Cosmo wasn't sure how to handle Collins' dismay, but one thought had been circling his mind ever since he learned the officer's role in the incident, and he didn't intend to waste another moment before acting on it.
He turned to Lucien.
"Hey. I think I'll keep this one," he said, jerking a thumb toward Collins.
"What?"
"I said I'm keeping him with us. Temporarily." Cosmo clarified, making Lucien blink twice.
"Why?" the Head Captain asked. "If you're worried he's under the effects of inclination, you should know we've already tested that to the best of our abilities and confirmed it isn't the case. Of course, he is to remain under constant surveillance."
"Well, yeah. It was suspicious how easily they let him go, but if we take his reports at face value, the outcome makes some sense." Cosmo continued. "Actually, what I'm worried about is more domestic."
"I see. The leaders involved in the 56th's deliberation?" Lucien asked, though the answer was obvious. "I admit certain parties wish to act under the assumption that Alicia Damion has betrayed Veil. Some even suggest she be charged with treason. But as for the rest of us…"
"…We know that isn't the case at all," Cosmo finished. "Alicia clearly has a plan, but convincing everyone else won't be easy. For Collins' safety, and in Nithya's place, I'll keep him with the Nebula for now."
He stepped behind Collins without another word and tapped the back of the officer's head.
"Er…"
"~Invert.~"
Before Collins could accept or protest the decision, he vanished from the forest without a trace.
"So," Cosmo continued as if nothing had happened, "what else did you come to tell me?"
"I must say, this newly tactful side of you is shocking," Lucien joked. "But I bring nothing but good news. Hortusole, fittingly named by your lieutenant, is not only compatible with the Ra'Pertian population, but its diverse regional variants will allow migration for many other humans as well once the chief Shadowbeast is neutralized. Including those who fare better without warm atmospheric temperatures."
"That is good news," Cosmo commented.
"It also supported the decision to allow the remnants of Dravark, as well as some from the borderlands, to inhabit it."
"Wow, you guys work fast. And it's a great idea. Hortusole isn't as large as the Borderlands, but it's still at least three times the size of Earth."
Lucien chuckled mysteriously.
"I'm glad you feel that way, because another decision of mine accompanies that news."
"And that would be…?"
"I have nominated the Captain of the Nebula to oversee the governance of the new colonies as the figure responsible for resolving our crisis," Lucien declared. "In other words, you are to become acting President of Hortusole's new population. Do you accept it?"
"Haha, hell no," Cosmo answered without hesitation.
"…"
"…"
Lucien placed a hand on the Nebula Captain's shoulder.
"You will become acting President of Hortusole's new population?"
"Your tone makes it sound like a question, but the wording says otherwise!" Cosmo protested. "Why would you toss the lives of billions into my hands so casually?! Have you finally gone senile?!"
"I'll have you know I'm still well within my youth. Watch how you speak." Lucien corrected. Clearly mistaking the priority, "Furthermore, this is my way of fulfilling our bargain."
Cosmo stared, dumbfounded.
His request had been for Lucien to assist the Nebula's transfer to Veil's central headquarters in the Cross‑Boundary Coalition.
The first step had been his own doing, garnering their attention.
If Lucien truly intended to fulfill his role, then the next step should have been to accept an inevitable offer when it arrived.
But the idea that the Head Captain was taking the initiative for their sake was something Cosmo could only scoff at.
"I'm not an idiot, Lucien…
"Subjectively…"
"…I'm aware the scarcity of habitable land is worldwide. The CBC left the Borderlands alone because it was already overpopulated when the crusades began. Putting me in charge would only pit me against them. How is that not counterproductive?"
"Have you considered winning that clash? I assumed you were confident enough to take on the world. What happened to all that bravado?"
Cosmo sighed.
It seemed he had underestimated Lucien's stubbornness, yet he still couldn't grasp the intention behind such a major decision.
"I assumed I'd be taken seriously this time, but I guess it'll take more." Cosmo tilted his head, contemplating a new angle.
"You misunderstand. I am fully cooperating with your request."
"Really now?"
"You've been to many places. I can admit that. And that includes the CBC. But there were still places you couldn't reach, weren't there?"
"Well… I can't argue that," Cosmo admitted.
"Ergo, you don't understand how the central headquarters operates internally," Lucien continued. "Subordination is an inadvisable start to whatever you hope to accomplish. That is why I'll help you, but only in a way that allows a foreseeable outcome."
"In other words, only your way," Cosmo assumed. "But why would you think I never considered that? Especially after dealing with your antics. The problem is that your way takes too long. I don't have that kind of time."
"Before what?" Lucien asked, this time without a hint of humor. "What exactly are you hiding, Cosmo?"
It was the one thing about Cosmo's long absence that Lucien had never been able to decipher.
