Chapter 524: Conquest of Seoul (11)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 524: Conquest of Seoul (11)
The mayors of each city.
The key figures of Incheon.
The leaders who would shape the new South Korea had all gathered in one place.
Roman Dmitry had prepared for this situation long ago. He spoke of the matters he had already discussed and finalized with the leaders of Incheon.
"From this day forward, South Korea will change its name to the Korean Empire, and I, Roman Dmitry, will lead this nation as its first Emperor."
The crowd was thrown into chaos.
The Korean Empire!
Right out of the gate, he dropped a bombshell that was incredibly difficult to digest.
The moment South Korea changed its national name, the global superpowers would undoubtedly react with hostility. Roman had already given those powers a pretext by violating international law. If a weak nation like South Korea dared to call itself an empire, there was no telling what the superpowers might do to protect their own status.
Above all else, China did not tolerate anyone other than themselves claiming the title of Emperor.
Just by changing its name, South Korea risked being branded as public enemy number one.
‘If this were the starting point of my past life, I would have built my foundation step by step. But in this life, there is no need for that. Nothing that opposes my ascension to the throne will be able to obstruct the future of the Korean Empire.’
He laid bare his ambition.
The title of President was not enough.
To rule the entire world in the future, he needed to ascend to a position worthy of that destiny.
And that was not all.
The changes he proposed were sweeping and radical.
"The capital will be relocated from Seoul to Incheon. Unlike the previous Central Government, Incheon will establish a system to govern the entire nation and respond immediately to national crises such as Great Disasters. Furthermore, Seoul will henceforth be treated as a regular city, and Gu Cheol-ho of Cheongsan will take office as the new Mayor of Seoul."
"Gu Cheol-ho?"
"I understand relocating the capital. I know it's a necessary step to build a new system, but even so, I don't think it's right to entrust a city that was once the capital to someone like Gu Cheol-ho."
Their reaction was only natural.
Gu Cheol-ho of Cheongsan.
He was a man with no remarkable achievements.
Even though Cheongsan was the only guild that had remained in Incheon when everyone else fled, the position of Mayor of Seoul was far too grand for someone who was merely a C-rank mercenary. Much of the nation's infrastructure still remained in Seoul. Even if the capital was relocated, Seoul would remain a core city, and it needed to be governed by someone worthy of the post.
There were simply too many issues.
They could not readily accept this appointment.
As the crowd looked at him, silently demanding an explanation, Roman Dmitry overwhelmed the room with his sheer presence.
"I fully understand why you underestimate Gu Cheol-ho. However, what Seoul needs right now is not some brilliant talent whom everyone acknowledges. We have succeeded in our rebellion, but just a few months ago, people said it was impossible to oppose the Central Government. The Central Government ostracized Incheon, and those who feared its power all abandoned this city. In such a situation, Cheongsan chose to stay. That, in itself, is their capability."
It was not a matter of mere luck.
Knowing the outcome now might make it seem like an easy choice, but very few people could have made the same decision as Cheongsan did back then.
"They accurately assessed the situation and staked the very fate of their guild on it. A choice made back then, when the success of the rebellion was far from guaranteed, is incomparably more valuable than a choice made now. Seoul is currently in chaos. The assemblymen who governed each district are all dead, and with the capital being relocated, the citizens are highly likely to lose their sense of direction. That is why I deemed Gu Cheol-ho the right man for the job. If it is Cheongsan, who judged the situation wisely even when everyone else said no, they will make decisions for the sake of Seoul without being biased toward any single faction. What Seoul needs right now is not dazzling prosperity, but a stable system."
"..."
The crowd fell silent.
Roman Dmitry's words made perfect sense.
Gu Cheol-ho was merely the leader of a small guild, but by listening to the advice of people like Park Gi-tae, he had aligned himself with Roman Dmitry when Roman was still being underestimated. That, too, was a form of ability. If they were looking for the right person to quiet the chaos in Seoul, they needed someone like Gu Cheol-ho of Cheongsan, rather than a figure like Min Chan-gi of the Heavenly Sword Guild.
They conceded.
Seeing that the crowd had accepted the situation, Roman Dmitry spoke.
"This nation is entering an era of great upheaval. Numerous countries will try to keep us in check for violating international law and changing our national name. They may even use these actions as a pretext to wage war against us. We will face relentless attacks in the future. But do not fear. The reason I have ascended to the throne of the Emperor is to build a strong nation that will not be shaken by external forces. We will not be a weak nation swayed by the whims of superpowers; rather, they will be the ones who must adapt to our standards. So, believe in me. Remember why you trusted me in those unreasonable times, and stake everything on me."
It was a powerful declaration.
