Chapter 527: Eye of the Storm (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 527: Eye of the Storm (3)
This operation.
The fate of LA hung in the balance.
For General Benjamin, who absolutely had to succeed, agreeing to Roman Dmitry's recklessness was entirely out of the question.
"This is too reckless. Going into enemy territory alone? The Vampire Lord is confirmed to be at least an S-rank threat, and there are tens of thousands of hosts guarding the surrounding area. How on earth do you plan to handle such a monster by yourself?"
"General Benjamin. Why do you think the US government asked for my help?"
"I heard it was because of your record of defeating an S-rank monster in a single blow."
"Indeed. I defeated an S-rank monster in a single blow. So let me ask you again: what is the basis of your judgment?"
"T-That is..."
He was at a loss for words.
An existence that transcended S-rank.
To Roman Dmitry, the yardstick of common sense was utterly meaningless.
Since defeating an S-rank monster in a single blow was already considered impossible by normal standards, discussing the recklessness of this operation simply didn't apply to him. Benjamin understood what Roman was getting at. Roman was asking why Benjamin deemed the operation impossible when Roman himself explicitly stated it wasn't.
In truth, he wanted to believe him.
If Roman could handle it alone, there would be no scenario more ideal than that.
"I violated international law in the process of annexing the Korean Empire. The US government reached out to me first, fully aware of this fact, because they judged that I could resolve this crisis. None of us are ignorant of the underlying interests in this deal. I accepted the proposal knowing full well that the US government will condemn the Korean Empire the moment the Great Disaster is resolved, and the US government also knows this deal will solidify the Korean Empire's position. General Benjamin, if I were weak, or if the US government had any leeway, this deal would never have happened. The reason I am standing here is because I, Roman Dmitry, can solve the problem that the United States could not handle."
He was wildly arrogant.
His opponent was the United States.
Yet, even when facing the world's greatest superpower, Roman Dmitry looked down on them with unyielding arrogance.
And Benjamin could not refute him.
Because Roman Dmitry spoke based on undeniable facts, Benjamin could not deny the reality of his overwhelming power.
"Above all, this operation is entirely disadvantageous to the United States. Since the Vampire Lord uses people as thralls, your soldiers will inevitably feel guilt when dealing with their own citizens. Especially soldiers born and raised in LA—if they face even a slightly familiar face, they will hesitate. I am different. I will slaughter every single enemy that stands in my way. If you wish, I will not stop you from clearing a path. However, I must be the only one to face the Vampire Lord. Not for any special reason, but simply because I cannot allow you to get in the way of my fight."
An obstacle.
The soldiers of the United States, and the S-rank hunters who would soon arrive—Roman Dmitry treated them all as mere obstacles.
To those who had not yet accepted reality, Roman Dmitry settled the matter once and for all.
"I came here because I was paid, and you only need to receive my help as agreed. Do not make the arrogant mistake of thinking you can actually do anything."
He forced them to face reality.
He overwhelmed everyone in the room.
At that sight, from one side of the conference room, Park Min-woo looked at Roman Dmitry with a deeply moved expression.
* * *
Before leaving for LA, Roman Dmitry reviewed the information on the city.
Seeing him examine it so meticulously, Park Min-woo asked out of genuine curiosity.
"...Why are you examining it so closely? They won't even be able to withstand a single strike anyway."
S-rank?
SS-rank?
SSS-rank?
What meaning did such classifications have?
They were utterly meaningless in front of the Heavenly Demon.
To Park Min-woo's question, Roman Dmitry replied:
"Regardless of my strength, variables can always arise. The difference between a perfect victory and an imperfect one is determined by one's attitude toward preparing for those variables. I desire a perfect victory. I will not leave even a shred of leeway, ensuring that after this incident in the United States, no one will ever dare look down on the Korean Empire again."
In that instant, Park Min-woo felt as if an arrow had pierced his heart.
This was exactly it.
This was why he wanted to follow the Heavenly Demon.
In his past life, Park Min-woo had existed as Alexander. He had spent many years preparing for the conquest of the continent, believing that the summit was finally within his grasp. Yet, he had suffered a complete defeat at the hands of Roman Dmitry. Even though Roman Dmitry had only been given a few years, Alexander had been utterly crushed by his thorough preparation.
Now, he saw the truth.
Despite being so overwhelmingly strong that none dared approach him, Roman Dmitry never let his guard down.
Because Roman never allowed even a sliver of leeway, Alexander had never been able to win against him. Not even once.
And now, a shiver ran down his spine.
You bastards. You should fall to your knees and worship the Heavenly Demon right now! The world's greatest superpower? The Thousand Trillion Nation? What does any of that matter? In front of the Heavenly Demon, you're all just mediocre bugs anyway.
He struggled to suppress his laughter.
A line had been drawn in the conference room.
Roman Dmitry on one side, and everyone else on the other.
Since he was the only one standing on Roman Dmitry's side in this room, he felt an unspeakably immense sense of security. What if Benjamin got angry and flipped the table? The United States would meet its doom that very day. If they tucked their tails and accepted Roman Dmitry's operation, the Vampire Lord's head would be severed in a single blow, elevating the prestige of the Korean Empire.
No matter what happened, Roman Dmitry was the answer.
There was no possibility of defeat.
To think those Dmitry bastards monopolized such a reliable Heavenly Demon Coin all to themselves. Those jerks. If they had told me from the start that Lord Roman Dmitry was the Heavenly Demon, I would have slapped the Demon King across the face and shouted, "Advent of the Heavenly Demon, Submission of Ten Thousand Demons!"
Such were Park Min-woo's inner thoughts.
In the very same room, he harbored entirely different thoughts from everyone else. Unlike the increasingly serious atmosphere, Park Min-woo was genuinely enjoying this moment.
