113. The Recovery Begins

A few days after resource shipments from the Pioneer world began being sent regularly, the situation in Garuda slowly began to change.

It had not fully recovered yet, but at least things were no longer continuing to deteriorate.

In one of the government meeting rooms, the latest report on the economic situation was presented once again.

President Prabu sat with General Suryo and several relevant officials. In front of them, a large screen displayed industrial production figures, raw material distribution, and unemployment numbers.

“How’s the progress?” Prabu asked.

An economic official opened the report in his hands.

“It’s starting to improve, sir.”

Prabu raised an eyebrow.

“How much?”

“We can’t say that we’ve recovered yet. But the downward trend has stopped. Several sectors that had previously been almost completely shut down have begun operating again.”

The screen displayed the next set of data.

“Raw material supplies from the Pioneer world have helped keep several factories running. Coal, in particular, has been extremely helpful to industrial sectors that previously struggled to obtain energy supplies.”

General Suryo nodded.

“What about local companies?”

“They’re starting to recover.”

The official changed the display on the screen.

“Because imported supplies are still disrupted, several domestic companies are receiving much greater demand. The government is also providing incentives to industries capable of replacing imported products.”

Prabu smiled faintly.

“So their embargo has actually forced us to accelerate our own production.”

“For some sectors, yes, sir.”

“What about the layoffs?”

“They’re still happening, but workers are gradually being absorbed again.”

“Have companies started rehiring?”

“Some companies have begun opening positions again. Not nearly as many as the number of workers they previously let go, but the trend is positive.”

Prabu leaned back.

“At least that’s good news.”

Resources from the Pioneer world had not solved all of Garuda’s problems, but they had provided something extremely important: time.

Time for companies to adapt. Time for the government to build new supply chains. And time for local industries to take over some of the needs that had previously depended on imports.

In industrial areas, the changes were beginning to become visible.

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Machines that had previously been shut down were running again. Warehouses that had once been empty were beginning to fill.

Local factories began increasing production, while companies that had previously reduced their workforce started reopening some positions.

Not everything was going smoothly, but the direction had changed.

Garuda was beginning to recover, and the news was eventually sent to the Pioneers.

On the morning of the seventh day since the last communication, the Pioneer system once again sent a message from Earth.

Rangga, who was on his private island, immediately opened it.

The message was much shorter than the previous one.

The Garuda government reported on the improving economic situation while also expressing its gratitude to all the Pioneers who had been sending resources.

The supplies sent from the Pioneer world had helped keep several industries running, meet raw material needs, and support the construction of local production facilities.

At the end, the government asked the Pioneers to continue maintaining their shipments as long as international trade conditions had not returned to normal.

Rangga read it to the end, then smiled.

“So we’re actually helping quite a bit.”

Regional chat became lively again.

Fajar: Get the message from the government?

Rian: Got it.

Siska: They said things are starting to improve.

Andre: So the stuff we’re sending is actually being used.

Rangga: Nice.

Fajar: Not bad. At least all that running around one-star islands isn’t going to waste.

Andre: I’ve practically memorized all the resource spots now.

Rangga laughed.

Rangga: What matters is that the country is safe first.

Rian: Yeah.

The atmosphere in regional chat, which had been filled with anger just a few days earlier, now felt much lighter.

They were happy because their work was producing tangible results. They weren't just gathering resources to fill their inventories.

What they gathered was actually being used on Earth.

However, just as the Garuda Pioneers received the good news, the situation on Earth was entering a new phase.

International media once again turned their attention toward Garuda.

This time, it wasn't just about the embargo.

Several countries and international organizations began criticizing the behavior of Garuda Pioneers in the Pioneer world.

Some reports claimed that Garuda Pioneers were being overly aggressive toward foreign Pioneer groups.

Videos of stern warnings, expulsions, and several incidents in which weapons were pointed at foreign groups began circulating.

The video of Rangga detonating an explosive arrow in front of a group of foreign Pioneers also resurfaced.

Headlines began appearing.

GARUDA PIONEERS DEEMED TOO AGGRESSIVE.

TENSIONS RISE IN THE PIONEER WORLD.

NATIONS CALL ON GARUDA TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT.

The Garuda government was aware of the pressure, but for the time being, it did not issue an excessive response.

Not because they didn't care but they simply had more urgent priorities.

The economy, factories had to start running again, raw materials had to remain available. Companies on the verge of bankruptcy had to be saved, and people who had lost their jobs needed opportunities to work again.

During a meeting, an official presented a report on the international criticism.

“Sir, the pressure from abroad is beginning to increase.”

Prabu glanced through the document.

“How many companies have resumed operations?”

The official paused slightly before answering.

“The number continues to increase, sir.”

“Then focus on that.”

“And the international pressure?”

Prabu placed the document down.

“We’re not looking for a war.”

He then pointed at the economic report in front of him.

“But we’re also not going to stop the recovery of our country just because they don’t like the behavior of our Pioneers.”

General Suryo nodded.

“As long as the Pioneers don’t initiate an attack, we still have room to ease the situation.”

Prabu looked back at the economic charts.

“Make sure that room remains.”

Meanwhile, in the Pioneer world, the Garuda Pioneers had absolutely no idea how much new pressure was developing on Earth.

For them, the government’s message that day was good news.

Their country was beginning to recover, factories were starting to run again, jobs were beginning to reopen, and the resources they had gathered were actually helping.

So they returned to their duties.

On one-star and two-star islands, the Garuda Pioneers went back to chopping wood, hunting, mining coal, gathering metals, and filling their supplies for the next shipment.

But whenever they saw foreign Pioneers in the distance, their attitude remained the same.

Weapons were prepared, distance was maintained, and if the group came too close, a warning was immediately issued.

They did not know that on Earth, those actions were becoming the subject of international criticism.

They also did not know that the pressure on Garuda was beginning to increase.

All they knew was one thing.

Garuda needed them and for the time being, that was reason enough for them to keep working.