The Korean Empire.
The relocation of the capital.
The appointment of Gu Cheol-ho as mayor.
Every single issue, no matter how sensitive, was resolved by the mere presence of Roman Dmitry.
They believed in him.
From the moment the rebellion succeeded, Roman Dmitry had established himself as a godlike figure in the hearts of the people.
"In the future, any entity that threatens the Korean Empire will meet the same miserable end as the Central Government, by my hand."
* * *
That day, shocking news was delivered to the public.
The national name was changing to the Korean Empire, and Roman Dmitry was ascending to the throne as Emperor.
Some people showed signs of anxiety.
"...The Emperor of the Korean Empire? What on earth are we going to do if the superpowers attack us because of this?"
"Can we really trust this man, Roman Dmitry? He punishes his enemies with a cruelty that borders on madness, and he uses terms like 'subjects' and 'Emperor' that don't fit modern society at all. If he turns out to be a heinous dictator, we'll suffer even more than we did under Kim Jeong-tae's government."
But it was not unconditional distrust.
While this was the reaction of those who could not accept such unconventional changes, the vast majority of the population supported Roman Dmitry.
"I believe in His Majesty, Emperor Roman Dmitry. When everyone else turned their backs on the provinces, he didn't just offer empty words of help—he actually resolved all of our problems. He simply lives in a different world than we do. Since he possesses such overwhelming power, the superpowers won't be able to mess with the Korean Empire like they used to, even if he becomes Emperor. Think about it. Who would dare antagonize a monster who blew away an S-rank monster in a single blow?"
"I don't view Lord Roman Dmitry's cruelty in a negative light. He told us clearly: he severely punishes his enemies to eliminate any possibility of his people being put in danger. We are 'his people,' so what is there to worry about? In fact, as soon as the civil war ended, he took care of the victims first."
The people believed in Roman Dmitry.
The mere fact that, unlike the Central Government, he had not turned a blind eye to their suffering was reason enough to trust and follow him.
Throughout the repeated Great Disasters, South Korea had never resolved its crises so peacefully.
Although much blood had been spilled during the civil war, at the very least, no city had been destroyed by monsters.
And there was one thing everyone agreed upon.
"In chaotic times, we don't need a merciful and gentle leader. Such a leader might bring about an era of great peace during peaceful times, but in a situation like today, where countless people die worldwide every single day, we need a beast-like leader who can guide the nation with strength. Roman Dmitry is the perfect leader for this chaotic era. No matter what concerns people might have, it is an undeniable fact that he saved this country from the 6th Great Disaster."
A new leader.
It would still take time for everyone to fully accept Roman Dmitry.
However, the people were certain of one thing.
They all shared the belief that, unlike under the Central Government, the future ruled by Roman Dmitry would at least be safe.
As the chaos of the Great Disaster was being settled, South Korea—no, the Korean Empire—was welcoming change.
* * *
A true rags-to-riches story.
That was Gu Cheol-ho.
He, who used to run a small-to-medium-sized mercenary guild that would have been treated as a mere labor service agency in the past, was now sitting in a lavish office with his own nameplate on the desk. The Mayor of Seoul. His head was spinning. Adrenaline surged wildly through his veins, and his loyalty to Roman Dmitry exploded.
To him, Park Gi-tae gave a stern warning.
"Guild Leader... no, Mayor. I understand you're happy about your promotion, but Emperor Roman Dmitry is a man of clear rewards and punishments. This is an unprecedented appointment, as anyone can see. If you fail to perform your duties, what do you think will happen? Your downfall will happen in the blink of an eye, and it will draw criticism toward Emperor Roman Dmitry as well."
"...Then what should we do from now on?"
"It's simple. We just need to faithfully carry out the duties assigned to us. Seoul will fall into chaos due to the relocation of the capital, and you were chosen to quiet that chaos. Just by resolving conflicts among the people and stabilizing Seoul, Emperor Roman Dmitry will deem us useful."
Park Gi-tae.
He certainly possessed an outstanding ability to read the situation.
When Roman Dmitry was still being underestimated, the sole reason Cheongsan had remained in Incheon was entirely due to Park Gi-tae's advice.
And Gu Cheol-ho knew his own reality.
Listening closely to the words of people like Park Gi-tae, he organized the tasks he had to do.
"Gi-tae. I really want to do well. So please, stay by my side and point it out immediately if I'm doing something wrong."
"Understood."
Starting the very next day, a long line of visitors sought out Gu Cheol-ho.
