Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

At the top of the Korean Awakened Association, the Chairman’s office exuded a chilling, almost murderous atmosphere that pressed down heavily on anyone who entered.

So much so that nobody dared even think of stepping inside.

“S-Secretary General… Tea, tea…”

“I’ll take it from here. You may go.”

Taking the tray from the trembling secretary at the entrance, Choi Changwook closed the office door behind him. A profound silence.

Step, step.

Cutting through the oppressive atmosphere that would leave an ordinary person gasping for breath,

Click.

Choi Changwook placed the teacups before the two intimidating figures in the room.

A premium blend of Elven tea. Its fresh and clear aroma calmed Choi Changwook’s tense body.

Inconspicuously, he took in a deep breath of the tea’s scent and retreated carefully.

“…….”

“…….”

Though devoid of literal killing intent, the middle-aged man and the handsome young man looked at each other as if they had already slaughtered several people.

Choi Changwook couldn’t help but mumble, “You resemble each other.”

Hearing this,

Swoosh.

Both men’s gazes naturally shifted to Choi Changwook. Despite being a top-rank Diamond rank player, nearly capable of reaching ranker status, the killing intent from the two was more than he could easily endure.

“Ah. Th-that is!”

Quickly thinking on his feet, he stammered out the best excuse he could come up with.

“Your aura! Both of your auras are so alike, that’s what I meant!”

Was it a decent move?

Swoosh.

Both men’s gazes returned to each other.

With a face as solid as a golem,

‘That was close.’

Choi Changwook managed to steady his racing heart as he glanced at Kim Shimun and Kim Muyeol.

‘They’re definitely in a foul mood… but they really do look alike.’

On deeper scrutiny, it was an overstatement, perhaps.

Kim Muyeol, the epitome of cool-headedness, and Kim Shimun, who could be seen as slippery or even frivolous, were polar opposites.

Yet, somehow, in ways hard to put into words, they bore a striking resemblance.

For example, ‘The atmosphere. Yes, it’s the atmosphere that’s similar.’

Grinding his teeth and barely stifling a chuckle,

‘Even I think that sounds like nonsense.’

However.

‘The way both of them express their anger is oddly similar.’

Having served Kim Muyeol for many years and having watched Kim Shimun since he was young, it was a certain instinctive feeling.

‘If it were Kim Shihyuk, he would have lashed out with qi without thinking.’

Even recently, didn’t he draw his aura in Kim Shimun’s penthouse?

That wasn’t the only instance. Though Kim Shimun might not know it, Kim Shihyuk had countless deadly exchanges with Kim Muyeol even before becoming a ranker.

In comparison, the mixture of restraint and exploration in Kim Shimun’s anger was surprisingly similar to Kim Muyeol’s.

Choi Changwook let out a deep sigh inwardly.

‘They say enemies resemble each other. The old saying isn’t wrong.’

Moreover, ‘To resemble that woman so much…’

Contrary to the typically gentle and clear features of the Kim family, Kim Shimun had distinct and sharp features.

Although they were half-brothers, no one could guess that the now-famous Kim Shimun was the brother of the Sword Saint, Kim Shihyuk.

‘That’s probably why Muyeol Hyungnim reacts so sensitively to Kim Shimun.’

A weakness of the Ironwood King that had disappeared. Seeing Kim Shimun, who resembled her so closely, act in the exact opposite manner, even the great Kim Muyeol couldn’t help but become emotional in front of Kim Shimun.

Choi Changwook bitterly observed the silence between these two men, who were so extremely different yet oddly similar, on both the outside and inside.

And then, “Are you going to keep your mouths shut?”

Choi Changwook’s wistful gaze quickly turned to tense.

“Even my uncle can’t escape age, huh? Do I have to ask the same question repeatedly?”

“…”

“Ten years ago. Why did you smuggle the Desperado bastards into the country?”

Typically, such rudeness would have resulted in immediate retaliation, but Kim Muyeol said nothing, simply glaring at Kim Shimun.

“Does just staring change anything? Uncle. If you make me ask the same question again, you’ll regret it.”

