Chapter 83
“The US and Europe are showing positive responses. China and Russia are negative.”
“Why?”
“Mongolia is practically a country that only has to deal with one Great Eater. In other words… if the Great Eater disappears, they can grow rapidly without their national power being eaten away by monsters. It’s not a very pleasant thing for neighboring countries like Russia and China.”
“And because Russia and China aren’t happy about it, Europe and the US are pushing for it?”
“Yes.”
Yekaterina said, sipping her coffee.
“It’ll probably pass. India and other third world countries will want the UN to set a precedent of assembling players to help a specific country.”
“Why would they want to set such a precedent?”
“Only developed countries can train players on a military scale. For countries without a player army, it’s a chance to get free reinforcements without having to contribute anything, so it’s worth voting for.”
Mason crossed his arms.
“Politics is so complicated…”
“It’s not complicated. Just remember that everyone has their own position, and every issue has its own stakeholders.”
“That’s what’s complicated.”
Mason grumbled.
“Anyway, why did you call me? To give me a hard time?”
“I’d love nothing more than to relax and chat with Mason, but… unfortunately, it’s about work.”
“Work?”
“Yes, there’s someone Mason needs to meet.”
“Who is it?”
“The remnants of North Korea.”
“North Korea? There were still people in North Korea?”
“North Korea was taken over by monsters from the middle region. There were refugees in the north and south. The refugees in the northern border crossed over to China, and the refugees in the south came down to South Korea.”
Yekaterina sipped her coffee.
“Those southern refugees are practically a nuisance. It takes time and money to socialize them, and it’s hard to be sure of their loyalty to South Korea. So… the government wants to deal with them.”
“Specifically?”
“A kind of refugee camp. Isolating them from Korean society. Until they have enough time to adapt to Korean society.”
Yekaterina drew a long line in the air. It was a virtual railroad.
“For example, as residents of a train station built in North Korea.”
“You mean including them in the Northern Expedition plan and making them live with the sub-races?”
“Yes.”
“What’s your opinion?”
“Please tell me Mason’s opinion first.”
“Is this a test?”
“Yes.”
“I…”
Mason paused in thought.
“I think it’s not bad. There’s a country that needs help, and there are people who need help. If I can help them all, I have no reason to refuse.”
“You pass.”
Mason smiled wryly.
“What’s your opinion?”
“I agree. But for slightly different reasons.”
Yekaterina said calmly.
“There aren’t many opportunities to owe the government a favor. Especially for a small country like ours. We can get more budget with this, and above all… the North Korean people become votes.”
“Votes?”
“Yes, votes. Once the North Korean people are socialized, they are proper voters. If they side with us, we’ll secure a considerable number of votes. In a democratic society, there is no resource more valuable than numbers.”
While Mason was making an ethical and moral judgment, Yekaterina was making a political and calculated one.
“I see. Is that how I should think about it…”
“No, don’t do that.”
Yekaterina shook her head as Mason marveled.
“Calculating profits and losses is the role of strategists, and the world is overflowing with strategists. What Mason needs is virtue. The uprightness and kindness that perhaps only Mason alone can possess in all of humanity.”
“Virtue?”
“It’s easy to learn what is right. It’s easy to keep a kind heart. But to act in accordance with what you’ve learned, and to always act upon your kind heart, is truly the realm of a sage. The realm of purity that I and others, who are already tainted, cannot even dream of.”
“I feel like you’re making fun of me for being stupid…”
“No, I’m not.”
Yekaterina looked at Mason.
“Mason wouldn’t know. How lovely Mason appears in my eyes.”
“Hmm, how lovely?”
“To the point where I would think it’s okay to burn everything I have if it means I can make Mason stay as Mason.”
“Is that a woman’s perspective? Or… as a spiritual eye?”
Yekaterina wrapped her arms around Mason’s neck.
“Both.”
Standing on her tiptoes, she whispered in Mason’s ear. It was a moist, sweet breath.
“I have an appointment with the North Koreans in 30 minutes.”
“We only have 30 minutes?”
“Yes.”
“Then…”
Click.
Mason unbuttoned Yekaterina’s jeans.
“…We need to hurry.”
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Mason arrived at the meeting place 10 minutes late.
“…Sorry.”
Seeing Mason’s strangely awkward expression, the North Korean representative gave a stiff smile as if she was nervous.
“It’s okay. I just arrived.”
She was a young beauty with a naive and gentle impression. She quickly corrected her words with a hurried expression.
“…Ah, no, it’s okay. I just arrived.”
Even though she corrected herself, her speech still had a strong North Korean accent.
Next to her was a woman with short hair who seemed to be her assistant. She had a sharp and capable look, and her eyes were sharp.
Mason looked at her and said,
“Are you the North Korean representative, Jeong Ryeogyeong?”
