287 Training Together 2 Translator: | Editor:
Junhyuk put on his Max mask and headed over to his company. GST was changing quickly every day.
They had hired secretaries and a cleaning crew, on top of their security team. The company had been created to make use of Ganesha, so they didnât need a lot of people working there.
Junhyuk looked at the ones surrounding Ganesha. There were eight people working now, and all of them were Sungtaeâs friends. Junhyuk gathered everyone in a meeting room, and two of them always got his attention since they possessed mana: Tirot and Brita.
Looking at them both, he said, âThis is the first time weâre actually introducing ourselves. Iâm Max, GSTâs CEO.â
Everyone was paying attention to him. They all liked working there. It had been the best environment they could find. It even had a supercomputer, which was a big help to them.
They all had had trouble doing their jobs previously because of their computersâ inefficiency, but now, they had Ganeshaâs help, so they were all satisfied.
Junhyuk looked at them and said, âDo you know about the Dimensional Battlefield?â
Everyone nodded. Sungtae had previously published news of it, if only for five minutes, but they had heard about it.
Junhyuk continued, âThe lowest-ranked monsters of the Dimensional Battlefield are the ones appearing here. Humanity is gathering mana stones and bloodstones from those monsters, and by using those, weâve been able to produce iron soldiers and people with extreme regenerative capabilities.â
Everyoneâs eyes widened, and he looked at each of their faces.
âGuardians has sole control over that technology, and it is developing quickly.â
After making the monster decomposition liquid, Guardians was making an astronomical sum of money. The company monopolized the world market in selling military equipment, raking in the money.
Junhyuk knew that was all because of Elise, but he couldnât make her one of his workers.
âGuardiansâ main researcher is called Elise. Do you know her?â
Everyone eyes widened, and Brita spoke up, âYou mean Elise from Robotics?â
âI have heard that she had worked for Robotics.â
Brita scowled at that, and he asked, âDo you have a problem with her?â
Sungtae smiled bitterly and said, âBrita tried to patent two items, but Elise already had patents on them, so Brita doesnât like her much.â
Junhyuk looked at Brita. If she could create what Elise had created, he had high hopes for her.
âElise is a robotics engineer!â
Sungtae cackled.
âBrita majored in robotics engineering, but because of patent incident, she decided to go into computer engineering.â
Elise wasnât simply a robotics engineer, however. She also had skills in biological engineering.
Junhyuk looked at Brita and said, âOK. How do you feel about competing against Elise?â
âOn what?â
âIâll tell you more about mana stones. The iron series makes use of a new energy source produced by the mana stones. The mana stones are the iron soldierâs main energy source.â
Brita hesitated for a moment and said, âI have to see an iron soldierâs core. I have to know how advanced it is to know where to advance it further. Iâll retrace Eliseâs path, but to catch her, there is nothing else I can do.â
Junhyuk took a moment to think and said, âOK. Iâll get you two iron soldiers.â
Everyone was shocked by what he said.
âCan a civilian purchase an iron soldier?â
âIâll use unofficial means to get them.â
Sungtae scratched his head.
âEven Brian canât help with that.â
âI know. Iâll make the purchase myself, so donât worry.â Then, he turned to Brita and said, âStart research on the mana stones. If you need anything, just let Sungtae know.â
Junhyuk turned to Sungtae and added, âJust get everything she asks for.â
âDo you mean get whatever she asks for officially?â
âNo. Unofficially. If anyone finds out we are researching mana stones, they will monitor us.â
Only the worldâs ruling class was researching mana stones at that moment, and Junhyuk did not want to draw their attention.
âThen, the unofficial purchase prices will be higher than normal.â
âDonât worry about the money.â
Looking at Brita, Junhyuk said, âIâll give you everything you need for your research.â
After some hesitation, Brita said, âThe most important thing is the mana stone. Iâm not sure what mana stones are, but I need to have one to research it.â
Junhyuk pulled three mana stones from his chest and gave them to Brita.
âThese are mana stones. Each one costs about $20 to $30 million.â
Everyoneâs eyes widened, but Junhyuk continued calmly, âStart your research at once.â
He simply and calmly handed her tens of millions of dollars worth of stones, leaving everyone astonished with him. Junhyuk looked at them and then turned to the security team leader.
âProtect Brita well.â
âWe will.â
After getting up, he said, âUse any space in the building you need for your research.â
Brita looked at the mana stones and answered, âIâll take the entire fifth floor.â
âSure,â he said, nodding at her.
Junhyuk was willing to invest as much as he needed to catch up to Elise, even though it would not be an easy thing to do.
âThen, Iâll take my leave.â
He walked out of GST and got on the subway. He would be having a meeting with Sarang later, but he got his phone and made a call to Elise.
âIâll buy two iron soldiers,â he said calmly.
âWill you be overseeing them, or will we have to control them?â
âIâll be in control. All you have to do is let me have them.â
âOK. Itâll cost you $300 million. I can have them sent to you.â
âIâll go and pick them up myself.â
âTheyâll be ready by Monday.â
Junhyuk held tightly to the handles in the subway, which were moving with the train.
