Meanwhile, Barlin was meditating in one of the snow tractors.He was preparing to mind-bend the two-hundred-odd members of the research crew at McMurdo Base, not knowing that the Pentagon and the Japanese Ministry of Defense were already discussing countermeasures against a suspected mutiny.They were just a two-day journey from their destination, too…However, even after the Pentagon confirmed that the Japanese Antarctic research crew was committing treason, they only warned their own bases about the Japanese mutineers, but otherwise didn't do much.It was the JMOD that, intent on not letting this incident destroy them, sought to minimize the damage.After a day of discussion with the Pentagon, the latter offered an initial plan to pacify the mutineers.The Secretary of Defense himself spoke to the JMOD representatives over a video conference and explained, "We will be requesting a group of negotiators from your nation, who will be flown over to the Antarctic on a LC-130. There,

The colonel didn't even flinch from Goro's question, keeping a straight face as he replied, "We could honor the Antarctic Treaty earlier by keeping zero military presence before, but the situation has changed."Goro was left scratching his head and wondering what in the world was happening, even blinking to check if it was the same colonel who had insisted just earlier that not a single firearm would arrive in Antarctica.But now, they were going in with serious military hardware like they were invading?"What's changed?" Goro blurted. "Did our Prime Minister officially request military intervention from your president or something?"The colonel looked at him sideways. "Afraid not, kid. Your big man doesn't have that much sway."Then, he barked into his walkie-talkie, "Where's the HIMARS?! Get moving!"Goro was left gaping. As he worked in JMOD, he was familiar with most modern weaponry. In fact, most of the stuff Japan used was made in America, if not jointly developed.And the

Barlin's patience wore thin, and he was ready to leap out of the ice tractor, charge straight into McMurdo Base and mind-bend everyone. It was the quickest solution, but the loyal Kohei stopped him."My lord, please calm down!" he exclaimed. "The fact that they're keeping their radar on full power meant they were on high alert and clearly ready for us. They might even have notified their government with radar imaging and the like. If you go now, the Pentagon will see you even before you get close. It's all the more troublesome if they find out what you really are!"Barlin growled through his teeth, "You said 'relatively friendly'!!! Why are they ready for us instead?!""I'm not sure myself," Kohei replied, shaking his head. "National relations aren't the same as relations between the research bases here. We are all supposed to be friends on this continent so we can count on each other when it matters… So they should have been coming out to receive us with open arms. It doesn't mak

Even as Barlin fled in panic, he never could have expected to find himself fleeing before he even made his attempt to invade and bend the American Antarctic research crew to his will.On the way back to Griffin Winter Manor, he cursed under his breath, "Goddamn Americans. It's not that big of a deal, but they are sending in their whole goddamn army!"A century ago, he really wouldn't worry about having to fight an army—guns and artillery were no threat for a cultivator of his caliber.But after going into seclusion, he returned only to be informed that modern firepower had surpassed what cultivation could ever achieve, with their ordnance now capable of flattening entire cities.He also heard that one of the Qing Eliminating Society earls had been killed by something called a CIWS. The man had stood valiantly after a few rounds, but the hundred shots that came after shot him into tiny pieces.That was why even Barlin didn't hesitate to run, leaving the ever-loyal Kohei frowning in

It would still take at least five days for Barlin to return to the Griffin Winter Manor.On the other hand, the second transport fleet the Americans sent had already arrived, camping at the only path between Barlin's convoy and the Japanese research base.This time, they weren't airdropping personally but multiple M1128 Strykers and the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), along with supporting recon vehicles. The Strykers were equipped with miniguns, grenade launchers, and a 105mm tank gun barrel capable of covering anything the HIMARS couldn't hit. In addition, the reconnaissance vehicles were equipped with high-power, high-precision radar capable of detecting and locking onto mobile targets from dozens of miles away for precision strikes. After landing safely, these vehicles immediately took cover behind a hill, with their radars operating at full power as they waited in ambush for the Japanese convoy. Goro and the Japanese negotiating team would arrive on th