I liked this chapter actually. I think that Link is going to disobey this superior and help, because this hesitation might have been a foreshadowing. I don't know about the other characters. If Kanda ever gets bored he might join Allen, mainly because he doesn't ally himself with anyone now.
Other than that, while reading this chapter that superior that's always getting in everyone's way says something along the lines of, "The thirds can no longer be saved, bring Alma here!" He was a-... a-... Oh, well I can't think of any words to describe him that can be used in honorable conversation. It's his fault that this is happening, and he's trying to make it worse. While reading I wanted to drag the scum-bag out of the manga and show him something REALLY scary.
One thing I didn't like was the way the author made an enemy out of the Pope. The Pope is nothing like that. Just for my opinion. :)
But the author's... complex storyline and constantly changing character art, is one thing I didn't mind too much. Trying to figure out what on earth is happening is one of the things that makes it enjoyable. I did think that he changed the character art too much too fast, but I guess that was mainly due to the large time jumps. Now that a new arc is starting, I think that the characters will remain as they look now.