Secret Meeting with Professor Jang
The next afternoon, Min-woo stood nervously in front of Professor Jang Hyun-seok's office. He was certain the professor had called him because of last night's incident, but he couldn't predict what would be discussed.
"Come in." The professor's calm voice came from inside.
The office was darker than expected. All the curtains were drawn, and only a small desk lamp provided dim light. Professor Jang was looking at Min-woo with an unusually serious expression.
"Sit down. We have much to discuss." The professor pointed to a chair.
After Min-woo sat down, the professor carefully checked the door once more before returning.
"Last night's incident... truly remarkable." The professor said in a low voice. "The completion level of the Iron Wall Phantom Step was beyond even my expectations."
"Professor, could it be that you..."
"Wondering who I am?" The professor interrupted Min-woo's words. "That's understandable. The truth is... I was a former researcher for the Martial Purification Alliance."
[Shocking Information Acquired!]
Jang Hyun-seok's True Identity: Martial Purification Alliance Defector
Past Affiliation: Alliance Core Research Department
Reason for Escape: [Insufficient Information - Additional Conversation Required]
Current Status: In Hiding, Working Undercover at University
Min-woo's jaw dropped. The Martial Purification Alliance was known as an organization that thoroughly suppressed defective martial arts, but for a former researcher to be here...
"Your surprise is natural. But you'll be even more shocked when you hear the rest." The professor sighed deeply. "The Martial Purification Alliance... what they truly want isn't the eradication of defective martial arts."
"Then what?"
"Monopolization." The professor's eyes turned cold. "They're collecting all defective martial arts to create their own perfect martial arts system. All while telling the world they're dangerous."
Min-woo was shocked. He had always thought of the Purification Alliance as a righteous organization, but the reality was completely different.
"So the Eternal Cycle Scripture I'm looking for is also..."
"Exactly." The professor nodded. "The Eternal Cycle Scripture isn't just a simple martial art. It's like a master key that can integrate all defective martial arts into one. If the Purification Alliance gets their hands on it..."
"All the world's martial arts would become theirs."
"Precisely." The professor pulled out an old document from his desk drawer. "This is a top-secret document I smuggled out from the Alliance. It contains the truth about the Eternal Cycle Scripture."
[Advanced Information Document Acquired!]
Title: Eternal Cycle Scripture Research Report (Top Secret)
Author: Martial Purification Alliance Core Research Team
Key Content: Eternal Cycle Scripture = Core of Martial Arts Integration System
Current Progress: 3 out of 15 core fragments secured (Alliance possession)
Final Goal: World Martial Arts Hegemony
Min-woo felt chills reading the document. What he was searching for was this important.
"Professor, what should I do?"
"You must be careful. Last night's incident has probably already caught their attention." The professor said seriously. "But I'm not telling you to give up. Rather..."
Just then, footsteps were suddenly heard outside the office. The professor quickly put the document back in the drawer and spoke in his normal voice.
"So as I was saying, next week's exam will cover up to chapter 3."
The door opened and a student entered. But Min-woo sensed something strange. The student's gaze was too sharp, and his gait was different from ordinary students.
[Danger Detected!]
Target: Suspicious Student
Analysis Result: Martial Arts Practitioner (At least Qi Accumulation Stage)
Behavioral Pattern: Estimated reconnaissance and surveillance purpose
Warning: High possibility of Purification Alliance connection
"Excuse me, Professor. I see you have another student here." The student smiled awkwardly. "I'll come back later."
After the student left, the professor and Min-woo looked at each other. They were both thinking the same thing.
"It has begun." The professor muttered.
That evening, Min-woo headed toward the Defective Martial Arts Research Club room. He needed to inform his colleagues about today's conversation with the professor. But on the way to Building 3, he noticed something strange.
There were people he had never seen before lingering around various parts of the campus. At first glance, they seemed like visitors or new students, but Min-woo's system was sending different signals.
[Multiple Risk Factors Detected]
Suspicious Person 1: In front of Central Library (Martial Level: Intermediate Qi Accumulation)
Suspicious Person 2: Near Student Cafeteria (Martial Level: Advanced Qi Accumulation)
Suspicious Person 3: Around Dormitories (Martial Level: Unknown)
Pattern Analysis: Surveillance Network Establishment Estimated
Recommended Action: Act as naturally as possible, approach research room via detour
'It really has begun...'
Min-woo walked more carefully than usual. He took out his phone and sent a message to Ji-eun.
"Something's strange today. Be careful coming."
Soon a reply came from Ji-eun.
"I noticed too. There are many unfamiliar people at school. I'll take the back entrance."
Min-woo felt relieved. Ji-eun had also grasped the situation. They decided to arrive at the research room via different routes.
While going down to the basement of Building 3, Min-woo looked back several times. Fortunately, no one seemed to be following him. But when he arrived at the door of room B-12, he saw a faint shadow moving at the end of the corridor.
