Chapter 115
Before Bahamut’s summons, the sisters Lee Hyuna and Lee Sua had a significant disagreement regarding Daegu’s treatment.
Lee Hyuna advocated a radical approach, suggesting that Daegu should be made dependent on Gyeongju, even if it required the use of drugs.
On the other hand, Lee Sua emphasized a moderate stance, arguing that certain lines must not be crossed, even in an apocalypse.
In a pre-apocalypse context, most would support the latter view, believing that there are ethical boundaries humanity should maintain.
However, in this apocalypse, the former perspective also had its merits.
Acknowledging the logic behind each other’s arguments, the sisters entered into an unresolved conflict.
Secretly, Lee Hyuna planned to spread drugs across Daegu using her puppet, Ko Joon-woo, without Lee Sua’s knowledge.
Meanwhile, Lee Sua utilized her administrative authority and control over logistics to obstruct her sister’s actions.
And then…
“I can’t take it anymore! I’ve reached my limit! I didn’t want to resort to this, but now I have no choice!”
Time had passed since Jung Dong-gun had led the military on an expedition to Ulsan and established the allied forces there.
Unable to tolerate her sister’s tyranny any longer, Lee Sua began her counteroffensive.
When Lee Hyuna once again attempted to distribute drugs in Daegu, deploying Internal Revenue Service agents to carry out the plan, Lee Sua decided to take extreme measures herself.
“So? What do you think you can do?”
Predictably, Lee Hyuna merely scoffed at Lee Sua’s resistance.
Just as Lee Sua knew her sister well, Lee Hyuna also understood Lee Sua.
Lee Hyuna was aware that her sister would neither resort to nor even consider using extreme methods.
To prevent such actions from the administrative side, Lee Sua would require an independent military force, and that would mean needing Jung Dong-gun’s cooperation.
‘Right now, Jung Dong-gun is stuck in a stalemate at Ulsan Airport. His adjutant, Son Sang-hui, is there too. That means I don’t have to worry about interference.’
It was a well-known fact.
Currently, Jung Dong-gun was stationed at Ulsan Airport, preparing to defend against the Immortal Cult’s offensive.
According to the IRS’s internal intelligence network, Jung Dong-gun would remain stationed at Ulsan Airport for at least a month, possibly up to three months.
In other words, there would be no active military interference to obstruct the IRS’s movements.
Lee Hyuna’s confident smirk at her sister’s resistance had a solid basis.
“I’ll tell Lord Bahamut!”
“Oh… I didn’t consider that.”
But Lee Sua’s chosen method was, in a sense, extreme, yet also surprisingly simple.
Put bluntly, she was threatening to tattle to their father figure!
While this might sound childish and trivial to a grown woman like Lee Hyuna, her complexion turned pale at Lee Sua’s words.
“I’ll report everything to Lord Bahamut and ask for a verdict on this matter!”
Indeed, their “father figure” happened to be none other than the God Bahamut of the Balhut Cult.
This elementary yet powerful idea proved devastatingly effective.
“Tch…”
“Ahahaha. Looks like we’ve finally caught a reckless fool, haven’t we?”
True to her word, Lee Sua meticulously reported everything about Lee Hyuna’s actions in Daegu to Bahamut and even to the Priestess, Choi Yuna.
Essentially, she informed the rulers of the Balhut Cult of Lee Hyuna’s deeds in detail.
Bahamut appeared visibly perplexed by Lee Sua’s report, while Choi Yuna smirked, commenting on how they had finally caught a reckless fool.
Both seemed somewhat flustered by Lee Sua’s report. As Bahamut pondered the matter, the Priestess spoke.
“I entrust the verdict to Lord Bahamut.”
‘Why drag me into this mess? Yuna, take care of it instead! Yuna! Yunaaaa!’
Ultimately, the verdict on Lee Hyuna was left in Bahamut’s hands.
While they had caught one fool, even Choi Yuna admitted there was no easy solution to what Lee Hyuna had done.
Bahamut, on the other hand, struggled to decide, realizing he couldn’t pass the responsibility to Yuna.
