Chapter 47

Chapter 47

“How many have been completed?”

“About 300.”

“That’s not nearly enough, is it?”

“There’s nothing we can do about it. The number of bodies being brought in has dropped sharply lately.”

“Woo-chao! We have to meet the quantity demanded by the Party.”

Two researchers in white coats were talking.

They walked between the beds, checking on the people lying there. Twenty-eight children and two women were fast asleep in the beds.

Beep-beep.

Beep-beep-beep.

Beside each bed stood a large machine, from which several strands of thin wires extended, connecting to the children.

Not only that, but several packs filled with liquid hung from the bedside poles, all connected to the children’s arms, injecting something into them.

“It’s true that compared to men, women produce higher-purity stimulants, and compared to women, children produce even higher-purity stimulants.”

That’s right.

This machine extracted and purified mana stimulants from people. The researchers operated the machines and recorded the readings on charts.

“If you have gloves, give me another pair.”

“Here.”

One researcher removed the gloves they had used to handle the children.

Then he changed into the new pair handed to him.

“This is disgusting. This one’s already been through the grave seven times. No wonder the yield was so low.”

“This one only made it five times, but it’s already empty. Let’s squeeze it dry to the very end before sending it off.”

The ‘grave’ the researchers mentioned.

This too was a kind of euphemism, like a corpse.

They call the place where they lock people up a grave, just as they call people corpses.

Here’s how their system works.

They kidnap people from all over China and conduct initial physical examinations.

If they don’t meet the criteria for producing mana accelerators, they are discarded.

Most are adult men. After injecting them with massive doses of drugs, they are dumped in marketplaces or, if that’s too much trouble, simply abandoned in the mountains to be eaten by beasts.

After screening people this way, they inject various chemicals into their bodies and connect them to machines. The selected individuals are mostly children.

Once the raw mana awakening agent is extracted from the children, the first cycle ends.

They send them back to what they call the grave to rest.

After repeatedly summoning and returning them countless times, they reach a point where nothing more can be extracted.

Only then can the children finally rest.

Forever.

Splash-.

The researchers carefully poured the transparent liquid extracted from the machine into glass tubes, moving one by one to the adjacent bed.

After inspecting and purifying this liquid one more time, filling syringes, and sealing them, their role ends.

Then the hunters dispatched by the Party would collect them.

“Once we finish with the ones here, let’s have a drink in my room. I’ve already ordered the liquor. Ugh, that bastard is so greedy. He wants two thousand yuan for something that barely costs anything outside, right?”

The researcher, changing gloves, said in a bright voice.

He had asked a hunter from the Party, who frequently came and went and was familiar with his face, to get him a bottle of decent baijiu.

This morning, he received the liquor through that hunter. The thought of finally tasting alcohol again after so long lifted his spirits.

But for some reason, there was no reply. It was quiet.

“Hey, Zhang Weichen?”

The researcher turned around.

The researcher named Zhang Weichen, who had been talking just moments ago, had vanished without a trace.

Feeling something was off, he looked ahead again.

“……!”

A man in a black mask appeared from somewhere.

Before the researcher could react, the masked man grabbed him and covered his mouth.

***

Do-jae wrapped the bodies of the fallen Chinese men tightly in duct tape and gagged them.

Just like the ones he’d buried underground earlier.

‘Consider yourselves lucky I’m not killing you.’

Do-jae pulled out the golem, had it hoist the men onto its back, and headed for the table.

The table was covered with various documents, a computer, and vials filled with liquid.

‘There’s no time…’

Dojae expanded his sub-space widely and swept everything up.

His original plan was to copy the data and files, taking only samples, but seeing the children changed his mind.

Boom!

Dojae summoned the golems and had them move the children lying on the beds.

Simultaneously, he destroyed every single machine.

Except for one.

Zzzzzz-.

Dojae stored the one remaining machine in his sub-space.

He thought it might be helpful for analyzing the mana accelerator samples.

If mana accelerator research progressed faster, MID could devote more time to other tasks, which would ultimately benefit Dojae as well.

Helping MID was ultimately an act that benefited Dojae himself.

‘Now that I’ve resolved to rescue the children, I have to completely destroy this facility.’

Dojae’s second objective.

On his way here, Dojae had encountered researchers and patrolling awakened beings multiple times.

Each time, Dojae showed no mercy, using his golems and golem armor to take them down.

He didn’t hesitate to act conspicuously.

He had resolved to destroy all equipment and facilities anyway, and set fires to thoroughly erase any traces.

‘I’ve gathered all the data. Now it’s time to get the children out.’

Dojae began heading back.

After getting all the children and people out, he could just set fire to the place using the golem he’d left behind.

Soon, he arrived at the iron-barred prison.

The boy he had seen earlier stood stiffly, gripping the bars, waiting for Dojae.

“You’ve been waiting.”

Clang-.

CRASH!

Dojae tore the iron bars apart with sheer force.

The loud noise caused people in other cells to come to their senses one by one and look over.

“Thank you.”

The child bowed in gratitude.

Dojae nodded with a pleased expression.

“Stay over there.”

Dojae proceeded to tear apart the other bars one by one.

Those who were still in their right minds greeted Dojae and led the others they were with out.

