Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 204

204. New Orders (1)

Chrome considered nuclear weapons as a last resort.

Those who knew the situation would have found it strange.

After all, nukes are the most powerful weapons humanity possesses, or at least, that’s what they want to believe.

In reality, they were effective weapons against many monsters.

The heat and atmospheric pressure generated by nuclear weapons can kill most monsters.

However, for those who could think deeply, nukes were not very attractive weapons.

Not only would they cause political and diplomatic repercussions, but they would also draw unnecessary attention from the public.

Was it really necessary to use nukes? Was there a good reason?

Wouldn’t it be better to use Hunters instead?

‘Difficulty: Tutorial, it was like that until the Easy stage.’

Hyun-woo thought as he watched Seo Ji-hoo continue the press conference.

Up to the Easy difficulty stage, most monsters could be eliminated with nukes.

Hyun-woo confirmed that he could kill level 40 monsters by detonating a nuke north of Pyongyang.

He hadn’t tested it on level 50 monsters, but Yoo-min predicted that it could leave them in a near-death state depending on their attributes.

However, compared to the side effects of using nukes, it was much simpler to hire and use decent Hunters.

This was all because the difficulty was still low. There was no desperate need to use nukes.

Difficulty: In Hell, humanity definitely used nukes.

To a horrific extent.

That meant they were driven to a situation where they had no other choice.

But people didn’t know that yet. In the end, there was only one answer.

Was it really necessary to use nukes?

[Was the situation so desperate that you had to use nukes? I understand that the epicenter was far from the operation zone, on the outskirts.]

[According to the data we have obtained, Chrome personnel attempted to use a ‘final measure’ but stopped midway. It is speculated that they intended to initiate a second and third explosion, starting with the first.]

Seo Ji-hoo skillfully answered the reporter’s question. Some of the reporters were already planted by the Almighty Alliance.

They would ask the desired questions to give the impression that a sufficient answer had been given, and to take up time so that uncomfortable questions would not be asked.

[The reason is unknown, but fortunately, the explosion stopped at the first stage, thanks to which Hunter Kang Hyun-woo was able to return safely. However, Hunter Kang Hyun-woo is also heartbroken by the fact that the final measure was used because of his report.]

However, there were no complaints about this, even from China.

With eight top-ranked ability users dead and one missing, there wouldn’t be many options for the sole survivor.

Moreover, Chrome was keeping the nature of the ‘final measure’ a secret.

In this situation, no one could blame Kang Hyun-woo. He had done his part just by returning as the sole survivor and giving his testimony.

[There are many rumors about the monster witnessed in Pyongyang. Did Hunter Kang Hyun-woo directly witness the monster? Was it such a threatening enemy that Chrome had to use nukes?]

It was a reporter planted by the Almighty Alliance. The desired question finally came.

Seo Ji-hoo paused slightly, taking his time.

To the reporters, it seemed like he was afraid of the aftermath.

In fact, it was just acting.

After a moment, Seo Ji-hoo spoke as if he had made up his mind.

[We are currently speculating that the entire city of Pyongyang has become a 6-star dungeon, and something similar to a city-state made up of monsters has been formed. And the boss monster dominating that place is an unprecedentedly powerful being.]

A murmur of concern rippled through the crowd.

Some people still couldn’t take the concept of ‘monsters’ seriously, but the reporters who were veterans in this field were amazed by the concept of a 6-star dungeon.

It had not even been three years since 5-star dungeons began to be cleared. Even now, most of the unexplored dungeons were 5-star.

[Then how did Hunter Kang Hyun-woo escape from that place?]

[He didn’t escape.]

[Pardon?]

[After his comrades were sacrificed, Hunter Kang Hyun-woo requested the final measure with the thought of being buried there. After that, he risked his life to chase the boss monster. And thanks to the sacrifice of his comrades, he inflicted a fatal wound on the boss monster, but the boss monster fled from the scene.]

A subtle current flowed among the reporters. It was a heroic story, but in a situation where there was no way to prove it, it was just Hyun-woo’s one-sided claim.

Seo Ji-hoo gestured to the side of the press conference hall as if he had expected it.

Soon, something large sealed in a glass case was brought in. The reporters froze when they saw it.

[Annihilation!] [Kill it!] [Eat it!] [Bones!] [Filthy things!]

