After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

They sprinted for about another hour when Althea remembered a question.

”I’m also concerned with betrayals,” she said.

”It’s not impossible, but not as common as you think, Miss Althea,” Oslo said. ”Once the territory lost and the system randomly selected the half that would be slaves, these slaves would not only lose their residencies but also all their money in the ’wallet’ to the Lord of the winning territory.”

This was the main reason why it was unlikely for people to betray their territories, even if it was bad to them. The only reason for betrayal in this scenario would be if they were promised a way out.

It also had to be noted that anyone within the territory walls who didn’t have residencies from stronger territories would receive equal risks of becoming slaves. That was to say, everyone including visitors could become one.

The only bright side of this ’slave’ business was that system-stamped slaves would only be ’created’ during wars. There was no known system where people could just kidnap people, take their money, and decide to turn them into slaves.

”When turned to slaves, they will still have to travel to get to the winning territory,” Oslo added, ”Sometimes, they’re taken through the teleportation array at the cost of the territory (because the slaves themselves would no longer have money), but if the territory was near they’d have to traverse the distance themselves.”

”Speaking of that…”

There was the issue of transportation. While not exactly a rule, a teleportation array apparently appeared somewhere outside the gates of an attacking territory and randomly on the defending territory.

For a price of 1 silver/person for a one-way trip. This was a convenience that was only during the 28-hour war.

”This means that should I attack a territory, I can send forces continuously during these 28 hours?”

”Yes, Milord,” he said, ”As long as it was within the 28 hours, even when the war is over.” So territories would strive to finish the war even before this time, otherwise they’d have to walk back home.

This could also be taken advantage of if one wanted to travel around a bit. Of course, the timing was wrong, but still…

”Is this one-way or two-way?”

”Two-way, Ms. Althea, but you’d have to pay again.” This was why most territories avoid choosing attacking territories too far away. This way they could save on the costs of the return trip.

Garan’s eyes sharpened at this. ”Can the defending territory use the same array to go to the attacking territory?”

Oslo blinked and nodded, ”Yes, Sir Garan,” he said, pausing, the question opening up his mind for possibilities.

It had probably been done before, but it was so rare because defending territories were often busy minimizing the damage to their own territory.

After all, the defending territory counted as the winner if the attacking territory failed to breach the walls—that was for the majority of attackers to get past the main walls— within 28 hours. If they also managed to kill more than half of the attackers (excluding slaves, which didn’t have an ’identity’) they would also win automatically.

Similarly, the attacker would win if the majority of the attackers passed the main wall of the territory.

This was definitely biased towards defenders. This wasn’t surprising as, after all, the rules of Territory Wars were made to minimize them.

One had to admire the intricacies done via the system in order to safeguard lives.

As for the winnings, she knew that the winner would receive of assets within the territory. From her husband, she had long heard that the defender could also keep the attacking forces, should they be captured.

”Half of assets include people right?”

”Yes, they are chosen randomly—among visitors without residencies and territory residents—and are designated as slaves by default. It is the lord’s prerogative whether to free them, for a price.” Though, to be honest, he had only known this happened when the slave was beautiful or had made great contributions.

”I’m curious. What do citizens do during wars when they know they’re losing?” She asked. She was afraid the people would just run away, right?

”Well, if they’re not contracted to protect the territory, most people would run and go outside the scope of the territory before the counter stopped or the territory surrendered.” There were plenty of stories where a territory that still had a chance of winning, but got crushed just because the momentum lowered a little, thereby scaring the citizens.

It also had to be said that during wars, all prohibitions in the territory are lifted. Even the smallest ones like anti-thievery.

One could imagine the chaos brought about by wars if the citizens decided to be selfish.

”However… I don’t think this would be a problem for Altera,” he said, with a reassuring smile—but in no way was he simply comforting.

The solidarity of the territory was something he had never encountered. To this day, it fascinated him.

Althea smiled, a bit smug, because she knew this was the truth. The men found it cute and Garan squeezed her nose a bit.

”Then what about tourists?” She asked, ”You mentioned that visitors would be were safe as long as they were citizens in a stronger territory. How was that determined?”

”Nothing too complicated, fortunately. As long as the tier was higher or the same level, they’d be safe.

”However, most visitors would leave before the war starts. However, some people have special emblems that may exempt visitors and others from becoming slaves even if they were in stronger territories.”

”Oh?”

”They’re very expensive though.”

”Of course they are.”

Then Oslo proceeded to show one.

”...”

He handed it to Althea for a look. ”All of us siblings have one.”

Ah, yes, of course they did. Even if their City, Bleulle, was a top city, they still had it just in case.

Anyway, Althea and the others looked at it curiously as they trekked. Ansel whistled. ”It does look expensive.”

It was a carved gem of sorts with some unusual patterns. She recognized some of them—arrays, though what they meant and what they could do still evaded her understanding.

How fascinating.

”Would you like to keep it?”

”What?”

Oslo flinched a bit, realizing the inappropriateness. After all, he had just mentioned it was very expensive.

”Well, for study…”

Althea blinked and thought for a while, before nodding. ”Lend it to me for a while,” she said, ”I’ll return it to you in a couple of weeks or so.”

Oslo smiled, ignoring the sharp blue eyes on him again, ”You can take your time, Miss Althea.”

She smiled, and they continued on their way in silence.

As they walked along the path, Althea couldn’t help but think of ways to do surprise attacks should they need to. Her husband had mentioned their enemy was nearby, she’d rather defeat them with minimal losses.

Also, she wanted to know all the loopholes enemies could make.

Fargo and his men weren’t normal people. They definitely figured out a lot by now.

After all, from what they know of Micheal, he wouldn’t ask for help unless necessary. They had guns and relatively strong forces. How could they have so much trouble?

Somewhere along the way, Althea’s feet suddenly stopped, making everyone look at her.

”What’s wrong my love?”

Althea pursed her lips as she stared at her husband, throat a little dry.

[Your allied territory Bright Village (Lv3) has now fallen to Fargo Village (Lv3)]