Author's note: This is actually an editorial note. There is gonna be a mention of the Koehlwins using hydroponics to grow veggies and using a yacht to transport seawater to desalinate it and make it drinkable and usable for domestic purposes in Mathesdale. These are all worldbuilding things I've added later on in the edited version. That version doesn't exist on Wattpad. So it may seem thrown in a bit but the final version of the story is gonna be more consistent in these terms. So for now, just pretend that I put all this worldbuilding already and let's keep moving with the story. Thanks for understanding ;) 

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The yacht came ashore at the Bayren city. The Internal Maritime Control Agency received its two sailors. A steel head led them to a single storey cinder block office. One of the sailors was a tall woman with short hair. Her companion was a youngish looking man with a curious look of a middle grader. He seemed like he had never seen an unsectorized city before. The woman showed her documents to the man behind the desk in the office. He seemed to be in his mid thirties and he wasn't a steel head. The plaque on his desk read: Gladdis. He rifled through the woman's documents and looked up at her, surprised. "You are Germaine Koehlwin? By any chance, are you–"

"Yes, Mr. Gladdis. I belong to the same Koehlwin family." Gemma nodded. "That clock on the wall was manufactured by my papa's main company. The camshaft in your car was probably produced at my uncle's company. You probably received dozens of regional cargo ships coming from some Koehlwin factory or another today and that pen you are holding was produced by my cousin's company as a mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility since he manufactures cigarettes and tobacco."

Gladdis was stunned. "Ma'am, why didn't you say that earlier. You could've sent a message. I would've come to receive you myself. Please take a seat."

Germaine raised a hand. "I'd love to, Mr. Gladdis. But me and my friend here are in a rush."

"Allow me to arrange a car for you." Gladdis was already reaching for the phone on his desk and barking orders.

A man in a chauffeur's uniform appeared at the door in a minute. "Sir, you called for me."

"Harold, take the fine lady and her friend wherever she demands. You are assigned to her for the day," Gladdis said.

Harold seemed puzzled but nodded. He offered to take their luggage.

"We only have two backpacks that we are carrying. We are fine," Gemma said.

Neither Harold nor Gladdis seemed to insist.

Soon she was in the backseat of a sedan alongside her companion who was obviously Brendan. And he was in complete awe. He'd only ever seen Germaine as his helpful, laid back friend who also happened to run the town he used to live in. He'd never seen her be so...regal. There was a strange sense of authority to her that only came so naturally to the best of the leaders. In a way, she reminded him a bit of Erik.

Brendan looked down at his hands. He remembered Erik and Cathy and Lisa and her baby and the Harrises. And most of all he remembered Mathesdale. He couldn't believe Gemma had really left it all behind and left it so coldly. They'd driven out of their town in the dead of the night when no one was looking and no one knew where they'd gone.

Maybe Erik would later discover that his family's yacht that used to be on the old pier was now gone. The same yacht they'd used to transport the sea water to their makeshift desalination plant before they ran it into the water supply and the hydroponics farm.

A part of Brendan hoped Erik would come looking for him and Gemma. But he knew that won't happen. As much as he'd come to know the two siblings, he'd learnt one thing–the Koehlwins were stubborn and they'd raise hell to make their point.

Gemma wasn't as extreme as Erik in that aspect. But she was still a Koehlwin. So it was bound to run in her blood. Brendan hoped things would get better soon. He didn't like it when Erik and Gemma got mad at each other.

The last time this happened, Erik had run off and come back with that weird truck. Lisa had then gone on to kill about sixty or so operatives with that same truck. Brendan couldn't believe it had actually happened but it was the truth. The same Lisa Neville who'd given birth to a beautiful baby daughter had killed so many people in an instant. No remorse.

His thoughts came to a halt as Harold hit the brakes outside an expensive Inn. Germaine led the way to the reception. They again didn't need to pay. Germaine just told the receptionist to call a number and ask for some guy named Rozwell to handle the expenses. "And tell him Germaine Koehlwin is back," she said. "Tell him to come see me here ASAP."

