Beijing, Zhongnanhai, China.
The eting of the highest Standing Committee was underway.
The attendees were the newly installed Chairman Jin Xiupeng and five other newly selected Standing Committee mbers—a total of six people.
Everyone’s expression was grim.
Wei Quan, one of the Standing Committee mbers, had gone to Korea to reserve the 81st-floor heavy machine gun, but word had co back that negotiations had collapsed.
They wanted nuclear warheads?
Did that even make sense?
It was absurd.
How could anyone hand over national strategic weapons based on nothing more than a single video whose authenticity could not even be verified?
And yet China also had to challenge the 81st floor.
If not imdiately, then at the very least, they absolutely had to succeed in reserving the heavy machine gun.
“What are the chances that we can clear the Black Tower on our own within five years?”
“Judging by current conditions, it is impossible.”
“...Even with five years?”
“Ti will not help us. Unless soone like Bong Juhyeok appears in China.”
That was the truth.
Compared to Behemoth, ordinary players were nothing more than tiny insects.
Step on them and—
SPLAT!
This was not a mission designed to be cleared.
The giant-monster zone from the 81st floor onward was a wall deliberately set up to guarantee the Black Tower’s collapse.
And if the collapse deadline was layered on top of that?
With a five-year ti limit, the fear of the Tower’s collapse would only tighten its grip as ti passed.
If the final mont ever arrived, China would be the first to fall.
But then a solution had appeared.
The heavy machine gun.
An utterly outrageous item.
Even if it was a dirty trick rather than a legitimate clear, it was more than enough to deal with Behemoth.
And the one who had made that possible was Bong Juhyeok.
In the giant-monster zone, the heavy machine gun was absolutely essential.
It was the only viable way to clear it.
“What about handing over a few nuclear warheads...?”
“Are you saying we should submit? What happens if the opposition uses that as ammunition to attack us?”
Either way, it was a problem.
“But public unrest will be severe. Other nations are steadily climbing past the 81st floor, while China alone cannot. The opposition will seize on that.”
That was right.
Clearing the Black Tower was a political issue.
The current Chinese leadership’s support base was far from solid.
Its control over the country was incomparably weaker than before.
It had been hastily assembled to deal with an ergency.
In a situation like this, failing to rent the heavy machine gun?
Of course people would question the governnt’s leadership and diplomatic capabilities.
And the Villain Liberation Player crisis still had not fully settled down.
If large-scale unrest broke out, those villain players would go wild along with it.
“How about this?”
“What?”
“Wei Quan has suggested personally approaching Player Bong Juhyeok.”
“...Would that work? Would the Korean Awakening Administration just sit back? He probably would not even be able to get close.”
Chairman Jin Xiupeng reacted negatively.
But—
“Surprisingly, it is possible.”
“Hmm?”
“According to Wei Quan, there is no security detail or surveillance around Player Bong Juhyeok whatsoever.”
“...Is that really true?”
The most important person in the world—the one who should have been most heavily protected—was Bong Juhyeok.
“Doesn’t that an he does not need protection?”
“Hmm.”
“He may be able to fully manifest his player abilities even in reality.”
Jin Xiupeng nodded.
He had suspected as much for a long ti.
The theory that Bong Juhyeok was involved in several incidents that had occurred in China.
There was simply no evidence.
Even if they secured evidence, could they touch him?
The United States certainly would not stand by idly.
“et him directly and propose a deal?”
“A deal, yes—but more importantly, we should appeal to his humanity. Ask him to think of the 1.4 billion people of China.”
“Hmm.”
“If Bong Juhyeok decides, the Korean Awakening Administration will follow.”
Appeal to his compassion...
“Considering what Bong Juhyeok has done so far... there is a chance. He has humanitarian tendencies. Of course, he also looks out for practical benefits.”
Then it was a good idea.
If this opportunity brought Bong Juhyeok and China closer, that would be even better.
Perhaps they could even bring him to China soday.
“Fine. Tell Wei Quan. Have him plead earnestly. Have him do everything he can to stir sympathy.”
“I will contact him.”
China’s counterasure:
Appeal to Bong Juhyeok’s compassion.
*****
As a rule, any institution that received a budget had to ticulously record where and how the money was spent.
Nuclear warheads were no exception.
If you received them, you had to report how you used them.
A settlent report was mandatory.
And you also had to express gratitude to the sponsoring countries.
