Chapter 55
Upon returning to Pohang, Jung Dong-gun informed the Pohang University Campus of the successful reclamation of the Industrial Complex. Unsurprisingly, the university staff were initially skeptical, even after seeing the photos taken by Son Sang-hui.
However, after conducting their own inspection of the complex, they confirmed that the Balhut Cult had indeed cleared the area of all mutant spider zombies. Additionally, some survivors treated by Han Joon-woo, the director of Gyeongju University Hospital, were affiliated with the university, which further verified Jung Dong-gun’s claim. Consequently, they agreed to meet again at the Steelworks intersection.
“…Didn’t you resolve this too quickly?”
“In an apocalypse, time is of the essence. Regardless, the Balhut Cult has fully met the conditions you set. Now, it’s your turn to fulfill the promises you made to us.”
Although the university campus meeting appeared to be a mutual discussion, it was more of a push from the Balhut Cult to get the campus to keep its end of the deal. Since the cult had completely fulfilled the campus’s demands, there was no reasonable justification for the university to dismiss them.
In reality, the Balhut Cult’s swift accomplishment of the demands had given the university campus…
“Ugh. Understood.”
“Let’s hope we receive good news before our patience wears thin.”
“Alright, alright, I understand!”
The university campus representatives, perhaps intimidated by the Balhut Cult’s overwhelming power, responded to Jung Dong-gun with a shaky voice. Noticing this fear, Jung Dong-gun resolved to use it to his advantage in future negotiations.
After all, both parties stood to benefit from this deal.
The university campus could rely on the cult as a “sword” to secure safety in the surrounding areas, while the cult gained an opportunity to connect with other survivor camps.
“Relatively speaking, your job is easier than ours, as we’re the ones dealing with the mutant spider zombies directly. Your task is simply to contact other camps and arrange a meeting with the groups in Pohang.”
“Do you think it’s easy to gather people while avoiding the zombies’ gaze?”
“Yes, considering you already have an internal communication network to connect with each other.”
Moreover, the cult hadn’t asked the university campus to do anything overly challenging. Their only request was assistance in establishing connections with the two remaining factions in Pohang, which the university could easily arrange using its internal communication network.
“Hah. Knowing that, I suppose it’s pointless to make excuses about the difficulty of getting in touch.”
“Ha-ha. We have already secured many local collaborators, so we know more than you might expect.”
“Hmph. Quite resourceful, aren’t you?”
The three major camps in Pohang were in close cooperation. Because of the looming threat of zombies occupying Pohang, there was a collective effort from the start of the apocalypse to maintain close ties and support each other in confronting this external enemy, unlike in Gyeongju, where such tensions still existed.
Due to this, the three major camps had a well-established internal network for communication, something Jung Dong-gun merely acknowledged.
Eventually, Jung Dong-gun was able to use the university’s connections to initiate contact with the remaining survivor camps in Pohang.
“…We’ll set the time for the meeting.”
“That’s fine.”
Thus, a meeting between the Balhut Cult and the three major Pohang camps was successfully arranged, though there was still a slight power struggle, as the Pohang camps wanted to maintain their pride.
Perhaps they wished to take the upper hand in the negotiations or dilute the degree of control the Balhut Cult seemed to have gained.
Even though Jung Dong-gun could have outright objected to Ha Jin-woo’s overt political maneuvering, he refrained, knowing this was the extent of his authority. Instead, he merely reported the success of the meeting arrangements to Yuna.
Ultimately, the final decision would be hers.
“Are they trying to gain the upper hand?”
“Maybe they’re preparing to claim some authority in Pohang later on.”
Yuna, after hearing the report, interpreted this as the Pohang camps’ effort to secure influence.
Jung Dong-gun, seemingly in agreement, nodded at Yuna’s assessment, viewing their behavior as an attempt to stake a claim in Pohang.
“So, it’s just a show of power.”
“Yes.”
In simple terms, it was a power struggle.
For the camps, it was an attempt to assert their influence in Pohang, essentially a political power game.
From the Balhut Cult’s perspective, however, it was troublesome; the cult couldn’t effectively govern Pohang alone without the cooperation of the local survivor camps.
“This is problematic. We don’t have the resources to govern Pohang ourselves.”
“It is indeed a challenging situation.”
More than anything, neither the Balhut Cult nor Gyeongju had the capacity to govern the expansive city of Pohang effectively.
With Pohang’s area being twice the size, and no administrative officials from Gyeongju familiar with the city’s internal affairs, minor mistakes were bound to occur frequently.
In order to properly utilize the facilities at the Steelworks and Industrial Complex, which the cult had its eyes on, they would need the cooperation of skilled engineers and technicians under the three major Pohang factions.
