TDWAD 52

TDWAD

Chapter 52

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety building looked like a fortress.

Armed security guards patrolled the corridors. At every key point, powerful individuals radiating unusual auras had been stationed.

When Doyun glanced at them, windows generated by “Memory Materialization” floated beside each one.

[Kang Taejun, Rank AA]
[Choi Minyoung, Rank A]

‘Where did they bring in an AA-rank from? The level of security is no joke.’

The office door opened.
A woman whose age was impossible to guess welcomed Doyun with a soft smile.

“Hunter Hyun Doyun? Wow, I feel like I’m meeting a celebrity in person after only ever seeing you on screen.”

This was Joo Seon-a, the Minister of the Interior and Safety.

She wore an elegant navy suit. Her only accessory was a small brooch pinned to her lapel. Her hair, cut neatly at the ears, was perfectly in place. Her straight nose and thin lips completed her intellectual impression.

“How did you manage to come all the way here?”

With a gesture, Joo Seon-a indicated the sofa.

“Please, have a seat.”

Refined refreshments were already prepared on the table.

Instead of taking the offered seat, Doyun walked over to the window and spoke while gazing outside.

“Your level of security could put the military to shame. Automatic rifles, Awakeners…”

Joo Seon-a toyed with her teacup, shrugging lightly.

“The Ministry of the Interior is now a place everyone avoids. Nobody wants to be Minister anymore—you never know when or where you might get revenge from NPCs.”

“You don’t look all that scared to me.”

At the casual speech, one of Joo Seon-a’s eyebrows arched slightly.

“Just as Aide Kim Sumin described you.”

The sharp clink of the teacup being set down echoed.

“Even with a Minister, your words are that short. Quite bold of you.”

“Why? Is it offensive?”

Doyun, back to the window, stared at her directly.

“Do I owe you my life? Is my neck tied to your decisions? Or have you accomplished feats worthy of respect? If not, then everyone’s the same.”

In truth, there was another reason entirely.

‘Speaking honorifically to my cute descendants—it just doesn’t sit right on my tongue…!’

“Oh-ho, such an attitude is rare in the Land of Courtesy. Still, at least you’re consistent.”

Joo Seon-a elegantly clasped her hands.

“Anyway, I’m curious. What made someone as busy as you come to see me?”

“You don’t seem all that free either.”

“Oh, I’d need ten bodies to handle everything. But when a Great Hunter requests a meeting, I can always squeeze in time—even if I have to overwork Sumin.”

“What exactly keeps you so busy?”

“……?”

For the first time, her eyes wavered faintly at his blunt question. She quickly regained her composure, however, and smiled with interest.

“In a way, it’s thanks to you, Hunter Doyun. We’ve actually created a ‘Special Task Force for Awakeners.’”

“Special Task Force for Awakeners?”

“The details are classified. But to give you a rough sense…”

Doyun already knew without hearing the explanation.

The official name: Special Task Force for Awakener Support and Management.

Its responsibilities:

Build a database of domestic and foreign Awakeners, their ranks, powers, and personalities.
Centralize management of special resources—gates, dungeons, monster remains, equipment, and points.
Handle all Awakener-related incidents.
Establish cooperation channels with top Hunters and major guilds.

‘…An organization preparing for the coming era, aiming to control everything.’

He pierced her with his gaze.

“And that’s because of me?”

“The VIP was apparently very impressed by your press conference. Various ministries fought over it, but ultimately the Interior Ministry won out—partly thanks to that impression.”

‘So that’s why.’

That explained why the ministry had been so eager to promote the term “Hunter.”
All the newly opened Hunter Employment Centers and support programs stemmed from this.

“Now do you see why I wanted to meet you? I had no ulterior motives.”

Doyun remained silent, watching her.

“There are many Awakeners with great potential in this country. But you’re different, Hunter Doyun.”

Joo Seon-a sipped her tea.

