＃Chapter 71 Upheaval
The Japanese government was ecstatic these days.
Sato Kiyoshi
An Elite Athlete and former Judo National Team Member.
His Strength and Stamina Stats both surpassed a whopping 50, making him a Double Ranker.
The Japanese Special Forces Unit he belonged to was active in ‘Sakura City’, Japan’s Pioneer Village in Nova, beyond the Osaka Portal.
With Sato as Captain, the new Special Forces Unit performed well, earning substantial rewards in the Ranking Team Competition.
Sato registered in the rankings for an impressive three categories, steadily widening the gap between himself and others.
And finally, his Special Forces Unit succeeded in conquering the Sakura City map’s Field Boss, the ‘Two-headed Snake’—a world first.
“Those damn Americans must be getting anxious.”
“Indeed. They’ve indicated their willingness to pay five times the amount previously paid as an Information Fee for portal opening details, all at once.”
“Hahaha! Absolutely not.”
The Prime Minister laughed heartily.
When else would they get to see the world hegemon, America, acting so subservient?
“In Nova, our Japan must lead the way.”
Constant Novis conversion due to the portal opening?
That was just the tip of the iceberg.
‘We must keep the Guardian Tree a secret.’
The reward obtained after defeating a Field Boss.
That Scroll of Limit Break available for purchase from the Goblin Merchant.
With that alone, anyone could become a Ranker, even if they weren't a naturally gifted Elite Athlete.
Already, Sato Kiyoshi was nearing registration in his third individual ranking category, having raised his Perception Stat close to 50.
With this, Japan planned to establish an insurmountable lead over other countries in Nova.
“Disclosure of the secret must be delayed as much as possible.”
Japan had to get as far ahead as possible.
By the time information gets out and Field Bosses are conquered, Japan must be even further ahead, creating yet another gap.
‘Money is no object.’
Just selling Goblin Hunting Rights near the Osaka Portal was already causing money to pour into the Japanese government.
America was particularly aggressive; they paid enormous costs this time to dispatch troops numbering in the tens of thousands.
“What are your thoughts on the requests from neighboring countries?”
“Heh heh. We have to allocate some slots appropriately.”
In international relations, unless there's an overwhelming power gap, cooperation eventually becomes necessary.
Since the future situation in Nova was uncertain, requests from neighboring countries couldn't be completely ignored either.
Allocate personnel appropriately.
Just then, the Foreign Minister’s expression hardened as he checked an urgent message.
“Y-Your Excellency!”
“Hm?”
At that moment, Aides rushed in and presented a tablet.
“What is this?”
“It’s Korea’s National Address.”
“Korea?”
The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister put in their earpieces.
……Korea has long been preparing for pioneering Nova, and based on the judgment that Shin-Seoul, the Pioneer Village in Nova accessible through the Paju Portal, is ready to accept new residents……. We plan to open Dimensional Immigration to civilians in the future…….
“W-what is that supposed to mean!”
“It seems those Korean bastards have been preparing for a long time.”
“Does that mean they had the capability to defeat the Field Boss but waited until now?”
“Based on the interview, it seems so.”
“W-who is that person?”
“That is Major General Park Joon-pil, the Defense Commander of Shin-Seoul.”
“Huh, someone like Kuroda?”
He held a position equivalent to Kuroda Masawa, the Governor-General of Sakura City.
A question suddenly occurred to the Prime Minister.
“Aren’t Korea’s Rankers insignificant?”
“……I’m not sure.”
“Is that something the Foreign Minister should be saying right now! Our intelligence gathering is truly pathetic!”
“Perhaps Korea has secretly nurtured a hidden weapon.”
“Hmph, a hidden weapon, you say.”
He thought heroes only emerged in Japan, but it seemed Korea had one too.
That small country, despite its negligible weight class, consistently produced outstanding talents in everything from soccer to figure skating—it was truly infuriating.
“Find out who it is. And provide even more support for Sato!”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
The beautiful flower garden blooming in the Prime Minister’s mind was trampled.
Just as they planned to deploy their overwhelming power, someone caught up right behind them. And it had to be that close yet distant country, always a thorn in their side.
The President, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, and Park Joon-pil, who had just finished the press conference, sat around a table for tea time.
Major General Park Joon-pil, being the lowest in rank, felt distinctly like he was sitting on pins and needles.
“I should get back quickly…”
“Hahaha! You need to wait a day to take the Portal anyway, so what’s the rush?”
“Ah, that’s right.”
“You’ve achieved great things, shouldn’t you be promoted?”
“Huh?”
“You should go to Army Headquarters. Isn’t it time you got your Three-Star?”
What kind of bullshit is this?
Major General Park Joon-pil’s expression hardened.
“I wouldn’t refuse a promotion. However, I wish to remain in my current position.”
He couldn't step down from the position of Shin-Seoul Defense Commander.
“Hahaha, after spending 10 years in Nova, you seem quite attached to the place.”
“That’s part of it, but this is a very crucial time.”
“Hahaha.”
The President laughed heartily at the unexpectedly firm expression of intent, and the Minister of Defense interjected.
“Look here, Major General Park.”
“Yes.”
These were words from his KMA Senior, someone practically heaven above him.
“Are you planning a Coup d'état?”
“Whaat?”
It was an incredibly blunt statement, yet one he couldn't ignore.
“How can a soldier refuse Rotational Duty?”
“……”
It’s because I can manage Shin-Seoul better than any damn successor they’d send.
But Park Joon-pil had to choose his words carefully.
‘It’s already decided.’
This wasn’t a meeting to ask for his opinion. It was an order, a personnel transfer that, as a soldier, he had to follow.
