Chapter 23
Chapter 23
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Political Complications
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This wasn't just an invitation to exchange pleasantries.
In front of the deputy director, who held the final say on the operation, and key Russian figures, Gregory made an official proposal.
“Would you be the leader for this operation?”
The proposal was unexpected, even for Wang-sik.
“You want me to be the supreme commander?”
“That's right.”
The proud Russians were offering the leadership position in their own country to Wang-sik.
“Who else but the Super Tanker? This decision is for everyone's benefit.”
The words were simple, but the process to reach them must have been intense.
“I refuse.”
At Wang-sik's answer, the expressions of several people hardened. They didn't seem to expect such a swift refusal.
“Hey, friend. I nearly grabbed the president by the collar to get this approved.”
“I'm not interested in politics. I'm talking about efficiency.”
Wang-sik explained his reasoning.
“Do you remember how you reacted last time, Gregory, when I gave an order?”
“Huh? What did I do...?”
“Should I remind you?”
Wang-sik calmly recounted what happened back then.
It was when the first S-rank gate appeared in Russia.
—I will take command myself.
The commander at the time was Gregory.
Over a thousand hunters from various countries, including Wang-sik, followed him.
Gregory chose a head-on assault. He believed the strength of a thousand hunters would be enough.
—I will take the lead.
He became the vanguard leader, charging into the most dangerous area.
That was a mistake.
The S-rank gate was far more brutal and dangerous than he had anticipated.
By the time he realized his error, he was already surrounded by the boss monster and its minions.
The one who saved him was Wang-sik.
Appearing with a Russian special forces unit, Wang-sik not only rescued Gregory but also managed to deal a significant blow to the boss monster before successfully retreating.
The Russian Awakeners who now welcomed Wang-sik were the very members of that special unit.
Thanks to Wang-sik's efforts, the raid ended safely, and Gregory realized just how arrogant he had been.
He understood he needed to change and sincerely thanked Wang-sik for saving him.
It was the first time he had bowed his head since becoming an S-rank.
—I gratefully accept your thanks.
Wang-sik accepted the thanks with a single sentence and, in return, pointed out Gregory's shortcomings. Gregory, surprisingly, accepted Wang-sik's critique without argument.
And from then on, he started following Wang-sik around, which became a problem.
—Gregory's New Lover... A Man?
A Russian newspaper ran a feature story with that headline.
It started as a joking rumor from a small paper, but because Gregory gave an ambiguous answer, it spread worldwide.
“I learned about humanity from him.”
Wang-sik returned to Korea while Russia was in an uproar, and the rumors only began to die down about three months later.
Having finished his story, Wang-sik explained why he couldn't be the leader.
“My words lack official authority.”
“If I officially recognize you...”
“There's a difference between reluctant obedience and genuine trust. That's why you have to be the commander.”
No one could refute Wang-sik's words.
Even in Russia, only about thirty people actually knew Wang-sik.
“Besides, I'm a secret agent. I can't be on the front lines.”
“What secret? The name 'Super Tanker' is already being mentioned in the US.”
In the end, Gregory had to back down.
“Fine. I'll be your puppet.”
“Don't define it like that. Let's do it the most efficient way.”
“And what way is that?”
“You're the commander, I'm the strategist. But in an unofficial capacity.”
The listeners nodded in unison.
The expressions of the government agents, who weren't Awakeners, brightened noticeably.
If Gregory were the public-facing commander, it would resolve the political issues they had been struggling with.
“Alright. Let's do this.”
Gregory and Wang-sik shook hands. Then the deputy director, who had been standing back, offered his thanks.
“On behalf of the Russian people, thank you.”
The deputy director had also argued that Gregory should be the commander, so he was more than pleased with this outcome.
“Then, first, please hand over the data on the Awakeners who will be fighting with us. I need to know who I'll be directing.”
“Here you go.”
It had been prepared in advance, as it would have been needed whether he was the commander or the strategist.
“You'll be able to see all the data.”
The deputy director handed him a tablet. All the necessary information was inside.
“Then I'll start by reviewing this.”
Wang-sik left the conference room with the tablet.
That night.
Wang-sik went to find Gregory.
“Oh, friend. Have you come because you missed me?”
Opening the door for Wang-sik, Gregory swept back his blond hair.
“May I come in?”
“By all means.”
Gregory's room was a slightly spacious guest room.
“I found something a little strange.”
Wang-sik gestured with the tablet.
“Are you talking about China?”
“Yes. The list of Chinese Awakeners is odd.”
Russia and China had an ideologically inseparable relationship.
“All of China's famous hunters are missing. There are thirty A-rank hunters, but only three are veterans?”
The list of volunteers was missing its core.
“Only the people on that list will be coming.”
“Wang Jin-chun and E Suo-lin aren't coming?”
“That's how it is.”
Wang Jin-chun and E Suo-lin.
China's S-rank Awakeners.
China was the only country in the world with two S-rank Awakeners.
“Is there a problem?”
“Political reasons. You know that Russia agreed to China's demands as compensation for the last S-rank raid, right?”
“No. I wasn't really interested.”
“How could you not know?”
“Gregory, I'm not Russian.”
Gregory looked momentarily disappointed before beginning his explanation.
