Chapter 535: Traces of a Past Life (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 535: Traces of a Past Life (5)
The 1st International Conference had ended in an absolute mess.
Because the United States and China—the two superpowers leading the World Government—opposed the motion, the assembly failed to reach a consensus on punishing Roman Dmitry. It was an absurd situation. The US and China mixed like oil and water; they never agreed on anything. Yet this time, both nations merely cleared their throats and refused to dispute the other's stance.
In the end, the presiding official announced, "With this, we shall conclude the 1st International Conference. The 2nd International Conference will convene in a few days. At that time, we will summon Roman Dmitry himself—the individual who violated international law—to reach a final verdict."
The meeting concluded with the decision to summon the protagonist of this entire incident: Roman Dmitry.
Disappointed by the unexpected outcome, French President Patrice stormed out of the conference room, his face twisted in sheer fury.
"Those damn bastards. Usually, they throw a fit over the most minor violation of international law, preaching about how there are no exceptions. Just what on earth is Roman Dmitry to them that they'd defend him to this extent? There must be some kind of backroom deal going on. But things won't go their way."
"Indeed, sir. We cannot let this slide," an aide chimed in.
Patrice moved to a secure, private room and immediately contacted the Maron Sect.
"...And that is how the situation turned out."
[For China and the United States to oppose it... The US is one thing, but China is quite unexpected.]
On the other side of the screen was Sebastian. He, too, was highly displeased.
By mobilizing the followers of the Maron Sect—which included the leaders of France and Brazil—he believed he could easily set the stage to punish Roman Dmitry. It should have been a simple task. Since international law had clear, rigid standards, not even the United States could protect Roman Dmitry unconditionally.
The problem was China. Their sudden change of heart was entirely unexpected.
[Like Roman Dmitry, China has proclaimed itself an empire ruled by an emperor. They are an existence that displeases Him, which is why I thought we could use them as a weapon to bring Roman Dmitry down. That was a miscalculation. I do not know what on earth China is thinking by defending him, but regardless, we cannot allow any element that might interfere with His descent. Patrice.]
"I am listening."
[Prepare for the 2nd International Conference by any means necessary. Roman Dmitry must be designated as a target for punishment. If he refuses to accept the verdict there, we will mobilize the entire world to eliminate South Korea. At that point, no one will be able to defend a man who refuses to follow the laws set by humanity.]
The original plan was to use barbarians to control barbarians.
Sebastian had intended to instigate a conflict between China and South Korea, but the plan fell through the moment China backed out. Still, he had no intention of backing down. In the future envisioned by the Maron Sect, both China and South Korea were existences that had to be destroyed anyway. He needed to take this opportunity to devise a way to deal with both of them at once.
Patrice bowed his head. "Understood. I will see to it!"
The French President.
The Brazilian President.
The staff preparing for the conference.
Even the street sweepers cleaning the roads outside at this very hour.
They were all members of the Maron Sect. That was the true, terrifying power of the Maron Sect. On the other side of the screen, Sebastian did not doubt for a single moment that they would ultimately triumph.
* * *
The United States was equally baffled.
Once they left the conference room and reached a secure area, the high-ranking officials accompanying US President John Harrison spoke with troubled expressions.
"What on earth is China thinking? This is completely different from their usual modus operandi."
"My thoughts exactly."
Over the years, the United States and China had clashed at every turn. In the first place, there was no way for China—which styled itself an empire ruled by an emperor—and the United States—the world's greatest superpower—to maintain an amicable relationship. This time should have been no different. Harrison had assumed that if the Maron Sect and China drove the narrative together, the United States wouldn't be able to defend Roman Dmitry on its own.
Thus, he had intended to step back slightly to avoid taking on the burden of responsibility. However, Wang Wiryong's sudden intervention had completely turned the tide.
The two superpowers. Once their intentions aligned, the rest of the world's nations had no choice but to fall in line. On the surface, Wang Wiryong spoke of world peace, but John Harrison was not foolish enough to believe such empty rhetoric.
"The Wang Wiryong I know is not a man who compromises," Harrison said. "He slaughtered countless enemies on his path to the throne, proving he will stop at nothing to maintain his absolute power. Yet, he is defending Roman Dmitry—a man who claims to be an emperor just like him. There must be something we don't know."
