Chapter 13
Chapter 13
“So how do you feel, Mr Woo Sungyoon?”
“I’m good . In fact, I’ve never felt better . ”
Previously, as he was aging, his body had started to creak and ache . Now his body was beyond fine . He didn’t feel tired when he woke up, and he had no trouble moving his body .
“I can tell just by looking at you . You’ve become much younger in the past couple days . ”
Leemin looked at Sungyoon with envy in his eyes . Leemin was over 50 years old, and he was approaching his 60s . He was starting to put his life in order as he was approaching the latter stages of his life . Sungyoon had regained his youth, and Leemin desperately wanted it too . He probably would give up all his accomplishments to be young again .
He wanted it, but it was impossible for him to acquire it . Leemin put aside his jealousy and got back to work .
“How much do you know about the Connectors?”
Leemin organized the chart on the computer monitor as he asked the question .
“The Moon’s Labyrinth is filled with magical energy, and this magical energy is supplied to the heart . Connectors are people capable of receiving and using magical energy . ”
“You are well informed . Most people would just tell me that Connectors are those that make a lot of money by going into the Moon’s Labyrinth . ”
“My previous business had some dealings with that sector . That is why I have a bit of knowledge about it . ”
Sungyoon’s expression hardened a little bit . When he spoke about his business, he always thought about his once-trusted friend and his b.i.t.c.h of a wife .
“I see . ”
Leemin nodded as he discreetly observed Sungyoon . Normally, Sungyoon kept his emotions tightly bottled up . However, his emotions had clearly turned for the worse .
‘Did I step on a mine?’
It made sense . If his business was doing good, he wouldn’t be sweating over the hospital bill .
“I don’t know how much detail you know, but I’ll try to give you a full run down . This is in regards to your body, so Mr Sungyoon should know about it . Are you fine with that?”
“Yes, I don’t mind . ”
In fact, Sungyoon welcomed it .
“Good . First, Mr Sungyoon’s heart has gone through a complete change, and it is now unlike a normal heart . A normal heart looks like this . ”
Leemin directed Sungyoon’s gaze towards the monitor on Leemin’s desk . The monitor screen held the image of a red heart . It was totally gross, but a familiar image . Anyone that had gone through the regular school curriculum in Korea knew what a heart looked like .
“However, for Mr Sungyoon and the other Connectors, the heart looks like this . ”
Leemin tapped a couple of keys on the keyboard, and the image on the screen changed . An object that clearly did not look like a heart was shown on the screen . It wasn’t organic at all .
It was a pink shaped object, and at a glance, one might mistake it for a heart . However, compared to a normal heart, different materials had been used in the making of this object . It was reflecting light from its surroundings and sparkling . Instead of an organic matter, it looked to be some kind of an ore . It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it looked like a gem .
Leemin pointed at the image on the monitor as he spoke .
“This is the state of your heart right now . This is the heart of a Connector . ”
Sungyoon stared at the monitor .
“A lot is still unknown in regard to the heart of a Connector . It can perform the basic function of a regular heart like pumping blood . However, its most important function is its ability to gather the Moon’s magical energy . It acts as a form of ‘door’ . That is why the Connector’s heart is called a Gate . Those that possess this type of heart are called ‘Connectors’ . All their hearts are connected to the Moon . ”
Moon’s magical energy .
The Labyrinth was located on the moon, and it was full of magical energy . It was a form of energy that humanity had never dealt with before . It was a completely foreign power . It was unknown as to whether this power was a blessing or a curse, but only the Connectors could harness this power .
“You can talk to the experts on a later date . It’ll be more beneficial for you to learn from them on how to use that power . I do not have that information . However, I can explain what kind of changes were brought on by the effects of the ‘Moon’s magical energy’ . ”
Leemin looked at Sungyoon, who had been listening closely .
“First, Mr Sungyoon no longer needs to eat food in order to acquire energy . You don’t need to breathe either . ”
His words were surprising . Food and breathing were essential to human life . If one told someone to stop eating and breathing, it was basically telling someone to die .
“I don’t need to breathe?”
Sungyoon could not hide his surprise .
“You can try holding your breath right now . You are breathing right now out of habit . It isn’t necessary . ”
Sungyoon did as Leemin had suggested . He held his breath . A couple of seconds pa.s.sed then a minute pa.s.sed . In the past, he would feel the need to breathe at this point . However, he was comfortable right now . He didn’t show any signs of needing to breathe .
“In the first place, humans only eat three meals a day, because they need energy . They breathe and they do annoying daily upkeep for one’s body to be able to live . However, Connectors do not need to do any of that . ”
Leemin placed his hand on his own chest .
“An overwhelming amount of energy is provided from this place . ”
Sungyoon mimicked Leemin’s gesture and discreetly placed his hand over his heart .
“Of course, this doesn"t mean that you can completely stop eating food . The only thing provided by your heart is energy . You have to continue ingesting nutrients to maintain your body . This also is true for water . But at the very least, you don’t need food to generate energy that’ll maintain basic functions of your body . I’m not saying you should refrain from eating . You can eat whenever and whatever you want . It doesn’t matter . Aside from that . . . ”
Leemin looked at Sungyoon’s handsome face .
