Threat Of Terrorism?

About a day after the forced dispersal had been carried out, reporters who learned the news gathered information and promptly published newspapers through their press companies. Many people came to learn about the Dairam people through such newspapers.

“These are the appearances of the Dairam people who took part in the protest with impure intentions.”

“Those who were protesting the transfer of the Dairam person who insulted His Majesty the King are said to have uttered words about His Majesty that could not even be spoken aloud!”

“Military unit forcibly disperses Dairam protesters. As a result, the number of Dairam dead is estimated to have exceeded 300. It is reported that the number of injured alone exceeded 1,000, and that all of them are currently under arrest and detained.”

“Royal Household announcement says there will be no tolerance for those who do not follow law and order.”

“The uneasy citizens of the Polia Kingdom ask, are the Dairam people really people of the Polia Kingdom?”

Information about Dairam Island, where the Dairam people lived, had begun spreading among the people one piece at a time. In truth, many were at the level of wondering whether such people had even existed in our kingdom. They were people who had always insisted on isolation.

Many people felt uncomfortable emotions toward the way they behaved. Even though they were clearly in the wrong, seeing them cry discrimination unconditionally made people feel an unpleasant wall from them. And they began to feel negatively toward the Dairam people, who insulted the king without hesitation.

If people had not known, that would have been one thing. But once they learned about the Dairam people, many also came to learn how they were different and began identifying them. In truth, there was not much difference in appearance. But if there was one difference, it was that they always wore a unique branch-shaped tattoo on their forearms.

“Ivan, were you a Dairam person?”

“That thing on your forearm is the tattoo the Dairam people wear, right?”

“I had no idea there was a Dairam person this close by.”

At one factory, several men had surrounded one man and were looking at the branch tattoo on his forearm as though it were fascinating. In truth, tattoos were possible, and people had not really thought they were strange. But with the conduct of the Dairam people that had just been revealed and the facts about them now known, people could not help but look at it differently.

Before long, several more men came closer and began speaking in a provocative tone.

“If you were just going to stay on your island, why did you come to a place like this to work?”

“I heard your lot really hate mainlanders, and you often ignored what I said, so I guess you must have really found me irritating all this time?”

“Exactly. It did feel like you looked at us unpleasantly once in a while, and that was because you were looking down on us for being Dairam, wasn’t it?”

At their behavior, the man who seemed to be a Dairam person spoke toward them as if warning them.

“Stop picking fights and just leave.”

“Why, are you going to throw a punch or something?”

“Come to think of it, they said all Dairam people are self-centered, didn’t they? Go on, say it. ‘His Great Majesty the King.’ What, it’s too easy, isn’t it?”

“……..”

“Huh, you won’t even say something like that?”

“You won’t say something this easy? Are these bastards really people of our kingdom?”

“I don’t think so. If he can’t even say ‘His Great Majesty the King,’ that means he can’t acknowledge our king, doesn’t it?”

Everyone’s faces grew vicious. At such behavior, the man merely kept his mouth shut. All he had to do was say a single line, “His Great Majesty the King,” but he was being stubborn. To begin with, it could be said that the Dairam people neither acknowledged nor followed the king of the Polia Kingdom.

On the surface they lived as people of the kingdom, but they had never forgotten. They had never forgotten that when their ancestors had been living peacefully on the mainland island, the devil-like first king of Polia had come and slaughtered their ancestors to the brink of annihilation. That was why they did not even praise the king aloud.

“I have to work. Move.”

“Wait a second, we can’t let you go like this.”

“Hurry up and say it, ‘His Great Majesty the King!’”

At the sight of those blocking him, the man frowned. That expression only made them even angrier. Though they had been the ones to start the trouble, they instead thought that the Dairam man before them was the one with the problem. They looked at one another and nodded.

Grab! One man from behind hugged him and locked even his arms, making it impossible for him to move. The man tried to struggle against such treatment, but in that instant the man in front of him was faster, striking his abdomen with a fist. Thud! Along with that sound, a groan of “Urgh!” burst out of him.

“A bastard like you deserves to be beaten. You leech off the place our benevolent king built, yet you dare ignore our king?”

“Let’s hit him one more time.”

