Episode 254 Closed Dimension (3)
Hubert’s Trading Company, Chairman's Office.
“…Then, I’ll handle the mineral distribution as you instructed, Chairman.”
“Alright. Is that all you have to report?”
“Yes! That’s all for the urgent matters. Do you have any further instructions?”
Diana tilted her head slightly as she gathered the approved documents.
Her hair neatly braided and her attire impeccable, she was the image of a perfect secretary.
“No, that’s enough for now. Call me if anything else comes up.”
“Yes! Then I’ll be going.”
“If it’s not urgent, handle it yourself and report back later. I need some time to focus.”“Understood!”
With a stack of documents in her arms, she bowed politely and left the office, her footsteps quiet.
Click—
Alone in his office, Hubert leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
‘She’s incredibly competent. She handles almost everything herself, making my work so much easier. She’s a bit lacking in experience due to her young age, but… well, so am I. Actually, she’s much better than me.’
To be honest, Hubert's own business acumen wasn't that impressive.
He had reached his current position thanks to the financial, martial, political, and informational resources provided by his other avatars, along with a healthy dose of luck.
But Diana’s talent was the real deal.
She possessed the “Analysis” skill, which guaranteed ‘genius-level business acumen’.
‘She’s already this capable… and if I give her access to proper information…’
Those who didn’t know better were impressed by Hubert’s foresight, attributing it to his access to privileged information… but Diana’s reaction had been different.
She had reached the same conclusions as Harris, after much deliberation, through pure intuition. And she had even suggested more efficient methods based on his brief instructions, grasping his intentions instantly. ᚱἁΝǒꞖΕŚ
‘Ever since Diana became my secretary, our efficiency has skyrocketed. And her trustworthiness is impeccable.’
She was a valuable asset who could elevate Hubert’s Trading Company to new heights.
He had initially hired her for her extraordinary sense of smell, but she had turned out to be a winning investment, like a stock that had multiplied in value.
‘Diana can handle most of the work… so I should focus on this.’
He had a separate task he wanted to work on alone.
And it wasn’t related to the Trading Company.
More precisely, it wasn’t even related to this world.
Thud— Thud!
A stack of books materialized from the spatial magic tool on his wrist, piling up on the table next to him.
A faint scent of ink filled the air.
They were books from another world, bound in an unfamiliar style, their covers filled with strange characters.
He had received them through “Avatar Cloud” and stored them away…
He picked up the topmost book and used “Analysis”.
<Iron Monster Ki Cultivation>
-A secret technique of the Iron Monster Sect, classified as a dark art. When cultivated alongside external martial arts, it allows Ki to circulate through the body’s cells, promoting physical growth and strengthening the body like steel. While advantageous for external Ki manipulation, it hinders internal Ki development and limits growth potential.
-Overall Grade: C-
-Main Characteristics: Relatively low learning difficulty, fast growth rate, high external martial arts proficiency, low internal martial arts proficiency, low growth potential.
‘A dud.’
He flipped through the pages, skimming the contents, and shook his head, placing it aside.
It might be useful for quickly training low-level grunts, but he had no use for such a limited technique.
He continued sorting through the books.
He had acquired them from the Eoryong Stronghold and its leader, along with several other bandit strongholds around Dongting Lake.
‘Hmm, there are quite a few righteous sect techniques here.’
They might have been easily defeated by Harris’s surprise attack, but they were still one of the three dominant forces in the region.
They had accumulated quite a collection of secret manuals from the smaller sects they had conquered.
‘…I had higher expectations.’
But unfortunately, most of them were mediocre.
The only ones that caught his eye were the “Flood Dragon Sword Technique (A-)” and the “Whale Wave Crocodile Heart Technique (A)” he had acquired from Jin Deok-man, the leader of the Dongting Eighteen Strongholds, along with a few others.
Out of the hundreds of manuals he had collected, most were below D-rank.
‘Sigh, typical bandits. All bark and no bite.’
He frowned, sighing in disappointment.
He had already forgotten that they were once a powerful force controlling the region.
He continued his search, hoping to find something worthwhile.
His hand reached for an ancient, worn-out book, its cover faded and its title lost to time—.
“Hmm? What’s this?”
He used “Analysis”, and his eyes widened.
<Gentle Eight Trigrams Secret Art>
-A legendary manual containing the secrets of the eight trigrams, said to represent all phenomena in the world. By achieving perfect harmony with nature, one can gain infinite internal energy and manipulate the physical world. Requires deep philosophical understanding and mastery of all things, making it incredibly difficult to learn.
-Overall Grade: S
-Main Characteristics: Extremely high learning difficulty, slow growth rate, moderately high external martial arts proficiency, extremely high internal martial arts proficiency, extremely high growth potential.
It was an S-rank martial art.
‘…This is real?’
He had been complaining, but while sorting through the manuals, he had realized something.
