Citizens, Seoul Still Lives
Citizens of the Republic, good day. I am Seon Ui-cheol, the 20th President of the Republic of Korea.
On April 13th, I come before you today to apologize to the people. Yes, the failure of the Seoul reclamation operation. Due to my hasty judgment, countless heroes lost their lives. Former Monster Countermeasures Minister Shin Jin-gwang, unable to fulfill his responsibilities, took his own life in remorse. Once again, through this platform, I offer my deepest apologies to the bereaved families.
However, today, on the first day of May, I am deeply moved to share one piece of good news with you. On the 20th, after exhaustive efforts, the government obtained intelligence that the 10 missing heroes are still alive in Seoul. Kidnapped by monsters in Guro and dragged to the enemy's lair, they escaped the monster nest with the resolve that "even in a tiger's den, stay sharp and you'll survive." There, they discovered people living underground in Seoul. Yes! That's right! People were still living in Seoul! Not just one or two righteous souls, but a proud 60,000 citizens of our Republic holding the line!
Thanks to the help of Seoul's citizens, the government barely managed to contact the heroes. And at 4 a.m. today, the government formed an emergency task force and deployed a special ops team to rescue them. Led by the Three Sages—Poong Baek, Unsa, and Usa—this rescue unit, under the direction of Countermeasures Vice Minister Jang Hu-jeong and Association Leader Yoo Yeong-ho, reestablished a base in Anyang, crossed Gwanak Mountain, linked up with the heroes in Dongjak, and successfully escaped Seoul.
Citizens! Give praise to Seoul's citizens. And now, pray that they return safely to our embrace. Citizens! Seoul is still alive! It is not abandoned land, but territory temporarily seized by wicked monsters and villains! Even today, Seoul's 60,000 citizens stand guard with swords and spears to reclaim it. We will forge a great Republic of Korea with our own hands! Just as Seoul's 60,000 did not break in despair, with the verdant integrity of a pine tree, we will shine for the Republic of Korea!
Citizens! We are the proud sons and daughters of the Republic! Until the day we reclaim the Republic's glory, until we retake all of Seoul and Gyeonggi, our steadfast will shall not waver! The Republic of Korea will rise again!
May 1st, 8 p.m., Yeouido Cheonghwa-dan headquarters.
On the large screen mounted on the wall, President Seon Ui-cheol's national address continued. Everyone in the lounge had been on edge about the announcement's content, but they sighed in relief once the results were clear.
"We've put out the immediate fire. Thank goodness."
"Next week, more people will come up from Shin Seoul."
The survival of 10 heroes. And the resident registration of 60,000 refugees in Dongjak Underground. Of course, the announcement was heavily distorted to suit Seon Ui-cheol's taste.
The heroes kidnapped by monsters had pooled their strength to escape the nest, linked up with the underground refugees, and fled Seoul with their help. In the process, Ryu Cheon-seong and James became leaders guiding the refugees away from monster threats.
Ryu Cheon-seong stroked his beard mockingly. "Can he really tell the truth? That heroes massacred citizens, and villains saved them."
"...I didn't know anything when I was in Shin Seoul. Really."
At Cheon Ga-eul's words, all eyes in the lounge turned to her. Everyone present was from the outskirts of Shin Seoul. In contrast, Ga-eul had been a resident of Shin Seoul itself until just a month ago.
Ga-eul clenched her fist. "We'd joke about it. That the Pine Tree Unit grabs anyone criticizing the government. But they really are like that. Right?"
Ga-eul's gaze shifted to Yu I-sin standing behind her. Yu I-sin pulled out the whiteboard slung on his back and wrote with a marker.
Network jokes are mostly true.
"That can't be? How is that possible?"
Kim Ji-hwa asked in a flustered voice. Even a president couldn't actually commit such atrocities, right?
Seeing Yu I-sin itching to explain at length, Ga-eul glanced at Deok-bae. Deok-bae handed over his smartwatch and launched the app.
Tap, tap. The headless kaijin typed rapidly, and soon the content was relayed as a mechanical voice.
