"What are you trying to say?"
"I believe that the current Ark is on the wrong path."
At first glance—or even upon careful listening—it was an extremely dangerous statement.
That someone holding the position of Red Line's Special Mobile Strike Officer would say such a thing…
"Carl Marcus, I think you already know. Just how wrong the current Ark has become."
"I'll ask again. What are you trying to say?"
"The current lines of Ark are flawed. The backlines adjacent to Mount Noah, centered around the White Line and Red Line, have become a privilege for the affluent, while the frontlines, like the now-defunct Black Line, are where the destitute are driven. I don't think that's right."
"I'll ask one last time. What is it you want to say?"
Major Arden looked around once more.
Then, with a determined expression, he said to me,
"Have you ever thought about it? That the Ark should become something like a band—a 'Möbius strip'—with no inside or outside. A place where all lines are equal, or rather, where lines don't even exist."
I already knew.
Who the people with that kind of talk and mindset were in Ark.
"Please, join us in 'Möbius'. As an outsider rejected by the Red Line, I believe you would understand our cause."
Möbius.
Aside from the prominent Shadow Order, there are many secret organizations in The Defense.
Möbius, which Major Arden just mentioned, is one of them.
'Möbius…'
While the Shadow Order operate widely inside and outside of Ark with the aim of devouring it, Möbius only operates within Ark.
They dream of equality within Ark.
If you follow the Shadow Order route in the game, you eventually run into Möbius, and those encounters usually involve difficult battles or espionage missions.
But there's one odd thing—Möbius originally operated around the frontlines rather than rear areas like the Red Line.
So, for them to be operating this far back now...
'I suppose it's because that point in time hasn't come yet… but still, Möbius operating openly in the Red Line? Something must have changed.'
And the fact that Major Arden, with his position as a Red Line Special Mobile Strike Officer, is part of Möbius… That was something even I didn't know.
Like I said earlier, Möbius is mainly active in frontline regions, not places like the Red Line.
"So, what you're saying is—you want me to join this group called Möbius?"
"Yes, that's right."
"And what makes you think I'd do that?"
"Carl Marcus, I've seen your abilities. And I've seen how much you care about Ark. If you truly care about Ark, I believe you'll join us."
Hmm…
Honestly, there wasn't much to consider.
There was no reason for me to openly oppose Ark by joining a secret organization like Möbius.
'But Möbius is still worth using.'
The very fact that I didn't have a complete understanding of its members proved that.
Möbius does appear throughout the gameplay of The Defense, but its direction deviates from that of a player who protects Ark, so you don't run into them that often.
'Even so, the power and influence they hold are the real deal.'
The decision didn't take long.
Whatever Arden saw in me to reveal his hidden identity, it was something I could take advantage of.
"I'll consider it."
"…That's not possible. If you've heard of Möbius, then you must give your answer here and now."
"And if I say no?"
A dangerous aura began to emanate from Major Arden.
The fact that he could exude such a presence without ether sensitivity was a testament to his strength.
"Then I'll have to silence you."
"You think you can?"
"I have to."
The R-1 Plasma Sword at Major Arden's waist was slowly drawn.
It hadn't begun to glow yet.
If it did, that would mean he was ready to go all the way.
'The R-1 Plasma Sword is hard to block, even with Janus.'
Only weapons with the strength of the Spear of Ankelenth could withstand it.
If Major Arden drew it fully, that meant I'd have to stop him.
In other words—I'd have to kill him.
"I'll say one thing."
"…Go ahead."
"If I were someone who went around blabbing about people like you, I wouldn't have even approached you. Right?"
"…You're right."
"When I said I'd consider it, that wasn't a lie. But if you still don't trust me—go ahead and draw that sword."
I gave a quiet warning.
"I won't stand still, either."
Then came the swirling ether storm.
[Hehe…]
[Kill him?]
[Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.]
Even without Esther's help, just the pure ether I emitted was enough to drain the color from Major Arden's face.
Even though he wasn't ether-sensitive, he could still feel the phenomenon.
"…Understood. I sincerely hope you make the right choice, Carl Marcus."
"I will."
Major Arden gave a wry smile and walked away.
There was still post-wave cleanup left to do, but as a Special Mobile Strike Officer, that wasn't his job.
I quietly watched Arden's retreating back.
There was a lot to think about.
'If Möbius has started moving, chances are that other secret factions have too.'
