“Excellent job, the two of you.” Minister of State Pauline looked at Marie and Aziz, an approving smile on her face. “Looks like my belief that the two of you are uniquely suited for observation missions was indeed validated. I’ve looked through the data and your recommendations” —she waved a thick stack of documents around— “and I’m very pleased with them.”

Aziz wanted to shuffle his feet at those words. He hadn’t taken any records — it was Marie who had done the recording. She would often ask or pose seemingly random questions about something he’d seen, and then rephrase them in language more appropriate for a head of state to read through.

Which meant, naturally, lots of writing and impressive charts that Aziz didn’t care to look at. They were mostly just figures written into charts and given associations, by the looks of it, but again, the colonel had given Marie’s report a single look over, so…

“Thank you, Minister Pauline,” Marie replied. “Regarding our request…”

“Naturally. In fact, I don’t think one month is enough,” Pauline said. “How about two months of paid leave for everyone? After all, I unfortunately have a task for the two of you that will take you away from Thunderbolt for a week or two.”

Aziz felt something in his heart crack, but by drawing upon his reserves of his mental strength, the colonel was able to maintain the tranquil expression on his face. Marie had probably done some pre-war routines or rituals too, since her expression was as unperturbed as his own, but he knew her too well.

“What task do you have for us, minister?” Marie asked. Aziz could vaguely sense the faintest hint of displeasure in her tone, but if the minister of state had noticed it, she didn’t comment on it.

“It’s related to the visitors you brought back,” said Pauline. “They want to go to World’s End…to be more precise, they want to take a look at the Great Divide.”

“I’ve always wanted to ask this,” said Aziz, “but isn’t the Great Divide somewhere a lot further than World’s End? The books I’ve read so far don’t cover its location, but based on Orb: A History and The Champions’ Compilations, it should be in the middle of the Never-ending Ocean, right?”

“Partially correct,” said Minister Pauline. “It’s actually restricted information, but your clearances are way beyond that. The Demon God’s creation of the Wildlands actually encompassed the carving out of a huge chunk of land from World’s End, but he was never able to fully separate it. A land bridge remained, which the Demon God blocked with a spatial barrier.”

“Which the Stabiliser wrested control over after a millennium,” said Marie. “And after he withdrew from the world, the responsibility fell onto the other great gods, who began to maintain it with all their might.”

“Correct,” said Pauline. “In particular, however, I want the two of you to investigate the Crest of Crimson Shine.”

“The Crest of Crimson Shine?” Marie asked. It was rare that she didn’t know about something, and it was with intensified curiosity that Aziz turned to Minister Pauline.

“Legend has it that the Stabiliser carved out a small passage…well, maybe not that small, when the Demon God created the Wildlands. The Crest of Crimson Shine is said to be the only place one can travel to the Wildlands,” said Minister Pauline.

Aziz suddenly had a bad feeling. “Wait. Are you expecting us to go over to the Crest of Crimson Shine and infiltrate the Wildlands?”

“Well, if you feel like it, but you’ll probably get hunted down or something,” said the minister. “After all, history is full of adventurers trying their hand at entering the Wildlands through the Crest of Crimson Shine, and none of them have ever returned.”

“Maybe life was too boring for them, or something,” Aziz muttered. “Wait, that’s not the point. What do you want us to do when we get there?”

“Well, I’ll have you prepare an early-warning system. A bunch of artefacts that present a visual feed to a team of dedicated observers are to be installed in places you two deem appropriate, around the Crest of Crimson Shine and the Great Divide,” said the minister. “It’ll be an important job, and while you’re at it, we’ll be escorting the Lifespring’s Paragons there too.”

“Did something happen?” Marie asked, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Did the Paragons do something?”

“Nothing much. One of them just started a fistfight and ruined a house or two. There were no casualties, fortunately, and their team leader forked over ten times as much compensation,” said Pauline. “Still, I don’t feel like leaving these time bombs in our nation. We don’t have Paragons on standby — and the strongest Lords are out walking the land for inspiration.”

“Inspiration?” Aziz asked.

“They’re trying to think of their final vows and to solidify their convictions,” said Marie. “To succeed in becoming a Paragon or a Lord, one’s convictions and vows must be sufficiently reinforced. This is often done through observing everyday life, and seeing your own ideals be validated.”

“What happens if you fail?” Aziz asked.

“You die,” Marie said. “Which is why there are far more Knights than Lords, because few people want to risk their life in pursuit of needless power and constraints, unless forced to.”

“In this case, the insecurity of the Republic, when it comes to Paragons, has driven these Lords into action,” said Pauline. “Plus, being the first few Paragons in the Republic has its own appeal.”

“And you?” Marie asked. “You’re close to a breakthrough, aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” Pauline replied evasively. “Now, I would like to ask you two to begin the journey to the Crest of Crimson Shine and the Great Divide, before anything else—”

The ground shook, and a mass of smoke rose up from somewhere within Interregnum.

“Ah. Too late,” Aziz muttered.

“Just get them out of the Republic,” Pauline said, defeated. “Three months paid leave if you do it now.”

Marie cleared her throat. “I’ll need a secretary—”

“Done. Just get these gods of destruction out of my nation.” Pauline ran her hands through her hair. She breathed in and out deeply. “Hurry up.”

“O-okay.”