Isaac had placed his hope on Madam Z for her impeccable ability to read a person easily and her strong moral compass, as well as her favorable relationship with Vertin.
Above there, among the round table of highly political personnel, he knew he wouldn't stand a chance against them, and thus placed all of his bets on Madam Z.
But he would have never thought that, despite their preparations...
"You lost?"
Back in her office, Isaac's eyes dilated as he looked at Madam Z's pensive expression — not exactly a frown, but a neutral one.
The conference had just ended and, upon knowing about it, Isaac eagerly waited for Madam Z in her office... only to hear that they had failed.
"Why? Did one of the researchers expose us?" In disbelief, Isaac searched for a reason, his brows furrowing. "Or did you lack something? But that shouldn't be the case, right?"
Observing Isaac's frantic rants silently, Madam Z lingered for a bit before replying with a sigh. "No, it's not that. We had sufficient materials. Rather, it was me who had not expected this move from her..."
She paused.
"Laplace classified your companion as a 'special asset' under an obscure clause related to strategic security or Foundation interest." She explained. "This bypasses the standard discretionary period clause entirely that we had been relying on, rendering our legal foundation null at the final hour."
"What... A special asset? Under an obscure clause?" Isaac wanted to laugh upon hearing this explanation. "That's a little too convenient, don't you think so?"
"That's right. I suspect that the enemy has lent her hand in this matter and quietly lobbied or convinced Laplace." Madam Z nudged her glasses. She then sighed softly. "In any case... We lost."
A moment of silence descended in the room for a bit, with neither of them making a sound and merely looking at each other.
This was a moment of reflection for both of them.
For Isaac, it was his arrogance for thinking that he alone was enough for this mission and that, with his help, Regulus would come back to them. But in truth, he barely changed anything and things still stayed as they were in the original story.
As for Madam Z, this was also a moment of learning for her. She had underestimated her enemy by making the wrong move, thus paying the price for it. She had yet to know the full extent of Constantine's tactics, leading to their failure.
Indeed, this was a difficult endeavor from the start, and something is telling Isaac that it won't get easier.
"...so what now? Is Regulus now part of Laplace?" Isaac frowned slightly.
"On paper, yes." Madam Z nodded her head as she sat back down behind her desk. "But you should already know about her rebellious and free nature. She won't just sit idly there and would most certainly find ways to go back. So she won't be completely separated from your group."
"...yes, she would do that." He sighed before leaning back and sinking deep into the couch. "But... I feel like I've already failed my promise to Vertin."
"And that is?" Madam Z asked.
"I'm guessing it's similar to yours." He said with a wry tone. "To protect everyone in the suitcase and prevent them from being entangled in this internal war we've found ourselves into..."
She smiled softly. "But you already know that such a request was never meant to be fulfilled, don't you? Whether you all like it or not, you're all already part of this mess."
"...that is why I've also stepped in to help Vertin. She is an insightful person and I know that her kind heart won't allow her friends to be endangered." She added.
It was clear that both Isaac and Madam Z were doing all of this because of one common denominator — Vertin. She was like an anchor in their minds, grounding them and reminding them of what they were fighting for here.
She paused before continuing. "Which is why... I propose another solution. There is a great chance that all of you will be scouted by Constantine one by one until everyone has been recruited in the Foundation. So, let us change our tactics."
She then looked at the Go Board on her desk, observing the pieces on the surface for a moment, before sighing. "Instead of preventing the members of your team from joining the Foundation... We should instead implement ways to keep them safe."
Isaac listened and didn't interrupt her. Vaguely, at the back of his mind, he seems to be recalling a memory regarding what she would say.
Seeing him listen pensively, she lingered for a moment before continuing. "I've contacted someone from the lower house of the Foundation that could potentially aid us in this predicament."
"He comes from the House of Integratus as a delegate, carrying with him a draft that could perhaps help us."
Seeing that she wasn't elaborating on the draft she mentioned, Isaac guessed that she still wanted to review it first.
Well, it's not like he didn't already know about it. In fact, it was one of the things in his mind that shined the brightest since it was one of the centerpieces of the fourth chapter's story.
It was essentially a draft that would give more power to the Timekeeper — Vertin — within the Foundation and grant more autonomy to the arcanists under her, i.e., Regulus, Druvis, Sotheby, Mr. APPLe, and him.
