Militaris: The Fortress Born of Blitzkrieg
+++ This is a story from the height of World War III. Before Korea entered the war, China was plotting a massive swarm operation to seize Taiwan in one fell swoop.
They amassed an insane number of ships in their rear naval bases, followed by hundreds of thousands of landing troops on standby. When the moment came, they'd drop them all on Taiwan at once. The total force gathered was about a quarter of the People's Liberation Army at the time—and for the Northern Theater Command, it exceeded nearly 100% of their strength. Exaggerating a bit, it was close to a million-strong army concentrated in one spot. Later scholars who studied it speculated that something urgent must have forced the Party's hand internally—maybe signs of a coup. In other words, the theory that they weren't really gathering to invade Taiwan, but to check internal coup factions with the military.
Whatever the case, China's dream of landing that massive force on Taiwan and ending the war in one go was shattered by Korea's sudden entry into the fray. The Korean government, under the banner of preserving Northeast Asian peace, declared war simultaneously on North Korea and China—who'd been constantly provoking—and unleashed over a thousand Zhuque-8 missiles supplied by Goryeo Militaris straight at them. That was just the first wave. Then came two thousand, then three thousand. North Korea, lacking any means to intercept the 20-ton warhead Zhuque-8s, saw its entire military and leadership wiped out. China took massive damage too.
Tragically, one of the targets was that very spot where hundreds of thousands of troops were gathered. Hundreds of warships, thousands of aircraft, and hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers turned to ash in an instant, and for a while, the vast sea ahead was dyed blood-red.
Korea, having fired the preemptive strike out of nowhere, immediately pushed north, recapturing North Korean territory in a blaze of glory before advancing through Manchuria (the Three Northeastern Provinces) and Liaodong to occupy China's capital Beijing, the Shandong Peninsula, and more. That port city—the key military hub where the massive army had gathered—was thoroughly flattened. Only after the war did redevelopment begin. The goal? A special military city built for pure martial purpose down to its bones. It monitors the newly acquired territories, keeps the continent in check with constant missile batteries aimed their way, and stands ready as a fortress to crush any stirrings in the bud if needed.
Yeah. That's the story of Dalian City. Right in the heart of modern Korean territory, the old port city. Home to Goryeo Militaris headquarters—and born from the start as a fortress city for military ends.
"Whoa, it's so pretty...."
Im Sua pressed her face right against the window and murmured. If we'd come by AV, I'd be driving right now, but thankfully, my aunt sent her private jet. A straight-line 440km drive would've been brutal.... Especially since I'm no pro pilot.
"Master, it's really beautiful...."
"Yeah."
It was Friday, October 30th, around 11 PM. The night view of Dalian City in the distance was at its dazzling peak. The sea was packed with countless warships lined up at anchor—too many to count—and beyond them, along the coast, solar panels loomed larger than any skyscrapers, arrayed in rows. Deeper in, there was a massive crater-like depression big enough to swallow several cities, forming a giant circle. Lights flickered from within; that had to be Goryeo Militaris HQ. Surrounding it was Dalian Metropolis, with a population of about ten million, they said.
The scale is fucking insane.
You could call Militaris the origin of Goryeo Group. What kind of life does Go Min-young live, running the show there as president? Pretty much her personal kingdom—everything you see down there.
I'm struggling just to set up a few corps, and that's....
It hit me anew: her presence, and the sheer majesty of Goryeo Group. I felt ashamed after bragging about my 16 trillion haul. I'd need to make like ten thousand times that just to scrape by against her.
As the private jet neared the city, the whole place suddenly went dark—like a blackout. What the—? Just as I was wondering, the lights flicked back on. But not the whole city—only specific buildings.
The city's buildings had been pixelated one by one to form that welcome message. And the instant I read it, fireworks exploded from all directions.
"Whoa. How much do you think that cost, Master?"
"...You got no sense of awe, huh."
The message kept shifting. It felt like messages straight from my aunt to me.
"Kinda curious, though. How much did it run?"
Probably shouldn't ask.
