Chapter 2399 – 2399. Eternal Eden
I followed Lee Yeon-hee to the room where Kim Jae-ji was.
“I’ll wait at the entrance.”
Soldiers of Kim Jae-ji stood at the entrance. Their eyes were sharp. They were the elite of the elite, having experienced real combat.
They opened the door. I went inside. Surprisingly, Kim Jae-ji was alone, without any guards.
“Welcome. I am Kim Jae-ji.”
The supreme leader of North Korea and a successful rebel extended his hand to me.
He was wearing a black coat. His belly protruded due to obesity. His face was yellowish, showing signs of jaundice. There were rumors about Kim Jae-ji’s health issues, and seeing him in person, it seemed those rumors were true.
“Let’s skip the handshake. We’re not that close, are we?”
“……”
Kim Jae-ji momentarily looked blankly at me, then frowned.
“They said you were a hero of South Korea… You’re quite reckless. Don’t you know that the future of South Korea depends on me now?”
“Handle the political stuff with the South Korean president. I’m not a president or a politician yet.”
“Yet? It sounds like you’re saying you’ll become a politician someday.”
“Your ears work well, it seems.”
I sat on the sofa. It was quite expensive and not bad. Kim Jae-ji also came and sat across from me.
We looked at each other in silence.
‘This bastard. I don’t like his eyes. Should I kill him?’
A man, especially a fat old one, glaring at me made my blood boil. But I couldn’t lose my temper here. If I killed Kim Jae-ji, things would get complicated. A Korean war would break out 100%, and South Korea would lose its future.
“You must have called me here because you want something. Tell me exactly. What do you want?”
Eventually, breaking the meaningless silence, I spoke first.
“You already know, don’t you? Come to Joseon. I’ll make you the ruler of Joseon. And one of the most powerful rulers in Joseon.”
“I don’t need that. What am I supposed to do as the ruler of North Korea? Population, technology, infrastructure… South Korea is crushing us in all of that. Anyone who goes to live in North Korea is crazy.”
“You…!”
Kim Jae-ji trembled, then sighed.
“Tell me what you want. If you weren’t really interested, you wouldn’t have accepted my invitation. What do you truly desire?”
I hated to admit it, but Kim Jae-ji had the aura of a king.
‘A dictator. He’s practically a king, so it’s not wrong to say that.’
It was different from a president who had to step down after their term. It had to be different. He wouldn’t step down from that throne unless something extraordinary happened.
‘I thought he was just a guy who was running wild with nuclear weapons… I was wrong. If I leave this guy alone, things will keep getting complicated later.’
I decided to eliminate him at the right time.
“Nuclear weapon technology. That’s what I want.”
“Is a mere individual trying to make nuclear weapons? Even if you have the technology, can you make them? It seems like you’re planning to make them secretly from the South Korean government.”
“I don’t have to explain my plans to you in detail. Is it possible? Or impossible? Just say one.”
“Nuclear weapons aren’t omnipotent. Even if a nuclear explosion occurs, it can’t penetrate a well-made nuclear bunker, and with the appearance of players, the radiation problem will eventually be solved.”
“And you, knowing that, are betting everything on nuclear weapons?”
“Still, it’s nuclear. It’s worth that much. Nuclear weapon technology? Fine. I’ll give it to you.”
He accepted my offer so readily. I was taken aback but didn’t show it. I thought he would never share the nuclear weapon technology. I had only asked for it high, thinking of negotiations. But he accepted it.
‘Not yet. I haven’t heard what he wants.’
I sat with my legs crossed and looked at him. Now it was Kim Jae-ji’s turn to say what he wanted.
“Use your ability to restore my body.”
“That’s what I expected. But are there no doctors in North Korea?”
“My doctor says it’s an incurable disease that can’t be solved with modern medicine. And I have only two years left to live. Isn’t it funny? A man who has all the power is dying from a mere disease.”
Unlike his self-deprecating tone, his eyes shone sharply.
“Joseon still needs my leadership. Nuclear weapon technology? I’ll give it to you anytime. Heal me right now.”
“You have to tell me exactly what kind of disease it is.”
