Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense - Chapter 111: So, what can you do?

Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense

111 – So, what can you do?

A moment later, the dazzlingly bright crystal, which had been emitting brilliant light, fell from Hee-cheol’s hand losing its radiance.

Upon seeing this, Hao Ran shouted at Hee-cheol in dismay.

“What on earth are you doing! That is the property of the Chinese government, coming from Chinese soil!”

However, Hee-cheol, who had absorbed all the energy of the Grade 9 crystal, shamelessly shook it off as unintentional.

“It was an accident.”

“An accident? An accident?!? Do you think this ends with just two words, accident? Moreover, if it was an accident, why did you block the soldiers trying to stop you with dolls?”

“The dolls simply assessed that there was a threat to my safety and automatically subdued the enemies. Moreover, I was in an uncontrollable state after absorbing excessive crystal energy in a short period.”

“So, is all of this simply an accident? Do you expect me to believe you?”

“That’s what happened. Oh, by the way, let me return this.”

Hee-cheol handed over the password to the account containing the $200 million that Hao Ran had given him earlier.

Seeing Hee-cheol, who showed no hesitation despite the huge sum, Hao Ran realized that he had been completely deceived.

However, even with such dissatisfaction, there was nothing Hao Ran could do against Hee-cheol, who had absorbed all the energy of the Grade 9 crystal by himself.

Hao Ran couldn’t retrieve the crystal by killing Hee-cheol, nor did he have the power to do so.

If it had been before Hee-cheol absorbed the crystal, Zhai Tianlin and the other Awakeners here could have joined forces to confront Hee-cheol, but after absorbing the crystal, Hee-cheol’s strength had changed significantly from before.

Even Hao Ran, not an Awakener, could perceive his change.

Hee-cheol silently examined his internal state while looking at the silent Zhai Tianlin.

‘I’m overflowing with power. The number of dolls I can summon has increased by more than tenfold, and their speed, strength, and types have clearly increased. With this, I should be more than enough to confront Cha Myung-jun.’

Of course, that was Hee-cheol’s misconception.

Hee-cheol’s last memory of Myung-jun’s strength was based on their confrontation in Sejong City, but in the meantime, Myung-jun, who had captured Leviathan, had secured another Grade 9 crystal.

However, unaware of this fact, Hee-cheol firmly believed that he, the one who had fully absorbed the Grade 9 crystal, was now the strongest Awakener in the world.

The endless power he felt in his body.

It was undoubtedly much stronger than the pressure Myung-jun had shown him in Sejong City.

‘With dolls of this number and strength, I can definitely overwhelm Cha Myung-jun.’

Of course, Hee-cheol had never intended to possess the crystal from the beginning.

He only thought that if he could take it, he would definitely take it back to South Korea.

However, with the uncertainty of returning to South Korea if he didn’t give up the crystal, Hee-cheol had no choice but to make the best decision he could.

To eliminate the very seed of all this conflict, the crystal itself, became his calculation—if what he couldn’t obtain turned into what couldn’t be obtained, then his opponent would have no choice but to give up.

Rather than killing himself with no benefit and venting his anger, it would be much more profitable to negotiate smoothly with the new strongest contender.

Hee-cheol believed that a man like himself, who had risen to the position of a member of the Standing Committee, the highest echelon of power in China, at a relatively young age, could make that calculation.

And according to Hee-cheol’s calculation, Hao Ran, restraining his boiling anger, said to Hee-cheol.

“An accident… Well, it can’t be helped. It’s regrettable. If there hadn’t been an accident, you could have had money you couldn’t spend in your lifetime.”

“I also feel regretful.”

‘He doesn’t seem regretful at all.’

Seeing Hao Ran suppressing his rising anger once again, Hee-cheol spoke up.

“Then shall we set aside the unfortunate accident that just happened and discuss negotiations again? Will you accept my proposal?”

Hao Ran could only nod.

If he overturned the negotiations here, he might provoke the anger of a man who might become the new strongest contender.

At the point where the item that had to be obtained, the Grade 9 crystal, had disappeared, there was no reason for the Chinese government to reject Hee-cheol’s proposal.

“Oh, now I remember. I definitely remember that the central leadership approved the matter. Since I forgot such an important fact and punished the operator, I should give sufficient compensation to that operator later.”

Seeing Hao Ran revive the contract that had been invalidated with just one word, Hee-cheol smirked.

Then he extended his hand to Hao Ran.

“I’ll leave it to you. Mr. Hao Ran.”

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***

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While Hee-cheol was deluded into thinking that he had fully absorbed the power of the Grade 9 crystal and had become the strongest in the world, Myung-jun was also contemplating hunting Leviathan and disposing of the newly acquired Grade 9 crystal.

Unlike combat-oriented Awakeners who could obtain a different level of strength by simply absorbing the energy of the crystals they hunted directly, Myung-jun, a unique job holder in the production category, couldn’t extract energy directly from the crystals.

Instead, with his unique ability, Myung-jun could convert the crystals he possessed into points, enabling him to acquire recipes for new equipment or summon equipment made in the spatial dimension into the real world. He could even create relic-grade equipment that surpassed limits, like driving a crystal from Banara into Taylor’s Spear to capture Leviathan.

‘In terms of efficiency, it’s best to make a single crystal reactor.’

The crystal obtained from Divine Being had a unique characteristic different from crystals obtained from other monsters, it gradually recovered energy over time as it was used.

Therefore, instead of immediately converting it into points or using it as material for equipment, creating a crystal reactor that extracted energy from within could serve as a permanent battery depending on the amount of energy consumed.

However, the problem was that among the equipment Myung-jun currently possessed, there was no equipment that required a Grade 9-level crystal reactor.

