Prepare For Calamity! (3)

The government seemed to be truly desperate.

In fact, Kim Dae-san had personally come to the Association while making the call.

His purpose seemed to be requesting the participation of the black mage masters, and it also seemed he had come to meet me while he was at it.

“It is far too difficult to see your face.”

“I believe I already rejected the proposal. Is my memory wrong?”

“You will not be able to refuse even if you want to.”

“Why is that?”

“We received intelligence that China is preparing to declare that it will officially choose the Church of Ruin as a formal religion and worship the Calamity God. In other words, China is going to start another war.”

“…They are going to do something that horrific?”

“To them, their enormous population is nothing more than a tool for maintaining power. In such a situation, when they are on the verge of destruction, do you think they would care what means they use?”

Kim Dae-san’s words were enough to shock everyone.

They were even Cultists of Ruin who used humans as sacrifices. It was impossible to estimate what they could do through China’s population.

Moreover, in Korean territory, there was also the Saintess of the Calamity God, who could interfere anytime and anywhere without it being strange.

In many ways, misfortunes had piled up.

“Can you bring back the personnel who went on the expedition to Japan?”

“We are negotiating. Even if they capture and imprison them, in the end, only that warlord faction will suffer extreme damage, and what follows afterward will be their destruction. The warlord faction will also have a limit to how much unreasonable pressure they can apply.”

“What if the entire country steps in?”

“Japan is currently in a state where it is difficult to call it a country. Rather, maintaining the current situation feels like a miracle.”

His tone suggested that there was no concern regarding that side.

‘So that is why they are concentrating all their strength on the West Sea.’

Through Jeong Do-bin’s materials, I was able to roughly estimate the number of master-class or higher Awakeners in our country.

As for mage forces, there were roughly around eighty people at the 7th Circle or higher, and in the case of black mages, including ten masters, there were a little over sixty people at the 6th Circle or higher.

And including the psychic side and the physical side, the estimate was around 510 people. It was a number so powerful that it did not seem like the strength of a single country, but the biggest problem was that we had no way of knowing the strength of the opponent we had to face.

“Did you issue a mobilization order to everyone?”

“We are preparing for that. We estimate that roughly fifteen days remain until Saturn flows into the country.”

“Its movement speed is quite slow.”

“It could be slowed down even more, but China is now trying to abandon that will. Merely accepting the Church of Ruin would allow them to achieve something beyond a threat, something like a long-cherished dream.”

“The conquest of Northeast Asia.”

“That is right.”

They truly could only be called a mass of harm to humanity.

The current Chinese authorities maintained absolute power.

I could not understand why Awakeners had become dogs of authority despite possessing that much power, but I was merely dumbfounded by the signs that it would lead to an even worse situation.

“If we devote all our strength, we will be able to overcome this crisis, and if we have your help, we will certainly be able to overcome even great difficulties. I will bow my head and ask you.”

“Are you bowing your head because this is an unofficial occasion?”

“I will gladly accept your sarcasm. Please help us.”

People did not change easily.

This aspect was also just like Kim Dae-san. He was a person who could endure any humiliation to himself, but never endured humiliation that could harm his cause.

It was the same now. The only people watching were all black mages.

It was not as though he had come together with the press. He had simply come with a small number of people and was bowing his head.

That was not a bad thing.

But I hated the hidden side of it too much.

At that moment, did she know what I was about to say?

Jeong Gil-sun cut in and spoke.

“I will actively provide help. However, let us not force this friend.”

“Chairperson Jeong Gil-sun, right now, rather than the strength of people like us, we need the strength of someone on an entirely different level. You know that, do you not?”

“I do. I know, but one cannot be sincere on a battlefield one is forced onto, and that alone can cause the tide to tilt absurdly. I believe it is right to wait for the right time.”

“I also agree with Elder Jeong Gil-sun’s words.”

Even Cheon Jong-un cut in and shut my mouth.

This was an act that gave Kim Dae-san a chance.

On top of that, even Go Yu-jin lightly pulled me back. She looked as though she wanted me to say no more.

‘Is everyone prepared to go to war?’

Perhaps it was an environment where they had no choice but to go. And because they wanted me to focus sincerely, it felt as though they instead hoped I would not answer emotionally out of antipathy.

Was it a heart for the country?

If not, was it that they had sought a means to protect what was theirs?

It depended on how one thought about it, but in many ways, I did not feel very good.

“I will not force an answer… immediately, but I simply hope we can overcome this difficulty.”

After learning everyone’s intentions, Kim Dae-san left the seat.

Afterward, those who remained had no choice but to be swallowed by the atmosphere, to the point that they could not even breathe properly in the heavy mood.

“We will be able to return, right?”

