章 219: 633
[Chapter 167]
[Harbinger of Destruction (3)]
The areas most directly affected when Cocoon collapses are those bordering the Han River, such as Mapo-gu, Yongsan-gu, Seongdong-gu, Gwangjin-gu, and the surrounding areas.
After the <Fin de Siècle Destruction>, the Han River became saturated with a large amount of mana and was counted as one of the sources of anomalies.
As a result, Cocoon couldn't extend to the Gangnam area across the Han River, and had to be installed separately in Gangbuk and Gangnam, excluding the Han River.
In the end, when Cocoon breaks, the anomalies that have been suppressed will run wild, causing monsters to appear en masse.
Consequently, it could be said that the Han River is currently in a state where anomalies that fled from Cocoon's influence have accumulated heavily.
It was an ongoing process.
Given that mana calls to mana to become anomalous, and anomalies call to other anomalies,
The anomalies that couldn't burst and only condensed could explode all at once if given a slight trigger.
That was the cause of the appearance of the Kraken, a Level 3 monster, when the Fairy Government, in its early days of establishment, activated Cocoon and drove all the mana wandering around Seoul into the Han River.
And now it was time for the suppressed anomalies since then to explode.
The ones that come up from the Han River will turn the areas adjacent to the Han River into a wasteland.
The same goes for Yongsan-gu.
And these people will be tested by others again.
In the previous life,
The King of Lizards, a Level 3 overrank, attacked Yongsan-gu leading an army.
People feared the monsters and sought help from the clans in Yongsan-gu and the forces in Itaewon, another power.
'You should help us at times like this! Please save us!'
'If you've been living off this land, shouldn't you repay the favor!'
'Please help us. You have the power to fight them!'
People in panic.
They flocked to Itaewon and raised their voices together.
Saying that if they were going to continue living in this country, shouldn't they step up to save them from the brink of destruction?
It was nonsense.
But it couldn't be denied either.
The unwelcome people in this land had no choice but to fight to protect the area where they were born and raised.
Thus, they believed that although they were being treated this way now, someday their descendants would be treated properly as citizens.
They had to believe.
Because otherwise, they would have no hope left to live for.
And so─
─The <Mercenary King> led many people and defended Yongsan-gu until the moment he died.
Many foreigners died.
And they protected Yongsan-gu.
If they hadn't taken up arms, the monster army would have charged straight from Yongsan-gu to Jongno-gu.
If that had happened, the government's administrative functions would have completely collapsed.
Of course, even though they protected Yongsan-gu, contrary to their hopes, their descendants continued to be mistreated.
Because he knew such a future, Eun-ha came to meet the <Mercenary King>.
"─Say that again. What did you say?"
"I said, come under me."
Under the pressure of the <Mercenary King>,
Eun-ha spoke confidently.
☆
It's a pressure that chokes you.
Moreover, the foreigners' aura is very sharp.
Jin Pa-rang, Jin Seo-na, Hoshimiya Kaede.
The three were barely holding up under their aura.
Nevertheless, Eun-ha didn't cower and looked at <Mercenary King> Douglas Kim.
"I know well what kind of person you are. But even so, you're saying extremely disrespectful words."
"..."
"What are you relying on to say such things? Is it because you have the backing of business groups behind you, or are you trusting in your meager strength?"
<Mercenary King> Douglas Kim.
The old man, exuding the unique atmosphere of someone worn by battlefields, spoke with his hand on his sword.
"─Speak."
"Father, let's just kill him."
As if to say he wouldn't leave him alone depending on his answer,
He spoke in a heavy tone.
Dominic, who had somehow come to his side, was gripping his knife as if ready to kill Eun-ha at any moment.
To this, Noh Eun-ha─
"─Pandora Clan will soon completely dominate Yongsan-gu. The day will come when we'll even have Jung-gu above Yongsan-gu."
Revealing his own aura,
And thus enveloping his clan members,
Eun-ha spoke boldly.
No, he declared.
"But with our current clan size, even if we dominate Yongsan-gu, management would be quite tricky." "So you're saying you'll put us under you? You're talking nonsense. Why should we do that?"
What do we lack?
Douglas Kim's words implied such a meaning.
In reality, they were maintaining their own independent force in Yongsan-gu, receiving almost no interference from the clans.
They had no need to lend a hand to Eun-ha.
Especially not while incurring the loss of coming under Eun-ha.
Then, as if agreeing with his words, the foreigners snickered.
"If you want to live in Itaewon for the rest of your life, go ahead."
""""...."""
Then suddenly,
At Eun-ha's thrown words, the audience stopped laughing.
Sneers and mockery.
The expressions of those who grasped the meaning of Eun-ha's words turned grim.
They gripped their weapons.
Nevertheless, Eun-ha opened his mouth without caring.
"Anyway, even if you don't help, Pandora Clan will take Yongsan-gu. It's just a matter of time." """"...."""
