Chapter 48:


    I couldnt believe they took my analogy seriously.


    It was a bit sad that they didnt understand the humor behind it.


    In the end, to clear up the misunderstanding, I chose to show them a scene of me processing the monster core right there.


    After warning people not toe closer, I began to inject Force into Nuris core.


    Lee Myung-hak, who had been deeply frustrated, began to exim as if to say, how did this happen? as he gazed at Nuris core emitting light from my hand.


    Oh, oh! Ohhh!


    As he tried to get closer, he saw the Force waves flying and began to watch at a distance that did not affect him. And he surprisingly maintained that distance.


    I began the processing, but it wasnt easier than when I did it with a level 6 monster core. While a significant portion of the level 8 core had been refined, impurities remained, and since all the Forces within the core had to be under my control, it consumed a considerable amount of mental energy.


    If this level had this effect on me, then other Awakened individuals should be firmly prepared.


    <em>Woong! Woong! Woong! Woong!</em>


    The waves of power emanating from Nuris core were formidable. I didnt know what the craftsmen who process cores would call it, but I believed its thest struggle of the lingering remnants of the monsters consciousness.


    The consciousness programmed to be hostile to humanity resisted control to the end.


    Its just thest struggle of a dead being.


    However, the resistance was weaker than I had expected.


    Maybe because I brainwashed Nuri before killing it. Or did I perhaps managed to tame it? I was not sure why, but I was able to lightly break down the weak resistance and then push in the Force to clear it my way. I learned from Heartworker, but unlike him, who did it with natural dexterity, I pushed away the resistance with Force.


    The difference between me and the Heartworker was that I carved pathways with overwhelming Force, whereas the Heartworker was more of a fine-tuner, chiseling out the optimal path.


    Thats why my Force consumption was heavy.


    This was why I needed to catch Heartworker quickly. He must be in Busan by now. I should take some time to visit him.


    After concentrating for about 30 minutes, I finallypleted the processing. The Force inside the core seemed to be moving more vigorously than before.


    This this is.


    Please check.


    Carefully epting Nuris core, Lee Myung-haks eyes lit up with ecstasy, which grew evenrger as he measured the amount of Force in the core.


    No way! It cant be this efficient


    Its 156.9%. It turned out better than expected.


    How did you do it? Ive never seen this kind of processing method before.


    Thats what Heartworker did in the future. It might be because he joined forces with a viin organization, but his skills were undoubtedly impressive.


    In the end, the one trillion became 1.569 trillion. I made quite a profit after just one processing.


    Then please calcte based on the processed part.


    Th-the processing method, please!


    It hasnt been established as a theory yet, but Ill exin it gradually.


    Understood.


    I was the only one who could do it now. Another reason to find Heartworker had emerged.


    Lee Myung-haks expression brightened. Now was a good timing to clear up any misunderstandings.


    And


    Yes.


    I didnt really mean for you to give up your life. You know that, right?


    Yes.


    The answer that came after a short silence didnt sit well with me.


    ***


    They said that with this newly acquired level 8 core, we can power a whole power nt. And it can run longer than the ones previously processed.


    The Presidents voice was filled with excitement. It had been a series of sessestely, including his recent rise in approval ratings.


    The National Science Monster Research Institute wanted to use Choi Jun-hos processed heart for research, but the President immediately had it installed in the power nt.


    Due to the monsters, humanity lost more than half of its territory and was unable to operate nuclear power nts, leading to an energy crisis. However, if they could use a level 8 or higher monster core as a power source, they could restart an entire power nt.


    More energy could support arger poption, potentially preventing the refugee crisis and reducing the growth of viins.


    How did he learn to process monster core? Choi Jun-ho is like an onion. You peel him, and theres always more. I wonder what helle up with next.


    Arent you excited? Its like opening a gift box from your childhood.


    Sometimes, you get nothing.


    Then I would cry out of disappointment. Whats the worst that could happen here? How about something like, Choi Jun-ho was actually the Eraser?


    That would be a disaster.


    Just kidding.


    The Presidentughed cheerfully, but Cheon Myeong-guk couldnt share the same sentiment. The very idea of such an assumption was enough to make him sick to his stomach.


    Its hard not to specte because of two Level 8 appearing around the same time. There hasnt been any mention of the Eraser since their first appearance, so there might be a mistake. Or we misunderstood something, and it was really just Berserker. Even that Berserker has be part of our forces through cooperation with Choi Jun-ho. Hes really quite the asset. A great asset indeed.


