I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 33

One hour later.

Having completed the contract, Shin-hwa handed over the two top-grade mana potions he had made to the Yanghwa Guild and returned home.

The payment was made immediately.

Shin-hwa easily earned 4 billion won [approximately $3 million USD] and was able to return home in a good mood.

Meanwhile, back at the Yanghwa Guild, where Shin-hwa had been.

Jin Seong-tae, Jin Bo-mi, Seo Ye-hee, and Yoon Tae-ho were all sitting in the still-lit conference room.

“Bo-mi.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Drink the potion. Shouldn’t you experience it yourself? I even measured the concentration, but I still think you should check it yourself.”

Jin Seong-tae slid a water bottle containing the potion to Jin Bo-mi.

It felt like throwing away 2 billion won [approximately $1.5 million USD] just for verification, but it was not a waste of money for Jin Seong-tae at all.

“Yes, I’ll try it. If this is really a top-grade mana potion, it will save the lives of many Awakened in the future.”

“I think so too.”

The father and daughter thought the same.

It was also what Shin-hwa had thought when he made the potion.

Regardless of the price of the potion, high-level Awakened would consider the potion as another life insurance.

“Hwasik (花式) [Flower Style], Geophwa (劫火) [Infernal Fire].”

Jin Bo-mi put her hands together and immediately manifested her talent.

The talent that made her an Awakened was magic.

It was also influenced by her interest in the occult from a young age, and she had studied a lot in that field.

Sharrrrr.

Numerous flowers manifested from her fingertips, scattering into the air, following the wind that flew in from somewhere.

Tock!

Then, as she flicked her fingers, the flowers burst into flames and disappeared everywhere.

She repeated the same process quickly.

To eliminate all the mana.

Jin Bo-mi continued to consume mana, focusing on Geophwa, which consumed a lot of mana, and soon became almost exhausted.

Guild Master Seo Ye-hee asked.

“Bo-mi, are you okay?”

“Yes, Sister. I’m fine. My physical condition has been good since Shin-hwa treated me last time.”

“No problem with talent manifestation?”

“Not at all! Rather, mana circulation seems to be smoother than before. It’s like the machine has been serviced?”

Jin Bo-mi described her sensations frankly.

Soon, she opened the lid of the water bottle in front of her and nodded to Jin Seong-tae.

“Father, I’m ready.”

“Drink it.”

“Yes.”

Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.

As soon as she finished speaking, Jin Bo-mi gulped down the top-grade mana potion.

The standard amount of mana potion is 500ml [approximately 17 ounces].

If you drink less than 500ml, mana recovery will not occur at all, so she emptied the contents completely.

The next moment.

“Wow!”

Jin Bo-mi exclaimed.

From the moment the liquid went down her esophagus, mana surged throughout her body.

The mana in her body, which had been completely depleted just a few seconds ago, was rapidly recovering.

The recovery speed was so fast that she didn’t even think about the intermediate mana potions she had drunk in the meantime.

“How is it? Is it real?”

“Father… This is revolutionary!”

Jin Bo-mi expressed her feelings without exaggeration.

She believed in Shin-hwa from the beginning, but actually drinking the potion and experiencing it firsthand made it a reality, not just a dream.

“Is a monster really coming into our Yanghwa Guild… Tae-ho, can I handle it?”

“That’s right, Master. I hate myself for doubting and envying Kang Shin-hwa earlier.”

“I think you guys have similar thoughts about Kang Shin-hwa as I do. Don’t you think we should never miss this talent?”

“Yes, Chairman. I don’t think the distinction between dual and triple is meaningful anymore. The rumors haven’t spread yet, but once his existence begins to be known in earnest, Kang Shin-hwa will receive tremendous attention.”

Seo Ye-hee nodded vigorously in agreement with Jin Seong-tae’s words.

It was proof that Namina from KSA [Korean Special Ability association] had already made a move.

Seo Ye-hee learned that Namina had met Shin-hwa a while ago.

If some kind of recruitment had taken place there, Shin-hwa might make the next contract with KSA.

“Father, you can’t miss him. Kang Shin-hwa is a talent that our guild must strategically nurture!”

“5 billion won [approximately $3.75 million USD] per month. I think this is still a very insufficient investment for Shin-hwa.”

Jin Seong-tae stroked his beard.

Seo Ye-hee continued.

“Chairman, we need an accurate value judgment on Kang Shin-hwa.”

“I think Kang Shin-hwa’s non-combat talents have been sufficiently confirmed. However, no one has yet confirmed his combat talents with their own eyes, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Let’s schedule a dungeon raid as soon as possible. To a guild-owned dungeon so that it is not exposed to the outside.”

“Father, I don’t think dungeons at the C-rank or D-rank level are meaningful. In my opinion, Shin-hwa’s talent is A-rank or higher.”

“Then I think it would be good to schedule a dungeon raid at a level slightly higher than that.”

“Then the K-1004 dungeon near Exit 3 of Guro Station is suitable.”

“Are you talking about the dungeon with a judgment grade of A+ rank?”

“Yes. It is a dungeon that is certain to be upgraded to S-rank after the KSA conducts an internal investigation soon.”

“Ha… It’s funny that a D-rank Awakened is being tested in a quasi-S-rank dungeon.”

“I feel once again that the alphabet of the rank is just an alphabet.”

Seo Ye-hee laughed.

It was a laugh that burst out half absurdly, and half in surprise and amazement.

