143. Ulsan Negotiations (2)
After days of waiting, just as the allied forces' leadership had anticipated, the Immortal Cult—whose behavior had deviated from the norm—finally had no choice but to acknowledge the alliance's victory. For the first time, these people, who had never once engaged in negotiations or communication, responded directly to the alliance's public post and initiated proper talks. In effect, this meant they were admitting that this defeat was no light matter, even for the Immortal Cult.
"Too late. I figured they'd respond right away, at least."
But Jeong Dong-gun assessed the Immortal Cult's reaction as belated. The battle had been decisive enough to erase all doubts about the allied forces, marking a turning point where the alliance seized the upper hand in the war. Now, the Immortal Cult's home base was under direct threat. With their headquarters in peril, they needed to resolve this catastrophe as swiftly as possible—yet their response was slower than expected.
"We've reclaimed all of North Ulsan, and most of the mages dispatched there didn't make it back. Their leadership must be in chaos."
Han Seong-geun agreed with Jeong Dong-gun's evaluation, reasoning that since most mid-level operatives in North Ulsan had been captured, confusion had surely gripped the top brass. Indeed, the Balhut Cult had seized no fewer than four powerful mages in this battle, all at levels exceeding...
"If they were expendable, they wouldn't be negotiating with us... The prisoners we've taken must be valuable assets even within the Immortal Cult."
"Levels over 15. That puts them in the commander-class mage category. We treat anyone at that level as an officer, practically."
Over level 15. Considering how few Awakeners surpassed level 20, a level 15 at this stage was executive material in any faction. Even the allied forces reserved non-commissioned or commissioned officer status for those at level 15 or higher. These were far too precious for the Immortal Cult to waste on suicide tactics like they'd used against refugee raiders.
"The fact that these silent holdouts are responding now proves they don't have many Awakeners over level 15."
It was the decisive reason they'd finally sat at the negotiation table they'd so stubbornly refused. Losing these captured Awakeners meant the Immortal Cult would be deprived of key mid-level managers. And these weren't just any—they were frontline commanders from North Ulsan. Fail to rescue them through talks, and who would dare step up as field commander next?
No way. Even a group that treats lives as disposable has to show they're pulling out all the stops for their executives. Otherwise, no one would follow out of self-preservation.
From the Immortal Cult's perspective, sitting at the table was essential both for internal discipline and to downplay the shock of defeat.
"Where will the negotiations take place?"
"They suggested Myeongchon Bridge. Since it's already in our hands, it's like they're conceding some initiative to us."
"Hah. When it was in their control, they wouldn't negotiate even if it killed them. Now they want to?"
Thus, the Immortal Cult had no choice but to yield the negotiation site to the allied forces. Their envoys were essentially walking into the heart of enemy territory, staking their lives on the talks. The psychological pressure must be immense.
They'll feel like they can't breathe. Even I'd struggle with that.
Jeong Dong-gun imagined the envoys gripped by suffocating tension beyond what they could fathom. Most of his own negotiation experience had come from positions of strength; he'd never bargained from such dire straits. He felt a twinge of pity for whichever envoy they'd send—but...
"I'll handle the negotiations myself. Son Sang-hee will come along as escort."
...he wasn't soft enough to let sympathy hand the talks to some nameless foe. Jeong Dong-gun declared he'd attend personally—as the supreme commander of this battle—intensifying the pressure on their envoy. Its weight would hit differently depending on who they sent, but seeing him there in the flesh would quickly convey that the alliance intended zero concessions.
"Their delegates are as good as dead, then. What about us?"
"Monitor the situation, in case of any surprises."
"You think there'll be terrorism?"
Jeong Dong-gun ordered Han Seong-geun to prepare for contingencies. When asked if he expected terror attacks,
"Given what they've done so far, it's just prudent to prepare."
The alliance had never trusted the Immortal Cult from the start.
With both sides temporarily pulling back their forces, the two representatives finally met before the negotiation site at Myeongchon Bridge.
They shook hands at the table set in the bridge's center—but
"...You're the diplomatic envoy from the Balhut Cult?"
"Yes. Jeong Dong-gun."
"Jeong Dong-gun! Does the Balhut Cult really intend to negotiate with us?"
The Immortal Cult envoy clearly distinguished the allied forces as the Balhut Cult. Jeong Dong-gun merely smiled faintly and confirmed his name. The envoy recoiled in shock, demanding if they truly meant to negotiate—but
"You're no slouch yourself, are you? Roughly... level 18 mage. We couldn't send someone low-level against an Awakener like that."
