Chapter 177

The manufacturing of phosgene is relatively straightforward.

And a few cattle.

As soon as the delegation from Chinguk arrived at the empire, they witnessed a demonstration of chemical weapons. For a while, the envoys from Chinguk silently stared at the dead livestock without saying a word.

No one scolded or questioned me about any breach of etiquette.

“Lord Alan, please escort the envoys of Chinguk to their lodgings so they can rest from their journey…”

“Let’s wait a moment.”

In my judgment, what they needed was not rest.

The envoys had urgently traveled to the empire to end the war. Previously, a delegation of over three hundred members accompanied by numerous valuable goods came to plead for a pardon for Anais.

But this delegation was pitifully small.

Including the guards, there were fewer than thirty of them.

They all seemed to still be in shock.

It could have been due to the revelation of chemical weapons, worry about our hostile attitude, or simply exhaustion from being threatened by me.

This state of ambiguous standoff continued for a while.

“Let’s begin the negotiation.”

The interpreter of Chinguk said weakly.

A request to skip rest and hospitality entirely and begin negotiations immediately.

Naturally, it was accepted. Though our motives might differ, my desire to finish quickly matched theirs.

Thus, the negotiation began.

The rough content had already been remotely adjusted between Chinguk’s protocol office and the empire’s foreign office.

What was left was to negotiate the specifics in order to draft the treaty.

This treaty would redefine the relations between the two countries; thus, it was a rather important process. I merely observed from the sidelines, watching the disputes between officials over the wording mediated by interpreters.

“Let’s record this not as a concession zone but as a residential zone.”

“Why?”

“It’s just a matter of naming it. We will ensure that your assigned consul will have full administrative control. It’s difficult to explain and manage the concept of a concession zone to the populace, so we ask this favor.”

“I’m sorry, but we lack the authority to accept that request. We are here following the orders of Her Highness, the heiress. Perhaps Lord Alan has such authority.”

“Ah, no, forget it.”

The negotiation regarding the ports to be established in the form of concession zones.

“Please return all of the Gang-hon-san in our country.”

“Return?”

“We must…! If you continue to sell Gang-hon-san while we’re making a peace treaty, how can we agree?”

“Even Lord Alan’s effort can’t recall the already distributed supply, but there won’t be any additional shipments.”

“Ah, then.”

The negotiation regarding the sale of Gang-hon-san, which they dreaded the most.

“Chinguk should declare the severance of diplomatic relations with the Darien Kingdom.”

“Does it have to be an official declaration?”

“Just do it.”

“…”

“The Darien Kingdom has been acting on your orders as a production base and has released Morphine among our farmers, disguising it as fairy dust or Unicorn bone powder. We cannot let that go.”

“We will comply.”

Even severing ties with the Darien Kingdom.

The severance with Chinguk would be a significant blow to Western countries, but I planned to indirectly retaliate against the Darien Kingdom by using Chinguk. It shouldn’t be too burdensome for Chinguk, as they had already distanced themselves from the Darien Kingdom.

From there, the negotiation proceeded smoothly.

The empire’s demands.

Chinguk’s cautious resistance.

Yet shortly accepted.

The negotiation, formally balanced, was nearing its conclusion.

But there was an important prerequisite to officially sign the treaty.

The emperor’s approval? That wasn’t actually necessary, as Edmund III was currently enjoying himself in sightseeing.

It was reported that until half a month ago, he was enjoying hot springs in Longkenny Prefecture, but now he’s staying on the territory of Lord Dunbar in the nearby area, visiting historical relics of a thousand-year-old fallen kingdom and watching cockfighting leisurely.

He was no longer the ruler.

To be honest, approval wasn’t needed — the emperor had left the national seal with the state.

‘Victoria entrusted me with full authority.’

I had separate demands from Chinguk.

Announced internally, a matter shared only by a few leaders of both countries.

Pausing for a moment, I spoke.

“Did you bring it?”

Upon this, officials from both sides halted the conversation and stared at me. The faces of the Chinguk envoys were filled with fear, while our officials displayed tension — both parties feared me, though to different extents.

“Chairman, did we miss something?”

“Not at all… I have one request made privately to the Empress Dowager of Chinguk. If Chinguk has agreed, you must have brought an imperial edict sealed with the jade seal. I’d like to receive it before the signing ceremony.”

My announcement made the Chinguk envoys exchange glances.

Soon enough, they handed me a scroll.

An elegant scroll made of high-quality matzi material, adorned with silk.

It was the Empress Dowager’s edict.

Officially, only the treaty would be published, but what I truly required was this edict.

