Rust - Chapter 1022



Only Krnovel

Rust [RUST]-1022

‘The place where the Emperor’s traces were discovered happened to be near a volcano.’

Why was the place where the Emperor’s traces, which had not been found despite blatant hacking, were discovered near a volcano?

Is this a coincidence? The quantum computer hacking left traces that this side was searching for the location of the Emperor. Then, traces of the Emperor were found right away? Traces that had never been found before, all of a sudden?

‘These are funny things.’

Maru was calm. Even when he heard the news that Ki-sun had gone missing, Maru didn’t lose his original intention. He just had a promise that he would take revenge if it was too late anyway.

Even if a hostage crisis had occurred, it would have been the same. Being dragged around by the hostage takers would have made the future more dangerous.

So, I couldn’t change my principle of not being dragged around and only paying back the hostage-taker several times over, even if the person who was taken hostage was Ki-soon.

Fortunately, it was confirmed that Ki-sun was not dead or taken prisoner, so Maru could have stopped his aggressive response, but he did not do so.

‘I touched it because I thought it was worth touching.’

There were three major forces capable of attacking the Holy Kingdom.

The first thing that came to mind was the faction that liked the new world. The ones that Ki-soon had arbitrarily signed the armistice agreement with. They were made up of cannibals and vampires, and each faction was splitting up and merging like a guerrilla organization.

But upon closer examination, it was unlikely that these were the ones who could attack Gisun due to technical issues.

In order to attack Gisun, a large-scale airship was needed first. The moment such an airship was launched, it would either be caught by the Holy Kingdom or by the Empire.

Even if they had succeeded in building a separate large-scale airship, the area where Ki-sun had gone missing was near the border between the Holy Kingdom and the Empire.

‘They either passed through our airspace or through imperial airspace. That’s impossible.’

Even if you got there without being caught, you were bound to get caught if a fight broke out.

If the Holy Kingdom had not been aware of the engagement, the Empire, by virtue of its location, should have been. It was an event that occurred within its own territory and airspace, so it was certain that it would have been aware of it.

But the fact that Gi-sun disappeared and the Empire didn’t contact her first means that it wasn’t the New World guys who attacked. It means that the Empire was connected to Gi-sun’s disappearance.

The same was true of the Confederacy, which was torn apart and divided. Even if the Confederacy attacked Gisun in order to take revenge on the Holy Kingdom,

It was impossible to avoid the surveillance of both the Holy Kingdom and the Empire at the same time. So, if we eliminate all suspects, we can conclude that it was the Empire that attacked Gisun.

‘Did Emperor Leon Bonnard do it?’

The Empire attacked Gisun, a diplomat from the Holy Kingdom? It’s unbelievable, but if we use the method of elimination, the Empire is the most likely one to have attacked.

‘Did Dan Brown know about it and remain silent? Or did he not know?’

Of course, it wasn’t entirely certain, but it was circumstantial. And Maru didn’t care whether it was a hypothesis or circumstantial.

The number of people who attacked Gisun was too large to be considered those who wanted to sow discord between the Holy Kingdom and the Empire. Moreover, there were more than just military personnel at the scene. Firefighters and police were also nearby.

That’s why Maru didn’t withdraw the attack order he gave to the Crow Unit.

‘Or what? What should I do?’

Even if that wasn’t the case, the fact that the airship that Ki-sun was on was attacked on imperial territory didn’t change. Whether Ki-sun was alive or dead, who was responsible for the attack?

Who should be responsible for what?

Some might argue that ordering the bombing of the Crow Unit without any clear evidence was an act of outrage and madness.

So? What do you want me to do?

The king of the Holy Kingdom was Maru.

If Maru had decided to attack, it was the Holy Kingdom’s policy to follow suit, and that was the Holy Kingdom’s course of action.

[Kim Ki-soon is requesting communication via the emergency line.]

[Prime Minister Dan Brown is requesting communication via an emergency line.]

As the Crow Army’s bombing was successful, Den Ajae and Gisun made frantic requests for communication.

“What is the display situation?”

[The Hunters’ weapons have been replaced. They have entered a defensive posture in squad and platoon sizes.]

“The Hunters with awakened abilities and the Defense Forces will be the attacking force. What about the Imperial Army?”

[Three legions of what appear to be Imperial Army regional defense forces are gathering in three locations. They are moving in three directions simultaneously.]