“No, it’s not me…”
The woman gave an awkward look and gestured towards the naive woman next to her.
“I, I am the representative of North Korean defectors in South Korea, Jeong Ryeogyeong. No, I am.”
“…I am Representative Jeong Ryeogyeong’s secretary, Ri Gyeongsim.”
Mason looked suspicious.
‘It seems like they switched…’
Anyway, Mason sat down and said,
“I believe you’ve heard the details, haven’t you?”
“Yes, I heard… I did. You said you’d help us return to our homeland.”
“…Did you hear that?”
“Yes, the kind teachers from the South Korean Ministry of Unification…”
“…”
Mason had a sullen expression.
‘It seems like they have the wrong idea…’
When Mason glanced at Ri Gyeongsim, she nodded slightly. Unlike Jeong Ryeogyeong, whose head was in the clouds, she seemed to have a clear grasp of the situation.
Rhetoric is rhetoric, reality is reality.
Jeong Ryeogyeong naively believed the rhetoric, while Ri Gyeongsim was coldly facing reality.
Mason smiled wryly.
‘Must have I looked like Jeong Ryeogyeong in the eyes of others?’
However, people had never ridiculed or exploited Mason’s kindness and innocence. Then he, too, had no right to ridicule or exploit the kindness and innocence of others.
“Whether it’s our sub-races or you North Koreans, the goal of settling in North Korea is the same. So, I hope we can cooperate like a family.”
“Yes, yes!”
“Please take care of us.”
When Mason offered his hand for a handshake, the flustered Jeong Ryeogyeong rubbed her palms on her clothes and shook his hand.
But even though she wiped them, her hands were still clammy with sweat.
“Why, are you nervous?”
“I heard that Teacher Mason is a hero among heroes, who can take down monsters as big as houses with his bare fists. I was so worried about how terrifying you might be that I couldn’t sleep peacefully.”
“I don’t hurt people. Especially not friends. So, I hope you can relax from now on.”
“Yes.”
Jeong Ryeogyeong smiled brightly.
She smiled brightly. That expression suited her well.
Mason smiled wryly and got up from his seat.
“Discuss the details with Yekaterina. She’s smarter than me.”
“Yes.”
Mason smiled.
He felt like it would be a good relationship.
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The total number of sub-races was around 300,000. The number of North Korean defectors in South Korea was around 800,000. Sub-races were generally stronger than ordinary humans and had received basic combat training. North Koreans were also accustomed to military training, military culture, and above all, the endurance to withstand starvation.
There was no problem in sending them to the barren land of North Korea to build a de facto military base.
Theoretically.
In reality, many factors would clash and many problems would be discovered, but those could only be dealt with one by one when they actually arose.
It would take a long time.
Both the Northern Expedition and the union of the sub-races and North Koreans.
Mason focused on strengthening the internal affairs of the raid team, including developing new weapons, while also inspecting the inside of the raid team.
And in mid-April.
“The UN has decided to subjugate the Great Eater.”
“I see…”
Of the Five Great Demon Gods, excluding the Ghost Dragon, the other four were not very active. Except for the Bubble, a marine monster, they were almost stationary, and the Bubble stayed in the sea, so there was no problem unless they went looking for it first.
However, the Ghost Dragon was showing tremendous activity and hostility towards humans.
They had agreed that a global-scale subjugation team was needed instead of a national-level subjugation like before.
The reason why the Great Eater was chosen as the first target to subjugate among the Five Great Demon Gods was because it was the easiest opponent to fight.
The Great Eater was a target that could be attacked unilaterally without any movement.
It was a perfect opponent as a preliminary match for a global-scale subjugation team to coordinate with each other…
“South Korea is planning to dispatch four raid teams.”
“We’re obviously included… which are the other three?”
“Mage Corps, Engineering Engineering Engineering, and Forest Guard.”
“Hmm…”
It was a reasonable decision, if not exciting.
Engineering Engineering Engineering had the second best ranged firepower in South Korea, and they were especially good at creating variables with technology. Mage Corps was also good at dealing with unusual situations with their magic abilities.
Forest Guard also had good ranged abilities among the three major sub-race raid teams.
“Do I have to see Han Areum again…”
Apart from that, Han Areum, the leader of Engineering Engineering Engineering, was one of the people Mason found uncomfortable to deal with. It was hard to understand when and why she would get upset, as she was a nerd who was vaguely popular.
“If you’re really uncomfortable, you can ask to change the members.”
“Well, it’s not that bad.”
Mason asked,
“What’s the specific schedule?”
“We have about a week to gather, and the operation will take place for a month starting in early May.”
“Good, let’s prepare accordingly.”
Clap!
Mason clapped his fist against his palm.
To defeat a giant enemy with comrades from all over the world.
Wouldn’t that be truly romantic?