The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 211: Chapter 212: The Impossible Elixir

Seung-ho approached Ares and Ji Won with his assistant following several steps behind him.

The Director stopped in front of them.

Ji Won immediately straightened.

There was something about the presence of a senior government official that made him noticeably more nervous, especially after everything that had happened inside the dungeon.

Ares, however, remained completely calm.

He simply looked at Seung-ho.

"Mr. Yoon Tae-ho. Mr. Han Ji Won."

Seung-ho gave them a formal nod.

"I apologize for approaching you immediately after your return, but there are several matters that require clarification."

Ji Won swallowed.

"Are... are we in trouble?"

Ares glanced at him.

Ji Won immediately lowered his voice.

"I mean, did we perhaps become suspects of the Administration?"

Seung-ho shook his head.

"Absolutely not. You have committed no known violation, and there is currently no reason to treat either of you as suspects."

Ji Won visibly relaxed.

"I’m relieved to hear that."

Seung-ho continued.

"My responsibility as Director of the Gate Management Bureau is to oversee Gate-related incidents and ensure that situations involving Awakeners are properly investigated. As part of the Korean Awakening Administration, I am also required to report unusual incidents directly to the Chairman."

His gaze briefly shifted toward Ares.

"The Dungeon Shift you experienced was an extremely unusual event, and the circumstances surrounding your survival have naturally attracted the attention of the Administration."

Ares nodded.

"I understand."

Seung-ho paused before continuing.

"However, I am not here to interrogate either of you."

He spoke calmly.

"If it is acceptable to you, Chairman Kang would like to speak with both of you personally."

Ji Won’s expression changed.

"The Chairman?"

Seung-ho nodded.

"Yes."

Ji Won glanced toward Ares.

"Is that... necessary?"

"The Chairman simply wants to discuss several important matters with you. Nothing more."

Ares smiled faintly.

"Very well."

He looked at Seung-ho.

"We shall meet the Chairman."

Seung-ho nodded.

"Thank you for cooperating."

He gestured toward the road.

"Please follow me. The vehicle is waiting nearby, and we should arrive shortly."

Ares and Ji Won followed him.

---

It was already afternoon by the time they left the hunting zone.

The city had gradually returned to its usual rhythm, although the security measures surrounding the dungeon remained considerably stricter than normal.

Ares walked beside Ji Won while Seung-ho and his assistant walked a short distance ahead.

Ji Won lowered his voice.

"Tae-ho."

"Hm?"

"Are you sure this is okay?"

Ares glanced at him.

"Why wouldn’t it be?"

"The Chairman wants to meet us personally."

Ji Won looked toward Seung-ho.

"That’s not something that happens to ordinary E-Rank Awakeners."

Ares smiled.

"Then perhaps you should stop thinking of us as ordinary E-Rank Awakeners."

Ji Won stared at him.

"You say things like that far too casually."

"I wasn’t joking."

Ji Won sighed.

"I know."

They continued walking.

A short while later, they arrived at a large modern building located in one of the more upscale districts of Seoul.

At first glance, it looked like a luxury hotel or a high-end private club rather than a government facility.

The entrance was elegant but discreet, with several security personnel stationed nearby.

Seung-ho led them through a private entrance rather than the main lobby.

They entered a secured elevator.

The doors closed.

A few moments later, the elevator opened onto a quiet upper floor.

Seung-ho stepped out first.

"Please follow me."

They walked through a private corridor before arriving at a large room.

The door opened.

Inside was a comfortable private meeting room.

Two long sofas faced one another across a large table positioned in the center. The room was decorated simply, with warm lighting, several shelves, and a large window overlooking the city.

Someone was already waiting inside.

An elderly man stood from one of the sofas.

Despite his age, the man’s posture remained remarkably straight.

There was no unnecessary movement in the way he stood.

Ares immediately understood.

’So this is the Chairman.’

He quietly activated True Sight.

The information that appeared confirmed his suspicion.

The man’s body had aged considerably, but the magical structure within him remained unusually stable.

His mana pathways were exceptionally refined.

The traces of his former combat ability were still deeply embedded within his body.

’He must have been a fighter before retiring.’

’His body isn’t that of an ordinary seventy-year-old.’

’He’s probably spent decades refining his physical abilities and mana control.’

’Even now, he’s considerably stronger than I expected.’

