Form Change
Nam Gyuil donned a robe striped like a zebra's. Gemstones adorned the buttons fastening it. With a flutter, he stood before the entryway mirror, checking his appearance.
Perfect.
The robe he wore was the transformation item Form Change, crafted after mastering its creation method from the Akashic Records.
Time to test its performance.
Nam Gyuil pulled on the hood. Visualizing Lee Chanu's appearance, he channeled mana into the Form Change.
Smoothly, the robe clung to his body, covering everything but his eyes, nose, and mouth. Its color shifted, gradually turning flesh-toned until, in an instant, Nam Gyuil's form became Lee Chanu's.
He examined his reflection. "Whoa!"
An exclamation escaped him. Just think of the person you want to become, and it transforms automatically?
It was flawless. No one would recognize him as Nam Gyuil if he went out like this.
This'll be useful in combat.
Grinning, Nam Gyuil cut off the mana. He reverted to his original form.
Form Change was an incredible item, but it had one drawback.
The total usage time is limited.
To just 24 hours, no less. Exceed that, and it lost its power, becoming an ordinary robe. From now on, he'd have to use it sparingly—only when absolutely necessary.
Nam Gyuil hung the robe over a chair. Without the Akashic Records, I'd have overlooked the materials for Form Change even if they were right in front of me.
Training methods for growth. Item crafting. Gaining access to the Akashic Records had been a tremendous stroke of luck. The benefits were endless.
He lounged on the plush sofa, flicking on the TV with the remote for a brief rest.
The announcer on the LED screen delivered the breaking news in a calm voice.
Watching the TV, Nam Gyuil shook his head. Grim news. National hunters deserting and forming crime rings? Unbelievable.
He changed the channel, no longer in the mood to watch.
The president summoned the defense minister and key military generals to the conference room. A chilling tension hung in the air.
After a long silence in his chair, the president broke it. "Why haven't you caught the deserted national hunters?"
The generals couldn't respond. They didn't even know where the deserters' hideouts were.
The president bellowed, "Why are you all so quiet?!"
He roared in fury, slamming his fist on the desk in an undignified rage. There was a reason for his sensitivity.
Just last week, his approval rating had been 32.5%—already low. But with deserted national hunters committing crimes, public outrage exploded: "What is the government doing?!" This week, it plummeted to 21.7%.
The opposition was gleefully launching political attacks, while his own party could barely counter. With elections looming, the president was desperate about his ratings. He scowled deeply.
"Announce rewards for whoever claims top credit in resolving this. Whatever they want, pledge it in the president's name."
"Understood."
"Don't just say it—make it happen! Deploy the Hunter Agency, mobilize national hunters—get it done!"
"Yes, sir!"
The generals shouted in unison. The president gulped down water from his cup, his throat parched.
The next day, Nam Gyuil arrived at the Hunter Agency. No sooner had he sat than the phone rang shrilly.
He picked up. "Communications security, 01 Team Leader Nam Gyuil of Seoul Hunter Agency."
-Communications security, it's Park Heeryeong.
"Sir, yes sir! What can I do for you?"
-Too sensitive for phone. Come to my office.
"Understood."
Hanging up, Nam Gyuil clicked his tongue. Calling me in to nag about reenlistment again?
Recalling the long-term service form, he grimaced but headed to the office anyway.
Park Heeryeong got straight to it as he entered. "HA sent a support request to 01 Team."
Nam Gyuil fell silent, blinking rapidly. He tilted his head slightly. "HA—the ones hunting deserters? Why us?"
"You heard the rumors, right?"
"What rumors?"
"Deserted hunters forming a crime syndicate."
"Yeah, saw it on the news."
"It's escalating. Time to act. I considered refusing HA's request, but then the president's direct order came: resolve this."
Park Heeryeong's tone carried gravity. These weren't outsiders—it was Hunter Agency national hunters deserting and turning to crime. The agency's reputation was at stake.
"Nam Gyuil."
"Sergeant Nam Gyuil reporting."