“In that case, please send me to Cheongju.”
“Hoh.”
“I will develop it into a key base city for the Republic of Korea.”
“Hahahaha! Major General Park. No, wait. Lieutenant General Park now. Your patriotism is truly exceptional.”
The President laughed heartily. The Minister of Defense chuckled and added to it.
“That’s right. He’s a true model soldier. Having successfully established a Pioneer Village in Shin-Seoul over the past two years, he will surely create a splendid town in Cheongju, which will become the new capital.”
Park Joon-pil cursed inwardly at their mutual back-patting.
‘They’re bullshitting.’
It was two years on Earth. It was ten years in Nova.
Wasn't it because nobody wanted to go to that place, practically a primitive world, that they passed the unwanted work onto him when he was a Brigadier General?
While giving him another star as a token gesture.
It was deplorable that the post, shunned by all the General Officers higher-ranked than him back then, had now become such a cushy job everyone was clamoring for.
“Excellent! There’s no better person than Lieutenant General Park for the job of building a new capital in Nova! Take a few days off, rest well, and assemble the necessary personnel!”
“Yes, thank you.”
Park Joon-pil bowed his head.
Resisting would just get him stuck somewhere in Army Headquarters.
‘These bastards can’t control anyone.’
They were crazy enough to consider discarding someone after use.
They might be the President and military Generals on Earth, but in Nova, they’d just be primitive man #1.
Could those who relied on authority truly control the hardy Pioneers who had settled in Nova?
He knew just by seeing how they were trying to discard him now.
Discord was inevitable.
“Hahaha, a large number of Research Personnel need to enter.”
“That’s right. Shin-Seoul has developed quite a bit now, so even those who previously avoided it will likely apply.”
“If the nation’s elite Experts step forward eagerly, achieving superpower status in Nova isn’t just a dream.”
“Indeed. Mr. President, you should go too, while we’re at it.”
“That’s right. Shouldn’t we gradually lay the groundwork for moving the administration as well?”
“……”
Park Joon-pil listened quietly, clicking his tongue inwardly.
‘All talk, these guys who’ve never even seen the field…’
Their heads were full of flowery delusions.
To these guys, Nova was considered something like an Underground Bunker to prepare for emergencies.
Earth is destroyed?
Well, we can just escape to Nova.
They undoubtedly harbored such thoughts.
What would happen next was as clear as day.
Every relative, down to the second cousins of various National Assembly Members, would become Novis and undergo Dimensional Immigration.
The foundation of Shin-Seoul, which he had painstakingly built, might be treated like a vacation villa for the nation’s Establishment.
“Sigh.”
“Why are you sighing?”
“Ah, I meant to sigh inwardly, but it slipped out.”
“Hahaha.”
The President laughed in disbelief, and the Minister of Defense glared.
Deciding he had to say what needed to be said, Park Joon-pil asked those seated in the high positions of the Korean government.
“But aren’t you curious why the Portal opened?”
“Hm? Didn’t you do it?”
“……”
Are these bastards out of their minds?
“Sigh…”
“Stop sighing and tell us.”
“I don’t know either.”
“What?”
The Minister of Defense shot up from his seat.
“During the press conference earlier, you said you did it because preparations were complete!”
“That was just a convenient excuse.”
“Joon-pil. Are you in your right mind? Lying to the public?”
“Why blame me when you summoned me before I could even grasp the situation?”
“What? You son of a bitch. Then you should have grasped the situation first.”
“Hey, son of a bitch or not, didn’t you order me to come immediately?”
“What? Son of a bitch? You bastard, I’m four classes your senior at the KMA, you son of a bitch!”
The Prime Minister intervened as the Minister of Defense lost his temper.
“Now, now, please calm down. This isn’t the time for this.”
The President’s gaze also turned to Park Joon-pil.
“Major General Park. Explain in detail.”
Damn it, he called me Lieutenant General earlier, now it’s back to Major General.
“I received the order to return to Earth while I was assessing the situation.”
“Hah, honestly. Then you should have put it on hold and assessed the situation first!”
“Minister! Don’t interrupt.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
“Major General Park. Return when you have time and figure out what happened first.”
Actually, there wasn’t much to figure out.
He had his suspicions.
He just hadn’t confirmed them.
“Kang Cheol-du.”
“Hm? Who is that?”
At the President’s words, Major General Park Joon-pil seriously wondered if this country had any future.
“I believe he’s the man appointed as Mercenary Captain.”
“Ah, yes. I remember now.”
The President’s eyes lit up as he asked.
“He accomplished something, didn’t he?”
“Yes, if anyone accomplished something, it could only be him.”
Major General Park Joon-pil spoke seriously.
“He’s a talent unlike any I’ve seen in my 10 years in Nova. Do not underestimate him, and do not try to put a leash on him.”
“Hah, isn’t he just a 20-year-old kid? So green…”
SLAM!
Reacting to the Minister of Defense’s words again, Major General Park Joon-pil slammed his hand on the table.
CRACK!
The solid wood cracked loudly.
Major General Park Joon-pil had also spent 10 years there as a Novis. His stats, pushed to their limits, were already superhuman.
“Absolutely do not make an enemy of him.”
“……”
Even in that moment when everyone was struck dumb, the Minister of Defense didn’t lower his voice.
“Park Joon-pil! What do you think you’re doing? Is this Insubordination? If this were wartime, you’d be executed by firing squad!”
“……Firing squad, my ass.”
“What?”
“Senior. Listen carefully.”
“……”
The Minister of Defense flinched at the fierce glint in Major General Park Joon-pil’s eyes.
“There are no guns in Nova.”
Firing squad, my ass.
In fact, it’s questionable if guns would even work.
