Chapter 515: Conquest of Seoul (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 515: Conquest of Seoul (2)
It was the exact same pattern.
Just as he had persuaded Lee Myung-hwan, the Mayor of Ulsan, Cha Young-min directly proposed joining the rebellion.
However, the reaction was completely different.
Jeong Mun-ho doubted his own ears.
"What kind of bullshit is that? You dare suggest we rebel against the Central Government?"
It was absurd.
A rebellion.
In a country like South Korea, where the Central Government held absolute power, the very suggestion of treason was unthinkable. Hearing the harsh outburst and seeing the fiercely contorted expression that made his refusal crystal clear, Cha Young-min spoke from beyond the screen in a calm voice.
["I believe we all know the reason for this rebellion. The Central Government is a selfish faction that only looks out for its own interests. People in the provinces outside of Seoul have always been pushed to the back of the line. Even though we were dissatisfied with South Korea's reality, we kept our mouths shut because we needed their help. If the Central Government were just a private corporation allowed to pursue personal gain, we wouldn't have chosen an extreme path like rebellion. But they are the government of South Korea, tasked with protecting the people's livelihood. We can no longer stand by and watch them act this way."]
"Hey, that is highly dangerous talk. Just because you think that way, don't project it onto everyone else."
["Are you saying you're satisfied with the current reality?"]
"Of course I am! The Central Government has simply made the best choice for the safety of South Korea. If we tried to protect everyone with the military power of a country already considered weak, problems would inevitably crop up everywhere. It's a matter of priorities. They chose to protect Seoul first, as it is the most important, and then help the rest of us step-by-step. It's not like they're completely ignoring us like some dictatorial regime, so what on earth is the problem?"
Veins bulged on Jeong Mun-ho's neck.
Hanam was just as endangered as Ulsan. They spent every night suffering from monster attacks, yet unlike Ulsan, there was no sign of hesitation or conflict in the mayor's stance.
Was it just his personality?
Of course, that played a part. But Cha Young-min knew the real reason Jeong Mun-ho could not be persuaded.
["Even among local governments, our circumstances are completely different. Regions like Busan and Ulsan will have to wait a long time for support even after Seoul's safety is secured, but areas near the capital like Hanam are different. I understand. As the Mayor of Hanam, which is guaranteed priority assistance as an ally of the Central Government, it must be difficult to join a rebellion and give up your current privileges. But keep this in mind: Hanam is only the top priority among the regions excluding Seoul. In the end, you will always be secondary to Seoul, and one day, that reality will lead Hanam down the path of destruction."]
"That is my problem to deal with."
["Understood. I will give you one last chance. Do you truly have no intention of joining the rebellion?"]
Jeong Mun-ho's face contorted violently.
Perhaps because a sore spot had been poked, he began to shout.
"I don't know what kind of delusions you've filled your head with, but Hanam has no intention of making any choice that opposes the Central Government. In fact, let me give you a piece of advice. No, let me just tell you something, you fucking idiot. You're going to pay a devastating price for the words you just spat at me. The moment you condemned the Central Government—which is running itself ragged for the safety of South Korea—as a selfish group, the Busan government crossed a point of no return. You hear me? You and Incheon are finished!"
Click.
He cut the communication. There was no longer any reason to talk.
"Fucking idiots."
A rebellion. It was utterly ridiculous.
The Central Government had monopolized South Korea's power since the Great Disaster. Their dominance wasn't a problem that could be solved by a mere alliance of a few cities. Of course, he had heard that a monster named Roman Dmitry had appeared. But no matter how strong he was, Jeong Mun-ho did not believe a single individual could withstand the power of an entire nation.
It was a common-sense judgment.
Jeong Mun-ho immediately made a call. The recipient was President Kim Jeong-tae.
Since he wasn't joining the rebellion, he fully intended to ruin it.
* * *
Seoul.
An emergency meeting was convened.
