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Strictly speaking, calling what happened an "incident" was a stretch—nothing specific had actually occurred.
Rather, it was closer to something that should have happened simply not happening, so the truth was, my workload had decreased.
"What are you thinking so hard about? You've been acting all busy but spent the past few days just lounging around."
Sophia Belov asked from atop the sofa, munching on consommé-flavored potato chips.
Lately, I had been spending a lot more time at the Shadow Order's hideout, and naturally, that meant running into its members more often.
"Nothing."
"Yeah, right. That face of yours screams 'not nothing.'"
"Don't concern yourself."
"Sure, sure. Not like I care anyway—I only asked because your face looked like it had something on its mind."
She turned her attention back to the holographic display before her, apparently disinterested.
Entertainment and sports news from within Ark flowed across the screen.
Despite being a Class-1 wanted criminal now in Ark, Sophia Belov didn't seem the least bit fazed.
Well, she was one of the core members of the Shadow Order, which was part of the Ark's revolutionary opposition—so that made sense.
'Still…'
What mattered to me right now wasn't Sophia Belov or the Shadow Order.
The Rose Cross Knight Order.
One of the most extreme groups in all of Ark—yet despite the massive power that the Kronos Union had recently established within Ark, they remained silent.
That was something I simply could not understand.
'Are they truly doing nothing?'
It had already been two days since I remained in the Shadow Order's hideout, waiting for signs of the Rose Cross Knight Order's movements—but their intel network had picked up nothing.
Two whole days.
Considering how precious this time was right after a multi-wave event, it was like throwing diamonds into the dirt.
'…Staying here any longer is probably pointless.'
I had already left Esther behind at the Shadow Order, so it made more sense to leave this to her and focus my own time elsewhere.
"Tell Esther to report to me when she gets back."
"Why should I? Tell her yourself."
Sophia stuck her tongue out at me.
Judging by her attitude, she really wouldn't tell Esther even if she came back, so I had no choice but to leave a direct message.
'Esther.'
Because she was bound to me, I could communicate with her at will.
Still, the reason I tried asking Sophia first was that I feared Esther might cut her investigation short and return prematurely if I summoned her directly.
["Yes. You called?"]
Just like that.
Despite my caution, the scenario I hoped to avoid had played out anyway—Esther had abandoned the investigation and returned.
'Come back when your work is finished.'
["…You called back a very busy person just to say that? You could've just left a message at the hideout!"]
'There was no one I could trust to pass it on.'
["…Fair enough."]
Esther shot an annoyed glance at Sophia, who was sprawled lazily watching entertainment news, then shook her head.
Unless it was a direct order from the Commander, she knew full well Sophia wouldn't help anyone.
["What about Rook?"]
'Didn't see him.'
["Hmm. This time of year he doesn't have much to do… maybe he's training?"]
'That so?'
Rook becoming stronger wasn't a bad thing for me.
Even if I hadn't overtly tried to control him, he was already subconsciously bound to Janus.
'When the time comes, I can use him.'
Of course, it would appear outwardly as though I had Isabel's approval, but Rook's personal will wouldn't factor in.
He would come to want to cooperate with me on his own.
* * *
After leaving the Shadow Order's hideout, I headed straight for a hidden shelter in Mount Noah.
It had been a while since I visited, and it needed maintenance.
'Might as well stock up on the Lifewater while I'm here.'
I had exhausted my stock of the Lifewater during the last multi-wave, most of which had been stashed inside the [Rift Space].
That battle had been intense.
Had it not been for the Lifewater, I might have died several times over.
'Hmm…'
I looked over at the Lifewater growing in one corner of the shelter.
Slowly but surely, it was continuing to develop.
Naturally, its potency was increasing along with it.
For me, that was a good sign.
'It's about time.'
Until now, I had kept the existence of the Lifewater tightly under wraps.
I feared that if anyone found out, they might try to take it for themselves.
But that was no longer the case.
Now, with the kind of influence I wielded—not just over the Kronos Union but even within Ark—no one could touch me recklessly.
Even if someone did aim for the Lifewater, I could protect it.
