Chapter 557: Technological Revolution (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 557: Technological Revolution (4)
Park Cheol-min blinked in silence.
Staring at the man sitting across from him, he wondered if he was dreaming.
"I will get straight to the point. I heard His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry distributed swords as standard-issue gear to everyone in the Directly Controlled Unit. Is this true?"
The man asking the question was none other than Wang Wiryong. He was the Premier of China, widely considered the greatest swordsman in the world.
For someone like Park Cheol-min, this was not a man he could easily meet. Facing him directly was bewildering enough, but standing behind Wang Wiryong were figures who, while not quite on his level, were still world-renowned experts like Xiao Long. Their sharp gazes tracked his every move. The crushing pressure made Park Cheol-min acutely aware of his every blink and facial twitch.
Why on earth had they sought him out?
He had no prior connection with them and couldn't fathom their motives, but for now, he answered Wang Wiryong honestly.
"...It is true."
"And is it also true that the artisans of Miracle inspected these swords and praised them to the skies?"
"Yes. I knew it was incredible the moment His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry personally forged it for us. The artisans even said it possessed elements capable of sparking a technological revolution. But... why are you asking about this?"
Wang Wiryong was an ally. Park Cheol-min didn't sense any hostility, but he couldn't help his curiosity.
At that, Wang Wiryong gave a signal.
Thud.
Xiao Long placed something on the table. It was wrapped in cloth, but its long, slender shape made it obvious it was a sword.
Swish.
The cloth was pulled back. As its brilliant form was revealed, Wang Wiryong spoke with a faint smile.
"The name of this sword is the Yellow Dragon. If you have even the slightest interest in mana weapons, you must have heard of it. It was crafted with the utmost devotion by China's greatest artisan. It has the ability to amplify any skill by at least three stages. With meticulous detailing that doesn't compromise its durability as a steel weapon, people call the Yellow Dragon the absolute finest among S-rank weapons. I will give this sword to you."
"What?!"
He was astounded. Just as Wang Wiryong described, the Yellow Dragon was a masterpiece that represented the pinnacle of the mana weapon market.
It was a true treasure. He couldn't easily process the offer to just hand it over. His hands and feet began to tremble. The thought that the beautifully radiant Yellow Dragon could be his left Park Cheol-min utterly dazed.
"There is only one condition. You simply have to give me the sword you received as standard-issue gear."
Instantly, his expression froze as if cold water had been poured over him.
The Yellow Dragon was an incredibly tempting offer. Under normal circumstances, he would have accepted the trade in a heartbeat. But the standard-issue sword bestowed by Roman Dmitry was an entirely different matter.
"I am sorry."
"...You are rejecting the Yellow Dragon?"
"I know very well how incredible a weapon the Yellow Dragon is. However, even if the sword I was granted is considered 'standard-issue,' it is a weapon His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry personally crafted while taking my individual characteristics into account. It is a sword made solely for me. Furthermore, it carries the symbolism of achieving the renaming of the Korean Empire. How could I possibly give away such a sword? I apologize, but please act as if this offer was never made."
"I understand that you value its symbolism. However, even taking your individual characteristics into account, I do not believe the Yellow Dragon is inferior to that sword. In the end, the Yellow Dragon will grant you far greater advantages than a sword rated as a mere B-rank. The simple fact that you possess the Yellow Dragon will make the world look at you differently."
"If it is such an incredible sword, why are you trying to give it to me? If anything, I believe the Premier's offer only proves the true value of my own sword."
Wang Wiryong was left speechless.
He had assumed the other party would eagerly snap up the Yellow Dragon. He had rushed here in a heartbeat, determined to obtain the Heavenly Demon's sword by any means necessary, but he never expected to hit such a solid wall.
A brief silence ensued. Wang Wiryong spoke cautiously.
"The Yellow Dragon, plus five billion won."
"..."
"Plus ten billion won."
"..."
"Plus thirty billion won. No, name any condition you want. Whatever it is, I will grant it."
"I am sorry."
"Damn it!"
Wang Wiryong's face contorted in frustration. If he was rejected even after offering a blank check, it was practically impossible to purchase the sword through legitimate means.
Park Cheol-min stood up from his seat. With a final "I am sorry," he left without a trace of regret, as if there was no longer any need for conversation.
* * *
Wang Wiryong could not give up just like this.
Even if it wasn't Park Cheol-min, there were many others who possessed these swords. He sought out the members of the Directly Controlled Unit one by one to propose a trade.
The results were unanimous:
"I can absolutely never sell it."
"This sword is the symbol of the Directly Controlled Unit. The moment I sell it, I won't be able to face my comrades."
"I realized it while fighting in this war. I've decided to make this sword, which fits me perfectly, my soulmate. Premier Wang Wiryong, would you sell your soulmate no matter how much money was offered?"
"I am sorry."
A continuous string of rejections. Everyone turned down his offers.
