Ch.117117. International Diplomacy (2)

“Enhancement?”

Steven explained that the method of using coins developed in the United States was weapon enhancement.

Bahamut certainly knew the term enhancement, but…

‘Ugh. My head!’

As if the word “enhancement” triggered some trauma, Bahamut felt like grabbing his aching head right then and there.

In truth, there was nothing strange about the word itself.

Unfortunately, before the apocalypse, Bahamut was a foolish dragon who, like a basement-dwelling Lü Bu, had experienced many traumas related to enhancement.

‘My precious high-level items!’

Yes, this foolish dragon was a PTSD patient who had thoroughly tasted the bitterness of K-Online’s hellish enhancement system.

How many pieces of equipment had he parted with due to that infamous enhancement method!

For Bahamut, it was a nightmarish memory he could never forget!

‘Right, it’s America! Surely America wouldn’t develop a K-style enhancement method.’

No, they shouldn’t develop it.

That was an ugly disaster that should never appear in reality!

Bahamut looked at Steven with trembling eyes, and perhaps sensing that gaze, Steven smiled brightly and showcased America’s proud technology.

“By using a certain amount of Bahamut coins, you can enhance the performance of weapons. Our craftsmen’s knives, maces, guns… as long as the equipment’s durability allows, endless enhancement is possible.”

And contrary to expectations, America had developed enhancement technology that used coins to improve weapon performance.

Endless enhancement was possible as long as the equipment’s durability allowed it.

Doesn’t this sound familiar from somewhere?

‘Wait? This enhancement method seems very familiar? Is this really okay?’

It was an unsettlingly familiar technology.

He seriously wondered whether such a thing should exist in reality.

“Yes, yes. Enhancement… enhancement… I see. So, how effective is it?”

“Well, initially there was no enhancement efficiency, but from a certain point, it began to exhibit performance close to twice that of the original weapon.”

“Then, wouldn’t it be more beneficial to make one Bahamut Bullet instead of enhancement? If using the same amount of coins.”

If the efficiency was low in the beginning, then at some point the performance would greatly improve.

If the initial efficiency wasn’t very high, wouldn’t it be more beneficial to make one more Bahamut Bullet with those materials?

If using the same amount of coins, one would want a weapon that could be used immediately.

“Currently in America, having a powerful weapon means you can call yourself a strong hero. Many of our heroes are buying up as many Bahamut coins as possible to obtain powerful weapons.”

“I-I see. Well, it’s the apocalypse, so craving strong weapons isn’t strange.”

“Yes. In this apocalypse, strength gives trust and credibility. Above all, Awakened are high-income earners. They won’t go bankrupt just from spending money on weapons.”

Levels eventually rise through combat.

But weapons needed to be as strong as those rising levels.

Just as when Jin A-yeon, who was stronger due to equipment differences, was pushed back by Jeong Dong-geon during their battle despite both reaching superhuman levels, the reality is that equipment differences can overcome level differences.

In the apocalypse, strength leads to trust and credibility, and strong Awakened were attempting to enhance weapons using coins to quickly obtain powerful weapons to accumulate more wealth and fame.

‘We also continued to win with equipment advantage. It would be strange if wealthy America didn’t use equipment advantage.’

As Steven explained, Bahamut nodded in understanding.

They were using massive resources to import coins for enhancement, intending to overwhelm with equipment advantage.

It felt very American, if anything.

But the problem came next.

“Because of this, unknown heroes are even taking out loans from federal banks to buy coins and enhance their weapons. Of course, the prices of weapons handcrafted by artisans capable of multiple enhancements are also rising.”

“Taking out loans sounds risky, doesn’t it?”

Those who had already established themselves as high-income earners in American society would have built wealth and fame with enhanced weapons, but latecomers were different.

Bahamut expressed concern about Steven’s statement that people were taking out loans to enhance weapons.

“Hahaha. Don’t worry. They are Awakened. Unlike zombies, the magic stones or hides from monsters they hunt are valuable as research materials or components. From the desires of collectors to researchers developing new materials we know nothing about—though the latter is still in research phase. Eventually, they’ll be released to the public.”

He assured Bahamut there was no need to worry.

Even unknown heroes were still Awakened.

If they hunted monsters with enhanced weapons to obtain magic stones or hides, they could quickly repay small bank loans.

The White House was already trying to monopolize the magic stones and hides produced by Awakened, and as they began this monopolization, state governments and collectors with burning desire for these rarities were purchasing them at high prices.

Yes, demand was overflowing, and it would be strange not to take out loans to purchase powerful weapons.

“So you’re saying they can quickly repay loans by hunting monsters?”

“Yes. Even if Awakened use their initial investment money or take out loans, with powerful weapons they can quickly hunt monsters and repay debts. They can even sell their enhanced weapons to latecomers, recovering their investment. It’s profitable for Awakened, so they can’t help but rush in.”

Yes, invest and succeed.

Even without money, Awakened could quickly get loans, and with those loans purchase powerful weapons to hunt monsters.

By selling the magic stones and hides obtained from those monsters, they could quickly repay their debts, and the high-level weapons they initially obtained would become business assets.

If they wanted to quit the business, disposal would be very easy.