He was certain of it. He didn't buy China's sudden goodwill for a second.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through John Harrison's mind.
"The Maron Sect has always resented China's existence. They deny the legitimacy of an emperor and have openly stated that China is a threat to the 'One' they serve. Perhaps China is defending Roman Dmitry simply to keep the Maron Sect in check. China has protected itself so far because it has immense power, but Roman Dmitry is just beginning to build his strength, making him a prime target for the Maron Sect. If Roman Dmitry preserves his forces, a war between the Maron Sect and the Korean Empire could lead to their mutual destruction."
It was the most plausible hypothesis.
In any case, extensive preparation was needed before the second conference. Given the sheer scale of Roman Dmitry's power as assessed by the intelligence department, the United States had to steer its relationship with him in a friendly direction.
John Harrison issued his orders. "Mobilize the entire intelligence department to uncover China's plans. And request a communication link with the Korean Empire immediately."
Roman Dmitry. A conversation with him was absolutely necessary right now.
* * *
Immediately following the LA Incident, Roman Dmitry returned home in glory.
Massive crowds gathered, cheering and chanting Roman Dmitry's name. It was a natural reaction. The Korean Empire had been suffering from the Great Disasters, but Roman Dmitry had not only resolved the empire's crisis but also elevated the nation's global prestige by single-handedly defeating an SS-Rank monster. It was a deeply moving moment. Knowing that a being like Roman Dmitry was the leader of their nation, the people couldn't help but be ecstatic.
Immediately upon his return, Roman Dmitry summoned his leadership. Although the Great Disaster had concluded, he knew the international community would not simply accept the Korean Empire's sudden rise to power.
Kim Jun-hyeok spoke up. "The concerning part is the violation of international law. The World Government has never allowed exceptions when it comes to international law, so they will likely try to punish us for staging a rebellion during the Great Disaster. Especially now that the Korean Empire has proven its strength, they are highly likely to view this violation as a golden opportunity to suppress us."
"The atmosphere in the United States is also unusual. While the US government is friendly toward us, the Maron Sect is leading the charge to punish Your Imperial Majesty."
The Maron Sect.
Roman Dmitry was well aware of its existence. It was a peculiar faction. When he first heard of them, he had shown some interest in their actions, as they seemed to be reciting his past biography. But he quickly concluded they were frauds. Maron Dmitry? Whether it was an anagram or a poor translation, there was no reason to believe the words of people who couldn't even figure out his real name. Kim Jun-hyeok had also mentioned that while the Maron Sect's influence was immense ten years ago, many people no longer believed their rhetoric, advising him against trusting them blindly.
Reciting his past deeds... If they were an Inheritor, it was entirely possible. In this place that had assimilated Dmitry's world, a scam like the Maron Sect was highly plausible.
If they were truly related to him—if they were someone who had experienced his past life—then, just like Alexander, they should have run to him and knelt the moment they heard the name 'Roman Dmitry'.
Of course, he intended to uncover the truth behind the Maron Sect eventually. Since their leader kept his whereabouts strictly hidden, Roman had instructed the intelligence department to continuously investigate them in the shadows.
Roman Dmitry finally spoke. "As you say, the international conference will be held. They will discuss my punishment there, but we will not take any preemptive action. I intend to stabilize the empire's internal security and simply wait for the outcome of the conference."
It was a reckless decision. By the time the final results came out, the Korean Empire would not be able to reverse the situation.
However, no one questioned him.
Given the path Roman Dmitry had walked, Kim Jun-hyeok and the others merely offered their objective opinions while maintaining absolute, blind faith in their emperor. The achievements this man had accomplished in such a short time defied all common sense. For those who followed Roman Dmitry like a god, the miracles he had performed thus far served as the unshakable foundation of their faith.
Sure enough, a few days later, the moment the 1st International Conference ended, the United States requested a communication link.
* * *
On the other side of the screen was the President of the United States, John Harrison. As soon as the connection was established, he got straight to the point.
