Flevance, the ninth day since the arrival of the new Marine base commander, Jake.
"Hey, First Squad! Handover for the daily patrol on Hope Street is moved up by half an hour. Gather early and cover additional areas during the shift change!"
"Third Squad, continue searching the heavily infected zones for critically ill patients. Remember to wear protective gear. If anything seems off, go straight to Commander Jake for treatment—no delays!"
"Sixth Squad, your mission today is to follow Officer Monet into the sewer system to search for civilians in hiding. No firing weapons—maintain a peaceful approach. Report any incidents immediately to Officer Monet!"
"Squad Nine, spread out across the streets and attack those stubborn gang members. Don't give those bastards any openings! Keep suppressing them until they can't breathe and decide to surrender. Commander Jake has ordered that anyone who resists can be executed on the spot!"
"Squad Ten, follow me and Commander Jake to treat the injured technicians and suppress those arrogant nobles who don't know their place. If any noble gives you trouble, don't just take it—report it to Commander Jake immediately. He'll ensure we get fair treatment. Remember, we're not the same as before. Now we're Commander Jake's soldiers, and everything we do is for justice!"
The faint morning mist was dispelled by the deep roars of the marines.
Sunlight bathed the entire Flevance, a region once shrouded in war and bloodshed but now, somehow, brimming with a faint vitality.
Street vendors had begun to appear, selling daily necessities.
Smiles that has been long absent, had returned to the faces of Flevance's residents.
When illness could be cured, nothing else was a problem anymore.
They started rebuilding their homes atop the ruins.
As long as people remained, recreating a small home wouldn't take long—just a month or two, or even faster, a single month to restore things to how they were before.
As long as the people were here, that was enough.
As long as they were alive.
The man wiped the sweat from his brow.
His fingers were peeling from handling bricks, but he showed no intention of stopping.
Behind him, his wife struggled to move a heavy stone.
His wife's health was poor.
The time spent in the sewers had worsened her cough, and back then, she had also suffered from Amber Lead Syndrome.
If not for Commander Jake's timely intervention, he might have lost the love of his life.
Even though Commander Jake had saved his wife and her cough had improved, the man still felt she was too frail.
If not for her insistence on helping, he would never have let her touch these stones.
He needed to finish rebuilding their house quickly.
His wife couldn't afford to catch a chill.
He couldn't lose her—that pain was something he never wanted to experience again.
The woman looked at her husband's peeling hands, her expression a mix of reproach and concern.
Setting down the stone, she picked up a cup of water and said with a mix of tenderness and scolding, Newest update provided by NoveI★Fire.net
"You stubborn man, I told you not to push yourself so hard. The temporary shelter Commander Jake arranged for us is perfectly safe. There are marines patrolling outside every night—nothing will go wrong. We're just sleeping apart for now. You don't need to worry so much."
The man nodded, accepting the water she handed him.
After taking a sip, he replied.
"Jake-sama has done so much for us. I was thinking of finishing our house first, then helping Old John's family with theirs, followed by Resro's family. The sooner we build our homes, the less burden Jake-sama and those Marines will have. The good rest we enjoy every night is only possible because they patrol tirelessly through the night."
"Many of them are still young—some not even twenty yet, younger than us. It pains me to see them . To ensure everyone's safety, Lord Jake arranged separate dormitories for men and women without homes. This not only makes management easier but also protects you all. How could I possibly worry about that? I just thought if you stayed in the dormitory, other homeless women would have nowhere to go. Since we've survived, I want more people to live too. Don't you agree?"
The woman listened to her husband's words, a look of surprise flashing across her face before she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, smiling as she said.
"My man has grown up, it seems. If you'd said something before, I wouldn't have believed it."
The man touched the spot where she'd kissed him, his face flushing slightly.
Scratching his head, he replied.
"After nearly losing you, I know how that feels. I don't want anyone else in this world to experience the same. There's only one Jake-sama, but if we can do our part here, maybe one day we can become someone else's Jake-sama."
Hearing this, the woman chuckled and rolled up her sleeves, continuing to move the stones on the ground as she said.
"Well then, what are you standing around for? Go mix some cement for me—I'll handle the stones!"
Meanwhile, Jake stood at the edge of Flevance with a faint smile on his lips.
Monet, standing beside him, asked curiously.
"Why are you suddenly smiling?"
"Because I can see this country truly improving because of our presence."
"If that's the case, then to witness more of such beauty, you should remember to rest properly, Jake-sama~"
"Don't worry, Monet. You know my abilities—even mental exhaustion can be recovered. The harder I work, the more lives we can save. Once everything settles down, I'll rest properly."
Monet smiled softly at him and replied.
"Those are your own words. If your ability can restore mental fatigue, then starting today, I'll work as long as you do. Every time you cast Healing Prayer on yourself, you'll cast it on me too. I'll stay by your side."
"My thoughts are the same as yours. Once this is all over, we'll rest. The Marines here aren't just you—I'm a Marine too."