73. The Choice to Stay
At the same time, the mechanical voice echoing from the sky was not only heard in the world of the Pioneers, but also on Earth. Every broadcast screen airing Project Global Pioneer immediately displayed the same announcement.
[WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT]
Pioneers who have not sent a shipment to their home country for three consecutive days are eligible to apply for a change of citizenship to another country.
Within seconds, government offices around the world became hectic.
In the Garuda State, President Prabu and General Suryo exchanged glances. The same was happening in the Bald Eagle State, the Sakura State, the Eastern Dragon State, and countless other countries.
However, the smaller countries were by far the most excited.
Countries with only one or two Pioneers saw the announcement as a golden opportunity. Until now, they simply didn't have enough Pioneers to keep up with the technological development of the major powers. Now, for the first time, they had a chance to recruit Pioneers from other countries.
At the Presidential Office of the Baobab State, the ministers immediately rose from their seats.
“If we can recruit even one high-level Pioneer, our country's development could skyrocket.”
Meanwhile, in the Lemur State, analysts began opening their lists of Pioneers around the world whom they had been monitoring.
“Prepare profiles on every promising Pioneer.”
“We need to move faster than the other countries.”
Similar scenes were unfolding across the globe. Every nation began calculating its own opportunities.
However, before those meetings could reach any decisions, the voice from the sky echoed once again.
Every meeting room fell silent.
[WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT]
Pioneers entering the citizenship-transfer period must make their choice during the next seven-day message cycle.
Countries may send cooperation offers through those messages.
If a Pioneer does not choose a country before the deadline expires, their Pioneer status will be revoked and their island will be forcibly sunk.
The meeting rooms that had already been buzzing with activity erupted into chaos.
“That means they can't postpone their decision!”
“If they leave their country, they have to immediately choose a new one!”
“Otherwise… they lose everything.”
The analysts quickly began drawing conclusions.
“So this isn't a feature that allows them to switch countries whenever they want.”
“It's a naturalization mechanism.”
“Once a Pioneer decides to leave, the system forces them to obtain new citizenship immediately.”
President Prabu slowly nodded as he stared at the large screen in front of him.
“That means each country only has one opportunity.”
General Suryo added,
“And the ones being competed over won't just be ordinary Pioneers.”
He paused for a moment before continuing.
“Pioneers with exceptional abilities will become strategic assets to the world.”
His words caused the entire meeting room to fall silent again.
Everyone understood one thing.
From that day onward, competition between nations would no longer be limited to technology and resources.
The second announcement was not only heard on Earth. In the world of the Pioneers, every conversation immediately came to a halt.
The regional chat, which had been bustling moments earlier, suddenly went silent for several seconds.
Then…
Andre: Damn…
Fajar: Holy crap.
Rio: So if you leave, you have to choose another country?
Bima: And if you don't choose one, your island gets sunk?
Yusuf: That's brutal.
A few seconds later, the entire topic of conversation changed by one hundred and eighty degrees.
Everyone's attention seemed to immediately turn toward one person.
Andre: Bang Rangga…
Andre: Don't leave, okay?
Fajar: Yeah, Bang.
Fajar: Don't leave us.
Rio: Seriously, Bang.
Rio: Stay with Garuda.
Bima: Who's gonna make our weapons then…
The chat immediately filled with similar messages.
Amid the commotion, Mayor Deri typed with a much calmer tone.
Deri: Mas Rangga.
Deri: You don't intend to change citizenship, do you?
Rangga, who had been reading all the messages, simply chuckled.
He had just realized that everyone seemed more worried about him than about the announcement itself.
He began typing.
Rangga: LOL.
Rangga: No.
Rangga: Relax.
Rangga: I'm not leaving.
The chat immediately slowed down, waiting for him to continue.
Rangga: My little sister is still in the Garuda State.
Rangga: And the government has treated her well too.
Rangga: So as long as the government doesn't force me to do something I think is impossible…
Rangga: I'm staying with Garuda.
A few seconds later, the chat exploded.
Andre: Thank God!
Fajar: LOL.
Fajar: You scared the hell out of us.
Rio: Thank goodness.
Bima: Don't leave, Bang.
Yusuf: Yeah.
Yusuf: Stay with us.
