China fragmented into sixteen separate nations following the Millennium Shock.

It began in the second year of the Shock.

The government declared a mobilization order to prevent gate-related damage, and in the process, the true power of superhumans manifested in concrete form.

That is, it was proven that the moment a superhuman’s power crossed a certain singularity, they could overpower modern firearms.

China was a communist state.

Even setting aside other factors, it was a nation where the Party leadership’s control had to be absolute to maintain the regime.

Yet, a situation arose where a handful of transcendent individuals escaped their control.

They even considered it beneath them to remain loyal to the Party and sacrifice themselves.

Various sociologists noted that this phenomenon laid bare the fatal weakness of communism.

Because egalitarianism offered no rewards for exceptional individuals, they concluded that the hunters’ rejection of control was the inevitable consequence of a system that ignored human selfishness.

As if proving those words right, S-Rank hunters increasingly distanced themselves from the Party and eventually declared complete independence from state control.

Naturally, the Party did not sit idly by, but the problem, as always, was the sheer vastness of the land.

The Party’s control was insufficient to span the entirety of China.

Fists were closer than the law, and more awe-inspiring than the regime were the hunters of the land who protected the people today.

The nation was first bisected, then quartered based on the superhumans, and those nations fragmented further until they were split into sixteen pieces.

Denouncing the existing Chinese system as existing solely for the benefit of the Party leadership, they championed their own ideologies and declared the founding of separate nations, ushering in a Warring States period.

This was the backdrop for the birth of the ‘Central Plains 16 Nations,’ where sixteen hunter monarchies sought to unify the continent under their respective ideologies, much like the distant past.

Some said.

Perhaps for a very long time, they would fight their own wars and dream of a grand unification.

Meanwhile, those who still remembered the China of the past spoke up.

“That’s just how China is. Think of the Chu-Han Contention, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, or wuxia novels. Heroes and warlords step up, measure their strength against each other, conquer territory, and make history.”

Jung-woo chuckled in response to Ho-jong’s remark.

“Well, I’m at least thankful they’re docile on the diplomatic front because of it.”

They were creating a world of their own.

Since they were engaged in psychological warfare with one another internally, the Central Plains 16 Nations had no room to cause trouble on the international stage.

But that did not mean they remained an isolated world.

There was one instance where they raised their voices internationally.

When the balance of power shifted.

The Central Plains was a land extremely sensitive to internal power struggles, so they foamed at the mouth and pounced on anything that could disrupt the balance.

The upcoming Qilin subjugation was entangled in such vested interests.

Korea’s stock was currently high.

Following Jung-woo’s emergence, his achievements were receiving immense support from the international community.

Furthermore, the development of the North Korean Erosion Zone supplied an abundance of mana resources, making it a land with tremendous potential for commercial development.

The nation bordering Pyongan Province naturally held an advantage in agreements concerning trade and resource development.

“It’s enough to drive them mad. Think about the Man Nation getting rich in mana resources after swallowing Manchuria. The Jing Nation right next door is already throwing a fit.”

The Man Nation, with Dalian as its capital, was Korea’s top priority for resource development cooperation.

The Jing Nation, based in former Beijing, ranked second in terms of distance and prestige. While it was the successor to the former Chinese Communist Party’s legitimacy, making it an uncomfortable neighbor in many ways, its ruler was an Ex-grade hunter, making it a highly significant trading partner.

An agreement with this land would influence the competition between those two.

Aside from them, the Haewon Kingdom of Shanghai had entered the fray with overwhelming capital.

A total of three nations were vying to dictate the aftermath of this Qilin subjugation.

“The real problem is that we have to take one nation’s side.”

Ho-jong said.

“That’s just how these bastards operate. If you’re friends with them, you’re my enemy.”

“It’s what they call Guanxi.”

“Bullshit. They’re just narrow-minded.”

“Well, they are mutual adversaries, so it can’t be helped.”

Jung-woo had no particular grievances with the Central Plains.

To hold a grudge, they had already been sixteen nations by the time he was born, and since they were all distinct countries, there was little reason to dislike them as a whole.

“Isn’t it a very precarious setup? The Central Plains.”

“The moment one side gains power, it feels like a war will break out.”

This was the dilemma of diplomacy.

There were no absolute gains; every choice was a continuous calculation of weighing profits and losses, trading flesh for bone.

They had to choose one.

However, that was only true from a one-dimensional perspective.

“You have something in mind, don’t you, Mr. Jung-woo?”

“You say that as if it’s obvious.”

“The way you say that means you do.”

“I wouldn’t say I don’t.”

Jung-woo smiled brightly.

In truth, there was a setup he personally considered quite ideal.

“I learned a lot in Japan.”

“Like what?”

“That my goal is subjugation, and what stands in the way is an issue of vested interests. It’s been that way so far, and I learned it will continue to be that way.”

The sudden action by the Japanese Ministry of Defense before the Jormungandr subjugation was one of the most infuriating incidents in Jung-woo’s life.

It was a realization of how irrationally humans could behave in the face of vested interests, and in a way, it served as a preventative shot that helped Jung-woo reset his mindset.

“Acting merely kind and polite. It can be poison sometimes.”

“That sounds like you’re saying you won’t do that this time.”

“I wonder if there’s a need to go that far.”

The goal was too far away.

He had to explore the Zero Gates and see the otherworld and what lay beyond.

That alone was enough to make his head explode, but there was also a deadline for Se-gi’s awakening attached to it.

The most important thing to Jung-woo was always one thing.

There was no reason to handle matters one by one while catering to others’ circumstances.

A ruthless determination had taken root in his heart.

“Isn’t that how the world works? The thirsty dig the well.”

With a beaming smile, Jung-woo subtly conveyed his thoughts to Ho-jong.