Kim Shimun’s eyes, unyielding against Kim Muyeol, even more murderous than Kim Muyeol’s, despite his slight smile.

‘If he keeps his mouth shut, I’ll have to use my Divine Eye to force him to speak.’

The Divine Eye, which can dominate those with Dragon Force. Kim Shimun intended to use it to compel Kim Muyeol to confess.

“Will you remain silent to the end?”

Despite his smile, Shimun’s eyes grew fiercer.

Vroom.

As Dragon Force started gathering in his left eye, “What’s your intention?”

Kim Muyeol, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

“Uncle, I demanded answers, not questions.”

“Arrogant brat.”

Kim Muyeol snorted.

“If you found out that I smuggled Desperado into the country ten years ago, you must already know the reason. Why even ask?”

He continued speaking with his usual icy demeanor.

Kim Shimun chuckled.

“Of course. You never make things easy, do you?”

Kim Muyeol was right. During the high-class terror incident ten years ago, Kim Muyeol had just recently become the Association President.

If he hadn’t become the President, one might understand.

But already being the President and smuggling in a major villain organization like Desperado?

‘It just doesn’t seem like something Uncle would do.’

Hating the legitimate heir Kim Shihyuk was understandable. But joining a high-class terror incident to deal with the young Shihyuk?

It was a decision that brought far more loss than gain.

Therefore, “I simply can’t understand it.”

“Understand?”

Kim Shimun found Kim Muyeol’s actions incomprehensible.

“Exactly. Knowing full well what kind of organization Desperado is, doing such a thing early in your tenure as Association President?”

Maybe Kim Shimun’s reply hit a nerve. Kim Muyeol’s lips twitched before falling silent.

Then, “Did you never consider the opposite? That I want to kill you all that badly.”

His voice carried rare emotion, but that was it.

“Do you think I’m a fool, Uncle?”

Kim Shimun scoffed.

“I know you hate us. I can even understand why. What about Lee Yujeong and Aunt Yeonhee?”

“…….”

“Alright, let’s say you hate even Lee Yujeong and Aunt Yeonhee.”

Kim Shimun nodded casually as Kim Muyeol remained silent. He already knew from Rin, the owner of the black market, that Chairman Lee Suncheol had been involved in the incident ten years ago.

There would probably be a connection with Chairman Lee Suncheol in some capacity.

However, “What about the other high-ranked officials? Do you think turning them into enemies makes sense?”

At the time, Kim Muyeol had only recently become the Association President. Naturally, his relationships with other political and business figures would not have been very deep.

So, to turn them into enemies?

Kim Muyeol, who had been silent, spoke, “I was young back then.”

“…What did you just say?”

Kim Shimun, taken aback by such an unexpected response, paused.

But, “Seems like you too need to hear things multiple times to understand.”

Kim Muyeol responded not with an answer but with a venomous sneer.

“I despise you. Kim Shimun, and your precious younger brother, even more so. Ten years ago, I couldn’t contain that emotion.”

“Ha! The mighty Ironwood King, swayed by emotions?”

Did that remark hit a nerve?

Kim Muyeol’s eyes twitched intensely. Not just the eyes, “Yes. I was swayed by something so petty. It was the biggest blemish of my life.”

For the first time, Shimun saw an expression on him, “I wanted to rip apart that damned family, Kim Shihyuk, you, and your mother! I wanted to kill all of you!”

He shouted fiercely, even standing up from his seat, his voice dripping with intense murderous intent. Kim Shimun blinked in surprise at the fierce outburst.

For a moment, but not long, “What did you just say? My mother?”

Kim Shimun replayed the words he couldn’t ignore, calmly yet firmly. Whether it was due to the flood of released emotions, Kim Muyeol couldn’t hide his rising confusion, his eyes darting around.

Then, “Uncle, do you know my mother?”

He bit his lip hard.

“…How could I not? She was the only blemish on your father’s otherwise perfect record.”

“Really…?”

Kim Shimun trailed off. Understandably so.

‘Was Uncle close with my mother?’

