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Chapter 12 - SOLACE 12

The revelation that Lander Macho's Macho Hacienda was actually its own country has caused a stir in Fruit Country. But what was more shocking was the reports of missing people who went into the hacienda and never returned. The government has not done anything about it, and the newscasters are up in arms.

On one news panel, the newscasters discussed the situation with fervor. "This is outrageous," exclaimed one. "How can a person just turn their property into their own country and get away with it? And what about those people who have disappeared? How can we just ignore that?"

Another newscaster shook his head. "It's a complicated issue, really. Macho Hacienda has been around for so long, and Lander Macho himself is a very private and mysterious person. We don't really know what's going on there."

The first newscaster scoffed. "That's not an excuse! We need to hold these people accountable! What if there are more missing people? What if they're being held against their will?"

The panel continued to discuss the matter, but the public was already starting to form their own opinions. Some were outraged, while others were fascinated by the idea of a secret country within their own. Rumors and speculation about what was really going on inside the hacienda started to spread like wildfire.

But the truth was much less sinister than anyone could have imagined. Lander Macho had, in fact, turned those who trespassed on his country property into farmers, servants, and guards. He did not kill them or harm them in any way. They wore helmet-like masks during working hours and were treated well.

Macho Hacienda was a self-sufficient territory, with its own means of food production and water supply. Lander Macho had reshaped the surrounding landscape to create a river that was purified by the power of the Infinity Gems and Infinity Cosmic Armor.

Despite the controversies surrounding Macho Hacienda, Lander Macho continued to focus on his work as a miner. He used his reality-bending cheat to mine precious metals and ores under the earth. He had no interest in dungeon hunting like most people in Fruit Country.

One day, a group of adventurers tried to infiltrate the hacienda. They thought that they could take advantage of the missing people rumors and gain access to the country's treasures. But they were caught by Lander Macho's guards and brought before him.

Lander Macho looked at them with an expressionless face. "What brings you here?" he asked.

The adventurers stuttered and stumbled over their words. They didn't know how to explain themselves.

Lander Macho sighed. "I see. Well, I'm afraid I cannot allow you to leave. You will have to work for me now."

The adventurers were confused. Work for him? What did he mean?

But Lander Macho showed them the same mercy he had shown to those who had trespassed before them. He turned them into farmers, servants, and guards, just like the others. And like the others, they wore helmet-like masks during working hours and were treated well.

The newscasters were appalled when they heard about the adventurers' fate. "This is slavery!" one exclaimed.

But Lander Macho remained aloof and unconcerned. He continued to work in his mine, producing the precious metals and ores that he sold to the world. And the Macho Hacienda continued to thrive, with its delicious pineapples, pineapple jam, fresh pineapple juice, and pineapple pie that were sold at high prices in various stores.

Meanwhile, the people who had been turned into farmers, servants, and guards slowly formed their own community within the hacienda. They fell into a routine and adapted to their new way of life, but some couldn't help but wonder about the outside world.

One day, a group of farmers were working in the fields when they noticed a strange object in the sky. It was a drone with a camera attached to it. They knew that Lander Macho had the latest technology, but they had never seen anything like this before.

As the drone flew closer, the farmers began to panic. They had heard rumors that Lander didn't want anyone to know about his self-sufficient territory, and they feared that the drone was spying on them. One of the farmers quickly grabbed a rock and threw it at the drone, knocking it out of the sky.

The farmers knew they had to tell Lander about the drone, but they were afraid of how he would react. When they returned to their barracks, they discussed the situation amongst themselves.

"I don't think we should tell him," said one of the farmers. "He might think we're hiding something."

"But we can't keep this a secret," another farmer replied. "What if the drone belongs to the government or the media? We need to be transparent about what's happening here."

Eventually, they decided to tell Lander about the drone. They were surprised to find that he wasn't angry at all.

"Ah, yes. That was one of my drones," Lander said calmly. "I was testing it out. Thank you for taking care of it."

The farmers were relieved, but also curious. "Lander, why do we wear these helmets during working hours?" one of them asked. "And why are we not allowed to leave the hacienda?"

Lander sighed. "I know it must seem strange to you, but I had my reasons. I needed to create a self-sufficient territory, and I needed people to work the land. I could have killed you all, but instead, I gave you a chance to live and work here."

"But what about our families?" another farmer asked. "We miss them."

"I understand that," Lander replied. "And that's why I allowed relationships among yourselves. In time, I even built apartments for you and your families. You can live here and work here, and I will take care of you. But you can't leave."

The farmers were silent, but they couldn't deny that they were grateful to be alive and to have a purpose. They continued to work in the fields, tending to the pineapple crops and raising the farm animals.

As for the news about missing people who had entered the Macho Hacienda, Lander had a message for the public.

"I understand that there is some concern about people who have gone missing after entering my property. But I can assure you that I have not harmed anyone. I simply turned them into farmers, servants, and guards. They are alive and well, and they have a purpose in life. If anyone wants to leave, they are free to do so. But I hope they will stay and work with us, for the betterment of our self-sufficient territory."

And so, the Macho Hacienda continued to thrive, with its delicious pineapples, pineapple jam, fresh pineapple juice, and pineapple pie. The people who had been turned into farmers, servants, and guards continued to live and work in their self-sufficient territory, grateful for the opportunity that Lander had given them. The world may never fully understand the ways of the Macho Hacienda, but for those who lived and worked there, it was their home, their purpose, and their way of life.