Was this power struggle intentional, or was it because they didn’t trust the Balhut Cult?
“It appears many still doubt the strength of the cult.”
Jung Dong-gun’s assessment was that it was a mix of both: a calculated power struggle to gain leverage and underlying distrust of the Balhut Cult.
Perhaps they believed reclaiming Pohang was a futile endeavor and saw this conflict as meaningless posturing.
“In that case, we’ll gradually absorb, or rather, bring the smaller camps near Pohang Airport under our influence via Yeongilman-daero. If they doubt the power of the cult, we will simply demonstrate it.”
“Understood.”
Thus, Yuna’s decision was straightforward.
If the three major factions were unwilling to cooperate, the cult would prove its power by gradually securing smaller camps throughout Pohang, beginning with the path secured along Yeongilman-daero leading to Pohang Airport.
This was both a show of the cult’s confidence in reclaiming Pohang alone and a demonstration of their will to govern the city without the three factions’ cooperation.
“I hope this power struggle drags on a bit.”
“It won’t take long. Once we demonstrate our strength, they’ll come around in a matter of days.”
Although Yuna voiced a wish for the power struggle to persist, Jung Dong-gun shook his head, confident that a resolution would come swiftly.
Following Yuna’s orders, he gathered the troops and headed out to reclaim Pohang Airport via Yeongilman-daero, while Yuna used the Mirror of Perspective to report the situation to Bahamut.
[Pohang differs greatly from Gyeongju. There’s no internal division; they are unified in structure and cooperation.]
“Yes, likely due to having a clear enemy in the zombies. Unlike us.”
Upon hearing this, Bahamut noted how Pohang’s unity stood in stark contrast to Gyeongju, which was divided into Northern and Southern Gyeongju. Yuna suggested that Pohang’s cohesion was likely because they had a definitive enemy in the zombies.
Nodding in agreement, Bahamut spoke with a solemn tone.
[It’s thanks to the zombies that they could unite. We’ll need to be cautious of this unity when ruling Pohang later. We may become a powerful new enemy in place of the zombies.]
Bahamut voiced a concern that Pohang could unite against the Balhut Cult in future governance, just as they did against the zombies.
Yuna, puzzled, asked Bahamut a question.
“Can’t they truly follow the Balhut Cult if they witness your descent?”
[They will follow. However, as Park Cheol-gon and Han Geun-chul explained, Pohang might still engage in internal power struggles under my rule.]
If Bahamut were to descend upon Pohang, they would undoubtedly follow without resistance. However, whether they would truly pledge loyalty to the Balhut Cult remained questionable.
[A struggle for leadership and power in Pohang, I believe. Given that the Balhut Cult can’t directly govern Pohang ourselves.]
“Indeed, we’re too small.”
As previously mentioned, Gyeongju’s capacity was insufficient to govern Pohang.
Pohang was twice the size and had its own armed forces for fighting zombies.
Since the Balhut Cult couldn’t leave Gyeongju to govern Pohang directly, it was essential to work with prominent local leaders.
[It’s a city twice the size of Gyeongju, so a degree of respect is necessary. Of course, we’ve also prepared minimal means of negotiation.]
Noting that respect was essential, Bahamut revealed that they had prepared negotiation methods to sway Pohang.
With a look of eager anticipation, Yuna gazed at Bahamut.
“As expected of you, my lord. Could you share what they are?”
[The assurance of safety for Pohang.]
“Does this mean Lord Bahamut will protect Pohang as you have with Gyeongju?”
The promise was to guarantee the safety of Pohang.
This assurance, akin to how Gyeongju was protected, would be an appealing negotiation tool in the apocalypse. Curious, Yuna asked if Bahamut intended to protect Pohang himself.
[Yes, and I intend to accept new contractors from Pohang. As a testament to my pledge to safeguard the city.]
In addition, Bahamut revealed plans to accept new contractors from Pohang as a symbol of this promise.
“I think it’s a brilliant idea! Surely, they will follow you, Lord. They would never dare refuse!”
Filled with pride, Yuna declared that Pohang would undoubtedly follow Bahamut, who would grant them the right to form a contract with him.
If this news reached the people of Gyeongju, they would surely envy Pohang while harboring some jealousy.
Thinking about how her own contract with Bahamut had greatly strengthened her, Yuna couldn’t imagine Pohang rejecting Bahamut’s offer.
[However, that’s something I can’t guarantee.]
But that was Gyeongju’s perspective. From Pohang’s standpoint, where the significance of this offer might not be fully understood, they could very well refuse it.
“No! They will undoubtedly accept!”
‘Ah, I misspoke.’
However, once Yuna’s resolve ignited, it seemed impossible to sway her.
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