episode_0004

Another peaceful day in Paki… I mean, the Helvetian Republic.

Among the people living their daily lives as usual, a strange document began circulating at some point.

“Hey everyone, have you read this?”

“What is it?”

“They were selling booklets cheaply at the bookstore. It looked interesting, so I bought one… but the content is unsettling.”

“I can’t understand if you just say that. What is it that’s making you so worked up?”

“It’s hard to explain. I’ll lend it to you guys, so read it yourselves. It’s short, so it won’t take long.”

The author is unknown, and the publisher is unclear, but the booklet is being distributed all over the country.

The publication, about twenty pages long, sold like hotcakes nationwide shortly after its release.

Initially, it was bought by impoverished intellectuals intrigued by the low price, and later by customers who were influenced by word-of-mouth or strong recommendations from acquaintances.

The initial print run of only 1,000 copies sold out in just a few days, but illegal copies were mass-produced to make up for the shortfall.

People copied it by hand, or bookstore owners printed it themselves.

Before two weeks had passed since its release, there were over 10,000 copies circulating throughout the country.

“Alright, alright, stop nagging me. Let’s see, the subject is… what?”

“T, this kind of content is being sold on the market without censorship?”

Why was it so popular?

The reason was simple.

The words in the booklet were both extremely violent and extremely attractive.

[The Helvetians are truly strange. They have been ruled by outsiders for hundreds of years, yet they have no rebellious spirit. If it were another people, the masses would have risen up long ago to resist.

Poor Helvetia! A nation of commoners! A flawed nation! They do not even deserve to offer a single excuse when they hear such criticism. How ironic is this? The oppressors have properly assessed their true nature!]

The booklet began like this from the start.

Insulting the people, belittling them, and stimulating their pride.

It openly pointed out elements that many considered unconscious flaws, stirring up emotions.

Violently, but also extremely directly and realistically.

[However, the Helvetians are not just a pathetic people. They have a brilliant history and glory.

In the past, they built a great empire that encompassed the continent. They fought off various barbarians and cultivated the land. They built vast road networks, constructed magnificent cathedrals, arenas, and cities, and elevated human civilization to a higher level with all sorts of new technologies and inventions.

They created and invented new things in countless fields, and their achievements cannot be belittled by any other people or nation.]

And immediately after.

It praised the past that they were proud of. With all sorts of compliments and specific examples.

It highlighted the greatness and fame of their distant ancestors, contrasting it with their current misery, while at the same time evoking longing and nostalgia for that time.

Readers, who had forgotten their pride, patriotism, and sense of national identity due to the difficulties of reality, couldn’t help but think:

‘That time was really great.’

‘Why do we live like this? Why does a small peninsula have to have a dozen or so countries?’

‘Even now, with the country fragmented, there are many small but renowned nations and free cities. If everyone joined forces, wouldn’t we become a much greater power?’

The people were not divided or differentiated.

Even though the country was divided, the culture and language remained the same. Helvetians still made up the vast majority on the Helvetian Peninsula, and their sense of unity was strong.

Wouldn’t it be alright to unify?

If they shook off the interference of empires and kingdoms and united as one, wouldn’t they be able to stand tall and assert their independence proudly, just like in the past?

[Do you want to regain the glory of your ancestors? Do you want to remain as proud ancestors for future generations? If so, the Helvetians only need to make one resolution. Not a superficial formality, nor an abstract action, but a single resolution to themselves.

Swear to yourselves to become diligent Helvetians once more, energetic and disciplined Helvetians. Once again, gather together as compatriots and have the ambition to achieve everything!]

As if anticipating this reaction, the booklet even suggested specific courses of action.

If they wanted to achieve their ideals, they should unite. They should end the long division and unite to form an integrated nation and state.

It instilled confidence and fighting spirit, saying that if they renewed their mindset and will and united together, there would be nothing they couldn’t do.

[One People! One Nation! One Leader!

The moment these three things are all in place, Helvetia will be resurrected! Just as the phoenix rises from the ashes, it will cast off the shame and pain of the past and soar magnificently!

