Chapter 8: The Seeds of Influence
With the immediate crisis of the first Gate somewhat contained, though the lingering fear and the horrifying images broadcast across news channels had irrevocably scarred the public consciousness, Kang Ji-hoon shifted his focus to long-term strategy. His initial data from the subway station was invaluable, providing a baseline understanding of Gate mechanics, monster behavior, and the raw potential of early awakenings. Now, he needed to leverage his unique knowledge to build a foundation of influence, not through direct power, but through the strategic control of information and resources.
His network of remote observation posts, established in the years leading up to the Gates, began to yield fruit. Several smaller, less publicized Gates materialized in the locations he had predicted, their spatial signatures echoing the patterns he had meticulously cataloged. He monitored these incursions remotely, using his advanced surveillance equipment and the evolving capabilities of his [Remote Survey] skill, gathering further data without exposing himself to unnecessary risk.
He invested a significant portion of his "Survey Points" to unlock a new active skill: [Spatial Information Network (Novice)]. This allowed him to create secure, localized mental links with specific locations or individuals he had thoroughly surveyed. It was like establishing a private, encrypted data channel within his own mind, enabling him to access information from his remote sensors and potentially even communicate discreetly with trusted individuals in the future.
His understanding of mana's interaction with the environment led to his next invention: the [Mana Resonance Detector (Portable)]. A smaller, more energy-efficient version of his rooftop analyzer, this handheld device allowed him to detect subtle fluctuations in ambient mana concentrations, even in areas without significant spatial anomalies. This would be crucial for identifying potential future Gate locations that might not exhibit strong "Spatial Echoes" in their early stages but showed a gradual build-up of mana.
Leveraging his predictive cartography and his growing understanding of resource distribution within early Gates (gleaned from his future memories and initial observations), Ji-hoon began to discreetly acquire land and establish shell corporations near predicted locations of valuable resource nodes and future high-level dungeons. His five-year head start allowed him to secure these assets at pre-Gate prices, laying the groundwork for future economic influence.
His analysis of the awakened individuals he had tagged during the first Gate incident continued. He focused on those whose abilities and potential aligned with his long-term strategic goals. He began to subtly gather publicly available information about them – their backgrounds, their motivations, their social connections – building a database of potential allies and adversaries.
Sung Jinwoo remained a particularly intriguing subject. His rapid growth in power, even in the immediate aftermath of his near-death experience, defied the typical progression of early awakenings. The chaotic interaction between the corrupted mana and his latent abilities seemed to be accelerating his evolution at an unprecedented rate. Ji-hoon maintained a cautious distance, observing his progress through news reports and discreet surveillance, recognizing his potential as a significant, albeit unpredictable, force in the future.
[His trajectory is diverging from the future echoes I remember. The System he possesses… it's far more potent than I initially understood. He could be a powerful asset… or a significant threat.]
Ji-hoon began to explore the possibility of establishing indirect lines of communication with individuals he deemed trustworthy or strategically valuable. Using his [Spatial Information Network (Novice)], he experimented with leaving carefully coded, seemingly random pieces of information in public spaces he knew these individuals frequented – subtle clues or warnings disguised within mundane data. The goal was to test their intelligence and observational skills, to see if anyone would pick up on the breadcrumbs he was leaving.
His understanding of the System, while still largely theoretical, continued to evolve. He hypothesized that the Cartographer's Lattice, with its focus on spatial awareness, might be a specific "interface" granted to him based on his past life's aptitude for spatial reasoning and his analytical nature. He began to actively seek out information related to theories of dimensional mechanics, alternate realities, and the very nature of consciousness, hoping to find clues about the System's true origins and purpose.
The world was slowly adjusting to the reality of Gates and hunters, the initial panic giving way to a mixture of fear and a burgeoning sense of hope. Hunter Associations were forming, and the ranking system was being established. Ji-hoon remained outside these official structures, preferring to operate independently, his influence growing silently beneath the surface, built on the foundation of his unique knowledge and strategic foresight. The seeds of his future influence were being sown, not in grand displays of power, but in the subtle manipulation of information and the strategic acquisition of resources, all guided by the intricate map he held within his mind. The cartographer was beginning to shape the terrain of the future.