WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: DereKimchi
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Abandoned Tank is a Disaster-class Awakener ◈
Chapter 30
──────
Korean Awakeners Association Headquarters.
The air in the association chair’s office hung heavily.
Thud.
A thick report landed on the desk.
“...”
Park Gang-sik stared at it for a long while.
One name was written on the cover.
『Shin Hye-won』
An Awakener formerly affiliated with Korea, now naturalized in America.
With a profile like that, the report normally would never have reached Park Gang-sik’s desk.
First place in the first-floor International Ranking.
Solo defeat of the Guardian.
Throne Inheritance.
Then Park Gang-sik’s gaze moved to the next page.
『Application Record for the Low-Floor Guardian Special Selection Plan』
“...She applied?”
The staff member standing across from Park Gang-sik swallowed.
“...Yes.”
“To our special Vanguard?”
“That is correct.”
Park Gang-sik tapped the report.
Tap.
“Then why am I seeing this name for the first time?”
“...”
The staff member answered cautiously.
“She was eliminated during document screening.”
Park Gang-sik’s hand stopped.
“...What?”
“She did not advance to the practical evaluation stage.”
Bang!
The report slammed onto the desk.
“Do you think that makes any sense?!”
Park Gang-sik’s shout echoed through the room, enough to make even the secretarial staff outside flinch.
“A person who defeated the first-floor Guardian alone!”
Park Gang-sik picked up the report.
“And in two minutes and fifteen seconds!”
Bang!
“You cut someone who even claimed the throne at the document stage?!”
“...I apologize.”
The staff member lowered their head.
But inwardly, they swallowed different words.
‘Who do you think had already decided what the list of successful applicants would look like?’
This special Vanguard was publicly presented as an open selection process.
Fairness.
Transparency.
And potential for growth.
Those were principles Park Gang-sik had personally proclaimed before the press.
But everyone in the Association, including the working staff, knew.
How the final selection list had been made.
Who had received recommendations from Association executives.
Who had connections to powerful guilds.
Who was related to senior government officials.
And who had the names of sponsoring companies behind them.
Scores were adjusted, and opportunities for reevaluation appeared.
New bonus-point categories were created from nothing.
Meanwhile, applicants without backing were pushed out during document screening.
Shin Hye-won had merely been one of them.
She had naturally fallen away in the system Park Gang-sik had created.
But no one could say that here.
Park Gang-sik did not particularly want to hear it, either.
What Park Gang-sik wanted was not an investigation into the cause.
Park Gang-sik wanted a solution.
“...Fine.”
After taking a long moment to steady their breathing, Park Gang-sik leaned back in the chair.
The anger from moments ago vanished as if it had been a lie.
Instead, Park Gang-sik’s eyes changed.
“When did Shin Hye-won go to America?”
“After she failed the selection process.”
“Did Miller contact her personally?”
“Based on immigration records, there is a strong possibility that he did.”
“Miller considered her important enough to come himself...”
But how?
Even if he was easygoing, David Miller was still an association chairman.
If he had moved personally, she must have been someone whose value had been rated highly from the beginning.
And that was the heart of the problem.
Even if Park Gang-sik had not been informed, she was still a Korean citizen.
It made no sense that another country’s association chairman recognized talent that Park Gang-sik had failed to notice.
‘Was this Kang Seong-un’s work after all?’
No matter how Park Gang-sik thought about it, Kang Seong-un was the only possibility.
That man must have moved Miller in the end.
Did he have such a sharp eye for talent, too?
Tap.
Park Gang-sik’s fingers tapped the desk again.
“...Yes.”
The people around Park Gang-sik looked at Park Gang-sik’s face.
The corner of Park Gang-sik’s mouth rose slightly.
“Then we can find something to use against them.”
The staff member blinked.
“Pardon?”
“America.”
Park Gang-sik leaned forward.
“What have they done recently over their naturalized Awakeners?”
One executive immediately answered.
“They suspended the exercise of Guardian approval authority against Norway, the United Kingdom, Spain, and China.”
