Watching Mohammed leave, Atlas furrowed his brow, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him. He understood Mohammed's ambition, but spreading their influence across three continents seemed like an overwhelming task, especially with the skeleton hordes rearing their bony heads.
"Sure, Mohammed's idea has merit, but I wanted our economic power to radiate from Fort Bone," he muttered to himself. "We need to focus on consolidating our strength, not stretching ourselves thin."
He glanced at the map spread across the war room table, lines and markings indicating areas of interest and concern. The skeleton hordes were encroaching, and the last thing he needed was to divide their attention further.
Isabella spoke up, her swords gleaming with promise.
"What’s bothering you, Atlas?" she asked, her keen eyes assessing him.
"It's Mohammed's plan. Spreading our influence across three continents feels... ambitious. We’ve got enough on our plates with the skeletons, and I worry about overextending ourselves," he replied, rubbing his temples. "I’m glad he’s doing his own thing. We need to strategize carefully, making sure Fort Bone isn’t fighting on too many fronts."
Isabella nodded, her expression serious. "We can reinforce Fort Bone first, then build from there. A solid foundation is key."‘
"Exactly. We can’t let the skeletons catch us off guard. Our focus needs to be on strengthening our defenses and uniting our allies," Atlas said, his determination hardening. "Let's get to work on a plan that keeps our home secure before we consider expanding elsewhere."
With renewed resolve, he turned back to the map, ready to plot their next moves against the encroaching threats.
***
POV : AMERICA UNITED
Mrs. Harrington arrived in America United just as the fading sunlight stretched the shadows long over the dusty street. Cowboys and drifters loitered outside the saloons, swapping stories and eyeing each other with suspicion. The town was restless, alive with the unspoken tension of frontier justice, a place where whoever held the most power ruled.
As Mrs. Harrington crossed the street, the saloon doors to her right flew open, and two drunks stumbled out, locked in a messy brawl. Their punches were wild, uncoordinated swings, more about show than skill. The onlookers watched for a moment, and then, as expected in these parts, turned back to their drinks, leaving the fight to burn itself out.
She glanced at the saloon. Inside, Jed Lawson, the man who ran this town, was probably watching—or deciding when to intervene. After all, in America United, even brawls like these had their limits.
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She brushed past the spectacle and into the dim saloon, where smoke hung thick and the floor creaked underfoot. Cowboys crowded around poker tables, and a few wandered up to the bar, where whiskey flowed freely. In the back corner, surrounded by his men, sat Jed Lawson, the undisputed ruler of America United. His sharp features and icy blue eyes radiated control, but not the type of man who’d waste energy on a pointless fistfight unless it interfered with business.
As Mrs. Harrington approached, the brawl outside grew louder—one of the men had the other in a chokehold now, his bloodied face twisted in fury. ‘They’re gonna kill each other soon.‘ She knew a line was about to be crossed, and she wasn’t wrong. The crowd inside murmured as Lawson’s second-in-command, a tall, thick-set man, finally gave a nod. Within moments, three of Lawson’s men stormed out of the saloon, shoving the fighters apart.
“Break it up!” one barked, grabbing the man still swinging his fists wildly.
The second drunk, gasping for air, barely had time to gather himself before another of Lawson’s crew dragged him up by his collar. The fight ended as abruptly as it had begun, with both men being hauled away like ragdolls, leaving nothing but blood on the street. The crowd didn’t cheer; they simply returned to their drinks. ‘It’s all part of the show around here,‘ Mrs. Harrington thought.
She turned her attention back to Lawson, who hadn’t even glanced up during the commotion. His focus stayed on the cards in his hand, but she could see the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. He knew his control was absolute.
“Lawson,” she said coolly, drawing his eyes to her. He raised a brow, unimpressed.
“Who’re you?” His voice was low, almost disinterested.
“The woman who’s about to change your life,” she replied, taking a seat without asking. “I hear you’re the man who runs things around here.”
Jed gave a short, dismissive chuckle. “You hear right. Question is, why should I care what you’ve got to say?”
“Because what I’m offering is going to bring you more power and more Mana coins than you’ve ever dreamed of. An arena. Fights bigger, meaner, and bloodier than anything this town’s ever seen.”
“That’s an interesting proposition. What about injuries, still need the men in fighting shape if there are surprise attacks.”
“There’s always the MediPod.” With the MediPod the fights in the arena would be much more brutal than would ever be allowed by the SFB.
Now she had his attention. He set his cards down, eyes narrowing. “You’ve got one good idea. An arena would work. And what’s stoppin’ me from takin’ it from you right now?”
“Simple,” she said, her voice smooth. “I have the money and experience to get this arena up and running. My partner owned Sword and Iron back on Earth. Tons of experience running the fights. You’ve got the muscle, but you need me to make it run smooth—or as close to smooth as anything gets in the wasteland. Without me, you’re spending time dealing with problems. With me, you become someone who just collects massive profits with no headaches.”
Lawson leaned back, his men eyeing her with suspicion, but there was no denying the interest in his eyes. The noise from outside had died down now, the street quieter after the men had been dragged away.
“And what’s in it for you, lady?” he asked.
“Power. Influence. Same thing you want,” she answered, her smile tight. “You and I, we’ll own this town. People will come from all over the wasteland to see the fights, and every one of them will pay us for the privilege.”
Lawson considered this for a long moment, then glanced at his men. Finally, he nodded, a slow grin spreading across his face.
“You’ve got yourself a deal. But if you cross me, you’ll end up like those two idiots outside.”
Mrs. Harrington met his grin with a cold, calculated smile of her own. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
‘‘‘