A Gate Opened On My First Day As A Politician - Chapter 11: A Surefire Strategy for the New Era (3)

“I’ve been called a communist plenty of times while living as a member of the Democratic Party, but…”

– In an effort to prevent a coup, local police stations have resolved to establish emergency communication links. Local governments are closely monitoring military movements…

– In response to Representative Han Seung-Moon’s revelation of a coup conspiracy, enraged citizens have taken to the streets. We now connect to the scene.

– Stop the rebellion conspiracy!

– Stop it!

– Overthrow the military coup!

– Overthrow it!

Representative Yang Pan-seok smirked and changed the TV channel.

“It’s my first time labeling someone a reactionary.”

“…It’s effective.”

“Amusing, isn’t it?”

—

The media play orchestrated by Yang Pan-seok and I threw South Korea into turmoil.

In a country that had experienced two military coups, the mention of another coup was far more impactful than the usual “red-scare” tactics.

The Ground Operations Command, which initially showed signs of resistance, suddenly turned loyal, and Vice Minister Cha Jae-kyun swiftly consolidated control over the military.

He announced plans for a Seoul encirclement operation utilizing the 1st Corps and the 7th Mobile Corps.

“The 1st Corps possesses the largest artillery brigade in Asia, while the 7th Mobile Corps holds over half of South Korea’s tanks, making it the military’s largest main force.”

“Uh, I see…”

“The 1st Corps will slowly push down from the north with overwhelming firepower, while the 7th Mobile Corps will rapidly advance from the south.”

“Is that so?”

“With the 1st Corps and the 7th Mobile Corps being the largest and second-largest corps, respectively, the other corps are tasked with forming the encirclement and securing the northern front. Understand?”

I didn’t.

“Yes, I understand.”

—

“Hold this for me.”

“Thank you, Representative.”

“Ha… It’s refreshing to be back in society. Being an old man in the wild really makes you realize how powerless you are.”

Yang Pan-seok joked as he sat beside me. We sipped vending machine coffee in the hallway.

“Thanks to you, I’ve managed to liaise with the Ministry of National Defense. What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t I almost die three times? Those ungrateful bastards didn’t even bother to check in on me while I was on the brink of meeting the Grim Reaper…”

Yang Pan-seok wasn’t on the best terms with his kids.

“They didn’t call you at all?”

“Just a few KakaoTalk messages. I was so annoyed I didn’t even reply. They should call, not message…”

“Given the state of things, with everyone glued to their phones, your family might have faced communication issues too. Don’t let it get to you.”

Yang Pan-seok chuckled bitterly and pressed his wrinkled brow with his fingers.

“You’ve had it rough too. How many days has it been since you became an assemblyman?”

“Since we arrived at the Martial Law Command two days ago… Yeah, it’s my sixth day as a representative.”

“Let’s enjoy life while we’re at it.”

“Thank you.”

He tapped the back of my hand lightly before walking off with a slight stagger.

Suddenly, Yang Pan-seok turned back and motioned to me.

“Ah, Representative Han.”

“Yes, sir.”

“That, regarding Gam Ji-yoon, Chun Hwa-ran, and your sister…”

The superhumans.

“Could you discuss them with Vice Minister Cha Jae-kyun?”

“By myself?”

“Yes, I have a meeting with the Deputy Chief Prosecutor right now. Since the Prosecutor General passed away, he’s acting as the Chief Prosecutor, and I’m trying to bring him to our side.”

“Then I’ll just explain the basics and wait for you to handle the follow-up.”

“That’d be great.”

—

When I returned to the dormitory, Gam Ji-yoon was finally receiving a transfusion.

“Ah, Representative, thank goodness.”

“Are you okay, Gam Ji-yoon?”

“Yes, I’ve had a tetanus shot as well, so I’m feeling better now.”

Chun Hwa-ran, who was taking care of him, smiled gently and bowed her head.

“Thank you, Representative.”

“By the way, can you see anything blue too, Mrs. Chun? Didn’t Ji-yoon mention something about seeing blue objects floating in the air?”

Chun Hwa-ran nodded grimly.

“I don’t see the world as blue as Ji-yoon does, but when Ji-yoon moves or flies something, I see blue layers over them.”

“So the blue mist is related to superpowers.”

“More precisely, it’s blue particles.”

Gam Ji-yoon, who had been quietly sitting beside them, shook his head.

“No! It’s a cloud! Look at this!”

“How many times have I told you not to do that…!”

Chun Hwa-ran quickly grabbed the floating phone and stuffed it into her pocket.

“Ha. It might look like mist at a glance, but when you look closely, they’re tiny particles clustered together. I believe they’re somehow connected to the superpowers.”

She brought an empty cup and held it out to me, frowning as she gestured with her hand.

“If you manipulate these particles into water molecules…”

A few drops of water gathered in the cup.

“What… What did you just do?”

“Uh… I can even create water, though it gives me a slight headache.”

“Is this some kind of mana? Magic power?”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, no, nothing. It’s just a reference from a game.”

Wow, this is getting interesting.

“I’m about to meet the Vice Minister of National Defense. Would you like to join me?”

—

Gam Ji-yoon, Chun Hwa-ran, Yeo Do-yeon, and I sat awkwardly in a private room at the Martial Law Command.

