Part 1 Chapter 9 20

Cheonghwa ‘transformed the Black Flame Dragon’ and defeated the S-rank monster, the Water Guardian.

As two S-rank monsters, the Branch Dragon and the Water Guardian, were consecutively defeated, public attention once again shifted to Cheonghwa.

-Can they be transformed at will if you just have the monster’s core?

Thanks to her attitude of not showing much interest in the monster’s corpse, people realized that the monster’s ‘core’ was the real key.

-Isn’t it possible that the Black Flame Dragon suddenly disappeared because it was actually changed into a core and then transformed back?

After heated debate, some even made inferences quite close to the correct answer, but because Cheonghwa didn’t reveal the truth, it could only remain an inference.

No one thought about the existence of the Flame Giant Deokbae, and people concluded their thoughts at the level of ‘the Black Flame Dragon must have transformed into a human.’

-What was the result of the conference? Even so, they wouldn’t take both, would they?

And now people began to discuss the outcome. Since two S-rank monsters were truly killed and their cores taken, a deep discussion about the ownership of those cores was necessary.

-I heard the conference continued while Cheonghwa was using Azure Flame Manifestation (lol)?

-I’m an Association employee, and someone Cheonghwa-yang knows came as a substitute for the meeting. Yu Hwang-suk almost grabbed them by the collar omg.

-Mao Zeping just keeps smiling. Isn’t his soul gone?

No matter what happened, they hoped the conference would conclude quickly.

If they dragged their feet like this, wouldn’t the Black Scorpions really reach Beijing? They didn’t care if they gave away the cores, they just wanted them to quickly resolve the swarming wave of scorpions, like cockroaches.

The Association had evacuated residents on their own, but due to the nature of the country, a large-scale evacuation was difficult without the influence of the Chairman, the head of the party, and the de facto power holder.

People’s eyes were fixed on the conference room, which no one could enter, and soon the conference was heading towards its conclusion.

Triggered by the arrival of a phantom in the conference room.

***

More than the battle where the Black Flame Dragon and the Water Guardian only exchanged feints from afar, the conference made little progress. The young insurance agent whom Seok Harang had brought, claiming to guarantee him, wielded overwhelming negotiation power, contrary to appearances, and pressured the Central Party.

“Are you demanding the monster cores, or are you demanding control over the monsters that will be manipulated based on the cores? If it’s the cores, Cheonghwa-yang personally caught them using her special ability, so you wouldn’t dare claim ownership. Cheonghwa-yang came here after being officially invited.”

“But these were monsters that were on this land. While the cores themselves can be conceded, what happens afterward is a different matter. If you ask for compensation, I will pay it. What would happen if she just returned to Korea without any follow-up measures? Would other countries really invite Cheonghwa-yang?”

Yu Hwang-suk, an official from the Association, suddenly had to stand on the side of the Central Party and lead the negotiations. Mao Zeping, who was just occupying his seat, claiming to entrust everything to Cheonja, simply watched silently with a smile.

According to Eun Yuha (Yujun), the one who hunted the core has ownership.

According to Yu Hwang-suk, since the monsters were caught on Chinese soil, they naturally had to negotiate with the Central Party.

While both of them, their faces flushed, refused to back down from their claims,

“Hehe.”

Hwanryong merely laughed. He only opened his mouth after Phoenix went to catch the Water Guardian.

“I will concede the two cores you hunted. I express my sincere gratitude. In that case, what about the Black Scorpion horde? Can Cheonghwa-yang hunt them? It seems it would be too much now.”

Hwanryong spoke fluently. Only Seok Harang noticed the presence of the handsome young man whispering as a spirit body beside him, and Baek Cheong-yeong subtly conveyed the full story of the conversation she had with Phoenix.

“…Yes. Both the Black Flame Dragon and Cheonghwa-yang need rest. They pushed themselves quite a bit.”

“Th-then we must clear a hospital room immediately! Hwang-suk-gong!”

“You don’t need to make a fuss.”

Cheonja, who had been sitting like a folding screen, only then started acting up, but Yu Hwang-suk, who was on edge because of the conference, subdued Cheonja with a single stroke and resumed negotiations with Eun Yuha (Yujun).

“In that case, regarding the Black Scorpions, our Association and the Central Party will consult on the matter.”

“Yes. The cores of the Water Guardian and the Branch Dragon… are Cheonghwa-yang’s property.”

Although Hwanryongdan actually took the Branch Dragon’s core, Phoenix very generously overlooked Baek Cheong-yeong’s trolling by punishing her.

“Then, Cheonghwa-yang will take the cores of the Branch Dragon and the Water Guardian, both S-rank, when she returns to her country.”

