CHAPTER - 48
Episode 048
I don't know how things ended up this way, but somehow I suddenly became the commander in charge of this relief supply train.
"Damn it. Damn it."
Muttering to myself, I kept going over the paperwork without pause. Lee Se-eun managed to arrive in the Netherlands two days later, but after that she took about three days to rest.
A top-ten hunter is practically a national treasure, after all. That much consideration is only natural.
But if you think about it, I'm basically scheduled to become a national treasure too, aren't I? Isn't it a bit much to work me this hard?
"What should we do about distributing the relief supplies? Like the previous Warsaw case, control is difficult no matter what."
Falsifying ration tickets, stealing or taking supplies others received, dragging children or the elderly along to play on people's emotions—people are the same everywhere.
On top of that, people had started speaking to me in honorifics.
I answered coldly.
"Set a daily total release amount and a release time. It doesn't matter who comes to receive it. Once three hours have passed after distribution begins, or once the allotted amount has been fully handed out, we close immediately."
It didn't matter if the same person came back again to receive more. I didn't care if supplies were stolen or taken by force. I'd show this world an otherworld-style relief strategy.
"Is that… really okay?"
I replied immediately.
"So far, the average time spent distributing supplies has been ten hours. For the remaining seven hours, deploy people and comb the entire area like a manhunt."
Focus on tracking down those who secretly sell supplies for money or steal other people's rations.
"When you find them, smash them all to pieces. And give additional supplies to anyone who provides related information."
An otherworldly kingdom-style relief method. I'm not even sure if you can call it relief.
"If handled poorly, it could turn into a witch hunt."
Let's report that guy since he has a lot, strip him of everything, and then get extra supplies? A valid concern—and in fact a fundamental problem with this kind of relief system.
"That can't be helped."
I'm not trying to build the ultimate relief supply system that could last a thousand years without issue.
"If you want a perfect policy that satisfies everyone, look for it after you die and go to heaven."
We're human, and any policy humans create to control other humans is bound to have loopholes.
If there are problems, but the benefits outweigh them, you push it through anyway.
"But—"
"There is no 'but.'"
It's similar to treating a patient. Of course, if there's a method with minimal side effects after treatment, you should choose it. But if that's impossible, the priority is keeping them breathing somehow.
This situation is the same.
"Distribute a fixed amount of relief supplies for three hours a day. After that, mobilize all available forces to hunt down anyone messing around with the supplies."
After I said that, someone else raised another question.
"But those diverting supplies probably have significant assets. If they try to bribe the patrols—"
"Han Sang-ah."
At my words, Han Sang-ah, who had been sitting in the situation room for once, turned her gaze toward me.
"I happened to see what you did in Warsaw."
"Yeah."
It was quite impressive. I heard she beheaded those who siphoned off relief supplies and abused minors, then hung their heads in the marketplace. A harsh method, but I think it was the best possible choice under those circumstances.
"I think your method is right, so proceed the same way here."
Among those trying to divert supplies, there will definitely be some operating in an organized manner. We'd find them, cut off their heads, and hang them in the square.
"Wait, listening to this, this is really—!"
Finally, one of the people who had been listening stood up.
"The Netherlands may be unofficially, but it is under our control! Shouldn't you at least ask for our opinion before proceeding with something like this?"
I turned my gaze toward him. The Secret League—a warlord faction that started in the Netherlands and expanded its territory into France and Spain.
The man speaking was Robert Anelka, who had been given the title of Governor of the Netherlands by the Secret League.
"I don't think so, Robert Anelka."
I said that and stood up. Robert's expression stiffened. There was no way he hadn't heard the rumors about what I'd done in Hamburg.
Even so, the reason he raised his voice like that was obvious.
There were connections between the various criminal organizations rooted throughout the Netherlands and those guys.
"Don't worry. I don't plan on dragging you into this and beating you down as well."
Even if public order is a mess, I acknowledge the fact that they do, in fact, control the Netherlands. If we wiped them out too, an even worse situation would follow.
"If you cooperate quietly, we'll let you off and won't touch you, so stay put."
"Th—"
Robert tried to say more, then tightly shut his mouth.
"You're outsiders at your core. Can you handle the backlash that will come from this?"
"The relief supplies were fundamentally produced in Korea and transported by us. They are our property. If they're not being distributed according to our original intent, it's our freedom to prevent that and take follow-up measures."
After finishing, I slowly swept my hand across the table and continued.
"If you don't like it, want to try filing a lawsuit like a dog? Though I'm not sure whether you—an illegal armed group not even internationally recognized—have the right to do that."
Lucky thugs who happened to swallow an entire country sure have a lot to say.
"Do you think Hunter Lee Se-eun would agree with handling things this way?"
So now they're trying to use Lee Se-eun as leverage.
"The one talking to you right now isn't Hunter Lee Se-eun—it's me. And I've received her approval and the authority to handle matters like this."
