Chapter 9: "Eyes in the Tower"
The S-Rank Tower stood tall over the city like a silver needle pointing to the sky. From the outside, it looked silent. But inside, the hum of machines and whispers of power filled the halls. Everything in the tower was built for only one reason. To watch over the world that mana had changed.
At the very top floor, Yoo Seung-jin sat with one leg crossed over the other. He wore a dark suit, but it was not the expensive kind. It was simple and clean. He liked it that way. His title was S-Rank, but most called him something else.
They called him The Jumper.
People used to wonder why he had that nickname. Some said it was because of how he blinked through space. Others said he once jumped across two cities in a single breath. But the truth was known only to him.
He sat in his office now, looking at a floating screen. The data was moving fast. Numbers blinked, faces popped in and out, red marks flashed across names. These were the people being awakened every day.
Most had normal talent. A few were gifted.
But Seung-jin was not looking for talent. He was looking for mistakes.
"Seung-jin," a soft voice said.
He turned his head slightly.
Seo Ye-rin stepped forward with a small file in her hand. She was neat and serious, always careful with her words. Her hair was tied tight behind her head, and she always wore gloves like she was afraid of touching something too dangerous.
"I found something," she said. "It is strange."
He raised an eyebrow. "Strange how?"
She tapped the file. A new image popped up. A young man. Ordinary face. College student. A little chubby in the ID photo. She zoomed in. His name blinked under the photo.
Kim Do-hyun.
"Just another low-rank?" he asked, not interested.
"No," she said. "He awakened with a clone-type ability. Level one. Nothing special at first glance."
"So?"
"The clone is real. Not a ghost type. Not spiritual. It works in the physical world. And more than that…" she paused, then pulled up a different screen. "Its stats are changing."
That made him stop.
"Changing?" he asked.
"Yes. Over time. Small numbers, but real. I cross-checked with satellite movements and stat tracking signals. We can't scan his clone directly, but the body pattern shows physical growth. Endurance. Reflex. Stamina. Even slight strength change."
He stood up slowly, eyes now fixed on the data.
"There has never been a clone-type that evolved through action," she said. "Not like this."
He walked closer to the screen, eyes sharp now. His finger tapped on Do-hyun's name.
"And no one noticed?"
"None of the guilds scouted him," she said. "They thought his power was weak. The guy is hiding."
"Smart," Seung-jin said with a little grin. "But not smart enough."
He turned to the giant map on the wall. Red lights blinked across Korea. One small green dot was moving near Seoul.
"There are rules in this world," he said. "If you want to survive, follow them. If you want to cheat..."
He pointed at the green dot.
"...then I will break you."
Ye-rin stood silent.
"Send a team," he said. "Low profile. I want eyes on this Kim Do-hyun. No moves until I say so."
"Yes, sir."
As she left the room, he looked at the boy's photo again. Chubby face. Tired eyes.
He chuckled.
"Let's see how far your little trick can go."
---
The office lights dimmed as Seo Ye-rin left. The tower was quiet again, but something had changed. Yoo Seung-jin stayed standing. His hands were behind his back. His mind moved faster than the lights blinking on his giant wall screen.
He tapped his finger slowly.
Clone types were old news. They were known for being weak. Most vanished in smoke or faded after a few minutes. None of them ever changed the world. But this one…
This one felt different.
He walked toward a second chamber behind his office. It looked like a cold room, empty, clean, but filled with hidden tech. He stepped onto a platform. The platform lit up.
Inside the chamber, a row of black suits stood on hangers. They were not just clothes. Each one was made for battle. He did not touch them. Instead, he looked at the mirror wall in front of them.
"Kim Do-hyun," he said again, this time softer.
Behind him, a quiet beep sounded.
A small robot rolled in. It projected a floating map. It showed buildings, parks, streets. The green dot marked Do-hyun's last location. It was near a place called Crazy Monkey Logistics Center.
"Working in a warehouse?" Seung-jin smiled. "That explains the slow growth."
He watched as the dot moved. It passed through a busy road, paused near a small convenience store, then kept going.
Then it vanished.
The dot blinked once, then stopped moving.
Ye-rin's voice came through the speaker. "Subject has gone offline."
Seung-jin narrowed his eyes. "What happened?"
"Signal was cut," she replied. "Too far underground or blocked."
He stared at the spot where the dot disappeared.
"He knows someone is watching."
"Do you want us to pull him in?" Ye-rin asked.
"No," he said firmly. "Not yet. Let him grow. Let him think he is winning."
He turned back to his desk. His hand reached out and tapped the screen. Do-hyun's data file reopened. There were logs of his ability. Logs of the clone being summoned. Each time, the mana use was the same. But something else had changed.
"This clone does not only obey," Seung-jin whispered. "It learns. It feels pain. It adapts."
He pulled up side images. One showed the clone lifting boxes. Another showed it running at the park. Another showed it talking to an old woman.
"How far can it go?" he asked the screen.
There was no answer, but the photo of Do-hyun stared back. His face looked a little thinner now. His eyes looked more awake.
Yoo Seung-jin sat down again.
Then he smiled.
"This is going to be fun."
He pressed a button under his desk. A new task was sent. Quiet. Clean. No contact.
The screen read:
"Observe. Do not engage. Monitor until target's stat change reaches 0.05 in any area."
He leaned back.
"That is when we move."
The map zoomed out. Korea looked peaceful. But he knew the truth. Peace was just the calm before the explosion.
And someone like Kim Do-hyun?
He could be the fuse.
---
Do-hyun's Updated Stats (quiet background change)
Health: 100 → 100.2
Mana: 100 → 100.1
Reflex: 5.26 → 5.30
Stamina: 4.20 → 4.30
Agility: 4.15 → 4.25
Strength: 7.10 → 7.13
Endurance: 5.00 → 6.00
---