Chapter 406

Chapter 406

Chapter 73 Reward Vacation (3)

After meeting the lords of the empire as usual.

Isola was huffing softly.

The anger had not completely subsided yet.

– So, in the end, he got the entry permit after all?

I had issued orders several times upon hearing the unwelcome news of his visit.

To somehow prevent his entry and stay.

But the result that came back was dismal.

– Then what can we do? The provisional government is entirely in their hands.

– They issued the long-term stay visa without even consulting us.

– That’s why people from weak nations can’t be trusted. As soon as things get tough, they rely on foreign powers.

– They’ll try to interfere with national affairs at every turn, shouldn’t we get rid of them quickly?

– And how exactly do you propose we do that?

– Princess, bear in mind. This is the result of us not having power.

The result of not having power.

Yes, this happened because she was just a powerless puppet princess.

Was she just going to sit down helplessly?

‘No.’

After moving to Earth, many things had changed in Isola’s mindset.

One of them was that she was slightly influenced by the ideology of a free competition society.

She had no intention of letting go of her superior bloodline.

However, the stories of some Earthlings who tirelessly challenged and eventually succeeded seemed quite impressive.

Thanks to this, Isola gained an unfounded confidence that if she tried, she could achieve better results than them with her exceptional bloodline.

There was also some influence from Vellego, who always said pleasing things by her side.

– The princess will surely excel once she starts.

– Our princess will handle that easily!

– If it were our princess, she would have done something even more amazing!

Most of what this person had was a talent for flattery, but since he whispered such things, Isola’s ego had expanded over the years.

Thus, she began to dream of grand and lofty dreams.

‘If things remain as they are, the country will be swayed by foreign powers.’

She naturally began to evaluate the capabilities of the provisional government.

She did not consider how difficult it was to gain recognition as an independent nation among countless others and to pursue a foreign policy that prioritized its citizens.

She simply found it displeasing to her eyes and thought of removing it and taking charge herself.

In such a situation, the nobles of the Atar Empire approached Isola.

Having no way to seize power, they planned to use highly supported Isola, and she thought it was a golden opportunity sent by heaven.

She believed she would stand tall as the new empress of Biharin.

For a while, she envisioned herself being loved by all the people and respected by countries worldwide, much like the queen of England where she had stayed for some time.

‘I am a descendant of the great Atar Empire.’

It was time to stop living as a guest, constantly being mindful of all eyes on her.

Isola firmly believed in her glittering future.

Given that she was the noble princess who had stepped forward to save millions of lives abandoned by the empire irresponsibly, she deserved to be the new era’s empress.

She even pictured herself wearing the crown at her coronation.

But while preparing for the throne, she heard unbelievable news one day.

– K is back, isn’t he?

– They say K has appeared in Korea.

– K…

– K…

– K…

K! An outsider with not an ounce of respect for the Atar royal family!

His appearance was by no means a help to Isola’s ascension.

‘It would rather be a hindrance.’

Thus, I planned to block his entry no matter what.

Yet, it was still difficult for her influence to reach the provisional government.

As a result, it seems not only were his entry permits issued but also a visa for a long-term stay was granted.

In a rush of urgency, she gathered the lords to devise countermeasures.

“Ha.”

There was no other way to come up with a solution.

Eventually, Isola ended the meeting empty-handed.

The mere fact that no plans came out was exhausting.

And Vellego, who was supposed to wait for her outside the meeting hall, was nowhere to be seen.

“Where has this man gone again?”

She tried to vent her frustration over the situation not going her way.

But disappearing people don’t just return.

Ultimately, Isola left first with her bodyguards, leaving Vellego behind, who had been acting as the driver.

It was Vellego’s fault for disappearing without a word.

Not her fault for leaving without waiting for him.

Ignoring her own mistake habitually, Isola arrived at her destination shortly after.

“I’m tired, let’s just go inside.”

“Yes, princess.”

After sending her bodyguards away, Isola headed into the house.

One of the properties transferred with the government back when the western territory was ceded from the US.

This was Isola’s residence.

She was living there, being treated as a national honoree.

Isola, quite familiar with the place, opened the door and entered.

And then, with the door barely closed, her body stiffened up.

For there was a familiar person in the living room visible from the hallway.

“Ah, sir…?”

It was Vellego, who had disappeared without waiting for her at the meeting hall.

He sat on his knees in a spot through which the streetlight pouring in through the window shone best.

As if being punished, he held his hands up high, with his face even turning a shade of blue.

With swollen eyes, torn lips, and broken teeth.

As if he had been beaten by someone.

It was a shocking scene for Isola, who was not inherently cruel or vicious.

Thus, rushing towards Vellego, she stopped with a jolt.

Someone was moving from the kitchen side.

It was then that she realized that the person who put Vellego in such a state might still be here.

And indeed, there was a shadow methodically arranging items from the wine refrigerator on the counter.