“Yes. …We will officially send a document through the Association later. Regarding the revival of monsters with cores and operating them like the Black Flame Dragon.”

“By all means, feel free to do so.”

It was the Association that suffered. The people in the conference room briefly summarized the issue of the cores, drafted an agreement, and agreed to announce it through a representative.

“Then, the next agenda item is…”

The conference continued in a relay. If it had previously been a confrontation between Hayujun and Yu Hwang-suk, it was now a dispute between the Round Table and China over international issues-a confrontation between Seok Harang and Yu Hwang-suk.

“The Round Table will step forward. It’s not a dimensional gate, but it’s a disaster on the scale of a dimensional gate, isn’t it?”

“Are you planning to step forward personally, Seolhwaryeong-nim?”

“Yes. Since I’m here, I might as well eradicate them completely before I leave. Oh, by the way, you know how the monsters dealt with by the Round Table are distributed, right?”

“……Of course I know. Doesn’t the Round Table take 10% of the cores from the monsters they hunt as their share?”

“Yes. 10%.”

Although the Round Table is an organization that works for world peace, it is not an organization that operates for free. According to dispatch requests, they take 10% of the monsters they hunted as their share for plane tickets, food expenses, and so on.

“So, if I step forward, I’ll sweep them all away at once, won’t I?”

“Seolhwaryeong-nim. How about showing great generosity?”

Hwanryong proposed to Seok Harang in a gentle tone. Cheonja and Yu Hwang-suk were astonished by Mao Zeping (Hwanryong)’s attitude of humbling his pride and approaching, and Seok Harang shrugged his shoulders and accepted his proposal.

“Yes. I understand. I’ll sit this one out this time. I’ll be on standby at the very rear of the monster defense line, so you all handle the rest.”

“Yes. Understood. Then now….”

Hwanryong’s gaze turned to Cheonja. He was quite scared, but he didn’t tremble like an aspen tree as before.

“Wh-what are you thinking?”

“The Chairman-nim must make a decision. Our Monster Management Measures Bureau’s opinion is…”

Hwanryong bowed his head and sounded out his opinion.

“I believe it is time for not only our people, but everyone around the world, to unite their strength to deal with the scorpion hordes coming towards this capital.”

“…Meaning?”

“Yes.”

Under Bonghyo’s direction, Hwanryong grasped the movement speed and path of the Black Scorpions and created the optimal defense line.

Wuwei. A wide lake located beneath the city, also called Muwi in the past.

“If they run at full speed from this side as well, I think they will meet here, probably just before a day passes.”

Qinghai. Hwanryong intended to form a defensive line in China’s largest lake, which is also a salt lake.

“Is that so.”

Cheonja calmly nodded his head and rose from his seat.

“I will personally declare it.”

Cheonja showed strong resolve, even raising his mana. It might have hurt his pride that the first thing he would mention to the world, stepping forward, was ‘requesting international support,’ but it didn’t seem important to Cheonja.

“Hwang-suk-gong. Prepare. Director-General, please assist with all your heart and soul.”

“Ah, understood!”

“Hehe. Of course.”

Hwanryong, Baek Cheong-yeong, Seok Harang, Eun Yuha.

The four of them smiled bitterly, watching Cheonja naively burning with enthusiasm.

-He’s going to do it.

-Looks like he will.

-He’ll overdo it.

-Such bravado.

“Along with the party’s heroes, I will personally stand before everyone in the world!”

Cheonja declared his personal command.

* * *

A moment later. Above Beijing.

“Landing.”

I landed the Black Flame Dragon again where I had revived it. Onlookers who had come out were widely surrounding the plaza from afar, but because the Black Flame Dragon glared, they seemed unable to approach me easily.

“Welcome, Cheonghwa-yang.”

Hwanryong came out to greet me personally. The Central Party members and Association employees seemed quite busy, and it was quite unexpected for me that Hwanryong came out here himself.

“Yes. I’m back.” [How did the conference go?]

“You’ve worked hard on your long journey. Please come inside.” [It’s over. Eun Yuha, that kid, handled everything on her own, you know?]”

I matched Hwanryong’s pace beside him. Thanks to Mao Zeping’s prestige, our path naturally parted to the left and right, and Hwanryong and I chatted casually about nothing in particular, conversing as spirits.

[Virtually only the Black Scorpion horde remains. You can handle that much on your own, right?]

[Can’t I use Xiaolin? It’s annoying to sweep them all up one by one….]

[I don’t intend to send Seok Harang either. It’s not the time for SS to step forward. We should give many people a chance.]

