The controversy over the name change simmered for a time, but it was Hyeon who decisively snuffed it out.

“The very man who first coined the original name agreed this new one was more fitting,” he announced, his tone leaving no room for debate. “I, too, found the reasoning sound, and thus I gave my permission. What is the issue?”

His resolute stance put an end to the matter. With the debate settled, Hyeon, his ministers, and the ever-curious gossips of Jang-an all grew intensely curious about the properties of this “new energy” called Electrical Energy.

A summary of the paper published by the research institute, simplified for public consumption, outlined the following features:

• The energy called electricity is similar to, yet distinct from, the energy of a magnet.
• If this electricity is used correctly, it can make a normal piece of iron carry the energy of a magnet.
• The lightning that strikes from the sky is, in fact, electricity.
• There are things this electricity can pass through, and things it cannot.

The citizens of the Empire, reading the notice—which was so long it had spread from the public bulletin boards to occupy one entire wall of the local magistrate’s office—let out a collective, long sigh.

“What in the world is this trying to say…?”

“Well… the white part is paper, and the black part is letters. That much I know.”

Meanwhile, those with a bit more curiosity or a foundational knowledge of the related sciences tilted their heads, perplexed.

“Similar to magnetic energy, but different? What kind of ghostly mumbo-jumbo is that?”

“Wait a minute… it can make a piece of iron act like a magnet? This… this feels like something. Something I could use. This… this smells strongly of coin…”

As the findings on electricity were officially entered into the Responses to Challenge Records, substantial prize money was distributed to the researchers involved. But what truly galvanized the scholars and researchers was the honor of having their work recognized in the registry.

“Everyone who called us ‘budget-devouring parasites’ can come out now! Especially you, from the Math department!”

“Ugh, when I think of all the grief we took…!”

Having finally vented all their pent-up frustration and sorrow from the long years of seemingly fruitless research, the scholars and researchers of the Department of Electricity steadied their resolve and dove back into their work with renewed vigor.

“We require an increase in our budget!”

At the department’s bold demand, the finance minister simply sighed.

“…Hooo. How much… more do you need?”

“A great deal, sir!”

“File the proper paperwork, and I will review and adjust it accordingly.”

“Yes, sir!”

The finance minister watched the back of Department Head Gilbert as he walked away, his shoulders squared with confidence, and let out another, longer sigh.

“Hooo… Damn it all…”

Having secured its additional funding, the Department of Electricity began to aggressively expand its staff. The most notable example was Department Head David Gilbert himself. After receiving a letter from him, his entire family emigrated to Seoul. His sons all possessed a deep knowledge of chemistry and physics and, like their father, had their own considerable expertise in the field of electricity.

As the department, flush with new personnel and funds, began to build momentum, Hyang decided to add a little spice.

***

“Hmm, yes… I’ve read the paper you all submitted. It was fascinating. It piqued my curiosity, so I decided to pay you a visit. Is this a bad time?”

“It is an honor, Your Highness!”

Gilbert greeted Hyang with heartfelt enthusiasm. Among the staff at the research institutes and the enigmatic Area 51, Hyang’s visit was a significant event. Known throughout the world, from the East to the West and even in Ming, Hyang embodied the very essence of knowledge, crossing all disciplines. Engaging in debate with Hyang was considered the highest honor, a true testament to one’s work. It meant that the era’s greatest mind recognized you, your research, and your technology.

The moment Hyang took a seat in the Department of Electricity’s main lecture hall, the room became packed to the rafters. Scholars and researchers from the department, academics from other departments, and even institute administrators all piled in, “cramming the hall.”

After the initial commotion died down, Hyang began to warm up.

“I have read your submitted papers thoroughly. In them, you have taken what were once mere conjectures and established them as formal theory. I can feel how much toil and effort you have poured into this work. I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude.”

At Hyang’s commendation, all the scholars and researchers from the department rose as one and bowed deeply.

“The honor is all ours, Your Highness!”

After setting a warm and encouraging atmosphere, Hyang moved to his main point.

“In your paper, you stated, ‘If this electricity is used correctly, it can make a normal piece of iron act like a magnet.’ I would very much like to see that in practice. Is it possible?”

“We will prepare it at once!”

Under Gilbert’s brisk direction, a large number of glass jars were quickly arranged on a massive table, and wires were run between them. As Hyang watched, he murmured to himself.

‘That looks just like the Voltaic piles I’ve seen pictures of.’

“Are you… creating electricity with those jars?”

“Yes, Your Highness. We referenced an ancient text we acquired from Byzantium.”

Hyang nodded, a thought crossing his mind. ‘It seems the West lost just as much of its ancient records as we did.’

Hyang watched the subsequent experiment, and after confirming the creation of a working electromagnet, he rose from his seat.

“A truly impressive experiment.”

“It is our honor!”

“Watching this… has given me an idea.”

Hyang moved to the table holding the apparatus. He grasped the connector for the wire and began to tap it—connecting it, disconnecting it, connecting it, disconnecting it. Each time he did, the piece of scrap iron stuck to the electromagnet, then fell away. Stuck, then fell.

“Do you see what this is?”

“Well… Your Highness… I’m not… entirely sure…”

Seeing the perplexed and anxious looks on Gilbert and the others, Hyang repeated the action. As the scholars and researchers wracked their brains, trying to grasp the meaning of his repetitive tapping, one of the Imperial Guardsmen who had escorted Hyang suddenly spoke up.

“Your Highness… is it a light signal?”

“Precisely!”

Hyang turned back to the room of academics. “Our light-signaling network is fast and useful, but it has flaws. On a day with thick fog, or for any number of reasons, the signal can be misread or missed entirely. But… if we could use this electricity, could we not overcome most of those limitations?”