'More importantly… now I can distribute it without revealing my identity.'
That, too, was a benefit of the influence I had gained.
If Ark's research labs began a full-scale study based on the Lifewater, potion technology would advance at a pace never seen before.
And with the Silk Road fully operational, gathering the materials needed for potion production would become much easier.
'I'm almost there.'
Once potion technology was perfected, the survival rate of soldiers would increase dramatically.
If this happened while Ark's military strength was still mostly intact, I would be several steps closer to my goal—protecting Ark.
* * *
Time passed quickly in the shelter.
Like housework, maintaining the place always felt like it never ended.
I began to worry I was wasting these precious post-wave hours just staying here.
'I should get back.'
Just as I was camouflaging the shelter and tidying up to return to Ark—
[Coming… now…]
Ether trembled, sending me a warning.
Something—or someone—was approaching my shelter.
'Who is it?'
Mount Noah wasn't exactly a safe zone, so it could've been beasts or monsters.
But the atmosphere was too still for that.
No, this felt more like a person had come for me.
"There you are."
A very familiar face appeared from beneath a nearby rock.
Second Lieutenant Imosha.
It was her.
"…It's been a while."
"It has. Long time no see."
Her sudden visit caught me off guard.
Imosha should have been extremely busy handling post-operation work at the Red Line. That she'd come all the way to Mount Noah to find me raised questions.
Then again, I hadn't sought her out since the Red Line stage concluded.
I rarely had reason to visit the Red Line anymore—and more importantly, I no longer felt the need to.
To put it bluntly—and perhaps cruelly—for me, Imosha was no longer necessary.
'And yet she came… which means there's a reason.'
What could it be?
What reason brought her all the way here?
"I've heard a lot. That you've been doing amazing work."
"I only did what was needed."
"'What was needed'... You haven't changed."
Imosha smiled faintly.
Maybe that's why she seemed just a little disappointed seeing me again after so long.
"..."
A moment of silence passed.
She clearly had something to say—but I had no idea what it was.
"If you don't have business, I'll be going. I was just about to return to Ark."
"Ah… please wait!"
"Speak."
Strangely, Imosha hesitated to open her mouth.
Knowing her as a soldier who was always composed, this side of her felt unfamiliar.
"Well, um…"
At last, she seemed to steel her resolve and moved her lips.
"Don't you… need any help?"
The question was so sudden that even I—who had prepared to brush off anything—couldn't ignore it.
"Help? What kind of help?"
Of course, someone like Imosha assisting me would be beneficial.
But honestly, she'd be more useful holding her post and defending Ark than following me.
"So… is there anything you need?"
"No."
I had no idea why she was asking me this.
No one in their right mind wouldn't be caught off guard by such a question right now.
"…Really? You don't need anything?"
"What is it you want to say?"
"…Nothing. I'll see you next time."
Her face turned bright red, as if it might burst.
She had come all this way, only to be too embarrassed to handle the outcome.
From my perspective, I was simply dumbfounded.
"See… see you later!"
She turned on her heel and fled like she was running away.
I watched her retreating figure fade into the distance and let out a sigh.
* * *
The road back to Ark.
Normally, it didn't feel particularly long, but I had to adjust my pace so as not to bump into Imosha again—which slowed me down considerably.
And using the Z-74 Jetpack to overtake her would've just looked awkward.
'Not like I need to worry about it… but still.'
I decided there was no point in making things uncomfortable for no reason.
Fwoosh…!
Smoke billowed heavily over Ark's frontlines, where corpses were being incinerated.
It gave the eerie impression that something might leap out at any moment.
[Gi-git!]
At that moment, Janus issued a warning.
A rare event in itself—rarer still that Janus would sense something before Ether did.
'What's going on?'
[Gi-gigit!]
The warning intensified.
Then, as if it had been waiting for that cue, a shadow leapt out from the roaring flames.
"It's been a while, Pawn. Or should I say… Carl Marcus?"
A woman wearing a disturbingly familiar bone mask.
I knew who she was.
"…Turncoat Queen."
She had appeared before me.