Chapter 141: Korea (1)

Of course no one would believe it. Appearing out of the blues, self-styling as some Galactic Emperor, and claiming dominion over Earth? Taking that seriously would be like shouting “Status Window” while jumping in front of a truck in real life.

Especially coming from a lunatic who spouted this kind of nonsense.

[I do hope you’ll entertain me.]

Anyone who believed him definitely needed their head examined. But people could not simply ignore it…

-How is this happening? The communication network’s been breached?

-I-I don’t understand it myself…

-We can’t restore control!

Hijacking the world’s entire communication infrastructure, all by himself?

-If they go through these defenses…

-Even after shutting down the servers…

-How did this happen? You know our security level! It’s top-secret—

-This is technically impossible!

While individuals might scoff, institutions were breaking into cold sweats. This comprehensive cyber assault targeted everything indiscriminately—banks, corporations, governments, all of it. In this day and age… How was this even possible?

This was not something to dismiss. The average person could not fathom just how dependent modern society was on its networks and data. Simply erasing a single bank’s records would cause unimaginable damage. And this hacker could paralyze not just one nation, but the entire world.

-Identify them immediately!

-Get security in here!

-What’s our damage assessment?

-There might be traces! Check everything!

-Ohh….

-Launch an immediate investigation!

Those who understood the implications were terrified. And as details about the hacker emerged, their confusion only deepened.

-So… you’re saying it’s a monster?

-But it looked completely human…

-Sure, humanoid monsters exist, but still…

-A wandering hidden boss? Wasn’t that all nonsense?

-A boss monster came out of the Tower?

It strained belief. The whole world knew Korea alone was failing to break through the 50th floor. And now the wandering hidden boss responsible had waltzed out of the Tower to cause this disaster.

Yet, some welcomed the situation.

-This is actually our chance. We must secure it for the nation!

-The Items from that Tower clearly show traces of a civilization far beyond ours. Deploy an investigation team at once!

-Party limits might apply inside the Tower, but out here…

-That’s not all. We even have artillery at the ready.

The extraordinary nature of Korea’s hidden boss rewards was common knowledge.

With America’s recent breakthrough in Item research hitting pay dirt, interest had skyrocketed. And now the source of that fortune had strolled out of the Tower on its own.

-This is divine providence!

-Ohh! Indeed! Such technology explains these impossible feats!

-Hahaha! The Korean government’s protests? Ignore them!

-Threaten to cut off their mana stone supply unless they open their airports immediately.

-This will advance humanity by decades!

-Hahaha!

They were bent on acquiring this advanced technology.

***-Halt! Halt! Halt!

That was the first greeting Karlstein received the moment he emerged from the Tower.

-Hands up, and don’t move!

“Mm?”

Stepping out to find himself surrounded, he wondered if this was some kind of welcome party.

“Word spreads quickly, doesn’t it? Oh, maybe those lurkers had something to do with it.”

Naturally, Team Supreme’s vanished life signals had played their part too, though he could not have known that.

“How is everyone today? I am the Galactic Emperor. I have come to establish diplomatic relations with the Earth of this—“

Although he introduced himself with a bright smile…

“Listen up, monster! You are surrounded. Comply with our instructions quietly.”

“Huh?”

Why the sudden hostility? And monster? That’s rather hurtful y’know.

“Fail to raise your hands and release the hostages immediately, and we open fire.”

“Ah… you mean these folks?”

Karlstein glanced back at Kim Ayoung and the other Hunters awkwardly standing behind him. He had descended the Tower smoothly thanks to them.

“They’re not exactly hostages though?”

But the brigadier general at the front, megaphone in hand, seemed convinced otherwise.

“If you want dialogue, release the hostages first.”

They’re not hostages… but his tone is really bringing out the rebel in me.

“And if I refuse?”

“Then we have nothing to discuss.”

Hm. Something about that attitude…

“You seem to think I’m the one who should be desperate here.”

“Quite the windbag, aren’t we?”

Hah, seriously? And I’m what now? A windbag?

Karlstein shook his head. His measured responses had clearly led to some misunderstandings.

In truth, his attempt at peaceful conversation had a simple explanation.

There’s nothing I can do here until Perpe arrives.

So until then, he merely wanted to peacefully(?) explore this universe’s Korea.

Of course, he did initially consider some aggressive entertainment, but dismissed the notion. Conquering a planet like this would serve no purpose, and there was no need to waste energy causing pointless chaos. He had planned on reasonable negotiation and doing some sightseeing afterward.

“Haha. We heard the reports, but to think a mere monster could really speak human language.”

The brigadier general’s rigid posture relaxed, his expression growing more comfortable.

A mere monster…. Does he think my calm responses indicate fear?

