With most of their armored unit strength wiped out, Russia hastily withdrew its forces.
The Kazakh army, which had been struggling to hold the defensive line, cheered at the sight of the Russians retreating. But they could not be certain how many troops remained, or whether it was a trap, and they lacked the manpower to counterattack and push forward. Thus, the war ended there.
The United Nations immediately intervened and began investigating war crimes and acts of aggression, while NATO also stepped in, deeming the war an expansionist threat by Russia. It strengthened its defensive posture in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, and imposed economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Russia.
Needless to say, the national losses and chaos Russia suffered from losing an enormous amount of military assets in a single moment were immense.
The Markov regime was rocked as it faced intense domestic criticism over its military failure, and Russia’s political instability swelled to an extreme degree.
Opposition forces strongly demanded a regime change, and as international sanctions worsened the entire Russian economy, anti-government protests broke out everywhere.
“Russia is going to be quite isolated... With these global sanctions, the entire country may collapse.”
Dr. Choi, who was with Suho regarding the android production project, said while watching the breaking news in real time.
“They got divine punishment. Those bastards. What do they even gain by starting a war? Seriously...”
“...By any chance... No, never mind.”
Dr. Choi had briefly considered the possibility that this incident might be connected to Suho, but just as he was about to bring it up, he shut his mouth.
Whether there was a connection or not, he decided it was not something he should ask.
To Suho, it felt like ending a large-scale war between nations was far easier than building the TDM Convention building or the Ultimate Line Clan training grounds, let alone the new city SimCity project.
Maybe it was because creating and establishing anything was difficult, while breaking and stealing were easy.
In any case, if things worked this way, he thought he might be able to mediate the world’s wars fairly well all on his own.
Over the past few weeks, the design phase for the “Super Enhanced Android” that he had been working on with Dr. Choi had been completely finished.
Judging by the design alone, it seemed the android would be far more powerful than Dr. Choi had originally imagined, and filled with overwhelming anticipation, the doctor had spent the past several weeks immersed in it with almost no rest.
If Suho had not been worried and kept feeding him high-grade regeneration potions, he probably would have collapsed several times already and ended up in the hospital.
The form of the Super Enhanced Android was fundamentally based on Dr. Choi’s basic design, but its design was altered so that it could walk upright on a total of four arms and two legs, and, if necessary, walk on six limbs like a spider.
They decided to maintain its existing height of about three meters, and its final projected weight was around 3.5 tons.
An external shield generator, “Maglite” outer armor, shock-absorbing “Dynamis Gel,” and self-repairing damage recovery “Erudite Nano Fabric” formed a four-stage defense system.
And inspired by Suho’s Extreme Powered Armor, they mounted “Aether Force Railguns” and “Ethereal Blades” on its four arms. They also planned to install a high-temperature plasma cannon in its chest.
Of course, since it was an enhanced android meant to be mass-produced, its armaments used S-grade Aetherium, far lower in grade than the EX-grade Aetherium installed in Suho’s powered armor. Even so, in terms of destructive power, there was no weapon that could compare to it.
Beyond such armaments, its basic physical capabilities, such as speed and strength, were also tremendous.
Befitting an enhanced body structure specialized for the enormous energy and high output produced by a high-grade miniature Aether generator, its fundamental strength, speed, and striking power were overwhelming.
Just one of its four arms could flip over a bus.
On top of that, with its mounted miniature jetpack, it was capable of short-distance acceleration from zero to one hundred in under a second, as well as high-speed movement, displaying incredible mobility unbefitting its size. It was even a model capable of short-distance flight.
“Taken as a whole, this is an ultimate weapon that far surpasses my initial plan and imagination...”
As though he were gazing at a fantastical masterpiece, Dr. Choi looked at the completed 3D design of the enhanced android with a face full of emotion.
“Doctor, this is only the beginning. Now we need to mass-produce guys like this.”
Since the factory production line dedicated to producing the Super Enhanced Androids was still under construction, they first began producing a prototype at the research facility they had prepared.
