Chapter 41: The Agreement (4)
Chapter 41: The Agreement (4)
The meeting dragged on, hours slipping away to no purpose.
In truth, the general briefing had concluded shortly after the session began. The materials provided by the Association prior to the meeting hadn't revealed anything unusual about the current phenomenon, so it was unlikely a clear solution would suddenly present itself now.
As the stalemate continued, the self-serving side of human nature began to take over.
"Since this phenomenon is limited to the Chungcheong region and only affects low-level dungeons, why don't we just keep an eye on it for now?"
"I agree. That seems like the best course of action."
Growing bored, the clan leaders began to voice opinions aimed at kicking the can down the road since no immediate solution was apparent.
Good grief, these people...
Park Min-woo, the Korean Branch Manager of the Association, maintained a polite smile, but he was sighing inwardly.
Of course, he was equally unable to propose a definitive solution, but the attitude of the clan leaders—who still didn't view the situation with any gravity—was plain to see.
In the past, the Association had wielded considerable power. During those chaotic early days, exceptional Awakeners driven by a sense of duty had devoted themselves to the Association, exerting a positive influence on the world. Clearing dungeons was the top priority, and the parties operated by the Association had achieved brilliant results.
However, as the years passed, research into dungeons progressed, data accumulated, and the field became increasingly specialized. It was only natural that people realized there was immense financial gain to be had.
Consequently, the influx of talented individuals into the Association dwindled. It was a matter of course; working for a Large Clan offered far greater monetary rewards and glory. The exclusive authority once held by the Association had been largely transferred to the clans, and the tide of the times had turned the Association into a mere mediator.
It had reached the point where the Association needed the cooperation of the government and the Large Clans just to exercise any form of enforcement. This incident was no different. The Association had conducted a broad investigation into the evaporating portals with government cooperation, but that was the extent of their capabilities. Even if they identified a culprit, they would ultimately need the help of the Large Clans gathered here to apprehend them.
"Simply passing the time seems far too complacent."
Park Min-woo inwardly rejoiced at the words of Lee Jeong-jin, the leader of the Yuseong Clan.
Lee Jeong-jin, speaking with his hands clasped on the table, possessed striking height and looks. All Awakeners aged very slowly, and Lee Jeong-jin was no exception. Though he was nearing fifty, he looked like a young man in his prime, and his physical condition matched his appearance.
Despite his youthful looks, he was a man who had survived from the early days of the portals to the present, and he was now considered the undisputed number one among Korean Awakeners.
Lee Jeong-jin spoke softly, yet the other clan leaders couldn't help but straighten their posture. There was something about his tone that sent an odd chill down their spines. Having survived countless ordeals, he maintained a perfect poker face, but his hidden fury weighed on the others like physical pressure.
For Lee Jeong-jin, this was a matter of wounded pride. His Yuseong Clan had been the first to suffer damage. He had set out to punish whoever had dared to touch what was his, but he had come up empty-handed. While the financial loss was significant, what truly annoyed him was his inability to find the culprit.
Lee Jeong-jin already knew this wasn't a natural phenomenon caused by changes in the portals. He was certain an Awakener was clearing the dungeons, but the total lack of traces was infuriating. Throughout his life, Lee Jeong-jin had never let anyone who touched his property go unpunished. It was his ironclad rule. It would have been stranger if a man who had clawed his way through chaos to reign over everyone possessed a gentle temperament.
Everyone in the room was well aware of Lee Jeong-jin’s hidden nature. To the public, he was a carefully managed image: a progressive leader of the Yuseong Clan, always maintaining a youthful sensibility and treating others without arrogance. However, those who had personally experienced or heard of his tyrannical side and his ruthlessness toward those who crossed him couldn't help but feel tense.
Every person gathered here was a powerful figure who had reached a certain level of mastery. Yet, it was an undisputed fact that Lee Jeong-jin was the strongest among them. Since the most powerful man had spoken, his words naturally carried the most weight.
