The Stirrings of the Red Wave: Conversation with Choi Ah-rin
Conversation with Choi Ah-rin. The information she shared about the assassins was quite intriguing.
"They're not Korean?"
-Yes! Identity checks confirmed all three were Vietnamese nationals residing in the country. Potassium cyanide detected in their bodies seals it as suicide by poisoning.
"Vietnam, huh..."
Did I have any beef with Vietnam? I racked my brain, but of course, nothing came up.
-A capsule disguised as a tooth was found in their mouths. They probably bit down on it to die.
"Professional."
I furrowed my brow and tapped the table with my finger. Foreign interference at last. Things just got annoying. If it were a domestic issue, Choi Ah-rin could handle it, but another government's involvement would complicate everything.
-Potassium cyanide isn't something a regular person can legally obtain. The fact they had it means...
"As expected."
-Just as you suspected, they have backers.
I pondered for a moment before replying.
"How about lodging a formal protest to Vietnam as a warning?"
-Well, about that... Vietnam immediately expressed regret as soon as they heard. They claim no involvement whatsoever.
Of course. The footage had spread worldwide by then. They must've moved fast to figure it out. They really didn't want to die, huh.
-They also swiftly retracted their message of concern regarding you, Sertina.
Message of concern. Choi Ah-rin was beating around the bush, but the content was obvious. It was an order to eliminate me.
-Still, we'll send a protest note on behalf of South Korea. This is clearly a crime originating from abroad.
"That'll be enough?"
I let a hint of displeasure slip. If it had only targeted me, I wouldn't have cared much. But Cha Eun-joo had nearly been hurt. If I hadn't unleashed my full power there...
She might've crossed a river of no return.
-Ah... We were planning a stronger response originally. But further investigation turned up something concerning.
"Concerning?"
Choi Ah-rin paused at my question.
-Yes. They're all Vietnamese by birth, but they share one key commonality.
"What?"
-They were all members of the Chinese Communist Party.
"Huh?"
I tilted my head. What the hell? Why was China suddenly involved in a Vietnam issue?
-Their origins are Vietnamese, but before coming to Korea, they lived in Beijing and Shanghai for about ten years.
"Any ties to Vietnam?"
-None. Family records confirm they're rootless—no relatives or connections there at all. Practically Chinese locals.
"Hm..."
I stood from my chair and stepped out of the room. Wasn't this a classic tactic from Pandela? Hiring assassins from another country to hide your own tracks. More than a few nations had tried it on me back then.
Ah, not nations anymore.
"So, China's official stance?"
-Playing dumb. No apology, naturally.
"Anything else unusual?"
A faint sigh came through the smartphone, followed by the rustle of shuffling papers.
-The lack of anything unusual is the unusual part.
"Got it. Let me know if more comes up."
-Yes... Wait, how did these shady bastards even get into the country?
The call ended with Choi Ah-rin's grumbling. A president should watch her words more carefully. Eh, she'll manage.
I opened the fridge. Sweet orange juice was calling my name right on time.
"Hm... This is unexpected."
China's high-ranking officials groaned upon hearing of the failed Sertina assassination. The commander behind the plan had vanished from public view three days prior.
"We were so sure it'd succeed..."
"Didn't she lose her power?"
In the tense, ice-thin atmosphere, uneasy glances intertwined in the air. Who'd be next? Would the sparks fly my way?
Their confidence in the op's success stemmed from Sertina's wretched state upon arriving at the National Assembly. They even rushed background checks, doubting if it was really her.
Conclusion: It was her, and convinced she'd weakened, they proceeded. Who'd have thought she'd hidden such vast power?
"The Korean government seems to suspect something. No hard evidence, so no protests yet."
"If Korea's onto it..."
"Yes. Sertina likely knows too."
This was gravely serious. Then, the grand central doors of the Great Hall of the People swung open. The murmurs died. Proud officials straightened up.
Black-suited player bodyguards entered first—Xiao Wei, Wei Changhua, and others, each a top national player. Following was China's state chairman, Wang Chunfeng, with a stern visage.
He crossed the red-carpeted floor to the podium of gold and crimson. Silence blanketed the vast hall.
Wang Chunfeng spoke into the mic.
"Comrades, friends."
After formal greetings, he deftly continued his speech. Top officials hung on every word—their policies hinged on them.
"Esteemed President Han Sung-ho of South Korea sent me a letter."
A few swallowed hard. The letter's content: Sertina was invading Korea—help us.
Wang pressed on.
"The people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea suffer monster assaults, while South Korea's citizens lose their footing to Sertina's appearances."
Some nodded in agreement. Of course, they knew better. Sertina had chosen peaceful coexistence with Korea's government.
But that didn't matter to them. They just wanted the Korean Peninsula.
"We will liberate them."
Ripples of agitation spread. Wang scanned the room.
"The People's Republic of China, under socialism, has pierced unprecedented crises with the world's fastest resilience. Proving our system's superiority."
Attendees nodded. China had indeed reclaimed territory faster than any nation. Now, surplus forces could turn outward.
Nearing the close, Wang raised his voice.
"People of the People's Republic! The time has come. Under the glorious People's Liberation Army, spread our great ideology to the Korean Peninsula!"
As he bowed, thunderous applause erupted. They grasped it instantly.
One China.
Update complete.
We invite you to the world of Astría Online!
Atop Lotte World Tower in Jamsil, Sertina gazed profoundly over Seoul's skyline, wind whipping coolly against her. Sunlight danced on her silver-white hair, its blood-red tips flickering like flames.
Vast mana surged. She extended her senses, scanning a wide area. Monster presences dotted the city.
"Time to start."
Without hesitation, she dove toward the strongest signal.
Her pact with Choi Ah-rin. Monster extermination support. Time to uphold it.
Seoul cleared rapidly. Eterna Guild's full support, led by Cha Eun-joo. Above all, President Choi Ah-rin's systematic commands—herself a veteran player and guild master—proved decisive. Her real-combat experience shone as she deployed extermination teams precisely, countering outbreaks effectively.
But the biggest contributor was...
"Whoa, what the hell is that?"
"Insane."
Krurrrung! Crimson lightning speared from the sky. With each barrage of a hundred blood blades, monsters vanished utterly.
Fireballs blanketed the heavens, turning districts to mirage. Massive glacier assaults dropped the city's temperature noticeably.
A chilling, thrilling spectacle manipulating even the climate. Players could only laugh in disbelief.
"Hah..."
Local bosses, raid bosses—none threatened her. This being, estimated thousands of times stronger, the Judge of Death, mercilessly punished the otherworldly invaders.
With monster hordes endless, Sertina unleashed her power unrestrained.
Kwagwagwang! Koogung! Skies tore, earth wailed.
Seoul's players, witnessing her true face, sighed in relief. Thank god that living calamity was on our side.
The unstoppable force of nature was now exterminating humanity's foes.
Click. Choi Ah-rin set down the receiver, her face grave.
"It's finally here... in our country too."
An existence a thousand S-ranks might barely fell. One Death Bell had landed on the peninsula.
"We need an extermination team now."
She frantically contacted guild masters, assembling forces including Sertina's support.
But she didn't know. An unprecedented crisis barreled toward South Korea.