Chapter 174

Britain had been occupied.

Unfortunately, this news had not reached the outside world at all.

Queen Elizabeth III, completely unaware of what had transpired in her homeland, was still awaiting reinforcements.

The Red Army was tightening its noose around them by the hour, while a formidable Republic of Korea defense force held firm in front.

They were in a desperate situation, surrounded on all sides.

Their current predicament could only be described as such.

“Secretary Patrick! Please contact the homeland immediately. Find out if the reinforcements have left yet.”

The Queen addressed Secretary Patrick, but he replied with an embarrassed expression.

“Your Majesty… the truth is, we’ve been trying to contact the homeland for a long time, but we haven’t been able to get through. Communications are down.”

Queen Elizabeth frowned.

“What… what did you just say? Communications are down?”

“That’s what I find strange as well. I’ve sent someone urgently, so I expect to hear back soon, but…”

“The homeland is unreachable…”

A sudden wave of unease washed over Queen Elizabeth, her face hardening.

“Nothing untoward will have happened, Your Majesty.”

“Try contacting France and Germany as well. We must bring in reinforcements from there if nowhere else.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ve already sent word. In fact, they say they will send reinforcements after receiving approval from the European Union Self-Governing Council.”

“Hardi from Africa has also sent word that he’s dispatching support troops, so please wait a moment longer.”

The Foreign Minister chimed in from beside her.

Elizabeth nodded.

With support from the African Union and various European nations, they could, albeit with difficulty, hold back the Red Army.

During that time, they would need to break through the Republic of Korea’s defensive line, leveraging their overwhelming numerical superiority.

“Until then, focus all our capabilities on breaking through the front lines. Whatever it takes, we must break through.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The two bowed their heads and exited.

However, Queen Elizabeth could not hide her anxiety.

‘Why is the homeland unreachable?’

She was intelligent.

Her political acumen was exceptional, and her strategic sense in battle was also very keen.

Was that not why she had become the Monarch of Britain?

That was why the current situation made no sense to her.

The hotline connected to the homeland should have been accessible without fail.

The fact that it wasn’t meant that something beyond her control was unfolding.

The Queen did not take this situation lightly.

‘Must I… consider the worst-case scenario?’

The Queen bit her lip.

Their opponent was Kang Yuseong.

A powerful individual who had not only brought down America, China, and Japan, but even Russia.

Fighting such an individual, they had to be even more cautious and suspicious of everything.

‘The homeland might have been occupied. That’s not a delusion.’

Kang Yuseong’s favorite tactic.

A clean method of neutralizing the enemy by striking directly at their head.

The White House and the Pentagon had fallen that way in America, and Japan was no different.

Even China had completely collapsed when the Presidential Palace was swiftly occupied.

There was no guarantee that Britain would not suffer the same fate.

The head of Britain right now was not Queen Elizabeth herself, but the Parliament in the homeland.

No matter how formal it was, military actions required the Queen’s command to be approved by the members of Parliament.

Without that approval, the army could not move.

That formal system was now perfectly hamstringing the British forces.

“James!”

Elizabeth called out for James.

James, the Director of the Royal Secret Intelligence Service.

He, too, had joined the Queen in this war.

No information reaching the Queen bypassed his hands.

The armies of the land, sea, and air, as well as the Hunters’ army, were all managed under his purview.

James, the divine hand who handled the situations of other nations and countless pieces of information.

He appeared.

“You called, Your Majesty?”

Queen Elizabeth looked at him and spoke softly.

“It seems you must return to the homeland.”

“Is it about that matter?”

To James’s question, Queen Elizabeth slowly nodded.

“It seems… the homeland has fallen. The fact that Parliament is unreachable is no ordinary matter. Is The Reaper on standby?”

“Yes. They are on standby to assassinate the enemy commander.”

“Mad Dog, you mean? The one called Gil Hyeok-jun?”

“Yes, precisely him. It seems it would be very difficult to advance without eliminating him…”

Queen Elizabeth nodded and immediately continued.

“First, let’s deal with the situation in the homeland. Send The Reaper to the homeland to discreetly resolve the situation. Remember: you must operate under the assumption that the enemy has momentarily occupied London.”

James bowed his head.

“I will remember that. I will relay it to Gunther, the leader of The Reaper.”

“Good. The outcome of this war may depend on it. We must overcome this immediate crisis as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

James bowed once more and departed.

Queen Elizabeth’s face became deeply thoughtful.

However, God was not on her side.

* * * * *

“Your Majesty! Hardi of Africa has decided not to send reinforcements!”

The sudden, unwelcome news.

Hardi had sent word that, due to internal conflicts within the African Union, it would be difficult to send support troops.

“What did you say?”

Queen Elizabeth’s eyes widened.

Hardi was a close ally of hers.

It was she who had helped form the African Union, and she who had supported Hardi to become its leader.

Since then, she had maintained a very close relationship with him and had no doubt that he would provide support in this war.

But now, he had betrayed her.

“Why… what is the reason?”

“On the surface, they are using internal conflict as an excuse, but it seems…”

“It seems?”

