“But to do this, there’s one item I’ll need.”
“An item?”
Kang Seul-gi’s expression changed at the ntion of an item.
“Yes, but it’s nothing complicated—just sothing simple and easy to acquire. Do you know of an item called the ‘Third-Person Controller’s Viewer’?”
“The Third-Person… what?”
“It’s an item stored in the Resource Warehouse, classified as junk. With that, I can remove the ga Crusher from your body.”
“R-really? The Third-Person what? Controller?”
“The Third-Person Controller’s Viewer. I noticed it in the junk storage while taking the first test.”
The Third-Person Controller’s Viewer—nicknad the Tri-View—had absolutely no connection to the ga Crusher.
However, Su-ho needed the Tri-View for a different purpose.
It was the final ingredient for a partner item he planned to craft for Kim Gun.
“But given the circumstances, there’s no way I can take the Tri-View without leaving a trace.”
Even in a warehouse overflowing with items, any missing inventory would eventually be discovered during a stock check. Such a careless act could bring unnecessary trouble, and Su-ho wasn’t about to take that risk.
The sa was true for Kang Seul-gi.
Kang Seul-gi hesitated, his expression conflicted.
“But if it’s already in the Resource Warehouse, taking it out might be a problem…”
“You’re right. Normally, it would be difficult. But now we have a way.”
“A way?”
“I just discovered the 22nd purification thod, didn’t I? That ans the Resource Division will need to re-examine all their items. Who knows what hidden options the 22nd thod might reveal?”
“Ah!”
Su-ho’s logic was sound. With a new purification thod revealed, the Resource Division would have no choice but to conduct a full reinspection of their inventory. And a clever person like Kang Seul-gi imdiately realized the opportunity this presented.
Su-ho asked, “Do you think you can do it?”
“Yes. I’ll find a way to make it happen. No, I’ll absolutely make it happen.”
“Alright. Once you’ve secured the item, contact here.”
With that, the issue of the Tri-View was resolved. Su-ho shared his personal contact information and began to rise from his seat.
But just as he stood, Kang Seul-gi hesitated and called out to him.
“Uh… Su-ho?”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry to ask, but… how did you know about the ga Crusher? I an… that it’s inside ?”
Kang Seul-gi’s face was filled with anxiety.
“Of course he’s worried.”
He had believed this secret was his alone. To hear it from soone who wasn’t even part of Special Team 2, and a recent hire at that, must have been deeply unsettling.
After a brief mont of thought, Su-ho answered casually, “It’s one of my personal skill effects.”
“A… skill effect?”
“Yes. Normally, I wouldn’t share this, but I’m telling you as a favor. So don’t worry—nobody else knows about this except .”
“R-really?”
“Of course. You can trust . In fact, you have to trust —I’m very discreet.”
Su-ho gently patted Kang Seul-gi’s shoulder a couple of tis before walking away.
Now, all that was left was to wait.
***
The next day.
The discovery of Su-ho's 22nd purification thod had a far greater impact than he anticipated. So much so that it led to an automatic pass for his next evaluation at the Research and Analysis Division.
Su-ho learned this through a phone call from Kim Seok-hoon.
“So, you’re saying I’ll receive full marks for the Research and Analysis Division evaluation as well?”
“Yes, that’s what the higher-ups decided. Honestly, your discovery is a monuntal breakthrough for our Resource Academy.”
“That’s true.”
After the Great Upheaval, all topics related to the system had beco priority issues for every nation. Su-ho’s discovery was nothing short of revolutionary.
Still, he feigned ignorance.
“But the Research and Analysis Division isn’t directly part of Resource Managent, is it?”
“No, it’s not, but it falls under the Resource Departnt umbrella. That allowed them to make this decision.”
“Well, that’s great. So, does this an I can move straight to the Gate Division for training?”
“Yes, it’s been decided that way. However, due to the sensitivity of the situation, we’d like you to remain on standby at ho until we contact you again.”
“Understood.”
After ending the call, Su-ho nodded and muttered to himself, “They’re really pulling out all the stops.”
He was pleased. Passing an evaluation this decisively was a welco surprise.
“Still, this kind of downti is frustrating.”
Su-ho was eager to finish his training and jump into practical work as soon as possible.
After a mont of deliberation, Su-ho picked up his phone again and made another call.
“Hello, Vice President?”
“Ah, Su-ho. What’s the matter?”
The person Su-ho called was none other than Park Gyu-min, the Vice President.
Su-ho explained everything that had happened in the Resource Departnt and requested an expedited transition to the Gate Division training, skipping the wait ti.
“That’s what happened? I see. Alright, you have a valid reason, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Thank you. I’ll be waiting. Oh, and by the way, since I discovered the 22nd purification thod, I think the Resource Warehouse should re-examine all their items. I suggest starting with the junk items first.”
“Is there a particular reason?”
“There’s always a reason. But do I really need to explain it?”
“…I understand. I’ll handle it imdiately.”
“Thank you. And about the other matter—taking care of your personal affairs—I hope you’re handling it well?”
“…I am.”
“Make sure you deal with everything you can on your own. If you don’t, it’ll only make things harder for you. Let know if sothing cos up. Take care.”
