Mu-gando (3)
For three days, I unleashed six rounds of bombardment on the Gangnam Government. The targets were their key facilities: granaries, armories, and the like.
After those six strikes, they went on high alert. Soldiers were deployed to every critical industrial site, and the skies were under strict surveillance. It was clear I couldn't operate drones there anymore without getting caught on camera—and if that happened, there'd be no excuse.
But I only halted the attacks on their facilities. Every night, I kept bombing the mountains and forests of Gangnam.
Mountains are crucial. They're prime spots for foraging wild herbs, medicinal plants, game, and timber.
Just the situation I wanted.
With six warehouses and industrial sites completely incinerated, the Gangnam Government took a serious hit. And as the mountains started burning too, public anxiety skyrocketed.
The government was spinning ridiculous excuses like "an explosion from flammable materials." They knew full well it was me, of course. But they couldn't admit the truth.
How could they say something like, "Citizens, the truth is we were eavesdropping on the Union Leader, trying to kidnap Paradise soldiers, got caught, and now we're getting bombed. Oh, and a bunch of our spies in the Union got rounded up and killed"?
Even now, with the bombings paused, they're burning through massive resources. Soldiers and equipment guard every vital site, with round-the-clock patrols.
Soldiers are essential for protecting the nation and its people, but they're also bottomless pits that devour money like crazy.
They're pouring funds into defending against an invisible enemy they've never even seen.
"How long do you think they can hold out?" Han Byeol asked.
"At most a month, probably."
"Yeah, makes sense..."
The Gangnam citizens were already gossiping: "Another one of their power struggles? Self-staged drama?" or "Just scaring us with soldiers to build some weird atmosphere."
Three weeks later, the Gangnam Government sent diplomats. This time, it wasn't some low-level envoy—it was Foreign Minister Heo Un-hyeong with dozens of attendants.
"Where should I guide them?"
"Leave the attendants outside and bring in just the Foreign Minister. Put a single chair for me on the bare ground inside the barrier."
"Understood. I'll make the arrangements."
I deliberately changed into my casual clothes: a hoodie, track pants, and slippers dragging as I stepped out of the command post.
Spotting me from afar, the Gangnam diplomats dropped to one knee and bowed their heads the moment they saw me.
I sat in the chair, and Heo Un-hyeong greeted me before speaking from where he stood on the dirt.
"Greetings to the Excellency of the Union."
"Yeah, it's cold out—must've been a rough trip. Want a chair at least?"
Heo Un-hyeong waved it off. "No, Excellency. I'm fine."
"Do as you're comfortable. But standing like that makes it hard to look up at you. My neck hurts."
"Ah, my apologies."
Heo Un-hyeong knelt on one knee in the dirt again. He was groveling, desperately low.
He had to get a firm promise from me today to stop the bombings.
"Heard you've been dealing with a string of explosion 'accidents' and struggling to repair everything. You okay?"
His eyes trembled as he looked up at me. "Thank you for your concern, Excellency. We're doing our utmost to restore them."
"Good to hear. So, what's the reason for your visit?"
"Yes, Excellency. The President wishes to foster closer ties with the Union, so he sent me."
"Well... it'd be nice if we all got along. But where's that envoy from before? Shim... something?"
"Ah, Diplomat Shim Eun-hyeon is on medical leave due to health issues."
"Is that so? Gets sick in this cold... tough break."
They knew I'd taken Shim Eun-hyeon. I was openly mocking them.
Right now, Shim Eun-hyeon was back at his house, playing dolls with his daughter.
"Excellency."
"Yeah?"
Heo Un-hyeong pleaded with desperate eyes. "The President wants to offer a gift as a token of goodwill and asked if there's anything you desire."
The meaning was simple: We're sorry, name your price, just stop the bombings.
"Well, if you're insisting, no reason to say no..."
His face lit up. "Excellency! Anything you want, just say the word!"
"First off... I want the Sixwing and Dome Head corpses."
Heo Un-hyeong nodded as if he'd expected that. "Yes, Excellency. We'll prepare to transport the Dome Head and Sixwing bodies here as soon as we return."
I continued. "And I've heard a rumor..."
Anxiety filled his eyes.
