Chapter 191 – Truth [Smells Like]

October 4, 2033.

Blue House Small Conference Room.

Regardless of the political turmoil, since Russian bombers carrying tactical nuclear weapons had been flying perilously close to Korean airspace, a security-related ministerial meeting was convened under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nam Hanseok.

The Minister of National Defense, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and even the Director of the National Intelligence Service.

The heads of departments that could be considered pillars of foreign and security policy had gathered around the policy coordinator, but the conversation circulating among the four was rather empty.

“The Russian Embassy has no particular response.”

The words of the Minister of Foreign Affairs,

“According to a report by Japan’s NHK, the bombers deployed this time were the new Tu-20 strategic bombers, and there was a high probability they were equipped with tactical nuclear warheads. While the specific identity of the source was not disclosed, such information has traditionally come from the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, so it’s likely accurate.”

The words of the NIS Director,

“When our three F-35As scrambled in response, there were no particular messages nor hostile actions. Isn’t it just a kind of show of force Russia regularly displays towards neighboring countries?”

The words of the Minister of National Defense.

All were hollow.

There was nothing of substance, nothing proper, and the only specific information came from foreign media reports.

“Hoo…….”

Nam Hanseok let out a long sigh.

At that, the Ministers of National Defense and Foreign Affairs, and the NIS Director all fell silent.

“So, is there anyone who can properly explain why the Russians sent bombers at this particular time?”

At Nam Hanseok’s question, the three remained silent.

“Minister Kim?”

Nam Hanseok’s gaze turned to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He avoided Nam Hanseok’s eyes.

“Minister Lee?”

Nam Hanseok’s gaze turned to the Minister of National Defense.

“Ahem. As I said earlier, it must be for show, right?”

Nam Hanseok snorted softly.

“Director Choi?”

His gaze turned to the NIS Director.

“Well… I share Minister Lee’s opinion.”

Nam Hanseok smirked.

Letting out a laugh that seemed somehow hollow and empty, Nam Hanseok slowly took a long drink of water.

Thud-! He set the glass down with a sound and spoke without even looking at the three.

“Everyone, you can go. Go and do your jobs.”

At Nam Hanseok’s words, the three briefly glanced at each other’s faces and then almost simultaneously rose from their seats and left the conference room.

“Insects….”

Once they had all left, Nam Hanseok spat out hostility and anger towards them as if chewing them out.

But soon, those emotions were all obscured by futility and disappointment, disappearing from his expression and breath.

‘It’s completely broken.’

He hadn’t had high expectations from the start.

Since the establishment of the 7th Republic, unbeknownst to the public, the intelligence-gathering functions of the NIS, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had all been transferred to the National Policy Advisory Council and the Superhuman Association.

Officially, the intelligence departments within the Ministry of National Defense, the NIS, and the white agents of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs still handle intelligence gathering, but practically, those who handled high-level intelligence all naturally moved to the National Policy Advisory Council or the Superhuman Association with the establishment of the 7th Republic.

‘Even though Lee Siguk is dead and gone, the Superhuman Association and the National Policy Advisory Council haven’t lost their power. There must be reasons like this.’

Nam Hanseok closed his eyes and tapped the table with his right index and middle fingers in a slow rhythm.

‘If the intensification of protests leads to riots, and riots lead to large-scale looting and crime, then declare martial law and use the Capital Defense Command’s military to seize the National Assembly and broadcasting stations. Good. That can be managed. But… can we really seize the National Policy Advisory Council and the Superhuman Association?’

Nam Hanseok’s plan was simple.

Use the military through martial law to seize the National Assembly, the judiciary, and broadcasting stations, then a balance of power would be established between the National Policy Advisory Council/Superhuman Association and himself.

Using that balance, negotiate with National Policy Advisory Council Chairman Lee Dongseok and Vice Chairwoman Yeo Jeongyeon to secure his own power and rights.

That was his plan.

‘Will it work?’

