CHAPTER 10

At a military camp in the distant past...

The Third World War had started some months ago and naturally, alliances had formed between nations. The alliance between Russia, Tajikistan, Syria, Nepal, and other Eurasian Countries was on the verge of being destroyed just a few months into the war. They were a specific target for the conquest of other nations and alliances. They were only a few powerhouses in this alliance so they had lost a couple of major strongholds or important cities as a result of the enemies properly taking advantage of modern siege wars and their tactics.

Most of the leaders of these losing nations were now gathered together in a military camp. They were meeting with a young man called Flourish.

"Haaha, we accepted this meeting because of the rumors flying around your name but it turns out they were really all just rumors." the King of Bahrain, an island country spoke to the young man.

"This is an absurd deal" the representative of Russia added.

"Is there any other way for your nations to survive?" the young man responded.

"We are in a precarious situation but it's not to the extent of selling our nations" the war hero of the Syrian Civil War also gave his opinion.

"Giving you a forty percent vote right in national affairs, our veto rights, kill right to all of your armed forces, accepting other absurd demands, and most of all, being recognized as an independent ruling organization in all nations of our alliance. If the old man was still alive, he would have put a bullet in your head." the representative of Russia said.

The demands of Flourish were so absurd that one would wonder why the nations accepted the meeting in the first place. But the situation of the alliance was especially bad in this war. It wouldn't be surprising if half of the alliance surrendered to enemy forces.

"Then die." Flourish responded.

"What?" The leaders were surprised by the absurd remark of Flourish.

"Bury your people along with your selfishness."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" An agitated president asked Flourish.

"My people would be poaching the same idea as I am to other alliances right now. And I won't demand as much from those alliances. In other words, the moment you refuse the deal, my technology, military bases, wealth, and my million-man army would turn into hostile forces. And all of your enemy's leaders would be protected throughout this war."

"Is that a threat?"

"It is."

"How about we just kill you here?"

As soon as this remark was made, six soldiers walked into the tent and aimed their rifles at Flourish and his subordinate.

The subordinate was the individual secretly responsible for the death of the President of Russia. He had dark skin, a handsome face, and braids. He also wore round glasses and a white outfit. Even while being at the receiving end of a bullet the subordinate maintained his stance.

The leaders naturally thought this person had something to believe in. And they were right. Flourish got up and pointed to several places on a holographic world map.

"This-" the representative of Russia was the first to grasp the identity of the places Flourish pointed at. They were the secret bases and focal points that were sustaining the collapsing alliance.

"If they don't drop the guns, all of these places would disappear off the map. If they do, only four would disappear"

"If it's like that, we might as well take our chances and kill you." the king of Bahrain said.

A noise suddenly permeated the tent. It was the phones of the leaders. Some bases were really gone. That was the news they just received.

"You bastard, Nukes? Can you handle the consequences?" The king of Bahrain busted out in rage.

"Can 'you' handle it?" Flourish redirected the question while the leaders' phone sounds were still going off.

"No Nation will sit still after you fired nukes, are you implying that you have an invisible force that can hold against those powerhouses?"

The leaders were questioning Flourish and trying to decide either to accept his offer or kill him.

"Indeed, I am."

"!!...." It was a shocking response. They knew he had the power to turn the tide in this war which was one of the reasons they accepted this meeting. But it wasn't supposed to be to this extent.

Who exactly he was? Where he came from? What was his source? How old he was? All of the leaders only had vague answers to these questions concerning Flourish.

"Drop your weapons." The Russian representative ordered the soldiers. No leader present could complain nor did they want to.

"Let's negotiate one more time, Mr.Flourish." the Chief of the Army Staff of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal broke his silence and said these words.

The only reason the leaders were reluctant to accept Flourish's offer was, Fear. Fear of the government losing its place after accepting such an absurd offer. If they could revise the offer to favor them, the leaders and their successors would slowly, but surely eradicate Flourish and his forces in the future.

"I will say it once more, accept my offer or bury your people along with your selfishness."

"Do you think the public will accept you after they survive the war?" a leader asked.

"I am certainly aware of the importance of the Public's opinion in this day and age, that's why the government's role and its power are mentioned in this deal.

