Neo-Joseon Cyberpunk

Chapter 109: Snowfield Zone (3)

[What do you mean?]

Diesel asked back at Little Sister’s words, which sounded like she had hit the mark precisely.

Then she sent over an image through a closed communication channel.

[Look. Do you know what this is?]

Soon, round black clumps about the size of a thumbnail floated before Diesel’s eyes.

[This is…… herbal medicine?]

[Yes. To be precise, it’s a kind of pellet medicine called ‘Monster Blood Pill.’ It’s made by condensing a monster’s blood, and among the public it’s known as a panacea that cures all diseases.]

Sis continued her explanation, emphasizing the word ‘but.’

[Of course, that kind of effect has never been verified. It’s said that consuming it significantly restores stamina, but even that comes with severe side effects, so it’s a prohibited item.]

[What kind of side effects?]

[Extreme mana exhaustion.]

[…….]

[In short, if you take this pellet, you lose all the mana in your entire body. At the very least a week, and at most up to a month.]

Mana exhaustion.

Hearing that, Diesel could guess why Michya had come here.

‘Did he try to escape the wounds left by the Breath of the Brain Dragon, even if it meant taking that?’

But unfortunately, it wouldn’t go the way he intended.

A dragon’s breath wasn’t something manifested by mana, but an innate power unique to a transcendent race.

[Still, I didn’t expect Furry Land to be one of the smuggling routes. That’s pretty surprising.]

When Tae-oh Barosi muttered after listening silently to Sis, Diesel took up the thread.

[It’s not that strange. Furry Land is a place where the power of government authority doesn’t really reach.]

[Well, Diesel is right, and Tae-oh is right too.]

Sis affirmed everyone’s opinions and added,

[Like Diesel said, Furry Land is indeed an independent force called a ‘small nation,’ but that was possible because it was managed with extreme thoroughness. So, as Tae-oh said, a situation like this is quite unexpected.]

[Then why did that ‘thorough management’ suddenly develop a hole?]

[Why do you think?]

The reason why once-thorough Furry Land had failed in its management.

Diesel voiced his own speculation.

[It seems Baekung’s influence has weakened.]

[That’s right. Because the Demi-god protecting this place is gradually losing his power.]

[When the hammer grows light, the nail pops back out.]

[Anyway, this smuggling route is quite an impressive discovery. Diesel, you said you had some personal ties with Baekung, right?]

[Well…… to some extent.]

Strictly speaking, it was a connection formed through his older brother Lee Hamin, but Baekung also seemed to have taken quite a liking to Diesel himself.

[Baekung probably has no idea at all that this kind of smuggling is going on in Furry Land. Given that old man’s personality, if he knew, he’d never let it slide. So if you go and tell him…….]

As Sis trailed off, Diesel finished the thought for her.

[We might be able to get help with this situation?]

[Exactly. Furry Land has always maintained neutrality in political struggles. But if we handle this well based on this information, it wouldn’t hurt to expect them to move.]

After the ‘Final Day’ when the world was saved from destruction, Baekung Urmus had devoted all his efforts to building a space for beastmen.

The reason they had survived until now was because of their consistently neutral stance, always keeping one step back from political conflicts.

‘Since I don’t demand, don’t demand from me.’

That was the motto Baekung had upheld for many long years.

The reason that was possible was because the world had remained in a relatively peaceful state.

An era of explosive growth, rebuilding shattered cities and developing newly acquired knowledge.

But now, those sweet times were over.

‘The world is entering a period of stagnation, beyond mere regression.’

Amid this chaos, the time would come when Furry Land would have to make a choice.

And there was one individual who seemed likely to have the greatest influence on that process.

[Now your role is going to be important, Diesel.]

[…….]

[Furry Land might move over this smuggling route incident, but it wouldn’t be strange if they didn’t, either.]

It was an incident that provided justification to move, but not one that demanded intervention.

The ‘role’ Sis mentioned for Diesel was likely about resolving exactly that point.

[The course Furry Land takes will have enormous repercussions not just for this war, but for the events that come after.]

Events after the war.

In clashes between factions, gains and losses inevitably arose.

