Resellers Must Be Judged. (2)
The military dictatorship of the Burma Republic had deep roots.
Tracing back, it started 300 years ago when it was still called Myanmar.
After mana invaded, Southeast Asia plunged into chaos.
People died in droves, administrative and security systems collapsed, sparking riots everywhere.
Many perished from mana poisoning, but human violence claimed just as many victims.
Yet Myanmar stabilized faster than most other countries.
Thanks to the military dictatorship.
They crushed violence with even greater violence.
They later renamed the country the Burma Republic, propped up puppet politicians for elections to form a parliament and government—but real power always stayed with the military.
It was the same when awakeners emerged.
Whether Mana Compatibles or full awakeners, the military absorbed them all.
Every last one belonged to the Burmese military.
That's why the Burma Republic had no official private guilds. Not a single one.
Unless you counted rebel groups.
As a result, the strongest master-rank awakener and supreme military commander, Mintanu, had held real power in Burma for over 100 years.
No one dared defy him.
Not with his awakener powers and the full might of the military.
Of course, it wasn't unique.
In today's world, such dictatorships could be a necessary evil.
To suppress monsters, mines, and villains while maintaining national order.
Even the Samhan Empire was ruled by its emperor, wasn't it?
But the Samhan Empire was a democracy.
It operated on constitutional principles.
With laws limiting the emperor's authority.
Burma, though? It was extreme.
And Mintanu was a hardcore awakener supremacist.
"Your Excellency!"
"How'd it go?"
"We handled it swiftly, sir. Rounded up the traitor who posted on SNS and his whole family."
"Good work. And the MRC?"
"It'll arrive as scheduled. Confirmed we're on the list for the second batch of release countries."
"How much?"
"At least 100,000 units."
Only then did Mintanu nod.
Good thing.
They shut it down before that SNS short video spread too far.
Almost lost their golden goose.
Truth be told, when Taehong Bio announced their miracle cure MRC for mana rejectors, Mintanu hadn't cared.
A treatment for mana rejectors?
Fixing failures who couldn't adapt to the new era? What good would that do?
Plus, a single dose cost a whopping $400.
Burma alone had hundreds of thousands of mana rejectors.
Imagine the bill if they treated them all.
Total waste.
So he'd planned to skip it.
But the hype exploded.
The whole world went crazy for it.
Everyone scrambled for even a few more doses.
A thought crossed Mintanu's mind back then.
'Well now. This could be profitable.'
Mintanu had his puppet prime minister place the order.
The first shipment: about 3,000 doses.
Time to test the market.
Started with 1,000 units.
Bought at $400 each, resold at double—$800—to nearby Thailand and Vietnam via brokers.
Flew off the shelves.
A cool $800,000 in one go.
So he tried five times the price.
To wealthy Saudi Federation and Dubai Kingdom.
Sold out instantly.
Five times wasn't enough?
Even at ten times, they bought.
Dictator Mintanu was eternally grateful to Taehong Bio's chairman, Kim Taeju, for creating this money-printing miracle drug.
Finally, the second MRC rollout schedule dropped.
Of course, max out the order.
Then that exposé video hit SNS.
Some whiner claiming his family died without treatment.
They were doomed anyway—didn't know their place, daring to complain?
"The Samhan Empire embassy lodged a protest, sir."
"···Protest? What about?"
"Demanding proof we administered MRC to severe cases."
"Hah, that damn woman···"
"Don't worry. We'll spin it as rebel agitation. Fake some medical records as evidence."
"Good. Handle it cleanly—no issues. If they keep prying, warn them it's interference in internal affairs."
Who cared if a few mana rejectors croaked?
This money needed better use.
For him and Burma's awakeners.
Sure, toss some to compatibles now and then—they were potential awakeners, after all.
"What about the woman who posted on SNS?"
"Let her have a trial. Gotta show mercy."
"Charge?"
"Treason against the state. Execute her."
"Yes, sir!"
Rebels, traitors—useless to the nation.
Time to make an example.
He worked so hard for Burma's prosperity···
Rebels were surely behind this.
"Status on the rebel suppression op? Wipe 'em out now, no more incidents."
"Located their base. Operation starts soon."
"No survivors this time. Rebels and their sympathizers—all of 'em."
"We'll uproot them completely."
Only then did Mintanu smile in satisfaction.
'It'll be over soon.'
One worry down.
Always fretting over the country.
Who understood?
The Lena Forest, famed for its tropical rainforests, was one of Burma's prime monster hotspots.
Deadly for humans, but it had advantages.
It was one of the few places safe from Burmese government forces.
At the forest's edge sat a small village.
Base of the Burma National Liberation Front.
Its leader and master-rank awakener, Ma Woongshan, was calming his comrades.
Government troops were mobilizing suspiciously.
Elite awakener units gathering near Lena Forest.
"They'll hit by tonight at latest. We gotta evac into the forest···"
"No! Too risky. One elite monster and we're wiped."
"Die fighting here or there—same thing. Better go down battling monsters than torture in their camps···"
Tension gripped everyone.
Southern Burma's Lena monster zone was off-limits even for the military.
No cities nearby.
Practically uninhabited.
Elite monsters dense, waves frequent.
Risky, but perfect hideout for the Liberation Front.
Until now.
They'd spotted government suppression forces.
Burmese troops tightening the noose from northern Lena Forest.