Karlstein surveyed his surroundings. Countless gun barrels and artillery pieces targeted him, while Hunters lurked between them, eyes sharp with hostility.

“Mm.”

“Well? Does even a monster feel fear? You seem deeply troubled.”

“Ah, yes. I am troubled, in a way.”

“Haha. That’s right. Every living being naturally feels fear.”

“…”

It seemed one of them had noticed Karlstein’s displeasure. A large middle-aged man walked out from the encirclement.

“That’s enough, Division Commander. Isn’t it just a monster in the end?”

“Are you defying the Association President’s orders? I ask that you leave this to the military.”

“Haha. It’s not like we can trust its words anyway.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“Shouldn’t we first create the right environment for proper dialogue?”

“…But no one has ever successfully defeated a hidden boss.”

“Well that’s because of the Tower entry limit.”

“…”

“But that’s not the case out here. And since it left the Tower…”

Shing-

The large middle-aged man drew the greatsword from his back.

“Isn’t this our chance?”

Hunters began to step out one by one behind him, their numbers swelling to about a hundred. Their eyes gleamed with murderous intent, fitting for those who killed for a living. But behind that gleam lay a universal emotion—greed.

“When else would we get a chance to defeat it?”

“I’d say it’s doable with our current forces.”

“The boss drops Items just from encounters. Imagine the rewards for actually beating it.”

“Isn’t there even a massive bounty on hidden bosses?”

“Does that apply to this one too?”

“The government will handle that probably.”

“Plus, don’t we have military support fire? I doubt they’ll just stand idle.”

“Hahaha.”

The Hunters’ eyes gleamed as they sized up Karlstein, who responded with a simple nod.

“Yeah. Done thinking.”

“Thinking?”

He felt it unnecessarily to even bother answering.

Time to party. The hard way.

Bzzt-

As if on cue, the background task he had been working on reached completion.

Bzzzt-

Karlstein grinned, making an announcement to the crowd.

[I am Karlstein Babylon, Emperor of the Galactic Empire.]

[Starting now, I’m taking over Earth.]

Yeah. As they suggested, I should create the right environment for ‘dialogue’ first.

Karlstein’s eyes flashed.

***[Breaking News: Korea’s Hidden Boss Now Targeting China?]

[Two-Day Damage Estimate Exceeds 1,000 Trillion]

[Hidden Boss ‘Karlstein Babylon’: What Is His Purpose?]

[Karlstein’s First Move: Korean Politicians Purged? “Empty the Blue House!”]

[Korean Hunter Army Decimated. What Happened That Day When Casualties Exceeded 1,000?]

[Karlstein Babylon Asks “Where Should I Play Next?” -Analysis Inside]

[What Is A Wandering Hidden Boss?]

The media’s constant coverage made it impossible to ignore: Korea, already in decline, had finally hit rock bottom. Yet contrary to the media’s doom-mongering, Korea continued functioning normally.

It defied logic. How could things run smoothly after such upheaval? Even after all high-ranking officials and administrative heads were ousted overnight, within a matter of days?

[Well. Just follow instructions, all you need to do. No need for top brass.]

The Anarchy System appeared on every electronic device in Korea overnight. It was essentially an AI management system for futuristic communism.

Two days after Karlstein Babylon’s emergence, the nation’s foundation had transformed. Every Korean had to know about the Anarchy System. After Karlstein’s broadcast—which was effectively a declaration of war—it auto-launched with every computer startup.

Surprisingly, public opinion online was not particularly bad.

ㄴis this really okay? can we just continue like this?

ㄴye its fr…. jus gotta follow orders.

ㄴthought earth was done for at first tbh.

ㄴsaw him at the mart, he actually said hello!

ㄴlol for real?

ㄴYeah… so I said hi back. Surreal moment.

ㄴisnt he sightseeing in china now?

ㄴsightseeing lmao more like going around destroying errything.

ㄴBut can the country really function like this?

ㄴah whatevs. it’ll handle it prolly. that anarchy thing ykno?

ㄴmah mind is blown yo… how’s a country run without politicians?

ㄴJust think of it as AI running the country.

ㄴI’m in disbelief BECAUSE it’s so perfect yo.

ㄴlol I’m a 6th grade civil servant… it’s wild. just doing what the System tells me to like they’re quests and everything runs smoother…

ㄴplus the work quests are personalized with different rewards.

ㄴQuests? Then what if you don’t work?

ㄴif ur backlog stacks, your bank balance drops real-time….

ㄴseems like… the financial network was completely taken over from the start.

ㄴBasically, ur bank balance goes up the more u work, and goes down the less u do.

ㄴThe workload’s actually pretty reasonable… and there’s especially no room for slacking.

ㄴfak….

ㄴTHE AI GOVERNANCE ERA IS UPON US.

Korea was evolving in a rather strange direction.