The Novel’s Villain

5. Irrejectable Contract (4)

“What happened?”

“I-I would like to meet the CEO. I tried to contact him several times, but there was no reply…”

“He’s resting right now…”

Professor Kim Dae-jin, the head of the research team, looked at Yoo-na with desperation.

“I have something very important to tell him about the research. This is a revolutionary thing! Professor Choi Sung-min here wants to join us and work for nothing!”

“That’s right! I don’t need money! Only the research, if only you let me do the research…”

Kim Dae-jin and Sung-min were ready to kneel. Professor Choi Sung-min was very famous, and so was Kim Dae-jin. Yet both were so obsessed with research that it wasn’t conducive to anything. But they were asking for it so desperately.

“I beg you, please, Chief.”

“Chief!”

Professor Kim Dae-jin and the research team that followed him called out to Yoo-na with their sincere hearts.

‘Am I becoming like Young Master?’

She was also becoming weak to affection. Yoo-na looked at them, sighed a little, and opened her mouth.

“Don’t look forward to it. I’ll ask him about it, though.”

“Thank you very much!”

Yoo-na turned away as the researchers were ready to shed tears.

‘They are so talented that the U.S. government wants to scout them…’

Such talented people were only clinging to Jin-woo. What on earth made them so desperate?

Knock-knock!

Yoo-na knocked on the door of the waiting room. When she heard Jin-woo’s voice telling her to come in, she went inside. Seeing Jin-woo lying on the sofa playing a phone game, Yoo-na’s expression became complicated. He looked so carefree she momentarily thought he was a jobless man stuck in the house. Come to think of it; he was only a freshman in college.

Jin-woo, who was yawning, glanced at Yoo-na as she came in.

“You’ll get bad eyesight if you look too close.”

“You’re here?”

“Are you having fun?”

“I’m just killing time, well. I’m used to…”

Jin-woo stopped mid-sentence. He did a lot on his way to work and after going home. He remembered that time, so he promptly quieted. Yoo-na briefly glanced at him when she heard the word ‘used to.’

“The ones you took over seem to be working hard.”

“Which ones did I take over?”

“In Korea, it’s Neo and SmileMax, and the foreign one is NBSoft. They say their goal is to release a trailer at this E3.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, they hired a lot of new employees, to the point the Labor Administration said they were considering citations.”

He remembered ordering them to make what they wanted to make without thinking about investment costs or anything like that. He just said lightly that it would be nice to have a large-scale online multiplayer that wouldn’t be tiresome. And it should have good music, graphics, be well-optimized, run on low specs, a heart-wrenching story, some action, and a lot of freedom.

‘I can try it myself even if it’s not popular.’

It was just a hobby. Anyway, mobile games used to be fun, but he felt empty after getting all the items right away. After all, spending money on it felt like cheating.

‘But life isn’t like that. Life is best when it’s easy.’

An easy life! That was his truth. The saying that it takes pain to mature was recited by those who had never been sick. Could you afford to think about anything else when you were dying?

Jin-woo thought so and lifted himself from the sofa. He checked the Waste stacks, happy to see it was pretty high. As expected, giving out the items was the correct answer. Since they were quite expensive despite their usefulness, the Waste stacks were faithfully piled up.

Indeed, money was the right answer.

“I gave them thirty minutes. You can leave immediately after that.”

“I see.”

“And I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

Yoo-na said that the researchers visited outside. Professor Choi Sung-min, whom he saw during the ability measurement, also came. Jin-woo tilted his head.

‘Come to think of it…’

He stopped paying them attention after giving support. Every time there was a report that the research had failed, he simply happily increased his support. After all, it was meant to build up the Waste stacks. He knew he had been contacted frequently as of recent, but he forgot. Jin-woo felt a pang of regret.

When he said that he would like to meet them, Kim Dae-jin and Choi Sung-min came in immediately.

“CEO! F-finally, I can meet you.”

“Yes, Professor. It’s the first time we’ve seen each other.”

Professor Kim Dae-jin was very excited. To add a little exaggeration, he looked crazed, like a mad scientist. He gave off a feeling like that.

“P-please look at this! This is truly a revolution of this era! If you look at these numbers…”

“I don’t know about that…um, please explain slowly.”

“Ah! I’m sorry. I’m so excited that…”

Choi Sung-min began to explain instead of Prof. Kim Dae-jin.