There were many things that could not be made with Earth’s production facilities alone, so a considerable number of parts had to be made in the forge or woodworking shop in Suho’s subspace warehouse.
Naturally, Rabi became busy as well.
Recently, whenever Suho made Rabi do work unrelated to the supply and management of Cheonyangwon goods, he did not forget to pay him runes as part-time wages, so Rabi did not have much complaint about the extra work.
“You’re making something quite interesting this time.”
“Mm-hmm. The one last time was made for me to wear, but this one moves independently and carries out commands. I’m thinking of making several of them and trying them out for tower raids or other places with external threats.”
“...Judging by the materials and structure used, it seems far too over-specced.”
“If it’s overpowered, that’s a good thing. I’m not planning to play sports with the monsters in the towers. It’s better if we can crush them unconditionally.”
“Hmm...”
Rabi seemed as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself, and Suho was not particularly curious either, so he did not ask any further.
Wasn’t it always good to clear towers faster and more efficiently?
He did not think deeply about it.
* * *
“Suho New City?”
“Yes, it seems that will be the final decision.”
At a new city construction meeting held after quite some time, General Director Kim Sanghun suddenly brought up the name of the new city, and Suho was shocked.
“Eek... Ugh, no thanks. That’s cringeworthy. Just... use a regional name. A regional name.”
“Since it is a new city being built across Yeongyang County, Bonghwa County, and several other areas, it is difficult to reflect only one specific regional name. And as Admittee Suho’s personal fortune is being invested overwhelmingly, and your plans are being reflected as well, the consensus was that Suho New City would be an appropriate name.”
“No, you can just take one syllable from each. Yeongbong City?”
“Haha... If a particular person has made great contributions to the nation or society, or played an important role in the development of that new city, naming the city after that person as an honor is not all that rare worldwide. Moreover, in the case of someone like you, whose name is famous and respected, it can emphasize the originality of the new city and have positive effects from a marketing perspective as well.”
“Uwaa... Still, it’s way too weird... Shouldn’t you ask the local residents too?”
“Consultation with the local governments is essential, of course. That matter has already been fully discussed. In any case, we have received final approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety as well.”
“My God. Ughhh... Fine... Ah, it’s so awkward I don’t think I’ll be able to say that city name.”
“You’ll get used to it quickly. Suho New City. I like it.”
“I like it too.”
“I think it’s the most appropriate name.”
The heads of each field gathered there all added a word or two, celebrating the confirmation of the new name with applause.
Thanks to the immense financial support provided by Suho, the large-scale groundwork such as leveling the land and securing water sources, as well as the provision of various materials and convenience support at the construction sites, the construction of the new city remained constantly active and proceeded at an incredible speed.
An Aether power plant for the new city was built, and power supply systems such as substations and electrical grids were established.
Communications infrastructure such as high-speed internet and telecommunications networks, a water supply network connected to the water source, and sewage and drainage systems were rapidly put in place.
In areas where such infrastructure had been completed, construction began simultaneously on residential zones, public facilities, commercial districts, industrial districts, parks, and green spaces.
In particular, since the first smart transportation system of its kind in South Korea was planned to be introduced, construction related to public transportation systems such as Hyperloop, maglev trains, and eVTOLs was also carried out according to detailed designs.
Suho made one additional suggestion to that plan.
It was none other than the construction of Elysium.
“Do you mean Elysium Heights in Songpa District?”
“Yes. I’d like to add a Second Elysium to the new city.”
“Oh...”
“But I’d like its character to be a little different. Elysium Heights, my home in Songpa District, is a very closed-off building. It does not permit any access by outsiders. Only authorized people can enter, and it’s like a fortress with an extremely high level of defense and security. Inside, there are all kinds of leisure and entertainment facilities, but those too are limited facilities allowed only to people who have been granted entry. However, in Suho City... Ah, that doesn’t roll off the tongue. Anyway, I think the Second Elysium to be built in the new city should be an Urban Resort open to the public.”