> All networks in Shin Seoul are censored by the government. They identify anti-government elements or reactionaries, then deploy the Pine Tree Unit. They get expelled from Shin Seoul or become new Pine Tree recruits.
"My god. Big Brother?"
James snorted derisively. Ryu Cheon-seong added bitterly, "He made it possible. Deals with the National Assembly and judiciary, muzzled the media and bent them to his will. Then the Pyongyang incident hit, and he built his kingdom in Shin Seoul."
"A dictator."
Ryu Cheon-seong chuckled at Ji-hwa's words. "Where in the world isn't there a dictatorship now? Look at China and Japan next door. The whole world's tilting right. China's expanding territory everywhere, Japan's itching to invade us anytime. The Association mediates to prevent war."
"......."
Deok-bae crossed his arms and jiggled his leg. He recalled something Phoenix had said in passing.
"She mentioned something like that once."
All eyes turned to Deok-bae at his hesitant words. Cheon Ga-eul might be closest emotionally to Phoenix, but Jo Deok-bae knew best the grand—unknown to anyone—plans she harbored.
Deok-bae scratched the back of his neck. "Cheonghwa-dan's forces need to grow enough to wage war on a country."
"That's insane, right?"
Ji-hwa muttered to herself, then clamped her mouth shut. Everyone stared at her unintended honesty. Only Deok-bae nodded.
"How do you understand that crazy girl's head? Oh, nothing in mine, right?"
"Loaded with syrup. Ice tea for you, Ji-hwa?"
"Ah, thank you. Leader..."
Deok-bae held a muddy Americano. Ji-hwa froze mid-reach for her ice tea.
Silence. Amid the wordless tension, only Deok-bae gulping coffee and drinks clinking on the table echoed in the lounge.
"What're you doing? Grab it."
Phoenix lifted her smoothie and stabbed in a straw. Ji-hwa flailed her hands like a windmill, stammering excuses.
"L-Leader. What I meant was..."
"Forget it. It's that Jo-something guy's fault for badmouthing his boss. Son of Jo Mok-deok-bae or whatever."
Phoenix tapped Deok-bae's crown. Thwack, thwack. Clear, resonant sounds rang out.
"Fine, my bad. So why go to war with another country? Tell me."
Slurp. The sound of drink rising through the straw.
All eyes focused on Phoenix's mouth.
"Anyway, today's negotiations were a success. No headaches from Shin Seoul over Seoul reclamations for a while."
"Changing the subject?"
Ga-eul was visibly annoyed. Since Phoenix appeared, he'd been glaring coldly.
Phoenix handed Ga-eul a cup. "Want something sweet?"
"What do you take me f..."
Sweet maple syrup and caramel tickled her nose. Ga-eul trailed off, glared at the caramel macchiato in her hand, then sipped through the straw.
Phoenix sat beside Ga-eul and drummed the table to draw attention.
"Listen while you drink. War's just the worst-case scenario—no need to worry."
Everyone relaxed at Phoenix's firm declaration. She smiled satisfiedly and continued.
"So, handle the immediate issues. Review your roles and reconfirm missions."
Phoenix snapped her fingers. Unclaimed drinks floated to their owners. Nothing for the headless Yu I-sin.
Phoenix pointed at Ji-hwa.
"First, Beacon. Keep monitoring the outskirts like now. Make sure scum like earth dogs never set foot in Seoul again. Command authority over members goes to Beacon."
"Understood."
"Deok-bae and Phantom: intercept squads. Deok-bae east, Phantom west. Link with Beacon to repel underground monsters or villains. Stay hidden max, but if spotted, deploy Hellhounds."
"Got it."
"Yeah."
"Haneulseong, keep soothing residents. Tedious, but hear out complaints, cut unnecessary ones yourself. We snagged Seoul mayor easy, but later the government'll want a spoon in."
"Reelection then? Make me real mayor? Fine. Elections? I'm confident."
