News of the earthquake and the Empire's exceptional emergency response system spread like wildfire across the globe. International news outlets from New York to Tokyo carried dramatic visuals of the aftermath in Manila and praised the Empire's preparedness. Headlines such as *"Oriental Empire's Unified Emergency Response Sets New Global Standard"* dominated newsstands.
The earthquake wasn't just a calamity for the Empire—it had become an international case study in disaster management. People worldwide reacted with a mix of awe, admiration, and concern. For families with relatives in the Oriental Empire, emotions ran high.
In San Francisco, California, Alice Tan scrolled through her phone, her heart heavy. Her husband, Wei, was a business executive from Shanghai currently on a month-long trip to Manila. The earthquake footage sent her into a flurry of worry.
"Mom, have you heard from Dad?" their teenage son, Ethan, asked, his voice trembling.
