I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 26

Chapter 26

“I think the guy holding his ground alone, blowing away Awakened from all directions, is Kang Sinhwa.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

“Lee Cheol-soo is in the same class as you, Byul. That Awakened was taken down in one hit by a D-rank Awakened. What do you think?”

“I think the Branch Manager’s thoughts are similar to mine.”

“You’re saying there’s a high possibility that Kang Sinhwa isn’t D-rank?”

“I think we need to re-measure Kang Sinhwa’s rank. Roughly estimating, at least B-rank, or maybe even higher.”

“What on earth happened to that F-rank porter?”

Namina narrowed her eyes.

“Kkeuaek!”

Lee Cheol-soo, as well as Jo Chun-pal, a D+ rank Awakened known as his right-hand man, flew from afar and lay sprawled out side by side.

The gang was being wiped out.

The opponent was Sinhwa alone.

However, the imbalance of power showed no signs of resolving, and in front of Sinhwa, all the gang members received a fair outcome.

Barely breathing, like living corpses.

They were scattered here and there, in a state no different from being dead.

Namina began to analyze Sinhwa’s fighting style, which she had meticulously observed.

As an SS-rank Awakened, she had caught several noteworthy things.

“He didn’t use any long-range abilities. All close-range attacks. His right arm seems to be able to transform into weapons, and his left arm is for mana emission.”

“Then that already makes him a dual Awakened, right? Transformation and emission talents.”

“The problem is…….”

“Even physical enhancement?”

“That’s right. He didn’t even groan from other Awakened’s attacks. That means his body is also enhanced.”

“If we add enhancement talent, he might even be a triple Awakened.”

“If there are more hidden abilities here, it won’t end with just triple.”

Just then.

“Branch Manager, over there!”

Yoon Byul, who was watching Sinhwa, urgently called out to Namina, pointing at Sinhwa’s changed appearance.

At that moment.

The sight of an Awakened trying to stab Sinhwa in the back with a sharp spear was visible.

Kkudeudeuk.

At the same time, Sinhwa’s entire body turned into steel came into view.

Steel Enhancement.

It was Sinhwa’s skillful response, utilizing the Steel Flower he had eaten from Magos before.

“Crazy, a quadruple? And that seems to be related to eating a flower related to his talent, not an Awakened talent? Where did he get something like that again?”

Namina touched her throbbing forehead, wearing a blank expression.

Most Awakened experience awakening by primarily utilizing one talent.

Just as professional soccer players usually only have talent in soccer, Awakened also specialize in only one talent.

However.

Occasionally, like mutants, Awakened with two or three talents appear.

A prime example was Namina, the Branch Manager of the KSA [Korean Special Ability Association] Seoul Branch.

She was a transformation-type Awakened who could transform mana into attribute magic, and also a space manipulation ability user capable of freely distorting space.

Even having just these two fields of talent causes their value to skyrocket, and interest in that Awakened explodes.

Not to mention triple or quadruple talents, there’s no need to say more.

If this fact becomes known, not only domestically but also internationally, they will be interested.

Because the more talents an Awakened has, the better.

Various talents are also an indicator that means high potential value.

“I’ve never seen such an enhancement ability before. Is he immune to physical attacks altogether?”

Yoon Byul looked at Sinhwa, who had turned into a steel man, with an unbelievable expression.

The man who ambushed Sinhwa from behind was not an ordinary person, but an Awakened who knew how to handle mana to some extent.

So, it means it wasn’t an ordinary spear strike, but a fatal blow containing the power of mana.

In a normal case, Sinhwa should have been injured here at the very least.

No matter how much he enhanced his body, there is a limit to the enhancement of a D-rank Awakened.

However, Sinhwa nullified the opponent’s attack as if he had become invincible by turning his entire body into steel.

Bbaak!

“Keuheok.”

In the meantime, the Awakened, whose head was struck directly by Sinhwa’s fist, foamed at the mouth and collapsed.

“Bring a truckload of D-ranks. See if I even blink an eye. Worthless bastards.”

Tak tak!

Sinhwa leisurely dusted off his palms, counting the number of fallen gang members.

A total of twenty-five.

It wasn’t a small number, but anyway, it ended without any major incidents.

Of course, this only applied to him, and the gang members were sprawled out with at least four or five broken bones each.

‘The easiest to deal with are those who blindly trust their own strength and attack with standardized patterns.’

Awakened who relentlessly target the opponent’s weaknesses are difficult to deal with.

But enemies who indiscriminately unleash attacks as they please were too easy.

Almost like a punching bag.

Anyway, they couldn’t even touch a hair on his head.

‘If they’re coming to me, they should come, what are they muttering about while watching from afar?’

Sinhwa took usable artifacts from the sprawled gang members as spoils.

He was glancing at Namina and Yoon Byul’s movements.

Both are acquaintances.

So, it was easy to know who they were and which organization they belonged to.

The possibility of them coincidentally coming to this Red Zone from the KSA was 0%.

Nine times out of ten, they must have come for a scout offer for him, but they were taking a long time to weigh the situation.

“Keureureuk, this artifact is absolutely not allowed…….”

“You came in a mob thinking of killing someone, and now you’re thinking about breaking even?”

As Sinhwa tried to take the bracelet.

The Awakened, who was bleeding profusely from his nose, urgently grabbed Sinhwa’s hand.

“I was wrong, please.”

“If you were wrong, shut up and lie down. It seems like people from the KSA have come just in time, so eat your prison food well.”