He met Sarang and Eunseo at a high-class hotel restaurant and introduced them to each other.
âThis is Sarang, the countryâs number one girl genius.â
âWhat?!â Sarang tapped his shoulder lightly, and Eunseo frowned a bit.
He introduced Eunseo as well, âThis is Eunseo, Guardiansâ CEO.â
âNice to meet you.â
The two shook hands, and Junhyuk explained further, âSarang is, unofficially, an expert. She was the third activation on Earth.â
As Eunseo looked at Sarang, the high school student made a V sign with her middle and index fingers and said, âJust like big brother said, Iâm Sarang, the countryâs number one!â
Junhyuk laughed and continued, âYou donât need any explanations on Eunseo, right?â
Sarang nodded and smiled at Eunseo.
âCan I call you big sister?â
âYou may.â
The two of them talked like old friends, and he stopped worrying about them. They talked for a while until their meals came out. Thatâs when Junhyuk explained why he had called them.
âI have a private training facility.â
âA private training facility?!â Sarang asked, and he answered, âYes. Artlan gave me a living spirit, and to train with it, I needed more mana. I had brought some mana trees and started to train with them. I had also received an item the pulled dimensional tear coordinates to me and used it.â
Eunseo fixed her glasses.
âThere is such a thing?!â
Junhyuk nodded and continued, âAfter fighting a bunch of monsters, a manager from the Dimensional Battlefield showed up.â
Both of them became nervous at the mention of the manager, but he continued calmly, âAnd he made a training facility for me. I can fight B-ranked monsters there until I get bored, so I fight them twice a day.â
âHow do you fight them twice a day?â
âThey come in the morning from six to eight, and in the evening from eight to ten. A wave triggers every five minutes, and each succeeding wave has more monsters than the previous.â
Sarang turned the subject to other things.
âWhat kind of monsters are B-ranked monsters?â
âTwin-headed ogres, for example.â
She frowned.
âBig brother, you had such a hard time killing those!â
âNot anymore. You have your own orb too, so you might also be able to kill them easily.â
He turned to Eunseo and said, âIf you donât use your power, you wonât be able to kill them.â
She was still a novice, so while she was able to kill ordinary monsters, B-ranked monsters were an entirely different story. Eunseo frowned at what he said, but he continued calmly, âHowever, I have a regenerative basin, so unless you get killed, I can save you.â
Looking at Eunseo, he said, âI wanted to tell you all of this, but you lack equipment, so I am worried about you.â
Eunseo took a moment to think and said, âI want to experience it and find out what kind of monster it is.â
He nodded.
âI wanted you both to see it tonight.â
While eating her steak, Sarang asked, âWhere is it?â
âYou can get in from anywhere as long as you are with me.â
âReally?â
Junhyuk nodded and said, âIn short, I can get there from anywhere I want, but I have to exit from where Iâve entered.â
Eunseo took a moment to think and asked, âHow about we go from my office?â
âIs it close from here?â
âItâs in Yeouido.â
He nodded and said, âThen, letâs use it.â
After settling on that, he pulled out the bracelets.
âAnd look at these.â
âWhat are those?â
âI met a dragon at the Championsâ Battlefield, and he gave me these. It absorbs mana and transfers it to whoever wears it.â
âMana?â
Junhyuk showed them the bracelet he was already wearing.
âMana is an essential form of energy. If you wear this, you can stay healthy. But we are all different. I use mana to get stronger beyond my limitations.â
Sarangâs eyes widened.
âThen, you are stronger here than when we were on the battlefield?â
âCorrect. Thanks to this, Iâm getting even stronger.â
Sarang took a bracelet and put it around her wrist, saying, âThis is mine!â
Eunseo was envious of Sarangâs juvenile actions, but Junhyuk offered her one as well.
âEven if you canât handle mana, wear this, and youâll live a long life. Take one.â
âThanks.â
She put the bracelet around her wrist, and as he watched her, he said, âWe have to make it to the eight oâclock evening round. Letâs hurry.â
Everyone nodded and got up. They all got inside Eunseoâs car and took off. Junhyuk and Sarang thought it wouldâve been a simple office, but when they got there, they saw a tall building.
Eunseo said calmly, âJust go to the top floor.â
Seeing the incredibly expensive office building, they went to the top floor and washed their hands. Looking at both of them, Junhyuk said, âItâs almost time. Letâs move first and talk later.â
âRight.â
He had never entered with others before, but he knew what to do and offered them his hands to hold. They all held hands, and with his eyes closed, Junhyuk said, âEnter.â
Suddenly, he heard a soft voice.
[Will you allow this group to enter the training facility?]
âAllow,â he said, and their surroundings changed quickly.
As Sarang and Eunseo looked around, they saw a large space with trees from the Dimensional Battlefield. Both women were nervous, and Junhyuk smiled at them.
âWelcome to my training facility.â