# Chapter 87
# A Piece of the Puzzle
As always, the HPA meeting was held in the research building. In stark contrast to how the TF team kept digging underground, they always gathered on the top floor where the entire research building was visible at a glance.
Lee Hwan entered the upper level of Building D with his usual extraordinary appearance—dressed in black clothes and wearing a mask. Since everyone was already gathered in the room this time, he discreetly closed the door and stood beside it.
Kang Dongha must have had his own intentions when he pushed back the start time by 20 minutes. Thanks to that, Lee Hwan had no choice but to see Dongha off with an unpleasant gaze, without encountering either Kang Taesung or Director Kim.
‘Always using these petty tricks, it’s annoying.’
Today, it seemed they would only be giving simple status reports, as there weren’t many people gathered, and the actual conversation started relatively quickly in a light atmosphere.
The conversation he overheard was similar to before. However, today someone other than Kang Dongha was giving the report, and the progress and issues from the period faintly leaked out in a monotone voice.
It seemed they didn’t expect any major developments during that brief period. No one particularly challenged the presentation content.
Still monitoring progress. Problems with monster procurement. Planning to deal with it in such and such ways… The ordinary stories and monotonous voice combined could lull someone to sleep if they wanted.
Then Lee Hwan suddenly realized that the presenter’s voice wasn’t entirely unfamiliar. He’d heard this voice somewhere before. Moreover, it was deeply etched in his mind.
An anxiety that felt like it was sharply cutting through his chest.
‘…the TF meeting?’
Unlike then, the tone was completely drained of energy, but this was definitely the voice of the researcher who had mentioned the gate accident.
‘Why is that person here?’
Last time, they had pushed everything onto Kang Dongha, but today, for some reason, they were presenting directly? Moreover, they weren’t the research center director or deputy director, just a researcher with some position.
The fact that such a person was speaking in this room meant there was something they needed to convey directly. What had this person said during the TF meeting that Lee Hwan had recorded?
‘This research aims to prevent gate accidents in advance and, furthermore, to establish goals so that the company can fulfill its role…’
The latter would definitely be the real purpose. Even though it was supposedly a small meeting among themselves, they didn’t even try to hide it. A premonition of troublesome events crept up, making the back of his neck tingle.
“Recent gates… …dispatching hunters to the center of…”
Lee Hwan brought his ear as close to the door as possible and stayed alert. This was definitely the same story from the TF meeting. Information that hadn’t been shared with the assault team would probably be pouring out in detail.
But no matter how hard he strained, the words leaking through the tightly closed door were sparse. The sounds that barely reached his ears were like someone deliberately teasing him.
“…observing from a different perspective… no noticeable changes, but worth trying over time…”
Had they already tried something and not gotten satisfactory results? It meant they had started doing something to the gates. It was fortunate that their attempts had failed, but it wasn’t entirely good news.
‘Damn, Dongha won’t tell me separately what was discussed here either.’
It had always been like that. Regarding these matters, he only communicated through actions and eye signals.
‘Figure it out on your own.’
His determination not to speak about these sensitive issues with his own mouth was evident. If problems arose on his side later, Dongha would claim innocence and slip away cleanly.
“…the impact of substances generated in gates on the human body… mana response…”
Mana response. And mana responders. A term collectively referring to the so-called “immune individuals” who don’t develop mana poisoning even after staying in gates for long periods.
Why did that familiar term send chills down his spine?
‘As you know, that’s… closer to mutation than awakening, right?’
Suddenly, Kang Dongha’s words from the beginning of the regression flashed through his mind.
Experiments hidden behind the appealing sign of preventing gate accidents. Researchers who wanted some substance while tampering with gates. The effect it had on human bodies and mana response.
Non-awakened and awakened. And “mutation.”
“…strictly speaking, classified as neo-humans…”
Clues gathered from here and there came together to form a single hypothesis. The realization both pleased and terrified Lee Hwan.
The scale was getting too big. Well, when were the monster wave and the end of the world ever small events? But he began to feel anxious about whether he should be dealing with this alone.
“But mana responders don’t have enhanced bodies or extended lifespans, do they?”
A voice that suddenly cut into the presentation was remarkably clear and distinct, allowing Lee Hwan to fully understand at least that question from beginning to end.
Whether to match this or simply to counter it, from that point on, the researcher’s voice also became gradually louder and clearer. Even so, it was only like whispers from afar turning into murmurs, but at least their conversation began to reach Lee Hwan’s ears without breaks.
“But aren’t those also theoretically like experimental mutations?”
“There’s as much difference between natural awakening and forced awakening as between a diamond and a lump of plastic. To compare responders to our side, our experiments are merely drawing out similar reactions.”
“Are we like the cloned sheep Dolly?”
“It’s more like the difference between a healthy ram and synthetic wool. One isn’t even a sheep, but both can be used to spin good thread if used well, so the goals are somewhat aligned.”