Baek Yong-gi of the Goryeo Clan and Kim Gi-joon of the Geumwa Clan, who had spoken complacently moments ago, shut their mouths and remained silent. As powerful figures in their own right, they weren't pleased with the situation either. They were cursing inwardly, but this wasn't the time to show it, so they quietly followed Lee Jeong-jin’s lead.
"Let each clan create a response team to be stationed on-site, ready to enter the portals as soon as they appear."
The phenomenon was currently limited to Chungcheong Province. The plan was to keep personnel waiting in the region for long periods to intercept the portals. In truth, this wasn't an idea that hadn't been considered. The reason it hadn't been mentioned until now was simple.
It wasn't profitable, and forming such a response team meant forcing powerful Awakeners to wait around indefinitely. If those strong Awakeners were used to clear dungeons instead, they would generate more money, so everyone had consciously avoided the topic.
But now, Lee Jeong-jin had brought the proposal to the table.
Park Min-woo, the Association's Korean Branch Manager, was grateful to Lee Jeong-jin. This was the very plan he had wanted most. He wanted to get someone into a portal and see exactly who was behind this.
"Since there seem to be no objections, we will follow the Yuseong Clan Leader's suggestion."
"Let's do that."
"I agree."
"Me too..."
Nothing else of substance followed. Since each clan had agreed to prepare a response team, the specifics were up to them. However, Lee Jeong-jin subtly pressured them to prepare properly, leading everyone to form teams centered around quite powerful A-rank and B-rank Awakeners.
★ ★ ★
While the Association and the Awakeners were thrown into a frenzy of activity, Han Shin, the cause of the commotion, was beginning to enjoy his training as he felt himself growing stronger.
When his body was first restored upon becoming Tiamat's Proxy, he could have been described as a car with a high-performance engine but a driver who had just received his license. Now, he was past the "student driver" phase and his skills were improving rapidly.
Han Shin found his field of vision expanding during combat, and he was able to act with increasing composure. He could now handle Grace's lessons without difficulty and had mastered almost all the basics of swordsmanship.
The problem was that Han Shin still hadn't realized what his specific talent was. Grace had taught him basic swordsmanship, but she couldn't take him any further. An Awakener could only become truly powerful once they realized their unique trait and could harness its power, and this applied to the use of a blade as well. It was only natural that there was nothing more to learn in swordsmanship if he couldn't manifest Sword Energy.
Is it because I wasn't an Awakener originally, but suddenly gained abilities and became one thanks to Tiamat...?
It was frustrating to be at a standstill in his lessons with Grace because he hadn't yet awakened his ability. Han Shin's thoughts and feelings were written on his face, and Grace felt a pang of concern as she watched him.
In her opinion, Han Shin had a significant talent for physical movement, and she had hoped he would become a warrior type. However, since he still hadn't identified his talent or fully completed his awakening, she was also at a loss as to why. Seeing him like this after he had been learning with such confidence made her feel sorry for him.
"Lord Han Shin. Would you like to try learning something else, then?"
"Ah... should I? That sounds like a good idea."
Since he couldn't progress further with the sword anyway, Han Shin accepted her suggestion. Rather than staying stagnant and wasting time, he needed to move forward in some way.
Although Grace primarily used a sword as a knight, she was not ignorant of other weapons. Knights trained in various weapon arts, and during her heroic days, she had instructed soldiers in the use of diverse armaments.
"Would you like to try the spear first?"
"Yes, please, Grace."
"Understood, Lord Han Shin."
Grace went to the weapon rack on the wall and brought back two spears, beginning to teach Han Shin the basics of spearmanship.
Since his previous path was blocked, he was practicing a new weapon for the first time. One might have found it annoying or lost interest, viewing it as a chore, but Han Shin was different. If anything, he found the act of learning something new enjoyable.
Grace could feel Han Shin's enthusiasm, and she smiled, thinking he was truly a man worthy of her devotion.