Chapter 44
After entering the Space Age, Humanity achieved incredible technological prowess and created amazing things.
Of course, most of them were created by Dr. Space, but other engineers and scientists also put in considerable effort and produced results.
They also evolved remarkably in terms of weaponry.
However, one thing was clear.
“In the end, it's nuclear weapons.”
Even in the Space Age, nuclear weapons were the most certain and ultimate weapons Humanity could use.
“A weapon more powerful than a nuclear weapon cannot be made.”
None other than Doctor Space had said it himself.
“For now, at least. I don't know about a few years from now.”
An incredibly eerie remark was added after that, but regardless, in the Space Age, nukes were a master key.
No matter how resilient the Mogs were, they could not withstand nuclear weapons.
And naturally, that power was also a threat to humanity.
Therefore, more conditions than one might think applied to the use of nuclear weapons.
“It is impossible for any nation's planet-based headquarters to possess nuclear weapons.”
In particular, it was impossible for a planet-based headquarters to independently possess and use nuclear weapons.
The authority and execution of nuclear weapon use were possible solely through a space battleship on standby in space.
It was a natural measure.
A planet-based headquarters possessing nuclear weapons? No one knew whether they would be aimed at the Mogs or at another headquarters.
“If that is allowed, everyone will end up firing nuclear missiles. What wouldn't they do if they didn't want to die?”
Crucially, in the world of space, one faced the threat of death all too easily, and in such extreme situations, pressing the nuclear missile button was far too easy.
Of course, it wasn't completely without exceptions.
“Except in unavoidable cases where a Mog appears that must be eliminated by any means necessary.”
That was the reason.
Why do nuclear weapons currently exist in the Chinese Headquarters on Planet Amotia?
“For example, something like a Queen.”
A queen had appeared on Planet Amotia, and the nations that grasped this fact had each employed their own methods to eliminate the Queen.
The Chinese Headquarters had likewise deployed nuclear weapons at the Chinese Headquarters to hunt the Queen.
Of course, they hadn't secured them to truly hunt the Queen.
That was merely a justification; their real purpose was to use them in a war against other nations' headquarters on Planet Amotia.
And all authority over those nuclear weapons was possessed by Major Lin Jia'ai.
“I had no intention of using a card like this.”
That didn't mean Major Lin Jia'ai had intended to pull out the nuclear weapon card from the beginning.
Rather, from Major Lin Jia'ai's perspective, the nuclear weapons should have remained as hidden as possible during this operation.
Having to use nuclear weapons was tantamount to proving that Major Lin Jia'ai had failed to do her job and was incompetent.
In other words, Major Lin Jia'ai was now admitting it.
The way she saw it, there was no way for her to stop the attacks directed at the Chinese Headquarters with her own abilities.
Let alone stopping the attacker, the Chinese Headquarters couldn't even figure out the true identity of the attacker.
Even the reconnaissance drone they had forcefully sent out to figure it out hadn't just been destroyed, but hijacked.
“If we leave it like this, it will only get worse.”
What was even worse was that this was only the beginning.
There was no way the opponent would be satisfied with just this one attack and say, 'We will no longer fight China! Let's be peaceful!', right?
Rather, the fact that there had been no further attacks allowed Major Lin Jia'ai to be certain.
“They have a war specialist on their side, someone who knows how to slowly bleed us dry.”
The enemy was far more terrifying than she thought.
It was around then.
The Chinese Headquarters received a wireless communication.
It was an encrypted wireless communication, but the Chinese Headquarters was able to decrypt it surprisingly fast.
It wasn't because their decryption abilities were exceptionally outstanding.
China lacked the ability to accomplish things on its own.
Instead, they showed superior ability to any other nation when it came to stealing from others, and this time was no different.
They had extracted the decryption method through a spy planted in the US Headquarters and had applied it.
“Hawk Eye is dead?”
And the moment she learned of Hawk Eye's death from it, Major Lin Jia'ai thought.
“The heavens are helping us!”
The factor that troubled her the most right now—the existence known as Hawk Eye—was no longer something she needed to fear.
So now, she could do whatever she wanted.
Thus, Major Lin Jia'ai has now declared the use of nuclear weapons.
Of course, her subordinates spoke up until the very end.
The question was whether declaring nuclear weapon use was not dangerous.
To that question, Major Lin Jia'ai answered confidently.
“Right now, the only one with nuclear weapons on Planet Amotia is our People's Republic of China. And the only ones who can receive equal treatment to those with nuclear weapons are, solely nations that also possess nuclear weapons. Therefore, no country can bare its fangs at us, not as long as it lacks nuclear weapons.”
As she spoke, Major Lin Jia'ai wore a more sinister smile than ever before and said.
“And in this situation, where could they possibly get nuclear weapons?”
The moment the Chinese Headquarters declared nuclear weapon use, the Polish Headquarters immediately held an emergency meeting.
And Kim Seojun also gathered his group and held a meeting.
Major Lee Hyena, Private First Class Park Boseop, Jo I-Hyeon, and Noah Winston, who was currently undergoing treatment in the medical suite.
