Rolan felt Leira squeeze his hand tighter as they walked toward his family. Rolan first hugged his younger brother and his even younger sister. They both had the same black hair and brown eyes that he did. They all looked somewhat similar to each other with their sharp eyes and their intimidating vibe. A result of genes and having a grandpa who treats them like soldiers.
"I missed you guys." Rolan said to his siblings.
"Finally found a way to take more breaks huh, big brother?" his sister said as she smirked mischievously. "You owe me another shopping trip for me and the girls."
"Whatever you want, Mira. I think I'm going to have to stay a lot longer than last time. There will be plenty of all expenses paid trips from me."
"Yay!" Mina jumped in glee and started hopping around. Even though she was 25 years old this year, she had been spoiled by him and his brother. They had been treating her like their most precious treasure since the day she was born. Their parents were especially accommodating to their beloved only daughter.
"It's been hard on you brother. I'm glad you got out safe." Rolan's younger brother, Jace looked at him with a reassuring expression. He gave him a pat on the back.
Jace had grown into a fine young man over the years. He is the sibling that Rolan spent the most time with during his early years. He had just recently turned 29 and works at the planet's Bureau of Population Management.
The next thing Rolan did was embrace his parents, who had just started to finally sprout gray hairs, and the wrinkles had started to surface.
His mother, Naria held him the tightest. She didn't need to say any words. He understood his mother's feelings without her having to say it. His father, Zack stayed silent, just gave him a proud look. The same look his grandpa was giving him. The old man named Martin Newstar had a full head of graying hair and a well-trimmed beard. He had many scars on his arms and one below his right eye. A military man who is proud of his scars.
"Tell me all about your fight inside the realm kid." his grandpa said in an excited tone. The old man wanted to know what his experience was like, as he had briefed them about everything that happened beforehand.
"Shut up old man! My son has come home from working so hard and having his life in danger. At least let him go home, eat some real and sleep." Naria started berrating her father-in-law. She might be a quiet woman, but when it comes to the safety and health of her children, she becomes a vicious lady.
"Plus, he hasn't introduced us to this young lady yet." his mother continued as she turned to Leira. Leira started to blush as she became meek. This was unlike the usual assertive and commanding second command of his that he usually sees.
So to ease Leira, Rolan held her hands again as he introduced her to the family. He talked about how much time they had spent with her and that he didn't see a life without her. Leira also got her moments to speak as she shared her own side of the story.
"I thought this little brat would never continue the family line, but here he his. Finally bringing a lady home." Grandpa Mark bellowed as he looked as happy as a lamb. He laughed while bragging to his buddy General Chen. "Finally, my line of the family is going to get to the next generation while your grandaughter is still adamant about being single. Hahahaha!"
Grandpa even mocked General Chen as he knew the man's granddaughter was too busy running her own little territory in the Zantara Realm. The little girl had refused to marry as she said it would take her precious time away from her land.
General Chen looked pissed but waved off the man. They started to argue but were quickly interrupted by Mina, who embraced the blushing Leira and dragged her inside one of the cars.
"Let's go home, big brother. I'm hungrier than my little rabbits today!" she declared. "I'm taking sister in law in my car so I can find more blackmail." That energetic little sister of his led everyone to finally enter the vehicles as they drove off to their home.
*****
After a lavish meal of his favorite dishes and his family gossiping to Leira even more, the mood finally shifted to something more serious. His family had been avoiding the topic of his entrance into the realm quite well so far. Everyone gathered at the dining table, helped clear the plates, and finally settled in for the big talk.
General Chen went first. "I guess you'll be handing in your resignation soon."
Rolan nodded and said, "I'll go register myself at the Zantara Colonization Bureau today and receive my starter package." As much as Rolan preferred a laid-back and safe life, he knew he shouldn't waste the chance to build something bigger for his current and future family.
That's why he had to leave his job that required too much time and attention. Being a terraforming specialist, he was paid handsomely, but it left almost no room for growth.
"You don't have to leave the Terraforming Bureau. The Bureau has a special department for people who have awakened to the realm." General Chen's offer caught them by surprise, because even with their experience and connections, they knew nothing about such things. Their family never had someone who could enter Zantara before now.
The general started to explain to them that every bureau in the Sol Dominion had special sections where employees who awaken get special access to resources and the opportunity to work together. The Sol Dominion provides every awakener with a starting package to build up their territory in the realm. They are given 500 settlers, 1 month's worth of food, and enough construction drones and materials to build a basic village. They are also given weapons, soldiers, and technical experts who can assist them in growing their power independently within the realm.
