Chapter 170

Japan, Tokyo.

Yoshida Hikaru sat behind his desk, deep in a tense discussion with his top aides, Sakura and Shusuke.

A heavy, somber atmosphere filled the room.

“What is our next move? With things as they are, isn’t it safe to conclude that Rachel and Baek Jinwoo are gone for good?”

“The probability is near absolute.”

The leadership in Japan had arrived at a definitive verdict.

The two unparalleled juggernauts were no longer in the picture.

If they were still alive, there was simply no logical reason for a roadblock as minor as Floor 51 to remain unresolved.

“Well…”

Shusuke spoke up, choosing his words with immense caution.

“What if we utilized this moment to align ourselves with Russia?”

“What are you suggesting?”

Sugoi narrowed his eyes, a frown forming on his face.

MoscowMan had reached out with an enticing proposition.

Since Floor 51 of the Tower of Trials was effectively sealed off, why not leave it at that and preserve the current global balance?

Following that, they could divide the geopolitical landscape to their liking, steadily expanding their own authority and reach.

“To be fair, the Russian perspective isn’t entirely baseless, is it? Even if we remain passive, this world is packed with ambitious players looking to seize absolute control.”

In reality—

Shusuke was dwelling on past grievances.

That absolute bastard, Baek Jinwoo.

During the Korea-Japan exhibition match, he had humiliated them by kicking Ryo off the national roster and going as far as issuing direct threats.

So why should anyone grieve?

Truth be told, when these events unfolded, he was secretly thrilled.

“If we proceed under the assumption that Baek Jinwoo and Rachel have vanished permanently, the world transforms into an ownerless mountain.”

An ownerless mountain.

A massive prize waiting for a new ruler.

“Beskoff filling that power vacuum is just a matter of time. Since that outcome is practically guaranteed, wouldn’t it serve our interests better to strike first and ride the wave of change?”

“…”

Hikaru remained quiet, absorbing the words.

The bleak truth was plain—

With those two giants eliminated, he technically stood as the most powerful human left on earth.

“Furthermore, I’ve caught wind that America’s Xenos is fiercely opposing the plan. Beskoff is highly displeased by this resistance. I urge you to think about this. If he chooses to eliminate Xenos, it plays right into our hands as well.”

Hmm.

Hikaru’s gaze grew dark as he plunged into deep thought.

The logic was sound.

As a matter of fact, Beskoff had whispered a secret proposal to him not long ago.

Let us join forces to crush Xenos.

Once that obstacle was removed, the remaining three of the Five Emperors could distribute the global spoils equally.

He hadn’t shared that conversation with his team.

He had dismissed it as a completely reckless gamble.

Yet.

His own subordinates were now bringing up that exact reckless path of their own accord.

And just like that, a decade of companionship begins to splinter.

Slightly over five years spent inside the game.

Roughly four years navigating reality.

Ten years of shared history altogether.

And the sudden demise of Rachel was shattering those bonds completely.

The reigning Japanese political leadership maintained a cooperative facade with America, but the deep-seated historical wounds had never truly healed.

Two nuclear strikes.

From that historic tragedy onward, they had existed under the dominant shadow of America, keeping their heads down.

But the playing field had drastically shifted.

With the transformation of the world, the entire geopolitical architecture was being rewritten from scratch.

“Sakura.”

“Present.”

The woman holding the 13th spot in the global rankings, Shirato Sakura, responded instantly.

“What is your assessment of this?”

“Regardless of minor details, I am convinced that America must be countered and restrained.”

“By partnering with Beskoff?”

“As a strategy for leverage, no better option exists. Historically it was America, and currently England holds the global throne… I want to demonstrate that we possess the strength to match them.”

A long, slow breath escaped him.

Hikaru closed his eyes tight.

When both of his trusted advisors shared the exact same radical outlook…

The underlying reality was that he was fundamentally a reclusive gaming fanatic. Navigating high-stakes global politics was never his strong suit.

Because of that.

This monumental path was not something he could dictate on his own intuition.

“I must consult with the leadership.”

He pushed his chair back and stood up abruptly.

The Prime Minister along with the Chief Cabinet Secretary.

Relying on the calculations of those ruthless, experienced politicians regarding global maneuvers felt like the most secure path forward.

Days blurred together.

The grand coalition gathering was rapidly approaching.

The vast majority of invited parties had locked in their arrival.

England’s seat would be occupied by Gareth Bale, the 8th ranked player globally, acting as an official surrogate.

As for Korea…

They flatly rejected the invitation.

Their reasoning was straightforward: Baek Jinwoo had never formally counted himself among the Five Emperors, nor had he ever truly integrated into their cooperative framework.

Every prominent member of the organization had lined up, desperately trying to change her mind, and even Yu Jia couldn’t maintain her stubborn stance against such overwhelming pushback.

After an agonizing period of contemplation, she arrived at her ultimate verdict.

She would boycott the meeting.