The standards for “Analysis” were incredibly strict.
A C-rank technique was considered a valuable secret art in smaller sects, and an A-rank was a treasure even in major sects.
‘The strongest martial arts Hans encountered, excluding the Heavenly Demon Emperor, were probably around B-rank.’
He had assumed only legendary techniques like the “Heavenly Demon Divine Art” would be classified as S-rank or higher…
This was an unexpected windfall.
‘And it wasn’t even from the stronghold leader. How did such a valuable manual end up in a bandit leader’s warehouse?’
It was strange that someone who had mastered the technique wouldn’t recognize its value.
He opened the book, curious…
And then he understood why it had been neglected.
-Heaven and earth find their place, the energy of mountains and rivers flows… thunder and wind clash, and… water and fire do not oppose each other, thus the eight trigrams harmonize…
-Qian becomes the head, Kun the belly, Zhen the feet, and… Xun the legs. Kan becomes the ears, Li the eyes, Gen the hands, and Dui the mouth…
‘What is this nonsense?’
Hubert’s face twisted in confusion.
The other manuals, even the more esoteric ones, had at least made an attempt to explain their concepts clearly… but this one was filled with vague and abstract pronouncements.
And the ancient text was damaged, some characters illegible.
The bandit leader must have given up after reading a few pages.
It had probably ended up in the bookshelf because of the illustrations of human anatomy and martial arts stances.
‘Even the A-rank manuals weren’t this cryptic.’
He started reading from the beginning, determined to decipher it.
He could understand the characters thanks to “Xenoglossy”, but to truly master the technique, he had to grasp the underlying meaning.
‘I should consult the memories of other Murim returnees… Well, it’s better than nothing. This is like deciphering a code.’
He had access to several memories, so it should be possible with enough time.
It would have been much easier if Salma’s memories were intact…
“…Wait a minute.”
A thought suddenly crossed his mind.
Skills evolved based on how they were used, and their potential varied depending on the user’s proficiency.
‘If I use this properly…’
“Xenoglossy”, the supernatural ability to overcome all language barriers.
And “Analysis”, the evolved version of “Appraisal”, specialized in understanding things.
He activated both skills, focusing all his mental energy on the task.
‘This is my first harvest in Ganghwange. I have to try everything.’
He couldn’t just return empty-handed after coming all this way.
He poured all his remaining mental resources into the task, activating “Hypersensitivity” to accelerate his thoughts.
Bzzt—
His mind raced, burning through energy.
The connection between “Analysis” and “Xenoglossy” strengthened, and he began to grasp not just the literal meaning of the text, but also the underlying intentions.
He deciphered the author’s purpose, deduced the missing words, and reconstructed the complete sentences.
But it still wasn’t enough.
‘Alright, let’s go all in.’
He took a swig of the Growth Elixir he had brought from the VIP Market and continued his work.
The expensive potion was living up to its price, accelerating his progress dramatically.
‘This effect lasts for seven days?’
But he wouldn’t need that long.
About half a day after he began deciphering the cryptic text—.
《The individual meets the conditions and gains enlightenment. You have acquired the skill “Cryptography”.》
He acquired a new skill, and the once impenetrable barrier blocking his understanding crumbled.
______________________
“Whoosh— Ha—.”
Harris inhaled deeply, drawing the surrounding Ki into his lungs.
Thanks to his nature as a High Elf and his transcendental affinity, the world’s energy, which he had been partially forcing into submission, now flowed freely according to his will.
‘I see. I think I understand now.’
He nodded slowly, starting to grasp the essence of this world’s energy.
“Cryptography”, which Hubert had just acquired, was rapidly growing under the influence of the Growth Elixir, further accelerating the decryption process.
And the results were immediately applied by Harris in Ganghwange, which in turn aided Hubert’s analysis. It was a virtuous cycle.
‘Gentle Eight Trigrams Secret Art… This seems like a perfect fit for Harris.’
He had initially planned to just establish a foothold and prepare for future expansion… but this was an unexpected windfall.
He wasn’t sure yet, as the decryption wasn’t complete… but if he could master this technique and harmonize it with his existing abilities…
‘…The synergy would be incredible. I might even be able to break through this wall.’
Harris already knew.
That he had reached his limit after transcending with the World Tree’s help.
It had been the best option at the time, and his transcendence was proof of his power, making him one of the strongest in that world… but he couldn’t help but feel a sense of unfulfillment.
‘But right now, just the possibility is enough.’
He had encountered an unexpected opportunity in this new dimension.
A chance to break through his limits.
He wasn’t sure if it was just coincidence, or if there was some other reason…
He would think about it later.
“…I’ll ask again. What business do you have in our clan’s territory?”
He was currently surrounded by martial artists, their weapons drawn and their auras sharp.
It had only been a day since he left Dongting Lake.
Harris had arrived at the Zhuge Clan in Yungjung Mountain, his next target.
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