“Life’s been good lately? Buying things like these.”

Even in the deep dark, those golden eyes piercing through Isola did not blend into the darkness.

“It seems quite pricey, according to online searches.”

Though the narrowed eyes bore a hint of a smile.

“It’s not like you have a job or assets…where did you get the money?”

The voice reaching her ear was chilling.

Tap.

K placed the bottle on the table with a deliberate sound and drew a smile.

“You know there’s no need to explain, right? I was being sarcastic. I came because I know you pocketed the state funds embezzled by the lords.”

A silent chuckle wrapped Isola entirely.

Emerging from the kitchen, K’s approaching shadow looked enormous.

Momentarily unable to withstand the pressure, Isola stood frozen.

Stopping before her, he spoke with a frosty face.

“Why cause trouble if you’re going to get scared like this?”

“Tha-that, th-th…”

Her mouth and tongue seemed to have stopped functioning.

But unlike Isola, K smoothly recited his words.

“Hey, this is not your playground. Didn’t I clearly tell you to watch your tongue and behavior? But what? Being a president? Elections?”

“……”

“Did I really need to specifically say to be cautious with your dealings?”

Sigh.

With a sigh drenched in irritation, Isola involuntarily dropped her head.

“What on earth did you think you could do by stepping forward?”

Isola began to shake fiercely, unable to utter a word.

She had definitely thought she could do anything.

But when she tried to speak, she couldn’t figure out what she could do.

Nothing came to mind.

“Let me kindly explain it again, so listen carefully.”

“……”

“Your only use was to provide a nominal reason to control the lords from the Atar Empire during the war.”

So, in the future, just stay quiet and live off the government pension as a national honoree.

A cold voice sentenced her future.

A life neither attracting others’ attention nor becoming an object of envy.

A life as just a figure from the past, quietly passing the days.

When told to live the rest of her life this way, she felt suffocated.

Eventually, Isola mustered all her strength to protest.

“But, but, but I…for, for the people…”

“Someone like you claiming to be for the people?”

She crumbled before K’s cold sneer.

“Come on, princess. Let’s be honest since there’s no one watching. You stepped forward for yourself, not for Biharin; to be regarded as a remarkable person, someone who gains attention anywhere.”

Her carefully concealed intentions, secrets she had even lied to herself to hide, were laid bare.

“You wanted to be a significant figure like in the days when you were a princess, although you lacked the ability.”

So she had aligned with those with sinister motives willing to use her.

K, who perfectly saw through the essence of Isola’s actions, slightly lowered himself.

Thanks to this, their eye level became the same.

“If you can’t handle it, don’t harbor useless greed and live quietly according to your capacity.”

K warned, staring Isola directly in the eyes.

“If I catch you fooling around like this again, it won’t end with just a warning.”

Before the clear threat, Isola, unable to think of a reply, only trembled.

But K didn’t care.

“I’ll be watching, so act properly.”

As if he hadn’t expected a response from the start, he neatly withdrew his gaze from Isola.

Instead, his attention shifted to Vellego, who still knelt there.

“And you, you bastard.”

K struck the back of Vellego’s head and barked.

“I attached you to humor her, and you instigate like this? How much did you pocket from the lords?”

“Ah, no, I didn’t…receive…”

“Forget it, there’s no point asking. It’s faster if I look into it. You’ll regain your senses after spending some time in prison even on Earth.”

Clicking his tongue, K turned to leave the house.

With the only speaking person gone, a quiet silence enveloped them.

Sneak.

Vellego, who had been watching Isola’s mood, clumsily rose.

Then, limping as if cramping, he hurriedly left the place.

“Wa-wait, K! Just a moment! I never meant any harm! I didn’t receive much either!”

Vellego’s desperate voice gradually faded away, and soon stillness settled back in.

Alone at last, left by everyone.

Isola slumped down.

Now, she had no hope.

Having dealt with Isola, next in line were the empire men.

I decided on the venue as the place where the government conference, which began at the crack of dawn, was held.

However, there was a slight problem.

‘I’m not a government official, so I shouldn’t be attending.’

Of course, there was a solution, so it wasn’t much of an issue.

Although I couldn’t enter the meeting, there’s no rule against standing near the building while it’s in session.

I stood at the entrance to observe the faces of those entering for work.

And during the meeting, whenever intrusive noises were heard from inside, I pounded them with ghastly clones from the clear sky.

Boom boom bang.

It was a very violent and oppressive method.

A brutish method only possible as public law enforcement wasn’t strong yet.

But I am confident of its effectiveness.

Seeing those leaving with ashen faces after the meeting made it evident.

‘Now the great fire’s taken care of.’

Damned System

New Elements and Characters:

– 이솔라 = Isola(she)

– 벨레고 = Vellego(he)

– 아타르 제국 = Atar Empire(it)