Elijah Kane woke up feeling, for the first time in weeks, something resembling confidence.
Sure, his stats were laughable, his comprehension was barely passable, and he still had no clue how to save the world, but he had a plan or at least the beginning of one.
He stretched his arms and glanced at the glowing system screen beside him.
"Alright, System, what's next? Please tell me it's not another quest about studying. I don't think I can handle another week of reading about tax reforms."
The screen flickered.
[New Quest Assigned.]
Elijah groaned. "Of course. Alright, what is it this time?"
The screen shifted, displaying the quest details:
Quest: First Impressions Matter
Objective: Prepare for the visit of the Village Council, representatives of the Empire of Dawn.
Tasks:
1. Understand the purpose of the council.
2. Represent Earth's interests during their evaluation.
3. Ensure Earth receives a favorable preliminary report.
Deadline: 24 hours.
Reward: Improved standing with the Empire of Dawn.
Elijah blinked at the screen, rereading the quest title. "The Village Council? What is that? Some sort of HOA for the apocalypse?"
[The Village Council is a group of imperial representatives tasked with evaluating new additions to the Endless World. Their report will determine Earth's initial standing within the Empire of Dawn.]
"That sounds... important," Elijah said, frowning. "Wait, weren't they supposed to come after the merge? Why are they showing up now?"
[The council's visit was originally scheduled post-merge. However, Gaia's absence has prompted an early evaluation to assess Earth's preparedness.]
Elijah's heart sank. "Gaia was supposed to deal with this, wasn't she?"
[Correct. Without Gaia, the responsibility of representing Earth falls to you.]
He stared at the screen, his mind racing. "You're kidding, right? Please tell me you're kidding."
[This is not a jest.]
Elijah buried his face in his hands. "Fantastic. So now I'm not just Earth's errand boy, I'm its freaking spokesperson. What do they even expect me to say? 'Hi, we're a small, underdeveloped planet with no magic and no clue what's going on, please don't squash us like bugs'?"
He sighed and sat up straight, forcing himself to focus. "Alright, System, give me the rundown. Who are these people, and what do they want?"
The screen shifted, displaying a new set of information:
[The Village Council is an administrative body within the Empire of Dawn, responsible for integrating new territories. Its members are typically minor nobles, scholars, and bureaucrats tasked with evaluating a region's potential contributions to the empire.]
"Minor nobles?" Elijah said, narrowing his eyes. "So, what, they're like middle managers in fancy robes?"
[In essence, yes. Their primary goals are to assess resources, population, and strategic value. The council's evaluation will influence Earth's classification within the empire.]
"Classification?"
[Planets are classified into tiers based on their perceived value. High-tier regions receive greater autonomy and imperial support. Low-tier regions are often absorbed into larger territories or exploited for their resources.]
Elijah swallowed hard. "And where do you think Earth's going to land on that scale?"
[Current projections indicate Earth will be classified as low-tier unless significant effort is made to highlight its unique qualities.]
"Of course," he muttered. "Why wouldn't we start at the bottom?"
Elijah paced the room, his frustration growing. "But why now? What's the point of evaluating us before the merge? It's not like they can do anything until we're part of the Endless World, right?"
[The council's early arrival is a precautionary measure. The Empire of Dawn has experienced issues with unstable merges in the past. The evaluation will allow them to prepare for potential complications and decide how best to integrate Earth.]
He stopped pacing, running a hand through his hair. "So, they're basically deciding if we're worth the trouble?"
[Correct. The council's report will shape Earth's relationship with the empire for decades to come.]
"No pressure, then," Elijah muttered, collapsing onto the bed.
He stared at the ceiling, his mind buzzing with questions. "Okay, let's assume I don't screw this up. What exactly happens if they give us a bad report? Are we talking mild inconvenience or total planetary doom?"
[The consequences of a negative report vary. Potential outcomes include:
1. Reduced autonomy, with Earth placed under direct imperial control.
2. Exploitation of Earth's natural resources, including forced labor.
3. Reassignment of Earth's territory to a more influential faction.]
Elijah sat up, his eyes wide. "Forced labor? Reassignment? You're saying they could just... give Earth to someone else?"
[Yes. Planets deemed low-value are often absorbed into larger administrative units or handed over to noble families as private estates.]
He felt a chill run down his spine. "So we could end up as some noble's backyard. Great. Just great."
For a long moment, Elijah sat in silence.
He wasn't just representing Earth he was fighting for its survival, for its dignity, for its right to exist as more than a footnote in the empire's history.
"This isn't fair," he muttered. "I didn't ask for this. I'm not a diplomat or a leader, I'm just a guy who got unlucky enough to know the truth."
[Your role is essential,] the system replied. [Your knowledge and actions will shape Earth's future.]
"No pressure, right?" he said, his voice tinged with sarcasm.
He stood up, pacing again. "Alright, fine. If I have to do this, I'll do it. But I'm going to need more than a crash course in imperial politics. What do I actually say to these people? How do I convince them we're worth keeping around?"
[Focus on Earth's unique qualities, including its biodiversity, cultural history, and potential for economic growth. Additionally, emphasize the loyalty and adaptability of its population.]
"Loyalty and adaptability?" Elijah snorted. "You've clearly never met humans."
[Your approach will require creativity and confidence. Demonstrating initiative will improve the council's perception of Earth.]
"Creativity and confidence," he repeated, shaking his head. "You're really setting me up for failure here, System."
Elijah sat down at his desk, grabbing a notebook and pen. "Okay, let's brainstorm. What makes Earth special? Why should the Empire of Dawn care about us?"
He started scribbling ideas, talking to himself as he wrote.
"Biodiversity? Sure, we've got some cool animals, but do they really care about pandas and dolphins? Probably not."
"Cultural history? I guess that could work. We've got art, music, literature... as long as they don't ask about reality TV, we should be fine."
"Economic potential? That's a joke. We don't even have magic or advanced tech to trade. What are we supposed to offer, fast food and Wi-Fi?"
He sighed, staring at the scattered notes on the page. "This is hopeless."
[Success is achievable with effort and preparation,] the system said.
Elijah rolled his eyes. "Yeah, because effort has worked out so well for me so far."
[Confidence is key. Approach the council with a clear vision for Earth's role within the empire. Highlight its potential, not its shortcomings.]
He tapped the pen against his chin, frowning. "A clear vision, huh? Okay, System, if you're so smart, what's my vision?"
[That is for you to determine.]
"Of course it is," he muttered.
Despite his doubts, Elijah forced himself to keep working.
Over the next few hours, he pieced together a rough outline of what he'd say to the council, focusing on Earth's strengths and its potential contributions to the empire.
When he finally stepped back, his notebook was filled with notes, sketches, and half-formed ideas.
It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.
He took a deep breath, closing the notebook. "Alright, Endless World. Let's see what you've got."