I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 53

Episode 53

It was a typical tactic WSA [World Supernatural Association] used to entice Awakened individuals.

It was a so-called taste-testing opportunity.

They allowed participation as guests, free from affiliation, to challenge rare dungeons that could only be conquered within WSA.

They provided customized services to guests, leveraging their global infrastructure.

Like sampling food before buying if it tastes good, or purchasing a car after a test drive if the ride is comfortable.

Usually, once Awakened individuals participated as guests of WSA, almost none escaped their grasp.

The perks and the world they presented were on a different level from what they had seen and experienced so far.

“The assessment of Kang Shin-hwa’s value wasn’t just done by me alone. The Elijah Group is also interested,” Marina added.

When I didn’t readily answer, she seemed to think she needed a stronger move.

“The Elijah Group is quite famous.”

It was a guild I knew well.

Elijah Lowe.

An Awakened individual whose inner thoughts were hard to fathom.

He was definitely an EX-rank Awakened individual, a rare find during the Great Cataclysm of 2052.

However, he never participated in the battles to prepare for the Great Cataclysm, citing personal ‘beliefs’.

He received harsh criticism from the media, but he never appeared on the battlefield even once.

“We have internal analysis data. The probability of an Awakened individual like Kang Shin-hwa, who grows explosively and blossoms in talent, becoming an S-rank or higher…”

I smiled and asked back.

“How much is it?”

“99.9%. At this point, wouldn’t you say it’s like a lottery ticket with a guaranteed win?”

“That’s interesting. To have my future growth potential assessed by others before I even know it myself.”

Of course, I know my potential value.

If I faithfully use my future knowledge and continue to grow.

Even if I estimate conservatively, I will become an EX-rank within 10 years. Even with a conservative estimate.

“How about it? Shin-hwa, this isn’t an opportunity that comes every day!”

“For a moment, I thought you were here to sell me something.”

“Hehe, I’ve heard that vendors at street stalls in Korea often use that phrase.”

“Okay, I understand. I’ll agree to participate as a guest. But I’ll set a prerequisite in advance.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“If I sign an affiliation contract with anyone, I will follow the Yanghwa Guild’s format as is.”

“Does that mean it’s not a typical affiliation contract but a short-term mercenary system?”

“That’s right. If this condition isn’t met, I won’t sign a contract even if SSA [Space Supernatural Agency] comes instead of WSA.”

“SSA?”

“Space Superman Agency. Something like the Space Awakened Association.”

“Hehe, I understand. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to give you my number. Can I borrow your smartphone for a moment?”

She says she’ll give me her number, but she’s actually trying to call herself from my smartphone.

In the end, she wants to get my number.

Either way, WSA was an organization I would have to connect with someday.

That’s because there are quite a few flowers or boss monster abilities that can only be obtained from dungeons owned exclusively by them.

“I’m leaving my contact information with a very precious number. Kang Shin-hwa, I’m a more difficult woman than you think. You know?”

“I don’t know well, but I’ll start finding out from now on.”

“Hehehe, you’re so stiff.”

Her fingertips, as she lightly tapped my shoulder, were longer than I thought.

In my past life, she treated me comfortably like a younger brother, but this time, it feels like she’s flirting?

Something seems different.

* * *

The meeting between Shin-hwa and Marina ended like that.

Having achieved her purpose, she greeted Hwang Seok-cheol and left the place first.

Since they would be meeting again tomorrow anyway, she made a clean exit.

And after a while.

Shin-hwa received the reinforced suit, which was finished more neatly than before, and wore a satisfied expression.

“As expected, you live up to your reputation. Thank you every time.”

“I’m just sorry that I can’t offer more as a reward. I will continue to make good use of the know-how you’ve shared.”

“I’ll let you know if I come up with any more good ideas.”

Shin-hwa indirectly used the expression ‘ideas’ to replace the word ‘tips’.

In fact, there were more tips to give him, but it seemed sufficient for now.

It wasn’t like he owed Hwang Seok-cheol anything, and conversely, he didn’t need a suit beyond what he had now for his own needs.

However, someday when he would conquer dungeons of SS-rank or higher, he was planning to place orders that were on a different level from now.

The estimated production cost alone was 10 billion won [approximately $7.5 million USD].

It would probably be an enormous challenge that couldn’t even be compared to the development projects that Hwang Seok-cheol had been pursuing countless times so far.

“Did that Marina act rudely in any way?”

“No, she’s an interesting person.”

“I apologize. I was just curious that the guest knew so much, so I asked an acquaintance in Japan…….”

“Hara Gintetsu, you mean?”

“……You know more deeply than I thought. And you even mentioned Marina’s real name by mistake.”

“Even if my knowledge is shallow, it helps to know things here and there. Hahaha.”

“Anyway, having a conversation led to this butterfly effect.”

Butterfly effect.

Shin-hwa listened to his words with interest because it was a word that had quite a meaning for him as a regressor [someone who has returned to the past].

That’s right.

It was a butterfly effect in the true sense.

Because something that didn’t exist in his past life had happened.

“I’ll come again. I’ll wear it gratefully. Thank you for your hard work.”

“I’ll be waiting, Kang Shin-hwa.”

* * *

After an unexpected meeting with Marina and a gift from old man Hwang’s goodwill, I returned to the underground warehouse in front of my house.

“Alright.”

The impurities had all settled under the pot. Thanks to that, only clear water filled the upper half of the pot.

First, he scooped the clear water with a ladle and checked the capacity with a measuring cup next to him.

