The day of the long-awaited National Development Council Meeting finally arrived. The grand conference hall was filled with ministers, officers, and advisors — every chair occupied, every face expectant. This was not an ordinary meeting; this was the day Athenia would define its next era.
Rahul entered, dressed in a dark royal uniform, followed by Priya, Aditya, Rachit, and the senior ministers. The soft hum of anticipation quieted as he took his seat at the head of the table.
Rahul: "Let's begin. We have much to discuss — and more to decide."
The Finance Minister, Jayavardhan, stood first, reading the fiscal report and new fund allocations. The tension in the room was clear — every department was hungry for reform.
The Defence Minister rose next.
Defence Minister: "Your Majesty, our soldiers and officers serve tirelessly, yet corruption and low morale persist. The reason is simple — low wages. A man who cannot feed his family cannot guard his country with peace of mind."
Rahul leaned forward, silent for a moment, then nodded.
Rahul: "Approved. Salaries of all central government employees — civil and military — will be increased by fifty percent. Let it be written and signed today. Twenty thousand becomes thirty thousand. Every honest worker must live with dignity."
There was a murmur across the hall — relief, surprise, and gratitude.
The next agenda was the Anti-Corruption Bureau infrastructure. Aditya presented a detailed layout of the new headquarters and regional offices.
Aditya: "We require permanent offices in every province, Your Majesty, and a centralized digital record to monitor all government transactions."
Rahul: "Granted. Build it. And ensure no one can interfere with their investigations — not even ministers."
Then came the military restructuring.
Rachit: "We need armored support and new equipment. The last war nearly exhausted our reserves."
Rahul: "Procure what is needed. Tanks, weapons, communication systems. The Defence Ministry will decide which country to partner with — coordinate through the embassies."
The hall buzzed with discussion, reports, and the scratching of pens. One by one, each department presented its plans — agriculture, housing, education, and industry. Every word was weighed; every number mattered.
Then, in the final session, Rahul stood up and faced the gathering.
Rahul: "One last declaration. From this day onward, the term Kingdom of Athenia shall be abolished. We have walked far from our medieval past. From this moment, we stand as a nation — equal to others on this world stage. From now on, we shall be known as the Country of Atlantica."
The hall fell silent. For a heartbeat, no one spoke. Then the entire chamber rose to their feet, applauding — a thunderous sound echoing across the marble walls.
Priya smiled faintly as she recorded the declaration.
Priya (softly): "The age of kingdoms ends today. The age of Atlantica begins."
For seven days after, the ministers worked tirelessly, finalizing each draft, sealing every law and amendment. By the end of the week, the new budget, reforms, and declaration were officially signed and stamped with the royal insignia.
Athenia was reborn — as Atlantica, the nation.
After the week-long deliberation, the final draft of the national reform meeting was reviewed and approved. The budgetary allocations from the newly arrived funds were finalized under the supervision of His Majesty Rahul.
Nearly 20% of the funds, amounting to Rs. 1,400–1,500 billion Zian, were allocated for the salary revision of central and state government personnel. This included both civil administration and defence staff, marking one of the largest wage reforms in Atlantica's history.
Another 20% was directed towards the Defence Ministry, aimed at expanding manpower, modernizing weapon systems, and strengthening logistics and communication networks. This allocation symbolized Rahul's resolve to transform the Athenian defence structure into a disciplined, corruption-free, and efficient force.
The remaining 60% of the funds were set aside for infrastructure development across multiple sectors — agriculture, transportation, energy, housing, and public administration. A significant portion was also sanctioned for two new pillars of national reform: the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the National Level Audit Organization (NLAO).
The announcement of the NLAO caused a momentary stir during the meeting — few ministers were aware of this new institution. However, once Rahul explained its purpose — an independent national body responsible for auditing all governmental financial transactions — the proposal was unanimously passed. He emphasized that most developed nations maintained such oversight agencies, and Atlantica must not lag behind.
With every signature in place and every ministry briefed, the final document was prepared. Rahul took the quill, placed his seal, and signed the decree.
The first National Development Plan of Atlantica was officially enacted.
The meeting was then adjourned — not with celebration, but with a quiet sense of determination. The ministers left knowing that a new order had begun, one that would shape the nation's destiny for decades to come.
While the formal session of the meeting had concluded, many ministers still lingered in the grand conference hall. The air was lighter now — filled with quiet conversations and sighs of relief after days of debate and paperwork.
Across one corner of the long table, Minister of Agriculture Akash turned toward Minister of Defence Amant, a faint smile on his face.
"Congratulations, Amant," Akash said warmly. "You've finally got what your ministry deserves — more manpower, better equipment. I think now you can truly be proud of your army and air force."
Amant chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't tease me, Akash," he replied. "It's not me you should congratulate. It's His Majesty. The King is the one who made all this possible. We're just following his lead — and I'll keep following him, even if it costs me my life."
His words carried a tone of deep respect rather than formality, and for a moment, the chatter around them quieted. The ministers knew that, for the first time in decades, their government was moving forward under a leader who was not just ruling — but rebuilding.
Akash leaned back in his chair, glancing toward Amant with a satisfied smile.
"Yes," he said, "after this revision, I think most of the people will finally be happy. Corruption won't vanish overnight, but those who genuinely love this country will finally be able to live with dignity. With higher salaries, they won't need to turn to bribes just to feed their families. This decision… it's like removing a poison that has been running through our society for years."
Amant nodded thoughtfully as other ministers gathered around, listening.
Akash continued, "It'll take time, of course — maybe a year or so. But I believe by the next budget session, we'll see real improvement. And all this—" he gestured toward the signed documents on the table "—is because of His Majesty's vision."
A quiet murmur of agreement passed through the room. Several ministers exchanged glances, the sense of renewed purpose clear in their eyes.
One of them, the Minister of Commerce, added with a half-smile, "Then we better make sure we live up to that vision. The Anti-Corruption Bureau and this new NLAO… they're watching now. No more shortcuts."
A few chuckled uneasily, others nodded in agreement. The mood was a mix of hope and caution — the feeling of a nation standing at the edge of true change.
Akash turned toward the Finance Minister with a teasing grin.
"I think now you've got the hardest job, my friend — distributing funds to every department, setting up audits, and running the financial program His Majesty has approved. I can already see your hairline retreating just thinking about it."
The room erupted in laughter. For the first time in years, the cabinet felt alive — not stiff, not formal, but human.
It reminded many of the old days when meetings felt like empty rituals — papers signed, words spoken, yet no real action. Back then, everyone sat in silence, burdened by shortage and inefficiency. But now, there was something different — hope.
For once, they weren't merely following orders; they were building a future.
Even the more skeptical ministers, those long entangled in the threads of old corruption, felt a strange sense of pride stirring within. They had money, they had direction, and above all, they had leadership that demanded integrity.
Most of them were still far from pure, but the "super ministers" — the ones closest to power — had begun to understand something profound: true power came not from wealth, but from the strength of the nation itself.
And with that realization, a decision was quietly made among them — to begin cleaning their own houses. Departments would be audited. Corrupt officials would be removed. The Anti-Corruption Bureau would be given full support.
For the first time in years, reform was not just a word — it was a movement.