Bbeoeok!

“Euheok!”

As Sinhwa’s fist landed right in the middle of his face, the Awakened lost his mind without even letting out a proper scream.

“Kkeueo…….”

The thoughts of the gang members who were barely breathing and sprawled out were all the same.

That they had mistakenly touched the sleeping lion’s whiskers.

And that Kang Sinhwa was a being with skills far superior to the publicly known ‘D-rank’.

However, by the time they realized that, they had already been beaten black and blue by Sinhwa and their bodies were in tatters.

‘Park Dowon, you son of a b*tch…….’

Everyone resented Park Dowon.

Because of his revenge, they were implicated in the wrong place, suffering all kinds of injuries and becoming half crippled.

“There’s nothing more to take. Since the elders from the KSA have come, you guys should pay the price for your sins.”

Sinhwa, who had put all the artifacts into his subspace, jumped up with light steps.

Tatatat!

And ran in one breath.

He headed towards Namina and Yoon Byul, who were watching from not far away.

Then he abruptly opened his mouth.

“Did you see it?”

“I’m already calling the agents from the nearby KSA branch. Just because it’s a Red Zone doesn’t mean the Awakened Special Act doesn’t apply at all. Although most of the maintenance of order is delegated to the regional consensus body, exceeding the limits like this is an exception.”

Namina nodded, understanding Sinhwa’s words.

Except for the Black Zone, which is designated as a completely lawless area, the Red Zone still receives the application of the law.

However, since it is an area with insufficient law enforcement, the dispatch of front-line Awakened personnel is delayed.

Since it was a crime scene that caught the eye of the Seoul Branch Manager, these people would face a strict judgment of the law.

“That’s good. It’s originally a rare thing to see KSA agents in the Red Zone.”

Sinhwa threw a meaningful remark.

Namina and Yoon Byul couldn’t say anything to that.

Because the KSA’s lack of influence in the Red Zone and Black Zone was not just a matter of yesterday or today.

“I’m late in introducing myself. I’m Namina, the Branch Manager of the KSA Seoul Branch. The one next to me is an acquaintance, right? Yoon Byul, the Dungeon Management Team Leader of the 7th team of the Seoul Branch.”

“We meet again.”

Sinhwa smiled and shook hands.

Perhaps because he had ignored Yoon Byul’s calls twice without replying, her expression towards Sinhwa was cold.

However, she soon realized the importance of the situation and forced a smile.

It was her soulless reaction that was inherently incompatible with laughter.

Sinhwa changed the atmosphere.

“By the way, what brings the Branch Manager here?”

“I came to scout Kang Sinhwa directly. Join the KSA. I promise a contract fee that can’t even be compared to ordinary rookies!”

Namina immediately got to the point.

It was a quick, direct hit comment that suited her straightforward and aggressive personality.

The KSA is known as a very conservative group in recruiting talent.

They recruit talent carefully, but once they make a decision, they also boldly execute the budget.

Anyway, it was certain that they had met an Awakened with outstanding abilities that are difficult to meet.

‘There’s no need for me to enter the KSA. First of all, the restriction on autonomy is too great due to the nature of the organization.’

The KSA is an organization affiliated with the state.

As such, a vertical and rigid hierarchical relationship is emphasized.

It was a place where all tendencies were incompatible with him from the beginning, as he wanted to earn a lot in a short time and retire, rather than wanting to work for a long time.

‘Still, it feels good.’

Anyway, it’s really a happy thing that a high and skilled prominent organization is interested in him.

Because their interest is an indicator that is directly related to value.

If he were a common F-rank porter, would they have been interested? They probably wouldn’t even talk to him.

“It’s going to be difficult. I’m already a guild member affiliated with the Yanghwa Guild.”

“I know it’s a monthly contract. Then you can look for another contract after 31 days, right? Kang Sinhwa, I’m not someone who comes to meet just anyone.”

Namina’s words were unreserved.

It was a manifestation of high confidence.

The Branch Manager of the Seoul Branch is the position right after the Headquarters Manager in the KSA. It means they are usually a big shot.

“I want not only to demonstrate my abilities as an Awakened but also to engage in various for-profit activities. I hate organizational interference.”

“Special clauses are possible as much as you want.”

“Still, an organization is an organization. I don’t want to be conscious of those above and below me.”

Sinhwa said firmly.

Even if they give various privileges, the fact that the KSA is an organization affiliated with the state does not change.

Even if he tried to sell top-quality mana potions, it would be subject to the priority supply agreement.

In the case of strategic materials produced by KSA agents, there is a regulation that internal supply must be prioritized.

“Do you dislike the KSA?”

“There’s no particular reason to like it. It’s not like it’s a place where porters casually curse while having a drink.”

In line with Namina’s honest personality, Sinhwa also told her directly without beating around the bush.

The Korean Awakened Association is a place that is thoroughly performance-oriented and achievement-oriented. As a result, individual personalities and opinions are extremely ignored.

In short, a rigid organization.

There seemed to be no worse condition to gnaw away at his future than entering such a place.

So, the refusal was actually a natural course.

Namina, who came forward herself with the intention of unconditionally concluding the contract, may not understand.

“Then…… is the negotiation broken?”

“If someone like the Headquarters Manager comes, then I might be willing to sit down and talk seriously.”

Sinhwa expressed his intention to refuse indirectly, mixing half a joke.

“Really?”

However.

Namina’s answer, which seemed to be taking it very seriously for some reason, immediately came back.