The knights rose slowly, casting furtive glances at one another.
I began calling out their names one by one.
Each name left them visibly surprised. None of them had introduced themselves, after all.
“Do not lie to me again.”
“...I apologize.”
Dorothy bowed her head in apology. She must think I’d heard their names from Go Min-ji. How could she possibly guess I actually have a mind-reading ability?
“So, these are all Go Min-ji’s personal knights...”
The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
I should tread carefully around her from now on.
“Do you know why you’ve been assigned to work under me for the next month?”
“No, sir.”
“Then let me give you your first task. Clear all the forests on this island.”
“...Excuse me?”
“See those trees over there? They’re bigger than your mechas. Clearing them with conventional methods would require over 100 heavy machines and take months.”
“....”
“Use whatever you want—plasma cutters, railguns, I don’t care. Just get it done.”
The knights’ faces turned blank.
It was clear they found it absurd to use high-caliber personnel like themselves for something as mundane as land clearing.
“Dorothy.”
“Yes.”
“There’s no telling what might happen, so you’ll stay by my side. The rest of you, begin clearing the forest. Now.”
Though visibly puzzled, the knights obeyed and returned to their mechas.
Watching all 14 of them ascend simultaneously using the lift cables was a spectacle in itself.
“At least they follow orders without question.”
That’s the beauty of knights. No matter how ridiculous the command, they obey it without hesitation.
Thanks to their brainwashing, they usually perform orders with joy. But even when faced with absurd demands like this, their loyalty remains unwavering.
Managing people is supposedly one of the most stressful tasks, but with knights, there’s almost no room for such frustration.
Vwoooom.
The mechas hummed as the knights powered them up, the vibrations echoing across the ground.
“They’ll take care of the forest. Meanwhile, let’s check out the mansion.”
++++
Inside the Mansion
The artificial island was mostly covered in dense forests, making its usability questionable. However, the mansion on the island was impeccably maintained.
It was several times larger and more extravagant than my home in Songdo.
Kwooooom! BOOM!
While I was taking in the grandeur of the mansion, a deafening roar pierced the air, accompanied by a brilliant flash of white light through the windows.
“Ugh...”
The knights, now in their mechas, were clearing the forest by firing railguns.
The mansion had excellent soundproofing, but railguns—typically mounted on warships for naval artillery—were no match for it.
“It’s going to be incredibly noisy for a while.”
I had planned to stay here for some time to oversee things, but it seemed impossible to do so until the forest was completely cleared.
“How long will it take?”
“Approximately two weeks,” Seung-hee replied.
“Two weeks, huh...”
“That’s an incredibly fast pace.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
Seung-hee possessed the Insight trait, which allowed her calculations to approach computer-like precision. If she estimated it would take two weeks, then that’s how long it would take.
“We’ve got the knights for a month, so clearing the forest in two weeks gives us some extra time.”
Go Min-ji had cleared her schedule a month from now, so the best course of action would be to finish the work, then visit her villa with the knights for their return.
“If the forest is cleared within two weeks, maybe she’ll let me use the knights for the remaining two weeks. There are plenty of things I could do with them...”
Like leveling the Namdong Industrial Complex.
However, I’d need to ask her permission first. It would be rude to repurpose the knights for additional tasks without her consent, especially after borrowing them for a specific purpose.
I’m not one to dwell on etiquette, but falling out with a direct relative over something so trivial would be foolish.
I made the call.
“My subordinates say the work will likely be finished within two weeks.”
“You mentioned ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) I could use them for a month, right?”
“Yes.”She went silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought.
“...Excuse me?”
“I’d never do such a thing.”
“I understand.”Even with all this, she’s still treating them like toys. Brutal.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Now I had permission to utilize her knights for other purposes.
I turned to Dorothy, and she instinctively straightened her posture.
Unconsciously, my eyes wandered over her stunning face and physique.
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“Oh no...”
Was she implying I’d use the female knights as playthings for the month?
Did she assume I’d spend my time turning them into mere toys?
