24. I Am at the Peak
The spark that Seon Ga-hee had created fizzled out immediately.
“……?”
Nothing happened. Was it just a habit?
That was my thought when something jabbed my cheek, forcing my head to turn until my gaze met Director Madric Blood's.
It was her finger.
“That wench is up to her tricks again.”
“Did she do something to me?”
“'Tis nothing unusual. Worry not.”
Soon, Madric Blood's palm rubbed my cheek. I could feel her qi flowing into my body.
“Now it is done, nira.”
Crackle.
In that instant, I saw a spark jump right in front of my eyes.
“What is this?”
“Naught good, I wager. Be off with you. This matter I shall protest on your behalf later, nira.”
I replied that I understood and started walking.
Then, an unexpected voice came—not from a person, but from a bird.
"That was a tracking spell just now, Master."
It was Zhuque.
I kept walking without stopping.
“A tracking spell? That just now?”
"It's a spell that emits periodic electrical signals to pinpoint the target's location. At higher realms, it can even reveal what the target sees and hears. Though that woman doesn't seem quite there yet."
“You figured that out in one go?”
As expected of Zhuque. No wonder it's a divine beast.
"No big deal. I know someone who uses a similar spell."
The response came in an unexpectedly flat tone. I'd figured it'd smirk with a 'heh heh' and brag.
“But who is that guy? Can I learn it too?”
Zhuque let out a scoff at my question.
"Heh heh heh. Looks like you've already forgotten the truth of the heart, Master. How about forfeiting your peak realm enlightenment?"
“……”
This bastard.
I started to retort but held my tongue.
'If you keep coveting this power and that power like me, you'll never even touch the edge of true authority in your lifetime.'
Its words to me echoed in my mind.
I admitted it. I wasn't at the stage to aim for authority yet, but my task was to fully internalize the enlightenment I'd gained today.
But why had she placed a tracking spell on me? It couldn't just be to find the military factory's location. She'd naturally deduced it was in the Technical Information Division from my conversation with the branch manager.
Of course, thinking about the spell's purpose made the answer simple.
It existed to track targets.
I shook off the thought. Director Madric Blood said she'd protest, so I could ask her then.
For now, I'd handle the most pressing issue right in front of me.
Running at full speed, I quickly arrived at the military factory.
The Technical Information Division's grounds had expanded far beyond before, naturally to encompass the factory.
I entered the factory straightaway and headed to the main system room.
The biometric recognition system activated. Layers of light scanned my entire body.
Ding.
Administrator Kim Jeongha. Authentication complete.
Welcome to the Military Factory, Administrator.
Please authorize Military Factory activation.
“Activate it.”
Clank!
Whirrr—
Lights flickered on throughout the building, accompanied by the hum of machinery.
Connecting Hunter Stock Company departmental systems and facilities...
Rumble...
A massive vibration shook the area.
“Earthquake?”
The thought came naturally, but I realized the epicenter was right here in the military factory.
Design blueprints appeared on multiple monitors, showing countless machines underground linking up with the departmental buildings.
Connection complete.
The message on the main monitor soon followed, living up to my expectations.
Military Factory activated.
First activation perk unlocked.
Please select a perk from the list.
1. Military Factory Upgrade
2. Department Upgrade
3. Department Resource Rapid Charge
One of these three.
I didn't deliberate long.
“Number 3.”
1 and 2 were tempting too, but not the immediate priority.
Please select the department to receive the perk.
1. Safety Planning Department
2. HR Innovation Department
3. Technical Information Division
…
Plenty of options popped up, but no need to look.
Naturally, I chose 1.
“Safety Planning Department.”
The sound of machinery whirring to life echoed again.
Right after, a radio transmission came from Manager Cherubim.
“Mergers are between companies, aren't they?”
“How long can we sustain combat support?”
Good. Time to get started.
“Understood.”
Boom!
The battlefield was a chaotic frenzy of dazzling attacks and defenses.
Snap!
Kim Hansu flicked his fingers amid it all.
Whumm.
—Shaaah!
Then he clenched both fists, which he'd been holding open.
Whoosh!
—Shaa...
In midair, an invisible giant hand crushed and pulverized dozens of lizardmen.
At the same time, the numbers on the electronic scoreboard climbed rapidly.
That attack killed 25, netting 50 points.
“Hmm. Lizards are 2 points each, huh.”
Then—
Crackle!
—Kyaaaooo!
A single bolt of lightning pierced a Flame Drake.
Flame Drakes must be worth 100 points each.
A twinge of annoyance made me grumble.
“What a boring stunt.”
Flame Drakes weren't monsters from floors 12 or 13. They hadn't even appeared on 14.
I could feel the difficulty ramping up.
And scoring departments in real-time? This would get really dull fast.
Kim Hansu chuckled, clearly thinking the same.
“Doesn't this give us too much of an edge, hyung? Heh heh.”
Exactly.
Clank, clank.
Hidden turrets and cameras mounted rifles and machine guns.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Hundreds of barrels spat fire simultaneously.