[...This is the current situation. Other nations will undoubtedly demand the punishment of the Korean Empire at the 2nd International Conference, and the United States cannot oppose them forever. International law is a code agreed upon by nations worldwide. Opposing it without proper justification would cause the United States to lose credibility in the international community. So, give us that justification. If the Korean Empire enters into an alliance with the United States, we will gladly defy the general consensus and defend you.]
It was a transaction with a clear, calculated purpose.
The United States had decided it needed time. They needed enough time to fully grasp Roman Dmitry's monstrous power and determine their future course of action. Until then, they wanted to align themselves with him. Since Roman Dmitry had previously suggested redefining their relationship, the United States was reaching out with an alliance first.
It wasn't a bad deal. The United States was the world's greatest superpower. If they took their side, the Korean Empire would have breathing room regardless of the conference's outcome.
However...
"I refuse."
[...Are you serious? If you reject our proposal, there is no way to prevent your punishment for violating international law.]
"Did I not make myself clear during our last communication? With our assistance in LA, the Korean Empire and the United States would forge an entirely new relationship. President John Harrison, there is no such thing as a 'rational transaction' in the new relationship I speak of. From now on, the Korean Empire will not engage in quid pro quo transactions. Instead, we will clearly distinguish those who are beneficial to us. We will never be the first to beg for help in exchange for special favors."
[You could put yourself in grave danger. This isn't a simple quid pro quo; it's a mutually beneficial partnership, isn't it?]
"Whether it is dangerous or not is a burden for the Korean Empire—and for me—to bear. But..."
Roman smiled. Even though the Korean Empire was clearly in a precarious position, Roman Dmitry appeared completely at ease.
"Do you truly believe the Korean Empire is in danger?"
The United States' proposal was flawed from the very start. The core premise—that the Korean Empire was in danger—did not align with the grand picture Roman Dmitry envisioned.
Thus, he refused. He had no reason to accept the United States' offer. To resolve the problem before them, he would prove that the Korean Empire needed no one's help.
And so...
"I will see you at the 2nd International Conference."
Click.
Roman Dmitry cut the communication.
* * *
Inside the room where the communication had just taken place, the leadership of the Korean Empire stood with complicated expressions.
Although they trusted Roman Dmitry implicitly, they couldn't understand why he had rejected the United States' offer. The US was a superpower. If they secured its backing, the Korean Empire could handle international matters much more easily.
Creak.
Roman Dmitry leaned back in his chair. As if he had just swatted away a fly, he spoke in a relaxed, indifferent voice.
"The way of the world is quite amusing. Until now, the relationship between the Korean Empire and the United States was clearly one of superior and subordinate. Though they claimed to be equal allies, the sheer difference in national power could not be ignored. The Korean Empire always yearned for the help of superpowers, and that unspoken reality defined our relationship. I have no intention of criticizing that past. However, now that the situation has changed, there is no reason for us to maintain a subservient position."
It was an era of great upheaval. The Korean Empire was changing, but this was not a change that only the people of the Korean Empire had to accept. The rest of the world would have to adapt as well.
"Between the current Korean Empire and the United States, who do you think holds the upper hand? The United States could not resolve its own crisis and had to beg for my help. That is no different from how South Korea behaved in the past. This is the moment the relationship reverses. From now on, we must accustom ourselves to the rules of a reborn Korean Empire. So, watch what I do from here on out. Watch the words I speak, the actions I take, and the attitudes of those who receive them. See, hear, and experience all of it—and then decide what stance you must take in the future."
His presence swelled, filling the room. He was an absolute giant.
Though his subordinates did not know how Roman Dmitry had lived his past life, they wouldn't dare try to fathom his vast, ocean-like capacity.
"We will decide and judge all matters on our own. Not by the pressure of external factors, but solely by our own standards."
Just then, a member of the Royal Guards entered the room and bowed.
"Your Imperial Majesty. Chairman Wang Wiryong of China has requested a communication link."
Following the United States, now it was China. Just as Roman had said, this proved that the global power dynamic was rapidly shifting.
While the South Korea of the past would have panicked in such a pressing situation, Roman Dmitry reacted calmly, as if forcing reality itself to bend to his will.
"Tell him to wait. Our meeting is not over yet."
In that instant, the leadership swallowed hard.
South Korea—no, the Korean Empire—was changing.