Chapter 116: How to Annoy Koreans

Chapter 116: How to Annoy Koreans

Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense

116 – How to Annoy Koreans

‘Is it really possible?’

Ishida panicked.

Normally, if someone had made such a proposal to him, he would have dismissed it as nonsense. However, the person speaking before him now was not just anyone but Cha Myung-jun, the representative of the Liberal Clan.

A massive battleship that paralyzes people’s thinking from the moment they approach.

And on that deck, a 20-meter “combat-ready” giant robot.

And now, the room he was sitting in, reminiscent of the interior of a space battleship.

Having pieced together all these puzzles, Prime Minister Ishida could only conclude that Myung-jun’s words were not mere empty promises.

‘If it’s possible, giving away territory is not even a problem.’

While the Japanese government claimed it was extremely safe, the reality was the severely contaminated Fukushima area.

If they could completely decontaminate that area, one of Japan’s most important breadbasket regions, Ishida was confident he could convince the Japanese people and parliament, no matter what price he had to pay as a concession to the Liberal Clan.

With a trembling voice, Prime Minister Ishida asked Myung-jun.

“Could you explain what decontamination entails?”

“If you’re thinking of decontamination as converting the melted-down nuclear materials from the exploded No. 1 reactor underground into non-radioactive substances and thoroughly removing all radioactive materials from the contaminated area and nearby areas, then you understand correctly.”

“...Could you state your conditions?”

Ishida’s mind had completely tilted towards accepting whatever conditions the Liberal Clan demanded.

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After the meeting with Ishida, Myung-jun proceeded to negotiate with the remaining countries, ultimately choosing Japan as the location for the headquarters of the Liberal Clan.

Of course, there were countries that opposed Myung-jun’s decision, but their dissatisfaction quickly dissipated as soon as the conditions presented by the Japanese government to the Liberal Clan were revealed.

The conditions proposed by the Japanese government were absurdly favorable to the Liberal Clan, to the point where it was suspected what kind of madness had led to such an insane proposal.

Within those proposals was even the exclusive management and exploitation rights of all gates that occurred within Japanese territory.

Prime Minister Ishida announced the reorganization of the Dungeon Bureau, which had previously overseen the operation and management of gates and Awakeners within Japan, into a special agency under the jurisdiction of the Liberal Clan, placing all Awakeners within Japan under the authority of the Liberal Clan.

The significance contained therein was tantamount to handing over both the ‘gate industry,’ which was currently the most promising future industry, and the ‘Awakener business’, to the hands of the Liberal Clan, away from the Japanese government.

However, the ‘radical proposal’ presented by the Japanese government to the Liberal Clan did not end there.

A “city-sized facility” that could turn a country that doesn’t produce a drop of oil into the world’s largest fuel producer.

Myung-jun was stating that he would provide most of the fuel produced by that facility to the Japanese government.

“To the west of the city, near the lake in the second district, there will be accommodations and facilities for Awakeners who come to the city for specialized equipment produced by the Liberal Clan, as well as for tourists who come to see the world’s most outstanding future city.”

In the second district presented by Myung-jun, there were facilities such as casinos where bets could be placed using different forms of currency instead of traditional currency, colosseums where civilians could safely watch confrontations between Awakeners, and auction houses where used equipment and rare materials were treated as main products.

“To the east, the third district will house equipment manufacturing facilities. Equipment manufactured at these facilities by the Liberal Clan will be exported worldwide with the independent authority held by the Liberal Clan, without the need for approval from the Japanese government. To the south, near Kyoto and Osaka, the fourth district will feature ordinary residential facilities. Unlike the second district for visitors and tourists, the fourth district to the south will be a space for residents of the new city to live, which will be constructed by the Liberal Clan.”

After explaining the four zones of the city that would become the new home, Myung-jun introduced the massive facility in the center of the city.

In the center, a building resembling a colossal castle with a giant spire at its center was displayed on the screen behind Myung-jun.

“The area in the center of the city is the Academy Area. There, our Liberal Clan will accept candidates sent by governments from various countries to foster the world’s strongest Awakeners.”

As soon as Myung-jun finished his explanation, a flurry of questions began pouring in.

What qualifications would applicants need to enter the academy? Would Awakeners who completed their training be sent back to their home countries? How would the annual admissions quotas for each country be determined?

Looking at the representatives of various countries throwing questions like eager children, Myung-jun began answering calmly.

The admissions quotas for each country would be determined by the Liberal Clan at its discretion, with 40% based on government recommendations, 30% based on private clan recommendations, and the remaining 30% recruited annually through public auditions.

Myung-jun also explained that anyone with exceptional talent, not just Awakeners, could apply to the academy. Students admitted to the academy would be able to grow safely and rapidly under the guidance of Awakeners affiliated with the world’s top-ranked awakened clan, the Liberal Clan.

And those admitted through recommendations from countries or private clans would be sent back to their countries upon graduation, while those admitted through public recruitment would be able to determine their future paths according to their wishes.

As Myung-jun’s explanation continued, a puzzled expression began to dawn on the faces of the national representatives listening.

Based on the explanations so far, it seemed that the benefits the Liberal Clan could gain from operating the academy were too minimal.

At that moment, Joe Biden, the US president who was most interested in this plan, asked Myung-jun a question.

“All right. If what you’re saying comes true, the average level of Awakeners worldwide will greatly improve. However, that seems like a good thing for us, not necessarily for the Liberal Clan. If it’s not too presumptuous, could you explain why you’ve devised such a charitable plan?”

It was one of the expected questions, so Myung-jun answered Biden’s question with a relaxed attitude.

“Of course, it might sound like a charity project if you just listen to the explanations. However, once you understand the meaning behind the phrase mentioned there, you’ll understand why we’re planning to operate this kind of clan.”

The phrase Myung-jun pointed out was from the explanation of the academy’s admission quota that Seo had displayed on the screen a while ago.

The phrase stated that the quotas for each country would be determined at the discretion of the Liberal Clan.

Myung-jun, realizing the meaning contained in that word, smiled at Biden.

“The word ‘discretion’ can have various meanings depending on how you interpret it. And we’re not a clan that endlessly engages in charity work. So, if you want a meaningful level of admission quotas, you’ll have to offer something to the Liberal Clan as well.”

Myung-jun spoke to the national leaders looking at him as if he were a child talking about what he wanted for his birthday.

“Oh, by the way, I really like conquering gates.”

It was a statement imbued with a kind of threat, saying ‘If you want to receive the academy’s admission quota, you’ll have to ‘figure it out yourself’,’ for the gates to be conquered in the future.