The Mortal Evolution

Still feeling a bit sad, Hao-Yun returns to Jiwon's place and goes to his bed straight away.

In the Early morning, around 5 a.m., he is called by Squad Leader Jin.

"Yawn... Can't he find a better time to call?"

(Call pick-up)

"Hao-Yun, still sleeping, huh!"

"Sorry, it took me a bit longer to complete the procedures, but I did something extra for you."

"Extra? What exactly did you do?"

"Ahh! Why don't all these people ask before doing anything for me?"

"I talked with my seniors about your findings, which they then reported to their seniors. A small meeting was held, and it was decided that the government has deemed you a valuable asset for the country and has given you special permission to enter any of those portals as long as you properly report about your future findings."

"Ah! I'm really sorry! I take all those words back!" He thought.

"Is that so? I don't think I did something that praiseworthy, but still, if it has already been decided, I just gladly accept it."

"Yeah-Yeah! Accept it! Accept it! There's no need for any reservation!"

"So, can I just enter any portal from now on?"

"No-no, that won't do. People don't know who you are, so the government has prepared an identity proof for you. Just wear it, and no one will ask you anything."

"Where could I get that identity proof?"

"Hmm... Just send me your address, I'll make sure it is delivered to you in a few hours."

"Sure..."

(Call-cut)

Later that morning, Hao-Yun shares this news with Jiwon and Joo-na. The two become proud of him and cook a lavish breakfast.

"Mmm... Jiwon, it doesn't suit your appearance, but your cooking is really great."

"I think it's better to take it as a compliment."

"Now that I remember, have you thought about Joo-na's future, Brother Hao?"

"There's that too, right? She is still a 10-year-old... How about this?"

"Once I finish this long Task, I will enroll Joo-na in a school."

"Jiwon, in the meantime, can you search for a good and safe school?"

"Of course, Brother Hao, leave it to me!"

Pi-Po... Pi-Po... 

Suddenly, Hao-Yun received a notification on his smartphone...

"What?"

He was shocked. Evelyn has sent him his payment, but it was more than anything he received until now. He kept his voice quiet, didn't let anyone know what happened. He changed his facial expression to normal in a split second, but his mind was all over the place.

[Bank Balance: 140,000,000,000]

"Once! Tens... Million... Billion... Ten Billion... Hundred Billion!!"

"The Heck? 140 billion won? (Approx 100 million USD)"

"I think that's normal for an American Business Tycoon."

"But, now that I think... aren't these just numbers?"

"When I didn't have money, I didn't think much about it. Now I have billions of Wons, I still don't think of it much."

"Like, in this chaos, even having Trillions can't save me if I don't keep completing System Tasks."

Money had become a source of trading for just a few things for Hao-Yun. It holds no particular power. The only power that could protect him was his own power, the power that he gained from completing his Tasks. This was the new reality, and Hao-Yun found it easy to accept. He wasn't the same Hao-Yun anymore, who was overjoyed when Jiwon gave him his first payment.

Ding-Dong...

Someone was ringing the doorbell. Jiwon went to see who it was.

"Yes, yes, I'm coming..."

"Sir, we have a parcel for Mr. Hao-Yun."

"You don't look like a delivery man, yet you claim to have a parcel for Brother Hao?"

"No matter how I look, it's too suspicious..."

"You're right, sir. We're not deliverymen. We are government employees, here to deliver a parcel from the government for Mr. Hao-Yun."

"Wait... I'll call Brother Hao."

"Brother Hao!! Brother Hao!! Someone's here to deliver a parcel for you."

"Ah! So you have come, Squad Leader Jin said it would be delivered in a few hours, but still, the speed is amazing."

"Turns out you were actual government employees, huh. I doubted you were here to rob us."

"Ha Ha Ha... There's no way we could do something like that."

The employees left, and Hao-Yun opened the parcel Box. Inside it were a lot of protective air fillers, a small but premium-looking badge, and a letter.

The Badge was jet black and shiny, but the moment he touched it, he found it somewhat familiar. Immediately, Hao-Yun opened the letter.

"Mr. Hao Yun, I'm sure you have already heard about your special privilege. Besides that, we have prepared this Badge for you that will work as your new identity as an Honorary Commander of the Dimensional Nexus worlds Exploration team. It will give you an authority higher than that of a Squad leader."

"The Badge is made out of the Black Echoite Gem that you found on Orbis-9. Our research has revealed that this Gem is way more valuable than any diamond of the same size and purity. It can store 10 times the energy of an industrial storage battery from any source. It's super durable and soft at the same time, which makes it great for being used in new technologies."

"In the end, we just want to express our gratitude towards you and hope you continue to discover many more things."

"Wow... The government is buttering me too much... Am I really that special..."

"Nah, from yesterday night's experience, I can't say that."

"Anyways, since I got my identity proof, let's head to the second world."

"Ah, but before that, Joo-na, come here for a bit."

"Yes, Big Brother Hao-Yun, what is it?"

"Give me your hand."

"My hand? like this..."

"Here... It is a souvenir from another world."

"Wha... What is this? It's like the slime from that cartoon! So, squishy..."

"Don't lose it, okay... It's way more valuable than any diamond."

"What? Brother Hao, are you speaking the truth?"

"Yeah, that's what the government told me."

"Here, this bag has more than 50 of these. Keep it safe for me."

"Brother! How can we keep something so precious like this?"

"It should be stored in the world's most secure safe..."

"I'm working to get that 'very' safe, you know?"

"What did you say?"

"Nothing! Just keep it safe for a month and everything will be fine."

"Are you going again, Big Brother??"

"Don't worry, Joo-na, it's just a month's work. After that, we will enroll you in a school. And don't forget about our house."

"Oh, yes. Don't worry, Big Brother Hao-Yun, you do your best in your work, and I will do my best in my work."

"Your work?"

"My work is to become able to cook good dishes for Big Brother."

"Hmm... Do your best! But don't overdo it!"

With that, Hao-Yun left for the next portal. Since he could enter any of them, He chose the one that was nearest to his location.

On the site, there were a lot of barricades and army officers guarding the portal. Without caring about them, Hao-Yun began walking in.

"Wait a minute, Mister. Where do you think you are going?"

"In that portal...?"

"Are you messing with me? No one is allowed to come near these portals, and you are walking in so arrogantly. You have some good guts, huh."

"What are you talking about? Me... Arrogant?"

One of the soldiers noticed the badge on Hao-Yun's T-shirt.

"Sir... wait a minute."

"What happened? Why are you stopping me? Do you know this person?"

"No, I mean, look at his Badge, it's that one."

"Huh... Oh! I'm so sorry, sir, I didn't know you were the Honorary Commander, please forgive this insolent one."

"Sure... It's no problem, you are also doing your duty after all."

"Such a nice person, on top of it, I've heard you are so strong. It's no doubt they chose you for this role."

"Please come this way, sir."

Hao-Yun stepped through the portal, entering the new nexus world.

He expected the same coldness as Orbis-9, but there was nothing except silence.

He looked at the surroundings. The sky was colored with unnatural hues. A rift of violet and silver had torn an opening for light to come.

No sun could be seen there, just that throbbing tear in the Eden, as if the sky itself had opened it up to outstretch some light.

When he looked down. The ground was not soil, but something glass-like, flaky, and smooth.

There were a lot of glowing veins of green and cobalt that tangled the terrain like a subterranean nervous system.

Each step he took initiated a soft pulsation underneath him, as though the world were some kind of living being.