Rust - Chapter 919



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RUST -919

If Korea becomes a hegemon in Southeast Asia and the Holy Kingdom becomes the issuer of a reserve currency used by many countries for trade, then who is the real hegemon?

Even if Korea were to abolish CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) and create regular currency again, it would not be easy for the newly issued currency to have credibility in the current situation.

Because the transactions with the Empire and the trade with the Holy Kingdom were not to be settled in Korean currency. So, in the end, the actual value, stability, and credibility of the currency were the issues.

The only currency that was used by both the Empire and the Holy Kingdom, which were currently the largest trading partners, and that could be used with confidence by all Southeast Asian countries was the Holy Kingdom’s currency.

“So, our King, how about the Emperor? While you’re at the issuing country, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go to the Holy Empire. An imperial gold coin recognized by everyone. A reserve currency. Doesn’t it sound great?”

“···What the hell.”

I didn’t plan on going all the way to the Holy Empire, but…. It was a problem that I didn’t go when the situation was like this. Wasn’t it even possible to use a reserve currency?

“What the hell are you talking about? The opportunity has come rolling in, so we have to push for it. They say Korea is going to take action on its own.”

Maru’s eyebrows furrowed slightly at Ki-soon’s words that Korea had decided to enter Southeast Asia.

“Be honest. Did you plan it with the PD?”

When the country was founded, PD aimed for a holy nation or a holy emperor nation. The concept of an emperor and a god was a concept with a long history in the West.

Although the emperor was better than the king in many ways, even though he was called a god, it was problematic if this was all part of the bigger picture.

Even if the two of them did not make choices that would harm the Holy Kingdom and themselves, it was still the case. In any case, it was a story that was pushed forward without Maru himself being told the details.

“······.”

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Huh? And why didn’t you tell the Korean government about the intelligence you gained from reconnaissance in India and Southeast Asia? You couldn’t possibly be…”

When Maru made a ‘what if’ expression, Ki-sun firmly said no.

“That’s not it.”

“What is that?”

“······.”

“Tsk- That’s enough. I reported back in the day that Southeast Asia and India were in chaos, and that the reconnaissance aircraft had confirmed it. There are so many indigenous religions that some people believe in elephants, others in monkeys. They say they believe in everything.”

It was definitely like that. They said that there was chaos in Southeast Asia and even India.

“······.”

“If the Korean military enters Southeast Asia, there will be a disaster. I’m sure you know that.”

During the cannibal regime, Korea’s capable people were either tied with explosive collars and served as servants, or they voluntarily served as servants to become privileged.

Whatever the reason, it is true that they fought on the side of the cannibal regime. As a result, they were pushed back together when the Holy Kingdom overthrew the cannibal regime. That was the reason why there was no separate unit of capable people in the Korean military.

If there are people with powers in Southeast Asia, whether they are mutant monsters or people with powers or something that is revered as a god, it won’t be easy for the average Korean military to handle.

Even if there were no such beings, it was certain that there were cannibalistic forces. Since the Korean army had strong firepower, they would fight fiercely, but it was clear that there would be enormous casualties.

“So, in the end, it’s going to be resolved if I go. If I go and wipe everything out, the people there will trust me. The Korean army, which suffered a catastrophe, will also come to me and cry out for help in order to survive. Is that what you were aiming for? You didn’t give the Korean government information about Southeast Asia because of your faith?”

“······.”

‘This kid. I should break up with the PD.’ Maru thought that the reason Gi-sun was obsessed with religion was because of the PD. Now that he thought about it, it was still the same now.

PD was called to Korea to confirm this, and PD gave the speech. PD also managed the Japanese refugees in Busan. All of his actions were related to faith.

“What did you talk about with the PD uncle?”

“That old man doesn’t matter. To be honest, it’s a bit contradictory and paradoxical.”

Ki-soon spoke frankly.

“I told you, I don’t care if you’re a king, a god, or a god-king.”

“···That’s right.”

“But ordinary citizens don’t think that way, and the situation continues to go wrong.”

“So that’s what happened?”

Korea to choose Southeast Asia on its own?

no.

It wasn’t that far.

As Ki-sun said, it is the path that the Korean government and parliament chose themselves.

“······.”

“······.”

perhaps.

It may have been that the Korean government and parliament indirectly influenced that decision.

Is that why the information from North America only reported that the western region was devastated by the earthquake?

“······.”

“······.”

There was a brief silence, and Ki-sun spoke first.

“You agreed to attain divinity, right? That’s because religion didn’t enter Korea.”

The only times when Koreans have shown faith have been when times were tough.

If you were to crawl into the chaos of Southeast Asia and face the reality of your comrades being torn apart and crushed, who would come to mind?

Who do you think can rescue you from that hell?

The Korean government and parliament pushed Southeast Asia into hell in the name of saving the economy?

Or is it a being that has wiped clean Chinese armed groups and violent refugees?

Who do you trust?

Who are you praying to?

To whom shall I cry for salvation?

Maru, who was listening to the story, interrupted in the middle.

“You- fuck-”

Maru swallowed the words, “Why are you doing that?”

Have you been hurt a lot while serving as Governor General of Canada?

“Hah- Are you saying that knowing my personality?”

“I’m saying this because I know your personality.”

“Ah- Really-”

“For a peaceful survival, I think you should travel around the world at least once, from Southeast Asia, Australia, India, the Middle East, to Europe and Africa. Don’t you?”

If only to get rid of those who were growing bigger by feeding on religion. So the current situation is a case of killing three birds with one stone.

Gaining faith from the Korean military and Korean people.

At the same time, the swarms of trash that are sprouting up in Southeast Asia are also being suppressed.

Finally, a chance to secure the Southeast Asian faith that those rascals had been taking with them.

