Eat The World Tree-Chapter 348: The Changing Times

The Changing Times

-Cornus Family, evidence of cooperation in consecutive terror incidents discovered, also involved in drug manufacturing including Mendel...

-Head of the family, San Hyukwon, out of contact. What on earth is happening?

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-Prosecutors, requesting arrest warrants for all members of the Cornus Family...

-Bridge of Trees. Urging for a swift response. Considering excommunication if anything unusual.

-Altogether Tree Bridge, Lee Ju-hyeong. Urgent measures required.

-Yeon-o: Those parasites who suck the blood of humans. I hope they pay for their sins.

-Cha Dol: It's ridiculous that such bastards own most of Korea's conglomerates. The answer is to confiscate their assets as soon as possible and cut off their heads.

-1.525: I am a mother who lost her only son due to the drug terror incident. Please, do not let this go easily.

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People do not realize the slow approach of the transitional period.

─You crazy bastards,

Think rationally. If the Cornus Family goes down, do you think Korea will remain intact? How many companies are under its umbrella? Do you want to see the country collapse? This nation barely survives due to the trickle-down effect. If the family falls, it's over! LOL

[Comments 127]

-ㅇㅇ(12.671): Still defending those terrorists. Would you say that if your family was drugged and turned into an Ent?

└ㅇㅇ: Typical emotional outburst. If the company collapses, there'll be plenty of people losing their jobs first. When did I say terrorism wasn't an issue?

└ㅇㅇ(6.12): Is the writer in their right mind? Defending Flowers?

└ㅇㅇ: Get the argument straight. We're on the brink of war. If we divide internally, the country will go to hell, and humans will be abandoned in an instant. Plus, there's plenty of room for evidence tampering. Hasn't Mokung, that bastard, gotten rid of corrupt families before?

-ㅁ: LOL, one would think the entire South Korea is supported by the Cornus Family. Are other companies just sitting idle?

└ㅇㅇ: Then, how much do you think those companies rely on the Cornus Family's capital?

└ㅁ: It's just one family, what's the big deal? LOL

└ㅇㅇ: They're among the top five in the world. Basic is dozens to hundreds of guilds and companies under their control. Estimated assets are 14 quadrillion won.

└ㅁ: That's just the family's assets, which are divided among branches. It's true that their influence in Korea is weak due to the Hunter Association's lead, so how much capital do they have here? If we seize their assets, it won't just benefit us.

-ㅇㅇ(36.41): So, what's your point?

The world was changing.

─Shit, we're fucked.

(Video taken by holding a phone out the window)

I live in the U.S., and I hear explosions. It feels like a civil war. LOL

[Comments 591]

-ㅇㅇ(31.22): What's happening?

-ㅇㅇ(67.112): No reply, right?

-Not Something to Ignore: The possibility of civil war was discussed among experts 20 years ago because of Flowers. I think it's happening. No articles yet, though. Be safe.

─Not a U.S. civil war. Articles are out.

Some states were quietly trying to cover up companies or guilds associated with Flowers. The World Tree Knights are directly handling it.

The video was probably taken during that process. Not the disaster we feared. But, it feels like war could break out at any moment.

[Comments 221]

-ㅇㅇ(52.11): Purging Flowers?

└ㅇㅇ: That's a relief. When Cheonma was around, we were scared about whether war would break out. It feels like that time again.

└ㅇㅇ(52.87): War won't happen. This isn't child's play, what's the name of this dog? There are plenty of fools who don't understand why the World Tree is revered.

-wjqwg: Seriously, does anyone here really believe the World Tree is a god? To humans, it's just a sacred bone.

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During the global festival, the Forester Selection Competition, right after a terrorist attack by Flowers, most countries were shaken.

[What is the World Tree even doing?]

The faith of the devout believers was cracking, and doubts arose among humans about whether their god could protect them.

[Taxes are collected, and those with World Tree blood are favored in workplaces and guilds. Is this what a god does?]

Now, even those who believed in gods were being pointed at.

Unbelievable. Believers were fools.

Discrimination that had lasted for centuries. Treatment dictated by birth.

The subtle resentment of humans erupted, and parties opposed to the theocratic system itself gained power.

When the public sentiment turned against the gods, only one thing remained.

Revolution.

Just like the previous Tree Spirit King. Like Cheonma tried.

It grew by feeding on the human discontent that sprouts from a corner of consciousness, questioning the established powers.

War hadn’t broken out yet, but at any moment.

Flowers were on the verge of moving, and everyone knew it.

Some countries had already begun preparing to break away from divine rule.

From being treated as mere terrorists, they had transformed into leaders of revolution.

Even if the World Trees managed to win this cold war, the incompetence and ignorance they had shown today would always drag them down.

Therefore, a decision was made.

By wiping out one of the largest families that has amassed global power.

There was a need to remind everyone of the still potent force of the World Tree.

Just one piece of evidence that the Cornus Family supported Flowers.

Even if it was just a minor flaw, if there was evidence, they would find it and tear it apart.

They were just fodder for politics.

-Boom!

