The Omen
I followed Jangsu down to the basement of the main building. Hoseop and Aunt Sujeong were with us.
"It’s right here."
Two researchers who were close with Jangsu were waiting for us in front of a storage room door. One was a professor from Myungshin Women's University, and the other was an architect. Both were men, and both were older than Jangsu.
'What could possibly make them this happy at their age...'
The emotions radiating from them were incredibly vivid. Joy, happiness, a thrill—it was as if they were flooded with dopamine.
"We're opening it."
Jangsu opened the storage room door.
"What do you think?"
Jangsu spoke with a triumphant expression. The moment the door opened, a blast of cold air rushed out.
"Is this... a refrigerator? Did you actually make a refrigerator?"
Hoseop muttered, his expression one of disbelief. As if responding to his muttering, the professor spoke up.
"It’s different from the operating principles of a modern refrigerator. There’s no refrigerant—well, strictly speaking, there is, but... to put it simply, it doesn't generate heat."
I stepped into the storage room. The chill felt even more intense.
"At this level, you could safely call it a real refrigerator, couldn't you?"
"That is correct. The area of this storage room is..."
Jangsu began his explanation. He covered the area of the room, the ambient temperature, and the resources required to maintain the current level of cold.
"We found the 'Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron' in Mumu’s sanctuary... ah, that’s just a name we gave it temporarily."
"If that's easier, let's just keep calling it that."
"No, that world is more fantasy than martial arts..."
Hoseop raised an objection, but I ignored him. The name didn't matter. Regardless, we had discovered an ore that emitted cold in the cave where Mumu used to live. We brought it back, and after researching it until now, this was the result.
"It takes quite a few miscellaneous resources."
"Yes. If we only use the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron and magic stones to boost the output, the waste is too high. We are continuing to look for more efficient methods."
The core was the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron and the magic stones. In particular, to maintain the cold, we had to provide a continuous supply of energy using magic stones.
"I think we have enough of the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron. We estimate there is a significant amount deposited in that cave..."
I listened intently to the three men's explanations. I could feel them getting even more excited because I was listening with interest.
"Do you happen to know what a seokbinggo is? It was a facility used to store ice in the past, and this storage room is like a seokbinggo..."
After hearing quite a detailed story, I asked, "Then that means it's possible to control the temperature, right?"
"Yes. Not only refrigeration equipment, but we can also make things like... air conditioners for home use."
"My friend, that's different from an air conditioner. This doesn't even need an outdoor unit."
"Lee Hyun prefers things to be simple and clear."
My question caused the three men to start talking even more. In any case, it meant both refrigerators and air conditioners were possible.
"Thank you all for your hard work."
I felt a smile coming on. They had struggled through many nights for this. I promised them rewards and immediately called for an emergency meeting of the executives.
I finished dinner very quickly and went up to the conference room. All the executives were gathered.
"Since everyone is here, I'll say this briefly first."
I repeated what I had told Aunt Sujeong and Hoseop earlier.
"We’ve already set various rules for daily life. We will be adding more. Apply them strictly. Especially Yuna and Hoseop... and Seolhee and Bom."
Samira’s executives and hunters. And the various Awakened. Almost all of them were younger than me. Most were in their early twenties, and I felt like their age might be a problem.
"Don't let your emotions sway you into being lenient. Don't go easy on them."
This was based on my personal experience, not an absolute rule. However, until now, it was often the older individuals who caused trouble. The Awakened of Samira seemed to feel burdened by their age. They also seemed to have a tendency to let things slide as long as it wasn't a direct insult to me.
"I will give you the authority to punish. You may judge at your own discretion. Think about how I would have responded, and punish them severely."
Whether you kill them or break their limbs, the method doesn't matter.
"The important thing is to establish discipline. Make them too afraid to even think of doing anything foolish."
They all nodded, as if they understood.
"Then, next... Jangsu has developed a refrigerator and an air conditioner. A round of applause."
The group looked bewildered by the sudden change of topic. Then, when I started clapping, everyone followed suit.
"Wait, Dad, really? A refrigerator? An air conditioner?"
"Wow... isn't this the first time the boss has praised someone like this?"
"Jangsu, you've worked hard."
This research achievement was that innovative and significant. It was directly linked to survival, not just the convenience of daily life.
"Jangsu."
"Yes, Lee Hyun."
"With this achievement, long-term food preservation will become much easier. The variety will increase as well. Am I right?"
"That is correct."
Self-sufficiency and stockpiling of food. These were crucial elements for the possibility of long-term survival.
"I would like to prioritize the food storage."
"Yes. We’ve already found the optimal temperature considering the magic stone consumption rate. We plan to prepare the storage in three stages..."
A moderately cool level, a temperature for storing fresh food, and even a freezer to make ice.
"The lower the temperature, the higher the magic consumption. There is a specific point where the magic consumption changes significantly."
"We'll need to calculate Samira's magic stone supply rate."
"We have the data, but it's on a steady upward trend. We'll build the storage according to the latest data first and expand it later..."
Once I opened the floor, the group started discussing it on their own. I listened to their conversation and then summarized it for them.
