Busan was no longer just a city; it had become a fortress-factory. The "Abyssal Protectorate" was operating at a fever pitch. In the sub-levels of the Jagarchi Abyss, the sound of traditional commerce had been replaced by the rhythmic clanging of soul-forges and the low hum of mana-reclamation vats.
[Current Status: Sovereign of the Abyss (Lesser)][Territory: Busan Protectorate (Level 2)][Lifespan: 7 Years, 11 Months]
Kang-woo stood on the observation deck of the Crimson Fang's headquarters, looking out over the harbor. The black shadow-sea he had created was now stabilized, acting as a natural barrier that scrambled all IHB satellite surveillance.
"The World-Rankers are licking their wounds," Madame Blood said, stepping up beside him. She wore a new set of armor forged from the 'Compressed Anti-Mana Cores' Kang-woo had seized from the bombers. "But they won't stay down for long. The IHB is moving the 'Star-Slayer' orbital cannon into position over the peninsula."
"Let them move their toys," Kang-woo said, his voice cold. "A cannon needs a lock-on, and you can't lock onto a ghost."
He turned his gaze toward the center of the room, where Seol-ah was working with a team of 'Unregistered' researchers. They weren't studying spells; they were studying the System's Code.
"The 'Bankruptcy' field I created in Seoul proved one thing," Kang-woo explained. "The System isn't a god. It's a contract. And every contract has a loophole."
[Project: 'System-Jacker' initiated.]
The plan was simple yet terrifying: Instead of fighting the World-Rankers' skills, Kang-woo intended to de-rank them. If he could expand the 'Bankruptcy' field across the entire Protectorate, any Hunter who entered Busan would find their S-Rank powers reduced to the level of a common civilian.
"Master Kang-woo," Yeon-hee approached, her paper-sleeve now glowing with a strange, dark-silver light. "The first batch of 'Ink-Shells' is ready for testing."
She opened a crate to reveal rows of sleek, black canisters. These weren't explosives. They were 'Audit-Grenades'—when detonated, they would spray a fine mist of 'Auditor's Ink', temporarily severing a target's connection to the System.
"With these, your 'Hollow-hearts' can take down A-rankers," Yeon-hee said with a smirk.
Suddenly, the floor of the headquarters vibrated. A low-frequency hum, similar to the one the Diplomat of Bones had brought, echoed through the walls.
[Warning: Dimensional Synchronization in progress.][Source: The Second Citadel — 'The Pale King'.]
"He's not waiting," Seol-ah said, standing up from her terminal. "The Pale King is bypassing the physical distance. He's using the 'Debt-Link' I have with the city to manifest."
"YOU HAVE STOLEN THE HARVEST OF THE FIRST AUDITOR," a voice boomed, not from the air, but from the very shadows of the room.
The shadows twisted, forming a mirror-like surface. In the reflection, the city of Busan was replaced by a landscape of white bone and gray ash. Standing in the center of that reflection was the Pale King. He was a titan of ivory and silver, his crown made of the frozen souls of a thousand worlds.
"THE IHB WANTS YOUR HEAD, LITTLE USURPER. BUT I WANT YOUR LEDGER," the King hissed. "GIVE ME THE AUTHORITY OF THE SHATTERED THRONE, AND I WILL ERASE THE IHB FROM THIS TIMELINE FOR YOU."
Kang-woo walked toward the shadow-mirror. He didn't look intimidated. He looked like a businessman who had just been offered a deal he knew was a scam.
"You're late, Pale King," Kang-woo said. "I've already started the liquidation process. The IHB, the Association, and your 'Abyssal Accord'... I'm putting it all into receivership."
Kang-woo reached into the mirror. His hand didn't hit glass; it plunged into the King's dimension.
[Skill: 'Sovereign's Reach' activated.]
He grabbed a handful of the King's white-ash atmosphere and pulled it into Busan. The ash instantly turned into black ink as it touched Kang-woo's 'Bankruptcy' aura.
"I don't need your help to destroy my enemies," Kang-woo growled. "I just need your mana to fuel my factory."
The Pale King recoiled, his violet eyes flashing with genuine shock. "YOU... YOU ARE CONVERTING THE ABYSS INTO RAW MATERIAL?"
"It's called 'Vertical Integration'," Kang-woo said, slamming his fist into the shadow-mirror, shattering the connection.
The room returned to normal, but the air was now charged with a new, dark energy.
[Resource Acquired: Pale Ash (High-Density Mana Source)][Project 'System-Jacker': 40% Complete]
"He's going to send everything he has now," Madame Blood whispered.
"Good," Kang-woo said, turning back to his workers. "The faster he attacks, the faster we finish the factory. Tell the Hells to double the shifts. We're not just building a protectorate anymore."
He looked at Seol-ah, and for a moment, the coldness in his eyes softened.
"We're building an exit."