When I returned to Rose Line, a full-scale military reorganization was already underway.
To be precise, the troops and equipment previously stationed from Rose-15 to Rose-35 Gates were being relocated to other gates.
"…Is this really going to be okay?"
One of the soldiers watching the scene murmured in passing.
It wasn't just him—this same thought must have crossed the minds of most soldiers in Rose Line.
Entrusting an entire Ark front line to an external force.
Under normal circumstances—or even abnormal ones—that was something unthinkable. Yet it was happening now.
Even with the considerable autonomy that Rose Line held, a move of this magnitude would surely invite criticism from the rest of Ark.
No—if it ended with mere criticism, that would be fortunate. If things went poorly, Rose Line's true intentions could come under suspicion.
'They might start thinking Rose Line's plotting with Kronos to take over Ark.'
Of course, stopping such speculation was the job of me and the Shadow Order—but it would not be easy.
Even though the Shadow Order had slowed its operations, deep-seated tensions between Ark's lines remained unresolved.
'It'll explode eventually. Maybe… this event will be the trigger.'
Despite knowing all that, I still brought the Kronos Union into Ark—because I viewed the coming multi-wave as a threat grave enough to justify the risk.
And if we survived it well, Ark might obtain something it had never had before—a true alliance.
Not a hollow, decorative alliance, but one where both sides would do anything for each other.
And that alliance wouldn't be limited to the Kronos Union.
The picture I intended to draw from here on included space for many others as well.
["Master."]
'You're back.'
Esther, who had briefly left, had returned.
'What about what I asked you to look into?'
["They've almost all arrived. And… things don't seem bad."]
'Good. That means… everything I can prepare is ready.'
The rest, I could only leave to fate.
["…Will it be okay?"]
Esther couldn't hide her concern.
That was how heavy the burden was on both me and Ark this time.
So, the only thing I could say was—
'I'll make it okay.'
["That's…"]
Esther's gaze naturally shifted toward the horizon.
Beyond the Rose Line walls, ominous dark clouds began to appear.
And everyone in Rose Line's military knew—they were no ordinary clouds.
"Hurry up!"
"The wave is coming!"
The soldiers of Rose Line and the Kronos Union grew increasingly frantic.
They were already moving quickly, but even so, there was a need to move faster still.
'Then, I suppose I should go welcome them.'
I began walking.
* * *
In front of Rose Line's Rose-3 Gate.
There, I met the approaching caravan of the Sandstorm Caravan.
"Carl Marcus!"
From the lead hoverbike, Ayla—the Daughter of the Sand—removed her helmet and greeted me.
"You've arrived."
"As promised. I wasn't late, right?"
"No. But I can't say you were early either. Time's short."
"Do you know how hard it was to scrape all this together, and not even a compliment…? Well, whatever. I didn't expect one."
Ayla looked at me.
"You'd better pay fairly. We're merchants. Try to swindle us and poof—no more Silk Road. Got it?"
"I know. Ark understands the value of the Silk Road. You don't need to worry about that."
The Silk Road was a massive enterprise.
Naturally, Ark had caught the scent of profit, and there was no chance they'd ruin a deal this valuable now.
'Some faction might try to sabotage it, but… I won't allow that.'
Isabelle and the Shadow Order were likely already busy dealing with that, officially or otherwise.
'Now then…'
I looked at Ayla.
"Let's hurry."
"Yes, yes. I suppose we must. Don't think I'll ever have a bigger deal than this one."
"There'll be many."
"Oho… something to look forward to."
"Move."
"You don't have to tell me twice."
Thanks to Ganesha Tripathi and Rose Line's mayor, the Sandstorm Caravan's presence had already been cleared.
Unlike the Kronos Union, which was still a political ally, the Sandstorm Caravan had a more transactional, less controversial relationship with Ark.
'They trust profits and gain more than empty faith. Honestly, I prefer it that way.'
The massive caravan of the Sandstorm Caravan began passing through the Rose Line gates.
* * *
"Haha… I'm not sure I understand what I'm looking at, Councilman."
"Same here."
Ganesha Tripathi and Rose Line's mayor could only chuckle at the sight before them.
They hadn't expected this.
The Sandstorm Caravan.
A group of merchants somewhat familiar to Ark—but until now, they hadn't been very active.