“Ah!”

“So, what is it that you must now research?” Hyang continued, his voice rising in tempo. “Whether this ‘communication’ is possible even if this electricity-conducting wire is made… very, very long. Correct?”

“Yes! Yes, Your Highness!”

“And one more thing.”

Hyang raised his hand and gestured to the battery of jars.

“You must find a method of creating electricity other than using all those jars. It occurs to me that this energy, this electricity, could be of immense use to the common people if harnessed correctly. But if they must use such cumbersome jars… it would be far too inconvenient, would it not?”

“That is true, but…”

“I will have this entered into the Challenge Records,” Hyang declared. “The rating… let’s see… The Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains, ‘lowest’ level… no… maybe Grinding an Axe to Make a Needle, the highest level would be better.”

At this, Gilbert carefully voiced his discontent. “Your… Your Highness… with all due respect, that rating seems far too low. Finding a method other than these jars… it is not an easy task by any means.”

His fellow researchers and scholars nodded vigorously in agreement. They had already gone through enormous trial and error just to create the battery-jars they had.

But Hyang only tilted his head, as if confused. “Hm? Why? Isn’t there a perfectly good method right here in this room?”

“Pardon?”

Hyang pointed directly at the electromagnet setup.

“You said electricity and magnetism are similar, yet different. But… if you used electricity to create magnetism, wouldn’t it stand to reason that you could use magnetism to create electricity?”

“Ah!”

A single, collective gasp of realization from every scholar in the room shook the very walls of the lecture hall.

“Gentlemen,” Hyang said, his voice soft but clear, “you must make it a habit to not only observe one side of a phenomenon or result. You must always endeavor to consider the inverse. If you do, you may find that the walls blocking your path… crumble much more easily than you think.”

“We will take it to heart, Your Highness! We will!”

But Hyang was not done setting his challenges.

“And another thing. You said the lightning in the sky is also electricity, yes? But there are no such iron wires in the sky, are there? Does that not imply that there must be a way for electricity to travel without such a wire? And if you were to discover that method, could you not send your signals even without the wire?”

“Y-Yes, that would be correct!”

“Think of it,” Hyang said, his voice painting a grand vision. “The people cannot easily share news with each other, blocked as they are by mountains and rivers. And is it only the people? In running this nation, how many opportunities have been lost, how many disasters have occurred, simply because news arrived too late? But… what if you could send news instantly, across those mountains, those rivers… even across the entire sea? What then?”

“Ah! Ah! Ah!”

The further Hyang spoke, the more Gilbert and the others could only respond with sounds of pure, breathless awe. Looking upon the researchers, now trapped in a crucible of excitement, Hyang delivered his conclusion.

“I will register this challenge in the Challenge Records as well. However, this will certainly not be an easy task, so I will set the rating at The Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains, ‘intermediate’ level. I expect your absolute best.”

“We will give nothing less!”

“I am counting on all of you. Not only for the people of this Empire, but for the people of all nations. For it is certain that this work will make all of their lives easier.”

“We will not forget!” the scholars and researchers roared in a single, thunderous voice.

Having thus turned the entire Department of Electricity upside down, Hyang prepared to leave. As he did, Gilbert hurried to his side and bowed his head to the floor.

“After finishing our paper, we… we did not know which path to take next. Your Highness… you have shown us the way. This is a debt of gratitude I will never forget, even in death.”

“You praise me too highly,” Hyang said with a wave. “I merely… babbled about whatever came to mind. Of course, the Challenge Records registration and the ratings—I will push for those with my full effort.”

“And we, Your Highness, will give our full effort in return!”

***

News of what had transpired in the Department of Electricity’s lecture hall traveled instantly to Hyeon and his ministers. After hearing the challenges Hyang had laid down, Hyeon posed the question to his court.

“What are your thoughts? As I see it, if the challenges set by the Empire Emeritus can be made reality, it will be of immense benefit to both the governance of the nation and the lives of the common people.”

At Hyeon’s words, Han Myeong-hoe bowed low.

“It is truly so, Your Majesty. Our experience with the light-signal network has already proven its immense utility. But if… if we could overcome its limitations as the Empire Emeritus suggests… it would become many times more useful still.”

“You are right. And… seeing the Empire Emeritus, who does not merely stop at understanding a natural principle, but immediately seeks to use it to bring comfort to the people… it makes me feel how very long the road ahead of me still is. I must take the creed of ‘self-perfection’and hold it in my heart always.”

At Hyeon’s declaration of renewed self-discipline, Han Myeong-hoe immediately bowed again, his face frantic.

“Your Majesty! There is not a soul in this Empire who does not know the depth of your care for the people! I only fear that you will push yourself too hard and bring harm to your Jaded Physique!”

Internally, however, he was screaming: ‘Don’t do it! Don’t hold it in your heart! Don’t make more work! Don’t make me have to worry about the budget!’

***

While the Department of Electricity was moving frantically to solve the monumental tasks Hyang had set, the Imperial Army made its approach.

“We’ll… ‘help’ with your budget. And we can… ‘lend’ you some of our own people. How about we work on this together, hm?”

“Why?” the academics asked, though as soon as they did, they all nodded, understanding.

The Imperial military was, at present, the single biggest user of the light-signal network. They, more than anyone, knew its limitations. If the challenges Hyang had set were solved, it would be like giving wings to an already-mighty tiger. The offer was nothing but good news for the department, so they accepted immediately.

And from afar, Hyang watched it all, a satisfied, predatory smile on his face.

“That’s right… roll. And be ground. Let’s get to the lightbulb, nice and quick.”

At that very moment, every researcher, scholar, and assistant in the Department of Electricity simultaneously shivered.

“Why… why did I just feel a sudden chill…?”