Chapter 655
“Right now, our base in the Steel Fortress is the smallest.”
“There’s nowhere near enough space for us in the Primordial Forest either.”
At his subordinates’ complaints, cracks appeared in Seden Price’s expression.
Seden Price was not someone who easily revealed emotional agitation, but this time was different.
In the new era where the Magic Crystal Mine, the Steel Fortress, and the Primordial Forest had become linked as one, the Eastern District under his rule was falling conspicuously behind in the competition.
Xiaolun of the Southern District, who had once stood in direct opposition to Jin Geumho, suddenly bent at the waist and actively cooperated with City Hall as if nothing had happened.
Kim Hyunsoo of the Western District was no different. For some reason, he had joined hands with Jin Geumho and was rapidly expanding his influence.
As for the Northern District ruled by Serian, there was no need to even mention it.
As though she had been waiting for exactly this moment, she fully opened the Northern District and established complete exchanges with the Primordial Forest, the Steel Fortress, and other locations.
Thanks to that, she secured the best footholds in both places.
Moreover, there were elves who had settled in the Steel Fortress and the Primordial Forest before anyone else. With their full support, the Northern District developed at a rapid pace.
While every other district was growing several times faster than before, only the Eastern District was being left behind.
While the other districts advanced three or four steps at a time, the Eastern District alone moved forward one step at a time like a turtle.
The biggest reason for this was the Eastern District’s unique culture and isolationism.
The Eastern District had been founded primarily by U.S. troops stationed in Korea and foreign students.
They possessed immense pride in their bloodlines and race.
They believed themselves far superior to the Koreans and other Asians who formed the backbone of Neo Seoul. Because of that, they built invisible walls and refrained from interacting with the other districts.
More than a hundred years had passed since then, and countless mixed-blood descendants had naturally been born.
The pride in bloodlines had disappeared, but the district’s unique isolationism remained unchanged.
Because of that, while the other districts responded proactively to change, they responded passively.
This seemingly insignificant difference split the fate of the Eastern District apart.
As the other districts advanced at a dazzling pace, the Eastern District, which lagged in speed, became isolated.
As a result, dissatisfaction among the Awakened of the Eastern District was growing.
Their base in the Steel Fortress was the smallest, and their headquarters in the Primordial Forest had been built in the worst location.
Whether hunting or raiding dungeons, they had no choice but to fall behind everyone else.
The Awakened of the Eastern District therefore actively voiced their opinions to the leadership.
They needed a larger base in a better location.
However, all the good positions had already been occupied by other districts and guilds. It was impossible to seize them by force.
Today, the leadership of the Eastern District had gathered once again because of this issue.
Brooks, the second-in-command of the Eastern District, spoke.
“At this rate, the exodus of Awakened may accelerate.”
“Have people already moved to other districts?”
Seden Price’s voice sank heavily.
It showed just how displeased he was.
Even so, it had to be said, and Brooks continued with difficulty.
“Two private dungeon raid teams have moved, one to the Western District and one to the Northern District.”
“We shouldn’t have participated in that war against the races of El Harun. Forming pointless bonds is what brought us to this point.”
“But wasn’t that unavoidable? If we hadn’t dispatched our forces, we wouldn’t have received even this much benefit.”
“That was the mayor’s aim. To reduce the distance between the districts and create bonds.”
In the past, invisible walls had existed between the districts.
Since each district had developed independently, an atmosphere of rivalry and jealousy had naturally formed.
That trend changed during the recent war against the races of El Harun.
All the Awakened of Neo Seoul united against a powerful common enemy.
As a result, camaraderie and bonds were formed, and much of the unseen walls and wariness disappeared.
At the time, no one gave it much thought.
They had been so intoxicated by victory that they had popped champagne together.
Only later did they realize how terrifying that was.
As the Awakened of each district actively interacted with one another, the powerful level of control that had once existed could no longer be maintained.
Before the war against the races, defectors would never have been forgiven.