[Covert Surveillance Detected]
Distance: Approximately 50 meters
Stealth Level: Advanced (undetectable by ordinary people)
Purpose: Research room surveillance estimated
Response Required: Warning to internal personnel
Min-woo quickly opened the research room door and entered. Kim Chul-su and several members were already gathered inside.
"Min-woo! Come in." Chul-su welcomed him. "You said you had something important to discuss today?"
"Before that..." Min-woo said while closing the door. "We're being watched."
The research room fell silent for a moment.
"What did you say?" Yoon Sung-min looked up from his book.
Min-woo briefly explained what he had observed throughout the day and the contents of his conversation with Professor Jang. Of course, he excluded anything related to the system.
"That means the Martial Purification Alliance has started moving." Park So-ra said with a serious expression.
"It must be because of last night's Iron Wall Phantom Step experiment." Kim Chul-su clenched his fist. "That energy was too strong. It must have been detected."
Just then, Ji-eun entered through the back door. Her face also showed clear tension.
"There really are strange people outside." Ji-eun said. "And..."
"And?"
"I saw a suspicious vehicle near the senior dormitories. Even the license plate was covered."
[Danger Level Rising!]
Current Situation: Encirclement Network Construction Phase
Expected Scenario: Direct contact possible within 24 hours
Recommended Response: Emergency evacuation plan required
Chul-su stood up and said, "This has become really serious. We need to prepare countermeasures too."
11 PM. Min-woo was tossing and turning in his dormitory room. His roommates were all asleep, but he couldn't fall asleep at all. Looking out the window, there was a black sedan parked there that wasn't usually there.
[Surveillance Confirmed]
Vehicle Information: Government registration number
Occupants: 2 people (night surveillance team)
Equipment: High-performance binoculars, communication equipment
Mission: 24-hour surveillance system
'I can't stay like this.'
Min-woo quietly got up from bed and put on dark-colored clothes. Tonight he had to go to the research room and move important materials to a safe place. It was something he had previously arranged with Kim Chul-su.
After leaving the dormitory through the emergency stairs, Min-woo headed toward Building 3 via an unusual route. But as he was about to cross the central plaza, he heard footsteps behind him.
Looking back, he saw a man following him. It was one of the suspicious individuals he had seen during the day.
'I've been caught!'
Min-woo's heart began racing. But instead of panicking, he thought calmly. This was exactly why he had learned the Iron Wall Phantom Step.
[Combat Avoidance Mode Activated]
Available Technique: Iron Wall Phantom Step
Current Proficiency: Beginner
Duration: Approximately 3 minutes
Effect: Stealth + Speed Increase
Min-woo quietly activated the Iron Wall Phantom Step. Instantly, his body became faint and merged with the shadows. At the same time, he could move much faster than usual.
The pursuer looked around, trying to find Min-woo who had suddenly disappeared.
"Huh? He was definitely here..." the pursuer muttered.
Min-woo moved quickly along the building shadows. Thanks to the Iron Wall Phantom Step's effect, his footsteps made almost no sound. However, using martial arts consumed stamina. He couldn't maintain it for long.
At a point where Building 3 was almost visible, Min-woo hid for a moment to assess the situation. The pursuer was still searching for him in the central plaza.
'Success!'
But his joy was short-lived. Another figure appeared at the entrance of Building 3. This time it was a woman wearing an expensive suit. But her movements were not those of an ordinary person.
[New Risk Factor Appeared!]
Target: Female Agent
Martial Level: Advanced Qi Accumulation (stronger than the pursuer)
Specialty: Estimated tracking specialist
Danger Level: High
The female agent slowly looked around Building 3, then suddenly stared directly in Min-woo's direction.
'Could she have... spotted me?'
The female agent began approaching Min-woo's location. The Iron Wall Phantom Step's effect was gradually weakening. This was truly dangerous.
Just then, a small explosion sound came from the opposite side of Building 3.
"What's that?" The female agent turned her head in that direction.
At that moment, Min-woo didn't miss the opportunity and rushed into the back entrance of Building 3. The explosion sound was from a smoke bomb that Kim Chul-su had prepared. It was a pre-arranged emergency signal.
Min-woo arrived at basement room B-12, panting as he opened the door. Inside, Kim Chul-su and Ji-eun were already waiting.
"You made it safely!" Chul-su said with relief.
"I barely escaped." Min-woo explained the situation.
"This has really become serious." Ji-eun said worriedly. "We can't keep hiding like this."
Chul-su nodded. "That's why... we now need real allies."
"Allies?" Min-woo asked.
"It seems time to reveal the true secret of our research club." Chul-su headed toward the inner wall of the research room. "Remember this? That wall you discovered when you first came here."
It was the wall surface with fine cracks that Min-woo had discovered a few days ago. Chul-su pressed specific parts of the wall in sequence. Then the wall quietly opened, revealing a hidden passage.
"What is this?" Ji-eun asked in surprise.
"This is the real headquarters of our research club." Chul-su said, turning on a flashlight and leading the way. "A place that has been secretly operated for 300 years."
Next Chapter Preview: The underground alliance network, and the true identity of the enemy hidden within the Purification Alliance...