Ares deactivated True Sight.

The elderly man smiled politely.

"Welcome."

He stepped forward.

"My name is Kang Dong-wook."

He extended his hand.

"I am the Chairman of the Korean Awakening Association."

Ares shook his hand.

"Yoon Tae-ho."

Dong-wook nodded.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you."

Ji Won immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Han Ji Won, Chairman."

Dong-wook returned the greeting.

"Please, both of you, have a seat."

Ares and Ji Won sat down on one sofa.

Dong-wook took the opposite seat.

Seung-ho remained standing beside the Chairman, while his assistant quietly positioned himself near the entrance.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Dong-wook eventually leaned forward slightly.

"I’ll get straight to the point."

His expression became serious.

"I received Director Han’s report regarding the Dungeon Shift."

Ji Won’s shoulders tightened.

Dong-wook looked toward Ares.

"And I have also received several additional reports concerning the two of you."

Ares remained calm.

Dong-wook studied him carefully.

"Mr. Yoon."

"Hm?"

"You’re really not an E-Rank Awakener, are you?"

Ares answered without hesitation.

"That’s correct."

Ji Won’s eyes widened.

"Tae-ho..."

He lowered his voice.

"You didn’t need to tell him that so casually."

Ares glanced at him.

"Why not?"

Ji Won didn’t know how to answer.

Dong-wook, meanwhile, remained silent for several seconds.

Then he sighed.

"I appreciate the honesty."

He adjusted his posture.

"We still haven’t determined your actual identity, Mr. Yoon, but our investigation has confirmed one important fact."

Ares looked at him.

"You’re Korean."

Ares nodded.

"That’s correct."

Dong-wook continued.

"Beyond that, your background remains unusually difficult to verify."

He didn’t sound accusatory.

Simply cautious.

"However, your identity is not the primary reason I requested this meeting."

Ares waited.

"There is another matter."

Dong-wook turned toward Ji Won.

"Mr. Han."

Ji Won immediately straightened.

"Yes, Chairman?"

"Yesterday, the Association received a report from the hospital regarding your father."

Ji Won’s expression changed.

He already knew where this was going.

Dong-wook continued.

"The report stated that his condition has improved far beyond what the medical staff believed possible."

Ji Won lowered his gaze.

"Yes."

"The doctors were unable to identify the cause."

Ji Won remained silent.

Dong-wook looked at him.

"So I would like to ask you directly."

He paused.

"How was your father’s Mana Paralysis Syndrome cured?"

Ji Won hesitated.

His eyes instinctively moved toward Ares.

Ares gave him a faint smile.

"It’s alright."

Ji Won swallowed.

Then he looked toward the Chairman.

"Tae-ho gave me an elixir."

Dong-wook’s expression changed slightly.

"An elixir?"

Ji Won nodded.

"He told me it could cure illnesses and diseases."

The room became silent.

Seung-ho’s expression changed as well.

Even the assistant looked toward Ares with renewed interest.

Dong-wook spoke carefully.

"An elixir capable of curing Mana Paralysis Syndrome."

"Yes."

"Where did you obtain such an item?"

Ares answered simply.

"I happened to have it."

Dong-wook blinked.

"You happened to have it?"

Ares nodded.

"Yes."

The Chairman slowly leaned back.

"I have spent more than half a century involved with Awakener research and combat."

His tone remained calm.

"In all that time, I have never encountered an item capable of curing Mana Paralysis Syndrome completely."

He looked directly at Ares.

"Professional doctors and researchers have spent years attempting to understand the disease. They have developed methods of slowing its progression, stabilizing the patient’s condition, and reducing the severity of the symptoms, but no reliable cure has been discovered."

He paused.

"Yet your elixir appears to have restored your friend’s father completely."

Ares remained silent.

Dong-wook continued.

"That makes the origin of the elixir extremely important."

He folded his hands.

"If such an item could be reproduced, it could potentially change the lives of thousands of people suffering from the same disease."

Ji Won lowered his head.

The Chairman’s expression softened slightly.

"That is why I would like to know how it was made."

Ares sighed internally.

’If I tell them the ingredients, they’ll only discover another problem.’

’Most of those materials don’t exist in this world.’

’Even if they knew exactly what was required, where would they obtain them?’

Dong-wook waited.