“And cut off information exchanges.”
“Yes.”
“The reason?”
“...They said those countries had deliberately planted spies in America.”
Park Gang-sik nodded.
That was it.
America had loudly declared:
Do not drain our country’s resources.
Do not foster people in America only to take them back to their home countries.
That choice would carry national consequences.
They had acted on those words, controlling Guardian approval authority and strategy guides.
“America imposed national sanctions over espionage activities.”
“...That is correct.”
“But what about themselves?”
Park Gang-sik pushed Shin Hye-won’s report with a fingertip.
“They took an Awakener Korea had been interested in fostering.”
Of course, that was false.
Shin Hye-won?
They had not even paid proper attention to her.
They had not given her a fair opportunity.
To attack America for taking someone like that could easily bring backlash.
Just as with Kang Seong-un, Shin Hye-won herself might come forward for an interview.
Several executives voiced their concerns.
However.
Snicker.
Park Gang-sik smiled.
“So?”
“...Pardon?”
“Other than Kang Seong-un’s naturalization, have we ever lost anything because of a press conference?”
“...”
“And when has public opinion ever moved after seeing all the facts?”
Park Gang-sik closed the report.
“It is true that Shin Hye-won applied, correct?”
“Yes.”
“For a national project.”
“...Yes.”
“And America contacted her afterward.”
“That is correct.”
“Then that is enough.”
One executive narrowed their eyes.
Park Gang-sik said,
“We do not need to lie.”
At those words, several expressions changed.
“What matters is how the facts are arranged.”
Park Gang-sik counted them off on the fingers of one hand.
“First, Shin Hye-won was an Awakener who applied to the Low-Floor Guardian Special Selection Plan promoted by Korea.”
“Second, the chairman of the American Awakeners Association came to Korea himself and contacted her.”
“Third, Kang Seong-un intervened.”
“Fourth, Shin Hye-won received sharply increased support immediately after going to America, then promptly claimed the throne of the first floor.”
At last, Park Gang-sik stopped counting.
“Now state only those four points.”
One executive slowly began to understand.
“...America used covert maneuvering to take away a talented individual Korea had been watching.”
“That’s right!”
The corner of Park Gang-sik’s mouth rose.
“That is enough.”
It was not entirely false.
But neither did it properly convey the truth.
It was precisely enough truth to create controversy.
Park Gang-sik continued.
“The framing is simple.”
Everyone looked at Park Gang-sik.
“Double standards.”
The short phrase fell into the room.
“America treated other countries as spy states for trying to take Awakeners from its country.”
Park Gang-sik spoke with a sneer.
“But in other countries, America takes promising Awakeners away.”
“...”
“Where are the national rights America emphasized so much? And what about an Awakener’s freedom?”
Park Gang-sik scoffed.
“We can say that as well. But America refused to recognize that freedom and imposed sanctions.”
They would exploit the gap in that logic.
America’s case and Shin Hye-won’s case were fundamentally different.
One involved spies deliberately dispatched by a state.
The other involved an individual who had legitimately chosen naturalization.
But if they cut away only the surface, they could make them look similar.
Awakeners crossing borders.
National support.
The benefit of another country.
Park Gang-sik intended to magnify exactly those points.
“Media team.”
“Yes.”
“Prepare to mobilize the press.”
Then Park Gang-sik immediately added,
“Do not limit it to domestic media.”
“You mean overseas as well?”
“Yes.”
Park Gang-sik turned the chair toward the screen displaying a world map.
America had recently rooted out spies within its borders.
That was only natural.
The problem was that they had also made enemies in the process.
China in particular.
It was one of the countries that had reacted most fiercely immediately after America announced its sanctions.
The United Kingdom and Norway had also restrained their public statements, but there was no way the atmosphere could be good.
Then there was Japan.
It had not been directly sanctioned, but it was wary of America’s rapidly growing influence over thrones and information deals.
Those were not the only countries.
The entire world was watching America’s moves.
One throne after another.
Monopoly over information.
Advantage in negotiations.
