Rust - Chapter 1034



Only Krnovel

RUST [RUST]-1034

PD’s second broadcast caused as much controversy as the first. The biggest controversy was due to the content mentioned in the first broadcast.

(His Majesty the Emperor ordered the execution of Dan Brown?)

(It’s true that Dan Brown did something worth killing. He tried to assassinate His Majesty the Emperor.)

(The Emperor tried to assassinate the King of the Holy Kingdom.)

(You told me to prepare for nuclear war?)

(The military and the National Assembly are the ones preparing for nuclear war.)

(Did you watch the broadcast properly? Even the emperor said to prepare nuclear weapons.)

(You see the kids? The Emperor? His Majesty the Emperor, just the Emperor?)

(Since when have you been called Your Majesty the Emperor? You’re being ridiculous.)

(Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Empire! Long live Victory! You shouted so loudly and then wiped your lips like this?)

(When we win, our emperor, when we lose, your emperor?)

(Honestly, if you were trying to kill the King of the Holy Kingdom who was just sitting there, then that would be a problem.)

(Don’t you know what the Holy Kingdom Baekjeong did in Southeast Asia? They were massacring people?)

(Why would His Majesty the Emperor want to kill that psychopath bastard?)

(Thanks to the help from the Holy Kingdom, we received help, but you’re openly calling us a bastard? A psychopath? What is your real personality?)

(The Emperor must have been so wicked that the righteous Dan Brown tried to assassinate him.)

(And assassinating a person? And an emperor who was established by the citizens of the empire? Are you in your right mind? Is that something a normal person would do?)

(Is Dan Brown an ordinary person? He founded an empire and was its first president. He’s a man who would get his hands dirty for a greater cause.)

(You guys are fucking sick. The President is a President who will freeze to death. Was the only achievement of yours while you were President blowing up New York City?)

New York City during the Dan Brown era was a city of suffering. It was infested with cannibals, cockroaches, rats, and ants. Like some chaotic parallel world city, it even suffered a hydrogen bomb at the end.

(New York *Park was all Dan Brown’s time, right?)

(The maritime city was also built during the time of President Dan Brown. If it weren’t for President Dan, who would have pushed for the maritime city?)

(So ​​you opened the back door? So the Holy Kingdom bastards broke through the city defense system and attacked?)

(Hey. Stop hitting me. If you didn’t have an asshole, you wouldn’t have been able to come to the memorial service for our Emperor.)

There was a clash between the belief in Emperor Leon Bonnard and the historical perception of Chancellor Dan Brown. It was Dan Brown who founded the Empire, and it was Emperor Leon Bonnard who brought victory to the Empire, regained lost territories, and made it stronger.

And unfortunately, the broadcast from the Holy Kingdom was, ‘Prime Minister Dan Brown attempted to assassinate the Emperor, and Emperor Leon Bonnard had the Prime Minister executed.’

SNS and portals all pressured the imperial military and parliament to reveal the truth. Even while the live broadcast was going on, the bulletin boards were burning down, and it was clear that it would get worse after the broadcast ended.

The Imperial military and the Senate quickly sent out an emergency broadcast stating that the Holy Kingdom’s broadcast was an advanced form of psychological warfare, and that their broadcast was a ploy to divide the Empire.

(···The important thing is that the Holy Kingdom launched a surprise attack on the Imperial forces within Imperial territory.)

(The Imperial Army moved to surprise the Holy Kingdom? So did the Imperial Army advance even an inch into Holy Kingdom territory?)

(The Imperial Army was operating within the Empire. And it was the Holy Kingdom that invaded and attacked Imperial territory.)

(The Holy Kingdom is a cruel nation. They used mutated beasts as weapons in this attack. A pack of vicious rats attacked the Imperial forces.)

(The Imperial Army was attacked by a swarm of rats and left no corpses behind. The Holy Kingdom controls swarms of rats that eat people alive.)

(Video has been reported of the crows of the Holy Kingdom dropping bombs on the heads of Imperial citizens and gouging out their eyeballs. Please watch the reported video…)

As soon as the PD’s second broadcast ended, the Imperial Council and the military, as if they had been waiting, aired their own broadcasts. They were broadcasts that appropriately mixed facts and fabrications.

There were images of swarms of rats swarming a field and swarming peacefully moving imperial troops, or of bombs being dropped on children playing in a quiet small-town playground and the eyes of a young mother running away with her terrified child in her arms.

If you think about it, it was a ridiculous and stupid story. If a swarm of rats had swarmed the field, it would have been impossible to record the video because of the biological EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse).

Likewise, even though it is the end of winter, the temperature was ridiculously low at -10 to -20 degrees Celsius. It was absurd to take a picture of people having fun at the playground in such weather with perfect composition.

