The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 201: Chapter 202: A Discreet Invitation

The headquarters of the South Korea Awakening Administration was already busy that morning.

Most of the ordinary administrative work had already begun, with officials moving between departments and staff preparing reports for the day’s meetings. However, deep within the building, inside a restricted conference room reserved for senior officials, Chairman Kang Dong-wook sat across from Director Han Seung-ho.

Neither man spoke for several moments.

A medical report was displayed across the large screen between them.

At the center of the report was a single name.

Han Do-hyun.

Dong-wook slowly leaned back in his chair.

"This is difficult to reconcile with everything we currently understand about Mana Paralysis Syndrome."

Seung-ho remained standing beside the display.

"Yes."

The Chairman’s eyes remained fixed on the medical records.

"His condition had progressed to the point where the hospital classified him as a terminal-stage patient."

"Correct."

"The neurological damage was considered irreversible."

"Yes."

"And yet every examination conducted after his recovery indicates that the damage is gone."

Seung-ho changed the display.

Several medical scans appeared.

"Not merely reduced, Chairman. Gone."

Dong-wook’s expression became more serious.

"The hospital repeated the examinations?"

"Multiple times."

"Independent equipment?"

"Three separate diagnostic systems were used, followed by a manual examination conducted by specialists who had treated him previously."

Seung-ho paused.

"All of them reached the same conclusion."

Dong-wook looked at the scans.

"Complete recovery."

"Complete recovery."

The Chairman remained silent for several seconds.

Then he spoke.

"That alone would already justify an investigation."

Seung-ho nodded.

"Agreed."

"But what concerns me is the timing."

Seung-ho looked toward him.

"The recovery occurred shortly after Han Ji Won began working closely with Yoon Tae-ho."

"Yes."

Dong-wook’s fingers rested against the table.

"We already have an unexplained increase in Ji Won’s capabilities, and the incident involving the Dungeon Shift."

Seung-ho nodded.

"And now his father has recovered from a disease that has resisted every conventional treatment developed during the past decade."

Dong-wook’s expression hardened.

"Three unusual events surrounding the same two individuals."

"That is why I requested this meeting."

Seung-ho brought up another document.

"The hospital staff initially believed the recovery might have been a temporary stabilization."

Dong-wook glanced toward him.

"But that theory was eliminated."

"Yes."

Seung-ho changed the display again.

"His mana circulation remains stable. There is no abnormal fluctuation, no residual corruption, and no evidence that the disease has merely entered a dormant state."

He paused.

"The doctors have also confirmed that his organs have returned to a condition comparable to that of a healthy adult."

Dong-wook’s eyes narrowed.

"Comparable?"

Seung-ho hesitated briefly.

"Actually, that description may be too conservative."

He brought up another medical comparison.

"His physical condition has improved beyond what would normally be expected even from a healthy patient of his previous age."

Dong-wook stared at the screen.

"So the treatment did more than remove the disease."

"It appears so."

"How much younger?"

"The hospital hasn’t been able to determine an exact biological age."

Seung-ho looked at the report.

"But based on physical examination, muscular condition, organ function, and cellular health, the doctors believe his body now resembles that of a man several decades younger."

Dong-wook slowly exhaled.

"That makes the incident considerably more significant."

"It does."

The Chairman looked down at the report.

"Did the medical team recover anything that could identify the treatment?"

"No."

Seung-ho shook his head.

"There was no remaining sample, no pharmaceutical packaging, and no registered prescription."

"Then the hospital has no physical evidence."

"None."

Dong-wook nodded slowly.

"Yet they know something was administered."

"Han Ji Won stated that his father received a medicine."

"From Yoon Tae-ho."

Seung-ho’s expression remained serious.

"That’s what Ji Won told the doctors."

Dong-wook remained silent.

Then he looked toward another document.

"Have you reviewed the hospital’s surveillance records?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"The relevant footage has been preserved."

Seung-ho brought up the security report.

"Ji Won entered the hospital carrying a small container. The footage confirms that he entered his father’s room with Yoon Tae-ho."

Dong-wook’s expression changed slightly.

"They were both there."

"Yes."

"What happened afterward?"

"According to the footage, they remained inside the room for some time. No medical personnel entered during the critical period."

