Chapter 13

It was the year 1873, and tensions between Aceh Sultanate and Dutch East Indies were at an all-time high. The military armada of a powerful Dutch East Indies had been tasked with isolating Aceh, cutting off all communication and supply lines. The mission was shrouded in secrecy, and the crew of the armada had been sworn to silence.

As they set sail, the crew was tense, knowing that any mistake could mean the failure of their mission and possibly even war. They worked tirelessly day and night, navigating treacherous waters and enduring stormy weather. But as the nights grew longer and darker, strange things began to happen.

At first, it was just small things: whispers in the night, objects moving on their own. But as time went on, the crew began to experience more and more terrifying events. Footsteps were heard in the halls, even though no one was there. Shadowy figures lurked in the corners of their vision, disappearing when they turned to face them. Strange noises echoed through the ship, sounding like screams and cries of pain.

The captain tried to reassure his crew, telling them that it was just their imagination playing tricks on them. But soon even he could not deny the horror that was unfolding before their eyes. The ship's communication systems were completely cut off, and they were unable to send any messages back to their home country. They were completely alone, adrift in a sea of darkness and terror.

One night, as the armada ship sailed through the dark waters, the crew began to hear strange whispers coming from the shadows. At first, they thought it was just the creaking of the ship, but the whispers grew louder and more distinct.

The crew searched the ship, but they could not find the source of the whispers. They were coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The hairs on the back of their necks stood up as they realized that something was not right.

Suddenly, the whispers turned into screams, piercing the quiet of the night. The crew rushed to the deck, where they saw a ghostly figure standing at the bow of the ship. It was a woman dressed in a white gown, her long hair flowing in the wind. She had a haunted look on her face, and her eyes glowed with an otherworldly light.

The crew watched in horror as the ghostly woman began to sing a mournful song, her voice carrying over the waves. As she sang, the ship began to shake and shudder, as if it were caught in a storm. The crew clung to the rails, praying that the ship would not sink.

But then the ghostly woman disappeared, leaving behind a trail of mist and a feeling of dread. The crew was left shaken and afraid, unsure of what they had just witnessed.

For the rest of the night, the ship sailed through an eerie silence, with only the sound of the waves to keep the crew company. But the memory of the ghostly woman lingered on, haunting their dreams and waking moments alike. The crew knew that they had encountered something beyond their understanding, and they could only hope that they would never have to face it again.

Night after night, the crew struggled to stay awake, afraid to close their eyes for fear of what horrors awaited them in their dreams. Many of them began to suffer from vivid nightmares and sleep paralysis, unable to move or speak as they were attacked by unseen forces.

As the days turned into weeks, the crew became increasingly exhausted and mentally drained. They were no longer able to keep up with their duties, and the ship began to suffer from neglect. The once-pristine decks were now covered in grime and dirt, and the sails hung limply from their riggings.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the armada received orders to abandon their mission and return home. As they sailed away from the isolated country, the crew breathed a collective sigh of relief, glad to be leaving the horrors behind them.

But even now, years later, the crew still cannot forget the terror they experienced on that fateful mission. Many of them have been plagued by nightmares and other psychological issues, and some have even refused to return to the sea. The military armada may have succeeded in isolating their target country, but they paid a terrible price for their success, or that's what they thought.

Daud, the cunning and mischievous prince of Aceh, was in his chamber with his trusted A.I. V.E.N.U.S. The two of them were deep in conversation, plotting their next move against the Dutch East Indies. Daud was laughing out loud as he recounted his latest prank.

"You should have seen the look on their faces, V.E.N.U.S.," Daud said between fits of laughter. "They were so scared, they thought they were being haunted by ghosts!"

V.E.N.U.S., the loyal and intelligent advisor, was not amused. "My prince, this is no laughing matter," she said sternly. "You are playing a dangerous game with the Dutch East Indies. We do not want to provoke them into the war early."

Daud's laughter faded as he realized the gravity of the situation. He had been so focused on pranking the Dutch East Indies that he had forgotten about the potential consequences.

"You're right, V.E.N.U.S.," Daud said, his expression serious. "We cannot afford to be reckless. But we must also defend ourselves against their aggression."

V.E.N.U.S. nodded in agreement. "We have already made great strides in improving our infrastructure and public health. We must continue to build on these efforts and show the Dutch East Indies that we are a strong and capable nation."

Daud looking over the reports from the previous trainees. He felt proud of the progress they had made in implementing what they had learned. He knew that they had a long way to go, but it was a start.

"V.E.N.U.S.," he called out to his A.I. "What do you think about teaching the next group about metallurgy?"

"Metallurgy, sir?" V.E.N.U.S. replied. "That is an excellent choice. The Bessemer process will revolutionize the production of steel in Aceh."

"Yes, exactly," Daud said. "And with steel, we can build better bridges and buildings."

"Very well, sir," V.E.N.U.S. said. "I will begin drafting a training plan for the next group of scholars, woodworkers, and blacksmiths."

Daud leaned back in his chair, thinking about the implications of this next phase of training. He knew that it would be a longer training period than the previous groups, but he was confident in their ability to learn.

A few weeks later, the fourth group of trainees arrived at the training facility. They were a mix of young and old, men and women, all eager to learn about metallurgy. V.E.N.U.S. with the black rob man illusion greeted them and began the training.

The first few weeks were spent learning about the properties of different metals and how they could be extracted from the ore. The trainees learned about smelting and forging, and V.E.N.U.S. demonstrated the Bessemer process.

As the training progressed, Daud came to visit the facility to check on the progress. He was impressed with how far the trainees had come in such a short time. He saw them working on making tools and weapons, and he knew that they were on their way to becoming skilled blacksmiths.

"Sir, may I show you something?" V.E.N.U.S. asked, approaching Daud.

"Of course," Daud replied.

V.E.N.U.S. led Daud to a room where the trainees were working on a large piece of metal. As they approached, Daud saw that it was a sword.

"The trainees made this sword using the skills they learned in metallurgy training," V.E.N.U.S. said proudly.

Daud took the sword in his hand and examined it. It was beautiful and well-crafted. He felt a sense of pride in what they had accomplished so far.

"This is excellent work," he said. "I'm proud of what they've achieved."

The training continued for another few weeks until it was time for the trainees to return to their respective villages. They left the facility with the knowledge and skills to create their own steel and use it to build better structures, tools, and weapons.

Daud watched as they left, feeling hopeful for the future of Aceh. He knew that the training was just the beginning, but he believed that they were on the right path to a better future.