Ch.281281. Reclaiming Seoul (2)

In truth, dealing with the remaining Cult of Immortality factions was more important than putting the former Seoul elites on trial. However, for Seorabeol, which was about to become the official ruler of the Korean Peninsula, winning over the hearts of Seoul citizens was crucial. And to win those hearts, punishing the traitors who had sold out Seoul would be most effective.

That’s why they handed the matter over to Kim Su-ho, who knew the details of their crimes in detail. Thus, under flags bearing dragon emblems in Gwanghwamun Plaza, the judgment began.

Originally, Gwanghwamun had been reduced to ruins by the Apocalypse and the Dark Lord’s arrival, with barely any traces remaining. However, Bahamut had magically cleaned the ruined area and cut rocks from nearby Bukhansan Mountain to create clean tiles for the streets, making it comfortable enough for citizens to watch the trial.

Above all, just seeing the Dragon God Bahamut sitting on a massive throne at the judge’s seat was enough to make Seoul citizens feel as if Gwanghwamun Plaza had become the Dragon God’s court.

“You’re lucky.”

With news that the Dragon God himself would be attending, many factions who had no interest in the trial itself came to attend, and dozens of cameras were focused on the Dragon God.

The military judge appointed by the Seorabeol Alliance began to tremble slightly knowing the Dragon God was right behind him, but he calmly began the proceedings to fulfill his important duty.

“The interrogation of the defendant who collaborated with the Cult of Immortality will now begin.”

The former Seoul power broker, wearing magical restraints, attended the trial with a half-resigned expression, knowing the Dragon God was personally overseeing the proceedings.

Nevertheless, he still wore a half-mocking smile toward the citizens watching him. He apparently believed that the Seoul Alliance wouldn’t impose severe punishment because they needed the classified information he possessed, or that any punishment would be merely for show.

Inwardly mocking the limitations of South Korean justice, he waited for the military judge’s words. Despite the defendant’s arrogant gaze, the military judge sighed and began reading the charges one by one.

“Providing war funds to the Cult of Immortality. Transporting 2,423 Seoul citizens for undead weapon experiments. Leaking Han River defense line strategies resulting in the deaths of 53 Seoul Awakened. Conspiring with the cult to attempt hostage abductions. Setting up altars in Gyeonggi Province to summon the Dark Lord. Distributing drugs obtained from the cult throughout Gangnam. Disappearance of 232 opposition figures. Harboring guild assassins…”

“He makes Jo Sun-do look tame by comparison.”

“Indeed.”

As the judge continued reading the endless list of charges, even Yu-na, who was seated at the high table alongside Bahamut, commented that this man was worse than the self-proclaimed king of Gyeongju.

Jo Sun-do was still serving a terrible sentence in prison with his powers sealed, but the former Seoul power broker before them seemed like such an inhuman monster that Jo Sun-do appeared mild in comparison.

The Seoul citizens clearly felt the same way—their breathing grew rough, some bit their lips, others shed tears. A boy who had lost his parents clenched his fists, and a survivor who had lost an arm began grinding his teeth.

And when the final charge was read, all their pent-up anger exploded.

“Do you admit that you are the defendant who approved the Dark Lord’s manifestation at Seoul Station through the Cult of Immortality?”

“I cannot admit that. I merely enlightened the foolish people living in Seoul.”

At the words revealing he was essentially responsible for northern Seoul’s destruction, citizens—especially those who had lived in the northern districts—rose up roughly and began protesting.

“Murderer! Is this even human?!”

“Death penalty! Even that’s not enough!”

“You sold my daughter, my son, and you dare speak of law?”

The plaza instantly echoed with cries of anger, sorrow, and vengeance.

The Seoul citizens’ fury reached its peak, and the power broker, with his magic sealed, had to endure their hateful gazes in his powerless state.

Normally, he would have easily swept away what he considered the “pig-dogs of the masses,” but Bahamut’s magical restraints had sealed his powers, reducing him to a helpless loser who could no longer resist even ordinary people.

As all of Seoul’s anger was directed at them, Dragon God Bahamut spoke.

“Then, I shall pass judgment. Life imprisonment for all. That is all.”

The Dragon God had sentenced the criminals to life imprisonment.

Considering their crimes, even life imprisonment seemed insufficient, but Seorabeol’s version of life imprisonment was carried out in a completely different manner than before the Apocalypse.

Indeed, Seorabeol’s life imprisonment was so harsh that death might have been considered more merciful.

