Black Swan Chapter 3

At the end of the 29th century, there was a king in Far East Asia. Just as the old saying goes—politics is the realm of villains, and politician is the occupation of villains—he, too, was a villain. In an era when the number of nations across the globe had dwindled from what was once 237 down to 98, and Far East Asia was suffering deeply from resource depletion and abnormal climate phenomena, all kinds of human butchers hungering for the throne of the master of the world styled themselves as kings and rebels, dictators and revolutionaries, rulers and challengers, unleashing tempests of blood. Yet even among these countless villains, he was singled out as a uniquely peculiar figure. On one side, people revered him as a god. On another side, they despised him as a cult leader, and on yet another side, they disparaged him as a fraud.

Though various evaluations ran rampant, no one disputed the fact that he was an exceptionally unique existence. This was not because his villainous deeds overwhelmed those of others working in the same line of business during the same era. Of course, no different from others in his field, he had killed his own father, and whenever necessary, he did not hesitate to commit all sorts of evil acts, including rape and murder. However, that was not the sole reason he stood out so prominently among the innumerable villains.

He possessed an astonishing ability. That ability was so magnificent that it instantly reduced the villains living in the same era as him to mere, trivial ordinary people❨凡人❩: namely, the power of foresight.

He was a prophet. Peeking into the future, he altered fate as he desired. His name was Lee Hwa.

∞ ∞ ∞

The old ruler looks back.

The Sybir north wind howls. Beneath countless fluttering red flags stand one hundred thousand killers.

An eagle that had been circling in the sky descended onto the old ruler’s wrist, flapping its wings. The old ruler stroked the eagle’s nape affectionately with one hand and smiled.

― In that country lies what I desire.

The old ruler said, casting his gaze across. Beyond the narrow river, a reed field stretched out vast and wide like a wall.

The old ruler added:

― Therefore, that country is from this moment on the enemy.

Peeking at the scene of that arrogant declaration, the Prophet thought decisively: I’ll make you pay dearly for underestimating this side, old man.

The Prophet peeked.

The snakes speak with one voice to the old ruler.

― We must withdraw.

― From time immemorial, it has been said that winning a fight against religious people—especially fanatics—is extremely difficult. The Japanese Empire, which ignited the Pacific War in the 20th century, was also a fanatical nation that served its emperor as a living god, just like the current ‘Country of God❨神❩’.

― The Japanese Kamikaze suicide squads carried out suicide attacks while shouting for His Majesty the Emperor under the pretext of total annihilation❨玉碎❩, and ultimately, the United States gave up advancing onto the mainland and dropped atomic bombs to end the war. In short, the best way for us to achieve victory over the ‘Country of God’ right now is to drop atomic bombs on their stronghold cities. However, unfortunately, Your Majesty, we do not have atomic bombs right now.

― We have no method other than advancing onto the mainland. However, the ‘Country of God’ is a mountainous nation. If the enemy citizens utilize their nation’s terrain to wage guerrilla warfare, there is a possibility that the situation will turn unfavorable for us, who are accustomed to cavalry combat on plains. In the worst-case scenario, an outcome like the 20th-century Vietnam War could occur.

At the fierce opposing opinions, the gaze of Mukso—the old ruler of the ‘Feathered Snake Country’ ― Usaguk❨羽蛇國❩—also gradually wavered. It was then.

― My opinion is different.

A neat voice flew in abruptly. A young snake, whose youthful features had not yet fully faded, stepped forward.

― Do not fall for the enemies’ provocation. This is merely a provocative tactic2❩ devised by rats driven into a corner to cloud this side’s judgment.

― What is your reason for concluding so? Try to convince me.

At the old ruler’s words, the young snake answered without hesitation.

― Since ‘those days’, the Eastern Peninsula has fought a few civil wars between its brother nations, ‘God❨神❩’ and ‘Ryun❨侖❩’, solely under the pretext of unification, and even those have effectively ceased for over 300 years now. Since then, the foreign invasions experienced by the Eastern Peninsula have amounted to nothing more than minor banditry by native warlords of the Western Continent near the border and pirates from the Far Eastern Archipelago. They say stagnant water rots. The Eastern Peninsula’s military strength must be appalling.