"And when I say I'll take Yongsan-gu, it means I'll dominate Itaewon too, which maintains an independent force. I have no intention of neglecting Itaewon like other clans did. If you won't listen, I'll thoroughly make you listen to me." """"...!!""""
"I have more than enough power to do so. As the <Mercenary King> said just now, both force and wealth."
A clear declaration of war.
Eun-ha, who had boldly spoken to the <Mercenary King>, now looked around at the audience.
"So make your choice. Either come under me before that and preserve your force, or be completely crushed by me."
For them, Itaewon was a sanctuary.
Although restrictions on residential movement had been lifted, discrimination was still rampant in society.
If they scattered, they would face persecution as objects of discrimination, so they inevitably had to stick together.
If the world persecuted them, they had to create their own living space among themselves.
Itaewon was such a place.
Therefore, if Eun-ha really made up his mind and declared war, they would have to be driven out of this place and thrown into the world.
Or they would have to engage in endless struggle to protect this land.
"Father, let's just kill him. If we kill him now, no one will know."
"..."
Dominic snorted.
On the other hand, the <Mercenary King> was silent.
He looked down at Eun-ha for a long time, as if trying to see through something.
Finally, after a long silence, he finally opened his mouth.
"─If we come under you, what will you offer us? You're not going to say something like allowing us autonomy, are you?"
""""...!!""""
The <Mercenary King> bent his will.
The foreigners showed surprised looks.
They stirred.
The clan members were the same.
But Eun-ha was calm.
He raised the corners of his mouth.
The <Mercenary King> knows well.
That they can maintain their independent force and live is only because the world is turning a blind eye.
He knows well that no one tries to touch them because they have use value.
The foreigners might think they enjoy freedom in Itaewon.
No, they might want to think so.
In reality, the foreigners were just trapped in Itaewon, facing discrimination.
The world had merely pushed them into the land called Itaewon because they didn't want to be involved with foreigners.
"Of course I have something to offer."
There was nowhere truly protecting them.
Just a candle that would go out helplessly with the slightest wind from the world.
That was the reality of Itaewon.
"I can't fully guarantee that you won't face persecution, but at least within Yongsan-gu and Jung-gu, I'll help you live a better life than now."
Putting mana into his voice,
Eun-ha spoke with confidence.
The sound of them holding their breath was heard, and numerous gazes were fixed on him.
Eun-ha continued speaking.
"I'll let you fight wholly for yourselves and to protect your families, you who fought to protect others."
""""...."""
"There's no one here who wants to die fighting only for others like in the old days, right? Or is there?"
The words that were directed at the <Mercenary King> now turned to the Korean-born foreigners.
The words Eun-ha threw caused ripples in their hearts.
They showed signs of wavering.
And now their gazes turned to the <Mercenary King> whom they trusted and followed.
"─Can you really promise that?"
It was as good as agreement.
The <Mercenary King> had come over.
Eun-ha answered readily.
"Of course."
☆
Alright, we'll come under you.
But not now.
If you truly want to bring us in, show us that you have the skills to do so.
That's what the <Mercenary King> said.
There's no way they'd come under immediately.
For someone ruling a force, it would be strange to give in so easily.
Eun-ha nodded.
He could be satisfied with getting a temporary agreement.
Anyway, when that time comes, they would end up coming under him.
"As a token of our promise... I'll send a girl I consider like a daughter to your clan. Shakira." "Yes, Father."
The pressure was gone now.
The <Mercenary King> pointed to the woman standing beside him.
A woman who seemed to be in her mid-20s.
She was the woman who had led Eun-ha and the clan members here.
The woman, who had been killing her presence as if she wasn't there even while being there, now came forward upon being called.
"She's a girl who dances extremely well. She's also discerning and quick to judge situations, so she'll be of great help."
"You don't have to do this..."
Shakira approached Eun-ha.
Eun-ha indirectly expressed refusal.
The <Mercenary King>'s intention was clear.
The <Mercenary King> was sending a hostage while also sending her to monitor Pandora Clan.
It also meant he couldn't trust Eun-ha yet.
"And she excels at document processing..." "We'll take her."
So he was going to refuse, but
The <Mercenary King> mentioned her document processing skills while listing her strengths.
Seo-hyun had been looking for someone with excellent administrative skills anyway.
Eun-ha, judging that he could assign her miscellaneous tasks, readily accepted.
"Shit, Father, I'm against this. Why should we bow our heads and go under that bastard?" "Shut up, Do Min-guk."
"I told you my name is Dominic! Don't say such things because American blood flows in my body!"
"Your parents were Korean. So you are Korean."
"No, Father..." "Min-guk, if you can't speak English well, why don't you speak Korean?" "Fuck You! That bitch Shakira...!"
Then Dominic, who had been muttering while sticking close to the <Mercenary King>'s side.
Shakira, standing next to Eun-ha, stabbed him with words.
Dominic growled.
The foreigners snickered, watching the two bicker as if it was a common occurrence.