Not knowing this, the Seoul power broker was secretly pleased, thinking they wouldn’t actually execute him. Meanwhile, the Seoul citizens couldn’t hide their disappointment that the sentence wasn’t death.

“I have not shown mercy out of pity for the defendant. It is because Seorabeol’s life imprisonment is a punishment more severe than death.”

“Huh?”

The atmosphere reversed at the Dragon God Bahamut’s words.

“The defendant will be imprisoned in a facility designed for Awakened. And the pain the defendant will experience from now on will be exactly the same as the pain they inflicted on others. The defendant is not escaping to prison. The prison we have prepared is the hell designed for sinners like you.”

At these words, the defendant’s face turned pale, and the corners of the Seoul citizens’ mouths began to curl upward.

The power broker closed his eyes as if he didn’t want to hear any more from the Dragon God, but unfortunately, Bahamut’s final words made him realize his defeat.

“Seorabeol’s life imprisonment means being completely cut off from the world with all your Awakened abilities sealed. At the same time, all your freedoms will be taken away. You won’t be able to move your hands or feet, and thanks to life-sustaining magic, you can’t escape through suicide.”

“Long live Bahamut! Long live Seorabeol!”

With those final words, the fallen Seoul power broker collapsed, and Bahamut had successfully won over the hearts of Seoul’s citizens.

For reference, this punishment was so harsh that even Jo Sun-do, once a powerful warlord, had given up on escape and meekly accepted his fate, marking him as someone who could never return to society.

“North! Only north! Tell everyone waiting in Gimpo to come north too!”

Meanwhile, as the Seoul Alliance gradually took control of Seoul and won over the citizens’ hearts… the remnants of the Cult of Immortality that had controlled the entire Gyeonggi Province began retreating from all fronts and heading north.

They weren’t giving up in despair, nor were they abandoning the fight.

Believing this was the only way for the Cult of Immortality to survive, they gathered all their forces deployed throughout Gyeonggi Province, crossed the northern mountainous region, and reached the DMZ.

“Tell the Kim pig that we were defeated in the Seoul war and want to defect to North Korea with our remaining forces.”

“What? Are you really planning to defect?”

It seemed the Cult of Immortality was indeed planning to defect to North Korea.

In reality, the cult’s forces would be coveted even by the Kim family in the north. With the Gangwon Province campaign having failed due to resistance from the Independence Army, the Kim family had essentially fought a meaningless war with no national benefit.

If they had conquered Gangwon Province, they could have claimed the war was worthwhile by exploiting South Korea’s remaining wealth there, but without that claim, even the Kim family’s absolute power would inevitably crack.

In this situation, if the Cult of Immortality requested to defect, it would be a stroke of luck for the Kim family.

“Are you crazy? Did you think we would serve the northern pigs as our masters?”

“Then…”

“Yes. We’re going to usurp North Korea.”

Unfortunately, the Cult of Immortality wasn’t heading north with the purpose of defection.

They were going to usurp the Kim family’s country, and to do so, they were inducing the Kim family to lower their guard.

In reality, the news that the Cult of Immortality in Seoul had fallen would soon become known to the world, and if the Kim family weren’t fools, they would quickly obtain this information and focus more on securing Gangwon Province.

Indeed, not long after, the Kim family gladly accepted the Cult of Immortality’s request to defect and opened the border.

“Secure the border. We’re heading to Pyongyang.”

Having entered North Korea with the Kim family’s permission, the Cult of Immortality immediately revealed their true colors.

They quickly seized control of the border, escaping North Korea’s surveillance network, and successfully took over the North Korean Workers’ Party headquarters in Pyongyang.

Before long, mysterious advisors began appearing in North Korea, and the Kim family’s close associates and followers who had been visible until recently all disappeared without reason or went missing.

North Korean citizens quickly noticed this fact, and simultaneously, the North Korean government began announcing new policies, acknowledging the recent changes.

“Today, we will announce a new emergency power structure for stability.”

The Kim family leader stopped appearing at official events.

Instead, a new ruler of North Korea appeared at official events to lead the country in place of the Kim leader, even reading national speeches on behalf of the Kim family.

“It’s none of our business, right?”

“Of course, of course.”

Unfortunately, there were no North Korean citizens who would mourn or rage over the fact that their leader had stopped appearing in public.

In this apocalyptic time, people were too busy trying to survive to worry about their ruler. Some officials at the center of power noticed these changes and expressed anger, but what could they do?

North Korea had always been a country with clear differences in perspective between the upper and lower classes. No matter how much the officials insisted that “they” had captured the Supreme Leader, there weren’t many people who would take it seriously.