###
On the way to eat meat, I happened to run into Yoo Chae-young again.
But this time, she took me to a much nicer place.
“Wow, wow, Master! T-this place is unbelievable for meat!”
“Right? It’s really delicious.”
“This is where Seonghwa entertains high-profile guests. They said price isn’t an issue.”
“Absolutely perfect. This is an elite spot for sure.”
“Elite?”
Aden was shoving meat into her mouth, utterly absorbed.
Her blue eyes were shimmering with tears.
“This is so delicious…!”
While Aden devoured her meal, Kang Hyun and Yoo Chae-young ate slowly, talking about work.
“Seonghwa must feel a bit conflicted about the Blessing. You don’t need abnormality detection anymore, right?”
“We’ve already gained all the benefits we could.”
Even with the Blessing, Seonghwa’s reputation remained intact.
Known for responding to crises the fastest, Seonghwa’s prominence was firmly engraved in the public’s mind.
“Thank you so much. Seonghwa is busy right now, but we’ll definitely repay the favor in the future.”
“I’ve already received enough—potions and money, remember?”
“Not enough. Once the Guild Master returns, I’ll bring it up to them directly.”
Seonghwa was indeed busy these days.
They were still sorting out the aftermath of recent dungeon abnormalities.
They were also strengthening their position by aggressively acquiring rights over Palan’s resources.
The Guild Master was currently on a diplomatic trip to Thea, leaving things internally a bit chaotic.
“If you’re really grateful, pass on a message to your Guild Master. Tell them to take me to Thea.”
“You’re interested in Thea?”
“Yeah. It’ll take forever to get in as a diplomat.”
“Your goal is diplomacy? Where do you want to go?”
Kang Hyun answered without hesitation.
“The Cradle of Heroes. Their birthplace.”
“Ah, right, you’re ‘that’, after all.”
She was referring to Kang Hyun’s title as an S-rank Word Mage.
She likely thought he was interested in tracing Kyle’s legacy.
“Anyway, diplomacy is my top priority.”
“Seonghwa will work hard behind the scenes to help you get appointed. Don’t worry.”
“Great. I’ll leave it to you when the time comes.”
During the Palan incident, Kang Hyun was struck by the influence of major guilds.
Their power extended beyond business and politics.
‘This will help me out.’
He suddenly felt more secure.
“Shall we get going?”
When the time came, the staff approached to process the payment.
It was impressive how attentive they were—just what you’d expect from a high-end restaurant.
“The bill has already been taken care of, sir.”
“What?”
Kang Hyun glanced at Yoo Chae-young, who looked just as confused.
“By whom?”
“A foreign gentleman with a kind face. He said he’s waiting outside.”
A foreigner?
Who could it be?
When he stepped outside, he was greeted by a familiar large nose.
“Hello, Mr. Kang.”
“Charles!”
It was Charles, who had come to recruit him back then.
He’d left empty-handed after being interrupted by Park Cheol-woong.
“How did you find me? Oh, right, that’s probably easy for the CIA.”
“Sorry if it was unpleasant.”
“You paid for the meal, so it’s fine.”
“I’d like to talk to you privately.”
“Privately?”
Yoo Chae-young, who had been glaring at Charles suspiciously, was reassured and sent away, along with Aden.
“What’s this about? The U.S. doesn’t need a researcher like me anymore. You’ve got the Blessing.”
“Today, I’m not here for you as a researcher.”
“Then why?”
Charles gave an innocent smile.
###
The Global Superhuman Alliance (GSA).
An international organization formed to counter the Black World Tree’s invasion.
Kang Hyun liked the name.
He appreciated the use of “Alliance” instead of “Federation” or “Union”.
It gave the sense of uniting against a single enemy, evoking the urgency of GSA’s creation.
Of course, that urgency no longer existed.
Decades of stagnation had set in, with Gates reduced to mere mana stone mines.
The tension had vanished entirely, creating a complacency that frustrated Kang Hyun to no end.
Still, the GSA fulfilled its original purpose well.
Its main roles could be summarized in two points.
Mobilizing global cooperation during crises, like now.
Assisting underperforming nations during peacetime.
GSA-affiliated Awakened were dispatched to clear dungeons in countries unable to keep up.
Most of these Awakened were from permanent member states with the luxury of surplus resources.
Of course, it wasn’t free.
