Killing Intent and Aura
As killing intent and aura burst forth simultaneously, the guy let out a shrill "Eek!" and staggered back.
"W-What the... Han Yujin?"
His face drained of color as he finally recognized me.
"Why the hell are you here?"
"Didn't you apply for investment funds just recently? Already forgotten?"
"Oh! Right! The investment! So, what's the deal? You gonna fund my research?"
His eyes lit up at the mention of money, trembling forgotten.
"I was going to. But I didn't expect to get grabbed by the collar the second I walked in. And yelled at like that."
Realization dawned, and he gaped, waving his hands frantically.
"Misunderstanding! Total misunderstanding! I was deep in a crucial experiment—got too focused, that's all!"
For a "crucial experiment," the stuff on the table looked pretty shabby...
But Choi Yeon, who'd been quiet until now, seemed intrigued.
"...A crucial experiment?"
"Yeah! Super important! You... Huh? Ch-Choi Yeon?"
"Yeah. Hi."
He flinched back again upon spotting her, but this time it was pure flustered panic, not the terror he'd shown me.
"Why's Choi Yeon here? Oh! You joined a club recently, right? Wait, am I joining your club too—?"
"We didn't come here to recruit you for the club. We came to confirm the investment."
I eyed the blackened mana stone on the desk.
"This the experiment you sent me?"
An experiment to shock mana stones and extract explosive power. He'd probably sealed the door to block variables and get clean data.
"Yep. The setup here's too crude for solid results yet... But it's promising. Little by little, we're getting reactions. Before, no amount of stimulation even registered!"
For a single student, it was impressive. Like building a machine bare-handed in the wild.
"Impressive that you're seeing reactions without any real support. Fast progress."
"Right? So—"
"—Still too slow."
At this rate, it'd take decades to hit the level I wanted.
And that wasn't what I expected from him.
"You saw the report! This ain't easy!"
He ranted as expected, spilling how groundbreaking and tough it was. I just smiled, letting it wash over me.
If that was it, I wouldn't have bothered coming.
So I answered.
"Alone, yeah. That's why I brought help."
The one who'd solve it in a flash.
"Choi Yeon."
"...Yeah?"
"Mind helping out?"
"Me?"
Why else would I bring you?
I pulled a mana stone from my cube—saved for a rainy day—and handed it to her.
"Can you cut this in half?"
"...The mana stone?"
"W-Wait! Cutting a mana stone in half? You wanna recreate that freshman welcome hell?!"
Mana stones change with applied force. Steady weak pressure shrinks the energy to a plain rock; sudden strong force dungeonizes it. Basic knowledge.
"And yet you're the idiot shocking mana stones knowing that."
"I went slow and careful, obviously! It doesn't work just blasting max power!"
Newbie didn't know shit.
There was one more thing.
"Not strong force. Pure energy."
"...What?"
"Watch closely. You'll learn something."
I glanced at Choi Yeon, still blankly holding the stone. Mana flickered at her fingertips alongside it.
She looked up at me.
"You sure about cutting this?"
I nodded. Without hesitation, she pressed her aura-infused hand to the stone.
"Eek! I can't watch! Can't look!"
He hid behind me in terror, but she moved without a flicker of doubt.
As if my word made it impossible to go wrong.
And then.
Kiiik— Kiiikiiik—
Pure aura, utterly free of impurities, bored into the stone. It began glowing brighter.
"No! It's wrong!"
He clawed his head on the floor, screaming. But Choi Yeon's face remained serene, like the aura rising from her hand.
Finally.
Tok—
The single stone split perfectly into two. No explosion, no anomalies.
"Did it work?"
Clueless to her feat, she just tilted her head like a kid asking for praise.
"Faster than expected."
"Yeah. Wasn't hard."
She handed me the two halves. The cut was laser-smooth.
"See that?"
"...This makes any sense?"
He rose, staring at the stones in my hand.
"A person... cut a mana stone? That clean?"
No wonder he was shocked. Common sense said mana stones couldn't be processed. They were used as-is, like batteries.
But now, that shattered before his eyes.
"Only pure aura or mana can cut them. Impure force? Dungeon at best. But pure power like that? Possible. Not easy, though."
The key: pure, matching output. Force equal to the stone's own level.
"Pure power... Purity... Impurities..."
Enthralled, he jumped up, scribbling furiously.
Perfect.
"Alright, we're out."
"Huh? Just like that?"
Choi Yeon blinked, surprised.
"This is enough. He'll figure out the rest."
I'm no scientist—just knew the trick.
Mechanics? Principles? Who cares. That monster over there would theorize from the demo alone.
"We just reap the results."
That was the point of the visit.
* * *
Back home, a welcome face awaited.
"How've you been?"
Father had finally wrapped up Russia and returned.
His beard was a bit bushier than usual.
"Welcome back, Father. Heard there was a lot going on overseas."
"Hahaha. You and the consigliere handled things while I was gone. I heard—you absorbed a gang in Bucheon?"
He knew the updates, having been back a bit.
"Yes. During an academy project, found a group trafficking people and drugs. Dealt with them per our code. Repurposed the site."
Card & Rabbit was long revamped under me and the consigliere—legit ops only, no drugs.
Cops came sniffing inevitably, but consigliere had a fix.
'Take what you want, give what you don't.'
Traded their drug client list; case closed.
Only possible 'cause we're Calione, and consigliere negotiated.
'Cops figure it's better us legit than some new gang.'
Bonus: more turf for me.
"Excellent. Reports were good, but... you're doing great."
He chuckled, standing to pat my shoulder.
"Thought this gift would suffice, but you deserve more."
He pulled a box from under the desk, like he'd planned it.
"Hope you like it."
The hefty box screamed luxury—silky ribbon, premium feel.
"What're you waiting for? Open it."
I hesitated—rude to rip gifts?—but he grinned expectantly.
Who could resist?
I set it down gently, untied the ribbon like a ritual, and lifted the lid carefully.
"...This?"
A metal lump nestled in cushioning, reeking of steel. Crude, unadorned.
Yet that rawness made my heart race inexplicably.
Hand to the grip, new info flooded my vision.
◈ [Type: Firearm]
◈ [Description: From the Cold War era. The pistol of the legendary spy feared by all the world's powers. This gun, infused with his saga, will pierce enemies' hearts like a dagger anywhere.]
【Skills】
◈ [1. Worldly Relic: Its original owner was world-famous. Grants three effects.
a. Greatly boosts mana infusion efficiency into bullets.
b. Can fire using only mana charge.
c. Durability skyrockets.]
◈ [2. Silence: Fire up to 9 shots per day completely silently.]
◈ [3. Spy Exclusive: Spy weapons evade detection and prediction above all. Use visible/invisible modes; undetectable by any means.]
"What do you think? Saw you collecting relic weapons, so I got it... Like it?"