Chapter 112
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: China's Great Dream
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Nanjing Presidential Palace, China.
After the Great Cataclysm, China plunged into an era of massive chaos.
Countless people died, and the emergence of Azi Dahaka only amplified the devastation.
As a result, the Chinese Communist Party government relocated the capital to Nanjing, while those in the north who stayed to fight the monsters and defend the land rose as warlords.
Over 70% of China's hunters were trained by the Beijing warlords, with Nanjing's government footing the bill—this was how China's hunter society operated.
China's national chairman, Zhang Xuezhi (Zhang Hedi), clutched his stomach laughing as he read the news about the Blue House raid in Korea.
"Kuh! Puhahaha! Serves Ha Jeong-seok right. Bald as a cue ball! That was the only thing he had left to brag about in his old age!"
"Chairman."
A Nanjing-affiliated hunter who had been in contact with Beijing interrupted Zhang Xuezhi's rare moment of glee.
Why rain on my parade when I'm in such a good mood?
"Hm? I'm thrilled to hear some good news for once—what's the matter? Your face tells me it's important."
"Yes, sir. Good news from Beijing as well!"
"Good. Out with it."
News from Beijing had to be significant.
"Beijing has developed a mana stone that induces secondary awakening in people without turning them into monsters, making them even stronger."
"It won't explode like last time, will it? How many died in those experiments?"
It wasn't the first or second time. How many Uyghurs had perished?
Compared to other countries, China's population was still around 700 million—a hefty number—but it had shrunk dramatically since before the Cataclysm. Every life mattered now.
And when divided among the warlords, the territory directly under Chairman Zhang's regime barely exceeded 300 million.
"They say all issues have been resolved."
"Hmph. They're not asking for more budget again, are they?"
They'd just siphon off funds for pointless experiments. If so, it was time to uproot them entirely.
"No, sir. General Wang Wei reports: why don't we seize the North Korean region this time?"
"North Korea?"
"Yes. With the Ha Jeong-seok incident and all, General Wang Wei says Korea is weaker than ever. Even the original Divine Sword wielder couldn't handle a single villain, and not just Ha's hunters but the association's Choi Cheol-sik and his team all died. Now's the time to strike."
The North Korean region was a veritable core jackpot. If they could claim it, China's economy would revive.
Relations with Korea meant little anymore. They'd always been abysmal with Ha Jeong-seok; he was just waiting for the chance to crush them. Now was the time for China to rise again.
"Very well. Let's give it a shot. Contact Wang Wei. Tell him to form legions with these enhanced hunters and go for it. But keep it covert. We can't ignore the West yet. Make sure he understands."
"Yes, sir!"
"Now, should I give Ha Jeong-seok a consoling call? Heh heh heh."
Ha Jeong-seok losing his hair to a mere villain, Korea's hunters weakened—it all delighted him.
At last, the time had come for China to stand tall once more.
The world had ended its era of American hegemony with the Cataclysm, and ideological walls like liberalism or communism had crumbled.
Japan held Asia's reins in the modernization era; Korea dominated the hunter age post-Cataclysm. But no more.
With improved hunter quality from these experiments, assembling an army of over a million hunters wouldn't be hard.
Then, to awaken the pride of the Chinese nation, he could establish an emperor's realm. An empire.
"Yes. No mere chairman. I will become emperor and seize hegemony."
Chairman Zhang Xuezhi (Zhang Hedi) flashed a sinister smile.
Through Baekhwa TV, I officially declared the conquest of Gyeonggi Province, excluding the north.
And seizing the opportunity, I announced my ambition to claim all erosion zones.
Ah, this had nothing to do with Yong-yong's queen play. This was just the logical next step.
Either way, it was a declaration of war on the villain remnants still lurking in the erosion zones.
We weren't fighting the government anyway. Erosion zone dwellers— Quarantine Zone residents—were abandoned by the state, with no records left. The nation offered no compensation even if they died.
Viewers, however, were ecstatic.
Hunters who'd endured the Great Flood especially showered us with support.
Unable to act themselves, they wanted me to do it for them.
Real-time search trends were exploding too.
For example:
1. Ha Jeong-seok bald
2. Ha Jeong-seok baldie
3. Ha Jeong-seok industry award
4. Baekhwa
5. Baekhwa Church conquers Gyeonggi
5. Baekhwa declares erosion zone purge
This is shocking.
My hands trembled on the laptop.
"Holy shit. Baekhwa Church's popularity can't even beat Ha Jeong-seok's head?!"
Baby Yong-yong was devastated. How could I lose to Ha Jeong-seok's baldness!?
No. I can't accept this. If his head mattered that much, why rip out his hair completely?
Normally, pretty villains should outshine a bald middle-aged man, right?
"Plenty have suffered because of Ha Jeong-seok."
"It's all Ha Jeong-seok bald memes everywhere. Even overseas. They're calling it 'Korea crazy egg.'"
Right. Post-Blue House raid, communities overflowed with GIFs of me and the heroines yanking Ha's hair.
