[Chapter 196]
[Recapture Plan]
5 years after the Seoul Disaster.
The economy was clearly reviving.
The one who welcomed this situation most happily was Hana Group Chairman Yu Do-jun.
[─Hey, it's finally worth doing business now. Money is making money so I feel really good. Eun-ha, I'm rich now too! I don't have to tell executives to tighten their belts anymore.]
"If you earned that much, treat us to something. Don't just call every day saying how much you earned, treat us to something."
[They say joy is meant to be shared. You shouldn't ignore a friend's consideration calling to let you feel joy too.]
"Do you think I'll be happy hearing how much you earned? Is it my money?"
[My money is my money.]
"I'm hanging up."
[Hey, hey, hey, wait a moment. I still have business left.]
These days Yu Do-jun would often call Eun-ha.
Each time it was to brag about money.
At first it was nice to hear Yu Do-jun rejoicing after a long recession finally easing.
But now he didn't want to hear it anymore after hearing it so much his ears were worn out.
So he tried to hang up.
Then Yu Do-jun finally got to the main point.
[Looking at it these days, Galaxy Group's growth is no joke. It's different now that Choi Jeong-hoon hyung is coming out in front.]
"..."
[Galaxy Group forming an alliance with Samra Group was a godsend. Our research institute is predicting Galaxy's device sector sales this quarter will be higher than Sirius. Well, it makes sense since Samra Group is only supplying high-quality mana alloys to Galaxy Group.]
Year 20 of Seonryeok.
The 1st quarter was passing.
Do-jun conveyed information predicted by Hana Economic Research Institute.
Galaxy Group and Samra Group.
The story was that the growth of the two groups was quite steep.
It can't be helped.
High-quality mana alloys were being mined in the mana-rich South Sea.
Samra Group had mainly been in charge of mining and transporting them.
But as Samra Group formed an alliance with Galaxy Group, they were able to transport mana alloys mined in Chinese waters too.
It was a situation where Samra Group's influence increased.
In that situation, Samra Group announced last year they would exclusively transport mana alloys sponsored by Galaxy Group.
Mana alloys are an indispensable resource in this world. But since most high-quality mana alloys are only supplied to Galaxy Group, it's natural for Galaxy devices' influence to increase.
In the end, the landscape of industries using mana alloys changed greatly.
Especially in the player device sector, a situation occurred where Sirius devices were pushed back.
The device industry is a symbolic industry for Sirius Group and Galaxy Group.
The meaning of losing 1st place there has quite big implications...
It was only 1st quarter performance for now.
But at this rate, they would lose their footing.
Moreover, it seems Galaxy Group even proposed collaboration to Woo Group recently.
Still, Han Seo-yeon will do something somehow.
That noona isn't the type to just sit still.
And she's responding to the current situation...
Nevertheless, Eun-ha wasn't very worried.
Sirius Group was seeking ways to mine high-quality mana alloys through Donghae Group.
Moreover, they were gradually increasing the proportion of trade with Japan.
It seemed they were even seeking ways to mine mana alloys in Kagoshima and transport them stably.
Eun-ha recalled what Han Seo-hyeon told him before.
[Ah, and they say the media outlet that first mentioned Baek-ryeon's existence decided to discontinue this time.]
"Of course they should discontinue. Those bastards will be arrested for leaking state secrets."
Afterwards, Yu Do-jun changed the topic.
Eun-ha answered emotionally.
The day after Year 20 of Seonryeok began, a little-known media outlet revealed Ha Baek-ryeon's existence to the world.
They ignored the Fairy government's pressure.
Then media outlets angry at being scooped mentioned Ha Baek-ryeon's existence one after another.
Because of that, the Fairy government had to officially announce Ha Baek-ryeon's existence.
Just thinking about that time really...
People rushed to Baek-ryeon's school and scared the child.
Ha Baek-ryeon was prepared too.
But people's reactions were much hotter than expected.
As soon as the article broke, people even climbed over elementary school fences to find her.
No wonder she was startled.
After that incident, her security became even stricter.
The problem was that what little private life she had disappeared as her identity was exposed.
I wanted to catch those bastards and feed them to monsters, but I couldn't do that...
Eun-ha was naturally very angry.
He even thought about catching the first leakers and killing them.
But media interest was so great, Eun-ha couldn't rashly kill those guys.
He had no choice but to leave it to the Fairy government's judgment.
As a result, they were sentenced to life imprisonment according to the National Security Act.
Though they cried for freedom of the press, it was useless.
The Fairy government ignored their claims saying they weren't worth listening to.
I thought they'd be beheaded immediately, but they only got life imprisonment...
Maybe I should have just eliminated them myself.
Of course, Eun-ha wasn't satisfied.
He was still angry just recalling that time.
