Chapter 457
The meeting started with an order from Jonathan. The doors of the conference room had been locked all this time and were now open. The members started taking their seats. There was a slight noise during the process, and it was natural to see mixed expressions of joy and sorrow on their faces.
There was an obvious hierarchy. Their seats symbolized their positions, and there had been quite a lot of seat changes compared to the last meeting. Being closer to the seat of authority meant having more rights to voice one’s opinions, and that was an unspoken rule. The first row directly faced the seat of authority, so the seats there were the fixed spots for the closest confidants.
! Last meeting (Row 1): Daniel, Jessica, Gillian, Jonathan (Absent), Joshua (Absent), Brian Kim, Jamie - Total 7 seats
However, even the first row had changes in this meeting.
! This meeting (Row 1): Daniel, Gililan, Brian Kim, Lee Tae-Han, Jamie, Lipeke (New Head of the Karjan Family) - Total 6 seats
Jessica originally occupied a seat in the first row, but was now demoted to the fifth row. Even with the addition of Lee Tae-Han, the Chairman of the World Awakened a.s.sociation, as a new member, the first row had one less seat due to the absence of the authority figure.
But above all, the members did not understand why Jessica had been demoted to the fifth row, which was generally occupied by members who were deemed somewhat significant. What was even more incomprehensible was Jessica’s demeanor as she humbly accepted her demotion. She was sitting quietly in an oversized dress, probably due to the chilly weather and her pregnant belly, without uttering a single word.
On the other hand, the members had a lot to take in just from the seating arrangement. It was noteworthy that the current US president had been promoted to the second row, and that the Rothschild, a traditional club member, was nowhere to be found in the conference room.
New figures had taken absolute control of the club as He had demoted Jessica and promoted the US president. Now, none of the members could deny that no one in the room was Jonathan Hunter. He was now a completely different ent.i.ty from the past. He was now the King of h.e.l.l.
***
While all the members were looking at the still-empty seat of authority, recalling what had happened to the King of h.e.l.l during the hearing…
“...!”
The commotion began when a member received a message from an external confidant. It spread quickly from one person to the next, then from one row to another. At one point, everyone was agitatedly looking at their phones, and the video that Jonathan had uploaded was playing on their screen.
「The Truth
Johnathan Hunter. 30K Views. 15 minutes ago」
The footage clearly captured the troops of various elf species pouring out from the gate. Gillian was also watching it. The shocking thing was Jonathan’s resolution to reveal the current state of outer s.p.a.ce to the ma.s.ses and not the brutality from the format as if it was combined with thousands of snuff films.
Gillian, engulfed in thought, glanced to the side out of habit. There was Daniel, not his wife Jessica. Gillian tried to start a conversation with him, but decided not to. Although this was not the first time Daniel was facing the reality of outer s.p.a.ce, he was too immersed by the video.
It seemed like he would never hear anything Gillian said. Therefore, Gillian turned his head in the opposite direction toward Brian Kim.
“It hasn’t been long since he posted this. Did you know about it?”
“I haven’t heard anything either.”
Both Gillian and Brian Kim felt the same way. They were at a loss for words. No matter how much the club and the World Awakened a.s.sociation were trying to control the world, it was impossible to muzzle all the rumors.
The inhumane incidents happening in the other world were already being spread secretly. For instance, how the Awakened treated the Greenwood natives, who were biologically identical to humans.
However, it was another issue that the situation in outer s.p.a.ce was being disclosed to the ma.s.ses as the conflicts escalated into a great war. It was the first time that it was revealed that the corps of outer s.p.a.ce also used the gate. Not only did it imply the possibility of the second Day of Advent, but also the fact that this clip was publicly released was amplifying people’s anxiety.
“This is the first time an elf queen has left the court in their history. Especially if the place is the battlefield of the shabby Greenwood Continent…”
Gillian and Brian Kim turned their gaze to where the voice came from. Jamie, who was sitting in the same row, also looked at the speaker with a surprised expression. It was Daniel, who usually was very reticent and never revealed his own opinions as a disciple of Gillian. But he was now speaking as if he was well-versed in the matters of outer s.p.a.ce.
“Outer s.p.a.ce is already in the midst of a great war, but we must consider the scenario of it spreading even further. The fact that the queen of the elves is personally partic.i.p.ating in the war means…”
“Wait, Daniel. How do you know all this?”
Daniel responded, “I also manage an Awakened group, so I hear things, too.”
Gillian felt something strange about Daniel, who was somehow different than usual, but he couldn’t ask any further.
Screech-
It was because the door through which the owner of the seat of power would enter was opening.
“It is an honor to meet you, the King of h.e.l.l.”
“It is an honor to meet you, the King of h.e.l.l.”
“It is an honor to meet you, the King of h.e.l.l.”
All members simultaneously stood up. Jonathan appeared, accompanied by Lee Tae-Han, who served almost like his secretary. While Lee Tae-han naturally took his seat, Jonathan took his place on the dais. None of the members felt any void from his absence because of the aura the King of h.e.l.l was emanating.