“You could become a symbol. A rallying point, or… an icon of a new era.”

“You must’ve met many high-potential Awakeners yourself. What have you been scheming?”

That remark—

“……?”

—for the first time cracked her expression.

As she set her teacup down, her hand lingered briefly in midair.
That momentary falter only confirmed his suspicion.

‘Got you.’

Among the three reincarnators Doyun had identified—
Guilds only made casual contact with Fist King Jung Mintae and Formation Master Lee Seojun. But Joo Seon-a was different.

In photos sent by Aidos, she was frequently seen meeting with them.

‘…Minister Joo Seon-a.’

A variable created by Doyun’s appearance.

In the 11th and 12th regressions, she had realized Yoon Seha was also a reincarnator, yet simply let him be.
Her nature then was that of an observer, a bystander.

But in this 13th round, she was moving like a completely different person.
She was setting the stage herself, gathering reincarnators.

What had changed her so drastically?

‘She was put in charge of the Awakener Task Force.’

That gave her access to the entire national Awakener database.
Abilities, tendencies, personal details—
That’s where she must have seen the traces of reincarnation.

‘That’s how the idea for <Ribbon Society> was born.’

Cause and means, opportunity aligned—
All evidence pointed to one clear conclusion.

She was the “Awakener.”

‘She must’ve heard it from Yoon Seha.’

Both minds whirred rapidly.

Joo Seon-a knew he was a reincarnator.
Doyun knew she was the Awakener.

Did she realize that he’d realized?

Beneath the surface, a battle of wits played out.

After a tense silence, Joo Seon-a spoke.

“Why would you say that?”

“I have ears, you know.”

“Then tell me, Mr. Hyun Doyun… what exactly am I scheming?”

Her lips smiled, but her eyes gleamed sharp as blades.
The air in the office froze taut.

“There are rumors the government is gathering Awakeners. Isn’t that just about not letting the private sector seize control?”

Her features relaxed at his seemingly ordinary answer.

“You’re getting ahead of yourself. We’re simply supporting and managing talented people on a national level. Nothing more.”

“Hm.”

Doyun didn’t push further. He’d already gotten the confirmation he needed.

What he truly wanted was knowledge of the <Ribbon Society>’s goals and what the reincarnators were aiming for.

‘She’s convinced I’m a reincarnator. That means she’ll approach me first. Until then…’

Joo Seon-a glanced at her watch, disappointed by the unproductive conversation.

“Well then.”

Perhaps a change of subject was in order.

“If the Interior Ministry already has a task force, should I go to another ministry instead?”

“What do you mean?”

“I came to propose a Monstrosity Task Force.”

“…?!”

She involuntarily gasped.

Monstrosities!

Unlike gates or monsters, they were calamities beyond defense.
They were the greatest problem plaguing not just Korea but the whole world.

The Tunnel Vanishing incident had only been resolved because Doyun happened to be there—a miracle.

If such an event happened again? The thought alone was terrifying.

Moreover, monstrosities appeared anywhere—in schools, hospitals, military bases—shaking society at its roots.

If Hunters could reliably control them as they did monsters…

‘That would become the core power for rebuilding the nation! Perhaps even more…’

She leaned forward eagerly.

“A new task force can always be created. But that’s an attractive offer… Realistically though, you’re the only one capable of handling monstrosities, aren’t you?”

“You’ll see for yourself why I’ve been busy.”

At his gesture, strange items appeared on the table.

Artifacts radiating uncanny energy—ancient relics, eerie ritual tools, bizarre machines.

“……!”

She picked up the receiver.

“Kang Taejun, come in right now.”

Knock, knock.

Awakener Kang Taejun entered.

“Please examine these items.”

“Yes, Minister.”

He began inspecting them one by one.
His eyes widened in shock as he read their functions.

[‘Monstrosity Detector (Advanced)’]

Detects traces of monstrosities within several kilometers.