More wariness than expectation had begun to color the way countries around the world looked at America.
It could not be helped.
They were afraid.
Afraid that America would once again grasp global hegemony as it had in the past.
Park Gang-sik said,
“Check China’s reaction first.”
“China is highly hostile toward America right now.”
“Then they will take the bait.”
Park Gang-sik looked around the room.
“This is not about being pro-Korea or anti-America.”
Park Gang-sik’s voice lowered.
“We are stirring up anxiety over America holding too many cards.”
The room fell silent.
Now they could see the picture.
China already resented America because of the sanctions.
Japan had reason to check America’s growing influence over thrones.
Some European countries could also be uncomfortable with the precedent of America using information exchanges and approval authority as diplomatic weapons.
They would use the single incident involving Shin Hye-won to bind together all that discomfort and restrain America and Kang Seong-un.
* * *
Park Gang-sik’s ability to act and influence over Korea were considerable.
『America Directly Approaches Korean Awakener Who Applied for National Project. How Is This Different from the “Espionage Activities” It Condemned?』
『National Sanctions for Foreign Spies, Individual Freedom for Recruiting Korean Awakeners? America’s Double Standards』
『Signs Kang Seong-un Intervened in Shin Hye-won’s Recruitment. Will America Expand Its Recruitment of Korean Awakeners?』
Not long ago, America had criticized other countries for espionage activities and talent drain.
Yet the chairman of the American Awakeners Association had come directly to Korea.
His target was Shin Hye-won, an applicant for Korea’s national selection project.
The Korean Awakeners Association, which had first set public opinion ablaze, issued an official statement as if it had been waiting for this moment.
『Korea respects the free choices of Awakeners.』
The first sentence was moderate, but everything after it was entirely different.
『However, we wish to ask whether America, which defined the management of Awakeners from other countries as a national issue and even imposed sanctions, will apply the same standards to its direct approach toward an Awakener who applied to a Korean national project.』
One more sentence was added at the end.
『Principles must not change depending on the other party.』
They had pointed out America’s double standards.
Of course, that was not the only issue they had stirred up.
『Does America Take Only People? A New Hegemony That Monopolizes Throne Authority as Well』
『Is It Impossible to Challenge a Guardian If Relations with America Sour?』
『Concerns That Throne Tolls and Approval Authority Are Becoming Diplomatic Weapons』
The Shin Hye-won issue and the throne issue became bound together.
America invoked national rights over the movement of Awakeners from other countries.
Yet it had forcibly taken away talent Korea had been fostering.
It claimed Guardian thrones for itself.
Other countries needed approval to challenge them.
They even had to pay in the process.
And countries America disliked were excluded from approval.
Korean media condensed it into a single sentence.
『Talent, information, and thrones, all to America.』
The repercussions were great.
The countries sanctioned by America responded immediately in particular.
Led by China, Awakener organizations in several countries released statements in succession.
『If America intends to criticize the movement of talent from other countries, it must follow the same standards itself.』
『Stop using Guardian approval authority as a means of political retaliation.』
『Rights secured through approval fees already paid must not be stripped away unilaterally.』
Norway, the United Kingdom, and Spain used different levels of language, but they struck at the same point.
With their support, the questions from the international press began to change.
Why did America set approval fees unilaterally?
Was there a cap on tolls?
Could even approval for which payment had already been made be revoked because of diplomatic conflict?
And... why did America call the movement of Awakeners from other countries national infiltration while calling Shin Hye-won’s naturalization individual freedom?
『Countries Demand That America Reveal Its Standards for Guardian Approval』
『Calls Spread for Refunds of Approval Fees Already Paid』
『Are International Standards Needed for Throne Authority?』
『“Can We Clear the Tower Only If America Allows It?” Controversy Over Tower Monopoly』
Some countries eventually proposed joint discussions.
Their demands were specific as well.
Disclosure of the standards used to calculate Guardian approval fees.
The establishment of a cap on tolls.
A ban on unilateral cancellations when approval fees had already been paid.
Return of assets paid when approval was withdrawn.
