A week had gone by. Bell sat in the mess tent, sipping his hot tea and reading the report. He had finally grown accustomed to the device that Lukas always used, which he learned was called a smartphone. It felt like trying to figure out an old-school analog radio, but much more challenging. The small screen displaying all the letters he was used to seeing on a typewriter was a constant struggle. Nevertheless, he found it quite impressive.

Tomas, now officially Staff Sergeant Tomas, had become an integral part of the Air Assault. He led two teams of twelve in the hunter-recon section. Tomas was a natural leader, efficiently guiding his team with his extensive knowledge of the local area. He was an excellent hunter, taking on creatures from husks and liches to even frost wyverns.

However, the husks had received an upgrade, to Bell's surprise. Initially, the reward for dealing with them was increased to 500 EP per husk, but now they were armed with melee weapons. Bell suspected the involvement of the Southern Coalition, but he refrained from pointing fingers at this point.

The base's population was steadily growing, thanks to Tomas and his team spreading the word about a sanctuary for demons. With the growing population came the formation of a proper platoon, albeit a medium-sized one. What brought Bell even more joy was the increasing income from various sources.

The hunting team, though small, managed to bring in around 50,000-600,000 EP per day. The commissary terminal provided civilians with opportunities to earn money by foraging, hunting monsters, contributing to the team, and more. They could exchange their earnings for essentials like food, and to Bell's surprise, even cars. Lukas had suggested offering education to the settlement's civilians, an idea Bell wholeheartedly agreed with. Additionally, the AAs earned bonus loot by selling their finds in the human encampment.

[Population Management Interface] [EP: 2,250,000]

[Population Census]

* Civilians: 70

* Military Personnel: 50

[Revenue]

* Population Maintenance Allocation Budget: 500 EP/Civilian/Month [Triple Value: 8,000,000 EP]

* Current Revenue: 35,000 EP/Month

* Expense: 35,000 EP/Month + 112,500 EP Military Expense

* Total: - 112,500 EP/Month

[Social Program]

* Education Level: Medium — 500 EP/Civilian [Upgrade: 250,000 EP]

* Healthcare Access: Barely Available [Upgrade: 100,000 EP]

There was still a long road ahead, but Bell felt content with the progress that had been made. The children were no longer malnourished, and they were all well cared for. To accommodate the growing number of civilians on the base, larger tents were set up. With Bell's approval, Lukas used the system to construct some concrete buildings to better serve both civilians and the military. Among these was the main building used by the military, along with three public housing buildings that currently housed thirty families.

The modernization program was proceeding quite smoothly, even more so than Bell had anticipated. The military personnel made sure the civilians adapted quickly to the new technology, and this transition was made easier because most of their spouses were part of the military, which was the most technologically advanced part of the organization.

"So, Bell, what's our next strategic move?" Lisa inquired as she sat eating in front of him.

"We need to appoint a chancellor," Bell responded. "Whether I like it or not, I can't be both the head of government and head of state. I'm better suited for the latter role."

"Who is this chancellor you keep mentioning?" Lisa asked.

"Chancellor Zinseszinsler was the head of government in the empire when it still existed," Bell explained. "Her economic miracle is still widely remembered as the main reason why the empire held its ground for three years against the coalition onslaught."

"Zin—what?" Lisa struggled with both pronouncing and remembering the name.

"Let's just call her Hanna. Her full name is Hanna Zinseszinsler," Bell suggested.

"Alright, Hanna it is. So, where was Hanna last located?" Lisa inquired.

"That's what I'm trying to determine. If I had known sooner, I would have gone directly to her location to bring her back here," Bell said.

"I see. Well, why don't we send two of our people on a reconnaissance mission?" Lisa suggested.

"Our people? I doubt they have the skills for that. As much as I appreciate the Air Assault, this is not within their job description," Bell replied.

"No, I meant SPEAR," Lisa clarified.

"Your unit?" Bell asked.

"Yes, they're among the best of the best. Or if you want to take it up a notch, we could deploy the paramilitary. They excel in combat skills, and I can assure you that one of them is worth ten or more ordinary soldiers," Lisa suggested with a smile, taking another sip of her hot chocolate.

[Summoned Personnel Menu] [EP: 2,250,000]

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

[Specialized Personnel Sub-Menu]

Standard Equipment: ◄30,000 EP► Budget Of Equipment Allocated

New Personnel Cost: 2,000 EP Personnel Cost + 92,800 Training Cost

Training Add-on: ◄8 Level Upgrade► [Paramilitary Special Operation]

[Summon ◄2► Soldiers] [249,600 EP]

"No doubt about it, Lisa. They're worth more than ten soldiers, maybe even twelve tier-3 soldiers," Bell remarked, still taken aback by the hefty cost, especially when there were other pressing needs, like additional regular soldiers for hunting or better weapons to defend against the undead.

But this mission was personal for Bell. Hanna wasn't just his superior; she was a friend who could compensate for his weaknesses. The price, though seemingly extravagant in EP, was justified in his eyes. Without further hesitation, Bell pressed the summon button. Instead of the usual particles, a magical circle materialized on the floor of the mess tent.

The magical circle had an ominous appearance, with a black center and a surrounding purple haze. Gradually, a dark purple, slimy substance emerged from the circle. It transformed slowly into two demons, right before their eyes.