He had known Cosmo's general location most of the time, but the brief period he didn't coincided with the moment Cosmo began executing all his promotional tasks.
What Lucien truly wanted to know was what had caused the shift from the nihilistic choices he hoped would linger just a little longer.
To him, Cosmo's intentions had always been accompanied by a stubbornness that refused to yield to any other reasoning.
"You know… there's one thing I can admit we have in common."
Lucien's narrow eyes widened after Cosmo finally responded.
"We can't stand our own ignorance. The less we know, the more chances there are for things to spiral out of control." Cosmo folded his arms. "That's why we hate when things that might cost us are hidden out of sight."
Lucien said nothing, waiting instead for what was to come.
"You're stronger, smarter, and far more experienced than I am," Cosmo said. "But even you have no answer for this. So I'll have to keep you curious…"
"To believe you know better than your betters…" Lucien cut in. "How far has that gotten you?"
Silence fell.
The tension was palpable, though it was unclear whether Lucien had intended that outcome.
Neither spoke further.
Eventually, Cosmo dropped his arms and turned away.
"You don't have to show up personally anymore, Head Captain. Whatever orders you have can be sent through the Nebula's line. We won't be here as often from now on."
Lucien smirked inexplicably.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"~Invert.~"
Cosmo vanished from the white forest.
Lucien remained still and silent for a long time, long enough that his maid was forced to speak.
"I do not mean to overstep, my Lord… but was that not unwise?" she asked sincerely. "I do not condone his past actions, but I believe you went too far using them against him."
Lucien didn't respond. Instead, he smiled faintly and stared at the empty snow where Cosmo had stood.
"It may be hypocritical of me after my actions that day," Lucien said, "but if dredging up the past is enough to shake him at every turn, then that remains on him. Still… it's surreal, isn't it?"
"My Lord?" the maid blinked.
"…He's gotten significantly stronger."
"Isn't that a given? That's how he fulfilled the requirements and opened that door."
"No, that's not it. I'm saying he's grown substantially more than that," Lucien corrected. "Previously, his level barely exceeded that of a lieutenant. Now he's nearly indistinguishable from a Captain, but he still hasn't bloomed."
"So early? That's impossible… unless his standing in the world has risen, reinforcing his Authority."
"Indeed. Yet the Nebula's full accomplishment remains classified until further details are examined."
"Then perhaps the world recognized the act of defeating the Shadowbeast and elevated him for it."
Lucien acknowledged the possibility.
A mysterious aspect of the conmundia that no one can explain logically was how it rewarded its Eminents for monumental accomplishments, fame, or infamy regardless of the consequences. It was one of the few ways an Eminent who had achieved realization could hope to rise further.
Branches were often named after their Captains to exploit this system, though the Nebula had always remained an exception.
What puzzled Lucien was the sheer gap between Cosmo's past and present level. No precedent could explain such a leap from simply defeating a special Shadowbeast. A leap some spent centuries earning.
The Nebula suffered no casualties, despite having an adolescent girl and recruits who had never set foot outside Earth. That alone suggested the Spire's defeat wasn't as difficult as one might imagine.
Then again, perhaps ensuring the survival of every single one of them was what the Conmundia rewarded.
"There is also the possibility he achieved realization," the maid suggested.
Lucien shook his head.
"No. Cosmo is unable to, and likely never will, achieve realization."
"Truly?" she asked, startled. "Why not? You just said he's nearing the height of a full-fledged Captain."
"Of course. But there's a major reason he can never make it, and it's that Cosmo cannot reason himself."
"Reason… himself?"
"To put it simply, he cannot find his Prime self. He cannot justify why he, as he is, must continue to exist."
"That can't be. An Authority level so high must accompany great self‑worth or ambition. And the young man we just saw didn't seem to lack self‑importance. Especially if he's dealing with something he believes even the Head Captain cannot handle."
Lucien laughed softly.
"If that's who you think you saw, then you're just as fooled as he and his Authority are," he mused. "But he will never fool reality from what lies beneath it."
The maid's eyes widened. "You don't mean…"
"He's a fake. A fraudulent dreamer," Lucien declared. "The light in those eyes isn't real. The spirit beneath it hides behind the frame of someone who can protect the fate of others, but its purpose is more to spur him than anyone else. It's as paradoxical as a puppet weaving its own strings, just to pat itself on the back for a good show."
"I see… but if it's so subtle, how can you tell?" she asked.
"Simply because… I once knew someone else who was the same."
The maid tilted her head.
"Ignore me. It's time we returned."
"Very well." She bowed.
Lucien looked up at the heatless sun hovering over the white forest. Subtly admiring its mechanism.
Then, he snapped his fingers.
Before the sound could travel, the forest emptied, looking dull and untouched, as if no visitors had trampled its white snow.