The Dawn of the Nation-Formation War Era Part 3

 

Neither Kou nor Robin were trying to force a conflict—rather, they were making it clear that change was inevitable.

Raimund scoffed, arms crossed.

「Are you telling me to bet on a wartime economic boom? That’s an outdated way of thinking.」

Robin smirked, his voice edged with sarcasm.

「Now that’s an illusion. A so-called ‘wartime boom’ is nothing more than the temporary replacement of lost assets. The same goes for reconstruction—the only reason it looks like a boom is because the losses are massive, and the economy moves rapidly just to fill the void. If that actually led to sustained profits, then 21st-century military industries wouldn’t have needed mergers, nor they would have moved nations to orchestrate massive wars just to keep their industries afloat.」

Raimund’s unexpected accusation had been met with a cutting rebuttal.

War has no productivity. It is a cycle of consumption, where losses necessitate temporary replenishment. The same applies to reconstruction—a process that moves vast sums of money, attracting those seeking to monopolize the profits.

Kou, reflecting on the topic, spoke his thoughts aloud—echoing words once imparted to him by Master and Fuyuki.

「Military spending exists as a public works project. Better to allocate resources toward defense—protecting lives and assets—than to simply dig holes and fill them again. But make no mistake—war itself is not productive. It is nothing but consumption, and in the case of total war, that reality is even more pronounced.」

Barry, unimpressed with Raimund’s skepticism, pressed further.

「Currency management is entirely controlled by Okeanos. The Earth-era concept of issuing national debt to stimulate the economy simply does not exist here. Even the Stones operate within an Okeanos-regulated economy. Blaming corporations is misguided.」

Robin took the argument further.

「And more than that—in a capitalist system, military power is justified through the protection of property rights. Defense, infrastructure, justice, education, and a stable currency—Planet Asia has finally managed to secure all of these.」

Raimund frowned at Robin’s words.

He had long dismissed capitalism as an Earth-era relic—something left behind.

Sans, exhaling sharply, spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

「Does justice really have a place in a world ruled by money?」

It was a bitter irony—the idea of justice and war coexisting.

To those who had spent their lives confined to Fortress Areas and Defense Domes, justice had always seemed like a distant, meaningless concept.

「Without justice and fairness, corruption and fraud would run rampant, wouldn’t they? The foundation of any contract is trust.」

Kou understood this all too well. Trust, built up over time, could crumble in an instant—which was precisely what made it so valuable and irreplaceable.

Treaties were a prime example. Without the ability to enforce and uphold agreements, an entity could not function as a governing body.

Raimund exhaled, processing the argument.

「So, you’re saying we need to collaborate with corporations?」

Robin nodded.

「Development Engineers established corporations. They sold weapons to mercenaries, allowing humanity to rebuild its strength. Even I was still piloting a Bear just last year. But in the span of a single year, we now have transformable units and flight-capable Silhouettes. You need to update your understanding.」

Raimund reluctantly conceded.

「It seems so. For decades, I thought Earth’s outdated technologies were useless to us… but the transformation of Silhouettes through technological liberation has been even greater than I imagined.」

The advancements on Planet Asia were undeniable.

The source of wealth and power was no longer just the relic weapons found in underground ruins—it was the Fortress Areas and Defense Domes themselves, producing new capabilities and resources.

Sans, still skeptical, voiced his thoughts.

「With the Underground Forces growing stronger and the Mercenary Management System functioning as it is… do we even need Headquarters anymore?」

The reorganization of the Mercenary Association Headquarters would be a monumental challenge—anyone could see that.

「The situation on the other two continents is far worse than expected. Ever since you abandoned A001 Fortress Area and Headquarters ceased to function, reports indicate that the Underground Forces have turned on each other, resorting to all-out plundering.」

Barry provided a grim report on the current situation. Though they had no resources to spare for other continents, requests for aid and support flooded in constantly. Even if they wanted to ignore it, the information kept reaching them.

