Chapter 170
At that moment...
The Underworld was so busy it was almost chaotic.
The place was packed so tightly with the dead that there wasn't even a gap between them.
Every soul carried loads on their shoulders, sweating as they moved in long lines.
That was right.
The Underworld was currently mobilizing the dead from the various hells as laborers, rushing preparations for the coming war.
"Hurry up!"
"Anyone who fails to meet today's quota will be thrown into a boiling lava pit!"
WHACK! WHACK!
"You useless pieces of trash!"
"Move!"
"I said move, you bastard!"
"S-Sorry, ngh! Ugh! Aagh! P-Please spare me...!!"
The administrators beat the slower souls like dogs with clubs.
They showed no mercy.
Arms and legs bent and snapped like insect limbs under the blows.
But this was the Underworld.
The broken limbs regenerated as though nothing had happened.
The problem was that the process itself was grotesque enough to make anyone want to look away.
Meanwhile...
Amid all this chaos...
The Constellations of the Underworld and the administrators of its deepest regions were in a meeting.
Naturally...
Hades was there.
"...King of the Underworld, you must make a decision quickly."
"Even within Olympus, people are beginning to question why our neutral faction continues hesitating."
"Some are already wondering if we've sided with Paradise or Asgard."
Paradise's attempt to mediate the conflict at the previous gathering had already failed.
No.
It had backfired.
What had originally been a war between Olympus and Asgard...
Had now dragged Paradise into the conflict as well.
The misunderstandings had grown too deep.
Each faction had already begun preparing for war.
"We've mobilized every soul except those in the deepest regions who can't be controlled."
"At this rate, we'll have all supplies prepared before the war begins."
"Our Underworld smiths have also started moving."
"The forging of Orhalcon, the finest ore in the Underworld and a material comparable to Adamantium, will soon be complete."
The Underworld might have maintained a neutral stance...
But it still belonged to Olympus.
It couldn't simply avoid preparing.
As the Constellations and deep-region administrators continued urging Hades to decide...
One person openly opposed the preparations.
Thanatos suddenly pushed away from the round table and stood.
"We still don't know how this war will be fought!"
"Nor what form it will take!"
"If we prepare too aggressively now, we'll only increase their hostility toward us!"
"What are you saying, God of Death?!"
One of the others immediately objected.
"Even if these preparations do increase their hostility..."
"If we fail to prepare, we'll simply be slaughtered without resistance!"
"As an administrator of the deepest regions, I cannot agree with Lord Thanatos this time."
"If we act that way in the current situation, only the Underworld will suffer."
Many opposed Thanatos.
But some supported him.
"Still, Thanatos has a point."
"We don't yet know how the war will unfold."
"It may become a direct all-out war..."
"Or it may take place on a stage determined by the Tower."
"This isn't an internal conflict within Olympus."
"It's faction against faction."
"At a time like this, even the smallest action must be taken carefully."
"Even so!"
"That isn't a reason to stop preparing!"
The discussion showed no sign of reaching a conclusion.
Hades, who had been resting his chin on one hand with a grave expression, finally spoke.
"All of you already know this."
"No faction can truly survive this war."
Silence fell instantly.
Every final decision concerning the Underworld belonged to Hades.
Whatever he said next would determine its direction.
"Even if Olympus wins..."
"We will likely suffer losses severe enough to leave us on the brink of collapse."
"No."
"That assumes we win."
"If fortune turns against us and Olympus loses..."
"We will be extinguished."
"Along with this Underworld."
Everyone already knew that outcome.
War...
Ultimately led to mutual destruction.
"However..."
"That does not mean we can choose not to prepare simply because the situation is unfavorable."
"That would be negligence."
"And irresponsibility."
Thanatos lowered his head heavily.
He knew better than anyone how irresponsible his argument sounded.
He'd only said it because he desperately wanted to stop the war somehow.
Everyone understood that.
That was why no one criticized him.
If there had been a way to avoid war...
Every person in the room would've chosen it.
"Approximately one week remains."
"The conflict has grown beyond what Paradise can mediate."
"In this uncontrollable war..."
"Where should the Underworld stand?"
Hades turned toward a man standing silently behind him.
"I want your opinion."
"What should the Underworld do in this situation?"
"And what path gives us the greatest chance of survival?"
As though he'd been waiting for those words...
The man stepped forward.
He was none other than...
"Greetings."
"My name is Kim Jeonghyeon."
"That man is...."
"Ah."
"I thought he looked familiar."
"It's you."
"Been a while."
Everyone in the meeting hall seemed to know him.
Kim Jeonghyeon smiled with the same overwhelming self-confidence he'd always possessed.
"Haha."
"I'm honored that everyone remembers me."
"How could we not?"
"The fact that the Underworld has been able to finish its preparations this quickly is largely thanks to you."
After Suhyeok left the Underworld...
Kim Jeonghyeon had caught Hades's attention.
Eventually...
He became the Underworld's Chief Administrator, serving directly under Hades.
The Chief Administrator managed and coordinated practically everything within the Underworld.
Supplies and resources required by each hell.
Management of the dead within those hells.
Even the salaries of the administrators assigned to each floor.
Everything.
"I'm grateful you think so highly of me."
"But it was only possible because everyone cooperated so willingly."
"If you look at it that way..."
"The credit belongs to everyone here."
"Ahem."
"Honestly..."
"You're still the best speaker in the entire Underworld."
"Your flattery gets better every day."
