Episode 166: Hall of Wisdom
Having seized the upper echelons and military power of the Afrasia Royal Capital, the ＜Paraiso＞ unit moved on to the next step for complete control.
First, they would introduce bipedal security Doll Machines (Sheriffs), which had been largely unused until now, to maintain public order.
The reason they hadn’t been used was simple: there was no need.
The cities under their control were all small in scale and didn’t possess much military strength.
Therefore, simply setting up Observation Towers allowed them to grasp everything, and they could maintain order by appropriately deploying Communicator Dolls.
However, the scale of the Royal Capital was too much to handle with that.
“A controlled society, huh?”
She muttered as she watched the scene unfold.
From the torso, about the size of a hug, which housed the control device, two reverse-jointed Legs extended.
The front was equipped with a single flexible arm with multiple joints and extendable capabilities, equipped with stun guns for riot control on both sides.
Sensors were concentrated on the upper part, and a simple flying Drone was also attached.
The height when walking was approximately 1.5 meters.
Roughly the height of an adult’s shoulder.
A single unit possessed the processing power to monitor and suppress an area of several hundred meters around it.
Of course, this came with the caveat that it was against unarmed civilians.
And these Security Doll Machines (Sheriffs), accompanied by Communicator Dolls, were lumbering down the main streets.
Due to these unidentified objects moving around, there were few people on the streets.
“We are adjusting things so that information will be disseminated within a few days.”
They had already identified influential figures with strong communication power through their infiltrated spy network.
Communicator Dolls were directly explaining things to these individuals, who served as information hubs, and in some cases, persuading them.
Once the information was disseminated, the Communicator Dolls would be withdrawn sequentially.
“Food transportation has also resumed. We should be able to lift martial law at the same time.”
“We are increasing production of Communicator Dolls, but it’s easiest to leave things to the locals.”
They had seized control of the executive branch, but they wanted to gradually reduce the number of personnel dispatched from ＜Paraiso＞.
Ideally, the city, the country, would run smoothly with only instructions to the top.
To that end, winning the hearts and minds of the people was essential.
“That said, the Royal Capital didn’t have as many people as I thought.”
“I estimate it’s reasonable for this level of civilization. It basically depends on food production.”
The Afrasia United Kingdom’s food production area was mainly the Wheat Hill City located south of the Royal Capital.
It was a city near a vast lake where many small fish could be caught, and wheat production was carried out using fish fertilizer.
Incidentally, it seemed that the use of fish meat had not progressed because there were only small fish in the lake.
The amount of small fish that could be landed was somewhat fixed, and the amount of wheat that could be produced from it would rarely increase, even if it decreased.
Most of the Afrasia United Kingdom’s land was wilderness, and even if they tried to increase the fields, plants simply wouldn’t grow.
“If we put in chemical fertilizers, we could increase it all at once.”
“It may be possible if we use the residents of the slums as labor.”
If they brought in large heavy machinery, they could produce on a large scale immediately, but there was no particular use for producing large amounts of wheat.
In that case, it would be better to have the locals work without using ＜Paraiso＞’s resources as much as possible.
“Well, have them proceed as they see fit. How is the base near the Royal Capital progressing?”
In the end, ＜The Tree＞ conquered the Afrasia United Kingdom in order to develop as they pleased without worrying about interference.
The immediate task was to build a large hub base near the Afrasia Royal Capital, located almost in the center of the country.
“Yes, Ma’am. The planned air transport of heavy machinery has already been completed. Runway maintenance will be completed within 48 hours. The Wyvern in question has been transported to the simple warehouse.”
“I heard there was a commotion in the Royal Capital, but what was it actually like?”
They had recovered the crashed Wyvern and airlifted it to the base near the Royal Capital, but its appearance was naturally visible from the Royal Capital.
Therefore, she had only heard reports that it had caused quite a commotion.
“Yes, Ma’am. Because the height of the buildings is low, it seems that it was observed from almost the entire area. Roughly, the rhetoric that it is only natural that they cannot win against a force that can defeat such a thing has spread, so the intimidation effect was outstanding.”
“Well, it’s fine, I guess.”
Immediately after the Royal Capital was conquered, a Class I Strategic AI ＜Ichou＞ was installed for peripheral management.
After all, controlling a base more than 2,000km away from ＜The Tree＞ remotely was too much of a loss.
Even Fortress Two (Black Iron) could not exert its full power due to lag issues.
Well, this was because they did not have a fixed Strategic AI prepared, as it was also used for various technical verification purposes such as remote control.
And ＜Ichou＞ held an easy-to-understand event as part of maintaining order in the Royal Capital.
It proclaimed that a force with the power to defeat even the legendary ＜Dragon＞ had completely occupied this Afrasia United Kingdom.
“Know-how for governing the locals is steadily accumulating. In the future, let’s introduce Class I as a governing AI.”
“I see. Utsugi and Erika are getting to be in good shape, so it seems like we can operate an independent unit.”
◇◇◇◇
It was a magnificent auditorium built in just one day.
Both the exterior and interior were unified in a radiant white, and intricate geometric patterns covered the surface.
The dome-shaped building maintained a beautiful circular shape, and none of the citizens had ever seen such a precise building.
“W-What is this place…”
And gathered in front of the auditorium were the dukes representing the Afrasia Royal Capital.
The heavyweights who had steered the country for many years were surrounded by heavily armed Doll Machines (Communicators) and looked up at the auditorium.
“From now on, instructions from us will be given inside this auditorium. You must visit here once every three days. If there are no specific instructions, continue to do so. If there are no problems, we will withdraw from this Royal Capital, leaving only the minimum necessary personnel.”
“…”
Even if they were told that, they couldn’t answer anything.
“I think you have already realized that if you do not resist, we will not treat you badly. If there are any shortages of supplies, we will provide them. Just understand that you will not be able to move as freely as you have in the past.”
Until now, these dukes had not refrained from trying to resist. They had tried to break free from the control of ＜Paraiso＞, either by taking advantage of gaps or head-on.
However, their attempts were completely unsuccessful.
Despite resisting with all their might, they were easily neutralized by them.
However, that was only because of their overwhelming military power.
There was no doubt that ＜Paraiso＞ was putting a lot of effort into the Afrasia Royal Capital.
And the dukes understood that it would be difficult to suppress them with military force forever.
Therefore, they were demanding absolute obedience from these dukes.
“Now, inside. Enter, Dukes, the three of you, and let’s see. I will allow up to two attendants.”
Then, the nine selected individuals stood in front of the auditorium’s front door.
“Follow the instructions inside. We will wait outside.”
In front of their eyes, the doors slowly slid open to the left and right. When it was fully open, the nine people hesitantly entered.
As soon as they stepped inside, lights lit up on the floor. It became a signpost, heading straight towards something like an altar set up in the center.
“…There’s no choice but to go.”
The interior was filled with a cool air.
As the group began to move, the door behind them slowly closed.
Eventually, they arrived at the center of the auditorium.
With a hum, a huge image was displayed in front of the group.
It was an icon of a woman’s profile with fox ears, the design used by ＜Paraiso＞.
“Welcome, Dukes.”
A voice echoed within the auditorium.
“I am Yuimaia=Ichou, who will be conducting the dialogue with you from now on.
My mission is to guide you.
And to bring peace to this Afrasia United Kingdom.
The door will open once every three days.
Please be assured.
We desire your prosperity.”