Kim Jae-ji took off his top. I immediately frowned. I didn’t want to see a man’s body. Enduring my disgust, I looked at his upper body. His chest and abdomen were turning black. It wasn’t cell necrosis. There was still life in it.
“……Mutation?”
“That’s right. You have a good eye. My body is slowly mutating.”
“Humans don’t mutate. Mutation only happens to animals other than humans. If a human is infected with the D virus, which can cause mutation, they become a zombie. Even awakeners are no exception.”
“There was a coup half a year ago. A trusted aide of mine started a coup with a player. The result was, of course, a failure. This is a curse that the awakened aide left on me.”
That made sense.
Awakeners’ abilities were so unique that it wasn’t strange to have any kind of ability.
“Well, even if that wasn’t the case, your health wasn’t good anyway. Am I wrong?”
“…You’re right. But now, it doesn’t matter. We’ve confirmed each other’s conditions, so we can finish this.”
“There’s a condition.”
“……The conversation is over.”
“Seeing you in person, your condition is no joke. It’s too much of a loss for me to just take the nuclear weapon technology and end it. Well, I’m not going to ask for anything big.”
“Tell me.”
“Later, I’m going to become a politician. My goal is, of course, to become president. To do that, I need achievements. Strong political achievements that won’t disappear from people’s minds.”
Kim Jae-ji chuckled.
“Are you saying you want me to cooperate in creating your political achievements?”
“Yes. Just say a few good words. You don’t have to do anything on purpose.”
Kim Jae-ji.
His influence on South Korea is significant, if nothing else.
North Korea’s military provocations were tiresome in the past, but now they are extremely dangerous. But what if we create an atmosphere of reconciliation here? And if my name is explicitly mentioned? The people of South Korea will see me differently politically.
“Haha. You don’t seem like the president South Korea wants. Fine. From my perspective, it’s more beneficial for a guy who can communicate to become the South Korean president.”
“Hand over the technology first.”
Without a word, he took out a heavy hard drive.
“The nuclear weapon technology is in this. You can check it here now if you want.”
“…I’ll check it later. There has to be at least some trust, right?”
Seeing that he had prepared it in advance, it didn’t seem like he was lying. In the first place, North Korea isn’t the only one with nuclear weapon technology. Russia, China, Japan, and even South Korea probably have it. There’s no reason not to research nuclear weapons just because you can’t make them.
‘Even if I have the technology, I lack both facilities and resources. That’s why he’s handing it over. If I try to make nuclear weapons at Seongak Elementary School now, I’ll have to work on it for at least a few years.’
Knowing that, Kim Jae-ji was easily handing over the nuclear weapon technology.
“Let’s start the treatment. Stay still.”
I placed my hand on Kim Jae-ji’s shoulder. It felt unpleasant, but I had no choice.
I didn’t even think that I wouldn’t be able to heal him. Recovery could even revive the dead.
As I used Recovery, my stamina rapidly drained. At the same time, Kim Jae-ji’s body began to recover. His face, which had been full of jaundice, regained its original skin color. The mutations on his chest and abdomen gradually shrank and disappeared.
“Oh, oh. I can feel my body getting better in real time. Is this the healing ability! It’s like I’m rejuvenating!”
“Be quiet. I need to concentrate.”
It wasn’t rejuvenation. I could rejuvenate him, but I didn’t want to. Why would I rejuvenate this guy?
‘One of my original plans was to use his rejuvenation as a way to exploit him. But that’s scrapped. This guy isn’t someone who will be easily exploited.’
Kim Jae-ji was an illegitimate child. He started a rebellion, killed all his half-siblings, and rose to the position of dictator. People thought he was lucky to gain power, but in my eyes, it wasn’t just luck.
The recovery was over. Kim Jae-ji’s mutation symptoms had completely disappeared. His face was full of life, and his belly had shrunk a little.
“Good. I haven’t felt this good in the last 10 years. Seong Yu-jin, would you consider becoming my right-hand man?”
“The deal is already over.”
“I know. But… I’m too greedy for you.”
Should I kill him?
No, I healed him, so I’ll hold back. I also got the nuclear weapon technology, so I can hold back.