Thud! This time the Dairam man was struck in the face, his head jerking aside. Blood splattered from the corner of his mouth, showing he had been properly hit. But as though one time was not the end, fists and feet kept flying into his face and abdomen. The more it continued, the louder his groans inevitably became.

“What do you think you’re doing!”

At the voice heard then, everyone had no choice but to stop what they were doing. The one who shouted was a person in his late fifties with a stern impression, and he was the factory manager of this factory. At his appearance, everyone had no choice but to stop what they were doing, release the Dairam man, and bow their heads.

“How dare you throw punches as a group inside the factory? Do you bastards all want to get fired!”

“That is…”

“Cut the excuses! Do you know how much work is piled up right now, and yet you’re doing this kind of nonsense! What, do you mean you don’t even need the rest time guaranteed by the king!”

“H-however, this man does not respect His Majesty the King.”

“What?”

“Even when we told him to say ‘His Great Majesty the King,’ he kept his mouth shut and said nothing.”

“That’s right! This bastard is a Dairam person.”

“How are we supposed to work with a bastard like him!”

As everyone spoke with one voice, the factory manager finally understood the circumstances, adjusted the glasses he was wearing with a swipe, and then looked toward the man revealed to be a Dairam person and spoke.

“You’re a Dairam person?”

“That’s right.”

“If that is true, then leave this place.”

“…..Why?”

“Why do you think this factory operates? It operates entirely because of the grace of His Great Majesty the King. So why do you think someone like you should work in this factory?”

“I see. Understood. I’ll leave.”

The man did not bend his stubbornness either. Even if he had to quit his job, he absolutely could not acknowledge the king. At that sight, those around him clenched their fists even harder. If the factory manager had not been there, they probably would have rushed him as they were.

In the end, the Dairam man was driven out of the factory. In truth, such scenes were taking place all across the mainland. Even if they covered their arms, the temperature had risen quite a bit, so wearing long sleeves instead would only make them look strange or invite suspicion.

There were roughly around 100,000 Dairam people who had crossed to the mainland to work, and many among them had to leave their jobs and lose their livelihoods. There was nothing they could do. Just as they rejected the mainlanders, the mainlanders were also thoroughly rejecting them.

Many Dairam people could not find jobs and had to return to their hometown, while some had to keep wandering in search of work again. Amid such circumstances, public sentiment toward the Dairam people was gradually worsening more and more.

Polia Kingdom Royal Palace.

Ian was in his office listening to the report of Viscount Rubingston.

“So it is certain that there is an organized movement among the Dairam people?”

“Yes, we found people among the protesters who were inciting them. We caught a few, but the rest hid themselves among the crowd, so we lost them.”

“Well, if they hide among the Dairam people, we can’t exactly catch them.”

“What is certain is that before long, even more organized protest incidents will break out.”

“With the death toll in the hundreds, they will all be trying to strike back.”

“That is why you should refrain from going out. They may very well target Your Highness.”

“They will target me? How interesting.”

It could be said that up to now there had been no terrorism directed at him. To begin with, any threat of assassination was blocked in advance by those guarding the area around him, so it never reached him. Even if someone did break through that protection, he also possessed the power to protect himself.

‘I can hardly even tell myself how overwhelmingly powerful I have become, and they think they can target me? Huhuhu.’

The power of the White Crystal was far too immense, and he had spent years continuously making that power his own. Through such absorption, Ian now possessed enough power to summon even a typhoon. If he truly wished, he could now summon a typhoon in the sea off the capital and prevent any enemy from approaching.

“This is not something to simply call interesting. In the past, they did not even hesitate to directly target the king before the previous king. Judging by their disposition, they will certainly attempt assassination terrorism.”

“So that is how it is. Come to think of it, I happened to have an outing scheduled.”

“Yes? Where are you planning to go out to?”

“I have business at the Zaila Research Institute. I heard they have something to report.”

“Hm, they may target that moment. If Your Highness intends to go, I will greatly reinforce the security personnel.”

“Do as you please.”

‘Through this opportunity, I will get a clearer measure of the abilities of the Mauter agents.’

He had spent vast funds to expand the scale of the Mauter up until now. It would probably be able to exercise functions incomparably broader than in the past. Could the Dairam people really break through the security net of such a Mauter and approach him? This might be a good opportunity to find out.