"President? Crazy egg?"
"Most national leaders now are Swiss International Hunter Academy grads. Probably spread from them mocking each other."
That was the lore.
With the world's shift, leaders were replaced by hunter alumni.
Even in China, the Beijing warlords couldn't defy Nanjing because Chairman Zhang Xuezhi, a Swiss academy alum, held power.
No one questioned Swiss grads' legitimacy.
They were practically first-gen hunters from the Cataclysm's dawn.
In this era, that carried immense authority. Most leaders were Swiss alums who knew each other.
Probably some rivals who'd clashed with Ha spread the rumors.
Still.
"How'd it go global?"
"Lots of foreigners watched the live stream."
"Crazy egg? What the hell."
Did a shiny bald head make Ha Jeong-seok look like a mad egg?
It did gleam. But what antics did he pull at Swiss to earn that?
Didn't want to know. The key was Baekhwa Church going global.
But the gloomy bitch beside me had been spazzing out.
"At least the world knows us now. Ugh. I can never return to Triton."
Her pitiful trembling, clutching her head.
But I couldn't resist dropping facts on Yong-yong.
I pointed at the handle and hand floating above her head.
"You think you can go back looking like that?"
"Hic."
Even disguised, no way back.
She'd come in person because I lent her Kate.
Forget leniency a hundred times—even calling this new body a 'secondary awakening' wouldn't fly. She reeked more of demonic energy than mana.
She'd get outed as a monster.
"I'll take responsibility for you and your mom, okay?"
Gloomy bitch pretending to cry to me? A century too early.
"Even I think it's hilarious."
Choi Si-woo smirked faintly.
"What now? If you really take all the erosion zones, foreign powers might intervene."
Couldn't ignore foreign media. A villain group that crushed Korea's guild alliance right on the peninsula? Big news.
"Not impossible."
"How'd I end up with this lunatic?"
"Wanna try mother-daughter rice bowl?"
Might just tie Rachel and Reina down with force, expose their slits, bind them tail-to-bed, and fuck 'em.
On second thought, that sounded perfect.
"Fine. Whatever."
Her blush said she was warming to mother-daughter play. Push a bit more, and tonight's feast was on.
"Joking aside, we need tighter ties with Cheonsan Group. Most erosion zones are rubble heaps—no intact infrastructure. Yoo-jeong sunbae, can Cheonsan invest that much?"
Cheonsan support was essential.
We had cash, but as villains, external aid was tough.
Unless we grew nation-sized and strong-armed a deal.
"If it's unnie, sure."
"Problem is, backroom funds have limits for that scale. Right?"
"Yeah."
Cheonsan was powerhouse, but rebuilding alone? Tough, even across fields. Just restoring buildings would strain them.
Erosion zones meant country-level costs. Budget would be insane.
"Alright, I'll negotiate the compromise. Si-woo, you?"
"Half the cadets are already monsterized."
"Already?"
"Snake-pupiled cadets are my minions—and yours."
"Oh."
Come to think, more girls with snake eyes at the academy lately. Thought it was purple reptile lens trend. Nope.
Their smirks at me meant they knew something.
"How do you do it?"
Han Su-ji asked, and Choi Si-woo smiled seductively.
"Curious?"
Si-woo extended a long tongue.
Sticky black fluid dripped down it.
I kissed him quick.
*Smack smack*
The thick, oil-like black goo from his mouth was dense demonic energy laced with Si-woo's scent.
This is how he monsterized and controlled cadets.
Without me, I'd have fallen too.
Breaking the kiss, Si-woo's dripping black trailed into his mouth as he gave me a lewd look.
A quick feel below: soaked.
"Haang♥"
"Slutty bitch. Just a tongue suck and you're dripping."
"Haa. Haa. Imagining you under me..."
"Such cheek."
Pinching her clit with both hands, she climaxed right there in public.
"I suspect Si-woo was never a woman to begin with. Just disguised as a man till now. No other way to turn out this depraved."
"Right? That sweet guy corrupted like this."
Wanted to agree, but Si-woo's fall was inevitable.
1. Idiot who cut ties with heroines to save the world and regressed it.
2. Having poked everywhere as a male, female pleasure was overwhelming.
3. Lust mixed with his shattered mind.
Even a Divine Sword owner couldn't resist. Hell, Choi Sia had fallen too.
Me? Ditched my office drone life for this body's joys.
"Roles then. We're expanding: Reina and Yoo-jeong sunbae hold Songdo; Rosemary, Su-ji, and Si-woo when free grow forces. Smash visible gates. Si-woo, you get it?"
"Yeah."
"Me? Negotiate with Lee Yoo-jin, then devour Seo Ji-yeon."
Busy day. Ji-yeon especially—today felt right. Sex vibes. Thick slug slime scent.
"Sigh."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Ignoring Reina's pitying gaze, today's treason plot wrapped.
Issue was Lee Yoo-jin. City rebuild—might break my back.
Cores or not, it hinged on my persuasion this time.