[But no matter how I think about it, it's strange. No matter how hungry they were for attention, would they do something that could cost their lives? There are too many suspicious points. These guys, in my view, are tails. Seeing they were founded not long ago too, they're probably a media outlet created to mention the Baek-ryeon article.]
"Then you should track down the body."
[So we're in the process of searching. But don't expect too much. It seems even they don't know they were used.]
"I'll lend you Twenty-Five. Find them."
[Since it's a matter of examining financial flows, we probably can't receive Twenty-Five's help? My intuition says tracing the source of funds will be extremely difficult. Since it's a job carrying the risk of revealing Baek-ryeon's existence, those bastards surely laundered their identities through several steps.]
"Still, drag them before my eyes."
[...This is completely a leading question. More than that, we should think about the purpose of these guys exposing Baek-ryeon's existence.]
"..."
There's a hidden side.
Yu Do-jun warned.
Eun-ha was feeling it to some extent too.
So he had already asked Twenty-Five to track the hidden side.
But what came back were only clues more tangled than before, meaningless to unravel.
It felt like groping in the dark.
It was just pitch black ahead, and nothing could be grasped.
"Still, please look into it."
[Alright. I'll go back to work now. Take care.]
"Oh, you too."
Eun-ha hung up the phone.
Afterwards he fell deep into thought for a long time.
"Purpose..."
Who, for what purpose.
Revealed Ha Baek-ryeon's existence?
There were many purposes he could think of.
The current situation was showing it.
Pandora Clan's reputation improved even more.
Many people were relieved by the fact that Ha Baek-ryeon, who will become the Fairy in the future, was under Pandora Clan's protection.
Everyone seemed to acknowledge it.
So it wasn't good.
If a day comes when Pandora Clan makes a mistake─
─Then everyone will say with one voice that Ha Baek-ryeon should be protected by another clan.
Eun-ha could clearly predict.
If public sentiment says that, Pandora Clan would have no choice but to move like that.
Ha Baek-ryeon's will would be excluded too.
If they claim they will protect Ha Baek-ryeon even going against public sentiment, then Pandora Clan would appear to have other intentions.
Currently Pandora Clan was walking on a knife's edge.
Nevertheless─
─Whoever it is seems to be waiting for me to fail, but that will absolutely never happen.
Eun-ha wasn't afraid at all.
At least until Ha Baek-ryeon becomes an adult, he would not fail.
He was living to not fail.
He had no intention of falling in the direction they wanted.
"..."
Soon Eun-ha examined the newspaper Shakira brought earlier.
The phrase on the front page caught his eye.
Dangun Daily
Year 20 of Seonryeok
Zenith Clan, "Zenith Clan is the sword that exists to protect the Fairy. We live with that banner in our hearts."
Oh Dae-geon, sub-lord of Zenith Clan, spoke about the background of Zenith Clan's birth on this day.
Zenith Clan's history goes back 60 years from now...
...(omitted)...
"Therefore, I think it's right for our clan, who inherited senior
...(omitted)...
I cannot understand for what reason future Fairy Ha Baek-ryeon is under Pandora Clan's protection.
Oh Dae-geon sub-lord said that and requested reconsideration from the public.
"─There is no clan better than Zenith Clan in this country. I think there is no one but us who can protect future Fairy Ha Baek-ryeon."
☆
As Year 20 of Seonryeok came, everything found its place.
Clan wars that had been banned for 3 years since the Seoul Disaster occurred were lifted.
The resentment of clans suppressed for 5 years was bursting out.
Yongsan-gu and Jung-gu were no exception.
"What happened?"
"It seems no one was hurt. Fortunately, since Dominic oppa's clan joined in, it ended quickly not long after starting."
"I should call and thank them. Well, it's fortunate our kids weren't hurt either. They've been through a lot, it wouldn't make sense for them to lose in a small-scale clan war."
Clan wars were games where clans fought each other under the Mana Management Organization's permission.
Clans governing administrative districts had to mandatorily accept clan wars from clans at least once every 3 months.
So Pandora Clan was in a position where they couldn't refuse clan wars.
Moreover, they had two administrative districts under their jurisdiction.
They had to fight clan wars in two places, and Eun-ha had to divide clan members into two groups to participate in clan wars.
These guys rebelled before we grew bigger.
And they requested clan wars at the same time to disperse our forces.
In Yongsan-gu, small-scale clans led by DM Clan.
In Jung-gu, small-scale clans centered on Donghwa Clan requested clan wars.
They were all clans that had been dissatisfied with Pandora Clan.
"Tell the clan members they worked hard. Ha-yang, you worked hard too."
"Yeah. Yeon-hwa unnie was really amazing. She turned her body into ice crystals and avoided everyone's magic. You should praise unnie later."
Eun-ha took charge of Jung-gu's clan war leading minimal personnel.
Clan wars fought in areas designated by the Mana Management Organization.
The core of clan wars was capturing flags.