[‘Pendulum of Silence (Advanced)’]

Neutralizes monstrous auras and spiritual interference by vibrating.

[‘Reality Anchoring Stake (Rare)’]

Restores physical laws and reality within an area when planted in the ground. Works in sets.

[‘Prosthetic Arm that Devours the Void (Rare)’]

Consumes the user’s life force to disrupt monstrosities’ existence, halting them and collapsing their form.

…

These were monstrosity-specialized items Doyun had forged with his [Hybridization] skill.

‘I burned through all my Monstrosity-class Guardians to make these… damn, that stings.’

Time to collect his due for the pain.

“The Interior Ministry can buy these. Flat price: 9.9 billion each.”

After hearing Taejun’s reports, Joo Seon-a instantly saw multiple ways to secure funding.

‘…This is an opportunity.’

Her political instincts recognized the weight of his offer.

‘Selecting Awakeners to operate them is nothing—our database makes that easy. Combining the two teams will guarantee results.’

She steadied her breathing, eyes turning sharp with seasoned political cunning.

“You must have a reason for helping me this much, Hunter Doyun.”

“Of course. This isn’t one-sided.”

As if waiting, she asked:

“What do you want me to do?”

“I’m preparing a plan. A hunting plan that benefits us both.”

“……?”

“I’ll fire the arrows. You just lay the traps with your power.”

Very soon, a piece of news would rock the entire nation.
At the center of it all would stand him.

All the ministry had to do was set the stage once again.

In the early days of the Cataclysm, Doyun was called the God of Investment.
His memory stored every chart of global currencies and markets down to the minute.

Knowing each day’s high and low alone could make him the richest man alive within years.
But Doyun went further—he knew all volatility.

With extreme leverage, he once earned 10 billion overnight.
Turning 60 million won into 166 times that amount, a 16,566% jackpot.

But such performances were no longer possible.

‘Since I appeared as a variable, the charts draw different patterns.’

He could still easily earn “alpha”—returns far beyond the market, beyond even Wall Street legends.
He knew which stocks would rise, how tech trends would shift, how markets would swing.

‘But at best, a few dozen to a few hundred percent annually. That’s the limit.’

He wasn’t satisfied with that.

The way to achieve astronomical short-term alpha?

Options trading.

The graveyard of retail investors!
If you hated someone, you’d teach them this notorious derivative—ruin guaranteed.

[KOSPI 200 Index: 165.6P]
[Buy executed. Strike: 167.5, Quantity: 17,000 contracts.]
[Buy executed. Strike: 170.0, Quantity: 27,000 contracts.]
[Buy executed. Strike: 168.0, Quantity: 23,000 contracts.]

In one day alone—67,000 contracts.
Total value: 10 billion won.

Over the past week, Doyun had quietly accumulated out-of-the-money call options worth 30 billion.
Enough to avoid moving the market.

It was July 13, 2017.
Tomorrow, Thursday, was monthly KOSPI 200 option expiration.

That was the day his overwhelming “war chest” would be secured—
a fund to ensure this land never again fell into ruin.

‘And today…’

When he turned on the news, urgent headlines filled the screen.

[Breaking] Nationwide train operations halted since dawn, rush-hour chaos ensues.

Signal system error, emergency inspections underway. No schedule for resumption.

Across regressions, the Black Ghost was known as the 40 Days of Nightmare.

It abducted a train, then vanished for exactly 22 days before reappearing.
18 days of abduction plus 22 days of disappearance = one 40-day cycle.

But if its early retirement last time altered the cycle?

‘It should’ve reappeared on July 2.’

Yet no Tunnel Vanishing occurred that day.
Which meant—

Today.

On a deserted country road, Doyun stood atop the rocky cliffs above a tunnel.

‘The trap is coming.’

In the distance, a convoy of buses thundered down the highway—
law enforcement insignias clear on their sides.

At the lead—

Screeech!

A vehicle flipped as if snagged by an unseen hook.