In just 30 minutes, the entire base area were already peaceful, devoid of any monsters aside from the carcasses. As of right now all the base personnel of the first batch already safely went to their long awaited rest and recovery, as the Second batches personnel went off and took over all the works that were left behind by the first batch. So the works continues on, as for the representatives, although they wanted to go an welcomed the President, instead they were told to also take a rest in their designated areas. Which they were more than agreed upon when they were provided with the choice, after all, they too were exhausted by the constant actions.Aeternum soldiers and the Resource Staff that comes in the second batches are now divided into 2 large squads, one was to finished the base out line and second team was to collect and process all the Wild Monster carcasses at once. Luckily all the Airship were being grounded by the president order for now, because to many surprises whic
It was a warm and sunny day, in the Great Southern Wasteland today. To be honest, I thought that it would be looking more grim than what currently I am seeing at the moment. Sure the overall environment of the wasteland, is barren, the situations of the entire scenery looks and felt like the Grand Canyon on earth, it was looking almost like a desert but not yet. Also rather than the temperature looks like it would be high to the point where you can just cooked an egg with the sun. It is actually not that hot, rather it was only slightly above the usually temperatures at Aeternum.The scenery have some greenery on them, there were a little bit of green forest here and there. And there is also all kinds of colour of fauna here, even the trees quite a lot of them were not at all green, in fact there were colorful, be it red, yellow or even purple. Naturally trees with abnormal colour such as these were considered rare and sought after resource that will be very popular in the carpenter
“We visited the Antfolis City, Stammler City, then to Mud Town and Half Stone City, ultimately we started from the North side of our base…circle down to our south..that is the general directions of all 4 of those settlements from our base…it was safe to say that Aeternum Land in the Wasteland, isn’t sandwich between all of them…we are situated a little bit far on their right side….”. (Sergeant Miguel)“I see…that explained why on the way here…I were able to catch a glimpse of those Stammler City…Still, I don’t really supposed that we aren’t surrounded by other settlements…in the next few days, we need to send scouts to starts maps out our surrounding…”.“That’s right, Master…I already deployed 2 team to our south and west side of our base…it’s just a 3 hours mission for each team…it should be enough to secure at least 3 kilometers of our perimeters…”. (Colonel Yvone)I nodded at Yvone timely and considerate planning to arrange teams for scouting at these time. Currently we are having
Somehow right now an easy trading and development task has turned into something more than we have expected. Now that I think about it, according the the Representatives as they mentioned in our first initial negotiations in my Palace, they said that their famine situations has been going on for a few years already. And since then the situations haven’t recovered at all, instead it’s slowly deteriorating as the time progressed on. Which is rather odd to me, because just from the first day that I have arrived, despite the large scales stampede that had happened on the base, the numbers of wild monsters that were around the base, has barely even decreased.In fact, if my soldiers ventured out of the base safe perimeters, they can basically hunts the monsters to their heart content and bring backs hundreds of tonne of monsters back to the base. The next day the monster population would just recovers without any issues, especially to in those forested areas. The Forested area is literally
I have decided to ensure that there will be no more shocking factor throughout the entire campaign of Aeternum expansion into the Great Southern Wasteland, I need to spread Aeternum intelligence across the entire wasteland and also handling the intelligence on all bordering nation that is closed to the Great Southern Wasteland. Right now to me to most suspected outside merchants that rather have large influences in the wasteland, is from the Hallerus Kingdom and also the Battle Star Empire. These 2 were to my early deductions, the the largest player in the wasteland, to these certainly I need to have a tight information on all of them. Perhaps, is things does not goes to what I desires them to be, then it can be helped, the factor need to be eliminated.“Hello, Elijah…did you read the report that I sent to you last night?..”.I were on the phone call with Elijah, after finding out the recent information about the current settlements of wasteland conditions. After hours of brainstormin
Whilst it took time for Aeternum have the full coverage of the intelligence works in the Wasteland, I turned my attention to the mapping and scouting the surrounding areas of the base. After the Barrier Wall were put in place, the entire base is currently in the midst of building all the essential buildings. For now everything were from the barrack all the way to the command centre were still in the form of military tents. Sure it was a modern ones and much more advanced and comfortable than the ones that everyone were using in these medieval era, but at the end of the day, it was still a tent and it didn’t really gave a full comfort as any real building.So I put an emphasize on hurrying the construction of the buildings as fast as they can, sure it just has been about 4 days since I have arrived and just a week since the base were opened and the First batch team arrived. But then again, when modern construction meet with magics then it can surely surpassed the usual time limitation
