Chapter 102
Let me organize my thoughts for a moment.
Cheonsan Group existed in the previous work too. But back then, Cheonsan Group's stock had hit rock bottom.
Why? Because they stupidly made Magic Guns to fight Monsters.
Literally, not weapons using regular gunpowder or fuel, but weapons using Magic Stones and such.
However, the Magic Stone consumption was insane.
In low-level dungeons, the Magic Stone costs exceeded the Cores and materials obtained.
In high-level dungeons, sometimes the damage wouldn't even register. But they couldn't just dump in more Magic Stones either.
But hey, what if the target is human?
Even if Hunters are stronger than Monsters, there's still a difference in durability. Unless they properly do body Enhancement, they'll have to take damage from Magic Guns.
The reason I'm pulling out these inefficient weapons is because.
I can do Creative Economy with Magic Stones.
In other words, they're not inefficient at all.
So I went to find Lee Yoo-jin.
"What brings you here today?"
Lee Yoo-jin asked my business while serving me tea.
She seems pretty free for someone leading Cheonsan Group.
Well thanks to that I can visit like this.
"Seems the Association will push for subjugating White Flower (Baekhwa) Church. The Guild Alliance might join too."
This bitch keeps crossing and uncrossing her legs whenever she sees me.
What's she doing? Trying to seduce me?
She better not have an egg vibrator in her vagina.
"Does that mean our deal ends here?"
"No. I want to get some weapons."
"What?"
Lee Yoo-jin's face turned as pale as a corpse.
Even for someone doing shady deals, providing weapons must be impossible.
"The Magic Guns that Cheonsan Group screwed up on years ago."
"Are you seriously planning to fight the Guild Alliance with those inefficient things?"
"Do I look like I'll lose?"
By my sense, this bitch has already figured out who I am.
Yet she thinks I might lose?
"Uh, no."
"Then give them to me. Magic Stone consumption isn't a worry since I can produce them endlessly. You didn't dispose of everything right?"
The Lee Yoo-jin I know wouldn't throw everything away.
The Akashic Record said with this bitch's personality, she'd have kept some just because it'd be a waste.
[Cheonsan Group only disposed of part of the project, they still have more weapons than they got rid of, Master]
That being the case, I'm going to squeeze everything I can out of this bitch.
"Well we did keep some for later but. If rumors spread that our stuff ended up with White Flower (Baekhwa) Church."
"That's Cheonsan's problem to handle."
Why are you telling me that. If you're providing weapons to us, Cheonsan needs to handle it.
"That's quite irresponsible? We're good trading partners after all."
"Didn't you get government approval to dump them in the West Sea?"
If Lee Yoo-jin just decides to, handling that much isn't difficult.
"Ah."
"Let's say we salvaged those. Looking at it logically, would the government not know about a major corporation like Cheonsan moving massive amounts of firearms?"
Moreover, Ha Jeongseok was originally the one who proposed Magic Gun development to Cheonsan. When that business failed, Ha Jeongseok wiped his hands clean and ordered disposal by dumping in the West Sea.
In the original work, Magic Guns are revealed later when they're supplied to the outdated military to cover the lack of Hunters.
Even the citizens didn't know about it.
"Ugh. You have a point there. It's impossible for White Flower (Baekhwa) Church to suddenly get weapons in bulk. Having our weapons in large quantities wouldn't make sense. Fine. I'll provide them."
Good. Thanks for making the smart choice but.
Why is she getting horny by herself. Looking at that smell wafting off her, seems she inserted something down there. Seriously there are no normal people around me.
I better leave quickly before this bitch starts arching her back like a bow in front of me.
* * *
The weapons I brought shocked the Heroines.
They've never seen weapons like this before.
Since they look like old-fashioned rifles and machine guns.
"What are all these weapons?"
Reina. Good question.
"These are Magic Guns made by Cheonsan Group. They eat up tons of Magic Stones."
"Why these?"
Why did I bring them? Obviously to use them. After all, most Hunters efficiently use Magic Power through cost-effective things like swords, bows, or staves.
"To make up for our lack of numbers."
"But the Magic Stones will... ah."
"I can do Creative Economy remember?"
Seeing me instantly create loads of Magic Stones, Reina's face went pale.
"Never thought that nasty Demonic Power would be helpful."
Nasty? Well only I can freely handle Demonic Power and Magic Power.
"Eunha. Then what are you going to do? Planning to give all those to the Songdo people?"
I nodded at Han Soo-ji's words.
"Have to let Songdo's people fight back. Going to make them dig in. And Senior Yoo-jeong, please broadcast from the drone instead of me in the Songdo outskirts that will become the battlefield. Not right away, but we need to prepare. And call the Songdo citizens."
"Okay."
There might be scouts sent by Ha Jeongseok.
I gathered the adults living in Songdo in front of the penthouse.
Among them were Villains, Mutants, and regular citizens mixed in.
These people survived thanks to me, and live in Songdo thanks to me.
"Listen, followers of White Flower (Baekhwa) Church and citizens of Songdo."