“We discovered it after looking at your test results! We found a hint from the phenomenal mana conductivity you showed us! As a result of contrasting and analyzing the wavelengths, we have found a medium that can be reliably combined with modern cultures!”

“T-that’s right! Do you remember the metal sample JW Gate #A32?”

Jin-woo didn’t know any specifics. When he looked at Yoo-na, she nodded and spoke up.

“Sample #A32. It’s a metal discovered a year ago, found only in JW Gate, and has been determined to be of little value.”

“Yes! That’s right! It was thought to be a common metal! But it wasn’t. It’s not as good as yours, but it’s showing an excellent mana transfer rate. There is almost no energy loss in the transfer process! It’s the best material for any field! In particular, it is expected to exert great synergy with magic crystals. Although there remains a difficult task of processing magic crystals…”

Choi Sung-min fired off the words like a machine gun. Jin-woo tilted his head as he listened to the explanation. This was the first time he had heard of it.

‘Is there any setting like this?’

It seemed like the setting was buried because the JW Gate exploded. He didn’t understand everything, but he nodded along. It meant that the common metal they found at JW Gate was a very great new material. Professor Choi Sung-min looked at Jin-woo with desperate eyes.

“I want to join the research team too! It’s fine even if it’s unpaid. It doesn’t matter if my name doesn’t appear in the research achievements! I just want to see this great journey with my own eyes! This is a great discovery that will remain in the history of mankind!”

Jin-woo looked at Choi Sung-min for a moment. Was it that huge that a great authority in academia came out with such an attitude? To be honest, Jin-woo didn’t quite get the feeling. Anyway, it wasn’t a bad thing for him.

‘Um, well…I guess I can just give them a little bit of support.’

It was indeed good. Jin-woo stood and moved in front of Choi Sung-min. The professor gulped. Jin-woo, standing right in front of him, looked unusually large like he was a giant. He humbly bowed his head. He had become sensitive to mana wavelengths while studying them.

“I understand; it’s nice to see the enthusiasm. I cannot neglect someone like you. We will treat you the best, so please join us.”

“Thank you. Thank you very much!”

Professor Choi Sung-min politely bowed his head. Kim Dae-jin hesitated and looked at Jin-woo.

“Well, it was a new material, so the test costs a lot of money. So what I mean…”

“I see.”

The amount invested so far had been enormous. It was like throwing money on the floor every time expensive materials disappeared when the research failed. If it were any other company, it would have collapsed long ago. However, Jin-woo was very much satisfied. Jin-woo gave them the support money right on the spot.

Professor Kim Dae-jin was moved to the point of shedding tears. No matter how prominent scholars were, their support would be cut off if they repeatedly failed. Several of his colleagues were in such a situation. In particular, the Gates field was like pouring water into a bottomless pit, so they couldn’t even guarantee that there would be any success.

It was said that they were the honorable future of Korea, but it was difficult to find a place that helped them, whether in the government or anywhere else. However, Lee Jin-woo was different. He paid a huge amount of money, he didn’t demand any responsibility if they failed, and there was no time limit. Besides that, he treated them so unconventionally that they could hardly turn their head away. It wasn’t just money, but this humane treatment and great welfare.

He even sent bodyguards when they went abroad to give academic presentations. Professor Kim Dae-jin was very proud to be able to show his wife and daughter the world.

Thus, he was able to say without hesitation, ‘I’m only researching for Lee Jin-woo.’

[The Waste stacks have risen.]

Waste Stack Detail: Pouring money into failed researchers.

* Additional effect: Awakening of Prof. Kim Dae-jin

[C] Mad Scientist (Awakening: Kim Dae-jin)

No one can stop the burning will of research.

Professor Kim Dae-jin was reborn with pure passion. If he continued his research, there was the possibility that something amazing would come out. However, since it was the same as being in a rampage state, the probability of failing also greatly increased.

*Acquired Skills

[C] Research Will: Increases research duration by 300% and reduces the feeling of being hungry or tired when researching rampage state. The probability of failure is very high, but there is a very low probability that something great may be invented.

[C] The Ignorant Scientist: ‘If only I had the time and the capital…next time for sure! I’ll fail this time, but please believe me!’

The greater the damage, the higher the morale and sustainability of the research team. Jin-woo could see that the Waste stacks increased too. The awakening of Prof. Kim Dae-jin was unexpected even for Jin-woo. Looking at the detail, he was indeed a money eater. It was quite satisfactory.