In the laboratory with bright red lights on…

The researchers, almost lost in their thoughts, were busy mixing chemicals.

“…….”

No words were exchanged. Sansuyu sat on the hospital bed, staring blankly ahead.

The IV bags above her arm were changed several times.

“Her condition has improved much more than expected.”

Words she could barely understand brushed past her ears.

“But… the damage to her organs and body is severe. Using the next drug…”

“There’s no time. Do it immediately.”

“Understood… but I’m not sure if a miracle will happen twice. Head of the family.”

San Hyukwon stood among the researchers, touching his wrinkled forehead, looking down at them.

“A miracle…”

That Sansuyu survived the Forester Selection Competition.

Even with odds less than one in a hundred million.

Despite most researchers predicting her death, Sansuyu’s tenacious vitality had brought her this far.

This alone was enough achievement for the research.

Wouldn’t it be time to let Miss Sansuyu rest in peace?

Such thoughts must have crossed some minds.

“Continue the procedure.”

“…Yes.”

At San Hyukwon’s dry command, the researcher reluctantly nodded.

“How many coincidences and miracles do you think were needed to make this drug?”

The miracle of obtaining the heart of a dragon.

Even him personally raiding Cheonma’s tomb. All these were the results of luck, chance, and miracles.

Sansuyu’s survival now was just a small part of that miracle.

“I will administer it.”

Immortality required even more coincidences to align. The entire Cornus Family believed in this without doubt.

-Swish!

Various liquids were injected through the needles stuck all over Sansuyu’s body.

“…….”

Sansuyu, gazing blankly ahead, without any thought.

-Drip, drip.

Dark blood began to drip from beneath her nose.

Overcome by dizziness, she shut her eyes tightly.

‘…….’

In her tightly clenched hand was a phone, shattered to pieces, no longer traceable.

She had asked the Sage to leave first and return.

Due to the fall of the Cornus Family, even the records on the phone were inevitably erased.

-Drip, drip.

Blood pooled in her mouth flowed out as her mouth opened.

Frowning, she held her forehead with both hands.

“…….”

This was what she must endure.

The millennium-long aspiration of the family. She barely maintained her sanity, trembling.

-Crack, crunch.

Bark clung to her cheeks. Symptoms of Ent-ification. The researchers, startled, immediately stood up, raising red ampoules.

“Was it a failure?”

San Hyukwon, frowning, signalled with his chin.

Right before the red ampoule was to be administered to her, the bark attached to Sansuyu’s cheek fell off.

“…….”

Blood seeped from between her tightly clenched fists. She was holding on by sheer willpower.

Lowering her head, she slowly lifted her face.

One of her eyes, peeking through her hair, briefly turned blue.

“It’s okay…”

Seong Jiho witnessed that scene.

After being sexually teased by the older sisters and then returning home to face Jin Dallae waiting naked, I was squeezed dry multiple times.

“Ha…”

Even though I had been back here for some time, my dantian has not fully recovered.

I knew that the recovery of the body and the recovery of the dantian that held magical energy were different, but I never thought it would be this critical.

Could it be that having sex delayed my healing?

Rather, it’s the opposite. This body has only gained natural healing power from being intimate with women, never once have I seen it harm my body.

-Crunch.

I dipped a starfruit into honey and took a bite.

The sweet and tangy taste of the honey brought a smile to my face.

“Baa. Shiba wants to eat too!”

“Huh? No, Shiba, let’s eat something else.”

No matter how good it was for the body, I couldn’t feed my daughter fruits and honey obtained through sexual pleasure.

The same went for acorns with the bitterness removed.

I patted Shiba’s puffed cheeks and sat her on my lap.

“Have some tea.”

Before I knew it, Jin Dallae, who had brought honey water, sat gracefully in front of me.

She showed no hesitation in feeding me honey that came from her own body, which was somewhat terrifying.

It was sweet and delicious, though.

I still couldn’t believe it came from her genitals.

‘Taste is what matters, I guess.’

Anyway.

The impact of the Forester Selection Competition was approaching as expected.

Checking all the information from internet sites, guild news, and even Byeol’s news, even if Korea was far from Flowers’ war, it seemed impossible to avoid this controversy.

─Cornus Family, evidence of consecutive terror acts discovered.

Especially Sansuyu’s family.

The betrayal by Cornus was an open secret among those in the know, given how blatant their actions were.

However, due to the family’s power and capital, even the World Tree couldn’t easily oppose them.

Perhaps they realized that staying passive would lead to their downfall.

The reason Sansuyu didn’t respond to my call was probably related to this.

‘…I should intervene as soon as possible.’

At least, I needed to heal and move within a week.

My instincts told me so.

Ideally, I’d hear from Seong Jiho before then, but in reality, he has long accepted Sansuyu’s death.

Even him emphasizing my role as a friend to her was for that reason.

As her attendant, he probably wanted her to meet a peaceful end.

But I had no intention of giving up like this.

At least, I needed to get Sansuyu out.

What means should I choose?

While staring intently at my phone screen, pondering, I received a call from someone familiar.

[Blue Cat]

Maronnie, who had unintentionally missed my call before, called me back.