Chapter 62
Surprisingly, the negotiations that followed proceeded with great ease.
The Balhut Cult side cleanly acknowledged that Gyeongju, in its size, could not overwhelm Pohang and properly compensated for the blood spilled without hurting Pohang’s pride.
Additionally, Seo Un-jae also recognized Gyeongju’s superiority and made as many concessions as possible to avoid provoking the Cult, which demonstrated that the negotiations had progressed smoothly.
“We cannot concede when it comes to currency, diplomacy, and military in Pohang.”
“I understand that. If we were to give that up, the Balhut Cult would no longer be the victor. We will give up the three major camps in Pohang without hesitation.”
However, there were things that the Balhut Cult could not concede.
It was none other than the currency, diplomacy, and military to be used in Pohang.
If the Balhut Cult conceded these to Pohang, they would no longer be the victors.
It would be meaningless to reclaim Pohang and then hand over the fruits to Pohang.
Seo Un-jae, knowing this well, decisively gave up on crossing the line set by the Cult.
“Then, in conclusion, we can gain local autonomy for Pohang, as well as the rights to operate Pohang Steelworks and Pohang’s industrial facilities?”
“We will also take control of your economy and food sovereignty.”
“That’s only natural. With our crops failing this year, the only way for us to secure food ourselves is by catching fish from the sea. As for the economy, we don’t have the credit to issue our own currency. I’ve heard that the issuance of currency used in Gyeongju is done directly by God Bahamut. Then, we have no choice but to trust and follow.”
Although Pohang’s economy and food sovereignty had been taken over by Gyeongju, it was true that Pohang, just beginning its reconstruction, could not secure food or issue its own currency.
Although the Hyeongsan River area was a grain-producing region, this year’s harvest had been completely ruined due to the apocalypse, so Pohang had no choice but to rely on Gyeongju for food.
‘But we have protected everything we could. At least we won’t have to worry about being physically separated from our heads by angry Pohang citizens due to the negotiation results.’
Instead, through these negotiations, Pohang gained local autonomy and secured the operational rights to Pohang Steelworks and its industrial facilities.
This alone was enough for the Pohang side to claim that they had secured everything they could to their citizens.
‘It’s a bit disappointing.’
Thinking that he had avoided physical retaliation from the citizens, Seo Un-jae felt a slight disappointment.
‘Ah, there’s so much more I want to demand.’
Human greed is insatiable.
Since the negotiations ended so peacefully, Seo Un-jae felt a desire to demand something more from Gyeongju.
However, Pohang had already secured local autonomy and the operational rights to its industrial facilities and steelworks at the cost of much blood.
If he wanted to make additional demands of the Balhut Cult, he needed something that could provoke them.
Something that could provoke the Balhut Cult… that was.
‘Should I just demand independence… no, no, that’s a bad move. It’s practically suicide. I was blinded by greed for a moment and had a crazy thought.’
Independence.
Seo Un-jae considered independence, an extreme card, but quickly erased the idea from his mind.
Even he thought that demanding independence was an act of suicide.
It would be crossing the line set by the Balhut Cult for immediate gain.
‘If it were just the Balhut Cult. If we could restore Pohang’s strength, we could secure the upper hand in future negotiations or even demand independence. But.’
Of course, it wasn’t an entirely baseless thought.
If the Balhut Cult only controlled Gyeongju, and Pohang could later restore its strength, it could use that power to overwhelm Gyeongju, the base of the Cult.
Moreover, Pohang had pre-apocalypse Republic of Korea Navy ships stationed, which could be a card for future negotiations.
‘Even if fuel supply is stable and we can fully utilize naval power, could we defeat that dragon? I don’t think so.’
However, Seo Un-jae believed none of this would matter against the overwhelming power of God Bahamut.
Seo Un-jae was an awakened individual who had witnessed Bahamut’s descent.
