Chapter 290 – Drama, Protest, Suppression, And (1)
In the end, Han-Yeol had no choice but to share his plans with Tayarana and Mariam.
“Sigh… So that’s what my plan has been all along,” he said.
"Will the United States move that easily?" Tayarana asked.
She finally calmed down after getting what she wanted, and she reverted to speaking in her less-than-perfect Korean.
"Ah, I made a deal with them."
"A deal?"
"Yeah, I found out that the Americans loved my monster pets. They were able to discover numerous things about the monsters thanks to my monster pets, so they placed another order for five monster pets for a total price of three trillion won. Of course, I only agreed to sell them the monster pets if they helped me out."
"That’s amazing."
"Hmm?"
"You were able to make the United States do your bidding while paying you at the same time? Is that even possible?"
"Well, it seems like it is."
"Wow… That’s something even Egypt can’t do." Tayarana couldn't hide her amazement.
Numerous countries challenged the United States for its supremacy in the world after the emergence of the dimensional gates. China used its strict policies to weaponize its population, the United Kingdom aimed to regain its former glory, the European Union rallied around their technologically advanced leader, Germany, and the United States' long-time space rival, Russia, started making moves as well.
On top of that, there was also the threat from the newly rising powerhouse that unified all of Africa: Egypt.
These were all major superpowers trying to take the throne from the United States, but the United States still stood strong as the most powerful nation in the world.
The United States further solidified its position as the world's most powerful nation, thanks to its swift response when the dimensional gates appeared. While most of the world was in turmoil and chaos due to the appearance of monsters, the United States was the first to regroup and engage in negotiations with the aliens to obtain their technology. This made them the first country in the world to push back and reclaim their lands from the monsters, giving them a significant advantage over others.
However, a single individual making one-on-one deals with this superpower nation was unprecedented, even for a Master Rank Hunter.
"You are truly amazing, Han-Yeol-nim… You managed to negotiate with those arrogant Americans…"
Even Mariam couldn't conceal her surprise.
After all, even President Phaophator had to make concessions when dealing with the Americans, so what Han-Yeol accomplished this time was truly remarkable.
Han-Yeol awkwardly scratched his head, feeling embarrassed by the admiration he saw in Tayarana and Mariam's eyes.
"Well, it's all thanks to my ability to hatch the monster pets…"
"Oh, right, where's Mavros?" Tayarana suddenly asked when she realized that Mavros was nowhere to be seen.
"Ah, you mean Mavros?"
"Yeah."
"Hahaha… That is…" Han-Yeol muttered as he scratched his head out of embarrassment once again.
***
“Kieee….! Kieeeek…!”
“Omo! So cute!”
“So… cute…”
“Hahaha...”
Han-Yeol led Tayarana and Mariam to a cozy attic at the top of the mansion, where a comfortable nest was nestled. They ascended further into the attic and discovered Mavros peacefully sleeping on top of an egg, clutching it tenderly as if it were his own.
Both Tayarana and Mariam were left in a state of bewilderment by this endearing sight of the black dragon. Mavros already boasted MAX cuteness stats, but seeing him slumber while enveloping an egg made him even more heart-melting.
"I recently learned something in Korean... 'world's most cutest'? Is that correct?" Tayarana inquired.
"Yes, Tayarana-nim. These days, Koreans refer to it as 'world's most cutest'," Mariam confirmed.
"He's truly adorable," Tayarana murmured.
‘Where the hell did she learn that word…?’ Han-Yeol was in disbelief.
“Hey, Han-Yeol.”
“Yeah?”
“That egg… Where did you get it?”
"Ah, I found it in the Volax hunting ground. I just picked it up."
"Hmm... Really?"
"Yeah."
Han-Yeol believed there was no need to delve into specific details with Tayarana. After all, explaining everything from the beginning would be quite complex. In the end, he opted for the most convenient choice for everyone.
***
Another day passed, but South Korea exhibited no signs of stopping, whether it was online or offline. The country was deeply divided, with one faction fervently calling for Han-Yeol's arrest while the other side vehemently defended him.
However, those demanding his arrest were notably louder and more boisterous than those in his defense, and it appeared that momentum was shifting in their favor with each passing moment.
"Arrest Lee Han-Yeol!"
"Nobody is above the law in our country!"
"Obey the law!"
Protests took shape on the streets of Gwanghwamun, with people waving the Korean flag as they pressed for his apprehension.
The last time a protest of this magnitude occurred was during the support rallies for the then-impeached and incarcerated president due to her involvement in a political scandal. Back then, the president's supporters took to the streets, waving the Korean flag while demanding her release, making it a symbol of the conservative party's protests.
"Investigate and arrest him for his crimes!"
"Arrest him!"
"Investigate him!"
Decades may have passed, but South Korea's conservativeness showed no signs of diminishing.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sound of drums echoed through Gwanghwamun Square, and such a noisy protest was sure to disrupt the nearby residents.
“Sigh… They’re so noisy…”
"Can't they protest quietly if they're going to do so? What the hell is this?"
"Yeah, they've been at it since lunchtime! They're scaring customers away from my restaurant!"
The protest extended over a considerable area around Gwanghwamun, and the nearby businesses suffered significant disruptions. It wasn't just the businesses that were upset by the protests; even the young people found the protest distasteful.
"Hey, did Lee Han-Yeol kill an innocent person? No, right?"
"Yeah, it was self-defense. Moreover, the video clearly showed Kim Tae-San using some strange skill to drain the life from his own subordinates, didn't it?"
