Chapter 129: The Changing Port Town of Terek
Now, let us shift our focus to the Port Town of Terek.
The Port Town of Terek lies at the base of two protruding peninsulas. One of these peninsulas curves protectively, forming a tranquil bay.
Within this sheltered bay, safe from the raging waves of the open sea, a large construction ship dispatched from The Tree is currently docked.
“I never imagined a town could be built this quickly…”
To the east of the Port Town of Terek, in a vast wasteland with sparse vegetation, Paraiso was rapidly expanding its influence.
The ground was being leveled, creating a flat and sturdy landscape. Buildings were rising in succession within grid-like sections. Moreover, all of this work was being carried out by automated machines.
The pioneers of this wasteland were the highly mobile walkers, while the leveling was done by a super large soil improvement device that moved on endless tracks. This machine had the capability to inject improvement agents deep into the ground, enhancing the soil’s stability.
Dozens of these behemoths moved tirelessly, day and night, expanding the land available for construction.
However, after more than a month of this sight, it had become a part of daily life. The residents of the Port Town of Terek had their own lives to lead, and while there had initially been crowds gathering to watch, things had settled down.
The establishment of a general store directly operated by Paraiso was a significant factor in this change. The town had been struggling for survival, relying heavily on trade with Paraiso, and the residents had been in dire need of daily necessities.
The impact of this general store was profound.
An economy cannot thrive without the circulation of money. The Port Town of Terek had been stagnating to the point where most transactions were bartered, as interactions with other towns had nearly ceased.
In terms of food, the former refugees had managed to cultivate some farmland, and if there were shortages, assistance from Paraiso was available. Housing was in short supply, so the construction industry had seen some revitalization. However, the former refugees needing homes could not afford to pay, leading to a system where powerful trading companies purchased agricultural products and labor in exchange for providing housing. There was little monetary exchange, and everyone worked with a sense of community, helping one another.
In reality, Paraiso was providing support in this area as well, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that the residents were living in a state of dependency.
“Your efforts have been significant. We are, after all, outsiders. To be honest, if you had reached a different conclusion, this scene might have looked entirely different.”
“That’s true. I must say, it was a wise decision on my part. However, given the circumstances, I believe any decent person would have arrived at the same conclusion.”
Kuravia Terek, the Guild Master, stood alongside Zwei as they ascended the construction site of a large lighthouse.
This lighthouse was being built by the hands of the people of the Port Town of Terek under the technical guidance of Paraiso. Naturally, if the construction machines operating outside the town were in charge, the lighthouse would be completed in just ten days. However, Paraiso did not see it that way.
They believed that this important project should be accomplished by the townspeople themselves. Furthermore, it also had aspects of a public works project.
Of course, they were not forcing anyone to carry stones.
While Paraiso did not provide tools or materials, they were transmitting various technologies.
Currently, the stones for construction were being lifted by a manually operated crane capable of moving large quantities safely at once. In another area, blacksmiths were gathered to produce basic steam engines. They were teaching everything from how to draw blueprints to how to create drills and lathes, as well as the methods for heat treatment and the concept of alloys. Various technologies that would normally take decades or even centuries to develop were being imparted by Paraiso.
“The expansion of the road to Iron Town is complete. We are also fully committed to the development of the mines over there. I feel bad for the miners, but from now on, we will be the ones doing the mining.”
“There’s no need to feel bad. I’ve heard that things have improved significantly since you arrived, but it was originally a dreadful workplace with many fatalities. There were plenty of mining slaves as well. The country has fallen into such disarray that they were released, albeit gradually.”
Iron Town was also undergoing significant transformation. It was set to become a relay town along the land route from the Port Town of Terek or the Second Fortress (Black Iron), serving as a hub for resource accumulation. Here too, support was being provided not just through the provision of goods, but through some form of work.
“Working properly and receiving fair compensation makes the food you buy with your own money taste all the better. It’s truly a blessing to have someone who provides that for you. If you’re planning to take over the country, everyone would gladly cooperate.”
And that was the consensus among the residents of the Port Town of Terek and Iron Town. The rumors of Paraiso‘s invasion of the Afrasia United Kingdom had spread throughout the town. While some residents felt a sense of crisis, ultimately, it was Paraiso that had sustained their lives. Given that they appeared as young girls, there was little sign of any serious exclusionary movements.
Of course, those who caused too many problems had been naturally eliminated through a process of survival of the fittest in such dire circumstances. In Iron Town, everyone had to cooperate to survive. In the Port Town of Terek, the vigilant group led by Kuravia Terek swiftly dealt with any budding issues.
“Essentially, we plan for you to become self-sufficient. Eventually, we will create an economic zone centered around the Port Town of Terek and carry out commercial expansion. Of course, we will handle the destruction of military forces ourselves.”
“…Well, I would appreciate more detailed information on that. I can’t quite imagine what you just said.”
Paraiso aimed to invade the Afrasia United Kingdom. However, while they would strip the resistance of their combat capabilities, they had no interest in governance. Their primary desire was for resources, merely eliminating any obstacles in their way.
Thanks to Commander Eve’s intentions, they were trying to avoid inhumane treatment. Still, governance was not expected to yield a return commensurate with the resources invested. It seemed that Commander Eve understood this, giving vague instructions to leave things alone as long as public order did not deteriorate.
Thus, after much consideration, Ringo decided to expand the commercial zone while maintaining public order, opting not to interfere unnecessarily. There would undoubtedly be various issues, but they would be resolved as they arose. If necessary, they could even rotate the Brain Unit as part of an educational initiative.
This was not a meticulously planned strategy; to be honest, it was rather haphazard.
They did not wish to treat anyone inhumanely, but neither did they intend to actively assist. They would refrain from interference and let the residents live as they saw fit.
However, if any problems did arise, they would likely intervene in some manner.
“Now then. Changing the subject…”
Zwei said, turning to face Kuravia Terek. Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Kuravia Terek straightened her posture.
“It’s likely to happen within a month, but we will be dispatching new personnel to the Port Town of Terek.”
“Oh…?”
The girls from Paraiso who entered and exited the Port Town of Terek would soon have new members joining them. However, such reports had never been formally communicated to Kuravia Terek before. The newcomers simply appeared without warning, and just as mysteriously, they would vanish.
Since the information exchanged among them was properly shared, Kuravia Terek had never felt any dissatisfaction or suspicion regarding this matter.
“The fact that you are informing me of this suggests a special status, does it not?”
“I can confirm that. She is, how should I put it… a bit too free-spirited. While she may cause some trouble, I will do my best to keep her in check, so I ask for your understanding.”
It was a rather vague notification. It was one-sided yet humble, and Zwei=Ringo wore an oddly apologetic expression and tone.
“…Ah. I see… Well, understood. It may be rude to ask, but she doesn’t harbor any ill intentions, does she? I mean, is she going to be tyrannical or anything…?”
“In that sense, I can assure you that her intentions are fundamentally good. However, she has a strong curiosity and tends to prioritize her own interests, so there is a high likelihood she will act in ways that diverge from our previous personnel.”
“…Hmm. Should we assign a guide?”
“I affirm that. We will provide a salary, so I would like to have one person assigned. Ideally, someone with a broad knowledge base who can answer various questions.”
In the end, despite all the talk, Ringo was still quite lenient.