Chapter 172

“Welcome.”

A guest arrived at the Kremlin.

It was Oliver, the interim Foreign Minister specially selected by the European Union.

Fyodor greeted him warmly.

Oliver showed courtesy to Fyodor, but his expression was far from pleasant.

“It’s been a long time, Mr. President.”

Fyodor offered a congenial smile.

“Indeed. I wonder how many years it’s been…”

In fact, the two had a connection from long ago.

They had trained together in a special forces unit.

The two men who had endured hardships together in their youth now met as the president of one nation and the foreign minister of an opposing side.

“I hear the Queen has been in a rather foul mood lately.”

Fyodor, however, launched the first preemptive strike.

Oliver’s expression showed surprise for a moment at his words, then he nodded and spoke.

“That’s why I’ve come to see you, Mr. President. There are reports that Russia’s Red Army is advancing west.”

Fyodor shrugged.

“Well, if the objective is in the west, isn’t it natural for us to advance west?”

Oliver frowned.

“Mr. President, isn’t that a bit much? The European Union and Russia were originally supposed to form an alliance…”

“I believe we agreed to wait and see on that. And I’m sure the Queen is aware of that too.”

To Oliver’s words, Fyodor retorted slyly.

“So, what are you saying we should do now? The war has already begun, and the situation is irreversible.”

“It seems the Queen made a rather hasty decision. After all, we had decided to side with the stronger party…”

“Mr. President!”

Oliver, unable to contain himself, raised his voice.

But Fyodor spoke with a calm expression.

“Now, Her Majesty the Queen simply needs to raise the white flag. Russia’s Red Army has probably received orders to completely cut off the European Union’s supply lines and strike their rear… well, I gave those orders, of course. Heh heh…”

“Why have you changed so much? Until recently, the deployment of the Russian forces clearly had an eastward advance in mind. And the communications between Her Majesty and yourself via the hotline also supported that. What happened?”

Oliver glared at Fyodor as he spoke.

Then he continued.

“There were rumors that Moscow fell recently… is that why, President Fyodor?”

At those words, Fyodor’s expression hardened.

“Minister Oliver… that seems like a considerable diplomatic impropriety, wouldn’t you say?”

“Do you consider breaking an alliance and invading to be diplomatic courtesy?”

“I believe I said we never formed an alliance, didn’t I? Does your country consider an alliance without a single document to be valid? Especially in a situation like this, where only the strong survive? Aren’t you being a bit too naive?”

Oliver’s brow furrowed completely.

“The European Union… will use all its power to annihilate the enemy. Even if that enemy is Russia, do not blame us too much.”

Fyodor looked at him coldly.

“I won’t hold any grudges. After all, the weak are devoured by the strong. The weak cannot object to that principle. But, I must say, the Queen should definitely remember one thing.”

As Oliver silently glared at Fyodor, Fyodor continued.

“That the Queen, too, can become the weak. No, she already is becoming so.”

Oliver clenched his teeth, saying nothing.

He hadn’t expected to gain anything from Fyodor anyway.

But what was with this arrogant tone?

Oliver stood up silently and straightened his clothes.

“Our meeting today was… pleasant. Thank you for granting me an audience, President Fyodor.”

He then gave Fyodor a slight bow of the head before continuing.

“Next time, we shall meet on the battlefield. Farewell.”

Fyodor nodded and waved his hand.

“Whether there will truly be such an opportunity, I don’t know… but I suppose I will hope for it too.”

Oliver stormed out of the room, and Fyodor smiled faintly as he watched him go.

Just then, someone appeared from behind Fyodor.

“Quite a splendid performance.”

It was Kang Yuseong.

Fyodor let out a chuckle and said.

“Do you think that was an act? To be honest, I’ve always found the Queen to be insufferable.”

“So, everything you said earlier was genuine?”

“Why wouldn’t it be genuine? After all, you’ve taken control of my mind and set things in motion… wouldn’t I have to dance to your tune to survive?”

“Interesting.”

“You’re the interesting one. You’ve completely overturned my plans, yet you’re so nonchalant after causing such a mess… have you considered what might happen because of that single incident?”

As Fyodor frowned, Kang Yuseong smiled.

“The ones who are meant to live will live, and the ones who are meant to die will die. But isn’t it an undeniable fact that those who started it first must pay the price?”

Fyodor remained silent for a moment, then spoke.

“Damn it, if I’d known this would happen, I would have launched the operation sooner. To think I stood by, unaware you’d grow this powerful, and now look at this mess.”

“Isn’t that why life is interesting? Because things beyond imagination sometimes happen.”

At Kang Yuseong’s words, Fyodor made a face as if he’d bitten into something bitter.

“Anyway, what you said earlier does bother me a bit.”

Fyodor furrowed his brow.