It was the same for Jin Bo-mi and Yoon Tae-ho, so they unknowingly scanned the place where Shin-hwa had stayed.

They were keenly aware of Shin-hwa’s presence.

“Schedule a dungeon raid as soon as possible. We’ll evaluate Kang Shin-hwa after the raid. What do you think?”

“I agree.”

“Me too.”

“I agree with Ye-hee and Tae-ho as well.”

Unanimous.

The process of securing Kang Shin-hwa, a talent of extraordinary potential, more firmly within the guild had begun.

* * *

At the same time.

On the 52nd floor, the top floor of the ‘Hongyeon Building,’ a skyscraper prominently located near Exit 4 of Sinchon Station, a serious conversation unfolded.

“So, this is the article that was just released.”

“Yes, Master. It appears he’s trying to promote himself through an exclusive reporter.”

“Kang Shin-hwa developed the highest-grade mana potion, and Yanghwa Guild secured exclusive selling rights?”

“Yes, as you know.”

“I know. That Kang Shin-hwa cured that greedy old man’s daughter.”

“Yanghwa Guild is already treating him exceptionally well, and while it’s unconfirmed, there are reports that the KSA [Korean Special Ability Association] is also showing interest.”

“It’s excessive, considering he’s D-rank. A top-grade mana potion sounds like a stretch, no matter how I look at it.”

Whoosh!

The man speaking raised the blinds, gazing at the Sinchon nightscape from the 52nd floor.

Sinchon, the city that never sleeps.

This area was practically Hongyeon Guild’s territory, entirely under their control.

So much so that people often called it Hongyeon Station instead of Sinchon Station.

The Hongyeon Guild’s influence in this area was that significant.

The dungeons along subway line 2, from Hapjeong Station to Hongdae Station, were all owned by the Hongyeon Guild.

Mok Jin-woo.

That was the Hongyeon Guild Master’s name.

“For now, it’s best to assess the potion issue later, once it actually starts circulating in the market.”

“Yes, it’s just an article for now.”

“Oh right, I heard that Kim Hyun-joon, the team leader of Seoul Team 49, met Kang Shin-hwa before?”

“Yes. He took pictures of the bite marks on the steel bar and reported it.”

“If he bit through steel, that indicates physical enhancement, making him an enhancement type. And he has healing abilities and the talent to make potions?”

“We lack sufficient information to pinpoint all his talents, but in this case, at the very least…”

“At the very least, he’s a dual, essentially a triple Awakened.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Kang Shin-hwa rejected Kim Hyun-joon’s offer back then?”

“Yes. He showed no interest, not even engaging in a lengthy conversation.”

“He reacted that way even after we openly mentioned our guild’s name?”

“Yes.”

Mok Jin-woo frowned.

The Hongyeon Guild’s name was the envy of all Awakened, considered a cheat code.

For the 9 years since the official guild rankings began, the Hongyeon Guild had never relinquished its top position.

This was largely due to Mok Jin-woo’s proactive efforts, who invested heavily and aggressively recruited even promising talents.

If a sprout showed potential, he would preemptively secure it with money, preventing them from joining another guild.

This was his long-standing principle.

To prevent other guilds from gaining strength in the competitive landscape, he would strike first.

“In the world of Awakened, being a dual or more is a rarity. The investment value is significant. But more than that? Then, of course, Hongyeon should acquire him.”

“Shall we proceed with the recruitment?”

“You have unlimited budget, so bring Kang Shin-hwa to me. It would be amusing to snatch away the Awakened that Jin Seong-tae, that old man, has invested so much in.”

“Yes, Master.”

“The highest-grade mana potion made by the first Korean Awakened in the world. If it’s true, it will cause a sensation.”

Mok Jin-woo’s red eyes, reflected in the Sinchon night lights, glowed even more intensely.

The leader of Korea’s No. 1 guild, known as a collector of Awakened, began to move.

* * *

“Ah, I slept well. Is this what it’s like to have a young body? I don’t wake up at dawn and sleep soundly.”

I opened my eyes to the morning sunlight.

In my past life, as I aged, I noticed that recovery slowed down due to reduced sleep.

This twenty-four-year-old body allowed me to sleep as much as I wanted.

[Thank you so much for giving me an exclusive article! The editor-in-chief praised me so much for how I got this information!]

I was greeted by a text message Park Hyun sent me at dawn.

On the way home after finalizing the exclusive sales delegation contract, I called Park Hyun and asked him to report the contract.

Of course, it was a thoroughly intentional report agreed upon with the Yanghwa Guild in advance.

[Work hard. Don’t try to embellish the article, just report the facts.]

I didn’t forget to offer encouragement and a request.

To report articles that are favorable to me and suit my taste, a rookie like Park Hyun is better than an experienced reporter.

“Let’s see. There’s another important contact.”

I only read messages marked as important separately.

Because I receive so many contacts through various channels, I don’t have enough time to check them all individually.

I was planning to change my contact number soon.

The number I’m using now was too widely known.

It was a side effect of sharing my number everywhere during my porter job search.

But just then.

[We plan to raid the K-1004 dungeon at 21:00 today, so please arrive at Guro Station by 20:30.]

[The exclusive team will consist of 10-year veterans, so you don’t need to bring your own team.]

A message from Seo Ye-hee.

K-1004 Dungeon.

If I remember correctly.

“Isn’t that where the Flower of Transcendence is?”

It was a dungeon where I could acquire another flower to link with my talent.