“Able to come to such deductions…you are really capable, Marisko….you know, I haven’t talk to anyone about this….but I think…it was about time we released our own movies…”.“Releasing our own movies?..”.(Special Agent Marisko)“Yes…with our own productions…with our own method and drive….naturally with a sprinkle of our very own ‘creativity’…”.Using an air quotes, I put an emphasis on the word creativity, for Marisko, I know that she would get what I meant by Creativity in a single take.“by putting our own twist and turns…..heh, that would surely makes the world crazy…heck….with the movies…we can even make Aeternum to become a sort of utopia……maybe we can even make a movie where our military be the most righteous army in the entire world….hohoho…. I kinda excited to see such things happening…”.Seeing her snickering and lips formed a rather devious smile, she were looking like a villain right now, even Selie were slowly taking a step back away from here. Marisko felt into her own ima
“Nevertheless…I think it was time that we brought an entertainment storm to this world…and I want you to be the icon that do it….can you do this?..”.“At this point…..I don’t think that there is nothing that I can say to deny this…..Sure, Sir…I’ll do it….”.(Special Agent Marisko)“Great….just a heads up….this new job…will bring you a lot of attentions….fame, and popularity….you will be standing before the public eyes…and perhaps even received an admiration from many of them….simply said…you might even lose your peaceful life for this path…”.“.…I think I can handle it…..you know, that I won’t lose my bearing for stuff like this…all that I do…I do it for our nation and for you, Sir….no matter how hectic things might be….I am confident..that I can turn it all just for the benefits for our nation…”.(Special Agent Marisko)“I am glad that you were accepting this new duty…..so…for your first duty..as Aeternum very own first Entertainment Producer….You will become the President of Aeternum
Meanwhile, in Central Alemia, the Capital City, the tension of the civil war were getting heighten and became much more brutal, The Crown Prince side were eager to enter the city at all cost, after all they had to march inside the city and head straight to the palace to conquer it. As for Queen Romella, her priority were to defend her city walls, and make sure that her son and his army did not makes it through, so that she can continue to stay on power. Naturally with the intensity and the frequency of the skirmish between the 2 are getting more and more often and harsh. Now both sides, can already be said, they have exhausted their manpower, but still neither side wanted to compromise or give up. Why, because now they know that Aeternum are on their heels.“Your Highness Crown Prince, you know that we cannot simply stop here….we need to have some sort of offering for Aeternum..if we want to survive..”.(Baron Louise)“an offering?…AN OFFERING?!!…how dare you muttered such things befo
Inside the crown prince faction command tent, as always the Crown Prince were still deep in his delusion, the adjutant, military leaders, commanders and the nobles in this faction, all of them were secretly blaming this man. Everyone thought that they can humor this man for a little bit and uses him as a tool later on, but no one ever thought that the Aeternum attacks, and everyone in this room has lost their land and territory while all of them stuck here. To make the matters even worse, all of them now had to rely on him, to survive, all of them had nothing anymore, they are all standing here empty, no land, no family and definitely no power, all that they have were their name and that was about it.They need this buffoon of a prince to win, in order to gain something, but right now the situation has become worse, Aeternum had them surrounded and yet, this buffoon think that the Aeternum isn’t a threat, and treat them like the Aeternum would bowed to him when he become a King, which
“Louise….have you received the words from, His Highness President yet?..”.(Count Dracul)“I do….in a few days time….he is coming here…General Eliza and Grand General Bina is coming as well…..and our old friend..Duke Oliver are coming from the west..”.(Baron Louise)The baron secretly whispered as the 2 men walked side by side, heading to their own tent.“Great news….I can’t wait to just see that brat got hanged….I can’t believe he wasted all the people lives as he wants….him becoming a King?….if he does….Alemia will be doom from the first day….His Highness President should have this land….”.(Count Dracul)“That;s right, Count….Aeternum is the only one that can bring order and peace to this land of ours….by the way…Duke Windstorm finally kicked the bucket….”.(Baron Louise)“Suits him well….my wife delivered the news to me….Frozen Peak City has been flipped upside down….I’m glad that I am still loyal to Aeternum…General Eliza let us keep out land and estate…”.(Count Dracul)“Mine as wel
Unbeknownst to many inside the Crown Prince Amariss camps, the 2 are playing the fire that stokes that Prince angers and ego’s. Baron Louise played the trustworthy and reasonable advisor that would always instilled the prince with the sense of anger by reminding him of all the logical parts and then fuel the prince anger and ensuring that the prince would just burst out with fury, and made himself looks foolish. But for the rest of the people in the camps see’s Baron Louise as a wise advisor that just poorly got disregards by the egoistic prince. As for Count Dracul, he played the role of a loyal soldier, sided with the prince ridiculous demand in a zealous manner, no matter what, he was the first to head into battle with the soldiers, claiming that he would fight in the stead of his prince and defend his glory. Whilst in reality all that he do, is just throwing the soldiers into a meat grinder again and again. Count Dracul alone, has brought 1/3 of the Crown Prince total soldiers int
“We are sitting ducks here!!….you…what are you all use to me..if you can’t even kill that bastards of mine!!….he’s a kid!… a kid for god sake!….why is this taking so long?!!..”.(Queen Romella)“Your highness….this war…is not that simple…we are right now holding a massive advantage…each day and each battle…we are slowly whittling their army….if we go out there…we will in a deep trouble…we will lose all the defensive advantage that we have….”.(Prime Minister Wilfrid Strong)“What, Lord Prime Minister said, is correct, Your Highness…we are now in a battle of attrition's….and we are winning, your majesty..Just give us a bit more time…soon enough, Prince Amariss would lose all their fighting capability…and when that time comes….I will personally…bring his head to you…your majesty..”.(General of the Royal Guard, Lucas Perdue)Thanks to the 2 experience aide of the Queen worked hard to calm the Queen anger and fury, the court were calm once again. This sort of discussion, the anger and calmi
“Heh!…what a babbling fool she is….she doesn’t know…that once this war was over…she and her buffoon of a child…will die together….ahhahahaha…”.(Prime Minister Wilfrid Strong)Like a true villain he sat on the throne, laughing out loud, with that everyone else too started to smirked and smiles, the Queen were not the leader here, but the Prime Minister is. Everyone agreed to put him on that position as all of them had already make out a deal with the Prime Minister, so them supporting the Prime Minister and nominated him as the soon to be king of Alemia, do provide them all many benefits, it’s a win-win situation for all of them.“Viscount Johnathan….how are our friend in Aeternum faring these days…have they contacted you yet?..”.(Prime Minister Wilfrid Strong)“They did….and for them…they said that it matters little to them if there is a change of house on the throne…as long as the battle ended…it was already good enough for them..my son in law said…this battle…is just a waste of time
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.