Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (17)

A Forgotten Schedule

“Hmm….”

Lee Si-hyeok leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, deep in thought.

The private office at Termion Security. Even though some time had passed since he came here, it seemed like there wasn’t a day when he wasn’t lost in contemplation.

‘How should I handle this best.’

Chronos Industry, that is. He had boldly declared that he would find a way, but it really wasn’t something to approach so simply.

That’s because Chronos had never actually caused Si-hyeok any direct harm.

They hadn’t physically threatened him or made any overt threats.

Surveillance using external personnel. Since it had only amounted to that, it was difficult for Si-hyeok to respond aggressively.

Besides, wasn’t the opponent a major corporation? Well, Si-hyeok could also counterattack with Termion backing him, but….

‘If I handle this wrong, things could get too big.’

This was Si-hyeok’s personal matter to begin with.

He didn’t want to unnecessarily drag the company into it and escalate it into a corporate dispute, and he wanted to resolve it with his own power. He didn’t want to depend on others.

Click.

Si-hyeok, who had been stroking his chin, turned on his laptop.

Then he entered his personal note program and browsed through various things.

Research paper summaries, artifact analysis memos, idea scraps, and so on. Notes he had recorded over many years unfolded.

This was a habitual action he took whenever his mind became complicated.

When he got stuck while self-studying magical engineering. Sometimes, looking through his notes like this would spark a solution.

Like unblocking a meridian, you could say.

Click, click.

As he turned page after page, he eventually reached a bookmarked section.

[Calendar]

“Come to think of it….”

It seemed like he was checking this month’s schedule for the first time. Since awakening, he had been running toward his dream of magical engineering without any time to catch his breath.

“…?”

However, Si-hyeok’s eyes widened as he looked at this month’s calendar.

[★GateTech Expo!]

A schedule he had emphasized with a star mark.

That schedule was coming up soon.

—GateTech Expo.

This event hosted by the Awakener Association is South Korea’s largest ‘artifact exhibition.’

Korea’s representative artifact manufacturing companies participate to unveil their latest products and provide opportunities for visiting civilians and hunters to experience them firsthand.

Hearing this far, it might sound like just another ordinary exhibition.

But its scale and popularity are incomparable to other events. During the expo period, even foreign media focus on Korea. So how much more attention does it get within Korea itself.

‘Is it already time for the expo?’

Naturally, Si-hyeok had also consistently attended every year without fail.

Not as an organizer, but as a visitor.

Going around various booths, looking at artifacts, and when it was time to leave, there was always one emotion he felt.

—I wish I could stand on the other side someday.

Longing, admiration.

To put it more candidly, it was envy. At the time, it was a futile emotion. A distant dream that could never be reached no matter how desperately he wished and wanted it.

But what about now?

‘It’s not impossible.’

It was more than possible.

Thinking about that, a chuckle escaped him.

Looking back now, it was all just foundation.

The current Si-hyeok existed because of those bitter times when he visited the expo without giving up despite experiencing setbacks. Without those times, he wouldn’t have obtained the「Mimicry」skill either.

Pain becomes memories once it passes, and Si-hyeok smiled pleasantly for a while before coming to his senses.

He had momentarily forgotten the original topic while checking his notes to clear his head.

“Right, first I need to figure out what to do about Chronos….”

…Wait a moment.

Going back over the expo schedule, there was one memory that came to mind. A very important memory related to Chronos Industry at that.

He shook the mouse to wake up the laptop that had entered sleep mode.

Then he went to a portal site and began searching through past news articles.

After a while, Si-hyeok’s eyes stopped at one place.

[Chronos to unveil after 5 years of research… New artifact reveal imminent]

That’s right, the artifact Chronos had been developing would be revealed at this GateTech Expo.

An artifact they had researched for a full five years.

Considering that most companies release products with at most a year, or as little as a few months between releases, this was an extremely long period.

That fact alone was enough to draw people’s attention, but there was still more surprising news.

[Chronos, first EXPO participation. Secretive company finally opens up]

“….”

