"This decision is far too sudden."
Herman broke out in a cold sweat. A matter so close to outright treason could only be discussed privately between the two of them. If word spread, Columbia would likely take the same stance as Victoria. After all, Siesta was not a mobile city. Herman might be able to flee, but the city itself could not.
More importantly, Siesta was his life's work. How could he possibly hand it over to Columbia?
In that case, what difference was there between Columbia's actions and Kazdel's invasions? The atmosphere grew awkward almost instantly.
Herman's expression remained grave, while Felix spoke in an even, unhurried tone. "Have you already decided where the next Siesta will be built?"
"Yes," Herman replied after a brief pause. "This time, it will be located in another untouched inland sea. In the future, we may also have to deal with Leithanien. As for this incident, I believe the compensation to Tomorrow's Development will be to allow Your Highness to participate in the development of the new city. A branch of Tomorrow's Development will be established in the new Siesta."
"Then let's leave it at that for now."
Herman's attitude was that of a seasoned politician, unfazed by boiling water. He neither welcomed nor rejected the idea outright. His position was clear: he could compromise on many things, but Siesta itself was nonnegotiable.
Felix understood his feelings. If someone sought to interfere in Kazdel, he too would deliberate carefully. Even if he agreed, it would not come easily.
So he said nothing more. Seeing this, Herman spoke in a low voice. "I will give Tomorrow's Development and Rhodes Island a proper explanation for this incident."
Only after the wine was served did the tension finally ease.
Meanwhile, the Obsidian Festival continued in full swing. Mostima and her team had already reached the volcano. In addition to the operators dispatched by Tomorrow's Development, Schwarz was also present, having finished gathering evidence against Cronin. Without hesitation, she abandoned any thought of continuing her mission involving him.
Her task now was reconnaissance of the surrounding area, traveling alongside her mistress, Ceylon.
Originium slugs had overrun the forest. Mostima raised her staff and began clearing out the unfortunate creatures. Originium slugs were closely tied to volcanic ecosystems, and this surge in volcanic activity had caused their numbers to explode. Maintaining balance was essential. Other operators followed behind, collecting the stunned Originium slugs. Some would be sent to Tomorrow's Development for analysis and research, while others were slated to be kept as pets.
As the team pushed deeper into the volcano, the heat intensified. Mostima halted them. Lava flowed beneath their feet, and the Originium slugs around them had clearly mutated. They rustled and swarmed, while below them loomed a massive Originium slug, shaped almost like a miniature volcano.
"Is this the source of the eruption?" Mostima asked.
Schwarz nodded. "Cronin's mining disrupted the ecological balance of the Originium slugs. If we kill it, the volcano should calm down."
"That would only be temporary."
The voice belonged to Thorns, as cool and detached as ever. He was part of the research team accompanying Mostima, and they had already collected a considerable number of samples.
"Even if this mutated giant dies, it's only a matter of time before the volcano erupts again."
His words were blunt, but undeniable.
Ignoring the tense exchange of looks between Schwarz and Ceylon, Thorns turned to Mostima. "Is there any way to capture this giant Originium slug and transport it back to the Venus?"
Everyone stared at him as if he had said something outrageous. Thorns simply shrugged. "It would be invaluable for research. If Wendy were here, she'd make the same call."
"Alright," Mostima said after a moment. "We'll try. Weaken it, but be careful not to kill it."
"Yes!"
The operators moved at once, their efficiency drawing admiration from both Ceylon and Schwarz. Ceylon seemed to have made up her mind; once this operation was over, she intended to leave.
She would return and report her decision to her father.
Back at the table, the atmosphere gradually grew lighter and more relaxed. Far away, the operators, battered and disheveled, continued dealing with the mutated Originium slug.
Enraged, the giant creature dodged waves of lava. At last, under the operators' combined efforts, the molten surface coating its body dissipated. It fell still, as though it had entered hibernation. Next came Thorns' turn to figure out how to deploy the drones.
