Lt. Col. Slane’s Office, FOC South 860.

0905, 7 Feb 2025

When viewed from above, South High Road stretches from Harley Quinn to the southern coast of Amstell Continent for 1800 km, and in the middle stands Forward Operating Camp South 860.

FOC South 860 was built for two reasons. First, so that South High Road construction could be carried out from two points at once. Second, to support the intention of embracing the Tuscan Region which was located 50 km west of the outpost.

When Reaper conducted aerial observations to determine the South High Road route, Tuscan Region's condition was recorded accidentally, and IDG concluded that the Region had the potential to become a good friend in all weather.

As soon as Intel obtained, an operation to approach Tuscan Region was drafted. Codenamed Neptune and would be executed by Lt. Col. Slane, the Commanding Officer of Amethyst Merchant which was the economic wing of TF Amethyst.

With great care, Lt. Col. Slane studies intel about Tuscan Region over and over.

Like most other regions, Tuscan Region only had one city that was the center of government, and large or small settlements scattered around it.

Magwurt City or the capital of Tuscan Region has a 10 meters high and 2.5 meters thick outer wall. Of the four existing gates, only the east gate could be entered by trucks of an MTV class.

Even though Humvee could enter easily, the streets in the city would not be able to withstand its weight.

The layout of Magwurt City was divided into commercial districts to the east, high-class districts to the north, military districts to the west, and commoner districts to the south. Meanwhile, in the center stands Magwurt Castle where the nobles live.

Until two decades ago, the Tuscan Region was the largest Nouel producer and became one of the richest regions on the Amstell Continent. Unfortunately, Nouel's production in the Tuscan Region gradually declined until the land could no longer be planted with Nouel or other food crops.

During the last eight years, the Tuscan Region has experienced a severe economic decline and food shortages. The population had also decreased drastically from 400 thousand to 80 thousand.

However, based on field confirmation by Agriculture Development Group, 75% of the farmland in Tuscan Region could be planted with Nouel after being reconditioned for 8 months.

The reconditioning takes a long time because the farmland in Tuscan Region has been planted with one type of plant continuously for many years, without pauses or attempts to restore soil potential.

Also, 25% of the farmland in Tuscan Region that could not be planted with Nouel, turned out could be directly planted with sugar cane. As soon as he received the intel, Lt. Col. Slane immediately asked that sugar cane seeds must be brought in immediately.

Lt. Col. Slane took a deep breath before turning to the window and gazing off into the distance. "Hope everything goes well."

- - - - -

South High Road km 863, 3 km on the east of FOC South 860.

1109, 7 Feb 2025

Capt. Stark was a little surprised when two days ago, Lt. Col. Slane arrived with notice that FOC South 860's strength would be increased to support Operation Neptune.

FOC South 860 was already equipped with a helipad, hangar, fuel depot, and maintenance depot, so upgrades could be made in no time.

Four hours after Capt. Stark received the notification, 6 CH-47H Chinook, 4 AH-1Z Viper, 6 UH-1Y Venom, and 4 OH-58N Kiowa Warrior, complete with crew and support equipment, arrived in FOC South 860.

Meanwhile, right now he was asked to secure the landing sites of 26 C-130J Super Hercules carrying the assets and commodities needed to support Operation Neptune.

South High Road had a width of 21 meters and was built of concrete blocks measuring 8x3 meters. Concrete block was chosen because its maintenance was much easier than asphalt, although its smoothness was still a little less.

In addition to the straight areas that were made as much as possible, South High Road was also made to be able to be landed by Hercules or other TF Amethyst aerial assets. This was done so that rapid mobilization to each FOC could be done at any time.

[Control 8-6-0, Godfather 8-6-0, friendly convoy from the north will arrive in five minutes, please confirm.]

Capt. Stark pressed the PTT button on his chest before answering, "Godfather 8-6-0, Control 8-6-0, horizon is clear, over."

[Received and understood, Control 8-6-0, out.]

