The Stankey campaign ends here.

After Duke Willis fled, I claimed this territory.

This battle left not just the soldiers war-weary—even I felt it.

Stankey’s actions during the war were utterly shocking.

They plunged me into constant self-doubt.

Will I face such enemies again?

And if I do… what then?

Confusion gripped me.

I’m no cold-blooded killer who draws and sheathes blades without hesitation.

This time, I’d even considered sparing Herates.

But I steeled myself.

I understood: mercy would be the deepest insult to someone like him.

Understanding didn’t make the decision easier.

It’s like watching an elderly patient suffer through incurable illness.

We know letting them go would be a release.

Yet we can’t bring ourselves to do it.

We cling to life support, prolonging their pain.

We do it anyway.

What’s the right answer?

Like wind slipping through sleeves—impossible to grasp.

But thinking of the continent’s turmoil, my resolve hardened again.

Zim Continent must reunify.

Only unity can free people from this chaos.

And if someone must lead that unity… let it be Alto, the benevolent.

My unfocused gaze sharpened.

Next: stabilizing Stankey.

But governing it requires capable hands.

I’m stretched too thin. Baha Balm has no spare personnel.

*Truly understaffed.*

Moo?

If Karl’s words hold true, he excels at administration.

For now, I’ll stay in Stankey to secure it.

Since I’m staying, Alto must know.

I wrote a letter for Mentu to carry back to Baha Balm. Guarding Stankey? One Barzak suffices.

The Wildfield Cavalry remained too.

Defense here is critical.

As I’ve said before: every territory is expanding. Ilan, Hohaton, and Leahdon have already formed small nations.

Facing Leahdon—a full-fledged nation—we must block its expansion toward Baha Balm. We can’t let it isolate us by swallowing neighboring lands.

Stankey, bordering Baha Balm and lying between us and Leahdon, is pivotal.

Holding it means Leahdon can’t stretch its tentacles this way.

Baha Balm gains breathing room to absorb nearby territories.

We must become a nation—fast.

Only nations negotiate as equals. Only nations wage war as peers.

With the five thousand surrendered troops and two thousand Wildfield Cavalry stationed here, Stankey now commands seven thousand soldiers.

If attacked, we can hold out long enough for Baha Balm’s reinforcements.

This frontline is solid—for now. Unless Leahdon commits overwhelming force, we’re secure.

Time. We finally have time to grow.

If my plans in Baha Balm unfold smoothly, rapid development awaits.

First things first: settling Stankey’s affairs.

I summoned Stankey’s former officials and ministers.

Every one trembled when brought before me, fearing execution.

*Foolishness.*

Killing them now—amidst this manpower shortage—would be suicide.

After questioning them on Stankey’s administration, I reappointed them based on their prior roles.

For governance, I adopted Baha Balm’s systems.

Karl’s policies leaned heavily on public welfare, and Baha Balm’s framework aligned closely—though his was more refined.

His grain-tax prepayment schemes? Beyond my current skill. Baha Balm’s system will do for now.

If I secure Moo’s aid, we can implement better policies later.

Still, my work-for-relief programs remain wildly popular here.

*Chairman Mao’s "Six Haves"...* (The exact phrasing escapes me—truly unsearchable.) But "food to eat" and "work to do"? We’re halfway there.

Hah. A bright future beckons.

*Please don’t let this be a flag...*

Stankey’s treasury holds 1,500 tons of grain and 10,000 gold coins.

Rolling in wealth—this solves my short-term shortages.

My circulation system can hold for now, but irrigation projects drain real coin.

Hah. Time to raise Baha Balm’s banner here.