The Soviet Union
This great Korea was already one with the North. For the record, that had been true even before the mode was applied.
Even so, we were nowhere near China's weight class. One might imagine we could at least deal a crippling blow — but even that was a stretch.
The great powers in this game could intercept every missile and shell that fell on their own soil. The only nations capable of raining down endless bombardment until an enemy actually felt the strain were roughly the United States and Germany — and against other great powers, even that was fully blocked.
Korea simply did not have that kind of capacity in this game.
But Korea 3 had powerful superhumans…!
Superhuman forces that could overwhelm China were built into Korea 3. A nation that shoved its fists in its neighbors' faces often enough to earn the label of gangster state — that had been the setting.
"Missile interception is ready, I assume?"
I asked the head maid just in case.
"Of course, Your Majesty. Individuals skilled enough not to miss a single shell are stationed atop the four guardian pillars that encircle the Imperial Palace."
In the game, the player had to place superhumans on four buildings. Here, it seemed they had been positioned as a matter of course without a word from me.
"Not just the palace — what about the cities and military facilities?"
"Fully prepared, one could say."
"Once we enter a state of war, any issues with food or materiel?"
"None, Your Majesty. Even if the seas were completely blockaded, we could hold out for two years without difficulty."
Two years? An odd figure. A total naval blockade was unlikely anyway, so it was more than enough.
I asked a few more questions after that. Every answer came back the same — no problems.
"As expected of Your Majesty. To check every detail one by one like this…"
Those sparkling eyes were a bit much. I had only asked a single head maid.
Looks like I really don't need to do anything. Everything runs fine without separate orders.
…Still, wouldn't it be normal to be short on oil and various resources? In the game, trade had never been a problem even during wartime — was it the same here?
Maybe I was too trapped in Earth 1 common sense.
"Are we short on essential resources like oil?"
"Since the non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union that Your Majesty spearheaded, we have been receiving ample supplies. The oil stockpiled in advance is also sufficient."
I did?
Ah — in the game, I had run the relationship-improvement actions to raise favorability for the non-aggression pact.
In any case, there seemed to be no major problems as a result. They would handle things on their own. Other great powers were not going to join a war against China.
— The Soviet Union
As one might expect, the total destruction of the Chinese embassy in Seoul spread across the entire world in an instant.
The Korea–Soviet non-aggression pact. Korea's blatant public condemnation of China. The embassy going up in flames had been the final punctuation mark.
In the Soviet Union, they were certain the sparks of war would catch before long.
Sss…
Hooo…
Drawing the cigarette smoke deep into his lungs and letting it out again, the Man of Steel asked a question.
"Tell me, comrades. What do you make of Korea?"
The words, laced with a flicker of interest, cut through the ranks of men held at rigid attention. After a moment of glancing at one another, they began to answer one by one.
"A belligerent nation, I would say."
"Small in territory, but considerable in military strength…"
"Is it not a beast of a country that runs wild as it pleases?"
Stalin's mustache twitched. Something that might almost have been called a smile formed on his face.
"Isn't that so? Those fellows could be quite useful if handled well."
Some of the party members thought it dangerous — but Stalin already looked decided, so they either stayed silent or fell in line.
"Just as the General Secretary says!"
"They are perfectly positioned to check the Americans on our behalf."
Stalin listened to the stream of flattery in silence, then opened his mouth again.
"Marshal Zhukov. If Korea and China go to full-scale war, what do you expect?"
"…Korea would likely win, but even the victor would be left exhausted."
Zhukov delivered the answer after careful thought, and Stalin found himself agreeing inwardly.
"Is that so? Anyone else?"
"I believe it would become a prolonged war in which China endures while taking enormous losses."
"Wouldn't Korea win?"
Everyone offered slightly different answers. After a brief consideration, Stalin nodded and made his decision.
"Whichever side wins, neither will be able to move for some time. Supply Korea with the resources it needs — at fair prices."
"Yes, sir!"
At the Man of Steel's command, every man obeyed without a single question or objection.
Even after the defeat by Germany and the considerable loss of critical territory, Stalin's position remained intact — more than intact.
"If we are to reclaim the land that damned Hitler took from us, the rear must be secure, must it not?"
Red light burned in his eyes, brooking no dissent. The General Secretary who alone had fought Hitler to a draw in the Second World War possessed authority and power to match.
"Precisely!"
"This time we will make those Nazi bastards who stole Mother Russia's soil pay the full price!"
