I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 125

125

-Wake up! Wake up, will you!

“Ugh… Let me sleep.”

-You came in at dawn and slept through morning, noon, and now it’s evening? Seriously?

“Uh… It’s possible for me.”

-Feed me! You didn’t fill my bowl, and I’ve been starving since morning!

“Let me have some water first… Kuwaaaak!”

I was about to go back to sleep, but Shami bit my nose—not just anywhere, but my nose—and I immediately shot up.

She had been yelling next to me with her shrill voice, but I hadn’t even opened my eyes.

Yet, with just a slight nip on the tip of my nose with her sharp teeth, my body sprang up automatically.

-Hehe.

Shami then wore a wicked smile, looking at me with a pleased expression.

Wasn’t she supposed to be a princess?

What kind of princess is so mischievous and playful?

The closer I got to Shami, the more surprised I was by her proactive behavior, unlike our awkward beginning.

Thanks to her, I woke up and filled Shami’s ‘bowl’ with plenty of food before groggily opening my eyes.

Right then.

Woo-oong! Woo-oong!

The alarm vibrated.

It was an alarm signaling that it was time to use Katabella’s blood, which had been undergoing maturation.

I had already prepared all the materials.

Looking at the volume of blood obtained from the dungeon, I estimated that I could make about 50 ‘Identification Glasses’.

So, I planned to make half as goggle-type and half as glasses-type.

Goggles and glasses, which would be the basic frames, had been purchased in advance.

There was no need for any special goggles or glasses, so I bought commercially available products. Of course, the most expensive ones.

Even so, these were precious glasses, so I couldn’t use materials with poor durability, could I?

Anyway, I immediately started production.

The production itself was very simple.

You just need to fuse high-output, high-concentration magic power with Katabella’s blood and carefully apply it to the glasses or goggles.

The problem is that the discharge power and concentration of magic power required for fusion are quite high.

Currently, it’s something that can’t even be attempted without using specially developed equipment.

But I can increase the output using my altered heart and increase the concentration using my lungs and liver.

Even without special equipment, I could proceed with the process smoothly.

‘The response will be good.’

I was confident in the overwhelmingly positive response to the Identification Glasses.

That’s because the Awakened who raid dungeons aren’t just dreaming of growth alone.

The Awakened system isn’t structured like a game level or experience system where you level up exactly when you fill a certain amount.

As a result, most Awakened don’t think their rank will rise easily.

So, what would be important to them? It could be said to be rewards. In other words, money.

Therefore, the need for a ‘device’ that can identify the presence or absence of a monster’s dimension stone and the total amount of experience has been raised for a long time.

Identification Glasses were a good product that could perfectly meet that demand.

‘It seems reasonable to set the price at 3 billion to 4 billion won [approximately $2.2 – $3 million USD].’

I had already set the expected unit price and told Yoon-byeol the guidelines.

If there are Awakened who think that price is expensive, they are Awakened who don’t have money in the first place.

If I were a buyer, I would think it was a reasonable price.

Just being able to determine the presence or absence of a monster’s dimension stone.

It greatly reduces situations where people waste their energy on monsters that don’t make any money or risk their lives by recklessly attacking them.

While I was engrossed in making the product, I received a call from Yoon-byeol.

I was just thinking about her, but she must not be an angel. I answered the phone with my Bluetooth earphones.

“Yes, Noona.”

-Is it okay to talk for a moment?

“It’s not dawn, so it’s okay. It wouldn’t matter even if I was sleeping.”

-We’re continuing to sell the Enhancement Potions in divided portions today. We’re still talking about a price of around 800 million won [approximately $600,000 USD] per bottle.

“What’s the reaction like?”

-Of course, it’s good. The response from WSA [World Superhuman Association] is especially great. It seems the Awakened who used it have a 100% repurchase intention.

“Oh, is it that good?”

-That’s what Marina said? The response from WSA is amazing. The VVIPs like it a lot too.

“Don’t give them too much. Don’t negotiate beyond the set maximum sales volume.”

-I’m already adjusting it. Besides WSA, Yanghwa, Hyehwa, Samjoko, and Hwarang Guilds have also applied to purchase.

“That’s good. Keep handling it like you are now. It’s worth trusting you with it, Noona.”

-Well, I’m just doing my job. By the way, Shin-hwa, there’s something I wanted to ask you.

Yoon-byeol quickly changed the subject as if she was embarrassed by the compliment.

If it were Jin Bo-mi or Marina, they would have danced with joy at the compliment, but Yoon-byeol is definitely an introverted type.

She doesn’t express her emotions well.

No wonder she lived with the nickname ‘Ice Witch’ in her past life.

“Yes, ask me.”

-Why are you being so lukewarm about Hongyeon and Cheongyeon Guilds, as if you have no intention of selling to them?

“I have my reasons for that. I also have a meeting with the master of Hongyeon Guild at midnight today.”

-You’re meeting… Mok Jin-woo?

“They proposed a meeting first, so I have to meet them. If necessary, there’s also the Gold Ticket [a metaphor for a valuable opportunity or connection].”

-Ah… You said you received a business card directly from Mok Jin-woo before, right?

“Yes. I’ll take care of that part, so please maintain the stance I told you about for those two guilds.”

-Okay. I’ll hang up.

“Thank you, Noona.”

-I’m thankful too.

“Huh?”

The call ended.

Anyway, judging from the reaction to the Enhancement Potions, it seemed likely that the current price would be maintained in the future.

Since there are 250 pre-produced potion packs, we can expect a profit of about 200 billion won [approximately $150 million USD] if we sell them at the set price.

