Chapter 80

EP 13 - International Hunter's Perspective (7)

Lumière's expression remained stiff, but her voice began to waver slightly.

"......Mr. Han. I understand that our request may seem sudden. However, if the production cost of the elixir stabilizes and we can start joint research on the awakening agent—"

"I'm sorry, but there are some cautious aspects to consider before we can readily hand over the awakening agent."

At this firm rejection, a crease appeared on her forehead for the first time. Lumière spoke to me.

"......I plan to spend about four days in South Korea. If I had stayed in Europe and fought, I could have saved at least tens of thousands of people."

It sounded arrogant at first, but she looked at me calmly.

"Nevertheless, I came to South Korea because I believe that the distribution of the awakening agent can save even more people."

"......"

"Conversely, if I don't obtain the awakening agent, it means I will be responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people."

She smiled with a troubled look, showing that she couldn't give up hope.

"There must be a compromise. The elixir cannot yet be mass-produced, and it's uncertain whether it can resolve the side effects of the awakening agent. However, the elixir is undoubtedly our best technology. We have a firm will for mutual prosperity. If you tell me what you want, we will do our best—"

"No, no. That's not what I mean. I'm not asking for more stakes."

"......Yes?"

"I also have great concern and interest in the survival of European citizens. However—"

Lumière, who had become stiff, smiled with a regretful expression.

"Obtaining the awakening agent won't solve the situation."

Her eyes began to waver.

It was all part of the plan.

* * *

We were clearly facing each other, but our minds were at opposite extremes. Of course, the one wavering was Lumière.

"......Why is that, Mr. Han?"

I summarized her argument.

"Due to the talent war among PMCs, a civil war will soon break out. To prevent this, the awakening agent is needed. Is that not what you are saying?"

Lumière nodded silently. I paused briefly and asked again.

"The EU Joint Army is, as I understand, a coalition of national armies in European countries. Do you have an air force?"

"......Yes."

"Then the premise is wrong from the start."

I shook my head lightly.

"The EU Joint Army is not failing to control local guilds; it is choosing not to."

Lumière was taken aback for the first time.

"What do you mean by that?"

I explained the food chain to her.

Monsters render armies ineffective in terms of numbers and spread. Awakened individuals are efficient against monsters because they can easily absorb mana stones. Bullets are more effective against people than monsters, making armies stronger than awakened individuals.

In other words,

"It's an absurd notion that armies are losing physical control over awakened individuals."

Especially with an air force, it's even more absurd. If you want to control PMCs, a few snipers can set an example.

Therefore, it's highly questionable that the EU Central Army has lost control over local guilds.

I asked her,

"You mentioned that some PMCs have absorbed parts of the military. It wasn't on a large scale, right?"

She nodded with a troubled expression, and I nodded as well, continuing my explanation.

"The military cannot be maintained without supplies. It cannot function as a regular army. Military authority always belongs to the EU Joint Army. However, it seems they have lost the trust of the people due to initial response failures. And this is being called a loss of central control. Is that correct so far?"

"......Somewhat."

"Then this is a political issue."

I concluded.

"Therefore, it cannot be resolved with an awakening agent."

"......Why is that?"

I spoke on behalf of the EU.

"While city-states led by PMCs are forming, the central government of the EU Joint Army will want to regain influence over the regions."

It's simple logic.

When an enemy invades and the army collapses,

the militia stops the enemy.

The militia gains the support of the people.

Even in a democracy.

In this situation, the most efficient way for the army to control the militia is to make them fight each other.

In other words, the EU is making PMCs fight each other.

I brought up this conspiracy theory.

"Mr. Han."

Lumière looked at me sharply. She wasn't as dull as to miss the point of the conversation.

And,

she wasn't someone who could easily brush off such insults and continue. She was also wise enough not to forget her duty.

She warned me very calmly.

"Avoid hasty conjectures."

The light surrounding her flickered threateningly. Despite her warning, I pressed on with the conspiracy theory.

"The EU command is making PMCs fight each other."

"Mr. Han!"

"I suspect that even the small military units absorbed by PMCs are acting as spies for the central government."

In high-minded terms, it's murder by proxy; in political terms, it's divide and conquer.

Lumière was taken aback by my aggressive words. She waved her hand.

"......That's a far-fetched conjecture."

"In South Korea, we call this reasonable suspicion. That's why I am hesitant to transfer the awakening agent to the EU."

Lumière, who had shown a slightly unpleasant expression, stiffened again when the awakening agent was mentioned. This was the nature of negotiations between the strong and the weak.

I pressed her further.

"Let's be frank. Why did you come to me instead of Deputy President Won?"

"......That's—"

"Because of my popularity, right?"

She couldn't answer.

"Getting my approval would make it easier to influence South Korea's public opinion during the election season. It would also be easier to induce international cooperation without paying a significant price."

In a democracy, the election season is the most vulnerable time. Policies are influenced by public opinion, and public opinion is influenced by propaganda.

"The public opinion campaign that started as soon as you entered the country. A high-level strategy using the strange sense of debt the people have toward me. Of course, I don't think Executive Officer Lumière came up with this strategy. This is the mindset of a politician."

Interpretation: We already figured out your tricks.