The overwhelming power Bahamut displayed sent shivers through Seo Un-jae’s body, and he saw how ordinary people blessed by the dragon’s favor became warriors capable of fighting a hundred men.
Even if Bahamut didn’t intervene in human conflicts, if warriors blessed by the dragon retaliated against Pohang, there was no way for Pohang to stop them.
‘In this era, the most crucial military power lies with the awakened, and Gyeongju has an overwhelming advantage. Our advantage is only in having industrial facilities and steelworks, and the ability to operate the navy. There’s no reason to gamble on that alone.’
And all this assumed Pohang’s safe recovery, while at this moment, Gyeongju had a clear upper hand in military and economic power.
The only advantages Pohang had were its industrial facilities, steelworks, and naval ships.
‘And now that winter is here, we, who have ruined our year’s harvest, have already lost food sovereignty to Gyeongju. There’s no need to be greedy for minor gains. No need to strain relations.’
Moreover, Pohang’s internal food and energy resources were already at their limits.
Considering the harsh and unforgiving winter of Korea, if Pohang wanted to survive the season safely, it desperately needed the food and energy resources sent by the Balhut Cult.
‘To reclaim the grain-producing region near the Hyeongsan River, we need the Cult’s power.’
Pohang, in particular, was eager to reclaim the grain-producing area near the Hyeongsan River.
Seo Un-jae knew better than anyone that they needed the awakened army of the Cult, not Pohang’s marines, to reclaim that area.
“Alright. Let’s proceed with that.”
In the end, abandoning the desire that had been tempting him, Seo Un-jae cleanly concluded the post-war reconstruction negotiations.
“Yes. Now, the next topic is about the mayor who will lead Pohang.”
There was still much to discuss.
When Park Cheol-gon brought up the topic of the mayor who would govern Pohang, Seo Un-jae spoke to him with a tense expression.
“Since we have local autonomy, the mayor should naturally be elected from Pohang, right?”
“Yes, we have no intention of intervening in that. However, there is a condition. This is something proposed directly by God Bahamut, so we cannot retract it.”
Although the mayoral election would be held in Pohang, there was a condition.
It was said to be a proposal directly from God Bahamut.
Hearing that even the Balhut Cult could not go back on this, Seo Un-jae’s expression darkened for a moment, but he soon regained his composure.
‘Well, I expected this. At least there has to be some safeguard against possible betrayal by Pohang.’
However, inwardly, he understood.
Since Pohang could betray at any time, someone who could exert influence on behalf of Gyeongju was necessary.
Seo Un-jae judged that the reasoning behind this was that if influence could be exercised from the highest position, it would be possible to govern Pohang.
‘Not bad. This way, Pohang can exercise its influence too. I wouldn’t yield on this either.’
Seo Un-jae thought that no matter what he shouted here, this would not be conceded.
After all, it was even mentioned that God Bahamut himself had proposed it.
“The mayor of Pohang. Please elect Bahamut’s contract holder.”
“If you say Bahamut’s contract holder, do you mean the one contracted with the Dragon God?”
He received an unexpected answer from Park Cheol-gon.
As if he had misheard, Seo Un-jae questioned Park Cheol-gon again, and Park Cheol-gon explained with a bitter smile, as if understanding his feelings.
“Yes. This is Bahamut’s promise. And as proof of that promise, we intend to contract your mayor with the Dragon God.”
“Even the cult’s leader, Yuna…”
“Yes. She is Bahamut’s Priestess.”
“Hmm. This is more groundbreaking than I expected. Truly a bold proposal.”
Upon hearing Park Cheol-gon’s explanation, Seo Un-jae fell into thought for a moment.
He considered it a truly bold proposal.
Just by looking at the expressions of Park Cheol-gon and Han Geun-chul, it was evident that this was an unprecedented proposal, even within the Cult.
Combining their attitudes and the explanation just given, Seo Un-jae arrived at an answer.
‘Indeed. In a way, this declares that Pohang is undoubtedly under the influence of the Balhut Cult.’
