Ch.351Cosmic Competition

* * *

“Was what Patton handled before meaningless?”

I recall Patton caught quite a few, but was that meaningless?

“Thanks to Patton’s efforts, we’re only dealing with this much.”

So it’s thanks to Patton that we’re only dealing with this. Hmm.

I wonder if Patton had to work exceptionally hard.

Or should I consider him lacking in ability? Or perhaps this was only possible because it was the home ground of the Japanese Imperial remnants.

“But they say as soon as Georgy Zhukov appeared, all the Japanese Imperial remnants either fled or easily collapsed.”

Georgy Zhukov’s appearance!

“That makes sense.”

How much effort have we invested in Master Mojeongu?

He’s someone I marked early on to become a hero of Japan.

The more my foresight proves correct, and the more my reputation rises day by day, Georgy Zhukov also gains that halo alongside me.

By this point, what started as a joke might seem like a blunder, but for me, this arrangement works well for managing Japan.

It was already tough enough with just Patton, but now the Japanese Imperial remnants must also face the army of the Japanese United States, their own people—that must be quite uncomfortable for them.

“Japan’s turmoil will now end.”

Balhae has also just finished its land reform.

I hear Lee Beom-seok is favored to be the next president. If Lee Beom-seok takes office, Korea will likely focus on strengthening itself internally for a while.

Things like nationalism will explode and such.

At this point, Asia is essentially settled.

“That’s fortunate. This means America will never be able to target the Japanese United States again.”

Georgy Zhukov, as a hero, boldly advanced into East Japan.

He even managed to establish a unification organization. MacArthur won’t provoke the Japanese United States now, if only for the sake of his own term.

If we consider that the Paris reconstruction project has already begun, most of Europe is essentially stabilized.

There’s no concern about the Middle East, and while Africa is somewhat uncomfortable, I believe Ethiopia will handle things well.

“America has also begun satellite development.”

America’s satellite development, huh.

I suppose they were inspired by us.

Well, it doesn’t matter much if they’re just starting development now.

We’re already far ahead, after all.

“I suppose so. We’ve already created historic moments both domestically and internationally.”

I didn’t know because I was in the Middle East, but it seems they’ve spread it quite extensively.

I visited the Roman Space Development Institute earlier to commend the researchers, you know?

On the way to the institute, I saw all kinds of satellite-themed events at every store.

Romanov Ice was offering “Satellite Mint Chocolate” with a unique flavor.

Cheap satellite-shaped toys were being mass-produced.

This increases public interest in satellites.

By doing so, we make people deeply interested in satellites and space exploration.

After all, humans will eventually have to leave the land they live on.

Russia has a large population, so recruiting people willing to venture into space shouldn’t be too difficult.

The problem is America.

My goal is to ensure America always remains slightly behind the Roman Treaty.

That way, we can stay precariously ahead, and America won’t overtake us.

Even though we’re in a Cold War era, there’s no ideological issue.

More precisely, it could be considered an era of scientific development competition.

“America is just starting to chase after us, so it must be difficult for them, right?”

America has a long way to catch up.

That’s necessary so we don’t become complacent and continue moving forward.

“I suppose so.”

Separately, America is in a position of having received technology transfers from us.

They’ll probably have to chase hard for the next decade. I don’t think there will be any major issues right now.

At least they won’t be able to rise up against us. Of course, America has enormous wealth.

While we, having unified Europe, are no pushovers either, they might focus intensely on satellite development with their absurdly advantageous position.

After that, well, it’s obvious.

Both sides will be passionate about space development, pouring money into it.

What will happen in the future then?

We’re already several years ahead, and both Europe and America will achieve even greater development.

It might also be good to add space development support to Balhae, my former country.

While mindlessly supporting Korea in overseas settings feels a bit off, it’s good to invest in Korea’s space development for the sake of humanity’s space exploration.

And computer development is also essential.

“How much progress has been made with computers?”

“Computer development is also proceeding rapidly. We seem certain to secure technological superiority.”

Technological superiority is important. Yes.

Computer development and wireless telephone development are what I consider most important.

Only when those two are achieved can we enjoy the internet and the world of smartphones like in the original history.

“Someday, people around the world will wirelessly contact each other, share information, and play together.”

So I declared confidently.

“Will such a day really come?”

“It will. Definitely.”

I should lay the groundwork for internet development somehow.

And after that, create something like an AI to govern the world by digitalizing global governments.

Something like the AI Anastasia Project.

Expanding the Ogas Project to form an integrated government.

Having America as a competitor serves as a catalyst to drive humanity’s development to that point.

“As we reduce armaments, weapon performance must be excellent. We should develop weapons and put more captured communists to work.”

Using legal slaves means diverting wages that would normally be paid into scientific development budgets.

Isn’t working communists to death also a way to protect taxpayers’ money?

“We’re already coordinating with various governments to mobilize communists in Paris.”

“What about the catacombs?”

If we’ve put so many communists to work there, there must be some changes, right?

“Considerable progress has been made. Many remains have already been removed from Paris.”

This means there won’t be any catacomb-related incidents in the future.

While the catacombs are quite popular with many people, they ultimately need to be cleared out.

It’s not just that I personally dislike them—if they had remained intact, they might have been used as tourist attractions in the future.

But in this world, rather than repairing the collapsed catacombs, it made more sense to just remove everything.

“I should visit once…”

“Absolutely not. There might still be survivors who could attempt another assassination against Your Majesty.”

Another assassination attempt against Your Majesty.

Anyone listening would think I’m constantly being targeted.

