For a moment, I was speechless.It was because I had believed that as the leader of the Ark unit, she would never make such a proposal.What was Mother’s true intention behind those words?“What are you trying to say?”“No hidden meaning. I just find you likable, that’s all.”“Do you mean to take over the entire Ark by dealing with ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ the Transhumans for us?”She shook her head.The smile curling at the edge of her lips deepened.“Kyle, you know as well as I do—it’s not as simple as just eliminating Transhumans.”“……”“If we act according to the Ark’s request, that means a corresponding partnership, does it not?”She had hit the heart of the matter. It wouldn’t simply end with leaving the Transhumans in her care.To share locations, they would need to connect their information networks.They would make regular contact.Gradually, they would begin sharing information—about necessities for survival,about Wave migration routes.Soon, that quiet cooperation would become something more—inevitably, it would turn into a bond.And when that happened, the Liberation League would ask the Ark unit for support in emergencies.Likewise, the Ark unit would reach out when they needed the Liberation League.That’s what you call a “relationship.”When groups form relationships, it’s never something small or insignificant.That was what she was really asking about.“I’m not saying I’ll absorb the Ark. I promise we’ll each remain independent.But since we’re forming an alliance, wouldn’t it be better if it were a close one?”“Impossible. The Ark’s public position would become questionable.”“Didn’t you once say it yourself? That for the sake of your purpose, there’s no hand you can’t take, no path you can’t walk.”A tightening web of pressure.Why was she insisting so much?I studied her face for a moment—the expression of a child playing a game she found amusing.And yet, behind that mask lived a battle-hardened veteran.I couldn’t help but swallow my breath.“What is it you truly want? I’d prefer if you didn’t hide it.”“Because I desire it.”“The Ark?”“The man named Kyle.”  (TL: ayo?)“Erhi Mergeng… if that’s what you mean, then it’s nothing more than a symbolic relationship—neither practical nor direct.”“Do you really think so?”Her eyes glistened faintly as they met mine.Calm and relaxed, yet burning with heat.“If the Ark collapses, you’ll have nowhere to go, will you?Then the ‘symbolic’ relationship might become your best option.”Was that what she meant?A suggestion that, should the Ark fall, I join the Liberation League?But I was sure of one thing.“That won’t happen. Though the opposite might.”At least, I was confident that the Ark would outlast the Liberation League.The certainty in my tone filled the air with an odd tension.Then—a faintly self-deprecating smile flickered across Mother’s lips.“Perhaps… that’s precisely why I desire it even more.”***The hall was empty save for two people—and drifting cigarette smoke.The giant man, over two meters tall, listened silently.He didn’t question her words.“Khan.”“Yes, Mother.”“Return all of his belongings.”“Understood.”“And when the operation resumes, he will take the vanguard.”“So you intend to accept his proposal.”“It was never a losing deal to begin with.”Khan raised his head and looked at her fingers tapping the desk.Then, for the first time, he asked—“Do you like him?”“So you noticed.”Mother gave a bitter smile at his question, while Khan’s face remained calm as ever.He tilted his head back slightly, gazing at the ceiling—a habit that oddly resembled her.“What part of him do you like?”“He reminds me of someone… very much so.”“If you wish, I can bring him to our side.”  Mother glanced at Khan.A trace of sorrow flickered in her eyes as she shook her head.“Leave him be. He’s like the wind—he may stir others, but he’ll never be swayed himself.”“Do you… not trust me?”“How could I not?”Mother inhaled again from her cigarette, and silence returned.Khan’s gaze on her carried a faint sadness.“Mother, when all of this ends someday…I wish to build a new era.”Even through his coarse, cracked voice, a subtle passion could be heard.“And I want to make you the ruler of that new age.”“Khan…”“So even if he rejects your offer, please don’t be too disappointed.” “……”“I’ll take my leave now.”He rose after finishing his words.Mother’s eyes followed him with a quiet, pained expression.Khan turned away, avoiding that gaze as if to hide.Just as he was about to leave—“My son.”The rarely spoken word made him freeze mid-step.“Yes?”“As I’ve lived, I’ve learned—letting go of something is far harder than gaining it.”Her voice was heavy with regret.The worry lingering at the end of her words made Khan’s shoulders flinch.“I lost everything because I never learned how to let go…but, Khan—please don’t repeat my mistake.”“I’ll remember that… Mother.”***“Phew.”My palms were slick with sweat.In the end, I had refused to become her “son.”Because if I had accepted, the Ark’s external position would have grown dangerously ambiguous.