“In return for their help in the last S-rank gate raid, Russia promised the joint expansion of Vladivostok's port and railway. The plan was to connect the railway from China to the Trans-Siberian Railway.”
In the last raid, which had many casualties, the Chinese Awakeners had the second-highest number of deaths after the Russians.
Of course, there was an issue at the time because China sent a large number of low-level Awakeners, but statistically, it was true that China's losses were significant.
“But as construction progressed, the Chinese company that got the permit caused problems. They unilaterally expanded the scale of construction, increasing the financial burden on the Russian government. Our government injected additional funds three times, but eventually, an even bigger problem came to light.”
Wang-sik had a good idea of what was coming, but he listened quietly.
“Eighty percent of the total cost was paid to Chinese companies and Chinese nationals. They used Chinese materials and Chinese technicians. This was a clear violation of the agreement, so our government ordered a halt to the construction a few months ago.”
Halting a construction project that had been going on for years was only possible because it was Russia.
A smaller nation would have been dragged along and economically consumed by China.
“There was a final negotiation before this expedition. It was the same day the S-rank gate was announced.”
“Did they make unreasonable demands?”
“They did. When we refused, China sent that list. They'll be arriving the day before the raid.”
“I didn't think China would pull something like this, even with Russia.”
This tactic of China's was already becoming a problem worldwide.
“They must have decided they can stand on their own without our alliance. I hate to admit it, but objectively speaking, it's true.”
Their military strength is similar, but in the modern era, a gap has opened up in economic power and the strength of their Awakeners. Their situation was better than that of neighboring countries who were openly ignored, but now that Russia was in a crisis, the pressure was gradually increasing.
“So if you agree to their terms, the two S-ranks will come?”
“They claim to be injured, but they might suddenly leap to their feet.”
Seeing Gregory's deeply furrowed brow, Wang-sik realized something.
“So this is why the director of the Russian Hunter Management Bureau came to see me.”
Gregory was silent.
Two S-rank hunters they had counted on were now out. They desperately needed Wang-sik to make up for that loss.
“You must have been taken aback too. But if it were up to me, I'd refuse even those guys who are showing up a day before like it's a picnic.”
Wang-sik understood. But that didn't make it right.
“How childish. Fighting over something so petty. Humanity is in danger, and you're having a civil war.”
“What's this about a civil war?”
“Any fight within Earth is a civil war.”
Gregory let out a short laugh.
“Friend, let's be clear about one thing. In this matter, Russia is the absolute victim.”
“I know. I understand.”
Wang-sik stood up. Gregory then asked, his tone unusually serious.
“Do you think it will be dangerous without those two?”
“The gate will be cleared. Because I'm here.”
“That's what I wanted to hear.”
“But more people will die.”
“As I said, that's out of our hands.”
Wang-sik decided not to get involved in this matter.
Returning to his room, Wang-sik gave a simple greeting to Min Ha-na and the chief of staff, who were chatting on the sofa.
“Have some cookies.”
“I'll be out after I sort something out.”
Wang-sik promised to join them shortly and went into his room.
Watching him, Min Ha-na tilted her head.
“He just met with Gregory, didn't he?”
“I believe so.”
The relationship between Gregory and Wang-sik didn't seem like a simple friendship.
*He's someone I admired, too.*
Min Ha-na couldn't hold back and asked the chief of staff about the past.
“Is that classified, too?”
“Not really.”
Fortunately, the chief of staff told her about the previous expedition.
When the story was over, Min Ha-na nodded deeply.
“So that's why Mr. Wang-sik treated Gregory that way.”
She spoke as if she understood, but in truth, she was deeply shocked. She had realized just how incredible Wang-sik was.
*He really was world-class.*
Just then, Wang-sik, having finished checking the information, came out and sat on the sofa to eat the snacks on the table. Then he noticed Min Ha-na looking at him.
“The way you're looking at me has changed.”
“A little.”
“A pity. That you realized it not through my skills, but through a story about Gregory.”
“I know. I've keenly realized how poor my judgment is.”
“Good. To commend your repentant attitude, I'll pose a question.”
Wang-sik asked while eating a cookie, as if chatting.
“If a gate more dangerous than an S-rank were to open, do you think we could stop it?”
“What? That's...”
It was a question she had never considered.
“Have you ever thought about why the gates open?”
Min Ha-na was flustered by the unexpectedly serious question. Nevertheless, she quickly composed herself and answered honestly.
“I've considered the idea that they're being sent intentionally from another dimension.”
“An excellent deduction. Then let's change the first question a bit. What would happen if gates stronger than S-rank started appearing as frequently as C-rank gates do now?”
The mere thought was horrifying.
“You don't mean that's actually going to happen, do you?”
“There's one reason why S-rank gates appear only occasionally. It's because their gate research hasn't yet advanced beyond the S-rank level. But what happens when that research develops? Stronger gates will likely open soon enough.”
“That sounds less like a question and more like a certainty.”
“Of course it's a certainty. That place is teeming with monsters that can't be handled by an S-rank gate.”
Min Ha-na started to say something, but stopped.
*He was someone who came from beyond the gate...*
At some point, she had forgotten this fact.
Wang-sik is someone who has personally experienced what lies beyond the gates. That means no one on Earth today knows more about the other side of the gates than Wang-sik.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I think it's time.”
Wang-sik replied, picking up a cookie.