Chapter 547: Law of the Jungle (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 547: Law of the Jungle (8)
Roman Dmitry’s visit was not a surprise attack.
As if he were an invited guest, he appeared boldly at the main gate and requested a meeting with Markov.
"This is a trap. Unless Roman Dmitry has gone mad, why would he walk into the jaws of death of his own accord?"
Markov shared his subordinate's thought.
Russia’s military power was heavily concentrated in Moscow, and the moment Roman Dmitry set foot here, he was not meant to leave alive. Therefore, he clearly had an ulterior motive. He could be using the meeting as a pretext to get close and assassinate Markov in order to overturn their disadvantageous situation. Only an intention like that could explain his actions.
He was about to refuse.
He saw no need to invite unnecessary danger, but as if reading his mind, the reporting soldier spoke up.
"Roman Dmitry stated that, staking the honor of the Korean Empire, he swears there will be no assassination attempts."
It was absurd.
Roman had drawn the line first. This meant he had truly come solely for a meeting—a situation Markov could not comprehend at all. Yet, he didn't think Roman Dmitry was lying. Though he hadn't known him for long, Roman Dmitry had consistently displayed incredibly bold behavior. People with such absolute self-belief never went back on their word. With that in mind, Markov thought he might be able to exploit this situation.
Markov spoke.
"I do not know what purpose Roman Dmitry has in seeking me out, but he acts with insolent confidence, as if entering Russia’s stronghold poses no threat to him. As long as we prepare for any assassination attempt, I will not be in danger. No, rather, we might be able to end Roman Dmitry’s life right here."
It was a shift in perspective.
An opportunity.
Only Roman Dmitry had made a promise; Markov had never declared that he wouldn't harm him. Of course, it would be dangerous. Markov was voluntarily acting as bait, but if Genazzit was still active, he needed to buy enough time for them to seize the teleportation magic circle.
It was a suitable move in many ways.
Now that Roman Dmitry had shackled himself, there was no reason not to invite him in.
"Order the entire army to battle readiness immediately. We will bring Roman Dmitry here, and no matter what conversation takes place, we will not let him leave alive. Do not let your guard down. Our opponent is a monster who defeated an SS-Rank Vampire Lord. Even if we lose countless troops in this battle, as long as we can kill Roman Dmitry, the rest of South Korea’s rabble will pose no threat at all."
He smirked.
What a fool.
Overconfidence would plunge Roman Dmitry into the abyss.
‘Perhaps we can end this war even without the World Government stepping in.’
His smile deepened.
With a relaxed expression, Markov began to picture the soon-to-appear Roman Dmitry in his mind.
*
A vast, open plaza.
Russia’s forces were assembled there.
Their numbers reached well over a hundred thousand, standing in perfect ranks, waiting solely for Markov’s command.
From an enemy’s perspective, it was a chilling sight. It was impossible for a weak nation’s forces to face such a massive army, and the intense aura they exuded overwhelmed the entire space.
This was clearly a place of death.
A place that should never permit an enemy’s footsteps, yet from afar, a single man walked toward it.
Step, step.
Neither slow.
Nor fast.
Though the eyes of the crowd followed his every step through the ranks, Roman Dmitry accepted their gazes as if they were nothing. The word "spectacle" seemed tailored for a moment like this. Over a hundred thousand troops and a single enemy. It was a situation that defied common sense. The soldiers tried not to openly display their hostility, but from the moment the order for battle readiness was issued, the glares they cast at Roman Dmitry were far from friendly.
Like a powder keg ready to explode, the atmosphere boiled.
Roman Dmitry calmly weathered their hostility and soon reached the seat Markov had prepared.
"Sit, for now."
Across the solitary table, Markov sat.
Behind Markov, Russia’s S-Rank Hunters stood guard, looking as if they couldn't believe Roman Dmitry's audacity. All of them were highly renowned figures. In particular, Vladimir of the Red Blood was hailed as Russia’s greatest hunter, having slaughtered tens of thousands of monsters single-handedly when the 4th Great Disaster broke out.
Screeech.
