While Nightfall put into practice everything she had learned from the Pioneer to persuade Caren, Oras was not idle either. He followed Felix to the camp where the half-blood Wendigos had been relocated.
The war was over, and they were not treated as prisoners. Instead, they were placed back into the camp they originally lived in—more like a loose confinement.
Calling it confinement wasn't even accurate, since no one was watching them. There were not even guards posted for appearance's sake. The players were busy exploring the newly revealed map, the Lightbearers were cleaning up the battlefield, and the upper ranks of Tomorrow's Development were assigning duties and drafting upcoming plans.
Meanwhile… the half-blood Wendigos had essentially been forgotten.
This can't be right! Even prisoners have basic rights! No recruitment, no execution—just being ignored? What are you people planning?! (shouting internally)
At that moment, Felix and Oras arrived.
"Who speaks for you?"
Hands clasped behind his back, Oras stood quietly behind Felix. Gone was the fiery warrior from the battlefield; now he was as unobtrusive as a shadow.
His current role was simple: the leader's bodyguard.
"Who is your leader?"
Seeing that no one responded, Felix repeated the question.
"Captain Caren hasn't returned yet."
"Then the vice-captain?"
A young half-blood Wendigo stepped out from the crowd. Like Caren, she bore a pair of sharp horns.
"Kallen Augusta, vice-captain."
Felix looked her over. Judging from the surname, she was likely Caren's younger sister, though he paid little attention to that.
"Your options are limited."
"Kazdel and Tomorrow's Development are not what you think. Your information is far too outdated to understand the upheaval that has already taken place in the mobile city."
His tone was calm and steady.
"As Sarkaz, fighting for Kazdel is only natural."
"I inherited Her Highness's ideals and will. The one guarding Kazdel's mobile city now is Tomorrow's Development. And I am its leader—the Pioneer."
"…Pioneer, sir, are you planning to bring us under your command?"
Kallen spoke realistically. The dried blood on her uniform showed she had barely cleaned up. "We are soldiers, that much is true. But as for Kazdel's current state… forgive us, we truly do not know."
"Now that we are your captives, even being allowed to remain here under loose watch is already more mercy than we expected. But I have a small request, if you would hear it."
Kallen lowered her voice. "Captain Caren has always fought for Kazdel. That is why we fight. That is why we joined the Military Commission. We believed war would unite Kazdel."
"I want to see Kazdel with my own eyes—then I will decide."
"Me too."
The voice came from behind. Felix turned and saw Caren walking quickly toward him, with Nightfall and Dawn following her. Clearly, she had been subjected to quite the verbal bombardment.
Caren nodded to Felix. "I only want to visit the mobile city. If it truly is as the Lightbearers say, then my loyalty will be yours."
"Then we leave now."
Felix glanced at the time. The transport aircraft carrying supplies would arrive shortly. He could take all several hundred half-blood Wendigos back to the mobile city and show them its current state.
As for the possibility of escape or ransom—not only had Felix considered it, but the Wendigos themselves had not. They were warriors, soldiers. After defeat came submission or death; there was no third option.
For Felix to grant Caren and Kallen's request already moved them deeply.
Soon after, the newest issue of the Terra Times was released with great fanfare.
As the commander of this operation and a member of the strategy team, Yangyan XF completely stole the spotlight. He and Xiaolang co-commentated the entire battle from start to finish, even adding video clips of everyone fighting. The audience was thrilled.
He also showcased the generous rewards from the event. What he wanted to convey was simple:
There will only be more large-scale war missions like this in the future. Everyone will have a chance to join and claim rewards.
Another piece of information he revealed was that the Sarkaz players who participated in this battle had triggered a new quest related to the Wendigo race. However, no one — not even the strategy team — understood what the quest actually involved.
There were no requirements, only vague hints.
How was anyone supposed to complete a mission like that?
Tomorrow's Development harvested another huge wave of traffic. With the 2.0 era nearing its end, countless content creators and streamers urged newcomers to try Arknights. They insisted that now was the best time to start playing. After all, the community had already explored most resources, the strategy group had compiled intel on every major faction, and new players wouldn't have to wander blindly. There was also the shortcut of joining Tomorrow's Development.
After joining, veterans received "mentor" quests to guide newcomers, so no one had to worry about getting lost. The group also provided a constant supply of missions, ensuring everyone had something to do. Furthermore, the equipment available through merit exchange allowed new players to quickly catch up with the main force.
With everyone promoting it so passionately, even more players jumped into the game.
———
Before the Terra Times broadcast began, Felix led several hundred half-blood Wendigo into Kazdel Mobile City.
The transport aircraft touched down on the city's military runway. The Sarkaz mercenaries immediately started unloading cargo. When they saw Felix step out of the aircraft, they all saluted.
They looked puzzled when they noticed the several hundred large antler like horned Sarkaz behind him, but not surprised.
"Kazdel Mobile City… has an airport?"
"Only a military one, no civilian use," Felix replied with a shrug. "Kazdel is constantly struck by Catastrophes. Every takeoff has to be coordinated with the Catastrophe Messengers."
He nodded to the nearby Goliath guards and continued, "You'll notice there are a lot of new things in Kazdel these days."
After leaving the airport and stepping onto the main street, the half-blood Wendigo were stunned once again.
What they saw was unbelievable: clean streets, lively crowds, stylish shops.
Sarkaz walked through the city with relaxed smiles. Some wore traditional mercenary uniforms, but even more were dressed in fashionable casual clothes from other nations. The half-blood Wendigos stared wide-eyed.
