Chapter 390
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 390
Chapter Title: How Does It Feel?
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Gulag.
A labor camp built on the philosophy of cleansing sins through forced labor on criminals.
Considering that many countries already made convicts work, the concept itself wasn't much different from a prison.
But there was one decisive difference between a prison and a Gulag.
The workload.
The Russikan Nation boasted overwhelming production volumes, earning it the title of the world's factory—a superpower.
Yet that immense output came at the cost of vast resources and manpower.
The Russikan Nation's way of replenishing that labor force was simple.
Labor allocation system.
A regime that maximized productivity by enforcing quotas on every citizen.
And naturally, criminals sent to the Gulag received the heaviest workloads of all.
Even those who'd only worked there for a few months all agreed on one thing.
'This place is hell on earth.'
'A factory that breeds despair.'
'Those who endure ten years here...'
'Shall be proof of miracles.'
Which was why, at this very moment...
The declaration of herding over a million revolutionaries into the Gulag and slapping them with thirty-year sentences was more than enough to freeze Yuna Kyung solid.
"...So you're asking me to approve rounding up every last revolutionary?"
"Huh? That's a weird way to put it."
Ekaterina, however, didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow.
She just tilted her head, as if she didn't get the implication.
"Sword Duke, this is my country."
"..."
"Punishing traitors according to the law is entirely my right as Great Khan—and my duty to protect the nation."
"..."
"So why would I need your permission?"
She was the Great Khan of the Russikan Nation.
There was nothing she couldn't do here, and nothing she shouldn't do.
Was he denying that fact?
With the same playful, cheerful smile.
Her silver eyes gleamed transparently, like the moon on a winter night.
Rimon stared at her for a long moment before nodding.
"Fine. I admit you don't need my permission."
[T-Team Leader? What was thmmph!]
Yuna Kyung started to butt in but flailed as her beak was clamped shut.
But Rimon didn't take it back.
Whether she wielded Dragon Psionics.
Or schemed to seize the Seven Dragon Society.
He was just a swordsman in the end.
Even if Ekaterina had asked his approval, he had no authority to give it.
So Rimon continued calmly.
"But listen up, Mad Princess."
"What?"
"If even one innocent person gets mixed in with the traitors you're sending to the Gulag, I will cut you down."
At that moment.
Yuna Kyung's feathers bristled.
Even as just a lone swordsman—a Sword Master, no less.
And as the longtime nemesis who'd thwarted the Seven Dragon Society time and again—Rimon's warning carried a weight that made her shrink just hearing it.
Yet Ekaterina didn't flinch.
She just wore a sly smile.
"Does that mean as long as the guilt is clear, you wouldn't care if I killed ten million instead of one, or sentenced them to life in the Gulag?"
A truly absurd.
Outlandish question.
But his answer was...
"..."
—Silence.
No affirmation, no denial. Just a cold stare.
Ekaterina smiled at Rimon.
"You're crueler than I expected."
As if she'd known it all along.
Or maybe a bit surprised.
The silver-haired girl covered her mouth, chuckling, then slowly bowed her head while perched on the table.
"That's why I like you even more."
Closer than a breath away.
Close enough to feel her chill body heat.
She pressed her nose to his.
Staring straight into Rimon's golden eyes.
Then suddenly, Ekaterina's lips curved into a bright, innocent smile as she continued.
"Yeah. I've decided."
"...Decided what?"
"Sword Duke—no, Rimon Asfelder. I'll fall for you for real."
"..."
"I like you."
Dragon Psionics or not.
Sword Master powers or not.
The man himself was worth her, the Silver Dragon Princess, betting everything on him.
Wearing a smile far too cold for a girl in love, Ekaterina whispered seductively.
"Because, Rimon, you..."
"I have a proposal."
"Huh?"
At that instant.
A curt voice cut between them.
If it had been anyone else, Ekaterina would've ordered an execution first, no matter the content.
But knowing who it was, she smiled instead of raging.
"What proposal, Aynsha?"
"I'll find the Liberation Brigade."
"Do what now?"
So unexpected.
Ekaterina blinked.
Aynsha, one hand firmly over Yuna Kyung's beak, continued expressionlessly.
"Dealing with the revolutionaries is a burden for you too, Ekaterina."
"Not for me."
"You might not care, but the political fallout is real."
Aynsha pointed out coolly.
Ekaterina wielded absolute power in the Russikan Nation, but the people's loyalty was low.
They just hesitated to act.
Including those resentful of her, the number easily topped ten million.
Indiscriminately hunting revolutionaries could rally all those malcontents into open revolt.
Even if not immediately, the spark could linger and birth even more revolutionaries later.
"So I'll help you pick off just the Liberation Brigade without touching the rest."
