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In Seoul, there existed a special facility known as the “Seoul Specialization High School for Ability Users.”

It was a black hole that attracted individuals aspiring to train their special abilities while also serving as a cradle to protect them.

True to its name, the school gathered students to nurture and strengthen them, transforming seedlings into towering trees responsible for Korea’s future.

As expected of such a place, the school’s facilities were nothing short of exceptional.

From government grants to donations from powerful individuals enrolling in the school, every bit of funding was directly invested into the school’s infrastructure, resulting in a level of investment that could confidently be called ‘the best in Korea.’

『 – Under Construction –

We kindly ask for your understanding as we repair the facilities. 』

『 – Warning –

This area is a dangerous zone.

Entry is prohibited due to potential disasters such as collapse, falling rocks, pollution, and energy backflow. 』

『 Camera recording in progress.

Please do not enter this area.

Legal action may be taken against outsiders, and school personnel may face disciplinary measures. 』

However, even a school boasting such ‘Korea’s best’ facilities was bound to have its flaws.

In front of a facility that had become a ruin, there was an alarming number of warning signs posted.

Starting with signs urging not to enter during construction, tape reading “Danger. Entry Prohibited,” wrapped the passageway and doors. Nearby, massive warning signs presumed to be posted by the school were affixed.

To prevent anyone from entering, a camera was continuously spinning above, and as soon as someone took a step inside the vicinity, a loud warning alarm would blare.

No matter how dangerous it was, one couldn’t help but wonder if a school facility required such extreme measures.

Yet astonishingly, this was just the beginning.

Crossing the tape of the Gold Thread would plunge one into a formation technique.

It wasn’t an amateur creation made by students but rather a maze created by teachers and experts that would be useful in real-world applications.

The grim, burnt corridors were filled with the thick, acrid smell of ashes, constantly repeating and repeating, exhausting anyone trapped within.

It was a level of complexity that could never be unraveled by mere students.

Of course, one shouldn’t carelessly label something as ‘unravelable’—but objectively speaking, it was clear that the intricacy was beyond student capability. Evidence of this was in the attempts by students who exclaimed, “What? There’s a secret space near the classroom? And we’re not allowed to see it?!” and “I can’t resist a secret base!”—only to be caught in the act.

Those apprehended students paid the price for ignoring the warnings.

They faced penalties, community service, and instead of positive remarks on their school records, they reluctantly had to attend classes named “Control of the Body in Extreme Environments” and “Effective Training Methods Anywhere,” which seemed soaked in ominous vibes and hinted at incredibly grueling tasks. To make matters worse, the instructor was an external guest—someone who gave off the unmistakable vibe of having endured hardships in the Special Forces.

It was certain that an excruciating struggle lay ahead.

This was especially true as these classes took place during the vacation, amplifying the agony.

Yet perhaps due to this almost punitive nature of the punishment, even those with the guts to take risks hesitated to endure such hardship during precious vacation time. Maybe that was why, apart from the initial arrests, the “hidden space where a fire broke out” was generally well-controlled.

Upon closer inspection, the school had spread rumors claiming, “The fire occurred in the management room of the building where the classrooms were located,” and resorted to a tough strategy of relocating the classrooms to another building while entirely restricting access to it, which could also be among various factors at play.

Nevertheless, what truly mattered was that a fire had indeed occurred in a space within the Seoul Specialization High School for Ability Users, and that space was currently under effective control.

Moreover, even as time passed, rather than repairing or rebuilding, they simply maintained control over it.

Of course, this was strange.

This was not a school low on funds or one filled with corrupt, inept individuals.

The school had enough budget to conduct repairs with just a small additional investment, and even if that wasn’t feasible, they could have easily requested the government to step in and repair it themselves. If there were issues, they would have gathered people from across the nation to address them. After resolving the issues, they would have returned everything to its former state as if the fire had never occurred, and all of this would have been done swiftly.

