Chapter 143: Chapter136:The Five Cities plan(REVISED)
Lucien thought about everything for a long time.
Finally, he opened the system and clicked on the glowing golden project icon.
This time, the requirements appeared in a much more structured format.
[LEGENDARY NATIONAL PROJECT]
[Humanity’s Shield]
[Objective:]
[Prepare Humanity for the Next Great Tear]
[Phase I: Industrial Foundation]
[Requirements:]
[Establish a Tier III Industrial Civilization]
[Current Progress: 23%]
[Construct Five Heavy Industrial Cities]
[Current Progress: 1/5]
[Establish National Railway Infrastructure]
[Current Progress: 18%]
[Create Modern Steel Production Capacity]
[Current Progress: In Progress]
Lucien frowned after reading the goals.
Yes, they were massive.
But at the very least, they felt achievable.
Then Phase II appeared.
[Phase II: Military Modernization]
[Requirements:]
[Standardize Modern Infantry Equipment]
[Establish Mechanized Ground Forces]
[Establish Modern Artillery Corps]
[Develop National Logistics Network]
[Establish Strategic Ammunition Reserves]
[Minimum Requirement: Enough to support six months of high-intensity warfare]
Lucien immediately understood.
The system was not demanding impossible weapons.
It was asking for a military capable of fighting a continental war.
Then the next phase appeared.
[Phase III: Technological Readiness]
[Requirements:]
[Unlock World War II Era Military Standards]
[Establish Domestic Aircraft Production]
[Establish Radar Network]
[Establish Military Research Bureau]
[Develop Advanced Communications Infrastructure]
Lucien’s eyes narrowed.
World War II standards.
Then came the final phase.
[Phase IV: Great Tear Readiness]
[Requirements:]
[Create Unified Continental Defense Strategy]
[Establish Emergency Mobilization Protocols]
[Maintain Strategic Resource Reserves]
[Achieve Technological Superiority Over Known Demonic Forces]
[Notice:]
[Current Demonic Threat Assessment Indicates Limited Technological Capability]
[Expected Enemy Technology Level:]
[Early Industrial to Mechanized]
[Estimated Presence Of:]
[Artillery Units]
[Primitive Armored Formations]
[Industrial Logistics Elements]
[Threat Level: Severe]
Lucien blinked after reading the notice.
That was unexpected.
The demons would possess artillery?
He fell into deep thought.
It seemed there was far more to the Great Tear than what the world knew.
After a moment, the final message appeared.
[System Analysis:]
[A civilization operating at World War II standards possesses a high probability of surviving the next Great Tear.]
[Current Humanity Readiness: Insufficient]
[Estimated Readiness: 14%]
For the first time since opening the project, Lucien felt slightly relieved.
The requirements were still enormous.
But they were understandable.
Concrete.
Practical.
The system was not demanding miracles.
It was asking for World War II-level industry and military readiness.
And industrialization was something Elarion had already begun pursuing.
The road ahead remained long.
But at least now, Lucien could finally see the destination.
After some time, he called the guard outside and asked him to inform Lucas to arrange a meeting with representatives from all departments.
Three days later, all important personnel in Elarion gathered in the main hall.
Many expected the announcement of some new technology.
Others suspected it might be related to the Crown’s offer.
Finally, Lucien entered the hall.
The meeting began.
"Today, I have gathered everyone here for an important task concerning the future of Elarion."
His gaze moved across the hall.
"First of all, everyone has done well in improving Elarion. But now, we are facing certain problems regarding our future."
He paused.
"There are two important matters for today’s meeting. First, we will discuss expansion. Second, we will discuss the invasion we will eventually face."
The hall became quiet.
Lucien turned toward the large map displayed behind him.
"The current Elarion will soon reach its maximum capacity. Further improvement will become slower if we continue to rely only on the existing city."
His finger tapped the map.
"To solve this, we will begin the implementation of the Elarion Improvement Project."
"As you can see behind me, this is the map of Elarion."
He moved his hand across the marked region.
"We will construct five cities around it. Their locations will form the corners of a pentagon, with Elarion at the center."
He looked back at the gathered officials.
"And these cities will be unlike anything this world has ever seen."
The first design appeared on the board.
A massive coastal city filled with docks, shipyards, warehouses, and a vast harbor larger than anything most people in the room had ever imagined.
"The first city will be known as Seastar, the City of Ports."
Lucien pointed toward the harbor.
"This will be the naval heart of Elarion. It will contain everything required to build ships, maintain fleets, train sailors, and support maritime trade."
His finger moved across the design.
"It will possess the largest port on the continent, with military shipyards, commercial shipyards, a naval academy, merchant facilities, and the fleet headquarters of Elarion Naval Command."
The room remained silent.
Many were still trying to imagine the scale.
Then Lucien moved his finger to the second location.
A vast, open, flat stretch of land appeared on the board.
"The second city will be known as Skyforge."
He paused.
"This city will house the largest airfield on the continent, large enough to support any future aircraft operations."
Many people appeared confused by the word.
Only Gandalf and Malen seemed to understand.
Lucien continued.
"Aircraft refers to mechanized flying units."
Realization dawned on several faces.
Then came even more confusion.
Ironbreaker frowned deeply.
"You mean to say we are going to make iron lumps fly in the sky?"
Lucien nodded.
"Yes."
Now everyone looked horrified, as if imagining iron machines falling from the heavens.
Lucien continued calmly.