I let Magic Power flow into my voice to make it ring like a nightingale in people's ears.
"That bastard Ha Jeongseok who abandoned all the citizens in the Quarantine Zone is pressuring the Association to subjugate Songdo. They put a 5 billion bounty on my head, and say they'll subjugate White Flower (Baekhwa) Church and take Songdo. However, most Songdo people aren't normal humans anymore. By Republic of Korea law, and for Ha Jeongseok's power too, Songdo's people probably won't be allowed to live. It's not certain, but talks have already happened between the President and Association so war will definitely break out."
Even if they let the defeated Mutants live, they'll at least lock them up in prison.
"Then we have to choose one of two options. Fight or die, or run away. I who settled you in Songdo plan to fight here. Those who can hold weapons, take the Magic Guns in front. If you don't have confidence to fight, run anywhere. Though be careful not to meet Villains of course."
At my words, the Songdo people who came from Villains looked at each other before one raised their hand high.
"Fuck it let's fight!"
"We'll die anywhere we run anyway. Whatever."
"What else can we do but die?"
Those who survived in the Quarantine Zone were familiar with firearms.
Can't help it. While Villains near Seoul are quite strong, weak mongrels had to handle old weapons to survive.
Even now there are quite a few old guns here. Just no ammo.
"Then from now Songdo prepares to resist the government. White Flower (Baekhwa) Church will set up barricades around Songdo."
Convinced the Mutants too and I'm satisfied.
Now what's left is setting up barricades around Songdo and holding out,
Gathering all combat-capable people should give about 500. They'll become not Mutants but a Righteous Army facing the government this time.
Ha Jeongseok. If you come I'll smash you all to pieces.
* * *
Hunter Association
The Association was bustling with Hunters from each guild for once.
However, the conference room with Choi Cheolsik had a particularly tense atmosphere.
Can't help it since the Guild Masters in this room got orders to subjugate Baekhwa.
Moreover with the Blue House pushing hard, the Guild Masters were furious.
Ice Empress Cha Jieun slammed the table.
BANG!
"After everything now we become Ha Jeongseok's dogs. Are you serious? You think we're leaving Baekhwa alone because we don't know her?"
The other Masters agreed with Cha Jieun's words.
The Guild Masters gathered here experienced the Great Flood incident right before graduating as students. That incident was a terrible natural disaster where Demonic Power covered everywhere except the capital region and some major cities.
Seoul blocked Demonic Power from entering by having Ice Empress Cha Jieun put up barriers at the cost of abandoning Incheon, but all current Guild Masters of Yoo Jinseok's generation who experienced that day can't forget.
Especially Cha Jieun still can't forget those desperate eyes of citizens in the Quarantine Zone begging to be saved when she set up the barrier.
The citizens she couldn't save were saved by Baekhwa. Yet now they're saying to subjugate that Baekhwa which means subjugating those survivors too.
Even if they merged them with Seoul, many would be trampled by the subjugating Hunters.
Moreover the humans in that area are hard to merge with Seoul.
There was one reason.
"Why stir up a hornet's nest? Remember? At least half the people in Songdo are probably Mutants now. Naturally Mutant transformation has started. Obviously even if we hit Songdo, Ha Jeongseok won't let them live."
Back then many citizens were already enthralled by Demonic Power and reached Mutant state. Most Mutants after the Great Cataclysm were criminals. So merging them with Seoul was too dangerous.
It was also one reason Cha Jieun had no choice but to set up barriers during the Great Flood.
Would Songdo be different? Even if Songdo's citizens are good Mutants, they'll still be threatened by Ha Jeongseok.
After taking Guild Masters' curses for a while, Choi Cheolsik wiped sweat from his forehead and frowned briefly.
Still he's been playing Association President for over 10 years. Would someone like him just be Ha Jeongseok's loyal dog?
He has plans.
"So do it half-heartedly."
"What do you mean half-heartedly."
Giving subjugation orders then saying do it half-heartedly.
"If resistance is fierce just pretend to lose and pull out. Association's reputation is already in the dirt. If guilds needlessly beat up Songdo, public trust in Hunters will hit rock bottom."
This is all because Baekhwa gained the public's trust.
If not for that we could have suppressed Songdo prepared to sacrifice some.
"Then."
"Ha Jeongseok will send his subordinate Hunters too. Use them as meat shields."
Those guys under Ha Jeongseok are just pure black-hearted bastards.
Honestly don't care how many of them die.
With even Association Hunters being short on manpower, can't have Guild Hunters dying too.
"Maybe meeting Baekhwa would be good too. But what about Seo Jiyeon?"
Baek Cheong-gang asked Choi Cheolsik about Seo Jiyeon who should be playing alone making finger cameras as usual but wasn't visible.
"Said she's sitting out."
"What?"
"Said it was that time. Anyway said she needs rest."
Just unilaterally notified the Association then went radio silent.
"Hah! That bitch who never did that before."
Flower of Noah who was just listening quietly laughed dejectedly at Seo Jiyeon's obvious excuse.
Planning to hide alone. What a weak-ass girl.
* * *