The larger the clash, the greater the swings of profit and loss became.

And among them, those who benefited were always the ones who led the situation from the front.

‘Somehow, it feels like I’ve gotten caught right in the middle of the vortex of conflict.’

It was like having already climbed onto the back of a running tiger.

In that case, rather than forcing himself to dismount, it was better to make use of the tiger.

Fortunately, Diesel had a card more than sufficient to do just that.

‘According to the information Sis gave me…….’

As he turned that thought over in his mind.

Suddenly, he heard someone calling out urgently.

“Ah, sir……! Why are you still here……!”

Turning toward the voice, he saw the shop owner from earlier, gasping for breath.

“What’s going on?”

“Please get out of here right now! Sebin and I will try to buy some time somehow, so in the meantime, hurry!”

“Pardon? What do you mean—.”

Before Diesel could even finish asking.

From behind the owner, a beastman wearing a pure white suit appeared.

“So you were here.”

“H-how already……!”

“…….”

Diesel knew the clothes they were wearing.

Those who served Baekung Urmus from the closest position.

The place said to include only the most elite among Furry Land’s armed forces.

‘The White-Clad Guard…….’

A white wolf beastman in white attire stood towering right in front of Diesel.

“You will have to come with us.”

“…….”

“Regrettably, this is not a suggestion.”

Tae-oh Barosi glanced sideways at the wolf beastman and spoke through a closed communication channel.

[They sent a pretty decent one.]

[Someone you recognize?]

[He’s fairly well-known. He’s the captain who oversees the White-Clad Guard.]

At Tae-oh Barosi’s words, Diesel frowned and looked at him.

[The captain?]

[Yes. That man is the White-Clad Guard Captain, ‘Irang.’ A loyal subordinate who protects his lord, Urmus.]

While they were conversing, the shop owner put on an awkward smile and stepped in front of Irang.

“Ah, sir. I explained everything about the circumstances, didn’t I? These people did nothing wrong.”

“That is not for you to decide.”

The wolf looked at Diesel with the gaze of a predator eyeing its prey.

“Please cooperate. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to…….”

“I’ll go.”

“…….”

Had he not expected such a ready acceptance?

Irang hesitated for a moment, then returned to his original impassive expression.

But the shop owner’s reaction was different.

“Y-yes……? Sir, what are you saying right now…….”

“It’s fine, so don’t worry about me and go back.”

“Ah…….”

“This way.”

Soon, Diesel and Tae-oh Barosi moved away, leaving behind the shop owner who looked utterly at a loss.

‘Vulgar bastard.’

In the high gallery of Furry Land.

Baekung Urmus, seated on his chair, clicked his tongue softly.

“Do you see this? One entire arm has been torn off! This isn’t just violence directed at me—it’s an attack on Podvig!”

On the platform in the center of the gallery, the white bear beastman Michya thrust out his rag-like arm and delivered a fiery speech.

At that, shouts erupted from those surrounding Baekung.

“Those must be apprehended immediately!”

“Violence like this within our facility! That’s impossible!”

At that, Michya put on a satisfied smile and spoke while looking at Baekung.

“If this incident is not handled properly, then the projects our Podvig has been sponsoring will…….”

“Wait a moment. Our White-Clad Guard has already secured the suspects you mentioned.”

“Ah……. Ahem, ahem. Is that so? Well, you are fast when it comes to getting things done.”

How had it come to this?

Baekung realized with piercing clarity what kind of situation the place he had poured his heart and soul into had fallen into.

‘To think it could be swayed by a wretch like this.’

The long sleep he had chosen in order to recover his steadily waning power.

But even that long slumber, his last resort, had not been particularly effective.

‘I should have stayed awake and controlled the situation myself.’

After opening his eyes again, the ‘Belobog’ he faced was a complete mess.

Originally a comfortable sanctuary for beastmen, this place had changed its name to Furry Land and turned into a den of drug-fueled pleasure and licentious banquets.

That things had come to this was due to the judgment of a single individual.

The sole successor to whom Baekung had handed over all authority before going to sleep.

“Please do not worry, Director Michya. You know this well, don’t you? Our Lord Baekung cannot tolerate injustice. He will surely make an example of them.”