    The President, still smiling, said to Director Cheon.


    With the extra power, we can run a smart farm.


    Well be able to produce more food.


    Residential areas are important, but foodes first. We need to provide benefits to the essential workforce so they can be more efficient. That way, the frequency of refugee incidents will decrease.


    The urban outskirts slumification hasrgelye to a halt.


    Seoul is in the stable zone, so Busan is the problem.


    But Mayor Yoo


    Hes an ambitious figure, wanting to secure this position here.


    Busan, the secondrgest city after Seoul, had been expanding in recent times, but behind the scenes, there was rapid growth of a viin organization.


    The ambitions of Busans mayor align with the desires of these viins.


    Its still at a manageable level, so let Mayor Yoo handle it.


    It will be a significant problem in a few years.


    Before that, we just need to cut it off. Why dont we ask Choi Jun-ho to go there once before my term ends, and nip it in the bud?


    Cheon Myeong-guk imagined the front sea of Busan turning red with blood.


    By the way, if a single monster core can bring about so many changes, dont you think that if the guilds were a little less greedy, even more changes would happen?


    You shouldnt look at it that way.


    I know. Its a chicken and egg problem.


    When guilds hunted monsters, most of the byproducts were reinvested into tools for hunting.


    The President knew this was part of the process to hunt more monsters. However, sometimes, when energy was scarce, seeking help from the guilds resulted in minimal cooperation.


    He couldnt help but get the impression that the power of the guilds was slowly overwhelming the power of the state. What would happen when this process elerated?


    First, the government would be incapacitated. Then, the decisions of the major guilds would essentially be the decisions of the nation.


    Many governments of various countries had already copsed, and even now, organizations supported by the League were wreaking havoc, leading to near-civil-war conflicts in some nations.


    But with Choi Jun-ho, the story would change.


    Indeed, if we dont seize this opportunity, well be left behind forever. Lets proceed with the n to establish a department above the three agencies. Lets capitalize on our current momentum and actively steer the course of events in our favor.


    The President had thought about using this opportunity to overturn the bnce of power between the government and therge guilds.


    ***


    The ce I headed to in search of Heartworker was Busan.


    Since the appearance of monsters, local exchanges had be more active, and Busan had risen in status as the dominant city in the Gyeongsangnam-do region.


    Busan strengthened its influence over neighboring cities and thrived through exchanges with Japan, and the results were sessful.


    To be precise, it would be urate to say that it was disguised as a sess.


    Behind this, there was hidden booming ck-market trade and the rapid growth of viin organizations.


    The Heartworker I was looking for, Kim Jong-hyun, was a craftsman who processed monster cores. His ability to process monster cores was so exceptional that he was recognized everywhere.


    Still, hes been wandering the streets because of his poor writing and his penchant for women. My goal is to catch him, bring him back to Seoul, and turn him into a normal person.


    He told me in my previous life that he had been active in Busan during his youth and then came up to Seoul, so it wasnt difficult to find him.


    I met him on his way home from delivering goods to the ck market.


    A Heartworker with a young mans face was approaching.


    Heartworker Kim Jong-hyun.


    I am Kim Jong-hyun, but whats a Heartworker? Who are you?


    You still dont go by that name?


    He looked at me warily.


    Well, for me, it had been 20 years since west met. Heartworker and I were the same age. So, he must have just started working.


    Its a familiar face. Have we met somewhere before?


    You might have seen my face on TV.


    TV? No way!


    He btedly recognized my face and was shocked. He quickly looked around. Whether he thought its disadvantageous or not, his first thought was to flee, just as it was back then and now.


    Dont worry, I didnte to kill you.


    Ive never done anything to deserve to be killed.


    I know, but you do have a record of supplying goods to the ck market.


    Im not here to discuss that. Juste with me.


    If I refuse, are you going to kill me?


    Heartworker, who tly refused in one stroke, subtly shifted the center of his body backward. Hes got some kind of misunderstanding. He never had a choice from the beginning.


    I didnt mention this. But if you donte, youll die.


    I havent done anything wrong, so why are you trying to kill me?!


    Youve been supplying goods to the ck market, right? Viins manage the ck market, so youre supplying goods to viins. That makes you a viin too.


    You just said youre not here to discuss that!


    I changed my mind.


    Decide right here and now.


    If he continued to be stubborn to the end, I really intended to kill him. The monster core he supplied ultimately made the local viin organization, Jagalchi, stronger.


