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“Excuse me?”

“Did you not hear? Missile. Aim at the Japanese mainland.”

The President’s eyes were gleaming.

Perhaps due to his anger, the bloodshot glare seemed to ooze with a crimson shine.

“The Japanese mainland, you mean…?”

“Everything except Okinawa and Hokkaido.”

As the President made his assertion, the Army Chief of Staff kept his mouth shut for a moment, pondering something, before finally managing to say,

“…If we aim at the mainland, we might really start a war.”

He spoke with a serious expression.

However, the President merely chuckled in response to such a concerned warning.

“Well then, isn’t this already a war?”

Japan had invaded.

Not only that, but they had even occupied Dokdo.

Surely, it’s a stretch to call this a petty quarrel, isn’t it?

“And even if it isn’t a war, isn’t it unfair to just keep getting hit?”

Plop.

The President placed his hand on the Army Chief of Staff’s shoulder and continued.

“First, let’s think about trading blows. That’s the only way to establish an equal footing, and then we can talk.”

Having calmed down, the President reverted to his polite tone.

Yet, hidden beneath that courtesy was a madness more terrifying than his anger.

* * *

“Huh.”

Major General Kim Dong-kwan let out a hollow laugh at the order that came down from above.

“I never imagined I’d be doing something like this in my military career….”

The orders were concise and intense.

“Missile, aim at the Japanese mainland. Exclude Hokkaido and Okinawa.”

“This is not just a threat. Be prepared to launch immediately upon receiving orders.”

Aim missiles at Japan?

Not at the fleet moored at Dokdo, but at Japan?

Even though the military is all about hierarchy and obeying orders, it was simply unbelievable.

Because of this, Major General Kim Dong-kwan, knowing he shouldn’t, couldn’t help but double-check.

Is this order right?

Are we really supposed to aim missiles at Japan?

Then the higher-ups confirmed it.

Aim the missiles.

The order you received is not a mistake.

Moreover, it didn’t stop there; further advice followed.

“Prepare with the mindset of turning the Japanese mainland into a sea of fire.”

A sea of fire.

As soon as Major General Kim Dong-kwan heard that term, he scoffed.

Wasn’t that something the Red bastards had been spouting when they were occupying the north?

He never expected he’d be the one to do it instead of just hearing about it.

“Well, it’s an order, so I suppose I have to follow.”

But, what can I do?

It is an order, after all.

For a soldier, following orders from above is a virtue.

And besides… there was really no reason not to bomb Japan.

To Kim Dong-kwan, Japan was merely a hypothetical enemy.

A hypothetical enemy that ranked slightly lower than China.

“Bring out all the ballistic missiles and aim them!”

Thus, Major General Kim Dong-kwan issued the order.

Feeling no guilt whatsoever.

With only the belief that ‘orders from above must be followed’ in his mind.

His demeanor was close to what one would expect from a model soldier, which showed why he had risen to the rank of major general.

Yet, at the same time, it also revealed just how far a soldier would go while mindlessly following orders.

“Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama. Use ‘Special Warheads’ to ensure fire spreads easily in these four cities.”

“And use Fire Tank No. 3 for Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama!”

Fire Tank No. 3.

It was the name of an incendiary device developed in the Republic of Korea.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a masterpiece that embodied the convergence of magic and alchemy of Unified Korea.

With impeccable stability, destructive power, and explosive force, it could even create flames that won’t extinguish when submerged in water. Moreover, unlike regular napalm, it couldn’t be easily extinguished with surfactants.

If this beast were to fall into the densely wooden cities of Japan… calamity would ensue.

Furthermore, there was a very special secret about Fire Tank No. 3.

To be precise… the secret of the ‘combat-ready’ version of Fire Tank No. 3.

‘Since it includes white phosphorus, it won’t extinguish even if they die….’

It’s that the combat-ready Fire Tank No. 3 contains white phosphorus.

White phosphorus.

A substance that is toxic and does not extinguish easily.

It burns fiercely, emitting toxic smoke, creating a hellish inferno that refuses to die even when water is poured over it.

