In his previous life, Felix had started out sharing a dormitory with other Operators—well, other players, really. At first there had been no choice; space aboard the Rhodes Island landship was limited, and anyone wanting to live onboard long-term had to squeeze in together.

Truth be told, the setup wasn’t all that different from a university dormitory back in real life. Everyone had some kind of connection, covering for each other during missions, picking up meals for roommates when needed. That was the day-to-day routine for players living aboard Rhodes Island.

And really—who doesn’t like, long for, or reminisce about their university days?

It was common for four college roommates, close as brothers, to join Rhodes Island together and keep that same camaraderie alive, both as friends and as dorm-mates.

Felix had no idea what became of the three brothers he’d once shared a room with in that life.

Now, Theresa led him to his quarters: a private room. In his previous life, such accommodations had been completely inaccessible to ordinary players. Only Rhodes Island’s higher-ups qualified, typically Elite Operators. And there were fewer than a dozen of those at any given time.

Aside from them, Felix remembered Closure also had her own room.

Nearby, Degenbrecher and the Sarkaz siblings, Dawn and Nightfall, were quartered across the hall. Shining and Liz, who had once cooperated with Babel on medical research, had their own spaces within Babel itself. As for Hoederer and Ines, they stayed with their mercenary company in the landship’s “mercenary level,” where most hired blades were housed.

Theresa reluctantly released Felix’s hand, offering him another faint, sorrow-tinged smile. This time, though, there was something softer beneath it—something almost tender. Theresa’s love, after all, extended to everything upon this land.

“Good night, Mr. Felix.”

“Good night, Your Highness.”

“Just call me Theresa.”

With a graceful turn, she waved lightly and departed.

Felix lingered outside his door, not entering immediately. Instead, he rapped on the door opposite.

It was Nightfall who opened it. The Sarkaz girl was the polar opposite of her brother. Where Dawn craved challenges and strutted with a brash arrogance toward the strong—though he knew when to rein himself in—Nightfall was measured, calm, a strategist’s mind.

Both Degenbrecher and Felix agreed she had the makings of a battlefield commander one day. Her wide perspective and sharp intellect made her far more valuable than another pair of dual blades. What the Lightbearer truly lacked was a tactical leader to guide them.

“Ah, Boss,” Nightfall greeted, “how did things go with Babel?”

Inside, Degenbrecher was in the middle of her workout. Wiping sweat from her neck with a towel, she turned to look over.

“And where’s that brother of yours?” Felix asked.

“Training room,” Degenbrecher replied. “He said he wanted to challenge some of Babel’s mercenaries.”

Degenbrecher shrugged, casting a sidelong glance at Nightfall. The younger sister coughed softly and nodded.

“I’ll check on him,” she said. “Better to make sure he doesn’t stir up trouble.”

With keen tact, Nightfall slipped away. Degenbrecher motioned for Felix to sit on the bed, stretching her own limbs as she did.

“So, Boss,” she asked, “how did your talk with Kazdel’s princess go?”

“For now, it’s good for both sides,” Felix answered quietly. “But with the war intensifying… the future is anyone’s guess.”

“Personally, I think the Frontier Zone was a stroke of genius,” Degenbrecher remarked. “Right now Kazdel is split among three forces. You, Boss, represent a third, working with Babel. That balance might just change the tide. And if the princess does unify Kazdel, we’ll stand to gain a great deal by already having a foothold inside.”

Felix nodded, agreeing with her perspective.

But his mind was elsewhere.

In his past life, it had been the Military Commission that emerged victorious. Theresis had marched his Sarkaz mercenaries into Victoria, ready to exact bloody vengeance. Babel had been defeated, Theresa had perished, and Rhodes Island had withdrawn from Kazdel entirely.

That was when Kazdel had truly become a no man’s land. Theresis might have held sway over fragments of it, but with his attention fixed on Victoria, his hand could never fully reach back into Kazdel.

Felix weighed the possibilities in his mind. Perhaps such an ending—Kazdel fractured, Babel defeated, but with him carving out a foothold—was the path best suited for himself, and for the players’ future growth.

“But whatever it is you’re planning,” Degenbrecher spoke up, “you’ll have to tell us at least something, won’t you?”