When he first formulated the plan and conspired with two D-Rank Villains he used to associate with during his Villain days to kill Han Changmyeong, Nam Hanseok was confident it was possible.

But as time passed, with chaebols like Yong Jaehyung turning their backs on him in earnest, even the official information that used to come into the Blue House no longer arriving properly, and even now, with Russian bombers flying near Korean airspace, he still couldn’t accurately ascertain the reason. Looking at this reality, that confidence was gradually plummeting to the bottom.

‘If ultimately I cannot secure my own power… then….’

Nam Hanseok’s fingers stopped.

Silence fell in the small conference room.

In the silence, Nam Hanseok remained still with his eyes closed, lost in thought, so quietly that not even the sound of his breathing could be heard, as if time itself had stopped.

‘Maybe it would be better to just burn it all down.’

Nam Hanseok’s eyes snapped open.

In his eyes, frustration, despair, and madness blazed like flames.

Ivan Ivanov gave a clear answer to Yeo Jeongyeon and the Samhwa Group lobbyists.

“We do not have the capacity to interfere in Korea’s internal affairs. Instead, if necessary, we can occasionally provide stimulation like this.”

Even that much was considered more than enough by Yeo Jeongyeon and the lobbyists.

Thus, Yeo Jeongyeon left Moscow on October 5th with the lobbyists.

But Yeo Jeongyeon did not take the same flight as the lobbyists.

When the lobbyists boarded a flight to Incheon, she boarded a flight to Tokyo.

And when she arrived in Tokyo, Sakamoto, the loyal subordinate of Kurokawa Minori who had been waiting in advance, escorted her.

“Welcome. I will guide you to where the Boss is.”

At Sakamoto’s respectful posture, Yeo Jeongyeon bowed her head lightly to express her thanks.

Soon, she got into the back seat of a black sedan and headed to Kurokawa Minori’s residence.

Gazing at the gloomy sky that looked like rain was coming yet not a single drop fell, and the Tokyo skyline spread beneath it, Yeo Jeongyeon said nothing until they arrived.

After a while, the car arrived at a quiet suburban house located in Bunkyo Ward.

“We have arrived. You may get out.”

As Sakamoto opened the door and spoke, Yeo Jeongyeon slowly got out of the car.

Looking at the beautifully maintained garden, Yeo Jeongyeon took a light breath.

The scent of autumn filled the air, making her heart flutter.

“This way.”

After watching Yeo Jeongyeon look around the garden for a moment, Sakamoto guided her.

Yeo Jeongyeon followed Sakamoto into the backyard.

On the terrace overlooking a small pond, Kurokawa Minori was sitting in a rocking chair, watching the fish swimming in the pond.

“It’s been a while.”

At Yeo Jeongyeon’s greeting, Kurokawa Minori looked at her and smiled.

“Really… it’s been such a long time since we met like this in person, Jeongyeon-ssi.”

“Indeed. May I sit?”

“Yes. Of course.”

Yeo Jeongyeon sat in the empty rocking chair beside her.

The two looked at the pond simultaneously.

Sakamoto quietly excused himself.

“The baby… is growing well, right?”

At Yeo Jeongyeon’s question, Kurokawa Minori smiled.

“I’m doing prenatal education every day. Since Bunkyo Ward itself is a quiet neighborhood for the intellectual class, it’s really good for prenatal education.”

Saying that, she gently stroked her belly.

Seeing that, Yeo Jeongyeon also smiled faintly.

“You went to Moscow, I heard?”

“Yes.”

“Did you meet Miss Polina?”

“I also met President Ivanov.”

“What did he say?”

“He said he couldn’t help much, but he could occasionally send out bombers like that.”

“Sounds like something the Russian President would say.”

The dark clouds were gradually thickening.

“Since Siguk-ssi disappeared, things have become difficult in many ways.”

At Kurokawa Minori’s words, Yeo Jeongyeon nodded.

“Jeongyeon-ssi, Miss Polina, and I… we’re all going through a personally difficult time.”

“But we still have to endure. Both you and I, Minori-ssi.”