"That's creepy... I saw the video too, and he devoured thirty people at once!"
"Yeah, Lee Han-Yeol killed that madman, not an innocent person!"
“Tsk tsk… Those conservatives are at it again…”
“Tsk tsk…”
There have been long-standing allegations that these kinds of pro-president protests were organized by individuals paid to host them, with the participants often being described as blind followers who unquestioningly followed the president's directives.
Yet, their actions had never yielded any significant change, as the president they supported in their last protest was eventually imprisoned. However, it appeared that these individuals were determined to compensate for their previous setback by protesting even more fervently this time.
***
"Hohoho! Good! Make more noise! I get happier the more noise you make!"
A middle-aged man was relishing the protest from the top floor of a building in Gwanghwamun Square while sipping on a glass of wine.
"Lee Han-Yeol won't be able to endure the noise you're making! We will be the next rulers of South Korea with him out of the picture! Hahaha!"
The middle-aged man's laughter resonated throughout the entire floor.
***
It seemed like the momentum was shifting in favor of the government due to the numerous raucous protests erupting across the country. However, the tides slowly began to change after two in the afternoon.
The turning point was initiated by both Nepal and Egypt's declaration. These two countries had recently formed a partnership, and their trade had flourished. Nepal's alliance with Egypt opened doors for them to trade with the entirety of Africa, offering significant opportunities. On the other hand, Egypt could tap into the skilled labor pool that Nepal had to offer. The two nations were drawing closer through their bilateral trade agreements.
Then, the Nepalese Ambassador to South Korea and the Egyptian Ambassador to South Korea issued a joint statement.
[We express our regret over the issues occurring in South Korea. It is evident from the evidence that Kim Tae-San Hunter was the first to attack Lee Han-Yeol Hunter, and he even employed some unusual power to sacrifice human lives in the process. It appears to us that the South Korean government refuses to acknowledge Lee Han-Yeol Hunter's claim of innocence merely because he rejects their unreasonable demands. Therefore, Egypt and Nepal wish to implore the international community to investigate this blatant violation of human rights.]
The rest of Africa followed suit after Egypt and Nepal issued their joint statements, which once again stirred the online community.
[Wow… It looks like all of Africa is criticizing us…?]
[Re: Huh? They only expressed regret for what happened. Nobody is attacking anyone.]
[Haha! Look at our inept government. They tried to pressure Lee Han-Yeol, and they ended up being pressured by the entire African Bloc.]
[This government can't seem to get anything right.]
[Yeah, I agree.]
[Stop bullying Lee Han-Yeol!]
[I concur!]
The South Korean online community was particularly sensitive to news from overseas, so they were likely to be affected by what the international community was saying.
Some might wonder why they were so sensitive to what the African nations were saying, but how Africa viewed South Korea was indeed important when taking into account that South Korea's economic revival plan depended on trade with the African nations.
South Korea's economy had taken a severe blow after the emergence of mana stones. Its main trading partners, China and the United States, declared self-sufficiency thanks to the mana stones. Therefore, it was imperative for South Korea to maintain good trade relations with the African nations to make up for the lost revenue.
But what if the entire African continent imposed sanctions on South Korea? The country would undoubtedly face another economic crisis.
Surprisingly, the South Korean government did not respond to the statements made by the African nations, as they were confident that the entire continent would not stop trading with South Korea simply because of one person.
However, an even more significant event soon shocked the entire country: the press conference held by the Commander of the American Forces in South Korea, Phil Bernard.
[The United States demands that the South Korean government cease all threats against an American citizen immediately.]
If the statements made by Nepal and Egypt were akin to a missile explosion, then the statement made by the United States was equivalent to a nuclear missile exploding.
[What? Lee Han-Yeol was an American?]
[Don't tell me... Does he have dual citizenship?]
[Wow, I heard that the United States tends to recruit Master Rank Hunters from other countries and grant them citizenship, even if they refuse to move to the United States, just in case they change their minds later. I also heard that there were cases where the United States used citizenship as an excuse to pressure foreign governments.]
[Oh, I heard that too. They give American passports for free to Master Rank Hunters, and I'd be surprised if they refused it.]
[They recruited many talented people from all over the world with that.]
[Most of their technology is from the minds of talented people they recruited from other countries, right?]
[Hold up! Does that mean Lee Han-Yeol could move to the United States if our government keeps harassing him?]
[Yes, and they can't stop him. Travel bans won't work because he's American.]
[Huh? How does that work?]
[He can go to the American base and leave from there. The government has no way of stopping him if he does that.]
[No! That can't happen!]
The reason a nuclear missile was frightening was not just because of the explosion but also because of the radioactive aftermath that extended for dozens of kilometers. Similarly, the short statement made by the United States was interpreted in numerous ways by different people.
The United States was infamous for recruiting people from all over the world, and many countries were apprehensive about losing their talented individuals to them due to this practice.
Consequently, this fear prompted people to take to the streets once again, but this time for a different cause.
"The government must cease all threats against Lee Han-Yeol Hunter immediately!"
"We won't allow the government to persist with their threats!"
"We cannot afford to lose a Master Rank Hunter to another country!"
"The president should resign immediately!"
A single statement from the United States was sufficient to rally a large crowd across Seoul to hold a candlelight vigil.
Needless to say, this scene was broadcast live to the entire country by news outlets.
Crack…!
“Hehe… You really shouldn’t have tested me from the start.”
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