    In the future, the viinous organization Jagalchi grew into arge enough organization to take over the economy of Busan.


    Damn it! Why are you doing this to someone who barely earns enough to eat each day!


    Its because I need your skills. I can take you to Seoul and give you a job. Dont you want to go to Seoul?


    What on earth is this job that you need my skill?


    Should we continue talking here?


    Follow me.


    I followed the Heartworker to a shabby space about three square meters. He was probably using it as a workshop.


    So, why does our esteemed Transcendent want to take me with him?


    As I mentioned before, I need your abilities. Specifically, your processing skills.


    Heh, youre saying my skills are that needed?


    But if youre unfortunate enough to refuse, Ill kill you.


    Look at this.


    I handed Heartworker the level 6 core I processed from the monster I caught during a brief stroll beforeing to Busan.


    His eyes widened at the sight of the Force flowing through it.


    How did you do this? No, how did you manage this?


    Its a skill youll need to learn when youe to Seoul.


    Youre going to teach me?


    Yes. And Ill admit your mother to the Sacred Hospital as well.


    ..!


    Heartworkers eyes widened, then returned to normal, and he sighed heavily.


    Well, if you came looking for me, you must have investigated me. I suppose this favor is because of my abilities, right?


    Exactly. In return, youll have to learn diligently.


    Thats only natural.


    I wasnt worried about his abilities. Since it was a technology he had created, he would quickly catch up.


    Then when should we go?


    Thats not as easy as it sounds. You know I supply the ck market, and the viins there are quite protective of me. If I leave without telling them, theylle looking for me all the way to Seoul.


    Then Ill just have to kill them all.


    Thats the simplest solution.


    Heartworker was shocked.


    Youre really being quite harsh with your words. Was the personality you disyed on the broadcast your real one? Well, those viins, even though theyre ssified as such, arent necessarily bad people. Some of them have been kind to me, and Id like to part with them amicably.


    There were viins in the world who werent bad?


    Are you going to talk to them?


    Well, I suppose I can try?


    It didnt seem like they would let go easily. I had been a viin myself, so I knew they could be quite possessive. They had a deep-rooted belief that whats mine was mine, and whats yours was also mine. And once something was in their grasp, they would do whatever it took to never let go. Theyd rather die holding onto it than give it up to someone else.


    Perhaps if they knew Heartworkers skills, theyd never let him go.


    After some thought, I said, Then lets go together.


    Together?


    Because if we go together, maybe the viins wont be so unwilling to let you go.


    If I, a Transcendent, said it, they might give in willingly.


    Heartworker might have thought the same.


    He nodded obediently.


    Alright.


    ***


    Arriving at Busan Harbor, Heartworker and I headed for the viins hideout where he had been making deliveries.


    Heartworker met with the person in charge there, and when he informed them that he was going to Seoul, a firm response came back.


    No, you cant go.


    No, boss. Last time, you said I could go when I wanted to


    Do you believe those words? Do we look like pushovers? Did you think wed just send you off if you said you wanted to go?


    <em>Sigh.</em>


    Heartwalker let out a deep sigh. The viin spoke soothingly to him in a soft voice.


    Youre doing well here too, arent you? Is it because of the money? Ill talk to the boss and make sure you get a little more, so lets keep doing well. Okay? Weve been doing well, havent we?


    Alternating between carrots and threats made it impossible for him to leave on his own.


    I, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward.


    Stop it and let him go.


    As a Level 8 Transcendent, if I spoke, they should understand


    Whats this? Whos this guy?


    Who are you to step in? Huh? Do you want to die?


    The result of my intervention was pitiful.


    They didnt recognize me and insteadughed while making feeble threats.


    Wait a minute


    Heartworkers face, which had been watching this whole scene, turned pale. Perhaps he anticipated what would happen next.


    Well, I began to reflect a bit.


    I figured that being a state-certified Transcendent and capturing Nuri would make the viins recognize my face. They would almost certainly run away without looking back, so I was worried about how to catch them in the future. I even considered wearing a disguise, but it should be fine to go like this.


    My name is Choi Jun-ho.


    What?


    The viins hesitated.


    Hyung-<em>nim</em>, now that I think about it, wasnt the Transcendent who captured Nuri recently named Choi Jun-ho?


    He- Head Breaker?


    The same demon who turned Jung Da-hyun into the Menacing Woman?


    The viins pupils began to shake violently.


    I took a step toward the door, blocking their retreat.


    Thats me.