UC Country is an isolated island nation with closed borders. No one knows what lies beyond its shores. Perhaps the government does, but what does that matter to the common people?
The country is divided into four regions by two great rivers—Mechi, which flows from east to west, and Koshi, which runs from north to south. At the intersection of these rivers lies an artificially created island, home to the government's headquarters. Known simply as HQ, it is a place shrouded in secrecy. Only high-ranking officials and military personnel are permitted to enter.
Security is absolute. Anyone caught attempting to enter without authorization is executed on sight. Many have lost their lives to curiosity alone.
But it wasn't always like this. Before UC Country was established, there were four separate nations—one on each quadrant of the island. Thirty years ago, they waged war for dominance until, seemingly out of nowhere, a treaty was signed, uniting them under a single banner. Thus, UC Country was born.
The truth behind this unification remains a mystery. The war had raged on for years, and yet, the four nations signed a peace treaty overnight. No records explain why. The leaders of those nations, however, did not vanish. Instead, they became the rulers of the new nation, known as the Four Lords—the highest authority in the land.
No one knows their identities. The only certainty is that they reside in HQ, overseeing the affairs of UC Country from the shadows.
Six years ago, the Four Lords passed a law banning firearms. Many gangs resisted at first, but the government wasted no time in crushing the opposition. The military was ordered to execute all who defied the ban. For six months, thousands perished, proving the Four Lords' absolute resolve. Even the black market fell silent, unwilling to risk smuggling firearms. Eventually, guns vanished from the lives of ordinary citizens.
Some might still possess them, but no one dared to use them. The fate of those caught with firearms remained unknown—something far more terrifying than death itself.
At first, the ban led to a decrease in violence. Life seemed to improve. But within a year, chaos returned.
The gangs that were thought to be disbanded became even more ruthless. Without weapons, they relied on brute force, using their fists to instill fear and take what they wanted. Fistfights became a common sight, though casualties were low at first. But the sheer brutality of these attacks awakened something in their victims.
At first, victims were simply beaten and left alive. The public paid little attention. But as more and more people fell prey to the violence, concern spread. Protests erupted, demanding action from the government. Yet the authorities remained silent, turning a blind eye to the suffering of the people.
Rebellion was an impossible dream. The thought of civilians rising against a fully armed military was laughable.
Despair settled over UC Country like a heavy fog. Society began to crumble. With violence rampant and resources dwindling, people abandoned work and turned to crime. Civilization regressed, and the streets became a battleground.
It was every man for himself.
Even victims, once helpless, began lashing out at others—weak preying upon weaker. In time, the line between attacker and victim blurred.
Chaos consumed the nation. With supplies running low and survival uncertain, people banded together for protection. Soon, it was no longer individual fights but all-out group warfare.
And in the heart of this anarchy, the Four Lords remained silent.
It wasn't until the four islands were largely occupied by rival gangs that the chaos in UC Country finally began to subside.
The East was controlled by the Dragon Gang, the West by the Tiger Gang, the South by the Phoenix Gang, and the North by the Tortoise Gang.
Among these four, the North was considered the safest, boasting a quiet yet functional society. However, it was also the most isolated, making entry nearly impossible for outsiders.
This isolation stemmed from a deep-rooted fear of trouble and the risk of espionage. The North was seen as a utopia within UC Country, but reaching it was an almost unattainable dream. Those who attempted to enter without permission were ruthlessly eliminated, as the Tortoise Gang maintained an iron grip over the only port leading into the region.
The Tortoise Gang was fiercely protective of its own but merciless toward outsiders, a policy that had contributed to the delicate balance of power among the four gangs. Beyond that, little was known about them, as they had successfully cut off most information regarding the North from the rest of the country.
If any of the four gangs had shown the slightest weakness, they would have been wiped out long ago.
Unlike the structured North, the West was the most chaotic. Society barely existed there. Though the region was technically controlled by the Tiger Gang, even they struggled to maintain dominance.
The people of the West were ruthless and solitary, making them difficult to govern. While the Tiger Gang had managed to form a ruling body, they lacked followers willing to work under them. The gang constantly found itself under threat—not just from rival forces but from the very people it ruled. The only thing keeping the Tiger Gang afloat was the disunity among the people of the West and the sheer brutality of their leader.
Karl, the leader of the Tiger Gang, was a ruthless psychopath. He acted impulsively and had killed countless people without hesitation. There were few in all of UC Country who did not fear him.
However, his most terrifying trait was his intelligence. He was dangerously cunning, and his brutal reputation alone kept his gang intact. Very few dared to cross him.
As for the East and the South, the Dragon and Phoenix Gangs had established structured systems, maintaining tight control over their territories. While neither could compare to the utopian North, both were far more stable than the lawless West.
These four gangs had risen to power three years ago and had since maintained an unshakable grip over their respective territories. Many speculated that their leaders had deep connections to the government and the military—perhaps the only reason they had been allowed to operate so freely.