“An urban resort... You mean you would like to create the Second Elysium in a form that combines a hotel, spa, restaurants, shopping mall, cultural facilities, and the like?”
“That’s right. The Second Elysium won’t be monopolized by me, but will be a complex resort facility that anyone can use by paying.”
“Yes, I understand what you mean. Haha, if it is on the level of Elysium, then the theme parks and super-large department stores that were originally planned to be built will take quite a hit, won’t they?”
“Uh... Would that happen? Then I think it might be better to plan things so that the concepts don’t overlap too much, and each one has its own distinct features.”
“Very well. We will submit proposals.”
Once the new city was completed, he would end up visiting there from time to time, so shouldn’t there be at least one fixed place for him to stay?
That was the only reason Suho had thought of a Second Elysium.
* * *
A 92-story tower that had risen in Yokohama, Japan. Eighteen S-rank Admittees were needed.
Even after several weeks had passed since the tower was created, the Japanese government had failed to recruit a raid team.
Of the country’s 26 S-rankers, 8 were already bound to other towers, in the middle of raids.
Another 7 were recuperating due to injuries or other treatments, or had refused to participate in tower raids.
Since only 11 domestic S-rank Admittees had agreed to participate in the 92-story tower raid, they had to somehow recruit the remaining 7 from overseas.
But there was no way they could offer the kind of extraordinary rewards Suho had proposed when recruiting S-rankers, and at best they could provide money and various welfare benefits.
Moreover, with a long expedition of more than 270 days ahead of them, and the high difficulty of a high-rise tower that might require them to risk their lives, the world’s S-rank Admittees—already wealthy enough and treated as VVIPs wherever they went—were naturally not moved by such compensation.
Since the raid did not begin at all, the tower raid deadline countdown proceeded rapidly, and only when the tower break was imminent did they finally manage to recruit 8 overseas Admittees.
Even then, those 8 had been brought in almost as honored guests, with absurdly enormous rewards promised, and with no consideration at all for team compatibility or individual character.
In any case, the tower raid began, and amid the concerns and encouragement of many people, the day came for the entry into Japan’s 92-story tower raid.
— Early this morning, in response to the 92-story tower that appeared in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai district, high-ranking Admittees representing Japan were deployed to the scene. This gate is considered one of the most dangerous gates to have occurred in Japan, and to raid it, seven S-rank Admittees from overseas have been recruited and deployed together. We’ll connect to our reporter on the scene.
— Yes, I am currently in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai district. Even though several weeks have passed since this 92-story tower was created here, the raid had not begun, leaving the tower in an unstable state. The Japanese government has sealed off the area and requested S-rank Admittee support from around the world, and just two days ago, the final raid members were confirmed.
— I understand that the raid begins today. It is said to be predicted to pose an even greater danger than the 83-story tower that recently appeared in South Korea and was successfully cleared. What is the mood like on-site?
— Yes, that is correct. Even from the tower’s emission levels shown by the temporary Aether measuring device right now, one can infer the enormous size and danger of the tower. Even as the barely assembled raid team enters today, the citizens are still far from greatly reassured.
The camera showed the enormous tower in the center of the city.
Far taller than the high-rise buildings, the tower possessed a brilliant image tinged with violet and stood there as if it would pierce the sky.
As if reflecting the unease of the scene, even the sky was heavily overcast, creating an even gloomier atmosphere.
The reporter dispatched to Japan continued the broadcast.
— At this moment, the raid team led by one of Japan’s representative S-rank Admittees, Ryota Takahashi, is entering the tower. Mr. Takahashi has a record of successfully clearing high-grade towers several times, and he is expected to take the lead in this raid as well. The foreign S-rank Admittees participating in the raid include America’s S-rank Jonathan Winslow, Germany’s S-rank Elisabeth Kreuz...
Since towers over 80 floors were rare worldwide, broadcasts around the world aired the start of the Japanese tower raid live.