Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 92

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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 (92)

Pohang Research Complex

Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.

In that city facing the East Coast, a large-scale magical power facility under the Association is located.

The so-called Matter Accelerator, an experimental facility of world-class level.

However, not just anyone can easily access it.

Only those approved under the Association’s strict standards. Only those with skills worthy of its reputation could freely enter and exit the magical power facility.

“If we’re looking for people acquainted with Lee Si-hyeok, there would be Hong Yong-jin or Yoon Seo-jin.”

Inside a black large sedan. Racing quickly along the East Coast seaside, Han Da-hee, the Association deputy in charge of Lee Si-hyeok’s guidance, explained. The scent of expensive perfume gently lingered in the car.

“Of course, Hong Yong-jin obtained his qualification 10 years ago, and Yoon Seo-jin 3 years ago. It’s been a while since a new person acquired qualification.”

“Then Department Manager Yoon Seo-jin was the last one before me?”

“No. That’s not the case. There’s one person between Lee Si-hyeok and Yoon Seo-jin.”

“Who is it?”

“Pyo Jae-hwan.”

“Ah.”

Lee Si-hyeok, who had fallen silent, looked at the rearview mirror above the driver’s seat.

His eyes met with Deputy Han Da-hee who was driving the sedan. An utterly expressionless face. He suddenly felt curious.

“…What happened to Pyo Jae-hwan? I haven’t heard any news since meeting him that one time.”

“He went insane.”

“Excuse me?”

“Literally. The dawn after the day he met with Lee Si-hyeok, he suddenly had a seizure and still hasn’t regained his senses.”

“The cause is… unknown?”

“Completely. According to the Association’s investigation, no traces of intrusion were found at all. Same goes for traces of being attacked.”

She seemed to have no idea that the cause was Ether.

Lee Si-hyeok felt relieved inwardly. It was good that he acted thoroughly.

However, Deputy Han Da-hee seemed to be pondering something and added more words.

“Next time, I’d like Lee Si-hyeok to investigate directly. The higher-ups say it would be difficult to figure out without Lee Si-hyeok.”

“…”

“If you don’t want to, you can refuse.”

“I’ll, consider it.”

I’ll consider it positively – these days this phrase is no different from a polite rejection, he’d heard. Recalling a meme he’d seen on YouTube, Lee Si-hyeok turned his gaze toward the window.

Before he knew it, they had passed the seaside and the view of the Industrial Complex came into sight.

Massive factories stretched endlessly, gray smoke rose high into the sky. Containers were piled up in heaps along the roadside.

“Once we pass the Industrial Complex, you’ll start seeing the Research Complex.”

That’s what he was told, but.

‘…There’s much more than I thought.’

No matter how much they passed through the Industrial Complex, there was no end in sight.

The number of factories in Pohang alone approaches half of South Korea’s total.

Containers, steel frames, smoke. The scenery that had become tiresome continued to pass by endlessly, and finally the Research Complex began to come into view.

―Screech.

“Let’s get out. We’ve arrived.”

The sedan stopped in the parking lot after passing through the main gate.

As Lee Si-hyeok got out of the vehicle and looked at the vast Research Complex with admiration, Deputy Han Da-hee approached him. She had a tablet tucked under her arm.

“This is the matter Lee Si-hyeok requested this time. Highest Grade Magic Stone Sample plus 2 other rewards. We’ve transported them all to this Research Complex.”

“Where should I go… ah, it’s written here.”

“Yes. I’ve put a map on the tablet, so you can check it. Any other questions?”

When Lee Si-hyeok shook his head, she walked toward the parked sedan without a moment’s hesitation.

“Wait, you’re leaving already?”

“My assigned work ends here. If you need anything else, I’ll stay.”

“There’s nothing in particular…”

“Then I’ll be going. Have a comfortable day.”

―Vroom!

Deputy Han Da-hee left without looking back.

Lee Si-hyeok watched the departing vehicle and inwardly clicked his tongue.

‘That’s too much…’

He felt a bit disappointed. Even so, until before contracting with Isaac, hadn’t she been in charge of his security for a while?

He thought they had built some intimacy while staying close together during that time.

But to leave so coolly like this.

Was this how that Necrosis guy felt?

“Tsk.”

Still, that FM-like personality was just like Deputy Han Da-hee.

After grumbling briefly, Lee Si-hyeok regained his energy and looked at the tablet.

Before setting out to tour the Research Complex.

“Isaac.”

He looked at the empty air under the shadow.

Soon a human silhouette emerged from that spot.

“Boss.”

“Is it really time to go now?”

Asking this, Lee Si-hyeok smiled bitterly.

Actually, Isaac should have left right after coming out of the bunker. However, he got a bit delayed while packing this and that.

And now, the time had really come to part ways.

“…Yeah. I can’t delay any longer either. If I’m any later, the family might come to fetch me directly.”

“That wouldn’t be very gentlemanly.”

