I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 153

153.

“Hmm… Was he bluffing?”

“I cannot presumptuously offer my opinion on the Master’s judgment.”

“No, speak freely.”

“According to Shin-hwa’s surveillance, he seems focused on managing the team and maintaining his relationship with Jin Bo-mi.”

“No suspicious movements?”

“There were times when tracking him was impossible, but the durations were brief.”

“Judging by his current behavior, it seems he caught a whiff of something but isn’t preparing at all.”

“That’s right. If he had noticed our movements, wouldn’t he be running around frantically?”

“The KSA [Korea Superhuman Association] is quiet too. I wonder if he’s trying to get something from me by running his mouth.”

“Since he’s fearless, I speculate he might be exaggerating to get the Master’s attention. Is that why he volunteered to participate in this raid as a guest?”

“I’m starting to think he might be a believer in those conspiracy theories floating around. Good work.”

“Yes, Master.”

Mok Jin-woo stroked his chin after receiving the surveillance report on Shin-hwa from Jo Yoon-hee.

In fact, when Shin-hwa first came to him and made that so-called ‘bombshell declaration…’

He thought all the circumstances had been exposed, and he was facing a major crisis.

However, after investigating, it turned out that Shin Jung-ah and the others involved in this operation had no contact with Shin-hwa at all.

No contact, yet internal information is leaked? That was impossible.

So, he pushed the plan forward a bit to test the waters.

He accelerated the plan, which was originally scheduled for after April.

In addition, with the support of Oseonghui, the Triads [Chinese organized crime], and the Black Society [Japanese organized crime], CSA [presumably, a fictional organization] executives also entered the country.

Despite making quite a few moves, there was no reaction from the KSA or anywhere else.

The same was true for Shin-hwa.

Just looking at him planning dates after the dungeon raid on March 20th, wasn’t it obvious?

It was too careless to be the behavior of someone preparing for a battle or reading his intentions.

“That was unlike me.”

Mok Jin-woo self-assessed.

He had been so nervous about the upcoming operation that he was greatly shaken by Shin-hwa’s sudden ‘bluff.’

It was clear that the guy had added his own abnormal conviction to the conspiracy theories circulating in the market.

His participation as a guest in this dungeon raid was probably an extension of that.

Or perhaps… it was a desperate attempt to catch his eye.

“It’s better this way. If I can’t have him, killing him along with Kim Jae-rim wouldn’t be so bad.”

He licked his lips.

Even if Shin-hwa had titles like Super Rookie or the best Awakened prospect of Korea in 2020.

In the end, he was just one of the mid-to-upper-tier Awakened, stuck at B-rank.

On the other hand, Mok Jin-woo himself was an Awakened with a whopping SS+ rank. Comparing him to Shin-hwa was meaningless.

Of course, there were circumstances where skilled individuals like Jeil Construction and Park Hyung-san had lost their lives to Shin-hwa.

But those guys were emotionally driven, empty-headed leaders of a low-quality criminal organization.

He, on the other hand, was a veteran who had experienced all sorts of hardships in the Awakened world for 10 years after the Great Change.

Super Rookie? Prospect? Hopeful?

Such guys appeared every year, every season, even before Shin-hwa. There was nothing particularly new about it.

“It’s just a matter of handling it as an accidental death. Kill him along with Kim Jae-rim on the day of the operation.”

Thwack!

Mok Jin-woo stabbed the pen on his desk right into the middle of Shin-hwa’s photo that Jo Yoon-hee had taken.

Shin-hwa, who had insulted him from their first meeting. He had been secretly plotting revenge, wondering when he could get it.

It seemed that the opportunity was coming in a few days.

After midnight on March 20th.

A literal ‘Great Change’ would occur in the landscape of the Korean Awakened world.

‘Finally, my world is coming.’

The order of the Korean Awakened world unified by the Hongyeon Guild.

The grand dream he had been drawing in his head for years was about to become a reality.

Click. Click.

Mok Jin-woo diligently clicked through the screens in the monitor, meticulously completing the verification process.

[Hello? This is the administrator guiding you through the official schedule of the Korea Awakened Association.

The KSA plans to raid the dungeon at ‘F&S Park’ in Yangyang starting at 23:00 on March 19th.

This raid is being conducted to ensure safety in terms of managing the core energy levels of the dungeon.

We sincerely apologize for the delayed license issuance. Thank you.]

‘Quite a lot of manpower will be 投入 [pinyin: tóurù; invested] here as well…’

A smile appeared on his lips.

Looking at the KSA’s announcement.

There were many dungeon raid schedules around the northern part of the 수도권 [Sudogwon; Capital Area] and Gangwon-do from the night of March 19th to the dawn of March 20th.

At this rate, it seemed certain that they were going on a regular raid, leaving only the minimum manpower to maintain order in the White Zone.

“Everything is perfect.”

National institutions and surrounding entities that seemed to be unaware of the impending disaster.

The suspicion he had was gone, and confidence and assurance quickly filled its place.

“I am perfect after all. My plan is flawless.”

Unlimited confidence in himself.

That was the final conclusion Mok Jin-woo reached after thoroughly grasping the surrounding circumstances.

* * *

March 19th.

I realized profits from Gorim Chemical, which I had been working on throughout the week.

A total of 50 billion won was invested.