There would be many new Awakened wanting these enhanced high-level weapons, and by selling to them, they could recover their investment!

It’s a business with no losses at all!

‘Wait. This… feels very familiar? Where have I seen this before?’

But Bahamut was once again seized by a sense of discomfort at this explanation.

Why?

Why did Steven’s explanation feel so familiar to Bahamut?

He didn’t know why.

Somehow, it felt so welcome, familiar, and comfortable that he almost felt like greeting an old friend.

“Right. Let’s move on then.”

“Yes. I’d like to introduce more about enhancement, but we have important matters remaining.”

To dispel this sense of discomfort, Bahamut shifted the conversation, and Steven nodded and made a proposal to Bahamut.

“Lord Bahamut. What do you think about establishing an international organization?”

“You mean… the UN?”

“Yes. The reconstruction of the UN. What do you think about this?”

It was about the re-establishment of an international organization… its reconstruction.

When Steven mentioned an international organization, Bahamut immediately thought of the UN, and indeed, Steven asked about the reconstruction of the UN.

“Isn’t it proof that humanity hasn’t ended yet? As far as I know, international organizations are institutions that prevent terrible inhumane situations and maintain peace.”

That was the level of understanding about the UN that Bahamut could answer as an ordinary person.

As if not exceeding that level, Steven smiled broadly and continued.

“Yes, that’s right. Oh, of course, there’s talk about it being a puppet or having limitations. But yes, we are thinking of creating a new international organization by combining the power of those who have succeeded in forming governments in this apocalypse.”

“A new international organization.”

“Yes. And I’d like to propose that Lord Bahamut participate as a member of this international organization.”

While subtly responding negatively about the existence of the UN, he still said such a UN would be needed in this apocalypse, and proposed that Bahamut… specifically the Balhut Cult, participate as a member.

For the Balhut Cult, it was an opportunity to be formally recognized as a country on the international stage, which wasn’t bad.

Rather, it was a good proposal, so Bahamut asked Steven with a bewildered feeling.

“How many countries are currently participating?”

“The United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and Korea. Other countries are still at the level of provisional governments that haven’t properly formed, but I think the UK and France will force them to participate.”

“I see.”

If the UK and France were planning to make numerous provisional governments participate in the international organization, the US would also need to bring its allied nations to participate.

This was necessary to secure more voting rights, which is why they asked the Balhut Cult about participation.

“To counter the apocalypse. I believe we need a light of humanity to overcome this crisis. That’s what this international organization is for. For that purpose, we needed evidence that humanity has become one. But to be honest… this proposal wasn’t made by us, the United States.”

“What?”

The problem was that this proposal wasn’t made by the United States’ will.

Bahamut was surprised to hear that the establishment of the international organization wasn’t the will of the United States, and Steven provided additional explanation.

“Well, we’re busy with domestic affairs. If business is good, why do we need to get involved in other countries’ affairs? The current United States is neither the world’s police nor its ruler. We’re just a country struggling to survive this apocalypse.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

Unlike before the apocalypse, the United States was now busy with its own domestic affairs.

They had no intention of interfering in other countries’ internal affairs, and would give the OK sign as long as business was good.

“This was proposed by France. The French hero, the Saint of Orleans, proposed the international organization. And the Lord Protector responded to it. These two countries starting to cooperate closely… it’s quite frightening.”

The United Kingdom and France.

The Lord Protector and the Saint of Orleans took the lead in calling for the establishment of an international organization, and the United States was highly wary of the collusion of these two powers.

But they couldn’t ignore it.

Like it or not, the UK and France were the representative powers of the European continent, and the collusion of these two powers was something the United States, for whom Atlantic hegemony was important, couldn’t overlook.

“Hmm. Do they need prestige?”

But it was strange that someone other than the United States was calling for the establishment of an international organization in a time when survival was difficult, so Bahamut asked if they perhaps needed prestige.

“Yes. Of course we need prestige, and so do they. Especially the Lord Protector’s side needs prestige more urgently, according to our information. According to sources, the Lord Protector himself tried to aim for the throne but ultimately failed and ended up enthroning a young queen.”

‘He’s got emperor syndrome.’

He received confirmation that prestige was indeed needed, and the reason was the failure of a palace coup.

It was the story of a common emperor syndrome appearing on European soil, and it seems he actually attempted it, and though he failed, he still volunteered to be the power behind the throne.

Of course, due to the failure of the palace coup, he really, really needed prestige.

“Then what about the Saint of Orleans who made the proposal?”

“She’s a Europeanist. An extreme one at that.”

One could hope that if one side was abnormal, the other might be normal, but as the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together—the other side could hardly be called normal either.

To be frank, Steven was just softening his words so as not to shock Bahamut, but he was essentially saying she was a European supremacist!

That means she’s very likely a racist!

“……”

At the statement that one was an emperor syndrome sufferer and the other a European supremacist, Bahamut fell silent.

He rolled his eyes as if unsure how to take this, looking at Steven’s expression.

“I understand your silence, but… it’s quite something, isn’t it?”

Steven just sighed as if he understood.

“Hmm. Is this really for the unity of humanity?”

“It should be. Probably.”

It was unsettlingly uncertain.