In exchange, the permanent member states of the GSA extracted significant concessions, effectively turning the recipient nations into economic vassal states.
This is why every nation was desperately striving to increase their dungeon progress on their own.
Truly, it was an era where awakened power equated to national power.
This dynamic was evident even in the ongoing conference.
Japan, a permanent member state that usually voiced its opinions loudly, declared.
“The Blessing must be treated as a global public good and distributed efficiently and equitably.”
“Why should the Blessing be considered a public good? A Perfect Clear Awakened is an individual!”
“So you’re suggesting selling the Blessing during a global crisis? How disgraceful!”
Japan was blatantly advocating for equal distribution, knowing full well they’d likely be deprioritized in allocation.
They were cloaking their agenda in a pretense of moral high ground.
The Korean delegation was left speechless.
One of their aides calmly responded.
“We cannot force individuals to serve.”
“Who wouldn’t want to play the role of a savior? This is a global emergency; conscription is only fair. It’s a just sacrifice.”
“Japan seems particularly fond of forced conscription.”
“What did you just say!?”
The aides on both sides were nearly shouting, veins bulging in their necks.
Chief Choi, listening from the Korean side, felt his anger rising.
‘These people… talking as if they have no filter.’
While the statement might have been accurate, it was rich coming from Japan.
The sight of a country that deserved to be last in line demanding equal treatment with such brazenness was infuriating.
However, Choi couldn’t say anything. He was merely a section chief.
Other countries remained silent, as they stood to gain regardless of the outcome. If Japan incurred Korea’s ire and managed to push prices down, they’d benefit too.
Then, the U.S. Vice President spoke up.
“The United States respects the individual autonomy of the Perfect Clear Awakened and supports Korea’s stance.”
The U.S. wasn’t after cheaper costs but priority access and more Blessings.
The Vice President thought to himself:
“The Blessing doesn’t need to be distributed equally.”
If any countries suffered losses during this crisis? All the better.
For the U.S., the GSA’s largest permanent member, it would be an opportunity to expand its influence by dispatching Awakened aid.
And above all, the U.S. was already the closest nation to receiving priority allocation.
But Japan didn’t back down. This time, the Japanese Prime Minister took the floor.
“The entire world must cooperate. If Blessings are distributed equally to all, this crisis will eventually be resolved.”
“What a naive-”
“One moment.”
The GSA chairperson interjected, looking at the Korean delegation.
“I’ll hear from Korea’s Choi Young-ho.”
Choi had raised his hand, trembling as he requested the floor.
“A-ah, greetings, esteemed members of the committee. I….”
Chief Choi was overly polite to his superiors, which also meant he lacked presence in such settings. He was the worst fit for a high-stakes situation like this.
“P-please, allow me to submit my opinion on the Perfect Clear Awakened.”
The words of a mere section chief shouldn’t have mattered.
Yet everyone listened attentively.
Choi was globally recognized as the closest liaison to the Perfect Clear Awakened.
“Huff…Huff.”
After taking a deep breath, Choi steadied his voice.
“Resolving this crisis through the equal distribution of Blessings… is impossible.”
The room buzzed with murmurs.
“What nonsense! Korea is using fearmongering to advance its interests!”
“Please respect the remarks of the most knowledgeable authority on the Perfect Clear Awakened. Let him speak.”
“Chairperson, revoke Korea’s speaking rights!”
The chairperson raised a hand to restore order.
“Continue.”
“Yes. The Perfect Clear Awakened, henceforth referred to as ‘EX’, was promoted to D+ rank two days ago.”
The extraordinary speed of EX’s growth was well-known, but hearing the exact rank was new to many.
“And what does that prove?”
“EX can no longer enter F-tier dungeons. In other words—”
There were only three ranks left before EX would also be barred from E-tier dungeons. EX’s growth rate was unmatched.
“The number of E-tier Blessings is limited.”
There were 193 UN member states.
“As someone who has observed EX’s growth closely, I am certain. Before every nation receives even a single Blessing, EX will be unable to enter E-tier dungeons.”
The conference room was abuzz again.
The implication of Choi’s statement wasn’t just that equal distribution was an unfeasible solution.
A delegate chimed in.
“I will speak for France. Does this mean, if nations are pushed back in the queue, Blessing placement cannot be guaranteed?”
“That is correct. The Blessing supply is not abundant.”
