Once again, Jin-Woo explained the concepts of Magic Beasts, Gates, ranking system, Hunters, and Mana to somebody else; while seated on an lavishly dressed, cozy couch. His words were being translated to Swire and Ch'en by Fumizuki in the background so they could understand what he was saying.
When he was in high school, he would typically have cold feet when presenting in front of the class. It was only when he realized that none of his classmates really cared about him did Jin-Woo lose all anxiety that came with presenting in front of a crowd.
In regards to the person who he was dispensing his knowledge to in accordance to the severity of the situation, Wei Yenwu, the notion rang the same proverbial bell. There was nothing for him to be afraid of, especially since he had become an S-Rank Hunter not too long ago.
The more he talked, talked, and talked—without a single moment of respite—did Jin-Woo realize how much he had changed since back then. He imagined himself as the pitiful E-Rank soul who would be pushed around by Goblins, stuttering in front of the politically formidable man.
Between the comparisons and contrasts between himself from back then, and from now... could he even call himself the same person?
For a moment, his mood dropped in the middle of his explanations, the air of the room seldom turned frosty. Thankfully, he was able to recover from his strange bout rather quickly, Jin-Woo reminding himself that the mood of high-ranked Hunters had far more of a substantial impact on the environment than an ordinary person's.
...Aside from intrusive, unsettling thoughts, Jin-Woo gauged the reactions of everybody in the room to discern its climate. Ch'en remained with a straight face, having heard his elaborations twice-fold by now, whilst the affluent ladies—Fumizuki and Swire—looked confused by the jargon he was throwing around.
The Chief Executive, Wei Yenwu himself...? He looked completely balanced and understanding, nodding at times and puffing clouds of smoke from that pipe cradled between his fingers.
"Thoroughly explained, Sung-ssi," Wei finally said after the black-haired man had finished speaking his piece. "Gates, Hunters, Magic Beasts, Guilds, organizations... and you are a part of this system from what I am understanding? Do pardon me if I happen to be incorrect."
"Officially registered S-Rank Hunter of the Hunters Association, Sung Jin-Woo. I believe that should answer your question," Jin-Woo said, index finger patiently tapping the thigh of his crossed legs.
Wei hummed, nodding. "Do you have a superior?"
"Very, very far from here, but yes, the Hunter's Association has a chairman." He chose his words carefully. "It would take far too long to get in contact with him."
"Understood. Ignoring your recent... negative presence on the news..." Wei said, almost eliciting a vexed sigh from Jin-Woo. "...Based on what you've brought forward, you are a professional in handling these 'Gate' phenomena. So let me be blunt, do you desire to involve yourself with this one?"
"Yes, I do," Jin-Woo voiced without hesitation. "Based on the size and Mana frequency, the Gate formed above Lungmen is an S-Rank Gate."
"And what does this rank imply?"
"...There was an entire island-sized mass of land which had been lost to an S-Rank Gate undergoing a Dungeon Break—" Jin-Woo started. "—In China, there was a single S-Rank Magic Beast which had wiped out an entire Guild, and nearly devastated a city if not for the involvement of a high-end S-Rank Hunter." Specifically, a National-Level Hunter, but he had forgotten to include them in his explanations and decided to cut himself some slack.
A National-Level Hunter at times, were still categorized as S-Rank Hunters; they were just the cream of the crop S-Rank.
Fumizuki relayed the words he spoke to Ch'en and Swire, the latter silently expressing the most disbelief compared to everybody at his statement.
Jin-Woo continued, "There have been a total of 20 S-Rank Gates that have appeared across the land, and through... Mana, I am able to detect them. Three, excluding the one directly above Lungmen, are in close proximity to Lungmen."
"That is indeed, a worrying prospect to be informed of," Wei finally spoke, exhaling a plume. "Tell me, do you believe Lungmen would be able to fend off this crisis?"
"I'm afraid I am not knowledgeable about Lungmen's military prowess," Jin-Woo admitted. "However, conventional weapons that lack any Mana do not affect Magic Beasts. I believe you should take that into consideration."
The Chief Executive looked contemplative with his eyes briefly shut, fingers balancing his pipe. "You speak in a way that distinguishes Arts and Mana."
"Arts don't exist where I'm from, and it's wholly distinct from Mana." Jin-Woo raised his hand. "Would you like for me to demonstrate?"