Besides.

Let’s look at things objectively.

If declining a diplomatic invitation meant an immediate military reprisal, could that arrangement ever be called a genuine alliance?

Absolutely not.

Those were predators waiting to plunge a blade into your spine the second a vulnerability appeared.

This was the perfect moment to cross-examine the fundamental reality of that dynamic.

Moscow, the Grand Kremlin Palace.

The historic seat of power for the Russian Federation, preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A structure radiating monumental historical influence, once viewed as the ultimate ideological rival to the White House throughout the dark decades of the Cold War.

The Russian President had willingly handed the keys of this legendary estate over to Beskoff.

A lavish, high-society feast was underway within its walls.

The official registry of attendees read as follows:

[America]

• William Xenos

• Coby Pochettino

• Gareth Bale

• Sandy Mackiver

• Yoshida Hikaru

• Takahashi Shusuke

• Zhuo Longtai

• Cai Yingwen

Naturally, the full roster of Russia’s elite combatants was in attendance. Korea’s seats remained entirely vacant.

“Hmph.”

Predictably, Beskoff did not conceal his deep irritation.

He had gone out of his way to deliver a stern ultimatum, and they had chosen to completely disregard it.

“It appears Korea is laboring under a massive, dangerous delusion.”

They were a minor territory that previously wouldn’t have even qualified for a seat at a table of this caliber.

A territory that had experienced a fleeting moment of global dominance solely because of JinuGod, completely insignificant without his presence.

And when he had magnanimously extended an olive branch to such a faction, they possessed the sheer audacity to spit on it?

Swoosh.

He gestured to a nearby aide.

Leaning in, he muttered a quiet command.

Spread the news of Baek Jinwoo’s failure to appear to the entire world. Do it this instant.

The actual proceedings of the coalition summit were far more subdued than anticipated.

An oppressive, heavy quiet filled the room, though not a single person present was blind to what Beskoff truly desired to achieve.

“Given Korea’s failure to attend, they have voluntarily forfeited their standing. Moving forward, my proposal is that our five respective territories distribute the competitive dividends in a peaceful, equitable manner… England has enjoyed the lion’s share for quite some time, so it is only fair you make significant sacrifices now, correct?”

“That is an utter abomination!”

The 8th ranked titan of the world, Gareth Bale, exploded with rage, but his outburst was swiftly checked.

“Quiet down, drop it.”

Sandy Mackiver, his fellow English combatant, placed a firm hand on him to de-escalate the tension.

They had already written Rachel off as a corpse.

Without that absolute certainty, they would never have possessed the leverage to force a high-stakes gathering like this one.

The solitary forces capable of putting a halt to his devastating Rampage were competitors occupying the exact same tier as the Five Emperors.

And right on cue.

“I cannot support this arrangement. Setting aside Rachel’s current status, the rewards must be distributed strictly to the territories that possess proven, superior might.”

Xenos stepped up to deliver his direct counterargument.

“Is that your stance? I fully anticipated you would take that position.”

Beskoff gently agitated the contents of his wine glass, maintaining a perfectly composed, unbothered demeanor.

The feast stretched on endlessly, yet the decadent spreads across the tables remained completely ignored.

An incredibly sharp, suffocating aura dominated every square inch of the hall from start to finish.

England naturally rallied behind the position put forth by America, while Baekcheon raised his hand in alignment with Russia, exactly as he had guaranteed beforehand.

As for Japan…

“I shall remove myself from the table.”

Sugoi.

Yoshida Hikaru pushed himself up from his chair.

“My constitution is acting up, so I must depart. Is there a private quarters where I might recuperate?”

A glaring, undeniable act of neutrality.

Yet, Beskoff’s calculating grin only grew wider.

“If that is the case, simply accompany the staff and they will guide you to a suitable room.”

“My thanks.”

Japan choosing to bow out of the conflict was a factor that had been thoroughly integrated into the grand design.

Thud, thud.

Hikaru and Shusuke exited the grand hall.

“I find myself entirely repulsed by how this affair is being handled… I will be taking my leave as well.”

Xenos likewise initiated his departure from the gathering.

And yet.

“Where exactly do you intend to wander off to? Our agenda is far from concluded.”

Beskoff threw the remark out with complete indifference.

“An agenda?”

“You articulated it perfectly moments ago. The factions with true might inherit the spoils. Therefore… why don’t we test the validity of that might this very instant?”

His tone was smooth as velvet, but the underlying malice laced within it cut deeper than the sharpest steel.

“What are you implying by that?”

The 9th ranked warrior on earth, Coby Pochettino, bristled with immediate hostility.

“Merely that we allow pure power to settle our differences.”

He pushed himself up to a standing position with deliberate slowness, then produced a sharp snap with his fingers.

In that precise moment.

Elite combatants who had been hiding silently in the shadows materialized one after another.

The core strength of the Russian national squad.

“What is the meaning of this ambush?”