Before long, black dots appeared in the northern sky, and in a few breaths turned into the silhouette of Hercules which then landed one by one.

Without turning off the engine, every Hercules turned around before opening the rear door. Logistics & Support Group personnel then started working.

"The first sortie landed safely, three sorties to go," Capt. Stark muttered before heaving a sigh of relief.

- - - - -

Viscount Rattel's Study Room, Magwurt Castle

1000, 10 Feb 2025

Viscount Rattel was pensive while his hands were gripping a small bottle, filled with light blue grains the size of rice.

The blue grain of rice in Viscount Rattel's hand was Nouel. A plant that was similar in shape and size to barley, but its stems, leaves, and pulp remain green until the harvest time and turn blue at night.

Nouel was a companion food for Dragon, Wyvern, or Firebird which was widely used as an aerial element by the 1st and 2nd world authorities. So it could be said that Nouel was a strategic resource.

Two decades ago Nouel was the epitome of glory for Tuscan Regio. But now, let alone Nouel, even ordinary food crops could not be produced by Tuscan Region.

Therefore, Viscount Rattel did not understand why someone would lease the entire farmland in Tuscan Region for a long period.

"Mr. Slane, have you confirmed the condition of the farmland to be leased?"

"Yes, and according to the proposal I submitted, Amethyst Merchant is willing to pay in gold, coins, foodstuffs, health assistance, or assistance in public infrastructure development."

Seeing the confidence on his guest face, suspicion ran through Viscount Rattel's heart. Yet he truly couldn't let go of the opportunity to free Tuscan Region from a long famine.

After sighed inwardly Viscount Rattel then said, "Rent all the land in Tuscan Region for 50 years and it was tax-free. I also have no objection to the price being offered and realize I have no basis for haggling.

It's just… can the first 25 years' rent be paid in advance in the form of gold and foodstuffs. Meanwhile, the remaining 25 years would be paid in the form of health assistance and public infrastructure development as written in your proposal."

"Of course it can."

Seeing Lt. Col. Slane replied steadily, Viscount Rattel was flabbergasted, but only for a moment before he stretched out his hand with a broad grin.

- - - - -

The outer boundary of commoner district, southern side of Magwurt City

1330, 10 Feb 2025

Capt. Elliot really didn't know what to do, when two guests he had to guide insisted on visiting the southern side of the city. The two guests did promise to only see from the outermost boundary, but that still could not dispel the anxiety in his heart.

Above the surface, the southern side of the city was known as a district for the lower class population. However, in reality the area was no more than a slum.

Rickety huts that stand on both sides of an unpaved road, women, and children with emaciated bodies and shabby clothes sitting in front of their huts with empty stares, and sewers filled with black mud that ironically used as a source of water by the population.

Capt. Elliot was embarrassed when the guests he was leading had to witness all that.

"Just reading the report and seeing it directly have a very different impression."

Lt. Col. Slane turned his head towards Lt. William from Mobile Construction Group before continuing, "Looks like MCG and Medic Quarter will be very busy."

"Don't worry, even if MCG and Medic Quarter personnel aren't in charge of carrying assault rifles, that doesn't mean we're weak."

Lt. William answered calmly but firmly, and he was just about to bite his bread when a six-year-old girl with a worn face and clothes approached.

"... b-read."

Seeing the girl swallowed nonstop while staring at his bread, Lt. William immediately split the bread in his hand and gave the piece he had not yet bitten.

The girl's face instantly filled with joy, and she immediately ran toward a hut. At the same time Lt. Col. Slane sighs deeply.

In a sense, he understood the meaning of poverty and hunger. Because he was acquainted with it from a very early age. He then turned towards Lt. William.

"We've seen what we need to see, so we'd better get back and get to work."

"Yeah."

Lt. Col. Slane and Lt. William then hurried back to Amethyst Merchant Camp, while relief was visible on Capt. Elliot's face.

*****