Chapter 213
Chapter 213
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: Asia's Emperor
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Before heading to the UN conference, Yoo Seongwon managed to leave Yucheong behind in China and return to Korea.
Though only a few months had passed, he felt as if he'd come back from a long war. Inside the private jet arranged by First Guard Captain Jang Beom, he was taking as much rest as possible.
It was preparation to soothe his weary body and mind from the fierce battles with Constellation Dragon-Phoenix King in China and the subsequent cleanup, and to think of better ways forward before the conference.
'Once I'm back, I'll gather with the kids and sis... no! With my wife... the whole family, rest up properly, recharge mentally, and then...'
"Uh... we'll be arriving in Korea soon. Uh... uh... Your Majesty."
"...Haaah~ I told you not to call me that......"
"Uh... there's no better title... I-I'm sorry."
What pulled him back to reality from gazing out the window, lost in thoughts of relaxation, was Third Guard Captain Oh Wi announcing their arrival.
Currently, he'd brought Oh Wi to Korea instead of leaving Yucheong in China.
The purpose was partly to bolster their forces since they'd lost an S-rank, and partly because they now had no choice but to cooperate, so they needed to communicate about each other's cultures and strategies.
And the reason it was specifically the Third Guard Captain was that the First was nominally the leader, the Second was watching Yucheong, so naturally, it fell to the next in line, bringing him here.
"Fine. I guess I have to give up on that. Don't call me that outside. Just call me Hunter like everyone else... Anyway, time to get ready."
"Yes. Your clothes are here......"
With Third Guard Captain Oh Wi attending to him, Yoo Seongwon finished preparing for landing.
At the moment of touchdown, they were the kind who transcended ordinary humans—S-rank hunters, no less—so if anyone saw them as a danger, that was a matter for the association to re-evaluate.
After a safe landing, Yoo Seongwon, his mind full of eagerness to reunite with his family, grabbed his luggage and headed for the open door of the private jet. But peering through the glass by the door, he froze in surprise.
"Huh? Why are there so many people? I clearly said to do any welcome or return ceremony at our base......"
"Y-Yeah, exactly."
"Ah... damn it......"
Looking more closely, he figured out the identity of the massive crowd waiting on the tarmac and scowled.
Starting from Republic of Korea military generals, there were government officials, National Assembly members, Hunter Association reps, and all sorts of dignitaries gathered.
Unable to fathom why they were all there, Yoo Seongwon called Baek Ga-yeon, the elder who was well-versed in such matters.
(Oh, it's you. Landed in Korea already?)
"Elder, I'm at the frontline city airstrip right now. What's with all those people outside? I never asked for anything like this."
(Just understand. Right now, if they don't do this, they're like people driven mad with anxiety. Haha, isn't that right? 'Asia's Emperor.')
"What the hell? What's that weird title?"
'Asia's Emperor'? It sounded like it was about him, but he'd never heard it before. Tilting his head, Yoo Seongwon asked again. Laughter from Baek Ga-yeon came through the receiver, followed by the full explanation.
(He expelled Japan's 'Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons,' took over their 'Ghost Legion' below them, defeated China's central figure 'Constellation Dragon-Phoenix King,' established a puppet regime there, and became the de facto ruler. The first in history to conquer East Asia—Korea, China, Japan. The 'Emperor.' That's how the world sees you right now.)
"Neeeeh?"
Yoo Seongwon’s voice rose in sheer disbelief.
Of course, looking at the real story: Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons was just a game with a mortal that he lost and got sent packing; Constellation Dragon-Phoenix King was basically all done by Warlord Knight Yucheon.
He'd barely done anything himself, yet they were inflating it all into 'Asia's Emperor.' It was utterly ridiculous.
"Wh-who started calling me that? Ah, no, I never even thought of anything like..."
(Who else? The reporters.)
"Ughhh!"
(Truth is... without knowing the inside story, anyone looking at the situation would think you did it all. Anyway, you're the guy who accomplished in a few years what others couldn't in 10 or 100. Conquered China and Japan, so 'Emperor' is actually humble. Haha.)
"No, this isn't funny. Emperor? Are they insane......"
(Anyway, you came from the bottom, so you get it. They need to give this courtesy to feel at ease. So take it gracefully~. Haha.)
"No! Elder! Wait a sec!"
*Beep... beep......*
Baek Ga-yeon's call cut off. Yoo Seongwon stared out at the crowd, racking his brain for a way out of this crisis, but there was none.
Whether he felt uncomfortable or not, they were in a position where they had to treat him this way to survive.
Asia's Emperor. Anxious that people might really start calling him 'Your Majesty,' he steeled himself, descended from the private jet door.