This contract would solidify the Balhut Cult’s control over Pohang.
‘The option of independence I just considered has diminished greatly, but conversely, Pohang’s safety is secured.’
This eliminated the option of independence, but if the powerful Dragon God declared protection over Pohang, then the city’s safety was perfectly secured.
Instead of an uncertain future of independence, it was a way to secure guaranteed safety, and in this apocalyptic era, definite safety was a significant merit in itself.
Moreover, Pohang, which would now begin reconstruction, would be more afraid of external enemies, and this proposal ensured safety against those threats.
‘Securing a definite safe zone in the apocalypse is not bad. Especially if it’s guaranteed by the Dragon himself, not just the Cult…’
What pleased him most was that it was God Bahamut himself, not just the Balhut Cult, guaranteeing it.
“What are the conditions for the elected mayor?”
“As long as they are an awakened individual, it does not matter who.”
“Anyone, you say.”
The conditions for the mayoral election were not stringent; anyone who was an awakened individual could qualify.
If only these easy conditions were met, they could receive the Dragon’s protection, so this was easily achievable.
“Does this mean anyone can make a contract with Bahamut?”
“Yes, it does not matter. This contract is to uphold the promise to protect Pohang. You only need to elect an awakened individual as Pohang’s mayor.”
“Then, we have no issue with that. Regardless, the titular mayor will be Bahamut’s Priestess, and below her, we can exercise our rights.”
Initially, they had considered appointing a powerless figure as a puppet mayor.
In that way, they could secure Pohang’s safety with Bahamut’s promise while maintaining the vested interests of the three major camps in Pohang.
“…Indeed.”
Park Cheol-gon quickly noticed Seo Un-jae’s suspicious behavior.
‘They plan to install a puppet mayor. Possibly even appoint a contract holder who lacks judgment.’
Naturally, he was concerned that Pohang might attempt something unusual.
‘But is that possible? Even Yuna, who was once an ordinary student, has greatly transformed through her contract with Bahamut and continues to grow at a frightening pace.’
At the same time, he thought that anyone chosen by the Dragon would not be ordinary.
The proof was that Choi Yuna, who was an ordinary student, became an immensely powerful awakened individual through her contract with Bahamut.
Considering that she was now growing at a terrifying rate and had become the unchallenged ruler of Gyeongju, could an ordinary human really control the Priestess contracted with the Dragon God?
‘The contract with the Dragon God is special, beyond what we humans expected. But there’s no need for me to mention that.’
After all, this would be Pohang’s decision.
Even if they regretted it later, that would be Pohang’s responsibility, Park Cheol-gon thought.
“Then, the negotiations end here.”
“Yes. It was a good negotiation.”
With that, the negotiations concluded, and they shook hands with smiles masking their true intentions.
“Oh no! Unlike the Balhut Cult, we are a coalition government!”
Shortly after, as Seo Un-jae reflected on the negotiations, he realized that, unlike the Cult, the three major camps in Pohang were part of a coalition government comprising various survivor camps, and he rapidly regretted it.
“This could lead to the division and bloodshed of Pohang!”
That was because.
‘One faction could be given immense power…!’
Seo Un-jae thought that being chosen as the Priestess of the Dragon meant having the authority to rule Pohang on Bahamut’s behalf, and there was no way the three major camps would not covet that position.
Naturally, each camp would strive to elect an awakened individual from their own side to become the Priestess.
Moreover, while some camps gained clear benefits from this negotiation, others suffered significant losses.
‘This is dangerous!’
What would the camps that lost out in this negotiation think?
Seo Un-jae quickly realized that those camps would crave the position of Bahamut’s proposed Priestess even more to make up for their losses.
And to achieve that, how much blood would be shed?
‘A civil war could break out in Pohang over the right to elect the Priestess of the Dragon.’
Seo Un-jae’s face turned pale as he realized the gravity of his oversight.
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