Hwangmyeong Research Institute, Basement of Eungwang High

The Hwangmyeong Research Institute is located outside of Eungwang High’s grounds but is close to the research area of the school, so it is treated as part of the school’s facilities.

The reason the Hwangmyeong Research Institute is located outside of Eungwang High is said to be because they wanted to hire researchers instead of faculty members and operate the institute independently, separate from the school.

That might have been one of the reasons, but when considering the influence of the noble class, the reality seemed a little different.

‘It must be under the management of the noble class, but the reason it’s placed outside of the protective barrier close to the center of Shinyeok could be to deal with things they’d rather not have close by.’

Perhaps because of ominous legends tangled around it.

Maybe because there are legends of tigers being killed, which would be in opposition to the noble class.

Perhaps because it goes against the will of the celestial deities the noble class follows.

Or maybe simply because the noble class didn’t want to keep it close.

For whatever reason, things that were difficult to destroy, discard, or abandon ended up being kept at a distance in the Hwangmyeong Research Institute.

Of course, there were also subjects in the institute with normal research purposes, but they were in the minority.

The object we were about to inspect had already been involved in several incidents that threatened the safety of Eungwang High, but it was something that needed to be studied.

‘And now there’s this interdimensional simulator that uses the accumulated spiritual energy, so it seems it needs to be checked. Also, according to Eunho, the two aren’t the same.’

The noble class had already secured old interdimensional simulators that used spiritual energy, which had been discontinued by Namgung.

Once, they acquired one while broadcasting a playlist featuring Dokgo Miro at a TV station, and another on Christmas Eve at Eungwang High.

And now, they discovered another one in the basement of TC’s Air Hotel in Jeju.

While all three of them used spiritual energy, there were subtle differences.

‘In the TV station incident, the device merely enhanced the enemy’s power, but during Christmas Eve, it actually created a new dimension, which was tackled by the second-year students at the time. This time, it distorted space to protect the hotel.’

I couldn’t be sure whether to even call it a simulator at this point.

Nevertheless, Eunho was certain that they were all part of the same series of devices.

Woongnyeo was also confident.

“The operating principle and core function match. They’ve changed the design and swapped out some parts, but that’s about it.”

Woongnyeo, who had checked the three devices lined up, asserted this.

Although it was her first time seeing the devices, she quickly understood and successfully analyzed them.

If Jeokho had been here, he would have blushed and praised Woongnyeo’s brilliance without holding back.

“Woongnyeo, could you explain the shared core functions you just mentioned?”

“There are multiple functions that match, but in the end, the core function is the same. It draws on spiritual energy to manifest supernatural abilities. Even humans without abilities can use this device. You think the same, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. We’ve named them 1st, 2nd, and 3rd based on the order they were discovered, and as the numbers increase, the performance of the core function improves. Accordingly, the range of supernatural abilities that can be manifested increases, and the output is enhanced.”

“The most recently discovered device only caused space distortion, but depending on the operation and environment, it could create an interdimensional space.”

Among the noble class and Woong clan, the best item creators gathered, and the analysis of these mysterious devices proceeded swiftly.

Moreover, with the three devices gathered together, the task became easier.

To put it in an analogy, it was like gathering products from different release dates to better understand the technological progress and the features of products from specific periods.

Eunho and Woongnyeo thoroughly analyzed the devices by utilizing their similarities and differences.

“These devices weren’t made stronger by using more powerful supernatural abilities; the creators of these devices are actively utilizing human technology. This will make them tricky to deal with.”

“I agree. Since the interdimensional collision, the influence of the divine races on the human world has been growing day by day, depending on their fame and adaptation to modern society. However, the pace of development in human technology isn’t as fast. Combining the divine races’ power with human technology will result in a powerful weapon.”

After analyzing for a while, Woongnyeo and Eunho fell silent.

At some point, they were looking at me.

Woongnyeo spoke.

“You understand everything we’ve discussed and are already thinking about the next step.”

Her tone sounded almost like praise.

Both Jeokho and Woongnyeo would often find all sorts of reasons to praise Kim Shin-rok.

They’d praise him for eating snacks well, caring for his parents, looking healthy, and other reasons, but their attitude was always warm, and this tone was no different.

I felt a little uncomfortable as if my insides were tickling, so I quickly replied.

“Rather than the next step, I was just reminded of a similar case.”

“A similar case?”

“Yes, a case where the power of the divine races was combined with human technology.”

Woongnyeo and Eunho immediately realized what I had recalled.

That was understandable because what I was referring to was something every modern person living in the post-interdimensional collision era would know.

“Yi-shin hyung, are you talking about the player satellites?”

“Yes.”

“The devices discovered now don’t even come close to the player satellites, but who knows what will happen in the future.”

The player satellites could not have been made with only one of supernatural abilities or human technology.

Currently, it is known that they are maintained with only human technology, but that’s the situation with the satellite management team.

No one knows what’s happening in the satellite development team, which is only at the player headquarters.