The convoy that were rushing in through the base gate, immediately head straight to the field medical hospital. Which is perhaps the most relaxing place, ever since the stampede chaos ended. In fact, perhaps the Field Medical Hospital in these base were the one that has the less work of all these time, mostly because nearly all the personnel that were on the base were all Vampires that can easily healed themselves whenever they were injured. Instead of heading to the hospital all of them just healed themselves with blood that their enemies spilled. I got there with Alessia just a few minutes late, and currently all the Soldiers Medics, Doctors and nurse staff is getting busy with moving the patients from the trucks.“Your Highness President!…Madam Colonel!…Attention!!..”. (Sergeant Deckard)As both me and Alessia were standing behind the parked trucks in front of the hospital, one of the soldiers that were getting breathers near the parked trucks, sitting down on the ground leaning at
As we were standing beside the currently hectic Field Hospital, Sergeant Deckard and his second in command of the squad, Corporal Mendy, went ahead and made their report, and explained everything to me and Colonel Alessia, according to their explanation, they found the injured locals as they were scouting their designated area, at the South West of the base, around 1.5 kilometers away. And just like what Alessia had speculate before, they were coming from the local settlements in the area, and were devastated by the large wild monster stampede that hit the base before.“At first me and my team didn’t really noticed the settlements as we go passed the place for the first time…because at the first glance..that village is looking like nothing like a village at all…all we saw just a mound of dirt that is slightly higher than the ground…so instead me and my teams just decided to continues with our designated mission areas…”. (Sergeant Deckard)It was understandable that they just got pass
The project would take time—perhaps years—but its impact would begin in weeks.“Once the roads are in place,” Merrica said, entering her chamber with a report in hand, “we’ll be able to move goods faster, respond to crises quicker, and prepare for the second phase: economic zone development.”Helen took the report with a tired, but satisfied smile. “This… this they will see. This they will believe.”“And when they do,” Merrica said, “they’ll follow.”Late that night, as the wind howled against the palace windows, Helen stood in her private study, gazing out at the flickering torches lining the city streets. In her hand was a smooth, curved stone from the first road pile—just a plain stone, but to her, it was the beginning of a foundation.Her fingers closed around it as she whispered to herself, “Let this road lead us to a better kingdom.” And with that, the first steps into a new Hallerus had begun.The throne room had seen war plans, council betrayals, and royal declarations. But on
The ministers eagerly pointed out their favorite places from their student years.“Over there—that café served synthetic ice cream you have to try.”“That’s the district where I first saw a holographic opera.”“This is where I spent hours in the central library—eight floors of pure knowledge.”Helen listened with quiet amusement and growing wonder. These weren’t just stories. This was the future.They stopped first at a shopping promenade, where modern boutiques lined the plaza. Aeternum fashion—streamlined, elegant, tailored for form and comfort—was on full display.Helen tried on a pale blue dress lined with iridescent threads that shifted color slightly under different lighting. She admired herself in the mirror. Regal, yet free. She hadn’t felt this light in years.Merrica chuckled as she twirled slightly. “Careful. You’ll make the palace tailors obsolete.”Next came the Aeternum cuisine district. The aroma of spices, imported meats, baked delicacies and exotic fruit blends filled
Meerkat sipped from his flask; eyes gleaming. “Monster cores alone could offset our collective energy reliance on Aeternum’s hybrid reactors. If those dungeons are stabilized and regulated under UNA protocols, we’re looking at a resource boom.”Angela arched an eyebrow. “All that assumes stability. A kingdom can’t regulate dungeons if they can’t regulate their own court.”“Well,” Meerkat said with a shrug, “that’s what Merrica’s for, isn’t it?”They all laughed lightly—because it was true. The man’s reputation preceded him. Hallerus may have signed with a queen, but Merrica had built the bridge.Kaneda leaned forward. “It’s risky, but it’s a calculated risk. We’re not signing blind loyalty here. We’re watching. Evaluating. But make no mistake—if this works, Hallerus becomes the keystone of continental connectivity.”Redwall drummed his fingers on his knee. “I suppose that’s why we’re here. Not to clap at the signing. But to see if the queen is truly changed.”“She is,” Angela said qui
