Chapter 267: Moon-Facing Plan
At the airport, Ion Iolkaf began to wonder if all these were really what he had wanted.
'Did I really want this? Truly?'
However, Ion's dissatisfaction was not very important. After Ion's paper spread, independent of the Imperial Aeronautics and Space Agency’s actions, Ion ended up lecturing his theory not only to astronomers around the world, but also to scientists directly or indirectly affiliated with the Imperial Aeronautics and Space Agency. His goal was not merely to explain his theory.
Accompanying Ion was an Ogre named Mando Hwae-Sa from the Intelligence Agency, who had once interrogated Ion under Ramin. Mando, roughly 2.8 meters tall, which was ordinary for an Ogre, had a huge physique formed by modern weight training, giving off an intimidating presence as if they were armed with a deadly weapon. If Ion had anything to hide during the interrogation, he would have spilled everything at the sight of Mando's face.
'Wait, I really did spill everything. Was it because of this Ogre?'
Mando often talked about their body.
"People think Ogres are just big and fat. Of course, I embrace that body type too. Even our ancestor, the great Hwang Hwae-Sa, achieved great feats with a physique like that. But that's just a tiny part of the potential Ogres have. Precisely, it's the potential itself. When I realized Ogres have thick bones and muscles that build well, I thought I should build my body. And after building it, I thought I should find the best place to use it."
"You really found an excellent job."
"Exactly. And as long as I'm accompanying you, the importance of my job rises as much as the importance of what you are doing. So please, show a bit more enthusiasm."
Ion's role was not just to simply explain a theory. If that were all, there would be no reason for Ion to travel the world. People wanted Ion to persuade them.
There were too many places intertwined with the Empire's interests and countless representatives of such places. In the case of the western continent’s parliament, which was most antagonistic to the Empire, the centrist Inner Circle luckily somewhat accepted Ion’s theory, thanks to the assassination attempt on Sarcho. However, disagreement with the Outer Circle, consisting of nobles from the former Union Kingdom and other factions, was natural.
"I don't understand why each one of them wants a one-on-one explanation. Even though they're told the world is ending."
The story of the second moon, Loom, had already spread all over Sky Net. The Empire could have stopped the spread of the story, but they let it be, neither confirming nor denying it openly. However, the fact that Ion's paper was true and that its publication was being left alone in itself was a message of confirmation.
'Isn't that an even stronger message?'
Based on the data from ancient relics, assuming a vague and uncertain threat would plunge people into confusion. Instead, the Empire pointed to the most clear-cut fact that something existed behind the moon. Chaos diminished, and suspicion focused.
In addition, the Empire silently launched dozens of projects. A capitalist group called the Fifth Waterwheel took action, and the Empire's internal funding and emergency taxation measures quickly passed in the parliament. Everyone knew that this was not the natural course of events, but rather something done not by human effort.
With the Pantheon in motion, people cautiously explored the possibility that the second moon could be real. Without the help of the central government of the Empire, various factions started their investigations into the matter, and all answers ultimately relied on Ion's paper.
If Ion's paper was true, then the Empire's movements were real, and so was the danger. Then there was no reason to engage in a power struggle with the central government of the Empire or the Pantheon. An urgent explanation was needed across various imperial territories about the possible existence of the second moon, Loom, and the Empire's future response.
Mando said, "The Empire possesses a stronger potential. Just like an Ogre's body."
"What?"
"We could have hardened our bodies with weight training, saying 'This darn flab is so annoying.' After building enough muscle, we could have reduced fat by controlling our diet to make the muscles stand out. But we didn't. We just left it as it is."
"Are you using a metaphor? I never really paid attention in literature class..."
Mando laughed heartily. "These discomforts, though seemingly inconvenient and worthless at the moment, will eventually become the strength of the Empire. The Empire is currently building its body. And you, Ion, are one of the strongest tendons holding up the Empire's heaviest weight."
Ion nodded, not fully understanding but accepting the idea.
Ion traveled between the east, south, and west continents, meeting many people. He met with Gnoll royalty from the Union Kingdom, Orc aristocrats, self-made Elf capitalists, Goblin leaders of regional collective farms who had broken away from past revolutions, a Frogman commander of the revolutionary army still proclaiming the revolution unfinished, a Human tribal leader of an ancient tribe that rejected civilization, and an extremist environmentalist Troll organization leader. They held significant power even within imperial territories and still doubted whether they could completely trust the Empire.
Ion didn’t believe he could persuade all these people either. Even if all the Empire's power was united, he wasn't sure if it could stop what they called the second moon, Loom. Nevertheless, he believed he could do only what was within his power.
'Mando cheered me on, but what can't be helped, can't be helped. I'll do as much as I can.'
Moreover, Ion still considered himself a secularist. The continuation of the war between evil gods and gods was not a pleasant story. Therefore, Ion stuck to explaining only what he could, namely the scientific theory. He explained the previously known theory, sought agreement, and then showed what problems were in the calculations and what actual figures were derived.
Only afterwards did the Intelligence Agency add evidence of the second moon collected from around the world as an appendix, and unfortunately, the Empire had not yet sent rockets to the moon's orbit or directly photographed Loom. Despite this, everyone changed their minds after listening to Ion.
