Because he had already visited Switzerland over the etherium supply issue for the aether power plant, Suho could have crossed straight over to Switzerland through the dimensional gate in his subspace warehouse. But this time, he had to bring every clan member of Ultimate Line with him, so he decided to use a hypersonic jet airliner.
The jet airliner, capable of hypersonic flight using a “scramjet engine” that took in oxygen from the atmosphere and used it for combustion, was a new model equipped with low-noise supersonic technology and could reach up to Mach 5.2.
An aircraft whose advantages were that combustion was possible at supersonic speeds, making it suitable only for hypersonic flight above Mach 5, and that its structure was simple.
It had the bothersome requirement of needing rockets for initial acceleration, but once it got going, its speed was unmatched.
This was an engine currently being applied to ultrafast weapons systems such as hypersonic missiles. Aside from next-generation spacecraft and missiles, Suho’s was practically the only one applied to a civilian aircraft.
Naturally, given its tremendous cost, it was not a model offered to the public, but Suho had personally purchased and owned several of them.
He had far more ramjet-engine passenger jets in the slower Mach 2 to 5 range, as well as turbojet-engine passenger jets below Mach 3.
There was no particular reason he owned them. He simply wanted to buy and collect every vehicle in the world, whether cars, ships, or airplanes.
In truth, he had never expected to suddenly have a use for one like this.
Suho urgently gathered the clan members, explained the situation, gave them about an hour to prepare for deployment, and then reconvened.
The hypersonic passenger jet named “Infinity Wing” had already been placed in a hangar at Incheon International Airport, so the group hurriedly boarded an octocopter and headed for Incheon.
Although it was Suho’s privately owned jet, he had thought that it would have to be at Incheon if he wanted to launch it at any time, so he had moved it to Incheon Airport at the same time he purchased it.
In fact, Incheon Airport’s hangars were already storing quite a few of Suho’s private aircraft. Of course, it cost a considerable amount, but to Suho, that was no different from pocket change.
“Wow, Switzerland out of nowhere!”
Inside the octocopter, Park Seoyeon sounded as excited as if they were going on a trip, but Suho did not respond to that and spoke calmly.
“I’ll say it again. This is a serious situation. An S-rank—no, SS-rank Tower Break has occurred, and this is the real thing. Not only us, but S-rank Admiti who have received requests for support from various countries will soon be coming to Switzerland. Of course, the European Union is also scraping together its S-ranks.”
“Yeees...”
As the atmosphere grew solemn at Suho’s reprimand, Joshua asked with a grave expression.
“Out of twenty... five... were sacrificed, you said?”
“Yes, that’s what I was told for now.”
“I heard it was a large species... Have you received any report on roughly how big it is?”
“I’ve heard a rough estimate. Even our Administration doesn’t have precise data yet. Still, wouldn’t it be smaller than the one we ran into on the final floor?”
“......”
Thomas cracked his neck and muttered.
“It feels like the kind of mood where we should suddenly be writing our wills...”
But Suho’s eyes widened sharply.
“Wills? Absolutely not. I can’t say no one will get hurt, but no one is going to die. I guarantee it. One way or another.”
“When the Clan Master says ‘one way or another,’ it’s actually reassuring. You have so many mysterious powers...”
As Emilia said that with a clear smile, everyone nodded.
Before long, the octocopter drew close to Incheon Airport.
Through the Administration, Suho contacted the airport in advance, skipped all procedures related to boarding formalities under “emergency privilege,” and landed right beside the hypersonic private jet, “Infinity Wing.”
After confirming that everyone had disembarked, he immediately stored the octocopter in his subspace warehouse, then boarded the Infinity Wing at once.
“To Basel, Switzerland... That will take quite some time.”
When Haruto Takeda murmured, Suho shook his head.
“It won’t take long. This isn’t an ordinary private jet.”
“Pardon...?”
The inside of the passenger aircraft was extremely special.
The luxurious interior and the virtual screens in place of windows were unusual, but what was most fascinating were the individual seats.
The reclining seats, where one sat in an almost half-lying posture, were shaped almost like capsules.
“Eh...? What is all this?”
“Is it a new kind of first class...?”
Everyone tilted their heads at airplane seats they had never seen before in their lives.
“This model is a new hypersonic jet airliner that uses scramjet engines. Since it flies at over Mach 5, it can be subjected to strong G-forces, so each capsule-type seat is equipped with a pressure control system that neutralizes them.”
“Over Mach 5...??”
“Whoa... ordinary people wouldn’t be able to ride this...”
“No. Ordinary people can ride it too. That’s why this seat system exists. These seats stabilize blood flow within the body far better than a fighter pilot’s pressure suit and will support the entire body comfortably and securely.”
“Awesome...”
“The amazing stuff has already started...”
“If you follow the Clan Master around, it’s just one surprise after another, seriously...”
