I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 55

Chapter 55

The question and answer session lasted longer than I expected.

I skipped all the off-topic questions that persistently inquired about my talents and how I acquired them.

Instead, I answered in detail about the manifestation mechanism and principles of the highest-grade mana potion.

Anyway, after faithfully answering, the audience’s reaction became even more enthusiastic.

So, when I thought the time was right, I handed the proceedings over to Seo Ye-hee.

Now it’s time for ‘sales’.

It was also time for the Yanghwa Guild, which had promised a 5% sales commission, to show its capabilities.

“From now on, please have a direct conversation with the executives, including Seo Ye-hee, the master of the Yanghwa Guild. Then, I’ll be on my way.”

Stepping down from the podium, I scanned the faces of my old colleagues who seemed close.

The ties of Nine Roads.

Still, they were old comrades who had joined forces to prevent the Great Disaster and celebrated victory together.

Seeing their youthful days, 32 years ago, made me feel even more emotional.

‘When Nicholas regresses, he will take you and use you appropriately, so don’t be nosy and worry about it.’

The future with them is not my area of concern.

Anyway, when Nicholas comes, he will take care of them. I just have to watch quietly.

Sending them a smile that they wouldn’t understand, I left the conference hall.

That day, midnight.

I was relaxing comfortably in the guild’s exclusive VIP room on the top floor of Yanghwa Tower.

“A skyscraper overlooking the night view of Gangnam [a wealthy district in Seoul]. A feast of fine wines and liquors, and even a recovery facility where mana soars just by sitting still. It’s everyday happiness.”

The VIP room, which was clearly worth hundreds of billions of won [Korean currency, roughly equivalent to millions of US dollars], was the best place to relax.

Thanks to the countless dimension stones plastered all over the walls, the mana was so full that it felt like it was about to explode.

Thanks to that, no matter how much I exhausted my mana, the amount that was forcibly recovered was enormous.

Soon, Seo Ye-hee quietly opened the door and came inside.

I thought everyone would come together once the sales and contract matters were settled, but the other executives were not visible.

When I glanced behind Seo Ye-hee, she chuckled and began to speak.

“Oh my, are you looking for Bo-mi?”

“No, not really. It’s just strange because you always move together, but you came alone.”

“Since Shin-hwa is annoyed by the explanation of the process, I’ll tell you the results first. All the sales contracts for the 15 potions that were agreed upon for supply have been completed.”

“The reaction wasn’t ordinary from the beginning, but it turned out that way.”

It was as expected.

“All requests to meet with Shin-hwa have been rejected. Our guild will not open a separate channel.”

“Of course, you should.”

I nodded.

Responding to the personal attention focused on me is my problem, not the guild’s problem.

If you want to have a secret conversation like the business with Marina, the guild’s influence should not reach it even more.

Neither I nor Seo Ye-hee were dissatisfied because it was about not creating things that would bother each other.

“Anyway! In fact, a situation that was no different from an auction continued! The unit price is 7 billion won per bottle! The condition is to supply one bottle to each of the fifteen guilds! Here, take a look.”

The document that Seo Ye-hee handed over was filled with the names of the guilds and officials who had completed the contract.

Of course, Mok Jin-woo’s Hongyeon Guild and Shin Jung-ah’s Cheongyeon Guild were also proudly in place.

Marina, Beon Woo-shin, and Aila also secured one bottle each.

In addition, all the names of the top guilds were written without exception.

Seo Ye-hee shook her head repeatedly with an unbelievable expression.

“7 billion won per bottle……! It’s really an unexpected achievement. The price may go down a bit, but it will continue to receive a lot of attention in the future.”

“How much is it after deducting the commission?”

“It’s 99.75 billion won.”

“It’s 100 billion won, short of 250 million won.”

“That’s right. It’s not just billions, it’s trillions.”

“Master.”

“Yes?”

“If it’s okay with the guild, can you give me a month’s worth of potion sales in advance?”

A way to monetize it faster came to mind, so I quickly brought it up.

Perhaps the Yanghwa Guild will not be able to refuse.

It’s nice to say that it’s an affiliated mercenary, but now it’s virtually in a position of superiority where I have completely taken over the initiative.

As expected, Seo Ye-hee skillfully continued her answer as if she had already expected it.

“If the chairman’s approval is given, execution is not difficult. Anyway, it’s an item that will be delivered without any setbacks according to the guild’s contract.”

“Then the conversation will be easier.”

“But this is where the guild is looking at the convenience of Shin-hwa, who is a member? Still, there must be give and take.”

‘She’s trying to sell something.’

I know exactly how to start. It’s not a pattern I’ve experienced once or twice.

I just smiled silently.

I waited for Seo Ye-hee to continue.

* * *

30 minutes later.

“I’m really giving up, really.”

Seo Ye-hee, who escorted Shin-hwa back home, sighed deeply, holding her throbbing forehead.

There were instructions from Jin Seong-tae to respond as much as possible to Shin-hwa’s request.

However, unilaterally matching the other party’s request without any compensation was not the picture that Seo Ye-hee, who is called the master of negotiation, liked.

Today’s potion sales were also a case where her skills shined, and thanks to that, the Yanghwa Guild had secured a sales commission of nearly 5 billion won.

