"What comes next for Babel?"
Hoederer leaned against the window frame and sighed. He shook his head helplessly. They had believed that capturing Kazdel's mobile city would mark their victory — but who could have predicted that Her Highness, beloved by all Sarkaz, would fall to an assassin's blade?
Ines sat silently on the sofa. Beside her, Mudrock remained quiet as always. The air in the room was heavy with grief.
Jesselton Williams said nothing either. He had witnessed everything, but both his body and soul already belonged to Sir. He knew very well which words could be spoken — and which should never be.
Felix toyed idly with the small drone in his hand.
The fate of Babel was already sealed. Theresa had placed her trust in him, entrusting the future of Kazdel to his hands.
Her Highness had never cared about his race, nor about her own power of conquest. She once said that the care he gave to the Sarkaz, the creation of the Frontier District — for the homeless Sarkaz people, it was like rain falling upon dry land.
He had gained her recognition. Now, all that was left was for him to act — step by step.
"Hey, hey… you've got to be kidding me," Hoederer muttered, peering out the window. "Those Sarkaz mercenaries… they're leaving?"
Felix moved beside him, looking outside. Many Sarkaz mercenaries were packing their belongings, some glancing back wistfully, others walking away without hesitation.
"After Her Highness's passing, they no longer have any reason to stay with Babel," Felix said quietly. "It's only natural. Babel existed because of her."
"…Even now, I can hardly believe it," Hoederer whispered. "That Her Highness is really gone."
A gentle knock came at the door. Kal'tsit stepped in, her face pale and weary. The emotionless expression she wore reminded Felix of the Kal'tsit from his previous life — a woman who had forgotten how to smile.
"I came to express my gratitude to the Pioneer and his Organization," she said, her tone calm but hollow. "Thank you for helping Babel capture Kazdel's mobile city. However, as the temporary commander of Babel, I must also deliver some unfortunate news — our cooperation will likely come to an end."
"Because… Babel is going to be disbanded?" Felix asked, rising to his feet.
His words made both Hoederer and Ines turn sharply toward him.
Kal'tsit closed her eyes for a moment, then reopened them. "Those who wish to leave — mercenaries and elite operators alike — are free to do so. With Her Highness gone, Babel exists in name only."
"I won't ask what will happen to the Doctor," Felix said quietly. "I only want to know — where will you go?"
"…We'll make one final stop at Chernobog," she replied, "and then head to Rim Billiton."
Each word sounded like a farewell. Kal'tsit looked utterly exhausted. She turned her gaze toward Felix.
"Thank you," she said softly, "for staying with Her Highness in her final moments."
"I was too late," he murmured.
"That was enough," Kal'tsit replied, sighing deeply. "Kazdel's mobile city is now leaderless. Though it remains under Babel's control, it's only a matter of time before the defending mercenaries disperse."
"General Theresis and the Military Commission will remain stationed in Londinium. Only a handful of mercenaries will still be active in Kazdel. Babel will dissolve… and Kazdel will once again become an abandoned land, without a ruler. Do what you must, Pioneer Felix."
Her voice softened as she stepped back, arms folded across her chest. "Her Highness believed in you — and so I will trust the one she trusted."
With that, Kal'tsit turned and walked away quickly.
Felix took a deep breath and looked toward Hoederer. "Hoederer, I need you to immediately report the current situation to Ulšulah. Also, I want you to lead our mercenaries to take over Kazdel's mobile city."
Hoederer stood and nodded. A wry smile tugged at his lips. "I thought capturing Kazdel's city was the end… turns out, it's only the beginning."
"Ines," Felix said, turning to her, "I need you to speak with the Sarkaz mercenaries who haven't left yet. They're already familiar with the Frontier District. If any of them wish to join us, the gates of the Tomorrow's Development will always be open to them."
Ines nodded and left immediately. She knew time was short — the Sarkaz mercenaries would soon depart, so she had to move quickly. As a member of the Tomorrow's Development, she fully supported the idea of taking over Kazdel.
"Mudrock," Felix said, "among those who chose to stay, I need you to pick out the most capable mercenaries and have them join your unit — the Mudrock Squad. You can consult with Ines for her opinion on this."
"I understand."
Mudrock's mechanical voice echoed through the hall as she lifted her massive hammer and strode away.
Felix leaned back against the sofa, one leg crossed over the other. Jesselton stood loyally at his side, waiting until everyone else had left before carefully asking, "Sir, what would you have me do?"
"You can rest for now," Felix said. "You overused your Originium Arts today — you'll be mentally exhausted."
"Yes, Sir!"
Jesselton was so moved he nearly cried. Bowing respectfully, he finally allowed himself to sit and rest.
All around them, Babel's mercenaries were leaving — some in small groups of friends, others walking alone. Confusion clouded their faces. With their beloved princess gone, they no longer knew who to follow, whose orders to obey, or what future to strive toward.
How could Kazdel ever become better now? Deep down, they knew it was a dream too far out of reach.
What now? Where do we go from here?
The elite operators and higher ranks were no different. Some had guessed the truth behind Her Highness's death — disappointment, grief, and rage filled their hearts. Some kept their silence, others simply walked away in anger.
Babel began to crumble apart overnight.
---
"You've done well," Felix said when he found ACE on the transport deck. The man sat slumped, drinking from his flask — a drink once meant for celebration. Now it only dulled his sorrow. His squad was no better; the atmosphere among them was heavy with grief.
That very morning, Her Highness had stood right there, smiling as she watched them depart for battle. ACE could still recall that gentle smile… but now, he would never see it again.
The princess who had always smiled so brightly was gone, leaving behind only pain and confusion.
