Chapter 122 (1/2)
The Successor (1)
Although the nationalities of the hunters embroiled in China’s conspiracy were from four different countries, namely U.S., Russia, India, And Korea, the entire communication held with the Chinese foreign affairs was handled by the U.S. as the representative of the nations involved.
“Are you suggesting getting into a war right now?”
Through the diplomatic hotline linking Washington and Beijing, in the hologram, the Chinese foreign affairs minister was expressing his anger.
The U.S. Secretary of State replied relaxedly.
“War? Let’s start by putting down all our useless bluff before anything else. Aren’t we the two countries that know each other best? We’re not exactly in a situation wherein your country or the United States can wage an all-out war against each other right now.”
“Although all-out war may be farfetched, we can get our revenge in the same method you used!”
It meant that drones and Awakened beings could be dispatched by China to assassinate key U.S. personnel and hunters just like what the U.S. did.
“No, you won’t be able to.”
The Chinese faction’s face became distorted.
The U.S. Secretary of State spoke with certainty.
“Russia, India, and Korea are with us. Many countries around the world are supporting us and criticizing China for this incident. Are you planning to fight against the whole world?”
They must have figured out their stance by now.
On that day, they were not in a situation where they could mobilize diplomatic investigations that would be able to save the other’s face.
They made it clear that there was no room for China’s way of buying time which was by throwing tantrums.
The anger of the U.S. was that great.
“…”
Sure enough, the Chinese minister’s expression changed.
“… Understood. If you come at us that way, then let us compromise at an appropriate level.”
They then came up with the plan they were expecting.
It was a quick change of attitude.
“The survivors must have secured the dungeon key. We want the key and the safety of the survivor, Tien Wu Wang. If these two conditions are not met, further negotiations will be difficult…”
The latter was a condition that could be thrown away, and he tossed the suggestion without considering that the other party would hand him over.
However, the dungeon key was dire.
The leadership was determined to discard the area near the Gate as ‘lost land,’ but that was only possible if their citizens didn’t know the truth at all.
They had to create a scenario where they could cover it as a force majeure accident that was caused by the expedition team members dying in a tragic event and failing to recover the key.
However, if a dungeon break occurred due to their failure to close it, it would be interpreted as a result of the leadership of the party’s failure in an attempt to carry out an ugly and demented conspiracy.
They didn’t even want to think about it.
But then…
“Minister, hold on a minute. Don’t get me wrong.”
The U.S. minister made a declaration with a stern look.
“I’m not here to negotiate.”
“…”
“If China accepts all the conditions we want, we will transfer the dungeon key for the sake of being humane. The Korean hunter, Seo Jin-Wook, also gave his permission. But don’t think of it as our ‘chip for negotiation.'”
He continues in a chilling voice.
“The request for Tien Wu Wang’s safety must be a throw-away card, but I hope that it is never mentioned again in here. Please take note that China is not, in any way, in a position to offer or demand anything.”
A sense of shame-based anger spread all over the face of the Chinese minister.
But there was no other way.
“… Then tell me. What is it that you want?”
The Secretary of State immediately uploaded the data.
The Chinese opposition’s face turns black while reading it.
“Are you kidding me?!”
Without replying to the rough reaction, the Secretary of State silently waited.
In the end, the opponent didn’t have any other choice but to wave the white flag.
*
“Yes… Yes, I understand. In the end, we got everything we wanted… No. Thank you for your cooperation.”
After receiving the results of the negotiations with China through the South Korean Foreign Minister, I hung up.
Secretary Kim looked at with curious eyes, asking a question.
“In the end, did you rip them all off?”
I nodded.
“It looks like we’ve made through more than 90 percent.”
Depending on the outcome of the negotiations, China would have no choice but to send its hunters unconditionally when requested by the United States and the four other countries involved in the incident. We could consider it as a free service.
“If we have another case like the Siheung 8 Dungeon or the Australian Dungeon, we’ll be able to get China’s aid in the future.”
China had never dispatched any of their hunters in their home country to other countries.
Their Great Wall had finally been demolished.
If the countries wanted, even their SS-Rank hunters were no exception. It was also impossible to deceive them and send hunters with a low rating because Nate had Tien Wu Wang secured.
In fact, the list consisting of most, if not all, of the strongest hunters in China was in our hands.
“Apart from that, there are minuscule things as well, like China providing information about specific matters or lowering tariffs… Those aren’t what I had demanded but rather were conditions that were given as they looked most appetizing among what they could ask for from the perspective of the government, so I have no interest in them.”
The important thing was that what I requested had gone through.
Nate nodded as if he remembered everything.
“The rights for the Chinese dungeon Clear, you mean?”
“Yes.”
As my condition for the negotiation’s success, I requested the authority to explore any dungeon at any time in China as free as I wished to.
From then on, if I selected a specific dungeon, the Chinese government would have to drive out all the hunters exploring there and empty the area neatly for my presence.
“But would it be necessary to roam around the Chinese dungeons? If they attempt some sly tricks again in between the process of entering China and proceeding to the Gate…”
It was a valid worry since Secretary Kim wasn’t aware of the [Door of Hope].
Of course, I planned to cross directly into the dimensions of the Chinese dungeons without going through the Gate.
“We don’t have to worry about that. All the Chinese officials have to do is empty the dungeon in advance. If China lets anyone in who isn’t allowed to enter while I’m exploring, the system message will tell me, and I’ll escape by the returning stone and let the U.S. know that they failed to uphold their part of the deal.”
After Secretary Kim understood what I meant, he nodded.
“Oh, by the way. Have you met with Mr. Adam yet? He said he had something to tell you…”
“No, not yet.”
When I returned to Korea, Adam had already left again.
“Did he say it was urgent?”
“He didn’t say that exactly, but…”
Secretary Kim spoke with an anxious face.
“He only said that what he went to find out would turn out to be a bit of hassle. And he said that he would rather directly tell you, Guild Master, about the details behind his venture.”
“Hmm, alright.”
When he talked about the thing that he went to find out, he was probably referring to the replacement of the dead observer, the aliens who would be in charge of the investigation of the truth, and additional information about Mercadius.
‘I don’t know which part among those has become cumbersome.’
Regardless, my worries would be solved the moment Adam returned, and we got to meet once more.
*
After everyone in my room stepped out, I decided to do what I had put aside.
The additional compensation that I received after re-Clearing the Chinese dungeon as a six-member team.
As expected, an EX-Class item couldn’t be received again because it was a re-run of SS-Class dungeons, but an SSS-Class item still came out among the options.
It was the best reward that I could get, so I chose it with joy nonetheless.
‘After reading the description of the item, I was dumbfounded.’
When I received it then, I only allowed it to remain stagnant since I had no time to check it out thoroughly.
Shh!
I took it out from the snake inventory.
The reward that I kept away looked similar to an ordinary dungeon key that was shaped like a steering wheel.
However, unlike the blue crystal one, it had a flashy golden color as if it was coated with gold.
When I touched it, a description appeared.
Paht!
[Key (Rank: SSS)]
-Item Description: A key to open a Gate that only one person can enter.
After I read that description, I frowned.
‘No matter how I look at it, the description is too vague and lacking.’
Dungeon keys were usually used to close the Gate or expand a dungeon, but it stated that it was a key used to open a Gate.
‘It’s beyond common sense, and I’ve never heard about it before.’
It’s rather weird since the name was too simple as well. It was quite literally only named based on its function.
‘I will get to know more about it when I use it.’
It was an item that I didn’t know about at all, but I had a vague idea of how to use it.
The key to a typical dungeon could be turned counterclockwise after contacting the open Gate. That’s how a Gate could be closed.