Sealed inside the thick glass case was a staff with five rat skulls rattling and screaming frantically.

Profanities that could not be broadcasted were mixed in. Broadcasting stations that were urgently broadcasting live reduced the volume.

[This staff is a legendary weapon, and it is the equipment used by the boss monster. Hunter Kang Hyun-woo inflicted enough damage to the boss monster to take this weapon away. But because he didn’t want to use this weapon, he wants to lend it to the memorial hall to commemorate his fallen comrades.]

The reporters couldn’t say anything. They had seen countless weapons up until now, but they had never seen such equipment.

A weapon with monster heads moving alive. Moreover, they had never heard of a monster using legendary equipment.

Either way, it was shocking.

One thing was certain. Whether Hyun-woo really inflicted a fatal wound on the boss monster or not, it was a tremendous achievement just to have taken the weapon.

The reporters then asked questions non-stop. But Seo Ji-hoo seemed to think that this was enough, and after answering only a few questions from the reporters planted by the Almighty Alliance, he ended the conference.

One press conference resulted in a flood of front-page articles. The impact could not be small.

‘How will Chrome move?’

Chrome would naturally try to deny it. But at the same time, they couldn’t deny it.

If Chrome wasn’t stupid, they would have no choice but to accept the helping hand that Hyun-woo had extended.

Or they would have to go to war with China.

***

“We must acknowledge it.”

“What nonsense!”

Hans Kruger, head of the UN Special Inspection Department, shouted as he stood up in a rough voice.

However, the moment Professor Maria Keller made an unpleasant expression, Kruger slumped back into his seat. It wasn’t his will. Someone was pressing down on his shoulders.

Adam Folt, standing next to Professor Keller, said with a sharp glint in his eyes.

“Please refrain from raising your voice in front of the professor.”

However, immediately after saying that, Adam Folt also stopped using his ability.

Professor Keller grabbed her tie and pulled it down in one swift motion.

With a thud, Adam Folt’s head hit the corner of the table. She didn’t resist at all.

“I apologize for the rude behavior of my subordinate, Mr. Kruger.”

“I apologize, Mr. Kruger.”

Adam Folt repeated Professor Keller’s words. Kruger glared at Adam Folt with an unpleasant expression, but he couldn’t say anything when she went that far.

“You’re the only one who can tame that beast. It’s alright.”

“Thank you for your generous understanding.”

As soon as Professor Keller released the tie, Adam Folt mechanically stood up.

The place where they gathered was the UN Special Inspection Department conference room in Geneva, Switzerland.

The incident in Pyongyang was enough to bring even Professor Keller down to earth.

“I will explain it again, Mr. Kruger. We must acknowledge Kang Hyun-woo’s testimony.”

“The explanation better be sufficient.”

“The excuses are not plentiful. Because we have to hide what happened there.”

Kruger frowned and pondered at her words. He opened his mouth with difficulty.

“Because of the Țepeș case [referring to Vlad the Impaler, a method of execution]?”

“Yes. As Ms. Shiva Amini testified, we almost used the Țepeș case there. No, we did use it. It was stopped midway, though.”

“That’s what was originally planned. We were supposed to use the Țepeș case if all other means failed. Why are you denying it now?”

Professor Keller sighed deeply.

“Mr. Kruger. We are walking on a knife’s edge right now. What Xiao Jie tried to do was just a game. There are more than one or two ability users quietly watching the situation now. Imagine what Xiao Jie almost did happening not in Pyongyang, but in major cities like the United States, China, or Europe.”

Both the UN Special Inspection Department and Chrome already knew about Xiao Jie’s scheme.

To be exact, it was thanks to Professor Keller sharing the information. Shiva Amini was the only one who didn’t know about the conspiracy.

Her role was just to innocently watch the situation and allow the use of the ‘final measure’.

“We were going to show what happens to those who recklessly try to stand against civilization through the Țepeș case. By showing Xiao Jie’s terrible end to the world.”

That’s why the Țepeș case.

Impalement.

“The Țepeș case was supposed to be a message to ability users and ambitious people around the world. To show that we can crush them if they do anything reckless. But… Xiao Jie failed.”

That’s why Professor Keller stopped the Țepeș case.