"Do you have any plans now?" Felix asked quietly.
"…Not yet," ACE replied after a pause. "Doctor Kal'tsit plans to take the Rhodes Island and leave Kazdel. I heard it from her myself."
"So you're not leaving immediately," Felix said. "That means you plan to go with her to Rim Billiton?"
"Yeah," ACE murmured, suppressing a sigh. "I just… can't make sense of it all. Why did it have to happen like this?"
"I don't know either."
Felix looked ahead, watching the mercenaries march away. "But I do know this — we have to keep moving forward, carrying the will of those who came before us."
Ace nodded faintly. "…Yeah. And you? When will you leave?"
"When Babel is gone," Felix said calmly, "I'll still be here."
His words flowed like a breeze, clear and resolute. "I'll prove to the world that being called a king isn't something so extraordinary."
"You…"
Ace's sunglasses slipped down as his eyes widened. "You—"
"I've been waiting for this, ACE," Felix interrupted, a cold smile crossing his lips. "This world is overflowing with inequality — so much that it makes me sick."
He clenched his fist. "Look at Ursus, or the commercial lords of Kazimierz — it's all the same rot. And Victoria? That nation's sickness has already spread beyond any cure."
"If it were you," he asked, "what would you do?"
Ace hesitated. "…Me? I'd probably just watch. Because I know I don't have the power to change any of it. These systems survive because people have grown numb. They've accepted them — telling themselves, 'My life isn't so bad.'"
"Beautifully said." Felix clapped once, his tone suddenly sharp. "But me? I'm angry."
He pointed to his chest, his golden eyes burning. "There's a fire inside me that's been blazing ever since the day my own kin saved me. From that moment, I swore to change this twisted world — to ask why."
"My lover, Mandragora — her parents were burned alive by Victoria's police on false charges. The entire street of Tara residents went up in flames with them. I want to ask — why?"
"In Ursus, the infected are enslaved in mines. They even drag in the poor and force them to work until they too become infected. I want to ask — why?"
"And Yan — it looks perfect on the surface, but ha…" he laughed bitterly. "Some of its mobile cities, though they bear the imperial seal, are already nothing more than the playgrounds of corrupt nobles."
"When you see such injustice — and you have the power to change it — what choice will you make?"
Felix's voice grew firm. "I'll fight."
"I'll fight against every injustice in this world. I'll demand answers with Iron and Blood — for every innocent soul who's perished, I'll seize the throats of those responsible and make them face their sins."
A grin spread across his face — wild, unrestrained. ACE stared, stunned. For the first time, he saw Felix laugh so freely, as though chains had fallen away from him. For a fleeting moment, ACE thought he saw the shadow of General Theresis in him — but on second glance, it wasn't quite the same.
"Your journey is a difficult one, ACE, Godspeed," Felix said, turning away.
"Ah… y-yeah…" ACE mumbled, watching him go in silence.
He could feel it — Felix had changed. The death of Her Highness hadn't just shaken the Sarkaz mercenaries… it had changed Felix too.
"Captain…should we stay?"
A squad member asked in a low voice. Seeing ACE glance over, he hurried to explain, "No—it's just that what he said makes sense. We know Tomorrow's Development pretty well. I think he can do it."
Ace sighed. "I won't stop any of you. If you want to leave, you may. But I'm going with Doctor Kal'tsit."
"Ah…boss, what are you saying? Of course we'll follow you."
They laughed nervously to cover their unease. ACE forced a short chuckle, but he already suspected more people would choose to stay with Felix than he'd thought.
The next morning, the Sarkaz mercenaries packed their gear to set off — only to find that some comrades who had been friendly with them were now wearing a new, heavy black-and-white uniform. The emblem was familiar: Tomorrow's Development.
Adventurers from the Tomorrow's Development moved through the encampment with solemn faces, taking over duties and exchanging information with the mercenaries. Where Her Highness had stood yesterday, now stood a Sankta — a rare sight in Kazdel. They recognized him at once: he was the Pioneer, the princess's close friend and a long-time trading partner of Babel.
"I am the Pioneer."
Felix's voice was slow. It carried a pressure that made people uneasy and, at the same time, a warmth that struck the heart.
"We won this battle. We took Kazdel's mobile city. But we also lost. Babel lost its leader. The Sarkaz lost their monarch. And I lost a dear friend."
"But!"
"Is that the end of it?"
He raised his voice. "Tell me — is this the end of Babel? Is this the future you want for Kazdel? With the General far away in Londinium, is this the state you desire for Kazdel?"
"Before me stands a people — a nation groaning beneath defeat! After the wars, the pride of the Sarkaz is gone! Sarkaz have been forced to become mercenaries; the infected can't get treatment; children go without proper education!"
"Maybe some of you think General Theresis is the true fighter. You're wrong. You've misread everything! What Her Highness truly fought for — what she wanted with all her heart — was the future of the Sarkaz! She fought so every Sarkaz could have enough to eat! She fought so every Sarkaz could grow up healthy! She fought so that being a mercenary wouldn't be the only choice for a Sarkaz!"
"Now tell me — will you be like Princess Theresa and become freedom fighters for that future, or will you be cowards?"
The Sarkaz mercenaries straightened their backs and fixed their eyes on the man on the platform. He was almost shouting now; they stared, unblinking.
"You may ask: 'what now? Where do we go? What do we do with our lives on this land?' Yes — your lives are precious. But there is something more important than life itself: Freedom. Dignity."
"There are two things that unite people: shared ideals and shared crimes. We have Princess Theresa's great ideal — and we will spill our last drop of blood for it!"
He let out a roar that shook souls: "Tell me, Sarkaz — what is your answer?!"