The problem now was simple, yet daunting.
How were they supposed to get this super Originium slug onto the landship?
"...It's over."
Ceylon let out a long breath. For now, the crisis in Siesta had finally come to an end.
"The rest is for you to handle. I believe you and your father will give the citizens of Siesta a satisfactory answer," Mostima said. Ceylon nodded solemnly.
Cronin was arrested and brought to justice. The stolen funds were recovered. The Originium slugs were returned to their volcanic habitat. The operators from Tomorrow's Development and Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals enjoyed a well-earned vacation. It was, by all accounts, a happy ending. Of course, the matter of the Lava Originium slugs being unable to find their "mother" was another issue entirely.
When Wendy first saw the enormous creature at the research institute, she was ecstatic. She thanked the operators who had taken part in the mission and immediately threw herself into her research.
The creature was given the codename "Pompeii," a reference to its unusual properties and extreme heat. It was placed inside a specialized containment facility. Though it showed signs of discomfort after leaving the volcano, it soon calmed down once the facility recreated a high-temperature environment. It even allowed researchers to extract lava samples from its body for further study.
With everything settled, Siesta gradually returned to peace. Felix and Herman reached an agreement to cooperate in the development of the new city in the future. Or rather, this had been Herman's goal from the very beginning. Drones were never what he truly wanted. He believed that seeking cooperation with the great powers would only lead to being swallowed whole. Neither the nobles of Columbia nor Victoria could resist the temptation of such a prime location.
After enjoying a few more days of vacation, Felix bade farewell to Kal'tsit, the Doctor and Amiya then returned to the Venus. No sooner had he stepped aboard than he received a message from Wendy. She excitedly explained that she was attempting to integrate lava into uniforms and weapons. In the future, she hoped to develop equipment that could withstand extreme heat, or even uniforms and weapons capable of actively spraying lava. She asked for additional funding, and Felix promptly transferred the requested amount without hesitation.
Leaning back comfortably in his office chair, he began dealing with the backlog of minor issues that had piled up during his absence. When he came across a particular intelligence report, he straightened abruptly.
"Clever, call Loughshinny I want to see her."
___
County Hillock, garrison camp.
The fading summer sun stole away the last traces of warmth. Garrison Commander Hamilton gazed out the window at the familiar scenery he had watched day and night, a faint, cold smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Since the Tara nobles began emerging one after another, as if acting under some unspoken consent, the Tara commoners stationed in County Hillock had grown restless. They started exchanging intelligence with the nobles' agents and spies. Their intentions were obvious. They wanted to reclaim County Hillock, an area of deep historical and symbolic significance to the Tara people.
Hamilton turned to the two officers standing before him.
One was Louis, a trusted subordinate who had followed him from the very beginning. With only the slightest hint, Louis could quietly take care of unpleasant tasks. The other was Horn, captain of the Second Tempest Platoon, who had joined his command only recently. Horn's men were ill-suited to integrate with her existing forces, but in terms of rank, they were still his subordinates. As a result, Hamilton chose to overlook Horn's pride and their reputation as a troublemaker.
He shifted his attention back to their reports.
"County Hillock is full of undercurrents. I hope both of you are prepared."
"Yes. The Tempest Platoon will remain on standby at all times."
Horn snapped to attention, saluted, and left with her head held high.
Once Horn was gone, Louis moved to the door, peered outside to make sure no one was listening, then shut it firmly.
"Sir, the Tara people are getting out of hand. Two days ago, I led a patrol through County Hillock, and those bastards ignored us completely, as if we didn't exist. They only pay the so-called tribute they once demanded with force. All because of that damned Earl Warwick…"
"Now that the Tara nobles have openly broken away from the Victoria nobles, what used to be an easy posting has become a mess," Hamilton said calmly. "Your task is to keep monitoring the Tara faction. If anything improper occurs, report it to me immediately. I have no intention of risking my life here while the nobles tear each other apart."
