Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 11

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (11)

Ecosystem Disruptor

“No! Tell me before you go! Your awakening grade! Don’t tell me you got S-rank?!”

“Ugh… seriously. I told you I’ll let you know later.”

Shaking off the clinging Yoon Seo-jin, Lee Si-hyeok hurriedly got on the elevator.

“Where are you going!”

“To meet the Chairman!”

“What’s wrong with telling me before you go…! How petty!”

She looked at him with an expression of dying curiosity, but didn’t seem inclined to stop him.

Lee Si-hyeok straightened his disheveled clothes and pressed the button for the 55th floor.

Whirr.

The elevator shot up at high speed.

Having been there once before, he wasn’t as nervous as last time. The only slightly concerning thing was that he wasn’t wearing a suit.

Well, he’d understand. It wasn’t like he came for anything else – he was coming from work. The Chairman didn’t seem like the type to care about such trivial matters anyway.

—The doors are opening.

Lee Si-hyeok passed through the Secretary Office and went straight into the Chairman’s Office.

Inside, two people were sitting at the meeting table waiting.

Chairman Lee Young-hoon and an unfamiliar man.

The man spotted Lee Si-hyeok and approached to offer a handshake.

“Hello. I’m Kim Seung-hyeon, Grade Assessment Team Leader from the Awakener Association.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Si-hyeok from the Transportation Team.”

Lee Si-hyeok took a seat.

“We meet again, Driver Lee Si-hyeok.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“I heard you took the awakening grade assessment at the Association yesterday. Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon here came personally to tell me about it.”

Lee Young-hoon gently pushed a tea cup toward Lee Si-hyeok.

“Thanks to that, I was able to have various conversations with Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon after a long time.”

“…Do you two know each other?”

“Haha. We’ve known each other since before I started my business – before Termion Corporation. We built a friendship when I was active as a hunter.”

So there was that connection. Lee Si-hyeok nodded while sipping his tea.

“Anyway, Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon. You should explain the situation now. You said you had a lot to discuss.”

“Understood.”

Kim Seung-hyeon activated the beam projector. A video was displayed on the screen, showing a scene familiar to Lee Si-hyeok’s eyes.

“This is… my research lab, isn’t it?”

The main table where he usually worked.

The ventilation system and experimental small containment room.

It was an unmistakable location.

“That’s right. I received the CCTV footage from Chairman Lee Young-hoon today.”

“CCTV footage?”

“Yes. We needed to verify something. Whether that artifact you presented during the ‘completed artifact’ assessment was truly developed by one person.”

“…Why? I thought there was no such procedure normally.”

During the testing process, when they scan artifacts with the mana detector, they can identify everyone who participated in the development.

In fact, the Shadow Blade was also labeled as ‘the first Legacy Artifact created by Lee Si-hyeok.’

But why was a new procedure added for Lee Si-hyeok?

“To be honest, we couldn’t completely trust the equipment. A human creating a Legacy Artifact? It’s an unprecedented event.”

“Ah.”

“Moreover, even if we conceded a hundred times that it succeeded, we couldn’t imagine someone who awakened less than a month ago would bring it to the Association.”

Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon pointed at the screen.

“We naturally had to suspect there was someone behind Lee Si-hyeok. Termion Corporation. We thought he disguised collaboration with this company’s researchers as his solo achievement.”

“Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon. You’ve been speaking rather disappointingly since earlier.”

“I apologize, Chairman. But it was unavoidable – surely you understand.”

“If it were our product, we would have presented it proudly. Why would we need to go through such trouble? Driver Lee Si-hyeok would dislike such things too.”

The Chairman chided Kim Seung-hyeon, but his tone carried a hint of amusement, as if watching an intriguing situation unfold.

“…I’ll apologize to Lee Si-hyeok as well.”

“No, it’s fine. I understand.”

Lee Si-hyeok shook his head.

Initially he felt slightly offended, but listening to it, everything made sense. Lee Si-hyeok creating a Legacy Artifact – it would be hard for others to believe.

Even Lee Si-hyeok himself was still bewildered by it.

“So, did you check the CCTV footage?”

“Yes. We watched everything from beginning to end. Throughout the weekend, only Lee Si-hyeok was in the research lab.”

“That’s a relief. So your suspicions are cleared?”

“Honestly, it’s still hard to believe… but circumstantially, we have no choice but to believe it. The mana detector wouldn’t malfunction so easily. And you proved ‘beyond specifications’ results in the 2nd and 3rd stage assessments too.”

“Then can we finally hear Driver Lee Si-hyeok’s grade?”

Chairman Lee Young-hoon’s eyes filled with anticipation.

“Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon barged into the company unreasonably, then kept his mouth shut until the end. Making people curious.”

“…I’ll tell you now.”

Kim Seung-hyeon smiled awkwardly and pulled something from his inner pocket.

A rectangular card-shaped object.