But the content itself was horrifying and provocative. A horde of cannibalistic rats attacking the imperial army, a flock of crows hunting a child and its mother.

(I knew this would happen.)

(His Majesty the Emperor had foresight.)

(War with the Holy Kingdom! Bloody vengeance!)

(Do we still need to talk to the Holy Kingdom?)

(I wonder if anyone would call him a pig. Just look at him being incited.)

(Children are playing in the playground at minus 20 degrees?)

(Is it true that he climbed the jungle gym? Look at his left hand. It doesn’t have a glove. He’s playing in -20 degrees without gloves, right?)

(I fixed the video right away since we were talking about gloves. Here is the original video.)

(Does the armor matter? The Holy Kingdom attacked the Imperial Army with mutated monsters?)

(Over 300,000 imperial troops were killed by surprise!)

(The important thing is that the Holy Kingdom launched a preemptive strike on the Imperial Army. Like Pearl Harbor!)

(Fuck. What happened to the cities and towns that were under the control of the Holy Kingdom?)

(It must have become food for rats and crows.)

(Yesterday, someone commented that they lost contact with their parents. What should they do?)

The Imperial Military and Parliament’s counter-broadcasts were effective.

Even though it was revealed that the footage had been manipulated, what mattered to the Imperial people was that over 300,000 Imperial troops had been annihilated, and that communications with areas occupied by the Holy Kingdom had been cut off.

‧

Ki-sun closed her eyes tightly at the reactions of the empire’s SNS and portal.

This is why justification is important. It is also why we must save those who can be saved, even if we have to annihilate them.

If you think about it, it was only 300,000. You might think it was just a handful among a population of 50 to 60 million, but if you add the families and relatives of the 300,000 imperial soldiers, it would be over several million.

So many people in the empire will consider the Holy Kingdom their enemy. Was it really necessary to annihilate them? What if Maru kills the entire imperial military and parliament? Will that solve the problem?

‘It’ll be the same thing as when we disposed of the powerful people in Southeast Asia.’

It could have been worse. The Empire is a gun-free nation and still has over 300,000 troops, including local defense forces.

[The problem is not killing the guy who should be killed, but killing him is not the problem.]

Kim Yang was a little skeptical about Ki-sun’s reaction.

[The Imperial Army launched a preemptive strike? So they’re going to kill 300,000 people? What’s wrong with that? Are you saying we should wait until the Imperial Army is in place to attack us?]

[That’s not it. At the very least, if we had won, we should have taken the rest as prisoners, and if we had captured a city or village, we should have spared the civilians.]

[What are you going to do with it? Spread the word that the rats are wearing gas masks and fighting with guns like human soldiers, and blowing themselves up? Or spread the word that the rats of the Holy Kingdom are eating people?]

[If you go to extremes, it becomes endlessly extreme. We are now trying to cross the line of humanity.]

[The human line was crossed first. Even a flea should have a face, but look at the sound it makes after doing that. And the reason the dead are good is because they don’t speak.]

[···The result is that there are now millions of enemies. Does that mean that all of those millions should be killed? How long will this continue? Until they are all killed?]

Kim Yang’s gaze changed at Ki-sun’s sigh.

[Why is that? Are you doing that on purpose because you think you have to act as a brake? There is no need for Ki-soon to be a conscience. It’s okay if he doesn’t do that.]

Ki-sun turned her head at Kim Yang’s sudden remark.

[That’s not why. Southeast Asian countries are physically far apart. Even if there’s chaos there, it won’t immediately affect the Holy Kingdom, but the Empire is different. What if a sinkhole were to occur in the Empire? What if the cornered Empire really self-destructs with a nuclear bomb? For our own sake, it’s better not to go to extremes.]

Kim Yang nodded slightly at Gi-sun’s words. It was an affirmation that what she said was right, but her answer was different.

[It’s up to the King to decide that. It’s not up to us to decide, right? And I don’t think it’s a bad thing if the empire falls. Yes.]

It wasn’t even funny to see the Imperial Years making a fuss on SNS and portals. After the end of the world, there weren’t many countries where the national infrastructure was functioning properly and people lived like humans.

Excluding Korea, which was under a cannibalistic government and was in a state of pregnancy factory-like poverty, only the Holy Kingdom and the Empire were able to live like humans.

There were only two countries that protected human rights and maintained a certain level of public order and infrastructure: the Holy Kingdom and the Empire.

There may be more if you look around the world, but looking around Europe and Southeast Asia, there was no country that maintained all three: human rights, public safety, and infrastructure.

But the actions of the imperial women were full of greed. The reason they left it alone while not interfering or interfering was to avoid getting involved, so what did they do as soon as they were released?

They were just fine, but then they brought down the old man from power and started throwing tantrums like they wanted to establish a presidential system and assassinate a hero, and then they started making a fuss among themselves and established an emperor.

