Chapter 410: …So It Really Is an Exiled Government?
"Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals… actually has a predecessor. Do you know of… Babel?"
Kal'tsit spoke a name that sounded vaguely familiar to Steven.
But the moment the word Babel surfaced in his mind, he immediately knew—whatever she was about to say had absolutely nothing to do with the "Babel" he was thinking of.
After all, the Babel in his head… was usually associated with certain costumed performers on the internet.
He knew full well the term shouldn't be used that way, but once an impression got carved into your brain, there was no undoing it.
"I'm pretty sure the Babel I know isn't the one you're talking about. So, for the sake of convenience, let's just pretend I know nothing at all."
Steven shrugged.
If he didn't know something, then he didn't know.
No point pretending otherwise. It wasn't like it was shameful.
But Kal'tsit's gaze toward him changed—now tinted with genuine confusion.
How could someone living on this land possibly not know the name Babel?
Especially someone like him, who practically had the word "mysterious" tattooed across his forehead?
Kal'tsit had felt something was off for a while now.
Steven, in certain areas, seemed to know things even she didn't—sometimes in frightening detail.
Like how he instantly recognized Nian's true nature; even some Feranmut couldn't do that.
Yet other times, he was like a newborn child—utterly clueless about things every Terra native knew. As if he had walked straight out of some untouched prehistoric jungle.
"Not knowing is fine," she finally said.
"What you should know is that Babel was Rhodes Island's predecessor. Which also means… Rhodes Island and Kazdel, where the Sarkaz gather, have a relationship that's… difficult to speak about openly."
A faint look of nostalgia surfaced in Kal'tsit's eyes—tinged with a rare hint of sorrow.
It was as if she were remembering someone… someone important.
"Judging from your expression, I'm guessing that 'relationship' isn't exactly friendly?"
Steven raised a brow.
Seeing her show such a rare emotion made it easy to guess what she meant.
She was practically spelling it out that Rhodes Island and Kazdel didn't get along.
In a way, that actually lined up perfectly with Steven's earlier theory.
No wonder this "just a medical company" somehow operated a giant high-tech mobile fortress that didn't fit the world's technological level at all.
So, their predecessor really were loaded.
And that explained why a pharmaceutical company had aircraft…
And why they kept a whole squad of elite, battle-hardened mercenaries.
To put it bluntly, Steven felt he'd guessed right on the mark.
This wasn't a charity organization.
It was a full-fledged exiled government prepping for a comeback.
Which meant he, having dumped money into them, was basically bankrolling a future rebellion.
And of course, that also meant that If the rebellion failed, he'd probably be dragged down with them.
No wonder Kal'tsit was explaining things with such seriousness.
"The death of Kazdel's princess is closely tied to Rhodes Island. As for the specifics… I can't disclose them yet. It isn't time."
Kal'tsit took a deep breath and returned to her usual calm and detached demeanor—before dropping an even bigger bombshell with the composure of someone reading the weather report.
Steven perked up immediately.
He gazed at the green-haired lynx in front of him with clear amusement, obviously hoping she'd elaborate on the princess's story.
But since Kal'tsit had already stated she couldn't reveal more, pushing her would just be rude.
If someone didn't want to share their little secrets, what could he do—force them?
"You're really good at cliffhangers, you know that? 'The time isn't right'—don't tell me you're planning to wait until you people start your grand counterattack on Kazdel before filling me in?"
Steven tapped his chin as he teased her.
Either way, at the very least, she had succeeded in piquing his interest.
As for the consequences Kal'tsit mentioned earlier—those supposed responsibilities he'd now have to shoulder—he hardly cared.
Kazdel's royalty? So what?
He had already met the Emperor of Ursus face-to-face (Kind of).
He wasn't going to be intimidated by some Sarkaz nobility.
And it's not like any of them could actually beat him.
If they couldn't overpower him, why should he worry about trouble?
"In any case," Kal'tsit said, clearly uninterested in bantering further, "you're now considered part of Rhodes Island's upper management. There's something I want to discuss with you."
"Hm? Go on."
"…It's about that person you mentioned before. The one you called 'the Doctor.' I think it's necessary for me to explain a few things."
Kal'tsit's expression visibly shifted—into something resembling open dislike.
Steven blinked.
He had never seen her look like that before.
He had done all sorts of nonsense in front of Kal'tsit, but she had never made that face at him.
So what in the world had this "Doctor" done to earn such a level of divine resentment?
Surely it wasn't something cliché like… her ex-lover or tragic first crush?
"Alright… so? What about it?" Steven asked.
"I asked a lot of Operators here, and none of them have heard the name. Only the little bunny reacted, but she covered her mouth and said you told her not to talk."
Steven was genuinely curious about the true protagonist of this world.
Unfortunately, since the day he arrived at Rhodes Island, he had found almost no information about the Doctor.
Aside from a few old-guard elite Operators—who clearly knew something—everyone else was completely clueless.
And those elites? They looked easygoing on the surface, but their lips were sealed tighter than a bank vault. Not even his finest wine or best dishes could loosen them.
Only Amiya, that easily-coaxed little rabbit, gave him one tiny scrap of information—that the Doctor was apparently female.
When the investigation went nowhere, Steven simply gave up on it.
But now Kal'tsit had taken the initiative to bring up the name herself. That probably meant she was extending him a certain level of trust.
"You've seen the current situation. I'm not skilled in administration—and yet Rhodes Island must have someone to handle operations. So I intend to reinstate her, and I wanted to consult you first."
Kal'tsit paused, then added, almost casually:
"Of course, if you think you're capable of managing operations yourself, I have no objections."
She let out a long, weary sigh, openly acknowledging her shortcomings in that area.
"Forget it," Steven waved his hand immediately. "I'm basically a guy who only knows how to swipe a credit card to solve problems. Talking operations with me is a waste of breath. If you want to drag someone out to do the job, go ahead. I've got no objections."
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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