The receptionist was awestruck from her authority as Brendan had been before finally doing as the woman with short hair ordered. A bellhop had then escorted them to a luxury suite. Germaine handed him a gold coin as a tip. The bellhop's eyes almost popped out at the sight of the gold.He bowed deeply before leaving them alone.

Brendan found himself flustered when Gemma closed the door and he was alone in the room with her. She finally looked at him and noticed his expression. "You look constipated," she said.

"What?!"

Germaine giggled. In that instant, Brendan saw the glimpse of his old friend again. Then she regained her composure and went to sit on the edge of the bed. Brendan settled into the sofa by the wall. He was still blushing. "Um, are we really gonna share a room for the night?" he asked.

Germaine raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think we are gonna stay the night?"

"We aren't?"

"Of course not. Rozwell will be getting here by the afternoon. We'll be on my family's private jet by evening, on our way to..." she trailed off.

"On our way to?"

"Wherever we'll have to go."

"What does that mean?"

Germaine sighed and collapsed back on the bed, spreading her arms on the mattress. Brendan expected her to say something more. She didn't.

"Gemma, you haven't told me anything about your plan," he leaned ahead on the sofa. "You left Erik, you left the Last Hand, you left Mathesdale. And you said you wanna do things your way. What does that even mean?"

"Don't you trust me to handle things well, Brendan?" she said. "Do you think I'm running away too? Just like what Erik must be thinking by now. That's what he's been thinking ever since the riots."

"Absolutely not." Brendan shook his head. "You know I'll never think you are running away. You and Erik are a lot smarter than I am. I can never pretend to understand what you guys are planning. But I'm worried goddamnit! I'm worried for you and him and everyone at Mathesdale. Knowing what you have planned will help me worry a bit less."

Gemma sighed again. She sat up on the edge of the bed and leaned her elbows on her knees. She stared at the wall ahead. "Have you heard of the International Peace Forum?" she said.

Brendan shook his head.

"Well, not many common people have," she said. "It's an organization with different nations as its members who have to abide by their peace treaties. Needless to say, none of the three warring nations are a part of it. Or else this war wouldn't have happened."

"Um, so how is the International Peace Forum gonna help us?" Brendan asked. "If none of the enemies or Ardvenia are a member then I don't think they have any way to interfere, right?"

"That's why we came here, Brendan." She collapsed back on the bed. "To find a way around that."

#

Two hours later there was a knock at their room door. Brendan opened the door to find a tall man in his early forties. His jet black hair were slicked back and he wore an immaculate business suit and white cotton gloves. "Gyn Rozwell, from the Koehlwin estate," he said. "I was told lady Germaine Koehlwin was staying here."

Before Brendan could say anything, Gemma called out, "Just in time Rozwell, we were waiting for you."

Brendan let the man in.

"I made haste when I learnt you were out of the sectorized state," Rozwell said. "Everyone at the estate would be really happy to see you."

"I'm afraid I'm not here for a family reunion, Rozwell." Gemma hauled her backpack on her shoulder and gestured to Brendan to do the same. "I have some important business to take care of."

Rozwell raised a fine, manicured brow. "Business."

"Yes, business." Gemma walked out of the room. The two men followed. "But not the one that involves my last name. This is a bit more of a personal endeavor."

"Oh?" Rozwell caught up to her and held the glass door of the inn open for her and Brendan to pass through.

"Yes, I want you to find someone for me."

#

The rented car they were in was yet to reach the airport when Rozwell finished his fifth phone call. "His name is Dr. Blake Nortan. He was the chief of research and development at C3 Meteorological Center," he slid his cellphone into the inner pocket of his suit. "I'm certain he is the man that you are looking for."

"Cathy and Lisa had said they were supposed to get on the plane that was supposed to get them out of the sectors." Gemma frowned at the cities as they went by outside the window. "Someone from Nortan's family might've reaped the same benefits."

