What kind of organization are you people?
That was the only thought running through the minds of the four members of the Glasgow Gang—Siege, Indra, Morgan, and Dagda. All of them looked uneasy. At the end of the day, they were ordinary street-level fighters. In terms of combat ability, they were barely above the Reunion thugs. Morgan was the only exception in terms of brains, while Siege, Indra, and Dagda were perhaps comparable to FrostNova—assuming FrostNova was holding herself back.
Because once FrostNova's anger ignited, she would not restrain herself. The entire battlefield would turn into a frozen wasteland.
To the four "country bumpkins" from Londinium, riding in an aircraft was utterly foreign. None of them had ever boarded a plane in their lives.
Duke Kent, on the other hand, wasn't shocked at all. He had interacted with Felix long enough to have some idea of the kind of resources the man possessed.
"Meteorite, who are these people? I remember there was only one target for the mission," asked the pilot—a male Feline with the codename Bad Guy—as he frowned.
"Platinum found them. They want to join Tomorrow's Development. They have some ability," Meteorite answered.
Bad Guy let out an "oh," gave the four nervous newcomers a brief glance, then said nothing more. If Meteorite and Platinum vouched for them, that was enough.
Siege sat stiffly on the leather sofa, too stunned to speak. The interior of the aircraft was luxurious and spacious—nothing like an ordinary transport craft.
Before taking on the mission, Meteorite had used her permissions to requisition this VIP transport. In fact, any mercenary could use such an aircraft if they spent enough contribution points. For long-distance missions, most chose comfort.
For shorter distances or larger teams, people usually opted for the free, high-capacity transports.
Given Duke Kent' special status in this mission, Meteorite chose the VIP craft without hesitation. Contribution points only mattered as long as she had enough, though she did wish she could afford the new equipment and enhancement modules in the shop.
"Where… are we going?" Siege asked as the plane ascended smoothly. The cold air-conditioning blew across her face. Her hands were tightly clasped together as she fought to hide her nervousness—because Indra, Morgan, and Dagda were already barely holding themselves together.
"We're going to Kazdel," Meteorite replied.
"Isn't that…" Siege stiffened, "the land of chaos?"
"Is that how Victoria sees Kazdel?"
Siege realized she had misspoken and quickly apologized. "Yes. The Military Commission's Sarkaz call it that as well, though they rarely mention their homeland these days."
Seeing the tension rise, Duke Kent chuckled lightly to ease it. "That's because the Military Commission left Kazdel long ago, and the ones occupying Kazdel now are not the Military Commission. They have no desire to call the current Kazdel their home."
Siege nodded slowly. "Then the faction in control of Kazdel now is…"
Platinum smiled. "Tomorrow's Development."
"…"
Siege tightened her hands even more. Indra, who had met the Pioneer once before, let out a rather embarrassing gasp. She still found it hard to believe. "That Pioneer… Tomorrow's Development… has grown this much already?"
The mercenaries of Tomorrow's Development only smiled quietly. They neither bragged nor explained anything. At this moment, saying nothing was the best choice.
Through the window, the four members of the Glasgow Gang saw a land of endless yellow sand, cracked earth, deep ravines, and massive craters carved out by Originium pillars.
It was an unfamiliar land, uncomfortable to behold, yet they told themselves they had to adapt to their new environment.
The aircraft touched down smoothly on the Kazdel mobile city's airfield tarmac. As Meteorite's group disembarked, Duke Kent and the Glasgow members noticed dozens of large and small aircraft parked nearby. Another fully armed mercenary squad was boarding a different plane. Someone in that squad even raised a hand and waved in their direction.
Meteorite waved to them before turning toward Duke Kent.
"Your Grace, you may visit your daughter first. After that, you will have an audience with His Highness, the King of Liberation."
"King of Liberation?"
Not only did Duke Kent blink in confusion, Siege and her group also stared blankly. A king? What king?
"After His Highness the Pioneer liberated all of Kazdel, we bestowed upon him the title 'King of Liberation.' Adventurers prefer calling him the 'Dawn King,' perhaps because he cut through the darkness with his blade and brought forth the dawn."
Meteorite gave a slight bow and made a polite gesture. "This way, Your Grace."
"…Oh… oh, oh."
Mouth agape, Duke Kent drifted along behind Meteorite and the others.
Platinum stayed behind. They had already discussed this on the aircraft: Meteorite would escort Duke Kent to meet his daughter, while Platinum, being the one who discovered the four newcomers, would take them to report to HR.
The four looked at one another, dazed. It all felt like a dream. How could the land declared "abandoned" by the Military Commission turn out to be a thriving, modern city? And the Pioneer—after just a few years—how did he go from being the leader of a faction to becoming the King of Kazdel?
Wait, wasn't the Pioneer a Sankta? How did these Sarkaz accept him as their king?
Siege felt her expression grow more complicated as she recalled her mentor, Gawain's words:
"The Pioneer, if he wishes, will one day become a king."
Now he truly was a king, while she had fled Londinium like a stray cat. She had prepared herself mentally, but in the face of Londinium and the Military Commission, her mood remained heavy.
A short walk from the airfield brought them to the Tomorrow's Development administrative office. The place bustled with life. People hurried by with bright expressions, some chatting and laughing in small groups. It looked… no different from any ordinary city.
