“You see, we all know that those people were nothing but scum and evil people right?…”.(Old Marlo)“Yeah…that is an old news….but…continue…”.(Ronny)“Well….The soldiers knows that as well….You know…our government…are generous to many…and they were well known to help those that were in need….eve to all of us…that has once fought against them in war….you were all treated fairly in this prison right?…you got soft bed to sleep on and food to fill your belly…right?…”.(Old Marlo)“Y..yeah…”.(Ronny)Ronny stuttering is because it was true, live here in the Riverside Prison is actually moire comfortable that their lives before, as they have soft bed to sleep on and foods 3 times a day that is much more filling and delicious than they have ever tasted in all their life. Funny enough even when they were serving in the Baron army, even back then they were not treated with such luxury when they are much more deserved to be treated so, instead in Aeternum that they were treated with respect and di
“Why not, Ronny?…that is what this government are….the Aeternums has always like this….our previous lord were nothing but a failure….he punished us the innocent and lifted the guilty all the time….that is because he is corrupt and foolish….but not Aeternum….Aeternum knows who is in the wrong and delivered the punishment as always….and this….this is no different at all….look around you Ronny….all of those that were kind and upright were still here correct?…”.(OId Marlo)Upon Old Marlo calling, litteraly Ronny looked all around him and confirmed that only the normal ones that are remained untouched until now, he is now believed that Aeternum soldiers only took those that were evil with them, does this means that they might be free one day, perhaps, and maybe.“yeah…that’s right…”.(Ronny)“See?…this is because Aeternums is fair and just…so don’t worry….only those that deserved it, will be brought to face Justice…”.(Old Marlo)“Truly?….this is the truth right?…”.(Ronny)“Come on, Ronny….a
“Truly?….this is the truth right?…”.(Ronny)“Come on, Ronny….as far as you have known me…have I ever lied to you when it comes to this kind of matter?..…”.(Old Marlo)“N..never, Ser Marlo…”.(Ronny)This is just too good to be true, the Aeternum stepped up to become the delivery of Justice that has been far to long being postponed, this is just a great news to everyone. Every soldiers knows about the evil existence in their midst and still they had to fight along side them like brothers in arms, and that fact alone has destroyed them many times over. They had to stand side by side with their family killers and had to suck it up because they were drafted to fight by the Baron. It was an injustice in it’s purest form, and now finally after so long, when everyone had already started to given up that justice many not come.Instead Aeternum had come to swoop in and upheld the justice once more for all of them. This is a heart touching moment for many of the soldiers Ronny eyes were watering
“I am telling the truth, Ronny…this time, the Justice has come….and I am truly believed…that by the time that this war is over…..our land will surely be cleansed of evil and injustice….Aeternum….no….our Aeternum…will surely brought the light of change on this very land….”.(Old Marlo)Like a kind old man, Old Marlo put his hand on Ronny shivering shoulder, and finally he had surely planted the seed of change inside the young man heart and soul.“Thank you, Ser Marlo…”.(Ronny)“Hey…don’t thank me, Ronny…thank the Aeternum Government….and by the way….you and your lads should really think about the future after you get out of here….I suggest….you all to learn more about Aeternum and how to become a good citizens of Aeternum….”.(Old Marlo)“Huh?…become a good citizens of Aeternum?…why is that so, Ser Marlo?…”.(Ronny)“Well….do you think that when this war is over…everything will stay the same as it was before?….no…of course it is not…..believe me when I say this….Aeternum will win this war
“Well….do you think that when this war is over…everything will stay the same as it was before?….no…of course it is not…..believe me when I say this….Aeternum will win this war once and for all….and when that moment comes…..this land will forever be under the rule of His highness President….this land will then be apart of Aeternum governance…”.(Old Marlo)Now that is an eye opening statement from Old Marlo that Ronny and all of his fellow did not anticipate at all, they have been too invested on being a prisoners of this Riverside Prison and enjoying the comfort that the prison had given them that they have simply forgotten to think about their future, and what they wanted to do next. By now they already know for certain that Aeternum should be able to win this war by a big margin, how, that is because they have went against Aeternum soldiers and had lost spectacularly, winning the war, that will be much more easier.So when Old Marlo said these words, their concerned about the mass ev
“Umm…..Ser Marlo…..what should I do?……I still want to live here….on this land….what should I do..ser?..”.(Ronny)With a slight panic in his eyes, Ronny turned to the wisest man he know and that is the person before him that asked him the question. Listening the query of a young man before him, Old Marlo were more than pleased to answer him.“It is simple, Ronny….all you have to do…is learn…study, and dedicated yourself…to become an Aeternum citizens…….REFORMED YOURSELF!….soon…soon the wardens…will be commencing the citizenship training for all of the prisoners here…and you should truly commit yourself to do that training….and if you do that….”.(Old Marlo)“and if I do that?…”.(Ronny)“And if you do that…..by the time you got out….then you surely become a new person again…and this time a rightfully and permitted Aeternum citizens…and finally…FINALLY….all of your sins of fighting Aeternum will be abolished…and once again…this land will accept you back….”.(Old Marlo)The way, Old Marlo p
