I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 96

After listening to the follow-up report, it was clear this was a common kidnapping scenario for criminal organizations.

The demand was to release four executives who had been arrested by the KSA [Korean Special Agent] and sentenced to prison in exchange for Han Seung-taek, the head of the Daejeon branch.

Of course, the KSA refused outright.

Headquarters Director Lee Ha-seong even held a special press conference to publicly criticize them.

“The reason why the KSA is not easily trifled with is because we make an example of those who harm even one of our agents.

There will be no negotiations with criminals.

If Han Seung-taek is not released within 24 hours, the bases of both organizations will be wiped off the map without a trace.”

Lee Ha-seong’s response was firm.

It was also the KSA’s standing policy.

The base he mentioned was the Black Zone.

Located in northern Daejeon, the Black Zone was one of the bases used by the Black Cross and Moonlight.

They were skilled not only in guerrilla warfare but also in setting up various traps.

Striking the base was a valid option, but without solid internal information, there was a high probability of significant casualties.

“They’ll handle it themselves.”

I decided not to meddle out of excessive concern. This was, after all, the KSA’s business.

However, one thing was certain: if they weren’t luring them out but rather going in…

‘It could become an all-out war. Then both sides might suffer tremendous damage.’

The problem was seeing a future leading to catastrophe. Of course, Lee Ha-seong would control it well.

30 minutes later.

Before getting off at the station, I finished talking with Yoon Byeol and the priest.

I planned to meet them this afternoon to finalize the team recruitment formally.

Because the official contract with Yanghwa Guild was less than ten days away from expiring.

‘A smaller Nine Lords.’

That was the endpoint of our team that I was dreaming of. It was about setting up a team that could prepare for the future even without me.

Nine Lords was Nicholas’s team, so I’d leave it be. This team was to prevent me from getting entangled.

To put it more selfishly!

It was a team to throw away in my place if Nicholas told me to join Nine Lords.

If it seemed like nothing else would work, I was even considering filing a fake death report.

That’s how obsessed Nicholas was with his team plans, so I had to think from all angles.

“It’s ominous.”

From the path along the platform, a foul odor was already wafting.

The bloodstains that hadn’t been erased here and there clearly showed the level of security in the Black Zone.

‘The visual distortion is severe.’

The characteristic of this place was visual distortion.

Just like how the Black Zone around Jije Station was characterized as the ‘Mist of Instant Death.’

Every Black Zone had a characteristic that symbolized it. That’s why it became a Black Zone.

Here, visual distortion was occurring in some areas, where what you saw was different from the actual location.

Of course, it didn’t apply to my eyes, which could correct the distortion on their own.

I could infer it from the constant unique shimmering that was occurring.

Just then.

‘Hmm.’

I could see the tip of someone’s foot sticking out slightly from the cracks in the old, worn-out station roof.

It was very common for visitors to be targeted in this way in the Black Zone.

Since the KSA and the police had given up their jurisdiction, they didn’t interfere with what happened here.

‘There’s no need to forcibly catch mosquitoes that aren’t flying at me.’

I was trying to protect his life with my own generosity, but unfortunately, the result wasn’t good.

“Haaaat!”

It was an assassination attempt from above targeting me.

I didn’t even bother to look up.

I simply extended my right arm lightly upwards and transformed it into the shape of a sword.

Stab!

“Kkeoeok…….”

Because I had maximized the energy by concentrating magic power for a moment, he was pierced straight through by the sword without being able to do anything.

“You should know your place, even if this is a place where murder happens without a second thought.”

“Heueo…….”

Thud!

As I lowered my arm, his body, which had slid down along the sword, sprawled on the floor.

At a glance, he was an F-rank newbie who had only accumulated experience.

He had chosen the wrong person.

“Hmm.”

However, judging from the white crescent moon drawn on the epaulet he was wearing on his shoulder, he appeared to be a low-level member of the terrorist organization ‘Moonlight.’

I didn’t feel anything about killing someone who deserved to die, but the current situation was bitter.

People who were constantly pushed to the outskirts of life like this scattered into the Red Zones and Black Zones.

When the Nas Continent and Earth were connected later, they would become ardent followers of Lecher.

The seeds of evil were now growing rapidly. No one knew the danger.

Anyway, except for one incident, nothing special happened.

I headed to Jang Dong-shik’s hideout as my memory led me.

And I wasn’t flustered when I saw the numerous corpses lying around on the way.

It was because they were guys who had tried to secretly rob Jang Dong-shik, who had made quite a fortune from production, and died after falling into the traps Jang Dong-shik had made.

I didn’t feel sorry for them because they deserved to die. They weren’t worth praying for.

But just then.

Buzz! Buzz!

“……?”

A sudden large vibration occurred.

It was a change that occurred in the Black Magician’s Ring I was wearing on my left hand.

‘Dimensional energy resonance?’

There’s another advance team sent by Lecher nearby!

The ring was telling me.

Another being wearing the same ring was not far away.

Flash!

I immediately shot up into the sky.

The next moment.

“……!”

I realized then that this was not an ordinary downtown area but a place where all kinds of deadly schemes were rampant.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Under the tent in front, a high-intensity condensed magic bullet appeared to be fired with a roar.