Caraman Mackenzie poured his soul into capturing the explosions exactly as they happened.
Even amid the terrifying shock of nuclear detonations, he protected his smartphone and action caras with barriers and shields.
Not only the filming, but the editing was top-notch as well.
He even added subtitles, sent the video to the Korean Awakening Administration, and had it released on their YouTube channel.
A collapsing Celestial Realm, corrupted divine lands, lting fallen angels, countless mushroom clouds blooming.
The entire world cheered.
The dia rushed to cover it.
< Earth’s nuclear weapons prove their power in the Fallen Celestial Realm >
< Where is the Celestial Realm? Is it connected to alien gods? >
< lting winged beings—are they monsters, or real angels? >
< India and Pakistan: Finally, owning nuclear weapons paid off. >
< Russia claims the largest mushroom cloud was from the Tsar Bomba. >
< United States: We provided the most nuclear warheads. >
< Eco-friendly nuclear disarmant: the safest way to dispose of conventional nukes. >
< Who exactly are the beings Bong Juhyeok summons? >
< Awakening experts: High likelihood Bong Juhyeok’s trait is Hero Summoning. >
< Strikingly similar to a collectible RPG ga. >
< Downloads of hero-summoning gas surge explosively. >
L: A dragon flies around dropping nukes on the Celestial Realm and killing fallen angels. Can soone explain what the hell is going on?
L: Would anyone even know? Just accept it.
L: The Demon Realm campaign was the easy mode.
L: LOL, and the countries that provided the nukes are riding the coattails.
L: Be proud! We’re defeating the Black Tower’s forces with our nukes!
L: Hero Summoning trait—those alien gods or whatever must be cursing Bong Juhyeok for playing such a busted ga.
L: Bong Juhyeok himself is strong as hell, though.
L: Soone’s totally going to make a ga using Bong Juhyeok as the model.
L: Probably already in developnt. The tower raid is basically a ga anyway.
L: That’s why Awakened ones are called players.
L: But is it okay for one individual to own that many nukes?
L: What’s the problem? He’s not dropping them on Earth.
L: He even reported their usage.
L: What matters is that Earth is getting safer.
L: A textbook example of proper nuclear weapon use.
Even with the footage, the content was hard to believe.
The Celestial Realm?
Angels?
Land of gods?
What was this?
Wasn’t it scary?
Didn’t it make no sense?
Better not think about it.
Just watch and enjoy.
The video itself was more than entertaining enough.
And aside from Bong Juhyeok, there was another person drawing attention.
The one who had fild the video.
Filming: Mackenzie Dronak.
Editing: Mackenzie Dronak.
Subtitles: Mackenzie Dronak.
The ultra-extroverted, attention-loving mage Mackenzie was slowly becoming known as well.
*****
A campaign that began with nukes and ended with nukes.
Physically and ntally, it had been anything but easy.
Although the missions were carried out in a different dinsion with separated space-ti, their biological clocks remained the sa.
They still had to eat, take breaks, and sleep.
They also needed to thoroughly prepare for the next campaign.
Juhyeok was in the penthouse with Cossack and Rajix.
Their goal was securing food and snacks through a delivery app.
Instant rice, at, fresh produce, snacks, drinks, alcohol, delivered als, chicken, pizza, braised pig’s trotters, soup, black bean noodles, spicy seafood noodle soup, sweet-and-sour pork, and more.
There was no need to go out personally.
Just pay and order, and the doorbell would ring in front of the penthouse’s private elevator.
Ding-dong!
“Yes, I’ll open the door. You can co up.”
If the order was large, they tipped the delivery drivers extra.
“Rajix?”
“WAAH!”
Just store everything in subspace, and that was it.
Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong.
Food deliveries never stopped.
They ordered delivery all day.
Almost two full days of it.
Looks like everything’s finally arrived.
Should we head into the White Tower now?
Then—
Ding-dong!
“Huh?”
Was there still another delivery coming?
Checking the intercom screen, he saw people in black suits standing in front of the elevator.
What?
Gangsters?
Then they bowed deeply, as if their heads might touch the floor.
—Player Bong Juhyeok? Are you ho?
Probably not gangsters.
Why would they co here?
Cossack hurried over to Juhyeok’s side.
“Eh? Who’re those guys?”
“...No idea.”
The man on the intercom spoke into the speaker.
