Dragons and Tigers at War (8)
"Something like this logic, right? A guy who got a medical exemption from service because his body's no good—how's he gonna make a living doing rough physical work? If you wanna be a proper hunter, serve first. Even if your body wasn't fit back then, awakening changes everything. National defense is everyone's equal duty... "
Excuses can be slapped together however you like. Hunter—that is, savage—had become the go-to term in English-speaking countries and America's sphere for awakened ability users. Every country had its own label for them, but their roles were universal: culling awakened beasts, or bounty hunting rogue ability users. So when you needed a borderless term, hunter was it in the English world. No one decreed it; it just happened naturally.
Korea, heavily under American sway, had started calling ability users hunters too. Even terms like high-risk hunts got direct translations. Official designations would come later, of course.
Ryan Nielsen of the Pioneer Hunter Brigade had called pathfinding—scouting safe spots and routes in labyrinthine wilds—a hunter's job too. Broadly, exploration was part of the hunt. Non-awakened hunters couldn't keep up with the dangers anyway, so the shifting meaning of "hunter" caused little confusion.
I remarked with a cold sneer. "Even exempted guys have to get re-examined and serve? Shows their determination to forcibly conscript ability users."
"The Chairman might have a stake in this too."
"My stake?"
"China's been blasting propaganda about their Guangzhou victory. Predictions everywhere that China's about to shatter its chains and ascend. Time to cozy up to China—or no, stick tighter to America, and so on."
"Premature talk. You need a lot of chains to make that dramatic."
"Even so, it's a perfect chance for the Blue House to dilute the issue. Crush minority dissent with majority fear."
"The majority oppressing the minority. Yeah, that's democracy for you."
Besides, the public saw that minority as flawed societal dropouts. For the Blue House, already catching flak no matter what, it was low-risk.
"How do they plan to handle talent fleeing overseas?"
"If a draft dodger's caught doing high-risk hunts abroad, it's a military law violation—punishment or entry ban. Basically, 'never set foot here again if you hate it that much.' Doubt it'll work wonders."
"Once it's officially announced, America won't like it."
"Probably not."
Since late last year, the US President had pressured Korea to let ability users leave and emigrate freely. To counter China's rise, hold global hegemony, and tackle domestic threats across its vast land, America desperately needed more ability users. The White House boss was trying to poach them from allies.
He'd called the Korean President his friend, then hammed it up for the press: "My friend! Open your doors! My friend! Tear down your walls!"
A clownish riff on Reagan's Berlin speech urging Gorbachev to topple the Wall.
In another public stunt, he'd continued: "Me, bullying allies? Ridiculous slander! I'm just giving their youth freedom! My dear staff tell me they have no choice. So they'll crave the true land of freedom and opportunity!"
"Thus, I'll give them the freedom they want! Welcome them as neighbors, share America's greatest virtues—the most magnificent and beautiful in the world!"
True enough. With kids pulling healthy teeth or castrating themselves to dodge service, plenty would pick lucrative, respected gigs abroad over misery at home—especially with unemployment soaring.
Fundamentally, a system on par with China's is the problem.
By ILO classification, Korea and China were rare "total forced labor" states—excluding Brunei and a few Pacific specks, the only UN members left.
Ironically, this backward system boosted Korea's diplomatic clout lately. Raw numbers of ability users meant nothing; mobilizing them effectively did. As I'd mulled selecting hunters from universities, even with great power, stable livelihoods kept people from risking death. Medical links between ability use and immortal cancer made it worse.
Korea, with consensus on conscription and public buy-in, led in deployable ability users per capita.
Skipping debate on whether high-risk hunts and beast culls counted as defense duty or valid alternatives, they exploited ability users on the cheap. Among First World nations—and US allies—Korea alone could pull it off, so those benefiting from Korea as the anti-China front line propped up its government with sweet talk.
Last year, the US Ambassador to Korea said: "Korea runs an exceptionally unique conscription and alternative service system, greatly contributing to world peace. On behalf of America, I offer deep respect to all Koreans nobly bearing this duty. Our friendship endures."
Even as the White House madman cried "No freedom there!"—his lunacy predating re-election—it barely registered.
Other Western ambassadors and leaders echoed the empty praise: "exceptional," "unique," "unparalleled," "no other country could," "only possible in Korea."
They wouldn't step up, fund aid, or watch Korea drift to China. This pandering made Koreans—vulnerable to flattery—dance like circus bears.
Politicians seized it: "Citizens! Be proud! After K-quarantine, K-conscription leads the world again!"
They're not idiots. The EU had eyed sanctions over forced alternative service. They knew the praise hid calculation and mockery. But it secured "as long as it's not me" support, netting national and political gains. Smart leaders needed no more.
"Anyway, it's not finalized. We can review after the announcement in three days. Even if it passes as-is, plenty qualify."
"Yes. Rushed laws like this will hit backlash and glitches post-release, positive polls or not. If ability users unionize and strike hard, the government might yield."
"Have Hwang fan the flames appropriately. Use scholarship journalists or bribe connected lawmakers."
"Why not form a protest group outright?"
"In this climate, one's bound to pop up. Launder funds to back it—that's enough. Short tails are best, always."
"I'll prepare just in case. We're already groundworking our own ability user group; a tweak does it."
"...Fine, if it's that."
"Budget scale?"
"Talk to Suyeon."
"Yes."
Budgets dictated connections' scope and quality. Enough money made the impossible routine—but overkill risked losses.
The report continued, then passed to the next. I had Suyeon activate one-on-ones again.
"Desert People's consulting's done. Ahead of schedule."
An international division exec confirmed: "Targets struggled with basic math, but it's TATP. Taught car battery stripping and nail polish remover refining first, marked beakers and scales, drilled like manual labor. They picked it up fast. Took the 'handle product carefully or die' warning seriously. Scrapyard workshop means self-sufficiency soon."
"Checked blast plan viability?"
"On-site tweaks. Rookies with no blasters—charges were sloppy. Left alone, it'd be fireworks, not road block."
"Good work. Picked a date?"
"Sorry, not yet."
"No need. Obvious. No random blasts."
January 18 or February 15. MLK Day or Presidents' Day. First appeals to American human rights; second shits on White House parties for headlines. Either way, Mashath wins on national holiday coverage.
Today was January 5; homemade bombs blow next Monday at earliest, 13 days out.
"Purity confirmed?"
"Yes. All three samples passed. They were thrilled."
"Promising."
"Won't disappoint."
"Depends on White House response."
I figured the boss wouldn't disappoint. Gentle on terror? He'd never bulldoze sacred sites lightly. He'd raged since late last year, venting on SNS.
Raw, primary-color rants galore. The "ferocious dragon" was China, chained in cartoons. Korea often a half-crippled tiger, leashed before it—economically busted, spine snapped, battered from all sides.
The White House boss, itching to fight the world, wouldn't go soft on casualty-free native terror.
That hardline response will spark fiercer resistance.
Thus TATP would live up to its explosive rep—like Brussels 2016, Barcelona 2017. Non-nitrogen, evades ball detectors; sealed, no fruity whiff.
I trusted Mashath's native youths would reap those perks.