The expo had quite a long history.

Twenty years since the Gate era began. Since it had been held from the early days, it naturally had to be long. Accordingly, the number of companies that had participated over the years was considerable.

Yet this year was Chronos Industry’s first time.

A clearly different approach compared to Termion Corporation, which equally represented South Korea. This was also why the public had the perception that Chronos was secretive.

Then why did their long-maintained policy suddenly change?

While that was curious in one way, it wasn’t something to worry about right now.

‘What’s important is the fact that Chronos’s new product will be revealed at the expo.’

Si-hyeok unconsciously furrowed his brow as he continued his thoughts.

‘Then naturally, Chronos must have prepared for this event for a long time.’

They couldn’t have prepared carelessly. Five years. Time enough to develop several artifacts. During that long period, they would have prepared thoroughly, not wasted it idly.

The Chronos Industry that Si-hyeok knew was that kind of company.

Secretive and mysterious, but more reliable than anything else in terms of performance and trustworthiness.

However, that trust had been broken from the moment they surveilled Si-hyeok… but that was just personal business.

They must have put their heart and soul into preparing for the expo.

But….

What if Si-hyeok appeared at that expo without warning?

What if he didn’t stop there but even operated a booth?

‘…The impact would be tremendous, for sure.’

This wasn’t arrogance.

He was extremely wary of overestimating himself. Such arrogance was an obstacle that hindered progress. To achieve his goals, he must always remain humble.

But….

What could he do when this was the truth? Even objectively, Si-hyeok’s thinking was correct.

Humanity’s first EX-rank Awakener.

Si-hyeok, who had been shrouded in mystery and the center of all sorts of rumors and topics since the Association President’s press conference, appearing with artifacts he made himself?

No matter how much attention Chronos received for participating, it would all be useless before such an extraordinary existence.

And the spotlight that should have been theirs would all turn to Si-hyeok.

—Thud.

Si-hyeok closed his laptop and stood up.

Revenge, or warning. These weren’t particularly words he preferred, but there were no better words to describe his feelings toward Chronos.

The method of carrying it out was the same.

He wouldn’t step to the forefront. But that didn’t mean he was hiding schemes behind the scenes, nor was he planning to commit any sordid acts.

He would simply craft artifacts and participate in the expo.

With just that simple and straightforward plan, Si-hyeok could send a warning to Chronos. Not only that, but he could inflict massive losses to ensure they would never dare look down on him again.

‘Then they’ll realize, won’t they.’

That this is karma. The karma for rashly ignoring and underestimating me.

* * *

―The door opens.

Having made his plan, Si-hyeok headed straight to the Awakener Association without delay.

Since the expo was an Association-hosted event, separate registration was required to participate.

Indie booth.

While there were large-scale ‘corporate booths’ operated by 12 representative companies, there were also ‘indie booths’ for aspiring researchers and independent researchers.

Si-hyeok naturally planned to apply for an indie booth.

Normally, the proper procedure would be to submit an application through the official website, but Si-hyeok didn’t have much time. With little time left until the expo began, he needed faster processing.

That’s why he had rushed to the Association’s Grade Assessment Team, where he had some connections.

Knock knock!

After knocking a couple of times and opening the door, the interior of the office was revealed.

“Oh?”

“…?”

There happened to be familiar faces in the office.

Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon and Deputy Han Da-hee.

Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon was the person he had conversed with in Termion’s Chairman’s Office before, and Deputy Han Da-hee was the person who had been in charge of Si-hyeok’s temporary security until just a few days ago.

However, since Isaac had been hired recently, Deputy Han Da-hee had returned to her original duties after that.

“Mr. Lee Si-hyeok? What brings you here…?”

“I apologize for visiting without notice, Team Leader.”

Kim Seung-hyeon looked at him with bewildered eyes.

“I have something to discuss with you.”

“What do you want to… Ah, no. Please follow me first. Deputy Han Da-hee, you come along too.”

Kim Seung-hyeon, who had been thinking in this sudden situation, soon spoke and led the way out of the office.

