"Oh?"
Upon hearing Theresis's words, Heal narrowed her eyes, an uncommon look of intrigue passing across her face. Her gaze seemed to probe, carefully searching Theresis's thoughts.
"And what, precisely, would this future position entail?"
After a brief pause, Heal still asked aloud.
"Theresa has already made a promise to you. Once Kazdel is established, K Corp will hold a seat within it. That promise remains valid."
Theresis spoke evenly:
"But I imagine K Corp isn't content with just that, am I correct?"
As soon as Theresis finished speaking, Heal fixed her eyes sharply on him. Despite facing such a penetrating stare, Theresis remained completely calm, even displaying a faint smile.
Heal matched his smile in turn.
"Indeed. Naturally, K Corp wouldn't be satisfied with just that. We are merchants, after all, and merchants never stop being greedy."
"So… Of course, we'll accept your bargaining chip. But allow me to ask: do you truly have enough to offer?"
Heal continued watching Theresis, her calm smile gradually turning into something subtly playful, almost mocking.
"Or rather…how much are you willing to pay for these [Ampoules]?"
As she said this, Heal spread her hands open, the playful smile still lingering on her lips.
Facing Heal's serpentine charm, Theresis remained unfazed. After a brief silence, he spoke decisively, as if having already reached a firm conclusion:
"Of course. Kazdel can afford more. But how much exactly we pay naturally depends on the quantity you're offering."
Heal shrugged slightly at that, responding lightly. Theresis closed his eyes briefly, seemingly calculating the exact price Kazdel would need to pay.
Then he reopened them.
"Very well. If Kazdel becomes independent, aside from the previously promised establishment of a K Corp branch in Kazdel, we will assist K Corp in trade matters for one full year. Should you require it, K Corp's products could become one of the primary trade goods of the newly independent Kazdel."
"In addition, a share of Kazdel's resources after independence will be allocated to K Corp, supplied according to your previous needs to a certain extent. For example, I recall you were seeking combat footage earlier? Is this acceptable?"
After stating these conditions, Theresis immediately followed up with his final question.
Heal's answer came swiftly, utterly without hesitation:
"…Then my answer is—yes, naturally."
"Pleasure doing business with you."
The day after Heal and Theresis finalized their agreement, a huge shipment of [Ampoules] arrived directly from The City.
A full tank of [Ampoules]—diluted into [Regeneration Ampoules] during transit.
Although their effectiveness was slightly diminished, they remained more than sufficient for warfare purposes.
According to Heal's estimation, these [Ampoules] were enough to support tens of thousands of soldiers—with half left over. Unless the damage reached the nerves themselves, even severed limbs could regrow instantly.
This amount was deliberately prepared for the brutal battles likely awaiting Kazdel.
Meanwhile, energy shortages naturally became a concern. Once warfare began, Kazdel's already strained energy reserves might fail to sustain daily consumption.
However, after The City's involvement, this was no longer an issue.
Faced with Kazdel's critical energy shortage, Heal casually suggested to Theresa a single name—"X."
Theresa promptly visited X herself, asking whether he had extra energy for sale. This was precisely why Heal wasn't present when she made her deal with Theresis.
Back then, X had said something Theresa still vividly remembered:
"You need energy? Enough to support Kazdel internally for a week without producing any yourselves?"
Initially, Theresa assumed X thought the requested amount excessive, but X quickly added:
"Isn't that far too little? Will that really be enough?"
After this exchange, X convinced Theresa to purchase approximately fifty [PE-Boxes]—just a single day's supply.
Their agreement dictated that, as long as Kazdel's internal strife continued, the daily shipment of fifty [PE-Boxes] wouldn't cease.
Such abundant energy fully covered Kazdel's entire consumption, with plenty to spare.
And whenever Theresa considered that this immense energy was merely a routine day's production for Lobotomy Corporation, she couldn't help but feel a certain sense of awe.
As for Kazdel's payment, it was broadly similar to the arrangement made with K Corp:
After the war, Lobotomy Corporation would also establish a presence in Kazdel, supplemented by a long-term energy supply contract.
Compared to purchasing Ampoules, Kazdel appeared much more earnest about this particular deal.
Ampoules might be considered nonessential—but energy certainly was not.
With that settled, Kazdel's energy crisis was fully resolved.
After painstakingly handling every detail, Theresis and Theresa reunited to analyze their current situation carefully.
After extensive deliberation, they reached a clear conclusion:
From every conceivable angle, Kazdel had already reached the maximum level of preparation achievable.
In other words, it was finally time to confront what lay ahead.
The next morning, the Index's Proselytes had already begun roaming the streets. Don Quixote and Duq'arael still lay soundly asleep in their lodging, seemingly oblivious to the impending storm.
High above The City, X remained busy working overtime—but occasionally, his gaze drifted toward distant Kazdel.
Heal stood atop a high vantage point, gazing down over the entirety of Kazdel and even farther lands beyond, smiling faintly at the unfolding chaos.
At the same moment, Theresa and Theresis, for the very first time, appeared publicly together.
The instant this occurred, the entire city of Kazdel ignited like a powder keg, erupting into confusion and commotion.
And as Theresa and Theresis declared their joint decision, everything inevitably became even more complicated:
"We hereby formally announce—effective immediately, Kazdel's civil war is at an end!"
"The internal conflict has ceased! We will no longer oppose each other. Together, we set aside past hatred and jointly rule Kazdel, bringing our nation toward a brighter future!"