It was then.
"I understand what you mean, but we still cannot agree to such a reckless operation."
A voice spoiled the mood.
Park Min-woo glared at Captain Carter with a fierce gaze.
* * *
Roman Dmitry's statement had an impact.
Feeling as though Roman might truly handle the Vampire Lord all by himself, Carter decided he had to disrupt the situation.
"What we are worried about is the worst-case scenario. It would be wonderful if Lord Roman Dmitry could handle the Vampire Lord alone, but if you fail, we won't be able to salvage the situation. Why on earth are you taking the hard way when there is an easy path? Are you trying to claim all the glory for this? If not, then join forces with us. The LA Response Team will lend our strength, so can't we just work together and deal with the enemy easily?"
He was trying to hitch a free ride.
He was subtly trying to piggyback on Roman's success.
Roman Dmitry looked at Carter.
Carter flinched under that sharp gaze, but Roman reacted with unexpected calmness.
"If you insist, I won't stop you. However, I am merely fulfilling my deal with the US government; I have no intention of guaranteeing your safety on the battlefield. If you agree to that, you are welcome to join the operation."
"Are you looking down on us—"
"Thank you very much!"
Carter flared up. He was about to ask if Roman was looking down on the United States, but he had no choice but to snap his mouth shut as Benjamin cut him off.
Roman Dmitry's words were correct.
If he truly resolved the crisis in LA, there was no reason to get worked up and try to stop his operation. Above all, Benjamin believed in the reason the US government had chosen him. If Roman Dmitry were just an ordinary figure, they wouldn't have proposed a deal while taking on massive burdens like violating international law.
Furthermore...
The higher-ups did say that if there are those who attack South Korea, there is a high probability they belong to the Maron Sect.
Captain Carter was highly suspicious.
He was capable enough to hold a crucial role in the LA Response Team, yet he reacted with extreme sensitivity to matters concerning South Korea. The possibility of him being a member of the Maron Sect could not be ruled out. Since the Maron Sect vehemently disapproved of South Korea changing its official name to the Korean Empire, Benjamin tactfully cut off the conversation.
For Benjamin, the safety of the United States came first.
Since he didn't care at all about who got the credit, Roman Dmitry's words actually inspired confidence in him.
Benjamin spoke.
"The LA Response Team will fully support everything you deem necessary, Lord Roman Dmitry. Once again, I am truly grateful that you did not turn a blind eye to America's peril. Regardless of the deal with the US government, I, Benjamin, and the city of LA will never forget your sacrifice."
* * *
The meeting concluded.
The operation would begin in about an hour.
Immediately after the reinforcements arrived, the LA Response Team would clear a path, and Roman Dmitry would eliminate the Vampire Lord.
After everyone else had left, Benjamin kept Carter behind.
"Captain Carter. Are you by any chance a follower of the Maron Sect?"
"What do you mean by..."
"I won't take issue with the fact that you are a follower of the Maron Sect. Although the Maron Sect occasionally shows radical tendencies, they are an organization that has had a significant influence on human development since the outbreak of the Great Disaster. However, do not sacrifice innocent citizens for the sake of the Maron Sect's beliefs. If South Korea withdraws its support because of your words and actions, LA will be forced into a dire situation."
Carter's eyes shook.
He hadn't expected to be called out so directly.
General Benjamin was a typically single-minded man. Because he cared solely for the safety of the United States, the massive city of LA had been entrusted to him.
"I will never tolerate any element that threatens this country. Captain Carter, you may have done a lot for this nation, but if you put everyone in danger for your personal beliefs, I will gladly send you to the execution block. Do you understand what I mean?"
"...Understood."
"Then you may leave."
Carter turned around. Watching his sturdy back as he walked out, Benjamin's eyes filled with complex emotions.
* * *
"Stupid bastard. Spouting nonsense when he doesn't even know what's right."
Carter's face contorted.
He was highly irritated.
People like Benjamin. Why on earth couldn't they understand the will of the Maron Sect? They gladly accepted the useful knowledge derived from The Scripture, so why did they ignore the most important parts?
The Heavenly Mandate exists in this world. The wheel of fate will turn, and in the end, He will descend upon this world to resolve all problems. The contents of The Scripture prove the future, yet even with the Maron Sect's efforts, the majority of people still cannot see an inch ahead. How frustrating. If I had more power than I do now, I would have unified the world and completed all preparations to welcome Him.
One in five Americans belonged to the Maron Sect.
People described that as a large number, but Carter lamented that it was only one out of five.
The Scripture of the Maron Sect. So much of it had already been proven true. Usually, people made a huge fuss if even one out of ten prophecies in so-called prophetic books came true, but many of the events described in The Scripture had been proven real over the past twenty years. If people studied the Maron Sect even a little, they would realize this was no mere illusion. As a blind believer in the Maron Sect, Carter found Benjamin's attitude deeply frustrating and infuriating.
For now, he kept walking.
Regardless of his anger, he had to prepare for the operation as a Captain of the United States.
But then, someone suddenly blocked his path.
It was the Mage in White.
The moment Carter looked at him with a questioning gaze, a fierce voice pierced his ears.
"Hey, you son of a bitch. Who the hell do you think you are to talk to His Majesty the Emperor like that?"
"...What?"
He was flustered.
He blinked.
The profanity spewing from Park Min-woo felt utterly surreal to Carter. Wasn't the Mage in White supposed to be the very definition of justice?
Thud.
Park Min-woo took a step forward.
Closing the distance until he could feel Carter's breath, Park Min-woo glared at him, radiating pure bloodlust.
"Is this bastard deaf? Are you out of your mind? How dare a piece of trash like you speak to His Majesty the Emperor in that tone?"
This was, truly, an incredibly baffling situation for Carter.