“It’s a world first, right?”
He weighed the possibility of it being a first, as An So-mi suggested, before shaking his head.
“I might not be the first. The world is vast, and there are plenty of stages for growth in various ways.”
“Still, wouldn’t it be fair to say you’re definitely the first in the country?”
“If it’s within the country, I suppose that might be the case.”
“A party! A party!”
An So-mi was excited, but he crushed her expectations instantly.
“I’m going to keep the fact that I’ve reached a new level a secret.”
“…Why?”
“The vigilance against black mages is already strict; what do you think would happen if an 8th Circle master appeared?”
In fact, due to the intervention in the recent Magic Tower incident, the wariness and perception toward black mages had changed significantly.
Ordinary civilians might not think much of it.
Since they could see it as a strengthening of national power, but the politicians holding power would think differently.
Checks and balances would follow, and in serious cases, they might try to eliminate him or keep him under their thumb.
In Kim Dae-san’s case, he would likely try to suppress and control him by any means.
The reason they had intimidated black mages and tarnished their national image was also in that same context.
“You know our country is the only one that mistreats black mages, right?”
He knew that well. However, to correct it, he would have to fight a massive group called the government, and considering the weight of blood that would result, compromise was the right choice.
Although it was called suppression, they hadn’t reached a stage of physical persecution yet.
He thought that perhaps they were coordinating things while carefully gauging the limits.
“The Magic Tower incident was already a month and a half ago.”
At Go Yu-jin’s words, a news report came on, and he examined the content.
“They suspect Pi Jin-hyeok had quite a lot of hidden assets, but it’s surprising that not a single one has been found.”
At Go Yu-jin’s words, his conscience stung slightly. However, he had no intention of revealing it.
Revealing it would only offer limited benefits. Therefore, he planned to secretly deliver anonymous bonds and other assets to the Association and the Black Tower in the form of donations.
Those groups had their own legal teams, so they would handle it well, and since they were large-sum bonds with unclear origins, he expected them to use the funds secretly for various purposes rather than processing them simply.
‘I didn’t check the total amount, but it was a figure beyond imagination.’
It wasn’t just simple bonds he had gathered.
Regardless, for now, it was as if he had taken everything substantial that Pi Jin-hyeok had left behind.
So, the things the news babbled about every day felt trivial.
“They said they agreed to share the data in the end; I guess it couldn’t be helped.”
An So-mi clicked her tongue at the government’s response at the end of the news, which described it as a cooperative agreement rather than war.
If they had the power to handle all three countries, they would have swallowed everything and no one would have dared to complain, but since that was impossible, they were settling for conceding a portion.
The government’s response seemed increasingly ridiculous to him.
To study the data together, a large number of personnel would have to move to Korea, but currently, we and the surrounding countries are only in a state of armistice.
It is not the end of the war.
As An So-mi said, even if they shared it, the government would dictate how it was divided, so he judged that the government had performed a sort of wordplay.
They seemed to have used their heads well, and since other countries knew these circumstances, they would be troubled because they couldn’t easily find fault with the conditions Korea presented.
Technically, they couldn’t complain about what was being shared.
And to understand the scope of the disclosure, they would have to dispatch high-level personnel, but no matter how great the escort was, could they ensure safety by sending them to a foreign country in an armistice?
‘Even if our country doesn’t do anything specific, they would inevitably feel anxious. So, if they complain about it, Korea will have an excuse, and even if they are allowed to enter in large numbers, it’s uncertain if they will be shown the actual facilities.’
He reached the conclusion that it wasn’t an idea Kim Dae-san came up with, but a plan devised by the aide who was always thorough in his explanations.
“Since things turned out this way, let’s have a party just among ourselves. Please?”
Go Yu-jin eventually nodded at An So-mi’s question, and it was decided that the three of them would pick a day to celebrate.
Meanwhile, seeing the ongoing pros and cons discussion regarding the government’s response, he only felt pity that they were all being played by the government.
Year-end and Christmas—aren’t they days that provide everyone with plenty of joy?
However, many people were unable to spend that festive day properly.
Ultimately, China declared that if Wang Sun was not handed over, they would wage an all-out war. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Awakener troops were deployed to the border, and we also took the lead by sending government forces to establish defensive lines, leading to a standoff.
In response, the government summoned all the high-ranking officials of the Awakener Association to begin a meeting.
“You all know the situation. Let’s speak candidly about what should be done.”
Starting with Kim Dae-san’s words, An Sang-ik spoke first.
“200,000 government troops have already been deployed to guard the border like an iron fortress. However, to prepare for this situation, we shouldn’t just keep an eye on China.”
“I know we can’t ignore Japan either, and additionally, although Russia hasn’t moved its army yet, they have shown a willingness to intervene at any time, so we could say we stand at a crossroads of choice.”
After Kim Dae-san finished speaking, silence fell over the meeting room, and then Chu Myeong-hun looked at Han Sang-gil and asked.