Platinum showed her identification, and they moved smoothly through the building until they reached the HR Department.
Here, everything ran like a finely tuned machine that never stopped. HR might be the busiest division in Tomorrow's Development, even if the most chaotic period had already passed.
A few months earlier, when Kazdel had just been unified, many Sarkaz who had been observing both Tomorrow's Development and the Military Commission finally made their choice. Since Tomorrow's Development had won, they would join its ranks. If the Military Commission had claimed victory, they would have chosen them instead. It was a natural way of thinking—most people remain on the sidelines until a clear winner emerges.
Recently, HR had mainly been handling personnel assignments—who wanted to transfer, who was better suited for which department, which teams lacked rare talent. Operators only needed to do their assigned work; HR had far more to consider.
An HR operator hurried by, then stopped when she saw Platinum and the group walking together.
"Platinum, who are these people?"
"They wish to join Tomorrow's Development."
Siege noticed that the girl was also a Sarkaz, though her horns were unusually shaped, almost like a heart. She remembered reading that Sarkaz had many unique sub-races, but their names and distinguishing features were beyond her knowledge.
"His Highness is currently discussing matters with the department head. Hmm… and you four don't look like ordinary recruits."
The girl smiled warmly, blinking playfully. "Why not wait outside the director's office? You might even run into His Highness."
"All right. See you later."
"See you~"
Still smiling, the girl left. Platinum led them deeper inside and explained, "The HR Department is always busy. Normally, applicants just go through a standard HR officer. But you're different."
Morgan blinked. "Different… how?"
"You were recommended by me, and your abilities are impressive."
Platinum continued, "With that combination, you're eligible for a face-to-face meeting with the department director."
So it came down to strength and the one who endorsed them?
Siege pondered quietly. It seemed Platinum held a rather high standing within Tomorrow's Development, high enough for them to meet the director directly.
Having wasted so much time in Londinium, she understood how rare an opportunity could be. She was truly grateful that Platinum had given the four of them such a chance. From an outside perspective, Siege felt that the four of them looked like wanderers with nowhere left to go. To suddenly be offered a full meal after so long, it felt almost unreal, like a dream.
But what she found even harder to believe was how these Sarkaz and the operators of Tomorrow's Development spoke about the Pioneer, Felix. Their tone was filled with respect and affection, and they had elevated him to the throne of Kazdel. She and Felix had only been apart for a few short years, yet in that time she had ended up like a stray cat with no home, while he had become the King of Liberation spoken of by all.
The difference between them felt overwhelmingly large.
The five of them arrived at the lounge. Platinum guided them to the sofa and picked up some snacks from the table. Siege was surprised to find treats from Higashi and Yan, and after glancing discreetly around, she even spotted tea bags filled with Victorian black tea.
She had already begun forming an impression of Tomorrow's Development. They might not become important figures here, but they could at least live a simple, ordinary life.
But was that really enough? She asked herself quietly. Had she always wanted a life of drifting along and running away?
While she was lost in thought, Morgan was asking Platinum about the history and origins of Tomorrow's Development. Among the four, only she and Dagda knew nothing about it or about the Pioneer.
The conversation did not last long. The door opened, and a young Sankta man dressed in a crisp uniform stepped out with a faint smile.
Platinum's eyes lit up. Siege and Indra froze for a moment, while Morgan and Dagda watched him with curiosity.
He wore a high-tech chestplate and a black cloak. His exposed arm was fitted with pale mechanical armor, and the lower half of his body was also encased in compact armor. A long knight's sword hung at his waist, with a white handgun holstered on the other side.
He looked far more like a king than the leader or boss of a faction.
"Boss, I'm back."
Platinum stepped forward with a light smile.
As for the matter of titles, Felix had never forced anyone to call him "Your Highness." He had no strict preferences. Pioneer, Boss, Your Highness, King—anything was fine. He didn't care much about formalities.
"You went straight to a mission right after your vacation. Are you adjusting well?"
"I do miss Dossoles' sunshine and beaches, but I can get back into work anytime."
Platinum hid the warmth in her eyes. She stepped aside to reveal the four behind her. "Boss, these are the helpers I found in Londinium during Meteorite's mission. Thanks to them, our retreat went smoothly."
Felix shifted his gaze toward the four and paused for a moment before smiling. These were the Victoria gang quartet from his previous life's Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals. Early on, the players had a distant relationship with them, but during the 3.0 war everyone had rushed to complete their storyline.
Yet now, having just escaped Londinium, they were homeless.
He gave Platinum a look of approval, then turned to Siege with a smile. "After our parting back then, I didn't expect we'd meet again. It has truly been a long time, Lady Siege."
"…Pioneer—no, Your Highness."
"You can call me Pioneer. I don't mind what title you use."
Siege felt the "king" in her own heritage sound painfully ironic. She let out a soft sigh. "It is my fortune to see you again. In just a few years, Tomorrow's Development has grown so much. I sincerely admire you."
"This is thanks to everyone's efforts."
Felix smiled, then added, "You've come from far away. Finish your registration first, then come see me. Since we're old acquaintances, I'll arrange a place for you to stay, and afterward you can decide what kind of work you want to do."
With that, he stepped forward, casually patted the still-dazed Indra on the shoulder, and walked away with firm, steady footsteps.
All around them, operators paused to look his way or bowed in greeting.