I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 18

18.

“Good. It’s the decision of the benefactor who saved my daughter, so there’s no need to say anything more. The K-2027 dungeon will become your property as soon as KSA [Korea Superhuman Association] approval is granted today.”

“Thank you.”

“Thanks for what! Let’s continue with the next matter. The reward is the money I promised, so payment won’t be a problem.”

“You can deposit it into my account.”

“I’ll have the staff handle that. I’ll make sure there are no mistakes on my end.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Now, all that’s left is the matter of joining the guild…….”

Opening the conversation, Jin Seong-tae looked at Shin-hwa with blazing eyes.

Jin Seong-tae wasn’t an Awakened, but he had studied and learned more about Awakened people than anyone else.

In particular, he attached top-notch teachers to his beloved youngest daughter, Jin Bo-mi, and taught her, directly observing the abilities of top-tier Awakened.

So, he had an exceptional eye for talent, enough to make any ordinary Awakened run away.

‘Unique healing ability. And even the ability to emit mana. Just looking at this, he’s not a common stereotype of an Awakened. He’s truly a coveted talent.’

Jin Seong-tae was completely captivated by Shin-hwa’s special abilities.

The fact that he succeeded in treating Jin Bo-mi was enough to skyrocket Shin-hwa’s value.

He didn’t want to miss out.

He’s a talent with high expectations in terms of marketing and ability.

“Kang Shin-hwa, how about demonstrating your abilities a bit more in our Yanghwa Guild?”

Knock, knock.

“Excuse me.”

At that moment, Seo Ye-hee and Yoon Tae-ho appeared, timing it perfectly.

Shin-hwa smiled as he saw the two people entering and politely greeting Jin Seong-tae.

‘In the world of Awakened, which is rotten and stagnant, these two are still pure.’

They admired strong power, and regardless of age, if there was much to learn, they would bow their heads first and ask for guidance.

Even in his past life, these two were always open-minded and listened to many pieces of advice.

Until 2052, before Shin-hwa regressed, the two had maintained and operated the Yanghwa Guild well without dying.

They also made considerable contributions in the Great Cataclysm battle.

“Nice to meet you, Kang Shin-hwa. I’m Seo Ye-hee, the master of the Yanghwa Guild. I’m thirty-eight years old this year.”

“I’m Yoon Tae-ho. I’m the vice guild master of the Yanghwa Guild, and I’m twenty-nine years old this year.”

“I’m Kang Shin-hwa. I’m twenty-four.”

Introductions and ages were exchanged.

Having heard about it from Jin Seong-tae early on and agreeing with his thoughts, the two had been preparing for a fairly unconventional recruitment.

Soon, Seo Ye-hee and Yoon Tae-ho sat side by side next to Jin Seong-tae, and the conversation that had been briefly interrupted continued.

“Our Yanghwa Guild is fostering only the most elite personnel based on the full support of the Yanghwa Group.”

“Yes, I’m well aware. Many Awakened want to join the Yanghwa Guild, but I heard the screening is quite strict.”

“It’s our belief that one Awakened who is carefully nurtured is better than ten Awakened who are left unattended.”

“I see. I would have done the same. It’s better than gathering a bunch of riffraff.”

Shin-hwa’s words also contained confidence that ‘I’m not riffraff.’

Thinking about the past, he felt a great sense of change.

To think that a porter, the epitome of riffraff, would have such a reversal in life.

“Come join our guild. We won’t spare any support for you. We also have a solid, independent growth curriculum to raise your rank. It’s confidential, though.”

Jin Seong-tae revealed all his cards and inner thoughts right away, without having to play any complicated mind games.

He was a businessman, but he didn’t approach everything calculatively. Today was one of those days.

It was thanks to being completely captivated by Shin-hwa’s charm and special abilities.

“Are you asking me to be directly affiliated?”

“Hmm?”

The three people watching Shin-hwa’s question made almost the same expression at the same time.

If you’re joining a guild, of course, you’d be directly affiliated. What other form is there? That was the kind of expression they had.

‘Mercenary system.’

From the beginning, Shin-hwa had a picture in his head of joining a guild.

It was a mercenary.

A mercenary is affiliated with a guild and engages in activities, but is an independent entity that is fully guaranteed individual activities.

Of course, it wasn’t a system established in the Awakened world of 2020.

Fifteen years from now.

After the ‘Guild Great War’ that occurred worldwide ended.

It was a special structure created by a large number of top-ranked Awakened who felt disillusioned with the guild system.

Enjoying the benefits and rights that the guild provides, but minimizing the obligations to the guild, an absolute ‘gap’ form.

That was the beginning of the mercenary.

Shin-hwa was thinking of establishing that system a little earlier. Of course, for himself.

“Do you have any other ideas?”

Seo Ye-hee tilted her head.

She would rather he refused, so she could think about increasing the offer, such as the contract fee.

Because he gave a vague answer, it was difficult to guess Shin-hwa’s intentions.

‘Is he really a porter?’

Yoon Tae-ho was surprised by Shin-hwa’s appearance, who wasn’t intimidated at all and led the conversation at his own pace.

He saved his words as much as possible and showed a strategic appearance of only taking out the necessary words.

This was a composure that could hardly be shown unless he was a seasoned person who had experienced all kinds of hardships.

