To Taiwan! (1)
“Are you serious? You’re saying this thing absorbed a Green Magic Stone?”
Nod, nod. Even I think my excuse sounds pathetic. Then again, is there even a need to make excuses? It’s mine, anyway.
“From what I can see, it just looks like black jelly. To think it absorbed a Green Magic Stone… what are its options?”
When I explained the King Slime’s Core, Park Hae-soo’s jaw dropped.
“Then that means this thing saved you, Mr. Yooshin.”
Nod, nod.
“It’s actually for the best. We were having a headache because so many countries were trying to make back-channel contact through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
Oh? “…Why?”
“The Green Magic Stone. It’s the first one ever discovered in the entire world. Naturally, other countries would be foaming at the mouth to get their hands on it. But if we say it’s been absorbed into a soul-bound item, there’s nothing they can do. Though, if there’s one regrettable point…”
“…If there is?”
“It’s that you could have sold it for an astronomical sum, Mr. Yooshin. But it’s fine, right? You’re already earning quite a bit of money now, so what’s that…”
“…How much? The price they offered?”
“500 billion won.”
“…Wait, how much?”
“500 billion won! 500 billion!”
“A-are you kidding me? Just for a green rock?”
Park Hae-soo’s eyes went round, as if asking what I meant.
“It’s a Green Magic Stone. Mr. Yooshin, it’s the first magic stone whose existence has been revealed not just in Korea, but in the entire world. Naturally, they’d have to pay that much. If they want to have it.”
Ah…. Suddenly, I feel dizzy. The core, which I thought was cuter just a moment ago because it was the same color as my own Magi, suddenly feels like a source of stress. Why did you absorb it on your own! You blew 500 billion won! 500 billion!
If I had that money in my hands… ‘Wait, what would I even do with it?’
Even with a lot of money, there’s nothing to do. I already have enough money. But there’s nowhere to spend it. The clothes I wear are fine as tracksuits. My house is being provided for free. If there’s something I want to eat, I just have to ask Team Leader Park Hae-soo in front of me to buy it. He actually likes it. He can legally use the corporate card to eat expensive food.
Then, a realization hits me.
‘Life is truly empty. Hehehe.’
Then, suddenly.
“What happened to Mr. Kim Seongryong?”
“…Ah, you mean Chairman Kim Seongryong? As you know, he is a North Korean. So, before we crossed over to our country, we handed him over to the North Korean medical staff.”
“Is that so? Seeing how he was beaten all over his body, I thought he might have been discarded.”
Perhaps it was because he let me, who possessed the Green Magic Stone, go safely?
“Up until that point, that was the case.”
Cheon Yooshin wore a puzzled expression.
“Yes?”
“Now, Chairman Kim Seongryong is the number one successor in North Korea. So, everyone is in an uproar. The first in line for succession is covered in blood, after all.”
“…Yes? First in line for succession?”
“Oh, you know. Kim Jeong-yoon was wiped out, and the other high-ranking officials were also wiped out in the bunker, so it’s a natural result.”
Park Hae-soo smiled bitterly.
“So, the inter-Korean situation is currently wrapped in tension. The Chairman will change soon, and everyone is watching to see what choice Chairman Kim Seongryong will make.”
“Then there’s no need to worry.”
“Yes?”
Cheon Yooshin smiled a smile that held no meaning.
“I’m pretty good at reading faces, and that man isn’t the type to make such a stupid choice.”
“Yes? What does that…”
“You’ll know if you wait and see.”
Yooshin changed the subject.
“Ah! And aren’t there any uncleared gates discovered?”
I have to try using the King Slime’s Core.
‘You’re a guy who ate 500 billion won, so you’d better be worth it.’
“Are you sure you’re okay? You just woke up three days after fainting.”
“I couldn’t be healthier. Is there one?”
“Actually, we did receive a request to clear a C-class gate.”
Hmm? A request?
“It’s not in Korea. Like in North Korea, it’s a request for an expedition. It’s a country called Taiwan.”
Park Hae-soo continued.
“Taiwan is having trouble cultivating hunters. To begin with, the number of awakened people isn’t high, and China’s interference is severe.”
In short, their situation is desperate. And to make matters worse, a C-class gate appeared within Taiwan.
“Interference?”
