What Is This Now?

The office was impeccably clean. And it was just the right size for our needs. Knowing that this building was owned by the president made it clear he came from serious money.

"Like it?"

"It's pretty damn good. So we use this floor and the one above, right?"

"Yes. You can bring over anyone capable from Dad's old company crew."

"Sounds good."

"I'll leave the company to Dad."

"Got it. While I'm at it, I'll scout a factory too."

"Here's the factory manager's contact. There aren't many plants in Korea that can make pet food."

"Alright, I'll check it out thoroughly before deciding."

"Sure. I've got some errands to run—something about a vest Mom made."

"Go ahead."

As I left, I dialed the number the president had given me.

A text came through shortly after, and I headed to the address.

"Hello?"

"I'd like to say hi, but honestly, I'm not doing so hot."

"Sorry."

He had the sharp features and gentle vibe of a handsome guy, but Park Sung-hwan now looked irritable and worn out. Probably changed a lot since his CRPS diagnosis.

"It's fine. I'm just sensitive these days."

"Want to test it right away?"

"Skipping the product rundown?"

"Yeah, I was asked as a favor, but this thing's made in a gate."

"Ah."

His expression softened at "made in a gate."

"Just put on this vest."

"Got it."

Park carefully draped the vest over his shirt, even wearing gloves—touch alone must hurt like hell.

"Feel anything different?"

He took off the gloves, moving with practiced caution. Then he suddenly stared at me.

"Huh?"

"What's up?"

"No pain. Well, almost none."

The vest's option was pain reduction. Not total elimination, then.

"You okay?"

"Better than I've been in years—I can't even remember."

Clap!

He clapped once. Something he probably couldn't do normally.

"Hahaha!"

"Don't push it."

"No, really—it's fine. When you're in constant agony, little pains fade into the background. There's still some in my palm now, but compared to usual... it's nothing."

Tears started streaming down his face mid-sentence.

"I don't even know why I got this. Docs don't either. Some get it from bumping a cart at the mart, others from stress, or just random collisions... anywhere."

"Had no idea."

I really didn't. That something so trivial could trigger something that terrifying.

"Felt so unfair. I donated plenty, never bullied anyone... why me? Sob."

I reached to pat him but stopped—touch could trigger pain, I'd read.

I waited till he calmed, then said,

"If you're up for it, try another one?"

"Pardon?"

"Pain reduction option. Doesn't erase it, just cuts it down. Maybe stacking helps?"

"I'll try."

He layered another vest and clapped again.

Clap!

"Whoa, way less. Barely there now."

"One more."

"Okay."

Three vests in, he said ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no pain at all. Begged me to sell it to him.

"Please, sell it to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me."

"It's a gift."

"No way—gate-made stuff costs a fortune."

"Experiment's done. That's payment enough."

"But..."

"Help with more tests instead. And keep this quiet."

"Secret's safe. But I want one promise."

"Shoot."

"When testing's over, sell to people like me."

"Of course."

He smiled—face brighter than when we met. Good enough, plus stacking worked. Now test forms beyond vests, see limits.

With Park seeing me off, I left his place and headed to Seon-woo's shop. He shuttled between gate and store selling gear—all sold out already.

"Yo."

"Yeah. All gone?"

"Duh. One hour a day max. Pure honey."

"Selling honey too?"

"Lord, snap out of it! That's not you!"

"Fine, Kim the Steward."

"Pfft. Anyway, Fukushima's not a total shitshow."

"That's why I'm here. No word from your hunter buddies?"

"Asked around—other gate folks too."

That was the point of coming.

"Spill."

"One connected guy says Japanese hunters suck. Kinda... weird?"

"Weird how?"

"Levels don't matter much. Hit 10, you're on gathering duty. Gates are nationalized, they say."

"That work?"

"Country's primed for brainwashing."

Japan excels at it—that's the scary part. Long-term LDP rule? Normal. Bad PM? Give 'em a shot. WWII perps as victims? Check. That's Japan. Bribe 'em, call gates national assets? Maybe. Not simple, though—their mindset's alien.

"And?"

"Deployed hunters? Self-Defense Force types stirring the pot."

"Ah, that banzai charge?"

"Saw it?"

"Live."

"Heard hunters got wiped. Asking Korea for help?"

"Help? No way."

"Big reward?"

Some'd bite.

"Heard something funny, though."

"Funny?"

"Chance to absorb gates. Clammed up after."

"Absorb gates...?"

Absorb? Weird phrasing.

"He really said that?"

"Yeah, begged me not to repeat."

Slip-up, then. Absorb gates? Territory war, maybe. Medieval lords faked wars to sell land—surrender deals, dodge the king. Happens everywhere—fake bankruptcies to offload companies. Japan's gates like that?

"Absorb gates... Could we?"

"What? Japan expedition?"

"Hell no! Gate absorption."

"Dunno, but possible? Gates are territories, per Dad. System'd allow wars—it's what appointed lords."

Then it hit.

The system responded.

'Activating means we could get attacked?'

But it prompted—probably smart to do.

'Activate.'

Territory info updated.

Siho Territory bumped from small to medium-small. 107 pop meant orcs bred more. Territory War enabled—key bit.

"We can do territory wars now."

"What? Insane."

"But no attacks yet. One Earth month safe."

"Prep time."

"Yeah."

"Oh, my old hunter team wants in your gate. Word's good."

"Perfect—need fighters. Set up a meet."

"On it."

We'd link in the gate later. I went home, crossed into it.

"Oppa! Where've you been?"

"Company stuff. Why?"

"Goblins are gone. Went to farm mats earlier—no sign of 'em."

"Goblins vanished?"

Shocked. Island goblins poofed. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠But Fukushima swarmed with 'em. Some from here?

Needed to check. Headed to goblin spot—saw something new.

"A gate?"

A gate. Easy guess: why goblins vanished. Linked to Fukushima?