The number of Black Scorpions was too great for one person or faction to monopolize. So, they had to give everyone a chance to get a spoon in and disperse the critical gazes. While SS could easily annihilate them if they stepped forward, the Black Scorpions were numerous, but not strong individuals.

[There’s only one cake in front of us, but too many spoons, so shouldn’t we give everyone a chance to taste a bite? Then, let me ask you a question. What’s a way to divert the gaze of the foolish masses?]

[Hmm, killing them all?]

Hwanryong offered the simplest and cleanest answer. But that wasn’t the answer I wanted.

[If you kill them all one by one, it would take a long time and be difficult.]

[Ugh, it’s annoying. Then. Should we just let them curse us and leave it?]

[Right. I’ll just tell you the answer. The answer is to make the direction of dissatisfaction point sideways, not upwards.]

I subtly covered my mouth. Coincidentally, the topic of conversation was also about the Black Scorpions.

“Ah, I see. Regarding the Black Scorpions, you decided to request support from each country…. But Director-General Mo. How did you coordinate it? I imagine many places would have responded saying they’d provide aid.”

“Cheonja-nim set the standard ‘boldly.’ Black Scorpions caught by Chinese ability users would be considered China’s, but they decided not to interfere at all with those caught by ability users from other countries. Is that clear, Cheonghwa-yang?”

“Oh, my.”

Whether to call it bold, or short-sighted. Either way, my intended meaning and direction were correct, so I continued explaining to Hwanryong.

[It’s about taking a slice of cake and putting it on the floor for the beggars holding spoons under the table. And then letting them eat to their heart’s content.]

[…You’re really trash, aren’t you?]

Hwanryong was disgusted by my plan. But I didn’t care at all.

[Would you call it a scheme based on human greed and envy? Anyway, then people’s eyes will turn. Not to the seven slices of cake they can’t even see on the table, but to the one slice of cake right in front of them.]

[And when they eat it, they’ll fight. Then the dissatisfaction will naturally…]

[…the blame will fall on the one who ate the most. Without even knowing that the seven slices of cake on the table have completely disappeared.]

“Hehehe.”

“Hehe.”

Whether it was a trashy plan or whatever, Hwanryong didn’t seem to have any intention of interfering. From a spirit’s perspective, humans are merely insignificant beings, so I naturally felt amused at the fierce struggle the heroes would engage in over the cores.

“Cheonghwa-yang!”

“……Ah, Chairman Cheon-nim.”

From the other end of the hallway, Cheonja came running with a bright smile. The only being that even Mao Zeping’s face couldn’t stop ended up blocking me. I greeted him with an appropriate smile.

“I heard you made a big decision. It must have been a difficult decision.”

“No. I realized it after seeing your appearance.”

My appearance? Cheonja patted his chest and smiled brightly.

“That courage you showed, rushing out of the conference room and declaring that you would protect the people! I was captivated by your courage and decisiveness.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Hehe.”

Hwanryong turned his head and laughed. I invisibly hit Hwanryong in the side with mana. Even though I answered awkwardly, Cheonja didn’t care at all.

“And I realized. What needs to be done in the face of monsters that are a threat to humanity is not a tedious argument, but the ‘courage to act’ to deal with the immediate crisis!”

Cheonja grabbed my hand with sparkling eyes. This bastard?

“Azure Flame Manifestation! It was a truly magnificent reverberation!”

“…….”

Okay. Let’s kill him. Should I kill him? Should I just make Hwanryong the Chairman?

“……It hurts.”

I barely suppressed my seething anger and muttered softly. Startled, Cheonja stepped back, and Hwanryong blocked his path.

“I was guiding Cheonghwa-yang to a resting place just now. She must be tired from the long flight, so let’s converse later.”

“Ah, yes! Yes! …Cheonghwa-yang, I apologize! I will apologize for this rudeness later!”

The sight of a nation’s leader bowing deeply to me and apologizing was quite awkward to witness. But the warm aura emanating from around us created an atmosphere reminiscent of a youth romance drama.

“Chairman Cheon-nim. Shouldn’t you be going now?”

“……! Cheonghwa-yang, I’m truly sorry! I’ll see you when I return!”

Chairman Cheon-nim even ran down the hallway as he left the spot. I, who waved my hand to clear away the mana he carelessly left behind, followed Hwanryong to the infirmary.

“Isn’t Cheonja quite something? Hehe.”

“Shut your fucking mouth before I sew it shut… *ahem* *ahem*.”

[Shut your fucking mouth before I sew it shut.]

“……Hmph.”

Hwanryong’s expression soured. Fortunately, there was no one else around besides the two of us.