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In the short days that passed, various battles had happened all over the world.

The fight to establish trade and hinder others from trading was so rampant that more than ten battles between nations occurred in one day.

While many parts of the world had succeeded through the agreement between Egypt and various nations to open the Suez Canal, the ships that set sail only belonged to certain nations.

The Gulf of Aden became wroth with many battles as various nations became involved to hinder their enemy that participated in this trade.

Everyone was racing to establish a trade route to connect to points of the Earth. While the WGP had no longer prohibited or stopped nations from studying and applying the tech possibilities of other nations, it was too costly, and there was no time to do that. 

And so, nations would race to create necessary trades of technology and provide each other with weapons that could be used to incorporate with their techs.

Meryl watched with great amazement at the news.

In front of her was a young boy who happily explained everything.

"So that\'s why Africa needs to have some of One China\'s Tech. But as you can see, the geography and the conflicts that they have in between the two regions will naturally get in the way of any trade. So they will try to look for other means to trade. Their best bet is to make Turkey a middleman trading option. But there is a danger in this. Because both countries will then give Turkey an opportunity to grow. And while Turkey is generally in a neutral stance between the two, it could easily turn its back against the two and start attacking them with a new technology they may develop in the future."

"So, in other words... It\'s like choosing to go for a deal that gives them short-term solutions but will create long-term problems? They give products now to trade, but may soon cause Turkey to grow so strong in the future. But I don\'t get it, Alexander. Why won\'t One China and Africa go through some form of deal that also forces Turkey to give techs?"

"Because Turkey holds the better end of this bargain. One China has its hands full with India and Russia. It won\'t make an enemy out of another country. Turkey is close to the borders between the Caliphates and Russia. Now that Caliphates are in a state of reforming into several divided nations, Turkey can become a temporary trade route to initiate several trades, which could be vital for China to conquer India or Africa to conquer Egypt or defend against the Caliphates."

"You mean Turkey can use the newly established Mesopotamia to reach China?" Meryl asked.

"That\'s just one possibility. And this is just with One China and Africa. Turkey will have its own deals with other nations."

"So it\'s a war on trade routes?"

"Yes! That\'s exactly what it is! With the example shown in our journey here, several nations practically killed each other along the way. And even now, the escalation of that battle increased."

"Right! I heard the news. Many of these so-called Pioneers held a war on the pacific! I still don\'t get what they\'re after." Meryl mused.

Lanterk shrugged.

"I even don\'t know. Maybe they\'re a group being led by the Progenitor or the Lost Primordial."

"Ohhhhh... The Lost Primordial. I know those Pioneers aren\'t under the Progenitor. At least that\'s what Seeker told me. So what\'s with all the P\'s anyway? And what goes beyond Pioneers?"

"Who knows?" Lanterk shrugged. But in that conversation, he learned important detail. His casual conversations with Meryl these past days had given him an understanding of what the Progenitor\'s forces are and which forces allied themselves with the Lost Primordial.

"This world is becoming quite chaotic. I can\'t believe that a few months ago, I was a student carrying that fake identity. It was peaceful. Now the world has fallen into a strange trade war. I wonder what will happen next."

"The important thing is to create a trading hub, much like this one. Every nation is racing off to create a powerful city that can be used for trades. Especially since the age of Space Transports are happening."

"Oh... So that\'s why Progenitor wants to make a City of Refuge!" Meryl clapped.

"A City of Refuge?"

"That\'s what he called it. He borrowed the term from that trending sermon that went on weeks back."

"That\'s the Progenitor\'s plan? Interesting. But that makes sense." Lanterk nodded. 

"The question is where. I wonder where he will." Meryl frowned.

"Why is that important?"

"I want to settle down somewhere." Meryl laughed.

"The Progenitor has no more use for me and gave me the freedom to do stuff. But I don\'t know where to go."

"Give me a few weeks. I\'ll figure it out for you?"

"Oh really? Like you can?"

"How about a bet. If I can figure out what cities in the world will become these new trading hubs, you will go out on a date with me! And Danny can\'t stop you. Of course, you can say it\'s his punishment for cheating on you!" Lanterk smiled.

"What? But-"

"All I\'m asking is one date. I will use whatever resource and seriously figure this out. Then, we can choose what city to stay in. And besides, you said that your insecurities make you a girl that often runs away. I want to be there so that if ever something doesn\'t end right, you can always run away to me."

Meryl was stunned.

"It\'s just a date. That\'s all I\'m asking. And I\'m not afraid of Danny." Lanterk smiled.

"Um... I guess I can agree to that. But... no kissing on that date." Meryl blushed.

"It\'s fine." Lanterk smiled. But his Aragarian heart was beating so loudly even an Un-Unlocked person can tell that his heart was on the other side.

"Then I agree to the bet. Thanks for the short talks, Lanterk. I got to go to that cheater." Meryl sighed as her smile faded.

"Meryl..." Lanterk called out.

"That guy is an idiot. Why not... be mine?" Lanterk asked again. He had already confessed to liking Meryl but had always been rejected.

"Nice try, Alexander. But he already has my heart." Meryl sighed.

"That cheater just doesn\'t deserve you."

"And I don\'t deserve you, Lanterk. I\'ve already said it. The reason why he cheated is related to that secret."

"Are you really willing to have me, knowing my past? Knowing how I was used and abused?" Meryl smiled.

"Yes!" Lanterk answered without hesitation.

