170. Alliance Summit
Tokyo, Japan.
In his office, Yoshida Hikaru was speaking with his subordinates, Sakura and Shusuke.
All three wore grave expressions.
“What are we going to do? At this point, wouldn’t it be fair to say Rachel and Baek Jinwoo are as good as dead?”
“Almost 100%.”
The Japanese side concluded.
That the two giants were dead.
Because otherwise, it made no sense that they still had not emerged from just the 51st floor.
“Um.......”
Shusuke carefully opened his mouth.
“What if... we just use this chance to side with Russia?”
“What?”
Sugoi frowned.
Moscowman had made a proposal.
Since the 51st floor of the Tower of Trials was blocked anyway, why not just stop trying to clear it and maintain the status quo?
Then, split this world nicely between themselves and continue growing their power and strength.
“To be honest, Russia isn’t wrong, is it? This world is already crawling with people who want to rule it, whether it’s us or not.”
True enough.
Shusuke was recalling the past.
‘Baek Jinwoo, that damned bastard.’
Back during the Japan-Korea friendly match, he had cut Ryo from the national team and even threatened him.
Was that why?
To be honest, when this situation came, he was secretly pleased.
“If we assume Baek Jinwoo and Rachel disappear like this, then this world becomes ownerless land.”
Ownerless land.
It meant an empty mountain with no owner.
“And it’ll only be a matter of time before Veskov fills that gap. In that case, wouldn’t it be wiser for us to move first and go along with that flow?”
“........”
Hikaru listened in silence.
In effect.
Now that those two had vanished, he was the strongest human alive.
“And America’s Xenos has apparently strongly opposed that proposal. Veskov doesn’t seem pleased by that. Please think it over carefully. If he ends up striking Xenos, it will benefit us too.”
Hmm.
Hikaru’s eyes sank even deeper into troubled thought.
That was true.
In fact, Veskov had said something privately to him alone.
That they should strike Xenos.
If that happened, then three of the Five Emperors could split everything evenly among themselves.
He had not bothered relaying that to his subordinates.
‘Because I thought it was absurd.’
But.
Now his subordinates were the ones bringing up that absurd idea first.
‘So this is how our 10-year friendship breaks.’
A little over 5 years in the game, and a little over 4 years in reality.
A friendship of 10 years in total.
Rachel’s death was putting cracks in it.
In truth.
Though the current Japanese cabinet outwardly sided with America, it had not forgotten the humiliation of the past.
Two nuclear bombs.
From then until now, Japan had lived holding its breath beneath America’s feet.
But now, things were different.
After this world had changed, the international order was being reorganized into a new balance of power.
“Sakura.”
“Yes.”
World Rank 13, Shirato Sakura, replied.
“What do you think?”
“I don’t know about the rest, but America...... I think it needs to be checked.”
“Join hands with Veskov?”
“As a means of restraint, he is the best option. In the past it was America, and now it is Britain that sits above the world, is it not......? I want to show that we can do it too.”
Haa.
Hikaru shut his eyes tight.
Both of his subordinates were thinking like this......
The truth was, he was just a shut-in gaming addict, so he did not understand politics very well.
Therefore.
He could not make this kind of decision by his own judgment.
“I should visit the cabinet.”
He sprang to his feet.
The prime minister, and the chief cabinet secretary.
It felt easiest to simply follow the judgment of those men, who were at least seasoned in international affairs.
* * *
Time passed.
The alliance summit drew near.
And most of them expressed their intention to participate.
Britain decided to send World Rank 8, Gareth Bale, as its representative.
Korea, however...
Refused to participate.
The justification was that, to begin with, Baek Jinwoo was not one of the Five Emperors, and Korea had never really been an ally in the first place.
All the guild members stepped forward and tried to stop her one after another, so Yoo Jia could not stubbornly insist on going no matter what.
After much deliberation, she made her decision.
She would not go.
And.
Honestly, let’s think about it.
If they attack just because an ally does not participate, is that really an alliance?
‘No.’
Those were the kind of people who could stab you in the back at any moment.
At this point, even the relationship itself had to be questioned again.
* * *
Moscow, the Grand Kremlin Palace.
The presidential palace of the Russian Federation, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During the Cold War, it had even been regarded as the counterpart to the White House, a place heavy with symbolism.
The Russian president coolly handed the place over to Veskov.
A grand banquet was held inside.
The list of attendees was as follows.
[America]
1. William Xenos
2. Kobe Pochettino
[Britain]
1. Gareth Bale
2. Sandy McKiver
[Japan]
1 Yoshida Hikaru
2 Takahashi Shusuke
[Taiwan]
1 Zhuo Longtai
2 Tsai Ing-wen
Russia, naturally, had all of its national representatives in attendance, and Korea did not come.
“Hmm.”
Naturally, Veskov showed his displeasure.
He had even given them a warning, and yet they ignored it.
“Korea seems to be under a very serious delusion right now.”
A country that, under normal circumstances, would never even have qualified to sit at the same table.
It was a nation that had only briefly risen thanks to God Ji-nu, and without him, it was nothing.
And such a country, which he had graciously invited as an ally, dared refuse?
Swish.
He called someone over. And whispered in their ear.
To announce Baek Jinwoo’s absence right away.
* * *
The alliance summit was calmer than expected.
Everyone sat heavily in their places, but no one there was unaware of what Veskov was really after.
“Korea didn’t come, so naturally they’re out. Now then, the five of our countries are thinking of sharing the league rewards nicely among ourselves...... But Britain has eaten quite a lot up until now, so you should yield that much, shouldn’t you?”
