Junhyuk called Artlan. Gongon had the Dragon Lord, but Junhyuk had Artlan.

“You fought hard. I thought you would’ve had difficulty winning this time, but you fought well,” he said calmly and relaxed.

“I have something to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“I can activate an ultimate later, but for now, I have acquired mana. Is there a way that I can utilize it?” Junhyuk asked.

“Ha-ha-ha-ha! You have already a.s.similated the living spirit. That means that n.o.body can teach you anything now. You’ve pa.s.sed that stage.”

Junhyuk was shocked. He felt like he still had a lot to learn, but Artlan was making fun of him now.

He sighed and asked, “Then, I must learn on my own?”

“I envy you.”

“Why?”

Artlan reminisced about his own past, and after being silent for a moment, he said, “I’ve reached the highest level, and my style of swordsmanship became a new school of swordsmanship. I took steps even after that, looking for stronger opponents, but I envy your possibilities.”

Junhyuk smacked his lips. He had a long way to go before getting to where Artlan was, and Artlan calmly gave him some advice, “Trust yourself. You can’t learn from anyone now.”

Junhyuk thought his swordsmanship was lacking, but Artlan couldn’t teach him anything, and that made him a little despondent. Gongon had made a bet with him for 100,000G. If he lost it, he’d lose big.

Still, he decided to trust Artlan when Artlan told him to trust himself. He could sense fluctuations within s.p.a.ce now, so he had to trust himself.

Junhyuk smiled and said, “Thanks for the advice.”

“Anytime. Then, see you next week.”

As Artlan finished talking, Junhyuk grinned. Artlan wanted to have him on his team in the next battlefield, and Junhyuk was confident that he would do his part even if he were to meet new heroes.

After disconnecting, Junhyuk raised his sword. If he wanted to have his own swordsmanship school, he would have to work harder. So, he calmly swung his swords and trained.

—

Junhyuk went to see Brita, and she told him about the progress on the new iron soldier core and weapons systems. He also gave her some mana stones, but Brita had not made any further developments yet. She had needed more mana stones, so Junhyuk gave her enough of them before going to see Tirot.

He saw the gloves that Tirot had made.

“They’re the first items I’ve completed.”

Junhyuk tried them on. The gloves were made of the twin-headed ogre’s muscle, and as he tried to move with them, he felt his strength increase.

After acquiring mana, he could feel every minute detail through his muscles. However, the gloves had a fatal flaw.

After moving his hands a few times, Junhyuk said, “They increase strength, but an ordinary person can’t wear these gloves.”

“Right. It’s made out of the twin-headed ogre’s muscles, so if one doesn’t have enough strength to begin with, they won’t be able to use these.”

Junhyuk smiled bitterly and said, “We can’t catch up to Elise like this.”

Tirot’s eyes widened.

“Has she already made new weapons?”

“That’s right. If we use bloodstones, normal humans will be able to use the weapons.”

Junhyuk wanted to compliment Tirot. This was just the beginning, and Tirot would improve, but the process was taking too long.

Then, he pulled out a genuine A-ranked monster out of his Spatial Bag and dumped the Wolf Warlord in front of Tirot.

The scientist’s eyes beamed.

“This one is very different.”

“Yes, it certainly is. It’s genuine and it’ll help you grow.”

After giving Tirot some advice, he gave Tirot the body and took the gloves. Then, he picked up another Wolf Warlord corpse and drove to Elise’s house. He came to realize once more just how incredible Elise was. She was heading many different projects by herself. Elise might be busy, but she was still superior to Tirot and Brita.

She had so much experience that she maintained a considerable distance from Tirot and Brita.

“I’ll propose a deal.”

If Elise trained Tirot and Brita, research would go much faster for both parties. They all had a shocking amount of intelligence, so if combined, their work could change the world.

Junhyuk thought about many different things on his way to Elise’s. The gate to the house opened, and he was able to drive inside. Elise was working in her private lab within her house, and Junhyuk saw some new equipment next to her.