Everyone were smiling right now, with all the distressed has been settle, the conversation has become much lighter now.“Oh by the way..it would be great if you can spread these words to others as well….we definitely don’t want any sort of ugly rumour going around right?….there are a few of those that were rash in action….we don’t want them to get in Aeternum soldiers way…lest, it was them that would be in trouble next for no good reason at all…”.(Old Marlo)“Worry not, Ser Marlo…me and fellow men will surely spread the news about this….I can assure you, by the end of today…everyone in this prison will know about this!…”.(Ronny)“Ohohoh…thank you, Young Ronny….please do so…”.(Old Marlo)The conversation between Old Marlo, Remi and Ronny together with his fellow young prisoners ended with a good note. And true to his words, by the late afternoon, the entire prison knows about what is truly transpire through out the day, and everyone were supporting Aeternum soldiers for doing so, and a
“I guess, we can thanks the apprentice for what they have done…”.(Grand General Bina)“Sure enough…then, should I also tell this to the Southern Base prison?…I am sure they wanted to hear it and also performed the same thing on their end…”.(Major Nelly)“Sure, let’s informed them as well….we need to make sure they also have the same result as us…by then I am sure that this will be helpful back home…”.(Grand General Bina)“I will do it at once, Madam General…”.(Major Nelly)Since things had working out in the Riverside Prison, it was time to spread the news to the Southern Base Prison, after all, in Pearl City, where the Aeternum Navy has already conquered and in the middle of grabbing hold of the entire southern region of Alemia, on their side, their prison were more and the same, as the Riverside Prison situation, and perhaps, compared to the Riverside Prison, the Pearl City Prison is much more packed in population.The reason as to why there are more people there, is because of the
A trusted royal scribe—a man who had served the palace for over a decade—was found dead before sunrise. A dagger coated in poison was discovered strapped to his leg. The second attempt followed soon after.A servant carrying tea for the Queen was intercepted before she could enter the throne room. Hidden beneath the silver tray was a vial of deadroot extract, a lethal poison. The servant, after interrogation, confessed that her family had been taken hostage by nobles who ordered the hit.Then came the third, fourth, and fifth attempts. Archers on rooftops. Explosives set along the Queen’s carriage route. Blades hidden in the folds of a courtier’s robes.Each time, the assassins failed. Each time, they disappeared without a trace. Helen knew who was behind it. But rather than show fear, she faced the storm head-on.Seated in her war room, Helen traced her fingers along a map of Hallerus, where red ink circled enemy strongholds. Duke Merrica stood beside her, arms folded, his sharp eyes
Aeternum had taught her a valuable lesson—control is not about force, but manipulation. So, she would make them turn on each other.Helen began summoning the nobles one by one, speaking to them in private meetings. She whispered honeyed words into their ears.“Viscount Talis, I need a reliable man. Duke Rehn is plotting against me, and I require your loyalty.”“Countess Ferros, your influence is invaluable. I fear Duke Rehn is siphoning funds, and I need someone I trust to investigate.”“Duke Rehn, the other nobles are moving against you. You must act swiftly before they remove you from power.”With every meeting, seeds of distrust were sown.The nobles—drunk on greed—were too blind to see that they were being played.And so, one by one, they began to conspire against each other.As the nobles scrambled to destroy each other, Helen’s true loyalists made their move.Under the cover of darkness, handpicked assassins carried out eliminations with precision.Duke Rehn?Found dead in his s
“Then Mies will destroy Hallerus.”Helen turned sharply toward him. “You think he would go that far?”Merrica didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”Helen stared at him, searching for a lie. A hint of hesitation. But there was none.“He will not give you mercy a second time, Helen,” Merrica said. “If those nobles push for war, if they even dare to challenge Aeternum—you will lose.”He took another step forward, his voice heavy. “And I will not be able to protect you.”For the first time in their conversation, Helen looked away. Merrica saw it. The fear. The realization.She already knew everything he was saying was true. She had just been too proud—too trapped—to admit it.Silence hung between them. Then, at last, Helen spoke.“…What do you want me to do?”Merrica finally allowed himself a small sigh of relief.“You already know what must be done, Helen,” he said gently. “You must take back your court.”Helen slowly nodded, though her expression remained grim. “Those nobles will not leave peace