“I’m still not over the shock of Laputa...”
“So, Clan Master, how long will it take to get to Switzerland with this?”
“Hmm. Hey, how long from here to Switzerland?”
When Suho asked, Infinity Wing’s autonomous flight AI displayed detailed guidance on the screen and answered.
{Yes, Master. Regarding your inquiry, the estimated flight time for the current private aircraft, Infinity Wing, departing from Incheon International Airport for EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg in Basel, Switzerland, is approximately 1 hour and 26 minutes of pure flight time, excluding air currents, route changes, and takeoff and landing times.}
“1 hour and 26 minutes!”
“That’s insane...”
“It really is a flight that tears through the sky...”
{Please take your seats in the capsules. Infinity Wing is ready for departure on Runway 3.}
Listening to the AI’s guidance voice, everyone lay down comfortably in the capsule-type seats.
* * *
A meeting of the United States National Security Council.
At this NSC meeting, where important agenda items related to national security were addressed, it was customary to cover diplomatic, economic, and security issues alike.
In the grave atmosphere, the National Security Advisor brought up the materials.
“Over the past few months, 19% of NASA’s core researchers have left the country through unknown channels. Their research primarily includes technologies essential to space exploration and planetary terraforming projects. Our investigation has confirmed that a significant number of the leaked personnel are under Jeong Suho’s personal management.”
The Secretary of Defense emphasized the seriousness of the matter.
“The resources he already owns and the technological infrastructure built using them are already becoming a strategic threat to several nations. If we leave things as they are, NASA will be reduced to an empty shell.”
The National Security Advisor added as well.
“This is not simply a matter of talent outflow. It is a clear infringement on national technological sovereignty, and it is a violation of America’s national assets that will bring about a fatal weakening of America’s core research and development. If we fail to stop this, it is obvious that America’s hegemony will be taken from us. We can no longer overlook it. A hardline response is necessary.”
As the tension in the meeting room rose, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, who opposed the idea, also spoke.
“Who doesn’t know that? Hah, America’s hegemony... Can we still say America holds hegemony? And a hardline response? Please give me an example of what sort of hardline response would be possible. We cannot directly oppose him. The resources and power he possesses have long since transcended national borders.”
The Secretary of State held the same position.
“Mr. President, a direct confrontation with Jeong Suho will only worsen our diplomatic standing. As the Secretary of Foreign Affairs pointed out, he wields transnational influence through unprecedented assets, and no matter what sanctions we impose, his power lies beyond the range of what we can control. Moreover, many countries are already cooperating with Jeong Suho. Rather than taking a hardline stance, we must draw out cooperation through diplomatic channels.”
U.S. President James Anderson wore an indescribable expression.
Realistically, the answer was already clear beyond any doubt.
At the same time, seated in a position where the responsibility, mission, and justification to protect the nation’s interests pressed hard against his back, his face crumpled miserably.
Silence fell, and after a long while, Anderson opened his mouth.
“As you said... we can no longer stand by and watch this situation. However... any confrontation with Jeong Suho must be approached carefully. It is also true that his assets and influence have already reached a level beyond our control... When I send a message opposing him, I must calculate how the entire world will receive it. If we focus only on preserving America’s power, we may end up losing our allies, technological trust, and even transcendent resources.”
“But Mr. President!”
“Even so...!”
“We must prepare to begin a proper dialogue with him. At the same time, we must strengthen cooperation with allied nations that can restrain his influence. Public criticism must remain a last resort.”
Cold sweat ran down Anderson’s forehead as he struggled to smooth over the situation with an answer that was neither one thing nor the other.
Faced with the United States government’s helplessness and complicated internal conflict in dealing with a being called Jeong Suho, he truly felt as though his lifespan were being shortened.
* * *
August 17, 2041.
In this place, once counted among the most peaceful cities in the world, the most vicious and worst tower in human history had appeared. The tower, rising so high that its top was hidden by the clouds, was scattering a powerful aether storm in every direction.
A full evacuation order had been issued not only for Basel but also for its surrounding regions, all areas had been immediately sealed off, and the Swiss government had sent emergency rescue requests to Europe and the rest of the world.
The European Union immediately convened an emergency meeting and prepared to attack the tower by committing all available forces.
On the outskirts of Basel,
a mobile operations headquarters commanded by General Marius von Klein of Germany, the European Union’s supreme commander for Tower Break response.
The place, packed with cutting-edge communications and surveillance equipment, was crowded with top commanders from each country and the clan masters of clans that possessed high-rank Admiti.
And in the central hall of the operations headquarters, all of the European Union’s available S-rank and A-rank Admiti had gathered. The elites among elites, summoned to attack the tower, already numbered in the hundreds.
The European Union forces were also deployed for the tower attack.
