Chapter 10: The Architect of Information
As the world settled into a precarious rhythm of Gate appearances and hunter responses, Kang Ji-hoon's focus shifted towards building a more structured network of information gathering and analysis. His remote sensors and his own increasingly refined senses provided a constant stream of raw data, but processing and leveraging this information efficiently required a more organized approach.
He invested a significant amount of "Survey Points" to unlock [Spatial Information Network (Advanced)]. This upgrade allowed him to establish more numerous and stable mental links, capable of transmitting more complex data streams, including real-time sensor readings and even rudimentary visual information from his remote observation posts. It was akin to building a private, mental internet, accessible only to him.
His next invention was the [Localized Temporal Distortion Sensor (Prototype)]. Building upon his nascent understanding of temporal anomalies, this device, housed within a shielded casing and powered by a refined mana core battery, could detect minute fluctuations in the local flow of time with greater accuracy than his innate ability. He deployed several of these sensors near locations exhibiting strong spatial or corrupted mana signatures, hoping to gain further insight into the fundamental nature of the Gates. The readings from the vicinity of Sung Jinwoo remained particularly intriguing, consistently showing subtle temporal distortions that seemed to fluctuate in sync with the young hunter's rapid power growth.
Leveraging his pre-acquired assets, Ji-hoon began to establish discreet, secure facilities under the guise of legitimate businesses. These locations served as central hubs for his information network, housing sophisticated data processing equipment and secure communication channels. He began to recruit individuals with specialized skills – data analysts, linguists (to decipher potential monster communications in the future), and security experts – all vetted for their intelligence, discretion, and lack of connection to existing hunter organizations. His recruitment process was subtle, often involving anonymous online postings and rigorous screening to ensure loyalty and secrecy.
His observation of key awakened individuals continued, with a growing emphasis on understanding their motivations and potential vulnerabilities. He subtly fed them carefully curated information – anonymous tips about upcoming dangers, overlooked weaknesses of specific monster types – testing their reactions and building a subtle sense of reliance. His goal was to cultivate potential allies who might be willing to cooperate with him in the future, not out of loyalty, but out of a shared interest in survival and advancement.
Sung Jinwoo remained a focal point of his analysis. His continued exponential growth defied all established theories of awakening. Ji-hoon's fragmented future memories offered only vague hints about the true nature of Jinwoo's System, referring to it as something… unique, something beyond the conventional understanding of hunter abilities. The temporal distortions surrounding him only deepened the mystery, suggesting an interaction with forces far more complex than simple dimensional breaches.
[His growth… it's not just power; it's a fundamental shift in his being. The temporal anomalies suggest an interaction with forces outside the normal flow of time. What is the true nature of his System?]
Ji-hoon began to explore theoretical physics and fringe scientific concepts related to multi-dimensional theory and temporal mechanics, hoping to find a framework to understand the phenomena he was observing. He devoured academic papers and obscure research, his enhanced cognitive abilities allowing him to grasp complex concepts with remarkable speed. The more he learned, the more he realized how little humanity truly understood about the reality they now inhabited.
His understanding of the Cartographer's Lattice continued to evolve. He began to see it not just as a tool for mapping spatial anomalies, but as a potential interface to perceive the underlying structure of reality itself – the interconnectedness of space, time, and perhaps even mana. The more he focused on the Lattice, the more he sensed subtle patterns and connections that eluded ordinary perception.
The world continued its slow, often chaotic, adaptation. The initial heroes were being lauded, but the limitations of their individual power were becoming increasingly apparent as higher-rank Gates began to appear. The need for organized guilds and strategic planning was becoming undeniable. Ji-hoon, operating from the shadows, was already building his own form of organization – not a guild focused on combat prowess, but a network built on the power of information, a collective of minds dedicated to understanding and navigating the evolving world. He was becoming the architect not just of maps, but of influence, carefully laying the groundwork for a future where knowledge was the ultimate form of power. The whispers of the void were becoming a complex language, and Kang Ji-hoon was determined to be its most proficient interpreter.