Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Mad Castle
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Gellick and his party were guided to the temporary lodgings prepared for them.
Exhausted from creating the gate, they were in desperate need of rest.
Wang-sik confirmed that Gellick's party was asleep before heading back down to the basement, which he had named the Gate Hub.
“Looks like a bus schedule.”
The first thing he saw were the words Oh Min-jae had written on a whiteboard.
Ironclad Spider's Nest—Majit
Ironclad Spider's Nest—Giam Island
Giam Island—Seoul
Giam Island—New York
Giam Island—Moscow
Giam Island—Sydney
Giam Island—Cairo
The Ironclad Spider's Nest and Giam Island were the centers of each dimension.
Thanks to Wang-sik and Min Ha-na contributing their entire fortunes and Han Young-im providing generous financial support, they were able to establish bases in Africa and Oceania as well.
These were locations with branches of the Guseong Gate Exchange, where construction to conceal the gates was already complete.
Outwardly, they were gate research labs, built four stories underground.
“When will it be finished?”
“It'll take some time. There are quite a few materials that couldn't be brought over from Azelan. I could probably get them quickly, but I want to run some experiments on purpose.”
“For experiments related to the gates?”
Oh Min-jae smiled at Han Young-im's question. It felt as though they were on the same wavelength.
“Yes. I want to test everything from sand and stone to alloys. The priority is to see what items can pass through the gates, and I also want to find alloys with high mana reactivity.”
There were so many diverse experiments planned that they couldn't be explained simply.
“So, I need samples of various items and alloys.”
“I'll get you as many as I can.”
The types of alloys were countless, varying by combination, components, and composition ratios.
“For now, the goal is to find an alloy with high mana reactivity. It also needs to be something we can produce on the Azelan Continent. It shouldn't take long.”
The volume of experiments was large, but the method wasn't difficult.
To test which items could pass through, they would simply put thousands of samples in a bag and walk through a gate, which would naturally sort them out.
From the items that remained, they would measure the mana reactivity and then figure out how to use them on the Azelan Continent.
“And this experiment will also be conducted on the other side.”
In Azelan, Aisi was leading the effort to collect samples.
Hearing the plan, Han Young-im couldn't help but smile.
“It's been a while since I've felt this excited.”
“The age of gate trade is dawning.”
“Tell me anything you need.”
“Of course. We have to be business partners.”
“Welcome, partner.”
Though Han Young-im and Oh Min-jae had just met, they both judged that they could accomplish a great deal together.
“Then, Chairwoman Han and I will handle this. The combat personnel don't need to worry about it.”
“Is this what they call division of labor?”
Oh Min-jae smiled at Wang-sik's question and said.
“Combat personnel should focus on combat. To protect the Earth.”
“Alright. Just trust me.”
“That's what I do best. Trusting you.”
Wang-sik accepted the response with a laugh, then changed the mood and spoke.
“Alright, shall we take care of something very important?”
As everyone focused on him, Wang-sik said.
“We need to decide on a name for the Earth Defense Force.”
With the base complete and the gates connected, they could consider themselves officially launched.
Not everyone was present, but opportunities for the core members to gather were rare, so now was the perfect time.
“I bet you already have a name in mind.”
“Of course I do.”
“What is it?”
Receiving expectant gazes, Wang-sik announced.
“The Earth Defense Force! Miracle Five!”
It was a name he had kept hidden away.
As he said it, he felt an overwhelming sense of emotion course through his body.
But something was strange.
“Why is no one clapping?”
The cheers and applause that should have followed were absent. Belatedly, Wang-sik noticed the bewildered expressions on everyone's faces.
“What's with this reaction?”
“Wang-sik, I think I'd be too embarrassed to use that name.”
“Mr. Wang-sik, let's brainstorm together. This is what meetings are for, after all.”
“Hyung, even for you, Miracle Man doesn't seem right.”
Wang-sik was flustered.
“I didn't expect this...”
