## Chapter 2596 – 2596. Eternal Eden

The two secret demands the Awakened Union made to the government were impossible to grant.

First, relocating the capital to Pohang. That was naturally impossible. It was a preposterous demand that would be hard to accept even in peaceful times. If they were going to suggest a move, Busan would have been more reasonable, but Pohang? Even if the President agreed, the people would never allow it. The people weren’t fools. They knew there was no benefit to moving the capital to Pohang.

Second, they wanted Sung Yu-jin. That is, they were demanding my custody. The Awakened Union knew my abilities and understood my necessity.

‘No. Considering that Japan is behind them… the moment I go to the Awakened Union, my life is over.’

They wouldn’t leave me alone.

The Awakened Union made this demand to the government, not to me.

They didn’t know that I was the real ruler of the current government. This fact was a top secret. Because so few people knew, the Awakened Union was also unaware.

“Yu-jin, in the current situation, you should avoid meeting with Acting President Jin Su-hak directly. The enemy is probably watching Jin Su-hak closely. We can’t rule out surveillance using abilities.”

“Okay. I don’t intend to reveal that I’m Jin Su-hak’s master. I have to run in the next presidential election. But we can’t just sit still.”

“Before the Awakened Union makes a full move, we’ll take the initiative to seize public opinion and make them be seen as a rebel force.”

We were discussing how to deal with the Awakened Union when my smartphone vibrated. It was a text message from Na Chae-young.

Na Chae-young – Are you up? Turn on the TV and check the news. Or check this link.

There was a TV in the room, so I turned it on with the remote.

The news was showing a press conference by the Awakened Union.

“Just in case, was this discussed with the government?”

“…As far as I know, it wasn’t.”

Lee Yeon-hee’s eyes turned cold.

First, I focused on the news. Even if I didn’t like it, things had already happened. It was too late to issue orders to Acting President Jin Su-hak to pressure the media. It was unstoppable. They would just cry about media oppression.

-Hello, citizens. I am Gu Young-beon, the leader of the Awakened Union.

-Leader Gu Young-beon, can you explain what the Awakened Union is?

-It’s a union of the Awakened in South Korea. To be precise, it’s an organization formed for survival. The Awakened in South Korea have gathered around Pohang. The people behind me are all members of the Awakened Union.

The reporters murmured. Most of the faces of the Awakened Union members were familiar.

They were the Awakened who were called heroes in South Korea. They were the ones who appeared on the news all the time. The ones who fought at the forefront against the Variants.

Their popularity was at its peak. Just the fact that these heroes had gathered around the Awakened Union was enough to sway public opinion.

-Our Awakened Union has gathered in Pohang for the survival of South Korea. First, we plan to establish a defense line around Pohang, then dispatch the Awakened to other cities to eliminate zombies and Variants. However, we still lack many things. I officially request support from the current government.

-Leader Gu Young-beon, are you saying you will take over the military’s duties?

-The military has its limits. Zombies and Variants are evolving day by day. They are getting stronger. Do you know how the military deals with Variants? They use firepower like missiles and bombs to catch them. It’s common for an entire village to be destroyed to catch one Variant. But if we, the Awakened, step in, things will be different. Recently, the Awakened have become strong enough to handle Variants. You can easily find proof videos on the internet.

-But why Pohang, not Seoul?

-Pohang has a smaller population, making it safer than Seoul or Busan. While there are still many restricted areas in Seoul and Busan, all areas in Pohang have been stabilized. Also, we can connect with Japan using Pohang’s port. Therefore, I believe Pohang should become the new capital.

-…A new capital? Are you talking about relocating the capital?

-Yes. And the current government should stop oppressing the Awakened.

-Are you saying the government has oppressed the Awakened? I haven’t heard of such information…

-According to our independent investigation, the Awakened Sung Yu-jin, who has healing abilities, is being held and overworked by the government. Therefore, the Awakened Union demands the government hand over the custody of Sung Yu-jin. He is a hero and an Awakened who has worked for South Korea. He must be with us. At the very least, we want to meet with Sung Yu-jin directly to confirm his safety.

Gu Young-beon spoke with a powerful voice.

In the end, the gist of what I felt was this: they wanted to meet me directly. In other words, these bastards were targeting me.

‘This son of a bitch… did he think I was a joke?’

I was confident I could kill him the moment I met him.

“Yu-jin.”

Lee Yeon-hee called me. Her voice was mixed with concern. I looked at her and calmed the heat that was rising in my head. Just looking at a beautiful woman was enough to relieve my anger.

“Gu Young-beon. What was that guy doing?”

“The investigation isn’t complete yet, but… Gu Young-beon was the president of a waste disposal company.”

I pondered for a moment and then said,

“We can’t just sit still either. Prepare a press conference right now.”