A Gnoll royal said, "Your words lack the conviction and expectations shown by the priests of the Pantheon. I believe you."
An Elf capitalist stated, "Alright. We'll proceed with all the projects requested by the central government."
A Goblin leader said, "You're not here to harass us, that's for certain. We'll cooperate in relocating the farm lands."
The Frogman commander said, "A logical explanation. Our corps will propose an indefinite ceasefire to the Empire until progress in moon research is made."
The Human tribal chief commented, "Everything falls into place, wise friend. At least we're not enemies, and I can grant your request."
The Troll organization leader asked, "It's not a lie, is it?"
Energy surged through the Empire's stiffened veins, filling the dry spots like blood. At least to Ion's eyes, that seemed the case.
In just a few months, resources and people that had been immovable without the central government's direct involvement began to volunteer their support. There had been only five rocket launches so far, but blueprints for rocket launch pads were being shared and constructed everywhere, and buildings were literally created at an astonishing speed by divine power.
It wasn't just the Imperial Aeronautics and Space Agency that was on the move. The Empire’s military began reorganizing itself to face Loom. The innovative reform, known as Moon-Facing, continued, and what this massive plan meant exactly and how it would be revealed was known only to the gods. Since everyone was just looking at the framework of the grand plan, there was a lack of certainty, but there was a sense of being part of something greater.
'What kind of sensation is this?'
Ion couldn’t find a precise answer and returned to the Imperial Aeronautics and Space Agency after completing his global tour. Of course, Ion no longer worked in the same administrative division after returning. He moved with the Astronomical Observation Division, busily managing the schedule and launch angles of rocket launch pads around the world, as well as controlling risks through observations of other celestial bodies and asteroids.
Several rockets had already been launched. It was for the purpose of utilizing a satellite communication network, and the global distribution of this satellite network and the mobile phones using it almost came into being simultaneously. Ion, holding an object he had never thought of until a few months ago, sensed the movement of the world as people became accustomed to using it within just a month. People weren’t fully aware, but the world was undergoing a literal technological explosion.
Additionally, something strange happened.
"You know, agent, I've been seeing you quite often these days."
"Oh, Ion. Hello. Yes, because of that work."
Ramin from the Intelligence Agency was frequently spotted within the Aerospace Agency. Ramin would greet Ion and then hastily disappear down the opposite end of the corridor, leaving Ion feeling somewhat disappointed. However, after learning the whole story, Ion forgave Ramin.
Ion had the opportunity to meet with astronaut candidates who would travel on the manned spacecraft attached to the rocket. These astronaut candidates were the ones who would communicate directly with the central control room on the ground and were naturally people Ion would have to become familiar with. They had already passed several tests to become astronaut candidates within the Aerospace Agency.
Ion was disqualified due to his lacking physical fitness and congenital vascular disorder, but he wasn't too disappointed. Being on the first manned spacecraft was an honor, but also dangerous.
Therefore, when he saw Ramin among those astronaut candidates, he was first taken aback.
"Why are you here?"
"...Tell me about it."
Ion couldn't contain his curiosity and searched for Ramin in the astronaut candidates list. Ramin's personnel file was thick enough to provoke laughter and had many redacted parts, absurd to the extent of being ridiculous. Nevertheless, Ramin had more than enough qualifications to be selected as an astronaut candidate, adorned with degrees in various fields. While not quite meeting the mark in essential areas like physics, mathematics, and programming, Ramin scored higher than anyone in the aspects the Aerospace Agency most expected from an astronaut.
[The candidate has demonstrated superior skills in the most dire situations, including ■■■■ ■■ ■■■, and therefore can be trusted to command the spacecraft and other astronauts. Attachment: Pantheon sanctity registration, ...the Chosen One.]
After flipping through the last page, Ion said to Ramin, "Did you know? There were only two recommenders."
"Oh, really? I thought I needed three."
"But you passed. Your recommenders are the Emperor and the head of the Intelligence Agency."
"Ah, Gorgota, such a pain."
Ion wondered if the Aerospace Agency could handle someone who spoke so casually of the head of the Intelligence Agency, but he decided not to mention it and just moved on.
Six months after Ion's paper presentation, an unmanned rocket was launched toward the moon, and in the live footage, a large and gloomy shadow was discovered behind the first moon.
***
As busy as the Empire was, the Pantheon was equally busy. Every imaginable plan emerged, got scrapped, and reemerged. Several plans were urgently approved, modified to fit the Empire's circumstances, and implemented. But clearly, that alone was insufficient.
Sung-Woon, saying everyone was overworking, declared that if there was no set schedule, players should take a break and individually contemplate their best answers. Thanks to this, Jerome was repeatedly reviewing in a corner of the library, searching for ancient relics that could hold the key to solving this predicament. He wasn’t completely without clues and somewhat hoped that what he was looking for could turn out to be the answer.
'It's like a quiz show. An impossible question has been thrown, and everyone is asked to find their own solution. It’s as if he knows the answer himself.'
Like Sung-Woon also would, Jerome remembered Sung-Woon's reaction when he had talked about the second moon.
"So we have about 3 years and 3 months left?" Sung-Woon's muttering had ended with, "That’s more than enough time."
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