“It wouldn’t be. There’s a strong probability they’d half-kill me and drag me back.”

“Ha, the great Isaac Reynolds?”

Honestly, having stayed close and witnessed Isaac’s prowess, Lee Si-hyeok found it hard to believe. But… considering who the opponents were.

The Reynolds family had hunters with abilities similar to his gathered in abundance. If they came in numbers, even Isaac would have no way to handle it.

“I am a bit worried though.”

He had also recently learned that Pyo Jae-hwan and Reynolds had joined hands.

So Lee Si-hyeok had asked if he needed help, but Isaac was resolute.

“I’ll handle my own affairs, Boss. There’s nothing to worry about. I came here to protect the Boss and overthrow the family, I have no intention of receiving help beyond that.”

“What if you die?”

“That would be my fate too. And I have something I’m planning, so I’d appreciate your respect for that.”

But since he said this much, there was no helping it.

Lee Si-hyeok, who had been looking at Isaac’s determined eyes, patted his shoulder.

“Alright, well. You’ll handle it well enough.”

“…”

Anyway, the day would come soon when he’d go to Britain.

Canterbury Paranormal Phenomena Research Team. When visiting that headquarters, he could check on Isaac’s situation as well.

After a brief farewell, Isaac soared up into the air.

“Well then, I’m going.”

And then the guy immediately disappeared.

Lee Si-hyeok looked at the now empty sky for a moment, then moved his feet. With 〈Phazesis〉, there was no need to worry about danger for the time being.

Walking a bit from the main gate, a round plaza appeared.

He stopped there and looked around. Roads stretched out in all four directions: north, south, east, and west.

‘Where should I go first.’

He had come with the purpose of seeing the ‘Matter Accelerator’ that only existed at the Association. However, he had no intention of just taking a quick look at that and leaving.

After pondering somewhat seriously, he decided on the Eastern District.

[Magical Materials & Metallurgy Engineering Building]

Overall, it was an area that captured the feel of a steel industrial complex.

Walking along the well-maintained paths, the buildings came into view. Outer wall alloy panels, rooftop cooling systems… definitely a clean and sophisticated structure.

It gave a somewhat different impression from Eterion Magical Engineering Institute.

If that place was more about satisfying fantastical desires, this seemed to be designed purely for efficiency.

In fact, I often saw employees busily moving around pulling tractors and cranes.

Before long, I reached a research lab on the outskirts.

Beep!

When I swiped the card key I received from Assistant Manager Han Da-hee, the door immediately opened.

It was a kind of privilege.

While other employees had strictly designated buildings they could access, those with ‘qualifications’ like Lee Si-hyeok could freely enter anywhere.

However, as soon as I stepped inside, all eyes turned to me.

“Oh…”

“Why is that person here…”

They must have been in the middle of intense experimentation.

As the researchers widened their eyes and stopped their work to approach, Lee Si-hyeok waved his hands dismissively. Interfering with others’ research was absolutely detestable.

Instead, while watching the researchers return to their work, he took in the laboratory’s scenery at a glance.

Equipment, structure, layout, and so on.

“…”

There was a reason Lee Si-hyeok had chosen this Pohang Research Complex as his session reward.

He had been desperately feeling the need for a ‘personal research lab’ for some time now.

‘Actually, when I think about it, there’s no place I can really call my own space.’

The cramped room in his apartment where he used to work on replicas alone before awakening?

While there was no time happier than those moments back then, it was a bit unrealistic now. After all, the scale of the artifacts he was creating was gradually growing larger.

Then what about Termion Corporation’s research lab?

That was the same story.

Of course, compared to a cramped room, it was incomparably better facilities. It was full of equipment he never could have dreamed of using before, and he could freely access even the underground warehouse.

But that had its own issues.

‘In the end, it’s a bit awkward to call it ‘my research lab.”

It wasn’t simply about wanting to distinguish between yours and mine.

Rather than such petty feelings… hmm.

Right, it would be more accurate to see it as a matter of ‘accessibility.’

Whirrrr!

Clatter, clatter.

Lee Si-hyeok’s eyes swept over the researchers’ activities.

Their busy movements in a research lab about the size of seven containers connected together.

As could be seen, such research labs were designed very efficiently.

However, the problem was that the location was fixed to one place.

Even when a situation arose requiring urgent experimentation, there was nothing more troublesome than having the laboratory located far away.

Lee Si-hyeok had actually felt this quite often.

When he suddenly had a research topic he wanted to investigate immediately, but the conditions weren’t right, so he had to postpone it for much later.

These accessibility problems.

So after pondering for quite a long time, the solution he came up with was exactly this…

[『Subspace』 – EX Rank

A space of nothingness where nothing exists. You can shape this space however you desire and fill it completely with your traces.

The authority belongs solely to you. Let your creativity run wild! Anything at all!]

[You can currently enter 『Subspace』.]

…Setting up a research lab in 『Subspace』.

A secret research lab that only Lee Si-hyeok alone could access.

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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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