"Precisely, lady Germaine," Rozwell said, "his wife Emilia Nortan has in fact moved out of the sectors several months ago."

"Where is she living now?"

"Capital city Kraunberg."

Gemma nodded. "You used the jet to get here, right?"

"Yes, lady Germaine."

"Good, we are gonna fly to the capital next. Let's pay Emilia Blake a visit."

"Absolutely, lady Germaine. I'll tell the pilot and the crew to be prepared."

#

The lunch in Gemma's private jet wasn't what Brendan had expected. Simple steak and mashed potatoes. A bowl of fresh fruit salad and the Moudrin special: jogir wine. Rozwell probably noticed Brendan's surprise at the menu and immediately said, "All of these are lady Germaine's favorite dishes."

"I'm not an epicure like my cousins or even my parents were," Gemma said, absently gazing out the window. "I eat to stay alive. And it's pleasant to have something that tastes good every once in a while."

Brendan smiled and leaned ahead. "That's what I always admired about you, Gemma," he said. "Even though our worlds may have been different before the war, you were still someone who could be friends with anyone, relate to anyone."

Gemma's tired demeanor shifted with a smile. She chuckled ever-so-slightly before saying, "Now dig in."

The lunch happened and concluded in a comfortable silence. The flight stewards carried away the plates. Rozwell poured the two of them another glass of jogir before saying, "We'll be landing in Kraunberg in about twenty minutes, lady Germaine. I've obtained Emilia Nortan's house number. Would you want me to let her know beforehand that you are dropping by for a visit?"

"No, Rozwell. I'd rather surprise the woman myself. Her husband still works for the government. I don't trust her phone line to be a completely safe one."

"Understood, madam." Rozwell bowed before leaving the cabin.

#

It was a bright yet cold evening in Kraunberg. Emilia Nortan took a sip of her tea as she stood by the window and gazed at the white haze that sunlight painted over every tower and building. Despite the partial gloom of the day outside, Emilia still smiled brightly. Nothing was going to break through her cheer. After all she'd just had a call with Blake.

He'd said he would be joining her soon in this new apartment of theirs. It was just a matter of two more months. His project was coming to an end. He could finally be with her again.

Her smile grew wider. She took another sip.

That's when the door-bell rang. Emilia frowned. She hardly got visitors unless it was someone dropping a delivery. She made her way to the door cracked it open.

A woman with short hair, a man in his late twenties and a man in his early forties stood outside. "Mrs. Emilia Blake?" the woman asked.

Emilia nodded and managed a slight smile. She had almost forgotten how to greet strangers more amiably after living in the sectors for so long. "Yes, I'm Emilia."

The woman with short hair smiled a lot more charming smile than Emilia. "I'm Germaine Koehlwin. I'm here to talk about your husband, Blake Nortan." 

(to be continued...)

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Author's note: Ayo, its me again! I don't mean to interrupt your reading experience with constant notes like these but this is quite an important announcement (that I forgot to make in the previous note cuz I'm a dummy) so bear with me here. 

Well the announcement is that this chapter is pretty much where the second last act of this last arc ends. From here on out, it's gonna all big explosions, back-stabbings, shoot-shoot pew-pew all that jazz. There is obviously gonna be more build-up and escalations and pay-offs and emotional moments but long story short: Next chapter is where the long climax begins. Yes, the same long climax that I talked about in the previous Author's note!

I've already written the next chapter and I have a good idea of how things are gonna end, but I won't be publishing the next chapters as I write them (as I have done so far). I want everything to add up in the end so I'm gonna publish all the remaining chapters in a rapid fire succession once I finish writing the ultimate ending of the story. So yeah, that also means, I'll be going on a short hiatus to go write a bunch of death and destruction. It might take another 5-7 days at least. But when I'll be back, I'll be back with the whole feast. 

See you in about a week then! Take care everyone! Thank you for reading!!!!