“What words…?”

“The part about me knowing what would happen because of the mess I caused. To be honest, I don’t want many people to die either. What have they done wrong?”

“Look at the humanitarian. Why don’t you just put on a white coat and go around healing people?”

“I intend to end this war as quickly as possible, with all my might. Wouldn’t that be a little better than going around healing people?”

“So, what are you going to do?”

Kang Yuseong smiled faintly.

“You talk too much. But that’s precisely why you’re trustworthy. You never utter a word about things you can’t handle.”

“Is that a compliment or an insult? Damn it.”

“I’m going to London.”

At those words, Fyodor’s expression changed dramatically.

“Wha— what did you say?”

“London. The Queen is on the front lines, but all her supporters are in London. I’m going to strike the main base.”

“That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. You’re truly insane!”

“Don’t see me off. Oh, and there’s something I need to borrow from Russia.”

“What else do you need to borrow?!”

Fyodor shouted irritably.

Kang Yuseong grinned and replied.

“A passenger plane. I can’t exactly swim to England, can I?”

Fyodor’s face crumpled.

* * * * *

The front lines had become stalemated.

It was an unavoidable outcome due to external factors.

Russia’s Red Army had cut off the European Union’s rear and severed their supply lines, preventing the numerically superior European Union from pushing forward with force.

To make matters worse, Minister Oliver, who had gone as an envoy to Russia, returned and reported to the Queen.

“Fyodor… said such things?”

The Queen wore an expression of disbelief.

Even so, he was someone with whom she had exchanged significant confidential information until recently.

Yet, such a man had completely changed.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Truly… how a person can change so completely in an instant… I am ashamed.”

“No, Minister. What fault is it of yours…? I understand. So, diplomatically, there’s nothing more we can do.”

“It seems… that is indeed the case.”

The Queen nodded.

Her greatest strength was her ability to quickly regain her composure, no matter the circumstances.

She had already somewhat braced herself for this, so she wasn’t particularly shaken by it.

“Contact the homeland and urgently request reinforcements to push back the Red Army. Any means necessary are acceptable. If we cannot repel the Red Army, we will be starved out in the middle.”

She was Queen Elizabeth III, a magnificent queen and an exceptional strategist.

At her words, her staff quickly mobilized.

Now, they too understood.

If they couldn’t push back the Red Army, their eastward advance was over.

Moreover, the South Korean defense forces were pushing them back with considerable strength.

Time was not on their side.

* * * * *

Time was not on the European Union’s side.

But it wasn’t just time.

London.

A Russian passenger plane quietly landed at Heathrow Airport.

It was late at night.

Since control over Russian-flagged aircraft hadn’t yet been implemented, entry was possible as long as they passed enhanced security checks.

Kang Yuseong and Kim Do-jin disembarked the passenger plane at the airport.

At the airport’s security checkpoint and immigration desk, they presented the forged passports and IDs provided by Fyodor.

Security personnel scrutinized them closely, and thoroughly searched them.

Then, they allowed them to pass.

These were forged passports and IDs created by a nation’s president himself.

There was absolutely no way they would cause any trouble.

“So, we’ve made it to England? At this rate, we’ll circumnavigate the globe.”

“Isn’t it great? No airfare.”

“We should consider it the price of our lives. How could it be free?”

“Don’t be so dramatic. Want to go back?”

“That’s not what I meant. Why are you taking it so negatively?”

The two exchanged trivial jokes as they exited Heathrow Airport.

As soon as they left the airport, Kang Yuseong’s eyes changed.

“We need to subdue them quickly. Primary target: the British Parliament. Secondary target: the European Union Autonomous Council. Once we occupy those two places, they’ll lose their brain. Even if the Queen issues orders, she’ll have no hands or feet to carry them out.”

“So, you’re planning to wither the Queen from the inside out. I see.”

“Think whatever you like. Let’s move. I’ll go to the British Parliament. You head to the European Union Autonomous Council. Remember: try not to kill anyone if possible.”

“I’ll do my best.”

When the Queen’s command is issued, deliberations immediately take place in the British Parliament.

And they push through as much support as possible to add momentum.

If a deliberation doesn’t pass in the British Parliament, it cannot proceed administratively.

Though there is a Queen, Britain is not a dictatorship.

Kang Yuseong was targeting that.

Of course, he could go to the front lines, kill them all, and take the Queen’s head.

However, that wasn’t the only solution.

To prepare for the upcoming Mega Shocks, as many Hunters as possible needed to survive.

A method to achieve maximum effect with minimum sacrifice.

That was why Kang Yuseong had always operated this way.

Occupying the White House, occupying the Presidential Palace…

And this time, it was Britain.

“Good luck.”

“You too, Captain.”

The two melted into the darkness.