“Even before this, China’s demands were excessive, but they said that in exchange for clearing this C-class gate, they demanded exclusive rights to major resources within Taiwan. In effect, they were aiming for economic subjugation.”
“Ah, so?”
“Yes, that’s right. So this time, they requested the clearance not from China, but from us and Japan. The Blue House’s position is that they will thoroughly respect the Hunter Management Department’s decision.”
In fact, the only place that can currently clear a C-class gate is the Hunter Management Department, or more precisely, Cheon Yooshin. So, it’s natural for the Blue House to take that stance.
Meanwhile, Yooshin nodded readily.
Good. A C-class gate isn’t difficult. The problem is that the frequency is significantly low. Turning my eyes to other countries increases the opportunities.
“There won’t be any tricks from their head honcho like in North Korea, right?”
I’m not afraid. It’s just annoying.
At that, Park Hae-soo shook his head and said,
“That will absolutely not happen. Taiwan’s situation doesn’t allow for that kind of leeway.”
***
At the Presidential Office in Taiwan, Wu Chenghan cast his gaze out the window. His face was filled with fatigue. Just three months ago, he was merely an ordinary Minister of Economic Affairs. Three months ago, a cabinet meeting was scheduled at the Taiwanese government building, and he was late because of traffic. That lateness saved his life. The building where the President and the ministers had gathered exploded for reasons unknown.
Taiwan’s leadership was wiped out, and thanks to that, Wu Chenghan unintentionally rose to the position of Acting President. As soon as he sat in the acting position, he took the lead in everything to deal with the situation, but…
He has no political sense, no convictions, and no ambition. There was nothing he could do, as he had no political base. In this situation, the decision he made sparked yet another political backlash. Taiwan abruptly stopped the gate clearance it had been conducting through cooperation with China and instead requested cooperation from Korea and Japan.
However, this was a natural measure not as President, but as the Minister of Economic Affairs.
Wu Chenghan looked over the document on the table once more. It contained China’s conditions for clearing this C-class gate.
1. 100-year monopoly on natural gas development rights in the southern sea
2. Conclusion of a China-Taiwan trade agreement, full market opening
3. Full permission for Chinese capital to enter the Taiwanese real estate market
Wu Chenghan sighed. This is no different from making Taiwan an economic colony. A monopoly on natural gas development rights is an open attempt to block Taiwan’s development. The trade agreement and real estate market opening would threaten the survival rights of small and medium-sized enterprises and the common people.
He shook his head. It was an impossible proposal that could not be accepted. That was the reason. Why he chose a country other than China. But he knows. That South Korea and Japan will not accept his proposal. He cannot make an enticing offer. The assembly members would shout absolute opposition. Even now, the backlash from the assembly members over this choice is fierce. They are all people who are only desperate to look good to China.
So, he promised only one thing by the President’s authority. That they could take all the byproducts from within the gate. But would they come to another country for just that? Would they accept a proposal that couldn’t even offer other economic or political advantages?
“They wouldn’t accept it.”
It was when Wu Chenghan, who had sighed, was looking for the next candidate country. And the phone on the table rang loudly.
“Yes, this is the President.”
A moment of silence passed, and his eyes grew wider and wider.
“Are you serious? You’re sure, right?”
Wu Chenghan hung up the receiver. His hands were trembling slightly.
“They accepted our proposal…”
With this, the immediate fire was extinguished. Now, all he had to do was trust South Korea. A choice he pushed through despite the backlash from the assembly members. He could do nothing but believe that his choice was simply right.
***
Japanese Prime Minister’s Office.
“It wouldn’t be bad for us to get a foot in the door in Taiwan while we’re at it.”
Prime Minister Kenji muttered.
“China has been sucking the honey out of Taiwan for too long.”
The Chief Cabinet Secretary nodded.
“Yes. Prime Minister. And we just received contact. South Korea has accepted the request to clear the Taiwan gate.”
A smile spread across Kenji’s lips.
“We’ll participate too. It’ll be fun. Maybe we can show off a Japan-Korea war in Taiwan.”
He fell into thought for a moment, then his eyes sparkled as he continued.
“This will be the perfect opportunity to advertise the camera we developed this time. When you think of cameras, you think of Japan; when you think of Japan, you think of cameras, don’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right. The new invention, a camera that can operate even inside a gate, is truly innovative. The whole world will be surprised.”