“What? If the goal is so tattered…”
“Only for now, sir. This experiment has just taken a couple of steps forward. We’re working night and day to bring better results as much as you believe and wait.”
The conversation that was about to ignite was quickly defused by Kang Dongha’s gentle voice intervening. Sensing the atmosphere calming down again, Lee Hwan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
‘These crazy bastards…’
Quietly ruminating on what he’d just heard made his head ache.
‘What are they planning to do just to live a few decades longer?’
He almost let out a groan, so he pressed his hand firmly against his mouth and held his breath.
After the commotion passed, there was a moment of silence beyond the door. From the words he could make out, it seemed their private gathering was coming to an end.
Lee Hwan straightened his bent back, moved away from the door, and positioned himself at the edge of the corridor. Standing there, he hid his confused expression behind his mask and chewed his lips, trying to somehow suppress his overwhelming feelings and thinking about how to stop that damn plan.
Amid the commotion, the fact that Taesung’s voice wasn’t heard gave him a small sense of relief. He was probably feeling as appalled as Lee Hwan was. Lee Hwan murmured to himself what might have been speculation or wishful thinking.
Whatever intention he had for sitting in there, he must be realizing that the place where he’s stepped foot is full of complete psychopaths.
So while his body was there, his heart, like Lee Hwan’s, would be disgusted by those aspiring Qin Shi Huangs.
‘He’s still young, and an Awakened person at that, so he wouldn’t already be interested in longevity and good health…’
Click. The doorknob turned and the door opened. Those leaving exited the room one by one first. Judging from the sounds still coming from inside, it seemed some would remain in that comfortable room to continue their conversation and socializing.
Lee Hwan noticed Kang Dongha among the people walking out and quickly followed, only to make eye contact with Taesung who came out behind him.
“…”
His eyes were deeply sunken. Seeing that expression made it strangely impossible to even greet him. It was as if his mouth was glued shut with adhesive.
He stared at the frozen Lee Hwan for a moment before silently turning his head and walking down the corridor. His back disappeared around the corner. Lee Hwan’s face suddenly flushed, and the image of him dressed in a formal suit remained like an afterimage in his eyes.
‘…I feel like I’ve seen that outfit in a dream.’
Lee Hwan wished he wouldn’t wear such fine clothes and attend these kinds of events. It was an absurd wish, but he was quite serious about it.
“What are you doing? Let’s go.”
As he stood there in a daze, perhaps conscious of others’ eyes, a slightly more unpleasant tone came his way. Only then did Lee Hwan bow his head and walk alongside Kang Dongha.
Judging by his hurried steps, he seemed eager to leave quickly. He had acted so gentle and amenable inside, but now his face was pale.
Lee Hwan surveyed their surroundings protectively as they exited the building, then found where Dongha’s car was and even opened the door for him.
“Get in.”
“Yes sir.”
The driver in the front seat didn’t even flinch at the sight of Lee Hwan’s mask, probably accustomed to it by now. At Dongha’s chin gesture, Lee Hwan entered the back seat, and the car smoothly started, quickly leaving the premises.
The sky, which had seemed gloomy since morning, was now filled with dark clouds. They said after this rain passed, the heat would subside, and the autumn sun would gradually begin to rise.
Before the car left the research building, Lee Hwan discreetly rolled his eyes to look outside the window, hoping he might find Taesung.
However, though he wouldn’t have been running around indecently in those clothes, there was no trace of Taesung who had left earlier.
‘Maybe he didn’t leave the building?’
If so, he would only have business in the research lab downstairs, but did he have any reason to be there?
While pondering this, his phone suddenly vibrated. The screen that lit up showed one message notification.
Sender: ‘Mulju.’
[How much did you hear?]
Even though he was right beside him, he asked this way probably because he was conscious of the driver. Lee Hwan kept looking straight ahead and tapped on his phone to send a reply as the driver was changing lanes.
[Up to the cloned sheep Dolly and wool felt jade?]
[So you heard pretty much everything. Delete the messages.]
Following his instructions, he erased the evidence and inhaled the cold air-conditioned air. Damn it. He was already getting tired, and it was only Monday. Lee Hwan pressed and stroked his fingernails, which still had sharp edges because he hadn’t perfectly filed the broken parts.
‘I wonder if the fragment of causality will be found somewhere deeply connected to those things.’
If so, he had no choice but to go to the basement of Building D again as planned. Lee Hwan closed his eyes and leaned his head against the car window, though he wasn’t sleepy.
The deeper he dug into this matter, the darker and heavier everything became. Perhaps the regression should have been done by someone else, not him.
But Lee Hwan quickly twisted his thigh and changed his thinking. He had already swallowed the skill stone. And thanks to that, he hadn’t died and had made it this far.
Although there had been many twists and turns, he had obtained an opportunity that no one else had, so Lee Hwan decided to just do what he had to do instead of complaining.
