"If John Crowrift is as dangerous a man as you say, we aren't exactly rid of him, are we?" Lara said. "Since we've dealt such a blow to his plans… he will likely want revenge."
"Your priority, dear Lara…" Hikmar said in a calm but firm tone, "must be to rescue those Dermovox friends of yours from that planet and, if possible, ensure a peace. As soon as John Crowrift realizes his plan at the facility isn't working, he will want to destroy it."
"But for John to realize the facility isn't working, the time for his plan must come," Lara countered. "There are more than two years left until his plan begins—that is, until PD-11 is attacked."
"What?" Sevda said. "I understood that Volem was only half a day away from reaching that ship…"
"But for that ship…" Sharon added, "…to move secretly with such an energy source, it causes the journey to take much longer."
"Well…" Edmond said, "wouldn't a massive spaceship rising from under a lake attract attention?"
"Even if it did…" Lara said, "…it had incredibly strong armor. It was powerful enough to withstand any attack until it reached space. And in space, tracking it or detecting it with radars is nearly impossible."
"Then, with all this evidence in our hands…" Sevda said impatiently, "…why don't we just snitch on the damn John Crowrift to the SWR? An authority like the SWR would take care of him in no time."
"I shouldn't be the one providing such evidence," Edmond said clearly.
"I shouldn't even come eye-to-eye with the SWR," Hikmar added.
"Well, what if I provide the evidence?" Sevda asked.
"First of all…" Lara said, "…giving such evidence to the SWR would be the end of the Dermovox. If you're really going to do that, I must secure them first." She glanced at Edmond and Hikmar. "It's clear these two friends have no such concern, but I do."
Hikmar interjected: "Also, there is a very important detail being overlooked. John Crowrift works for Quartez… a subsidiary of Evoke Systems. This means he possesses significant power within many institutions of the state."
He paused for a moment, then continued: "Not only that. I'm sure his real name isn't even John Crowrift. Considering the risks he takes, he must have made many alternative plans in case his identity is exposed. We know him by this identity now. If we expose him and cause him to vanish under another identity, we actually lose him and only expose ourselves."
He scanned his gaze over everyone in the room. "Furthermore…" he said, "as I understand it, everyone here has more or less a criminal record with the SWR. In short, this would be signing our own death warrant."
"You said we should save the Dermovox, Hikmar," Lara said. "Thank you for that. But why do you want to save them too?"
"If they are a force that can strike a blow to the SWR, as John believes…" Hikmar said, "…we cannot simply let them be destroyed."
"You mean…" Sevda started to speak, but Hikmar cut her off and continued.
"We can use them as a weapon of intimidation, should we need it in the future."
"Against the SWR, or against John?" Edmond asked.
"Against both…"
"I don't find it appropriate for my Dermovox friends to be seen as weapons," Lara said. "But the Dermovox want to be seen that way too." She glanced at Epra and Hogna. "Fighting is in their tradition. I cannot take that away from them. But if they are to fight, I want them to fight for themselves, not for someone's interests. That's why I agree with you, Hikmar."
Hikmar nodded.
"So, dear Lara… You know the Dermovox better. What is it that could push them toward peace?"
"First of all, you should know this…" Lara said. "Ogvetna has been ill for a very long time. While struggling with a terminal disease, he has grown significantly weak. The Douthkes are not just an external threat; there is also a civil war among the Dermovox followers of Ogvetna."
"Why?"
"Because some see Ogvetna as helpless now and no longer want him as a leader. For the Dermovox, strength is everything. Making peace with the Douthkes is nearly impossible; they have been shaped for centuries by tablets, symbols, and religion. But if the Dermovox unite, they can definitely overthrow the Douthkes."
"Then what is it that will keep them together?" Edmond asked.
"A powerful prophet…" Lara said.
"Wouldn't any strong Dermovox be enough?"
"No…" Lara said. "Not everyone can take Ogvetna's place. Ogvetna had a say over the masses because he possessed the blessing of Fuag. It takes a very long time for a new prophet of Fuag to emerge. Even if one did, it could take centuries to convince the masses. In short… only another Ogvetna can take Ogvetna's place. And that…"
"And that is actually Mehmet," Hikmar said. "From what I understand from Hogna's accounts, the Dermovox recognize each other through brain signals. Ogvetna's brain largely overlaps with Mehmet's. This means that for the Dermovox, Mehmet and Ogvetna are the same person. Even if their outward appearances are different."
"Exactly…" Lara said. "That's why many Dermovox teams are searching for Mehmet across the vast galaxy."
"Randomly?" Edmond asked.
"No. When Mehmet's spaceship landed at my facility, I had the chance to infiltrate it. I downloaded their next routes as data. Interestingly, we are not allowed to enter any of these routes personally. Wherever the damn man went, he left chaos behind. The SWR controls everywhere tightly. But the Dermovox manage to roam those routes without attracting the SWR's attention."
"Can the Dermovox use spaceships?" Edmond said. "They look quite primitive."
"The Azts," Lara said, pointing to Hogna, "are rare and extremely intelligent beings. Their learning speed and what they can do might surprise you." Hogna bowed his head slightly and greeted Lara. "That is why they are very valuable to the Dermovox."
"Returning to Mehmet…" Lara said. "While advancing on his routes, interestingly, we also stopped at the planet where the Hyperion ship was attacked and Damon Weisshafen was killed."
Hearing the name Damon Weisshafen, Edmond suddenly became alert. Sevda also instinctively turned her gaze to Edmond. Edmond felt the weight of the Weisshafen surname he once carried back on his shoulders for a moment.
