Chapter 37: If You’re Going to Do It, Do It Properly
“So what exactly was the experiment you performed?”
Cheonjin was beginning to show real interest.
The subject was finally approaching something close to what he wanted.
“It was an experiment to analyze the brain waves produced when a person dies and create a device capable of reproducing those brain waves.”
“Why?”
Cheonjin clasped his hands and listened carefully.
“Because the brain waves produced at the moment of death can disrupt the human brain and cause insanity.”
Kim Junseop smiled.
“Japan wanted to use those brain waves to create a weapon that would drive enemy soldiers insane. Then the enemy soldiers would kill one another while Japan simply sat back and won the war.”
At the time, Japan was desperately trying to reverse its inevitable defeat.
Unit 731 became one of the centers of brutal human experimentation used to research weapons of mass destruction, including biological and chemical weapons.
“So I killed people in many different ways.”
Kim Junseop spoke as though reminiscing about pleasant memories.
“I cut them open, sliced them apart, pulled things out... Men, women, children, elderly people, pregnant women. I killed and experimented on anyone I could find.”
He chuckled.
“Kehehe. It was truly enjoyable.”
He seemed to have genuinely enjoyed the disgusting and cruel acts.
Cheonjin was uncomfortable hearing him speak, but he showed nothing on his face.
“As a result, I discovered that the brain waves produced when someone died in the greatest possible pain were the most effective.”
Kim Junseop continued.
“However, the scientific technology of that era was not advanced enough to create a machine capable of reproducing those brain waves.”
“So the research was unfinished.”
“That is correct.”
“What happened to you afterward?”
“When Japan lost the war, I was executed by firing squad so the human experiments could remain secret.”
When Kim Junseop finished speaking, Cheonjin stood and walked toward the living-room window.
“Baekhee! Come to me.”
A white spear flew down from the villa’s second floor and entered Cheonjin’s hand.
“Sorry, Baekhee. I know you were sleeping....”
Apparently, Baekhee had complained after being summoned from her sleep.
Cheonjin looked toward Kim Junseop.
“This is the White Spirit Sacred Spear, a treasure of Heaven.”
“It contains the soul power of the Jade Emperor, ruler of Heaven, and Lady Sunhwa, his queen, as well as the Dao power of Palhwang True Immortal.”
He raised the spear.
“The White Spirit Sacred Spear also possesses the ability to accept even the power of a god through possession.”
“N-Ngh....”
Kim Junseop trembled as he stared at the spear.
The White Spirit Band tied to its shaft radiated exorcising energy.
For Kim Junseop, who was only Salgwi-class, the sacred power filled him with fear.
Cheonjin looked out at the night sky.
“Can you research the energies contained within this White Spirit Sacred Spear and find a way to amplify its abilities?”
“How could someone like me, a mere doctor, possibly accomplish something like that?”
Kim Junseop answered while still trembling.
“I know that you possess a very unusual ability.”
Cheonjin turned and stared at him.
“When you possess a body, you can invade the brain and absorb the host’s knowledge.”
“That is correct. I have already absorbed all of Han Manduk’s medical knowledge.”
“I will provide you with the bodies of the most distinguished scientists in the living world.”
Cheonjin’s eyes became cold.
“If I do that, wouldn’t it become possible?”
Kim Junseop hesitated.
“...It should be possible.”
Then he quickly corrected himself.
“No. I can do it.”
He had a feeling that if he answered otherwise, Cheonjin might kill him with the terrifying White Spirit Sacred Spear.
“Good. Secretary Yang.”
“Yes, Director.”
Secretary Yang stood.
“First, we need to hide that bastard’s identity. Create a new identity for him and use plastic surgery to change his face.”
“Yes, Director.”
“Then send him to replace Doctor Kim as the chief researcher of the laboratory.”
“I will handle it as you command.”
Cheonjin briefly thought that it would have been better if he had kept Doctor Kim alive and given him to this bastard as food.
But that was already in the past.
“Mongra.”
“Yes, Director.”
“Receive a list of the scientists he requires and bring them to him as prey.”
“Understood, Director.”
Cheonjin’s orders proceeded quickly and efficiently.
Mongra’s eyes sparkled like those of a child who had just discovered an entertaining new toy.
Suddenly, Cheonjin’s expression became troubled.
“Baekhee... I’m sorry. But please endure it just this once. This truly will be the last experiment.”
Baekhee seemed to be complaining that she didn’t want to become a research subject in another laboratory.
Kim Junseop looked confused.
“Why do you want me to research something like this?”
“If the White Spirit Sacred Spear can already contain even divine power, then shouldn’t that ability alone make it nearly invincible?”
His eyes widened.
“Surely you don’t intend to make the Jade Emperor himself possess that spear?”
“I intend to place something even greater than the Jade Emperor inside it.”
“What... exactly does that mean...?”
Kim Junseop, Secretary Yang, and Mongra were all stunned.
“What do you intend to do with power that incredible?”
Kim Junseop carefully asked.
“I should at least understand that much if I am expected to conduct the research efficiently, shouldn’t I?”
Secretary Yang almost stopped him from asking such a fearless question.
Then she stopped herself.
She wanted to know the answer too.
Suddenly, white soul power began rising like smoke from Cheonjin’s body.
His suppressed rage boiled over.
Murderous intent flashed through his eyes, and veins bulged around them.
The white soul power transformed into blazing white flames that seemed ready to burn his entire body.
“N-Ngh....”
Unlike Secretary Yang and Mongra, Kim Junseop was only Salgwi-class.
A frightened groan escaped his lips.
Cheonjin’s power was not evil energy.
It was sacred power that destroyed evil spirits.
“Sorry....”
The white flames disappeared.
“For a moment, I failed to control my emotions.”
He turned back toward the night sky.
Then he answered.
“The reason I want to amplify the power of the White Spirit Sacred Spear...”
Cheonjin’s eyes hardened.
“...is because I intend to create a world without reincarnation.”
Secretary Yang, Mongra, and Kim Junseop could not understand him.
A world without reincarnation.
None of them knew what kind of world that meant.
Secretary Yang did not ask any further questions.
If Cheonjin had already said this much, she knew he would not answer anything more.
It seemed the time had not yet come.
Secretary Yang grabbed Kim Junseop by the back of the neck and dragged him away like a dog.
I decided to sleep at Aize’s house that night.
Sleeping in a luxurious apartment was definitely better than paying for another motel.
So I climbed to the upper floor of the duplex apartment and lay down on the bed.
It was soft and comfortable enough to guarantee a perfect night’s sleep.
Maybe I was more exhausted than I thought after fighting a Pokgwi all day.
I fell asleep almost immediately.
I had no idea how much time passed.
I was definitely asleep.
Yet my consciousness was strangely clear, and my chest felt heavy.
Something was pressing down on my body.
It felt like sleep paralysis.
Maybe a ghost wanted my body.
I barely managed to force my eyes open.
“Gasp!”
It wasn’t a ghost who wanted my body.
It was Aize.