In other words,

"Since political engineering is involved in the request for the awakening agent, I find it difficult to empathize with your humanitarian goals. I'm sorry."

Interpretation: I won't give it to you, you bastard.

"......"

There was a long silence. The negotiation had broken down, and she looked as if she had just been rejected.

And,

Noah Lumière spoke with a trembling voice, her thin eyebrows stretching between her platinum hair.

"......I apologize again for the public opinion campaign as per the EU's directive. I acknowledge that there may be some political motives. I will exclude this in the future."

She maintained a humble posture to the point where I felt embarrassed. It suddenly dawned on me that she was someone bound by duty rather than self-esteem.

"Additionally, I acknowledge that there is some exclusive rivalry between the EU Joint Army and local PMCs. However, it is not as extreme as you suggest."

"It's not an extreme issue but a cause-and-effect issue. The EU will use the awakening agent not as a means of peace but as a leash for PMCs."

"Then I will prevent it!"

Lumière shouted.

"Shouldn't we save people first, Mr. Han! I will do whatever it takes—"

"I'm sorry, but—"

I raised my hand to stop her.

"Your visit here is highly political."

*

A cold voice continued.

"Joining South Korea to the European Union, restoring the health of a prominent politician, and in return, receiving the awakening agent—"

Lumière couldn't add anything to what Han said. She knew it was an unequal treaty.

"With both land and sea routes blocked, how can those far away provide us with economic support, why should we use the euro, why should we turn our backs on China and the United States, and what benefits are there in the kindness for public opinion during the election season?"

"......"

"It doesn't make sense, does it?"

Han, who had been leaning back, crossed his legs and fiddled with his cane.

"This is a diplomatic situation that can only be established if I, Han Seung-moon, desperately try to survive and actively promote friendly relations between the two countries by asking for some elixir."

He sighed and lamented.

"It seems to me that they sent you knowing it wouldn't work."

"......I knew it would be difficult. But I didn't come to play any political tricks—"

"Politics is constantly happening in our world, whether you know it or not. Ignorance doesn't absolve you of responsibility."

Lumière bit her lower lip. She had been led into a corner and her light flickered, reflecting her emotions.

Then, Han said,

"This negotiation is a trap."

"It will never put you in a difficult position—"

"No, not me."

He pointed his finger at Lumière.

"It's a trap to catch you."

As Han continued, Lumière's stiff expression gradually crumbled.

"At first glance, the European Union seems to have paid a huge price. By admitting an Asian country into the EU and turning its back on the United States, they have given up a significant, organized, and highly nationalistic pride. The greatest hero is in South Korea, talking about respect. Here, you have potentially disappointed European citizens for the greater good."

"......"

"However, the EU has already turned its back on the United States, and words have no price. But the power of words in politics is immense. If this negotiation fails, it will cause a significant ripple within the EU."

"......"

"At least, it will look like a huge stake was lost. Who will take the blame? Or, who will the media blame?"

Lumière couldn't hide her trembling eyes and bowed her head.

It felt like the pieces in her mind were falling into place. The subtle gestures of politicians, the sense of unease, the doubt about the impossible mission, and the self-loathing for her wavering resolve.

She muttered with a troubled heart.

"What...?"

The interpreter translated even her small murmur, and Han said without hesitation,

"It's the nature of politics. They are just stirring the pot, and people with a status higher than a president are running around everywhere."

"......"

"Politicians never let such people alone."

Lumière remained frozen, not knowing what to say. She looked like a statue, blinking and moving her lips slightly.

Han shook his head regretfully.

"Didn't I say before that your visit itself is political? That's why I can't give you the awakening agent. Whether I give it or not, it's a dead end. This whole situation is a trap set by the EU—"

"Then what—"

However,

Lumière wasn't frozen in shock.

Her eyes, as if she had never been stiff, glowed coldly.

The hunter's judgment was made.

"What do you think I should do, Mr. Han?"

Of course, a single day's meeting wasn't enough to change her, given the long time she had spent with European politicians. Naturally, she didn't fully trust Han's words.

In other words, she partially trusted them.

Therefore, she needed to quickly gather information and prepare for her next move. There was no time to be shocked and frozen. Every second counted for survival.

That was the hunter's mindset.

If a politician sets the stage and waits, a hunter quickly breaks through it.

In this aspect, they had something in common. Han's answer came out without hesitation.

"I can't give the awakening agent to the EU Joint Army's executive officer, but it's different for Noah Lumière, the hero of Europe. Have you heard of the Awakened Association?"

"......Yes, I have. In South Korea—"

Only Han was a politician, even though both were hunters.

Therefore,

"Would you consider serving as a permanent advisor to the association?"

Lumière didn't realize when she had been placed on Han's board.

"......Yes?"

"Having a foreigner as an advisor makes it an international organization."

Han smiled calmly and overturned the board.

"The initiative in distributing the awakening agent will be in our hands, not South Korea's or the EU's."

Lumière, unaware that she had been outmaneuvered, was secretly impressed by Han's meticulous information and execution.

The interpreter, with years of journalism experience, roughly understood the situation and was genuinely shocked that more than half of Han's arguments were nonsense, and began to speculate on when he had started planning this grand scheme.

Only Pi Chae-yun knew that this was all impromptu ad-libbing and watched in amazement.