'Keep talk to a minimum, short answers... If I say more, I'll just expose my lowborn roots.'
"Waaaaaaaaah!"
*Clap clap clap clap!*
The moment he stepped down, cheers and applause erupted thunderously. A military band he hadn't noticed started playing. Yoo Seongwon felt his stomach twist in agony.
Camera flashes burst from all sides. Amid the cluster of now-familiar faces—the President, Prime Minister, Defense Minister, and party leaders from both sides—the President stepped forward first for a handshake.
He gritted his teeth to endure; otherwise, he'd faint.
"You must've had it rough in China, Hunter Yoo Seongwon. I was so worried something big might happen......"
"Ah, yes. I... uh... don't like world war stuff either."
Fortunately, the President's topic was the aftermath rather than dealing with the Constellation. Since he had things to say about that, Yoo Seongwon responded calmly and managed to exit the tarmac with them.
The problem was they weren't letting him off here.
'...Obviously, they'll drag me to some banquet or whatever and say let's do this and that. Ugh, I'm going crazy.'
"Anyway, how about heading to Seoul first? There's the China situation, but also plenty to discuss about the international conference......"
"I've been thinking a lot about that. Conversation seems premature, so... I need a few more days' leeway."
"I see. Then could you at least hint at your future plans?"
'...I got nothing......'
Yoo Seongwon only planned to rest then attend the international conference; he hadn't considered anything after.
His original plan to nurture Constellation Dragon-Phoenix King had fallen apart due to the conflict there, so he needed a full review of how to handle his Star Guardian mission.
Explaining that fully would reveal he was a 'Star Guardian,' complicating things further, so he needed another excuse.
"Hmm, can't say specifics, but I plan to tidy up what I've started. Check the impacts on Korea, China, Japan, reassess the situation. Even after the conference, I'll stick to this direction for a while. I'm worn out all around."
"Hmm... I see."
'Pretty good dodge, right?'
It was a boilerplate 'I'll behave and cause no trouble for now,' so no issues.
Perhaps because Yoo Seongwon's side was now totally dominant, or due to his track record of incidents, no one—from the President down—pressured him or made extra demands.
Thus, Yoo Seongwon left the tarmac and rode off safely in the vehicle from the frontline city HQ.
"Wheeeeew~ Talk about a role reversal; my stomach's in knots. You all feel the same, right?"
"'Emperor'....... Haaah~"
"A Korean citizen and top hunter holding Japan and China......"
"He said he'll reassess, so something big after that, right?"
After Yoo Seongwon left, the President, ministers, and lawmakers began discussing anxiously what he might do next.
They'd once dismissed him as a joke, but his actions were a nonstop chain of outrageous feats at insane levels; just coping with the ripples was overwhelming.
"...He's really in another world now... Damn it!"
"And not just that—the reports from our intelligence agents and association infiltrators are all bullshit, aren't they? Where's the 'peace-loving, lazy but dutiful guy who can't quit'? 'Mellowed out after marriage'? Bullshit! He's ambitious as hell!"
Yoo Seongwon's actions clashed so wildly with the reports that those watching him were dying inside.
Since entering the hunter world, his path had been like an 'emperor's ascent'—swift and unyielding. Yet the personality from reports and footage was always 'mild, lazy, reluctant'—negative and ordinary.
"Which is the real him? Damn!"
"If that's him hiding his true nature, it's scary... but if it's his real temperament, isn't that even scarier? Lazy but out to conquer the world......"
"Either way, he's bound to stir something up soon. He didn't mention post-review plans."
"Minister's right. Now... you can't help but see it that way."
The gap between his usual human demeanor and his achievements was so vast they couldn't tell if his attitude was genuine or fake. If they could, it'd be even more terrifying.
Anyway, Yoo Seongwon had grown beyond any national control, leaving Korea fretting helplessly.
"...Now the reform resisters have no leg to stand on."
"As long as his status holds... no one will want to piss off Asia's Emperor."
"If companies think they can mess with him now that he's got China's prime assets... they should just fold."
One silver lining: his overwhelming position let them pressure reform opponents to back down.
"Haa~ But I really want to know... his ultimate goal."
"Ultimate goal... Yeah. Is he really aiming for world conquest?"
"No way it'd go that far? Anyway, the UN conference should reveal something. Plenty are itching to probe his intentions."
The UN international conference awaited after his rest. Officially to explain the Constellation Dragon-Phoenix King incident, but many nations and Constellations were gearing up for that day.
Once on the official stage, it wouldn't end with just an explanation—questions would pour in. Without sincere answers, all his achievements so far could unravel.