“Damn it.”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Without hesitation, I immediately used Steel Enhancement to withstand the magic bullet attack.

Thanks to the enhancement, I wasn’t injured, but the shockwave spread throughout my body, centered on the chest where the magic bullet had struck.

The area around Jang Dong-shik’s hideout was like this.

If you didn’t move along the designated route, you never knew when or how you would die a sudden death.

‘I missed it.’

Because of that, I missed the other being.

The ring, which had been reacting fiercely until just now, had regained its former tranquility as if nothing had happened.

“…….”

One thing was definitely verified.

You could find the existence of other rings using the ring.

If I met someone wearing the ring later.

‘I could pretend to be an ally like those guys. Because it’s an ally identification ring made with that in mind.’

It seemed like a good strategy.

Of course, there was no need to go out of my way to find the guys wearing the rings, but I could catch a fish that bit on a roughly thrown bait.

* * *

10 minutes later.

“Oh my, what brings such a precious guest to this humble place?”

Jang Dong-shik was welcoming a guest who had come to his hideout.

Kang Shin-hwa.

He was a rising star who had become famous through the sale of ‘Top-Grade Magic Potion’ and Lee Ha-seong’s public apology.

Shin-hwa’s fame was so great that even Jang Dong-shik, who wasn’t very interested in the news, knew about him.

As an Awakener in the production field, Jang Dong-shik was very interested in Shin-hwa.

Jang Dong-shik liked to research and had quite a lot of data.

But he was completely in the dark about the production of top-grade magic potions.

He couldn’t even guess how it was made.

“I came to commission the facilities needed for production. I trust that a craftsman’s process is reliable.”

“Haha, a craftsman……. You’re praising me quite diligently.”

“If Jang Dong-shik isn’t a craftsman, then who is? Suits are Hwang Seok-cheol, machines are Jang Dong-shik. Isn’t that the truth?”

Jang Dong-shik chuckled at Shin-hwa’s answer. He wasn’t the type to take compliments to heart, but he felt good that he was being compared to Hwang Seok-cheol [a famous Korean actor].

“Let’s hear about what kind of machine you want first.”

Jang Dong-shik didn’t pry into the details.

That was his strength.

He didn’t try to collect more information than necessary from customers, and he didn’t cross the line.

He listened only to what the customer said and produced and provided the necessary machine.

That was why many people risked danger and came to the Black Zone to commission production from Jang Dong-shik.

“The desired form is…….”

Soon, Shin-hwa began to tell the necessary story.

He didn’t bring a drawing or anything, so he was worried that it might be too abstract even as he spoke.

But unlike Shin-hwa’s worries, Jang Dong-shik seemed to understand and interpret the content accurately.

After Shin-hwa’s story was over, he drew some machine drawings on the whiteboard and said.

“First, only fluids, that is, liquids, are mixed here. Then, heating and cooling are repeated in the middle, and after the final cooling, only the liquid on top is scooped out, isn’t that right?”

“That’s right.”

“The process of stirring by hand, scooping out after cooling, and then discarding the impurities at the bottom and storing only the liquid at the top in a special container. All of that can be automated.”

“How long will it take?”

“Two days? I don’t think I need to make it separately. Because I have something similar among my facilities.”

It seemed like things would work out easily.

Following Jang Dong-shik into the depths of the basement, there was indeed a facility similar to what he had just said.

“If I modify some processes separately, it can be used immediately for the purpose you ordered.”

“I didn’t expect it to be this fast. I was planning on at least two to three weeks.”

Shin-hwa looked surprised.

Then Jang Dong-shik poured some arbitrary materials into the machine and immediately started the process.

After a while.

The conclusion Shin-hwa came to after watching the demonstration was simple and clear.

‘Perfect. If I put Madillo’s body fluids, Skeleton bone powder, and Katraman in a designated space, the potion will be produced automatically!’

A heartfelt exclamation burst out.

The automated production process of the enhancement potion that he had been so eager for was right in front of him.

He was even resentful of why he had been doing manual labor when there was such an easy way!

“How much is it?”

“5 billion won as a down payment, 5 billion won as the balance, for a total of 10 billion won. Delivery is possible to the desired location in three days, and you can pay the balance then.”

“Okay. I’ll pay the full amount right away.”

“Yes?”

“You can’t run away after eating it anyway, can you?”

Shin-hwa said with a smile.

Jang Dong-shik was a person who lived and died here with his beloved only daughter.

Knowing that he would always be in this place, he wanted to pay the balance without arguing.

“Then I can’t lose. I’ll work overnight and deliver it by midnight tomorrow.”

“That’s cool. Great.”

Cool payment, cool production.

The transaction was completed quickly because each other’s thoughts coincided.

Automation of enhancement potion production.

Now, with just the ingredients, a product that doesn’t require lifting a finger from start to finish is completed.

But just then.

Ring. Ring.

Jin Bo-mi’s phone call came.

He was happy to receive the call, thinking that the matter related to the purchase of the island had been resolved in half a day.

But the content was unexpected.

-Shin-hwa! The KSA has requested unofficial help from our guild regarding this kidnapping case! So we’re going to move to the northern Daejeon Black Zone, can Shin-hwa join us?

“…….”

Shin-hwa, who was holding the smartphone, fell into a heavy silence as if time had stopped for a moment.