“You can't be good at everything. Don't be too discouraged. But is that the only one you thought of?”
“I have another one. But it's not great... Mad Castle?”
Hearing that, Oh Min-jae's eyes widened.
“That's a good one.”
“That's our Wang-sik.”
“Mr. Wang-sik, you were joking at first, weren't you?”
Everyone reacted positively.
“Th-this one is good?”
“You're a genius, Hyung. I respect you.”
“Oh? Right...”
“Then let's go with Mad Castle for the team name.”
“I agree.”
In an instant, a consensus was reached, and their name was decided as Mad Castle.
Oh Min-jae had mentioned three months.
That was the time it would take to finish all the gate experiments and construction.
“I'm going to see the Bureau Director.”
Now that the gate was complete, there was something he had to do.
“Welcome!”
Kang Il-seop greeted Wang-sik as warmly as ever. Although he was used to it by now, he couldn't help but feel good receiving such a welcome.
However, today's meeting wasn't purely a pleasant one.
“First, please take this.”
When Wang-sik handed him his favorite high-end mana liquor, Kang Il-seop furrowed his brow.
“You didn't come here for a good reason, did you?”
“I think we know each other too well.”
“Hoo, fine. Tell me first whether I'll be drinking this liquor with joy or with a sigh.”
“Hear me out first, then decide.”
They sat facing each other on the sofa.
“I'll be leaving the deserted island. It should take about three days.”
“Should I take that to mean you've found a new way out?”
“Yes. Off the record, I've opened a gate.”
Wang-sik considered telling him everything but decided against it. The reason was what he had to say next.
“I think it's time for me to leave the Hunter Management Bureau.”
“Hmm.”
Kang Il-seop was silent for a moment. He thought about having a glass of the mana liquor but refrained.
“It seems you've gotten closer to your goal.”
“I've formed a team. I want to focus on that.”
“A team to save humanity, I presume?”
“Of course. And even if I leave, my relationship with you, Director, won't change.”
“Of course it won't. You're like family to me. I've had enough of parting with family.”
Kang Il-seop's eyes grew sad.
“Thank you for everything until now.”
“Don't say it like it's a final goodbye. You can still visit me anytime, and I'll do the same.”
“I will.”
“By any chance, is Min Ha-na on your team too?”
“Yes.”
“So Min Ha-na is quitting too?”
“No. Not yet.”
“So she'll quit eventually.”
“When the time comes that she really needs to focus on our team. We're not at that stage yet.”
Kang Il-seop nodded.
“I can't stop a son who's leaving for a greater cause.”
“Don't subtly try to lump me in as your son.”
“Tch. Sharp until the very end.”
Still, as the atmosphere lightened a bit, Wang-sik revealed his hidden feelings.
“But I have thought that if I had a father, I'd want him to be like you, Director. Though I don't really know what a father is.”
“That's a sad and touching thing to say. Don't forget. There's always a spot open on my family register...”
“Please just stay as a father-like figure to me. You have too many people who are like children to you for me to monopolize you.”
Faced with the gentle refusal, Kang Il-seop gave up.
“Anyway, now that you don't have me as a weakness, you should confront the president head-on.”
“I should. But I don't have the mind for it right now. The president won't be bothering me for a while either.”
“Did something happen?”
It seemed there was some serious situation.
“Something's come up.”
Wang-sik waited for him to continue, but Kang Il-seop feigned ignorance.
“I wonder if I should be telling an outsider.”
“Wow. Are you really going to be like that?”
“Still, there are rules, aren't there?”
“Should I just leave, then?”
“Fine, I'll be generous. It's not top secret, anyway.”
Kang Il-seop began to speak as if reluctantly sharing the information. However, the content was far from something that could be dismissed as a joke.
“The proportion of dungeon gates is suddenly rising.”
Gates whose interiors were structured like dungeons were called dungeon gates.
The S-rank gate Wang-sik first witnessed a year ago was the beginning, but since it hadn't been effective at the time, they hadn't appeared again.