Separation of throne authority from diplomatic sanctions.
In truth, no one could take America’s thrones away.
They were rights recognized by the system.
So they chose another method.
They would attach a political cost every time those rights were exercised.
One throne could be spoils.
Two could be as well.
But as the number kept increasing, it became power.
And the world had always been wary of one country holding too much power.
Within days, cameras from the international press all turned toward America.
* * *
Korean Awakeners Association Headquarters.
The atmosphere in the chair’s office was completely different from several days ago.
When Shin Hye-won’s report had first been delivered, the air had been thin as ice.
But now, other reports were piled on Park Gang-sik’s desk.
『China Urges America to Reconsider Its Guardian Approval Sanctions』
『United Kingdom and Norway Demand Fulfillment of Existing Contracts and Standards for Termination』
『Japan Raises Need to Disclose Standards for Approval Fees and Toll Calculations』
『Possibility of Expanded International Joint Discussion on America’s Throne Policies』
Park Gang-sik slowly turned the top report’s page.
A satisfied smile rested on Park Gang-sik’s lips.
“China’s response was faster than expected.”
“Yes.”
One executive quickly lowered their head.
“Chair, you identified it exactly. They needed justification as well.”
“What about Japan?”
“They are not openly attacking America, but they have clearly begun drawing a line over approval fees and tolls.”
“And the United Kingdom continues to press the issue of existing contracts?”
“That is correct.”
Park Gang-sik nodded.
Everything was unfolding as Park Gang-sik had expected.
Not every country needed to take Korea’s side.
Park Gang-sik had never expected that from the beginning.
They only needed to bite America for their own interests.
That was enough.
“In the end, the chair’s judgment was correct.”
Another executive smiled as they added,
“This was not an issue involving Shin Hye-won alone.”
“That is right.”
“America was holding too much.”
Thrones.
Tolls.
Guardian approval authority.
Strategy guides.
And now, even talent from other countries.
Park Gang-sik smiled as well.
“No matter how powerful America is, it cannot face the world alone.”
“As expected of you, Chair.”
Another executive immediately chimed in.
“At first, I thought there might be backlash over the Shin Hye-won matter.”
They smiled.
“I never expected you would turn it around like this instead.”
The corner of Park Gang-sik’s mouth rose further.
“Politics is about justification.”
Park Gang-sik tapped the report with a finger.
“What the facts are matters, too. But what matters more is which facts people are made to see first.”
The executives nodded.
“That is correct.”
“In the end, it will be harder for America to wield approval authority however it wants now.”
“And it will be difficult for them to collect tolls as freely as they do now.”
“If a joint consultative body is created, we should be able to establish some international standards for throne authority as well.”
As the conversation continued, Park Gang-sik’s expression became increasingly relaxed.
“What is America’s current response?”
As if Park Gang-sik had already seized victory, Park Gang-sik asked triumphantly.
“They have not made any particular statement.”
“They appear to be flustered and are simply climbing the Tower.”
“Then that is even better.”
The more Guardians and thrones America claimed, the fiercer the world’s checks would become.
‘Kang Seong-un, no matter how capable you are, you are ultimately only an individual Awakener.’
In contrast, Park Gang-sik was the chairman of the Korean Awakeners Association, in Korea, an Awakener powerhouse.
Other than force, Park Gang-sik surpassed Kang Seong-un in political power, experience, and shrewdness.
Shin Hye-won and Kang Seong-un.
Names that had troubled Park Gang-sik until only days ago.
But in the end, Park Gang-sik could even use their success.
The more thrones Kang Seong-un claimed, the stronger the justification for calling it monopoly.
The stronger Shin Hye-won became, the more weight the claim that America had taken Korean talent would gain.
The stronger America became, the more countries would fear that power.
Park Gang-sik had merely widened the gap.
“What about the next joint statement?”
“A draft has been prepared.”
The staff member offered a tablet.
Park Gang-sik scanned its contents.
Reconsideration of America’s Guardian approval restrictions.
Fulfillment of existing contracts.
Settlement of payments tied to unfulfilled obligations.
