After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World - Chapter 650

Chapter 650: Mining Discussion
“The next direction we were asked to discuss was the mines.”

“Since the properties of the minerals can be different from what we know, we fortunately don’t need to go all-out for now. We still need to study their composition and actual use, after all.”

Victor nodded. “I saw the announcement only asking for 20. Did you make that?”

“All Elders can do announcements,” she said. “You will also have as well. They have a limit, though, so better not post too many.”

Victor thanked her, but his fist was clenched. The more power given to him, the more his new role was becoming concrete. To be honest, he didn’t think he had what it took to lead an entire territory. He simply wanted to defend his people, the politics would always be beyond him.

Juni, who was not at the table but sitting among the audience, happened to have a clear view of Victor and his expressions. She pursed her lips in thought, though no one knew what she was thinking.

Garan discussed the logistics of the miners, including the specifics of the storage and subsequent transfer to Alterra.

Victor and the others were very surprised to know what he had to say. “You mean to say… that we only have to place the items in the warehouse and Alterra will receive them?”

“That is correct,” Garan said, and the people paused in amazement.

The warehouse was basically only accessible to the lord—even if the lord wanted it accessed by others. They could place items inside at best, but they would not be able to enter at all.

They knew this because Althea had tried to get her husband inside and maybe push her luck and get them both to teleport to Fargo.

The couple had done a lot of things to test the limits of Altera’s warehouse.

To summarize: In order to place the items, they still had to open the door, but they could not get past the threshold nor would they be able to see what was inside. From his perspective, the view of the warehouse was clouded, similar to what the Fog that protected the newcomers back then looked like.

From what they saw during Fargo’s war, the warehouse was still safe even during the war. Unlike other system buildings which would be affected by the no-regulations period during wars, the warehouse was safe.

In that case, the warehouse was the absolute safest place even during wars, even for the lords themselves, and it was imperative to add additional layers of defense around it—here and in Altera.

They then discussed the safeties of the miners, where the guards making rounds outside would simply shift their areas more around the mines and the pathway there.

“Now, before we go,” she said, “We need to finalize what to do with the aborigine hires…”

This meant that the hired people from the village center.

“If you have any one you hope to keep.”

“Only Rona and Mogi were worth keeping but it seemed like they left during the war…”

“Ah, they’re in Altera now.”

“…”

“What about the rest?”

“We don’t need them,” Victor said, almost immediately.

Other than the few fighters who had now ran away, the rest were mostly pleasure workers…

Althea, who had access to the People Panel, naturally knew of this. However, she didn’t want to make the women suffer by prematurely kicking them out (it wasn’t even allowed by the system without good cause) so they could only wait it out until the contract expired and let them leave on their own.

The meeting adjourned with all the necessary topics discussed, and the people separated to their specific tasks. For the couple, it was to walk around the territory one more time and finalize the plans before finally heading back home.

However, as they left the Center, a certain fly couldn’t help but follow them.

“Captain…” it was Vanessa who looked soft as always, pointedly ignoring Althea who was right beside him. “The doctors are willing to be assigned wherever you ask.”

She said this as if she was the one who convinced them. Clearly, it was because the doctors—through the medicine and tools they sent as war subsidies—saw Alterra’s capabilities, right?

Althea watched this all in interest. She didn’t report at the height of the meeting. What could her husband, the person in charge of military concerns, do with the news?

Henry and Victor who were nearby sighed at this. Before, they didn’t know Althea was here, so they were fine with Vanessa going after Garan. He was the man they would be most relieved to hand her over.

However, the man was obviously happily together with his wife. They had to give her a good talk later on.

Garan looked at her and nodded, though it wasn’t his scope so he didn’t have much to say. He simply nudged his wife so they could go ahead on their trip.

Vanessa pursed her lips. “Can I come to Alterra with you? I’d like to prepare their place before they settled down there—”

“You say that as if that’s what they asked of you,” Althea said with a muted smile. The slight change of tone finally alterted Garan of the feminine tension.

At this, he gave Vanessa a worse look (which had already turned bad the moment she asked to intervene in his alone time with his wife).

“I’m their leader, so—”

“Did they agree to that?” She asked. “I’m pretty sure they didn’t.”

“You—”

It was at this point that Victor finally stepped forward. He had hoped the conversation would end without things being awkward, but he was apparently too naive.

“Be careful on your trip home,” he just said, pulling his sister’s arm. “Rest assured this place will be handled with care.”

“Brother—”

“Let’s go,” he said, with a stern tone and Vanessa could only tearily go with him.

Henry looked at his children go and sighed, before turning to Garan. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you alone.” It was just that everyone was so busy and he couldn’t find the chance—not for such a question.

“My wife can hear it,” he said. A statement.

“Of course, she can,” he hurriedly said. “I… I just thought that… you binded yourself too tightly with that territory,” the general said, sincerely worried. “What if the lord there—and don’t tell me there’s none—decided you’re a threat?”

Historically speaking, wasn’t this the likely scenario?

“It’s fine,” Garan said, his low voice adding gravitas to his words. “Our interests are binded tightly. He would not think of getting rid of me.”

When he said this, he gently squeezed his wife’s hand and teasingly rubbed it. Althea had to hold back a smile.

Henry’s worry though was not uncalled for nor was it easy to reassure. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then… do you know the lord, by some chance?” he asked, eyes watching Garan closely. Garan though, did not even flinch.

“I can only guarantee that we can trust this person,” he said. “Rest assured. This place is in good hands. You will see when you get to Altera.”

The general met his eyes and saw that he had unwavering trust in the mysterious lord.

After a few moments, the older man just shook his head—dismissing his worries. He was too old for this.

“Very well,” he said after a brief pause. “I’ll trust your judgment.”

…

Garan sighed and held her hand.

“I’m sorry you had to endure that, wife,” he said, referring to Vanessa.

He wanted badly to destroy the woman with his words, but Althea kept stopping him. He knew she was afraid of creating tension between him and the ruling party here, which would not be practical for people in their positions.

It didn’t mean he didn’t hate it.

Looking at him like this, Althea couldn’t help but giggle. “Do I look like I’m bothered by insects?”

With all her problems and all the things she had to pay attention to, someone like Vanessa wasn’t even at the periphery.

Garan’s shoulder slumped in relief, and he leaned down to kiss her head. “My wife is wise.”

…

Anyway, the couple finally headed home to their family. Althea really, really, missed her softest bed, her lovely and large bathtub, her gardens and farms, and—most of all—her children.

Of course, before leaving, Althea made sure to send the announcements all throughout, which caught a lot of citizens off-guard.

By the time they passed the threshold, the entire Limestone Valley Territory would be brewing with excitement.

[Fargo Village (Lv3) has officially been merged with Altera Village (Lv3) and is renamed Limestone Village (Lv3)! Congratulations on officially becoming Alterans!]

[The new rates are as follows…

[Please note of the Rules and Regulations…

[Contribution Points are valid for both territories.]

[Citizens, temporary or permanent, would automatically be temporary citizens in Altera. Rules of Permanent Residency be the same as Alterra’s.]

[Paying Entrance Fees would have shared validity between the two territories.]

[Housing within Limestone Valley will also be 30% lower, valid for 1 week.]

Citizens of Fargo er, Limestone Village, gaped at each other.

They had to reread the rates, the rules, the benefits, and the like in order to fully absorb what they were reading.

So good?