Declaration of Surrender!
The Eastern Alliance had expressed its intention to defect to the Southern Alliance.
Until just yesterday, they had been enemies. For them to suddenly announce unconditional surrender was an utterly shocking and unexpected event.
Even Kim Su-yeon, who received the news via messenger, found it hard to believe.
Naturally, suspicions ran rampant. “This must be Je-gal Hae-sol’s trick.” “It’s definitely a trap.”
But the terms the Eastern Alliance proposed for their submission were so unprecedented that doubts began to fade. (In fact, it was astonishing that they referred to themselves as subordinate rather than allied.)
Among the many conditions, a few stood out:
Every member of the Eastern Alliance, including the Ten Strong, without exception, would come under the Southern Alliance’s command.
Upon surrender, the Eastern Alliance would immediately open all Warp Gates in their controlled cities and transfer control to the Southern Alliance.
The Eastern Alliance would fully comply with the Southern Alliance’s directives regarding activities in Atlanta.
The Southern Alliance could hold some users and clans within the Eastern Alliance as hostages.
If the Southern Alliance wished, the Eastern Alliance would declare war on the Northern Alliance and fight independently.
If the Eastern Alliance faithfully fulfilled these terms, the Southern Alliance guaranteed the safety of its subordinate clans.
Though there was a clause promising safety, it was contingent on the Eastern Alliance’s sincere compliance.
These were staggering terms—terms so one-sided that the Eastern Alliance had essentially surrendered everything.
Moreover, they even said that if Kim Su-yeon approved, their key figures were ready to defect immediately.
Given this, it was no surprise that even the staunchest skeptics fell silent.
In the end, the surrender was accepted the same day, and the Warp Gates connecting the Northern Continent and Atlanta were opened.
As Eastern Alliance users began to appear one after another, the Warp Gates erupted into chaos.
“The Shadow Queen has arrived!”
Until then, Kim Su-yeon had been uncertain, but seeing Ko Yeon-ju in person, she parted her lips slightly in surprise.
About fifty people had crossed over.
They hadn’t even brought a minimal escort.
“Long time no see, Mercenary Lord.”
Ko Yeon-ju strode forward, stopping about ten meters away, and bowed respectfully.
As she lowered her head, everyone behind her bowed in unison.
“Thank you for accepting our urgent request.”
Surrounded by thousands of users, Ko Yeon-ju spoke with remarkable confidence as she announced their surrender.
“Are you really surrendering?”
Kim Su-yeon asked skeptically, one hand resting on her sword’s hilt.
Ko Yeon-ju smiled faintly and suddenly threw something she was holding.
Clang! A heavy sack hit the ground.
“These are the Memoria Stones for all cities except those currently connected by Warp Gates.”
Jung Ha-yeon quickly checked inside the sack.
After a moment, she looked back at Kim Su-yeon and nodded.
“And…”
Next, Ko Yeon-ju pulled out a communication orb from her pocket.
“If you want, we can declare war on the Northern Alliance right now. They’ve probably realized the situation by now… Or you can take the people here as hostages.”
She raised both hands and shrugged.
Kim Su-yeon furrowed her brows.
Ko Yeon-ju wasn’t just talking; she was showing her sincerity through action. There was no choice but to believe her.
Swallowing hard, Kim Su-yeon felt a small tremor in her throat.
After learning the strategy to conquer Terra, she had resolved to persuade the remaining two queens.
Now that the Shadow Queen had come of her own accord, how could she not be pleased?
More importantly, this moment marked a complete collapse of the balance of power.
The Northern Alliance was now effectively isolated.
Though it was hard to understand, this was undeniably good news.
Putting aside the aftermath, no one would turn down such a windfall.
Thinking this, Kim Su-yeon waved her hand lightly.
Immediately, the users who had surrounded them with weapons lowered their hands in unison.
“Good. Let’s go inside and talk.”
Ko Yeon-ju still wore a smile but felt relief inside.
Standing still meant death; even arriving later than the Northern Alliance meant death.
She had gambled everything on an “offer they couldn’t refuse.”
Though the whole process was meant to convince the other side, stepping unarmed into enemy territory required immense courage.
That life-risking gamble had just barely paid off.
Strike first before you get struck.
That was Ko Yeon-ju’s best plan.
Suddenly, Ko Yeon-ju, following Kim Su-yeon, stopped in her tracks.
She glanced to the left and frowned.
Je-gal Hae-sol, sensing her gaze, blinked.
Though she was known for her sharp intellect, her expression now showed complete confusion.
After all, she had teased An-sol as a joke, but now a miracle had actually happened—it was no wonder she was bewildered.
At the same time, she wondered why the Eastern officials led by Ko Yeon-ju were glaring at her as if they wanted to kill her.
“What a surprise. What nerve do you have to show your face here?”
Je-gal Hae-sol’s voice was angry, her expression blank.
Ko Yeon-ju interpreted that look differently.
“Yeah, I like that face. Should’ve thought twice before getting caught.”
“Uh, wait a minute?”
“I’d love to kill you right here and now… but I’m sure you’ve already prepared a Warp.”
“Uh, excuse me?”
“Face reality. You’ve seen it, haven’t you? The South has chosen us, and your balancing act has failed.”
“So—”
“Shut up, you traitor.”
“…!?”