—I am Wei Quan, a forr State Councilor. I am here representing the Chinese governnt and its people.
A Chinese State Councilor?
Why here?
“Ah... yes, you speak Korean very well.”
—If I could not speak Korean, would I be able to et you?
True enough.
Of course they would have to speak Korean.
“So, what brings you here?”
—I have sothing urgent to discuss. If you could spare a mont—
This was uncomfortable.
A high-ranking Chinese official coming to his ho.
Should he just say he was busy and send them away?
But then—
“Su-Summoner Bong!”
Cossack looked extrely excited.
“Yes?”
“This is a cliché. A cliché.”
“A cliché?”
“There are five major clichés that often appear in fiction.”
“And those are?”
“The reunion cliché, the imported car dealership cliché, the luxury departnt store cliché, the holiday family gathering cliché...”
And the last one?
“The nationalistic hype cliché.”
“Ah!”
“The one where China and Japan ignorantly rush in to deal with Summoner Bong and end up completely humiliated.”
Good grief.
“To progress the story, you have to et them now.”
“et them?”
“They’ll threaten you without knowing their place. Then you deliver righteous education and enjoy the refreshing payoff.”
“...Are they really going to threaten ?”
“How could they not? And personally, I hope they do.”
Cossack’s eyes sparkled.
Was he really that excited?
Let’s go with what Cossack said.
They had co all this way.
Sending them back felt awkward.
Juhyeok pressed the intercom button and unlocked the door.
Beep!
“Yes, please co up. I’ll open the door.”
—Thank you.
The Chinese officials stepped into the elevator hesitantly, riding it up with great caution.
“I’m nervous.”
Honestly, they looked more nervous than we were.
“But on the other hand, it’s a bit of a sha.”
“Why?”
“Only China showed up. For a proper cliché, Japan should have co too.”
Good grief.
That cliché again.
*****
In the penthouse living room, the Chinese special delegation sat on one side, with Juhyeok and Cossack facing them.
Rajix was unsummoned and sent back.
There was nothing more to store anyway.
Let’s hear them out first.
Why did they co all this way to see him?
It was nothing like what Cossack had expected.
Wei Quan spoke politely and respectfully, his voice trembling as he poured his heart out.
Please, save us.
For the sake of 1.4 billion Chinese citizens.
China had cleared the Black Tower up to the 80th floor as well.
But they had failed to secure a reservation to rent the heavy machine gun for the 81st floor.
It felt like the Korean Awakening Administration was deliberately disadvantaging them.
“We have not even had proper negotiations. They are pressuring us unilaterally.”
How so?
“They are demanding nuclear warheads, no questions asked...”
“Ah.”
“We want to cooperate, but this is not sothing that can be decided lightly. It has to be discussed by the Standing Committee, and we must also persuade the Chinese people.”
That was understandable.
It was not an easy matter.
“Isn’t the foundation of negotiation dialogue and compromise? Yet Commissioner Jeon Gwangil is throwing his weight around using Player Bong Juhyeok as backing.”
Cossack—the master of throwing his weight around—frowned as he listened.
Then he leaned in and whispered into Juhyeok’s ear.
“Hmm.”
Juhyeok nodded.
“Go ahead.”
“Got it!”
Cossack stepped forward, facing Wei Quan.
“From now on, Chinese official, you negotiate with .”
“Ah, yes, yes.”
“You want to rent the heavy machine gun?”
“That’s right. If you just secure the reservation, we’ll do anything.”
“Good.”
Wei Quan’s face brightened.
Coming all the way to et Player Bong Juhyeok directly had been the right call.
It seed they could communicate.
Now ca negotiation and compromise.
“We are willing to pay any amount. We understand the price is one million dollars per bullet. The Chinese governnt will pay double—two million dollars per bullet. And if you wish, we can invite Player Bong to China and treat him as a state guest...”
Wei Quan rattled off every condition China could offer.
He even slipped in a subtle temptation of permanent naturalization.
Swoosh.
Cossack raised a hand to stop him.
Then he said a single word.
“Nuclear warheads.”
“...Excuse ?”
“All nuclear warheads owned by China.”
“W-what?”
“That is our only condition.”
Wei Quan was flustered.
Isn’t this the sa thing again?
“Now, as I said earlier—”
“Nuclear warheads.”
“No—”
“Nuclear warheads.”