“The Chinese Headquarters has declared nuclear weapon use. It said it would use nuclear weapons if a declaration of surrender is not made.”
Kim Seojun explained the situation to them, and everyone, having already heard the news, nodded with stiff expressions.
At the same time, they braced themselves.
For whatever judgment Kim Seojun would make.
“We must enter the Chinese Headquarters as quickly as possible, before China uses those nuclear weapons.”
When Kim Seojun's judgment followed, no one was surprised.
They knew how much of a crazy act it was, how dangerous it was, but they had no other choice.
“We cannot let the Chinese Headquarters use nuclear weapons.”
To Humanity, nuclear weapons were fear itself.
“We have to steal those nuclear weapons somehow before they are used.”
“What?”
However, at Kim Seojun's words, everyone's expressions changed.
“Staff Sergeant Kim. I think I misheard you just now. I thought I heard you say we have to steal the nuclear weapons.”
To the ensuing question, Kim Seojun replied.
“You heard correctly. We have to steal the nuclear weapons.”
At those words, everyone now looked at Kim Seojun with expressions colored with shock.
Noah Winston, who couldn't speak from inside the medical suite but could hear the situation, also showed through his expressions befitting a great actor just how surprised a person could be.
On the other hand, Kim Seojun was different.
He had experienced just how useful and powerful nukes were as weapons not with his head, but with his body, and therefore he could speak with confidence.
“Currently, the Queen's Nest can never be brought down with conventional firepower. There is only one way: the method of entering the Queen's Nest and detonating a nuclear weapon in an effective spot. That is the only way.”
Nuclear weapons were the only way for everyone to live.
“Other than this, the only ways we can survive are to build our own nuclear weapons or build a spaceship.”
Kim Seojun then offered the other alternatives, and from his explanation, everyone admitted that stealing the nuclear weapons had the highest probability of being realized.
Of course, their expressions did not relax.
Rather, everyone's expressions stiffened further and began to fill with anguish.
Kim Seojun was the same.
“I know it's not an easy method. Above all, we have to overcome the most important hurdle right now.”
At Kim Seojun's words, everyone thought of the same hurdle. He said to them:
“Ms. Jo I-Hyeon.”
“Yes? Me?”
“Yes. Have you ever handled nuclear weapons before?”
“Excuse me?”
The moment they heard that explanation, everyone realized.
What was the hurdle Kim Seojun was thinking of?
“Excuse me, Staff Sergeant Kim, I'm sorry to interrupt, but isn't that a problem to worry about after we enter the Chinese Headquarters?”
Thus, Private First Class Park Boseop asked about the most difficult hurdle on behalf of everyone, and Kim Seojun answered that question.
“That is worth a try.”
Of course, in the past, it wouldn't have been easy.
Striking a headquarters from a long distance and infiltrating the inside to snatch something were on entirely different levels of difficulty.
In particular, the closer one got to the headquarters, the defensive forces deployed increased exponentially.
However, Kim Seojun's current state was incomparable to when he had raided the Chinese Headquarters last time.
Not only had two of his talents ranked up, but his active time and range had drastically increased as his stat specs had risen.
‘Even if it doesn't work, this isn't a situation where we can just stand back and watch.’
Since the board had been set up this far, it was right to at least try, whether it worked or not.
‘Our lives are on the line.’
That was Kim Seojun's way.
It was then.
“Um, well.”
Jo I-Hyeon, who had received the question, opened her mouth.
“Well... I don't know if I can handle nuclear weapons well.”
At that answer, Kim Seojun clenched his teeth.
In truth, it was an answer he had expected to some extent.
There was no way handling nuclear weapons would be easy, right?
So he had prepared.
‘If it doesn't work, we'll at least destroy them.’
The next best plan.
“...Well, nuclear weapons are a bit much, you know? So I've only had the experience of handling them five times.”
“What?”
In response to Jo I-Hyeon's subsequent answer, Kim Seojun also asked with a surprised expression.
“How many times?”
“Ah, five times.”
At those words, everyone wore an even more dumbfounded expression, and seeing those expressions, Jo I-Hyeon thought everyone was disappointed, so she spoke in a voice lacking confidence.
“Still, I received training through a proper curriculum. It shouldn't be completely unusable.”
Of course, contrary to her thoughts, the people gathered here weren't disappointed in the slightest.
They just realized it once again.
‘She really was a genius.’
Why did the Nation of America willingly give Jo I-Hyeon special privileges?
Anyway, the answer was out now.
Kim Seojun had the ability to enter the Chinese Headquarters, and the Chinese Headquarters had Jo I-Hyeon, who could handle nuclear weapons.
Then there was only one answer left.
“I will formulate a plan.”
Three days later, the military truck carrying Kim Seojun's group moved toward the Chinese Headquarters.
The moment the Chinese Headquarters declared nuclear weapon use, all the headquarters on Planet Amotia reacted quickly.
No place surrendered immediately.