So, she confidently believed that she would achieve plausible results in her ‘negotiation’ with Shin-hwa, but… the result was a complete defeat.

Shin-hwa seemed to listen to her politely and kindly, but he didn’t budge an inch.

She used all the tricks she could use, from plausible persuasion and appeals to the guild’s capabilities to appropriate push and pull.

Shin-hwa didn’t budge.

Rather, in some cases, he came out strongly, saying that he could completely rewrite the board himself.

When Yanghwa Guild also stabbed fiercely, saying, ‘Are you only going to do business for a month?’, there was no longer any way to endure it.

“I feel like I’m seeing an upgraded version of the chairman, really.”

Seo Ye-hee shook her head, watching Shin-hwa’s disappearing back.

He is clearly a twenty-four-year-old Awakener who is no different from a rookie in society.

I felt like I was dealing with a veteran merchant in his fifties. It’s like there’s no gap to dig into.

“At this rate, our guild will have no choice but to be dragged around. But even knowing that, I can’t give up…….”

Seo Ye-hee grabbed Shin-hwa’s afterimage with her hand, who was already leaping powerfully between the skyscrapers in the air.

It became clear today.

The recruitment war of the guilds targeting Shin-hwa at the end of February, when the Danwol contract ends.

A large-scale guild recruitment war that could be called a ‘world war’ could occur.

“Our Yanghwa Group has to sell smartphones hard. To cover the contract funds.”

Thanks to this, Seo Ye-hee was worried about money for the first time in her life.

* * *

At that time.

“I’m so busy, really. I can’t believe I’m so eager to retire just a week after regressing.”

I was heading to my next destination, cutting through the obstacle-free air between skyscrapers with the night breeze.

It was because I decided to meet Marina and talk about Stimulus, that is, enhancement potions.

I was thinking of meeting her at a cafe that was open even in the early morning.

But she changed the place.

But the place was unique.

It was Tower Palace in Dogok-dong [an affluent neighborhood in Seoul]. It was also a luxurious residence with a penthouse and a private garden.

“I wouldn’t come to Korea often unless I had to, but she’s making a big move.”

With a grumbling sound, or rather, a lot of envy, I increased my speed even more.

The feeling of jumping over only the rooftop stairs where no one was around was more refreshing than I thought.

Like stepping on stepping stones?

I realized the height at which people passing by the sidewalk and crosswalk looked like small dots, and moved faster.

At that time, Jin Bo-mi’s Talk [a Korean messaging app] came.

Even in the meantime, I nonchalantly jumped over several buildings and checked her Talk.

[Let’s go catch Madillo one more time! All dungeon resets are over.]

[Oh, by the way, Shin-hwa needs a baby Madillo this time too, right?]

[Yes. Please send me the date and time. Let’s go with the same strategy as last time.]

I immediately sent a sharp reply and slipped my smartphone back into my pocket.

There were several rings after that, but I didn’t think I needed to check them now, so I didn’t look.

“Why the hell did I do that damn regression that I didn’t even think about…….”

I scratched the back of my head.

If I had retired and lived as a middle-aged man without any problems in my previous life, nothing would have happened.

Since I dreamed of early retirement after regressing, I felt like I was really working like crazy.

My goal is to retire without thinking and eat and play, but the process was filled with all sorts of thoughts and worries.

“Let’s do the Madillo dungeon raid just one more time and really rest for at least three or four days. I seriously need to recharge.”

I sighed deeply as I felt the heat rising in my head.

It seemed like I needed an adaptation period because my life was 180 degrees different from my previous life, where I only faithfully followed the leader’s orders.

“Let’s leave. I can’t do it.”

The worry was short, and the decision was quick.

I sent a message to Jeong-hoon, who would have finished work and time long ago.

[Please book a flight to Jeju Island for the day after the Madillo dungeon raid. It would be nice if you could find a detached villa to rest in.]

How reassuring it is to have an attendant who is no different from a dedicated secretary!

I finished preparing to submit a slightly early vacation request and headed to Marina at a faster pace.

Now it’s time to meet her.

* * *

A little later.

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting for Shin-hwa to come. I just got out of the shower, so it’s perfect.”

“I know you were waiting, but this atmosphere is a bit unexpected.”

“What’s wrong with this atmosphere?”

“Put something on, please?”

Shin-hwa pointed to somewhere on her with his fingertips, with a troubled expression on his face.

The length of the inner slip dress she was wearing was so short that half of her thighs, or more, were exposed.

Since it was a nude tone with a thin lining, it was practically at the level of covering only the important parts.

“Isn’t this kind of pretense too embarrassing at our age?”

“Okay. The location is important, not what you’re wearing. Let’s get straight to the point.”

“Okay.”

“I’m thinking of selling enhancement potions as I talked about on the phone early yesterday morning. I brought a product for testing, and if you want, I’ll eat it first.”

“What are the side effects?”

“There may be temporary drowsiness after the effects wear off. Well, this is the same for stimulants.”

“Let’s eat it right away.”

Cheek.

Gulp- Gulp-.

Marina immediately drank the enhancement potion in a small bottle without hesitation.

Then, she began to directly feel the effects of the potion that began to spread rapidly throughout her body.

“This…… is completely a drug, isn’t it?”

Soon, her eyes began to turn bright red.