“T-that—”
“Nuclear warheads.”
“Please calm down—”
“Nuclear warheads.”
“......”
.........
Wei Quan fell silent.
He turned his eyes to Juhyeok.
Juhyeok shrugged—
aning he felt the sa way.
Wei Quan let out a deep sigh.
“Hoo... I understand Player Bong Juhyeok’s position, but I cannot give a definitive answer here.”
Wei Quan and the Chinese entourage stood up.
“We will be taking our leave now. If there is another opportunity, we will et again.”
“Please, have a seat.”
“Our flight ti—”
SPOT!
Cossack moved instantly, blocking their path.
“A great nation’s official lacks backbone.”
“...Pardon?”
“If persuasion doesn’t work, you should at least try threatening.”
Threatening?
That had never crossed his mind.
No sane person would co into a tiger’s den and threaten the tiger.
“We have absolutely no intention of threatening you.”
“Good grief! I’m asking you to threaten us like a great nation should!”
What is wrong with this guy?
“I’m disappointed! You’re nothing like the great nation you imagine yourselves to be!”
Just what kind of image did he have in mind?
“How dare a small country defy a great power? If you don’t give us the reservation, we’ll turn Seoul into a sea of fire!!! Try saying that!”
Is he insane?
“A-absolutely not! We would never—”
Cossack looked deeply frustrated.
“This is not following the cliché at all, and that makes very unhappy.”
“...Cliché?”
He burst out angrily.
“Then there’s no justification! No justification!”
“W-what?”
“If you had just threatened us, things would have been much easier.”
Cossack shook his head back and forth.
“Haa... this is why sharp people are no fun.”
Then he turned to Juhyeok.
“Summoner Bong?”
“Yes?”
“Another cliché failure.”
I knew it would not work.
“But nuclear weapons must be taken no matter what.”
He clearly had no intention of giving up.
“Do they really?”
“Clause 3 of Principle 3. Leaving them alone is dangerous.”
That made sense.
There had been cases in past parallel Earths where summoner players died to nuclear weapons.
And besides, all the world’s nations were handing over their nukes.
China could not be the only one left out.
Especially since it was Korea’s closest neighbor.
The justification under Clause 3 of Principle 3 was more than sufficient.
So how?
Invade outright?
*****
“Please summon the succubus.”
Diamat?
“She is actually an expert on Chinese politics.”
“Ah.”
That was true.
When Diamat first ca out of the Tower, the country she hid in was China.
She had even tried to incite war by manipulating Chinese politicians.
Let’s call her out.
“Designated Summon—Diamat!”
SPOT!
Diamat appeared.
“Master! Your concubine is here!”
“...”
Then she looked at the Chinese delegation.
“Oh my? Who are these people?”
The succubus’s instincts kicked in.
Whoever she t, she automatically activated her skill.
At that mont—
Wei Quan’s eyes grew hazy as he gazed at Diamat.
“Q-Queen!”
Oh my.
Instant skill activation at first sight.
No surprise.
A great-demon-class succubus, Diamat.
For ordinary humans, even making eye contact guaranteed success.
Yet Diamat looked disappointed.
“Oh co on, this is how it’s supposed to work... Why doesn’t Master react to at all? Am I ugly? Am I not your type?”
Her eyes shimred with moisture.
“Hey!!! Silence. Do you think Summoner Bong is the type to be swayed by re demons?”
That was true.
“Summoner Bong only reacts to human won. He blushes and his voice shakes even in front of Team Leader Lee Mina from the Administration. Have you already forgotten Oh Jinsuk?”
“...”
Oh Jinsuk again.
Why keep dragging up soone who was living her life just fine?
“Anyway, Summoner Bong.”
“Yes.”
“The succubus, , and Greenie request deploynt to China.”
What the hell?
“We will retrieve the nuclear weapons by peaceful ans.”
I can already guess the thod.
Honestly, that’s better.
Much better than cutting off heads and tying ribbons on them.
Let’s allow it.
Clause 3 of Principle 3 activated.
Even if we opposed it, they would go anyway.
“Cossack?”
“Yes?”
“Take responsibility and bring back only the nuclear weapons.”
“Got it! I will make sure to bring back the nuclear warheads too.”
“No—only nuclear weapons!”
“Hmm... too?”
“Only!”
Do not bring back anything extra.
For example—
Heads with ribbons tied on them.
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