Ultimately unable to decide whether to turn the Grade 9 crystal into equipment, convert it into points, or process it into a crystal reactor, Myung-jun sought counsel from Soo-jeong.

Upon hearing Myung-jun’s words, Soo-jeong immediately expressed her opinion.

“If it were me, I’d convert it into points.”

“Hmm… Why is that? With the materials and crystals we have now, isn’t it enough to operate the clan?”

“Of course, it is. However, stronger enemies may emerge in the future, and there may be Awakeners even stronger than us. So, it would be best to convert the crystal we obtained this time into points.”

“…You want to unlock the next stage of Cain’s Legacy, don’t you?”

Of course, that option was also available, but Myung-jun had deliberately erased that option from consideration.

As the Keeper had told Myung-jun, unlocking Cain’s Legacy further could potentially attract excessive attention from the Nebula guarding it.

Considering that, Myung-jun asked Soo-jeong to wait for a moment and then returned to his room alone to summon the Keeper.

“Yo.”

<…>

“You’re listening right? If you don’t keep answering, I’ll just go ahead and unlock the next stage, okay?”

<…>

Staring at the silent palm, Myung-jun closed his eyes to unlock Cain’s Legacy.

Then, a voice he hadn’t heard in a long time echoed in Myung-jun’s ear.

<Please don’t do that…>

“Your voice sounds really tired, though.”

<Who do you think it’s because of? I’ve captured both Banara and Leviathan in Cain’s Legacy. Do you know how easy it is to manipulate all the information recorded in the Time Stream to avoid the Nebula’s scrutiny?>

“Wasn’t it because you were upset?”

<Of course, that’s part of it. But more importantly, it’s about keeping your abilities hidden from the Nebula. If I make a mistake, not only you but also this planet could be wiped out entirely.>

“What specifically is so scary? If you get caught, are the upset Nebula going to swarm Earth as a group?”

<No, as I said, according to the rules, Nebula usually do not interfere with the fate of stars recklessly. Unless it’s a special case like Cain directly challenging the Nebula, they usually don’t twist the fate of stars cruelly.>

Listening to the tired voice of the Keeper, Myung-jun realized that just as he was fighting against monsters outside, the Keeper was also engaged in a different form of battle, one that was different from his.

A battle to hide his existence from the Nebula and prevent another cruel fate for Myung-jun, who had returned beyond 30 years.

Although not a manager of time like the Keeper, Myung-jun couldn’t know what form of battle it was, but one thing was certain.

The Keeper had not yet given up on him.

Myung-jun made his decision.

“Okay. I’ve decided.”

<Hmm… So, you’ve decided to unlock Cain’s Legacy after all?>

“It’s not that.”

<Then?>

“Since you have been working hard in behind the scene to protect me, so I should keep my promise for you too.”

Detecting suspicion in his words, without even receiving Myung-jun’s permission, the Keeper hastily read Myung-jun’s thoughts.

Then, realizing what Myung-jun was thinking, he shouted.

<Are you crazy!? Now, at this timing? Don’t you know how valuable the crystals we obtained from Divine beings are?>

“I know. Better than anyone else. But I think it’s necessary.”

Myung-jun’s thoughts was about using the Grade 9 crystals obtained from hunting Leviathan to create a ‘body’ where the Keeper’s soul could settle.

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***

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However, even though Myung-jun had decided what to do with the crystals, it wasn’t like the Keeper’s soul could be instantly created.

The ‘Ego Weapon’, which had the ability to attach a soul, was one of the most difficult pieces of equipment to create among all the equipment Myung-jun could currently make.

Moreover, making it not as a weapon, but as a human-like being that could move and fight on its own, was something Myung-jun, who had reached the unique Rank 12 Master Smith, had never tried before in his entire previous life.

But Myung-jun didn’t think he would fail at all.

Unlike his previous self before the regression, he now had reliable comrades.

Myung-jun went to see Soo-jeong again and explained the equipment he wanted to create.

“An Ego Weapon? But it’s not a weapon, it looks like a person?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you want to make something like that?”

“There’s a being I want to save. Although I have the soul in a special way, it’s an entity without a physical form.”

Myung-jun was even prepared to open up to Soo-jeong about the Keeper’s situation if she asked for more details.

However, Soo-jeong’s subsequent attitude caught Myung-jun, who had prepared himself, off guard.

“Hmm… That soul, is it by any chance a woman?”

“Yes. What!? Um… Well… No.”

“Okay then. I’ll help you figure out how to make it. I can’t promise to design it right away, but I’ll work on it whenever I have time.”

“Aren’t you going to ask more?”

“Of course, I’m curious about what kind of soul suddenly needs to be saved, and how you came to keep it. But looking at your expression as you talk about it, it seems like you’re struggling with how to explain the circumstances. If it’s difficult to talk about, you don’t have to. Even if I don’t pry, when the time comes for you to talk about it naturally, I’ll be there.”

Soo-jeong smiled gently.

“Isn’t that right?”

The absolute trust in Myung-jun. Seeing her eyes, unwavering with absolute faith, he nodded silently.

“…Thank you.”

“It’s okay. The reason I don’t ask further is partly because you seem uncomfortable talking about it, but also because the process of making the Ego Weapon… No, should I call it the Ego Puppet? It seems interesting. Still, there’s one thing you mentioned that I’m really curious about.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“The ‘Chalice of the Soul,’ which is supposed to be at the core of the entire operating system, how do you make that?”

“That’s something we can’t make.”

“Huh?”

“The Chalice of the Soul. It’s not science or technology, it’s an object imbued with a kind of ‘magic.’”

The most crucial material for the ‘Ego Puppet’, which can contain the Keeper’s soul.

Ironically, the ‘Chalice of the Soul’ could only be made by Awakeners who handle ‘magic’, which is in stark contrast to the ‘science’ Myung-jun possesses.