Murim Login - Chapter 606

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 606
Not a Byeon Yi Gate? What in the world was that supposed to mean?
My confusion lasted only a moment. The very next instant, I heard a single word drop from Magic Johnson’s lips, and my eyes widened.
“Terrorism?”
「That’s right. Terrorism. The perpetrator was an Arab male who forged a Hunter license to gain access to the Gate, but was caught in the process. The problem is that he was a B-rank Hunter affiliated with a Middle East Terrorist Organization, and he was carrying an A-rank Mana Stone. Naturally, it was a Mana Stone that hadn’t undergone purification.」
“Could it be…”
「This must be a fairly familiar situation for you. Jin. Wouldn’t you say?」
Instead of answering, I pressed my lips firmly shut. Memories from not long ago flashed rapidly through my mind.
Seok Go-jun. Song Cheon-woo. And two Monster Waves.
Events that should never happen again were stubbornly repeating themselves.
“They were targeting a Monster Wave.”
「Probably. No, definitely.」
Damn it. I muttered a curse under my breath before asking urgently.
“The casualties—what about the casualties? Did the news intentionally hide the damage…”
I trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
The recent incidents had been nothing but a succession of catastrophes.
Though it couldn’t compare to Seok Go-jun, if a B-rank Hunter from a terrorist organization had absorbed an unpurified A-rank Mana Stone, there would have been considerable damage.
And to my expression, Magic Johnson replied in a composed tone.
「Whoa, calm down. Jin. Everything the news reported was true. Fortunately, there was no significant damage.」
“Is that really the truth?”
「There’s no reason for me to lie to you. Is there?」
“But how?”
「The entire world is already on high alert because of this incident. Identity verification procedures and Mana Stone crackdowns have become several times stricter. The terrorist caught in that process attempted to absorb the Mana Stone as a last resort. What do you think happened?」
Magic Johnson continued speaking while sipping on a cup of instant coffee.
「The result was simple. He couldn’t withstand the power contained in the Mana Stone. By the way, this coffee is pretty good.」
“No, coffee isn’t the issue right now. If that were the case, it would have caused a mutation like with Seok Go-jun.”
Mana and magical power are like water and oil—forces that can never mix.
The fact that even Seok Go-jun, a recognized S-rank Hunter and master of modern Mana Cultivation Method, ultimately failed to completely absorb magical power was proof of this.
The true problem was the power that temporarily surged as a result. And the mutation that would await afterward.
‘But the result was simple?’
The fact that there was no significant damage felt increasingly strange.
And the answer that came from Magic Johnson in the next moment was something I hadn’t anticipated.
「No. He exploded.」
“Pardon?”
「Literally. Blew apart into pieces. Boom!」
Bang bang!
Magic Johnson tapped a spoon against a stone bowl and shrugged his shoulders.
「And that was the end of it. All I did at the scene was protect people from the blast.」
“…!”
「In a sense, yes. It was certainly what you’d call a suicide bombing. But that was all there was to it.」
Upon hearing those words, I grasped something and muttered inwardly.
‘Just as with Seok Go-jun—no, it was only possible because it was Seok Go-jun.’
I had been thinking about this wrong from the start.
In the end, it came down to the capacity of one’s vessel. Not a matter of personality or magnanimity, but rather how much power one could contain and maintain without it overflowing.
And from that perspective, the deceased Seok Go-jun had possessed a sufficiently large vessel.
He had the ability not only to absorb some mana but to sustain it, at least temporarily.
‘But even Seok Go-jun ultimately underwent a mutation.’
When Seok Go-jun absorbed two S-rank mana stones simultaneously, his vessel’s balance shattered, and he finally underwent a mutation.
Had I not intervened directly, there was a considerable chance he would have perished within a short time regardless.
‘So there was no need to mention other Hunters of ordinary caliber.’
The terrorist who had become the protagonist of today’s news was a B-rank Hunter, yet he could not overcome that power and exploded on the spot.
This meant he had no control whatsoever over the mana contained within the mana stone.
「Hey, Jin. Now you’ve got that look like you’re starting to understand.」
I let out a dry laugh as I looked at Magic Johnson, who was smiling faintly.
“That’s a relief.”
「It is. From now on, unless someone’s a complete idiot, they won’t be able to pull off something like today.」
Magic Johnson’s words struck at the heart of the matter precisely.
While it was fortunate that today’s attack caused no casualties, what was even more reassuring was that we had prevented potential disasters that could have unfolded afterward.
「The terrorist organization will have figured it out clearly too. To put it bluntly, this wasn’t a profitable venture for them either.」
A trained Hunter is an excellent resource, and a mana stone is an energy source of immense value.
I don’t know what route the terrorist organization used to smuggle out an unpurified A-rank mana stone, but today they failed spectacularly.
They lost an excellent resource and a mana stone worth tens of billions in the most pathetic manner.
「The terrorists will adjust their strategy. They’ll go back to targeting helpless civilians with that cursed staff of theirs, just like before. But we shouldn’t let our guard down yet.」
Magic Johnson let out a small sigh and continued.
「Actually, the movements of terrorist organizations lately have been unusual. Especially in Africa and the Middle East, there are reports of experiments using Gates and mana stones. The information came from the Pentagon, so it’s reliable.」
Skeleton King, who had been silent until now and merely fiddling with his smartphone on the side, perked up his ears.