“Everyone knows that black mages can exert overwhelming military force in war, so why is the one who came as the representative of the black mages remaining silent?”
“We have no intention of intervening until the war intensifies. In the last war, our sacrifices were denounced as worthless criminal acts, and we don’t think it will be any different this time.”
“Wasn’t it just that you were given a statement of facts because the actions committed were unreasonable?”
“Everyone in this room knows who manipulated public opinion to continue denouncing and attacking us even after it was proven that all the criminal acts you cited were not the work of Korean black mages; if you expected us to readily step forward, you were mistaken. In fact, the reason I came here was to clearly state our refusal, not to cooperate.”
Then, Han Sang-gil stood up abruptly from his seat.
Everyone was flustered by his radical behavior, but Kim Dae-san remained calm and suddenly asked a question.
“If you leave like that, it means the will of the black mages is no different from being anti-government; may I think of it that way?”
“Anti-government, what a joke. We have no obligation to participate in the war, and I am stating firmly that if we participate in the war, it will be for our own sake to save this country, not because of the government. And if you intend to say anything else, you’ll have to take my data first.”
Then, Han Sang-gil took out a Magic Stone and quickly recorded the conversation. Some of the bodyguards moved at that, but Kim Dae-san raised his hand to stop them.
He was not a person who could be dealt with just by them stepping in.
Han Sang-gil was a master-class black mage who would certainly injure or kill many even if the three heroes gathered here and numerous Association experts attacked him together.
‘Did they say that even among 7th Circle Masters, there is quite a division in level?’
He recalled the part Geum Seong-chan used to explain tirelessly about the levels of black mages a long time ago.
‘Tsk, he used to be a very pleasant and bright fellow in the past….’
Even if they weren’t close friends, they certainly weren’t in an uncomfortable relationship. So, there were frequent clashes in the process of employing black mages, and considering he was very sensitive about the rights and interests of black mages, he thought that if Kim Dae-san himself hadn’t acted to suppress them, they might have developed a fairly deep relationship now.
“Go ahead. I have no intention of finding fault. However… if you intend to intervene next time, you must follow the control of the government. Otherwise, you might be branded as an anti-state force.”
“Even if that time comes, we have no intention of serving you, so if you’re going to brand us as an anti-state force, be prepared to see it through to the end.”
Everyone was speechless at Han Sang-gil’s extremely firm behavior.
It was because they had always beaten down the black mages and they had followed along without a word, so this behavior itself felt too radical.
However, some people had expressions that suggested what was bound to happen finally had.
Afterward, Han Sang-gil left the room, and the remaining people maintained a long silence before they began to devise a strategy, led by An Sang-ik.
It mainly involved the deployment of Awakeners, defense of the rear, and even checking the number of personnel that could be used through an emergency mobilization order.
Then, Chu Myeong-hun asked.
“The vacancy of the black mages will be larger than imagined. Can we handle it?”
“It’s known that both China and Japan have very little black mage power, and we expect at most two 7th Circle black mages. So there’s no reason for us to be pushed back significantly.”
“Which means we can’t gain an advantage either. Then, what is the possibility of the war escalating?”
He was talking about the possibility of the situation spreading into an all-out war where Japan, not just China, would get involved.
To that, An Sang-ik said.
“If that time comes, the President will have to personally bow his head to the black mages and ask for help.”
Kim Dae-san frowned heavily at the calmly stated remark, but he didn’t show any additional emotion, and afterward, they decided to prepare an emergency organization for reserve forces, anticipating that Japan would invade.
Ultimately, 200,000 regular troops were sent to the Yalu River basin, and 50,000 elites were sent to the Tumen River to prepare for Russia’s movements.
Afterward, while preparing for surprise attacks by deploying troops along the rear coastline, they finalized the meeting by preparing several candidates for how to operate the 1.2 million reserve forces.
Eventually, after everyone had left the meeting room, only Kim Dae-san, An Sang-ik, and Chu Myeong-hun remained.
“We look pathetic.”
At Chu Myeong-hun’s words, Kim Dae-san let out a sigh.
“I know the country’s finances are difficult, but things are getting more complicated.”
“It would be more accurate to think that the backlash arose because you suppressed the black mages too much.”
“They are a group that needs suppression. They hold too much power.”
The two began to argue, and it was just as their voices were about to get heated and louder.
“So, do you think a war will really happen?”
At Chu Myeong-hun’s words, Kim Dae-san and An Sang-ik nodded with serious faces.
“The chimera research applied to Wang Sun was applied in a very short time and worked perfectly; the fact that this information leaked is becoming a problem.”
“We don’t know how it leaked, but at least for that one piece of technology, China will definitely try to secure Wang Sun, and we have become stuck in a position where we must protect that technology at all costs. So… war is inevitable.”
The three looked at each other and tried to clear their complicated minds, but unlike Kim Dae-san and An Sang-ik, Chu Myeong-hun was in a situation where he could hardly contain his joy.