Satellite enthusiasts like Song Dae-seok are certain that divine races participated in the development with human engineers and have continued the work from the initial satellite creation.

Eunho asked.

“Yi-shin hyung, have there been similar devices in the game?”

Hearing that made me realize why Eunho had called me here.

They were going to analyze the items anyway, so why had he specifically called me? It seemed that Eunho wanted to check the information from Plmago.

Eunho had played Plmago as well, but since he hadn’t spent as much time on it as I had, he probably hadn’t noticed the existence of such devices.

I thought back to Plmago and said.

“There’s a situation where a device like this would have been used. Considering the timing in the game, there will be a major incident next year.”

“Next year, that’s when the scenario of the four major conglomerates’ internal struggles will unfold, right? Although it’s more like a grand battle than just an internal struggle. Is it related to that?”

“That’s right.”

As Eunho said, in the scenario of the four major conglomerates’ internal struggle, it’s so catastrophic that it could hardly be called a mere internal struggle, and they clash in a flashy way.

But Plmago still used the term “internal struggle.”

Perhaps there was a fiercer battle happening behind the scenes than what was shown on stage.

Just like in that scenario when the city leader was quietly assassinated.

Upon hearing the mention of the four major conglomerates’ internal struggle, Eunho spoke.

“The power of the divine races isn’t bound by space or capital, but to apply human technology, you need manpower, funds, and facilities. It was the same during the satellite project.”

“Considering what we just discussed, you suspect one of the four conglomerates is involved, right?”

“Yes, I think you would agree too.”

I nodded in agreement.

A place that has the technological capability to create a device that combines supernatural abilities and human technology, and the capital to mass-produce such a device.

A place that has the power to conduct such a large-scale project while avoiding the attention of the government, associations, media, and the public.

To meet all these conditions, it would require vast amounts of capital, connections, and a substantial interdimensional industry. This would be hard for ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) a professional player team or divine race group alone.

The four conglomerates that could meet these conditions in Korea are Hwangmyeong, Juoh, Namgung, and TC.

“Since the third device was found in the basement of TC’s hotel, it could be one of the candidates.”

“I and Dongha hyung have already completed a thorough investigation of the interdimensional industries under TC. It’s impossible for TC to develop and produce a device of this level. And based on the flow of the game’s scenario, it’s better to exclude Juoh. Even though Jo Soo-hyeok and Jo Soo-gyeom raided Juoh, they didn’t find anything, and in the end, Juoh took the biggest hit.”

“I thought you would exclude Hwangmyeong first, but that’s unexpected.”

Woongnyeo made a sharp point.

Since Hwangmyeong belongs to the noble class, it was natural to exclude it first.

Of course, Hwangmyeong wasn’t involved at this point.

But during the internal struggle of the four conglomerates, we don’t know what the state of Hwang Ji-ho in the game will be.

‘Hwang Ji-ho in Plmago disappears this winter. And the internal struggle of the four major conglomerates begins next year. So, I can’t be sure what will happen to Hwangmyeong without Hwang Ji-ho.’

Eunho, maintaining a calm smile, gently said.

“We can’t be sure how the development of the devices will unfold in the game, but Hwangmyeong wasn’t involved in the development of these devices.”

“Then, by process of elimination, the remaining candidate is Namgung.”

“That’s right. The first device was originally developed by Namgung. The second and third devices were likely made by Namgung as well. Although we have no concrete evidence.”

Namgung Group had made the first device and declared it was halting development.

Looking at the public records, there was no trace of funds or personnel being used for development.

It’s unlikely, but perhaps a third party referenced the first device and made the second and third.

Eunho looked down at the second and third devices placed on the floor and said.

“Even though it’s just circumstantial evidence, I’m certain Namgung is involved in this. Anyone who knows a little about Namgung would think the same. So, it’s better to release the poison.”

“Who are you releasing the poison to?”

In response to Woongnyeo’s question, Eunho answered.

I felt a heavy sense of unease as I had already guessed who Eunho was referring to.

Eunho had already indicated who the poison would be released to. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

“Namgok’s Jeongal Jaegol.”

Instead of calling him “Teacher Jeongal Jaegol,” Eunho used his alias, and I realized why.

Jeongal Jaegol had stopped writing poetry for some time and had been criticized for his alias no longer fitting him.

Many fans argued that every word he spoke was like poetry, so there was no issue with the alias, and the Player Satellite showed no signs of changing his alias either, so it wasn’t a big problem.

But the reason why Jeongal Jaegol stopped writing poetry was clear.

“Jeongal Jaegol was once threatened by Namgung Group over his disciple’s future, and he paid a heavy price to stop it. And if he learns that this is continuing in its current form...”

Jeongal Jaegol already knew of the existence of the first and second devices.

He had been present during the TV station incident, and he had also participated in the interdimensional raid created by the second device on Christmas Eve.

And not only Jeongal Jaegol but also students from Eungwang High were present at that time.

“He’ll bear the poison for his disciple.”