“Pentagon? Are we going there right now? Is it very possible to get down and boogie?”
“…I’m telling you just in case, but it’s not a club.”
“Damn it. I thought we were finally going to meet some hot girls.”
Don’t even dream about it, you bastard.
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Defense Ministry.
If Skeleton King’s identity were ever revealed, the researchers at the Pentagon would throw an all-night party.
Of course, they’d attempt all manner of experiments with various tools in a laboratory fortified like an iron fortress.
「Hmm. If we brought that friend to the Pentagon, everyone would certainly be delighted.」
“It wouldn’t be so good for me or Johnson.”
「That’s true. We’d probably have to stand trial for violating international law. Though if the terrorist organization caused an incident during the proceedings, it might all get swept under the rug.」
Living in this world was exhausting.
One could see it from the fact that as soon as we solved one problem, another popped up.
‘The terrorist organization.’
When the series of incidents Seok Go-jun had caused became known to the world, every nation was gripped by shock and vigilance, but for the terrorist organization, it had become yet another weapon.
If the information Magic Johnson obtained from the Pentagon was true, they would undoubtedly find a way by any means necessary.
“…Of all times, why now?”
At my murmur, a question mark appeared across Magic Johnson’s face.
「Why now, you say?」
“Mm.”
I hesitated, wondering whether to speak, then shook my head.
“It’s nothing significant, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
「It seems quite significant, and I’m extremely curious.」
“It’s just… there’s something I’ve been preparing. But hearing Johnson’s story makes me hesitant about doing it right now.”
「Something you’ve been preparing?」
I nodded slightly.
I hadn’t told anyone about it yet, but it was one of the things I had decided upon returning to the Modern World this time.
For myself. And for everyone else—after long deliberation, I had made my decision and had been preparing for it….
‘If things develop this way, the situation changes entirely.’
After the Great Cataclysm, humanity had regained peace, but the entire world was not peaceful.
The newly emerged mana and the existence of Awakened Ones.
The surviving strong had reassembled the world according to their own rules, and the conflicts thought to be over continued to this day.
‘No, some would say it’s only gotten worse.’
Mana Stones were resources with value and utility far exceeding oil, and Gates were mines that endlessly spewed out these diamonds of mana.
Thus, conflicts surrounding them could only continue endlessly. Under the names of corporations, Guilds, or rebel forces.
Moreover, the Middle East Terrorist Organization was far more dangerous.
They regarded Awakening as divine blessing and wielded it as proof itself that God existed.
One might say that’s nonsense when even atheists become Awakened Ones, but seeking logic from such bastards in the first place is the mistake.
‘Warriors chosen by God! Advance!’
‘God wills it!’
I have no idea which god or doctrine encouraged such idiotic behavior.
But just as singers sing songs and blacksmiths work iron, idiots continue to do idiotic things.
These idiots continued fighting across the globe, dying or becoming idiots themselves.
And that remains true even at this very moment.
‘Damn bastards.’
Skeleton King is far better by comparison. Though he may have started as a monster, by now he has demonstrated sacrifice and dedication no less than any Hunter.
‘A remarkable creature.’
At those warm eyes filled with such sentiment, Skeleton King shot me a fierce glare.
“You, you just cursed me in your heart.”
“…This is absurd.”
“Be honest. I’ll forgive you.”
“Johnson. Can’t we just take this bastard to the Pentagon?”
Magic Johnson laughed and replied.
「Should we?」
“You hear that? You’re finished now. You experimental subject bastard.”
「Since we’re already at this point, there’s no harm in leaving right now.」
“Have them prepare a large cauldron. I’m going to simmer this bastard’s bones.”
「I’m not sure about the cauldron, but the laboratory will be ready whenever you need it.」
For some reason, today everything is clicking into place perfectly.
Magic Johnson, who had naturally picked up on my words, withdrew a staff from his pocket and continued speaking.
「Well then, since we’ve eaten, shall we get ready to depart?」
“That’s not a bad idea… wait a moment.”
I reflexively agreed, but sensing the flow of mana circulating through Magic Johnson’s staff, my expression grew bitter.
“No, there’s really no need for that.”
「Doesn’t Korean traditional wisdom say something like this? Once a magician draws his wand, even a wall must be pierced.」
“…?”
Something felt off—it seemed like the saying had been interpreted in an exaggerated, grandiose way.
Confused by this traditional proverb I’d never heard before, I swallowed hard.
“Wait, seriously?”
「Yeah. Seriously.」
“You’re not joking?”
「Two days ago, a formal request came through from the Pentagon. They want your consultation and assistance, Jin. As quickly as possible, if you can.」
“Huh?”
I blinked, then let out a hollow laugh.
“Ah, I get it. That’s American humor.”
Magic Johnson stared at me with the penetrating gaze of a seasoned magician.
「How did you know? I never showed you.」
What the hell is he talking about?
I, who had been momentarily dazed, hurriedly waved my hand.
“…No, I just mixed up the pronunciation. A joke. A joke. A gag.”
「I know. That last part was a joke too.」
Magic Johnson flashed his white teeth in a grin and added,
「But the Pentagon part? That’s no joke.」
“…!”
「Go on. It looks like someone else is already prepared, doesn’t it?」
I turned my head in the direction of Magic Johnson’s gaze.
Along with a familiar presence, a figure came into view.
Choi Team Leader answered in a subdued voice.
“Of course, Mr. Johnson.”

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