Ares finally spoke.

"I’m sorry."

The Chairman’s expression became more attentive.

"But even if I tell you the ingredients, you won’t be able to reproduce the elixir here."

Seung-ho’s eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

Ares looked toward him.

"Because the materials cannot be found in this world."

The room became completely silent.

Dong-wook stared at him.

"Cannot be found?"

"That’s correct."

The Chairman’s expression became serious.

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

Ares answered calmly.

"I mean that several of the ingredients required to create the elixir simply do not exist anywhere on Earth."

Dong-wook exchanged a brief glance with Seung-ho.

"Which ingredients?"

Ares thought for a moment.

Then he began listing them.

"First, a Dragon Heart."

The Chairman’s expression immediately changed.

"A Dragon Heart?"

Ares nodded.

"The heart of a genuine high-ranking dragon. It contains concentrated life force and is used as the primary catalyst."

Seung-ho remained silent.

Ares continued.

"Second, Earth Dragon Blood."

Dong-wook’s brow furrowed.

"Earth Dragon?"

"Yes."

"The blood of an Earth Dragon is required to stabilize the life force within the elixir."

Ares paused.

"Third, Mandragora."

The Chairman immediately recognized the name.

"Mandragora?"

"Yes."

"That plant doesn’t exist in our current botanical records."

"Because it doesn’t grow here."

Ares continued.

"Fourth, Mermaid Tears."

Seung-ho’s expression became increasingly difficult to read.

"M-mermaid Tears?"

"Pure tears from a true Mermaid. They possess regenerative properties that ordinary magical medicines cannot replicate."

Ares raised another finger.

"Fifth, a Phoenix Feather."

Dong-wook’s eyes widened

"The feather of a genuine Phoenix is required to restore damaged biological structures and purge diseases that have already reached the patient’s organs."

Ares continued.

"Sixth, Moonlight Lotus."

Dong-wook remained silent.

"It is a rare flower that blooms only under the light of a full moon in regions with exceptionally high mana density."

Ares raised another finger.

"Seventh, World Tree Sap."

The Chairman’s expression became increasingly stunned.

"The sap of the World Tree is required to stabilize the elixir and prevent the restored body from rejecting the changes."

He paused.

"Eighth, Celestial Dew."

Seung-ho frowned.

"What is that?"

"Water condensed from the atmosphere of a celestial realm."

Ares answered casually.

"It’s extremely difficult to obtain."

Dong-wook stared at him.

Ares continued.

"Ninth, a Heartroot Crystal."

He looked toward the Chairman.

"It is a mineral formed from the crystallized life force of ancient magical beasts."

"Tenth, Starfall Herb."

Ares paused.

"It only grows in places where fragments of celestial energy have fallen to the earth."

The room remained silent.

Dong-wook finally spoke.

"You’re certain those are the ingredients?"

"Of course."

Ares gave him a calm look.

"Why would I lie about that?"

The Chairman remained silent for several seconds.

His expression was a mixture of shock and confusion.

"Dragon Heart."

He repeated the first ingredient.

"Earth Dragon Blood. Mandragora. Mermaid Tears. Phoenix Feather. Moonlight Lotus. World Tree Sap. Celestial Dew. Heartroot Crystal. Starfall Herb."

He slowly shook his head.

"Even if we wanted to reproduce this medicine, several of those materials have no known existence on Earth."

"Exactly."

Ares nodded.

Dong-wook leaned back.

"Then there is no practical way for our researchers to reproduce the elixir."

"Not here."

Ares paused.

"But I can understand why you’d want to try."

Dong-wook looked toward him.

"May I ask something else?"

"Go ahead."

"Did you make the elixir yourself?"

Ares shook his head.

"No."

That answer surprised them.

"Then where did you obtain it?"

"I found it inside a dungeon."

Dong-wook’s eyes narrowed.

"Inside a dungeon?"

"Yes."

Ares smiled faintly.

"It was simply something I happened to find."

Seung-ho’s expression became complicated.

Another impossible coincidence.

Another extraordinary item.

And another explanation that somehow remained technically plausible.

Dong-wook was silent for a long time.

Then he spoke.

"I see."

He folded his hands.

"Then I suppose I have no choice but to accept that the exact origin of the elixir is something you intend to keep private."

Ares nodded.

"That’s correct."