“Mm.” Felix nodded. “For now, we’ve established a strategic partnership with Babel. Their archives are incredibly rich—knowledge that Tomorrow’s Development lacks. At the same time, I intend to request from Theresa the rights to pioneer within Kazdel.”

“The… rights to pioneer?” Degenbrecher raised a brow.

This wasn’t the sort of “claiming land” mechanic from Sword of Dawn. Nominally, Kazdel still belonged to its people, to Theresis and Theresa alike.

But Felix had coveted the Sarkaz ruins for a long while. The land itself might be a festering mess—like a pile of rancid garbage no dragon would bother kicking—but it brimmed with ruins and anomalies.

He wanted Theresa’s sanction for members of Tomorrow’s Development to conduct “pioneering” expeditions lawfully within Kazdel. After all, unearthing someone else’s ancestral relics without permission… even he knew how disrespectful that looked.

Once or twice could be excused. Large-scale excavation would be outright provocation. Better to make it official.

Degenbrecher’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Something seemed to click, and she gave a soft “oh.”

“Those two mercenaries—Hoederer and Ines—their skills aren’t bad. If you’re interested, you could keep them around.”

“That’s part of my plan,” Felix admitted. “But Sarkaz mercenaries live for freedom. Folding them into my ranks won’t be easy.”

Still, the idea tempted him. In his previous life, many such mercenaries—including Hoederer and Ines—had joined Rhodes Island. If he was going to linger in Kazdel for long, bringing them under his banner made sense.

What he had told Theresa earlier had been the truth straight from his chest: What does Kazdel produce in abundance? Mercenaries.

It was like talking about regional specialties. In Yan, you’d bring back hotpot seasoning. In Victoria, you’d ask if red tea was enough. In Siracusa, maybe you’d find a little fox-eared girl.

And in Kazdel? You brought mercenaries.

Just like the Sargon contract assassins who now served under him, working the Yan black markets in the shadows, gathering intelligence in a way that matched their talents perfectly.

Mercenaries were Kazdel’s greatest commodity. Felix even entertained the thought of turning Kazdel into a giant Blacksteel International: mercenaries for hire, working for whoever paid most. One generation fighting as sellswords to feed the next, while the next laid the groundwork for industry. Wouldn’t that be a revolution in itself?

He kept that thought tucked away, resolving to speak with Hoederer the next day. The man’s martial prowess was undeniable, his reputation solid, and most importantly—Felix knew from his previous life that Hoederer would one day bear Rhodes Island’s emblem. The “recruitable” tag was practically written on his forehead.

After leaving Degenbrecher’s room, Felix wandered the nearby halls. Unlike the university-dorm-style corridors he remembered from his past life, this area even had a small garden lounge. Greenery thrived in the corners, and thanks to his time with Muelsyse, Felix could name every plant at a glance.

The thought crossed his mind: It’s late enough… maybe I should head up to the bridge, see the night sky.

He was just turning a corner when he bumped into someone.

Well—”someone” wasn’t quite right. If two people collided head-on, shoulders should’ve knocked and both felt it.

But Felix only felt something soft strike against his thigh before tumbling aside.

A child? There are kids in Babel?

Crouching down, he extended a hand to the little figure rubbing her sore spot. His gaze lingered on her face—and he let out a surprised “eh.”

“Thank you, big brother.”

The tiny Cautus in a white dress clasped her hand. Pain flickered briefly across her features, but it was overlaid with a gentle smile, as if to say don’t worry about me. Once Felix pulled her up, she gave him a polite bow.

“A big brother with wings and a halo… this is the first time I’ve seen one.”

She wasn’t nearly as shy as he’d expected. Maybe it was his charm, maybe his presence, but the child showed no trace of fear. Instead, she put a small hand before her chest and tilted her bright eyes up, studying him with open curiosity.

“This halo… it’s the mark of the Sankta. Do you know about the Sankta race?”

Felix bent down, smiling as he asked.

“Mm… I’ve only read about them in books,” the little Cautus whispered. As she spoke, the originium crystals on her shoulder caught the light, plain to the eye. Realizing Felix had noticed, she quickly covered them with her hand.