“Japan would like to speak. In that case, Korea should control EX’s growth to prevent this!”
Japan, desperate to secure Blessings, seemed visibly flustered.
“That perspective stems from a lack of understanding of awakened capabilities.”
“What did you just say!?”
“Focus on his opinion. He’s a field expert.”
“Thank you. Awakened individuals grow naturally as they clear dungeons.”
The objective for everyone was a Perfect Clear of E-tier dungeons.
In other words, the two premises were fundamentally incompatible.
A Chinese delegate spoke up.
“Our experts believe such rapid growth is impossible. We cannot accept Korea’s perspective.”
“Then go ahead and bet on that—bet the fate of the Earth. EX is a talent beyond conventional understanding.”
“….”
“I wouldn’t place that bet.”
The Chinese delegation frowned, but President Kwon Dong-cheol intervened, calming the tension.
“Now, now, Chief Choi. That was a bit strong.”
Yet, a faint smile remained on his face.
“My apologies.”
“No need to apologize. Chief Choi has always been the sole ‘expert’ working with EX, so he isn’t accustomed to such settings. Please understand.”
President Kwon subtly reinforced Choi’s words. After all, no one could dismiss his opinion outright.
EX’s actions were unconventional, and Choi was the only expert with direct access to him.
The discussion dragged on, and a conclusion was finally reached.
“This matter will proceed with prioritization for Blessing placement.”
“Japan would like to speak! Then! The prioritization must be determined strictly by efficiency!”
Japan made one last desperate attempt.
“With time ticking down, every second counts. Placement should begin with the nearest country to EX’s current location!”
It was a transparent move, and many clicked their tongues in disapproval.
Yet, their argument was not without merit. Travel time was indeed a crucial factor.
Even Choi hesitated.
‘That high-speed movement ability… does it have a range limitation? It can’t be infinite, can it?’
Choi, uncertain about Kang Hyun’s precise capabilities, couldn’t refute the claim with confidence.
‘Even if Seoul to Busan takes a second, covering global distances might be impossible.’
Or could it?
Maybe he should confirm right now?
As Japan’s argument started gaining traction, Choi’s phone buzzed.
His personal phone was off, of course.
This was his secure device, reserved exclusively for EX.
It was a security measure to protect his identity.
When Choi checked the message, he froze.
<Start with the United States.>
‘The United States? Suddenly?’
Wasn’t the order supposed to be decided by the government?
<May I ask why?>
<Because I was bribed.>
‘Bribed?’
Choi passed on the message.
“E-EX has conveyed his intent.”
“EX has? Please proceed.”
“He wishes for the first Blessing to be placed in the United States….”
“Japan would like to speak! What kind of nonsense is this!?”
Choi’s voice trailed off as he spoke, sensing the incoming chaos.
“Why is this meeting being held if Korea is just going to act unilaterally? Such arrogance is unacceptable!”
“The United States respects the decision of Korea and EX.”
The room erupted into an uproar. Even President Kwon looked perplexed.
“This wasn’t in the plans, was it?”
“No… no, it wasn’t.”
The commotion lasted a while before things finally settled down.
“…Then, respecting EX’s wishes, the first Blessing placement will be in the United States.”
“Japan would like to speak! This is outrageous!”
“What is the meaning of this!?”
The Japanese Prime Minister shouted, veins bulging in his neck.
“It takes 10 hours just to travel from Korea to the United States! Wasting time on such a route means we won’t complete the placements in a single day!”
“China would like to speak. Agreed. This is an irrational waste during a global crisis.”
It was a perfectly reasonable point, and other nations seemed to agree.
The room grew noisy once more.
“Obviously! The closest country—Japan—should be prioritized first—”
“Prime Minister, the installation is already complete.”
“What?”
“We just received an alert… Perfect Clear Blessing installed….”
The Prime Minister scowled in disbelief.
Leaders from other countries hurriedly whispered with their Awakened advisors.
The conference was being held in Washington, D.C., and the Blessing was already in place.
“W-what is… this…?”
“How is this possible?”
Breaking the stunned silence, Chief Choi spoke hesitantly.
“Uh, uh…”
“Order, please! Korea, you have the floor.”
“EX asks which country should be next….”
The room fell into a heavy silence. After a long pause, the chairperson finally spoke.
“…We will now decide the second nation for Blessing placement.”
