Instant Kill, Time-Stop Spellcaster

“You came from far away.”

“Haha, you really are an interesting person.”

“What’s so interesting?”

“Usually, a title like CIA gives an air of intimidation. Plus, you weren’t even shocked by the offer from the U.S.A. That caught me off guard.”

“Well… I’m used to it.”

Maybe because in his past life, he had been pursued by so many different organizations.

“I’m Charles. I’m here to persuade you, Mr. Kang.”

“But how much do you know already?”

“How much?”

“Who am I?”

Charles tilted his head in confusion at the sudden question.

Wow, his nose is really big.

“Dr. Kang. The only holder of the Dungeon Anomaly Detection Technology.”

“Hmm. I see.”

“Hmm…?”

So that’s what he came to know.

He had expected him to know him as a Perfect clearer or S-class Word mage.

The U.S. was always hyped up as being incredible, so he had some expectations.

“I heard you don’t like long introductions.”

Charles immediately showed him the contract on his tablet.

Well, if they came for a Professor and not a Perfect clearer or Word Mage, the terms weren’t going to be that impressive…

“Holy shit!”

“Haha. You really are an interesting person.”

He read the amount and thought, ‘As expected, the U.S. offers quite a hefty sum.’

But the units were in dollars, not won.

It was all separate: naturalization bonus, signing fee, salary, and performance bonuses.

But big kindness always comes with a hefty price tag…

“I heard you love freedom. The United States, the land of freedom. You won’t be bound by any restrictions.”

The terms really were nearly unrestricted.

It was about as free as his current mercenary status.

“What if I just take the naturalization bonus and signing fee and run off?”

“The United States. The Alliance of Faith. We trust you, Mr. Kang.”

Is this how the U.S. operates?

He intentionally threw in a little jab, but the kindness was weakening his resolve.

The man’s face looked so pure, like an earnest young foreigner living a hard life.

‘Is this really the CIA?’

This was the CIA he had expected?

Cold expression, sunglasses, a device in the ear, and a shaved head.

Plus, someone who spoke Korean fluently like a native.

Wasn’t that the kind of person who should show up?

Charles? What kind of name was that?

“You came from far away. I heard there’s a culture of offering tea to guests. Would you like to have a cup and talk?”

“Uh, well… I’d love to offer, but I’m a bit busy right now…”

Sigh, he wished they would just barge in rudely like the 10th guild did earlier.

How was he supposed to send them away?

He was pondering how to deal with the situation when…

“…”

The aura of a powerful presence overwhelmed him.

He tensed up at the sudden chill.

‘It’s not Charles.’

[Hunt’s Pulse]

[This ring detects the murderous intent of others, not just their killing intent but the actual intention to kill.]

[Hunt’s Pulse] pointed at someone behind Charles, not Charles himself.

They were coming.

“What’s wrong? You’re looking tense. Did I make a mistake? Sorry, if you let me know, I’ll fix it—”

Then Charles also stiffened.

He quickly turned to look behind.

‘Can you feel it?’

Surprisingly sharp.

He had sensed the Awakener right away.

Looking back at him with a surprised look, Charles glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.

“How did you know before me…? Alright, let’s hide in the building. I’ll protect you.”

He ignored him.

Protect him from someone that strong? How?

‘Wow, this is pretty serious.’

This must be what S-Class felt like.

It was clear now that with the system’s help, anyone could grow this strong.

Soon, a very stylish car arrived in front of the office.

The man got out.

Step, step.

With hands shoved in the bursting pockets of his suit, walking with blatant murderous intent toward them.

“Charles. If you’re CIA, do you know who that guy is?”

“…Park Cheol-woong. S-Class. He’s the guild leader of Palan.”

So, the murderous intent wasn’t entirely unexplainable.

‘Now, how am I going to deal with this guy?’

It had been a long time since he faced such a tough fight.

This was truly a level of danger he couldn’t ignore.

His blood boiled.

Soon, Park Cheol-woong stood in front of him.

He greeted him in a low, gruff voice.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Not really.”

“You’re Prof. Kang?”

“What’s your business?”

“I came to recruit the great professor. But…”

He laughed as if it were absurd.

“I was wondering how you dealt with that idiot’s antics… haha, unbelievable.”

He ran his large hand over his head, like a lid being removed from a pot.

“How did he get involved with something like this? Should I praise him for this or not?”

“Are we fighting or not?”

“I came to fight, but…”

Park Cheol-woong’s eyes glistened with greed.

“I’ve changed my mind.”

There was a sound of a cellphone dropping from behind.

Yoo Chae-young had arrived after hearing the news.

“Oh my god. What are you doing here…?”

Yoo Chae-young, shocked by the blatant murderous intent, couldn’t seem to get her words out.

“If you’ve changed your mind, don’t overdo it.”

“Okay.”

The murderous intent subsided.

“But who’s this guy?”

“Charles. Let’s drink tea later.”

Charles swallowed, assessing the situation and realizing there was nothing he could do.