Wang Wiryong made proposals that were truly eye-popping, but the members of the Directly Controlled Unit had realized exactly how valuable Roman Dmitry's swords were during the war.
On top of that, they carried immense symbolic value. They had held these swords back when the nation was still called South Korea. With these blades, they had cut down the enemies blocking Roman Dmitry, ultimately achieving the renaming of the Korean Empire. The members of the Directly Controlled Unit had resolved to join back when Incheon was at absolute rock bottom. Not a single one of them was willing to abandon such a crucial symbol.
Wang Wiryong's insides burned with anxiety.
When he first heard of the Heavenly Demon's sword, he believed he could finally fulfill his dream. If he could lay his hands on the sword of the Heavenly Demon that his ancestors had spoken of, performing the Heavenly Demon Sword Technique with it would be a literal dream come true.
Just imagining it made his heart swell with emotion. That was why he had prepared trade conditions involving the Yellow Dragon and tens of billions of won. He never dreamed that all thirty members of the Directly Controlled Unit would flatly reject his offers.
The rejections continued. The last one was Lee Tae-seong.
Since his sword was rated S-rank, Wang Wiryong knew he could never persuade him with an alternative like the Yellow Dragon. Still, he sought him out, clutching at straws.
As expected, he was rejected. However, he received a piece of top-secret information from Lee Tae-seong.
"If you want a sword made by His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry, there is going to be a major event in the Korean Empire in a month. His Majesty said he would exhibit and sell swords he personally crafted at that event. Rather than a sword custom-made for someone else, wouldn't it be better to purchase one made for the public? With the terms you offered me, Premier Wang, you will surely be able to beat out the competition and buy one."
Wang Wiryong's eyes widened.
Selling the Heavenly Demon's swords!
He felt as if he had found a lifeline. Although Wang Wiryong had no prior relationship with Lee Tae-seong, he eagerly grabbed his hand and spoke with utmost sincerity.
"I will never forget this favor. Never!"
That day, an order was handed down to the high-ranking officials of China: gather as much liquid capital as possible.
At that time, no one could have predicted what kind of consequences China's actions would bring.
* * *
At that same time, the United States also detected subtle movements.
It wasn't just the US. With the rapid rise of the Korean Empire, countries all over the world were paying close attention to everything happening within its borders.
A high-ranking US official reported, "Wang Wiryong's movements are highly unusual. He suddenly made a personal visit to the Korean Empire, and according to our informants, he went around to every single member of the Directly Controlled Unit to purchase the 'swords' they were issued. As you know, those are the very swords that recently caused quite a stir in the Korean Empire's Artisan Association."
"What on earth is going on in the Korean Empire?" John Harrison wore a puzzled expression.
Park Cheol-min's sword was a hot topic. Just as China had caught wind of it, the US was also aware that a single sword was shaking up the Korean Empire. However, they hadn't acted immediately like Wang Wiryong. They had taken a wait-and-see approach because they didn't know how incredible the Heavenly Demon's sword truly was. But now that Wang Wiryong was on the move, they realized they couldn't just stand by and watch.
John Harrison ordered, "Activate our intelligence network to the maximum immediately. Find out exactly what kind of sword Park Cheol-min possesses."
"Understood."
A few days later, the intelligence agents succeeded in their mission. Since Roman Dmitry had made no effort to hide the truth, uncovering it wasn't particularly difficult. However, the agent's report was utterly shocking.
"Park Cheol-min's sword is only rated B-rank, but it is so flawlessly constructed that it could completely overturn the current system of crafting mana weapons. The problem is that such a sword was handed out as mere standard-issue gear. It seems the reason Wang Wiryong is so desperate to buy that sword for an astronomical sum is to secure it first and somehow reverse-engineer the technology."
"...What on earth?"
The conference room erupted. A sword capable of overturning the entire mana weapon crafting system. John Harrison was left speechless. The Korean Empire possessed not only sheer military might but also this level of advanced technology.
Goosebumps broke out on his skin. Just what kind of existence was Roman Dmitry? Ever since he appeared, the Korean Empire's actions had completely defied common sense.
John Harrison said, "There is no need to panic just yet. The fact that we've caught wind of this new technology might mean the Korean Empire has a specific purpose in mind by failing to keep it a secret. For now, let us focus all our efforts on uncovering the nature of this technology. If it truly is that revolutionary, any nation left behind in this new era will not survive."
"Understood."
It wasn't just the United States. France, Italy, Spain, and many others followed suit. What could have been a minor incident became the focus of the entire world, all because of Wang Wiryong's frantic movements.
One day, then two days passed.
Though they couldn't uncover the exact truth behind the sword, global curiosity about the Korean Empire reached a boiling point. Then, a single announcement arrived:
[The Korean Empire will hold a Technology Exhibition.]
A stage had been set for the entire world to witness the truth.
* * *
The past month had flown by in a flash.