‘Hmm… If this were before the apocalypse, I’d say it was wrong. But now… is it really such a bad thing?’
What Lee Hyuna had done was essentially sabotage Daegu by enlisting local dissidents to create internal chaos.
Moreover, she had cleverly used the names of Gyeongju’s criminal factions instead of the Balhut Cult’s name to obscure her tracks.
Sabotaging other factions was not uncommon before the apocalypse, and in these times, it was almost routine.
Choi Yuna also knew rumors about spies infiltrating other survivor camps were widespread in online communities.
‘If there’s no evidence or trace, doesn’t that mean the job was well done?’
In fact, meticulous planning and seamless coordination among IRS agents ensured no link between criminal organizations and the cult was discovered.
The Daegu Interim Government, which hadn’t fully developed its governance or intelligence capabilities, couldn’t compete with such operations.
Even though Daegu was a major city, its failure to fully utilize its resources rendered its strength meaningless.
‘Still, spreading opium… that’s wrong, isn’t it? But then again, opium is desperately needed in this world. Huh? Wait…’
The issue of opium weighed on Yuna’s conscience. However, even within the cult, there were pleas for opium due to a severe shortage of medical supplies.
In this apocalyptic world, where immediate survival took precedence over future concerns, opium had become an invaluable medical resource and a miraculous remedy.
Opium addiction? Side effects? Other problems?
‘Well, outside the cult’s territory, most people are still fighting for survival. They don’t have time to think about the future.’
Those were concerns for later. Right now, saving lives was the priority.
Especially in Daegu, where the battle for survival continued, opium was critically needed, as even painkillers for Awakened individuals were in short supply.
‘Before the apocalypse, it’d be punishable. But judging by post-apocalypse standards… it’s ambiguous, isn’t it?’
Choi Yuna commented that they had caught a reckless fool, yet left the punishment and judgment to Bahamut.
Indeed, it was wrong.
Before the apocalypse, such actions would have resulted in being arrested as a drug trafficker and punished for conspiracy to smuggle drugs. However, the question arose: Is this truly wrong in the context of the apocalypse?
Frankly, many Awakened and ordinary people would be suffering greatly without those drugs.
Yuna knew from online communities that numerous survivors were begging for or lamenting the lack of medicine.
“So, I’ve heard from Lee Sua. You were planning to distribute drugs in Daegu?”
“Lord Bahamut, do you think this is wrong?”
“Well… At first glance, it seems deserving of criticism. However, considering the unique circumstances of the apocalypse, there are certainly people who would be saved by this act. That’s the cruelty of this apocalypse.”
Bahamut expressed a nuanced opinion on the matter.
It was true that Lee Hyuna’s actions deserved criticism.
‘There’s a shortage of medical supplies, but opium can still be used as medicine. The U.S. and even we are using it.’
However, thinking about the unique circumstances of the apocalypse, the possibility that such actions could save lives made it all the more troubling.
Bahamut, too, had been receiving real-time reports from Yuna and Seol-hwa about societal issues within the cult’s territory and beyond, making it even harder to make a judgment.
“Still, the fact that it was done on a national level means a line was crossed. We are not a force that incites chaos. We are a force that quells it.”
“Hmm…”
“Alright!”
However, it was undeniable that a line had been crossed.
If there were people saved by this, there would also be those who shed tears because of it.
Bahamut firmly stated that Lee Hyuna had crossed a line, emphasizing that the Balhut Cult did not operate under such ideologies.
“However, there is some validity to Lee Hyuna’s claims. Truly, it is a tragic reality, but opium might be necessary in this apocalypse. Even if it consumes the future, people today have no strength to think about such a future. In this apocalypse, the powerless can do nothing but perish.”
On the other hand, Bahamut acknowledged the validity of Lee Hyuna’s argument to some extent.
While her proposal was extreme, it was true that a painkiller to endure the present was needed.
Surviving in this apocalypse meant relying on such measures.
“Therefore, before further unforeseen incidents arise, we must set clear boundaries. Lee Sua, do you oppose the distribution of opium in Daegu itself?”
