Chapter 166
Chapter 166
Chapter 166: Omen (1)
Translation: godtl
"Is that...... truly the case?"
A voice as cold as a blade's edge.
One.
"Are you saying...... such experiments really took place?"
The sharp voice seemed faintly unsteady.
It was no illusion.
The sharp-featured middle-aged man had asked twice now.
The hand of Association President Kim Mu-yeol trembled ever so slightly, uncharacteristically so.
"Yes."
Si-mun gave a light nod, driving the point home.
At that.
"How could this be......."
Choi Chang-wook, who had been standing beside Kim Mu-yeol like a statue, also covered his mouth with a trembling hand.
"That insane old man! Conducting such atrocities with Awakened individuals?!"
Kim Mu-yeol's eyes instantly turned fierce.
"It seems even the great Lee Sun-cheol cannot escape the ravages of time. To commit such madness."
As if ready to tear into someone at any moment.
Kim Mu-yeol growled.
Si-mun silently observed his uncle.
'I hadn't expected Uncle to react this strongly.'
From the standpoint of his position as Association President, it was only natural to be furious.
Matters concerning Awakened individuals fell squarely within his domain.
To have conducted such heinous human experiments in absolute secrecy—how could the Association President not be enraged?
But.
'He wouldn't be this angry simply because human experiments were conducted.'
Si-mun's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Kim Mu-yeol.
'Given Uncle's personality...... Yes. It must be about his authority as Association President.'
Originally, whether an Awakened individual became a criminal or a victim.
All punishments had to be carried out by the Association's hand.
Under the name of 'justice.'
According to 'established procedures and regulations.'
Only then could the Awakened Association as an institution hold meaning.
And only then could his uncle, Kim Mu-yeol, maintain his authority and raison d'être as its president.
'So very like Uncle.'
Uncle Kim Mu-yeol was by no means a righteous man.
He would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, making him more of a villain, if anything.
But Si-mun didn't view that negatively.
In fact, he saw it as a positive.
'Both Si-hyeok and I have our softer sides.'
It wasn't just about aversion to killing or adherence to certain morals.
If they were the type to be shackled by such things.
They wouldn't have survived on Earth in their past lives for as long as they had.
However.
'Uncle is fundamentally different from us. That's why his perspective and approach to situations differ too.'
A difference in methods, perhaps?
While he and Si-hyeok would eliminate their enemies, there were limits to their approach.
For instance, even if they killed an enemy.
They wouldn't extend the punishment to family or relatives who had no involvement.
But Uncle was different.
'He sweeps away everyone around them, no matter how unrelated. Thoroughly, to leave no loose ends.'
It was practically on par with the ancient practice of exterminating three generations of a family.
A harsh measure, but one that undeniably left no lingering consequences.
'That's why, despite Father's achievements, he holds such power and position.'
His father, Korea's greatest Player and the former Association President.
Despite the greatness of that former Association President.
Not once had anyone said the current president was inferior to his predecessor.
The comparison was never even made.
Beyond the fact that his uncle influenced the media.
His excessively ruthless and cold approach to handling matters was more fitting for the Awakened Association than anyone else's.
And because he was that kind of man.
"Then, Uncle. Do you intend to involve yourself in this matter?"
Si-mun had personally informed his uncle about the events at the unregistered facility.
Kim Mu-yeol didn't hesitate for even a moment before nodding.
"That goes without saying. This is nothing short of an overreach."
'An overreach.......'
Si-mun smiled as he mulled over the word.
'So very like Uncle.'
To call an Awakened-related crime.
A shocking case of human experimentation, no less—an 'overreach.'
Considering the relationship between Chairman Lee Sun-cheol and his uncle, it was obvious.
'He means Chairman Lee Sun-cheol has encroached upon his domain.'
As Association President, his uncle guarded the realm concerning Awakened individuals.
And Chairman Lee Sun-cheol would have joined hands to protect the domain of profit.
Ultimately, theirs was a relationship built on mutual fulfillment of desires.
'For Chairman Lee Sun-cheol to have stepped into Uncle's domain like this.......'
Without any discussion whatsoever.
Even from his own partner—his uncle—he had kept it a secret, conducting such operations targeting the Awakened.
Moreover, it was in an unregistered facility, completely off the Association's records.
This went beyond mere human experimentation.
