Thirty minutes later, all Tomorrow's Development operators stationed in Brisamar City had gathered in the conference room. When they entered, they noticed three unfamiliar faces, but no one paid them much mind.
Every operator here had passed Felix's résumé screening, so he remembered most of their names. They were all people recruited after Degenbrecher's primary selection.
In truth, Degenbrecher had done all the real work; Felix had only skimmed through the résumés and nodded his approval. Since the Iberian operators had been filtered through Degenbrecher, most shared her habit of addressing one another strictly by codename.
"Last year's Iberian tax revenue—"
Elysium began the briefing, covering the economic matters he was responsible for. He served as the de facto accountant of the Iberian branch. Although he insisted he was at his best on the battlefield, he didn't dislike the quiet, orderly life of office work.
Then, one by one, the operators reported on their respective fields. They presented Brisamar City's development over the past year and provided financial summaries. To Felix, the city's growth seemed steady and uneventful. With no wars nearby and the city far from the coastline, even if sea-born creatures crawled ashore, they would not reach this far.
"The Inquisition has been carrying out missions throughout the past year. The coastline hasn't been peaceful."
The one who spoke in a cold, detached tone was a dark-skinned Aegir youth whose appearance could only be described as eccentric, even chaotic. One pant leg was rolled up without him noticing, his clothes had holes and were worn inside out, and his hair was messy—he looked like a researcher recently dragged out of his lab by force.
Yet the sword at his waist made it clear that he was also a trained swordsman.
"Thorns, continue."
Felix nodded, signaling him to proceed. "We don't need to concern ourselves with Seaborn activity for now. That's the Inquisition's responsibility, not ours."
Thorns continued in his calm voice. "The Church fractured. At the end of last year and early this year, several armed conflicts broke out, which eventually drew the Inquisition's attention. This is not the first time issues arose within the Church, but the relationship between the Iberian Church and the Laterano Church…"
He glanced discreetly at Felix. The latter simply nodded, indicating he should continue.
"…Their disagreements are well known, but open armed clashes have never happened before."
Thorns displayed a picture. "This was taken by a Tomorrow's Development adventurer by chance. It shows the aftermath of a destroyed Church site, with several charred corpses on the ground."
He zoomed in on the image and pointed. "As you can see here, this person's hand no longer resembles a normal Terran hand."
"They may have undergone some form of biological or chemical experimentation, evolving physically. I've been studying this area, but progress has been slow."
Thorns then displayed samples of his research results. "I believe it's impossible for medication alone to cause such drastic physical mutation."
"Weedy, it's your turn."
Thorns nodded to a young woman in the audience, who stepped onto the stage to begin her report.
Despite her youth, Weedy already held doctoral degrees in bionic engineering and mechanical engineering, a true prodigy. When Felix had first seen her profile, he immediately wanted to recruit her. She graduated from Iberia Institute of Technology, and several of her classmates had joined Tomorrow's Development alongside her.
"Bionic engineering can't achieve this. In fact, I believe these structures are biological."
Weedy continued the line of reasoning Thorns had begun. "Even the most advanced machinery couldn't replicate these tentacles reminiscent of deep-sea octopi. This is not mechanical implantation or bionic design. It's biological in nature."
No expert in biological architecture was present. If Ahrens were here, he might have contributed useful insights.
But Felix had heard enough. He already knew that these individuals weren't enhanced super mutants—they were simply members of the Deep Sea Church who had mutated after consuming seaborn flesh.
After the meeting concluded, Felix praised everyone. Most operators were dismissed to return to their posts, leaving only the higher-ups in the room.
"We don't need to interfere in Church matters."
Felix looked calmly at the group in front of him. "Brisamar City needs more adventurers stationed here. Although the city isn't our territory, we must develop it into the ideal base for Tomorrow's Development as quickly as possible."
"Boss, are you planning to expand the city?"
"Expansion and renovation. We need room for more adventurers."
Iberia had no mobile cities, but they have Oceanic nomadic city. Settlements formed around chapels and religious structures, and towns with populations exceeding tens of thousands—like Brisamar City—were rare.
Felix continued, "Aside from that, we need to develop technologies or products unique to Iberia."
Elysium rested his chin on his hand, mumbling, "What's special about Iberia… hmm, boss, you're not talking about the sea, right?"
"The Golden Age is long over."
Thorns cut him off in his usual indifferent tone. "Setting sail is impossible now."
"If we turn Brisamar City into a travel destination… it could increase Tomorrow's Development's income."
Elysium added, "And it would help expand our research budget."
Hearing this, Thorns, Weedy, and the other researchers all nodded.
Once the general direction was set, the actual planning and execution would be left to the operators. Felix stepped back and let Senomi, Mandragora, and Susie join the discussion as well.
Meanwhile, he spoke to Weedy separately.
"I will support your bionic engineering research."
Felix said calmly, "I'll allocate funding and establish a research institute here in Brisamar City. I hope you and your team can achieve your scientific goals there."
Weedy's eyes lit up instantly, and she nodded rapidly like a pecking chick.
Bionic engineering would be invaluable to Tomorrow's Development's future. In truth, once bionic and mechanical engineering matured, the creation of synthetic terrans would no longer be theoretical. The technology wasn't there yet, but Felix could already envision producing a mechanical army equipped with bionic systems, one that might surpass the mechanical forces he commanded in his previous life.
As said by certain Tech-Priest: From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me. I craved the strength and certainty of steel.