Execution squads or response teams would have been sent to destroy them and make examples of them.
But in the face of the noticeably changed atmosphere, they could no longer act that way.
Moreover, Jin Geumho was still alive and well.
It was obvious that Jin Geumho would never stand by and allow such actions.
The Eastern District had been pushed into a situation where it was cornered from every direction.
“It’s obvious we’ve fallen into a trap dug by Jin Geumho. If we continue to stand by, our district will only fall further behind. We need a powerful countermeasure.”
“Then tell me this powerful countermeasure.”
“We need to seize the initiative.”
“How?”
Seden Price’s voice rose.
Meanwhile, Brooks’ voice grew lower.
“How about this? In other words...”
Including Seden Price, all of the Eastern District’s leadership listened to him carefully.
As time passed, their expressions darkened.
They did not like the solution Brooks had proposed.
Most of all, the risk was far too great if it failed.
In the end, Seden Price rejected his proposal.
“Let’s pretend I never heard that.”
“Seden!”
“If we make one wrong move, the entire Eastern District could be wiped out. I can’t accept that kind of risk.”
“But if things continue like this, the Eastern District will keep falling behind.”
“That’s enough! Find another way.”
Although Brooks persisted, Seden Price firmly refused.
The method Brooks was pushing was that dangerous.
“Kill Jin Geumho and disguise it as an accident? Do you really think something like that would work? More importantly, Numbers are around him. If Numbers mobilized in full force, do you think this place would survive? So stop talking nonsense and shut your mouth.”
“Yes, sir.”
“My ears have only been dirtied. We’ll end the meeting here.”
Seden Price rose from his seat and walked outside.
After returning to his residence, he stood silently looking out the window for a moment.
Far in the distance, City Hall could be seen.
It was the place he had desired more than anyone else.
What he wanted was Jin Geumho’s position.
But Jin Geumho absolutely could not be killed.
Without him, Neo Seoul itself might collapse.
When Seden Price stroked an ornament on his desk, a wall opened soundlessly.
It was a secret space known only to him, one even Brooks, his most trusted subordinate, knew nothing about.
Inside the secret room stood a large crystal tube.
Within it, a pair of insects writhed.
At first glance they looked like ordinary bugs, but in truth they were magical beasts brought back from a dungeon.
When they had first been brought to Neo Seoul, the magical beasts had fallen into a sleep that resembled death.
Then, not long ago, they had awakened and begun wriggling again.
After extensive research, Seden Price had learned only one thing.
“Parasites whose bodies are split into two, yet share the same thoughts and will.”
Seden Price tapped his forehead with his finger.
He felt as though a good idea was about to come to him.
* * *
Kim Hyunsoo could not hide his bewildered expression.
The reason was a man who had appeared out of nowhere.
“Sorry for dropping by unannounced.”
The man speaking with an expression that showed not the slightest trace of apology was none other than Jin Geumho.
Accompanied by Seo Taeran, he had suddenly come to visit Kim Hyunsoo.
Because of that, the Western District had gone on alert.
After all, it was by no means common for Mayor Jin Geumho to visit another district.
“What brings you here?”
“You’re not even going to offer me a chair?”
“Even if I don’t offer one, it’s not like you’d stay standing. Sit wherever you like.”
“I shall.”
Jin Geumho chuckled and sat in the chair opposite Kim Hyunsoo.
As always, Seo Taeran stood behind him.
“Tea? Coffee?”
“You have those here? I heard mechanical Awakened don’t drink such things.”
“I keep them around for entertaining guests.”
“No need. I brought what I’ll be drinking. Just bring me some hot water.”
“Water?”
“I received a fine gift from Zeon and carry it with me at all times. Once I tried this, I couldn’t drink anything else.”
No sooner had Jin Geumho finished speaking than Seo Taeran pulled out some tea from his clothes.
It was tea made by the High Elves of World Tree Village.
As the tea steeped in hot water, a fragrance that cleared the mind and spirit filled the office.
