I opened my inventory wide, taking out three chairs and a simple wooden table. I set them up on the ground. I sat down, then gestured for Asuka and Emma to do the same.

We sat in a triangle, with me at the apex. I crossed my right leg over my left, then looked at the scenery around us before returning my gaze to the two of them.

I took a cup of still-warm coffee from my inventory and drank it. It still tasted good, even though it felt very strange. Drinking coffee on the red expanse of Martian soil, with an impossible giant tree as my umbrella. The three of us sitting here. Without air. With low gravity. Quiet. Under an orange sky.

As if I weren't on Mars.

I smiled gently at the thought. I lowered the cup from my lips and placed it on the table. The coffee liquid inside didn't float due to the low gravity; it remained calm at the bottom of the cup, like normal coffee on Earth.

"With this Wheat Tree," I began, "at least we can solve the shortage of land for growing wheat."

Emma nodded in agreement.

I looked at Asuka. "Asuka, about this wheat tree, how is the quality?"

"Ah, about that, My Lord." Asuka leaned forward slightly. "I already told Emma earlier. The taste quality of the wheat is indeed not as delicious as what we grow inside the castle. Did she not tell you, My Lord?" She glanced at Emma with a brief cynical look.

I looked at Emma, waiting for her explanation.

"My Lord," Emma hurriedly explained, her posture remaining graceful. "Regarding that, actually I wanted to tell you. But I saw you were busy thinking about the logistics business with Belial, so I decided to tell you after you returned from China."

Is that so?

I accepted her explanation. Beside me, I could hear Asuka click her tongue softly.

"By the way," I said, changing the subject, "aren't you curious why I told you to plant a staple crop like wheat, instead of plants needed for making items? Even though… we don't need to eat to live."

Emma answered immediately, as if she had been waiting for this question. "No, My Lord. I, Belial, and the other residents of Avanheim understand why you are doing this." She placed her hand on her chest.

"Isn't this to improve the standard of living for all of us?" she continued, her soft voice now filled with conviction.

"Although we don't need to eat or drink to live, or even breathe like humans, I think a normal life should be like that. According to the laws of nature."

She paused for a moment, her eyes fixed on me. "My creator, Kohmi Joshua, once said, 'Eating, bathing, drinking… those are the basic things that define whether something is alive.' Even though we don't need to do them, we should do them. Otherwise, wouldn't we just be barbarians and primitives who don't know civilization? That's what distinguishes us from the demons in the Abyss, who only breathe magic to live every day."

She smiled faintly. "Besides, eating, bathing, or drinking itself doesn't give us any negative effects. It can even help replenish the manan in our bodies."

She concluded with a simple but powerful sentence. "In short, I want to say… life should be like that. That's what makes us different. And also, there are some races in Avanheim that actually need to eat and drink to live. So, I think… that was your intention, wasn't it, My Lord?"

Emma looked at me, waiting for confirmation. I just looked back at her, smiling gently.

I smiled. "Yes. You're right."

I put down my cup.

"By the way, Emma. About our plan to build our own country… have you told the others?"

"Yes, My Lord," Emma answered briskly. "Since you left this morning, I have gathered all the Floor Guardians. Only Belial hasn't been informed, because he is still in China."

"Good. What was their reaction?"

"They asked… what kind of country do you want to build."

A good question. What kind of country?

I turned to Asuka. She was busy admiring the gold ring on her finger, turning it so it sparkled under the Martian sunlight. Kazumi's heirloom ring.

"Asuka," I called.

She started, hurriedly lowering her hand and looking at me with wide eyes.

"Y-yes, My Lord?"

"In your opinion… what kind of country should we build?"

Asuka was silent for a moment, thinking hard. She looked at the giant tree she created, then at the expanse of red earth. Her eyes began to sparkle.

"If My Lord asks me…" she began, her voice full of enthusiasm. "I imagine a green country. One that is one with nature. Buildings made of living trees and natural stone, not concrete and steel. Clear rivers flowing freely, dam-less. Clean air, free from the black smoke of those machines. Like… like the home of the High Elves in the Elves Empire. It would be very beautiful, My Lord."