Dong-wook didn’t appear offended.

Instead, he considered something else.

"Then allow me to make you an offer."

Ares raised an eyebrow.

"An offer?"

"Yes."

Dong-wook leaned forward.

"You possess power far beyond your registered classification."

Ares remained silent.

"The incident at the Dungeon Shift has already demonstrated that."

The Chairman continued.

"You were able to survive inside a transformed A-Rank dungeon, and according to the reports we’ve received, you also possess abilities that may place you at or above the level of an S-Rank Awakener."

Seung-ho remained silent beside him.

Dong-wook continued.

"And now we know that you possess an elixir capable of curing a disease that our entire medical community has failed to cure."

He paused.

"Someone with your abilities could provide extraordinary assistance to South Korea."

Ares looked at him.

"In exchange for what?"

Dong-wook smiled faintly.

"I am proposing cooperation with the Korean Awakening Association."

Ji Won looked toward Ares.

The Chairman continued.

"You would not be required to become a government employee."

Ares’s expression remained neutral.

"You would retain your independence."

Dong-wook placed one hand on the table.

"But you would be granted official cooperation status."

"What does that involve?"

"Access to classified Gate information."

Dong-wook continued.

"Priority access to high-ranking Gates."

"Government support when necessary."

"Access to specialized facilities and research resources."

"Medical services."

"Transportation."

"Legal protection during authorized Awakener operations."

He paused.

"And financial compensation."

"In addition, the Association would provide you with a luxury apartment in Seoul, a vehicle, full maintenance and insurance coverage, and a substantial annual allowance."

Seung-ho added,

"You would also receive priority access to government-approved dungeon operations and emergency transportation whenever necessary."

Dong-wook nodded.

"There would be other benefits as well, including access to private training facilities, specialized equipment, and certain privileges normally reserved for high-ranking national Awakeners."

Ares listened quietly.

The Chairman’s expression became more serious.

"But the most important part is not the money."

He looked directly at Ares.

"South Korea is facing a threat that our current forces may not be capable of containing."

Ares’s expression changed slightly.

"The Seoul S-Rank Gate."

Dong-wook nodded.

"Exactly."

He turned toward Seung-ho.

"Director Han has already informed me of your involvement in the recent dungeon incident."

Seung-ho nodded.

"Yes."

Dong-wook returned his gaze to Ares.

"The Seoul S-Rank Gate has remained unresolved for more than a year. Multiple operations have failed, and the remaining time before its stability threshold is becoming dangerously short."

He paused.

"We are preparing another operation."

Ares listened.

"This time, we may need international assistance."

Dong-wook’s voice became heavier.

"But even with additional S-Rank Awakeners, there is no guarantee that we will succeed."

’Of course, there’s no way they’ll be able to defeat those four calamity bosses.’

He leaned slightly forward.

"Your abilities could change that."

Ares remained silent.

Dong-wook continued.

"You can move at a level comparable to, or potentially beyond, an S-Rank Awakener."

"Your summoning ability has demonstrated power beyond an ordinary S-Rank boss."

"And if the reports are accurate, your combat ability is only one part of what you possess."

He paused.

"Someone like you could be the difference between successfully clearing that Gate and watching Seoul become a disaster zone."

Ares looked toward the Chairman.

"And what exactly would you expect from me?"

Dong-wook answered immediately.

"Assistance."

He remained composed.

"You would participate in high-level Gate operations when you consider it necessary, provide support during national emergencies, and cooperate with the Association when a threat exceeds what our ordinary forces can handle."

Ares considered the proposal.

"And if I refuse?"

"You remain free."

Dong-wook’s answer was immediate.

"I have no intention of forcing you."

He leaned back.

"You have already demonstrated that attempting to control someone with your abilities would be both unreasonable and counterproductive."

Ares smiled faintly.

"That’s a sensible answer."

Dong-wook nodded.

"I would prefer cooperation to coercion."

He paused.

"And there is one final matter."

Ares looked at him.

"If you possess other medicines, artifacts, or abilities that could benefit humanity, I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss them."

Ares remained silent for a moment.

’They really are desperate.’

He glanced toward Ji Won.

Then back toward the Chairman.

’Even if I wanted to help them reproduce the elixir, the ingredients would be impossible to obtain here.’

’As for the Seoul Gate...’

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