At that moment, Je-gal Hae-sol’s expression shifted rapidly.
More precisely, the instant Ko Yeon-ju called her a “traitor,” her eyes widened, then she lightly clapped her hands as if saying “Ah,” and finally smiled mysteriously as if she understood.
Then, suddenly, she looked utterly devastated.
Her expressions flickered so quickly that no one noticed the changes.
“You two—what are you babbling about all of a sudden?”
“Hah!”
Kim Su-yeon turned her head in confusion just as Je-gal Hae-sol hurriedly cut her off.
“I never expected this… that they’d surrender on such terms!”
Kim Su-yeon looked at Je-gal Hae-sol as if to say, “What are you talking about now?”
“Hmph. Now you’re showing your true colors.”
On the other hand, Ko Yeon-ju growled as if she had expected this.
“Damn it! Why? Why now? If only we’d held on a little longer…!”
“Hoho. Did you think we’d just stand by and take it?”
Ko Yeon-ju sneered at Je-gal Hae-sol’s frustration, then suddenly grew serious.
“This is war now. You’d better be prepared.”
Je-gal Hae-sol wasn’t about to back down.
“…Damn, we got played beautifully.”
“Of course.”
“But Shadow Queen? You’d better not underestimate the Northern Alliance.”
“Well, bark all you want while you still can.”
Je-gal Hae-sol spat out her bitter resentment, then before anyone could say a word, she hastily activated her Warp ability.
With a pop, she vanished like a splash of water.
Ko Yeon-ju, trailing shadows behind her, licked her lips with a hint of regret.
Meanwhile, those who understood the situation seemed to realize the true meaning behind Je-gal Hae-sol’s actions.
Kim Su-yeon’s eyes grew as wide as lanterns, and Kim Su-hyun stretched out her hands before clutching her head.
But the water had already spilled.
At the same time.
This was not the Je-gal Hae-sol who had come from another world, but the Je-gal Hae-sol under the Holy Queen’s command, drenched in sweat.
Her eyes stared intently at the desk, and her hand holding a quill never stopped drawing.
How much time had passed?
Suddenly, the quill stopped moving.
At the same moment, Je-gal Hae-sol let out a cry of triumph.
“It’s done!”
She straightened up, revealing a massive magic circle that filled the entire table.
Though she had drawn it herself, the complexity and grandeur of the design made her heart race with excitement.
Despite many trials and errors, Je-gal Hae-sol was convinced this was the secret weapon to send away the mysterious user.
How much effort and care had she poured into this design?
Days and nights spent sleepless, using all her abilities, this was the result of her full power.
If she could just implement it properly…
She could already vividly imagine what would happen when the circle was activated.
Of course, she couldn’t guarantee it would work perfectly in battle or even be effective…
“But if it’s too easy, it wouldn’t be fun.”
Anticipating variables and preparing for them was part of the thrill.
Je-gal Hae-sol stretched with all her might.
She hadn’t left the room or allowed anyone in while preparing this.
Now that it was complete, it was time to go out.
Humming a tune, she flung open the door.
“?”
And there they were.
The Ten Strong users of the Northern Alliance lined up before her.
And Yu Hyun-ah, wearing a very sad expression.
Perhaps sensing the strange, subdued atmosphere, Je-gal Hae-sol blinked a few times and opened her mouth—
When, with a sharp whoosh, a spear tip was pressed against the nape of her neck.
Bandahyi, radiating a fierce and ominous aura, glared straight at him like a vengeful spirit.
“W-what do you think you’re doing?”
“We trusted you.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Then explain yourself.”
Her words were abrupt and made no sense.
But her voice was so charged with anger it felt like it could explode at any moment—this was no joke.
Jegal Haesol remained calm and spoke evenly.
“Explain? What explanation? We just barely finished it.”
“Finished? Finished what?”
“The magic formation.”
“Magic formation?”
Jegal Haesol gestured around the room.
Bandahyi glanced inside and scoffed.
“Oh, so it’s a magic formation designed to blow up our own allies?”
“What did you say?”
“Or maybe it’s a formation to assist with long-distance warping?”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
Finally, Jegal Haesol raised his voice.
Bandahyi clenched her fists, clearly fed up.
“Do you even know what’s happening outside right now?”
“Why? Has the East betrayed us or something?”
At that moment, reading the expression on Bandahyi’s face, Jegal Haesol swallowed hard.
Stammering, he said, “R-really? Why?”
“Really… You’re going to deny it to the very end, huh?”
Bandahyi spat the words as if she were looking at a filthy piece of trash, then suddenly hurled a glowing blue orb with all her might.
The orb struck Jegal Haesol squarely in the chest.
“What’s this…?”
“It’s a recording orb. A declaration of war sent from the East.”
The voice came from Yoo Hyun-ah.
Her tone was thick with accusation, her voice trembling.
In truth, Yoo Hyun-ah’s eyes were brimming with tears.
Jegal Haesol was left speechless.
One baffling event after another had unfolded.
In the end, instead of arguing back, he chose to pick up the orb.
Clearing his confused mind, he slowly began to channel his magic into it.
A moment later—
“Uh…”
Staring blankly at the footage, Jegal Haesol muttered—
“…Fuck.”
It was the first curse he’d uttered since being summoned to the Hole Plain.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
System: Royujin is slowly starting to come to his senses!