We waited for nearly 20 minutes in tense silence before Vice Minister Cha Jae-kyun strode in with urgency and took his seat. He dismissed his aide with a gesture and glanced at his watch.

“Apologies for keeping you waiting. The situation is urgent, and time is limited. I have about 20 minutes. What brings you here, Representative Han Seung-Moon?”

He spoke at a machine-gun pace. It didn’t seem necessary to give a lengthy explanation.

“Ji-yoon.”

“Wheee!”

Gam Ji-yoon raised his hands like Superman and floated into the air, swimming like a frog. Chun Hwa-ran covered her face in embarrassment.

Cha Jae-kyun gaped with his mouth open, his expression blank. I gave a sly smile.

“Vice Minister, do you believe in superpowers?”

Cha Jae-kyun, still staring blankly at Gam Ji-yoon floating midair, stammered out a response.

“Uh… yes. I mean, I suppose so, after seeing this.”

Chun Hwa-ran decided to demonstrate further. “Ordinary people can’t see the blue particles floating around, but if you manipulate them…” She waved her hand, and a cup filled with water appeared in her palm. This time, it was slightly more than before.

“You can even create water like this. Additionally, though I don’t understand the exact mechanics, I used these particles to heal my husband when he was injured.”

I added, “That’s not all. My sister’s physical abilities have surpassed human limits. Carrying someone while dodging monsters isn’t something a normal person could do.”

Cha Jae-kyun muttered under his breath, still in disbelief. “Please, continue.”

“It seems that superhumans have been emerging since the gates started opening. Specifically, blue crystals appear from the bodies of monsters. When Gam Ji-yoon touched one, she absorbed it. She started mentioning blue particles filling her vision, and not long after, she began moving objects with her mind.”

I leaned forward and tapped the desk lightly. “There’s something to this, Vice Minister.”

Cha Jae-kyun, still dazed, murmured, “This is like mana and magic crystals in a video game…”

“You’re familiar with this?” I asked.

“I used to play *Lineage*,” he replied, half to himself.

Cha Jae-kyun pressed the microphone on his collar and spoke into it. “Tell Brigadier General Jang to handle the situation in Uijeongbu. I need another hour here. Notify me immediately if anything arises.”

He rose from his seat. “Follow me.”

—

Cha Jae-kyun led us to a secluded warehouse in a restricted area. He unlocked the door, switched on the lights, and secured it behind us.

“To be honest…” He pulled back a tarp, revealing a small pile of equipment.

“This is what we’ve gathered so far from areas hit by heavy artillery. It’s mostly fragments, but I suspected they might be significant.” He opened a metal ammunition box to reveal shattered blue crystals, glowing faintly. They were similar to the ones Gam Ji-yoon absorbed.

Cha Jae-kyun donned leather gloves and looked at Chun Hwa-ran. “Would it be alright to test this with you?”

Chun Hwa-ran hesitated, her expression uneasy. “I’ll do it. It might be safer that way.”

I interjected quickly, “Shouldn’t we leave the room just in case something unexpected happens?”

The others shot me questioning looks. I awkwardly added, “I mean, Vice Minister Cha is an important figure, and the rest of us don’t need to be here if anything dangerous happens…”

No one responded, and I backed down. “Alright, fine.”

Cha Jae-kyun carefully poured some of the crystal fragments into Chun Hwa-ran’s hand. The fragments dissolved into her skin, emitting a faint blue light.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

Chun Hwa-ran frowned. “It’s… clearer now. I can see what Ji-yoon was talking about—blue particles everywhere, like a mist.”

“Can you manipulate them like before?”

She waved her hand, and a large mass of water, about the size of a bucket, appeared in the air.

“Ah!”

The water promptly spilled over Cha Jae-kyun’s head, drenching him completely. Droplets fell from his hair as he stared at Chun Hwa-ran in silence.

—

Cha Jae-kyun wiped his face with a handkerchief and calmly spoke. “So, touching these crystals enhances a superhuman’s abilities. It seems plausible.”

He sighed heavily, leaning against the desk. “But how much stronger can they get? That remains uncertain.” He paused and looked down, muttering, “What is happening to this world…”

I tried to lighten the mood. “Monsters have appeared; why not superhumans too?”

He held up a hand. “Give me a moment to process this.”

Chun Hwa-ran stood quietly, visibly tense. Her gaze darted nervously around the room.

I leaned back in my wheelchair and nudged Yeo Do-yeon with my head. “You should try it too, sis.”

“What?” she asked, startled.

“Come on. Get stronger. Let’s see what happens.”

Cha Jae-kyun muttered under his breath, “This is turning into the Avengers…” He sighed again as Gam Ji-yoon floated happily above us, still swimming midair.

Reluctantly, Yeo Do-yeon reached into the ammunition box and grabbed a handful of fragments. She winced slightly, muttering a curse under her breath as the fragments dissolved into her skin.

“How do you feel?” I asked.

Yeo Do-yeon shrugged. “Not sure. Let’s test—”

*Crack!*

The wheelchair handle she was gripping shattered in her hand. The room fell silent.

“Well,” Yeo Do-yeon muttered, “I guess it worked.”