Ubermensch – Chapter 110

Chapter 110

Mason took a deep breath.

People’s lives were at stake. Many lives.

He wanted to judge carefully, with a clearer mind than ever before.

“What choices do I have?”

“The biggest choice is whether to side with Kim Donghwang or China.”

Mason asked what he considered most important.

“Which side will result in less bloodshed?”

“It’s impossible to know at this point.”

Heavenly King said in a calm voice.

“Nothing is set in stone, including Mason’s decision.”

“Alright.”

Mason decided to approach it from a different angle.

“What kind of person is Kim Donghwang?”

“North Korea is closed off, so not much is known about it externally. Especially Kim Donghwang, as a mere corps commander, he wasn’t a big enough figure to be known outside. The only information we have is from after North Korea’s collapse.”

“Considering that, then?”

“He’s ambitious.”

“Could it be that he’s just trying to take responsibility for the people under his care?”

“If he were purely thinking about his people, he would have come down to South Korea and joined under Representative Jeong Ryeogyeong and Mason.”

“Could there have been practical issues?”

“The South Korean government, the Chinese government, even Mason, could have easily provided transportation. The fact that Kim Donghwang and the North-North Koreans are currently staying in Jilin Province means he made the choice for himself, not for his people.”

Mason sank into thought.

He felt like he knew enough about Kim Donghwang.

“Then, if Kim Donghwang wants separation and independence, how would China react?”

“They would resort to violence.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. China has a huge number of ethnic minorities. If there’s a case where someone attempts separation and independence for any reason, in any form, it’s highly likely other ethnicities will try it too.”

Heavenly King spoke in a calm voice.

“The moment Kim Donghwang is deemed harmful to ‘One China’ in any way, he will be eliminated. And if the North-North Koreans reject One China, they will be suppressed with bloodshed.”

“So, leaving Kim Donghwang as he is will result in the most bloodshed?”

“Yes.”

“Does Kim Donghwang not know this?”

“No. North Korea was practically a vassal state of China, so a corps commander on the border would know that much.”

“To aim for independence knowing that… what could he be planning?”

“I can’t be sure.”

“If you had to guess?”

“It’s highly likely he’s gambling.”

“What kind of gamble?”

“He’s threatening China.”

Heavenly King looked at Mason.

“Once they draw their sword to strike Kim Donghwang, they’ll have to subjugate the entire North-North Korean population to end it. And in the process, there’s a high chance that ethnic Koreans already living in China will get caught up, which could then escalate into a civil war involving the entire Three Northeastern Provinces. And if a civil war of that scale breaks out… other ethnic minorities in other regions might also start conflicts.”

“For what purpose?”

“Probably for his own wealth and power. Perhaps ultimately, to join the Chinese Communist Party.”

“Wealth and glory?”

Mason gritted his teeth, a grinding sound escaping.

“Is that a stake worth betting 100,000 soldiers and 700,000 civilians on?”

“If you ask for my opinion, it’s a gamble worth taking. No matter how greedy someone is, the wealth and glory to satisfy one person is cheap compared to a civil war.”

“Alright. Let’s say that’s Kim Donghwang’s true intention.”

Mason asked again.

“Then why wouldn’t China accept Kim Donghwang?”

“Probably… because Kim Donghwang doesn’t have full control over his people.”

“What do you mean?”

“North Koreans are more obedient to authority than anyone, but for that reason, they’re also more sensitive to the direction of power. They can’t trust Kim Donghwang. Because the bargaining power he currently has comes from putting their lives on the line. In other words, the more Kim Donghwang negotiates using them, the less the North-North Koreans trust him, and China becomes skeptical of dealing with Kim Donghwang, who can’t control them.”

“Is that why Kim Donghwang started using Jeong Ryeogyeong’s name?”

“Yes. Probably to make up for his lack of control.”

Mason pondered deeply.

“Then… in the end, everything changes depending on whether I help Kim Donghwang or abandon him?”

“I don’t know.”

“That’s the conclusion we came to, isn’t it?”

“Don’t say ‘we’.”

Heavenly King looked at Mason.

“I’m not discussing this with Mason. I’m just reminding Mason of the necessary information and sharing my experience. The one who agonizes and makes the decision is Mason.”

“…”

“I can give you information. But don’t ask for my judgment or agreement. Ultimately, it’s the monarch who decides, and the monarch of the North Koreans is Mason.”

Mason gave a bitter smile.

“Being a monarch… is a damn lonely thing…”

At that moment, Yekaterina smiled gently.

“Do you understand now why I waited for Mason, why I love Mason?”

“Yes, Kacha.”

Yekaterina was stuck in a much tougher quagmire than Mason. She couldn’t find her own way out, so she could only long for someone’s salvation.

Politics was painful, and being a monarch was lonely.

No matter how much help he received from others, no matter how good the opportunity, the decision was ultimately his own.

“I’m glad I can learn from you.”

Mason had already made up his mind. Nevertheless, he contemplated once more. It was a decision that held the fate of many people, so he had to show that much consideration.

“I’ve made my decision.”

Heavenly King spoke calmly.

“Then… proceed.”

Mason made a phone call.

๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑

Kim Donghwang was waiting for a phone call.

Even he didn’t know who the call was from.

He had just gambled everything, and he only knew that the results of that gamble would be revealed soon.

‘Thinking about it, it’s been a long and damn life.’

Living in North Korea was horrible. Even being one of the most powerful people in North Korea only meant you could smuggle foreign alcohol or cigarettes. You had to show that you were using North Korean products that no one would touch even if they were given for free.

Living under the rule of a tyrant was a damn chore.

Things that were fine yesterday could suddenly become a problem today, and conversely, things that shouldn’t have been done yesterday could suddenly become things you had to do today.

‘Living under a tyrant was a shitty thing, regardless of your status.’

Even the slightest mistake could lead to a purge, and the criteria for right and wrong changed according to the tyrant’s mood. What a crazy country it was.

Even the world of outlaws had unwritten rules, but nothing restricted the tyrant.

‘But I endured.’

A lifetime spent with a madman above and scoundrels below.

Avoiding the surveillance of everyone in the world, enduring the scrutiny of everyone in the world, the position he had crawled up to was that of a corps commander.

And now, he was one step away, just one step away from becoming a high-ranking official in China.

‘I’ve suffered enough.’

Immediately after the monster outbreak, Kim Donghwang ignored the central government’s order to hold his position and crossed the border with as many men and supplies as possible.

‘And I was fast enough.’

It was truly a stroke of luck from heaven that he didn’t shoot the hordes of beggars following him at that time.

They were beggars in life and no one would miss them in death, but weren’t they the tools to pressure China now?

‘So… it’s time to receive the reward.’

Kim Donghwang was waiting for the phone call.

The call that would give him everything.

๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑

The one who answered Mason’s call was Chong Daolong.

“Chong Daolong. I have a favor to ask.”

“I have something to say about Kim Donghwang of the North-North Koreans.”

<...>

Chong Daolong fell silent. When he opened his mouth after a while, his relaxed tone had turned stiff.

“I want to talk to someone who can discuss it.”

“It’s for my wife, and for my people.”

<...>

After a moment of silence, Chong Daolong let out a long sigh.