But now, these techniques were starting to appear one by one, and their numbers had been increasing rapidly lately.
“Hunter casualties are rising significantly. The 'dungeonization' is being carried out quite elaborately.”
Kang Il-seop showed him a chart organized for easy viewing.
“It's a comparison chart of the damage situations between normal gates and dungeon gates.”
The results were serious.
“The average death toll was around one person, but it's risen to five for dungeon gates. And the break probability has exceeded one percent.”
The death rate was five times higher.
The break probability had jumped a hundredfold.
The rise in break probability was decisively caused by the technique of blocking the entrance.
“We're changing the manuals we've been using like a formula until now. We need more response personnel. And the real danger lies here.”
Kang Il-seop revealed another piece of data.
“All the dungeon gates have been B-rank or lower.”
“That's right. An A-rank hasn't even appeared yet.”
“Which means...”
Wang-sik had an ominous feeling.
“The bastards from Azelan are experimenting.”
They were testing the effects with low-rank gates and gradually creating more elaborate dungeon gates.
“And that means A-rank and S-rank gates will appear soon.”
In Russia, Wang-sik had been at the forefront and managed to prevent damage, but if all gates became dungeonized, the problem would be severe.
“The first dungeon gate appeared three months ago, and now they make up about one percent.”
Meaning one out of every 100 gates was a dungeon gate.
“At this rate, it's only a matter of time before the very concept of a gate changes.”
Wang-sik quietly organized the information he had received. The increase in dungeon gates was particularly problematic.
“It seems knowledge about gates has been disseminated.”
If it was as high as one percent, a single group couldn't be responsible for creating them all. Clearly, multiple organizations had absorbed the knowledge.
“It's only a matter of time before it spreads everywhere.”
Considering Azelan's enthusiastic atmosphere for new gate technology, the day when dungeon gates became the standard was not far off.
“I'll have to look into it.”
“Do you have a way?”
“I'll have to go to where the gates were made.”
Wang-sik immediately stood up.
“Be sure to let me know the results.”
“I will.”
As Wang-sik turned to leave, Kang Il-seop spoke with a worried expression.
“I've always thought of you as family, and I always will. Don't forget that.”
“Of course. Just don't block me from coming next time.”
“I'll register you as a VIP.”
“Isn't that for the president?”
“To me, you're more important than the president.”
Wang-sik left the Hunter Management Bureau with a smile.
Since the gate to Seoul hadn't been opened yet, Wang-sik returned to Giam Island by boat.
When he arrived, he saw Gellick's party preparing for the gate construction.
‘Because of those bastards' technology...’
Rage boiled within him, but he didn't let it show and called over Oh Min-jae, who was preparing for the alloy experiments.
“Min-jae, let's talk for a moment.”
Leaving the basement, Wang-sik explained the current situation to Oh Min-jae.
“The casualties are going to increase.”
Oh Min-jae also recognized the gravity of the situation.
“If the knowledge has spread widely, there's no way for us to stop it.”
“Right.”
It was a rather helpless situation.
“It feels like the time we have has shrunk.”
Oh Min-jae nodded in agreement with Wang-sik's words.
“It's all for nothing if Earth is destroyed before we can take down Azelan.”
Gate technology was advancing too quickly.
As a world that focused on magic rather than science, it was exceeding all expectations.
Wang-sik thought for a moment, then stated his decision.
“I'll have to make a move myself.”
“What are you going to do?”
“We won't be able to stop the dungeonization in the end. But we can delay it.”
Even the brilliant Oh Min-jae couldn't grasp Wang-sik's intention this time.
“I'll have to do something bad.”
“You're going to do something bad?”
“Because doing something bad in Azelan is a good thing for us.”
“So this time, you're not the hero, but the villain.”
“It's boring when the hero always wins.”
There are times when everyone wants the villain to win.
Wang-sik decided to become that kind of villain.