So Emperor Leon Bonnard, who had been fighting day and night from beginning to end, did something wrong and tried to assassinate King Maru and launch a surprise attack on the Holy Kingdom.

Is this what human children do? But that’s what the imperial women do when they get together. Ki-soon let out a sigh at Kim Yang’s harsh words.

[When an empire falls, the cannibalistic vampires become stronger. No matter how strong the king is, think of the new divine elephant. And think of the vampire woman hired as a mercenary by Emperor Leon Bonard.]

Just as Maru survived the tactical nuclear self-destruction, that female vampire also survived. She is no easy opponent. Is she the only vampire like that?

The number of high-ranking vampires known at the time was in the double digits. What would happen if the empire collapsed and those people became lunch boxes for mutant monsters, vampires, and cannibals?

Even though I said that, do I have to say it again? Kim Yang’s eyes slightly furrowed at Ki-soon’s expression.

[People only exist in the Empire? Those who want to become strong will do whatever it takes to become strong, right? And do you think they’ll just let anyone who’s trying to keep each other in check just pop out? Honestly, I think so. It’s surprising that they say such things even after hearing what the Empire kids are saying.]

[So you’re saying the King is in favor of wiping out the Imperial military and parliament?]

[Of course. It’s not like I didn’t give you a chance.]

[Yes, those who do not turn back even after being given the opportunity to repent are subject to judgment.]

The PD defended Ms. Kim’s opinion in a firm voice.

[The truth was made known through broadcasting. Those who do not see or hear, and who turn away from the truth, need trials and judgment.]

[······.]

Ki-sun, who had tried to persuade Maru by gathering people’s opinions, had no choice but to raise both hands.

Kim Yang and the PD were actively in favor of Maru’s punishment, while Hood, Na Ju-yeon, and the nurse were neutral.

‧

[Why don’t you take a break and go?]

Ki-soon suggested they rest, thinking that the situation needed time to calm down, but Maru packed his equipment as soon as he arrived.

“If you’re going to do something, you’d better do it quickly.”

It was good to target the moment when the entire empire was distracted by PD’s broadcasts and counter-broadcasts.

======

======

Security in the coastal city was tight.

Although the response to the Holy Kingdom’s psychological warfare broadcast was effective, it did not mean that the divided public opinion would unite.

“It is a success. The prevailing opinion is that we should respond strongly.”

“It’s a hastily made broadcast, so it’s fortunate.”

The most important thing was that the percentage of people who would support a nuclear war was close to half. The media play that mentioned Pearl Harbor was really effective.

“So what should we do about that vampire’s offer?”

“Isn’t it okay since we have a psychic response device?”

The vampire who had been hired as a mercenary by Emperor Leon Bonard while he was still alive wanted two things in return for his payment. One was a residency permit that would allow him and his party to live in the maritime city.

Considering the vampire’s unique dominance, psychic power, and charm, it was right to oppose it unconditionally, but it wasn’t bad in a sea city where psychic power countermeasure equipment was everywhere.

“We’ve strengthened security at the central control room, so there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

“Even hacking into the Holy Kingdom wouldn’t be able to completely breach the security of the central control room.”

The biggest weakness in security was humans. It was all messed up because of one mutant cat, and it was because they brought in outside life forms.

To prevent something like that from happening again, we’ve rebuilt our security double and triple, and created a security system that would be difficult to break through even if it weren’t for vampires, but rather vampire ancestors.

“And she is a vampire powerful enough to block tactical nuclear weapons. If she and her party establish a base in the sea city, the sea city’s defenses will naturally become stronger.”

“I guess so.”

It was a good deal for both parties, as it was paying off the Emperor’s debt. The second thing the vampire woman demanded was a stable blood supply.

“What should I do?”

“Even if we required residents of maritime cities to donate blood once every three years, there would be more than enough.”

“Blood supply is not a big problem. If it can be used to pay off debt, I don’t think it’s a bad thing.”

“Do you all agree? If so, I hereby announce that the blood donation motion has passed.”

Cannibals were a bit reluctant to eat raw flesh, but blood was different. Why not just close your eyes and drink it? You didn’t need to eat until you were full, just one pack.

If you become a vampire? You become stronger than most cannibals, and stronger than those with awakened physical abilities. If only you could drink some blood.

Vampires can exert control depending on their abilities, so if you’re not careful, you run the risk of being treated like a slave, but if you prepare for that, you’ll be fine.

“Considering the benefits of having a stable blood supply, I don’t think it would be a bad idea for us to become a new species.”

“I agree.”

“We will decide by voting.”

The vote to become a new human race and build a new empire has begun.

[This is crazy···.]

A quiet voice came out from the swaying space where the voting results were quietly being watched.