Only evac option: the monster-choked depths.
Choices: fight the army head-on or flee deeper in.
Even leader Ma Woongshan felt the strain.
But he hid it.
If he cracked, the whole Front crumbled.
"Wait it out. Someone from Samhan Empire's coming."
"Samhan? Sending troops?"
"Dunno··· But I contacted Taehong Bio's CEO directly. Promised help."
"Taehong Bio? Just a pharma company. We need an army."
"Right. Useless. Probably just checking MRC distribution, using us as cover."
Ma Woongshan shared their doubts.
Samhan sending troops or a private guild—that'd help.
But Taehong Bio's CEO, Baek Seoyeonn, had been so calm, assuring him it'd resolve soon.
"Hang tight. And if word gets out Taehong Bio's with us, the army won't rush in."
"What if they don't show? Just empty promises···"
Right then!
"B-big trouble! Emergency from the rainforest watchpost···"
"What? Army incoming?"
"N-no, a Twin-Headed Black Jaguar heading our way!"
Misheard?
"Twin-Headed? Suddenly? ···Impossible."
Twin-Headed Black Jaguar: elite monster.
Normal jaguars had one head; elites grew two.
Strongest in Lena Forest.
But deep inside only.
"Why out here··· This ain't its turf."
"Looks chased. Confirmed with binoculars."
"Damn!"
An elite Twin-Headed fleeing to them?
What could scare it?
No time.
It hits the village, everyone's dead.
"Evac civilians now. Awakeners, with me!"
Ma Woongshan led Front fighters to the village-forest border.
Then!
Crack!Snap, crunch!
Towering edge trees snapping one by one.
And,
"Grraaah!"
The elite Twin-Headed Black Jaguar burst into view.
Enormous.
Bigger than a tank or APC.
"Gasp!"
"Oh shit!"
"···We're done."
Despair.
Taking it needed at least three masters.
Or heavy weapons to breach its shield.
But the jaguar looked panicked, flailing.
Something was chasing it?
Soon revealed.
"Meow!"
The pursuer of the elite Twin-Headed.
"···Huh?"
"Am I seeing this right?"
"A c-cat?"
"Y-yeah, white cat."
Patpatpat.
"Meeeow, mew!"
Short legs, but blistering speed herding the black jaguar.
Yes.
A cat.
A real cat.
"Meooow!"
Lena's king, the elite Twin-Headed Black Jaguar, fleeing in terror, not looking back.
"···Jaguars' natural enemy is cats?"
"N-no way?"
"Then why's it running?"
"Beats me."
Unbelievable.
Suddenly!
"Ilbaek! Quit playing and finish it quick. People could get hurt."
"Meoooow···"
Then.
Whoosh!
The cat ballooned in size.
Tiger-sized.
Splat!
Leapt onto the jaguar's back unnoticed,
Then,
Crunch!
Bit its nape in one go.
Grind, rip!
"Kweeek,"
The massive elite Twin-Headed Black Jaguar toppled sideways with a pitiful cry.
"M-my god."
"Ahh."
"···."
"···."
Speechless.
Seeing it, yet unbelievable.
And.
"This the Burma National Liberation Front base?"
Crunch, step—a man emerged from the brush.
Ma Woongshan blurted,
"Y-yes."
"Ma Woongshan?"
"Y-yes."
"Nice to meet you. From Taehong Bio. Surveying the monster zone ecology—sorry I'm late."
It was Taeju.
In the village's makeshift HQ.
Taeju sat with Front executives.
Ilbaek was there too, but they just eyed it warily—no one approached.
"Got what I asked for?"
"Ah! Here's the list of Burmese military bigwigs—names and photos."
Ma Woongshan handed over a thick stack.
"Take these guys down, seize the military?"
"Down? T-take down?"
"We'll nab 'em all for you."
"···."
Ma Woongshan was baffled.
From a pharma company—he'd expected funds or weapons at most.
"Sudden vacuum could cause admin gaps··· Tricky."
Even absurd concerns.
Ma Woongshan rushed,
"Burma has civilian politicians. House-arrested by military, can't act···"
"Oh? Nice."
Burma looked normal on paper.
Elected officials.
Obey the military, keep your seat. Rebel, get crushed.
"Military has conscience too. Silenced by Mintanu's thugs."
"These guys out, you're good."
"But Mintanu's inner circle—all master-rankers. Over 20."
"Hmm, 20's a lot. Easier if clustered."
"···Pardon?"
Who was this guy?
Not even an awakener.
'Wait···'
Could it be?
"M-may I have your name?"
"Better not know. Easier that way. Not even my real face."
"Ah!"
Ma Woongshan got it.
Who he was.
"Why come personally?"
"Reseller scammers gotta pay."
"···Reseller?"
"Mintanu. Filthy crimes. Deaths already. He'll pay dearly."
Sounded like judgment passed.
"Alright, let's move? Oh—take this first."
Taeju handed Ma Woongshan a vial of small pills.
"What's this?"
"Antidote. Everyone takes one."
"A-antidote?"
"Army closing in, right? Handle them first."
"The army?"
Taeju, Earth's Absolute Poison Demon.
They didn't know.
What that title meant.
Why he was a one-man army.
How he soloed hundreds of thousands of cultists, even slew the Heavenly Demon.
Today.
He'd show them clear as day.