It was north towards Montreal, northwest towards Buffalo, and then towards Cleveland. They responded so quickly…

no.

This was not a response.

It was a pre-planned operation.

‘Divide the force into three and advance simultaneously.’

The main force of the Imperial Army was currently maintaining order in the four states in the southwest and clearing out the remnants. In addition, they were invading the three states of Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

But, you’re just leaving that aside and deploying the three legions that were organized as regional defense forces towards the Holy Kingdom? Maru looked at the map.

The military operations are beyond common sense. They are operating in seven places at the same time, participating in the Vietnam Civil War, and sending three corps to the Holy Kingdom?

To begin with, participating in the Vietnam Civil War seemed like a crazy thing to do. Deploying troops to seven places right away and participating in the Vietnam War…

‘No. Was it your intention to deceive me from the beginning?’

What if the Imperial Army was expanding south, leading people to believe that the deployment of troops to Vietnam would be limited?

What if the Imperial forces continued to fight in North America, leading them to let their guard down and think that there would be no friction with the Holy Kingdom?

So what if you think the main force of the Empire is now attacking Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee?

‘What if it was all a planned deception?’

Looking back on what has happened so far, it was a deceptive tactic.

“Check the weapons of the defense forces currently advancing toward the Holy Kingdom. Focus on self-propelled guns.”

[Failed to detect enemy self-propelled guns moving towards Cleveland. They have electronic warfare capabilities.]

[Enemy moving towards Montreal confirmed. 36 155mm self-propelled guns, 12 200mm self-propelled guns, and 4 400mm self-propelled guns confirmed.]

[Buffalo direction. 38 155mm self-propelled howitzers, 10 200mm self-propelled howitzers, 8 400mm self-propelled howitzers confirmed.]

“Then how many 200mm and 400mm self-propelled guns are there in the Imperial forces that are attacking Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee?”

[Hacking results. It has been confirmed that the units attacking the three states do not have the Empire’s new self-propelled artillery units.]

The core firepower of the experienced unit commanded by Leon Bonnard is the 200mm and 400mm self-propelled howitzers. The fact that they are missing means that the experienced unit that is said to be attacking the three states of Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee is not, in fact, an experienced unit.

What is this army called the Defense Force that is urgently assembled and advancing to attack the Holy Kingdom? It must mean an elite force commanded by Emperor Leon Bonard.

‘Were you waiting with the elite force and local defense force swapped?’

[Prime Minister Dan Brown is requesting communication via an emergency line. He says that if communication is not possible by the end, he will have no choice but to launch a nuclear counterattack. Should I connect?]

Nuclear counterattack. The time to be afraid of that is over. With the creation of floating cities and northern stronghold cities, Detroit is now practically a shell.

Even that shell was only a single stake in the Vladiak Tower. Even if a nuclear attack were to be launched against Detroit, the defense would be sufficient. Even if the Empire’s nuclear attack was successful, there would be no actual damage.

[Kim Ki-soon is requesting communication via an emergency line. He says that if there is an all-out war with the Empire, only the Confederacy and the New World Order will benefit, and he wants the bombing to stop. Should I connect?]

“No. Attack first. What about the Crow Unit?”

[After the success of the first airstrike.]

[Rearmament complete on the airship. Standby for sortie.]

“Let’s go right away.”

[The second airstrike by the Crow Bombardment Unit begins.]

“What about the rat unit?”

[Clearing the battlefield where the Imperial Defense Forces engaged.]

“Once the battlefield is cleared, attack the imperial forces approaching from three directions.”

[The order has been given.]

The ants had difficulty moving because it was winter.

“Connect with Ki-sun. And with Dan Brown.”

[Connecting a video call.]

As soon as the communication was connected, Ki-sun and Dan Brown shouted at the same time.

[Are you thinking of going to all-out war?]

[What are you doing now? A surprise attack!]

The two people who had shouted were left speechless by the sudden three-way confrontation.

“The Empire attacked the airship carrying the diplomats of the Holy Kingdom. I don’t know if it was to kill the diplomats or capture them. They surrounded them with their military and then attacked.”

Dan Brown countered Maru’s argument that the Empire’s preemptive strike against the Holy Kingdom without a declaration of war was clearly an intentional act, as the attack was not only an airship attack, but also a military attack.

[That’s because the airship carrying Bernard Green of the Holy Kingdom disappeared from our radar. What do you think happened when it suddenly increased speed and entered stealth mode as if fleeing?]