“…Are you going to step forward yourself? It’s not necessary. Even if the Awakened Union is annoying, they can’t beat the government in the end.”

“Well, that’s not something we can be sure of yet. And these bastards are trying to step over me. More than anything, this is an opportunity for me.”

“…What kind of opportunity are you talking about?”

“What’s my image like in Korea right now?”

“An angel. Or a saint. No celebrity can match your image.”

“That good image might not be very helpful in politics. A leader can’t just be nice. Just now, I chose a politician as my role model. Do you know who it is?”

“Well, I’m not sure. Is it perhaps Mr. Park?”

“Not that bitch.”

“…The Mr. Park I mentioned is a man.”

“You have to dream big. I only choose the best in the world.”

“The best politician in the world… Hmm. I still don’t know who it is.”

I pointed my finger at the ceiling and said,

“Make Korea great again!”

• • •

The press conference was prepared.

I checked my appearance in the waiting room.

My hairstyle was a neat pompadour. The clothes I was wearing were a brand new black suit without a single wrinkle. The most important point was the gold badge attached to the suit’s lapel. The gold badge, a rare item that only members of the National Assembly could wear, shone brilliantly.

“It’s time.”

Lee Yeon-hee said. I followed her guidance to the press conference hall. The dozens of reporters gathered in the hall were all selected. They were either reporters who were friendly to the government or from the Sungjin Church.

I stood on the platform.

I looked straight ahead and tensed my neck and stomach. I couldn’t tremble here. It would undermine my credibility. Fortunately, I wasn’t someone who would tremble at something like this. I had countless experiences that were much worse.

“Hello, citizens. I am National Assembly member Sung Yu-jin. I stand here representing the South Korean government and the National Assembly.”

Click, click.

The sound of shutters echoed. Of course, this conference was being broadcast live. It would be meaningless if it wasn’t live.

“I have confirmed that there are absurd rumors circulating. The ridiculous claim that I am being held and overworked by the government. I am a member of the National Assembly of South Korea. It is natural for me to work for the country and its people.”

“Mr. Sung Yu-jin, what do you think about the Awakened Union?”

“The Awakened Union? It is a national treasonous organization. Who do they think they are to arm themselves? An organization for the Awakened? The government is already providing enough support for the Awakened. Also, according to my information, Japan is behind the Awakened Union. The Awakened Union is planning to brainwash the citizens of Pohang with their abilities and turn South Korea into a Japanese colony!”

The conference hall went silent for a moment. The reporters’ hands moved faster. Some reporters swallowed hard and asked me questions.

“Brainwashing? Are you saying there is an Awakened with mental brainwashing abilities?”

“That’s right. The Awakened Union suddenly appeared without any warning. It doesn’t make sense logically. And they are the Awakened Union, beings beyond common sense.”

I gripped the platform tightly with both hands and said,

“Citizens! The real purpose of the Awakened Union is to create a class society by discriminating between the Awakened and ordinary people! The Awakened will become nobles, and ordinary people will become commoners! Ordinary people will become slaves for life, controlled by their brainwashing abilities!”

I shouted as if spitting blood, my neck veins bulging.

“I, representing the government and the National Assembly, hereby notify the Awakened Union! Immediately disband the Awakened Union and come to Seoul for a hearing!! If you do not respond to the summons within three days, you will be nothing more than pro-Japanese, traitorous terrorists!! If you are not traitors, prove it at the hearing!!”

Even though the current government was a military government, it was still the government. It had much more credibility than the suddenly appeared Awakened Union. Unlike the Awakened who were part of it, the Awakened Union had not shown anything yet.

“Citizens! Do not forget the Japanese colonial period! Remember the independence activists who sacrificed themselves for South Korea! And we must not forget the Imjin War! Remember Imjin!!! Fucking Awakened Traitor Union!”

This alone would be enough to make this press conference a hot topic.

But this wasn’t enough.

If I was going to do it, I had to do it properly. I would make sure this press conference would never be forgotten, even a hundred years from now.

Kwaaaang!

The door of the conference hall was violently kicked open. The reporters and cameras turned around. What appeared was a man with a Rising Sun flag bandana on his head, holding a pistol in each hand.

“Awakened Union Banzai! Tenno Heika Banzai!!”

Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-tang!

He fired his pistols wildly.

“Kuh-ack!”

I was shot in the shoulder and fell backward. The reporters in front were also hit by the bullets. Screams were heard everywhere. When the situation calmed down, only the man was standing in the conference hall. His face covered in blood, he looked straight at the camera and said,

“Leader Gu Young-beon! Please save this rotten South Korea! Awakened Union Banzai.”

He shot himself in the head with his pistol and committed suicide.

‘Heh heh.’

Lying on the floor, I couldn’t help but smile. Things were going according to plan.

‘Now, let’s compete fairly with propaganda and fabrication.’