"As of now, 01 Team fully supports HA. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
Nam Gyuil responded crisply. Pleased, perhaps, Park Heeryeong chuckled. "Top contributor gets a presidential reward—whatever they want, granted by order. Give it your all."
"Understood."
With a resounding reply, Nam Gyuil left the office.
His footsteps echoed down the hall as he pondered. Supporting HA was sudden enough, but a presidential reward for top credit? The situation must be dire.
He mulled Park Heeryeong's final words. Whatever they want, by presidential order.
A smirk escaped. This might be an unexpected windfall, vine and all.
He planned to demand something huge as his reward. I need to claim top credit—flawlessly.
Confidence surged. He had a uniquely useful item, after all.
The following day, 01 Team assembled at HA. Team Leader Jo Heeyoung greeted them.
"Pleased to meet you. Arrest Division Team Leader Sergeant Jo Heeyoung."
She shook Nam Gyuil's hand. "Pleased to meet you. 01 Team Leader Sergeant Nam Gyuil. Looking forward to working together."
Jo Heeyoung scanned him top to bottom. The rumors of their flawless record prompted the request, but she wanted to gauge him personally. Clean-cut appearance. Polite speech. A bit serious...
We'll see as we talk more.
She introduced HA members to 01 Team for familiarity, then moved to the briefing.
A police officer was present too. With the situation worsening, HA was collaborating with police—explained to 01 Team.
Nam Gyuil greeted them. "Hunter Agency 01 Team Leader Sergeant Nam Gyuil. Pleased to work with you."
"Inspector Park Heesoon."
Brief greetings done, the serious matter led straight to the briefing. Everyone received documents and sat.
Jo Heeyoung handled the briefing, activating the projector and PowerPoint.
"The crime syndicate formed by deserted national hunters calls itself the Free Citizens. We captured one operative."
She clicked the remote; the screen changed to a photo of a rough-looking, bald man.
"Name: Lim Youngsu, 23. Captured while fleeing a botched contract killing. But he's giving no useful info."
Nam Gyuil raised his hand with a question. Jo Heeyoung nodded. "Yes?"
"If no useful info, does that mean he's said other things?"
"Correct."
She nodded and continued. "Lim Youngsu keeps repeating that right after joining the Free Citizens, he was suddenly transported somewhere. Claims no knowledge of hideouts or bosses."
"No way to make him tell the truth?"
"Polygraph, profilers for interrogation, even family persuasion—all failed. Two possibilities."
"Two?"
"Either Lim's a hardliner withholding info, or the Free Citizens is a cell structure that discards members. He truly knows nothing."
Nam Gyuil furrowed his brow. Jo Heeyoung pressed on.
"Tracked his movements via CCTV, phone pings—everything. No trace of how he reached the hideout."
"I see."
"Team Leader Nam Gyuil, any predictions on Free Citizens' behavior?"
"Me?"
"Yes. As a fellow Awakener, how would you act as their boss?"
Nam Gyuil paused in thought. Honestly, no clue. How should I know? Even as fellow Awakeners, I can't read their minds.
He wouldn't have deserted his comrades anyway. Nor formed a crime ring. He had no desire to understand the Free Citizens—they were utterly unlike him.
So he countered. "Any more info on the Free Citizens?"
"A broker recruiting deserted national hunters for them was spotted wearing a unique ring."
"Ring?"
"Lim Youngsu said the broker wore a purple-gemmed ring on his index finger from their first meeting."
Nam Gyuil's expression shifted. A faint smirk—he'd latched onto a lead. Purple gem? Sudden transport to some space upon joining?
He had a hunch. Not certain yet, but meeting Lim Youngsu would unravel it.
"I'll meet Lim Youngsu."
Jo Heeyoung repeated herself. "Polygraph, profilers, family—all useless."
Same words, different intent: Even experts failed—how could you succeed? Police nodded agreement.
But Nam Gyuil persisted. "Still, I'd like to talk to him. Might interpret his words from a fresh angle."
Jo Heeyoung paused, then nodded. "Alright. I hope you extract the key info from Lim Youngsu."
"Don't worry."
Because the perspective gap between him—with Akashic Records knowledge—and others was vast.