“Sigh. I don’t think it’s fair to always assume the worst.”

Why is everyone so unenthusiastic? Have they ever opposed me this strongly before?

“It’s still not possible.”

“No, I just wonder why you assume I’ll be targeted by terrorism every time I go somewhere.”

I’m not that bad.

Surely people won’t automatically try to terrorize me.

Especially Paris—we’ve cleaned it up well. Everything’s been cleared out, so I don’t think there’s any need to be afraid now.

“Hasn’t every place you’ve visited ended up in trouble? Except for Asia. The only safe times were during wars.”

That’s right. Only during wars.

Because then enemies and allies were clearly distinguished.

When you say “only during wars,” I have nothing to say in response.

“Above all, we received a message from the Middle East.”

“That’s right. You endured countless bomb attacks in the Middle East and forgave them.”

Well, I thought that much was acceptable.

No, why are you looking at me like that? As always, I merely used my body to brainwash those Islamic people.

But saying outright that I was targeted by terrorism feels inappropriate, so I need to explain it gently in a roundabout way.

“No, well, as always, I merely used my body to brainwash them.”

“That, that sounds very strange.”

What’s strange about it?

If I can change the perceptions of extremists more radical than those who serve Allah by directly showing them my immortality, that’s a bargain.

Only those who know the original history will understand my intentions.

“Well, I felt I needed to show that much mercy. Anyway, if forgiving terrorism can gain us a lot, that’s enough.”

It’s frustrating, but I don’t regret it.

This incident will lead the Middle East down the path of Westernization.

Now is the time to push forward, when they’re deeply immersed in Westernization and consider it a good opportunity to approach Allah—this will prevent extremists from emerging in the future.

It will create an environment where extremists cannot emerge.

Whether it’s the Taliban or ISIS or whatever, even if they somehow cross over from the original world to this one, it would be extremely difficult for them to unite.

“Because of this, many Iraqis and Iranians are coming to study in Russia, which is a problem.”

It shouldn’t matter if Islamic people come.

They’re my faithful servants, after all.

They’ll either quietly enjoy their studies as proper Anastasia fan club members, or perhaps try to get my autograph.

“Well, if they’re faithful Anastasia fan club members, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

This seems like an issue that can be handled lightly, doesn’t it?

“As I’ve said before, visiting in person carries too much risk, so it’s absolutely out of the question!”

“Sigh, if you insist, I have no choice.”

I’m not reckless enough to force my way there when I know it’s not possible.

But I would like to see Paris, the city of art, being rebuilt. I’ll just have someone take pictures later.

“Ahem. Well, if you put it that way, I have nothing more to say.”

You received that report! That one.

They’re saying this because they see I’m considering going again.

Sigh, when they talk like that, I really have nothing to say. In this case, should I just stay put as the council members suggest?

“The Anastasia Palace has been completed already.”

“Yes, it’s a truly breathtaking structure just to look at.”

Yes. The Anastasia Palace is complete. Well then, I’ll wait and observe for a while.

At least until space development, I can afford to take some time.

And so.

Several more years passed.

* * *

Around this time, America was also working hard on satellite development.

The first step was the development of long-range rockets.

Since America had only received basic rocket technology from Russia, they were significantly behind in rocket development.

“Those crazy Russians, how the hell…”

“We need to venture into space too.”

“Hurry with satellite development!”

Naturally, MacArthur initiated satellite development.

After all, America was the only counterbalance to the Roman Treaty.

South America was just beginning to form a united government, and Southeast Asia was divided and in a position to receive aid from either the Roman Treaty or America.

MacArthur felt immense pressure from Rome’s space development policy.

After all, if the Roman Treaty claimed the vast new world beyond the sky, beyond humanity’s cradle, before America did.

The Roman Treaty might be the first to harvest the infinite resources in that vast space.

America couldn’t miss this opportunity.

“How is our satellite coming along?”

“For now, our priority is increasing rocket range. Unless we spend more money and acquire satellite technology from the Roman Treaty again.”

That was true. America had become too accustomed to spending money to buy technology.

Perhaps this time too, they could just make a card payment to the Roman Treaty and purchase it.

They could turn that damned Russian Tsar into a woman obsessed with money, unable to live without American money.

But that would damage MacArthur’s pride.

Literally, America would be unable to shed its image as a nouveau riche country.

Of course, if we examine closely, America did surpass the Roman Treaty in a few areas.

Money was the first, as mentioned earlier.

While the Roman Treaty had also accumulated enormous wealth and resources, due to integration, it would be difficult to realize that potential for a while.

So America had much more money.

Second was the development of the polio vaccine.

For this development, the Roman Treaty had sent people directly to collaborate.

Conversely, this meant that the polio vaccine development was about the only thing America had that the Roman Treaty would cling to.

If that was the case, they needed to somehow manage with their own strength this time.

Rocket development technology was still advancing, so satellite development should be entirely possible.

“How long will it take at our current pace?”

“At the fastest, about five years, sir.”

Five years. Five years. Isn’t that too late? By then, the Roman Treaty will be several steps further ahead.

This might put them too far behind.

The satellite itself might require long-term development. They should focus on satellite development now while they have some confidence.

To do that, they need to gather as many people as possible.

“Somehow gather every space engineer and rocket engineer from Central and South America. Even if they belong to the South American Union, use money or whatever it takes to get them quickly.”

So this side too has no choice but to use money to gather everyone.

“Yes, sir.”

Somehow, somehow they’ll catch up.

America is a country that bears one axis of the world, so it shouldn’t be impossible.