Eun-ha fought while openly carrying the clan flag.
No one could touch him.
Meanwhile, it seems Ryu Yeon-hwa played a big role in Yongsan-gu.
I went to Jung-gu for the clan war because I trusted Yeon-hwa noona's skills.
I should tell her she worked hard later.
While deciding to demand appropriate compensation from clans defeated in clan wars.
Eun-ha heard details about the clan war fought in Yongsan-gu from Jeong Ha-yang.
Hearing it, Ryu Yeon-hwa held back the opposing clans' ankles, and Choi Eun-hyeok and Mok Min-ho charged into enemy territory and neutralized the opposing clan representatives.
He could also hear about other clan members' activities.
Knock knock
Then, there was a knock.
The two stopped talking and turned their gaze to the door.
"It's me. I'm coming in."
"Oh, come in."
"Ah, Ha-yang was here too. I heard from Seo-na. You won the clan war without anyone getting hurt?"
"Welcome, unnie!"
Han Seo-hyeon's voice.
Soon she entered.
"Why did you come? Has it been decided what to demand from those guys as compensation for winning the clan war?"
"Basically we'll charge the costs incurred in preparing for this clan war, and I'm thinking of raising the jurisdiction tax a bit. They must have had money to have the leisure to request a clan war. I'll think about the rest more. More than that, I came for another matter."
"Another matter?"
Han Seo-hyeon sits on the sofa.
She drinks up the coffee Eun-ha was drinking in one gulp.
Soon she opened her mouth.
"─An official document came down from the Fairy government. They say they'll establish a recapture plan for the 2nd Uijeongbu Recapture War soon."
""...""
2nd Uijeongbu Recapture War.
Im Ga-eul recently showed intention to recapture Uijeongbu in a public address to the nation.
There were several factors to this.
Seoul reconstruction was completed.
The economy was reviving.
Players who had been suppressed unable to even fight clan wars were now fighting clan wars one after another.
That was the problem.
The atmosphere was overheating.
There was a risk of clan wars erupting into actual wars between clans if not careful.
So there was a need to release their battle desire.
There was also a need to revive the Fairy government's trust lost during the Seoul Disaster on this opportunity, and many players with outstanding abilities had appeared too.
The situation was flowing like that.
It was the exact same flow as the previous regression.
So Eun-ha wasn't surprised even hearing the first announcement.
His interest was elsewhere.
"So what did they say about us?"
Eun-ha asked Han Seo-hyeon.
Pandora Clan was promoted to A+ grade this year.
They became A+ grade in just 5 years in Seoul where clan competition was fierce.
Now they proved influence that other clans couldn't laugh at unlike before.
So─
"─They said they want Pandora Clan to attend that meeting too."
"Really?"
They can participate in the operation.
They gained the authority to not only participate in the formation unit but also command the formation unit.
We'll have to decide at the meeting first, but it's not bad.
It's up to me to do it.
To the official document saying the Fairy government won't treat Pandora Clan as a prop.
The corners of Eun-ha's mouth rose.
☆
A few days later.
Fairy Im Ga-eul summoned people.
The Mana Management Organization conference room was filled with people.
""""...""""
All people standing in influential positions in each field.
Mana Management Organization Minister Baek Seo-jin as well as the seven bureau directors under him also attended the meeting.
The Twelve Seats were all seated except for
Besides that, the clans participating in establishing the operation were the few A+ rank clans located in Seoul.
"It's been a while, Pandora Clan Lord."
"It's been a while for you too, Samra Clan Lord. You must be in a good mood getting many good devices these days."
"...That's the same for Pandora Clan too. You have an agreement with Sirius devices... and there's a skilled maestro there too, right?"
""""...""""
Pandora Clan Lord No Eun-ha.
Samra Clan Lord Chong Eun-ju.
Other A+ rank clan lords.
They engaged in a subtle battle of nerves.
Unlike S-rank clans, their authority in the Uijeongbu Recapture War would differ depending on how they do in this meeting.
And soon─
"─Hello everyone."
Im Ga-eul revealed herself.
She smiled as she looked around the room.
The eyes of all the meeting attendees were shining.
Everyone was overflowing with enthusiasm.
After all, while the Uijeongbu Recapture War had a high price to pay if it failed, if successful they would gain enormous benefits.
Moreover, they were confident.
This time they would definitely succeed.
Each of them had different reasons for believing the Uijeongbu Recapture War would succeed this time.
For some, it could be to make up for the 1st Uijeongbu Recapture War.
For others, it could be confidence in the power they had accumulated.
Some might know the situation in Uijeongbu had improved compared to before.
Some might feel players' skills had leaped in the past few years.
And some might be confident because they knew the future.
In any case─
"─From now on, we will establish the operation plan for the 2nd Uijeongbu Recapture War."
Whatever their individual reasons.
They will spare no effort to make this recapture war successful.