"Yes."
Louis saluted, then hesitated before speaking again. "And this intelligence… the Tempest Platoon…"
"They're secretly investigating our acceptance of offerings, aren't they?"
Hill drew a finger across his throat. Hamilton shook her head. "Let them handle it themselves."
"Yes…"
After leaving the command center, Horn returned to the outpost of the Second Tempest Platoon. It was located far from the garrison camp and operated independently. As one of Victoria's elite forces, the Second Tempest Platoon showed neither special privileges nor overwhelming combat power. They lived self-sufficiently, and aside from routine patrols, had little else to occupy their time.
'I've heard that noble forces have already started clashing south of County Hillock…' Horn lowered her gaze. According to standard marching protocols, battle reports should arrive within three days. When that happens, what exactly is the Tempest Platoon stationed here supposed to do?
County Hillock had become a strategic point for the Tara people, carrying deep symbolic meaning. Horn remained outwardly calm. The internal conflict within Victoria was, on the surface, merely a matter of maintaining order. However, once the information spread, Columbia and Leithanien would almost certainly intervene.
Londinium, the capital, had fallen into the hands of Regent Theresis. Large areas of southern Victoria were now controlled by the Tara nobles. How had Victoria ended up like this?
Although soldiers were trained to follow orders without question, Horn could not help but feel uneasy about Victoria's future.
"Captain! How did the report go?"
The cheerful voice belonged to Bagpipe, a member of the Tempest Platoon and one of Horn's subordinates. A Vouivre with bright orange hair and lively eyes, she left a strong first impression on anyone she met.
"Commander Hamilton didn't mention anything specific about the situation inside County Hillock," Horn replied evenly. "He only told us to stay alert."
Back in her tent, Horn began removing her equipment as Bagpipe followed her inside.
"Captain, where are we heading?"
"Want to come with me to pick up some supplies?"
"Yeah."
Although the Tempest Platoon had been stationed in County Hillock for some time, the tense situation on the front lines meant that most military rations had been "reallocated" by the noble forces. Special circumstances called for special measures, and while the Tempest Platoon received a small amount of compensation, it was nowhere near equal to the value of the supplies taken.
Buying official military rations from the nobles was out of the question. Of course, with enough money, the nobles would not hesitate to overcharge.
Among the Tara residents of County Hillock, the Victoria garrison inspired more fear and resentment than goodwill. Horn and Bagpipe removed their Tempest Platoon gear, a clear symbol of their affiliation, greeted the sentries on duty, and entered the city of County Hillock, which was shrouded in thick fog.
___
County Hillock, Tomorrow's Development branch.
The branch housed only around ten operators, working on a rotating shift system. As a key contact point with the Tara nobles, Tomorrow's Development had deliberately established a branch here. Information from Earl Warwick was transmitted through this location.
The operator currently on duty was the elite operator, Outcast, who was responsible for traveling between various sites to handle liaison work between messengers and branch offices. In addition to her, the Blue Rain team had also arrived. Led by Captain Solesar, along with Dandao Dantart, and the others, they had come to County Hillock on assignment. According to the mission briefing, they were searching for another mentor for the caster class.
With so many people gathered, the small branch office felt crowded. During the day, members of the Blue Rain team went out on missions, while the branch operators stayed behind to await responses from the Tara nobles and compile intelligence.
Before Solesar and his team even departed, a knock sounded at the branch office door. An operator opened it, and upon seeing the girl standing outside, a smile immediately appeared on his face.
"Good morning, Jane. You've been coming by a lot lately. We've still got plenty of supplies."
"Good morning."
Jane Willow, a blonde Vouivre woman, carried a basket of vegetables. She smiled and waved to the operators and players present. "The fighting on the front lines has been intense these past couple of days, and I heard some new operators arrived at the branch. I was wondering if your food reserves are still holding up."