But oddly enough, despite the passage of time, the place remained a heap of ashes.

Melting facilities, corridors blanketed in black ash, and the lingering acrid smells conveyed a sense of neglect regarding any repairs.

When one had the capability to set up a formation technique, it would logically be expected to prioritize repairs…

Because of this, some students couldn’t help but question the situation.

『 Why is the school so sluggish? 』

『 Did they discover something strange inside? 』

『 Cultural relics or artifacts, perhaps? 』

『 Did someone bury gold bought with embezzled funds? 』

『 Or are they leaving things be while investigating issues or corruption with the facilities? 』

『 Did some thieves break in and dismantle the equipment? 』

Remarkably, there was truth to the students’ speculations.

Within that controlled zone lay ‘something.’

“Tundra Iron.”

“Head Rolling Manor.”

The metal pillars melted by the fire were once parts of some equipment.

Items adorned with elegant characters, proving to be of Chinese origin, lay scattered around.

Thus, the idle chatter among students regarding “Isn’t there something strange inside?” was indeed accurate. And while it wasn’t gold, the presence of tungsten and various alloys confirmed suspicions regarding money being involved.

And it didn’t end there.

Astoundingly, the speculation of “Did a thief break in and take something?” also turned out to be correct.

This, in turn, was one of the reasons this place was kept so secretively controlled.

But secrets can never be entirely perfect.

It was a law of the universe, and one that held true even beyond it.

The claim that a secret known by two or more people ceases to be a secret at that moment?

Of course, it was correct.

But there was another reason.

Among the contractors loved by beings known as transcendent beings, there existed one who could wield extraordinary powers related to secrets.

Iserin.

A contractor capable of utilizing powers associated with secrecy.

In her presence, secrets lost much of their significance.

Rather, they became nothing more than tantalizing morsels for her.

The desire to seek out mysteries and hidden things had escalated into an insatiable yearning for her.

She couldn’t bear to sleep at night without delving into them.

“It’s complicated… Too many threads entangled…”

[Then isn’t that even better?]

“Uh-huh… The thrill of unraveling is… enjoyable!”

Thus, it came as no surprise that Iserin would delve into the mysterious backstory tied to this facility.

Had Park Jinseong snuck in after making a mess and taken the artificial elixir known as the “Fox Sphere”?

Had she uncovered the existence of a secret joint project between Korea and China, dubbed the “Fox Sphere Project,” or “Yohobojuchoinyuksungguqi,” which connected the “Hongik Patriotic Group” of Korea while leaving her family completely out of the picture?

Certainly, that alone was a fascinating tale, more than enough to satisfy one’s curiosity.

But how could one possibly overlook a topic teeming with such intriguing details?

Iserin couldn’t just let this slide; she clung to Grimoire, determined to uncover the truth, using even her ace in the hole.

And Grimoire had no choice but to comply with her precious contractor’s demand, no matter how clumsy her charms were.

Through efforts of Iserin showcasing the cute antics she’d learned online—playing to Grimoire’s whims with rhythm and cheer—she uncovered—

Right. It was undeniably captivating content.

“Just scratch the surface to reveal a project disguised as one the Korean and Chinese governments are unaware of… but digging deeper shows both governments directly entangled, each counteracting and obstructing the other’s influence… creating double agents… Yeah. It’s absolutely thrilling.”

The deeper she delved, the more peculiarities arose.

Even the details rivaled those of any spy movie.

Two governments exerting indirect influence after laundrying through multiple channels, a brutal struggle to win over participants in the project, representatives so secretive they didn’t even realize they were embroiled in subterfuge, and the ensuing skirmishes and factional battles, with unsuspecting double or even triple agents being roped in.

All of it was truly fascinating.

Moreover, the fact that the two governments were entangled fueled Iserin’s drive to probe further into the matter.

A dangerous secret.

It felt like…

Indeed.

If one were to draw a comparison, it would be akin to having a ‘limited edition.’

 

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