What? Sarkaz wearing other countries' clothing…?
Were those clothes stolen?
To them, a Sarkaz was practically born wearing a mercenary uniform — and died in it. Yet here were people who had clearly broken that mold.
Caren stared blankly at a group of Sarkaz children holding hands as they walked toward a Lungmen candy shop. Inside, a few rough-looking gangsters instantly switched into gentle, smiling big brothers and sisters the moment the children entered.
Kallen saw merchants eagerly recommending recent years' knight Major recordings to passing Sarkaz mercenaries.
This Country… what happened to it?
Is this Victoria?
"Brother Felix, you're back!"
Felix turned to the familiar voice and saw Nymph, freshly out of school, cheeks rosy with health. She was holding Narcissa's hand.
Narcissa spotted him and showed a soft, faint smile. "Big brother…"
"There, there."
Felix knelt to gently pat their small heads. "Are you enjoying your classes lately?"
"Mhm! A few new teachers arrived, and they're all really kind!"
"Nn. I… like them too."
Because of the terran experiments she endured, Narcissa suffered memory issues and tended to forget things easily. To cope, she carefully recorded each day's events in her little notebook. She took a small step forward and placed a light kiss on Felix's cheek.
"I asked Sister Ulšulah… she said this is how you express gratitude. Did I get it wrong? Nya?"
Narcissa tilted her head adorably. Felix's lips twitched upward despite himself, and he gently rubbed her head.
Her kiss was soft and sweet — like a tiny snow-white kitten giving him a quick affectionate lick.
"You should ask Sister Ines to teach you some basic manners."
Children were always the most sensitive to adults' emotions, and Felix had invested a great deal of effort into children's education. Hearing Nymph and Narcissa say their classes were going well made him genuinely relieved.
Nymph giggled when she saw Narcissa's little gesture. Before leaving, she leaned in and gave Felix a kiss on his other cheek, then quickly pulled the little kitten-girl along as they hurried off.
After watching them enter a Dango milk and milk tea shop run by players at the street corner, Felix stood up. He met the strange stares from the half-blood Wendigo and asked, puzzled, "What?"
"…No, nothing."
What else could they even say?
Caren let out a long sigh. She didn't even need to explore the entire Kazdel Mobile City to know that the lives of the Sarkaz had completely transformed. Just from this single street corner, she already understood the importance of Tomorrow's Development and its pioneers.
"My lord, I admit defeat," Caren said quietly, lowering her head. "Neither Her Highness nor the General could reshape Kazdel to this extent in such a short time. From this moment on, all my loyalty, and that of my people, belongs to you."
The half-blood Wendigo saw their leader pledge herself and had no objections. Witnessing how Kazdel had changed, they felt the same conviction.
"Let's head to Tomorrow's Development headquarters for registration first. You can take some time to rest afterward."
As Felix led the group toward the base, he realized it was about time to introduce a proper transportation system. Kazdel Mobile City was far too large to rely solely on walking. Private cars weren't realistic for everyone, but public buses were possible.
"Are these really all the half-blood Wendigo?"
Caren bowed slightly. "My lord, some of our people followed the ancestors to Ursus to fight the demons. We are the ones who were not chosen."
A bitter, self-mocking smile appeared on her face. "Because our blood is not pure enough. Our strength cannot compare to the ancestors. So we stayed behind in Kazdel."
Felix recalled from his previous life's information that Patriot was the last pure-blood Wendigo. Ursus still had powerful battalions composed of half-blood Wendigo, but they were half-blood nonetheless.
Pure-blood Wendigo eventually became like Patriot, their facial flesh shedding until only a skeletal visage remained. The ones before him, though their antlers were large, still retained their terran features. Anyone could tell they were half-bloods.
When they arrived at the headquarters of Tomorrow's Development, Felix brought them to the HR department for registration. The one handling the process was the banshee lady (whom Logos called "auntie"). Since he knew she wasn't fond of speaking, he simply gestured for her to proceed.
When Caren's eyes fell upon her, she froze.
"L–"
"Shh."
The banshee woman lightly signaled her to keep quiet after Felix left.
Caren swallowed her shock in silence. What had she just seen?
One of Kazdel's Six Heroes, the ruler of the Banshee Royal Court, working as HR for Tomorrow's Development?
Even after the registration was completed, her mind was still in a fog.
"Total headcount: 237. You will form the second legion of Tomorrow's Development."
Felix waited for them in the lobby. He glanced toward the loyal Oras behind him. "As for the first legion of Tomorrow's Development, I believe you've seen them already."
The half-blood Wendigo exchanged glances.
"You will form the second legion alongside Sarkaz from various backgrounds. I have high expectations for all of you."
Felix clasped his hands behind his back. "As for the legion's name, it will be Saviadel."
In ancient Kazdelic, "Del" meant homeland; Her Highness had once explained that to him.
"Savi" came from "Savior."
To save Kazdel.
The saviors of their homeland.
Saviadel.
"…Thank you, my lord, for granting us this name. For the rest of our lives, we will protect Kazdel. We will fight for Kazdel and for you."
Caren bent down on one knee. Behind her, every half-blood Wendigo followed suit, pledging their loyalty to Felix.
They clearly understood the meaning carried in the legion's name and the vision for Kazdel's future. That understanding moved them deeply.
Felix smiled faintly. After instructing Oras to brief them on daily legion training requirements, he took his leave. His next task was to expand the first legion and push the number of the Lightbearers to a full thousand.