And I ultimately recovered about 300 billion won, making it an all-time great stock investment!

Of course, considering the capital gains tax that would be paid later, I couldn’t consider the entire profit as my income.

So, I set aside the estimated amount in another account in advance. To avoid belatedly preparing for it later.

‘It would be good to do a split purchase like this time when buying next time. Because I can’t just buy stocks all at once as if putting them in a shopping cart.’

Anyway, even though I had no interest in stocks in my previous life, remembering a few major stocks was a big help.

If I had known I would regress back then, would I have memorized all the stock information?

No, no.

If I had known I would regress, I would have found a way to avoid regressing at all costs. Because retirement was right in front of me.

Anyway, I left only 50 billion won in the existing account and 分散 [pinyin: fēnsàn; dispersed] all the money I had secured. Including the amount to be paid for future taxes.

I also set aside the expenses that would be incurred immediately due to the Jije Station project and the Krivia Island investment in advance.

In other words, the maximum amount I can currently use is 50 billion won.

Right now, money is flowing out as quickly as I earn it.

But when this stabilizes, there will definitely come a point when money starts to accumulate.

“Should I buy even more of the other islands around Krivia Island?”

As I thought about it, my thoughts expanded even further.

I have no intention of starting a business or running a company with the money I earn.

However, I am very interested in increasing the quantity and quality of my ‘sanctuary,’ which I will use as a retirement home for the rest of my life.

Krivia Island is not small in area.

But I thought that after building a villa, a runway, and some convenience facilities, there wouldn’t be enough space.

If I were to invite acquaintances.

Or prepare a space to invite locals and enjoy festivals and banquets – like the Great Gatsby –.

I think I should buy Yulianes Island, which is located near Krivia Island.

‘It’s a place to spend my whole life, so there’s no harm in increasing the scale. Life is long, and it can often get boring.’

I became more confident in my thoughts.

In particular, there is a dungeon on Yulianes Island. If I buy the dungeon together, it will also be a training ground to refine my condition, which can become dull.

“Then the next stock is…”

Click. Click.

I checked the stock chart of Lycon Corporation, which I had listed as my next target.

It is a stock that will enter a rapid rise from March 20th due to security system development issues.

According to the original plan, I should have completed the purchase by today, but I was postponing it.

The reason is the ‘major incident’ that will happen in the country at midnight from today to tomorrow.

‘No matter how much I minimize it, I can’t avoid the all-out war between KSA, Yanghwa, Hyehwa, Hongyeon, and Cheongyeon Guilds. Even if only temporarily.’

You can’t quell a huge conspiracy without a single sacrifice.

So, I judged that if an incident broke out on the 20th, it would have a big impact on the stock market.

In other words, I judged that the price could be adjusted a little more than it is now, and I could enter at a lower price.

As the issue is buried when an incident occurs, there is a possibility that the announcement will be postponed later than expected.

‘I’ll start split purchases from next week and hold it while watching the situation. Then I can leave a profit like this time.’

Since I can foresee the future results, my thoughts become simpler, which is great!

“Shami.”

-Huh?

“Let’s stay here for a few days. It’s a bit quiet around here, but it seems safe here.”

-Shin-hwa, what’s wrong? Safety, there are other places besides here that are safe, right?

They say a woman’s intuition is like a ghost.

Of course, I left room for words, but Shami asked me back with an uneasy expression.

“It’s nothing. I think I’ll be away for a day or so. It’s safe here, so don’t go out until I come back.”

-Okay, I understand! I have to follow Shin-hwa’s words unconditionally!

Shami nodded.

Thanks to the remote access device, Shami can now enter and exit through the open door just by standing in front of it.

I can make the door open and close automatically.

I tried training her a few times as a test, and her learning ability was perfect.

Her body is only a Siamese cat, but her thinking and judgment are the same as when she was a princess of the kingdom.

Stroke. Stroke.

I stroked Shami’s fur, which had become more 윤기 [yoon-gi; glossy] thanks to constant care, and put her to sleep.

Everything was quiet.

There was no news that could be called breaking news, and it was a day that seemed like any other day.

But even at this moment, the KSA and Yanghwa Guild are diligently moving in unseen places.

‘D-Day is coming soon.’

The moment we cross over to midnight today.

Mok Jin-woo finally reveals his true colors.

I will have to face his demonic hands inside the dungeon, and I will likely have to fight a life-or-death battle.

‘It seems that Kim Jae-rim has decided to trust Mok Jin-woo after all. That will also be his fate. The aftermath to be endured is also Kim Jae-rim and his guild’s share.’

I thought simply.

I didn’t draw a picture of me and Kim Jae-rim living together and suppressing Mok Jin-woo with a broad 오지랖 [ojilap; meddling nature].

We are the world?

I don’t know anything like that.

Everyone must take responsibility for the fate they have chosen.

If Kim Jae-rim in this life decides to trust Mok Jin-woo like in the previous life, then that fate is also Kim Jae-rim’s share.

There is no need for me to intervene presumptuously, save his life, and forcibly twist the situation.

Of course, there is no need to feel guilty. It’s just that each of us is taking responsibility according to our choices.

That noon.

I saw off the priest, Han So-joon, and Yoon Byeol-i, who had entered the dungeon raid.

It will take at least a day or two, so there is no need to worry about being caught up in external affairs.

And eight hours before midnight.