Was it when he had opened nearly all the cell doors?

“Chao-nim!”

Suddenly, a furious voice rang out, and a child flew over from the opposite side.

Dojae scrambled to catch the child.

“Filthy little bastards.”

Far off, a man was scraping his boots against the ground.

Even at a glance, the aura emanating from him was extraordinary.

Dojae immediately scanned him with the Golem’s eyes.

[Character Information]

Name: Li Xun

Level: 86

Classification: Human

Details: 37 years old, male, 181cm, 82kg, Director of the Mana Accelerator Development Bureau, Chinese Communist Party Chinese People’s Hunter Committee.

Status: Annoyed, Irritated, Edgy

[Stats]

Strength: 271 / Stamina: 130 / Agility: 201 / Spirit: 110 / Resistance: 35

[Skills]

Passive: Mana Recovery Lv. 9 / Body Enhancement Lv. 8 / Stamina Recovery Lv. 5

Active: Mind Technique Lv. Max / Sword Technique Lv. Max / Step Technique Lv. Max / Lightfoot Lv. 9

‘Strong.’

The opponent seen through the Golem’s eyes was tremendously powerful.

Their Strength and Agility stats surpassed those of a martial artist, and while other stats were relatively lower, they were still far from negligible.

Moreover, its skills were filled with abilities straight out of a martial arts novel.

“This was a business I poured my heart and soul into. And now you’ve turned it into this mess? Where is this? Japan? Or Korea?”

“……”

“Not answering? Suit yourself. You’re going to die soon anyway.”

Li Xun pulled out a small pouch.

Then, he pulled out a long sword so large it was hard to believe it had fit inside the pouch.

Oh, right. Before I kill you, should I tell you one thing? I appreciate the effort you put into finding this place, but unfortunately, this isn’t the only facility around.

“……!”

“Why, surprised? With this vast continent and its overflowing population, there’s no way we built just one. Too bad. Sorry I couldn’t bring you good news on your journey to the afterlife.”

Lishun approached, blade raised.

Dojae quickly donned the golem armor.

He knew he couldn’t possibly fight him barehanded.

Then, in the midst of the urgent situation about to erupt, a new window appeared before his eyes.

– Quest Arrived!

[Quest]

Category: Sub

Content: Battle against enemies. Kill your opponents and win.

Restrictions: None

Reward: Points +100

Failure: Forced summoning to another realm

‘Level 20 Chi Stat Point Reward… But forced summoning to another realm upon failure? The penalty is bad enough, but killing the opponent…’

This is the first quest of its kind.

A quest to kill a person.

There have been countless quests to hunt monsters, but never once a quest to kill a person.

Whoosh-.

CRASH-!

The man’s great sword cleaves through the spot where the guardrail once stood.

The sheer pressure of the blade alone crushed the iron bars.

It wasn’t a mana-infused skill, but a blade wind created by pure strength.

“You sly bastard!”

Lishun readied himself to swing his blade again.

Dojai couldn’t just stand by either.

If he kept unleashing such massive attacks, ordinary people nearby could get caught in the crossfire.

Moreover, they were drugged and barely able to control their bodies.

They had to either move in first and absorb the attack or escape this place to create a situation where it was just the two of them.

‘Get the people out. And tell Young-jin to take them and escape.’

Dojae summoned every golem he possessed, filling the passageway completely.

Judging by Li Xun’s astonished reaction to the golems, they should buy some time.

During that time, the remaining golems would lead the people to escape while Dojae planned to lure Li Xun away.

Then, while Dojae and Li Xun fought, Youngjin could escape.

He could only hope Young-jin would quickly grasp the golem’s intent.

“Aaargh!”

However, Dojae’s prediction was slightly off.

Li Xun effortlessly dodged the golem’s attacks while simultaneously beginning to kill the trapped Chinese one by one.

“Do you feel pity? You’re thinking of saving these vermin? Hah! What good would it do them to escape this place? Better to die than live begging. It’s better for the continent’s image too!”

Li Xun began swinging his sword like a demon, slaughtering people.

‘This can’t be right. How can he…’

Seeing the quest, the swordsman struggled.

Could he truly kill?

But seeing Li Xun’s actions, he made up his mind.

He resolved to bear whatever guilt or remorse came after taking a life.

If he didn’t kill Li Xun here, innocent sacrifices would undoubtedly continue.

“Stop right now!”

“Oh? A Korean?”

Dojae shouted as he burst out from between the golems.

Li Xun showed interest in Dojae and replied in halting Korean.

Even then, he didn’t stop killing people.

It was the moment Dojae reached right in front of Li Xun.

Gurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

He barely stopped his attack and dodged to the side.

“Stop pretending to be good.”

What Li Xun held was the boy from earlier.

The boy’s thin neck was caught in Li Xun’s grip, dangling in midair.

And then Li Xun.

CRASH!

Slammed the child straight into the wall.

The child couldn’t even scream, just groaned in pain before collapsing, spitting blood.

“This little bastard!”

The Chinese child who had overlapped with Do-young.

That child left this world, twisted grotesquely.

Do-jae sprinted with all his might, shoving Li Xun aside and bursting through the wall.