Chapter 318
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 318
Chapter Title: What Do You Plan to Do?
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"...Kilimanjaro?"
"Yes."
"That mountain piled high with eternal snow?"
"It might not be like that these days, but it used to be."
Rimon was at a loss for words.
He had anticipated it wouldn't be an ordinary place when Li Chingwei's expression darkened.
But for the key ingredient to forge Dagda's Cauldron to be on Kilimanjaro of all places...
"So, you're saying that to resolve the food blockade, we have to hunt down a Seven-Colored Bird in the most treacherous terrain across all of Africa?"
"Something like that."
"...That's quite the problem."
"Africa's a peculiar continent in many ways."
Li Chingwei gave a wry smile.
Africa was the one continent where Hotel Leviathan—the group that had branches in virtually every country worldwide—had barely managed to establish a foothold.
Only the Egyptian branch was barely operational.
In other places, countries with hotels were few and far between.
There were 392 military regimes alone.
And that number changed not just yearly or monthly, but sometimes daily. Establishing and running hotels in every such nation was a daunting task even for the Black Dragon Clan.
Even so, if that were the only issue, they could have dispatched clan members for a search.
The real problem was that the area was practically the front yard of the Red Dragon Clan.
"Dispatching a large force there would naturally get spotted by the Red Dragon Clan."
"And they'd definitely make a move."
"You say 'make a move' so politely, as if they won't just slaughter us all."
"Even the Red Dragon Clan would wrap it up as an accident on the surface... probably."
She trailed off, lacking full confidence.
Rimon clicked his tongue at Li Chingwei's hesitant expression.
Of course, other clans wouldn't just outright kill Seven Dragon Society members for trespassing without permission on their home turf.
Even the Silver Dragon Clan would at least go through a minimal interrogation process.
But you couldn't expect that from the Red Dragon Clan.
Especially now, with them openly clashing against Li Chingwei—the odds of them killing Black Dragon Clan members outright were high.
The Black Dragon Clan members at the Egyptian branch were practically under house arrest, having halted all operations.
"So, should we be grateful it's not Egypt?"
"I can't promise that."
"What does that mean?"
"The temple records say the Seven-Colored Bird has a wide range. In the worst case, it flies from one end of the continent to the other."
"...So we might have to scour all the way to Egypt in the worst-case scenario?"
"It's luck of the draw. Get lucky, and we find it quick. Get unlucky, and we search the whole continent."
"What an optimistic tale."
Rimon sighed.
The idea of combing an entire continent for a single bird was absurd enough.
And in Africa, a minefield of dangers where a proper search would be next to impossible.
It was a mountain of obstacles stacked on top of each other.
"Just to confirm—how many could we send for a search without drawing attention?"
"Hmm... within the limits of avoiding the Red Dragon Clan's eyes, maybe ten at most."
"That's all?"
"Any more, and we'd likely get dragged into trouble."
Li Chingwei gave another wry smile.
The Black Dragon Clan's home turf was East Asia.
Racial differences alone would make them stand out in Africa.
Masters of the White-Faced 탈각류 could disguise themselves to some extent, but moving in a group for searches would draw eyes inevitably.
Besides, with economic sanctions to counter, pulling together that many elites wasn't easy.
"Hmmm..."
Arms crossed, tapping his elbow with his fingers amid the mounting bad conditions, Rimon finally spoke with a sigh.
"No helping it, then. Looks like I'll have to go find it myself."
[Huh?]
"...?"
Yuna Kyung and Aynsha's eyes widened at the sudden declaration.
Li Chingwei, however, wasn't surprised.
She just nodded knowingly, as if she'd expected it.
"As I thought—you're planning to step in personally?"
"The research here is wrapping up anyway. For a small elite team, I'm the best fit."
Rimon shrugged.
He smirked at Li Chingwei.
"You had this in mind from the start when you brought it to me, didn't you, Princess?"
"Not my original intent, but yes."
Li Chingwei smiled wryly.
Constellation-powered disguise techniques.
A Sword Master's superhuman senses.
Plus tracking skills and crisis response honed as an old master of the martial world.
As a lone tracker or searcher, few could surpass Rimon.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say there were almost none.
Especially in this time-sensitive situation.
But Aynsha disagreed with Li Chingwei.
"That's ridiculous. The opponent is Hasteni. If you're caught, it's over."
"It's risky, yeah."
"Not just risky. It could spark a full war."
Hasteni had already launched a war of conquest.
If she learned Rimon was in Africa, would she let it slide?
No chance.
Of course, Rimon wouldn't go down easily no matter what she threw at him, but clashing head-on with her would undoubtedly escalate things.
"Hmm, that's exactly what worries me. I'll go to Africa, but I want some insurance."
"Insurance?"
"Yeah."
Li Chingwei looked genuinely curious, her expression puzzled.
Rimon continued with a meaningful smile.