Ho-jong slowly opened his mouth, then shuddered as he spoke to Jung-woo.

“You’re really sinister. You’re way too sinister.”

Jung-woo shrugged.

“You flatter me.”

Jung-woo took Ho-jong’s response as agreement.

The Central Plains was a land of fierce warfare.

It was a land where sixteen ideologies were forged into blades aimed at each other’s throats, and the sharp conflicts of monarchs striving to become the lords of that vast territory erupted sporadically across every inch of the land at every moment.

Naturally, assessing the enemy’s strength was just as important as bolstering one’s own.

It was a given that a fierce battle of wits would unfold over this matter.

Korea’s reclamation of North Korea.

It was an event that brought massive international attention, but it held even greater significance for the Central Plains.

The moment a nation directly bordering Korea signed an agreement with them, the power dynamics of the Central Plains would shift dramatically.

Of course, the western lands had nothing they could do about it.

Beyond that, they were a bunch who didn’t particularly care which eastern faction grew stronger.

Even if an agreement strengthened a certain nation and invited heavy checks from neighboring countries, it was ultimately an eastern dispute.

They planned to stockpile power while the eastern nations bled each other, ready to stab the wounded victor in the back.

Therefore, the urgent matter belonged to the eastern nations, who had to emerge victorious from the competition.

The Man Nation, the Jing Nation, and the Haewon Kingdom—the four or five nations watching their steps, overshadowed by those three massive powers.

Their attention was entirely focused on Korea.

It was a small nation that had grown too powerful to intimidate or bully, possessing an unbelievable number of high-ranking hunters, making diplomatic negotiations urgent.

Diplomatic letters were sent one after another to the Korean Hunter Association.

They were missives concerning relations following the Qilin subjugation.

However, the reply that came back was peculiar.

“…Summoned? To Korea?”

“Yes, Supreme Leader.”

“Did they only summon us?”

“No, sir. It appears the Man Nation and the Haewon Kingdom were invited simultaneously.”

In the heart of the Jing Nation’s Beijing.

Veins bulged on the forehead of the middle-aged man sitting at the top of the towering Cheongeum Pavilion.

“That wet-behind-the-ears brat dares…!”

The fist of the Jing Nation’s Grand Marshal, the Ex-grade hunter Ak Jinsan, clenched tight.

The wine glass was instantly crushed to powder, and black energy began to well up from his body.

He had thought it would be an easy matter.

The fact that Edmond Richmond had already visited Korea meant that Korea’s new Council member knew about the Council, so he figured there was no reason to clash with him.

But his actions were peculiar.

No, they were arrogant.

Wasn’t the intent behind this letter, and the ones sent to the Man Nation and Haewon Kingdom, clear?

In plain terms, it meant, ‘If you have business, come to us.’

His nose had clearly gotten a hell of a lot higher.

His lips trembling with rage betrayed the intensity of his emotions.

However, his thoughts detached from his emotions and began a rational calculation.

Ak Jinsan was an incredibly shrewd man.

He knew what became of fools who relied solely on strength and ran amok in history.

That was why he remained hunkered down in a sharp power struggle despite being the continent’s only Ex-grade.

‘I must go.’

The Jing Nation’s standing was still precarious.

The nation’s own power was among the greatest, but that very power incited wariness from neighboring countries.

The moment he lunged to devour one of them, the rest would temporarily cooperate to strike at the Jing Nation’s neck.

That was why Ak Jinsan had not stepped forward until now, and a clue to overturn that dynamic was looming.

‘We must secure North Korea’s resources. If we supplement our firepower, we can quickly subjugate the surrounding nations and compete with the West.’

How much potential the Erosion Zone’s mana resources held was a truth too obvious to waste breath on.

The combat boost from weaponizing them would more than double their current strength.

It was a situation where he had to play along despite knowing the game.

He understood to some extent that the opponent was using him, knowing this.

It was unpleasant, but he had to endure it.

While Jung-woo’s personal abilities were intimidating, the main reason was that the unprecedented madman, Edmond Richmond, had publicly defended him.

‘It was a declaration that he wouldn’t stand idly by if he was touched. That damn Colored-eye Foreigner.’

Others might not know, but it was a warning directed at the Council.

Ak Jinsan was opposed to the Zero Gate subjugation.

He had clashed with Edmond over this at every turn, but that was strictly a matter of vested interests.

Beyond that, it was obvious as day that Edmond would go on a rampage the moment Shin Jung-woo was touched.

The tangled web of vested interests was truly frustrating.

However, patience had always been the virtue of a gentleman.

“Prepare for departure.”

Ak Jinsan said so, suppressing his boiling insides.

He figured he might as well use this chance to see the face of that cocky new recruit who didn’t know his place.

It was the last day of February.

Not long after the letters were exchanged, three planes were preparing to land at Incheon Airport.

Ho-jong stood at the airport, dressed impeccably in a suit.

Beside him, Jung-woo was beaming with a bright smile.

Ho-jong carefully observed Jung-woo’s eyes.

Then, he abruptly spoke.

“When I was a kid.”

“Yes?”

“There was always one in every village. Kids who would block the path of marching ants and force them to go somewhere weird. Kids who made them lose their way.”

“That sounds like bad kids.”

“Malicious, really. But there was one worse kid.”

“Worse than that?”

“He’d always manage to find two anthills and dump the ants from each into the other’s home.”

“Kids are scary. But why bring this up?”

“Just because.”

Ho-jong said in an uneasy voice.

“Looking at you, Mr. Jung-woo, I suddenly remembered that kid’s face.”

Jung-woo replied with a remarkably refreshing smile.

“You’re too much.”

Even as he replied, Jung-woo never denied the statement.

The lords of the Central Plains had landed.