She lifted her goggles and locked at him.

“You came! I wanted some advice from you, so you are right on time!”

Junhyuk didn’t say anything. Instead, he pulled the body of the Wolf Warlord out. Shocked, Elise ran toward him.

“This one is different from the ones before!”

He nodded and sat on the cadaver, saying, “Elise…”

She stared at him, realizing that the mood about him was different.

“So far, Earth has survived the monsters all thanks to you, Elise.”

She laughed out loud.

“I just want to do my research. I enjoy what I do.”

He touched his chin and stared at her.

“I’m aware of that too. The time has come for us to reshape our relationship.”

“Our relationship?”

Staring at her, Junhyuk said, “I want you to work for me.”

When she heard that, she laughed and said, “I’m very expensive.”

“I know.”

Elise had more money than him, and she was earning even more as a middlewoman between him and the weapons’ buyers. She was certainly rich, but he had brought this up because he could feel Tirot’s and Brita’s limits.

Both of them were brilliant, but Elise was beyond that. If both joined her, the preparations for the monster hunt would improve dramatically.

Elise realized he was being serious, so she brought up a chair and sat in front of him. After crossing her legs and smiling, she asked him, “Why are you bringing this up now?”

“I felt the need for you once more.”

She gave him an awkward smiled and asked, “What do you mean?”

Instead of speaking, Junhyuk pulled out the twin-headed ogre gloves.

She took them and chuckled, “They are made of twin-headed ogre muscles. Someone knows their trade. And they are infused with bloodstones. That’s good thinking.” After Elise put them on, she added, “Hm… But not everyone can use them. Those with enough strength can, but people can also get stronger.” She inspected it some more and said, “The person who made this can work under my supervision in my lab.”

Junhyuk said, “It’s comparable to the weapons you’ve made. These people need someone to guide them, and only you can fill that position.”

“These people? You mean there is more than one person?”

Junhyuk wanted Elise to join him, so he had to reveal everything to her now.

“I have people who are like you.”

“Then, why do you need me?”

He had people working for him who were comparable to Elise, but she had experience of her own, which enabled her to outperform anybody working for him.

Elise stared at him. She recognized that he was a special person. Of all humans, he had to be the strongest in the Dimensional Battlefield. She had watched him close a dimensional tear by himself.

Junhyuk wanted her to join him. After staring at him, she said, “If you want to me join you, my conditions have to be met.”

She hadn’t said no, so Junhyuk pulled out something else. It was one of the bracelets Gongon had given him. She took it, and as she inspected it, her eyes widened.

“How is this possible?”

He said, “The Dimensional Battlefield has everything. I’ll get you items from there. There’s no one like me to fulfill your curiosity.”

She smiled and, staring at him, she said, “You have my attention.”

Elise folded her arms and looked at the bracelet in her hand. After thinking for some time, she shook her head.

“My conditions have to be met before I can work with you.”

Junhyuk stared at her. Both had used each other so far, and now, the moment had come for him to earn her trust. He wanted her more than anything in the world at that moment.

“Speak,” he smiled and said.

Elise shrugged.

“First of all, give me your Spatial Bag and allow me to research it.”

Junhyuk felt awkward about that, but he kept smiling. The bag cost at least 100,000G, and Junhyuk shook his head and chuckled. He wanted her more than anything and he was willing to spend 100,000G for her. She’d pay him back with her research.

“Sure.” Her eyes beamed, and he added, “But, I’ll bring it to you after next Friday.”

“Sure,” she said while smiling. “Right now, I can’t leave guardians. My supervisors have rules. But, I can work with your people. That’s the second condition.”

Junhyuk agreed to her conditions and got up.

“OK. Then, will you work for me?”

Elise shook her head.

“My last condition is that I won’t work for you. I want to be your partner.”

Junhyuk stared at her. She would bring in more money for him whenever he presented her with new materials, so there was no need to disagree.

Extending his hand, he said, “OK. Let’s work together.”

“Good.”

Both smiled and shook hands.