‘Dima…….’

A fox beastman with blue fur fawned over the white bear.

Wearing an expression better suited to a rat than a fox.

“As expected, Team Leader Dima is someone I can really talk to. Ahem, ahem.”

Even so, Baekung understood his successor, Dima.

That the name Furry Land had become synonymous with an entertainment district.

That all kinds of corporations had come in and started various businesses.

That as a result, the discipline of the armed organizations meant to establish order here had fallen to the ground.

All of it was because of his own fault for irresponsibly leaving his seat.

‘Everything has gone wrong. To the point I don’t even know where to start fixing it.’

At least one thing was fortunate: the neutral line he valued most had been preserved by a hair’s breadth.

That was because the ‘Council’ system, the last safety device Baekung had put in place, was still functioning.

However, at this point, it was of little use.

“The councilors saw it clearly too, didn’t they? At this level, it’s a miracle you even survived!”

“That’s right!”

“If we apprehend them immediately, they must be punished according to the law!”

“We must also provide proper compensation to Director Michya!”

Voices bought off by Dima echoed from all sides.

People who were obsessed with lining their own pockets, not with the safety of the residents here.

‘First, I need to sift out this chaff…….’

If it were up to his feelings, he wanted to wield his absolute authority and rip them out by the roots.

But doing so would mean destroying all the ‘law’ he had painstakingly established here.

‘Even if I deal with them, it must be done within the order that’s been set.’

For the past several months, Baekung had tried to find grounds to expel them.

But those wretches had been cunning enough not to give him an opening.

“We have brought them.”

At that moment, the doors opened and a secretary entered.

Following him appeared the White-Clad Guard Captain Irang, the disguised Diesel, and Tae-oh Barosi.

“Director, are these the ones?”

“Yes! These damned bastards!”

At Michya’s words, Dima shoved his face toward Diesel and puckered his lips.

“Well, well, he looks vulgar too.”

“Not that gray wolf bastard—the one next to him! That white tiger brat! Looks like a lackey serving under a wolf.”

“…….”

“Ah, I see.”

The white bear approached Tae-oh Barosi and put on an unpleasant smile.

“See? I told you I’d be compensated for every bit of damage I suffered, didn’t I? Do you understand the situation now?”

“…….”

“You were yapping so well earlier—why did you suddenly turn mute? Huh?”

As Michya hurled taunting provocations like that—

“Hmm…….”

Suddenly, a voice came from above.

The voice of the one who owned this massive facility.

“You are Ghostcatchers.”

A gaze that seemed to recognize Diesel.

That was only natural.

You couldn’t possibly deceive a Demi-god’s sight with a toy like Furry Gum.

Along with that, doubt surfaced on Baekung Urmus’s face.

“What are you doing here?”

“…….”

“What? These guys were Ghostcatchers? No wonder they smelled like the rotten stench of the back alleys.”

As Dima widened his eyes and stared at Diesel, Baekung sternly stopped him.

“Dima, be quiet for a moment.”

“……Yes.”

“Explain how this came to be.”

Even at Urmus’s command, Diesel remained silent for a moment.

As if he were anticipating what would happen next.

Just as he intended, the white bear beastman flared up and shouted.

“Lord Baekung! There’s nothing to hear from this bastard! Can’t you tell just by looking at my arm?”

At the same time, shouts rose from all over the gallery.

“That’s right! Dispose of them immediately!”

“The victim’s testimony is clear, and there’s evidence, so there’s nothing more to see!”

Urged on by the voices pushing him forward, Michya spoke confidently.

“I have already explained the entire course of events, so proceed directly to punishment—.”

But then.

The one bearing the dignity of a Demi-god imbued his voice with intent and thundered.

“Enough.”

At that, the room fell silent in an instant.

Michya, who had been about to say something, froze on the spot without uttering a single word.

“I will hear it myself and judge. Wait.”

“…….”

Then the Demi-god’s eyes turned toward the man standing before him.

“Explain.”

Only then did Diesel carefully open his mouth.

“Respected Lord Baekung.”

He raised a finger and pointed at the white bear.

“You must strike this white bear dead immediately.”