「Plundering?」

「Do you not understand? When the only global organization collapses, unofficial militaries easily devolve into mobs. They’re a weaponized force with no leash. On Sphene Continent and Pyrochlore Continent, Fortress Areas and Defense Domes have started hiring their own forces—some choosing independence, others banding together to form nations.」

Robin spoke with a touch of sarcasm, but the reality was serious.

In political science, a military force is defined as a ‘violence apparatus’. Even police and state security forces fall under this broad category, requiring a legitimate governing body to justify their authority.

Raimund scoffed.

「Nations? That’s an ancient Earth-era concept.」

Robin’s response was sharp.

「The world government ran away. Of course the Fortress Areas are declaring independence. It’s no different from medieval manorialism on Earth.」

According to one theory of sovereign states, a government is defined by its monopoly on legal violence.

Since these Fortress Areas were acknowledged by their people and had retained military forces, they were effectively sovereign governments already.

The four fundamental criteria of statehood, as defined in the 1933 Montevideo Convention, were:

1. A permanent population
2. A defined territory
3. A functioning government
4. The capacity to enter diplomatic relations with other states

Many of these new factions had already met all four conditions.

「We are standing at the dawn of the Nation-Formation War Era. The old Headquarters, the Stones, and even our own forces will all play a role. A military-administrative system independent of any single nation will be necessary to survive what comes next.」

‘Why don’t you just create a nation yourself?’

That was something Vasa had once said.

It irritated Kou to think about it now, but perhaps he had foreseen even this future.

Raimund narrowed his eyes.

「The Nation-Formation War Era… You’re telling us to clean up the mess we helped create?」

Kou shrugged.

「If you can. But if you can’t, then at least establish yourselves as a neutral entity that can mediate between these rising factions. I don’t believe this tide can be stopped, which is exactly why the Mercenary Association Headquarters needs to be rebuilt—to play a role in constructing Planet Asia’s new order. That is the new mandate of the Mercenary Association Headquarters.」

His voice was indifferent—Kou himself had no interest in this role. The course had been set; it was now up to them to decide.

And, frankly, he was tired of mercenaries running unchecked.

Raimund studied Kou for a long moment before exhaling.

「A mandate, huh? A failure in governance does require a higher purpose to correct it.」

Sans groaned, already feeling the weight of the task ahead.

This was going to be a monumental undertaking—one that could define the rest of their lives.

After a pause, Raimund finally spoke.

「I understand your argument. The fact that we’re not being discarded and left as mere remnants to be hunted by the Stones… that alone puts us in your debt. Perhaps it’s time we truly commit to rebuilding the Mercenary Association Headquarters as the neutral force it was meant to be.」

Kou gave a rare, small smile.

「Glad to hear it.」

Then Raimund’s gaze sharpened.

「One more thing. I’ll ask again—who exactly are you?」

A sincere question.

Kou closed his eyes, thinking.

Who am I…?

His mind drifted back—to that day on this planet, when he had spoken with Asia for the first time.

Kou smiled gently for the first time.

「You’re making this too dramatic. I’m no one special. Just a handyman—a bricoleur.」

 

AN:

As always, I deeply appreciate your support! If you spot any typos, please let me know!

With the quote from Asia in Episode 6, in a way, this marks the end of Part One.

This concludes the Asia War and successfully establishes the regime change.

The post-war world order is now set, giving birth to three major factions.

The Nation-Formation War Era Begins!

Originally, the two major continents were intended to serve as the battleground for a war game scenario. I’ll be compiling a terminology and setting guide before moving forward.

And once that’s done… I’d love to start working on War Game 2! Of course, the novel remains my top priority, so rest assured on that front.

The Panjandrum, which has now become a legitimate negotiation tool, has finally solidified its place in the story. Looks like the tag wasn’t misleading after all—what a relief!

Next Up: A Brief Interlude, Then a New Chapter in December!

Before diving into the Nation-Formation War Era, Kou has unfinished business.

The fallen planet Lybia awaits—home to the so-called ‘phantom weapons’, autonomous war machines that exist outside the realm of Planet Asia’s conventional technology.

These robotic entities, bearing the names of mythical creatures, now stir once more.

And to reach them, Kou must first traverse one of the most treacherous territories known to humankind—Deep Space.

The Story is Heading to Space!