Military forces, including tanks, armored vehicles, fighter jets, and attack helicopters, had assembled on the outskirts of Basel, and every soldier, their faces taut with tension, checked their weapons while holding their positions as backup for the assault team.
After arriving at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg in Basel, Switzerland, transferring to an octocopter, and reaching the site, all the commanders hurriedly rushed out to greet Ultimate Line.
Every one of their faces was bright. Perhaps because they knew the tremendous feats Ultimate Line had shown in Japan.
“H-how did you get here so quickly...”
General Klein approached Ultimate Line with an incredulous expression and held out his hand.
Suho clasped that hand, smiled faintly, and said,
“A lot of people have already gathered. Are all the forces that can come here assembled?”
The forces already gathered were an enormous number. Even the clan members of Ultimate Line clicked their tongues as they looked at the assembled military and Admiti.
“N-no. Forces and Admiti sent by various countries are still arriving. In any case, to think Ultimate Line would come so quickly from the other side of the world...”
“My new plane flies well.”
“Ah, th-this isn’t the time. Please come inside.”
General Klein personally took the lead in guiding them, and many commanders followed behind him.
Every soldier they passed on the way to the command headquarters lowered their heads at the sight of Ultimate Line, and every one of them was clearly tense. The atmosphere was far too quiet compared to the staggering number of assembled troops, and that alone said it all.
Seeing this, Thomas tossed out a comment.
“The tension’s just about ready to burst.”
“...It can’t be helped.”
General Klein glanced at him and replied.
“Strictly speaking, it can’t even be compared to the Tower Break that occurred in Japan some time ago. That was only a 92-floor tower, and Suho’s enhanced androids were able to immediately suppress the monsters that poured out. By contrast, this Break occurred on the 98th floor, and it’s at a level even the enhanced androids can’t handle... In truth, simply keeping our wits about us and holding the line is already pushing us to our limit.”
The monster on the 98th floor, which they were briefed on through the 3D hologram presentation prepared by command headquarters, was an enormous species—a giant-type monster. It was a bizarre lifeform that resembled a human, yet was quite different from one in every way except for the fact that it walked on two legs.
It was massive, but it looked like a monster with skin, bones, and flesh.
Of course, its hide and flesh would be extremely, extremely thick, befitting its size...
As he listened to the explanation of the response strategy, Suho suddenly felt puzzled by the defensive line positioned quite far behind the tower entrance and asked,
“The defensive line isn’t near the tower? It looks like it’s at least one or two kilometers away. Is there a reason you formed the battle line this far back?”
“Ah, that’s because of the surface-to-surface missiles.”
“Missiles?”
“Yes. Perseus 2040. A multipurpose ultra-long-range surface-to-surface missile, a high-precision, multipurpose warhead, high-yield missile developed by the European Union Joint Defense Research Institute.”
“Hmm...”
“It has the power to devastate every structure within a one-kilometer radius, as well as the penetrative force to effectively neutralize targets one hundred meters underground.”
“Missiles... missiles, huh...”
“...According to the report from the raid team that barely managed to escape, all the floor boss monsters that appeared starting from the 90th floor were enormous species. As I showed you, the monster on the 98th floor, where the raid team reached its limit, has also been determined to be of tremendous size, so...”
Suho frowned.
Missiles? They’d be blocked by the ether barrier, so they probably wouldn’t be of much use.
Well, it was true there wasn’t much they could do against enormous species...
If even the enhanced androids couldn’t exert much power, that said everything.
“Then... using such high-yield warhead missiles means you’re giving up on Basel, doesn’t it?”
“...With a Tower Break in a super-tall tower already anticipated, our position is that hoping for the safety of one particular city is a luxury. The existence of our nations—and further, the survival of Europe itself—is under threat.”
As expected. He liked how clear-cut it was.
“That’s true. Then what about the civilians?”
“All civilians within a thirty-kilometer radius of the tower have already been completely evacuated, and all access routes to nearby regions have been sealed off.”
Suho nodded as he listened to the explanation.
So they could destroy Basel?
Then there were plenty of things he could try.
The corners of Suho’s mouth lifted.
General Klein, who had no way of knowing what was on his mind, asked urgently,
“Does Ultimate Line perhaps have a strategy? If you join forces with our allied troops...”
“Of course, Commander. We should join forces. However, it would be best to limit what Ultimate Line and the European Union team handle to the small fry.”
“The small fry...?”
“I’ll take care of the big ones on my own. So please hold off on the missile strike until I fail.”
General Klein’s eyes filled with disbelief.
“Commander, how much time do you estimate remains before the boss monsters pour out due to the Tower Break?”
“We estimate around five hours, but since we don’t know the tower’s internal environment or their exact movement speed, it isn’t certain. It could be shorter.”
“Five hours, huh. That’s plenty.”
By now, there was no trace of tension on Suho’s face. Instead, he was smiling broadly, and everyone stared at him as if they found him utterly absurd.