“Merrica understands that if Hallerus moves against Aeternum, we won’t hold back.”Kasuma gave a knowing smirk. “And you won’t hesitate to destroy them.”I met her gaze, unblinking.“No.”A heavy silence fell between us.Kasuma leaned forward, her voice softer but firm. “You don’t want war with Hallerus.”“No, I don’t,” I admitted. “The people of Hallerus don’t deserve to suffer for their queen’s mistakes. Merrica doesn’t deserve to be put in that position.”Kasuma studied me for a moment before sighing. “Then let’s hope Duke Merrica succeeds.”I ran a hand through my hair, my thoughts swirling. Visma was controlled. Chaos was their prison, and we held the keys. Hallerus, however, was different.It was once an ally, a friend, a brother. But betrayal had shattered that bond. Still… I didn’t want to be the one to crush it completely. I drummed my fingers on my desk. If Helen could be saved, then perhaps—A knock interrupted my thoughts.“Enter,” I called.An ACIA officer stepped in, bowi
The Merchant Guild Leader, Darvio Vinn, who had profited the most from blocking Aeternum trade. His warehouses stored inferior goods at premium prices, keeping the economy strangled in his grip.The General of the Royal Army, Lionel Ferin, who had bled the treasury dry with excessive military spending, preaching about “independence” while weakening their forces with outdated tactics.They had to be removed. One by one, quietly, without causing suspicion. But how? Merrica could not simply accuse them—Helen trusted them. If he moved too boldly, she would see him as the enemy.No, he had to be careful. He had to play the game. Merrica stood, pouring himself another glass of wine. He would begin by exposing the corruption—turning the people against the parasites that fed on Hallerus.The merchants would learn how Darvio Vinn had been overpricing basic goods. The military officers would see how General Lionel Ferin had been wasting funds on obsolete strategies. The court would hear whisper
At a local tavern, I overheard a group of soldiers drunkenly complaining."Our weapons are old.""Our rations taste like pig slop.""Did you hear? Even Alemia is receiving Aeternum goods now.""We should have never broken ties."I smirked. They knew. Their queen had failed them, and their nation was falling behind while the rest of the world thrived under Aeternum’s soft power. The people of Hallerus were not fools. They saw the rising prosperity of the allied nations, the luxurious goods, the technological marvels, the entertainment, the food. They could only watch in envy.At sunset, I met with Duke Merrica Murrs at his estate. His once-proud posture had been replaced with exhaustion. His eyes, which once held confidence, now carried deep regret.We sat in his grand study, the silence stretching between us. Finally, he spoke."I should have stopped her."I said nothing."I vouched for her. I believed in her." He exhaled, shaking his head. "And now, my people suffer because of my mis
Meanwhile, in Yulga, Maria sat comfortably in her study, reading the latest reports.Lysander stood beside her, amused. "Another assassin failed. This is getting predictable."Maria smirked. "Vismal thinks he’s playing chess, but he’s only moving pawns."She set down her glass, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Let him keep trying. Let him think he has control.""And when he finally realizes he doesn’t?" Lysander asked.Maria leaned back, exhaling softly. "By then, he won’t be king anymore."While King Vismal wasted his energy plotting assassinations, he failed to see the true danger.His nobles squabbled over the black market. His people secretly craved Aeternum goods. His own soldiers whispered of defecting.Visma was rotting from the inside out. And Maria? She simply watched it happen. She wasn’t just controlling the black market. She was controlling Visma’s fate. One failed assassination at a time.King Vismal III believed he could eliminate Maria Yulga. He believed he could take
"Oi, you got the stuff?""Yeah, yeah, keep it down!"A merchant nervously looked around before handing over a carefully wrapped package."This is the good stuff—straight from Aeternum. Papa Pizza’s special cheese blend. Got it from a merchant who knows a guy who knows a guy."The buyer, a Visma noble in disguise, snatched it eagerly."Finally! I’ve been dying to try this! You have no idea how boring Visma’s food is compared to Aeternum’s cuisine!""Yeah, yeah, pay up first.""Fine, fine—how much?""Two hundred gold pieces."The noble nearly choked. "T-Two hundred?! That’s robbery!"The merchant smirked. "And yet, you’re still going to pay it, aren’t you?"The noble gritted his teeth, but handed over the money anyway. Aeternum’s products were so desirable that people were willing to spend fortunes just to get a taste.And that was exactly what ACIA wanted. By controlling the underground economy, Aeternum achieved multiple goals:Economic Control – Even though Visma banned Aeternum’s pr
The people were asking too many questions. The smugglers were getting bolder. Even their own guards and soldiers were caught listening to Aeternum’s broadcasts in secret. A revolution wasn’t just coming—it was being broadcast live.In an attempt to regain control, the non-allied nations did the only thing they knew how to do—They cracked down. Massive raids were conducted in the dead of night. Entire villages were searched. Merchants were arrested. Radios were smashed in public squares.But no matter how many products they confiscated, no matter how many smugglers they punished, it didn’t stop. Aeternum’s influence was already too deep. The people had tasted the forbidden fruit—and they weren’t about to let go of it.What made matters worse was that not everyone in power was loyal to the cause. Behind closed doors, even high-ranking nobles were secretly buying Aeternum’s products for themselves. Some were sneaking off to allied territories under the guise of “diplomatic visits” just s