"Skyforge will contain the largest airfield on the continent, along with multiple hangars, runways, support facilities, a pilot academy, flight testing grounds, aircraft production facilities, research centers for new aircraft development, and the headquarters of Elarion Aviation Command."
The board shifted again.
The third city appeared.
Unlike the first two, this design was covered in rail lines spreading outward like a spiderweb.
"This city will be named Iron Junction."
Lucien tapped the center of the design.
"It will serve as the main transportation hub of Elarion. It will house the largest railway station in our territory and connect every major city we build."
His voice remained steady.
"This will become Elarion’s lifeline on land. It will make the transportation of goods, civilians, soldiers, weapons, and supplies far easier."
Everyone studied the sketch.
Multiple freight stations.
Passenger terminals.
Maintenance depots.
Military logistics hubs.
Railway yards.
It was not simply a city.
It was a network.
Lucien moved to the fourth design.
"This will be known as Titanworks, the Machine City."
He paused.
"And the industrial heart of Elarion."
The sketch appeared.
Factories.
Smelters.
Workshops.
Foundries.
Machine plants.
Everywhere they looked, there was industry.
"This city will be responsible for producing all types of machinery, steel products, industrial equipment, heavy-duty machines, engines, rotors, train engines, cranes, and civilian mechanical goods."
He looked around the hall.
"It will support the needs of civilians, the army, the air force, and the navy."
Then he added clearly.
"But no firearms or military-grade weapon production will be handled there."
The board shifted one final time.
The last city appeared.
This design was different.
Massive cranes.
Rail-linked factories.
Armored vehicle plants.
Rifle factories.
Artillery complexes.
Ammunition facilities.
Testing grounds.
Military proving fields.
Lucien’s voice deepened slightly.
"This will be known as Ironhold, the military arsenal of Elarion."
The atmosphere in the hall changed.
Everyone understood what they were looking at.
"It will possess factories large enough to produce guns of any caliber Elarion wishes to build. It will also contain ammunition production facilities capable of supporting future high-intensity warfare."
He paused.
"Ironhold will become the foundation of Elarion’s military industry."
Finally, one of the officers raised a question.
"My lord, then what about the city of Elarion itself?"
Lucien turned back toward the central point on the map.
"Elarion will become the capital of the future duchy."
His finger rested on the center.
"The center of governance."
He continued.
"Administration, planning, analysis, command, and coordination will all be handled from here. Everything that happens in the territory will be reported, studied, and controlled from Elarion."
Ironbreaker frowned.
"So all factories will be moved?"
Lucien gave a small nod.
"Gradually. Elarion will remain important, but its role will change. It will no longer be only an industrial city. It will become the brain of the entire territory."
Lucas, who had been silent for some time, finally asked.
"And what about the invasion?"
The hall fell quiet again.
Lucien sighed.
"Nothing spoken in this room is to leave this room."
Everyone immediately became serious.
Then Lucien began.
"At the center of the world exists something known as the Great Tear. It is similar to a portal."
His voice was calm, but the weight behind his words was unmistakable.
"Every thousand years, demons invade through it in unknown numbers. Millions, perhaps even billions. Each time this invasion happens, the world faces catastrophe."
No one moved.
Lucien continued.
"Kingdoms, cities, villages, animals, monsters, and entire regions disappear when they fall in the demons’ path."
He paused.
"Every kingdom. Every race. Every major power joins hands to fight them off."
His gaze swept across the room.
"And even then, during the last known invasion, the world barely survived."
A cold silence spread through the hall.
"Humanity nearly reached extinction."
Several people visibly stiffened.
Lucien’s voice lowered slightly.
"Worse than that, there are no complete records of the invasion. We do not fully know what happened. That means we are still half blind regarding the threat."
The room chilled.
Finally, one officer asked almost in a murmur, "When is the next invasion, my lord?"
Lucien answered.
"The last invasion happened nine hundred and fifty years ago. To be exact, this is the nine hundred and fifty-first year after the last invasion."
His words sank into the room.
"So, if what is known is accurate, the next invasion may occur within fifty years."
He paused.
"Perhaps earlier, if we are unlucky."
The silence became heavier.
Then Lucien continued.
"There is good news and bad news."
Everyone looked toward him, waiting.
"The good news is that our highest-level combatants can match theirs. Archmages, dragon elders, elven champions, dwarf lords, and other powerful beings should be able to hold off high-ranking demons."
A few people seemed slightly relieved.
Lucien did not let that relief last long.
"The bad news is that this does not improve our chances enough."
His expression hardened.
"The real problem is not only the strongest demons."
He tapped the table once.
"The real problem is the countless lower demons that flood the battlefield and overwhelm everything through numbers."
The room fell silent once more.
A senior dwarf muttered, "So is there anything we can do?"
Lucien nodded.
"In the capital, I met the Royal Guardian. I will go with him to the Supreme Mage Council and meet influential figures from across the world."
He paused.
"Our best chance is to present Elarion’s weapons before the Council and convince them of their value."
Lucas looked directly at him.
"And what do we get in exchange?"
Everyone turned toward Lucien.
It was the concern every person in the hall shared.
Lucien answered without hesitation.
"Protection."
A pause.
"Money."
Another pause.
"Resources."
He looked at the map again.
"And customers with an unending demand for our weapons."
That reignited hope in everyone’s eyes.
Lucien continued.
"Elarion cannot prepare the entire world alone. But we can become the forge that arms it."
The hall remained silent.
This time, however, it was not silence born only from fear.
It was the silence of people beginning to understand the scale of what stood before them.
Elarion was no longer merely building factories.
It was preparing for the survival of civilization itself.