Roman Dmitry pulled out his chair and sat opposite him.
Seeing him completely disregard the fact that he was in enemy territory, Markov spoke with a cold, sunken face.
"Roman Dmitry. With war already declared, why have you come to see me in person?"
It was a direct question.
He was trying to gauge his intentions.
At that, Roman Dmitry chuckled.
He found it utterly pathetic.
"From your complacent decision to accept my request, I realized that you overrate yourselves quite highly, Markov. You must have thought this meeting was the perfect opportunity to kill me. You judged that as long as I—the one who defeated the Vampire Lord—am gone, the Korean Empire would pose no threat."
Shlick. Shlick, shlick.
Behind Markov, the guards readied their weapons for combat.
Roman Dmitry’s words had put them all on edge.
"That is why I am here. With me facing you directly, I wonder if Russia, a great power recognized by the world, can truly crush the Korean Empire. Aren’t you curious to see how it turns out?"
"...What is that supposed to mean?"
"It is simple. I will do absolutely nothing for the next hour. While I do not intervene, will Russia be able to crush the Korean Empire as you expect? I will not force you to stay tied down here, either. You may use any means necessary, but I will not move a single step for one hour."
A crack appeared in Markov’s expression.
He was insolent.
He was arrogant.
Roman Dmitry’s words struck a nerve in Markov’s pride.
"Are you seriously trying to prove South Korea’s strength against Russia? Fine. I accept your proposal. The only reason South Korea is even recognized is because of you alone, yet you believe they can hold out against Russia without your direct intervention? Let us watch and see what kind of result we get."
Markov did not back down.
Rather, he saw it as an opportunity.
The meeting of two giants.
Time passed.
Without exchanging any further words, they simply let the minutes slip away as they stared at each other.
However, as time went on, the Russian side grew increasingly frantic.
A high-ranking officer approached and whispered to Markov several times.
"...Mr. President. The Chinese army has changed direction and is destroying cities in the eastern region."
"The White-haired Mage has defeated Jima. No matter how many troops we deploy, we repeatedly fail to stop the White-haired Mage. At this rate, it is only a matter of time before other cities fall to him."
"Mr. President, you must make a decision. With Russia’s main forces kept here in Moscow, there is no way to stop those two monsters, the White-haired Mage and Wang Wiryong."
Continuous defeats.
Markov barely managed to maintain his composure.
He could not accept the fact that Russia was being pushed back this much while Roman Dmitry remained completely still.
It was then.
"It seems Genazzit has been wiped out."
At that final report, Markov’s heart sank.
*
Markov could not understand Roman Dmitry.
While Markov was receiving real-time information, Roman Dmitry was spending his time in perfect tranquility, receiving no outside news whatsoever. A complex mix of emotions washed over Markov. In reality, everything was unfolding exactly as Roman Dmitry had intended.
Genazzit’s surprise attack had been annihilated, Wang Wiryong was living up to his reputation while leading the Chinese forces, and the White-haired Mage—whom Markov had dismissed as a mere individual—was proving to be the greatest variable in this war.
Not a single victory was permitted.
Only then did the truth before his eyes become clear.
The fact that Roman Dmitry showed up in Moscow means that, if he had wanted to, he could have attacked the heart of Moscow at any time. Yet, the reason he went out of his way to find me and make such a proposal is that South Korea is boldly trying to prove its true strength to the world against Russia.
Irritation welled up inside him.
He needed an extraordinary measure.
Even if it meant losing face, he had to dispatch Russia’s main army to somehow wipe out the White-haired Mage and the Chinese forces.
It was then that Roman Dmitry spoke.
"Judging by your expression, it seems your plans aren't going as desired."
"..."
Markov did not answer.
As he glared at him with cold eyes, Roman Dmitry continued, completely unbothered.
"Markov. There is no compromise in the relationship between the Korean Empire and Russia. The reason I did not take your head when you were prattling about international law at the international conference was because, even if that law was unjust, you at least followed legal procedures to demand my punishment. However, the moment you bypassed those procedures and launched a surprise attack on the Korean Empire, the situation changed. It means this war will only end when one of us—you or I—is dead."
