Talent Acquisition
The Chinatown Mine Incident.
The Imperial Council released a mix of 90% truth and 10% lies to the press.
The Emperor immediately issued a statement praising those who had made contributions.
And he nipped in the bud any potential discrimination or hatred toward Chinese imperial citizens that might arise.
Articles related to Chinatown spread across the entire Samhan Empire.
Even foreign media ran breaking news coverage, chattering about it all day long.
The news reached Barun, the pioneering city in the Gobi Plains.
It was a desert city in the former Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, but now the climate had changed, turning it into fertile grassland.
A prime wheat-growing area, vast plains were dotted with large corporate farms.
But monsters lurked here too.
Though the empire's pioneering units had swept through dense areas, remnants still lingered in spots.
Thus, Barun was a bustling city of Mongolian imperial citizens, mana compatibles, awakener raid teams, farm workers, and merchants catering to them.
A mid-to-small wheat farm on the outskirts of Barun City.
About 20 people gathered in the underground food storage of the farmhouse, engaged in conversation.
"Still no word from the handler?"
"Not since the Chinatown incident..."
"Something must've happened."
"Sigh, one of our money lines is cut off. Think the Imperial Council nabbed him?"
"Don't be ridiculous! The handler's a true demon. No way he'd get caught easily."
"What? So you're saying us system awakeners get caught easy?"
"...That's not what I meant."
"What do you mean 'not'? You were subtly looking down on us, treating us like trash."
In the storage, people divided into two camps.
One side: awakeners with facial tattoos.
The other: those without.
"And what's the difference between true demons and system awakener Mines anyway? If we stay quiet, no one knows."
"...You really think that? Our starting points are different."
"Heh heh, starting points, huh? Now you're showing your true colors."
"True colors my ass. You've had an inferiority complex from the start, haven't you?"
"Look at you talking big."
Then, a man sitting on a wheat sack raised his hand to stop them.
"Enough! This isn't the time to fight."
The man standing opposite agreed.
"The vice-chairman's right. We need to remember we're all members under the same umbrella."
"Those bastards started it..."
"One more word, and I'll rip your mouth open."
"..."
The man called vice-chairman sighed deeply and continued.
"Captain Kim Minseok, I'll look into the handler myself. Don't worry. It'll be fine."
"Yes, Vice-Chairman. No need to push yourself. With the chairman away anyway, there's not much we can do."
"...True enough."
"I'll take my leave then."
As Kim Minseok stood, eight others sitting with him rose too.
The moment they fully exited the storage.
"Captain, how long do we keep watching our step around those fake-ass nobodies?"
"Yeah. Can't even tell if they're monsters or humans,"
"Gluttonous freaks devouring human organs to cultivate demonic arts. We can't stick with them forever..."
"All of you, shut your mouths!"
Kim Minseok glared coldly.
"You idiots! Exposing your thoughts so easily."
"S-sorry."
"Act like true demons. Unshakable resolve in any situation—that's a true demon's virtue."
But Kim Minseok, leader of the true demons, shared his subordinates' thoughts.
He bowed his head before the vice-chairman but held no respect for him.
Meanwhile, the Mine awakeners left in the storage.
"We can only take so much. We should flip the table."
"Pull one out as an example, rip his throat."
"Right. Show them our superiority."
"Weaklings always chasing elixirs, and that Kim Minseok prick yapping 'chairman' this, 'chairman' that..."
The vice-chairman said nothing.
System Mines or true demons—same boat either way.
In truth, both groups were the chairman's test subjects.
Products of curiosity about how two different demonic energies interacted with demonic arts.
Eventually, they'd all be fed to the chairman.
This place was a farm in another sense.
A pigsty raising and managing livestock for the chairman's table.
He was no different.
If not for the restrictions the chairman imposed, he'd have bolted from this "Association" long ago.
'Idiots, clueless they're being fattened up.'
Rift between true demons and system Mine awakeners?
Pointless.
The day after meeting the Emperor, Taeju returned to Gurye.
He descended to the underground training hall.
'Let's see what came.'
He'd caught Mines, met the Emperor, talked with Deputy Director Moon Kyungshik at the Imperial Council—too busy to check the item Dang Gunak sent.
'Oh! Talismans.'
A bundle tied with a celestial thread.
'Just what I needed—mine were running low.'
As if reading his mind, exactly the ones he needed: Wall-Climbing Talisman, Invisibility Talisman, Tracking Talisman, Binding Talisman, Swiftness Talisman—30 each.
'But what's this?'
A gourd-shaped item.
No note on its use.
'Stuffed in a hurry, looks like...'
Still, definitely from the Celestial Realm.
So?
Taeju drew celestial qi from his poison core and infused it into the gourd.
Swoooo...
Suddenly!
"Huh?"
Flash!
The gourd's interior space bloomed in Taeju's mind.
An empty vastness, like a massive water tank.
'...This is.'
He knew what it was.
'A subspatial gourd.'
Jackpot.
Now he had two subspatial items.
'Test it out.'
Taeju pulled miscellaneous items from his infinite storage, scattering them on the training floor.
Grasping the gourd, he channeled celestial qi.
Swoooo... whoosh! Swish swish! Swooosh!
Items sucked into the gourd.
'Nice.'
Compared to the subspatial bag from the Emperor, the gourd was slightly larger.
'How big can it handle?'
Training hall items: wooden swords, armor, air purifier—went in. Even the training dummy.
But the large TV and fridge? Too much.
'This'll do.'
No need to rush now.
Prep in advance, toss into the shared warehouse when the light flashes.
'Wish we could meet face-to-face instead of just swapping stuff...'