'For someone as sensitive about his position as Association President as Uncle is, he'd never tolerate this.'
To Kim Mu-yeol, this wasn't just disregard—it was a downright slap in the face.
Therefore.
"So. Did you find out anything else about that unregistered facility?"
The alliance between Kim Mu-yeol and Chairman Lee Sun-cheol was bound to break.
Especially since their relationship was built on nothing but mutual greed.
It went without saying.
"From what I heard, everything was wiped out by the Void. But they say you managed to get something out of it."
Si-mun silently watched his uncle, who was uncharacteristically dragging out his words and pressing him further.
'Just as I thought. He's hooked.'
Then.
"There is. You know I have another ability, right?"
He answered, carefully keeping his lips from curling too far into a smile.
"Turns out, there's more than just one or two unregistered facilities."
"What?!"
Kim Mu-yeol's eyes widened.
Beside him, Choi Chang-wook, who had been standing stiffly, also stared at Si-mun with bulging eyes.
"Is that true? There are more of those facilities?"
"I was shocked too, Secretary Choi. Could you pass me that map over there?"
Si-mun, who had been about to pull out his phone, instead pointed to a map hanging on one wall of the president's office.
Choi Chang-wook hastily took it down and laid it on the guest table.
"Let's see. Here, here, and..."
Si-mun tapped various spots on the map with a pen.
From the southern regions like Gyeongsang and Jeolla to the central areas.
There were as many as five marked locations.
"These are approximate locations. I don't have the exact addresses yet, but I can give you a rough idea. I'll send you the details via message later."
Si-mun pinpointed the spots without a hint of hesitation.
"......."
Kim Mu-yeol was momentarily speechless.
And for good reason—if he could identify the locations to this extent, it practically meant he had nearly all the information on the unregistered facilities.
Which was why.
"Are you certain about this information?"
Kim Mu-yeol couldn't help but ask with suspicion in his eyes.
And rightfully so.
After Si-mun had escaped the facility, upon further investigation, the unregistered facility in Cheorwon's underground had vanished without a trace.
As if the entire section of the facility had been carved out wholesale.
Naturally, all the data inside would have been erased just as thoroughly—perhaps even more so.
So how could Si-mun possibly know the locations of other unregistered facilities in such detail?
But.
"Of course I'm certain. I got the information straight from the source."
"Kang Da-yeong said the only human involved was some doctor named Choi Woo-seok. Who exactly is this 'source' of yours?"
"I can't tell you that much. But everything I've said is true."
Si-mun merely smiled leisurely in response.
At that.
"......You."
Kim Mu-yeol shot him a sharp glare.
Si-mun met his uncle's gaze head-on, his smile unwavering.
'No need to mention that I used the Death Eye to rummage through the test subjects' minds.'
Starting with Subject M249 and extending to the dozen or so other test subjects, Si-mun hadn't just controlled them with the Death Eye—he had delved deep into their psyches, just as he had in the Black Smeltery.
'Maybe it was the aftereffects of the experiments, but their mental barriers were completely shattered.'
The moment he invaded their minds, he was swept away by a flood of fragmented thoughts like a raging tide.
'Never in my wildest dreams did I think my Bound Stats would benefit from the 101 Stat growth effect.'
Total Transmutation Power achieved: 202.
The secondary stats—Demonic Energy, Dragon Power, Death Energy—affected by half of that growth, reached 101.
Thanks to that, he fully experienced the impact of crossing the 100 Stat threshold, known for its most noticeable growth effects.
'The difference was staggering.'
The mental fragments surged like waves driven by a typhoon.
But as if his legs had transformed into breakwaters, Si-mun walked through the shattered minds of the test subjects, examining the fragments of their memories.
That was why locating the unregistered facilities where human experiments had taken place wasn't particularly difficult.
'Maybe because they were the most traumatic memories—they stood out, large and jagged.'
The fragments were unmistakably abnormal in shape.
Every single one was a remnant of the test subjects' experiences during the human experiments.
Though their minds were broken, preventing him from obtaining flawless information—
Fortunately, the locations where the experiments had been conducted were still intact in their memories.
'It was a bit strange, though. All the test subjects experimented on in different facilities were gathered at the Cheorwon facility.'
Perhaps the final stage of the Dragon-kin Transformation Experiment had been conducted at the Cheorwon facility?