“Sob…I’m so grateful that you recognized my research for such a great honor….I’ll make sure to make it successful!”

“No. Just fail…well, it doesn’t matter if you fail. Take good care of yourself. Please keep your working hours strictly. Isn’t health the greatest asset? Make sure you sleep more than seven hours at night.”

Jin-woo put more and more money every time he failed because he thought it would increase his Waste stacks. Jin-woo hoped that he would stay by his side for a long time in good health and fail a lot.

Professor Kim Dae-jin, who didn’t know how Jin-woo felt, was moved and grabbed Jin-woo’s hand with both his. Choi Sung-min was also moved, and his eyes were turning red. He didn’t show it, but the stress and pressure he received before the measuring device was created were great. Had it not been for his passion for research, he would have gone straight back to his hometown.

It was in Lee Min-woo’s research institute, which was a factory for grinding people. When he heard about this from his close friend, Kim Dae-jin, Choi Sung-min packed his bags. Jin-woo, feeling somewhat burdened, just quietly patted his shoulder.

The professors went out, and the research team cheered.

“A new material, huh…it’s amazing. Although JW Gate is said to be the least known, I had no idea that such a new material would appear.”

“There are all kinds of unusual things to find.”

“You are drawing a very big picture. It’s hard for me to guess it. Did you happen to visit the Gate this time also because…?”

“Huh? It’s just a coincidence. How could I have known that?”

The big picture was bullshit. It was just a coincidence. How could he know if it wasn’t even mentioned in the original story? Yoo-na smiled slightly at Jin-woo’s words. Kim Dae-jin, although famous, had suffered many failures and hadn’t been as well-received as his fame might imply. If it wasn’t for Jin-woo, he might have become a person who disappeared into the shadows of history.

As he came out of the waiting room, he saw Rachel, Moo-jin, and their guild members. He liked what he saw as it seemed the power build-up was clear. Everyone looked at him with shining eyes. Jin-woo headed to the Gate. This building was built to protect the Gate, so only after passing through the strict security that no one could break past was the Gate revealed.

Jin-woo had no choice but to admire it.

‘Okay! This is the real fantasy.’

Such a thought crossed his mind. Up until now, it felt like he was standing on the border between reality and fantasy, but the moment he saw the Gate, it felt like he was lost in a fantasy world. The Gate felt similar to a portal from a game. A halo of light enveloped it, and space fluttered around it. Seeing it in person, he found it very interesting.

Everything was ready. They were just waiting for Jin-woo to start.

“Then, let’s go.”

Jin-woo entered the Gate with a few too many escorts. Finally, he took the first step toward the Gate. Although he stepped lightly, Jin-woo was quite nervous. It would only be seen in science fiction movies, so it was only natural for him. However, the moment he entered the Gate, he could only admire the fantastic sight unfolding before his eyes.

The first thing that caught his eyes was the sky. It was deeper and clearer than Earth’s sky. It looked like a very clear, emerald green sea. It felt like another planet. Well, it was another dimension.

‘Isn’t it a pretty big town?’

There were quite a few large buildings around the Gate, and the floor was well paved. They were very exotic and unique buildings, but they were all built with the Gates resources. There was a research institute and a factory, and a huge warehouse, alongside several convenience facilities for the guilds who came here. It felt like a town that had begun to settle on a new planet. Since a large sum of capital was involved, the scale was considerable, but it was understandable why Lee Jin-woo wanted to build this large-scale city.

El Dorado. Lee Jin-woo wanted to build a city that matched this name. He was a madman who always thought he was great and hoped to be king. If he weren’t that stupid, he wouldn’t have been robbed by the main character. Come to think of it. The villains were all ignorant and clueless. They felt like scapegoats for the main character to show off his brains. The main character was ordinary, but the villains were idiots, so the main character was a genius by comparison.

‘Anyway, it’s good.’

The fresh air even gave off an exhilarating feeling, and they felt more healthy. There had been reports of symptoms such as healing or rejuvenation when entering the Gates.

‘Lee Jin-woo also planned gambling houses, amusement facilities, and amusement parks.’

If he made a large-scale resort city, wouldn’t all the wealthy people in the world come here? Jin-woo smirked. The area around the Gate was named JW Center.

Of course, it belonged to Jin-woo.

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