“Let’s eat while we talk.”
Viktor said this and gestured toward the table.
On the table were various dishes, each adorned with elaborate presentations. At the center rested what appeared to be a roasted whole animal of some unknown kind, its size immense.
“Koreans love rice so much, don’t they? So I prepared pullop.”
Viktor slid a bowl toward Jinseong. Inside was something akin to fried rice, made not from the ordinary short-grain rice typical of Korea, but from a long-grain variety that looked much lighter and more slender.
In Russia, this kind of rice, known as индика (indika), was being referred to.
“And since I was treated to meat at the amusement park, I also prepared some meat. The last time, you said it was capybara cuisine, right? I thought about duplicating that, but…”
Viktor chuckled as he continued.
“This Viktor, mighty Viktor, considered it beneath him, trivial. Merely returning what was given wouldn’t be accepted by me, nor by the Russian blood that flows in this body. Therefore, I roasted an entire sheep and stuffed it with a special dish made from its innards before sealing it all up.”
Viktor then grabbed the roasted head of the sheep lying on the table, twisted it sharply, and pulled it off with ease. Within moments, he cleanly dismembered the flesh and flung the skull in the direction of the kitchen.
“Let’s start with the head. In Mongolia, it’s customary to offer the head of a sheep to honored guests. Though neither you nor I are Tartars…”
Viktor scooped half of the roasted meat and handed it to Jinseong, a smirk playing on his lips.
The expression silently implied, “Don’t you understand without being told?”
Jinseong chuckled softly and took a piece of the meat. Then, simultaneously, both men took a bite. This action was symbolic of Viktor knowing what was to be done as president and subtly hinted at the inevitable tragedy that would follow his ascension to the presidency.
—
Mongolia.
A beacon of destruction and conquest.
Rewarding those who submit.
Inflicting terrible retribution on those who resist.
The Viktor from before the regression had demonstrated behavior akin to the great khans of old. Fueled by the ambition to recreate Russia’s former glory, he mobilized vast armies to conquer neighboring countries. If they refused to surrender, they faced ruthless massacres. Those who submitted were recognized as fellow Russians, but even a single act of defiance triggered “special treatment” in the form of “re-education.”
And if resistance or rebellion broke out…
Entire cities were annihilated.
Much like the ancient khans, he sought to prevent the roots of rebellion.
And his methods were nothing short of spectacular.
Nuclear weapons.
In the days of the Soviet Union, they had amassed a stockpile of nuclear warheads. Now, Viktor had no qualms about detonating them one after another.
Of course, it hadn’t always been this way. Initially, during the early stages of the war, nuclear weapons were avoided — partly out of deference to the United States and partly because of the “red nation alliance,” which held a significant arsenal of biological weaponry. However, when the alliance used germs against Russian special forces, Russia responded immediately, unleashing its nuclear arsenal without hesitation.
And thus…
A massive mushroom cloud began to rise across the Earth.
Wherever armies congregated?
A nuclear strike.
Whenever a grand ritual of magic took place?
Nuclear bombs obliterated the altars, ingredients, and shamans.
As for the demon power research institutes?
They would send spies first. If the security was too tight, they’d simply deploy special units to detonate nuclear satchels.
Naturally, such actions drew sanctions from other nations.
But sanctions require peace, and peace requires one’s own problems to be resolved first. The world was engulfed in chaos, and no major power had the capacity to intervene in Russia.
Japan was at war with Korea, while China claimed the chaos heralded the return of the Mandate of Heaven and launched its own conquests. In Germany, Nazism had reemerged in the former East Germany. France saw the rise of a deranged group that reinstated the monarchy, plunging the country into disarray.
Belgium fell into civil war following a racial discrimination incident. Italy broke into internal conflict after the north declared independence from the south. The UK, seeking to restore its past glory, caused countless conflicts domestically, igniting even more disputes.
The United States too was too distracted to meddle in Russia.
A lunatic wizard declared that humanity must be governed solely by machines, devoid of emotions and controlled by laws alone. Texas, Alabama, and South Carolina seceded to form a new southern confederation. There were racial tensions flaring everywhere. Hawaii even witnessed the rise of a self-proclaimed royal family which declared independence and sought ties with China.
Additionally, countless madmen attacked America, boasting about their ability to control and dominate its collective emotions.
Russia had no room for intervention.
And as time went by, the madness only grew worse.
Wizards who had abandoned all ethics and morals conducted horrific experiments, unleashing disastrous consequences. They created Humanzees — hybrids of humans and chimpanzees — for military purposes. The waves of insanity brought forth countless undead spirits and malevolent entities formed from the resentment of the deceased.
Later, wizards in the Antarctic and Arctic attempted to usher in an ice age. A deranged individual sought to return Earth to its primal state by destroying every artificial satellite. In their attempts to resurrect dragons or fairies from ancient records, they instead birthed grotesque monstrosities.
The world was a veritable hell.
In this inferno, Viktor held power for a long, long time.
After all, charismatic leaders typically emerge in times of chaos.
Viktor possessed an abundance of charisma. His dictatorial nature was framed as decisive leadership, and his authoritarian stance captivated people in a time of turmoil. Though his penchant for war could have been seen as a flaw, the expansion of territory and enrichment of the common citizens transformed it into an asset.
But…
“Nuclear power is powerful but destroys both ancient ruins and records.”
No advantage can benefit everyone.
For Jinseong, nuclear weapons were loathsome. They had obliterated potential ruins and archives that might have contained crucial knowledge about magic he was unaware of.
“Worse still, they didn’t just use regular bombs but buried them deep to devastate the ground completely.”
If conventional nuclear weapons had been used, the deeper ruins and records might have remained intact or at least partially usable, helping alleviate Jinseong’s obsession with magic.
Regrettably, however, Russia’s bombs were specially designed to damage underground bunkers and bases utilized by communist nations. These weapons plunged deep into the ground like bunker-busters before detonating, flipping the earth upside down. In the process, they annihilated not only bunkers but also ancient ruins that were merely in their path.
Yes. Into smithereens. Completely gone.
“You are destined to become a great president. And if you heed my advice, you will restore Russia with vast territory, many citizens, and abundant resources.”
Jinseong did not wish for such horrors to repeat themselves.
The loss of ruins and magical wisdom had to be prevented.
Certainly.
—
—
