Chapter 119. The Normalization of the Malacca Strait
Chapter 119. The Normalization of the Malacca Strait
"Seriously, does a single cup of coffee need to cost this much?"
"Why has the price of rice shot up so much? Did the harvest fail?"
"Haah... This is insane... Why is gas spiking like this?"
South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Europe. Everywhere.
Citizens were puzzled at first, then enraged.
People began raiding marts, hoarding rice, cooking oil, and daily necessities. Conspiracy theories flooded news comment sections claiming the government was hiding something.
News headlines grew increasingly shrill.
[ The World in Crisis—and the Government Remains 'Silent' ]
[ Coffee Bean Prices Surge 60%... Unprecedented Chaos in Distribution ]
[ Corporate Cartels... Are Our Fears Becoming Reality? ]
Now, it could no longer be hidden.
At last, the UN stepped forward.
Heads of state and representatives of major international organizations gathered at the New York headquarters. The press section was packed with reporters from every broadcaster and news outlet on the planet.
On the central stage, the UN Secretary-General stood silently at the podium for a moment. In his hand were a few sheets of reports.
"Citizens of the world. Humanity now faces an unprecedented threat."
He spoke slowly, but clearly.
"At the bottom of the Strait of Malacca, an underwater gate has opened."
In that instant, even the low murmuring ceased. In a silence where you could almost hear a breath, he continued.
"Due to its underwater nature, access itself is extremely difficult. Forty percent of global logistics are currently under threat. Severe disruptions to food, medicine, and raw material supplies are expected. In some nations, skyrocketing prices and supply chain collapses have already begun."
The moment his words ended, murmurs erupted from all directions. Then, without exception, every reporter's hand shot up. As each was called on, they stated their affiliation and name before asking their question.
"I understand this is not the first underwater gate... but has humanity ever managed to clear one? Not even once?"
The Secretary-General paused. He closed his eyes, then gave a quiet nod.
"That is correct. The extreme depth, the immense pressure, the lack of accessibility... No one has even attempted to enter the interior."
He continued speaking.
"And above all, this is the first time an underwater gate has caused such direct harm to humanity. Previous underwater gates were merely kept under each nation's surveillance—never directly confronted."
The default stance of nations was fundamentally conservative. They deliberately avoided gates that posed no direct threat. An underwater gate was even harder to enter. No one in their right mind would poke that hornet's nest.
"Are there any countermeasures for the current situation?"
"We have urgently requested cooperation from two Unknown Hunters."
The moment he heard that, the reporter who had just asked the question immediately raised his hand again and pressed on without pause.
"Then what was their response? What is their stance on the underwater gate?"
For the first time, the Secretary-General's expression wavered slightly. He leaned toward the microphone and spoke in a low voice.
"They too... said they do not know."
In that instant, stillness once more. Even the clicking of camera shutters stopped. In front of the entire world watching the press conference, that brief exchange landed like a bomb.
- Even those called the strongest of humanity do not know.
That terror and uncertainty was seared into every reporter. Then, as if snapping out of a trance, they all began typing in unison.
"With that, I will conclude the press conference."
The Secretary-General lowered his head and walked out of the press room with heavy steps.
"...We really are fucked."
At a reporter's muttered remark, others nodded in agreement.
---
On the topmost floor of UN headquarters, deeper even than the Security Council chamber, was a classified strategic operations room. Media access prohibited. No filming, no recording whatsoever.
"Everyone is assembled..."
Not a single journalist was inside. Only government representatives summoned from around the world, and S-rank hunters whose names alone could shake entire countries, filled the space.
"First, allow me to show you what we have prepared."
On the wall screen, the topography of the Malacca Strait's depths and the energy distribution map inside the gate appeared. Then high-ranking military officials and strategic staff from each country took turns briefing.
"A multinational fleet consisting of the South Korean, Indonesian, Singaporean, and Indian navies will deploy around the outer edge of the Malacca Strait. We will dedicate all efforts to securing subsea entry points, emergency support, and information relay."
"The interior of the gate is a complete uncertainty zone. For now, 'reconnaissance' and 'intelligence gathering' will be the first objectives of the operation."
"Additionally..."
The staff's gazes turned toward Laila and me.