The mysterious aroma made it feel as though his head had become clear.
Kim Hyunsoo was so astonished that he asked where the tea had come from.
“Where did Zeon get this?”
“I don’t know.”
“Come now, tell me. I’ll pay whatever price is necessary.”
“Only those with complete human bodies can truly savor this tea and experience its full effect. Someone like you, whose entire body is made of machinery, cannot fully appreciate it.”
“If you came here to belittle me, then leave immediately. No matter if you’re the mayor, I won’t tolerate anyone denying my choice.”
“If it sounded that way, then I apologize.”
“Forget it. Just tell me where the tea came from.”
“I already told you. Only Zeon knows.”
“Looks like he’s hiding another place like the Primordial Forest.”
“Well, who knows?”
Smiling, Jin Geumho drank his tea.
The moment he took a sip, his mind immediately cleared and vitality surged through his entire body.
Seeing the healthy flush appear on Jin Geumho’s face, Kim Hyunsoo frowned.
He hated the sight of it.
If he had his way, he would have thrown Jin Geumho out immediately.
But he couldn’t.
Suppressing his irritation, Kim Hyunsoo asked,
“Now tell me why you came here.”
“The truth is, there’s something I’d like your help with.”
“What an honor. The great ruler of Neo Seoul needs the help of this insignificant person who can’t even properly taste tea.”
Kim Hyunsoo answered with a crooked expression.
“If I offended you, I apologize. But it’s true that I came here to ask for your help.”
“What is it?”
“You know I’ve been carrying out a major project for quite some time, don’t you?”
“Surely you mean that satellite?”
“Indeed. Only the final stage remains.”
“So you actually built it. It couldn’t have been easy.”
Kim Hyunsoo shook his head with an exhausted expression.
He had heard Jin Geumho talk about launching a satellite before, but he had never imagined it would be completed this quickly.
“All the byproducts from every magical beast captured by City Hall have gone into it. At least ten S-rank magical beasts were used in the construction of this satellite.”
“Insane.”
“Do you understand now? Why I’m so confident. This satellite is equipped with an extremely powerful optical weapon. A weapon capable of instantly killing an A-rank magical beast. With sufficient power, it could probably kill an S-rank magical beast as well.”
“Is that really possible?”
“It is.”
Jin Geumho nodded.
“May I ask when you started planning this madness?”
“The plan began fifty years ago. As for actual implementation, perhaps twenty or thirty years.”
“You’ve been secretly building a satellite for that long... I truly can’t compete with you.”
Kim Hyunsoo’s face turned pale.
Even before the Great Cataclysm, launching a satellite required the concentrated capabilities of an entire nation.
Even then, only a handful of countries could do it.
Naturally, there was not a single place capable of doing it now.
The nations themselves had vanished.
Yet here was a mere city, not even a country, secretly building a satellite.
It was impossible not to be shocked.
Jin Geumho spoke.
“I can say this with certainty. If we can send the satellite into space, humanity will no longer need to fear magical beasts.”
“Then naturally the Control Tower will operate the satellite?”
“Correct.”
“Do you happen to have any other projects underway?”
“Well...”
At Jin Geumho’s vague answer, Kim Hyunsoo’s face crumpled like paper.
So there are. You fox-like old man.
Once again, he felt the gap between himself and Jin Geumho.
Managing a single district was already overwhelming for him.
Meanwhile, Jin Geumho was making and carrying out countless plans.
And not for his own ambitions, but for humanity.
He had to acknowledge defeat.
No matter how hard he tried, there was a gap so vast that he could never catch up to Jin Geumho.
Looking at the despairing Kim Hyunsoo, Jin Geumho said,
“The satellite, Heavenly Punishment, is ninety-nine percent complete.”
“It’s basically finished.”
“There’s still one percent missing.”
“One percent?”
“Yes. And to complete that one percent, I need your help and cooperation.”
“Could it be because of that AI you mentioned before?”
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