+++ I'd dedicated a whole week to this day. To meet Go Min-young, secure the artificial island, and give wings to my future plans! I memorized ten A4 pages—plus three more—reciting them over and over in front of the full-length mirror like rehearsal speeches. And to avoid any slip-ups, I strictly followed her advice: no workouts the day before meeting her. Since today was Friday, that meant no gym yesterday either. My body's fresh, no soreness anywhere.
Whew.... Why am I so fucking nervous?
Over this? Come on.
"It's been a while, Mu-yeol."
"Have you been well, Aunt?"
Nearly a month since I'd seen Go Min-young. She looked much the same as ever, but something about her felt sleeker... sharper.
No, fuck, getting horny for my aunt?
Well, technically Min Ji-ah's an aunt too, but Go Min-young's got this... vibe. Hard to pin down.
"I said Saturday, but you came early."
"Couldn't wait to see you, Aunt."
"I see."
Her usual dry response. But to me, it looked like she smiled—just a bit. Did she? Or am I imagining?
She checked her watch.
"Right on time for late night. Planned it, did you?"
Planned? What?
"We can tour the dedicated arsenal tomorrow leisurely.... Tonight, let's have a proper talk, you and I."
"Uh...."
At this hour? It's almost midnight?? I figured just greetings and bounce—what's she wanna talk about?
Go Min-young turned her back amid my confusion and started walking off.
...Follow her, I guess?
I let out a small sigh and trailed after. Of all times, when I should be pounding my jotjips full throttle, stuck chatting with Aunt....
"You lot, rest ahead. Someone'll guide you."
"Yes, Master. Good night!"
"Rest well, my lord."
Grabbed the gift for Go Min-young and followed. She said nothing the whole way. As we neared her quarters, the attendants peeled off one by one until it was just us—and still, not a word. What the hell we got to talk about here....
"Come in."
"Yes. Pardon the intrusion."
I stepped into her room regardless. Naturally huge. Not sure if it fully captured her power, but even with my Songdo mansion, no complaints.
"Trip go smoothly?"
"Yes, very comfortably, thanks to you, Aunt. The city view was stunning too. Oh, and this."
I handed over the gift. A luxurious glass case holding Undying Ecstasy, wrapped in red silk.
Go Min-young took it with her signature icy expression. No real anticipation in her eyes.
"What's this?"
"A token of my heart for you, Aunt."
"Your heart?"
Almost said "gift," but that felt too forward—too try-hard. "Heart" landed softer. Her frosty face seemed to thaw a touch.
"May I unwrap?"
"Of course. Let me do it."
She held it; I undid the silk.
Swoosh.
"...!!"
The blazing rose, Undying Ecstasy, revealed itself. Planted in a small pot inside the glass case, its eternal flame was mesmerizing—even to me, a guy. No real effects for an item, basically junk, but for atmosphere? Unbeatable.
"Th-this.... What... is it?"
Even Go Min-young was stunned, eyes wide, face inches from the case, staring like she'd pierce the glass.
"Can't give you anything ordinary, Aunt."
She's way richer than me, with endless manpower at her call. Ordinary stuff wouldn't faze her.
"So I got it myself. For you."
"I see.... You, personally?"
She closed her eyes briefly, then calmly placed Undying Ecstasy on a shelf. Compared to her initial shock, it felt a bit flat.
...Did she hate it?
Heard some women feel nothing for flowers—see 'em as trash to toss.
But this is an eternal live bloom. No wilting, no trash.
"You're hopeless, Mu-yeol."
She threw her arms up, sweeping back her hair. Movie-scene perfect—I was mesmerized for a sec, then snapped back.
"If you don't like it, my apo—"
"Hush."
"Uh."
She'd swept her hair, then suddenly peeled off her jacket top. I'd clocked her bold style from day one—nude under just a jacket—but figured underwear at least. Nope. Nothing underneath. Her bare skin gleamed, pink nipples right in my sights.
What the fuck, stripping outta nowhere—
She grabbed my face and kissed me.
??????????