“So you’re saying that since it’s going to happen anyway, it would be nice if I went on a tour?”

“It’s not a performance. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to go. I heard that Miss Kim and the nurse are recovering in the Canadian region at an incredible rate, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go back and take care of our house. Of course, if we don’t move now, we’ll have to pay a bigger price to those who grew up eating faith.”

Ki-soon’s eyes narrowed as he spoke for a long time.

It was a look that seemed to say, ‘So what are you going to do?’

Maru shook his head.

This guy.

It’s not a mistrust of humanity.

Do people who are not related see it as just picking on faith?

“Is that because you see emotions? If you don’t pay attention to them, you won’t see them.”

It’s fortunate that it’s not like it’s always ON or OFF, but it’s not like I’m always looking at it. If I had kept seeing the other person’s emotions like a passive, I might have really lost it.

‘It’s like this even though it didn’t taste good. If it had, there would have been no answer.’

When asked if it was because of his ability to see emotions, Ki-sun’s narrow eyes seemed to ask him to tell her what to do first.

“Do I really have to travel around the world?”

It was a floor that made me sigh on my own.

“If what you truly want is survival and peace.”

Ki-soon declared.

Let’s imagine that a person with electrical powers was born in a place like Greece. What if that person gathered people together and was evaluated as the ‘son of the god of thunder’ and then, with faith and belief, suddenly became ‘the incarnation of Zeus’, ‘the god of the sky’?

Would anyone in Greece remain quiet when they realize that the more they are deified and worshipped, the more powerful they become?

Naturally, in order to gain more faith and build up divinity, they will start wars. They will try to take over the Balkan Peninsula and push out Türkiye (Turkey).

What will happen?

It wasn’t necessarily Greece, but other countries were the same.

What if a person of ability is hailed as a hero, gains faith, and is evaluated as a ‘god of victory’? What if someone is born who embodies the faith and belief of Europe?

What if a religious monopoly were to emerge in India? What if cannibals and vampires emerged in the chaos of war, devouring humans to their heart’s content?

Would it be okay if there were people who were evaluated as divine beings?

How long will North America and the Holy Kingdom be safe?

So whatever choice was made, it was Maru’s decision.

‧

‧

‧

The Korean government moved quickly.

“We need to establish a base in Taiwan.”

“Let’s rebuild the port city first.”

The South Korean military designated Taiwan as an intermediate defense area, renovated several ports, and installed defensive facilities. Since it was a fortification to check the southern warlords, there were no major problems as both Chinese refugees and existing Taiwanese were welcomed.

Of course, the southern warlords were outraged, but there was nothing they could do about it, because as the days passed, the civil war in China became more and more intense.

“

Among the seven Chinas, Tibet, Uyghur, and Mongolia each returned to their original state and avoided direct conflict, while the other four Chinas did not.

Four Chinas divided into the east, west, north, south, and southeast, including unstable regions mixed with ethnic minorities. The four Chinas, divided by their central warlords, were desperate to eat each other.

Unifying China would mean the birth of a Chinese ruler. If he were to become the absolute ruler in China, he would be able to rule over all the cannibals.

This meant that the mandate of heaven had been given, and that the Emperor would be resurrected. Would you give up the opportunity to sit on that throne? The four leaders of the military could not give it up.

“It is said that the Chinese civil war is becoming more and more intense.”

“It is fortunate that the number of refugees has decreased significantly.”

“That must have been the case. They must have realized that sending refugees this way would only increase Taiwan’s population.”

“Should we assume that information about the King of the Holy Kingdom was also leaked?”

He was the King of the Holy Kingdom who had shown overwhelming killing power. People felt courageous because they thought that if he was there, they would not be able to provoke others recklessly.

“Where did you decide to start your expansion into Southeast Asia?”

“It’s Vietnam.”

“Not Indonesia?”

“Indonesia has many problems.”

“Isn’t that the same in Vietnam?”

After a major disaster, a mutant virus outbreak, and a cannibalistic rampage, Vietnam was at one point divided into North Vietnam and South Vietnam.

It was because of the cannibals who cleverly exploited the differences in economic development between the South and the North and regional sentiments. And there were politicians who agreed with them.

Why did you vote for division?

The reason was simple.

Because if you split one healthy thing in two, it ends up with two heads.

It’s the same reason as splitting a public enterprise into several and privatizing it. The number of CEOs has increased and the number of employees has been inflated several times. In this way, Vietnam has effectively been split in two.

“So where did you decide to make your base?”

“The business community is asking us to establish a base in northern Vietnam.”

The number of Korean companies that have advanced into Vietnam has exceeded 9,000. A significant number of them are located in the northern cities such as Hanoi and Haiphong. The business community is requesting that Korean troops be deployed to northern Vietnam to protect them.

“The military believes that having a base in South Vietnam will be advantageous for controlling all of Southeast Asia.”

In order to protect ‘freedom of navigation’ and project power throughout Southeast Asia, it was advantageous to establish a base in South Vietnam.

“If we establish a base in South Vietnam, won’t Indonesia be provoked?”

“Many of our companies have also advanced into Indonesia.”

“If we base ourselves in Vietnam, it will effectively be an outcome of supporting one side of Vietnam, which is divided into North and South.”

“Vietnam is like a country split in two, and if it is completely divided and a war breaks out between the two, it will be a repeat of the Vietnam War.”

There are already countries where civil wars have broken out. The Philippines has entered a full-blown civil war. Myanmar and Laos have done the same.

“But there is a strange rumor going around.”

“There is a rumor that a god appeared in the Philippines.”

There were rumors that a saint and the Virgin Mary appeared in the Philippines.

“No way… is that the saint and the Virgin Mary? When you say Father, Son, and Virgin Mary, is it the saint and the Virgin Mary?”