Looking at the grim expressions of the leadership, Kim Jeong-tae spoke in a chilling voice.
"Just moments ago, the Mayor of Hanam, Jeong Mun-ho, reported Incheon's rebellion. Currently, several local governments, including Busan and Ulsan, have joined Incheon, and they have revealed plans to attack the Central Government in the near future."
"How dare they!"
"Mr. President, we must punish the rebels!"
The leadership was outraged.
Since the Great Disaster, nothing like this had ever happened. The Central Government had seized control of South Korea with overwhelming power, yet an entity of uncertain origin had suddenly appeared and thrown the country into chaos. The leaders constantly read Kim Jeong-tae's expression. Because he was a strict ruler who tolerated not even the slightest insubordination, they did their best to cater to him to avoid being swept up in his wrath.
Kim Jeong-tae spoke.
"It is true that we are struggling against the monster attacks. However, if they are staging a rebellion over such a minor opening, then the rebel forces, including Incheon, must have harbored insidious intentions from the very beginning. Convey my will to all local governments immediately. We will never forgive any faction that aligns with the Incheon government. Even if they kneel and beg for forgiveness later, admitting they made the wrong choice, I will slaughter every single one of the local government heads who decided to rebel, along with their entire bloodlines."
His eyes turned fierce. He unleashed a powerful wave of murderous intent.
"In particular, Cha Young-min, the Mayor of Busan who instigated this rebellion, will be made an example of how we punish traitors. The mere fact that he dared to oppose me means he will not be granted a peaceful death."
His intention was clear.
While Roman Dmitry and Incheon deserved punishment as the ringleaders of the rebellion, he intended to make an example of those who joined later, like Busan, to deter others from participating. The leadership did not take Kim Jeong-tae's words lightly. He was a man of his word, and South Korea would soon be engulfed in a sea of fire.
"Furthermore, China has sent a response. Since the Red Time has ended, Chinese reinforcements will arrive within the next few days. They have conveyed their willingness to not only subjugate the monsters attacking Seoul but also assist in punishing heinous entities like Roman Dmitry who instigate civil war in South Korea. So, endure. Seoul's problems will soon be resolved, and..."
The men swallowed hard. They unconsciously averted their eyes.
"Not a single rebel will survive."
* * *
Hanam was only the beginning.
As Kim Jeong-tae's message spread, the local governments near Seoul declared they would not join the rebellion, and the exposure of the plot cast a grim, ominous shadow over the nation. It was an unfavorable situation. In fact, having anticipated this, Cha Young-min had previously suggested excluding factions friendly to the Central Government, like Hanam, from the plan.
At the time, Cha Young-min's argument was certainly valid.
"Every single local government in South Korea harbors resentment toward the Central Government, without exception. However, that is no guarantee they will join a rebellion. The circumstances of local governments near Seoul are different from ours, which are far away. Once Seoul's safety is secured, they will be the first to receive aid. Conversely, if they join the rebels, they are highly likely to be attacked first. This means they have no reason to align with the rebellion at the cost of losing their privileges. Lord Roman Dmitry, we must exclude factions that are clearly going to reject the proposal. It won't be too late to unify everyone after we first make the rebellion a success."
Busan had already crossed the point of no return.
Since the rebellion had to succeed at all costs, Cha Young-min had assessed the realistic situation and offered necessary advice. Everyone nodded, agreeing with Cha Young-min's reasoning.
However, Roman Dmitry was different.
"That is exactly what I wanted."
Cha Young-min raised his head. As he stared with bewildered eyes, Roman Dmitry revealed his thoughts.
"The three-day deadline I set is to distinguish friend from foe. Under the exact same premise, those who cooperate with me will build a new future alongside me, while the future of those who do not will be cast aside. Therefore, make the same offer to everyone: tell them to follow me, Roman Dmitry. If they refuse to follow even after being guaranteed immediate help and a future, then that is the only future they deserve."
It was an arrogant confidence. He did not think for a second that this would put him at a disadvantage.
