# Chapter Fourteen:
Park Ji-hoon and Kim Yu-ri returned to Kang Jin-woo after two days, their faces pale and their eyes carrying shadows of the dark places they had been forced to visit. They had gathered a list of rumors and strange stories, most of them mere ravings from drug addicts or folk tales from the slums. But there were a few threads that seemed promising.
"We found several places people speak of with fear, Mr. Kang," said Kim Yu-ri, her voice steady despite the obvious fatigue in her eyes. "An abandoned old cemetery in the suburbs, an unfinished train tunnel said to be haunted by workers who died during construction, and a burned textile factory where the victims' spirits are rumored to still wander."
Park Ji-hoon, who was still trembling slightly, presented a map of the city with markings indicating these locations. "Some of these places... people say those who enter never return, or return insane."
Jin-woo looked at the map, a cold smile on his face. "Excellent. This is exactly what I was looking for." Then he looked at his followers. "Did you encounter any problems while gathering this information? Did anyone notice you?"
"We were careful, sir," said Yu-ri. "We talked to people in cheap bars, and to the homeless. We didn't reveal your identity or the reason for our search."
"Good," said Jin-woo. "I don't want any unnecessary attention at the moment." He gave them more money. "Rest now. I may need you again soon."
After they left, Jin-woo studied the map carefully. These locations were like a delicious menu to him. Each one was a potential opportunity to find "lost souls" or other shadow entities to feed on, and to increase his "shadow affinity."
But he also knew he couldn't rely solely on random hunting. He needed a deeper understanding of the hidden world he was beginning to discover. He needed more knowledge, and more tools.
He decided it was time to visit the librarian again. The "Tomes of Eternal Night" was still locked, and he hoped the librarian could provide some guidance on how to accelerate the process of opening it, or perhaps offer new challenges that could help raise his stats.
The next day, Jin-woo headed to the old book district. The place looked as it always did, enchanting in a strange and disturbing way. He found the abandoned "Ink and Soul" shop and offered a small tribute (a trivial artifact he had stolen from one of the stalls in the Spirit Market) to the hidden gateway. The wooden panel slid inward, and Jin-woo entered the hidden library of secrets.
The librarian was sitting in his usual place, surrounded by books and shadows. "You've returned sooner than I expected again," said the librarian, his voice carrying a note of amusement. "Have you already exhausted the wisdom of the 'Tomes of Eternal Night'? Or are you simply unable to resist my personal charm?"
"The book is still locked," Jin-woo said coldly. "My stats aren't high enough yet. I was wondering if you had any suggestions to speed up this process."
The librarian laughed. "Patience is a virtue, young psychopath. But I understand your enthusiasm. Knowledge is power, and you seem very thirsty for power." He paused for a moment, as if thinking. "There are ways, of course. Ways beyond simply killing small monsters in dark alleys."
"I'm listening," said Jin-woo.
"This city, Kang Jin-woo, is not just a collection of buildings and streets. It's a living organism, breathing secrets and lies. Beneath the quiet surface of daily life, there's a complex network of secret organizations, dark conspiracies, and ancient entities manipulating the strings from behind the scenes." The librarian gestured to a strange star map hanging on one of the walls, which Jin-woo hadn't noticed before. "Each point of light on this map represents a power, or a secret, or a lie waiting to be uncovered."
"And what does this have to do with me?" asked Jin-woo.
"Everything," said the librarian. "If you want to become stronger, and to unlock the secrets of the 'Tomes of Eternal Night,' you must dive into this network. You must learn how to play the game of lies and deception. You must become part of the shadows that rule this city."
"Are you suggesting I become a spy?" asked Jin-woo, a sarcastic smile on his face.
"Spy, assassin, manipulator, con artist..." said the librarian. "Names don't matter. What matters are results. There's a small secret organization known as the 'Collectors of Forgotten Truths.' They're obsessed with uncovering secrets and conspiracies, and they often put themselves in extremely dangerous situations. I think you might find their work... inspiring."
"Collectors of Forgotten Truths..." Jin-woo repeated the name. "And where do I find them?"
"They don't have a headquarters," said the librarian. "They're a loose network of individuals who share the same obsession. But I know that one of them, a former investigator named Choi Min-joon, is currently investigating a series of strange disappearances in the harbor area. Disappearances he believes are linked to a new and dangerous cult trying to summon something ancient and dark."
"Another cult?" said Jin-woo, his eyes gleaming with interest. "This sounds familiar."
"This cult, which calls itself the 'Sons of Bloody Dawn,' is much more organized and dangerous than that small group of fools you dealt with before," warned the librarian. "They are fanatics and willing to do anything for their dark god. And Investigator Choi is getting very close to exposing them, which makes him a target."
"And what do you want me to do?" asked Jin-woo. "Do you want me to protect this investigator? Or help him with his investigation?"
"I want you to do what you do best," said the librarian with a mysterious smile. "Infiltrate, observe, manipulate. Discover what this cult knows, and what they're trying to summon. If you can help Investigator Choi in the process, that's good. And if you decide he's an obstacle that needs to be removed, that's also your choice. What matters to me is the information you'll gather, and the experiences you'll gain. Every secret you uncover, every lie you expose, will bring you one step closer to understanding the 'Tomes of Eternal Night'."
[New mission suggested by the Librarian: "Web of Lies".]
[Description: Investigate the activities of the "Sons of Bloody Dawn" cult in the harbor area. Discover their goals, and what they're trying to summon. You can choose to help Investigator Choi Min-joon, work alone, or even manipulate both sides for your own benefit.]
[Potential Reward: Valuable information, increase in stats (especially Intelligence and Perception), progress in understanding the "Path of Shadow," gaining new allies or enemies.]
[Warning: This mission is extremely dangerous. The "Sons of Bloody Dawn" cult is powerful and merciless. And Investigator Choi may not be friendly toward your interventions.]
Jin-woo thought about it. A mission involving infiltration, manipulation, and conspiracies. This seemed more interesting than just hunting ghosts in abandoned buildings. And it could be a good opportunity to test his growing skills in a more challenging environment.
"I accept," said Jin-woo. "Where do I find this Investigator Choi?"
The librarian provided him with some basic information about Investigator Choi, and about the places he frequents in the harbor area. He also gave him a small token, a metal piece with a strange engraving. "If you meet other members of the 'Collectors of Forgotten Truths,' they might recognize this token. And they might be willing to help you... or they might see you as a competitor."
Jin-woo took the token, feeling its coldness in his hand. "Thank you for this opportunity," he said to the librarian. "I'll make sure the results are... entertaining."
"I expect nothing less," said the librarian. "Now go. The web of lies awaits you. And remember, everything has a price."
Jin-woo left the hidden library of secrets and returned to the streets of the city. He had a new mission, and a new goal. The harbor area, a dangerous cult, a stubborn investigator, and a web of lies waiting to be woven or torn apart.
A cold, wide smile spread across his face. This game was getting better and better.