Seung-ho paused.

"Afterward, the medical staff were called because Han Do-hyun’s condition had changed dramatically."

Dong-wook looked at him.

"Did the footage capture the administration of the substance?"

"Partially."

Seung-ho’s expression became more cautious.

"The camera does not provide a clear view of what was administered. Ji Won and Tae-ho were positioned in a way that obstructed the relevant portion of the room."

Dong-wook’s eyes narrowed.

"Convenient."

"Perhaps."

Seung-ho immediately clarified.

"But I don’t believe we should interpret that as intentional concealment without evidence."

Dong-wook nodded.

"Agreed."

He looked back at the medical report.

"We should remain objective."

"That is why the investigation is being handled as a medical anomaly rather than a criminal investigation."

"Good."

Dong-wook paused.

"And Han Do-hyun himself?"

"He has no history of suspicious activity."

"Then leave him alone."

Seung-ho nodded.

"That was my recommendation."

The Chairman leaned back.

"Our concern is not the patient."

His gaze moved toward the name at the bottom of the report.

"It is the source of the treatment."

Seung-ho remained silent.

Dong-wook continued.

"If such a treatment actually exists, then someone has developed a method capable of reversing Mana Paralysis Syndrome."

"Potentially."

"And if it can also restore physical deterioration..."

He paused.

"We may be looking at something considerably more valuable than a medical treatment."

Seung-ho’s expression became serious.

"It could change the entire Awakener medical industry."

"Not only that."

Dong-wook folded his hands.

"Mana Paralysis Syndrome has become one of the largest medical problems created by the appearance of Gates."

He looked toward the screen.

"Every year, more ordinary people develop symptoms because their bodies cannot adapt to the changing mana environment."

"Yes."

"Imagine what would happen if a treatment capable of completely reversing the disease became publicly available."

Seung-ho answered carefully.

"The demand would be enormous."

"That’s an understatement."

Dong-wook’s voice became heavier.

"Governments would compete for access. Pharmaceutical companies would attempt to acquire the formula. Guilds would want exclusive contracts. Wealthy individuals would pay extraordinary amounts for it."

He paused.

"And if the treatment is limited to a single source..."

Seung-ho finished the thought.

"It could create an international conflict."

"Exactly."

The room became silent.

Neither man needed to discuss the implications further.

The Chairman eventually looked toward another file.

"There’s something else."

Seung-ho nodded.

"The Second Awakening."

"Yes."

Dong-wook opened Ji Won’s assessment report.

"His original classification was E-Rank."

"Correct."

"His subsequent assessment placed him at A-Rank."

"Yes."

Dong-wook looked toward Seung-ho.

"Under normal circumstances, that would already be an exceptional case."

"It is."

"But combined with everything else..."

He didn’t finish the sentence.

Seung-ho understood.

"The possibility that his increase in strength is connected to Yoon Tae-ho cannot be excluded."

Dong-wook nodded.

"Nor can the possibility that the same source is responsible for his father’s recovery."

Seung-ho looked toward the display.

"That would mean Tae-ho possesses access to abilities or resources that are completely outside the scope of his official classification."

"Which brings us back to the same problem."

Dong-wook closed the file.

"We don’t know what he is capable of."

Seung-ho remained silent.

The Chairman looked toward him.

"Have there been any additional reports of unexplained medical recoveries?"

"None that we’ve confirmed."

"Unconfirmed?"

"There are several cases where patients experienced unusual fluctuations in mana circulation, but nothing comparable to Han Do-hyun’s recovery."

"There are several cases where patients experienced unusual fluctuations in mana circulation, but nothing comparable to Han Do-hyun’s recovery."

Dong-wook nodded slowly.

"Continue monitoring those cases, but don’t allow the medical investigation to become centered around unverified similarities. Han Do-hyun’s recovery is the only confirmed case we have, and until we have evidence connecting it to a broader phenomenon, we should treat it separately."

"Understood."

Seung-ho closed the medical file and placed it neatly beside the others.

For several seconds, neither man spoke.

Then Seung-ho opened another report.

"There is one matter we should decide before ending the meeting."

Dong-wook looked toward him.

"Yoon Tae-ho and Han Ji Won."

"Yes."

Seung-ho brought up their current activity records.