“What do you mean by that!”
World Rank 8, Gareth Bale, flared up, but was stopped.
“Shh, enough.”
Because another British player, Sandy McKiver, held him back.
They had already concluded that Rachel was dead.
Otherwise, they could not have forcibly convened a summit like this.
The only people who could stop his rampage were players on the level of the Five Emperors.
And as expected.
“I don’t agree. Rachel’s absence aside, the rewards should go to the countries with the ability to take them.”
Xenos stepped forward and objected.
“Is that so? I thought you’d say that.”
Veskov’s expression was relaxed as he swirled his wine glass.
The banquet deepened as the hours passed, but the food on the table did not diminish at all.
A razor-sharp tension dominated the room throughout the summit.
Britain naturally respected America’s opinion, and Baekcheon, as promised, raised his hand in support of Russia’s position.
Japan, however......
“I’m done here.”
Sugoi.
Yoshida Hikaru stood up from his seat.
“My stomach feels upset, so I’ll excuse myself. Is there somewhere I can stay?”
An obvious deferral.
But the corners of Veskov’s mouth rose even higher.
“Is that so? Follow the guide, and they’ll give you a room to stay in.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Japan stepping out here was also part of the plan.
Step, step.
Hikaru and Shusuke left.
“I’m not exactly pleased with this situation either.... I’ll be going now as well.”
Swish.
Xenos also rose from his seat.
However.
“Where do you think you’re going? Don’t we still have more to discuss?”
Thud.
Veskov said it as if tossing the words out.
“More to discuss?”
“You said it yourself. That the countries with ability should take the rewards. In that case...... how about we verify that ability right now?”
His voice was gentle, but the meaning inside it was sharper than anything else.
“What do you mean by that?”
When World Rank 9, Kobe Pochettino, grew wary,
“It simply means we prove everything through strength.”
Swish.
Still standing, he snapped his fingers.
At that moment.
The players who had been holding their breath and waiting until now began walking out one by one.
Russia’s national representatives.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Xenos’ expression turned cold.
The British players’ faces also twisted with anger.
What era was this, to pull something so barbaric......!
‘No.’
We let our guard down.
We should have always prepared for the next worst possibility......
Korea not coming must have meant they had predicted to some extent that Veskov would come out like this.
“Old man Baekcheon.”
“Heh heh.”
“Did you agree to this too?”
Judging by the situation, Sugoi seemed to have known and silently allowed it before leaving......
‘These bastards.’
Xenos’ lips twisted.
‘What do you take me for.’
One of the biggest reasons he had not prepared for the next worst case was his confidence in his own strength.
Veskov? Baekcheon?
The confidence that he could win even if the two attacked together!
“Heh heh, wouldn’t it be fine to just bow your head and live? You bowed to Rachel too, so what is there that you cannot bow to before Veskov?”
“Is that really something you should be saying?”
“......I need something to gain too, brother Xenos.”
“Drop the act already.”
“At this rate, America and Japan are obviously going to take all the league rewards...... I, too, simply want to gift my people a first-place finish at least once.”
“.....”
The air grew taut in an instant.
Killing intent overflowed through the palace.
That was right.
Today.
Veskov intended to kill Xenos.
‘And after that.’
Sugoi.
‘And after that.’
Baekcheon.
If he killed all of the Five Emperors one by one in turn?
Wouldn’t there be no player left in this world capable of stopping him?
As the first step toward that.
He would strike Xenos, the one he found most burdensome.
Those two idiots from Britain?
They were just a bonus.
* * *
Before entering the room, Sugoi.
Yoshida Hikaru warned Shusuke.
“Remember my words, Shusuke.”
“......Which words?”
“We are merely observers. That is the cabinet’s decision.”
“I understand.”
“I also know you bear ill feelings toward Korea.”
“......”
“But you must never touch Korea.”
“May I ask why?”
“There is no reason.”
“......?”
“It is simply an order, so follow it.”
“...Understood.”
Swish.
Shusuke entered his room.
Watching his retreating back, Hikaru smacked his lips bitterly.
Japan had already judged God Ji-nu’s death as 100% certain.
But.
Only Hikaru felt something strange about it.
‘God Ji-nu?’
That God Ji-nu is not coming out?
As one of the Five Emperors. It was the intuition of someone who had experienced him firsthand.
God Ji-nu was far more of a monster than the public knew.
Far smarter, more instinctive, and more brilliant.
So immense that something as trivial as the Tower of Trials could never contain him.
So.
Hikaru wanted to take out insurance.
Remain an observer.
But if Moscowman tried to touch Korea, he wanted to stop at least that much.
If so......
Then if the worst should happen and he really returned, wouldn’t they at least be able to preserve their lives?
* * *
But.
‘I’m sorry.’
The gaze in Shusuke’s eyes as he entered the room had turned cold and desolate.
Before Hikaru gave that order.
Russia’s side had already made contact with him.
Tomorrow at dawn.
He would infiltrate Korea together with the Russian rankers and kidnap Yoo Jia.
Why?
As punishment for daring to refuse and not participate in the summit.
‘I don’t know how Hikaru knew.’
Shusuke had a lot of personal feelings toward Korea. Even now, he still could not forget.
Those mocking looks from during the Korea-Japan exhibition match.
‘You made the wrong judgment.’
Their growth rate was extremely fast.
And if they were fast?
Then you had to crush them before they grew bigger.
To become a hegemonic nation, you could not remain clean forever.
Someone had to be willing to do the dirty work, and Shusuke believed that person was himself.
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