"Hey, wake up, it's already morning," a gentle voice roused Bell from his slumber. He blinked, his eyes focusing on the figure before him. Lisa stood there, her eyes marked by dark bags beneath them and her hair in disarray. Her blue gaze locked onto Bell's, radiating exhaustion. It was unmistakably Lisa, albeit looking more fatigued than usual.
"Good morning, Lisa," Bell greeted, sitting up in his cot bed.
Without uttering a word, Lisa slumped to the ground and immediately began to snore. It was the most thunderous snore he had ever heard, but who could blame her? After not sleeping for two straight days and suddenly having to deal with a mass casualty event, exhaustion was inevitable. Bell effortlessly lifted her and placed her in his bed before exiting the tent.
As he made his way to the medical tent, he could see how the addition of twelve soldiers and twenty civilians had transformed the landscape. What had once been an ordinary empty field in the midst of a forest now resembled a small village. Children played hide-and-seek, mingling with the people from the AAs. Adults, some with minor injuries, strolled around the camp, seeking fresh air within the encampment.
Bell crossed the makeshift street and headed toward the medical tent, where he recognized a familiar face—Tomas, the leader of the refugees. He approached Tomas's cot, noticing an IV attached to his hand and bandages wrapped around his torso. The poor guy must have been struck by numerous fragments in his chest.
[Tomas Solstice: Minor Pain, Happy, Surprised | Paternalistic Relationship | +25]
"Hey, how's your body holding up?" Bell inquired as he settled down at one end of Tomas's bed.
"I thought I was a goner," Tomas replied, and Bell could only imagine what the surgeon had put him through. "I was struggling to breathe, and then suddenly, I woke up with all these contraptions."
"That's reassuring," Bell said with a smile. Seizing the opportunity, he continued, "So, Tomas, what are the others saying?"
"About what?" Tomas asked.
"About staying here," Bell clarified.
"After everything that's happened, we'll be content anywhere that offers safety from hunger, the undead, and the cold," Tomas replied, nodding in approval. "As for work, we'll pitch in once we've all recovered. At the moment, I don't think there's a single able-bodied adult among us."
Bell wasn't surprised, considering how the AAs had crammed the wounded individuals into the back of the pickup truck. The monsters in the northern continent were always perilous without proper knowledge. Ice Mephits seemed harmless from a distance, but up close, they were akin to hand grenades. Bell suspected it might have been an intelligence oversight, but there was little he could do about it at the moment.
"Tomas, how many people is evacuating to the region that you know of," Bell asked.
"A lot, Minister Radcliffe, a lot. I can't really know for sure, but there's a lot," Tomas said, not really answering his question.
"I see."
"Minister, if I may ask, what are you planning when the snow thaw?" Tomas asked.
Bell's mind was troubled by a pressing question. As the snow began to thaw, it seemed inevitable that the humans would continue their relentless assault on the demons. Unless the demons fought back with deadly force, there was no guarantee that the humans wouldn't launch a second wave of attacks in a brutal battle of attrition. Bell knew that he had to take action to ensure the safety and stability of the country the demons longed for, a place where they could live without the constant threat of extermination.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
In the worst-case scenario, Bell considered the option of initiating another evacuation, this time from the northern plain to the ice sheet. He knew that the living conditions there would be harsher than their current situation, with relentless snowstorms and temperatures colder than anything any living being had ever endured. They would be entirely reliant on his system on the ice sheet, a prospect that Bell had always hoped to avoid.
"We'll fight. If everything goes according to plan, we would have a chance to hold back against the incoming invasion, I have no doubt. If this would be our last stand, just make sure it will be a glorious one instead of a desperate one. However, let's not talk about that, eh?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm more than sure," Bell lied, because he couldn't predict what the current human strength was. Last time, they were outnumbered 25:1, now, with the undeads and their numbers mostly relying on his summoning system, the number might be way greater than that, and let's not forget that their summoned heroes were a force multiplier. However, with all of the wonder weapons they had, maybe this war turned towards their side.
[Getting More People] [20/20]
With now having civilians on your side, the army has found the reasons for its existence. You now receive funds for the betterment of your citizens' life that will be dispensed monthly. Feel free to use it with utmost priority for the sake of getting more incentives from the civilians.
[Reward: Population Management Interface + Passive EP Reward]
He opened his regular menu interface and headed to the [Population Management Interface].
[Population Management Interface] [EP: 224,350]
[Population Census]
• Civilians: 20
• Military Personnel: 16
[Revenue]
• Population Maintenance Allocation Budget: 500 EP/Civilian/Month [Triple Value: 8,000,000 EP]
• Current Revenue: 10,000 EP/Month
[Social Program]
• Educational Level: Very Low [Upgrade: 50,000 EP]
• Healthcare Access: Barely Available [Upgrade: 100,000 EP]
So, the more people he got, the more EP he could get, and there was an option to triple the amount he got every month. It was not bad, but the budget of maintaining the military was way higher than this, he better have more civilians than military if he was going to break even, or he could use Keynesianism with military characteristics to grow the whole thing, aka the military-industrial complex on full roll.
"Be seeing you later, Tomas," Bell stood up from the bed, walking out from Tomas' tent.
He walked towards the mess hall, where three soldiers were eating on the tables provided inside the giant tent itself. Bell went to the serving section and asked for a portion. The server gave him mashed potato, vegetables, and shredded beef stew. He then grabbed a cup of milk before heading to the table. He then sat down next to Lukas, who was eating while looking at a rectangular device in his hand.
"Ah, Bell, you're finally awake," Lukas greeted.
"Yeah, I am. Hey, Lukas, we need to discuss our expenditures. If we keep making emergency purchases like this, our economy is as fragile as glass. Do you have any suggestions for balancing the books?" Bell inquired.
"Well, you can start by recruiting more civilians. We've heard you have passive income from the system, so make use of that," Lukas suggested.
"I'm also considering forming a hunting team. They would go out to hunt monsters and bring back resources, providing us with a steady income," Bell added.
"That sounds like a plan. Who would you send on these hunts?" Lukas asked.
"That's where I'm a bit uncertain. We're stretched too thin. Should I summon more soldiers?" Bell pondered.
"You should, but I recommend a mix-and-match approach with some of the recently rescued citizens to save EPs," Lukas advised.
"Some of them are seriously wounded," Bell noted.
"Yes, but not all of them are bedridden, are they?" Lukas gestured toward the refugees walking around the encampment. "I don't see any problem in using those who are capable. What do you think, Bell?"
Bell took a moment to think as he chewed on his breakfast. If they could hunt enough monsters, it should generate sufficient EPs to cover the logistics costs for the military. Moreover, if the hunting team spent most of their time clearing out monsters, it would make the area much safer.
Initially, Bell's concerns had revolved around having enough manpower to combat human threats. Now, his worry was whether they would have enough resources to sustain the current population. Without the system, these people wouldn't even be here, and he might not have survived.
"Anyway, the troops seem pleased with the commissary terminal that Moore purchased. During their free time, they use it to sell goods for extra income, in addition to buying cigarettes and other items," Lukas mentioned.
"Hmm, I hadn't heard about that. No wonder Moore and his crew cleaned out the encampment," Bell remarked.
"There's still plenty of work ahead," Lukas concluded.
"All right," Bell finished his milk and rose from the table. "Let's get to work."