The military factory was firmly in our grasp.
Lizardmen without proper gear had no chance against the barrage.
The auto-turrets, powered by machines and controlled by programs, had impressive accuracy.
In a flash, the rankings shifted again from Seon Ga-hee's exploits, and our lead over second place widened rapidly.
In other words, snagging powerful monsters could close the gap!
As another Flame Drake appeared, Seon Ga-hee whipped her head around immediately.
Her eyes sparkled as she wrapped her sword in lightning and charged.
But—
“I shan't allow that, nira.”
Blood Impact Alpha
Bloody Chain
“……?!”
Four chains bound Seon Ga-hee's limbs.
Crackle!
She shattered the blood chains in an instant.
But the Flame Drake was already dead by Bloody Spear.
Seon Ga-hee suddenly rubbed her bound spots, scowling fiercely.
“What is this nonsense, vampire?”
“Payment for touching my beloved. 'Tis a bargain at that, nira.”
“……”
Seon Ga-hee glared at Madric Blood briefly before turning away.
If she hadn't been caught from the start, maybe. But with her own deeds exposed, she didn't press further.
After that, though, Seon Ga-hee's movements grew oddly off. Her electricity would suddenly fizzle or veer strangely.
Forcing her actions to become passive.
Madric Blood must have pulled some trick when she bound her with the chains.
Boom!
Crackle-crackle!
—Kaoo...
“Even rotten, it's still top-class, huh...”
Still, slicing another Flame Drake's neck proved she was a director for a reason.
Truth be told, Angelica and Zhuque were just abnormally strong. Other managers—no, even section chief level—were superhumans without question.
As I prepared to join the fray in earnest, Manager Cherubim's voice rang out.
Even halting the turrets, Safety Planning's top spot was secure.
Auto-turrets shone early on, but as allies mixed in and melee chaos ensued, their efficiency plummeted.
“Yes, sir.”
As I replied, a pleasant tingle prickled my skin.
I welcomed it without resistance. Some floating energy seeped into my meridians.
I hadn't gathered qi via Blood Cycle yet, but I knew I'd ascended to peak expert ranks.
The resources from Manager Cherubim converted perfectly to qi suited to my constitution, filling my dantian.
The surging fullness was dizzying. My senses sharpened across my body.
Vision cleared enough to count wrinkles on a lizardman over 100 meters away.
Ears picked out employees' words amid the din—mostly curses—so I honed my tactile sense.
—Shaa!
Without looking, a faint breeze from behind warned of an incoming attack.
Splat!
A light swing infused with internal energy smashed the lizardman's face.
“This is... peak.”
I murmured unconsciously.
The power I'd longed for. Dreamed of.
All who reached this realm must have felt the same.
I was happy. Like I could do anything.
“Hahaha.”
I dashed through the lobby, swinging the Sealed Sword freely.
Slash!
Slash!
No need for special techniques; lizardmen were no match anymore.
Each swing unleashed sword qi that severed necks and sprayed blood fountains.
No worry about qi drain—it refilled with that tingle the moment it depleted.
62 points in a blink—all mine.
“Hahahaha.”
Fun, you said? I admit it. You were right, Kim Hansu.
“Heh heh. You look thrilled, hyung.”
I proposed to the two employees waggling fingers in the air.
“Let's bag a Flame Drake ourselves.”
“Huh? Can we?”
“Oh, sounds good. Let's do it.”
We three approached a nearby one together.
—Kyaooo!
As it gaped wide, baring savage teeth—
Whumm.
Kim Hansu seized its body.
“Hup!”
Choi Heejeong dropped a nearby dead Flame Drake corpse onto it.
Crunch!
Then I beheaded it.
Schwing.
The sword qi sliced smoothly through flesh.
“Hey, noona Choi. Why do you keep making weird noises when you exert force?”
“W-who said I made weird noises? And why am I noona?!”
Kim Hansu stared hard at Choi Heejeong, then waggled his brows.
“Nah?”
“Obviously not! Right, Jeongha-ssi?”
“Hahahahaha!”
“Even Jeongha-ssi...”
“Kekeke.”
I just loved this moment.
Madric Blood smirked at me.
“Not bad at all. You could stand beside me now without shame, nira.”
Unless circumstances demanded it, Director Madric Blood always kept distance from subordinates to avoid hindering her prowess.
Now she was inviting me to stand with her.
Gwak Do-cheol, essentially my swordmaster, spoke up.
“After yesterday, I've been researching ways to refine the Black Moon Tyrant Sword further. I wish to advance it through sword discussions with you. What say you, young Kim?”
I stepped atop the fallen Flame Drake corpse.
In this moment, I stood highest among all employees.
I raised both hands high—to the sky... no, the ceiling.
Even in this chaos, curious eyes turned my way.
No thought of later embarrassment.
Nothing could stop me now.
Regret doing it, regret not—better to do and regret.
Hunter Stock Company, 17th Branch—the pinnacle.
Branch manager.
I wanted to shout it at him.
Are you watching?
“I am at the peak!”