"According to the latest information, both are scheduled to participate in an A-Rank dungeon subjugation operation today."

Dong-wook studied the report.

"An A-Rank dungeon."

"That’s correct."

"Ji Won is participating as an A-Rank Awakener."

"Yes."

"And Tae-ho?"

"E-Rank Healer according to his official registration."

Dong-wook’s expression became thoughtful.

"Then we shouldn’t contact them before the operation."

"I agree."

Seung-ho nodded.

"They’re about to enter a high-risk dungeon. Interrupting them beforehand would serve no purpose, particularly when our reason for contacting them isn’t urgent."

Dong-wook leaned back slightly.

"Then we’ll wait until they return."

"That was my recommendation."

The Chairman remained silent for a moment.

Then he looked toward Seung-ho.

"How do you intend to contact them?"

Seung-ho paused.

"That is the difficult part."

Dong-wook waited.

"We could send an official notice through the Association, but that would immediately make the meeting appear more serious than it needs to be."

"Agreed."

"An official summons would be even worse. They haven’t violated any regulations, and we have no legal reason to compel either of them to appear."

Dong-wook nodded.

"We aren’t summoning them."

Seung-ho looked at the report.

"We’re inviting them."

The Chairman considered that distinction.

"How?"

"We can contact Ji Won directly through the contact information registered with the Association."

Dong-wook’s expression remained neutral.

"Would that be appropriate?"

"I believe so. He’s already an established Awakener, and we’ve had previous contact with him during the Dungeon Shift investigation."

Seung-ho paused.

"We could inform him that the Administration would like to discuss several matters concerning his recent dungeon activities and the unusual Gate incident."

Dong-wook shook his head slightly.

"Don’t make it sound like an investigation."

"Understood."

"He’s already likely to be cautious around the Administration after the Dungeon Shift."

Seung-ho nodded.

"Then the message should be simple. We request a private meeting at a neutral location and make it clear that neither of them is under investigation."

Dong-wook looked toward him.

"Would Ji Won bring Tae-ho?"

"Probably."

Seung-ho thought for a moment.

"However, we shouldn’t assume that. The invitation should be addressed to both of them separately."

"Good."

Dong-wook folded his hands.

"I want the meeting to be private."

"Of course."

"No conference room at the Administration."

Seung-ho nodded.

"I’ll arrange a private meeting room at a neutral government facility."

Dong-wook looked at him.

"Somewhere they can enter without attracting attention."

"Yes."

"And preferably somewhere outside the main Administration headquarters."

Seung-ho made a note.

"I’ll find an appropriate location."

Dong-wook remained silent for several seconds before speaking again.

"How should we explain the reason for the meeting?"

Seung-ho looked toward the reports.

"We can reference the Dungeon Shift."

"That is legitimate."

"Yes. The Administration still has unresolved questions regarding that incident, and discussing it would give us a reasonable basis for contacting them."

Dong-wook nodded.

"But don’t mention Han Do-hyun."

"Understood."

"Not in the invitation."

"Of course."

Dong-wook’s expression became serious.

"If we mention his father immediately, Tae-ho may assume we’re investigating his personal affairs."

Seung-ho nodded.

"And if he becomes suspicious, he may simply refuse the meeting."

"Exactly."

The Chairman looked toward the report containing Han Do-hyun’s medical records.

"We don’t need him to know what we’ve discovered yet."

Seung-ho understood.

"The first meeting should be about establishing communication."

"Yes."

Dong-wook leaned back.

"We need to determine what kind of person Tae-ho is before deciding how much information we should reveal."

Seung-ho nodded.

"Then the meeting should remain informal."

"Professional, but informal."

"Understood."

Dong-wook looked at the activity report again.

"They’re entering the A-Rank dungeon today."

"Yes."

"How long is the operation expected to last?"

"Several hours, or maybe 1-day depending on the dungeon’s internal conditions."

Dong-wook nodded.

"Then we’ll wait."

Seung-ho glanced toward him.

"Also monitor the situation."

"We already have response personnel assigned to the area."

"Good."

Dong-wook’s expression hardened slightly.

"If the situation inside deteriorates beyond the expected parameters, provide whatever assistance is necessary."

Seung-ho nodded.

"Understood."

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