‘Still… good thing I managed to strike a compromise.’I had achieved what I wanted.The added term was simple—Even if either the Ark or the Liberation League collapses, the cooperative relationship will continue.A kind of alliance, in other words.Not a bad outcome.The Ark holds the West,the Liberation League the East.So long as we each protect our territory, there’ll be no conflict.If we only offer aid when needed, that’s an ideal arrangement.But still—worry slowly crept in.‘It’s about time I try contacting the base again.’Three days of silence.Praying that nothing had gone wrong, I quickened my pace.“Ah—whoa there!”“Make way, please.”Maybe word had spread already, because even in the crowded square, the path cleared easily.A scene reminiscent of a colosseum—the Catacomb Center.A vast, circular underground complex,lined with shops that rose layer by layer.Twenty floors deep.Finding the place that could connect to the outside world alone would take too much time.I looked around, hoping to find someone to ask for help—and then—“Whoa there, you’re in quite a hurry!”A blond, blue-eyed man with a bright smile jogged up, looking slightly flustered.“And you are?”“You’re clearly unfamiliar with this place. It’s too complicated to navigate alone.”Eric Palmer.Title: [Knight].“Pleasure to meet you. My name’s Eric Palmer.”Captain of the 6th Division,a man who played the “knight” piece on the Liberation League’s chessboard.“A division captain volunteering as my guide?”“Ha ha! I’d say you deserve at least that much treatment.”His open, cheerful smile showed no hostility.“Then… I’ll take you up on that.”“Shall I show you to your quarters first?”“More importantly—do you know of any place where I can contact the outside?”“Ah, trying to reach your unit, I presume?”Eric stroked his chin thoughtfully, then nodded.“Perfect. The captain of the 4th Division should be there too.”So they did still have means of external communication.With this many survivors, it’d be strange if they didn’t.“And while we’re there, you can also retrieve your belongings.”“Hmm?”“Mother ordered it—she said to return everything to you.”So the negotiation had gone through smoothly.Still, I couldn’t help wondering—why did the 4th Division’s captain have one of my items?“The 4th Division captain has my belongings?”“Now that I think about it… that might not be good news. Let’s hurry.”The 4th Division’s captain—Michael Wok.Title: [Drunkard].Though one of Mother’s “children,”he was the only one who wasn’t a combatant.The most skilled technician in the criminal containment zone.And that man was meddling with Zero?A bad feeling ran down my spine.“Let’s go. Right now.”***“Huff… huff…”A mix of pale and dark skin.A plump build.A scruffy beard.A shining bald head and red nose.Michael Wok stared fixedly at the object in his palm.“Damn… what a beautiful piece of work…”“S-sir? I don’t think—”“Silence, you fool!”Ignoring the others’ protests, Michael carefully examined the circuits hidden within the sword.And then he realized—this wasn’t just a mere blade.‘This circuit… it can generate and sustain plasma.’The idea of coating a sword in plasma—on the surface, a ridiculous and inefficient concept.But to Michael, it looked like a revelation.It was practical. Efficient.Just from the circuitry alone, he could tell—it was designed to extract maximum performance with minimal energy.“An Aura Blade… it could actually be real.”More precisely, a Plasma Blade.But in his excitement, reason had long left his eyes.His hands began to move—with the assured touch of a craftsman,refining the unfinished sword with absolute focus.“Huff… huff!”All he could do was one thing—rearrange the circuits.Align the blocked pathways so that plasma could be generated the moment energy was infused.But even the handle’s internal wiring was made of absurdly rare metals—‘Shape-memory alloy…’Worth its weight in gold, even in grams.‘Titanate-reinforced alloy…’One of the strongest metals after Atom Alloy.‘Even nano-alloy…?’Nano-particle metal, impossible to replicate.The more he examined it, the more priceless it became.‘I’ll finish this with my own hands.’He became one with the sword—his entire being focused as if blade and man were the same.Until—“Michael, sir. Mother’s orders. Please stop.”At the mention of her name, his hands froze.“E–Eric?”“Mother ordered our eldest brother to return all the belongings to their rightful owner.”“What…?”The words struck like thunder.Michael’s eyes darted between his hands and Eric’s face.“Why…?”“The Liberation League is establishing a friendly alliance with the Ark.”“Even so, this—”Eric gave a strained smile, patting his shoulder.“Brother, Mother’s orders are absolute.”And so, defeated, Michael’s shoulders slumped.“Damn it…”Just then—“Michael Wok.”“…Urgh!”The voice came from behind Eric.Michael’s eyes turned toward it—and when they met the dark silhouette standing there—“Were you trying to build a plasma blade?”“Go on, finish it. I don’t mind.”And for some reason—the man’s lips trembled faintly at the corners.

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