"I refuse to be treated like some common criminal! I am Count Malik! Minister of Finance! I have funded half of this war!"His voice echoed, but no one moved. No one spoke in his defense.Malik gritted his teeth and jerked violently, managing to break free from the grip of the young Aeternum private restraining him.With a twisted smirk, he raised his hand and struck the soldier across the face.A loud crack rang through the hall.For a moment, everything stood still.Then—BANG.A gunshot pierced the air, and Malik’s scream followed a split second later as he collapsed onto the floor, clutching his now bloodied knee.Standing over him, his pistol still smoking, was Sergeant Falkner.The seasoned Aeternum officer towered over the fallen noble, his expression one of absolute indifference."That was for touching my soldier," Falkner said, his voice as sharp as a blade.Malik writhed, his cries of agony mixing with gasps of horror from the other captives.Falkner bent down, his boot press
For years, Alemia’s people had been accustomed to fear—to being harassed, abused, and treated like pawns by the nobility and military alike.But today, as they walked through the clean streets, there was no shouting.No random arrests. No public executions. There was only order.And above them, in the vast blue sky, the Aeternum airships loomed—their massive steel frames gliding through the heavens, a symbol of dominance, protection, and change.For many, it was their first time seeing such technology up close.An elderly baker, standing at the entrance of his shop, shielded his eyes as he gazed upward."The Iron Birds…" he whispered, awestruck.Beside him, a young girl tugged at his sleeve."Grandpa, are they… protecting us?"A pause. Then, the old man smiled for the first time in years."Yes. I believe they are."Unlike the old regime, Aeternum’s governance was swift and efficient.Knowing that the city had suffered extreme shortages due to the war, Aeternum immediately opened publi
“Did the Queen know about this?” I asked, though deep down, I already knew the answer.Selie didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she reached into her bag, pulling out a single sheet of parchment. She laid it on my desk with a deliberate movement.It was an official decree, signed and stamped with Queen Romella’s royal seal. A decree authorizing the so-called “punishment” of nobles appointed by Aeternum.I closed my eyes briefly, suppressing the urge to slam my fist onto the table. The Queen knew, she had known all along. And she did nothing, or she were too consumed with all the power and luxuries that she just signed everything that come to her table, and now I had to clean everything back.Across the chamber, Duke Oliver Gust—or rather, Governor Oliver Gust, as he was now officially titled—stood near one of the balconies, observing the organized chaos with a look of deep contemplation. After taking a moment to collect my thoughts, I rose from my seat and walked over to him.“Quite
“I agree with implementing the employment program,” I said, voice firm. “But we’ll need to make several adjustments before we proceed.”Ramon nodded attentively. “What kind of adjustments, sir?”I leaned back slightly in my chair.“First, work hours need to be reduced. Given how many of the surviving population are either elderly or women, we can’t expect them to handle the same level of physical labor as a normal workforce.”Ramon took notes, his expression serious. “Understood.”“Second, child labor is absolutely forbidden. If anyone attempts to exploit children for work, they will face immediate punishment.”“Of course, sir. Aeternum law is clear on that.”I nodded. “Third, we’ll have to create alternative jobs that suit the city’s current demographic. Many of the women and elderly might not be able to do construction work, but they can handle administrative work, small-scale industry, and trade. We need to get creative.”Ramon grinned, impressed. “You’ve already thought several st
Meanwhile, inside the Alemia Royal Palace, which had now been converted into a central command hub, President Mies Sai listened intently to a military briefing.Across from him sat Department Vice-Director Nathaniel Grant of the Department of Resource & Infrastructure, his face alight with enthusiasm.“Sir, the employment program is exceeding expectations. We posted 5,000 positions for public kitchen chefs, and they were filled within a single day.”Mies Sai smirked. “I’m not surprised. The people have been desperate for stability.”Vice-Director Grant nodded. “Indeed. And now, with the cleaning and rebuilding project launching, we’re expecting a flood of applications. 100,000 slots may not even be enough.”General Lucas, seated nearby, chuckled.“We’ll need to start thinking ahead, then.” He tapped a report on the table. “Alemia isn’t just a city of civilians. We still have thousands of unemployed former soldiers from both the Queen’s and the Prince’s factions. Many of them aren’t cr
