The cleanup with the Kafka Team proceeded quickly.
To support the Kafka Team, which had many injured members, Team Crazy decided to hand over two stag beetles to them. The Kafka Team, whose members were heavily wounded, deeply appreciated the gesture.
Since the Kafka Team had many casualties, they couldn’t stay there long. They asked Team Crazy to handle the aftermath and headed to the hospital with their injured teammates.
The team leader of the Kafka Team, feeling sorry for his members, apologized with tears in his eyes until the moment he got into the car.
The team members felt conflicted seeing the Kafka Team leader leave in tears.
“So, what do we do with this guy?”
After the Kafka Team left the purification plant, Sunhee put her hands on her hips and glared at Yonghoon.
It was a rhinoceros beetle monster they had captured in front of others.
It was problematic to simply hand it over to the disposal team.
Yonghoon looked down at the rhinoceros beetle lying next to him. Even to him, the cleanup looked a bit tricky. He might be able to fool ordinary Awakened, but Link System Company would likely recognize it as a D-Rank.
Seeing Yonghoon like that, Sunhee let out a sigh.
Though he usually acted so cold, he often forgot about the aftermath when he got excited during battle. He really was a handful.
While everyone was feeling stumped, Kangwoo stepped forward.
Kangwoo looked around. There was no one else here besides Team Crazy.
After confirming they were alone, Kangwoo shared his idea with the team.
“Since the Kafka Team is gone and the purification plant staff are also in the shelters, let’s call the company we’ve been trading monster corpses with. We can hand over that big one to them and then call Link System’s disposal team afterward.”
“Do you think they’ll come right away? This wasn’t a scheduled hunt.”
Team leader Han spoke in a slightly worried voice. Up until now, they had always contacted them in advance before a hunt. He was concerned whether they’d come on such short notice.
“They probably will.”
Kangwoo immediately called the trading company.
Fortunately, the person who answered agreed to head out right away.
“No matter how I look at it, Kangwoo doesn’t seem like an ordinary person.”
Jimin whispered to Sunhee.
Sunhee agreed with Jimin. He probably was someone quite successful even before becoming an Awakened Hunter.
Thankfully, the matter was resolved smoothly.
Before the trading company arrived, Team Crazy extracted the Dimensional Core from the rhinoceros beetle.
A short while later, the rhinoceros beetle monster was loaded onto a massive truck and taken away, and the Link System’s disposal team, which arrived afterward, collected the remaining stag beetle.
Two stag beetles were allocated to the Kafka Team, and one to Team Crazy. The Kafka Team’s leader, upon receiving the update, expressed deep gratitude to Team Crazy.
With everything wrapped up, Team Crazy left the purification plant in the early evening as the sun began to set, receiving a warm send-off from the plant staff.
Though they had been let out of the shelter late due to the processing of the rhinoceros beetle monster, the unaware purification plant staff gave Team Crazy a warm farewell.
Yonghoon’s car was slowly driving along the snowy road.
The sun had already set, and the road had grown dark. Due to Korea’s power shortage, electricity use was being minimized. As a result, all the streetlights along the road were turned off.
Inside the car, everyone was quietly resting, except for Kangwoo, who was on a call with someone.
After finishing the call, Kangwoo spoke to the team.
“The rhinoceros beetle monster has arrived at the company. And they’ve requested a visit. Apparently, they’ve successfully created weapons and armor using the monster’s corpse.”
His words clearly piqued the interest of all the team members.
Their equipment had been wearing out too quickly.
During hunts, their gear kept breaking, and especially when fighting insect-type monsters with hard shells, their weapons and shields would be ruined in no time.
The team had high hopes for Kangwoo’s suggestion. If they could use monster corpses, the resulting gear would surely be sturdier than their current ones.
Yonghoon was also excited by the idea.
He wasn’t exempt from gear degradation either. Just earlier, he had lost a spear while using a skill.
In the end, the whole team decided to visit the company to check out the equipment.
After some time, Yonghoon’s car entered a road cleared of snow.
It was a Safe Zone.
The streets brightened again. Here, the streetlights were on, and the buildings were lit up with electricity.
Squinting slightly in the bright light, Yonghoon sped up toward the office.
A few days had passed since the monster at the purification plant had been dealt with.
As planned a few days ago, the group headed down to Suwon to check out the equipment.
Upon arriving at the location given to them, the group stared blankly at the factory before them.
It was an enormous factory.
The team hadn’t expected such a massive facility and stood uncertainly in front of the factory gate.