“…If you need help, contact me.”

“Sure. Go quickly. You’ll get hurt.”

But instead of leaving the building, he helped Yoo Chae-young, who had collapsed, back inside.

What a decent guy.

“My neck hurts from looking up. Can you sit down for a bit?”

“You’re an interesting guy.”

“I hear that a lot.”

Park Cheol-woong lowered his stiff neck.

The shade fell over his face as he looked down.

Just moving his neck like that made his gray suit almost tear apart.

“Don’t worry. That fool won’t touch your family again.”

“That’ll put my mind at ease.”

“The purpose of the kidnapping was to lure the Professor out and eliminate him, but there’s no need for that anymore.”

“So now you’re saying you’re not here to kill the Professor?”

“Now it’s pointless to kill the Professor.”

He lowered his neck even further and whispered quietly.

“I’ve heard an interesting story about E-Class protection.”

“It’s a bit of a long preface.”

Park Cheol-woong smiled greedily.

“My guild, or rather, my close younger brother is in trouble. I’ve been given two choices.”

“Your choices? Do I need to know?”

“Either bring you to my side, or…”

The ring on his finger tightened.

“Kill you and the Perfect-Class Awakeners.”

He was the first person who had seen through him the moment he laid eyes on him.

“You’re going to kill me? Why go that far? You could just deal with that idiot.”

“Everyone has a soft spot.”

“Yeah.”

It was the same for him.

They were in this mess because someone pricked at their weak spot.

“But even a demon lord is a bit too much, don’t you think?”

“Do you burn with a sense of justice? I really hope you don’t act like that too. One troublesome Phantom is enough.”

“Don’t worry.”

The Phantom causing trouble wouldn’t stop anytime soon.

“Kang Hyun, I’m not your enemy. At least, I don’t think so.”

“You don’t seem to know how to express your thoughts.”

“I’m leaving. Think it over.”

With that, he turned and got back into the car.

After Park Cheol-woong left, he cracked his stiff neck.

His phone kept ringing.

He rejected the call from Section Chief Choi.

He sent a text saying he’d go later.

It seemed like the Dungeon Anomaly measures needed to be postponed for a bit.

It looked like he needed to get stronger faster.

###

After reinforcing the wards, I retreated to my private room.

[Shincheon Water Moss Elixir]

[This is the liquid extracted from moss that has grown by consuming the spiritual energy of Shincheon Water. If your magic power is below B-, it will increase by 1 point.

However, when consumed, assistance from three B-grade or higher magicians is required.]

I uncorked the bottle and drank it.

“Ugh, bitter.”

Ah, the healthy taste.

It was about five times more bitter than dried Shincheon Elixir.

I sat cross-legged and began to meditate on my mana.

The system grants magic power to the awakened ones.

The way it is stored is very simple.

It just accumulates below the navel, in the dantian.

Normally, accumulating mana is a difficult process.

You have to accept it, gather it, control it, and draw from it.

All of these steps take effort.

Talent is needed as well.

However, the system just clicks and accumulates it.

“Convenient, though.”

It’s convenient and efficient, but fundamentally, it’s not a good method.

I’m going to move it to my heart.

Just like I did in my previous life.

“I can’t believe I’m using what I learned from a friend.”

Actually, this is something I copied from dragons.

The heart that was created this way is called the Dragon Heart, and it’s passed down as the supreme elixir.

A cultivation method exclusive to dragons.

Kyle was the only other race to implement it.

It’s not usually something easy to do.

The heart always beats.

Even in daily life, I hold onto the mana so it doesn’t spread with each heartbeat.

When I release it, I match it to the rhythm of the pulse.

If there’s a mana reflux, the heart could get damaged and I could die.

In the first place, no one even thinks of doing something like this.

How could anyone store something as dangerous as mana in the heart?

There’s a reason why it’s stored most stably in the dantian.

“Reminds me of the past.”

When I told my comrades that I invented this cultivation method to help others, they called me crazy.

What can I do? I’ve already applied it.

When I said that, they literally started having seizures.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“When I first tried it, even with Aetherna’s help, I almost died.”

Now, I’m not worried at all.

Back then, I was young and a bit clumsy.

It’s a bit nostalgic.

Anyway, I have to use this.

Its utility in battle is beyond words.

Moreover, dragons naturally accumulate mana just by breathing.

The heart’s activity itself becomes the circulation of mana.

“Huff. Hoo-”

It’s coming.

My heart beats fiercely.

Thud.

The mana accumulated in the dantian by the system.

I forcibly unleash it.

Then, I control it carefully.

It flows through my veins.

It reverses the flow in my arteries.

And it touches my heart simultaneously.

Thud.

The heart beats.

###

Thud.

Thud.

“…”

Ding!

[Perfect Elixir Consumption Ritual! Elixir absorption rate increases.]

[‘Magic power’ has increased. (E+ → D)]

Ding!

[The trait has been created.]

Thud.