“It is said that if knowledge was water,” said their guide, a half-elf librarian named Vestra, “then Aeternum’s library is the ocean.”In a grand central chamber, they passed under a dome showing a starmap that changed with real-time sky positions. Every known nation had a section—yes, even the smallest and poorest. Aeternum had made it a point of pride to gather the history of every people in the continent, even those now forgotten by time.“This is… our old crest,” Queen Inariel whispered, her fingertips trembling as she reached toward an illuminated tome. “From three centuries ago… when our land was still one forest, before the wars divided it…”“We thought this was lost,” murmured Thelric as he came upon a scroll written in his kingdom’s ancient language, long dead and unspoken.Their tour grew quiet. There was no mocking here, no pompous declarations of Aeternum’s superiority. Only quiet reverence. A nation this strong, this secure, chose to preserve—not dominate. It guarded the
"Sai, I'm only giving you a verbal warning this time….just don't do it again okay?.....".A Supervisor with an annoying face said with a condescending tone
" Identify..".{ Tough Nut }[Description: a nut that possesses a hard shell akin to an iron ball. Delicious (if you can break them, which probably not). Consuming one will grant 0.1 permanent points to Physical attributes. ]
"I never thought biology would be this easy…thanks to the 8.9 intellect point, I might even be a genius now…". The number of books I've finished in the past 2 days already passed 100 books, and I remember everything in all those books. As for my physical strength, let's just say I already surpassed a normal human capacity, I can fall a 20-meter tall tree with my bare fist, and ran 100 meters in under 5 seconds, that fact alone explains how a freak I've become. My world travel abilities were also leveled up to level 3 which enable me to enlarge the radius of the affected area by 24 Meters wide, thanks to that I was able to bring my 2018 F Transit van filled with wares with me. Thankfully the forest I'm in wasn't that dense, so I managed to drive through the forest slowly, also the beast and monsters always try to stay clear from my path, probably because of the loud exhaust sound I presume. [Sir, The closes town from here are the Town of Merrina and the Town of Mekk.
One Snakes Keep, Basement.2 bandits dragging a beaten-up man coming down from the stair, the man was Baron Larson who is one of Duke Merrica's retainers that followed Duke Merrica on this failed campaign to defeat the vicious bandit groups a few weeks ago. Duke Merrica and his men were beaten up to the pulp every day since they were captured, and today was no exception but amongst the past times, Baron Larson has become the bandit's punching bag the most. The bandit wardens carry Baron Larson to the cell and throw him inside like a sack of wheat, the sound of his harsh land woke up the knights who sleeping inside.< THUDD!! >"Ughhhh...". (Baron Larson)"Larson!!...you animal!!...<BBAAMM!!>…aarrgghhh!!". (Duke Merrica)"Heh!....brainless nobles…how about you run that pie hole of yours some more…..come on~". (Bandit Warden) One of the bandit wardens kicks Duke Merrica on the stomach, causing the alr
---Elijah An Quers & Co. POV---I already forgot how long I've become a slave, ever since my small old kingdom was defeated in the heat of wars, my own kin, my own race, my own family has thrown me under the wheel. This foolish self even willingly offers to be the sacrifice, just to save those who I once called beloved, at first I thought what I did was noble, selfless, and I as a Queen and a High Elven were supposed to do, but instead of honoring my selfless act, my own kind disowned me. Words saying I was weak, tyrant, foolish, selfish, and a harlot spreads to the whole world and this hideous rumor was spread by my own beloved.I've become a slave, sold again and again, become toys for lust or torture for anyone who bought me. I've long cursed this long life of mine!, I despise this beauty of mine!, I cursed this world!, I cursed everything!!. Each day's I hope someone will end my life yet death never come to me, 2 months ago I was sold to ano
Since the bosses no longer a threat, I've thought of something to ease the slaves and ultimately increase their [Loyalty] towards me. Although, I already own the slaves but that doesn't mean I have their respect, I dislike forcing someone to work for me, to me even if they were slaves they deserve to be treated humanely. For that, all the slaves in this keep deserves some kind of a payback, a release from their humiliation and anger, they all need to gain their pride and sense of dignity as a living being. The 2 bandits downstairs shall be the object of their justification.Each dead body I passed, i throw them outside to the front courtyard. The sound of bodies slam against the ground reverberates through the whole keep, I can see the slaves at the front courtyard shook and cry to the scene, but no one shouts, in fact the look in their eyes says ( Serve you right! ). A few minutes later, I already back inside the room where Elijah An Quers room, all of them see
"I want all the names that involve in these conspiracies of yours…now!..". (Elijah)Elijah shouted at Baron Larson, who's currently tied to the chair with a knife stabbed on his left knee.