"So," he said slowly… "are you saying Mehmet might have a hand in Damon Weisshafen's death?"
"It's possible…"
"What makes you think this man is John Crowrift's enemy?" Hikmar asked.
"There was clear hostility on his face when talking about John Crowrift," Lara said. "For some reason, I'm certain that Mehmet and John are enemies."
"If Mehmet is truly responsible for the fall of the Hyperion…" Edmond spoke almost in a whisper. "…then Mehmet is at least as powerful and dangerous as John."
"It seems so…" Hikmar said, scratching his chin. "We seem to be caught right in the middle of a war between two great powers, two great figures. If we can go beyond being pawns in this war, lucky us. But Doctor Lara, I have to ask you this: Why didn't you look at the Exoplanet? After all, Volem came from there, didn't he?"
"Why would we go there when that planet is in ruins?"
"Ah… Right…" Hikmar said. "Most people don't know that there are still life forms in the depths of that planet. It is a secret among scientists working illegally."
"How do you know that?"
"Because from time to time I go there and buy specimen remains." After a short pause, he added: "If you wish, I can give you a route. In fact, I especially recommend you send these two Dermovox friends of yours there and do it as hastily as possible."
"I will do that," Lara said. "I hope they can find and bring Mehmet. Until Mehmet is found, I will go to s-MP044 and try to restrain the war among the Dermovox. I hope it won't be too late by the time they bring him. But even if the war ends…" She paused for a moment. "It seems the Dermovox have no future. If we don't have a spaceship large enough to carry them, especially a ship that the SWR won't question, then their destruction is inevitable."
"Where could such a ship be?" Sevda murmured, as if thinking to herself.
"The Cham ships of Claudis were large enough for this job…" Lara said. "But they were banned. It would take at least twenty-five years to have a ship of that scale built and licensed in any CLAUDIS colony."
"What if we rent a tourist spaceship from Antay?" Sevda said hesitantly.
Lara let out a short laugh.
"Right… And then we fill that tourist ship with monsters." She turned her sarcastic gaze to Sevda. "The companies in Antay are paranoidly meticulous about their ships. They'd notice the moment the creatures stepped onto the ramp."
Ideas were flying one after another but all were getting stuck at the same point. No matter what they did, only a miracle could complete the final step. Everyone in that room thought so. But for Edmond, it wasn't a matter of a miracle.
Aldoux Weisshafen had made an oath of vengeance nearly a century ago. It was an oath he made while being torn apart before Isolde's body, covering the death of Damon Weisshafen as well. However, that oath had been broken by the Bioethics Audit Inspector Mehmet killing Damon Weisshafen. But the truth was… Aldoux's revenge hadn't ended with Damon's death. It had actually begun at that very moment. Because Damon was only the first of the names to be held accountable.
Scenarios of revenge had spun in his mind countless times. Now, for the first time, he felt so close. Because this time he didn't just have a plan—he also had the courage to implement it. Edmond Kingsley knew that, unlike Aldoux Weisshafen, he had nothing to lose.
"Well…" Edmond said in a calm but determined voice. "…wouldn't a Hyperion ship work?"
The question hung in the air.
A deep, heavy silence filled the room. Everyone looked at Edmond, weighing whether he was serious. And when they realized he was serious, the silence grew even deeper. Scenarios, conspiracy possibilities, and disaster portraits silently collided in their minds.
"It would, of course, but…" Lara was about to speak when Edmond cut her off.
"Hikmar…" he said. "You were a Cyoh Katum priest, weren't you?"
"Yes…"
"Can you take me to CLAUDIS IX and declare me a Claudis citizen?"
"I thought you were an SWR citizen."
"I am a citizen of nowhere," Edmond said. "But to exist in this damn galaxy, you need to belong somewhere."
"I will help with the citizenship."
"Not just that." Edmond's gaze hardened. "I will ask for help in a few more matters. But for that, I need to trust you. We will unlock the secrets of the past together… and during this time, you will be my mentor. If John Crowrift has a loyal Po, why shouldn't we have a loyal Polxaurneskova?"
Hikmar narrowed his eyes and studied Edmond.
"If I swear a vow of loyalty, I will never turn back from that vow," he said. "I am a Cyoh Katum priest who suffered countless assassination attempts by barons for shouting Emperor Claudis's name in the streets even after he died. But you…" He tilted his head slightly. "Are you truly someone worthy of being mentored? What kind of secrets are these secrets you speak of?"
"I cannot explain this without fully trusting you and receiving a vow of loyalty, Po."
"You're making things difficult on purpose." He stroked his metal chin. "What is your real name then?"
"Edmond Kingsley."
"Kingsley?" He chuckled softly. "The same surname as the poet of the Dead Galaxy… Interesting. You are an interesting man in every way, not just because you claim you'll bring a Hyperion ship."
He extended his hand to Edmond. As the two shook hands, Lara couldn't help but explode:
"Are you really saying you'll find and bring a Hyperion ship?" Her voice rose involuntarily. "We are talking about the SWR's most powerful warships, of which there are no more than a handful in the galaxy! Either you are a very bad comedian, or you're mocking us… or you've completely lost your mind!"
"You have no choice but to believe me, Sharon Lara," Edmond said with calm certainty. "The only thing you can trust is my word." He paused for a moment, fixing his eyes on Lara's. "And I promise you. I will come to take the Dermovox… with a Hyperion ship."