"That\'s what Danny said. And in the end, he cheated on me... I\'m afraid of losing you too, Lanterk. Please understand." Meryl turned around and applied perfume on herself to prepare to meet 

"But I guess when it became official between Danny and me, and he learned of other secrets of what that person did in Egypt... She saw me as less than a human..." Meryl gave off a small smile.

That smile was beautiful, but a terrifying pain was behind it.

Lanterk felt a great rage in his heart. He was even trembling as he clenched his fist.

"That Andronze! I\'ll kill her!" Lanterk vowed in his heart.

Meryl walked out.

"I\'m sorry that I can\'t ever be yours, Alexander. But please... be my friend."

"Always. You\'ll always have me."

"I feel... guilty. I know you like me, but I\'m scared of telling you everything because you could probably end up like Danny. So I hope... that you\'ll always be there as my friend. I don\'t have anyone else that I can rely on. You\'re the only one that I can talk to. I know it\'s selfish. Seeker and Lynd both have their missions. And very soon I\'ll be alone. I\'m sorry... for being selfish."

"Meryl. It\'s ok. I\'ll always be a friend- No, in fact, I\'ll always be something more. I love you and will always do. And even if I can\'t be with you, that love will always be there. So you can live your life always remembering that I am there and that you can always run to me." Lanterk declared as he locked his eyes on Meryl.

Meryl smiled a huge smile and nodded.

"I\'m sorry that I have to go." Meryl left.

Lanterk stood watching at the door and how Meryl departed.

"That damned Andronze! That damned Danny! I\'ll kill them!" Lanterk vowed.

Meryl finally reached the areas where Lanterk and Zeraphine dared not to explore. It was the room where the Progenitor was said to have stayed.

Meryl entered the room and found Lynd. Charles and Precil were doing their routine inspection.

The room was now full of Emperors and Empresses, all trying to collate and use their data. The scientific research involving several new technologies and how to combine them was being performed here.

It was like a lab full of a mad scientist.

"What the progress?" Meryl asked Lynd.

"Not so good, I\'m afraid. The techs that are being developed here aren\'t that strong. If I try to copy it, it won\'t do any good." Lynd sighed.

"You? How\'s the NTR tale of Lanterk?"

"Progressing. He\'s becoming bolder in his attempts to get me to like him. Also, that concentrated air was effective. Even I had a hard time containing the emotions I felt when I used that perfume. So this is the next weapon of Unlocked Spying? Emotion scents? Grab your emotions! Now in Strawberry Anger, Mint Sadness and Lemon Joy." Meryl laughed.

"So is he going to attack Egypt? The clash in the Mediterranean sea ought to happen tomorrow."

"I don\'t think he\'ll move. He\'s maximizing his time with me. But I did manage to get some information about the Babel Towers that will be created in opposition to the Cities of Refuge. He kept talking about trade."

"That\'s great news! The location of these Babylon Cities ought to be in the Presiders\' positions here on Earth. So it makes sense for these Presiders to create a trade route that encompasses the entire world."

"Babylon? What are they to Babel?"

"You didn\'t notice? Babylon is the spiritual successor of Babel. At least that\'s the imagery in Biblical Literature. Babel was the first city that was created to oppose God. Babylon is the city that challenges God, as seen in Revelation. Since we\'re following this format, it\'s better that you learn it."

"Meh. Boring stuff. You guys figure it out. Hm? Where\'s Seeker?"

"On a date."

"WHAT?!" Meryl exploded.

"He offered a trade. I wouldn\'t stop him when he sets that date with Zeraphine."

"The plan was to delay the group! The spies have been working, and Cliff is always around her with Charm anyway!"

"Well, he couldn\'t wait anymore. So he timed the moment when you would be busy with Lanterk to move."

"What did he trade that made you betray me, Lynd? What price did he pay?"

Lynd was silent. He avoided Meryl\'s eyes.

"Hm? Those lights! Elder Scrolls! You\'re playing Oblivion in your head! You!"

"I regret nothing." Lynd opened his eyes and glared at Meryl.

"Where are they?! I\'m going to get Alphie!"

"Too late. They left on a trip. They are out raiding an Underwater City."

Meryl was shocked.

"That\'s... Honestly, quite romantic. I mean for people like us. But why are we raiding them?"

"The Realm King\'s reports arrived. He found them. The surviving Pioneers from World War Three fled underwater when the WGP rose to power. I agreed because bringing Zeraphine along for that trip would be helpful. After all, Seeker has to make himself look like this Progenitor\'s son."

Meryl frowned and cursed. Seeker plotted his data well. In their agreement to help Seeker, Meryl became more aggressive to limit Seeker\'s time with Zeraphine.

Meryl wanted to say something and noticed Lynd was closing his eyes as tears fell on his face.

"Stop playing those nostalgic games in your head! You have ungodly powers, and you use it for computer games?!"

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Southern Ocean...

A platoon of Exoskeletons kept moving.

Zeraphine was amazed as she read the reports. She only found out about the mission when the message was sent to her. And she couldn\'t believe it.

"Surviving Pioneers? Lourca Oviili?!" Zeraphine was trembling.

"Is something wrong?" Seeker asked.

"No-nothing. I just... Can\'t believe our first date would be this..."

"I\'m sorry. I really don\'t have the luxury to be free." Seeker sighed.

"It\'s ok." Lara answered softly.

"We\'re getting close. I\'m sure you can fight."

"Yeah." Lara answered again.

Seeker looked on ahead.

"Making the city look like the ocean floor. Primitive, but very effective." Seeker smiled as he charged into the city to begin the war.