However, the options had already been weighed.
“Most will surrender.”
There would be no place willing to counter China's declaration of war with its own fire here.
“Now that the American Headquarters has collapsed.”
In particular, the absence of the American Headquarters, which was the only one that could keep the Chinese Headquarters in check, made the weighing itself moot. You had to put something similar on both sides for the scale to even appear to move, right?
Above all, everyone knew.
“If they do not comply with the declaration of surrender, they will use a nuclear weapon as an example on one place.”
A scapegoat was bound to appear unconditionally.
“So we don't have time. The deadline is about a week.”
In any case, from Kim Kim Kim Kim Kim Kim Seojun's Group's perspective, they had to move as quickly as possible, and soon they were able to run at full speed and reach the Chinese Headquarters.
And they could see it.
“When you just look at it, their alert posture is no joke.”
The security level of the Chinese Headquarters, which was on a completely different dimension from last time, was evident.
Noah Winston, who had finished his recovery, spoke the moment she saw it.
“I don't have the confidence to breach that.”
At her words, everyone's expressions stiffened.
The fact that even she couldn't breach it meant it was simply impregnable.
“Actually, I could breach it based on what's visible, but there's no way that's all, right? The path there is probably entirely a minefield.”
Especially since the Chinese Headquarters had really made up its mind, there was a high possibility it had laid a massive number of landmines around the perimeter.
Kim Seojun was worried about that too.
Of course, there was a way.
“Then the remaining method is to move through the route when the Chinese vehicles come and go, but that would take a huge amount of time. And unless the Chinese are idiots, they'll have countermeasures for that too.”
But that wasn't easy either.
In any case, it was a task that required time and hardship, and Kim Seojun had no intention of refusing it.
Also, as Noah Winston said, it wasn't like there was absolutely no way.
They couldn't just lock the doors and do nothing, and there was definitely a high possibility of vehicles coming and going.
Kim Seojun's plan was aiming for that moment to enter.
“I'm changing the plan.”
However, the moment he arrived here, Kim Seojun completely discarded the plan he had prepared so thoroughly.
At those words, everyone's expressions stiffened.
That was what everyone thought.
‘He must have found something bad.’
Kim Seojun's eyes saw something.
That thought was half right.
Kim Seojun saw something.
However, it wasn't something bad.
Rather, it was the opposite.
‘...To think that even Humans and landmines would be displayed on the minimap.’
Right now, Kim Seojun's minimap is displaying not only Mogs but also Chinese soldiers, as well as everything, including hidden landmines.
Naturally, there was no reason for Kim Seojun to sit still in this situation, so he spoke.
“I'm going in right now.”
“What?”
At those words, everyone wore a dumbfounded expression.
Kim Seojun didn't give them a detailed explanation.
In a situation where every minute and every second was precious, acting faster than ever was important.
Above all, entering the Chinese Headquarters wasn't the end.
He had to find where the nuclear weapons were, and a more complex process was required to retrieve them.
Thus Kim Seojun left, and the moment Kim Seojun moved, everyone assumed a tense posture.
In particular, Noah Winston said.
“If push comes to shove, we're charging in. Got it?”
If a problem arose, they would immediately launch an operation to rescue Kim Seojun without any pointless hesitation.
“For reference, you can ignore the orders he gave. My rank is much higher. So just listen to me.”
She was telling them not to hesitate because of the order Kim Seojun had given—the order to retreat quickly if a crisis befell him.
To that, Private First Class Park Boseop and Major Lee Hyena nodded.
At the reaction of those two, who showed not a hint of hesitation, Noah Winston smiled.
“I said something unnecessary.”
Thus everyone waited, and exactly three hours after Kim Seojun left, Kim Seojun appeared.
“Staff Sergeant Kim?”
To everyone who was surprised by his appearance, which was much faster than expected, Kim Seojun said.
“We're running.”
“What? Running?”
“The pursuit will begin soon.”
“Were you caught?”
“Yes.”
No one questioned that answer.
It would be stranger not to get caught after entering the enemy's Headquarters.
Rather, they were thankful he had escaped safely, and so was Noah Winston.
“Don't be too disappointed. There will be a next time.”
“There is no next time.”
Kim Seojun replied to those words.
“I've secured the nuclear weapons.”
“What? How?”
“Well, when I infiltrated, they just so happened to have taken out the nuclear weapons and were preparing them.”
“Preparing?”
“Yes, for actual combat use.”
The moment they heard that answer, everyone got goosebumps.
In other words, didn't that mean the Chinese Headquarters was planning to go beyond a simple threat and use the nuclear weapons in actual combat right away to set an example?
If he had been late, they would have truly seen the nuclear weapons being used.
Of course, from Kim Seojun's perspective, rather it had become a golden opportunity.
Because he just had to retrieve right away what was already fully prepared for actual combat use, without Jo I-Hyeon's help.
So Kim Seojun said.
“I was lucky.”
It was at that moment.
WEEEEEEENG!
The sound of sirens began to ring out like screams from the Chinese Headquarters.