Xenos’s face completely hardened into a mask of ice.

The English representatives grimaced with pure, unadulterated rage.

What prehistoric age did this lunatic think he was operating in, resorting to such savage, unrefined tactics—!

No.

We let our defenses drop entirely.

We should have constantly maintained a strategy for the absolute worst-case scenario…

The fact that Korea chose to stay away makes sense now. They must have anticipated, to some degree, that Beskoff was capable of launching an dirty maneuver like this.

“Elder Baekcheon.”

“Heh heh heh.”

“You gave your consent to this madness?”

Evaluating the current board, it was obvious Sugoi was fully aware and had intentionally stepped away to let it happen…

These treacherous snakes.

Xenos’s mouth twisted into a cynical, dark smirk.

Who exactly do these fools think they are dealing with?

One of the primary reasons he hadn’t wasted energy preparing for a catastrophic betrayal was absolute certainty in his personal combat prowess.

Beskoff? Baekcheon?

He harbored zero doubt that he could completely overpower both of them simultaneously, even if they coordinated their assault.

“Heh heh, why not simply lower your gaze and fall in line? You willingly bent the knee to Rachel. What makes submitting to Beskoff any different?”

“Do you honestly believe that is a sentiment you should be uttering aloud?”

“…I require my fair portion of the spoils as well, Xenos Hyung.”

“Cease this pathetic performance immediately.”

“If we allow things to persist as they are, America and Japan will inevitably monopolize the entirety of the competitive dividends… I merely desire to afford my people at least one opportunity to experience the pinnacle of the rankings.”

The atmosphere turned lethal in a fraction of a second.

A dense, suffocating aura of murderous intent saturated the entire palace structure.

It was crystal clear.

Beskoff’s ultimate objective for the day—

Was the permanent elimination of Xenos.

And following that execution.

Baekcheon.

If he systematically butchered the Five Emperors one by one?

Would there be a single player remaining on the face of the earth capable of standing in his path?

As the opening move of that grand campaign.

He would slaughter the most lethal threat on the board: Xenos.

Those two foolish tags from England?

They were merely convenient collateral.

Prior to stepping into his designated resting quarters, Sugoi—

Yoshida Hikaru turned to deliver a stern admonition to Shusuke.

“Pay close attention to what I am about to tell you, Shusuke.”

“…Regarding what?”

“We are strictly neutral observers here. That is the definitive stance of the political leadership.”

“I understand.”

“I am well aware that you nurse intense personal grudges against the Korean faction.”

“However, you are strictly forbidden from making a move against Korea.”

“Might I inquire as to the reasoning behind that restriction?”

“There is no rationale to provide.”

“?”

“It is a direct directive. See to it that you obey.”

“…As you wish.”

Shusuke turned and stepped into his private room.

Observing the man’s departing form, a bitter, unpleasant sensation settled in Hikaru’s throat.

The consensus within the Japanese leadership was that JinuGod was deceased, an absolute certainty in their minds.

Only Hikaru, out of everyone, picked up on an unsettling gut feeling.

JinuGod?

That absolute freak of nature failing to conquer a challenge?

Operating as one of the Five Emperors—

It was the raw instinct of a warrior who had clashed with him up close and personal.

JinuGod was an exponentially greater terror than the general populace could ever comprehend.

Infinitely more calculating, far more perceptive, a sheer mastermind of combat.

A force far too immense to be snuffed out by a mere Tower of Trials.

For that exact reason.

Hikaru was determined to establish a safety net.

Observe from the sidelines.

But if MoscowMan dared to extend his claws toward Korea, that was a line he was prepared to actively defend.

Because if the absolute nightmare scenario unfolded—if that terrifying entity managed to find his way back—

At the very least, they might possess enough leverage to keep their heads attached to their shoulders.

I ask for your understanding, Hikaru-san.

The expression swirling in Shusuke’s gaze as he shut the door to his room was icy and devoid of warmth.

Long before Hikaru had even thought to issue his strict prohibition.

The Russian faction had already established a covert line of communication with him.

Tomorrow, when dawn breaks.

He was scheduled to breach the Korean borders alongside elite Russian operatives to carry out the abduction of Yu Jia.

The justification?

A punitive strike for boldly rejecting the coalition’s invitation and boycotting the summit, apparently.

I am uncertain how Hikaru-san caught wind of the undercurrents, but…

Shusuke harbored a profound, burning malice toward the Korean players.

The memory was still vividly burned into his mind.

Those condescending, mocking eyes directed at them during the exhibition clash.

Your calculations are entirely flawed, Hikaru-san.

Their pace of development was unnervingly rapid.

And if an adversarial faction is multiplying their power at an alarming rate?

You completely annihilate them before they transform into an unstoppable threat.

To secure a position as a global superpower, you couldn’t afford the luxury of keeping your hands pristine.

Someone had to step forward to execute the atrocities, and Shusuke was entirely convinced that the responsibility fell squarely on him.