“Let’s show them properly. Our technological prowess.”
Kenji looked out the window and smiled.
***
Zhang Weichang’s office.
President Zhang Weichang frowned after receiving a report regarding Taiwan.
“What? Taiwan chose another country instead of us this time? And it’s South Korea and Japan?”
His voice was tinged with disbelief. Naturally. What did Taiwan trust to do that? The aide nodded.
“That is correct. They say they absolutely cannot accept our proposal. So it seems they chose South Korea and Japan as a secondary option.”
“Haa… so they accepted it?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“…Even the place where Cheon Yooshin is?”
“Yes, Mr. President. They say Cheon Yooshin is going out to clear it himself.”
“No, how long has it been since he came back from North Korea?”
President Zhang Weichang stood up and walked to the window. The splendid lights of Beijing were greeting his eyes, but his gaze was directed somewhere far away.
“An alliance between Korea, Japan, and Taiwan… this is by no means good news for us.”
The aide asked about his intentions from behind.
“How will you respond, Mr. President?”
“Have our Chinese agents entered Korea currently?”
“Yes. That is correct. Although it is not easy to approach because the Hunter Management Department is in charge of close protection, we are continuously attempting contact.”
President Zhang Weichang walked slowly and leaned against his desk. He tapped the desk with his fingers and nodded as if he had made a decision.
“Let’s go with a dual strategy. Holding a carrot in the left hand and a whip in the right. As for Cheon Yooshin, proceed with an active appeasement policy; considering his abilities, we must never approach him coercively. It means give him a carrot, not a whip.”
The aide nodded and took notes.
“But at the same time.”
Zhang Weichang’s voice became firmer than before.
“We must give them the whip, of course, not to Cheon Yooshin, but to Korea. First, let’s try economic sanctions. Should we start with the imported goods coming from Korea? In particular, let’s restrict major export items such as semiconductors and automobiles.”
The aide’s pen moved quickly.
“Strengthen regulations on Hallyu content as well.”
Zhang Weichang, who had his arms crossed, opened his mouth.
“They’ll understand that much, my will, and China’s will.”
“Understood. I will implement the instructions immediately.”
“Yes. You may go.”
Once the aide left, Zhang Weichang walked back to the window. He looked at the night sky and muttered.
“I acknowledge that he is strong. But no matter how strong a single hunter is, he cannot defeat a great power.”
The first move of China, the strongman of East Asia, toward Korea, which is trying to increase its volume, was being placed on the Go board.
***
“We will not go.”
Park Hae-soo’s eyes went round. After finishing his conversation with Cheon Yooshin, he immediately delivered the content to Baek Woohyun. That the clearance of the Taiwan C-class gate had been decided. But he didn’t know that Captain Baek Woohyun would refuse it. In fact, the choice regarding gate clearance lies with the team captain. Not the team leader. Because the one who actually enters the gate is the captain, not the leader.
“No, why are you doing this? Did you perhaps get hurt in North Korea?”
Park Hae-soo’s expression became serious. Hunters of the Hunter Management Department are like precious assets, one by one. And it was entirely his responsibility to care for those assets.
“No. We are all fine. Because we didn’t do anything.”
A voice mixed with a bit of self-deprecation.
“…Then why are you doing this?”
“Perhaps Hunter Cheon Yooshin also knows. That it is more efficient for him to clear the gate alone than to enter with us.”
Park Hae-soo almost agreed without realizing it. Because deep down, he had been thinking the same thing.
Baek Woohyun’s eyes became heavy.
“I learned a lot this time. That Hunter Cheon Yooshin is truly an amazing hunter. And that to follow him, I have to run at full speed.”
“Then shouldn’t you be going on this Taiwan trip?”
He shook his head.
“No. Even if we enter together now, we will only be a burden. Like in North Korea.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
“We will clear the D-class gate in the country. C-class is impossible for us. Even if we enter, it will only be riding on Hunter Cheon’s back. So, we will move in a direction where we can develop. D-class is also a place where we can never let our guard down. If we do that, someday…”
“Ah….”
As Park Hae-soo nodded slightly,
“Please tell him well. So that he doesn’t feel bad.”
I don’t think you need to worry about that. Of course, I can’t say that to his face. I just nodded. Thus, this Taiwan trip was decided as a solo clearance by Hunter Cheon Yooshin.