One of them was a demonic woman with pink hair, while the other had a no-nonsense demeanor, with brown hair and a muscular build. Both demons were armed with 416 assault rifles and wore basketball caps, giving them a relaxed appearance. They sported white fleece jackets with their helmets attached to their belts and carried what seemed to be large backpacks on their backs. “Rossovento from ESA-POO, a pleasure to meet you, sir,” the pink-haired woman smiled and shook Bell’s hand. “And nice to meet you too, ma’am.”

"Can you help us track down a woman named Hanna Zinseszinsler? She's a white-haired demon, a former Chancellor of the empire, and she's believed to be on the run in this region. Can you do that?" Bell inquired.

"That's quite a broad description, sir. Do you have any additional details?" Rossovento asked.

Bell quickly summarized, "Hanna is of medium height, with striking white hair and piercing dark eyes. She exudes an air of authority, and her speech is sharp and commanding. Even in disguise, her distinctive presence could give her away. To be honest, you shouldn't have too much trouble identifying her."

Rossovento nodded, her expression growing serious. "Do you have any information about associates or places she might seek refuge?"

Bell pondered for a moment. "She's a resourceful woman. Look for the outliers, the places where someone of her intelligence might find resources or allies. She won't be out in the open, but she won't hide in the shadows either. She'll be somewhere in between, where she can observe without being easily spotted. She managed to escape with six Emperor Guardians, a flying mage unit."

"Understood, sir," Rossovento replied, her partner nodding in agreement. "We'll begin our search right away."

As the two demons left the tent, Bell experienced a sensation he hadn't felt in a long time—hope. Hanna had been a pillar of their old world, and if they could locate her and persuade her to join their cause, perhaps they could begin the process of rebuilding not just a base, but a semblance of the society they had lost. Bell watched as the demons took to the sky, marveling at their mastery of the flying spell—no wonder they were so incredibly expensive.

Bell resumed sipping his chocolate milk while awaiting the situation report. However, hoping for a smooth report often seemed to invite bad luck. Maybe a hydra would suddenly appear, or a dragon would demand taxes—...

"SIR, we have visitors attempting to breach the perimeter!" A soldier, slightly disheveled in his uniform, stood at attention, his voice filled with urgency as he reported the unfolding chaos.

"Isn't Lieutenant Moore supposed to handle these kinds of situations?" Bell inquired, his eyes tracking the soldier's hasty departure.

"Sir, Lieutenant Moore is already dealing with it, but the snow elf is relentless in attempting to breach," the soldier replied, a touch of concern in his tone.

"Isn't entry into this base typically a straightforward process? You ask politely, and you're escorted to the medical tent for a check-up before being assigned duties. That's how you ended up here, didn't you, Corporal?" Bell probed, trying to make sense of the situation.

"Sir, the snow elves are demanding our immediate removal."

"Wait, what?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Bell stood up from the cluttered table and rushed out of the tent, with Lisa quickly on his heels. His heart pounded with urgency, understanding the critical need for a diplomatic resolution in these hostile woods. Making new enemies, especially among the elves, could spell disaster, especially when they were literally on top of the hierarchy in this forest.

As Bell hurried along the freshly laid concrete path, the scene ahead unraveled in chaotic waves. About ten elves, their faces contorted with anger, brandished an array of medieval magical weapons that glowed ominously in the dim light. They shouted and gestured wildly.

Lieutenant Moore, amidst this storm of fury, stood calmly. He carefully navigated the crowd, his voice steady but drowned out by the elves' clamorous demands. He attempted to explain why entry to the base was restricted, but his words seemed to evaporate before they could reach the ears of the agitated elves. Three soldiers already prepared the heavy weapon emplacement on the base to engage the elf if they breached the perimeter.

Bell's approach did not go unnoticed. The elves' eyes, sharp and piercing, turned towards him, their shouts growing louder and more frantic

Lieutenant Moore, surrounded by the group of elves, was trying to speak over their loud protests. “Please, if you could just allow me to explain—”

“We've heard enough of your hollow words!” an elf with sharp, angular features shouted, cutting him off. His voice was like a whiplash, echoing off the surrounding trees.

Another elf, her hair like strands of silver moonlight, stepped forward. “Our sacred forest is dying because of your presence here! You must leave!”

Moore raised his hands in a gesture of peace. “We're here on a mission of assistance, not harm. Let’s discuss this—”

“Lies! Your machines, your strange magic, it corrupts the very heart of our land!” a younger elf interjected, brandishing a staff that glowed with a soft, menacing light.

From the crowd, voices overlapped in a tumultuous tide:

“Our streams are poisoned!”

“You poison our land with undeads!”

“We demand justice!”

Moore, his voice struggling to rise above the din, continued, “We respect your connection to the land. Let's work together to—”

An older elf, his face lined with the wisdom of centuries, stepped forward, his voice booming over the others. “Your words are empty, demon! We have seen the damage you bring!”

The atmosphere was charged with a blend of magic and raw emotion, making the air heavy and almost tangible. Moore, steadfast in his position, was a lone figure against the wave of elven fury. The shouts, accusations, and demands swirled around him, a storm of words and emotions that seemed to have no end. Bell then used the diplomatic seer at one of the elves.

[Eldrin Aldranar: Angry, Furious, Murderous | Hostile Relationship | -100]

“My god…” Bell scratched his head.