“No. I fully understand that Daegu needs opium as an extreme measure. Even now, they are fighting zombies inside the city and those coming from outside. The Daegu Interim Government’s stockpile of medical supplies will soon run out, and many people will die as a result.”
Thus, Bahamut proposed setting clear boundaries and first sought Lee Sua’s opinion.
Lee Sua acknowledged the necessity of opium, stating that even according to the information Lee Hyuna had gathered, the Daegu Interim Government’s medical stockpile was nearly depleted.
The only reason they could endure the fight against zombies was the existence of those medical supplies. If they were to run out, the consequences would be unimaginable.
“Then, Lee Hyuna, do you desire for our cult to assert control over Daegu?”
“Yes. I do not want to experience another mistake like what happened in Pohang. If they do not recognize our superiority, I want to force them to acknowledge it.”
“Hmm.”
Having heard Lee Sua’s opinion, Bahamut then turned to Lee Hyuna.
Lee Hyuna briefly mentioned the incident in Pohang, confessing that she initiated this plan because she didn’t want to see such scenes again.
Her chilling declaration to force acknowledgment if respect wasn’t given was met with no rebuttal from Bahamut.
‘If handled well, a compromise could be reached.’
Thinking there might be a middle ground between the sisters’ arguments, Bahamut said:
“In that case, as a compromise between both claims, it would be better for the cult to approach moderate factions in Daegu through civilian organizations we operate.”
“What do you mean?”
“We cannot invalidate everything done so far. If we’ve already recruited collaborators through criminal organizations, it would be wasteful to discard them. Instead, identify groups capable of distributing an appropriate amount of opium and entrust them with the task.”
He proposed a compromise himself.
This compromise reflected both sides’ arguments and was Bahamut’s best effort to find common ground.
“That’s a good idea! In that case, we… no, the cult can control it!”
Lee Sua, exhausted from endless conflict with her sister, readily agreed to Bahamut’s proposal.
Even if she had suggested such a compromise, her sister would have scoffed and rejected it. However, this proposal came directly from Lord Bahamut, leaving no room for refusal.
“Ultimately, opium is a drug. The more it is used, the more inevitable the side effects. To minimize these, its distribution must be highly restricted. I’ve heard similar measures are being taken in the U.S., albeit with limitations due to illegal drug circulation.”
“In this situation, we’re the only ones who can farm it calmly! Illegal drug circulation is likely minimal!”
“Is that so?”
As Bahamut voiced his opinions, they were met with approval, and Lee Sua subtly pressured her sister to make a decision.
“Lee Hyuna, do you also agree with this compromise?”
“If it is Lord Bahamut’s will, then it is the believer’s duty to obey.”
Though Lee Hyuna harbored discontent with her sister’s actions, she decided to accept the compromise since it was proposed by Bahamut.
If Bahamut deemed a line had been crossed, there must have been a valid reason for it.
Thus, letting go of any lingering complaints, Lee Hyuna bowed her head and accepted the compromise.
“Now, take some time to cool your heads. I won’t forbid you from dealing with Daegu matters, but please avoid involving yourselves with drugs. Lee Sua, since you initiated this, I leave this matter to you.”
“By your will, Lord Bahamut.”
With the compromise reached, the meeting presided over by Bahamut concluded.
Watching the officials leave, Bahamut let out a sigh of relief, thinking it was finally over.
“Good thing we stopped the drug distribution before it spread across Daegu.”
Yuna mentioned the recent events, speaking in a tone of relief.
“What do you think, Yuna?”
“I don’t know. I know drugs are bad, but we, too, lack sufficient medicine and are forced to use it. If that’s our situation, Daegu’s must be far worse.”
‘Ah, that’s true. Unlike normal times, even acquiring basic medicine is difficult during the apocalypse.’
Hearing Yuna’s thoughts, Bahamut nodded in agreement.
“But when considering the side effects caused by drugs, I believe it is an issue we must address, even if it’s troubling.”
“If that is what you believe, Lord Bahamut, then I will follow as well.”
In the end, Bahamut comforted Yuna, who was anxious, describing the act as selling out the future while reiterating the need to stop it.
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