===

As time passed, the people of Macho Hacienda started to forget their old lives outside the compound. They had fully adapted to their new way of life, and the idea of escaping no longer appealed to them. They found comfort in their daily routines and the sense of community they had built within the hacienda.

One day, while tending to the farm, one of the farmers, named Juan, struck up a conversation with his neighbor, Maria, a former teacher turned caretaker. They talked about how they had come to accept their situation and even enjoy their work. "I never thought I'd be happy doing farm work, but now I can't imagine doing anything else," Juan said with a smile.

Maria nodded in agreement, "Yes, I feel the same way. I used to teach in a cramped classroom, but now I get to work outdoors and take care of the plants and animals. It's like a dream come true."

As they continued their work, they noticed how they felt healthier and more energetic compared to when they were outside. The food they ate was fresh and organic, and they had access to clean water from the river that flowed behind the mountain. It was like living in a paradise, and they were grateful for it.

Meanwhile, Lander Macho continued to oversee the operations of the hacienda. He would occasionally visit the different departments to check on the progress and make sure everything was running smoothly. He was pleased to see how well the "criminal trespassers" had adapted to their new lives and how they had formed a strong sense of community within the hacienda.

One day, while he was walking through the farm, he overheard a conversation between two of the guards, Miguel and Carlos. They were talking about how they had tried to escape in the early days but couldn't bring themselves to do it. "I remember feeling like a prisoner at first," Miguel said, "but now, I can't imagine leaving this place."

Carlos nodded in agreement, "Yes, me too. It's like we've been given a second chance in life, and I don't want to waste it."

Lander smiled to himself as he listened to their conversation. He was pleased to see that his plan had worked out well, and the people he had converted into workers had come to accept their new lives.

As the years passed, the people of Macho Hacienda continued to live their peaceful and content lives. They had created their own society within the hacienda, with its own laws and regulations, and they were happy to be a part of it.

Meanwhile, outside the hacienda, rumors continued to spread about the missing people who had entered the Macho Hacienda and never returned. The government had tried to investigate, but they were met with resistance from Lander Macho, who claimed that the hacienda was its own autonomous country and was not subject to Fruit Country's laws.

The debate over the Macho Hacienda's autonomy continued to rage on, with some people arguing that it was a violation of human rights, while others saw it as a unique and successful experiment in communal living.

But for the people of Macho Hacienda, the debate was irrelevant. They were happy to have found a new home and a new way of life, and they had no desire to leave it behind.

===

Wallang Pakiy'Alam was a well-known investigative blogger who had gained a massive following for his daring exploits in uncovering the hidden secrets of various societies and organizations. He had always been interested in the Macho Hacienda, ever since rumors started circulating about the strange country and the missing people who had entered its borders. Now, armed with special stealth equipment and the latest stream gear, he had decided to infiltrate the Macho Hacienda and uncover the truth once and for all.

The announcement of his plan had caused a stir among his viewers and subscribers, and many had eagerly donated to his cause. "This is insane, Wallang," one of his friends said as they helped him prepare for the mission. "Do you have any idea what you're getting into? The Macho Hacienda is a completely autonomous country. They have their own laws, their own government, and their own military. If you get caught, they won't hesitate to lock you up or worse."

Wallang grinned. "That's exactly why I want to do this. Think of the views, the subscribers, the exposure. This could be the biggest story of my career."

"But at what cost?" his friend asked.

Wallang's smile faded. "I know it's risky, but I have to do this. The world deserves to know what's really going on in that place."

As the day of the mission approached, Wallang continued to stream on his channel, updating his viewers on his preparations and the latest developments in the Macho Hacienda story. The response was overwhelming, with hundreds of thousands of people tuning in to watch and donate to his cause.

Finally, the day arrived. Wallang donned his special stealth gear and made his way to the border of the Macho Hacienda. He approached the guards, who eyed him suspiciously.

"What's your business here?" one of them asked.

Wallang put on his most convincing smile. "I'm a tourist. I heard about this place and I just had to see it for myself."

The guards exchanged a glance. "You do know that this is a private country, right? We can't just let anyone in."

Wallang nodded. "Of course. But I have money. I'm willing to pay for a tour."

The guards looked at each other again, then back at Wallang. "Fine. But you have to wear this." One of them handed him a helmet-like mask.

Wallang put it on without protest. "No problem. Let's go."

The guards led him inside the Macho Hacienda, and Wallang couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement mixed with fear. He knew that he was taking a huge risk, but he couldn't back down now.

As he walked through the streets of the Macho Hacienda, Wallang was struck by how different it was from the outside world. The people looked healthy and happy, and the atmosphere was peaceful and serene. It was hard to believe that this was the same place that had been rumored to be a den of crime and kidnapping.

He continued to explore the country, recording everything he saw and broadcasting it live to his viewers. But the longer he stayed, the more he began to question his own motives. Was he really here to uncover the truth, or was he just chasing after fame and fortune?

It was a difficult question to answer, and one that continued to plague him as he spent more time in the Macho Hacienda. He met with the converted "criminal trespassers" and spoke to them about their new way of life, but they seemed content and happy with their roles in the community. It was hard to believe that they had been kidnapped or forced into servitude.