"You're helping this bird for free?"
"Only a lunatic would go to the White House for handouts. Nothing's free. I'll take compensation."
"What compensation?"
Her eyes had sparkled at first.
But at "compensation," Ekaterina's expression turned sly.
Aynsha replied flatly.
"First, cancel the Tiamat share acquisition. Second, half the bounty from this hunt."
"...For stuff you don't even need, that's some steep shakedown."
"Pass, then."
"Hmm..."
Ekaterina's eyes narrowed.
As a princess inheriting a dragon's possessiveness, letting another clan meddle in her territory was unthinkable.
Especially trading it for bounty money tantamount to buying Seven Dragon Society shares.
Aynsha's offer was so outrageous even Rose would stone-face it on the spot.
But...
"If you're asking that nicely, Aynsha, I guess I have no choice. I'll accept—special exception."
Like an older sister yielding to her birthday-pleading sibling.
Ekaterina nodded smugly.
Aynsha's face stayed blank.
"Don't act like you're granting mercy. This is a deal."
"Oh? If you insist on calling it a 'deal,' fine. But remember this too."
Even that cheek seemed adorable to her.
Giggling, the silver-haired girl continued brightly.
"Since it's a deal now, if you can't deliver Liberation Brigade intel, not even my little sister gets off easy."
A playfully cheerful smile.
But her eyes were ice-cold.
Aynsha could only stay silent, face impassive.
[Phew... We barely cleared that hurdle.]
"Too early to relax."
[Why? We stopped the mass roundups for now, right?]
"Just bought time. Ekaterina can move anytime. If she does, Russia flips upside down."
Aynsha said flatly.
The Russikan revolutionaries were bold enough to snipe Ekaterina in public—and armed to boot.
Crushing them could spark a full uprising.
[...Just to be sure, what happens if that loose-cannon sister actually crushes the revolutionaries and we can't stop her?]
"Don't know. Can't see that far. But the worst-case odds are high."
[You saying half the population dies in the revolution?]
"Ekaterina would wipe out half and call it a day."
[That's bad.]
Yuna Kyung groaned.
She'd sensed trouble from the precog, but not this headache.
But soon enough.
Her natural optimism brushed it off as she shrugged her wing-shoulders.
[Eh, with the Team Leader here, it'll work out somehow?]
"..."
[Team Leader?]
With an invincible Sword Master, what problem couldn't be solved?
She'd said it lightly, but now looked puzzled.
No snort or sarcasm.
Normally he'd retort something.
But he'd been frowning silently since earlier.
[What's wrong? Not like you're doubting we can catch the Liberation Brigade.]
"Something's nagging at me."
[Nagging? What?]
"The Mad Princess backed down too easily. Felt off."
[Huh? Where?]
Yuna Kyung blinked.
Ekaterina had warned, smiling, that she wouldn't let them off if they failed to find the Brigade.
Nothing "easy" about that.
But Rimon couldn't shake his unease.
She'd summoned them to buy shares, yet handed over the chance too readily.
Aynsha, meanwhile, didn't speculate on her motives.
Just advised blankly.
"Ekaterina's insane. No telling what she's thinking."
"...True enough."
Trying to understand a madwoman was just headache fuel.
Rimon dropped it and said evenly.
"Anyway, good work. Tomorrow's gonna be busy, so rest up."
"Got it. Will rest."
After parting with Rimon.
Aynsha headed straight off.
Unlike Rimon's outer guest quarters, to her own room deep in the Kremlin Palace.
She posted the attending New Dragon Troops at her door.
Tatama finished her services and left as night deepened.
Finally alone, Aynsha didn't hit the bed.
Instead, she went to the full-length mirror in the corner.
She lightly touched the dragon ornament beside it.
Grind.
The mirror rose.
Revealing a hidden passage.
Aynsha showed no surprise at the sudden secret door.
Just walked in with her usual blank face.
Step, step.
Through the dark corridor.
Up some stairs.
Dodging traps.
After a long trek through the secret passage, she quietly opened the door at the end.
"Why so late? I've been waiting forever."
Following the cheerful voice.
Aynsha turned.
And flatly addressed the silver-haired girl lounging sideways on a thick rug in thin, revealing clothes, wine glass in hand.
"I never told you to wait."
"Aw, don't be like that. We're accomplices now."
"..."
"Don't like 'accomplices'? Secret alliance? Traitors' pact?"
Whatever was so funny.
Ekaterina giggled, tilting her glass.
"So."
Vodka glistened on her lips as she smiled slyly.
Staring at the white-haired girl with her identical face—but utterly emotionless.
The silver-haired girl asked meaningfully.
"How's it feel to fake fighting me and fool the Sword Duke so handsomely?"