Chapter 18
After about two hours, the others finally return from gathering wood. Their clothes are covered in dust and wood chips, but their faces show satisfaction. They managed to collect enough material for the first stage of construction.
Meanwhile, Shin and Sato have already prepared the building site. Using ropes and wooden stakes, they carefully mark the area where the future town hall will stand. Sato measures every side several times, checking the angles and distances precisely. His experience with architecture is obvious in every movement.
Shin watches him for a moment and nods with respect.
"You're really good at this," Shin says calmly.
Sato smiles slightly.
"Architecture has always been my passion."
Soon after, Shin, Sato, and Bertrandt begin building the framework. They work without stopping. Wood is cut, beams are carried, and structures are assembled. The work is heavy, but the atmosphere stays focused and determined.
Hours pass quickly.
By the time the moon is already high in the sky, they place the final beam.
22:30.
Shin takes a step back and looks at the structure.
"Ah… we did it," he says with relief. "The entire frame is finished. No mistakes."
Bertrandt stretches his tired arms.
"Yeah, you're right," he says. "But Sato is really impressive. Without his plans this would have taken us twice as long."
Sato scratches the back of his head, slightly embarrassed.
Then he looks around.
"Wait… where are the others?"
Shin answers calmly.
"I sent them away."
Sato raises an eyebrow.
"Sent them away?"
"Yes," Shin explains. "We don't only need wood. They're gathering stone, sand, and water. Without those materials, the building won't be stable."
Sato nods slowly.
"I see… that makes sense."
For a moment, they stand in silence while looking at the structure.
Then Bertrandt speaks again.
"Shin… how long will it take to finish the city?"
Shin thinks for a moment before answering.
His voice is calm and precise.
"If everything goes perfectly… about four months for the entire city."
Bertrandt whistles quietly.
"Four months… that's fast."
Shin points at the small area around the town hall.
"But this section here," Shin says, "should be finished in about fourteen days."
Sato looks surprised.
"Fourteen days? Isn't that too little time?"
Shin gently shakes his head.
"No."
Sato looks confused.
Shin smiles slightly.
"I called for reinforcements."
Sato stays quiet for a moment.
Inside his mind, one thought appears.
Are there really people who would help others so selflessly…?
,,One Day Later – Rosenthal Kingdom''
Anne sits at a table and reads the letter delivered by the pigeon.
The moment she recognizes Shin's handwriting, she begins reading immediately.
After a few seconds, she sighs.
"So… you need my help."
A small smile appears on her face.
"Alright."
Fourteen minutes later, Anne arrives at a large facility on the edge of the city.
Around one hundred men are inside. Many of them are former soldiers who are about to leave the military or have already lost their purpose.
Anne opens the door and shouts loudly:
"Listen up!"
The conversations inside the room slowly stop.
About one hundred men look at her.
Anne crosses her arms.
"I have an offer for you," she says clearly. "A new place to live. A new city."
One of the men leans back and laughs.
"A new city?" he says mockingly. "What do you mean by that?"
Anne explains everything: the destroyed city, the starving people, and Shin's plan to rebuild it.
As soon as she finishes, several men begin laughing.
"You're lying," one of them says.
"That sounds like complete nonsense."
Anne walks slowly toward him.
Then suddenly
she punches him in the head.
The entire room goes silent.
Anne looks at him coldly.
"So," she says calmly.
"Do you want to come with us…"
She pauses for a moment.
"…or do you want to keep living in this shitty place?"
The man stays silent.
And for the first time in the room, nobody is laughing anymore.
What will happens next?