The broadcast ended.
But its echo did not.
Across North Korea, televisions went black.
Across the world, alarms came alive.
---
United Nations — Emergency Session
New York.
The United Nations Security Council convened within hours.
Screens replayed the same footage again and again—
Kurayami.
No mask.
No distortion.
A calm declaration that had shaken a closed nation.
An American delegate slammed his hand on the table.
"This is psychological warfare," he said.
"He has hacked an entire country's broadcast system."
A European representative shook her head.
"No," she replied quietly.
"This is worse. He has given people an idea."
Silence followed.
Ideas were harder to stop than weapons.
---
China's Concern
In Beijing, the atmosphere was tense.
High‑ranking officials studied satellite feeds and intelligence reports.
One name was underlined repeatedly:
Red Circle Division.
A senior official spoke carefully.
"If North Korea collapses suddenly," he said,
"millions of refugees will move toward our borders."
Another added, "And if its leadership panics… nuclear instability becomes a possibility."
China did not fear Kurayami as a fighter.
China feared him as a disruptor of balance.
---
Russia, America, and the Fear of Precedent
In Moscow, analysts whispered.
"If one man can challenge a closed regime without firing a missile,"
"What stops others from trying the same?"
In Washington, the concern was different.
"If people start believing governments can be questioned,"
"How long before they question us?"
The world had a problem.
And it wasn't North Korea.
---
Kurayami Watches
From a hidden location near the border, Kurayami watched the global response unfold on multiple screens.
UN debates.
Threat assessments.
Emergency summits.
Riku scoffed. "They're scared."
Maya corrected him.
"They're exposed."
Lily looked at Kurayami.
"You knew this would happen."
Kurayami nodded.
"The world doesn't fear violence," he said.
"It fears change it cannot control."
---
A New Label
Within hours, a resolution was drafted.
Red Circle Division was officially labeled:
> "A Global Extremist Threat to World Order."
Sanctions were proposed.
Coalitions discussed.
Yet behind closed doors, one question repeated:
"Why aren't the North Korean people fighting back?"
Because something more dangerous than rebellion had begun.
Thinking.
---
China's Message
A secure channel opened.
A single message reached Red Circle.
> "Withdraw.
Stability must be preserved."
Kurayami read it slowly.
Then deleted it.
"Stability built on fear," he said calmly,
"is just another word for silence."
---
The World Draws Lines
Military fleets repositioned.
Cyber units were activated.
Diplomats prepared threats disguised as concern.
The world was ready to act.
Not to save North Korea's people.
But to save the system that kept everyone in place.
---
Ending
Kurayami stepped outside.
The border lights flickered in the distance.
"They're coming," Arin said.
Kurayami's expression didn't change.
"Good," he replied.
"Now they have to decide."
"Protect power…"
"Or protect people."
Far away, inside North Korea, a man turned his television back on—hoping to see that face again.
Not because he trusted it.
But because it had reminded him of something forgotten.
Choice.