Its contents were concise.

[Upon request by the empire and the chairman of the Privy Council, the Prince Fuxin Wang Tang Houyi is to ascend the throne.]

That was all.

Prince Fuxin was the member of Chinguk’s royal family chosen by the Empress based on my advice. His consort was reported to be a close friend of the Empress.

We documented our involvement in Chinguk’s imperial succession and their acceptance of our demands through this edict. Though the content was simple, for Chinguk, it was practically handing over the leash.

If this were revealed, the throne’s legitimacy, and that of its successors, would soon be shaken.

‘This will suffice.’

I safeguarded the edict, letting out a brief sigh.

The Chinguk envoys alternated between staring at my face and the edict in my hand, with complex expressions.

They likely had a rough idea of its contents, but no one resisted.

I knew their lack of opposition didn’t signify a deficiency in loyalty but rather their desire to save Chinguk from my narcotics.

**

Gained nothing.

Not only that, but they couldn’t even offer a proper objection and accepted all demands from the empire.

‘Is this how it ends?’

Grand Secretary Han Hokeung felt his spirit collapsing as he helplessly stared at the treaty document, thoroughly revised and completed before stepping foot in the empire.

Of course, this outcome was somewhat anticipated even before the negotiation began. The situation was already set with victory and defeat determined.

Still, it was far too one-sided.

“Grand Secretary Han?”

Even upon hearing the vice-envoy’s call, Han Hokeung couldn’t bring himself to respond.

His mind was continuously consumed by thoughts.

Among them were old memories from nearly fifty years ago.

Back when Han Hokeung was a young staff officer in the Ministry of Rites.

One of the tributary states had sent a memorial petition six times in a single year.

They pleaded to correct the records in Chinguk’s legal texts, claiming their country’s history had been misrepresented and sought amendment.

Han Hokeung harshly treated them each time during their meetings.

He severely reprimanded those who attempted to bribe him, publicly disgracing and dismissing them.

Even when elders prostrated themselves and pitifully pleaded, he ignored them completely.

This wasn’t out of malice; it was the era where discipline for vassal states was maintained by the court. He never accepted bribes and took pride in this, unlike his colleagues in the Ministry of Rites.

‘Why do these memories arise?’

Han Hokeung questioned himself, already knowing the answer.

It was because he finally understood the despair of those envoys from the small state who couldn’t achieve any results and returned home helplessly.

Such a day had seemed unimaginable, yet here it was.

“Grand Secretary.”

“I’m aware.”

Han Hokeung briefly answered and looked at the foe once more.

Alan Medoff was also looking at him.

He was probably asking why he was delaying this final signature with his look. It was almost a relief that he wasn’t pressing further.

He was honestly afraid of this man, though acknowledging that would be a lie.

But before signing the treaty, he had one last plea, even knowing that appeals would likely fall on deaf ears.

“I’ve heard of a place called Posan County, where the first Gang-hon-san addicts appeared.”

“They’ve established a place known as the ‘Zombie Strip’. Though it started in Posan County, it formed naturally as addicts from three neighboring counties gathered. We initially thought you ordered it, but it turns out it wasn’t your doing.”

“The county magistrate judged that gathering them in one place would make control easier.”

“Because it’s possible to obtain Gang-hon-san easily there, and the addicts can indulge without concern of being noticed, more have gathered naturally. Allured only by the narcotics, to obtain narcotics…”

By now, a full ‘Zombie Strip’ or even a ‘Zombie Village’ may have formed.

A place where addicts share their drugs, regular people avoid out of disgust, and addicts sprawl about without any concern for others’ eyes — such a village.

Such a serious area might be the only one in Chinguk, but if more Gang-hon-san is introduced, zombies would soon become commonplace throughout.

“I bow to you to stop this, and the Empress Dowager has made the decision to dethrone His Majesty…”

“So stop selling Gang-hon-san. No, don’t even make it.”

His voice broke, and the rest of the sentence faded into incoherent mumbling. The younger members of the delegation accompanying Han Hokeung had already broken into sorrowful tears. He also wanted to plead about the poisonous gas he’d seen earlier, but he couldn’t.

Because he didn’t know what it was.

Would this plea go unheard?

Alan Medoff nodded, and an additional clause was added to the treaty: “During the thorough implementation of the treaty, the empire will refrain from selling or distributing pentanyls to Chinguk.”

Soon after, the signatures of both sides’ representatives.

“For the perpetual peace and friendship of the two countries, let’s work together.”

It was the moment the drug war concluded.

Of course, not all the scars left by the war would ever vanish.

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