"You guys doing good?..".
"Yes Sir!..". (Xing)"That's wrong Xing..we are bandits now remember, call me boss..stay in character for the next 2 hours.."."Yes...s…Boss!!..". (Xing)".….Let's go...Leku, scout.."."On the move boss!..". (Leku)Leku the handsome dark elf starts climbing the highest tree he could find, me and the rest of team 57 member Xing, Alehandro and Lucas started to walk slowly towards the Legro family mansions at the edge of Loft Village. This is the last operation in Duke Merrica territory, Loft village was a poor farming village on the west end of Northern Hallerus. Surrounded with the wheat field, it was a picturesque view, the life standard for the commoner in the village was low, living in a mud house and working in the field that was own by the Legro family their whole life. Quite a Sad story but this story was normal all around Fantasma, if you were born in the lower caste, chanThis was infrastructure diplomacy. Standardized technology. Soft power projection at its finest. Every truck we exported? It required maintenance contracts, fuel imports, technical manuals. All routed back to Aeternum. All built on our standards.This wasn’t a sales pitch. It was integration by efficiency. And it was working.I turned back from the balcony. Behind me, technicians in the control room of the Broadcasting Tower monitored the surge in viewership and inquiries.One young intern, barely out of high school, waved excitedly.“President Mies, sir—viewership across the UNA just hit two billion.”Two billion souls, I thought.Watching our trucks. Watching our world. Watching Aeternum.“Let them watch,” I whispered to myself. “This is the convoy of tomorrow. And they’re all invited to follow the road we paved.”Three months.That’s how long it took to go from concept to reality—from the first emergency cabinet meeting to this very moment.I stood at the edge of Aeternum's newly c
I took a slow breath. “Yes. But they demand action. We must reinforce more roads. Build stronger bridges. Train more diesel technicians. Prepare the workforce.”“Elijah is right,” came Rafaela’s voice through the comm-link. “I’ve put in requests for expanded fuel depots, energy audits, production forecasts. Our world has changed—overnight.”As night fell, the general population still buzzed. Stories of roadside sightings, jaw‑dropping videos, and carnival-like crowds filled every tavern and inn. Merchants in Zaredon noted a spike in interest—freight contracts were incoming. Even in Shark Region, logistic drivers were lining up.Over dinner at Black House, Yggdrasil asked me, “Papa, can I ride in one?”I laughed, ruffling her hair. “Someday soon, princess. They’re ours now.”Rafaela poured tea, her eyes shining. “This is just the beginning.”“And the rest of the UNA will follow,” I added softly. “Our roads will see progress. Our trains will carry freight. Our future isn’t medieval—it’s
“Does this mean tourists and travelers get to ride too, or is it just freight?” he asked, a trace of excitement in his voice.“Passenger routes are in planning,” Professor Hartfield confirmed. “Second-phase implementation will connect cities with high-speed rail. Tourism, business, and families will benefit all the same.”Quara chuckled softly. “I might have to take a train to my next interview.”As the program neared its close, the camera panned to a final montage—images of freight trains gleaming in the sun, container trucks loading produce, factories firing up along new rail corridors. The future wasn’t just coming. It was here.Professor Hartfield gave a last nod. “We’re not just building tracks. We’re building arteries—for our economy, for our people, for our shared destiny.”The camera slowly zoomed out as Quara turned back to the screen.“This is Aeternum, moving forward—faster, stronger, and together,” she said. “From all of us here at Prime Time Forum, I’m Quara Raedrim. Good
General Alessia stepped forward, arms folded, her Wasteland uniform immaculate. “And military use?”I nodded. “Freight trains will be doubled as rapid military mobilization units if needed. We’ll be laying down multi-purpose rails. You’ll get your deployment channels.”She gave a small approving grunt and stepped back.Elijah broke her silence next. “This is a complete logistical shift. The Aeternum market won't just expand—it’ll explode. You’re proposing a national industrial surge.”“I’m proposing,” I replied, voice firm, “the next Aeternum Boom. You saw what happened when our agriculture caught up to our tech. Now imagine what happens when delivery catches up to our output.”Across the lawn, conversations buzzed anew.Queen Zanesia of Zaredon stepped beside me. “My ports will be ready to receive expanded freight volumes. Our harbors will need more cranes, but it’s doable.”“Good,” I smiled. “We’ll coordinate with Andrea’s office for funding. We’ll need refrigeration cars, modular l
Jelina nodded. “Much appreciated, General.”We gathered more closely now, forming a convivial circle across the lawn. Bright chatter rose above birdsong and fountain mist.I looked at each face: these were the builders, the dreamers, the hands shaping Aeternum. Taking a breath, I spoke.“I’m proud of this. So much has happened in only three years. But imagine what we will accomplish—together.” I let the words hang softly.They answered in nods, soft smiles, and a unified energy. No veiled diplomatic posture here—only genuine pride and excitement. A vision was coalescing: a nation deeply connected by purpose, ready for its next leap.Soon, we moved inside for the formal cabinet session. But on that lawn, under the open sky, we had already begun—quietly, joyfully, confidently stepping into Aeternum’s promising tomorrow.Under the warm shimmer of a late morning sun, the wide emerald lawn of the Black House glowed with life. The usual calm air of formality was brushed aside today as laugh
Across the city, ministers buzzed. Minister Rafaela paced her lab, her mind skipping possibilities: logistics? education? medical policy? Andrea shifted her resources team into overdrive. Bina, Mina, even Elijah—each sensed the moment was far bigger than a cabinet reshuffle.Back in my office, I pressed my palms flat across the woodgrain. I sensed their energy. Elation waiting to bloom.“Elijah,” I said softly, “They must feel that this meeting is important, not ominous.”She nodded. “We’ve done that. Your call invited them—no cryptic warning. They expect significance.”“Perfect,” I sighed with relief. “Because today, we begin a new era.”As the afternoon shadows lengthened, the Central Cabinet Hall filled. Governors and ministers took their places around the great oval table—Queen Emiliana’s Cloisters, glass domes reaching for the sky above. The slight flutter of silk, murmur of anticipation.When Zanessia and Aqeesha arrived, their presence added a solemn flourish to the room. Refug