"If Hunter Lee Se-eun finds out about how you're handling things right now…!"
Even if she does, it doesn't matter. I took my eyes off Robert and spoke.
"Today's meeting is over. Calculate the daily release volume, submit it, and draft the personnel assignments and patrol schedules. I want everything reported by this afternoon."
I stood up, left the room, and returned to my quarters. A little later, after a knock, Amethyst came in.
"You were pretty incredible today."
"Yes. Even I think I was incredibly disgusting."
I gave myself a brief evaluation. It seemed like Amethyst had wanted to say something nice, but she looked flustered by my reaction.
"Huh? No, that's not what I meant. You were very charismatic and—"
"I'm not doing this because I like it."
Charisma? I don't care how Amethyst sees it.
"It's a nauseating way of crushing people with the power I have."
I'm stronger than you. So you weak, powerless people should shut your mouths and obey what I say. If you're dissatisfied, then get your heads split open.
I clenched my fist. It was something I'd experienced to the point of sickness in that other world—and something I'd hated more than anything.
And now I was doing the same thing after coming to Earth.
"There just wasn't any other method I could think of right now. I don't like it."
Trying to comfort myself by saying it was the best option doesn't actually make me feel any better.
"Is that the paperwork on the daily release volume?"
When I glanced at the documents in Amethyst's hands, she passed me the report.
"Yes. It should be fine to proceed like this."
After signing the papers, I let out a small sigh and stood up.
"Then, thank you for your hard work."
With that, I headed to where Lee Se-eun was recuperating.
"I got the report."
At her words, I nodded.
"Even if you don't like it, there's no helping it."
She was the one who handed the authority over to me.
"It's fine. Different styles can't be helped. What matters is that things are functioning."
At her words, I glanced around.
"Are you still replaying it?"
Lee Se-eun was still mentally replaying her fight with the military-uniformed opponent from Hamburg. In truth, any lingering injuries or aftereffects from the battle had long since healed.
At my question, she muttered quietly.
"Yeah. I can't see a path."
No matter how many times she replayed the fight with that archer in uniform, she couldn't find a way to win.
Simply put, she'd hit a wall. She'd probably struggle with it for a while. And though I doubted she'd take my advice to heart…
"I don't think enlightenment just comes all at once in a flash."
That was honestly all I could say.
We're not ascetic cultivators. If you want to get stronger, you fight, gain experience, and train. A hunter is a physical profession, and you don't reach higher stages by sitting still and meditating.
"…Yeah."
At least she responded with agreement.
"Once the relief supply distribution in the Netherlands and the shipment of supplies from the port to the UK are finished, the barrier generators will be transported as well."
At that point, our job will be done.
"I know that already. So why bring it up?"
"I don't think the descendants of Dangun will give up just like this."
They could target the barrier generator installed in the UK as well.
"So, you're staying in the UK?"
"Yes. According to the Embargo Tower, it'll take about three to four months to secure meaningful data."
Han Sang-a and I would stay in the UK on a short-term contract and spend time there.
"What's the concrete plan?"
"We'll stay in the UK for three to four months, build up our strength some more, then on our way back to Korea, we'll challenge the Grade-1 Erosion Zone freezer in Bratsk—the one we encountered before."
At my words, Lee Se-eun looked me up and down, then laughed.
"You crazy bastard."
She then held out a strawberry-flavored candy. As I took it, she spoke after some thought.
"I was originally planning to take a bit of a break once this mission was over. Two months at most, one month at least."
She'd defended Cheorwon for years, then immediately joined the transport operation. Lee Se-eun isn't made of steel—she needs rest.
"I'll stay too. The UK won't refuse anyway. And as much as I can, I'll help."
As she finished speaking, her eyes gleamed.
"If you manage to achieve something meaningful while I'm here… I'll accompany you for the freezer operation."
I bowed politely.
"Thank you."
There was no reason to refuse having someone of her caliber along. She watched me for a moment, then added,
"The Bratsk freezer is considered one of the weaker Grade-1 Erosion Zones. Officially, Erosion Zones are graded by standard regulations, but…"
"I know. From Grade 1 onward, the differences are enormous."
Just because they share the Grade-1 label doesn't mean they're the same. In fact, the disparity is far greater than between other grades.
"Even so, a Grade 1 is still a Grade 1. You said before that you wanted to form a team focused on dealing with Grade-1 Erosion Zones, right?"
Looking at her greatsword, Lee Se-eun continued,
"Even after experiencing a Grade-1 Erosion Zone in Bratsk, I hope you can keep that resolve burning. Some hunters around my level say that Grade 1 is where things truly begin. Others call it hell."
"That's probably true."
I've been to real hell before. Not this world's hell, but still.
Lee Se-eun's expression looked complicated. Maybe—just maybe—if things go well here, there might even be a chance she'd quit being Jannabi's partner hunter and join me instead.