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"So, what have we learned?" Asuna asked, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she observed the chaotic spectacle unfolding on the massive holographic display before us. The leaders of the remaining nations, technically classified as "lawful good" by the world's rather simplistic alignment system, had finally resorted to their most desperate measure: nuclear annihilation. Dozens of missiles, trailing plumes of smoke and fire, arced towards the massive celestial body that now hung in geostationary orbit above their world – the one we had casually dubbed "Fam-Squad Homeworld" after transforming Melromarc, now the resplendently named Fam-Squad Empire, into the capital city and heart of our burgeoning empire.I chuckled, shaking my head at the futility of their efforts. "I have, indeed, learned a valuable lesson from this exercise," I said, my voice dripping with a sardonic amusement. "I have learned to listen to my intelligent, wonderful, amazing—""Get to the point, Kirito," Asuna interrupted, her tone dry but full of fondness."Right, right," I said, my grin widening. "Listen to Asuna about administrative matters. Specifically, construct a 'Learning Your New Place in Society' prison for the former world leaders of conquered worlds. Got it.""Good husband," Asuna purred, her eyes gleaming with a predatory satisfaction. With a casual wave of her hand, the nukes, those pathetic symbols of humanity's self-destructive tendencies, simply ceased to exist, their fiery trails vanishing as if they had never been."You know," I said, my gaze shifting back to the holographic display, where the now-nuke-less world leaders were staring in slack-jawed disbelief at the empty sky, "it's almost disappointing how easily they fall into the same predictable patterns. Nuke the scary thing in the sky? Really? No attempt at diplomacy, no strategic planning, no imagination?"Asuna shrugged, her expression a mix of amusement and boredom. "They're politicians, Kirito. What did you expect?""True," I conceded. "But one would think that facing a literal floating world would inspire a bit more creativity.""Well," Asuna said, her voice taking on a thoughtful tone, "they've got plenty of time to work on their creativity in 'Learning Your New Place in Society' prison. I've got a whole curriculum planned out, complete with educational videos, self-reflection exercises, and mandatory group therapy sessions. It'll be enlightening."I shuddered, picturing the sheer horror those world leaders would face as they were forced to confront their own incompetence and the consequences of their actions. Asuna's methods were thorough, to say the least."On that note," I said, rising from the throne, "I think it's time we paid our new subjects a visit. They've had a few days to adjust to our rule, and I'm curious to see how they're… progressing."Asuna grinned, a predatory gleam in her eyes. "Sounds fun," she said, her voice echoing with intent of mischief. "Let's go spread some entertainment."With a negligent wave of my hand, I dismissed the holographic display showing the bewildered world leaders being teleported away to their new "educational" facility. I didn't need to watch; the process was as efficient and predictable as a well-written algorithm. The Enforcer Bots, their movements a symphony of metallic precision, swarmed the former seats of power, securing documents, records, and any other potentially useful information. It was time to delve into the intricacies of this world's history, to unravel the tangled webs of political intrigue, and to identify any lingering pockets of resistance that might require… persuasion.I turned to Yui, who was perched on her newly-created throne, a monstrous, obsidian creation that dwarfed even our own. It was adorned with spikes, chains, and glowing runes that pulsed with an unsettling energy. The sheer incongruity of her tiny, cheerful form against the backdrop of that menacing monstrosity was… oddly amusing. It was a deliberate design choice, of course. Yui, despite her unparalleled intellect and divine power, still enjoyed a good dose of playful chaos."Oh, hey, Yui," I said, my voice laced with a casual affection, "we were about to check out those two planets we conquered before coming here. Wanna come?""Indeed," she replied, her voice as chipper as always, "that sounds like an excellent use of my time, especially since I was getting rather bored." With a thought, she dematerialized her intimidating throne, a faint ripple of energy marking its disappearance.As we stepped out of the Citadel, Yui skipped ahead of us, her small form a stark contrast to the imposing Enforcer Bots flanking our path."I'm afraid I have some… unfortunate news," she announced, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "The militaristic nation of Luvar and the well, let's call it the Medieval Germany equivalent, Sikul, managed to acquire two copies of a magitech experimental bomb from the city of Raybul. And as one might expect when individuals of- limited cognitive capacity- engage in reckless experimentation with volatile materials… well, they discovered that poking the equivalent of ten 300-megaton nuclear bombs with a stick tends to result in unfavorable outcomes."She sighed dramatically. "We're down to two viable countries from that connected world now. Raybul and Mikikage are the only remaining options for resettlement until further notice."I blinked, a flicker of annoyance flashing through my mind. "You had the fissile materials confiscated from Raybul and anyone who might have… acquired them, right?" I asked, my voice edged with a hint of baffled irritation."Of course, Papa," Yui replied, rolling her eyes as if the question were utterly ridiculous. "I'm not daft."---Harold, a man whose hands were roughened by years of toil, whose back was permanently bent from a lifetime of tending to the land, watched the sleek, metallic machines harvesting his fields with a mixture of awe and gratitude. He'd been a farmer all his life, just like his father before him, and his father before him. It was a hard life, a life of back-breaking labor and meager rewards, a life ruled by the whims of nobles and the ever-present threat of bandit raids. Abuse from those with power was considered normal. Slavery, a practice that churned his stomach and sickened his soul, was a common sight in the bustling markets of Melromarc.Then the Sword Emperor and Empress attacked.Their arrival had been swift, decisive, and utterly terrifying. The old castle, a symbol of the oppressive regime that had ruled for generations, had been reduced to rubble in a matter of hours, replaced by a sprawling complex of gleaming metal and shimmering glass. Harold, along with the rest of the terrified populace, had braced himself for the worst. Violent rebellions rarely ended well for the common folk.But what followed defied all expectations.The new rulers, wielding a power that seemed almost… divine, brought order to the chaos. Laws were rewritten, justice, swift and impartial, was dispensed, and opportunities, once reserved for the privileged few, were made available to all. And most astonishingly, slavery was abolished. Those who had once been treated as property were now citizens, their shackles broken, their rights restored.Harold had been skeptical at first, his years of hardship breeding a deep-seated distrust of authority. But as the days turned into weeks, as he witnessed the changes taking place around him, his skepticism gave way to a cautious hope.One day, a notice arrived, summoning him to the city for a mandatory educational program. He'd gone reluctantly, expecting indoctrination, propaganda, a subtle form of mind control. Instead, he'd found himself in a classroom, surrounded by other farmers, learning about new farming techniques, modern technology, and even… basic literacy.The classes were intensive, immersive, accelerating the flow of time within their confines. He'd spent what felt like years studying, absorbing knowledge at an unprecedented rate. He'd learned about crop rotation, irrigation systems, the principles of mechanics, and even the basics of computer programming. He'd emerged from the program feeling like a new man, his mind expanded, his skills honed, his understanding of the world broadened.And when he'd returned to his farm with the teleportation array, only a few minutes had passed in the outside world.He stood now, watching his newly acquired mechanical plow tilling the soil with an efficiency he had never thought possible. He felt happy. Truly happy. For the first time in his life, he felt a sense of hope, a belief that the future, for him and for his family, could be something better. Something good.He glanced towards the towering Citadel in the distance, a symbol of the power that had reshaped his world. And for the first time in his life, he offered a silent prayer of gratitude to the Sword Emperor, the Empress, and the mysterious little goddess who had brought order to chaos and given him a chance at a better life.Now if only he could purchase a body rejuvenation tonic with his meager funds.Something to work towards.