Killing intent converged.
This place was enemy territory.
The guards behind Markov and the hundreds of thousands of troops lined up behind Roman Dmitry—all of them possessed eyes gleaming with murderous intent. Though they looked ready to pounce the moment an order was given, Roman Dmitry did not stop speaking.
"I will make you a new proposal now. I will give you another hour. Summon all of Russia’s forces, as well as the troops of your allied powers like France. In one hour, I intend to face Russia’s entire military might right here. What do you say? If I die here, the Korean Empire will humbly accept its defeat. Of course, if you accept my proposal, from that moment on, I can no longer keep any promise to spare your life."
It was a statement that openly looked down on Russia.
Markov's patience reached its limit.
This time, he absolutely could not let it slide.
Slam!
He kicked back his chair and stood up.
Markov shouted, his face flushed red.
"You miserable insect. I will make sure you regret this proposal."
*
Roman Dmitry’s proposal had deeply wounded his pride.
Markov knew what kind of exploits Roman had achieved during the Great Disaster, but the idea of him facing the entirety of Russia alone was absurd. Furthermore, telling him to call as many reinforcements as he wanted was pure arrogance. In his heart, Markov wanted to execute Roman Dmitry using Russia’s power alone, but he had to prepare for any contingency.
He contacted Patrice.
Starting with France, he intended to request support from their allies one by one.
However...
[I am sorry. France has no intention of intervening in this war.]
"What on earth do you mean by that?! It is public knowledge that President Patrice follows the Maron Sect. I heard the Maron Sect is hostile to Roman Dmitry, so is there any better opportunity than this?!"
He was frustrated.
What in the world did this mean?
Even if Patrice was a coward, backing out in a situation like this was incomprehensible.
[That is correct. That is why we intended to help Russia, but that was only viable when a 'surprise attack' would work. President Markov, don't you think the situation is strange? South Korea effortlessly blocked Genazzit's surprise attack, and Wang Wiryong's Chinese forces and the White-haired Mage are laying waste to Russia. Roman Dmitry possesses power far beyond what we imagined. At this point, when we have not yet fully grasped Roman Dmitry's capabilities, we judged that attacking him rashly might cause the entire Maron Sect to collapse. This is something the 'Cult Leader' has also agreed upon.]
In just a few hours, the situation had completely reversed.
Sebastian had intended to use France to join the war, but he changed his plans upon seeing Russia being pushed back so helplessly. The situation was worse than expected. The Maron Sect was humanity's hope. Judging that if they lost their foundation through a rash choice, His advent would be forever impossible, Sebastian made his decision.
France and the Maron Sect took a step back.
They acknowledged Roman Dmitry’s strength and decided they needed to approach him more cautiously, rather than acting rashly now.
[Why were you so hasty? This is a matter for Russia to handle.]
Click.
The communication cut off.
Markov's heart sank.
This was completely different from the plan.
Markov hurriedly contacted other countries, and as if they had coordinated their responses, every single one of them gave the exact same answer. They replied that this war had nothing to do with them. Some leaders even pointed out Russia’s actions in violating international law.
Their intentions were clear.
Whether Russia won or the Korean Empire won, the other countries had nothing to lose.
Although common sense dictated that Russia had the advantage, they all stepped back to watch the situation unfold, preparing for any potential fallout.
"...Those damn bastards."
Markov’s face turned pale.
Russia alone had to deal with the Korean Empire and Roman Dmitry.
Although his belief that Russia held the advantage remained unchanged, an ominous feeling arose from Roman Dmitry’s confident stride into the heart of the motherland. What on earth was he relying on to act like this? No matter how powerful he was, it made no sense for a single individual to take on an entire nation, let alone a superpower.
Russia is strong. Our history proves it, and we will surely win this war.
He turned around.
With Russia’s military power concentrated in Moscow, he steeled his resolve.
He firmly believed they could win.
He walked outside, and just then, he saw Roman Dmitry rising from his seat.
And then—
"One hour. The promised time is up."
Shring.
Roman Dmitry drew his sword.