“And now, a major announcement: With the signing complete, Hallerus Kingdom is formally inducted into the United Nation Alliance as its thirty-first member. This marks a turning point—not only for Hallerus, but for the entire Central Continent.”“The UNA, now composed of thirty-one sovereign nations, officially becomes the largest unified alliance in the world’s history—its reach, economic power, and strategic cooperation unmatched by any prior coalition.”“Following this event, Aeternum has confirmed it will begin a nationwide rollout of its Super Stores, factories, and humanitarian infrastructure in Hallerus territory. In exchange, Hallerus will provide critical resources and cultural integration into the alliance structure.”“Public reaction is already beginning to surface—here in New City, spontaneous celebrations have begun in the multicultural districts where former Hallerians live. Meanwhile, markets across the UNA are surging in response to the stability this alliance signifie
“I don’t forget betrayal easily,” I said. “And Aeternum doesn’t forget pain lightly. What happened between us—it scarred people. People who trusted Hallerus. Soldiers who bled for your freedom. Civilians who saw us pulled out overnight.”“I know,” Helen said. “And I accept the cost.”“But,” I said, letting the word hang before softening my tone, “I do respect accountability.”Her eyes met mine. “Then we start again?”“We do,” I said, extending a hand.She took it. Her grip was firm.“We bury the hatchet,” I added. “But let’s be clear—this is not a return to old friendship. This is a new foundation. One built on lessons learned.”Helen nodded. “Agreed.”Merrica exhaled, satisfied. “It’s what both sides need.”I looked at Helen, voice calm. “You have a second chance now. Few leaders get that. Don’t waste it.”She nodded again, quietly this time. “I won’t.”“Good,” I said. “Because your people need you more than ever. Rule wisely. Rule well. Let this alliance be your legacy.”For the fir
“We’ll export more to Hallerus—especially food. You’ll need it. In return, we’ll import more raw ore and minerals. Your mining sector’s still decent, right?”“It is.”“Then let’s grow that. More volume, more jobs, more imports on both sides.”He beamed. “Thank you, my friend.”I smiled back. “You’ll find I don’t just use the whip.”“A carrot, then?”“Always. A balanced hand is how you keep control. Too much punishment, and you push people away. Too much reward, and they forget who they owe.”Merrica nodded slowly. “You’ve become a real ruler.”I stood, offering my hand again. “I became what this world needed.”He shook it. “And I’ll make sure Hallerus becomes what Aeternum can trust.”We stood in silence for a moment longer. The sound of cheering still floated in faintly from the streets below. Somewhere out there, Queen Helen was being paraded through New City—through a modern marvel built from vision and precision. Through a world she couldn’t have imagined a year ago.And now, she’
“They’re… happy to see us?” she asked, disbelief in her voice.Duke Merrica gave her a half-smile. “Some of them, yes. The others are watching. Judging. As they should.”One young woman in the crowd, her hair wrapped in Aeternum’s signature style, waved a small Hallerus flag and called out, “Welcome back! My family’s from Archenport—we’re with you!”Helen felt a warmth rise in her chest. Her lips curled, hesitant, but sincere. She lifted a gloved hand and waved back.Her ministers behind her smiled with relief. The people hadn’t forgotten them. Or maybe… maybe Aeternum’s citizens were willing to forgive, even if their leaders were not.Still, with each new marvel the city revealed, her pride took another small wound.Digital traffic signs shifted in real-time. Elevated walkways moved gently above the streets. Tall towers bore solar glass and climate control systems beyond her comprehension. Everything was clean. Efficient. Vibrant.Hallerus, by contrast, was still struggling to clear
“But that’s not all,” he said. “We’re not just building stores. We’re buying land.”Elijah’s eyes narrowed. “Land?”Andrea arched a brow. “Personal Aeternum-controlled territory?”“Exactly,” Mies said. “We’ll negotiate the purchase and designation of sovereign Aeternum land within Hallerus. Locations where we will build permanent structures—embassies, farms, factories. Property they can’t touch. Not legally. Not politically.”Andrea crossed her arms. “You want to turn this alliance into territorial leverage.”“I want security,” Mies said. “We trusted them once. And they betrayed us. This time, we own the pieces on the board. If they want access to food and prosperity, they give us something real in return. Soil.”Elijah nodded. “No oversight from their monarchy. No interference. Full extraterritorial jurisdiction.”Mies smiled. “Exactly. We build an Aeternum that lives inside their walls. One they can’t tear down without declaring war.”Andrea added, “And when we build those farms and
“We’re proud Aeternians now,” said one local organizer. “But we remember where we came from. If we can help fix the old home while serving the new one, why not?”In university lecture halls, students debated passionately.“Strategically, re-integrating Hallerus into Aeternum’s economic sphere is a no-brainer,” one economics major argued. “We’ll be able to shape their policies from within.”“But trust is a currency too,” another replied. “If we spend it on the wrong partner again, we might pay more than we think.”In a small park in the east district, a group of Aeternum veterans sat on a bench, medals on their coats, eyes on the screens showing news footage of Andrea’s visit.“You remember that street?” one said, pointing.“I remember clearing it house by house,” another replied. “They cheered us one day. Chased us out the next.”The youngest of them, silent until now, finally spoke.“We gave them peace once. Maybe it’s time to give them a future.”Silence followed. No one disagreed.