Something Lee Si-hyeok had wanted so desperately since long ago.

—It was an Awakener Registration Card.

“Awakener Lee Si-hyeok. I will announce your grade assessment results.”

He handed over the registration card.

“Beyond specifications, grade unmeasurable. In other words, EX-rank awakener. The first in South Korea, no…”

Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon grinned.

“The first grade ever created in the entire world. Congratulations on your awakening.”

“E, EX-rank?!”

While Lee Si-hyeok was slowly examining the registration card, Chairman Lee Young-hoon shouted uncharacteristically.

“There was such a grade? Wasn’t S-rank definitely the highest?”

“That’s right. Until yesterday.”

“Then from today…”

“Lee Si-hyeok is the only EX-rank awakener. A unique existence among humanity.”

“Huh, haha… well this is…”

Lee Young-hoon let out a hollow laugh while looking at Lee Si-hyeok.

He recalled recent events. The way he had shown his ambitions, asking for investment. Even then, he had sensed that momentum was extraordinary, but…

‘I never expected things to turn out like this.’

He slumped back in his chair. The unexpected shock hit his mind, leaving him feeling drained.

After a brief moment, Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon spoke up.

“Lee Si-hyeok. I have a proposal for you.”

“What is it?”

“How about hiding your awakening grade for now? Registering as A-rank instead of EX-rank, with falsified records.”

What’s he talking about? Lee Si-hyeok tilted his head in confusion.

“As I mentioned earlier, an EX-rank awakener isn’t just rare – they’re utterly unique. As such, if your awakening grade becomes known, there will be countless recruitment attempts.”

Kim Seung-hyeon showed him some documents.

“And that ‘recruitment’ can never be gentlemanly. In fact, there have been repeated kidnapping attempts overseas targeting S-rank non-combat awakeners.”

“…To protect me.”

“Exactly. While some information leaking gradually is unavoidable, we think it’s best to register as A-rank first and buy as much time as possible.”

It made sense.

Setting aside overseas threats, if domestic organizations found Lee Si-hyeok’s home address and came after him, there would be no way to escape.

Being dragged away with limbs bound, reduced to a biological machine solely for artifact creation? The thought sent chills down his spine.

However, there was one concerning point.

‘If I accept this, will I be able to develop freely from now on?’

Deliberately registering at a lower grade.

That was no different from saying he had to hide Lee Si-hyeok’s true abilities. After all his efforts to finally obtain an EX-rank skill.

Holding back out of fear of being attacked?

…Of course it was scary. Since Lee Si-hyeok was human too, he naturally felt fear at such threats.

But he didn’t want to hide.

That vague thought came to him. He no longer wanted to make copies in his room that no one would recognize. He wanted to unfold his dreams, his aspirations.

Then he had to refuse Kim Seung-hyeon’s proposal. And then find a better way, a method to break through this situation.

“…”

Fortunately, Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon didn’t rush him. He seemed to give him time to think, waiting while drinking tea.

Lee Si-hyeok mentally retraced the path he had walked in the past.

When copying others’ works, if there were parts he got stuck on because he couldn’t sense mana, he would ponder for a long time like now. He found solutions through accumulated experience and knowledge.

And finally.

A single thought flashed through Lee Si-hyeok’s mind.

A method that wouldn’t require hiding his awakening grade while bringing even greater benefits.

Lee Si-hyeok’s eyes grew calm as he parted his lips.

“Team Leader. I appreciate the proposal, but I must decline.”

“…Excuse me?”

Kim Seung-hyeon’s eyebrows twitched as if he hadn’t expected this.

“Didn’t you understand? Your safety could be at risk. No, it will definitely be at risk.”

“I understand that fully. I’ve grasped the entire situation. But hiding my grade means I can’t freely create artifacts either, doesn’t it?”

“That’s…”

Kim Seung-hyeon couldn’t bring himself to deny it.

It was a part he had intentionally avoided mentioning. Hoping Lee Si-hyeok’s thoughts wouldn’t reach that far. But his opponent was an EX-grade awakener—it had been too naive an expectation.

“Then what do you plan to do? We fully understand that having restricted actions is frustrating.”

“…”

“But there’s no other way, is there? If you insist on pushing forward with your opinion, we can’t force you, but it’s too dangerous…”

“There is a way.”

“Excuse me?”

Kim Seung-hyeon stopped mid-sentence and looked at Lee Si-hyeok.

“I said there’s a way. A method to stay safe without having to hide the assessment results.”

“…?”

“Would you like to hear it?”

Kim Seung-hyeon, who had been staring blankly at Lee Si-hyeok for a moment, unconsciously nodded his head.

He had no choice. The slight upturn of his lips and his confident gaze. Somehow, he felt this person would know a better solution.

Lee Si-hyeok continued speaking. His gaze was directed toward Chairman Lee Young-hoon.

“First, Chairman. The Termion Hex-9 was released last night. Congratulations on its success.”