On the gate was a nameplate with a very familiar company name.
It was one of Korea’s leading heavy industries companies.
“The company name is different.”
Sunhee looked at the nameplate with a puzzled expression.
She was right. Until now, the company that Team Crazy had been dealing with was called .
“It’s a subsidiary. Though in reality, you could say they’re the same company.”
A deep-voiced middle-aged man spoke from behind the team.
The group turned to look at the man who had suddenly appeared.
But none of the team members looked surprised.
It was impossible for an ordinary person to sneak up on Awakened.
Feeling a bit awkward, the man handed his business card to team leader Han.
“I’m Kim Sungho, Director of Development at Shilla Heavy Industries and team leader of the new project. You can call me Director Kim.”
Team leader Han looked at the card with a puzzled expression.
The card’s details didn’t match what he had just said.
“Ah, I’m also the nominal CEO of Gaya Machinery Industry. I’ll explain more inside. Please, this way.”
The middle-aged man in work clothes, with a humble appearance, led Team Crazy into the factory.
As they entered, he explained why they had been trading under a different name.
When monsters appeared and the economy fell into crisis, companies did everything they could to survive. They laid off workers, shut down factories, and begged the government and banks for money.
But the economic decline showed no signs of stopping. Countless companies went bankrupt, and even the large ones seemed to be on the verge.
Desperate to survive, companies eventually turned their eyes to Link System.
Once just a simple military contractor, Link System had become the most famous and important company in the world after monsters appeared.
Link System’s rise was nothing short of phenomenal.
As soon as Awakened and monsters emerged, Link System began producing related products and gathering Awakened to eliminate monsters.
Then they started collecting hunted monsters and created the unprecedented invention known as the Dimensional Movement Blocking Devices.
Naturally, companies couldn’t help but focus on Link System.
But companies learned almost nothing about Link System. Their security was airtight, and their ties with governments were strong, leaving no openings.
In the end, companies had no choice but to conduct their own research on monsters and Awakened. Rather than clinging to failing products, they pinned their hopes on these new phenomena.
However, companies couldn’t get their hands on monster corpses.
The government and Link System monopolized all rights to monsters under the pretext of protecting the nation and humanity. Korea was practically under martial law, making it hard to even complain.
Eventually, Shilla Heavy Industries covertly established a new subsidiary to secretly collect and study monster corpses, away from the government’s eyes.
“Hmm. But it doesn’t seem like you’re hiding it much now?”
Jimin looked around the factory and asked Director Kim. Inside, massive monsters were being dissected and moved around by people.
Director Kim smiled at her question.
“That’s because after the Safe Zone was established in Seoul, a rift formed between the government and Link Corp. Our company, along with a few others, took advantage of that rift. Soon, the government will officially revoke Link Corp’s monopoly over monsters.”
Director Kim led the group to the second floor. He opened a door and introduced the area.
“This is the place we wanted to show you. Korea’s first weapons and armor made using monsters.”
The group stepped inside.
It was a large hall.
Inside, they saw various testing machines and Awakened swinging spears and blocking iron balls with shields.
“Huh?”
As they entered, Dohyeon was the first to speak.
Dohyeon looked quite disappointed. He had apparently expected something like a spy movie’s secret weapons lab.
But Yonghoon’s eyes lit up as he looked around. He could feel Dimensional Power flowing smoothly from the weapons and armor the Awakened were using.
It seemed this company had made proper equipment.
Director Kim led the group through the Awakened.
The Awakened who saw the team had a glint in their eyes. They clearly recognized Team Crazy.
Director Kim introduced the Awakened here to Team Crazy.
“The Awakened helping us with experiments here are those affiliated with our company. Thanks to them, we were able to produce the products quickly. Ah, of course, it was also because you sent us various monster corpses.”
They passed the testing area and approached the opposite wall. There was a long shelf with various weapons and shields placed on it.
The team members’ eyes sparkled at the sight of the items.
Director Kim picked up a spear from among the various equipment.
Its shape was a bit different from a normal spear, but it was clearly a spear designed for Awakened. Grunting with effort, Director Kim lifted the spear with both hands.
He barely managed to stand the spear upright and spoke to the group.
“Whew, it’s really heavy. This spear is made from the stag beetle’s pincers.”
After checking the spear, he continued speaking to the group.
“We’ve conducted various experiments to process monster corpses. But we kept failing. There were many issues, but the biggest one was that the corpses decayed rapidly.”
Director Kim looked around at the group’s faces. Everyone was watching his mouth.