“As you all know, I have been chosen as the successor to the seat. I declare that it is my mission to protect the order established by Odin. You all must know what I have been doing on my way here. Many of you might have thought the agenda of this meeting would be ‘The Second Day of Advent,’ but I announce that we are not a.s.suming such a worst-case scenario.”
The room was silent except for the King of h.e.l.l.
“There are transcendental beings beyond our comprehension in the macro world, and wars that determine the fate of our universe, including our world, are taking place here and there. If you recall where and how the clothes you wear, the food you eat, and all the benefits you enjoy originated, you will understand why I do not a.s.sume the second Day of Advent.”
The King of h.e.l.l then swallowed before continuing, “Odin. This all a.s.sumes if his lonely fight leads to victory. Otherwise, humanity must be prepared to regress to a Stone Age civilization, starting with this meeting. From now on, we will offer sincere silent prayers to him and at the beginning of each meeting.”
Jonathan’s last word worked like an absolute command. As if his voice contained such power, all members simultaneously closed their eyes. The room was enveloped in silence without even the sound of breathing. It was an absolute silence, resembling a solemn ritual of some secret religion.
***
“Stop.”
Jonathan sat down on the throne after saying that.
“Everyone may be seated.”
This was a scene Sun, the actual owner of the throne, should have been seeing. He had worked for twenty years to create this. The 128 members, including bankers, entrepreneurs, politicians, international organization operators, military generals, and now even the Chairman of the World Awakened a.s.sociation, were all of different races, genders and ages. However, none of them cou;d greatly influence the fate of not only their own countries but also neighboring countries with just a signature.
There was not an ounce of shame in their obedience to the throne. After the Eastern Bloc, which used to be traditional obstacles for the club, fell in line after China’s collapse due to the IMF crisis, the throne had truly become the most powerful authority in the world. What Jonathan was witnessing was a scene only the [Conqueror of Earth] could see.
Jonathan did not know what distant future awaited the club, but he was certain of one thing. As the owner of the throne, this was the pinnacle where the strongest power was concentrated in him. Even if a rebellion arose from below, it would easily be quelled with the dual swords known as the Jonathan Investment Finance Group and Gillian Investment Finance Group in his hands. Since all members knew this, they did not dare to harbor any doubts.
Jonathan clenched his teeth. This was an establishment of a single world nation sustained by a single flag, not just a shadow government. He felt like the throne under his b.u.t.tocks seemed to be br.i.m.m.i.n.g with such temptation. He wondered how Sun had resisted such a temptation.
Jonathan closed and opened his eyes as he had just done during the silent prayer. Then, he opened his mouth.
“Lee Tae-Han.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“How many Awakened still remain?”
“There are ninety-thousand, including the unregistered Awakened.”
Bang!
Jonathan became furious. “Is it because of the lack of leaders.h.i.+p? Or has the a.s.sociation gone mad?”
Avoiding entry into a great war was inevitable. Lee Tae-Han had many excuses, but he couldn’t utter a word. Even though the King of h.e.l.l didn’t actually use his skills, it felt like his intense heat was emanating from the throne.
At the same time, he was relieved that he wasn’t a.s.signed to the same stage with the King of h.e.l.l during the Stage of Advent. He was certain that he would not have survived if that was the case.
“You must have realized why I urgently called you in. The situation in outer s.p.a.ce is not irrelevant to our mainland, even if we do not a.s.sume the second Stage of Advent will happen. I think everyone here can understand that. That is why. The existing doctrine can be adjusted according to the situation to protect Odin’s order. Freedom granted to the Awakened will be conditionally revoked, Lee Tae-Han.”
“...I will prepare new decrees promptly.”
Jonathan s.h.i.+fted his gaze from Lee Tae-Han to the other members.
“Except for the minimum manpower needed for contingencies and those who must stay on this land for unavoidable reasons, all Awakened should be deployed to the battlefield in outer s.p.a.ce. You must cooperate unconditionally and take strong action against those who refuse the a.s.sociation’s rules.”
Jonathan was telling them to use every means to follow the new order. He didn’t care if they had to freeze Awakened accounts, or not only strip them of their members.h.i.+p in the a.s.sociation but also revoke their citizens.h.i.+p and make them eternal fugitives. His strong actions seemed to include ordering each military’s special forces to receive Awakened stimulants and prepare a permanently dedicated unit to deal with any Awakened who fled or were unregistered.
The members focused on Jonathan’s words.
“The ma.s.ses are in shock right now. They, too, will have to pay the price for knowing the reality. They must have realized that fear is not too far away. From now on, this meeting will start to address issues we have been postponing due to public scrutiny.”
The room was silent.
“Don’t hesitate to present your opinions on matters other than the remaining Awakened. Starting from the members in the front row.”
That was when the members felt that the King of h.e.l.l’s ruling style was somewhat different while still resembling his leaders.h.i.+p.