That was the only explanation he could surmise.
Perhaps it was due to Si-mun's unwavering gaze.
"You know as well as I do that this isn't something we can handle carelessly."
Kim Mu-yeol let out a small sigh and spoke in a grave voice.
"There's no need to explain what position the Seongsam Guild holds in the country, is there?"
"Of course not."
An organization that had reigned at the top even before the emergence of the Galaxy Arena.
Thanks to Do-hu Lee Yeong-hui, they had maintained their position as the best even through the upheaval brought by the Galaxy Arena.
Naturally.
"Even for someone like me, taking on Seongsam comes with enormous risks. It's not the kind of opponent you can shake just by trying."
Even for someone as formidable as Kim Mu-yeol, the Association President.
Seongsam was not an opponent to be trifled with.
"If the information you've uncovered turns out to be wrong, it won't just end with us coming up empty-handed."
Moreover.
"That old monster from Seongsam isn't the type to just sit back and take it."
Wasn't this a case involving the chairman himself—the highest authority within Seongsam?
Knowing all too well what kind of man Chairman Lee Sun-cheol was.
From Kim Mu-yeol's perspective, this was a situation that demanded extreme caution.
But.
"I understand what you're trying to say, Uncle."
Whether it was confidence in the information.
Or recklessness born of youthful audacity.
"Don't worry. There's no way my information is wrong. You just need to think about how to use it."
Si-mun replied with an almost excessive calmness.
"......"
Kim Mu-yeol silently stared into Si-mun's eyes.
A gaze without the slightest waver.
Why was it?
For some reason.
The image of someone who had once shaken his entire life surfaced in his mind.
Grind.
His teeth clenched tightly.
As the image grew clearer, Kim Mu-yeol crushed it in his mind.
And quickly shut his eyes.
How much time passed like that?
"......Fine. I'll trust your information."
When he opened his eyes again.
The usual sharp glint had returned to them.
"But if there's even the slightest error in your information, I won't be the only one bearing the consequences. You know what I mean, don't you?"
"Of course. If you wish, I can even draft an Arena Contract for you."
Si-mun even brought up the Arena Contract.
In response, Kim Mu-yeol pulled out a cigarette from his pocket.
"I don't need some damn contract. If you've deceived me, I'll stake everything I have to kill you."
"You're unusually on edge today. I told you not to worry so much."
Even in the face of such a deadly threat, Si-mun only let out a soft chuckle.
"You might doubt others, Uncle, but I would never abandon you first."
At those words.
"......"
Kim Mu-yeol's expression darkened terrifyingly.
But.
"So don't make any mistakes yourself, Uncle. Opportunities like this don't come often."
With those final words, Si-mun turned away without hesitation.
"Then I'll trust you to handle things from here. Contact me when you find Dr. Choi."
He stood up immediately and left the Association President's office.
Until the moment Si-mun's figure completely disappeared.
Kim Mu-yeol couldn't tear his eyes away from him.
And as the door finally closed.
"......"
In Kim Mu-yeol's vision.
The image he had barely managed to forget—
No.
The image he could never forget, the one he had barely suppressed, resurfaced.
'Mu-yeol. I would never abandon you first.'
Along with a voice he could never erase from his memory.
"......Nothing else?"
"Yeah."
The ponytailed woman shook her head.
Kang Da-yeong let out a deep sigh before speaking.
"Sorry. I came back empty-handed."
"It's fine. Just coming back safely is enough."
A clear-eyed beauty smiled warmly at her.
"Yu-jeong......"
Kang Da-yeong's eyes grew moist.
"After all these months, I haven't been able to report anything properly...... And even now, I messed up like this, yet you......"
Lee Yu-jeong gently grasped Kang Da-yeong's trembling hands.
"Don't say that. It's not your fault."
"Yu-jeong......"
"And Oppa gave us information, didn't he? It's not like we gained nothing."
"Tch...... That's exactly why it stings! I knew Si-mun was capable, but still! I'm Diamond-rank! He's just Platinum!"
Finally, Kang Da-yeong's tears began to stream down her cheeks.
Contrary to her usual upright and professional demeanor—
"Sniff! No matter how talented he is, I'm a Diamond-ranked assassin! I should be better than him in this field!"