As they entered this era of upheaval, the guilds of Seoul scrambled to secure their own futures. Naturally, Mayor Gu Cheol-ho was the first person they needed to win over. They approached him with various proposals. Some offered their guild's military strength in exchange for benefits, while others tried to intimidate him by boasting of their guild's power. Facing the countless people pressuring him, Gu Cheol-ho spoke firmly.
"Denied. From now on, Seoul will grant benefits primarily to the guilds that work for the sake of this city. If you are dissatisfied with this, leave Seoul. In the new future envisioned by Emperor Roman Dmitry, I, Gu Cheol-ho, will not tolerate those who ruin the nation for their personal greed."
Giant guilds?
He wasn't scared of them at all.
Compared to Roman Dmitry, who sliced off the heads of hostile forces in a single stroke, there was absolutely no reason to be intimidated by them.
No matter how scary they were, no matter how strong they were, could they possibly compare to Roman Dmitry?
Gu Cheol-ho was like an AI robot.
He perfectly followed the system laid out by Roman Dmitry. Knowing his own shortcomings, he listened carefully to those who excelled in their respective fields, like Park Gi-tae. He was incredibly happy just to be in his current position. Therefore, he held onto the lifeline that was Roman Dmitry with all his might.
When Gu Cheol-ho first took office, people whispered:
Seoul would go downhill, and regardless of Roman Dmitry's martial prowess, his ability to run a country was still highly questionable.
But could they have ever anticipated it?
Roman Dmitry had achieved supreme reign in both of his lives.
To him, a man who had ruled over countless subjects and brought about eras of great peace, running a nation was not something to be doubted.
In the near future, the day would come when the question marks people held about figures like Gu Cheol-ho would turn into exclamation points.
* * *
A few days passed.
Though it was a short time, the Korean Empire adapted rapidly to the changes.
Among them, there were three key points.
First was the prosperity of Incheon.
After Incheon was designated as the capital, giant guilds like Min Chan-gi's Heavenly Sword Guild wished to affiliate themselves with the city. Kim Jun-hyeok willingly accepted them. He used the money they invested to carry out city development projects. In particular, he established the Guardian Battalion led by Kang Min-ho, beginning the full-scale training of Incheon's soldiers.
This was related to the second point.
Roman Dmitry announced his future plans to the people.
"We will stabilize the provincial systems and establish a framework to resolve issues like food supply internally. Do not fear the existence of monsters. The new Central Government will spare no support to ensure that the entire Korean Empire can focus on their daily lives. Furthermore, six months from now, once the Korean Empire is fully established, we will launch a subjugation campaign against North Korea and Jeju Island, which are currently teeming with monsters."
North Korea and Jeju Island.
These were lands that had fallen to the monsters.
As a result, whenever a Great Disaster occurred, they always erupted with immense danger like active volcanoes. Yet, Roman Dmitry declared that he would resolve this issue with the power of the Korean Empire. It was an unprecedented move. It was a problem that even the superpowers dared not tackle, but Roman Dmitry did not hesitate in his decision.
Finally, the third point.
This was a part that had not been made public.
Through his experience in the civil war, Roman Dmitry had once again turned his attention to the existence of China.
‘The Central Plains Murim where I lived and this China are different worlds. In fact, the Chinese Emperor of that era viewed the Central Plains Murim as an eyesore and even carried out a policy to exterminate martial artists. In this new world, I looked into the existence of Murim, but history showed that no such world ever existed. The people of this era also perceive the martial arts of Murim not as modern techniques, but as the skills of an Inheritor. However, the man named Xiao Long whom I met was undoubtedly a martial artist. There is something here. If I investigate them, I will be able to find traces of Murim.’
Xiao Long's sudden shift in attitude.
Roman did not believe it was simply because the man had sensed his defeat.
There had been a look of discovery in his eyes, and Roman Dmitry had not missed that fleeting moment.
For that reason, he established an intelligence unit centered around Park Gi-tae.
Roman Dmitry highly valued Park Gi-tae's abilities.
From now on, while assisting Gu Cheol-ho, Park Gi-tae would use the intelligence unit to investigate China, including Xiao Long.
In truth, the subjugation of North Korea was a sensitive issue that also concerned China.
The leadership expressed worry over it, but Roman Dmitry was not concerned about China in the slightest.
Even if the lineage of Murim still remained in China, they would not be able to handle him.
After all, during the golden age of the Central Plains Murim, the one who ruled over that world was none other than the Heavenly Demon, Baek Joong-hyuk.
In this era of upheaval, amidst the rapid changes, a piece of news struck the Korean Empire.
[LA... LA has fallen!]
The USA was a Red Point.
Under the relentless onslaught of monsters, the massive city of LA had ultimately failed to hold out and collapsed.
Korea had regained peace.
But globally, the Great Disaster was not yet over.