In the end, their anxieties became reality.
Hanam had leaked the rebellion to the Central Government, and the Central Government responded swiftly, sending warning messages to all local governments. The fact remained that they were still in a perilous situation. Although the Central Government was currently preoccupied with fending off monster attacks, once the Great Disaster ended, their wrath would instantly sweep away the rebel forces, starting with Incheon.
"……A fight where neither side backs down can only end when one is destroyed."
He looked out the window. The sky was clear.
Looking at the landscape of Busan, where chaos had swept through, he surprisingly felt no anxiety at all.
The sight I witnessed. I believe in it. I cannot even begin to imagine Lord Roman Dmitry being defeated.
He believed. He had to believe. Because he had already staked everything on Roman Dmitry's victory.
Cha Young-min averted his gaze and began contacting the other local governments, even though he knew he would be rejected.
* * *
Three days.
Time flew by.
Roman Dmitry, along with Park Min-woo, saved over a dozen cities a day. As those cities joined the rebel forces one by one, their numbers swelled rapidly. The Central Government did not just stand by and watch either. Even while dealing with the monsters, they won over figures like the Mayor of Hanam, preparing for the impending clash with the rebels.
And now, Roman Dmitry held a video conference.
Since the local governments that joined the rebellion could not leave their posts, they showed their faces via video link.
Roman Dmitry spoke.
"The deadline I set has passed. I will accept those of you who have shown your faces here as my people, but all those who have not will be defined as enemies."
South Korea. It was split in half.
Those who followed the Central Government, and those who followed Roman Dmitry. There were no exceptions.
To survive in this chaotic situation, a clear line had to be drawn, and people decided whom to entrust their future to within the short span of three days. Most joined the rebel forces. With regions like Uijeongbu and Paju also following Roman Dmitry, virtually everyone except those in the immediate vicinity of Seoul aligned with him.
It was a result of mutual interests.
At first glance, one might think the northern cities would follow the Central Government, but they had always been ignored by the Central Government even as they fought off monsters pouring in from North Korea. Their long-held resentment had finally exploded. Their stance was that even if they were destroyed by the Central Government's attacks, they wanted to see South Korea's landscape change.
In the gathering, intense aspiration focused on Roman Dmitry.
"Currently, the Central Government is still struggling in its fight against the monsters. Waging war against them now violates International Law, but I am not a merciful man who will simply watch an opportunity pass by. We will attack the Central Government. We will tear them down and build a new kingdom that permits no foreign intervention."
A kingdom.
It was a new future.
In the future Roman Dmitry spoke of, there was no room for the kind of irresponsibility shown by the Central Government.
"You have made the decision to follow me. What I asked of you in that process was the resolve to rebel against the Central Government's injustice and risk your lives to follow me. From now on, hold your ground in your respective cities. Prioritize the safety of your cities, and calmly await what is to come."
[……Does that mean you are postponing the war?]
It was Cha Young-min. He could not understand.
After going through all the trouble of gathering the rebel forces, he was telling them to just wait?
It was a truth known only to the people of Incheon.
When Roman Dmitry first discussed the Conquest of Seoul with them, he had said that the local governments were not particularly necessary for winning the war. The local governments were merely pieces of the puzzle to build a new future, not the pieces needed for victory.
The meaning of those words. He spoke them now.
"No. This war will be fought solely with the power of Incheon. Watch with your own eyes as Incheon, whom you follow, and I, Roman Dmitry, prove that we possess more than enough qualification to build a new South Korea."
Beyond the screens, everyone was shocked.
It was an incredibly shocking, completely unexpected statement.
"The beginning will be Hanam. From this moment on, we will annihilate every single faction that has aligned with the Central Government, march on Seoul, and tear the Central Government down."
The people of this Current Life did not know.
Just what kind of existence Roman Dmitry was.
The true meaning of standing on the opposite side of him—they would soon experience it to their very bones.