Logistical and geopolitical barriers had made real trade difficult.
Yet here they were—on the brink of a war that could decide Ark's fate—arriving with a staggering stockpile of supplies.
It was no exaggeration to say they had staked their lives on this expedition.
"That must be Carl Marcus."
"I'd say so."
As Ganesha nodded, the mayor of Rose Line muttered, clearly baffled.
"Who is Carl Marcus, really? How did an outsider make this happen?"
"I don't know. But what I do know is that he's moving for Ark."
"It seems that way… but I can't help but wonder if he has another agenda."
To that, Ganesha Tripathi shook his head.
"No. Carl Marcus isn't that kind of person. If he had other intentions, he would've used far subtler and more effective methods."
"You trust him."
"There's no reason not to."
Ganesha knew.
Carl Marcus had even taken on the persona of the Turncoat 'Pawn' to work for Ark from the shadows.
Of course, like the mayor, Ganesha also wondered why Carl Marcus was doing all this.
Ark might be humanity's last bastion, but someone of Carl's caliber could easily survive in the outside world.
'Well… now's not the time to think about that.'
What mattered now wasn't Carl Marcus's intentions—but how to process the enormous supplies that had just arrived in Rose Line.
Indeed, the supplies the Sandstorm Caravan brought were more than enough to arm not only the poorly equipped Kronos Union troops but Ark's forces as well.
As they observed the scene, Ganesha and the mayor exchanged sheepish laughs.
"Well… paying for all this will exceed Rose Line's budget."
"Certainly, Councilman."
"But we'll have to manage."
"Of course."
Even with the largest budget allocation in Ark, Rose Line couldn't absorb all of this alone.
Technically, it was possible—but the financial burden would be immense.
"This is an opportunity."
"It is."
Their eyes met.
Because if even Rose Line couldn't handle it all, that meant they could offload some of the cost to other lines.
"This'll also help solidify the legitimacy of the alliance."
"Yes, indeed."
To that, Ganesha offered a quiet nod.
"Then let's get to work."
"Looks like you'll be handling it again, Councilman."
"It's what I'm here for."
Though the Tripathi family had near-total influence over Rose Line, the mayor still had his role.
Ganesha understood that well. He didn't push off work that wasn't his.
In fact, this wasn't something the mayor could handle.
"Then I'll go ahead."
"Good luck."
"Same to you."
Leaving the mayor behind, Ganesha glanced once at the supply lines, then quickened his steps.
There was much to do.
* * *
Everything is nearly ready.
But humanity's enemies won't wait.
The dark clouds beyond the horizon thickened.
And an eerie presence began to seep from the ruins of Black Line.
'So… we ran out of time.'
Maybe it was because I tried to prepare everything, but even though troop redeployments and supply deliveries weren't finished—the wave was already beginning to stir.
At this rate, the multi-wave would hit any moment now.
'It's time for me to move too.'
Under normal circumstances, leaving Ark at this point wouldn't be a smart choice.
Bringing two foreign forces—the Kronos Union and the Sandstorm Caravan—into Ark and then stepping away was like leaving explosives in one room and walking off.
'But staying in Ark is the worse choice.'
Yes, the forces in Ark were dangerous, but as long as no one lit the fuse, nothing would explode.
However, if I didn't leave Ark now, I'd be knowingly walking into the approaching disaster unprepared.
There was no choice from the start.
"Brother."
"Lania."
"You're going?"
I didn't know how she knew, but Lania already knew I was leaving Ark.
"Yes."
"…Well, since it's you, I'm sure you have a reason. But don't die. If you die… it's all over."
I knew.
The alliance between Ark, the Kronos Union, and the Sandstorm Caravan stood like a castle built on sand.
And I was the one barely holding it together.
"I know. Don't worry."
"Well, you're not the type to die so easily anyway. Come back soon."
Without another word, Lania turned and walked away.
I, too, turned and began walking.
["Master, that's…"]
With Esther's voice came a tremor.
Far larger and more frequent than when the Kronos Union arrived, the quake spread through the entire Rose Line front.
'It's here.'
I looked up.
And I saw them.
The ancient beasts of the Black Line, now awakened, glaring at Ark.
[KIYEEEEEEAAAAAAAH────!]
The multi-wave—
had begun.