“Something must have happened in London. His attitude wouldn’t suddenly change like this otherwise…”

Queen Elizabeth bit her lip tightly.

“This is serious. How long can the rear support units hold out?”

“A large contingent of reinforcements has joined the Red Army, so at most, two days. France and Germany are also reluctant to provide additional support.”

“Hmm!”

Queen Elizabeth furrowed her brow.

All their allies were turning their backs.

“Your Majesty! The Eastern Front is rapidly collapsing!”

At that moment, another urgent report came in.

“What…?! It’s been a stalemate until now?”

“It’s… Kang Yuseong has taken the lead. Our forces are being breached with unstoppable momentum by his power.”

“Kang Yuseong? Why has he, who has been unseen until now, suddenly appeared on the front lines?!”

“I… I don’t know! But you must hurry. The situation is critical!”

The Queen’s face hardened.

If Kang Yuseong had appeared, it was tantamount to the worst-case scenario.

She closed her eyes tightly.

No reinforcements from the homeland, no support from their allies.

The formidable Red Army had almost cut off their retreat, and from the front, Kang Yuseong’s assault force was counterattacking.

There was nowhere to escape.

After a long moment, she opened her eyes and spoke softly.

“Order a retreat… a retreat.”

“What? Your… Your Majesty!”

Those present looked stunned, but the Queen was resolute.

“I cannot let innocent soldiers die meaninglessly. As of this moment, our army will fight with all its might to break through the Red Army and return to the homeland.”

The offensive had failed.

It was the moment when Europe’s massive mobilization had failed.

The Queen assessed the situation coldly, and the ministers and officials had no choice but to comply.

With Kang Yuseong’s appearance on the front lines, and having witnessed his incredible performance since, there was nothing more they could do.

Returning to the homeland with as many soldiers as possible was the best option.

The European Union.

That massive army turned its forces around.

And chasing after that army, the Republic of Korea’s defense forces began a fierce pursuit.

* * * * *

The Queen’s army ultimately failed to cross the Dover Strait.

They were not annihilated.

But they had to endure a humiliation akin to annihilation.

The Queen was captured, and her army was disarmed.

The sight of the Red Army and the Republic of Korea defense forces surrounding them was quite a spectacle.

The Queen, without a trace of makeup, appeared in the conference room as a prisoner.

The President of the Republic of Korea was not present.

The President had delegated all authority to Commander-in-Chief Kang Yuseong and focused on domestic policy, so Kang Yuseong sat at the head of the table.

“A pleasure to finally meet you, Your Majesty.”

Kang Yuseong looked at the Queen and smiled faintly.

The Queen sat down without a word, watching him.

“What are your demands?”

From the moment she was captured, she had prepared herself for an enormous indemnity.

Having invaded the territory of the Republic of Korea when it was vulnerable, their actions were indeed reprehensible.

Kang Yuseong smiled, looking at the Queen.

“Demands, you say… What can Your Majesty offer?”

The Queen frowned.

“You are impudent. State your desired terms of compensation.”

“There are none.”

Kang Yuseong replied abruptly.

The Queen flinched, a surprised expression on her face.

Kang Yuseong looked directly at her and continued.

“From now on, Britain will become a vassal state of the Republic of Korea, and all decisions regarding national governance must receive our approval. So, there’s no need for compensation, is there, Your Majesty?”

“Are you… are you insulting me right now?”

The Queen asked with an angry expression, but Kang Yuseong shook his head.

“I am simply asserting our rightful claims. At this moment, it is Your Majesty who stands on the edge of a cliff, not I. Shouting from the precipice doesn’t look particularly good.”

“Hm!”

The Queen fell silent, unable to retort.

“America, China, Russia, Europe, Japan… all will now be managed as our territories. If you have the confidence to resist that, feel free to try. Otherwise…”

Kang Yuseong’s eyes fixed directly on the Queen.

“It would be more advantageous to quietly accept these terms, wouldn’t it, Your Majesty?”

It was an insult.

Humiliating and infuriating to the core.

But she couldn’t utter a single word.

Kang Yuseong was the victor, and she was the vanquished.

Moreover, Kang Yuseong was already the powerful victor on a global scale.

One who wielded a hegemony more formidable than anyone else.

Even the President of the Republic of Korea could not match his power.

Indeed, he had already transcended the authority and position of a president.

A Monarch.

Having brought the world almost entirely under his single grasp, he deserved to be called nothing less.

“Then, I wish you a comfortable remainder of your life.”

Kang Yuseong rose from the conference table.

But the Queen could not stop him.

Watching him disappear into the distance, the Queen could only bite her lip.

Thus, Britain was annexed by the Republic of Korea, forced to endure governance as a vassal state.

Not only Britain, but Kang Yuseong held France, Germany, Switzerland, and other nations that had participated in this war fully accountable.

The Republic of Korea, once a small nation in the East, had now become a country wielding immense influence.

Later generations would call Kang Yuseong, who had accomplished this monumental feat, the “Monarch of Plunder.”

And they would come to understand.

That because of this Monarch, who held such powerful hegemony, they were able to survive the great catastrophe that followed, known as the Tera Shock.