"Please do. I would like to determine this difference myself."
Jin-Woo nodded, extending his hand and motioning toward a pen laid asleep on the table. He activated Dominator's Touch, letting a telekinetic force grasp the object he was focused upon and spring to his hand, locked into the clasps of his fingers.
Wei Yenwu narrowed his eyes at the display. "...You're telling the truth. There is a specific feeling Arts emanate when in use, and yours matches none of which I am aware of." His eyes turned toward Ch'en. "Ch'en, have you done any tests for BOCD within this man?"
The aforementioned Superintendent broke out of her focused daze upon the previous exhibition of his Mana, speaking, "...No, we haven't."
She looked to be mentally berating herself based on her pensive expression, but Jin-Woo didn't know for sure.
"BOCD?" Jin-Woo asked, showing a hint of confusion.
That had attracted everybody's gaze upon him once more, making him thin his lips.
"Blood Originium-Crystal Density," Wei explained to him. "It is the measure of Originium crystal within a patient's blood."
"Originium?" Jin-Woo asked again, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you not aware of Originium?" Wei Yenwu raised a hand when Fumizuki was about to speak, awaiting the black-haired man's response.
"I don't know what Originium is, Wei-nim."
There was a deafening silence within the room.
...Did I say something wrong?
"Sung-ssi, what is the energy source of your home?" Wei calmly asked.
...He didn't see any need to lie. "Mana Crystals and Essence Stones extracted from Gates, along with other natural and renewable energy sources found on the planet."
Fumizuki relayed his words to Ch'en and Swire, translated.
"Natural and renewable energy sources?" Swire spoke in what he presumed to be Lungmense, but didn't understand a word. "What is he talking about? The first one sounds like Originium, doesn't it?"
"I'm not sure myself," Fumizuki replied back to the blonde-haired woman, and again, Jin-Woo didn't understand.
"Wei-nim, did I say something wrong?" Jin-Woo clamped his lips, feeling the atmosphere of the room. I messed up, didn't I?
"Sung-ssi," Wei pressed a thumb against his forehead, chewing over his words. "From what I am hearing, you are an alien." It sounded like a metaphor, yet at the same time, wasn't.
"I likely am," Jin-Woo sighed, going along with him.
"If I recall from your explanations, these Gates have been theorized to lead to a different 'plane' of sorts," Wei deduced. "This is the first time Terra, to my knowledge, has been exposed to these Gates, 20 of which you've said had sprung up across the world."
Jin-Woo crossed his arms, back rigidly pressing against the couch. "You're free to reach your own conclusions."
"It's become obvious with what you've informed and revealed thus far," Wei waved a hand. "Welcome to Terra, Sung Jin-Woo."
If that was supposed to carry even a bare bit of humor, Jin-Woo was not laughing. "Then let's get this over with. Let me enter the Gate, clear it, and I'll be off to close the other ones, and civilian casualties are a non-factor. You don't have to pay me anything for this."
"Your secrets and revelations aside, I would be more than happy for you to aid Lungmen with this Gate problem free-of-charge, but you said you're planning to target the other Gates?"
"Yes."
"From their general locations you've pointed them out to be, then at least one of them is within the confines of another nation."
"You mean to say...?"
Wei gave him a half-smile. "Lungmen opens its doors to you, but would any other nation? You need their permission, lest you bring upon yourself a political catastrophe."
Of course.
If he were to barge into another nation and clear out their S-Rank Gates, he would be labelled a trespasser, an illegal immigrant, etcetera, etcetera.
Jin-Woo didn't want to trigger any potential fires, especially if they involved him. "In that case..." he drew out, creasing his brows. In that case what? Go in and ask the nation's leader if I can go inside their Gates and clear it for them? Is geopolitics so simple?
He had heard the many dramas happening between nations on the news in regards to Gates. There was once a debate between China and Russia between an A-Rank Gate that spawned directly between their borders, one of which had circulated across global news. It led to new policies being made as a result, but it had taken months for it to be resolved, meaning that a Dungeon Break had already occurred within the timeframe of sparking debates.
"Sung Jin-Woo," Wei cut in-between his line of thoughts. "I have a proposition." His fingers interlocked into a triangle formation, his legs crossing; a surrounding air of authority encompassing the political machine in front of him.
Jin-Woo narrowed his eyes, not relenting in the slightest. "...I'm listening."