“…Hmm, thank you. It’s thanks to Engineer Lee Si-hyeok’s participation.”

Lee Young-hoon was flustered by the sudden congratulations but played along.

“It was an honor to participate, Chairman. I even had the amazing experience of seeing my name on the portal site’s front page.”

“Haha… I see.”

“But while reading those news articles, I suddenly had this thought.”

Lee Si-hyeok leaned his upper body closer to the table.

“The sales are already skyrocketing to unprecedented levels, but what if it were revealed that the ‘Researcher Lee Si-hyeok’ who collaborated on it was actually an EX-grade awakener?”

“…!”

“Sales would double, no, what’s double? Wouldn’t they jump at least five times?”

Lee Young-hoon closed his mouth and started calculating in his head.

Current sales: 60,000 units. If it became known to the world that the researcher who participated in development was actually an EX-grade awakener?

‘…Good heavens.’

He gave up calculating. Simply adding numbers was meaningless. EX-grade. An irregular that had never appeared before.

Considering how the value skyrockets when an S-grade awakener participates in artifact creation, it was enough to make him want to scream in shock.

Moreover…

S-grade awakeners were too proud to participate in mass-market artifacts like the Termion Hex-9. They only took commissions for a select few hunters.

But if an EX-grade awakener appeared at this timing?

Lee Young-hoon stared at Lee Si-hyeok with his mouth agape.

Right now, in his eyes, Lee Si-hyeok looked like a nutria, bullfrog, or some other invasive species disrupting the ecosystem.

“…No, I understand what you’re saying. But how does that become a solution?”

What does that have to do with anything? Isn’t it just making more money?

Unlike the chairman, Kim Seung-hyeon furrowed his brow. His momentary expectation had dissipated.

Lee Si-hyeok answered slowly without rushing.

“Team Leader. Do you know about Termion Corporation’s subsidiaries?”

“I don’t. Why are you suddenly bringing that up?”

“Termion has quite a few subsidiaries, but unfortunately, there’s one business among them that never saw the light.”

Instead of continuing, he turned his gaze to Chairman Lee Young-hoon, who was still dazed.

Receiving the gaze, Chairman Lee Young-hoon snapped back to attention. Though momentarily stunned, he immediately understood what Lee Si-hyeok was trying to say.

—He was offering an opportunity.

Another chance to get involved in that distant dream Lee Si-hyeok had mentioned before.

‘I mustn’t let this slip away.’

Just by dipping his toe once into that dream, he had been able to build trust with an EX-grade awakener. If he took one more step forward, what results would await him?

Thump, thump… Chairman Lee Young-hoon’s heart pounded. The excitement he hadn’t felt since starting his business and establishing his position was stirring his heart.

“Engineer Lee Si-hyeok. Are you talking about Termion Security?”

Mentioning a failed business with his own mouth. It could have been humiliating, but he felt no shame.

Lee Young-hoon wasn’t foolish enough as a businessman to let this opportunity slip away. He took the bait.

Lee Si-hyeok smiled as if he had heard the answer he wanted.

“That’s right, Chairman. Please explain what kind of company it is.”

“It’s security, as the name suggests. More precisely, a security and protection company. It was also a business I had prepared earnestly. But… it could be considered a failure.”

“What do you think the reason for that was, Chairman?”

“I thought wrong. When you go outside, hunters are everywhere, so security for them? That was nothing but foolish talk.”

Lee Young-hoon put on a bitter expression.

“But Chairman. That doesn’t mean everyone is a hunter, does it? There must be people who need security. For example, crafting-type awakeners.”

“Crafting-type awakeners? Maybe it was marketing failure, but there was no demand. If there was demand from even one person, it would be worth trying. Preferably someone with considerable influence.”

Lee Si-hyeok and Lee Young-hoon’s gazes met.

They both perfectly understood what words they needed to say. Build-up. Their current conversation was like crafting a play for a single goal.

“Oh my, Chairman. I happen to know such a person.”

“Really?”

“Yes. A crafting-type awakener who is a unique existence, faces threats to their safety, yet doesn’t want to hide their identity.”

“Ha, what a demanding person.”

“Indeed.”

Whoosh! Both their heads turned toward Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon simultaneously.

“Don’t tell me…”

Kim Seung-hyeon seemed to finally grasp what conversation was taking place. His face showed shock as if he couldn’t have imagined it.

“Chairman. For such a demanding awakener, wouldn’t you consider rebuilding Termion Security? He urgently needs security, you see.”

“Hmm. I’m fine with it. But where would we get the funding?”

“Well, wouldn’t the person in question earn it? Someone who could inflate the company’s revenue dozens of times just by revealing their awakening grade.”

A sly smile appeared at the corner of Lee Si-hyeok’s mouth.

“I’ll help you build up Termion Security, Chairman. You just need to do your best to protect me.”

It was the emergence of an invasive species backed by a global corporation.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————