Corporal Julius never expected to live through the war. When the Aeternum army stormed the city, he had thrown down his weapon, surrendering without a second thought.He had seen what Aeternum did to prisoners of war.Not executions. Not torture. But fair trials.And when he stood before the Aeternum Military Court, his heart had pounded in his chest, expecting the worst.Instead?Instead, he was sentenced to manual labor—helping to clean and rebuild the city he once swore to defend. At first, he thought it was humiliating. A soldier, reduced to picking up rubble and scrubbing graffiti off walls.But then, as he worked alongside former civilians, former soldiers, and even volunteers from Aeternum, he realized something. This wasn’t a punishment. This was redemption. As he carried a heavy sack of broken bricks, an elderly woman passing by stopped him."Young man, thank you."Julius paused, sweat dripping from his brow. “For what?”The woman smiled, her wrinkled hands clutching her new
"To bring an end to this senseless bloodshed and to uphold justice, Aeternum was left with no choice but to intervene. The war was swift, decisive, and necessary. With surgical precision, our military forces dismantled both warring factions, captured those responsible, and liberated the oppressed people of Alemia."In the Aeternum War Room, Vice President Elijah listened, arms folded, her expression unwavering. She had witnessed every piece of this war unfold—but hearing it spoken so clearly, so definitively, solidified the gravity of their actions.Quara took a deep breath before delivering the final words of her broadcast segment."At this moment, Aeternum officially declares that the war in Alemia has ended. Alemia is now under Aeternum governance. The laws of Aeternum will now extend to the entire region, ensuring protection, fairness, and the rebuilding of a nation once ravaged by war. Justice will be served, and those responsible will answer for their crimes. The people of Alemi
"Two weeks ago, under the direct leadership of President Mies Sai, the Aeternum Army launched its final campaign against the Central Region. Our forces advanced with unmatched efficiency, securing strongholds and neutralizing opposition with precision. The decisive battle for Alemia’s Capital City lasted a total of 24 hours."Soldiers listening from the barracks nodded in satisfaction, some even chuckling."Fastest war in history," one mused, lighting a cigarette."By the end of the first day, the Aeternum flag was raised over the Alemia Royal Palace, officially marking the end of the war. Aeternum had won. Alemia had fallen. And with it, the old ways of tyranny, corruption, and oppression had been permanently eradicated."In a quiet alley, a group of former Alemia soldiers, sentenced to manual labor as punishment for their crimes, paused their work, listening.One of them, a former sergeant, sighed, shaking his head."I fought for the wrong side… but I’m grateful I survived to see th
“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.
“Accepted,” Helen said firmly.Andrea paused. “You are aware that this pricing is higher than what our allied nations pay?”“I am.”“And that it reflects the cost of your past decisions.”“I am aware.”Andrea’s expression didn’t soften. But there was a shift. A sliver of respect, perhaps.“We also request that Queen Helen and her full court travel to New Concordia,” Andrea said. “To sign the official alliance treaty in Aeternum, under President Mies' direct oversight.”That stung.A silent reminder: You no longer stand as an equal.But Helen did not flinch. “We will come.”Merrica remained quiet beside her, eyes locked forward, proud but weathered. He knew this was necessary. He knew, like her, that survival always demanded a cost.And this was the only path forward.Andrea stood, signaling the end of the meeting. “Then prepare your delegation. You have one week.”As Andrea and her entourage exited, Helen remained still, her hand brushing the edge of the map of Hallerus that lay on th
“I can prep the full economic framework in three days. I’ll soften it slightly—give them just enough dignity to sign without choking.”“Good,” I said. “Let them keep their crown and their pride, as long as we own their economy.”Andrea gave a subtle nod. “Then I’ll schedule the official visit. They’ll come to us.”“And when they do,” I said, voice cold and precise, “we’ll welcome them with smiles. And let them know who holds the scales now.”Andrea paused. “Anything else you want me to add in the background?”“Yes,” I said after a moment. “Tell them we’ll open an Aeternum Super Store in the capital as a gesture of goodwill. Make it sound benevolent.”Andrea smirked. “And on the inside?”“It’s a spearhead,” I said. “Once we’re in, we don’t leave.”“Understood, Mr. President.”The screen blinked as the call ended. I turned to Elijah, who was already compiling the summary.“Draft the formal invitation,” I ordered. “Summon Queen Helen and her full court to New City. They’ll arrive as sove
“This city is broken,” she said at last.“Which means it’s ripe,” Jessica added with a glint in her eye. “Imagine if we opened Aeternum Super Store branches here. Not just in the capital—but in every major city.”Robert nodded. “We’d dominate the market before they even knew what hit them. Food, tech, textiles. We could monopolize the entire consumer chain.”Andrew chuckled, finally seeing the silver lining. “We’d be heroes to the people. And villains to the nobles—well, if any are still left standing.”“People like what fills their stomachs,” Jessica said. “Right now, they’re starving for quality. They’ll welcome us like saviors.”Andrea folded her arms, surveying the square again. She could already envision the clean, modern storefronts replacing the crumbling stalls. Self-sanitizing kiosks. Subsidized food packs. Nutritional water stations. Supply chains optimized by Aeternum AI logistics.“This city’s a blank slate now,” she said softly. “Their failure is our opportunity. And this
“Minister Andrea, Her Majesty sends word. She invites you to join her in the council chamber once your tour is complete.”Andrea nodded without looking at him. “Tell her I’ll return shortly. Let her know the city has spoken louder than any court could.”The young man paled but bowed again and hurried off.Andrea resumed walking. “They’re ashamed. Helen saw the city, I’m sure. She knew I’d see this mess.”“She should be ashamed,” Jessica said. “But she’s trying. And she listened to her uncle, at least.”“Yes,” Andrea admitted. “That’s the only reason we’re even here.”They continued walking in silence until they reached the edge of the once-thriving industrial sector. The machinery was still, some pieces looted, others rusting like ancient bones. Andrea crouched beside a discarded engine part, running her fingers over the insignia stamped on the metal.“Aeternum-built,” she whispered. “We left it here. And they left it to rot.”She stood, her voice tightening. “No more gifts. No more r
“I come bearing news from President Mies,” Andrea said. “He has authorized me to reestablish economic relations between Aeternum and Hallerus.”The words fell like rain on droughted soil. Gasps. Whispers. And then—cheers stifled by etiquette.Helen blinked. “You’re serious?”Andrea raised a brow. “I don’t waste time, Your Majesty. Our logistics and trade units will begin routing initial shipments within two weeks. In exchange, we’d like preferred trading status for key Hallerian exports. Wheat. Marble. Blackvine spices.”Helen nodded rapidly. “Of course. Anything.”Andrea turned her gaze slightly. “Be aware: the initial tariffs will reflect… the past breakdown in our diplomatic relations.”A slight smile touched her lips. Not warm. Calculated.Helen bowed her head, just enough. “A fair penalty. One we accept.”Andrea’s expression softened—barely. “Good. Then consider today the first page in a new chapter.”Helen stepped forward. “Minister Andrea, may I speak plainly?”Andrea nodded on
“We’re sending an envoy,” I said. “I want a diplomatic team ready to leave within the week. Formal clothes, soft language, but firm posture. They’ll deliver the proposal to reopen channels with Hallerus.”Andrea raised an eyebrow. “And if they hesitate?”“They won’t,” I said. “Helen’s smarter than she was. She knows what Aeternum means now—not just power. Stability. Progress. A future. Her people know it too. They’re already lining up to buy our products again. Her economy needs us more than she’d ever admit.”Andrea took notes. “Do we offer full partnership or just trade?”“Start with trade. Let her work for the rest.”Elijah crossed his arms. “You’re playing the long game.”“Always,” I said. “She showed backbone. Now she has to show consistency. If Hallerus stays clean, stays reformed, we talk alliance in two years. Maybe joint ventures. Maybe intelligence sharing.”Andrea looked up. “And if they regress?”“Then the gloves come off,” I said. “I owe Merrica nothing now. The ledger is
“Shadow diplomacy?”“Shared progress,” I corrected. “No puppet states. No conquest. We build allies, not subjects.”“And if she fails?”“She won’t.”“You trust her?”“I trust momentum.”Silence settled between us. Weighty. Calculated.“She came to the edge,” I said. “She looked down. She chose to climb.”I placed my palm on the table. Pulled up the interlink data from the last ACIA relay. A still frame of Helen and Merrica, standing beside a new council—half of them former commoners. Not a single noble.“She’s rewriting the code of kingship,” Elijah said.“She’s writing history.”Elijah nodded. “I’ll alert the Council of Governors. Phase One integration can begin. Cultural exchange programs. Civil training volunteers.”“Quiet. Measured.”“As always.”I watched the horizon past the glass. My reflection stared back. Older now. Sharper.“Hallerus lives,” I said.Elijah placed the closed folder back into his case. “And Aeternum listens.”I sat behind the presidential desk, sunlight spilli