[······.]

Ki-sun had a lot to say to Dan Brown, but she kept her mouth shut. She talked about how Dan Brown felt, and how there was clearly friction between the Emperor and the Prime Minister, so she had no choice but to make an emergency escape.

I could explain, but for now, preventing an all-out war was the priority. Now that it was confirmed that the Emperor and Dan Brown had different ideas,

If the two were to not work together, it would have been right to end it here. Dan Brown, who loved the Empire, would certainly think again about the Emperor through this incident.

So, it was effective to stop here. It wasn’t something that would help other guys do good things.

[Wouldn’t it be inevitable for a border surveillance airship to mistake it for an enemy and attack it? An unidentified stealth aircraft crashed in Imperial airspace, so it’s only natural to search for it···]

‘Okay. Let’s say that’s true. So?’ Maru’s eyes said. His eyes were indifferent.

Den Brown swallowed his words without realizing it when he saw Maru’s expression. Ki-soon was the same.

[······.]

[······.]

After a moment of silence, Maru opened his mouth.

“Can the Empire renounce its Emperor?”

[······.]

Even if Den Brown gave up, the current empire could not abandon the emperor. The soldiers swore loyalty to the emperor, and the citizens of the empire were enthusiastic about the emperor.

If the Emperor were to declare war on the Holy Kingdom? The Empire would gladly fight the Holy Kingdom. That was the Emperor’s status in the Empire at the moment.

[Attacking the special envoy was entirely a mistake···.]

“It was a mistake. Let’s find out if it was a mistake or not. We can check whether the Emperor ordered the attack or not.”

Dan Brown’s mouth snapped shut again at the words, “Just check with Psychometric Erica.” In a world where there are people with psychic abilities, lying is impossible.

And then there was an urgent sound from the screen where Den Brown was.

‘The Crow Unit has started the second bombing!’

‘A munitions factory near Boston has been destroyed and a supply depot has collapsed!’

Dan Brown’s urgent gaze changed. Now, it seemed as if there was nothing he could do.

[If you don’t stop your unilateral attacks, we will have no choice but to launch a nuclear counterattack.]

“If the Empire uses nukes, we can use them too. If they want to use nukes so badly, then let’s do it.”

Dan Brown was fed up with Maru’s attitude, which seemed to be a story from another country.

[That’s crazy. They were both crazy authors.]

Emperor Leon Bonard and Vladimir Kalin were both crazy bastards. They had to disappear for the sake of the Empire, no, for the sake of humanity.

Pot-

The screen of Den Brown went black.

[Video call disconnected. Would you like to reconnect?]

“Okay. Just leave it.”

Maru’s gaze turned to Ki-sun, who was maintaining silence.

“The Empire has chosen. The war and the Emperor. If we stop attacking, will the Emperor stop? Three elite Imperial units are moving towards us. Even if Mr. Den does not want war, and you want to stop the war, the war has already begun.”

To end the war, we must capture the Emperor. So where is the Emperor?

Near the traces left by the Indonesian volcano?

Or are you among the elite troops currently advancing towards the Holy Kingdom?

‘Then let’s see how much preparation you have done?’

Maru launched his private airship.

‧

‧

‧

Leon Bonnard immediately began his operation after receiving reports that the Holy Kingdom had hacked into his location.

“What about the sinkhole?”

[Ready to activate at any time.]

“What about the creatures around you?”

[The surrounding area has been cleared.]

‘Vladimir Kalin. He will definitely come here.’

If you had hidden away, they would have been more cautious, but since you left traces so obviously, they will definitely come to check.

‘It’s clear from the way he’s acted so far. He’s definitely coming to check it out himself.’

Leon Bonnard felt a sense of elation even in the midst of tension.

A clear sense of your abilities growing stronger.

It was because the faith and belief that burned one’s life was coming in.

‘Long live His Majesty the Emperor.’

‘Long live the Empire!’

The soldiers’ belief in victory gave birth to faith, and faith created the divinity of the emperor, beginning a cycle.

Because of war.

okay.

It’s war.

Must win.

[This is a report from a detection expert. A stealth aircraft is approaching at high speed.]

“How many?”

Indonesia’s Merapi volcano. There were reports of a high-speed approach by an airship that left traces there.

[It’s one piece.]

“It’s him.”

Vladimir Kalin. He is here.

Leon Bonnard’s blue eyes sparkled.

“To the power position.”