Direct soul link with Dang Gunak.
Twice so far.
Once at Seoraksan when his life hung by a thread, once at Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong 7th stage when his poison core exploded.
'At 10th stage perfection, maybe?'
Core explosion then too—worth expecting.
'Gotta hit 10th stage fast.'
Plans to leave Paju and Gurye long-term.
Prep thoroughly first.
Right then!
"Chairman."
Baek Seoyeonn opened the training hall door.
"Seoyeonn, come in."
"Jeong Yeonhui is outside right now."
"Yeah? Early bird. Let her in."
Jeong Yeonhui entered, guided by Baek Seoyeonn.
"Hello, Chairman."
"Welcome. First time in Gurye?"
She wore a suit.
Even high heels.
'Tch, must be uncomfortable.'
So Taeju said,
"Sorry, but could you change into something more comfortable? Something easy to move in."
"...Pardon?"
Jeong Yeonhui looked baffled at the sudden request.
She'd come without knowing why, and before any explanation—change clothes?
'...A spar?'
Seemed plausible.
This was a training hall.
But spars needed matched skill for benefit.
She was merely Junior Expert.
Chairman Kim Taeju devoured even Masters.
Skill gap too vast.
Anyway, she was here—might as well comply.
Something to learn, probably.
Baek Seoyeonn smiled at her.
"We prepared clothes. Come with me."
She followed Baek Seoyeonn, changed into simple attire, and returned.
Comfortable sneakers.
Tight leggings hugging her legs.
Crop top revealing her torso's curves.
Taeju stared openly.
"Hmm, looks good. Really good."
What's with this guy?
She'd noticed before.
Each meeting, eyes scanning her body.
Confident in her figure, she'd chalked it up to him being a man.
But here too?
'Pervert?'
His gaze wasn't creepy.
Almost pure.
"What's good about it?"
"Your bone structure... no, talent. Ever heard you have talent?"
"W-well."
She had, often.
Top skill and rank among cadet academy peers.
"First, I'll show you a video."
"A video?"
"Yes! Just one for now. The second requires negotiation."
"...What kind?"
"Hmm, a skill demonstration?"
"..."
Jeong Yeonhui looked slightly disappointed.
She'd hoped for more, but just a skill vid?
System skills acquired various ways: traits, rank-ups, combat epiphanies, repetitive training.
Awakener skills unique, shaped by traits, habits, build.
Copying others? Not recommended.
Reference at best—no acquisition, useless if unfit.
Better basic martial arts like taekwondo, aikido, kendo.
Her weapon: sword.
Kim Taeju's specialty: ranged projectiles, not sword.
What was he showing her?
"Don't tell anyone what you see today. Promise first."
Suspicious.
Fuss over a skill vid?
"...Okay. I won't."
"Good. Here we go."
Baek Seoyeonn glanced at Taeju.
"Should I step out?"
"No need. You're family, our CEO."
Jeong Yeonhui bristled a bit.
Insisting secrecy on her...
Taeju handed her a wooden sword.
"Take this. You'll need it."
The large monitor lit up.
An old man, hands behind back, long beard flowing, standing aloof—like a wuxia film actor.
'He gonna show a movie?'
Traveled this far for a flick?
Narration began; sword moved.
Jeong Yeonhui, head tilted skeptically, eyes widened gradually.
'...Subduing Demon Swordsmanship, First Form: Sword Strike Demon Ward (Gyeokgeom Chukma).'
Fluid, graceful.
Slow, deliberate—like teaching.
Sword danced in air.
Sweeping, thrusting, poking lightly, circling back, blocking high, sweeping low, rising mid to thrust.
'Hm?'
No ordinary film action.
"Ah!"
Exclamation escaped her.
Old man's moves etched into her mind.
'Oh my god!'
Body itched.
She wanted to try.
But video ended in a blink.
"Saw it well? Gain anything?"
Stunned, she stared at Taeju.
"...O-one more time!"
"Pardon?"
"Please, just once more!"
No big deal.
Just first form.
Replay.
This time, she mimicked—clumsily, slowly.
Not enough?
"S-sorry, a bit more..."
"Got it."
Taeju looped it perceptively.
Form sharpened.
Soon matched Geomseon's sword path roughly.
Flash!
Fierce sword wind from her wooden blade.
Mana infused properly.
Mana-wood sword trembled.
Vrrrrm!
Mana surged around her.
Her body glowed white with mana.
Rank-up precursor.
'...Insane talent.'
Taeju was floored.
Rank-up from one form?
'Epiphany.'
Congratulations. Your rank has increased.
You have reached Middle Expert rank. Trait added.
Added traits: Sword Queen, Sword Sovereign.
Skill acquired: Exorcism Sword (10%)
Jeong Yeonhui stood dazed.
Rank-up, Sword Sovereign trait, skill acquisition.
Unforeseen fortune.
'What about the chairman...?'
Why doubt him?
Even guilt pricked her.
But not enough.
The video narration called it Subduing Demon Swordsmanship—Exorcism Sword.
Just 10%.
More existed, right?
"...Chairman?"
"Yes."
"Can I see the second video?"
"Not impossible, but..."
"I want more. What do I need to do?"
"Hmm, anything?"
"Yes, anything you say."
"Then let's discuss the contract we'll make going forward."
She bit.
He knew she would.
Paju needed more than just Seo Pilmyeong.
Ryu Jincheol was more baggage than talent.
Put Jeong Yeonhui in charge of Taehong Bio's Paju branch.
She had management skills.
First, quit the Imperial Council.
Keep poaching from public office?
Unavoidable.