“It looks like about 105 packs.”

Then, judging by the pot’s capacity, he estimated that about 105 packs would come out.

“I’ll use 100 packs for sale and the remaining 5 packs for testing and trial sales.”

100 packs of products for sale.

He felt good that the numbers matched perfectly in units of hundreds.

I immediately drank the enhanced potion, Stimulus, which I had put in a measuring cup.

The texture was as smooth as drinking high-quality mineral water, and the taste was sweet.

Considering that Madillo’s body fluids, bone powder, and poisonous herbs that cause problems when used in large quantities were added inside.

It’s an unimaginable sweetness.

The next moment.

“I can feel it.”

The unique heat surging through the blood vessels throughout his body was felt.

And the heat, which was immediately synchronized with the mana line, began to explosively stimulate the circulation of magic power.

To give an analogy in terms of feeling, it felt like a body that had just finished stretching on a day when the condition was very good.

He felt light as if he could fly, and he had the confidence that he could do anything with strength.

It was thanks to the potion’s physical awakening effect and mental stabilization effect acting simultaneously in a dual manner.

Flash! Flash!

I started sprinting quickly from one end to the other of the underground warehouse, which had an internal area of ​​at least 100 pyeong [approximately 3,600 square feet].

It was a movement that used only the body’s own abilities without using separately modified physical abilities.

“Good, this feeling! It doesn’t strain my heart, and there’s no separate overload on my body. It’s definitely a potion from God.”

It was definitely felt.

He felt that his physical abilities related to combat had improved by about 2 times.

When you consume a potion, the ability changes by a minimum of 1.5 times to a maximum of 2.5 times for a duration of about 30 minutes.

Usually, an average change of 2 times occurs.

In the case of Awakened individuals below A-rank, usually when they drink an enhanced potion, they can exert the power of their rank alphabet increased by one level.

If a B-rank Awakened individual drinks it, they can exert the power of an A-rank, although it is a temporary effect.

“A potion that allows for over power. There’s no need to see, it will cause a sensation when released.”

The picture was drawn early on.

Even now, the top-grade magic potion was causing a stir to the point that Marina was directly coming from Japan, wasn’t it?

He could expect at least that much reaction from the enhanced potion as well.

A longing for strong power.

That was the dream that all Awakened individuals wanted, even if it was a so-called ‘drug effect’.

The reason why they risk their lives to conquer dungeons in order to change the alphabet attached to their rank is all because of power.

The preliminary test is over.

What remains is the problem of sales channels.

Since Yanghwa Guild was given exclusive sales rights for the top-grade magic potion, there was no need to give more privileges.

“Then.”

The concern seemed to deepen, but a faster choice immediately came to mind than expected.

That was.

“Marina, shall we see some of your skills?”

It was the development of a sales route through Marina, whom he had met coincidentally – or inevitably – today.

With her connections, she could immediately connect with WSA.

It seemed like a pretty good sales channel.

After finishing the work of transferring the enhanced potion to small glass bottles prepared in advance to some extent.

As soon as it turned midnight, I made one more top-grade magic potion.

Now the total number of potions produced is 3 bottles.

It was a number corresponding to 6 billion won [approximately $4.5 million USD] in simple value.

This time, it was a priority to supply it to Yanghwa Guild rather than externally, so the 5% sales commission was not deducted.

At 0:05 as promised, Jung-hoon came to the front of the warehouse as if he had been waiting.

I immediately handed him three bottles of ultra-expensive magic potion in a plain water bottle. It is a product with the most severe gap between appearance and internal components.

“I have safely taken over.”

“There may be a way for me to deliver it directly, but Mr. Jung-hoon is suffering unnecessarily at night.”

“I can’t bother Kang Shin-hwa. My promise is valid for life. Please contact me whenever you need me.”

“Don’t you sleep separately?”

“I’m originally the type to sleep in intervals, so I’m not restricted by activity time.”

“That’s a very enviable ability.”

“It’s also an ability that makes it difficult to live long. Sleeping well on time is also a blessing if it’s a blessing. Ah, the deposit has already been made in advance before coming.”

When I looked at my smartphone at Jung-hoon’s words, there was indeed a deposit notification received.

As expected, it’s a large company.

Although it’s a matter of minor feelings, I liked that the processing was fast.

[Korea Bank: Depositor Kang Shin-hwa]

[Balance: 6,000,899,200 won]

6 billion won was deposited accurately.

“Yes, I confirmed.”

“Then I’ll see you again.”

“Go carefully.”

Soon Jung-hoon’s car drove away.

All the money in the existing account was withdrawn to another account.

The money to buy Gorim Chemical’s stock was put into a securities account early on.

The expenses related to the Jije Station real estate were also separated separately.

So, only the sales proceeds received this time were in the Korea Bank account where money frequently came in and out.

“Stocks and real estate are now a matter of waiting for the time to come and skyrocket. If I finish the magic potion sales showcase and business with Marina today…… I’m really sitting on a pile of money.”

There were prior expenses, but I was already proud to think that it would return as several times the profit.

“I have to buy an island by the end of March. Should I go on a trip if necessary?”

It sounded plausible.

Not an early retirement, but an experience of enjoying a well-being life away from the secular world even temporarily.

“Good! As a sample, I’m going to retire for a week only at the end of March. Just one week!”

That’s how I set up an early retirement experience plan.

February 3, 2020.

On the day before the top-grade magic potion showcase, it was a warm dawn in late winter.