Hearing Han Sang-gil’s words, An Sang-ik laughed.

“Even if they block us, it is a path to self-destruction for them. Even now, are they not merely buying time while standing in our way?”

“I heard the domestic situation is quite bad. A fellow called Saturn is said to be heading toward our country.”

“I know. I am anxious as well, but that does not mean this is something we should resolve by getting excited and using force, does it?”

Japan’s behavior was certainly problematic.

Moreover, in the case of Red Gates, problems occurred only after a long time had passed following the operation.

But trouble happened immediately after conquering a Yellow Gate?

That was nonsense.

Japan also knew there was no connection, but because the forces within their country were currently scattered far too widely, they could not handle the Red Gates.

So they wanted to use another country’s forces by any means possible, but they were a warlord faction that would also know that was difficult.

“To think they started a war in a situation like this. They truly are an absurd people.”

At Han Sang-gil’s complaint, An Sang-ik likewise only looked toward the Japanese side with the same sense of contempt.

“We have packed all our luggage. What do you plan to do?”

Han Sang-gil received Seol Yeon-u’s question, looked around at the expedition team, and spoke calmly.

“If the situation worsens further and they continue to block us, we will have no choice but to break through by force.”

“What if that becomes an international issue?”

“Even so, our country is on the verge of collapse. How could we simply stand by?”

“Master Han Sang-gil is right. Our own safety is also a problem, but the safety of the country should come first. So it would be best to prepare yourselves firmly.”

Negotiations were still underway.

An ambassador had been dispatched from Korea, but the expedition team members were also actively persuading Japan.

The reason An Sang-ik and Han Sang-gil did not participate in that negotiation was because of the two men’s hot tempers, and even now, a long discussion with the Japanese delegation was continuing.

But at that moment, Seol Yeon-u quietly spoke.

“Would it not be a bad choice to handle one Red Gate before leaving?”

It was a sudden suggestion, and when Han Sang-gil asked why he had thought of that, Seol Yeon-u spoke.

“If we conquer it after going through discussions so that we can also own the byproducts obtained from the Red Gate anyway, would we not be able to secure that ‘egg’ again?”

“Indeed… We did not know it would break upon collision. That is not wrong.”

At the time of conquering the Yellow Gate, when the resonating egg reached a certain distance, it broke apart near the core and spread a wave.

Thanks to that, they were able to pinpoint the exact location. Perhaps it had devoted all its strength to hiding its identity, but without any defensive mechanism, they were able to close it easily by simply destroying the Yellow Gate core.

However, with the loss of the ‘egg,’ there would be no answer if the next Yellow Gate occurred, and the reason they were concerned was simple.

They felt uneasy because the Yellow Gate that occurred in France had become a Yellow Gate directly without going through a Red Gate.

There could be some method of creating a Yellow Gate directly, and it could occur anytime and anywhere, causing problems. Therefore, securing an ‘egg’ that could accurately pinpoint the location could, in a sense, be called an essential task.

“Hmm, that part certainly requires careful consideration.”

At An Sang-ik’s words, Han Sang-gil also nodded and looked at Seol Yeon-u. Then he asked.

“Securing it will certainly not be difficult, but right now, our return is urgent. In your opinion, do you believe we can subjugate a Red Gate within a short period of time?”

“There are thirty master-class personnel. Honestly, I am in a situation where I have been overvalued because I am only master-class, but even so, our strength is not weak. I believe I can provide sufficient help.”

At that moment, Han Sang-gil looked at An Sang-ik and asked.

“How much leeway can we secure?”

“One week. Any longer than that, and our situation will worsen as well. We are estimating that it will take up to about fifteen days for Saturn to move into the country from China.”

“Hoo. It is ridiculous to see them unable to handle even their own affairs and ultimately clinging to us, but it cannot be helped. Let us conclude by resolving one for them. If they still act unreasonably after we even resolve that, then in the end, it seems we will have to either take hostages by force or sweep them all aside and run.”

Once the conclusion was quickly reached, An Sang-ik went to find the negotiation team.

And when he settled the matter, Japan was actually flustered by the sudden change in the expedition team, and they repeatedly expressed gratitude at the fact that the team could resolve even one Gate for them and spoke as though they would concede many things.

However, An Sang-ik rejected all of those things and proposed only two things. The first was a demand that they absolutely not hold them back after the Red Gate subjugation, and the second was that they yield so the team could take anything they wanted among the byproducts obtained from the Red Gate.

How the Yellow Gate had been handled was not properly known, and in truth, the team had even worked while being monitored in such a way that Japan could not find out.

So Japan did not know what they wanted from the Red Gate, but it readily approved letting them take it.

That was proof that the situation they were in was terrifyingly bad.