And this horrific effect reveals its true value upon contact with human skin.

Once attached to a person, white phosphorus continues to burn at a relatively low temperature, refusing to extinguish. It clings like candle wax, melting human fat and adhering to the skin. Meanwhile, it incessantly spews poisons even while burning.

This results in a death far more horrific than simply burning to death.

‘Hmm. Isn’t using white phosphorus a bit too extreme…?’

For a moment, Major General Kim Dong-kwan thought that dropping white phosphorus into a big city seemed a bit excessive.

But… that thought was quickly erased.

It was not his concern.

* * *

As Korea began deploying missiles, Japan went into a frenzy.

Missile deployment!

Not just a few; it seemed like an uncountable number of missiles!

The sheer volume suggested they had brought out every missile they ever manufactured.

Just the number alone could send anyone into a panic.

“Fire Tank? Are these guys insane?”

Certain missile warheads truly… made the Prime Minister’s eyes spin.

Fire Tank (火湯).

This incendiary was named after the Buddhist hell of Fire Tank (火湯地獄).

Perhaps it had absorbed the ideology of the North Koreans who constantly threatened, “We’ll turn Seoul into a sea of fire.”

Both its powerful impact and the unquenchable flames it produced made it a terrifying weapon.

And now, this incendiary was to be mounted on missiles targeting the Japanese mainland.

Naturally, it was enough to send anyone’s head spinning.

“Incisive, huh? Fire Tank, really?”

Given Japan’s trauma from major fires in the past, it was hardly surprising.

They had frequently suffered devastating fires due to arson or accidents, and cities had burned during bombings in wartime.

That trauma was deeply embedded in the bloodlines of the Japanese people.

To boldly confront someone with incendiaries who harbors such trauma?

It was practically an invitation to madness.

“Alright, incendiaries… you really want a fight, huh? Then we can’t hold back!”

The Prime Minister, already agitated, would not tolerate the actions of the Republic of Korea.

He couldn’t and didn’t even want to.

“Prepare the Dirty Bomb.”

The Dirty Bomb.

The Prime Minister commanded the use of a ‘card’ that Korea had presented to counter the incendiaries.

This meant arming missiles with warheads containing radioactive material.

“And don’t you dare hide it. Move openly so that those Korean bastards can notice. Make sure they understand exactly what foul play they are up to by daring to present their incendiary card against us!”

Moreover, he even ordered for it not to be concealed.

The intent was for Korea to be startled and retreat in fear.

However… unfortunately, Korea did not operate as the Prime Minister had expected.

The President, whose venom was just as potent, was moving in a manic frenzy, and the citizens were engulfed in fury. Meanwhile, the council members, who should have restrained the President’s actions, chose to let the heated atmosphere take its course to boost their popularity and recognition instead.

“Hahahaha. A Dirty Bomb? That’s impressive. Well… a Dirty Bomb, huh? We’ve got something even better.”

The President of Korea was not intimidated by Japan’s Dirty Bomb card.

Instead, he merely twisted his smile as if pleased by the turn of events.

“Well, this is perfect. We have some great things we brought from the North.”

Things brought from the North.

Over ten different types weighing approximately 3,000 tons in total.

“If they’re pulling out CBR’s R from the other side, isn’t it only decent manners for us to bring out CB?”

What he referred to was, of course, biological and chemical weapons.

Anthrax, typhoid, dysentery, cholera, plague, yellow fever, botulinum toxin, trichothecene….

Weapons of mass destruction that could kill millions with just a bit.

The President had ordered to use those frightful weapons of mass destruction.

“Seeing that they’re planning to use a Dirty Bomb, it seems they’re set on going all out… Since it’s come to this, let’s perish together.”

Thus, Korea and Japan found themselves wielding weapons capable of contaminating each other’s lands, glaring at one another.

A tense standoff.

Should even the slightest spark ignite, the two would explode.

And both Korea and Japan would burn, be contaminated, and countless lives would be lost.

Right now, the flames of war were about to envelop them.

But before they could head toward an irrevocable future, a lifeline descended.

“Stop immediately!”

America.

America had appeared.

 

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