"The Empire will go bankrupt in a month if we follow your vision," Emma cut in flatly, without turning her head.

"What did you say?!" Asuka immediately stood up, her face turning red.

"Enough, enough." I raised a hand, gesturing for Asuka to sit back down. She huffed in annoyance, but obeyed.

"Your vision is beautiful, Asuka. Very poetic," I said, calming her down. "But… that's not the country I want to build. Not for now."

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table.

"I want to build a strong country. And strength in this world, in this era, is measured by one thing: Economics. To have a strong economy, we need industrialization. Factories, machines, mass production."

I glanced at Asuka, who looked disappointed. "Asuka, you may not have seen it, but the impact of industry is incredible. Emma has seen it on Earth. Explain it to her, Emma."

Emma nodded. "My Lord is right, Asuka. Humans are weak, but their machines make them strong. They can produce thousands of weapons in a day, harvest millions of tons of wheat in a week. Remember what happened in Monia eight years ago? When the human kingdoms started using steam engines and Magic Engines? They developed rapidly, changing the world order that had existed for thousands of years."

Emma looked at Asuka seriously. "We must imitate that. Imagine if we applied the factory system to the creation of magic items or agriculture in Avanheim. We could produce potions, scrolls, and magic weapons in mass quantities at a very low cost. Efficiency is key."

"But that's disgusting!" Asuka protested, her face wrinkling in disgust. "Industry means cutting down forests, digging holes in the earth, polluting rivers with waste. It destroys the sanctity of nature! I can't accept that."

"I respect your principles, Asuka," I said gently. "But we can't rely on the old ways forever. Our mineral resources in Avanheim are limited. One day they will run out. We need a new way that is more efficient and faster. That is the price to pay for our survival."

Seeing her still-pouting face, I added, "But, I also don't want us to destroy the earth. Later, after The Empire is established, I will appoint you as Minister of the Environment. Your job will be to supervise those industries. Make sure they don't damage the environment excessively. Ensure there is a balance. How about it?"

Asuka fell silent. She still looked reluctant, but the offer of the position seemed to comfort her a little. She let out a long sigh.

"If that is your command, My Lord… I will carry it out."

"Good."

I nodded.

"As for the economic system… we will stick to using capitalism like humans. Let them compete. Competition creates innovation and drives the economy. Of course, with strict supervision so they don't become too powerful."

Emma nodded in agreement.

"The form of government will be an Absolute Monarchy," I continued. I looked at Emma sharply. "And Emma… there is one important thing I want to emphasize to you."

"What is it, My Lord?"

"About humans." I leaned back again. "When The Empire is established later… I don't want us to rule by terror. I don't want us to be tyrants who oppress their people just because we can. That will only make them rebel, and more importantly… it will tarnish Avanheim's good name."

I looked into her reptilian eyes. "Show them that we are better rulers than their previous leaders. Give them welfare, security, and a decent life. Make them want to be ruled by us. Of course, for those who rebel, the law still applies. But the point is… prove that we are a civilized nation. I know you look down on them, but remember… a country needs people to exist."

Emma was silent for quite a while. She looked down, staring at her teacup.

"So that's it…" she muttered softly.

She raised her head, her expression serious.

"Very well, My Lord. I understand. Leave it to me."

Although she agreed, there was a strange glint in her eyes that made me a little wary. But I chose to trust her.

"We'll discuss the rest later," I said.

"By the way… according to your calculations, how long will it take for us to fully control Japan?"

"Six months, My Lord," Emma answered without hesitation. "Betta and Belial have already started moving. They are infiltrating the networks of high-ranking officials, parliament, and the military. Once those key people are under our control… Japan will De Facto be yours."

"Six months?" I was surprised. That was very fast.

If calculated… that means August 2025.

We arrived on Mars around the end of August 2024. And first set foot on Earth at the end of January 2025. So… just a year since our arrival, we will already have a country?

The speed was terrifying.

"Alright." I finished the rest of my coffee in one gulp. "That's enough discussion for today."

I stood up, my wooden chair creaking softly on the red earth. I put my empty cup back into my inventory. The thin Martian wind blew, carrying red dust past our feet.

The plan was set. Now, it was just a matter of waiting for time.

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