Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Hierarchy Arrangement (2)
I had given them enough time. I endured the boredom and waited for two whole hours. Then I headed back toward the Security Force. On that same road I had walked before, I checked my smartphone. The article I wanted wasn't there. The Chinese media was still dreaming.
-An apology from the Heavenly Demon Cult Leader is expected, and negotiations seem to be underway regarding the extent of the apology.
-Public opinion is rapidly spreading that compensation should be received in addition to an apology.
-Chinese people are disappointed that So Iryeon has not made a statement regarding this matter.
Now they're deluded into thinking they're the masters of the world.
"What a standard."
Two people who left the Heavenly Demon Cult committed crimes. Yet they're trying to use any means to bring down the Heavenly Demon Cult.
'Envy and jealousy.'
Korea has what China doesn't. They can't stand it.
-They want to maintain their sense of superiority.
That's what created the current situation.
'Did they run away after all?'
I stood in front of the red triumphal arch. The Security Force was nowhere to be seen. Then something struck my head hard. Without Gang Qi, it would have been an impact that would have burst my head open. The sound followed after. A strike that came faster than sound. It was a thick, long bullet.
'Sniper.'
I ran toward the direction the sound came from. I saw someone hiding behind a tree, lying prone. I stepped on his waist. His bones shattered into pieces and he died in agony.
"If you're going to drink poison wine, there's nothing I can do."
Negotiations had broken down.
'Shield.'
I created a shield just in case. Then the sound of gunfire and explosions rang out from the surroundings. Even tanks and armored vehicles that had been hiding were deployed. It was quite a large-scale military force. At the rear of the military, there were reincarnators I had thought had fled. Various weapons were visible. From those whose purpose I couldn't identify, to weapons that required as many as five people to lift together. Compared to the Baria terrorist group, these were definitely more modernized weapons. But they too had weaknesses.
'Aiming comes first.'
I ran toward them.
Bang!
Starting with driving a Falling Dragon Fist down onto a tank. From the impact of the Falling Dragon Fist, the tank's thick armor tore like paper and exploded. Whether large firearms or guns, they couldn't aim at me as I kept moving. Automatic rifles fired without aiming couldn't pierce the shield.
Bang! Bang!
The impacts continued, and the time they held out was merely 10 minutes. Only one soldier survived. It was the commander who had been directing operations from a hill overlooking the battlefield with his aide. I grabbed his neck and went to the Security Corp's clearing. Half of the Security Corps had already fled. I crushed the commander's knees and ankles and threw him onto the clearing. He screamed but I paid no attention.
"P-please......"
The reincarnators who hadn't managed to leave. With an expressionless face, I began attacking them. I killed even those who didn't resist. Being in this group itself was already resistance.
I didn't spare a single one. The number of reincarnators I dealt with this way was 30. The only survivors were the 28 who had fled. In that place filled with corpses, I went to the commander I had thrown on the ground. I had no interest in his exact position or rank.
"Make a call."
He glared at me, gritting his teeth. I stepped on his shoulder blade.
"Make a call. To the highest person you know."
I stepped on his broken knees and ankles. I didn't stop until he picked up the phone. Eventually, he made the call. I didn't ask who the other party was.
"I'm changing the negotiation terms. The apology to the Heavenly Demon Cult will be made through broadcast instead of in writing, and the compensation is 5 times more. 50 won for your lives, 50 billion to the Heavenly Demon Cult. You have 24 hours."
My words were conveyed through the commander. When the call ended, I stepped on his head and crushed it. Then I left that place.
***
24 hours later.
The Chinese government's apology and compensation were not announced. I had already expected this. During that time, I returned to Korea and received twenty Teleport Scrolls from the Witch.
And I used ten of them near the target locations. I'm now at the Ryojun Naval Base in China's Liaoning Province.
The moment exactly 24 hours passed, I began the attack. I destroyed every piece of naval machinery visible to the eye. Starting with the naval warships.
A docked naval warship was split in two, and buildings piled high with measurement equipment became a sea of flames. The harbor's docking facilities were no exception. I brought down all structures that appeared to be used for military purposes.
Sirens wailed and they launched a counterattack, but there was nothing they could do. The only thing they could do was fire missiles at the base. But they couldn't fire missiles at their own home ground.
'Though missiles wouldn't matter either.'
I could just Teleport away. Missiles don't fly like bullets, so there would be plenty of time to escape. The base was quite large, so I had to move my body for 30 minutes.
And when I stopped acting, there wasn't a single ship floating on the water. All the facilities inside the hangars were also burning. Finally, I captured the commander of that base.
"Make a call."
The method was the same. He too made the call only after all four limbs were broken.
"I'm changing the conditions. Whoever answers this call, come directly to Korea and apologize. And the compensation is 5 times more again. 250 billion. I'm also changing the time to 3 hours."
Then I left the naval base.
***
3 hours later.
I watched the news through my smartphone. The Chinese media was in absolute chaos.
-Mistakes discovered in the investigation of the Heavenly Demon Cult. Government announces complete review.
-Quoting a government official saying it was the Security Force's error.
Not as much as I wanted.
"Then I can't stop."
Next was Changchun's air force base. I had connected a Teleport there yesterday as well. I already had experience with air force bases. So the work went even faster. I destroyed the runway first and then destroyed all the fighter jets.
I brought down even the control tower before 30 minutes passed. This time I didn't stop at just one. I Teleported to attack the next air force base. In 3 hours, I eliminated 3 air force bases. Only after that did I capture a commander and make him call.