‘I’ll kill him as soon as he’s no longer useful.’
I got up from my seat. I took the hard drive and walked towards the door, then stopped for a moment and looked back at him.
“How do you plan to end the talks?”
South Korea was trying to stop the war through these talks. A truce was their goal. The problem was that the choice was in the hands of Kim Jae-ji of North Korea.
“If the president accepts my demands… there won’t be a war.”
“Demands?”
“Things like food. There are many things I need.”
It seemed like he was going to take everything he could. It was none of my business. It wasn’t like my resources were being taken. The important thing was that he was thinking of a truce.
“Farewell. I think we could be good friends.”
Friends, my ass.
I ignored him and went outside. Lee Yeon-hee was waiting. I returned to the waiting room with her.
“Did you hear the conversation?”
“I couldn’t. The room was completely soundproof. I wanted to put my ear to the door, but… the guards were staring at me with wide eyes, so I couldn’t.”
“That pig bastard is full of thoughts of taking advantage of South Korea.”
“Does that mean he doesn’t plan to start a war right away? That’s a relief.”
“Did you expect that?”
“If a full-scale war breaks out, both South Korea and North Korea will be destroyed. Even if South Korea is hit by nuclear missiles, they have the power to take North Korea to hell with them. South Korea is the one who is more desperate, so they will negotiate.”
“You seem like you don’t like that?”
“No. Not at all. I’m neutral. ……But if. I’m curious what you would have done if you were the president of South Korea, Yu-jin. Would you have chosen negotiations like the current president? Because that’s the best option.”
“What are you talking about? The best option is war. If you let those nobodies rise up once, they’ll keep rising up without knowing their place. It’s better to crush them even if you lose something.”
“……”
We arrived in front of the waiting room. Lee Yeon-hee treated me with a smile from beginning to end.
“Then. Please contact me anytime if you need me.”
Lee Yeon-hee left. When I entered the waiting room, Na Chae-young, Choi Hye-jin, and Irina’s gazes immediately focused on me.
Fzzzt.
I scattered electromagnetic waves to disable the listening devices and spoke.
“Half of the plan failed. Kim Jae-ji isn’t as easy as he’s known to be. It’s impossible to control him properly with the Recovery ability. But I got what I needed.”
I handed the hard drive to Na Chae-young.
“What kind of technology did you get?”
“Nuclear weapons.”
“It’s not the technology we need right now. But it’s valuable technology. It’s technology we’ll need in the distant future. Good job.”
Na Chae-young’s eyes lit up as she looked at the hard drive.
I was about to sit on a chair when I noticed the commotion outside the window. I went to the window. Eight military helicopters were flying towards the meeting place. The president, congressmen, staff, and guards had arrived at the meeting place.
‘It’s starting. Well, the talks will end well.’
The military helicopters landed. The president, leading his subordinates, entered the meeting building with dignity. South Korean and North Korean reporters were constantly snapping photos.
“I should go and show my face too. A photo of me shaking hands with the president will help me in politics.”
I was about to go outside when Choi Hye-jin blocked my way.
“Hey, don’t go.”
“What’s wrong? Are you horny or something?”
I put my hand inside Choi Hye-jin’s pants. I felt the warmth of her panties.
“Huh? You’re not wet.”
“You crazy bastard! Are you being a pervert at a time like this? I told you not to go because I have a bad feeling!”
It was Choi Hye-jin who said that, not anyone else. I couldn’t ignore her feeling.
“I can take the picture later.”
I sat down. I was going to joke with Choi Hye-jin, but she felt much more on edge than usual.
‘Is something really going to happen?’
I tensed up too. Na Chae-young was here. She didn’t have combat abilities, but she was the most important person at Seongak Elementary School. I had to protect Na Chae-young no matter what.
Looking at the window, my eyes widened. About 20 missiles were flying from the civilian area. They weren’t big missiles, but there were many of them.
“Shit. Get under the table and lie down!”
I took Na Chae-young under the table. Choi Hye-jin and Irina acted as soon as they heard me.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwang!
The missiles exploded, and the entire building began to shake and collapse.
