Sesame Paste had backed up before their last voyage, so she wasn’t particularly worried.

But for NPCs, who only had one life, it was a completely different story.

Watching the cat-eared girl cheerfully taking selfies on deck, the mercenaries and sailors from the Camel Kingdom looked on in awe.

Truly, the envoy of the Silvermoon Goddess!

Surely it was that goddess’s blessing that kept their rustbucket of a ship from sinking.

Just as the crew was gazing in reverence at their divine envoy, Sisi suddenly burst onto the deck, footsteps pounding.

“Sesame Paste!”

“Hm?” Blinking in surprise, camera in hand, Sesame Paste looked up. “Need me to take a few shots for you too?”

“Forget the photos, we got big news! Come with me!” Sisi grabbed her arm, barely containing her excitement, and dragged her toward the cabin.

By the time Sesame Paste realized what was happening, she was already seated in the ship’s mess with Sisi, Tail, and Roshan, who was still yawning.

Seeing everyone gathered, Sesame Paste tilted her head curiously. “What’s with all the fanfare?”

Taking a deep breath, Sisi looked around at her companions, eyes gleaming. “When I logged off last night, I got an email from the developers!”

Tail swallowed hard. “An email? What did it say?”

“A new map test invitation!” Sisi trembled with excitement. “I got a 14-day activation code for the administrator access of Shelter 70! It’s right in the southern seas, and it’s underwater!”

The two girls and one bear froze, then nearly shouted in unison.

“Activation code?!”

“Underwater shelter?!”

“GIAO!”

Then Tail suddenly slapped her hands on the table and stood up. “Wait, that’s weird, why did you get the code?!”

Sesame Paste thought seriously. “Hmm... maybe Light figured Sisi was more reliable?”

Tail pouted. “What, am I not reliable enough?!”

Sesame Paste laughed. “No, of course you are, Tail is really reliable!”

Roshan pressed his paws together piously. “Good deeds bring rewards, Amitabha.”

Tail rubbed her chin, suddenly solemn. “I see... so Sisi must’ve made some huge sacrifice behind our backs. I’ll treat her extra nicely for the next few days.”

Roshan nodded and patted Sisi’s head. “Not easy. Amitabha.”

As the cabin filled with laughter, Sisi groaned, half amused, half exasperated. “What are you even talking about? Never mind. Alright, Tail, who gets the activation code doesn’t matter. Once we reach the shelter, everyone gets a share. Let’s focus on what’s next, are we still heading for Ideal City, or...”

“Do we even need to discuss that?” Tail gawked. “Of course we’re going to the new map! What other option is there?”

“Agreed!” Roshan raised a paw. “I vote for the shelter!”

“Same here!” Sesame Paste’s cat ears twitched as she rested her chin in her hands, a dreamy look spreading over her face.

“An underwater shelter... I really want to see what it looks like. And hey, aren’t there survivor settlements nearby? Maybe they’ll take in our refugees, or at least sell us supplies.”

Sisi blinked, stunned by their unanimous enthusiasm. “So it’s decided already?”

“Well, duh.” Tail tilted her head. “It’s not like we have anywhere else to go.”

That... made perfect sense. Sisi couldn’t even argue.

Sesame Paste and Roro exchanged a grin. “Then it’s settled!”

...

Captain Achim would never have guessed that the big fish he was waiting for hadn’t swam into his net at all, but had gone east, straight into the southern seas.

It was destined to be a fruitless vigil.

Watching ships come and go at Silvermoon Bay, Achim could only grind his teeth in frustration, taking out his anger on the lesser-caste sailors.

The councilors and nobles of Silvermoon Bay shivered at the sight of the two Imperial warships anchored before their harbor.

Their coastal artillery could sink them in an instant, but that wouldn’t change the fact that the mighty Xilande Empire lay just beyond the mountains.

For the desert-bound Camel Kingdom, the empire of a thousand tribes and gods, boasting a population in the hundreds of millions, was an even greater threat than the Army.

Rumor had it the Xilande Empire that ruled the Poro Province was itself a puppet of the Wislanders. Their imperial army’s rifles and 100mm cannons were proof enough.

Others claimed the Army had little interest in the Poro Province itself, that it was borderland lords trading with the dynasty, exchanging dinars for exotic beauties and strong young slaves.

Either way, the Xilande Empire was an overwhelming force compared to the Camel Kingdom, there was no disputing that.

For the first time, all 12 city-states agreed on something. Whether they followed the new Silvermoon Church or the old orthodoxy, they all believed they must seek help from the New Alliance in the east.

Captain Achim, however, did not yet know that his reckless greed, for a ransom and a few slaves, would soon bring enormous trouble upon his governor and his emperor.

Had he known what was coming, he might have restrained his ambition. But it was too late for that. While he raged helplessly at his lowborn sailors, far away, Dawn City basked in calm and peace.

The three-day festival had just ended. People, still giddy with excitement and full of hope for the future, were returning to work.

Much had happened over those three days.

First, the New Alliance had formally established diplomatic ties with over 50 survivor settlements that traded with it, among them their wary old neighbor Garbage City, Dam City in the Spur Province, and even the Bugra Free State in the north.

Second, major progress had been made in negotiations for a cross-regional cooperation organization. The Academy, for the first time in a century and a half, showed willingness to collaborate with the Enterprise on limited issues.

As for what to name this new organization, the Enterprise and the Academy had left the decision to the New Alliance.

Chu Guang had no idea what to call it, so he opened a forum poll. The winning entry turned out to be: The Glue Nation.

Amused but helpless, Chu Guang discarded the top vote and instead submitted a more sensible name. It became the Mutant Slime Mold Research Community.

The Academy was satisfied and the Enterprise raised no objection. Thus the name was settled.

Then came news from Teresa, Wislander envoys had arrived at Pioneer City, applying to join the cooperation organization.

Though Chu Guang had half-expected it, he was still surprised by how quickly the Wislanders moved. Nevertheless, he allowed their envoy to board a plane to Dawn City for talks.

Conflicts between the New Alliance and the Army were internal matters of human civilization. The Mutant Slime Mold, however, was a threat to all humanity.

Chu Guang understood the priorities clearly.

As long as the New Alliance held leadership and ensured Little Feather maintained control over each branch, he was open to cooperation, even if a future war was inevitable.

Still, while Chu Guang himself didn’t mind, both the Academy and the Enterprise remained cautious.

Yang Kai said he would consult the Chief Technology Officer, and Luo Yong said he’d bring it before the Highest Council.

Chu Guang agreed that if either the Academy or the Enterprise objected to a new member, the Mutant Slime Mold Research Community would not accept them.

That would become the rule for admitting new members in the future.

With the festival’s logistics finally settled, Chu Guang could now turn his attention to meeting the Army’s envoy and hammering out the fine details of their cooperation.

And as the only man who hadn’t rested for three days straight, he could at last grant himself a few days of well-earned vacation.