Trantor: SFBaka


    Editor: Thors Stone


    I have no words to describe just how ludicrous this all sounds! Just who was the genius who implemented this sort of messed up policy!?


    But I do admit it suited my purposes just fine. I cant just give up due to the current situation and do nothing. Ill struggle as much as I possibly can, dammit!


    By the way, this is not part of the empire, so instead of seizure or requisitioning, I believe the words invasion or forced upation are more appropriate sir.


    (Calling it an invasion just doesnt sit well with me yknow. Force upation huh. Okay then. Iris! Were gonna Uh, hold up. Let me redo that line.)


    Trantor: SFBaka


    Editor: Thors Stone


    I have no words to describe just how ludicrous this all sounds! Just who was the genius who implemented this sort of messed up policy!?


    But I do admit it suited my purposes just fine. I cant just give up due to the current situation and do nothing. Ill struggle as much as I possibly can, dammit!


    By the way, this is not part of the empire, so instead of seizure or requisitioning, I believe the words invasion or forced upation are more appropriate sir.


    (Calling it an invasion just doesnt sit well with me yknow. Force upation huh. Okay then. Iris! Were gonna Uh, hold up. Let me redo that line.)


    I dont get many opportunities to say such cool lines, so I wanna nail it perfectly. Lets make this count.


    (Iris! We, proud members of the imperial forces, will now proceed to upy this, Ares, under the glorious name of the Human Gctic Empire, and bring it to the empires fold!)


    Understood.


    Bummer. Cant you just y along for once, Iris?


    No one has ever incorporated a to the empire by means of a forced upation. If you aplish this sessfully, your name will be recorded in the annals of history, Captain.


    (Well, theres a good chance Ill bebeled the greatest viin in imperial history though. Oh well. I dont n on giving up easily, Iris.


    I will save the humans of this. I swear!


    Of course, even if were going the forced upation route, the use of brute force alone is not a given. Theres no point in doing that after all.


    Anyway, well first need an established foothold to serve as a base of operations. And it will eventually be the central capital of Ares.


    Please choose a suitable site while considering the avability and essibility of resources and the terrain.)


    This area will be the most suitable, sir.


    The map of the continent popped up in front of me. A red dot was ced on top of a white-colored section of the map. Hm. It wasnt that far from our current position.


    (Why did you choose this area?)


    Firstly, ording to a spectrum analysis done by the drones, the amount of mineral resources in this area is many magnitudes higher than anywhere else in the continent.


    And there is also a lot of wood and stone for use in fortress building.


    Moreover, there is also an abundance of fossil fuels as well as alternative energy sources that can be extracted from monsters. This area has higher concentrations of thempared to the rest of the continent as well. There is no better area to build our base of operations on.


    (So youve already considered the monsters as alternative energy sources huh. Hm? Hold up. Is this ce the so-called Great Demon Forest by any chance?)


    Affirmative.


    (This ce is filled to the brim with monsters that often spill out into territories upied by humanity, right? Will it really be okay?)


    There will be no problems.


    (Okay then. Ill leave the construction of the base to you. Do as you see fit. By my estimate, this area will probably be developed into proper imperial territory within the next twenty years. Things like filling up the poption and constructing the living areas will take quite a bit of time after all.)


    If you use that time frame, you will probably not make it in time for the Bug invasion, Captain. At the very least, we would need to build a livable city that can house ten thousand people within five years.


    (I see. So, a city within five years huh. Man, that sure is rough.)


    Would it be better if I upied a country or something? Nah, causing bloodshed in order to prevent bloodshed in the future is pretty messed up. Im not saying Im nning on keeping my hands clean, but Id like to avoid unnecessary sacrifices as much as possible.


    Building a reactor andunching it out into space will be an extremely grand and difficult undertaking. I cannot take measures that will possibly reduce the poption of this that much.


    But even if Iris manages to gain a foothold in the Great Demon Forest and built a city there, just who will agree to live in it, I wonder? If it were me, I would definitely be suspicious and apprehensive if someone suddenly approaches me and tells me about a secret and wonderful ce to settle down or something. And no matter how much honeyed words are used to persuade them, I cant imagine people suddenly abandoning their current lifestyles in order to head out to god-knows-where.


    Well then, how about starting out as part of an established country? Right. For example, getting acknowledged as nobility and being given the right to develop ones own territory! If we recruit potential residents by promising low taxes and other incentives, Im sure we can expect quite a few willing to relocate. It seems pretty convenient as a means to gather people.


    In any case, I still need to spend time thinking about possible measures.


    (Im gonna think about possible measures to gather people. Please give me some time.)


    Understood.


    (By the way, whats the estimated probability of building a reactor andunching it out to orbit within 500 years? Just give me a rough number.)


    Well, about two percent, I guess.


    (Hey now! Earlier it was just zero percent and now were up to two. Were making progress.)


    Well, I didnt expect you would actually propose subjugating this, Captain. The probability percentage has slightly increased as a result.


    Well, I guess Im just d were moving in a positive direction, no matter how insignificant the development is.


    It was already time for breakfast, so I cut the call with Iris and headed downstairs. I found the girls already sitting in the dining area, talking with each other animatedly while having tea. Im d they all managed to get along.


    Good morning. What are you girls talking about?


    Good morning, n. Cleria and Elna were teaching us about things regarding this continent.


    Hm. What did they teach you?


    Mostly about the nobles living in this continent. We were not familiar with them, so it really helps a lot.


    Hey! Now thats something I wanna hear as well. Ill have Sharon and Selena tell me about the things I missedter.


    Im interested in that as well. Let me listen in, if you girls dont mind.


    Before that, n. I also have something to ask.


    What is it?


    Are you actually part of royalty, n?


    Whats up with that? I cant be part of royalty, can I? Whyd youe to such a conclusion anyway?


    No, its fine if I was mistaken. Im sorry about asking such a weird thing.


    Cleria was acting relieved for some reason. Whats up with her?


    Our breakfast was brought out soon after. The breakfast this morning was hamburgers. Theres a lot of them piled up on arge te. These probably made use of the leftover minced meat from yesterday.


    The buns sandwiched thick meat patties along with slices of cheese, tomatoes, and fresh lettuce. The sauce was made from abination of ketchup and mayonnaise. Mm, delish! It was a little on the heavy side for breakfast, but tasty stuff is tasty.


    Wah, these are also delicious!


    Sharon and Selena lost themselves in the taste of food once again. Cleria was enamored as well.


    The pile of hamburgers on top of therge te was cleared out in no time.


    It seems the things Cleria and Elna discussed regarding nobility were stuff that was only known among noble circles. It was perfect since I also wanted to know more about the nobility system right now.


    Canmoners be appointed as nobles?


    Well, cases like that are quite rare. In the Starveek Kingdom, there was a party of adventurers that defeated three grown wyverns. The leader of that party ended up receiving the title of baron. Elna exined.


    I am familiar with that story as well. That was supposedly given as part of a reward for saving a vige from those wyverns.


    Whoa! So adventurers can actually be nobles huh. And just for killing some monsters at that.


    Hm. So is exterminating monsters enough in order to get promoted?


    No, simply vanquishing monsters is not enough. Adventurers who were sessfully appointed as nobles were all famous and well-loved by the people of thend.


    Thats right. Countries have the penchant of giving out noble titles to adventurers with considerable levels of prestige.


    I see. So just simply killing monsters wont do. So I gotta be world-famous and he popr huh. Thatll be troublesome. It seems it wont work out as smoothly as I thought.


    After breakfast, Cleria and Elna headed out to the courtyard to spar as usual. I would have proceeded to busy myself with making magic tools usually, but I have another agenda today.