Patimura immediately stood at attention, his posture upright and confident. "They remain stationed in their respective districts, Your Majesty. With this command plaque, we can mobilize them immediately," he replied, showing a small, gleaming silver plaque in his hand.
Arga nodded slowly, his expression contemplative. "Before that, the first thing we need to clarify is the map," he said, placing the document on the large table in the center of the room. His voice was resolute but unhurried. "Not just territorial maps, but also detailed information about the forces in each city: who holds power, their population numbers, the size of their armies, and their financial conditions. We also need to understand the background of these leaders. Who are they? What are their tendencies? We must gather as much information as possible."
Ningning, who had been listening intently, raised her hand slightly, asking for permission to speak. "Your Majesty, regarding that, I've already gathered the necessary information," she said, signaling to a soldier who promptly entered carrying a large rolled-up map and a stack of documents.
"Unroll the map," Arga ordered.
With swift movements, Ningning and Patimura spread the map out on the large table in the center of the room. The ancient paper revealed a rough depiction of the world they faced. The scent of old parchment mixed with the warmth of the room, heated by the continuously burning fireplace. Arga looked at Ningning with hopeful eyes. "Since you understand this world better, please explain," he requested.
Ningning took a deep breath, steadying herself before speaking. Her slender fingers pointed to several spots on the map with measured precision. "This map isn't very detailed, but it's enough as an initial reference. It was created two years ago, and the world has undoubtedly changed since then. Many new territories may have developed," she said, her voice soft but confident.
She shifted slightly, her fingers tracing the northern part of the map. "According to this map, there are two major powers controlling vast lands: Siferia in the north and Riveria in the west. In the south, there's Aldera, a city situated above Kashgar. Based on the information I've gathered, this city operates under a theocratic system."
Ningning moved to another part of the map, pointing to smaller regions. "Additionally, there are several independent cities like Soltera. However, it seems that indirectly, Soltera is under Siferia's influence. I believe you've heard of that city before," she said, looking at Arga with a questioning gaze before continuing. "Then there's Riveria and Siferia, two nations perpetually at odds. We are positioned right between their territories, separated by a massive mountain range."
She paused briefly, giving everyone in the room time to digest her explanation. Arga's eyes remained focused on the map, while Patimura appeared to be jotting down key points in a small notebook.
"Unfortunately, the data on these cities is still very limited," Ningning continued, her voice slightly lower. "Our city, Kashgar, is a new territory that's hardly known. Very few people outside have even heard of it, and those who have only know it through rumors. This works to our advantage. We're not seen as a threat, just a small city born from a few villages. At the very least, this gives us time to build our strength before revealing ourselves."
Silence enveloped the room after Ningning finished speaking. Only the crackling of the fireplace filled the pause, as if granting everyone time to reflect on their situation. Arga finally broke the silence, his voice filled with determination.
"Time is our ally. We will use every second to strengthen the foundation of this empire," he said, clenching his fist on the table, the sound resonating through the room.
Ningning paused, allowing his words to settle into the quiet air. "However, there's a significant challenge. We will face difficulties in trade because we haven't opened ourselves to other nations. Furthermore, they may target our still-weak territory," she said, her tone laced with caution.
Arga picked up a pen from the table and began carefully writing in a small notebook. Every stroke of the ink reflected his seriousness. "As we've discussed before, I will establish a company to handle trade. This way, we can conduct transactions with other nations without revealing our country's identity."
He lifted his gaze, looking at Ningning with deep consideration. "Oh, and the currency," he continued, his tone turning reflective, "What are we using?"
"We use Riveria's currency," Ningning replied calmly, as if she had already anticipated the question. "In this world, there are only two main currencies: Riveria and Siferia. Other cities use them because their nations are too weak. To obtain goods, we must use their currency; they accept no other."
Arga nodded slowly, his face deep in thought. "That's because we depend on them and are not yet self-reliant. If we want to be strong, we must have our own currency. But for that, we need to be self-sufficient in food, goods, and energy."
He turned, his gaze sharp like a blade cutting through the doubt in the air. "Patimura," he called firmly.
Patimura, who stood not far from him, immediately straightened up. "At your command, Your Majesty."
"Summon all the economists in Kashgar. I want them gathered in the main hall within an hour."
"Understood, Your Majesty." Patimura departed promptly, his steady footsteps echoing against the cold marble floor.
Arga turned his gaze back to Ningning. This time, his eyes reflected a keen curiosity. "What do you think about Kashgar having its own currency?"
Ningning offered a faint smile, a smile that conveyed her agreement. "It's a good idea, but it requires meticulous planning. However, I agree," she said as she picked up several markers. She began marking key points on the large map spread across the table.
"Our nation borders four other countries. Defense lines are crucial, as are border posts and intelligence networks. We know how quickly Harveston fell under attack; they seemed unprepared and struggled to respond," she added, her tone turning more serious.