“But through continued experimentation, we finally found a solution.”
He rotated the upright spear to show the opposite side of the shaft. In the middle of the spear, a slightly murky gem was embedded.
It was a contaminated Dimensional Core.
“We embed a contaminated Dimensional Core into the equipment. This allowed us to prevent the processed corpses from decaying rapidly.”
Director Kim looked around at the team members. A few tilted their heads in confusion. Director Kim quickly moved on.
“Of course, if we embed an uncontaminated Dimensional Core, it seems to provide near-total protection against physical impact, like with monsters. But Awakened couldn’t use the weapons. Due to Dimensional Repulsion, they couldn’t channel their power into the weapons.”
He brought the explanation to a conclusion.
“So we used this Dimensional Core that’s a bit weaker to impact but prevents decay. But then something amazing happened. The contaminated Dimensional Core amplified the Awakened’s Dimensional Power! It boosts it by over 30%!”
He proudly showed the Dimensional Core embedded in the spear.
The Crazy Team members were greatly surprised by his words.
If more Dimensional Power could be infused into weapons, it meant stronger attacks. Spears could pierce deeper, and shields could generate greater repulsion.
Yonghoon looked at the spear Director Kim was holding and fell into thought.
The spear before him looked very similar to the beast spear he had first bought in the other world.
Back when he was a low-level Awakened swinging mass-produced spears, he had seen high-level Awakened appear with such beast spears and cut down monsters. Since then, he had longed to own one.
He saved and saved until he could finally buy a beast spear, but in the end, he was forced to despair once again before the wall of level.
Eventually, his beast spear was destroyed over time, and with the collapse of the economy, the foundation for making beast weapons nearly disappeared. In the end, they became weapons only usable by a few high-level Awakened.
Yonghoon snapped out of his recollection. It wasn’t a weapon he’d use for life anyway.
It was just a weapon to use until he could get a Relic.
At Director Kim’s suggestion to try them out, the group joyfully picked up various weapons. They were all amazed at how smoothly Dimensional Power flowed inside the weapons when infused.
“Wow, this is really nice. I get what it means when they say it fits perfectly in the hand.”
As the spear smoothly accepted the Dimensional Power she had previously forced in, Jimin’s eyes widened.
Director Kim, watching the satisfied people, noticed Yonghoon’s expressionless face.
“If you’re unsure, would you like to try it out? We don’t have a monster ready, but we’ve prepared something similar.”
He encouraged Yonghoon to try using it for real.
When Yonghoon looked where he pointed, he saw a pillar covered in a hard surface. It was firmly fixed to the testing equipment.
“It’s a measuring device made from the shell of an insect-type monster. We embedded an uncontaminated Dimensional Core inside to make it as close to an E-Rank monster as possible.”
He pointed at the spear Yonghoon was holding.
“An E-Rank Strike-type Awakened from our company managed to pierce halfway through the measuring device’s shell with that spear in one strike. Before, it took several hits in the same spot just to break through.”
The team members all gathered around Yonghoon with curious expressions. The Awakened and engineers who had been testing also turned their eyes this way.
Yonghoon was about to decline under the weight of all the attention.
“Don’t worry. We’ve layered the shell several times, so it absolutely won’t break through. Feel free to use your full strength.”
Director Kim, who had heard the rumors about Team Crazy, reassured Yonghoon.
Then the other team members also encouraged Yonghoon to give it a try.
Yonghoon hesitated a bit, then stepped up in front of the measuring device.
It wasn’t a bad idea to test the feel of it anyway.
Yonghoon silently focused his Dimensional Power into the spear. The power that originated deep within him circled through his body and poured into the spear through his hand.
He smiled at the refreshing sensation he hadn’t felt in a long time.
He pulled his arm back.
Then he thrust his arm forward with all his might toward the pillar!
Bang!
A thunderous boom shook the interior.
A moment later, the team members looking at Yonghoon all shook their heads.
Yonghoon’s spear had pierced through the pillar and smashed the measuring device behind it.
“Uh, uh, that device was made with multiple layers so even a D-Rank couldn’t pierce it.”
Director Kim stared at Yonghoon and the broken device in disbelief.
Yonghoon turned his head away from the absurdly shattered device, and Team Leader Han quickly asked about the weapon’s price.
Director Kim, barely regaining his composure, answered Team Leader Han’s question.
“Originally, we’d have to include development costs since it’s an early product, but thanks to your help and for promotional purposes, we’ll only charge the base cost.”
Director Kim listed the base cost of each weapon.