Before long, the Iberian operators learned that Pioneer planned to greatly develop Brisamar City, bringing long-awaited change to their monotonous surroundings.
After assigning Weedy the research project, Felix dismissed the three girls. Each began pairing up with operators whose specialties matched their own:
Senomi excelled at social interactions, Mandragora's Originium Arts made her valuable in both the lab and in field missions, and Susie had a natural talent for managing complex logistics.
When they left, Felix headed for Brisamar City's chapel.
They said Iberian cities were built around churches and religious centers, and Brisamar City was no exception. Near the center stood the chapel, a quiet area with few players. Those present were mostly robed clerics walking at an unhurried pace and traveling masses.
Upon seeing a Sankta, they offered polite smiles and nods.
Though the Iberian Church and the Laterano Church had grown distant to the point of unfamiliarity in some places, matters had not escalated to the point of blood feud.
Felix pushed open the chapel doors and stepped inside.
"Welcome, lost lamb."
A gentle voice came from within. Through the colorful light cast by the stained glass, Felix saw a priest kneeling in solemn prayer before a statue.
The priest turned his head slightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "It has been a long time, Felix."
"Andoain."
The man with halo rose slowly. His gaze was calm and warm, touched with quiet compassion. He truly seemed born to be a priest.
"Congratulations, Felix. Seeing you fills me with joy."
Andoain smiled, his laughter bright. "You granted the Sarkaz people a redemption that belongs not to Laterano but to you. You accomplished something generations of cardinals could not."
"Kazdel will not become another Laterano."
"Of course."
Andoain's smile deepened. "Laterano is unique, the only Eden on this land called Terra. And isn't that exactly why we chose different paths?"
Felix and Andoain sat together before the statue. There was no hostility between them, only two people who had chosen different roads and happened to meet again for a brief moment, pausing long enough to exchange a few words.
Once the conversation ended, they would undoubtedly continue walking their respective paths without hesitation.
"Have there been any new developments lately? Ever since you settled in Brisamar City, the churches in the nearby towns have been burned or smashed. That was your doing, wasn't it?"
"You already knew."
Andoain nodded calmly. "Church affiliations don't matter to me. But those clergy and monks who compromised with twisted, heretical paths have long since forfeited the right to live."
He naturally understood the existence of the Deep Sea Church. In truth, he despised these cultists, who paraded around wearing the church's skin, more than anyone else.
"I've located their largest hideout," Andoain continued, his voice steady. "I plan to depart in the next two days."
His gaze was composed. "I want you to come with me, Felix. This won't be like the previous small skirmishes. I had originally intended to wait for my companion to return, but time no longer permits it."
Felix thought for a moment. In his previous life, Iberia had been a chaos of monsters and cultists. Some players had joined the Deep Sea Church, but not many. By the start of version 3.0, most of the Deep Sea Church had already been forced out of inland Iberia and driven toward the coastal villages. The proximity to the sea made the Inquisition cautious.
"We don't have jurisdiction there, you know that, Andoain."
"Yes, of course."
Andoain inclined his head. "The town we are heading to lies by the sea, already abandoned by the Inquisition in all but name… Sal Viento."
Felix nodded noncommittally. His first purpose in Iberia had been to meet the Operators and assign work to the three little ones. The second was to make contact with the Aegir civilization. As a force about which even players in his previous life knew almost nothing, it stirred his curiosity. Most importantly, he wanted to understand their level of civilization and technological capability.
"I can leave whenever you're ready."
Felix "accepted" Andoain's request. A mission appeared in his task log. Seeing it sparked a faint nostalgia. It had been a long time since he last received a mission; he was usually the one issuing them.
[You have triggered a B-rank mission: "Whispers of Sal Viento"]
[Mission Details: Andoain has invited you to investigate Sal Viento. He believes that beneath its peaceful surface lies a deeper conspiracy. Though the church there appears calm, powerful currents churn beneath.]
[Objective: Uncover the mystery of Sal Viento]
[Reward: 60,000 experience]
[Reward: One random Iberian technology blueprint]
That was quite the reward. Felix's eye twitched. Then he remembered that blueprints were always random drops. He had worked diligently across Terra for so many years, yet his luck stat still felt like a flat one. What good blueprint could he possibly draw?
Still, even if the reward turned out to be trash, the mission to explore Sal Viento would help him gain deeper insight into the Deep Sea Church. From the perspectives of both players in his previous life and NPCs in this one, the Deep Sea Church bore a resemblance to cults that worshiped certain unspeakable deities. But compared to that indescribable being, the prestige of the Seaborn was almost laughably low.
At that moment, everything changed. Time around them halted for an instant, and a gunshot rang out.
"Bang!"
Brilliant light flared around Andoain. Multiple layers of art shields materialized in the air, enclosing Felix as well.
Booming detonations of distorted Originium Arts engulfed the entire chapel. Several warped art bullets slammed into the ground, but Andoain remained completely unharmed.
Felix did not believe the priest had escaped without cost. The shield had formed too suddenly; its consumption must have been immense.
"Step away from Felix, Andoain."
A cold voice cut through the haze. Lemuen kicked open the doors, cradling a sniper rifle in her arms. Mostima walked beside her, the Lock and Key held loosely in her hand, warping the light around her as she moved.
"Lemuen, seeing you safe truly brings joy to my heart," Andoain said with genuine warmth, as though greeting a long-lost companion. "And you as well, Mostima. It has been a while. How have you both been?"