"That the Gangnam Government has the bodies of the named monster brothers 'Alpha,' 'Beta,' and 'Gamma.' That they botched an experiment on Gamma's corpse, smashing it, but Alpha and Beta are still intact. True?"
It wasn't a rumor—I tortured it out of Yu Jeong-geun.
The Gangnam Government was still figuring out how to use named monster corpses. After I took the Sun Dancer and Obelisk bodies, they figured there must be a way and started experiments.
They had three Special Awakeners who could craft gear from monster corpses, but only weak ones—and even that drained their stamina massively. Before sending me the Obelisk body, they tried having one craft from it; the guy died on the spot from the backlash.
Heo Un-hyeong's lips quivered. "I-it's true."
"So, can I have Alpha and Beta too?"
"..."
He couldn't answer, probably weighing his authority.
I patted his shoulder. "Hey, I have a conscience. How could I ask for four named monster corpses as gifts?"
"Thank you for understanding, Excellency."
He sighed in relief.
"I've heard the named monster Monolith in Gangnam is glowing brightly again lately. An accident there would be disastrous."
"Ex-Excellency?!"
The Monolith was a structure-type monster like the Obelisk. It had gone dormant, but according to Yu Jeong-geun, it was emitting faint red lights sporadically again.
"That's it. Head back."
As I stood from the chair with a disappointed look, Heo Un-hyeong shouted desperately. "Excellency! It's possible! Alpha and Beta too!"
"Really? Am I pushing too hard?"
"Not at all! It's doable!"
I grinned brightly, helped him up, and offered a handshake. Heo Un-hyeong bowed 120 degrees and gripped my hand with both of his.
"Excellency! We'll prepare to send the Dome Head, Sixwing, Alpha, and Beta bodies here right away!"
And then I landed the final blow.
"One more thing I want..."
"Daddy!"
"Hye-won! My girl!"
In the command post, the tearful father-daughter reunion unfolded. They embraced, laughing through their tears.
Na Jong-hoon knelt before me, weeping. "I'll never forget this grace!"
"Sure."
"Thank you!"
"Whoa."
Na Hye-won rushed me for a hug. Something soft and squishy pressed against me.
As my final "gift" to Heo Un-hyeong, I'd said I wanted to strengthen ties with Gangnam too—by stationing a permanent diplomat in Paradise. Specifically, Chief Secretary Na Jong-hoon.
After losing Na Hye-won, Na Jong-hoon—already marginalized—had become dead weight. Worried he'd be taken hostage if her survival leaked, I'd asked to bring him here when the chance arose.
Heo Un-hyeong's face had frozen the instant I named Na Jong-hoon. By specifying him for "diplomatic posting," I'd tacitly confirmed he was my mole in their ranks.
But they couldn't do a thing about it.
Na Jong-hoon was relieved of his chief secretary post, appointed "diplomat," and arrived in Paradise hale and hearty. Officially a diplomat, but effectively a political defector.
True to my word, they shipped the Dome Head, Sixwing, Alpha, and Beta corpses to Paradise.
I gathered the executives and formally announced the end of terror operations against the Gangnam Government.
I showed Na Jong-hoon his new home. I told Na Hye-won she could live with him if she wanted, but he refused.
Na Jong-hoon insisted he was fit for manual labor and would do anything asked, thanking me profusely again.
A strategy meeting convened in the command post.
Four named monster corpses at once. Feeding them all into the panel brought up upgrade options.
Upgrading top-grade gear required commensurate materials—like named monster bodies for the executives' current top-grade sets.
We had two paths: craft four new top-grade pieces to bestow on Paradise residents, or upgrade existing ones.
Unlocking special abilities or boosting defense and strength required sacrificing an entire named corpse per item.
"What should we do?" Han Seol asked.
"Excellency, if you craft new gear, have you chosen recipients?"
"Yeah, two from the guard unit and two from security detail."
The recipients would be promoted to executives and fed melons too. Time to expand the cadre.
Im Jui showed her notepad.
How about crafting gear from two bodies and using the other two for upgrades?
"Hmm... yeah. No need to dump everything into one spot."
After over an hour of discussion, we reached a decision.
"Alright. Everyone, head to the Workshop."
"Yes!"
I went to the Workshop with the executives.