Ending the call, Su-ho smirked. “Having connections really makes life easier.”
Sure enough, not long after, Su-ho received another call, this ti from Jung Cheol-min.
“Yes, Team Leader?”
“Su-ho! I heard about what happened. I heard you stirred things up in the Resource Departnt again?”
“Haha, stirred up might be a bit of an exaggeration. Things just happened.”
“Well, sa difference. Anyway, you were supposed to be on standby at ho, but I just got an order from above. You’re cleared to start training at the Gate Division imdiately. Honestly, it’s great news. Having soone like you sit idle would be such a waste.”
“Thank you. Hearing that makes happy.”
“Haha, I’m just stating the obvious. Anyway, you’ll start Gate Division training under .”
Hearing this, Su-ho smiled faintly and nodded. “Of course.”
“Really? That’s great news.”
“Just co directly to the Gate Division floor tomorrow after you clock in. You know the location, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Alright. One last thing—will you be starting with the theory test again?”
“Yes. I’ve already studied the materials you provided.”
“Hah, I knew it. In that case, I’ll prepare for both the theory test and the field training evaluation so you can jump straight into hands-on practice after the test.”
“That would be fantastic. Thank you.”
“Alright. See you tomorrow.”
Ending the call, Su-ho imdiately pulled out a pen and paper to review his schedule.
“The Gate Division training will cover both Detection and Managent.”
The Gate Division was split into two departnts: Detection and Managent. Initially, there had only been the Detection Departnt, but as gate incidents increased, the Managent Departnt was established to handle oversight of existing gates.
The Detection Departnt monitored precursor phenona to predict and prepare for gate formations.
The Managent Departnt handled overall gate supervision after gates were ford.
“For the Detection Departnt, they’ll probably test predictive formulas and monitoring thods. The Managent Departnt will focus on standard gate managent protocols.”
As Su-ho reviewed his notes, he lingered on the term Detection Departnt, prompting mories of his past life.
Su-ho had lost his entire family to a Gate Shock caused by a newly ford gate. He was one of many gate orphans left in the aftermath.
“I imprisoned the culprits in Cheongsong and Cheongok prisons in my past life. But that doesn’t erase their cris.”
As he had revealed to the banshee, the Gate Shock incident had been entirely preventable. Corruption and greed among higher-ups had led the governnt to ignore clear warnings, resulting in the loss of countless lives, including Su-ho’s family.
When Su-ho later learned the truth, he had thodically hunted down those responsible and brought them to justice—not through vigilante actions, but through proper legal channels.
“I’ll make sure they face justice again.”
Although he had already punished them in his past life, returning to the past ant those individuals had also returned to their pre-punishnt state.
“But it’s not ti yet. Right now, I’m still just a trainee. I’m not ready to wield the blade.”
Still, Su-ho was confident. This ti, justice would co far sooner.
Returning his focus to the present, Su-ho began searching his Library of mories for gate-related materials to prepare for his training.
While reviewing his findings, sothing caught his attention.
“This gate opens around this ti?”
It was a gate that piqued his interest—no, more than that, it was a gate he absolutely desired to investigate.
“If that’s the case, I need to make contact right away.”
A smile spread across Su-ho’s face, the perfect timing of this discovery filling him with anticipation.
***
The Next Day
Su-ho arrived at the Gate Division as planned.
As soon as he entered, Jung Cheol-min greeted him warmly and quickly escorted him to et the head of the Gate Division.
“Nice to et you. I’m Go Seong-rok.”
Go Seong-rok, the head of the Gate Division.
He was part of Pi Seong-yeol’s faction, one of the power players within the association. More importantly, he had been one of the key figures behind the Gate Shock Incident that claid Su-ho’s family—an event known as the Redevelopnt Gate Case.
Since he had yet to face justice in this tiline, his face was infuriatingly bright and self-satisfied.
Despite this, Su-ho maintained his professionalism, extending his hand for a firm handshake.
“An Su-ho. A pleasure to et you.”
“I’ve heard so much about you. They say you’ve been making waves in every departnt you’ve joined?”
“Not at all. I’ve just been lucky.”
“Haha! Luck only cos to those who are prepared. With that in mind, I have high expectations for you. I wonder what kind of ‘incident’ you’ll cause in our Gate Division.”
“Incident, huh?”
Fine. He could call it an incident.
Su-ho intended to cause one—a very big one.
After the formalities, Su-ho received a few token words of encouragent from Go Seong-rok before moving on to his first task with Jung Cheol-min.
The Theory Exam
The theory exam was the first hurdle, and the results were predictable: a perfect score.
When the scores were displayed, Jung Cheol-min rely chuckled, not even surprised anymore.
“If you get a perfect score on the Special Division’s exam, you’ll be the first person in the history of the Grand Awakened Player Association to achieve a clean sweep of perfect marks.”
“I hope it works out that way. So, do I move straight to the field evaluation now?”
“Exactly. You’ll start with the Managent Departnt and then move on to the Detection Departnt. First, let’s et the head of the Managent Departnt, and then we’ll proceed with the evaluation. Incidentally, I’m the team leader for the Managent Team, so I’ll be overseeing your test.”
“Understood.”
Together, the two made their way to the Managent Departnt.
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