"First, utilize the existing buildings. That's faster. We'll plan and proceed with constructing separate buildings properly."
"Understood. Then we can start tomorrow."
We decided to build the storage in the main building and the annex where the intern dorms were. They said it would be finished quickly since it only required laying down the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron and the surrounding parts. Additional work to improve magic efficiency would proceed sequentially.
"What should we do about the air conditioner?"
"Obviously, it should be installed in Lee Hyun's home first," Aunt Sujeong answered without a moment's hesitation.
The air conditioner was easier to install and consumed less magic than the storage. That was, of course, only when comparing the two.
"How does it compare to a magic lamp?"
"If you run it 24 hours a day based on the master bedroom in Lee Hyun's house... it would be about the same as lighting 10 magic lamps at maximum brightness for the same amount of time," Jangsu added, noting it was a rough comparison.
"Of course, there are many elements to improve. We'll carry out repair work on the roof to block the heat..."
As expected, the magic consumption was high. I quickly ran the numbers in my head.
'I think we can handle it up to the Awakened.'
In Samira, magic stones were money. If we started distributing air conditioners, I thought we could somehow manage the magic consumption up to the level of the Awakened.
"If we only consider the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron, would the commercialization of air conditioners be possible?"
"Yes. Even if we install them in every room of the intern dorms, we'll have some left over."
"Then let's do this. First, please install them so that the entire 6th floor of the main building can be air-conditioned."
The 6th floor of the main building, where my home and the conference room were located. I also ordered air conditioners to be installed in the individual rooms of the executives.
"The magic stones required for cooling are each person's responsibility. Do you understand?"
"Of course. Thank you."
The group answered with excited faces.
"Next, give priority to the hunters."
"Priority?"
"Yes. Give them the right to purchase air conditioners. Set a reasonable price, and we'll support installment purchases if they want."
Jangsu had said the supply of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron was plentiful. So, he seemed not to understand my words immediately. Aunt Sujeong, however, grasped the underlying meaning right away.
"So, the air conditioner is also a kind of benefit."
"Yes. We take care of the hunters first. Since everyone will obviously want one, we'll install them in their individual rooms..."
It didn't end there. I would also give the right to purchase air conditioners to Awakened who weren't hunters, sequentially according to their rank.
"Control the speed. Don't install them all in one day just because the work is possible."
"Ah, I understand what you mean."
"The next are the general employees. From here on, we won't install them in their rooms, but we'll create a kind of 'summer retreat' space."
We decided to create a space where general employees could sleep in the cool.
"Set the entrance fee a bit high. Make it affordable for those in hunter teams, but a bit burdensome for those doing general work."
This was also intended to empower the hunters. After all, selecting team members was at the hunters' discretion.
"What about the interns?"
"Let's make a separate space, distinct from the general employees. Make it so that a larger number of people have to sleep together there..."
"The interns' summer retreat space will be more uncomfortable. I don't think we need to worry about the job applicants..."
I would maintain the original principles of Samira. To make them feel the desire for upward mobility through discriminatory treatment.
"And if you have the capacity, please build individual bathrooms for the hunters as well."
I said a few more things I had been thinking about alone. I conveyed my intentions to the group.
"You should also think of ways to give preferential treatment to the hunters."
"Yes."
"They need to feel for themselves that they are special beings."
Looking at Gi Eun-chae, she still thought she was just an ordinary college student. I didn't want to make them arrogant.
"Don't let me hear them talk about who they used to be. What kind of work they did. How much wealth they had... don't let me hear that crap."
When I see people causing trouble, they are often trapped in a sense of elitism based on their past standards. Those are the ones who always raise their voices and cause problems. Those who don't have adapted well and are doing their part.
"I want people to know clearly who Samira values more."
The group answered that they understood and diligently wrote down my words. We talked like that until it was time for the cultivation session.
The next afternoon. Today, I came to the place where the gate leading to Mumu’s sanctuary was located. A temporary base had been built around the gate. This was because workers were coming and going like ants, farming continuously.
From here to Samira’s land, it was safe. We had designated the surrounding area and had been transporting gate byproducts until now, and not once had a problem occurred.
"Lee Hyun. We're finished organizing."
After waiting for a moment, Jangsu came out of the gate. He was with a cart.
"Is this all?"
"Yes. Until now, we've been dispersing our manpower to various places..."
One cart's worth. That was all the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron.
'Just in case.'
Because the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron was so precious, I had come out to escort it myself. Yuna stood behind the cart.
"From today, we will commit most of our personnel to mining in the cave."
"Yes. I hope you can mine it all within the gate's time limit. Let's go."
Together with the Awakened I had mobilized for the escort mission, we returned safely to Samira’s land. There were no unforeseen accidents, and I thought the day had ended safely like that.
"Hyun."
Bom was waiting for me at the main gate guard post. Whenever one of the executives came out to the guard post, it had never been good news so far.
"What's wrong?"
Bom lowered her voice and whispered, "It seems there was an attack. But Eun-chae was also slightly injured."
"What? By a monster?"
"Yes. They said it was a monster."
That was strange. There was no way the team led by Gi Eun-chae would be defeated by a group of monsters. I hurried my steps.