"Soviet ura!"
The superhuman generals of the Red Army — the ones who had once been made to wear the blame for defeat — shouted with feverish passion, cold sweat running down their backs.
Those who had survived by Stalin's "mercy" were dead men if they failed to produce results.
"Hitler is gone now. I believe you can win."
No one dared point out to the gently smiling General Secretary that the Nazis who had swallowed all of Europe still outmatched them.
We've already lost half of our European territory. How are we supposed to win?
Marshal Zhukov took care that the despair did not show on his face as he cursed inwardly.
"Thanks to my moving the factories beyond the Ural Mountains, the Soviet Union still has ample capacity."
Even staring at Stalin's back as he stood with his hands clasped behind him, everyone spoke with perfect deference.
"Indeed! The General Secretary's foresight saved the Soviet Union!"
"Nazis without Hitler can be crushed in a single stroke!"
"If the resistance movements of broken Europe aid us, we have a chance!"
Reactions blazing with certainty of victory erupted like fireworks.
Unfortunately, every general saying these things believed they would lose unless Stalin himself took the field.
Perhaps even if he did.
"Is that so?"
Stalin, who had been gazing somewhere far beyond the window, turned back to face the generals and smiled. An ominous smile that sent a chill crawling up every spine.
…Everyone sensed that something had gone wrong.
"You talk a fine game. Can our weight class even be compared to those Nazi bastards?"
The owner of the mocking voice was still smiling.
"…"
Cold sweat ran down the napes of the generals' bowed necks. They had chosen the wrong answer on one of the General Secretary's occasional tests.
"Hmm? Tell me, comrades. Against Nazis who ate all of Europe and half of our European territory — you claim we have a chance of winning?"
"…If the General Secretary takes the field, we will be victorious!"
From among the sweating generals, Zhukov answered — with the conviction of a man who had believed it from the start.
"Hmm… Factoring myself in, there would be a chance, yes."
Even as Stalin's smile vanished into a blank expression, the generals felt relief. At least he did not seem to regard them as talking complete nonsense.
"Still not enough."
With that, Stalin crushed the cigarette in his hand into the ashtray and delivered astonishing news to the generals.
"But if the United States joins the war, the story changes."
"You mean…?"
"That's right. The capitalist pigs have agreed to fight alongside us."
The moment Stalin's words landed — that the relationship, strained since the end of the Second World War, had been successfully mended — the atmosphere transformed at once.
Hope spread through the generals like wildfire as they glanced at one another. This, at least, was a real chance.
"I will grant that the Nazi bastards built the strongest nation on earth."
After that remark, thick with displeasure, came the declaration that revealed Stalin's decision.
"But is that enough to face three nations — the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom?"
"""No, sir!"""
Blinded by the hunger to reclaim lost land, the generals roared their answer in unison.
In truth, even with all three attacking together, Germany was still stronger — but it was not a fight without a chance.
"Hitler is gone. As long as the rear holds, we have a real shot."
Cold eyes swept over the generals one by one. Then, smile restored, he spoke again.
"Good. Supply Korea with resources on favorable terms, and inform China that we will not interfere with the outcome of the war. Surely a nation of over a billion will not lose to a Korea of a hundred million."
The sneer on his face made it clear he did not believe a word of it.
The General Secretary did not rate China's chances highly — but he trusted their pride.
You lot aren't actually going to lose, are you? Even if you win, we won't meddle afterward.
Of course we'll win! We are a great power!
Some sanitized version of that exchange would pass for diplomatic conversation.
"Just as the General Secretary says. If the Chinese have any pride, they will not ask for aid or demand an embargo."
The People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs confirmed that the General Secretary's approach was workable. Even if they did make demands, they could simply be ignored.
Even if China won, it would be thoroughly exhausted afterward — it would not start a war over something this small.
"Well then, comrades — let us prepare for the Third World War."
Thud! The General Secretary's fist slammed down hard on the map — on the place where Germany sat.
"The people's nation, the Soviet Union, shall be victorious!"
After Stalin's roar came thunderous applause and shouting.
Clap clap clap clap!!!
"""Soviet ura!"""
The eyes of every man who rose as one burned red.
Since the defeat in the Second World War, Stalin had controlled every aspect of the nation and prepared for nothing but war.
The timing of the opening of hostilities could not be delayed any further. With every passing day, it was plain that Germany was growing stronger.