"Good. Recruit promising refugees as talent. Match appearances, list useful ones separately. Later, negotiate with government for special hires."
"Got it."
Phoenix gulped her drink to wet her throat. James, catching her gaze, cracked open a beer can.
"I keep restoring Dongjak?"
"Yes. By May 14th. Just make it look passable from outside. Roles assigned."
Beacon Kim Ji-hwa on vigilance. Phantom Cheon Ga-eul and Jo Deok-bae on patrol/combat. Haneulseong Ryu Cheon-seong on admin. Architect James Lee on reconstruction. Phoenix handled supplies for smooth ops. Hunting monsters beyond the 38th parallel for cores, trading via black market with Eun Yu-ha for funds, buying survival goods.
Even this dawn, large trailers hauling food from Seongnam vanished. Only thieves and victims knew where they went.
Phoenix finished her drink and ordered James specially.
"Oh, right. When rebuilding houses in Dongjak, don't overdo it. Show too much skill, Shin Seoul'll kidnap you."
"What the hell does that mean?"
Deok-bae tilted his head. The Architect set down his coffee.
Phoenix snapped, incinerating the cup.
"Government knows about Architect's existence and abilities. Probably in villain database, and envoys reported from Yeouido. 'If mana overflows, an ability user could do this,' they'll think."
Ryu Cheon-seong stroked his beard laughing. Phoenix chose the meeting site.
"Picked Yeouido on purpose. To show off."
"Yes. So Seon Ui-cheol thinks: How'd villain alliance restore Yeouido? Why National Assembly of all places? Where'd they get that mana? Piecing info..."
"Cube."
Everyone nodded at Ga-eul's word.
"Hinting to President Seon Ui-cheol that villains have a Cube."
Phoenix had already explained Cubes to cadres.
"Acting bold outside, but seething inside. Pine Tree Unit all dead—no confirmation. Surviving heroes know the truth. He's desperate for Yeouido intel now."
"If they already know?"
Phoenix turned sharply at Deok-bae's point, frowning deeply.
"Yu I-sin! During Seoul reclamation, could Pine Tree Unit contact Seon Ui-cheol?"
Ga-eul behind tapped virtual keyboard rapidly.
> Only team leaders could contact directly. A-Team leader in Yeouido, Cheolpyo Park Seong-tae, got no further contact after orders to kill Cheon Ga-eul.
"What?"
Ga-eul crushed her cup instantly. Coffee spilled over her hand from the burst paper cup, but two tentacles shot from her back, wrapping it.
Squelch, squelch. The tentacles devoured the coffee cup and all, chewing. The tips swallowed only liquid, spitting the cup to the floor. Phoenix incinerated it.
"Seon Ui-cheol ordered my death? For real?"
> A-Team had secret orders to find "the item." Assumed in National Assembly, so kill all witnesses. Probably thought same for Cheon Ga-eul.
"That dog..."
Cheon Ga-eul nearly spat curses but covered her mouth with her fist. Yu I-sin typed quickly.
> That "item" is the Cube you mentioned, right?
"Yes. The divine artifact we must gather and destroy. We used and destroyed the one in Yeouido, so only one left in Korea."
Phoenix placed her hand on the map. Everyone's faces hardened.
"My god. It's there?"
Phoenix's finger pointed at Daejeon.
"Yes. Daejeon. Right next to Shin Seoul."
Silence fell. Daejeon was a transport hub, but more importantly, where Korea's science and tech concentrated. And one more thing.
"Seon Ui-cheol's district as assemblyman. So..."
"The other Cube is with Seon Ui-cheol in Daejeon?"
Phoenix nodded, then smirked ambiguously.
"As good as his, but he probably doesn't know he has a Cube."
"Pardon?"
Ji-hwa blurted blankly. Ga-eul clicked her tongue, urging explanation.
"Don't keep it to yourself—explain so we get it."
Everyone nodded. Phoenix fiddled with the veil end around her neck, then clapped.
"The Core Research Institute in Daejeon. Who's researching there? Without Seon Ui-cheol knowing."