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After the minister returned, the President of Korea and the Prime Minister of Japan muttered the same words.

“…Did America send a madman?”

* * *

Historically speaking, there haven’t been many colossal and powerful countries, likely to be deemed empires, that fell apart due to outside invasion.

Empires always collapse from within.

Over long periods, rottenness and corruption blossom within like mold, and that mold makes giants—like decaying wood—topple without even a slight shock to their senses.

What brings down an empire is arrogance, corruption, and internal strife.

‘When did it start…?’

Countries fade away as if they have lifespans of their own.

To outsiders, the decisions made seem incomprehensible, while historians constantly point out how foolishly these empires misjudge situations, leading to their downfall.

And the same goes for America.

The United States, called the most powerful empire in human history, collapsed.

‘It must have been around the time I worked as a mercenary…It shouldn’t be much longer from now…’

Before the rewind, it had certainly fallen, and now, as time rewinds, it was in the process of declining.

A colossal empire that seemed it would fight and win even if the whole Earth pressed against it.

A country so powerful that claiming it has influence over the entire globe wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Yet that country fell.

Due to reasons not so different from every empire that has existed in history.

Divided.

America was divided.

And surprisingly, this division stemmed from the person who wielded the strongest power in America.

President John F. Davis.

With a name resembling that of one of America’s most popular presidents, John F. Kennedy, this president was elected with the slogan of reviving the gradually stagnating America.

73.4%.

Having been elected with fervent support from the American people, John F. Davis bodied the public’s expectations and acted precisely as the people wished.

American citizens cried out that crime had spiraled out of control due to the influx of immigrants.

John F. Davis took the people’s will and made immigration much more difficult.

American citizens shouted that social issues arose because the Christian spirit of America had become diluted.

John F. Davis complied and favored Christianity while subtly disadvantaging other religions.

American citizens cried out that too much money was wasted on welfare, causing the American economy to reach this state.

John F. Davis, adhering to public opinion, drastically slashed welfare budgets.

American citizens proclaimed that America was squandering money protecting other countries for free.

John F. Davis, following that sentiment, drastically reduced overseas deployments, opting to extort substantial funds from countries hosting U.S. bases with threats. If that didn’t work, he would seek out advantageous contracts that benefited America.

American citizens exclaimed.

“We can live well on our own.”

“We can thrive without pouring money into those foreigners.”

John F. Davis responded.

He reduced trade, invested in the domestic market, and reinforced isolationism.

American citizens shouted that crime rates had worsened because of foreigners.

John F. Davis followed the people’s will.

Laws were enacted requiring foreigners to register their fingerprints, blood, appearance, and energy patterns with the government.

This law viewed foreigners as potential criminals, distinctly different from the Social Security number.

American citizens cried out.

“Pouring money into basic science is like filling an infinitely deep bottle.”

Thus, John F. Davis cut investments in basic science dramatically, following the people’s desires.

‘And that was how it collapsed.’

Typically, the actions of a leader are evaluated throughout history.

In that sense, John F. Davis was a failed leader.

Making immigration difficult slowed America’s pace of development. America was a melting pot of races, a nation of immigrants. To abandon its greatest strength was naturally to hinder growth.

Especially considering that those with talents in special abilities or powerful capable persons sought asylum in America for political reasons…America had effectively kicked away its own talented individuals.

By favoring Christianity, the privileged class known as WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) regained power. Additionally, cults disguised as Christians, under the president’s support, flourished and eventually grew into the cancer that would ruin America.

Due to cutbacks in welfare budgets, the middle class and the poor could no longer afford medical treatment, resulting in a drastic increase in mortality rates. Furthermore, common ailments that could easily be treated in hospitals went untreated, preventing individuals from participating in social activities, and diseases believed to be eradicated reemerged, killing people and incurring unnecessary social costs.

At least if vaccines could be administered, recovery would follow, but America was a place rife with vaccine conspiracy theories, leading to a significant number of people refusing vaccinations. Consequently, America became a country where historical diseases roamed once again.

By drastically reducing overseas deployments, conflicts that had been contained due to America’s presence began to resurface, and numerous countries started wars amid America’s indifference. As war erupted, America profited as the merchant of death, incurring strong animosity from many countries.

Reducing trade and deepening isolationism caused America to gradually lose its influence, and as it faced difficulties, it began to lose the countries that once lent it aid.

Countries that had supported America during tough times began to pull away, seeking their own interests as America struggled.

By treating foreigners as potential criminals and managing them accordingly, talented individuals and powerful capable persons left America, and by halting investments in basic science, technology began to stagnate rather than advance. Seizing on the gap created by America’s technological regression, crazy scientists began to rise.

Thus, America gradually fell apart.

Madness filled all corners of the world, while America failed to notice the brewing crisis…slowly dying, like sinking into a swamp bit by bit.

By the time it realized it was caught in the swamp, it was already too late.

The swamp would swallow its limbs, attempting to consume its neck as well.

Even if it struggled then, escape from the swamp would be impossible.

Even if only its legs were submerged, it would still be hard to escape. How could it get out when its neck was submerged?

Unless, perhaps there was someone to help it escape from the swamp….

Well…

At least pre-rewind America had no such friend.

Plenty of vultures waiting to pick at America’s corpse, but no one willing to help.

But here arises a question.

Even so, with its basic prowess and strength, can America collapse that easily?

That question could be answered by looking at the person Jinseong was currently observing.

‘Hmm, judging by the minister’s unfamiliarity to me…he probably died during the civil war, got removed before it, or perhaps he never was at the forefront before the rewind, but showed up due to some historical changes. One of those three scenarios.’

The minister had come to mediate between Korea and Japan.

That minister, whom Jinseong did not know the name or face of, was the reason America fell before the rewind.

‘Judging by that overly arrogant demeanor, he must surely be a neocon.’

Neocon.

Those who believe in neo-conservatism.

They possess authoritarian right-wing perspectives, characterized by hegemonic and aggressive tendencies.

Valuing American ideals above all else, they believe that inebriated by America’s immense strength, they must manage other countries under their thumb. They suppose that all nations should empathize with and adhere to America’s values and ideas, and any ‘rogue state’ should be subdued using overwhelming military force.

To sum it up in one phrase, they can be described as American supremacists.

‘Arrogant individuals tend to cause problems wherever they go.’

Arrogance finds its way to those who wield power and strength.

It blinds the wise, strips away wisdom, and breeds violence among people.

It eliminates any sense of rejection towards extravagance and indulgence while narrowing one’s perspective, leading one to judge everything through that narrowed lens.

It convinces one that flattering words are truth and turns only those that seem beneficial into reality.

Thus, arrogance can ruin not only individuals but also groups and entire nations.

This explains why arrogance is said to be the paramount of sins.

‘Moreover, arrogance dismisses morality and ethics, making it entirely justifiable for them to be seen as sin itself.’

 

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