CHAPTER 175: CHAPTER 174: GETTING SETTLED PART 3

As everyone filtered out of their leader’s home, they were still in the company of Illum, Eldorlora, Gaia and Nergal.

"Did you notice that Carl has the law of Devotion? I saw it in Klaire when we first met, but I didn’t even know it existed and now he has it like laws are common knowledge." Illum said

"We did notice, he didn’t have it when we left this morning. If I had to guess, I’d say that when he was assailed by Gilgamesh’s curse, he felt pressured and his thoughts turned to his family like normal." Lillim answered, slightly shaking her head as she still struggled to believe it herself.

"Yes, my heir’s husband is a mystery indeed, but that sister of his made today go far smoother than it had any right to. We also can’t forget the efforts of everybody else:

Blanc ensuring that every tower had the right supplies and device, whilst adding new features on the whims of others was impressive to say the least.

Alysse’s creations may be mechanical, but they changed the turbulent tide of events to our favour at every turn.

Noah kept them all completely focused in a way we simply never have.

Blaine carefully analysed the needs of every single transferee and ensured they were met, which is nothing short of a miracle that shouldn’t have been possible.

Lastly, Gillian’s ability to entertain and distract was the lynchpin of the entire operation. If he hadn’t been able to quell their negativity, I have no doubt we would have been redistributing efforts towards medical treatment in the aftermath of altercations.

They all acted in a way that was exemplary of people in elevated social standing."

The mortals among them were all uncomfortably proud in themselves, not really how to take the compliments regarding their work and stating it in a way too straightforward to argue.

Ultimately, it was only Alysse that had anything to say.

"I’m not humble enough to say you’re wrong Faylorna, but if I had the space station ready, then they wouldn’t be getting displaced again." The words were followed by a groan as Lillim dropped the side of a hand on Alysse’s head.

"Don’t be stupid girl. You have all done more than any mortal is expected to have done. You overshadowed us all completely."

Alysse rubbed her head, then produced a vehicle. "Right, that’s enough awkward "you done so well" blah, blah, blah. I’m off home with fresh inspiration. Call me if you need anything guys and tell Carl and the others I said "goodbye"."

"Alysse, it would be proper to bid your leader and counterparts farewell in person..." Bahamut started with full intention of continuing, before she interrupted him.

"Maybe, but proper and better are two different things and my sweeties would rather I be better, than proper..." With that, she jumped in and was flying away from the rest.

"That gnome may be a genius, but she needs to work on her manners." Bahamut grumbled, still uncertain of what to think of her, despite many interactions.

"Lighten up brother, children are supposed to be energetic. I happen to approve of her devotion to Chaos. On a different note, Scylla, how did it go with the mutt?"

"The usual annoying, prideful, stubbornness..." She shrugged. "...He refused to help anyone he hadn’t met before, I did my best to knock some sense into him, but I’m too weak and he just laughed at my every attempt."

"No worries, but next time remember our factions special weapon..." Gillian said as he gave her a squeeze with one arm. "...It’s easy to remember, you just need to lock eyes with him, then say "I’ll tell Lillim and the others"." The words were about to earn him a smack from said immortals until they realised he was only saying it to cheer her up.

"This faction truly is splendid, but now we have more important things to talk about, immortals only I’m afraid children." Gaia said with motherly authority as she adjusted the children sleeping in her arms.

"I wondered how long I might avoid having to discuss that..." Lillim grunted with displeasure. "...Let’s go to my bar, it may be the last time it is usable as immortal HQ."

With that the immortals walked through the portal that suddenly appeared between them and the others, letting them disappear wordlessly.

"You really did all do incredibly well today. You can’t rest on your laurels though, I’m sending Carl a message to let him know that we’ll handle the facilities needed, you lot going on that trip need to focus on what you’re doing."

"What do you mean? They’re just going on a trip aren’t they?" Blaine asked as Noah shook his head at him.

"Yes a trip to claim lands without owners and explore places that do, this trip will be wrought with danger of the highest degree; Angry land owners, temporal distortions, random incursion gates, the variants might target them, or maybe even the game’s villains."

Suddenly Gillian was a little downtrodden, realising why everyone was calling it a trip and not a holiday.

The others just shook their heads, having already considered that to be the case, then they done what any good friends would do and twisted the knife by asking how he hadn’t figured it out already.

After that they all produced their own vehicles and headed back to their respective homes, where those who were going with Carl ensured they were ready, whilst everyone staying behind got an early night.

Before dawn had come, everyone staying behind was already on Mirage, getting a report from each of Aegis Legion.

Aegis themself was also present and began briefing them on what it meant to be entirely devoted to their creator and how important it was, though it ended when Lillim lost what little early-morning temper she had.

"Carl is not trying to start a cult, so by all that holds you together if you do so in his name I will retrieve what I sacrificed to see you made."

It was also at that point that Gaia leaned in to the mortals and explained she had spent all night losing at games and told a story that painted Bahamut, Gaia and Lillim as not entirely different from the relationship between Kitsunoko, Raziel and Tiamutael.

When Alisha pointed that out with a total lack of grace she received very mixed results from them.

"My sister is bad enough, if I had to deal with Lillim too, I think I’d rather abandon existence."

"If I had to deal with this buzz-kill lizard..."

"If I was truly responsible for the two children, I think I’d have stayed in Tartarus."

What they didn’t see was that the way they were acting was hardly helping them deny the allegation.

When they finished with the bickering, everyone went their separate ways and got their assigned jobs started.

For Gaia and Sis, it was a very practical role. They were interviewing everyone who noted horticulture as a hobby, which they hoped would translate as willingness to try agriculture.

They didn’t need many people that would be compatible with Gaia’s blessing, they knew Alysse would be able to produce artificial laborers. The people who enjoyed taking care of plants and vegetables etc. Were essentially just their to improve soil quality and prevent the fields being ravaged.

Alysse was back on Haven, busy in her workshop.

The immortals had paired off and started going suite to suite to explain how the contracting would work.

Lydia and Leanna were assembling teams to follow in the immortal’s wake giving everyone an examination and briefing them on faction rules etc.

It was anything but quick, there was no way to speed up the process though.

Sis was going one step further with the towers, now that suite assignment had finished, she was analysing what alterations would be need for each room and actioning them.

It was by far the most difficult job, one which no one envied. She had to modify the suites so that rooms catered to their tenants. I.e. Succubi had pheromone and sensory blocking materials, light-sensitive hybrids had reactive windows so they weren’t overwhelmed by the intense light of Mirage’s sun.

There was so many species comfort factors that need consideration even thinking about it gave the others a migraine

The hardest part by far, was the supervised dorms of the younger transfers, room swaps were almost a guaranteed necessity as incompatible species were surely roomed together initially.

Luckily, those younger transfers were also new to SATS and had likely been through similar eventualities when they first got assigned rooms there.

Overall though people were in surprisingly good spirits, hybrids particularly so, but even the pure-blooded humans were looking at their situation with surprising hopefulness and optimism, as Lydia discovered speaking to them.