Awaken, Helvetia! Realize the mission etched in your bloodline and soul!]

What kind of reaction would people who read all of this have?

People who were captivated by the rhetoric that went back and forth between sweet talk and violent arguments?

Everyone was captivated, repeating the contents in their minds and chewing over the memorable phrases. Especially the key points that were emphasized several times in the text.

“One People.”

Compatriots who unite as one, regard each other as family, help and support each other, and cooperate with each other.

“One Nation.”

A nation that represents the will of such compatriots, protects the interests of the people, and protects them from oppression.

A nation that exists for the people of this land, not for incomprehensible foreign oppressors.

“One Leader.”

A righteous leader who exists for the sake of the people and the country, pursuing growth and the future instead of exploitation and plunder.

The three essential elements needed for the current Helvetia to stand again as a proper sovereign state.

At first, each person was just thinking about it on their own, but soon they realized. That everyone was thinking similarly.

Coffee houses, pubs, libraries. Wherever intellectuals gathered, discussions about the contents of the booklet took place.

They shared their opinions, rallied their spirits, and gathered their intentions.

No, it was the same even if they weren’t intellectuals.

Despite the profundity of the content, the booklet mainly used fairly easy words and expressions.

Even those who had only learned a little bit of the language could understand it without difficulty, and even if they were illiterate, they could quickly understand and sympathize if they heard it from others.

“One People! One Nation! One Leader!”

The voices turned into shouts, and the shouts into roars.

It didn’t take long for the small countries of the Helvetian Peninsula, which had been living under the thumb of large nations, to be engulfed in the fervor of the people.

“Drive out the foreign powers! Let’s establish our own government!!”

“Make Helvetia great again! Let’s save our compatriots suffering under the Kram Empire and the Navre Kingdom!!”

“Helvetia! United! Strong!”

And this commotion was soon known everywhere, crossing the sea and borders.

Even to the Kingdom of Alain, where Kang Chun-soo’s hideout was located.

* * * * *

“Thank you, you bastard! You saved my life!!”

“Haha, you flatter me, Branch Manager-nim.”

After waiting for weeks while watching the boss’s mood, the results finally became visible. And very spectacularly at that.

“Has my ability been proven with this?”

“It goes without saying. From today, you are one of us. Your name is… Chun-soo, right?”

“Please call me Ishmael. I’m planning to use a pseudonym from now on.”

“Really? If that’s what you want.”

The branch manager, who had been trembling with fear of losing his head for weeks, was now very happy and praised me enthusiastically.

Thanks to this incident, he avoided responsibility for the failure of the previous Academy terror operation and received recognition from the higher-ups for his contribution.

Thanks to that, his position within the organization had even strengthened, so he couldn’t help but be happy.

“How on earth did you write such a thing? I read it too, and it was amazing. I’ve never seen a sentence that captivates people so much.”

“It’s just a trivial trick. I’ve had a knack for oratory since I was young.”

Well, I used the expressions of the greatest demagogues in human history as they were, so it would have been strange if it hadn’t worked.

Thank you, Mr. Hitler, Mr. Goebbels!

“With this, we can leave the Helvetia side alone for a while. It’s so noisy over there, they’ll all be focused on that for a while. In the meantime, let’s target other areas.”

“What do you mean? The real sabotage hasn’t even started yet.”

The branch manager’s eyes widened at the sudden declaration, but I was speaking sincerely.

The real agitation hasn’t even started yet. I’ve only just laid the groundwork and made public opinion excited.

Now that the atmosphere has been created, it’s time to trigger movement.

We need to lead those excited masses in Helvetia to actually take action.

Ah, but this time, simply sending out propaganda won’t work.

We need to target key figures with pinpoint accuracy, not the majority of ignorant people.

It’s important to know what those guys over there are planning right now…

“Branch Manager-nim. Excuse me, but can I ask you for a favor?”

“If it’s within my power. What is it?”

“Please investigate the movements of the upper echelons of the Helvetian Republic.”

I wonder what strategy the leaders of the republic, having heard the voices of the people, are devising.

Although I don’t know for sure, it seemed unlikely that they would go against public opinion.