62. Negotiation (2)
Surprisingly, the negotiations proceeded far more smoothly after that. The Balhut Cult had cleanly acknowledged that Gyeongju couldn't overwhelm Pohang in scale, and they were settling the blood debt without unnecessarily bruising Pohang's pride. Seo Un-jae had also conceded as much as possible to Gyeongju's superiority without provoking the cult, which helped keep things amicable.
"We cannot yield on currency, diplomacy, or the military in Pohang."
"We understand that perfectly. If you gave those up too, the Balhut Cult wouldn't be the victor. We'll relinquish the three major Pohang camps without hesitation."
Yet the Balhut Cult had its own non-negotiables: currency, diplomacy, and military control in Pohang. Handing those over would mean the cult could no longer claim victory. Recapturing Pohang only to surrender its fruits would be pointless. Seo Un-jae seemed to grasp this well, cleanly backing off without crossing that line.
"So in conclusion, Pohang secures local autonomy, along with operational rights to the Pohang steel mill and industries."
"We'll also handle your economy and food sovereignty."
"That's a given. With this year's crops ruined, we'd have to fish the seas just to feed ourselves. As for the economy, we lack the credit to issue our own currency. I hear the cult doesn't issue Gyeongju's money—it's Dragon God Bahamut himself. So we'll trust and follow suit."
Pohang, just starting reconstruction, couldn't realistically secure its own food or mint credible currency. The Hyongsan River basin was fertile, but the apocalypse had wrecked this year's harvest. Pohang had no choice but to rely on Gyeongju for food.
But we've guarded everything we could. At least the citizens won't riot and separate my body from my head in fury over the deal.
In exchange, they'd gained local autonomy and—most crucially—control of the Pohang steel mill and industries. That alone gave Pohang's side plenty to tout as a win to the people.
A bit disappointing, though.
Seo Un-jae felt a twinge of regret now that physical dismemberment was off the table. Damn, I want to squeeze out more.
Human greed knew no bounds. With the talks wrapping up so peacefully, Seo felt an itch to demand extras from Gyeongju. But they'd already extracted local autonomy and industrial rights with the blood price paid. Pushing further would require provoking the cult somehow.
Something to provoke the Balhut Cult... That would be...
Damn it, might as well demand independence... No. No way. That's a bad move. Suicide, pure and simple. Greed blinded me for a second there.
Independence. The thought crossed his mind, but he swiftly erased it. Even he knew declaring independence was suicidal. It would mean crossing the cult's line for short-term gains.
If it were just the Balhut Cult ruling Gyeongju, and we restored Pohang's strength, we could negotiate from superiority or even demand independence later. Plus...
He hadn't mulled it without basis. If the cult only controlled Gyeongju, a rebuilt Pohang could overpower it in scale. Pre-apocalypse Republic of Korea naval forces and ships were stationed there too, offering leverage for future talks.
Even with steady fuel for full naval power... could we beat that dragon? I don't think so.
But Seo doubted any of it would faze the overwhelming Dragon God Bahamut. As an Awakener who'd witnessed the descent, the raw power had chilled him to the bone. He'd seen ordinary folk become one-man armies under the dragon's blessing. Even without Bahamut intervening directly, vengeful Pohang foes blessed as superhumans would crush them.
In this era, Awakener military might is Gyeongju's clear win. Our edges are just the industrial facilities, steel mill, and naval access. No reason to gamble on that alone.
This all assumed Pohang recovered fully. Right now, Gyeongju dominated militarily and economically. Pohang's advantages were its factories, steel mill, and ships—nothing more.
And with winter here and crops failed, food sovereignty's already Gyeongju's. No need to greed for scraps and sour relations.
Pohang's internal food and energy reserves were at their limit too. Korea's brutal winters meant they desperately needed the cult's aid to survive.
The Hyongsan River farmlands. To reclaim them, we need the cult's power.
Pohang especially coveted retaking the granary zones around the Hyongsan River. Seo knew better than anyone that it required the cult's Awakener forces, not Pohang Marines.
"Fine. Let's seal it there."
Suppressing the nagging greed, Seo cleanly proposed wrapping up postwar reconstruction talks.
"Yes. Next, about the mayor you'll serve."
More remained. As Park Cheol-gon broached the mayor to govern liberated Pohang, Seo tensed and replied slowly.
"Local autonomy means we elect our own mayor, right?"
"Of course. The cult won't interfere. But there's a condition—straight from Bahamut himself. We can't overrule it."
Pohang could elect its mayor, but with strings. From Bahamut directly, no less. Seo's face darkened briefly, but he steeled himself.
I figured. They need safeguards against betrayal.
He understood: unpredictable Pohang required Gyeongju influence at the top. A puppet mayor made sense.
Not bad for us. We can wield influence too. I'd concede nothing less myself.
No protests would budge this—especially since they'd led with Bahamut's name.
"Pohang's mayor must be one of Bahamut's contractors."
"A contractor of the Dragon God?"
The unexpected reply caught Seo off guard. He double-checked, and Park, with a wry smile, explained patiently.
"Yes. It's Bahamut's promise—and to prove it, he'll contract your mayor."
"Even Priestess Yu-na, your leader..."
"Yes, she's his Dragon Priestess."
"Hmm. An utterly unprecedented proposal."
Seo pondered. Truly radical—even Park and Hwang Geun-chul's expressions screamed it. Combining their demeanor with the explanation, he grasped it.
Indeed. This declares Pohang firmly under the Balhut Cult.
The contract placed Pohang irrevocably under influence.
Independence is off the table now, but our safety's guaranteed.
No more independence option, but Bahamut personally protecting Pohang? Perfect security over uncertain freedom. In the apocalypse, assured safety was merit enough—especially against external threats during reconstruction.
Securing a safe zone in the end times isn't bad. Especially guaranteed by the dragon himself, not just the cult...
Bahamut's direct guarantee appealed most.
"What conditions for the mayor-elect?"
"Any Awakener. Doesn't matter."
"Anyone, huh."
No strict hurdles—just be an Awakener for dragon protection. Easy.
Even better... "So anyone can contract with Bahamut?"
"Yes. This contract fulfills his vow to protect Pohang. Elect your Dragon Priestess as mayor."
"Then we're fine. Formally, the mayor's his priestess, but we handle real power below."
Seo had planned installing a powerless puppet anyway—securing safety while preserving the three camps' privileges.
"...I see."
Park spotted the scheming instantly. Planning a figurehead mayor. Maybe an unthinking contractor.
He worried Pohang might cheat.
But will that work? Even ordinary student Yu-na transformed via contract and keeps growing—scarily so.
Yet those chosen by the dragon weren't ordinary. Choi Yu-na proved it: from common Awakener to untouchable powerhouse, now Gyeongju's ruler.
Contracting with the Dragon God is beyond human expectations. But no need to warn them.
It was Pohang's choice—and their regret later.
"That concludes negotiations."
"Yes. A fine deal."
Talks ended. Hiding motives, they shook hands with affable smiles.
"Oh no! Unlike the Balhut Cult, we're a coalition—I forgot!"
Soon after, reviewing terms, Seo realized the three camps weren't his alone but a union of survivor groups. Regret hit hard.
"This could spark Pohang's division and bloodshed!"
Why? It hands massive power to one faction...!
Being chosen as Dragon Priestess meant ruling in Bahamut's stead. The camps would covet it fiercely, pushing their own Awakeners.
Some camps gained big this deal; others lost. Dangerous!
The losers would crave the priestess seat to recoup. Blood would flow.
Civil war over the Dragon Priestess election.
Seo's face drained pale at his blunder.