Though curious about the reason for the visit, he didn’t act hastily.

‘He wouldn’t have come for something trivial.’

Si-hyeok. The memory of meeting that extraordinary Awakener together with Chairman Lee Young-hoon not long ago was still vivid.

Kim Seung-hyeon had always had a fairly good memory, but that particular memory remained even more intensely.

At first, it seemed like he was talking nonsense, saying random things, but by the end, he would deliver the core message he wanted to convey with remarkable weight.

That Si-hyeok, whose speaking ability made it impossible to imagine he was only 28 years old, had come without notice.

And directly to the office, no less.

Then what would happen next was as clear as day. He must be planning to discuss something important.

‘I don’t know what kind of story will come out, but….’

There could be unexpected situations, couldn’t there. Places with many people needed to be approached with caution.

“Please go in.”

Reaching the end of the corridor, Kim Seung-hyeon opened the door to the small conference room.

Si-hyeok bowed his head slightly, then entered and sat at the table.

Kim Seung-hyeon and Han Da-hee sat across from him.

A subtle silence flowed. A slight quietness that seemed like the atmosphere might become awkward.

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

Just as Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon was about to speak to break the silence, Si-hyeok beat him to it.

“The GateTech Expo being held this month. I want to participate in it.”

“…!”

“The, the expo, you mean.”

Deputy Han Da-hee’s eyebrows, which had shown extremely minimal emotional changes, twitched slightly. Was it such a shocking statement? It didn’t seem like it should be.

But he had no intention of drawing out his words like last time. The situation was different. When you need to make a request, it’s better to be clear and concise rather than beating around the bush.

Si-hyeok briefly explained the proposal he had thought through.

“…I understand what you’re saying. You participating in the expo. It’s certainly not a bad story for us either.”

Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon, who had been listening quietly to that story, tapped the desk as if organizing his thoughts before speaking.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s actually on the good side. To exaggerate a bit, we should welcome it with open arms. If you really participate, Mr. Lee Si-hyeok, the expo’s level of interest will increase several times, no, several dozen times compared to now.”

“…Even though Chronos Industry is participating this year? I understand it’s already receiving much more attention than last year.”

Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon shrugged his shoulders.

“That’s also true. But in your case, Mr. Lee Si-hyeok, it’s on a different level. Chronos is just a company, after all.”

“Hmm.”

Just a company.

It was too meager a modifier to attach to Chronos, but the other party was the Association, a government agency. Considering that, Kim Seung-hyeon’s statement made some sense.

“But you want to participate as an indie booth? Not a corporate booth?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, may I ask the reason? I know you have quite a connection with Termion Corporation, Mr. Lee Si-hyeok. With Security and all that recently.”

Si-hyeok pondered for a moment.

Kim Seung-hyeon’s words were correct. From transport driver to now business consulting. Given the connections he had built, collaborating with Termion to take charge of an entire corporate booth would certainly be much more convenient.

But there was something more important than comfort and convenience.

“I want to showcase an artifact that I personally led the development of.”

As he had once told Chairman Lee Young-hoon, Si-hyeok didn’t want to conduct research under someone else’s direction.

Even though the core purpose of participating in the expo was to send a warning to Chronos, this was also a matter related to Si-hyeok’s beliefs. When it came to the dream he had longed for so much, he had no intention of backing down easily.

“You don’t need to worry. There shouldn’t be any problems with me participating alone.”

“I understand. Oh, and there isn’t much time left until the event starts, but will you be able to complete the artifact by then….”

Kim Seung-hyeon’s lips, which had been speaking, closed. Then he let out a sheepish laugh.

“Haha, this is also unnecessary worry. Who exactly am I worrying about. I apologize for the presumptuous comment.”

“Well, it’s fine.”

“Then that part is resolved, next. Do you know about the expo’s main event?”

―Main event.

The alpha and omega of the GateTech Expo.

The core reason that made even ordinary people, who practically couldn’t use artifacts, tune in to watch this event.

As soon as Si-hyeok heard those words, he leaned forward against the table.

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