[17] Rethinking the Plan

Logging into 'Game of Kings' the following day, I found Elara surveying what was left of Lyrinthia. The weight of our decision from the previous day hung heavily in the air. I approached her, mulling over the fervent speech I had given about starting anew.

"Elara," I began, hesitantly, "about yesterday... maybe I got a bit too carried away. I mean, starting a whole new nation from scratch? That's a huge fking undertaking."

She turned to face me, her expression thoughtful. "You think we bit off more than we can chew?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I do. I mean, it sounds great, all heroic and stuff. But realistically, we're starting from less than zero here. Maybe we should scale it back a bit."

Elara crossed her arms, considering the situation. "So, what are you suggesting? We just give up on the idea?"

"Not give up, no," I replied quickly. "But maybe we need a stepping stone first. We could join another faction, get the resources and the manpower we need, and then, when the time's right, break off and start our own thing. Or hell, maybe we rise through the ranks and take over from within."

Elara paced slowly, nodding along to my words. "That's not a bad idea. It's more... practical. We get back on our feet, gather strength, and then make our move. Less romantic, sure, but probably more likely to succeed."

I followed her, feeling a bit relieved. "Exactly. We need to be smart about this. We can't just rush in headfirst and expect things to work out. We need a plan, allies, resources. Things we don't currently have."

Elara stopped and faced me, a determined glint in her eye. "Alright, let's do it your way. We find a faction that aligns with our goals, or at least won't get in the way of them. We build up our strength, make connections, and when we're ready, we make our move. Whether that's starting our own nation or taking the reins of another."

I felt a renewed sense of purpose. "We'll need to be careful, pick the right faction. One that gives us room to grow but doesn't stifle us. And we'll need to keep our ultimate goal in mind, always."

Elara nodded in agreement. "We'll do it right this time. No more blind idealism. We're playing the long game now. And we're going to play it to win."

As we walked through the remains of Lyrinthia, I posed a question to Elara, thinking about our next move. "What's the most powerful nation in the game right now?"

Elara glanced at me, her brows furrowing. "The New Roman Empire. They're the big dogs, controlling vast territories, resources, and a hell of an army."

I nodded, processing this. "And what do they lack? There's got to be something."

She chuckled dryly. "If they lack anything, it's convenient access to luxury goods from the Zhao Empire. They're on the other side of the world. There's a land trade route between them, Silk Road 2.0, but it's a raider's wet dream. Gets hit all the fking time. So, stuff like silk from Zhao empire costs a damn fortune – literally their weight in gold."

"What about a sea route?" I asked, a plan beginning to take shape in my mind. "Isn't that faster and safer?"

"The Southern ocean is the fastest, sure, but it's crawling with pirates. It's like navigating a minefield with a blindfold. Plus, this world being only half ocean and the new world blocking us off to the west, the only other routes are around the damn ice caps – north or south. And that's a journey not many are willing to take. It's long, dangerous, and expensive."

As she spoke, the gears in my head were turning. A risky but potentially lucrative opportunity was presenting itself.

Elara noticed my thoughtful expression. "What are you thinking? You've got that 'I've got a plan' look."

I smiled slightly. "I'm thinking we could capitalize on this. If we can establish a safe and reliable trade route for these luxury goods, especially silk, we could make a fortune. And with that fortune, we could fund our new nation or our rise within another faction."

Elara's eyes widened in realization. "Holy shit, Wang. That's ambitious as hell. But it's not just about the money; it's about the influence, the connections. If we pull this off, we'd be major players, a force to be reckoned with."

"Exactly," I said, my plan becoming clearer. "But we'd need ships, a crew, and a way to navigate those dangerous waters safely. And we'd need to negotiate with Zhong Yuan for trade rights. It won't be easy."

Elara nodded, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "Not easy, but not impossible. We'd be taking on pirates, the elements, and probably some political bullshit too. But the rewards... they could be massive."

I could see the wheels turning in her head, the strategist in her weighing the risks and rewards. "We'll need allies, people with naval experience, and we'll need to scout those trade routes, find the best path. And we'll need to be armed to the teeth – can't let those pirates think they can fuck with us."

"And we'll need a base of operations, a port," I added. "Somewhere secure, but accessible. It's a long-term plan, a big investment, but the payoff could set us up for whatever we want to do next."

Elara looked out towards the horizon, her expression one of determination. "Let's do it. Let's take this gamble. We'll start small, test the waters, and then expand. We'll build a fleet, secure trade rights, and navigate those treacherous waters. We'll make a name for ourselves, not just as survivors, but as pioneers."

"Yeah, let's go fk some shit up." I said.

Elara chuckled for a moment then said:

"Fk some shit up is my legal middle name."

Q: Are you hyped for the next arc?