"Even if things go south—in that worst-case scenario—you've got the Princess who's vowed to stake her life to stop it."
'Damn it all!'
Han Jeongguk was losing his mind.
When the Russian Khanate's army and the United States Navy suddenly mobilized, and African nations detained diplomats, it was still bearable.
All the Seven Dragon Group chairmen had entered the country.
Each nation reacting sensitively to protect VIPs— he could force himself to understand that much.
Withdrawals of investments or power plant shutdowns were just business issues or accidents he could brush off.
But what came after couldn't be ignored.
The abrupt food blockade.
Factory closures and supply chain cuts.
Financial system paralysis, and more.
The triple economic sanctions had turned the country into hell overnight.
'Why the hell are they doing this to us!'
And the hardships hitting them were far harsher than those faced by the Zhonghua Seventy-Seven Federation or the Holy Alliance.
Unlike those two, who minimized chaos thanks to the Black and White Dragon Clans stepping in, they had to face the sanctions alone.
Still, he did his utmost.
Hiring players to run the power plants.
Commissioning agricultural players for food production.
Procuring daily necessities from production players.
As a powerhouse with Infinity Guild, they mobilized every resource against the sanctions.
But the results were lackluster.
No matter how capable players were, there were limits.
Withstanding economic sanctions from three Seven Dragon Groups was something only the Demiurgos Guild—with its Creation Lord—could manage.
'These damn players never listen obediently...'
Mobilizing players wasn't easy either.
High-level ones jacked up their prices and threw tantrums.
Some even demanded blanket immunity or national budget-scale sums—utter lunatics.
He wanted to round them all up and force labor.
But he couldn't.
With PAB disbanded and coercive power over players weakened, that would only amplify the chaos.
'If only the Infinite Monarch had moved... that bastard!'
Han Jeongguk ground his teeth.
If Infinity Guild led by example, rallying players would have been simple.
But with Lee Cheongi still holed up, Infinity Guild was sitting idle or chasing personal gains.
The government was furious beyond measure.
Yet they couldn't pressure the Infinite Monarch.
In the end, after agonizing, Han Jeongguk found a solution.
Mobilizing every diplomatic channel, he finally invited a guest to the Blue House who could resolve the crisis.
"I'll get straight to the point."
But Han Jeongguk didn't welcome her warmly.
No—he hardened his face.
It wasn't just wounded pride from her finally accepting after persistent invitations.
He meant to interrogate her.
"What is your group doing imposing economic sanctions on our country?"
All other princesses had returned home, yet this one lingered, shuttling to and from her homeland daily.
The sole one among the seven to accept his invitation—the blue-haired princess in uniform—spoke after a brief silence.
"I can't disclose the reason."
"Why not?"
"This matter is deeply tied to internal Seven Dragon Group affairs."
"...So you're wrecking our economy over your internal issues?"
"Personally, I regret it."
"Listen here, Countess Rose!"
Han Jeongguk shouted in outrage.
It was grossly rude for a head of state treating a foreign noble invited as a state guest.
But Rose didn't get angry.
She even felt pity.
Like the Zhonghua Federation and Holy Alliance, this nation's people were innocent victims caught in the Seven Dragon Society's dispute.
As a compassionate soul, it stirred her sympathy.
But that was it.
She pitied them but had no intention of intervening directly.
Countering the sanctions could hinder Charlotte and the three clans, effectively aiding Li Chingwei.
For Rose, who maintained neutrality to preserve Seven Dragon Society stability, it was a line she couldn't cross.
If true civil war erupted among the real Seven Dragon Society members, these sanctions would seem like child's play.
Announcing it as mere bride competition would spark a global scandal.
So Rose could only express genuine regret.
That's why she'd accepted the unnecessary invitation.
To offer minimal apologies on behalf of the Seven Dragon Society and aid without breaking neutrality.
"You...!"
But Han Jeongguk couldn't grasp her goodwill.
He'd never dealt with the Blue Dragon Clan.
He knew her character only by rumors.
And even those he dismissed as fabricated tales typical of rulers.
Thus, he mistook her refusal of aid or explanation—coupled with her pity—as pretense.
That she sided with the sanction imposers, and her acceptance was mockery.
Normally, he'd be more cautious.
But exhausted from overwork and stress, Han Jeongguk unconsciously embraced the suspicion.
So he bellowed.
"If you're set on this, I have my own plans!"
"I understand your anger, but..."
"No buts—lift the sanctions on our country now! Or the Seven Dragon Group will pay!"
Han Jeongguk declared firmly.
And inwardly savored the relief.
Striking back at the foreign power plunging his nation into chaos vented his pent-up rage.
But right after.
He froze.
"...What will you do to our Seven Dragon Society, then?"
From their first meeting until now.
Rose, who had seemed troubled by his boldness.
Now stared at him with eyes suddenly gone cold.