Vol 5. Chapter 26: Hall of Wisdom
The <Paraiso> force that had secured the upper echelon of the Aphrasia Royal Capital and its military power, moved on to the next step for complete control.
First, for public-order maintenance, they introduced the bipedal Security Machine Sheriff that they had almost never used until now.
The reason they had not used it was simple: they did not need it.
Every city they had placed under their control was small in scale, and did not possess any serious combat power.
Because of that, they could grasp everything with only casually installed surveillance towers, and by deploying Android Communicators appropriately, they had been able to maintain public order.
However, once it came to the scale of the Royal Capital, manpower would be insufficient.
“Yeah, a managed society.”
Seeing that scene, she muttered that.
From a torso section about the size of an armful that housed the control unit, two reverse-jointed legs extended.
On the front, it had a single extendable flexible arm with multiple joints, and it equipped stun guns for riot suppression on both sides.
On the top, the sensors were concentrated, and a simple flight drone was also attached.
Its height while walking was about 1.5 m.
Roughly, about an adult’s shoulder height.
With just one unit, it had the processing capability to monitor and suppress several hundred meters around it.
Of course, with the proviso that the opponent was an unarmed populace.
And, with this Security Machine Sheriff accompanying an Android Communicator, it was trudging along the main avenue.
Because such an unknown thing was moving around, foot traffic was sparse.
“We are adjusting it so that the information will spread within a few days.”
From the infiltration net that had already penetrated, influential figures with broadcasting power and the like were already identified.
Toward such people who served as hubs of information, Android Communicators were directly providing explanations, and depending on the case, persuasion.
Once the information spread, the Android Communicators were scheduled to withdraw in order.
“We have also resumed the transportation of food. We will likely be able to lift martial law at the same time.”
“We’re increasing production of Android Communicators too, but having the locals handle things is the easiest, you know.”
They had seized control of the administrative government, but they wanted to gradually reduce the dispatched personnel from <Paraiso>.
In the end, the ideal would be that the city—and the country—would run with only directives to the top.
For that as well, controlling hearts and minds was indispensable.
“Even so, the Royal Capital didn’t have as much population as I thought.”
“With this civilization level, I infer it is reasonable. Basically, it depends on the amount of food production.”
The food production area of the United Kingdom of Aphrasia is primarily Wheat Hill City, located south of the Royal Capital.
It is a city that conducts wheat production using fish fertilizer, with a vast lake nearby from which they can catch many small fish.
Incidentally, since there are only small fish in the lake, it seems the use of fish meat has not progressed.
The quantity of small fish that can be landed is decided to a certain degree, and from that, the amount of wheat that can be produced also, while it may decrease, almost never increases.
Most of the territory of the United Kingdom of Aphrasia is wasteland, and even if they try to increase farmland, plants do not grow there in the first place.
“If we add chemical fertilizer, it looks like we could increase it all at once.”
“If we use the residents of the slums as labor, it may be possible.”
If they brought in large heavy equipment, they could produce it immediately and on a large scale, but even if they made massive amounts of wheat, there was no particular use for it.
If so, it would be best to use <Paraiso> resources as little as possible, and have the locals work.
“Well, have that proceed in a good way. How’s the Royal Capital suburban base? Is it going smoothly?”
The reason <The Tree> suppressed the United Kingdom of Aphrasia, in the end, was to develop freely without worrying about interference.
Building a large hub base in the vicinity of the Aphrasia Royal Capital, located almost in the center of the country, was the near-term task.
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am. The air transport of heavy equipment planned in advance has already been completed. Runway preparation will be within 48 hours. That Wyvern has been moved into a simple warehouse.”
“I heard it caused an uproar in the Royal Capital, but what was it actually like?”
They recovered the crashed Wyvern and air-transported it to the Royal Capital suburban base, and its appearance was, of course, fully visible from the Royal Capital.
So she had heard only the report °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° that it had caused quite a commotion.
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am. Because the buildings are low in height, it seems it was observed from nearly the entire area. Since commentary along the lines of, of course you can’t win against a force that can take down something like that, became widespread, the intimidation effect was outstanding.”
“Well, I mean, it’s fine.”
Immediately after the Royal Capital was suppressed, an I-class Strategic AI <Ginkgo> was installed for surrounding management.
As expected, controlling a base more than 2,000 km away from <The Tree> by remote operation would create losses that were too large.
Even Fortress No. 2 Black Iron cannot exert full capability due to the lag issue.
Well, over there, it was also for various technology-verification uses such as remote control, and the reason a fixed Strategic AI was not prepared was that.
And so, <Ginkgo>, as part of maintaining public order in the Royal Capital, held an easy-to-understand event.
It had advertised that a force possessing the power to defeat even the legendary <Dragon> had completely occupied this United Kingdom of Aphrasia.
“The know-how for local governance is being accumulated smoothly. From now on, let’s投入 I-class as governance AIs.”
“Right. Utsugi and Erika are starting to feel good too, so maybe we can operate independent units soon, too.”
◇◇◇◇
It was a magnificent lecture hall constructed in only one day.
Its exterior, and its interior as well, were unified in a dazzling white, and intricate geometric patterns covered the surfaces.
The dome-shaped building maintained a beautiful circular form, and there was not a single citizen who had ever seen a building this precise.
“T-this is......”
And gathered in front of that hall were the dukes representing the Aphrasia Royal Capital.
The key elders who had steered the country for many years were surrounded by heavily armed Android Communicators, looking up at the hall.
“From now on, directives from us will be given inside this hall. Once every three days, you will 반드시 visit here. If there are no particular directives, you will continue this. If there is no problem, we will leave only the minimum personnel, and withdraw from this Royal Capital.”
“......”
Even if it was explained that way, they had no answer to give.
“As you have likely already felt, if you do not resist, we will not treat you unreasonably. If there are supplies you lack, we will provide them. You only need to understand that you cannot move freely as you did before.”
Up to now, these dukes had not failed to attempt resistance. They resisted, looking for an opening, or head-on, trying to break the control of these <Paraiso> forces.
However, those attempts did not succeed at all.
Despite resisting with all their might, they were rendered powerless with absurd ease.
Even so, that was only because of overwhelming military force.
There was no doubt that <Paraiso> was devoting a great deal of effort to the Aphrasia Royal Capital.
And the dukes understood that it would also be difficult to hold them down by force for all eternity.
Therefore, they were demanding absolute submission from these dukes.
“Now then, inside. Entering will be the dukes—you three, and, yes. Up to two attendants will be permitted.”
And the selected nine stood before the front doors of the hall.
“Inside, follow instructions. We will wait outside.”
Before their eyes, the doors slowly slid left and right. When they fully opened, the nine entered inside timidly.
At the same time they set foot within, lights turned on in the floor. In a straight line, they became guideposts, leading toward something like an altar set up in the center.
“......We have no choice but to go.”
The interior was filled with chilly air.
As the group began to move, the doors behind them slowly closed.
Before long, they arrived at the center of the hall.
With a bzzm sound, a gigantic image was displayed before the group.
It was an icon with a design resembling the profile of a woman with fox ears—the icon used by <Paraiso>.
‘Welcome, the ducal party.’
A voice echoed within the hall.
‘I am <Yuimaia=Ginkgo>, who will conduct dialogue with you from here on.
My mission is to guide you.
And to bring peace to this United Kingdom of Aphrasia.
Once every three days, the doors will be opened.
Please feel at ease.
We desire your prosperity.’