They had discussed everything that needed discussing and settled the direction that needed settling. As the giant sun gradually climbed toward the zenith, its glorious crown bearing faint wood grain illuminated Silver Stronghold No. 112. Gawain raised his glass to Rosetta Augustus one last time—what came after would be the diplomats' work.
Gawain did not know how Teyphon's nobles would view the outcome of this closed-door meeting, nor did he know how future historians would record and speculate about these negotiations. But to him alone, the exchanges of interest between Cecil and Teyphon were not the point. All of this... was merely one part of his effort to propel and reshape this world.
Everything was for a greater victory—he did not know whether Rosetta Augustus had realized the ambition behind this goal, but judging by his conduct... this far-sighted ruler might not have been entirely unaware.
Gawain rose from his seat, but before leaving with Amber, he finally could not resist voicing his last small doubt. "I'm very curious. How did you discover Winter's Wrath's true purpose?"
That was what puzzled him most: in an era when all humans in this world had stayed far from the sea, and no one possessed any awareness of naval power, how had Teyphon connected a warship wandering across the sea surface to the concept of a coastal blockade? How had they even thought of hurriedly building outposts in the ship's blind spots to protect their maritime sovereignty?
"I wasn't the first to notice," Rosetta said, much to Gawain's surprise. He shook his head and pointed at Matilda, who had spoken little throughout the meeting. "My daughter was. She was the first to realize that your objective may never have been Winterwolf Fortress."
Only then did Gawain turn his attention to Matilda, to this