“It is said that if knowledge was water,” said their guide, a half-elf librarian named Vestra, “then Aeternum’s library is the ocean.”In a grand central chamber, they passed under a dome showing a starmap that changed with real-time sky positions. Every known nation had a section—yes, even the smallest and poorest. Aeternum had made it a point of pride to gather the history of every people in the continent, even those now forgotten by time.“This is… our old crest,” Queen Inariel whispered, her fingertips trembling as she reached toward an illuminated tome. “From three centuries ago… when our land was still one forest, before the wars divided it…”“We thought this was lost,” murmured Thelric as he came upon a scroll written in his kingdom’s ancient language, long dead and unspoken.Their tour grew quiet. There was no mocking here, no pompous declarations of Aeternum’s superiority. Only quiet reverence. A nation this strong, this secure, chose to preserve—not dominate. It guarded the
A knock at the door interrupted the quiet hum.It was Director Kwak Lum, again dressed in his signature dark blue robes, his draconic features smiling as he entered.“Honored guests,” he said, bowing respectfully. “Allow me to welcome you, on behalf of the Aeternum Crown and President Mies Sai. You are the first stars to light the Summit’s sky, and we are honored by your presence.”The gathered leaders rose and bowed in return.“We will ensure your time here is not just comfortable,” Kwak Lum continued, “but fruitful. Tours of the city have been arranged. Economic delegates will arrive within days for pre-summit discussions. And the Four-Leaf’s hot springs are now fully prepared—though I dare say our chefs may be the true stars of the Resort.”Laughter rippled through the room.As Kwak Lum left, Queen Inariel turned to the others. “Let them come in airships. Let them come with fanfare and marching bands. We came with purpose.”“And humility,” Brogath added.“Let’s make sure the world
Ambassador Roland cleared his throat. “Director Kwak… if I may speak freely?”“Always, Ambassador Roland.”He stood, brushing a hand across his waistcoat. “We are humbled. To house our people in such a place… it is more than any of us expected. We… we feared being seen as the weaker voices among the UNA.”Kwak Lum’s smile broadened, his eyes gleaming like starlight. “We do not see you as weak. We see you as family.”The moment lingered in silence, the kind that needs no words. Roland sat down; cheeks slightly flushed but heart a little lighter.Outside, beyond the floor-to-ceiling window, the sprawling city continued its dance of preparation. Massive floral displays were being installed at the roundabout leading to the Summit Plaza. Colorful banners were raised in quick succession, displaying the names of each arriving nation. Already, the delegation from the Dukedom of Angela had arrived in a train of shimmering glass carriages. The Republic of Telvinia’s airship hovered just beyond
“Attention citizens of the Free Nation,” a cheerful voice echoed across cobblestone streets, “this is an international broadcast. In four weeks’, time, the UNA Summit will commence in New City, Aeternum. Thirty-one proud nations will stand together under one flag of progress, cooperation, and shared security. We celebrate an era of peace—an age of unity…”The words echoed like thunder in the council chamber.Outside, people paused to listen. While many among the elite scowled and turned away, others in the lower districts paused, curious. Some even smiled. The promise of unity, safety, and growth was seductive—especially to the common folk, burdened by Triangle Guild’s centuries of unchecked power and exorbitant fees.Kennedy noticed it. “Look at them… even our own people are considering it.”“They’re weak,” Carn muttered. “They don’t understand what’s at stake.”Alphonse’s brow furrowed. “Or maybe they do. Maybe they’re tired of being bled dry by guild taxes and levies. Aeternum gave