Unless they knew who the opponent was and couldn’t establish the purpose of stopping someone who was committing ‘treason against humanity’, the Țepeș case was meaningless.

In addition, she didn’t even want to imagine the result of involving the Chinese army.

“We found out much later that Xiao Jie detonated Plude [likely a type of explosive] in North Korea and caused a mass slaughter. Thanks to that incident, we were watching Xiao Jie. So, we decided to use her arrogance as a sacrifice for the Țepeș case. She was someone who deserved to die. But, we couldn’t kill her with our own hands.”

She even died a hero.

Neither Chrome nor the Special Inspection Department could know what happened in the fog of Pyongyang.

To them, Hyun-woo’s testimony was all the information they had.

They couldn’t know if an unidentified boss monster that even Xiao Jie couldn’t handle had really appeared, so the ability users unexpectedly united and only one person barely escaped.

“Kang Hyun-woo, you said. Isn’t that person suspicious? He came back alive alone, didn’t he kill everyone and try to take all the credit?”

“It could be. No, I think there is a high possibility.”

Professor Keller said with a bitter smile.

“But even so, there’s nothing we can do. All the testimonies he made are reasonable and logical. His words are true, and there is a high probability that he misunderstands us.”

Professor Keller hesitated for a moment and opened her mouth about the part she was most uneasy about.

“In addition, Adam Folt also said that an unidentified being in Pyongyang blocked the first strike of the Țepeș case. It’s impossible for a human to do that. It’s clear that there’s something there.”

Adam Folt had a slightly hurt expression, but said nothing.

“Chrome knew that Xiao Jie was transporting nukes, but they stood by and watched, and they also left the installation of the nukes unattended. The more evil Xiao Jie did, the more our presence would be highlighted. Then we would have more efficient control over the ability users. Didn’t you want that too, Director?”

“Hmm.”

Kruger made a bitter expression. He had agreed to it, but the result was only accusations of mass murder.

At this rate, he could end up taking the blame for what Xiao Jie had done.

“How about exposing Xiao Jie instead? It could be that she detonated the nukes.”

“China wouldn’t like that very much.”

“So we’re going to take the blame?”

“There are people within China who know about Xiao Jie’s conspiracy. The idiots in the military who were planning to establish a puppet government in North Korea through Xiao Jie. The top leaders probably know too. The reason they’re acting so sensitively now is because they’re afraid of being caught for what they’ve done.”

“……We’re going to drag China into this pit.”

“That’s right. China is in a difficult situation right now. They’re afraid of being caught for what they’ve done, and they desperately need support because there’s a huge gap in ability users. If we show that we’re taking responsibility to a reasonable extent, they will actively cooperate. The Special Inspection Department will gain a powerful ally in addition.”

Professor Keller said with a glint in her eyes.

“Looking at it positively, Kang Hyun-woo’s testimony is not bad for us. Because we can hide the Țepeș case. We have more time.”

“Time…….”

What they needed was more time. Time to unite them before civilization destroys itself.

“In addition, if the monster in Pyongyang that Hunter Kang Hyun-woo testified about is a more powerful being than expected, it could be a good opportunity. Actively promote the dead Hunters as heroes, and unite them against a powerful being that opposes humanity.”

When Kruger still seemed hesitant, Professor Keller said firmly as if hammering it in.

“The most dangerous thing right now is the conflict between humans, not monsters. The emergence of a powerful enemy will delay our self-destruction and buy us time to win.”

Kruger sighed and leaned back in his chair.

It was difficult to emotionally agree with Professor Keller’s words, but he knew that he had to do as she said. Professor Keller had already saved the world from the shadows several times.

“Mr. Kruger. Civilization must continue. Acknowledge the use of nuclear weapons and punish those responsible. And reach out to Hunter Kang Hyun-woo. For humanity.”

“For humanity.”

Kruger muttered briefly with a guilty expression.

***

The next day, an order was issued to arrest Special Inspection Department agent Shiva Amini.

However, Amini was found dead on the sofa in her home just before her arrest.

The suicide note she left behind briefly contained an apology and reflection on the lives that were caught up in the nuclear explosion due to her carelessness.

China was satisfied, the Special Inspection Department was exonerated, and Chrome was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Everyone was satisfied and able to move on, but only one person couldn’t.

“……Amini committed suicide?”