“What’s your name?” Felix asked gently, pretending not to have seen her nervous gesture. For someone so young to already be this self-conscious about her illness spoke volumes about the times she lived in. Still, he carried on as if nothing were wrong, taking her small hand to keep the conversation flowing.

“My name is… Amiya.”

The girl answered softly, her polite smile tinged with shyness. “What about you, big brother? What’s your name?”

“I’m Felix.”

He ruffled Amiya’s soft hair, his fingers brushing over her long rabbit ears. They were unbelievably soft—almost addictively so. She looked even younger than Ifrit had been.

In his past life, Felix hadn’t met Amiya until he joined Rhodes Island. Back then, at first sight, he thought this adorable girl must’ve been the daughter of some senior leader. It stunned him to learn she was the leader herself.

That “little bunny” had been one of the most beloved characters among players. Not just because she carried Rhodes Island’s weight on her small shoulders, but because in crucial battles and decisive meetings, she voiced the will of Rhodes Island itself. Many players found themselves drawn to her, protective of her.

She had been only about fourteen then—an age that in the real world would make her a middle-schooler, yet in Terra, she bore responsibilities that would crush most adults. It was impossible not to both ache for her and admire her.

“And what brings Amiya here? Are you looking for someone?”

“I want to see Doctor…”

Her damp, bright eyes lifted up at him.

Felix couldn’t resist running his hand through her hair again. The softness of those ears was far too tempting—he had to admit, it felt amazing.

“Doctor is getting a checkup right now,” he said kindly. “It might take a while. But I was planning to walk up to the bridge. Would Amiya show me the way?”

“The bridge at night is really pretty!” Amiya’s voice suddenly turned lively, her eyes sparkling. She grabbed one of his fingers with her tiny hand and pointed the way ahead with the other. “Let’s go together!”

“Alright.”

Felix let her lead him, hand-in-hand, like a guardian accompanying his charge, as they stepped into the elevator.

Inside, Amiya looked up curiously. “By the way… Brother Felix, are you one of the good people who just joined Babel?”

Felix chuckled softly. In a child’s eyes, the world was so simple—good people and bad people, nothing in between. He leaned down, giving her head another affectionate pat.

“Mm… I’d like to think I’m a good person. And in the future, I’ll be fighting alongside all the good people here in Babel.”

“Heehee! Just like in storybooks!” Amiya nodded with satisfaction. It matched exactly how the stories went: good folks joining together, fighting side by side. Of course it was true!

When they stepped onto the bridge, Felix saw Amiya had been right—it was lively. Lights glowed along both sides, mercenaries stood around chatting, and makeshift stalls lined the space. A quick glance showed all kinds of odd little shops: a weapon maintenance booth, a stall grilling originium bugs, even a wrestling corner run by hulking muscleheads.

The scene pulled on Felix’s memories. In his last life, when Rhodes Island had recruited a flood of players, the bridge of the landship had looked just as bustling. Players treated it like a marketplace, setting up stalls every night, trading goods, showing off tricks. Even Doctor would show up sometimes, performing ridiculous “talents”—like opening a cup of instant noodles with nothing but their teeth—that left players laughing and cheering.

In the distance stretched the dim, war-scarred expanse of Kazdel. Yet around the landship Rhodes Island, life still pulsed—scattered settlements and the town Babel’s mercenaries had built at its feet. This, in its truest sense, was their Kazdel.

Felix naturally drew countless stares as he walked—some curious, some hostile, some openly suspicious. But he only smiled, holding Amiya’s small hand as they made their way toward the far end of the bridge.

Then, with a delighted gasp from the little girl, Felix lifted her into his arms, settling her carefully against his side.

“From up here, the view’s a first for you, isn’t it?”

“Mm.”

Amiya nodded softly. A fresh, natural scent clung to him—like grass after rain, like the quiet flow of a stream. She turned her eyes toward Felix, then to the night sky where twin moons shone above.

The moment etched itself into her heart, to remain among her most cherished memories.

“So beautiful.”

“Yes, Amiya,” Felix murmured, his gaze lingering on the land beneath the moons. “This world… is beautiful.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep