When I were in the military, I had rarely involved in the after affects of a war, mostly all I do is become the medic, or just went into the battlefield and kill enemies and head back. But here, I had to take on that roles, some might think of it as difficult but me, It was just a bunch of paper works and details planning. Since I have already went around the entire city, I got the broad pictures of all the issues that I had to take care of, before Aeternum Army and the First World Alliance pull out from the Hallerusia City.
“Major Gregg..how about the current state of the city…if the safety on par?..”.
“It is sir…we have made a total of 5245 arrest of the Soldiers that were trying to interrupt the public safety..All of the cases were, breaking and entering, attempted robbery, rape, blackmailing and murder…there’s quite a number of it..but all the crimes that were coming from the Alliance Side wer
6thDivision Major Amanda were specially tasked by me, to secured a hidden path for all the Resource Department logistics to carefully and secretly smuggled out all of the Loot that has been collected by the Intelligence Squads and the Special Force Squads that were apart of the Operation Midnight Shadows. We knows that the Ministers were secretly stealing everything inside the palace, including draining the Palace treasury for their own benefits.With this information, I have made a mission for the Intelligence Squad to track down everything. And last night the operation is a go, which is ransacking those nobles hidden stash, be it coins or artefact, everything were haul. And the next phase was the chaotic war, in the midst of the War, 6thDivision were tasked to secure route and also bringing everything out, in the span of the entire war. That is why the Southern Wall fall first, despite the Northern Wall were already conquered
“I’m going to keep this simple and brief…after all, I know you all were tired…after all we’re just went through a war…”.“..Oh, Sir..please,you can take as long as you want…don’t mind us…we are not that tired…”. (5thDivision Major Gregg Chabot)All of them shows exactly the same expression, like the weren’t tired at all. But who are they going to lie, I know what it is after a war, even if you not physically exhausted, your mental will need rest. I just smile at their enthusiastic response.“...Anyway, let’s start with 5thDivision first…Just like what you have been doing, keep the peace within the city…I predicted starting from tomorrow..the city will return to their bustling self…so we need to make sure that the order will not lost…Keeping the order wil
“We aren’t the only one that have a thought..the others have them too…so be careful, from now on..reminded our troop too…even if we were dissatisfied with them.. we must not let it shows…Clear?..”.“Yes Sir..”.( All Majors)“Good…Now, as 5thDivision were handling the public safety…4th Division will process all the Prisoners…both the Enemy captives and also the criminals that were arrested…do not mixed both of this category….we also need to prepared another places to hold another prisoners…the criminal nobles…I have informed the Hallerus factions before that, they would have to executes the Nobles Criminals..”.The situations regarding the criminals and the surrender and capture enemies, need to be addressed. They have to be kept apart, as there might be a danger when all of them were placed tog
“As for the last one, is concerning our logistics…6th Division will take a full control of this…alongside all of our remaining troops..I don’t want to delay our departure from this place too much…so, with this…I want our Army to start boxing everything and started to send any resources back to Aeternum…”.It was of no use to stay here more than absolutely necessary, I have predicted that one week will be the time limit where Aeternum Army and also the First World Alliance Army to stay here in the city. Any longer, then issues will start to rise, given the situations, surely the First World Alliance including Aeternum can’t truly left for good. But at the very least the troops should be returned to their home country, to avoid both issue in the city and also a dissatisfaction from the Alliance Country, After all they were all here in borrowed terms.“I understand sir..then, I sh
With all the Major issues has been discussed and solved, we further discussed about the minor things. So in the end, the meeting went for a little while and by the time we finished everything it was already 12 in the midnight. Still Aeternum Camp were still active, and so is the City. As everyone started to leave, it was only me and Captain Linda were left in the Command tent.“Linda..how are those at the palace were doing?…did the Princess did anything like what happened at the Bridge again?..”.“...For those that were captured in the Audience Chamber…she didn’t do much but kept them alive and locked them in the dungeon…but to many that were captured in the dungeon by the previous rulers..she let everyone out….Thanks to, High General Bina, Princess Angela, Duchess Kolarova and Grand Magus Soo Kwan Hon…those that were released were being questioned and investigate of their background
It was already 1 in the morning, as I walked through the already subsided Hallerusia City. There were a few lights coming from the houses and tavern on the side of the streets, the drunkards are celebrating even to the outside of their taverns, walking happily to their homes or even dancing on the streets. I sink in the moment, seeing this foreign felling of the world of Medieval Fantasy. Which is something that I usually never got the chance to.“[ different isn’t it?…We never got the chance to see this side of the Fantasma, as you mostly just stuck in your office all the time….]”. (T.A.S)“...yeah…it’s just that one time when we become the mercenary that we got the chance to see the world….even then we only managed to go around Hallerus…..this world is big…”.“[Hmmm…..somehow I sense yearning in your tone, Master…..why not
The whole time as I inside Maria manor, everything seems to move fast, but at the same time were also so slow that I can feel the subtle changed in the atmosphere between me and Maria. And unknown connections between us and the chemistry that seems to be connecting us without we even speaks to each other. I am not a dense bloke that don’t know, where all this kindness would lead to, but I also didn’t like to take advantage of others unless I wanted too.“...old bath buckets…but very well taken care of…she even heated the water using the firewood, instead of Fire Magic Stones…”.I can see that Maria is not like any normal Noble lady. She was used to the poor and hardship, and according to her words, she were also an Eldest of her siblings, she was 32 years old this years. In Fantasma, at that age, one should already be a mother to dozens of kids. Yet she wasn’t even married, all due to
“Still saying yourself as ‘old lady’ and ‘Cripple’….is a little bit much….as far I can see..from the moment that I see you….all that I see were a beautiful lady with a kind caring hearts…”.“...<Scrubs>..<Stop!>…That words…thank you, Mi Lord…I certainly doesn’t deserved such praise….”.(Maria Scheiber)That brief stop in her movement, speaks tone to me. She might now believe me when I said so. But thanks to her the fury that I had the whole day was vanished just like that. With just a small towel, covering my neither region, and finishing washing my back, Maria moved in front of me. And started to scrubs the front of my body, her movement were gentle an on point, but there were apparent heat coming from both of us, there is no denying it.“...Maria…is it fine for you to do this?..”.
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
Aeternum had always been known for its technological marvels and superior products, but with easy transportation, its goods became more accessible than ever before.From freshly preserved gourmet food to luxurious household items, Aeternum’s influence began to seep into every aspect of daily life across the continent. And the people? They loved it. Why eat old, stale bread when you could have Aeternum’s fresh-baked soft rolls that lasted for weeks without losing their taste?Why wear itchy, poorly-made foreign garments when you could buy Aeternum’s finely woven, stain-resistant fabrics? Even Aeternum’s entertainment industry was making waves. With their crystal-powered moving pictures, stories from Aeternum began flooding into neighboring lands, captivating audiences with rich tales of adventure, romance, and heroism.It wasn’t just about selling goods anymore. Aeternum was selling a way of life. And everyone wanted in.But not everyone was pleased. The non-allied nations watched in d