Kang Da-yeong was the type who cried easily.
And—
Da-yeong unnie... It's not about failing to get the information. What really stings is that you couldn't outperform Oppa.
She also had considerable pride.
It was only natural.
Both in reality and in the Galaxy Arena,
Kang Da-yeong had always walked the elite path, excelling in every field.
"The opponent was just a step ahead. And they even used the Void—there was nothing you could've done. I would've been the same."
Lee Yu-jeong offered a faint smile as she handed her a handkerchief in consolation.
Then, smoothly shifting the topic—
"Unnie, since we're on the subject—you didn't tell Oppa what you were investigating, right?"
"Sniff! Of course not!"
Kang Da-yeong blew her nose loudly before answering with puffy eyes.
"Even if I was outplayed by a Platinum, I'm not that careless! I didn't even ask why he was in that facility in the first place!"
Lee Yu-jeong shook her head slightly.
"That's so like Oppa."
The Seongsam Guild's unregistered facility—
A place she herself had informed Kim Si-mun about.
Yet despite encountering her personal secretary there, he hadn't pressed for details?
Lee Yu-jeong's gaze softened further.
That's just how he's always been. Oppa...
Even in situations where questions were warranted,
Si-mun never pried unless the other person brought it up first.
Just like ten years ago.
He should've been furious. He should've asked why we were wandering around a deserted place without bodyguards...
The day her precious Oppa's life was completely ruined.
Even after being diagnosed with mana disability, Si-mun never once blamed or scolded them.
He simply stroked their heads as they sobbed.
Though perhaps seeing the siblings who ruined his life was too painful—
Because a few days later, he vanished without a trace.
Thud.
Her clenched fist made a sound without her realizing.
Even now, just thinking about it made her blood boil.
"Yu-jeong?"
At the puzzled look directed her way—
Now's not the time for this.
Lee Yu-jeong snapped back to her senses, steadying her emotions.
As the heat in her head subsided, her thoughts grew clearer.
Naturally.
"And, unnie—it's not like you came back completely empty-handed, right?"
She quickly grasped the current situation as well.
Or rather—
The bitingly cold reality of it.
"Do you remember the day we met Oppa at the Galaxy Agora?"
"Of course. It was the first time I met that Kim Si-mun you kept talking about."
"Then do you remember the report you gave me that day?"
"Report?"
Kang Da-yeong tilted her head.
Then—
"Yes. The one where you told me someone deliberately covered up the incident from ten years ago."
"Ah! I remember now. And that 'someone' was a person with considerable influence in Korea... right?"
Kang Da-yeong's voice and expression gradually dimmed.
Someone powerful enough to bury an upper-class terror incident from ten years ago.
And the very investigation into that led them to the Seongsam Guild's unregistered facility.
"Yu-jeong."
Kang Da-yeong was no fool.
She knew exactly who their findings pointed to.
But—
"Listen. Even so... they're family. Don't you think jumping to conclusions might be... unwise?"
A handful of circumstantial clues weren't enough to definitively accuse that person.
They needed certainty.
Objectively.
And subjectively.
Lee Yu-jeong smiled weakly.
"That's why you went into the facility in Cheorwon without reporting back first, isn't it? Because of who we're dealing with—you wanted irrefutable evidence. But we don't need that anymore."
"Yu-jeong—"
Kang Da-yeong reached out urgently, but—
Lee Yu-jeong gently,
"Unnie, did Oppa mention anything about Grandfather?"
—yet firmly redirected the conversation.
Knowing exactly what that meant, Kang Da-yeong sighed softly before answering.
"...No. Not a word."
"That's so like Oppa."
Lee Yu-jeong's smile turned bitter.
A facility where human experiments took place.
Yet he hadn't brought it up to Kang Da-yeong—
No, to Lee Yu-jeong herself.
He's probably trying to handle it without me knowing.
That was just the kind of person he was—one who couldn't bear to see her or Si-hyeok suffer.
Lee Yu-jeong's expression gradually hardened.
"Da-yeong unnie."
Was it rage?
Or despair?
She couldn't tell which it was—but the answer eluded her entirely.
"Make sure to inform Senior Jin-uk about everything we've uncovered so far."
Kang Da-yeong was certain of one thing.
"I'll be the one to tell Si-hyeok."
This was absolutely not a good omen.