Usually, it’s common to promote oneself more or list what one wants in detail.

“I will join the guild. However, I would like to proceed with an individual mercenary contract, not an exclusive or direct affiliation.”

“Mercenary?”

“Yes. Of course, I won’t cause any harm to the guild. However, I also don’t want to receive excessive interference or instructions from the guild.”

“Haha, that’s absurd…….”

“If we can’t agree on this part, it’s better to call it off.”

Seo Ye-hee and Yoon Tae-ho burst into laughter at Shin-hwa’s audacity in speaking so bluntly.

They were so confident that they were overwhelmed by his spirit and couldn’t think of anything to say.

Then Jin Seong-tae stepped in.

“Wait, let me talk. Kang Shin-hwa, the fact that you’re not rejecting our guild’s recruitment offer means you’re interested in the guild, right?”

“Of course. Among the domestic guilds, there is no place with a systematic and scientific infrastructure like the Yanghwa Guild.”

Shin-hwa nodded.

Although he didn’t say it out loud, Shin-hwa had a separate point of attention to the Yanghwa Guild.

It was that the Yanghwa Guild had a very close relationship with the KSA.

There was a special relationship to the point that the Yanghwa Guild was expressed as the second KSA.

So, they received priority in granting licenses to attack state-owned dungeons, or received requests for cooperation in dungeon subjugation, and enjoyed various privileges.

‘I can enjoy the privileges I want without being closely affiliated with either the Yanghwa Guild or the KSA.’

This was what Shin-hwa was aiming for.

It was also a special treatment that Awakened people living in 2020, not 2035, could hardly think of.

‘They wouldn’t want to miss it. Irregulars are rare.’

Awakened with healing abilities are treated well wherever they go.

They will never be able to give up on themselves.

“Can you explain in more detail about the mercenary system that Shin-hwa wants? So that there are no misunderstandings.”

Jin Seong-tae organized the situation and naturally matched the conversation to Shin-hwa’s pace.

“A mercenary is…….”

Soon, the explanation began.

* * *

The conversation didn’t last long.

Above all, the chairman and founder of the guild, Jin Seong-tae, was expressing his intention to actively recruit me.

Seo Ye-hee and Yoon Tae-ho also checked my abilities in the middle and nodded as if satisfied.

Mana emission ability.

Body healing ability.

And even the ability to alter things, which was shown briefly as a sample.

With that alone, the three people showed interest in me as if they had discovered a hidden gem.

In addition, I revealed the fact that I was a D-rank to prevent any unnecessary misunderstandings.

At first, Seo Ye-hee and Yoon Tae-ho didn’t believe it, saying it didn’t make sense.

But after bringing an expensive rank detection device and scanning my condition, their mouths were wide open.

“D-rank! It’s hard to believe that you were an F-rank until just a few days ago.”

“Maybe I was lucky.”

I smiled at Seo Ye-hee’s words.

There was no point in prolonging the conversation.

Anyway, all that was left was to sign the contract that had been coordinated.

“Kang Shin-hwa, how about increasing the contract fee and extending the contract period together?”

“I want to be free to work.”

Jin Seong-tae pointed to the period written in the contract and said with a disappointed expression.

It was a monthly contract, not a common contract between one and three years. In other words, it was a one-month contract.

The Yanghwa Guild promised a groundbreaking contract fee, but I reduced the contract fee and shortened the period together.

It was also a kind of strategy.

Every time the contract is renewed or renewed every month, the contract fee will have to be paid.

The contract fee initially offered by the Yanghwa Guild was 50 billion won per year.

But I changed this contract condition to 5 billion won per month.

Even with simple calculations, if the contract is maintained for one year, you will earn 10 billion won more.

“Good! Let’s do that. What do you guys think?”

“We can’t afford to lose a promising talent to another guild. I agree.”

“Anyway, he’s Bo-mi’s…… no, your daughter’s benefactor. Above all, your daughter will like it.”

“Huhu, that’s right. Okay, then let’s sign it. Shin-hwa, can I ask you just one thing?”

From the moment I met Jin Seong-tae until now.

I knew how special it was to receive the attention, affection, and full support of the head of a large corporation.

To be honest, it was so good.

It was like becoming the celebrity of celebrities?

In addition, my joy doubled when I received recognition from Seo Ye-hee and Yoon Tae-ho, who were skilled people of S-rank or higher.

“Yes, please tell me.”

“I definitely want to let people know that Bo-mi has been completely cured thanks to you! Also, I want to announce the contract news on a large scale!”

“I don’t mind. Now that I’ve signed, I’m a member of the guild, so I have to follow the guild’s policy.”

I answered with a smile.

I don’t hate fame.

In my previous life, I was active as the Nine Lords, a group of nine heroes, and I was the object of envy for quite a few people.

Interest was always fun, happy, and a pleasant thing.

However, in my previous life, I started to gain fame when I became an old man, but in this regressed life.

‘Starting today.’

At this moment.

From the moment the contract news is announced, I will become a celebrity. Many people will pay attention to me.

‘Well, even so, there will be guys who ignore me because I’m still a D-rank.’

I didn’t care.

My interest is not in the envy or jealousy of an unspecified number of people full of inferiority, but in early retirement.