― So, that ritual of theirs is a show staged in hopes that we will get cold feet and back down?

― That is correct. That very ritual is proof that the enemies have grown desperate. If their military were strong, why on earth would they stage such a filthy show?

― Now I see you are deaf.

The old ruler snorted.

― Did you not hear a single word the guards were saying until just a moment ago? Who here does not know that the enemies’ military strength is weak? What we are concerned about is the fanatical resistance of the enemy citizens. The enemies’ army may be under one hundred thousand, but their citizens number twenty million.

― But Your Majesty, I have encountered quite a few refugees from the ‘Country of God’ who occasionally crossed over to the Continent. They were far from being fanatics. They knew nothing at all about the blood ritual either. Isn’t that suspicious?

The young snake added in a clear tone:

― Who is the side that does not want a war to happen? It is not us, but them. They are merely struggling desperately to delay the war by even a single moment. If we keep dithering here, mesmerized by the ritual, we will suffer great disaster due to the burden of ballooning military expenditures, infectious diseases, and plunging morale…

― I agree with Father’s view.

Someone cut off the young snake’s words and stepped forward. It was Muk Cheongyeong, the sixth son of the old ruler.

― The Lee Hwa lineage that rules the ‘Country of God’ is notorious for carrying out idol worship policies. In particular, I heard that the current Lee Hwa, who ascended the throne 40 years ago, is evaluated as the worst tyrant in history. As he aged and grew anxious about maintaining power, he might have recently devised a new form of idol worship. If the goal is to tighten discipline among the lower ranks, the blood ritual is neatly explained.

― Precisely. You at least exercise proper judgment.

At his son’s flattery, the old king nodded, then cast a scolding glance at the young snake.

― It is said that once people are brainwashed by religion, they wouldn’t notice even if lightning struck right beside them. Even rivers and mountains change in just 10 years. Human hearts are no different from reeds, so 5 years is more than enough to brainwash citizens into fanatics.

The young snake quietly held his tongue and stepped back. Suddenly, an officer rushed in flusteredly.

― Forgive the intrusion during the meeting. It’s a propaganda flyer that the enemies just scattered across the border line. The contents are extremely suspicious, so I brought it.

― What is it that you’re making such a fuss about?

Taking the flyer, the old ruler’s eyes narrowed and twisted.

A week ago, the snakes had produced leaflets stating that if the leaders of the Eastern Peninsula surrendered on their own, they would show mercy and appoint them as governors, scattering them across the border line. This propaganda flyer was the answer to that. The statement of King Lee Hwa, who ruled the northern part of the Eastern Peninsula, was printed on the flyer.

…And so, our great God rebuked the ignorant enemies, saying,

“The king of the snakes regards me as a naive 17th-century American Indian. The Indians thought that land was merely land with no master and ended up helplessly falling prey to the invaders, but I am different. The moment the snakes set foot on our land, I already foresaw what acts they would commit. Since I am a fast-calculating, treacherous old man with not much time left to live, they will have to work much harder if they wish to reduce me to a traitor.”

And,

“Did you dare chatter that if we hand over this land, you would build roads and erect hospitals to help us? Before worrying about another nation’s affairs, the king of the snakes should look after his own citizens first.”

Our great God let out a deep sigh and added,

“I worry only about my own country. Even so, 24 hours in a day are not enough. Why does the king of the snakes—whose land is vast and population is large compared to here, leaving him with far less time than me—bother worrying about another nation?”

Lastly, our great God said:

“Because he angered me, let the king of the snakes pay the price. Over the next year, four major earthquakes will occur in the land of the snakes, resulting in 240,000 casualties. If the king of the snakes is wise, even now he should bow politely and seek wisdom from this old man. Immediately after the king of the snakes reads this text, the ‘Land of the Sun and Moon’ will invade the land of the snakes, and…”