“You can feel it already, right?”
He was probably talking about the rejuvenation process . Sungyoon already knew about this phenomena, so he nodded his head .
“The ‘Moon’s magical energy’ of a Connector maintains the body at its peak performance . That is why you were given your youth back . Aside from injuries, you don’t have to worry about diseases . ”
“I knew about it, but it is something else entirely to experience it . It is truly surprising . ”
“That is understandable . I’ve seen this a couple of times before, but it is still surprising each time I witness it . Moreover, your physical abilities should have increased significantly too . If someone picks a fight with you, you have to be careful while using your fists . You might kill your opponent . ”
After he reached this point in his explanation, Leemin adjusted his posture a little bit .
“Do you have any more questions?”
“No . I have a good idea about my body now . ”
When he awakened as a Connector, Sungyoon had gained many things . However, Sungyoon’s dreary voice hadn’t changed . Although his outer appearance had changed, his low self esteem hadn’t improved . He still had a pessimistic personality .
“We’ve run most of the tests . You can leave the hospital today if you want . It won’t be long before someone from the government contacts you . You can learn how to use the Moon’s magical energy from that person . You can learn about your future from him . ”
“Thank you for everything you’ve done . ”
Sungyoon stood up then he bowed towards Leemin . Then he left the hospital .
* * *
After he came out of the hospital, he wondered what he should do . He had acquired youth and an amazing body . He was clearly in a better place than before . However, his overall situation hadn’t changed . He had failed in his business, and his debts still existed . He could try to use his abilities as a Connector to do something, but he had no idea what to do . It wasn’t as if he’ll get bonus points for putting down his status as a Connector on his resume .
The only thing he could do was to wait for the government to contact him . In the meantime, he once again started doing construction work .
Fortunately, his physical abilities had increased, so unlike before, he was able to do well in construction . In the past, he had been afraid of his pay being deducted because of his poor work . Now he received more on top of his daily salary .
Not many people recognized Sungyoon . He had a really dark personality, so he had refrained from making any friends . Of course, there were a couple people that recognized Sungyoon . They asked what had happened, but Sugyoon brushed them off and just ignored their questions . The people, who had asked the question, grumbled or they swore before leaving Sungyoon alone .
Several days pa.s.sed like that when a single call arrived on his home phone . It was the call he had been waiting for . Someone from the government had contacted him .
The next day Sungyoon got on an express bus . It felt like forever as he experienced the b.u.mpy ride of the bus . Sungyoon finally arrived at Sejon city .
After a brief walk, Sungyoon arrived in front of a building . His final destination was a government owned building .
It was quite a large building, and there were large words written on the wall . It said, ‘Office of Business and Administration for the Moon’s Labyrinth’ .
‘This place is…’
In the early days, they had been part of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy . However, they had broken off into their own branch of the government . They managed most of the business dealings with the Moon’s Labyrinth . As a Connector, it was a branch of the government Sungyoon would have to get acquainted with .
Sungyoon entered the building . There were a lot of people inside . There were other Connectors like him, and there were people that did business in regards to the Moon’s Labyrinth . These people might become Sungyoon’s ‘partners’ in the future, but he didn’t show any interest in them .
Sungyoon went to the front desk . He took a ticket, and he waited for his number .
After a brief moment, Sungyoon could hear his number being called .
“What brings you here?”
The receptionist queried Sungyoon .
“I came here after being contacted . I was told that Connectors have to register here . ”
“What is your name?”
“My name is Woo Sungyoon . ”
As part of her profession, the receptionist had seen a lot of Connectors . This was why she didn’t bat an eye when Sungyoon said he was a Connector . She clicked on her keyboard several times .
“Uh?”
Her face showed a little bit of surprise .
“Is something wrong?”
“Ah, no . It’s nothing . ”
The receptionist wiped the surprise off her face . After she put on her professional face, she spoke to Sungyoon .
“Yes, Mr Woo Sungyoon . I’ve confirmed your ident.i.ty . Please go to ‘Support’ on the 3rd floor . Please remain in the waiting room, and your case worker will come to you . ”
“Thank you . ”
Sungyoon gave a curt and unfriendly bow then he left the receptionist’s desk .
He immediately found the staircase to the upper floors . He didn’t feel tired after climbing 3 floors of stairs thanks to his increased physical abilities . It didn’t tax him at all .
He was able to find the ‘Support Department’ immediately . The entire third floor was basically the Support Department . Sungyoon searched for the waiting room . In the corner, there was a room separated from the rest of the floor with gla.s.s walls . The entrance leading into the room had a placard indicating that it was the waiting room . Sungyoon entered the room and he quietly sat in a chair .
There weren’t many people inside the waiting room . There was one impatient person bouncing his leg, and another person had his legs crossed with an arrogant expression on his face . Then, there were the others without much expression on their face as they waited for their name to be called . All kinds of people were gathered there .
Sungyoon quietly sat among them . He still didn’t think of himself as their peer, so he didn’t feel the need to talk to them .
They had nothing to do with him .
How much time had pa.s.sed? Many people left the waiting room as their names were called . Sungyoon continued to wait .
Then…
“Mr Woo Sungyoon . ”
His name was called .