After this initial goody bag, the dominion also provides you with more people over time, given that you can build enough resources and demand for these people to live and work in the realm. The more you grow, the more the dominion gives you people to grow. All of this is free of charge. There was no catch. That's because the government was the one profiting from giving you people to take away permanently.
Many thousands of years ago, during the early days of Zantara exploration colonization, humans grew high yeild and nutritious food in incredibly tall and wide vertical farms inside the realm. They did so in biomes or special regions that seemed to accelerate the growth of plants or animals significantly by the same unknown magic. They also harvested special resources that boosted fertility rates by a ridiculous amount as well.
This has led to human population to grow larger and larger to the point where there is enough food but not enough homes or jobs for the people. In fact, there is a severe lack of jobs. Most people live off government subsidies. Having a job already puts you at the top of the hierarchy. That's why shoveling all these people into the realm is the best idea.
The people get actual homes and jobs, and the government can relax a bit. Though there still is a large overpopulation problem, the terraforming of new planets and settling people in the Zantara realm gives them enough room to not collapse outright. It's a win-win for everyone.
The advantage the departments within the government give you is that they give you a lot more starting resources than the average civilian awakener.
"And by a lot, I mean double the starting population and triple the starting resources." Commander Chen clarified.
"I see...does the department want nothing in return?" Rolan asked. He wasn't used to things having no strings attached, especially when it had to do with the government. An imperial government. Yes, the Sol Dominion, which housed all of humanity, has an emperor and nobles.
"No. All they want is for those within the special departments to work together. In the eyes of the nobles and the emperor, anything they want will make it to them anyway. Why would they make such unnecessary restrictions?" This time, grandpa was the one to open his eyes.
Indeed. With how big the scale of the current dominion's economy is, nobles, conglomerates, and the imperial have so much wealth that I probably can't even imagine it.
With hundreds of thousands of star systems, countless planets, and asteroid belts under their control. The resources they have are unimaginable. Anything they want would make its way to them. It's those under them that have to fight. These special departments were probably just a breeding ground for talent. Allowing more people to have a chance of joining the upper echelon so the bloodlines don't turn stale. Fresh blood is always needed, even at the top.
"If that's the case, then I'll have to take your offer, general. And please make sure I don't have to ever leave my home for work." Rolan asked sincerely.
"Hehehe!" the general laughed in response, "I make no promises!"
The old man then bolted out of their home, saying he needed to make preparations. That was true for the Newstars as well, as they reached out to any friends they knew who could give them more data on the Zantara Realm. They wanted Rolan to be as prepared for any circumstance as possible.
Later in the day. Rolan arrived at the Zantara Colonization Bureau building in the city. It was actually quite modest compared to the mega structures that usually represented most government agencies. It was a small 10-floor building with a white concrete exterior and very few windows. There were arches and motifs carved into it.
"Ancient human architecture is actually quite nice." Rolan commented before walking into the building. At the front desk, he explained his situation and was led into a testing room.
In there sat a 7 foot tall brown skinned man with a bulky frame and a fierce-looking skull. He was shirtless, showing off his toned abs and bulging muscles that screamed gym bro that ate creatine for every meal of the day. He only drank protein shakes, no pure water.
The bald man looked at Roland and asked "Hello, please open your portal and let me have a look."
The man had a surprisingly soft voice and kind tone, not that Rolan is someone who judges by looks. Rolan summoned his portal willingly and and the man stuck his head into it. On the other side of the portal, just the man's neck and head popped out as he looked at the surroundings.
He noted the strange color of the sky and trees that wasn't normal in the realm from his experience. But he quickly shook his head, as this was none of his business. He had seen plenty of awkeners; most of them either gave up or died trying. Most of them gave up, though, as even with modern technology, there were often just too many things that could go wrong.
Only people who usually die in the realm are those who are dropped next to monsters or beasts, or hostile factions, on their first drop. And then there are those who get too confident in their abilities once they build a base and get overrun by creatures.
"Okay. I have verified it. Your application has been approved. It will take 2 days to gather your initial settlers, so please wait. " the man said after taking his head out of the portal.
Rolan just nodded and then left. The rest of the process will be done remotely as the settlers will be sent to his office in 2 days.
Time to spend some time with Leira. I need to show her around the city.
Rolan set aside these matters and focused on spending some quality time at home with family and Leira.