In New City, President Kaiser Mies Sai met with his advisors. The room buzzed with discussions about the upcoming summit and the potential threats from dissenting nations.Advisor Elena: "Mr. President, intelligence reports suggest increased propaganda from the Principality. They aim to discredit the summit and our initiatives."President Mies: "We anticipated resistance. Our focus remains on unity and progress. Let their words be drowned by the chorus of cooperation and shared prosperity."The President's resolve was clear. The UNA would not be deterred by the dissent of those clinging to outdated and oppressive ideologies.As the summit drew nearer, the world watched with bated breath. Supporters of the UNA saw it as a beacon of hope and collaboration, while detractors viewed it as a threat to their traditional power structures.In the Principality of Light, the Church intensified its rhetoric, urging its followers to resist the UNA's influence. Yet, whispers of dissent emerged even
The Ministry of Infrastructure has begun preparations to reroute major traffic corridors to accommodate the anticipated diplomatic convoys and foreign delegates. The Ministry of Culture is also curating a week-long cultural exposition to showcase Aeternum’s diversity and progress.President Mies’ spokesperson confirmed that multiple major policy announcements are expected during the summit’s plenary sessions, including topics rumored to include:Official designation of the Aeternum Credit as the UNA’s preferred trade currency. Establishment of the UNA Education Oversight Bureau. Expansion of continental transport infrastructure, and. Strengthened defense cooperation under UNA guidelinesNo foreign media has yet been granted interview access to the President ahead of the summit, but sources within the Black House suggest the upcoming event is being viewed as “a generational turning point.”"The world is watching. The people are ready. And in five weeks’ time, New City will become more
Aeternum would continue to offer education, security, and infrastructure assistance—but always in a way that ensured we maintained our lead.We would teach them how to build schools, but we would own the publishing rights to the most advanced textbooks. We would help them create local militias, but they would still call for Aeternum troops when true threats loomed.We would help them modernize, industrialize, prosper—but they would know, always know, that Aeternum had already blazed the trail further ahead. I didn’t want vassals. I wanted allies who could never quite catch up—because they didn’t need to. They needed us to lead.I rose from my chair and walked toward the window. New City stretched into the horizon, its shining towers and clean streets proof of what discipline and vision could achieve.If left alone, the world would fall back into darkness. If left to their own devices, these medieval kings and nobles would tear each other apart again. The future needed guardians. The U
I knew what was at stake. We had to uphold this example. We had to show, beyond doubt, that the age of “Human First” was over.That the only supremacy left was the supremacy of character. Wisdom. Unity. Vision. And if we could carve that truth into the very soul of the UNA—if we could bury the old hatreds under libraries, not graves—then maybe, just maybe, this world could finally, finally leave its chains behind.I stood up from my chair, moving to the window. Out there, the city pulsed—an endless, living testament to what was possible when walls were torn down, not built higher. I closed my eyes for a moment. I didn’t want to be remembered as the conqueror of nations. I wanted to be remembered as the architect of a new era.One where no child was born inferior. One where no citizen was condemned by the shape of their ears or the color of their skin or the tail on their back. One where power didn’t mean oppression—but opportunity.Aeternum would be the beacon. And the UNA? The vessel
I took another sip of tea, letting the warmth spread through me.Because here’s the delicious irony: by copying our education system, they didn’t just adopt our books and schedules.They were adopting our mindset.Every child who learned using our curriculum. Every teacher trained by our methods. Every official who quoted Aeternum textbooks. They were all little seeds planted deep within foreign soil.In ten years?Those nations would think like us.In twenty?They would be like us. All without a single sword being drawn. I leaned back in my chair, utterly content.Without armies, without bloodshed, we were gaining soft political power over thirty-one nations.Real power.The kind that shaped futures. Mina clinked her cup lightly against mine in a silent toast, her green eyes sparkling.“To the future?” she teased.I smiled, lifting my cup.“To the future we’re writing,” I said.And out there, beneath the quiet, darkening sky, the seeds of a new world had already begun to bloom.The n