“We must. Jeongyeon-ssi has the organization Siguk-ssi left behind, and I have….”

Kurokawa Minori unconsciously stroked her belly.

Yeo Jeongyeon quietly took her hand.

Kurokawa Minori slowly turned her gaze towards her.

“If the legacy Siguk-ssi built in Korea collapses, the cartel he established across Asia will also collapse.”

“I know very well that’s why Jeongyeon-ssi is having a really hard time.”

“Unni.”

Suddenly, as the Title Yeo Jeongyeon used to address her changed, Kurokawa Minori’s eyes wavered slightly.

“As Unni said, I have the organization Siguk-ssi entrusted to me, and Unni has Siguk-ssi’s child.”

“…….”

“Since we both have something to protect, let’s work hard, do our best, even without Siguk-ssi.”

“……What can I do?”

“Just keep doing as you are.”

“Did you come all this way just to say that?”

Yeo Jeongyeon lightly shook her head.

“Just… after meeting Polina… I thought of Unni.”

The sadness contained in her voice was clearly readable by Kurokawa Minori.

She took Yeo Jeongyeon’s hand in both of hers.

“Hang in there.”

At those warm words, Yeo Jeongyeon smiled and shed tears.

Soon, raindrops began to fall softly.

For a full ten days, the crow squadron flew west.

Since they were not ordinary crows but Giant Crows specially enhanced by a B-Rank Druid, stamina issues hardly occurred.

They only rested briefly for sleep and meals; the squadron flew over 20 hours a day towards Armageddon.

And finally, around the 16th hour of the tenth day of flight, the squadron arrived at Armageddon.

“That must be it over there.”

At the old Druid woman’s words, Siguk nodded.

In the distance, Armageddon, which seemed to be shrouded in a sinister aura, came into view.

“Prepare for landing.”

Caw-!

The old Druid woman let out a cry and led the squadron in descent.

As they gradually neared the ground, Siguk activated his All-Seeing Eye.

No special life forms were visible, but strong Mana was captured in Siguk’s vision.

Invisible Mana particles, like a thick fog, were spread throughout Armageddon.

“What on earth is this…….”

Perhaps the old Druid woman felt it too, as she trembled slightly.

Siguk lightly patted the old woman’s back once with his palm to reassure her.

After a moment, the squadron landed on the ground, and Siguk immediately jumped off the old woman’s back.

“Desolate.”

Leaving that as his first impression, Siguk slowly began to move.

He needed to regain his senses after landing on the ground for the first time in a while, and above all, he needed to be prepared for any potential ambush.

Holding a single-edged dagger picked up from the ruins, presumed to be Delhi, in his right hand, Siguk slowly moved around, using his All-Seeing Eye to search for traces of life.

But nowhere did any life forms exist.

“It looks like the place where the final war took place.”

At the old Druid woman’s words, Siguk nodded.

“I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, but the Bible also designated this place as where the final war would occur. And the final war really did happen here. After their fight, there hasn’t been a conflict worthy of being called a war. At least, to my knowledge.”

At her words, Siguk chuckled.

• Kehehehehe.

At that moment, a sinister Telepathy was transmitted into Siguk’s mind.

Siguk stopped dead in his tracks.

“What’s wrong?”

At the old Druid woman’s words, Siguk gestured for her to be quiet.

• A human visiting after a long time? And a tasty-looking human at that.

A wicked woman’s Telepathy was also transmitted.

• Leave it. That one’s mine to eat.

• We’ve both been unable to eat anything for decades; how about sharing?

• When we agreed to divide the Old Continent and the New Continent between us, did we say anything like that?

Having quietly received the Telepathy of the two, a man and a woman, which only resonated in his own head, Siguk soon rushed swiftly somewhere.

Siguk entered through a small hole-like door at the bottom of a ruined hill.

• Coming in on your own, huh?

• He must have that much skill to have come here.

There, Siguk could see.

A human with flickering will-o’-the-wisp-like eyes and the giant bones of a wolf.