As he spoke, his eyes remained fixed on the broken measuring device. His tone clearly hinted he wanted to charge more.
At the amount he said, Jimin’s mouth dropped open.
“Two hundred million for one spear?”
Sunhee and Dohyeon also looked visibly shocked.
Director Kim spoke with a bitter smile.
“It’s made from a contaminated Dimensional Core and part of an E-Rank monster’s corpse. It can’t be cheap.”
Jimin’s face stiffened as she grabbed Team Leader Han.
“It’s too expensive. Let’s just go.”
Team Leader Han chuckled at her reaction and spoke to Director Kim.
“If you give us a 50% discount for promotional purposes, we’ll buy one weapon per person and some extras.”
“What? No way! That’s still too expensive!”
Jimin raised her voice, surprised by Team Leader Han’s words.
As Jimin tried to stop him, Kangwoo offered her some advice.
“Jimin, think about how much you earn in a month.”
“Huh?”
At Kangwoo’s words, Jimin started counting on her fingers to calculate her income. A moment later, she scratched her head with an embarrassed expression.
“Heh, I guess I do earn a lot. But it’s still too expensive.”
“We can easily afford it with the team’s operating budget.”
Team Leader Han confidently reassured Jimin.
That was when it happened.
“I have a request.”
Yonghoon spoke to Director Kim.
Director Kim, who had been mentally calculating whether the 50% deal was viable, flinched at Yonghoon’s sudden words.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Can I get my weapon customized?”
Relieved that it wasn’t a money issue, Director Kim tilted his head.
“What kind of customization are you thinking?”
Yonghoon explained the structure he had in mind to Director Kim.
He asked for a hole to be made from the blade to the shaft so that liquid could be injected into the spear’s interior, and for a switch to spray the liquid toward the blade.
Director Kim nodded at Yonghoon’s request.
“It’ll be a bit weaker than other spears, but it’s doable. Why do you want this structure?”
Yonghoon smiled in satisfaction. He could finally use the toad monster’s venom he had obtained earlier.
In the end, Team Crazy was able to purchase the weapons at half price, and Director Kim despaired in front of the broken measuring device.
On the way back, everyone except Jimin wore cheerful expressions.
Jimin was still grumbling about the cost, but she seemed satisfied with the weapon itself.
Even Sunhee, who didn’t use weapons, and Dohyeon, who used regular ones, seemed happy that the team had grown stronger. The group chatted happily about their weapons.
“But there’s one thing I don’t get. Why hasn’t Link Corp announced these kinds of weapons? They’ve got a ton of monster corpses and Dimensional Cores.”
Sunhee asked the group, clearly puzzled.
“Well, I guess they’re just making weapons for their own Awakened.”
Team Leader Han, who was driving, answered her casually.
Sunhee tilted her head, still not quite understanding.
“Or maybe they’re making something like those Dimensional Movement Blocking Devices again. Like robots or something.”
Dohyeon chimed in from the back. The team members chuckled at his comment.
“Anyway, it seems like there’s a serious power shortage. I heard even the stockpiled oil is almost gone.”
Kangwoo spoke as he looked around at the darkening surroundings.
Even around Suwon, the streetlights weren’t turning on at all. With barely any cars passing by, the atmosphere felt even more desolate.
It was inevitable. A large number of oil fields around the world had been taken over by monsters. Moreover, many oil-producing countries weren’t developed nations, making it difficult to drive the monsters out.
“I wish someone would just step up and fix everything.”
At Jimin’s words, Yonghoon quietly gazed out the window.
It felt like the world needed a hero once again. And Yonghoon had seen such a hero in the other world.
A few days later, Link System held a press conference.
“Our company has discovered a new energy source. This device generates energy by reacting uncontaminated Dimensional Cores with Contaminated Dimensional Cores. We are confident this device can resolve the global power crisis and replace the dwindling oil resources.”
Behind the chairman who was presenting, there was a suitcase-sized device on display.
Yonghoon sat in the living room, watching the TV.
It was the moment the second era began.
A brief period of false prosperity that followed the era of suffering caused by the monster invasions.
A time when Awakened risked their lives to hunt monsters and enjoyed the wealth that poured in, a time of progress fueled by overflowing energy.
But for most people, it was still a time of suffering outside the Safe Zones, tormented by monsters.
Yonghoon turned off the TV and closed his eyes.
He didn’t have the power to change the world.
All he could do was hope that the governments of each country and Link Corp would prepare properly for the future during this time.
Yonghoon resumed his Dimensional Power training.