Do Minjun carried a heavy guilt after his mistake with the gate. He believed he had endangered Siwoo's life and felt the weight of distrust pressing down on him. Though Siwoo tried to reassure him, Minjun could sense his hesitation—after all, their bond allowed him to read Siwoo's emotions clearly.
Despite the mistake, Siwoo decided to trust him. Minjun was earnest, pure, and came from a race known for honesty, though sometimes they looked down on humans. Still, every action Minjun had taken was for Siwoo's sake, and that was enough for him to hold on to faith.
The two then turned their focus to the subject of mana stones. Minjun explained that mana stones could indeed be amplified, but only under special conditions. The stone had to come from monsters classified as "Seventh Class" by his people, and the hunter who defeated the creature needed to be weaker in mana than the beast itself. If these conditions were met, the stone's power could be doubled.
Excitement filled the air when Siwoo scanned the mana stone from the Bear Tiger. Its value was already high, worth millions, but amplification could transform it into a fortune. The thought of instantly doubling its worth—and boosting his own growth—was intoxicating.
Yet Minjun revealed a risk. The process only had an 80% chance of success. That 20% chance of failure meant the stone would vanish completely. Siwoo hesitated. Trust was one thing, but gambling with a rare stone that nearly cost him his life to obtain was another matter entirely.
But Minjun pushed harder. Success meant Siwoo's mana would skyrocket past five thousand, instantly qualifying him as a C-rank Hunter. What usually took years could be achieved in just thirteen days. With greater power came faster wealth, and the chance to bring revenge closer within reach. The temptation was undeniable.
At last, Siwoo gave in, placing the stone back in Minjun's hands. The young alien quickly began the ritual, light filling the room with blinding brilliance. When the glow subsided, the mana stone remained intact—and its power had doubled.
Relief and joy washed over Minjun as he celebrated his success, but Siwoo soon realized something unsettling. From his reaction, it became obvious this had been Minjun's first attempt. The boy had gambled with his precious stone without telling him the truth. Anger flared, but Minjun's childlike antics and sincere desire to help softened Siwoo's heart. After all, his determination came from a wish to grow strong quickly and find a way back to his endangered homeworld.
The moment ended with laughter, playful punishment, and the warmth of family. But when Siwoo's father, Jin-ho, returned home, the atmosphere shifted. Concern and affection were clear in his eyes as he checked his son's safety. Then, he handed over a bank-issued electronic card, its significance yet unknown.