"I'm changing the conditions. The one with all authority comes alone to the Heavenly Demon Cult Main Hall. And the compensation is 5 times more again. 1 trillion 250 billion. You have 24 hours."
The commander who conveyed the news also had his head crushed this time.
***
30 minutes later.
The Chinese government made an announcement.
-Decided to meet directly with the Heavenly Demon Cult Leader to clear up misunderstandings.
That was the main content. They wanted to talk directly with me. I ignored it.
***
Exactly 24 hours passed.
The Chinese government made several announcements. Most were about wanting to meet with me. But the work under the surface was different.
-Cult Leader, there are reports that they might declare war on Korea.
"Prepare for evacuation."
Leaving those words, I went to the facility before my eyes. China's Space Center. China has three important Space Centers. They're top facilities equipped with launch pads. Everything from satellites to manned spacecraft is launched from here.
I began the attack. As I destroyed the launch pad and facilities, scientists inside the buildings began fleeing. I left them alone. Since they weren't soldiers, I deliberately arranged the sequence to let them escape.
When they had all gotten out, I brought down the buildings as well. I made sure even the underground facilities were completely buried before leaving that place.
The second Space Center. I was going to destroy the facilities when someone came running urgently. It was a scientist frightened out of his wits.
"T-they told me to deliver this message."
"Speak."
"They say they'll accept the conditions......"
"Too late."
Ultimately, leaving him behind, I brought down all three Space Centers. I captured the director of the last Space Center and made him call.
"I'm changing the conditions. The one who worked under the surface to declare war on Korea—strip his position and punish him. Apologize directly in the government's name, the one with authority comes to the Heavenly Demon Cult Main Hall. Compensation is 5 times more again, 6 trillion 250 billion. You have 3 hours."
I hung up the call like that.
***
2 hours later.
The news came out.
-Chinese government expresses apology to the Heavenly Demon Cult. Announced that all misunderstandings originated from a conspiracy theorist within the government. Promised to apprehend him, hold him legally responsible, and compensate the Heavenly Demon Cult for this matter.
In the end, I won.
'Even if you beat Korea, if you lose China, you're at a loss.'
To realize that, they sacrificed this much. Everything was over, but I stayed in China for one more hour before calling Jimun Seo-saeng.
"Did the money come in?"
-What have you done? 6 trillion 250 billion came in as an anonymous donation.
"You seemed to be having a hard time doing business."
-Cult Leader, you must tell me the truth.
"To receive an apology to the Heavenly Demon, they should have been prepared for at least that much."
I hung up and returned to Korea.
***
After Jimun Seo-saeng heard my entire story, he made a serious expression.
"You went too strong."
"It's fine."
"Do you have something more in mind?"
"If only one person is embarrassed, that person dreams of revenge, but if ten people are embarrassed, they rather receive consolation from each other."
"Don't tell me......"
"I need to clearly establish the hierarchy. There seem to be too many who've forgotten their past lives."
Jimun Seo-saeng remained lost in thought for a long time.
"I'll prepare."
"I'm leaving tomorrow right away."
A day passed and I stepped onto the Teleport magic circle again.
***
Brussels, Belgium.
I ate a hot dog in front of the European Union headquarters. I deliberately ate it at the main entrance with milk. Shortly after, a high-ranking official from the headquarters came running out. The rumors must have already spread. With a large build and a sagging belly, he stood before me drenched in sweat.
"Please come inside."
"No, there's no need for that."
"Then what brings you here?"
"I'm going to the Security Force headquarters. Tell them to prepare in advance."
"What?"
Leaving him behind, I left the spot.
***
2 hours later.
The European Union Security Force headquarters. I entered boldly through the main entrance. Instead of a guard, a woman was blocking the way. It was Tasha, whom I had met in Greece.
"What's your business?"
"Move aside."
"This is the European Union Security Force."
"There was someone in China who said the same thing. What do you think happened?"
Tasha didn't answer. I gave her one last chance.
"It won't end with just you dying."
Eventually, Tasha stepped aside. I entered the Security Force headquarters without any restrictions. The place, unlike China, had a structure that was the Colosseum redesigned in a modern style. A training ground and sports field spread out widely, with dormitories and convenience facilities in the circular building.
"There's a trap. Well done."
The center of the sports field. The energy was disturbed. It seemed they had prepared a magic circle.
"That way you give me a reason to kill you all. If I just kill you, I'd be called a slaughterer and that would bother me."
I walked quickly toward the magic circle. Just before touching the magic circle, the distorted energy returned to normal. The magic circle had been deactivated.
"Smart ones do live longer."
I felt gazes watching me from various places in the magnificent building.
"Right now, erase all data about the Heavenly Demon Cult. Even what's in your memories. If you don't want to, speak up. I'll forcibly erase it for you."
I looked at Tasha. She trembled at the humiliating situation. That irritated me.
Thung.
I flicked my finger. The Qi Wave flew precisely toward Tasha's neck. She reacted immediately to my action and created a shield.
Chaeng!
The shield shattered, and the Qi Wave touched Tasha's neck.
"Kek! Kek!"
Thanks to the shield, it ended with just her neck being pressed.
"Since you're probably from the Court Mage background, listen well. Don't forget how I acted in my past life. There's nothing different about killing someone I've killed once before again."
Tasha no longer showed her emotions.
"I'll come back in 2 hours. Either erase the data, or think of a way to kill me."
I didn't mention how I would confirm whether they erased the data. In fact, there's no reason to even prepare such a method. They can't deceive me. Because they know what happened to China. They won't court danger with a slim hope.
"If possible, try to kill me. Honestly, that would be more comfortable for me."
This was sincere.