“Does she really think I’m some sex-starved, depraved pervert?”
It’s shockingly accurate.
“Dorothy, follow me.”
“Yes.”
“The rest of you, stay here and continue your work.”
I led Dorothy into one of the mansion’s rooms, picking one at random.
++++
Shanghai Economic Alliance
The Shanghai Economic Alliance was one of the nations that emerged after China’s catastrophic defeat in World War III, which fractured the country into 20 separate states. The alliance governed Shanghai, the political and economic heart, along with Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces.
With a population of approximately 310 million, the Shanghai Economic Alliance was a formidable power both in size and economy. However, it had one glaring, insurmountable disadvantage:
Its northern and eastern borders were directly adjacent to the territory of the Republic of Korea.
The Republic of Korea—more specifically, the Koryo Group—had been consistently pressuring and containing the Shanghai Economic Alliance since its inception.
This was inevitable. Global trade still primarily relied on maritime routes, and many of Korea’s shipping lines naturally passed through the waters off Shanghai.
To ensure the shortest voyages, these ships often hugged the edge of Shanghai’s territorial waters as they navigated the Taiwan Strait. This proximity made conflict almost unavoidable.
From the beginning, the Koryo Group had been persistently demanding full access to Shanghai’s territorial waters.
Currently, civilian vessels could pass through after submitting a formal request, but Koryo’s demands went much further: unrestricted access at all times, without the need for prior notification—a nearly impossible concession.
Let’s assume, for argument’s sake, that the demand for unrestricted civilian access could be entertained. After all, before World War III, such practices were considered international norms.
But that wasn’t the crux of Koryo’s demands. The real issue lay in what came next.
Koryo Group insisted that their merchant ships required military escorts to defend against potential encounters with pirates. Consequently, they demanded unrestricted access not only for civilian vessels but also for Korean-flagged or Koryo Group-owned warships.
Allowing merchant ships was controversial enough, but unrestricted military access? It was an outrageous demand.
“Reports indicate that a massive artificial island, said to have taken 13 years to construct, has left Nampo Port without an inauguration ceremony. Its destination... appears to be the waters off Shanghai.”
“Another artificial island has reportedly docked in the waters off Incheon.”
“There are reports that 15 mechas have been deployed to the artificial island near Incheon.”
Prime Minister Li Wei of the Shanghai Economic Alliance clasped his head in his hands as the reports flooded in.
“Are you telling me there are two artificial islands targeting us?”
A bald, middle-aged man quickly continued the briefing.
“Yes. The 40,000-hectare artificial island completed this month was originally scheduled for an inauguration ceremony at Nampo Port, followed by various commemorative events. However, all such plans were abruptly canceled, and it departed immediately. This is a clear warning directed at us.”
“And the one off Incheon?”
“A 10,000-hectare artificial island from Tianjin. Due to perceptual filters, we lack detailed information. However, we received eyewitness accounts just hours ago of 15 mechas being deployed there.”
“Fifteen mechas...?”
“The problem is that these reports were based on visual observation, so we cannot rule out the possibility of additional units.”
“You’re saying there could be more?”
“Yes, sir. It’s highly likely that there are dozens more.”
Li Wei’s anxiety deepened.
Despite their efforts to maintain peace and secure even the smallest gains, the Koryo Group seemed intent on provoking a conflict.
“They’ve already taken so much from us...! And now they want more? This is too much!”
The Shanghai Economic Alliance openly rejected the legacy of the Communist Party that once ruled China.
Even now, the Communist remnant persisted in Hubei Province, so Shanghai insisted that it was a separate entity from China.
But such declarations held no weight in the international arena.
The 20-odd nations that emerged from China’s collapse were all paying substantial reparations.
Shanghai was no exception.
The reparations it paid to the Republic of Korea alone amounted to 10% of its annual GDP. On top of that, the Koryo Group siphoned an additional 5% annually under various pretexts.
Simply put, Shanghai was bleeding 15% of its GDP every year without lifting a finger. And now, they wanted even more?
“Those shameless bāzǐ bastards!!!”