Ch.321321. Illegal Fishing Vessel (1)

That’s how the Hwarang completely reduced the Cheolhwadan’s headquarters to ruins, and now they were digging through the half-burned equipment debris in those ruins.

After discovering an unknown weapon that had been shattered in battle, the Hwarang transported it outside and began disassembling it. They soon realized that this weapon had not been manufactured in Seorabeol.

“Is this component distributed in Seorabeol?”

“No. It doesn’t have the Academy’s certification mark either. It seems this part is used overseas, not in Seorabeol. However, the technology itself was developed by the Seorabeol Mage’s Association.”

“So there’s a high possibility the technology was leaked outside.”

The Seorabeol Mage’s Association mage confirmed that the technology itself was indeed developed by their association.

The blueprints, formulas, and magical components that the Mage’s Association had worked so hard to perfect were all technologies successfully developed by the Seorabeol Mage’s Association. However, the completed weapon was something never before seen in Seorabeol. While the technology was from Seorabeol, the actual manufacturer wasn’t from Seorabeol… or even the Korean peninsula.

“But I think I know where it was developed. They seem to have taken pride in their work—the manufacturer’s name and signature are on the small mana generator and internal frame.”

There was decisive evidence revealing where this unknown weapon had been developed.

Apparently proud of creating this replica, the parts discovered by the Hwarang and the mage had the manufacturing company’s name engraved on them.

The name was “Cho-nam Military Science Academy Second Technical Prototype.”

“So it translates to ‘Cho-nam Military Science Academy Second Technical Test Device,’ right?”

“That seems correct.”

“I’ll contact the National Intelligence Service.”

The Hwarang looked surprised that a weapon from China would appear here, while the Seorabeol mage became certain that South China was involved in the south based on the name “Cho-nam.”

However, since there wasn’t enough concrete evidence to report directly to the Priestess of the Dragon, the Hwarang first sent word to the Seorabeol National Intelligence Service. The NIS immediately began investigating and soon provided an answer to the Hwarang who had reported this information.

“It is indeed a product manufactured in Cho-nam. Recently, there was an internal research data leak at the Seorabeol Mage’s Association, and it seems that research data flowed into Cho-nam.”

“Cho-nam? That means it came from across the sea. Is that even possible?”

“But it’s a fact that Cheolhwadan smuggled weapons from Cho-nam, which means there really are traitors within Seorabeol cooperating with Cho-nam. The warlord factions that surrendered without fighting during the South Korean pacification are likely suspects.”

This meant that influential figures willing to cooperate with foreign powers still remained in Seorabeol.

In truth, the South Korean pacification hadn’t defeated all the warlords in South Korea. To show Seorabeol’s mercy, those who surrendered were accepted.

If they had acknowledged Seorabeol’s supremacy and lived out their lives as local dignitaries, there would have been no problem. But in this apocalyptic world, before Seorabeol’s rule was complete, some couldn’t abandon their ambitions to shake Seorabeol and regain hegemony over South Korea.

For such people, South China was a good partner and trading counterpart, and they had engaged in smuggling by using disposable raiders like Cheolhwadan.

Of course, this was all speculation based on the NIS’s predictions, but both the NIS and the Hwarang believed that local dignitaries who hadn’t yet pledged loyalty might be capable of such actions.

“By the way, is this such a dangerous item?”

“Yes. It’s a dangerous weapon capable of penetrating even a Hwarang’s shield. Despite all Hwarang taking defensive positions, it left scorch marks on the dragon armor—we can guarantee its power.”

“Even a Hwarang’s shield? That’s quite a dangerous weapon. It seems they were trying to overturn the balance of power in Seorabeol. Well, well. I thought they were just thieves who angered the Priestess of the Dragon despite being declared traitors, but they’re actually connected to real traitors. The world is scary these days. Well, it’s the apocalypse, so I suppose it’s to be expected.”

It was definitely a weapon too dangerous to be released to the public.

The fact that it could penetrate even a Hwarang’s shield meant it could easily slaughter low-level Awakened. Anyone could imagine the uncontrollable damage that would occur if such a weapon were fired in a civilian area.

“In any case, I can report this to the Priestess of the Dragon. Not exactly good news, though.”

The Hwarang had gained sufficient information, but lamented that this wouldn’t please the Priestess of the Dragon as he reported the facts to Baek Seol-hwa.

“Cease your involvement in Seorabeol immediately!”

“This is merely a private transaction! It has nothing to do with us!”

“Are you perhaps seeking war?”

When this information reached the court through Baek Seol-hwa, the Seorabeol court immediately sent a letter of protest to Cho-nam through diplomatic channels, but Cho-nam drew the line, claiming it was a private transaction.

However, the Seorabeol court realized that Cho-nam was an untrustworthy counterpart, and Baek Seol-hwa, stationed in Busan, shared the same sentiment.

“Regarding weapons, the essence isn’t who made them, but who intentionally passed them on for someone to use. Though Cho-nam didn’t fight directly, their deliberate leaking of weapons to Cheolhwadan was clearly intentional. Perhaps they wanted to conduct a field test against the Hwarang. Do they truly wish for war with us?”

Frankly, there was no damage only because they discovered it early, but this was tantamount to a declaration of war.

Thus, Seorabeol’s foreign policy, which had been becoming more moderate, once again entered a state of tension. The Cheolhwadan subjugation campaign, which began with the Busan issue, inevitably transformed from a domestic matter into an international dispute.

“Wait. Does Seorabeol still have the capacity to wage war?”

