden request, Ganesha."
"Not at all. I'll always honor your requests, milady."
Her eyes naturally turned to me.
She carried many identities.
Leader of the Shadow Order.
Daughter of the White Line.
And… the one who bore a great wish in her heart—one that could not easily be spoken of within the Ark.
["Commander…"]
Isabel.
She had come.
* * *
Isabel's visit caught me off guard.
Originally, I'd planned to go to the Shadow Order hideout after finishing this latest mission, but it seemed Isabel had no intention of waiting.
'That urgent, huh.'
I didn't know how much Esther had told her, but from Isabel's demeanor, it was clear she had also conveyed the matter of the sail.
There was no avoiding it—Isabel would've learned about it through Esther eventually. In a sense, this was inevitable.
"It's been a while, Carl Marcus."
"…Indeed."
Isabel smiled faintly.
It was known publicly that we weren't strangers.
After all, we'd once completed a mission together during the Sand Devourer incident.
"This way, please."
"Thank you."
Ganesha Tripathi offered her a seat with a smile.
And so, quite unexpectedly, I found myself seated in the guest parlor with Ganesha Tripathi and Isabel.
"I knew you were impressive, but I didn't expect you to be close with the Young Lady."
"We're only acquaintances."
Ganesha teased lightly.
From the way Isabel had appeared here without notice, this was clearly not an encounter I welcomed.
Still, it was already happening—there was no avoiding it now.
"That's a little cold, isn't it? I thought we were quite close."
She smiled.
It was a smile I couldn't comfortably return.
"…You do love your jokes."
"It just means we're close enough for that, doesn't it?"
Isabel chuckled, finding great amusement in the situation.
But I knew.
I saw the subtle anxiety and unrest in her eyes.
"This time, the Young Lady played a key role in enabling the Kronos Union to support the Rose Line. If not for her, things might have become quite troublesome."
"Is that so."
"Indeed, we were very fortunate."
Though he said it that way, Ganesha clearly suspected I had some sort of relationship with Isabel.
In fact, the very fact that she had come here made it nearly certain.
"So, what brings you here?"
I turned my gaze to Isabel.
I already knew, of course.
The sail.
After learning I had obtained a piece of it, Isabel hadn't been able to wait and had come herself.
"I heard the Kronos Union is joining the Rose Line?"
"Yes."
"That's good news for the Ark. Both the Rose Line and Kronos Union made a difficult but commendable decision."
Ganesha smiled.
"But it wasn't just the two of them—White Line, Red Line, and the other factions also offered their support."
His gaze naturally returned to Isabel.
"And most of all… without the young lady's sudden intervention, the Kronos Union's mobilization would've been delayed."
He may have expected some support for the Kronos Union's mobilization—but not her.
She was a name that carried immense weight in the Ark—and always would.
"You flatter me, Ganesha. I barely did anything."
"Not at all. You've done a great service for the Ark."
Ganesha and Isabel exchanged the kind of rehearsed praise that meant little and everything.
"Hmm… by the way, if I recall, your sister is with them, Carl Marcus?"
"She is."
"Her name was… Lania, right?"
"What's your point?"
"Oh, nothing. Just making conversation."
Isabel smiled.
On the surface, it looked perfectly innocent.
"I've heard about her as well. Lania Marcus—one of the Kronos Union's central figures, and instrumental alongside you in forming the alliance with the Ark."
"Yes, yes. I was even there during the first supply exchange after the alliance."
"I'm aware. That event caused quite a stir in the Ark."
And so, Ganesha and Isabel veered off into chatter about my sister.
But it didn't last long.
"Ganesha."
"Yes, milady?"
"I'm sorry, but could you leave us for a moment?"
"…Excuse me?"
A sudden request to vacate the room.
This was the guest parlor of the Tripathi family—Isabel and I were guests of the Rose Line and the Tripathi household.
For her to barge in, then ask the host to leave—unthinkable.
Even with her symbolic weight, this bordered on disrespect.
"Of course, milady."
Yet Ganesha Tripathi smiled and rose without the slightest complaint.
It may have been due to Isabel's stature, but more than that, it was a sign of his trust and curiosity.
He, too, was clearly intrigued by her sudden visit.
"Well then."
Once Ganesha Tripathi had exited the room, Isabel waved her hand.
Instantly, Ether flared violently around us.
[Be. Quiet…]
[Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy.]
[Shut. Up. All. Of. You──]
This wasn't a threat aimed at me.
We were in the Tripathi estate, and every conversation in this room was surely being monitored.
So, Isabel had used Ether to disable every surveillance device.
At a certain level, an Ether-compatible user could perform such miracles.
"No one will be listening in now."
Ganesha would likely be disappointed—but it was better this conversation didn't leak.
"We have something to talk about, don't we?"
Though she kept her expression composed, Isabel's eyes swirled with countless emotions.
Anxiety. Turmoil. Yearning.
This moment had been set in motion the second I sent Esther to her.
"What do you want to talk about?"
I asked, but I already knew the answer.
"…Esther told me. You obtained the sail?"
A moment of silence passed before Isabel finally opened her mouth.
The truth had already been delivered by Esther—there was no point in denying it.
"Yes. Technically, just a part of it."
Her eyes widened in astonishment.
Hearing it from my mouth clearly hit her harder than hearing it through Esther.
"So, it… really was true."
Her voice trembled.
Faced with her final, long-cherished wish, Isabel could no longer wear her mask.