Mayor Deri also replied briefly.
Deri: Thank goodness.
Deri: I'm glad to hear that.
Rangga read the chat, still filled with jokes, with a small smile. He then shook his head and started typing again.
Rangga: Alright.
Rangga: Back to work.
Rangga: Don't worry about weird stuff yet.
Rangga: Check your coordinates now.
Rangga: Who's with us today?
Several Pioneers who had just reached Level 3 immediately appeared in the chat.
Rian: Bang.
Rian: I'm Level 3 now too.
Siska: Me too.
Siska: Hopefully I'll end up on the same island as you guys.
Rangga nodded to himself.
Rangga: Alright.
Rangga: Everyone who's Level 3, head to your docks first.
Rangga: Report your coordinates.
One by one, they went to their respective docks and opened their Nautical Scanners.
The coordinates began appearing in the regional chat.
Rangga:
⭐: A-624108 (Tropical)
⭐⭐: B-628774 (Rocky)
⭐⭐⭐: C-711904 (Swamp)
⭐⭐⭐: E-480317 (Savanna)
Deri:
⭐: D-621587 (Desert)
⭐⭐: A-626310 (Tropical)
⭐⭐⭐: C-711904 (Swamp)
⭐⭐⭐: B-930261 (Rocky)
Andre:
⭐: C-624995 (Swamp)
⭐⭐: B-620348 (Rocky)
⭐⭐⭐: C-711904 (Swamp)
⭐⭐⭐: A-348127 (Tropical)
Fajar followed.
Fajar:
⭐: B-625170 (Rocky)
⭐⭐: D-622548 (Desert)
⭐⭐⭐: A-573812 (Tropical)
⭐⭐⭐: E-902331 (Savanna)
Then the two new Pioneers joined in.
Rian:
⭐: A-623018 (Tropical)
⭐⭐: C-620791 (Swamp)
⭐⭐⭐: A-573812 (Tropical)
⭐⭐⭐: D-487650 (Desert)
Siska:
⭐: B-624871 (Rocky)
⭐⭐: E-621463 (Savanna)
⭐⭐⭐: A-573812 (Tropical)
⭐⭐⭐: C-809264 (Swamp)
A few seconds passed as everyone compared their coordinates.
Then Andre suddenly cheered.
Andre: YESS!
Andre: I'm finally with Bang Rangga!
Meanwhile, Rian and Siska sighed.
Rian: Aww…
Siska: I'm not with Bang Rangga.
Rian: I was hoping he'd make me some armor too.
Siska added:
Siska: Honestly, I'm still a little scared of the three-star island.
Rangga read the message and thought for a moment.
Rangga: Don't worry.
Rangga: You're with Fajar, right?
Fajar: Yeah.
Rangga: You're safe.
Rangga: The monster that usually appears on the Tropical Island is a Herrerasaurus.
Rangga: It ambushes people from the trees.
Rangga: Fajar can already withstand its attacks.
Fajar immediately laughed.
Fajar: LOL.
Fajar: Bang Rangga is advertising me now.
Rangga replied.
Rangga: It's true.
Rangga: You just have to be the tank.
Fajar: Got it.
Rangga continued.
Rangga: After you're done exploring, exchange coordinates with Fajar.
Rangga: Then head to Fajar's island.
Rangga: I'll come over there.
Rangga: I'll bring your armor and weapons with me.
Rangga: But you need to have the materials ready first.
Rangga: If you don't have them ready, I can't make anything for you.
Rian immediately replied.
Rian: No problem, Bang.
Rian: I've already prepared everything.
Siska replied as well.
Siska: Mine are ready too.
Rangga nodded in satisfaction.
Rangga: Good.
Rangga: Then we're all set.
Rangga: Just stick with Fajar for now.
Fajar: Sure.
Fajar: Don't worry.
Seeing that, Rian and Siska became much more relaxed.
At least they wouldn't have to face a three-star island alone.
Rangga then ended the conversation.
Rangga: Alright.
Rangga: Let's go.
Rangga: Everyone, be careful.
One by one, the Garuda Pioneers closed their chat panels.
Ship engines began to roar, sails unfurled in the wind, and the vessels set course toward their respective islands to begin another day of exploration.