Chapter 63
The Most Brilliant Empire (5)
The next day. Portal installation work began early in the morning.
“Are you sure you want it here?”
“Yes. This is the right place.”
The magician becomes flustered at Kang Hyeon’s confident words.
“Well, um…”
“This is the right place, so please proceed as planned.”
“But there’s nothing here…?”
“It will grow gradually from now on. Time is precious, so let’s move quickly.”
“I understand…”
Currently, Seoul only occupied half the area compared to the past.
This was because it suffered catastrophic damage north of the Han River during the battle with Agon. In reality, the Hyeseong Group controlled the Gangnam area, while Badass Town occupied parts of Seocho-gu and Seongnam City. In other words, there were no forces above the Han River. In this situation, Kang Hyeon and the magician were in what used to be Jung-gu, Seoul.
All that existed in this place, which was no different from ruins, were grotesquely scattered abandoned cars and garbage. And only shabby refugees hiding between buildings, watching them.
“This will become the hub in the future.”
“What is a hub?”
“The center. The center.”
“Oh…”
The magician tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand.
“We’ll connect portals to various parts of the world centered on where we’re standing now. Then we’ll grow this into an enormous bustling area. You could say we’re creating a new city.”
“Uh… Um…”
The magician was severely flustered.
‘That won’t be as easy as it sounds…’
Just maintaining one portal requires astronomical costs and skilled personnel. Initially, the magician came prepared to connect only two portals here. One to the Kingdom of Heigran. The other to the land of the elves. But suddenly hearing talk about making a hub and building a huge city, he doesn’t know what to do.
Kang Hyeon placed his hand on the hesitating magician’s shoulder.
“It’s a long-term project, and we’ll build it gradually, so there’s no need to worry from now.”
“Yes…”
“Let’s start by connecting the portal to the Kingdom of Heigran first.”
“Understood.”
“How long will it take?”
“Since preparations have already been completed on the Heigran Kingdom side, it won’t take too long.”
“Roughly how long?”
“It’s possible within three days.”
“Hmm, it takes more time than I thought…”
“That’s because we’re creating a semi-permanent portal that’s stable. If managed well, it will be the best portal that can handle any number of people traveling through it without issues.”
“Oh…?”
Kang Hyeon showed interest in the magician’s words.
“What you just said is true?”
“Pardon?”
“You said there won’t be issues no matter how many people move through. Even if thousands or tens of thousands pass through, there won’t be problems?”
“Well… Although it requires tremendous magical power, theoretically it’s entirely possible.”
“I see. Then I’ll leave it to you. These friends will be in charge of guarding while you install it.”
Kang Hyeon said, pointing to the Badass Guild members around them.
“Don’t overwork yourselves too late, take it easy and rest in the evening.”
“Yes.”
“Then I must go as I’m busy.”
Whatever was so urgent, Kang Hyeon left while barely finishing his goodbye.
***
Ippotranslation
***
Several days later.
Flyers began appearing throughout Seoul, centered around Badass Town.
-Tired of enduring this hellish life in Korea!?
The content of the flyer, which began with somewhat provocative phrases, went like this:
-The overseas immigration you’ve only dreamed of! Meeting with North Korean brethren! We’ll help you for free!
-Using next-generation spatial movement portal technology, travel time is just 3 seconds! We guarantee absolute stability!
-All of this is supported by the Badass Guild. For detailed inquiries…
Though there were quite a few miscellaneous words, in one line it meant they would transport people for free. And at the end of the flyer, there was a small note:
-However, only one-way travel is supported, and please note that additional fees will be charged for return trips.
It was written in such small letters that you had to look carefully to barely see it.
“Will people really come for this kind of advertisement?”
Yoon Na-rae shook the flyer with an indifferent expression.
“Why are you picking at it again?”
“I’m not picking at it, but look. What’s with this tiny text at the end? Anyone can see this is suspicious.”
Kang Hyeon clicked his tongue and wagged his finger at Yoon Na-rae’s response.
“Tsk tsk. Such an amateur. Think about it. These are people with nowhere to go anyway. And we’re offering to send them to another city for free. What’s there to complain about?”
“Do you know where that other city is?”
“I told you. Overseas! And a place where North Korean brethren await!”
For reference, ‘overseas’ refers to Shenyang City in China, where Han Myeong-do is.
“A city where various races from different countries gather and create harmony! Isn’t it wonderful?”
“The public safety there is terrible. It’s probably the city with the most dangerous ability users in the world, and you’re sending civilians there? Don’t you feel guilty?”
“Shhh! Listen until the end.”
Kang Hyeon said, narrowing his brows.
“Aren’t we the only generation in our five thousand years of history to experience the pain of division?”
“I don’t think we’re the only ones…”
“Shhhh! Just listen.”
“You’re completely like a gangster or dictator…”
Yoon Na-rae muttered in a small voice and turned her gaze away as Kang Hyeon opened his eyes menacingly.
“Anyway! I’m saying I’ll help them forget the pain of division! A new life living in Pyongyang! How about that?”
Ritualistic applause could be heard from various places at Kang Hyeon’s words.
“Wonderful…”
“Excellent…”
It was the guild executives who had been forcibly gathered.
“The Kingdom of Heigran is the same. They have a class system there. Will people like it when suddenly there are nobles and kings and social classes appear?”
“You’re always so negative about everything. If you have so many complaints, why don’t you solve it yourself?”
“What…?”
Yoon Na-rae was taken aback by Kang Hyeon’s words.
“Even at this moment, people are flooding in from all across the country. What are we going to do about this? Those people have no homes, no money, no food, nothing at all, they’re destitute.”
“What do you think will happen if we leave them alone?”