Transparency in approval fees and tolls.
Concerns over using throne authority as a diplomatic sanction.
Not bad.
“It is a little weak.”
“...Which part do you mean?”
“The last part.”
Park Gang-sik pointed at the sentence.
“It should not be merely a concern. Change it to urging reconsideration.”
“Yes.”
“And if America objects?”
One executive asked.
Park Gang-sik smiled.
“Let them object.”
“...”
“If they refuse, it proves monopoly. If they accept, we gain something.”
Park Gang-sik leaned back in the chair.
“Either way, we do not lose.”
After a brief silence.
“Hahahaha!”
Laughter spread.
“Indeed!”
“This time, America will not be able to escape so easily.”
“The American Association must have quite the headache now.”
Park Gang-sik scoffed.
“They believed for too long that it was their world.”
Someone agreed.
“They went too far by relying on Kang Seong-un alone.”
“Taking Shin Hye-won was a bad move as well.”
“Exactly.”
“They were so greedy for people that they ended up tripping over their own feet.”
The atmosphere grew even lighter.
Even the working staff, who had not been able to raise their heads properly when they learned days ago that Shin Hye-won had been rejected on paper, now wore expressions of relief.
The issue of responsibility had become an issue of America’s monopoly.
The question of why they had missed Shin Hye-won was being drowned out by the larger question of why America should possess so much authority.
At that moment, Park Gang-sik was certain of having finally seized control of the situation.
[The cumulative number of Tower-clear failures worldwide has exceeded the threshold.]
A blue system window appeared in the air before everyone’s eyes.
“...”
The smiles disappeared from the executives’ faces.
Park Gang-sik’s brow twitched.
[Cumulative clear failures, including retreats and failures: 10,000.]
“Ten thousand...?”
Someone murmured quietly.
It was not a number referring only to complete party wipes.
Retreats during clears.
Giving up partway through.
Time limits exceeded.
It indicated that every failure accumulated in Towers worldwide over the past five years had reached ten thousand.
But the real message came next.
[An Abyss will appear as a failure penalty.]
“...?”
This time, no one could continue speaking.
[An Abyss is a special area formed from the accumulated remnants of disasters caused by Tower-clear failures.]
[An Abyss is an extremely dangerous area inhabited by powerful monsters.]
[An Abyss has a limit of ten people.]
[Return Scrolls cannot be used inside an Abyss. Entry and exit are only possible through designated entrances and exits.]
Park Gang-sik slowly rose from the seat.
The joint statement that had been on the desk moments ago, America’s throne policies, and the Shin Hye-won issue were all being pushed from Park Gang-sik’s mind.
The messages continued.
[Abysses will be created in fifteen countries, including Korea, America, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Spain.]
At the word Korea, Park Gang-sik’s face stiffened.
[A time limit of 720 hours has been applied for conquering the Abyss.]
[720:00:00]
At the same time as thirty days were granted, a final message appeared.
[If the Abyss is not conquered within the time limit, a new “Powerful Curse” will be created in that country’s Tower.]
“...”
The association chairman’s office, filled with laughter only moments ago.
Now, no one could open their mouth.
Then.
“C-Chairman.”
One executive cried out urgently, holding a tablet.
“...”
Park Gang-sik’s gaze naturally turned toward it.
“This...”
The tablet being handed to Park Gang-sik displayed a post on the American Awakeners Association’s official social media account.
『America will quickly resolve the Abyss that has appeared in our country.
Afterward, we will support the Abyss clears of allied nations with our elite Awakener forces, including Kang Seong-un and Shin Hye-won.
The priority is clear.
It will go to countries that have maintained trust with America until now.
There is no reason to place at the same priority countries that, only recently, defined America’s strength and throne authority as an “excessive monopoly” and argued that those rights must be restricted, and allies that maintained trust with America even during difficult times.
America does not forget its allies.
And it does not forget who was not an ally.』
As though America had foreseen this situation, it had swiftly issued a statement harshly rebuking the countries that had led the widespread pressure against it.
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