Red White Society, Silver Dawn, Rose Cross Knights, Heaven's Web, the Guardians, the Machine Cult, and many others…
The Shadow Order alone were enough of a headache. But if the other secret factions that had been lying low began to move, it would only become more of a nuisance for me.
'The Guardians and Machine Cult aren't so bad, but the others are a different story.'
The Guardians and Machine Cult might have their quirks, but their existence doesn't directly conflict with Ark.
So, I didn't have to worry about them much—they didn't get in my way.
But the others were different.
Silver Dawn, Rose Cross Knights, and Heaven's Web—these were factions I would likely clash with.
'Tch.'
It seemed I had more things to keep my eye on now.
Whether I liked it or not, I'd have to settle things with Möbius eventually.
'That can wait until later…'
I stood up.
This place would soon become a frenzy of corpse retrieval and restoration, so I figured I'd return to my hideout.
'It wouldn't be a bad idea to stop by and see Quartermaster Gedwin and Maybell Pilgrim… but they're probably swamped right now.'
Gedwin would be busy rushing around, as usual after a wave.
Maybell Pilgrim would be directing the Special Purpose Weapons Research Lab, repairing broken equipment across all of Ark's fronts.
'Then… I'll just say a quick goodbye and leave.'
With that thought, I turned and looked for Lieutenant Imosha.
"…Ah. You're here."
"Yeah. What's the situation?"
Lieutenant Imosha lowered her head.
"So many… truly so many soldiers died. It's just…"
"It's not your fault."
"No. I can't dodge the blame like that. Some of the fallen… might have lived if I had done my job properly."
Her voice cracked and trembled with moisture.
I was about to say something, but realized no words would be comforting, so I simply nodded.
"Then take care. I'm leaving."
"Ah…"
Lieutenant Imosha said,
"More than anything… Carl Marcus, if not for you, even more people would have died. Truly… thank you."
"I just did what needed to be done."
"Yes, I figured you'd say that."
Lieutenant Imosha forced a smile.
It looked like she might cry any moment, but she didn't show it.
That was the burden a gatekeeper had to bear.
"I'll be going now."
"Yes. Please be careful."
"Yeah."
The eighth wave.
That fierce war had finally come to an end.
* * *
Before the three massive, throne-like chairs, Major Arden quietly knelt.
Two of the seats were empty.
But the single presence seated on the left was more than enough to make Major Arden kneel.
"Arden, you have violated Möbius's code. Why did you act that way?"
The voice resonated low from the darkness—not overbearing, but carrying an immense weight on its own.
Even Major Arden, who had just taken down a Grade-1 Named Colossal Behemoth, couldn't help but shrink at the sound.
"...I had to bring him in. Carl Marcus needed to be brought into Möbius."
"Was this a thoroughly reviewed matter?"
"No, it wasn't. But I judged him to be someone absolutely essential to Möbius."
"I see."
Then the voice echoed once more from the shadows.
"Major Arden, you are hereby relieved of your duties as the Red Line's Special Mobile Strike Officer. You are to enter probation for three months. This is Möbius's ruling."
"...I accept Möbius's ruling."
It was strange.
There was no formal procedure—no disciplinary committee—and yet, the voice from the chair unilaterally declared her dismissal.
What was even more surprising was that Major Arden accepted it without a single word of protest.
"Furthermore, you are prohibited from making any further contact with Carl Marcus."
"...What? But Carl Marcus is an essential figure for Möbius. I will persuade him!"
As the previously compliant Major Arden suddenly raised her voice, the brows of the figure in the shadows twitched.
"Please reconsider! I will persuade him."
"There's no need."
"But—!"
"I said, there's no need."
The low voice that followed cut her off entirely.
A creeping fear began to rise—the instinctive fear that a single misstep here could mean death.
"I'll meet Carl Marcus myself."
"...What?"
Major Arden blinked.
And then she saw it.
The one seated in the shadowed chair stood up slowly.
The face that emerged from the darkness belonged to an elderly man with a head full of white hair.
And yet, from the presence and physical build alone, no one would mistake him for a frail old man.
No—they couldn't.
Because this white-haired man, who had just risen from his seat, was none other than one of the commanders responsible for an entire Line of the Ark.
"Major Arden, I hope your judgment proves correct."
The Commander of the Blue Line Defense Command.
Brigadier General Victor.
He had begun to move.