It was obvious that while they could manage with the food available in the city for now, it would soon run out. Those who have nothing and are hungry are gathering together. How would these people, who have nothing left to lose, suddenly change?
“It’ll be nothing but knife fights every day. Or should I say gunfights?”
“If you remain complacent like this and do nothing, you’ll end up getting shot in the back of the head while walking down the street and lose everything you have. By then, saying ‘Ah, I should have listened to the Guild Master…’ would be too late.”
“I understand, so please just get to work!”
Yoon Na-rae shouted loudly. Kang Hyeon smiled slightly and continued speaking.
“And we’re not just sending them recklessly. We’re discussing with each city to send as many as they can accommodate, and we’re looking into regions other than Shenyang and the Heigran Kingdom.”
“Are there more places to send people besides those two?”
“The elves refused so we can’t help that, but I thought of a place everyone had forgotten.”
Kang Hyeon grinned.
“Where is that?”
“Japan.”
“What…? Japan?”
“Yes. I’m discussing it with others, and it looks like it will work out well.”
“What are you talking about? Who are you discussing Japan with?”
“You’ll see. They’re coming now.”
A moment later.
Guests began arriving one by one at the Badass Guild’s grand conference hall.
“Kang Hyeon!”
“Olien. You came?”
“Yes. We’ll be able to see each other often now. Haha!”
The first to arrive was Olien, leading the kingdom’s knights and nobles. Their attire, reminiscent of the medieval period, was quite magnificent.
“You seem more dressed up than usual today.”
Olien was wearing a dress adorned with all sorts of jewels. However, rather than being excessive, it added an air of dignity to Olien’s cute appearance.
“How is it? Do you think it’s pretty?”
Olien twirled once in place, making the dress hem flutter.
“Yes. It’s dazzling.”
“Hehe.”
“Don’t do that when the sun is up. The jewels are so sparkly it hurts my eyes.”
“What…? Alright…”
At Kang Hyeon’s words, Olien sat down with a dejected expression.
“Hahaha! I’m joking, joking! Keep doing it since you look pretty.”
“Hehe… Alright.”
The Heigran Kingdom’s retainers sighed as they watched Olien’s mood go up and down with Kang Hyeon’s every word.
“Sigh… Our king who should be worried about succession…”
“The future of our country looks dark…”
As Kang Hyeon and Olien were chatting.
“Wow! I can’t believe a building like this still exists in this day and age! Or was it newly built!?”
Han Myeong-do appeared amid the commotion.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Thank you! Thanks to you, I got to step on my homeland again! I feel like I could fly away with joy. Hahaha!”
Han Myeong-do seemed somewhat overly excited.
“And why are there so many beautiful ladies here! Thank you. Thanks.”
“Yes…”
Though unsure exactly what he was thankful for, I just nodded.
‘Well, they did say men vastly outnumber women in Shenyang.’
It was a city originally formed by ability users and soldiers. And most ability users and soldiers were men. Of course, there were original residents of Shenyang City, and occasionally refugees would come in from outside, but not enough to balance the gender ratio. He seemed pleased to come to a normal place after being among sweaty, no, bloodthirsty men.
“Am I late?”
Following Han Myeong-do, the elf Adriendel entered.
“Adriendel. It’s been a while.”
“Yes. I’m truly happy to see Kang Hyeon again like this.”
Adriendel said with a dazzling smile. Though called the mother of all elves, her visible appearance was only that of someone in their early thirties. However, Kang Hyeon furrowed his brow at her seemingly more sickly appearance than before.
“Did something happen? You don’t seem well.”
“Ah, this is just a simple side effect. There’s no need to worry.”
“Side effect?”
“Yes… It’s from using my power to revive the elves… There’s no need to worry about it.”
Kang Hyeon nodded with a dubious expression. It seemed there were circumstances unique to the elves, so he decided not to ask for details.
“By the way, almost everyone’s here now.”
“Right. Except for one guy.”
Kang Hyeon and the Badass Guild.
Ahn Yu-seong and the Hyeseong Group.
Olien and the Heigran Kingdom.
Han Myeong-do and Shenyang.
Adriendel and the Elves.
With people gathered from these five forces, the guild’s grand conference hall was filled.
This was probably the most people gathered since the conference hall was built.
“What’s going on? Isn’t everyone here now?”
“Who else is left?”
As the meeting hadn’t started even though all participants were seated, people began to murmur.
“Aren’t we starting?”
At Yoon Na-rae’s question, Kang Hyeon shook his head.
“Did you forget what I said earlier?”
“Earlier…?”
“Japan. They haven’t arrived from there yet.”
“Who on earth is coming from Japan that you’ve been talking about…!”
“Shh. Be quiet. They’re here.”
Kang Hyeon put his finger to Yoon Na-rae’s lips.
“Mmph! Ptui, ptui! What a disgusting thing to do…!”
Yoon Na-rae, who had been complaining, looked toward the entrance in surprise.
“What, what is this…?”
People in black cloth robes with thin veils covering their faces began appearing one after another. Their movements carried a solemnity as if performing a religious ceremony.
“Oh my. Someone might think an emperor is arriving.”
Kang Hyeon said with an indifferent expression.
“What is it? What’s going on? Who’s coming that’s causing all this?”
At Yoon Na-rae’s question, Kang Hyeon gestured with his chin.
“See for yourself.”
Between the people in black clothes standing on both sides of the corridor creating a path. Through that path, a familiar man was walking. Tall height with a thin build.
Skin so white it appeared pale. Long white hair. Eyes as red as blood.
“It’s been a while, Kang Hyeon.”
Razkrize, the primordial vampire, entered the conference hall with an enchanting smile.