Meanwhile, the <Mercenary King>─
"─You're Hoshimiya-san's granddaughter. Have you been well?"
"...Yes. It's been a long time."
"Come by often."
He spoke to Kaede.
They seemed to know each other.
Kaede bowed her head slightly.
The <Mercenary King> didn't just know her.
"Thank you for taking good care of the Ain. I wanted to say this when I met you." "Ah.... It's nothing, I just did it because I was bored."
Then the <Mercenary King>'s gaze turned to Pa-rang.
Jin Pa-rang, who didn't know that he knew what he had been doing all this time, felt embarrassed.
Lastly, the <Mercenary King> turned to Jin Seo-na, who was standing quietly beside Eun-ha.
"Thank you too. Thanks to your support, the children were able to study with peace of mind. Really, thank you." "...It's nothing. I don't think I did anything great enough to deserve praise. But thank you."
Blinking.
She seemed flustered.
She didn't seem to have expected that her secret good deeds would become known to Eun-ha and the clans.
But her fluster was only momentary.
She composed herself and answered.
"What? Jin Seo-na, you told me earlier it was okay to tell the kids, but now it turns out you're more...!" "I didn't do it with my own money, you know? So I didn't need to say anything. Of course, it's not something to be praised for either."
"I don't deserve praise either!?"
While the <Mercenary King> laughed heartily,
Jin Seo-na and Jin Pa-rang bickered.
The young Ain children who had been hiding and watching the atmosphere also finally ran out and clung to them.
The place became a sea of laughter.
☆
Twelve Seats <Big Data> Mo Ra-yul.
As one of the Twelve Seats, Mo Ra-yul's daily routine mainly involved staying at the Mana Management Organization and observing the anomaly situation on the Korean Peninsula.
"Ah... there's too much work. Am I going to die just working like this..."
Although belonging to the Dangun Clan,
She rarely had work at the Dangun Clan itself.
Today too, Mo Ra-yul was looking at dozens of monitors at the Mana Management Bureau.
Her Gift and abilities were adept at compiling tens of thousands of pieces of information transmitted by dozens of monitors.
"I'm going to get neurosis at this rate."
Part of repetitive work.
And too much work.
The Mo Ra-yul who once dreamed of living in luxury when she became one of the Twelve Seats was no longer there.
She just showed hysteria to others suddenly and only waited for break time.
It was then.
"─Um... Controller Mo Ra-yul. The Director just contacted us..." "What? The Director? Why?"
An employee approached.
An employee with a nameplate that read Yoon I-byeol.
She must have had quite good grades at the academy, as she was a new recruit assigned to the Mana Management Bureau.
Now knowing Mo Ra-yul's hysterical tendencies to some extent, she spoke carefully.
Mo Ra-yul responded in an irritated tone as soon as Yoon I-byeol spoke to her.
Then she frowned deeply when the Director was mentioned.
"He said we should check the Cocoon installed at the Jongmyo Shrine..."
"Ah, really, he's giving me more work again?"
The point was that new work had come up.
Although it was her job, she was already overwhelmed with work, so her irritation surged.
"What Cocoon inspection? Don't you know it's inspected every 2 years? We inspected it last year, why inspect it again?" "Well.... Since the Director said so, it's difficult for me to answer..."
"Aish, really. So annoying."
"I'm sorry."
"And you, I've been meaning to say this, but aren't you someone who just joined this year?" "Huh? Yes, that's right. Why..."
"Do you think someone at your low level has the right to talk to me? Aish, why is the Director doing this?"
Mo Ra-yul threw a fit.
Then she lashed out at Yoon I-byeol.
Nevertheless, Yoon I-byeol remained steadfast.
"Um... Controller. So about the Cocoon..."
"I won't do it! I said I won't do it! Go tell the Director that! I may be assigned to the Management Bureau, but I'm still one of the Twelve Seats! Even if our positions are different, our ranks are the same! Go tell him that right now!"
Mo Ra-yul fumed angrily.
Yoon I-byeol tried hard to hold back her tears, and left with slumped shoulders.
And not long after, she returned, grinning as if nothing had happened.
"Um, Controller." "What, again!?"
"About the Cocoon inspection..."
"Ah, I said I won't do it!?"
"This time it's the Fairy's order, are you really not going to do it?"
"...What?"
"I said it's the Fairy's order."
What is this low-level employee saying now?
The Fairy, of all people.
Mo Ra-yul, who had been yelling, flinched and looked at Yoon I-byeol.
Yoon I-byeol spoke again.
"The Fairy said to tell you to inspect the Cocoon..." "..." "Should I just tell her that you said you won't do it?" "...No. No. I'll do it. Please tell her I'll definitely do it."
Mo Ra-yul shook her head quickly.
Eventually, she sighed and reluctantly bowed her head to Yoon I-byeol.
That day, the Mana Management Organization, upon receiving the Fairy's order, was turned upside down.
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