692. Crafting (Seeking Subscriptions)

Kingsley Kingdom.

Joanne stepped out of the vocational college and said goodbye to several new friends.

Life had truly felt like a dream lately—a sweet dream, at that.

Her younger brother had become sensible. He had been admitted to Kingdom Mechanical University, taken her away from Black Iron Street, brought home a great deal of Lir, and helped her enroll in a vocational school for further studies.

Joanne was still young. After dressing up a little, she looked just as youthful and beautiful, and she had even gained several decent suitors.

"My brother said he'd be coming home for dinner tonight. He's always cooped up in the lab... I should buy him some beef to build up his strength..."

Thinking this, she headed to the market.

All of a sudden, a disturbance seemed to break out in the crowd around a newspaper stand.

Then came a wave of startled cries.

"Blood beasts?" "The destruction of a kingdom? Sulida has fallen? Impossible!" "Conscription... massive conscription! All men of eligible age are required to enlist, while mech pilots and mechanical engineers will all be forcibly drafted!"

Countless people shouted noisily, screamed, and ran about in panic, like scenes from a mad play.

Joanne's head buzzed as she watched troops begin to impose martial law in the streets. Only one thought kept echoing in her mind: "War? Morphy..."

That night.

Sulu finished his research at the laboratory and returned home.

Joanne had already prepared dinner: beef soup.

She emerged from the kitchen carrying the soup tureen, her expression dazed. "Is there really going to be a war?"

"The kingdom announced it today... it can't be false." Sulu sighed. "Stock up on more daily necessities. You don't need to worry about security—I'll have people protect this place."

"I'm not worried about that. I'm