The leaders all knew, the moment they accepted this deal, they would be handing over supreme power to Flourish and his forces who would act for personal gain and profits. The government would become a minor force.

"Take the shot"

It was a direct order to the soldier outside the tent who was in a position to kill Flourish at any time. The Chief of the Army Staff decided to kill Flourish here and now.

Surprisingly, there was no response.

"You, Nepal would be destroyed today." Flourish declared to the Chief of Army Staff who gave the order.

That was the end. The leaders didn't try to harm Flourish as he went outside the tent and left the camp. Negotiations were called off and Flourish would become an enemy of the alliance.

The following day...

[Breaking News: All government officials in Nepal have been found dead. There was a major conflict in opinion and opposing factions ended up purging each other. A new force has taken up the mantle in response to the public's wishes. They refer to themselves as Bodyguards Agencies. They promise to protect the people an....]

This was the news every world leader woke up to, including those who had met with Flourish. It was something that shouldn't be happening in the 21st century. A nation was destroyed and reformed overnight.

A few months later, all nations in the alliance accepted Flourish's deal. It wasn't because they feared Flourish's power instead it was a response to the public's wishes.

The Public whose homes had turned into warzones, those who didn't know when they would die, people who had been cowering in fear; they all suddenly led massive protests urging the governments to let them be 'Protected by the Guards'. They caused riots and even killed soldiers. The UN who had lost its reason for existing when the war started also supported the public and urged the nations in the alliance to accept the offer.

The conversation the leaders had with Flourish was leaked.

The conversation was tweaked and made to look like Flourish had offered to protect the leaders and the public but the leaders selfishly refused so they could stay in power. It was a really selfish refusal in the eyes of the public who were being killed in real time.

If the people who stupidly ventured to protest in wartime were killed by enemy forces or taken hostage. The value of the nation would decrease dramatically even if they won the war. The leaders had no choice but to accept Flourish's offer.

Flourish, a young man not even in his thirties succeeded in twisting the hands of very powerful people.

This was one of the secret stories that led to the world's current history and Nei's current life.

....

Nauru, the Safe Haven was currently under attack. The North Korean military invaded the island and caused chaos, there were four deaths so far on the island's side while 11 of the North Korean soldiers had died.

It was natural.

Almost everyone on the island was a licensed guard. They wouldn't just watch as they were being killed.

Amid this chaos, Nei was tasked with protecting Kim Ha-Eun and leading her to the safe house while the rest of the group drew the attention of the North Korean soldiers who were shooting up the gym...

Nei stealthily performed a rear naked choke on a North Korean soldier who was in his way. It was a type of blood choke performed by wrapping one of your arms around the neck of your opponent and grabbing your bicep. It resulted in pressure being applied to the neck of the soldier on both sides and caused him to fall unconscious.

Nei grabbed the soldier's rifle and told Kim Ha-Eun to stay close. Just as he was looking for a route without soldiers, Kim Ha-Eun asked

"What made the world like this?"

Why were wars so frequent now? Kim Ha-Eun had this question from a very young age but never got a satisfying answer.

"How should I know?" Nei replied.

The only thing schools taught about the world's situation was that, in a simplified form, 'Bodyguard Agencies' protect a lot of people and they are granted authority as a reward. It was right in a way.

"Don't think about useless things and follow me."

The Safe Haven rule would be broken if there was chaos in a Safe Haven just like in this situation. Nei guessed that Northwest Pro would act soon if they didn't want this news to spread to rival agencies. In other words, the situation could still be covered up and war could be avoided. All he had to do was protect Kim Ha-Eun and the rest would resolve itself.

Northwest Pro replied to his faith and also started acting against the North Korean Soldiers across the district. Nei saw hope and increased his pace.

He looked back to confirm if Kim Ha-Eun was keeping up with him only for his eyes to widen. It was because Secretary Kim suddenly appeared behind him and grabbed Kim Ha-Eun like a feather.

Secretary Kim looked like he was going to kill Kim Ha-Eun.

'What shit is this again?'

Nei was angry at the unexpected development he faced once more.