With the Technology Exhibition scheduled for tomorrow, Kim Jun-hyeok set out to inspect the city.
"One!"
Whoosh!
"Two!"
Whoosh!
At Training Ground 1, the Guardian Unit was in the middle of intense training.
Led by Kang Min-ho, they had mastered the martial arts of the Guardian Sect, stepping into an entirely new realm. Whenever joint training sessions were held within the Korean Empire, the Guardian Unit was always cited as the most troublesome opponent. Their sword technique, thoroughly specialized in defense, was a nightmare for anyone facing them.
Kang Min-ho in particular had made astronomical progress. Perhaps having gained enlightenment through the recent war, he now possessed a strength that transcended his current A-rank rating. Recently, there had been a lot of talk within their ranks about a potential duel between him and Lee Tae-seong. While Lee Tae-seong was undoubtedly superior, no one could say for sure if he could break through Kang Min-ho's absolute defense.
Kim Jun-hyeok continued walking. Upon reaching Training Ground 2, he saw the members of the Directly Controlled Unit sparring against Lee Tae-seong.
Clang! Cl-cl-clang!
It was fierce. The members of the Directly Controlled Unit, having learned the Asura Sword Technique, counterattacked relentlessly. Even in these intense exchanges where a neck could be severed at any second, Lee Tae-seong made his presence known. His twin swords moved explosively, overwhelming the unit members. While Lee Tae-seong's ability to dominate them single-handedly was impressive, the members of the Directly Controlled Unit facing him were no longer their past selves either.
It had been just one month.
But it wasn't just a month. Ever since the war ended and peace was restored, the soldiers of the Korean Empire had been improving by leaps and bounds every single day.
It was the same across the other training grounds. Not only the Guardian Unit and the Directly Controlled Unit, but even the ordinary soldiers were undergoing rigorous basic training. Everyone was becoming part of a mighty army that could be deployed to war at a moment's notice.
This was due to Roman Dmitry's principles. He clearly distinguished the forces meant for combat. While ordinary citizens needed the strength to resist in times of emergency, professional soldiers received absolute support so they could focus entirely on training without worrying about their livelihoods. Naturally, this consumed a significant portion of the budget, but knowing Roman Dmitry's grand plan, no one worried about the cost.
Just then—
Boom! Rumble!
An explosion echoed from afar. Although he couldn't see it directly, Kim Jun-hyeok knew the sound came from Baek-il's magic training ground.
'Everyone was shocked when the White-robed Mage changed his name to Kim Pan-seok,' he thought. 'No one could understand why he would throw away his hard-earned reputation. But if I had to guess, changing his name was likely a declaration of his devotion to the Korean Empire. Indeed, after discarding the name Park Min-woo, Kim Pan-seok threw himself into Baek-il's training more earnestly than anyone else. To the point where he did absolutely nothing but train for the entire month.'
It was an era of cataclysmic change. Everyone pushed themselves to the absolute limit. As the Korean Empire developed at breakneck speed, everyone knew there would be no place left for those who fell behind.
He kept walking.
Incheon had become prosperous beyond recognition. After the Great Disaster was resolved, the city was rapidly reorganized. With Roman Dmitry's support, they implemented everything they had envisioned for Incheon. Initially, people had questioned whether Incheon was suitable to be the capital of the Korean Empire. Now, it had transformed into the most bustling city in the nation.
Sturdy fortress walls. A perfectly integrated system.
Kim Jun-hyeok ran wild on this grand stage. With Roman Dmitry giving him wings, he executed projects for Incheon and the Korean Empire one by one.
He came to a sudden halt. The street of artisans lay before his eyes—a sight that could never have been found here in the past.
He resumed his steps. Looking to his left and right, he saw artisans radiating intense heat, completely absorbed in their work, paying no mind to Kim Jun-hyeok's presence. Park Gwang-deok's actions had influenced all the artisans of the Korean Empire. Once the members of the Artisan Association swore their loyalty to the empire and news spread that they were working under full support, even the reclusive artisans who had been in hiding began to emerge one after another.
And so, the street was completed. Just as Dmitry had its blacksmith street, Incheon now had a dedicated space carved out for its craftsmen.
Finally, he arrived at his destination. There stood a man. Emerging from the sweltering heat, he exuded a powerful presence, his faded white hair hanging down.
"Are you ready?"
His name was Park Gwang-deok. Having practically lived in the forge for the past month, he looked at Kim Jun-hyeok and spoke in a firm, resolute voice.
"Yes. I am perfectly ready."
Kim Jun-hyeok smiled. Beyond Park Gwang-deok, the workshop looked like a chaotic battlefield, standing as a testament to his hard work.
"Then let us go. We must prove the worth of all our efforts at the upcoming Technology Exhibition, mustn't we?"
The Technology Exhibition.
At the thought of the grand stage where nations from all over the world would gather, Kim Jun-hyeok's heart began to race.