"If the situation permits... the clearing operation will be left entirely to your judgment."
While the briefing proceeded, I scanned the room. There were familiar faces—Max, Chen Longwei, Takamine Reina—but also many S-rank hunters I did not recognize.
At that moment, another S-rank hunter raised his hand and asked.
"Are those Unknown Hunters commanding us?"
"Yes, that is correct."
He nodded at the Secretary-General's answer, as if he could accept that. Then he added another question.
"In that case, what exactly should we do? Do we enter together? Or conduct reconnaissance first?"
"That is..."
The Secretary-General hesitated to answer. I understood why. What he was about to say was a reply that could utterly crush the pride of S-rank hunters.
"You will be backup."
Naturally, he could not accept it.
"What? I can fully acknowledge command authority, but... we're merely backup? Us, of all people?"
"Ah..."
Cutting off whatever the Secretary-General was about to say, I quietly raised my hand. I rose from my seat and looked at those who could not accept it, then spoke.
"We have no idea what's down there in the water."
"..."
"You'd be a hindrance."
"Excuse me? I respect you enough, but... we too..."
"How long do you think it would take me to kill every single one of you in this room?"
"What are you..."
"No, let me rephrase the question. If I attacked you right now, how many of you do you think could escape?"
"...!"
"I respect S-rank hunters too. But right now, leave your useless pride at the door."
I deliberately came on strong. There simply wasn't enough time to convince them one by one in this situation.
"I was rash..."
Under my cold criticism, he lowered his head as if frustrated but with no other choice. After all, Max, Chen Longwei, and Reina—who ranked among the top even among S-ranks—were silently nodding as well.
---
The Secretary-General's press conference spread through news outlets across the globe. Naturally, not only the media but internet communities were buzzing about the Malacca Strait day after day.
[ Author: Anonymous ]
[ Title: Can't they just drop a nuke? ]
[ Content: If they dumped everything at once, the gate would probably break. ]
↳ Did this prick sleep through geography class?
↳ FR lol so all the nearby countries get sunk together?
[ Author: Anonymous ]
[ Title: Seriously I went all-in ]
[ Content: (photo of hoarded daily necessities) I feel like I won't even need to leave the house for years. ]
↳ You son of a bitch, release some supply.
↳ Ugh, seriously, assholes like him were the real problem.
↳ People like you were the reason others suffer.
↳ OP: Yeah, deal with it lol. As long as I was fine, that's all that matters~
↳ Watch yourself. I'll come to your house and smash your skull in.
Fear spread in an instant. Posts declaring "the world had ended" flooded social media. Cults took to the streets, holding prayer vigils and claiming this was divine judgment.
"The public's confusion was already anticipated."
Emergency control orders were issued, military forces were deployed to maintain order, and information control and broadcast systems were mobilized to calm the public's nerves.
[ The Supreme Hero: I've got to do what I've got to do. ]
As expected, countless people poured in as if they had been waiting for the broadcast. The viewer count was almost on par with the Baekdu Mountain stream.
"Hmm... definitely, a lot of people came."
As expected, chat messages came flooding in from every language. The words were different, but the meaning behind them was all the same. 'So, could you solve this or not?'
"I don't know either."
[???]
[What??]
[Huh?]
I genuinely didn't know. I had fought on water before, but I had never fought underwater.
"Well, I'll just have to try."
But would a broadcast even be possible there? Truthfully, experts weren't overly concerned about that question. Broadcasting worked inside gates, and we lived in an age where streaming was even possible from outer space.
'If there's a problem, it's whether the camera could survive the water pressure and other external factors...'
And that problem had also been neatly resolved by Laila.
- Anyway, it's not so threatening that I need to cast protection on the Hero... Couldn't I just protect the equipment?
[ Saintess's Foot Wiper has donated 50,000 Watts! ]
- Chairman... my computer parts aren't coming... please, I beg you, normalize things.
[The god of normalization, damn]
[God Hero lol]
[Same here dammit, I ordered parts and they haven't even started shipping lol]
'Huh...? Wait...'
I decided to finally put into action something I had been considering for a while: building a hospital. The expensive equipment I had ordered from the medical device company... that couldn't be shipped right now either.
"..."
The Strait of Malacca. It urgently needed to be normalized.