‘Hongyeon and Cheongyeon are probably thinking the same thing as we just discussed. That’s why Mok Jin-woo asked to see me.’

I was scheduled to meet Mok Jin-woo at Hongyeon Building in Sindorim Station at midnight tonight.

Hongyeon Building has more than ten buildings along the Line 2, not just the old Sinchon Station.

However, the fact that Mok Jin-woo is in Sindorim Station, unlike usual…

‘Today must be the day Gyeon-woo and Jik-nyeo meet [a reference to a Korean folktale about star-crossed lovers who can only meet once a year].’

It must be to secretly meet an old lover.

They are ‘disguised’ as mortal enemies to the outside world, but in reality, they are lovers.

That’s Mok Jin-woo and Shin Jeong-ah. Shin Jeong-ah is the master of Cheongyeon Guild.

It was like that in my past life too.

The Sindorim Station area is so bustling and full of skyscrapers that, paradoxically, it’s free from the attention and eyes of the surroundings.

Until the Korean Guild War broke out, Mok Jin-woo and Shin Jeong-ah still loved each other.

Outwardly, they pretended to be the worst enemies, slandering each other and acting as if they would devour each other.

Many people were enthusiastic about that rivalry frame, and it was actually used as a basis for guild recruitment.

When I first awakened.

The team leader named Kim Hyun-joon, whom I met at that time, also made me an recruitment offer, using the sense of competition with Cheongyeon Guild as an excuse.

Anyway, if time flows like this, the Korean Guild War will become a reality.

Hyehwa Guild will literally disintegrate, and many talented Awakened will lose their lives.

And Hongyeon and Cheongyeon Guilds, which have been reborn as super-large guilds with a surprise declaration, will become a huge force threatening the KSA [Korean Superhuman Association].

The reason is simple.

The force supporting Mok Jin-woo is the three major evils of China.

They hang out together, and that connection is so dirty that it’s even disgusting.

‘A moderate warning would be fine.’

If it were Nicholas, he would have intervened more actively in the current situation.

For example, joining Hyehwa Guild and changing the future landscape.

But I wanted to refrain from that level of active intervention.

It would be unavoidable if it was absolutely necessary, but right now? I don’t like excessive meddling because it feels like buying trouble.

“I made them all without even realizing it, like a machine.”

Right then.

I realized that the last goggles I had been working on diligently without realizing it were completed.

Katabella’s blood was exactly enough for 50 Identification Glasses, and there was no residue.

If I let them dry naturally for just one day in this state, they can be used as Identification Glasses right away.

Before selling them, I intended to do a preliminary test in this K-10004 dungeon raid.

It would probably be a special experience for all of my team members, including me.

Because they will be the first to fifth users in the world to use Identification Glasses.

* * *

A time just before midnight.

“…”

Mok Jin-woo was clutching the handkerchief that Shin Jeong-ah had just left behind.

It was a gift she had given him. She said that the long wait was lonely and exhausting.

“There’s not much time left.”

Mok Jin-woo’s D-Day for the major event was the end of April. There were only about two months left.

The preparations were progressing smoothly.

The collection of internal information from Hyehwa Guild was also progressing considerably, and he had lobbied the KSA quite a bit.

Of course, Lee Ha-seong and Na Mi-na didn’t know this.

Among the KSA executives who had been pushed to the sidelines by their appearance, there were many who had antipathy towards the two.

Mok Jin-woo had made connections with them.

And he promised to support them with power when he had enough influence to exert power over the KSA.

All of these plans were actually meticulously coached by the Oseonghoe [Five Stars Society] of China.

Just as the Oseonghoe, Samhaphoe [Three Harmonies Society], and Heuksahoe [Black Sand Society] had completely taken over the CSA [Chinese Superhuman Association], Mok Jin-woo was dreaming of such a future.

-Kang Shin-hwa has arrived.

At that time, I received a call from the lobby.

It wasn’t my first time meeting Shin-hwa, but this was the first time I had the opportunity to talk to him formally.

Mok Jin-woo was planning to coax Shin-hwa well this time and make him cooperate with him.

If he could get his hands on Shin-hwa’s products, he could greatly advance the timing of attacking Hyehwa Guild.

“I’ll be right out.”

-Yes, Master.

Mok Jin-woo got up from his seat.

A precious guest had arrived, so how could he not go out to see him?

However, he wasn’t planning to rush. There was going to be a proper ‘preemptive strike’ before he arrived.

“He’s already arrived.”

As expected.

The CCTV showed a group of Awakened in the lobby.

Hong Mae-hwa [Red Plum Blossom].

It was the ‘elite organization’ composed of 12 people, Mok Jin-woo’s bodyguards and confidants.

* * *

At that time.

‘Same old story.’

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the Awakened who surrounded me as soon as I entered the lobby.

The owner hadn’t even appeared yet, but the dogs were barking diligently at the guest.

“You’ll have to move out of the way.”

“Kang Shin-hwa, you insulted our master before, didn’t you?”

The guy who was suddenly talking down to me and picking a fight was Park Seong-kwon, the leader of Hong Mae-hwa.

He was an SS-rank Awakened, and the older brother of Park Seong-hee, a martial arts expert Awakened known as the leader of Hongyeon Guild’s 3rd team.

Since he was the first to speak informally and pick a fight, I didn’t think I needed to respect him any further.

“So what? He deserved to be insulted because he did something worthy of it, right? Or did I make something up to insult him?”

“You little…!”

“Then if the dog you’re raising poops, shouldn’t the owner clean it up? Is it right for a passerby to clean it up?”

As the saying goes, kind words beget kind words? It didn’t seem like today would start quietly either.