“Viscount Rubingston.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I shall watch how thoroughly you have prepared.”

“I will absolutely not disappoint Your Highness.”

“I shall trust you.”

At the words that he would trust him, Viscount Rubingston bowed his head and steeled his resolve. Amid such a scene, Ian had to concern himself with other problems as well. The issue of the Dairam people was serious, but other problems were also scattered everywhere. The Polia Kingdom had too many things to do to focus only on them.

First of all, there was a need to bring the Polia Kingdom army stationed on the Colonial Continent back to the mainland again. Though it was said that suppression of the rebels still remained, the number of troops that had crossed over was far too large, so leaving only around 50,000 would be enough to suppress them, and he was thinking of bringing the other soldiers back in sequence.

‘The Magnia Empire is subtly showing signs that it would like to borrow our army, but that cannot be allowed.’

The ambassador of the Magnia Empire had come and spoken about borrowing their army. He had firmly refused. He had sent him away on the grounds that, as a neutral country, they could not participate in war. Of course, there had even been talk of rear support rather than direct combat, but that itself could already be counted as participation in war.

‘The state of the war is not looking ordinary.’

Since the counterattack of the Republic of Promance, groups of at least several hundred fighter aircraft had been pouring out all across the east, west, south, and north of the mountain range, bombing the Magnia Empire’s bases and attacking them. The scale was greater than expected, and their very actions were remarkably bold. Situations had even been detected where the number of fighter aircraft appearing at the same time had reached around one thousand.

‘At this rate, it is not as if the Magnia Empire is being pushed back, is it?’

That thought suddenly crossed his mind, but he did not think that would be the case. The current situation could simply be said to be because the Magnia Empire was projecting its power across the continent. For proper strength to gather, at least half a year would have to pass to begin with.

‘Even so, their scale keeps bothering me.’

In any case, amid these facts, Ian had to continue his work, and then, the moment some time opened up, he immediately went to the Empress’s residence to see his daughter, Karina. There, he found his daughter Karina, who was growing well.

“Oh my, our Karina.”

Seeing her come into his arms made it feel as though all the fatigue of the day had melted away. As expected, his daughter served as a source of vitality for him. Of course, he had heard from those around him (his secretary Mardin) that once she grew more, it would become quite exhausting, but in any event, he only hoped she would continue to grow up healthy just like this.

“Today I went out to the garden and took her for a stroll in the stroller.”

“Oh, you did?”

“Yes, the sunlight was so warm, it felt wonderful.”

“One day, I would like to see her running around in such a garden.”

“You will probably be able to see that next year.”

“It makes me want to hurry and go on a stroll side by side all together.”

“I am looking forward to that time too.”

At Queen Adrina’s words, Ian gave a faint smile and kissed her on the lips. It was quite a bold expression of affection, but by now no one thought such a sight strange anymore. Since he did it so often, it had become natural. Queen Adrina herself also did not dislike such behavior, so her face had turned red.

“Everyone is watching.”

“So what if they are? I am kissing my own wife on the lips.”

At those words, the maids standing around all blushed and kept letting out little squeals. Even in their eyes, it looked like the image of an extremely happy family. Meanwhile, Ian brought his face close to the queen again and spoke quietly into her ear.

“For the time being, I would rather you not go outside the royal palace.”

“Yes? Has something happened?”

“It is not something that serious, but it seems there may be terrorism.”

“Terrorism? What happened?”

At Adrina’s words as her eyes widened roundly, Ian explained about the Dairam people, and only after hearing this explanation did she seem to understand, nodding her head as she spoke.

“So that is the situation. Understood. I will not go out. For a while, I suppose I will have to handle the matters of the Welfare Foundation by telephone.”

“Please do so. Ah, and I think I will have to go out within a few days.”

“Your Highness just told me not to go out, so why are you saying that you will go out? It is too dangerous.”

“There is something I need to confirm. It is quite important, so I think I will have no choice but to see it in person.”

“But if there is even intelligence about terrorism, would it not be dangerous?”

“At the moment I go out, there will be far more security personnel than usual. Do not worry too much.”

Though he told her not to worry, Adrina could not help but worry greatly. Of course, she also knew she would not be able to stop him. The very fact that he was saying this meant he was definitely going out.