"Tch."
Jeong Dong-gun just smirked that the envoy wasn't much different. True, he wasn't Jeong Dong-gun's equal, but they'd dispatched a high-level mage under the guise of diplomat. Plenty of potential to mind-control the other side's envoy if things went south—which was why Jeong Dong-gun mocked it, and the Immortal Cult merely clicked their tongue without denying it.
In fact, as Jeong Dong-gun pointed out, they'd planned mental manipulation if the Balhut Cult sent an ordinary envoy.
"And since we do intend to negotiate properly, I came myself. Besides... considering the magic you wield... did we ever have trust between us? I remember only murderous intent."
"None."
Above all, trust between these factions was nonexistent. They'd been outright enemies from start to finish; this was their first direct conversation. They'd never even had a chance to build credit or rapport.
"Starting with the ghost fleet, the Balhut Cult has already proven we can't coexist under the same sky. Aren't you the ones who should be grateful for our generous terms?"
"Ridiculous. Generous? First time I've heard that. Aren't you the invaders who assaulted peaceful Ulsan?"
To seize the initiative, Jeong Dong-gun invoked the ghost fleet off the East Sea, reminding them their enmity had reached irreconcilable extremes. He asserted their magnanimity put the Immortal Cult in no position to demand anything. They shot back, branding the Balhut Cult as plunderers violating peaceful Ulsan—not righteous defenders, but territorial aggressors.
"That's harsh. And as for Ulsan being 'peaceful'... I can't quite agree. If you were truly at peace, why do resistance groups still oppose the Immortal Cult?"
"The Balhut Cult has those too, doesn't it? Discontent from the ranks bubbling up after forming a government is only natural."
"Ah, Jo Sun-do's crew. He resisted fiercely during government formation talks. We couldn't accommodate outright rebels against unification. We just let them split off to live separately."
Jeong Dong-gun feigned deep regret, arguing the Immortal Cult wasn't flawless either—citing their resistance as proof. The Immortal Cult countered by jabbing at the Balhut Cult's vulnerabilities, dredging up Jo Sun-do to claim bottom-up discontent was inevitable post-government.
Jeong Dong-gun drew a firm line: the Balhut Cult was different. Jo Sun-do had split during negotiations, not as resistance like theirs.
"He committed crimes in North Gyeongju, and we quelled him per the people's will. His offenses are proven fact, with evidence. And you're calling Fukuoka's hero Jin A-yeon a criminal just for joining the resistance?"
"W-Well, yes."
Jo Sun-do's crimes were documented and presentable. Jeong Dong-gun flipped it: could they truly label hero Jin A-yeon a criminal? Flustered, the Immortal Cult insisted she was, for opposing them. Seizing the opening, Jeong Dong-gun pressed harder.
"Then where's the evidence? Hard proof of Jin A-yeon's crimes. Are you saying it's just suspicion, no tangible proof? Even in the apocalypse, shouldn't we uphold presumption of innocence?"
Show him her crimes' evidence, he challenged— he'd reconsider if it held up. But he doubted they had any. Unlike the Balhut Cult, which had prioritized laws from the outset, these lacked proper legal frameworks for judging crimes. Any "logic" would be mere custom, laughably flimsy as evidence.
"Did the Balhut Cult really come to negotiate? Why drag us into irrelevant tangents...!"
"You brought it up first. Let's get to the actual talks, then."
Conceding defeat in the debate, the Immortal Cult snapped that the conversation had veered off-track and questioned their sincerity. Jeong Dong-gun retorted they'd started it, then pivoted to proper negotiations.
"The allied forces can release our prisoners on generous terms. How about a truce until winter ends?"
To solidify control over North Ulsan, Jeong Dong-gun proposed a temporary ceasefire. They'd taken heavy losses too—without prisoner releases, they couldn't resume fighting immediately.
"A truce? With you?"
The Immortal Cult scoffed at the audacity—but
"Yes. Winter's harsh on us, but on you too, no? Even if your undead don't eat."
Jeong Dong-gun smiled, pointing out one harsh reality they faced.
"You consume food. How many calories to move through this winter?"
The undead didn't need rations, true. But their leadership was human—a fact confirmed here. Humans required food to survive.
"And here... have you stockpiled enough to endure this brutal winter?"
With no external trade, they internally judged the Immortal Cult's supplies lacking.