As radical sentiments began to flow within Seorabeol, it was the Dragon God Bahamut who stepped in to stop them.

“Well…”

“We don’t have the budget. It’s all being used for reconstruction.”

In reality, while the Priestess of the Dragon might be able to operate independently, large-scale warfare involving massive troop deployments like the Great Seoul War was practically impossible.

They had even stopped maintaining an excessive military force and had begun discharging Awakened from the military to maintain a moderate force. The budget saved from this military reduction was being used for South Korea’s reconstruction.

In such a situation, to once again recruit an army disproportionate to Seorabeol’s national size and prepare for war?

If that happened, no one could predict when South Korea would be fully restored to its pre-apocalyptic state.

“Revenge can be postponed, but delaying the current reconstruction would put great pressure on the future. Though somewhat regrettable, we have no choice but to endure this time.”

“There’s no practical benefit anyway.”

Despite having overwhelming funds like the Juwa money, what Seorabeol needed now were the vessels for that money to flow throughout South Korea. War with external forces was meaningless.

The Japanese Integration War had been unanimously approved because it had the justification of repaying the debt to the Yamato Alliance through a mutual defense treaty, while also providing practical benefits for national defense.

Unfortunately, the problem with Cho-nam wasn’t just with the government; the civilian sector was also prone to causing trouble.

“Another problem at sea? But you say it’s not the ghost fleet issue?”

“Yes.”

While they had somehow resolved the Cheolhwadan issue as a domestic matter, something had occurred at sea that couldn’t possibly be handled as an internal Seorabeol issue.

That was…

“Of all things, illegal fishing vessels…”

Yes, it was the issue of Chinese illegal fishing vessels arbitrarily plundering Seorabeol’s fishing industry.

Especially in the waters around the South Sea, East Sea, and Jeju, strange signals were captured on radar every night.

“Captain, look at this. This isn’t just a dozen ships. There are over a hundred signals being detected simultaneously!”

Indeed, Seorabeol’s territorial waters were filled with lights captured on maritime radar in the black night fog. There, stateless fishing vessels without even Chinese flags were dragging long trawl nets, scraping the seabed.

They didn’t even wait for dawn, swarming into Seorabeol’s waters from midnight, sweeping away precious food resources like sea cucumbers, abalones, and squid, as well as coral and underwater vegetation.

Moreover, since they were operating with trawl nets, this wasn’t just illegal fishing but outright plunder premised on ecosystem destruction. Even before the apocalypse, this had caused disputes, but to use trawl nets for fishing in this apocalyptic era where food resources were crucial?

Not only was it a problem for Seorabeol’s fishermen’s livelihoods, but it was also completely destroying the natural spawning grounds that the government had been carefully restoring.

“Capture them all. There’s no need to be selective about means and methods. They are raiders who have invaded our territory.”

However, precisely because it was the apocalypse, they could resolve it with a solution befitting the apocalypse.

If someone plundered food, the solution was to crush and kill the plunderer.

This might sound excessively harsh and lacking in human rights considerations, but what could they do?

In this era where daily survival food was crucial, plundering such important food resources was tantamount to a declaration of war.

“Inform the court of this fact. And if Cho-nam remains silent, the Seorabeol Navy will burn all illegal fishing vessels that invade our waters. And then we will invade Cho-nam’s territorial waters.”

Yes, if necessary, one should be prepared to burn everything.

Before the apocalypse, this would have been a thoughtless plan that officials and officers alike would have opposed, asking “What are you saying?” But now, after the apocalypse, no one voiced opposition.

Rather, they believed that showing Seorabeol’s strength clearly would make others respect Seorabeol, and to establish a definite order, they needed to prove Seorabeol’s power now.

For this purpose, even if some illegal fishing vessels sank or were annihilated, they could easily justify it with the apocalypse as the reason. They could even treat them as pirates plundering sea resources and legitimately conduct subjugation operations.

It was truly a formidable plan, and a blatant determination to thwart Cho-nam’s insidious operations.

“Deploy the fleet.”

Thus, the fleets docked at Pohang and Busan set sail, demonstrating overwhelming firepower by sinking or destroying illegal fishing vessels invading their territorial waters, clearly showing the consequences of intruding into Seorabeol’s waters.

However, the illegal fishing vessels began to resist, arming themselves with firearms, but unfortunately for them, most of Seorabeol’s navy consisted of Awakened.

“Incinerate!”

“Execute scorched earth operation!”

Moreover, Hwarang were aboard the naval vessels, and when the illegal fishing vessels began to resist, the Hwarang simply deployed, smashing the fishing vessels and throwing the crew into the sea. The naval crew then “fished” the fallen crew members out of the water.

When the Hwarang leaped forward with their dragon armor, the illegal fishing fleet, mere fishing vessels after all, was literally scorched earth. They inflicted tremendous damage on the illegal fishing vessels, and as the Seorabeol Navy ruthlessly destroyed and sank the illegal fishing vessels that had invaded Seorabeol’s waters, Cho-nam, which had been silent until now, sent a letter of protest to the Seorabeol court.

“Then do you admit that the illegal fishing vessels that invaded Seorabeol’s waters are yours? And that everything we protested about before is true? If so, Seorabeol must also prepare itself.”

“They are not affiliated with us.”

They protested only verbally in a shameless manner, but as soon as disadvantageous topics arose, they immediately closed their mouths.

When Seorabeol demonstrated its willingness to risk war, Cho-nam became frightened.

It was truly a course of action unworthy of the self-proclaimed Xiang Yu.