But of course, that draft would face many criticisms, bureaucratic opposition, and deep scrutiny.
It would be a long, hard battle.
Isaac pondered for a bit before receiving an epiphany. "I see... In this way, I can still fulfill my promise to Vertin! But... what should we do now? Just let ourselves get taken away by the Foundation?"
She observed his expression for a bit and already knew that he won't easily place his loyalty towards the Foundation. As such, there was a great chance that he'd resist that notion at all costs.
She smiled softly. "Don't worry. I know you're not the type to just lounge around doing nothing. I'll still... use you."
There was a considerable pause before she said that last sentence, as if hesitating whether she should say. But having had their conversation last time, she felt like he wouldn't mind it.
And sure enough, Isaac's eyes lit up. "Aha, that's great, you're getting a hang of it. If that's the case, call me anytime. I'm always available if you need me for some shady under-the-table tasks."
"I'll try to, you can be assured." She nodded before drinking from her mug on her table.
A quiet minute or two passed, and, amidst that silence, she sensed something off and looked at Isaac, who was looking at her with a curious look on his face.
"What's wrong? Isn't this the right moment for you to rudely exit in your fog?" She squinted her eyes a bit and asked with an underlying sarcasm.
Isaac, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes with a pensive look on his face. Then, with a neutral and curious tone, asked her question. "Hey, so, I don't know if this is rude to ask but... Would you mind if I ask a bold question?"
"That depends on what kind of bold questions you have." She leaned back and crossed her arms. "What is it?"
He lingered for a bit before asking a question he had been wanting to know for a long time. "Well then, forgive me... But I want to ask..."
"Can I know your real name? I've just been referring to you as Madam Z since that was how Vertin addressed you as... But I've never really heard of your real name anywhere."
He paused before continuing. "Is that a taboo here, perchance?"
What he said was true. Even in his past life, he had never seen nor heard of Madam Z's true name. It should have been mentioned once or twice in passing, but he doesn't remember them now.
As such, he curiously wanted to know.
Meanwhile, Madam Z looked at Isaac for a few moments in silence, one of her brows rising. Her gaze at him was akin to a teacher looking at her student who asked a rather obvious question.
Then, with a nudge of her glasses, she smiled lightly as she answered his question. "Well, it's not a big deal as you might think it to be... But just a personal preference in the workspace. I have no problems with sharing my name, but I just think that my current alias is much more convenient than my real name."
"So... It's not a problem for me to know?" He leaned further while grasping his chin, eager to know. "If so, then I'd love to know."
"I don't see how this would benefit you in any way, but..." She pondered for a bit before shaking her head. "It shouldn't be a big deal."
Then, with a long pause, she looked at him solemnly and spoke her real name. "Then let me reintroduce myself formally. A committee member of the Foundation, as well as a Theoretical Physicist..."
"Zhang Zhizhi (张之之)."
"Zhang Zhizhi..." Isaac repeated her name under his breath as his mind churned. Then, with the limited knowledge he has over Chinese, he nodded solemnly. "What a... poetic name."
"You understood it?" She raised a brow.
"I tried... Albeit, I'm not that knowledgeable in Chinese yet, unfortunately." He shrugged. "But from what I do know, your name sounded poetically unique. Now that's much better than just calling you with a single alphabet."
"Thank you. Still, I much prefer if you just call me by my usual alias." She nodded lightly. "It's fast and familiar."
He smiled slyly, wanting to tease her. "No problem, Ms. Zhi."
However, she replied with her nudging her glasses solemnly. "...don't make me regret telling you my name."
"Okay..." He said, crestfallen.
With that said, the two of them soon ended their chat and Isaac left her office in his usual modus operandi, leaving her alone once more.
As she was left alone in her office, she gazed at her cup of lukewarm coffee for a bit before mumbling something under her breath.
"...I really hope I won't regret telling him that..."
Whatever compelled her to say that must have surely been an impulsive decision.
But, strangely enough, something about it made her feel good — even if she knew the one she confided in was a shady rascal.
"Well, it's much better this way..." She sighed softly. "We'll be working together for a while, after all..."
She just hopes he won't use it frequently to tease her like back then.
Surely.