His mother had passed away shortly after giving birth to him. He had no memories of her but knew about her from what his father had said.

‘My mother lived in a remote village before meeting my father, right?’

His father and uncle frequently clashed due to being a legitimate child and an illegitimate one.

They weren’t close enough to discuss secret lovers in detail.

Moreover, ‘I guess there’s no way to mend things with Muyeol…’

As a child, Kim Shimun remembered his father lamenting while drunk about never being able to reconcile with his only sibling.

But Uncle mentioning his mother in such a manner?

‘No matter how much he hates my brother, he wouldn’t harbor such hatred for his lover.’

Kim Shimun’s brow furrowed.

‘There must be something I don’t know…’

Then, closing his eyes slightly as if to organize his thoughts, ‘But it all happened before I was born. What meaning does it hold now?’

The one thing he was certain of was clear.

‘Uncle tried to kill Shihyuk and me ten years ago.’

Additionally, he hated his mother enough to harbor a murderous intent, and this vindictiveness led to smuggling Desperado.

Yes.

That was the crux of the matter.

‘Then,’

Vroom.

Kim Shimun opened his eyes again.

Odin’s Eye, now activated, locked precisely onto Kim Muyeol.

Snap.

A scorching blade formed at his fingertip as it snapped.

‘Here and now, I will sever my ties with my uncle.’

With his killing intent as palpable as Kim Muyeol’s, Shimun grasped the hilt of his sword.

“Wait!”

A 2-meter-tall figure stepped between them. It was Choi Changwook, the golem.

“Kim Shimun-ssi. Please calm down and listen to what I have to say.”

“Listen?”

Kim Shimun tilted his head in question. But with Choi Changwook standing unarmed and clearly in a mediating position, “Very well. Let’s hear it.”

Kim Shimun lowered Laevateinn and replied.

Choi Changwook quickly spoke.

“On that day, Mr. Muyeol did not target you, Kim Shimun-ssi.”

“Choi Changwook!”

A sharp voice came from behind. Normally, he would have bowed his head immediately, but,

“In fact, he intended to ensure your safety.”

Choi Changwook continued resolutely. In response, “Choi Changwook!!”

Crash.

Tree branches from the bonsai scattered around the Chairman’s office shot out sharply at Kim Muyeol’s angry shout.

However,

“Stop.”

A clear, short voice rang out.

At Kim Shimun’s command, the branches, which had seemed ready to tear apart, halted abruptly.

“Uncle, please calm down. We’re having a conversation.”

Kim Shimun gently smiled, pacifying Kim Muyeol.

Amazingly, as if truly calmed by his words, Kim Muyeol collapsed back into his seat.

Swoosh.

Yet it seemed his mind didn’t follow suit,

“This…!”

Kim Muyeol looked down at himself with a mix of shock and disbelief.

Kim Shimun turned away from his uncle and focused on Choi Changwook.

“Continue?”

He directed his gaze towards the similarly stunned Choi Changwook.

“Yes? Ah! Yes!”

Gathering his wits, Choi Changwook resumed speaking.

“The Association President allowed Desperado’s smuggling on the condition of ensuring your safety, Kim Shimun-ssi.”

“My safety as the condition?”

Kim Shimun raised an eyebrow.

“Uncle, is that true?”

He looked at Kim Muyeol with eyes full of doubt.

“…”

Kim Muyeol remained silent as expected. But Kim Shimun needed no answer.

Vroom.

‘It’s true.’

With his left eye, the activated Divine Eye. It pierced through Kim Muyeol’s silence, confirming Choi Changwook’s words were true.

Kim Shimun turned back to Choi Changwook.

“So in the end, my uncle did smuggle Desperado into the country?”

He didn’t bother asking why his safety was demanded.

Choi Changwook, seemingly surprised by this revelation, added, “That… it was unavoidable.”

After glancing at Kim Shimun, he continued, “The President believed that if he didn’t smuggle them in, someone else would have.”

“Ah.”

Kim Shimun sighed softly.

“So, knowing they would be smuggled in anyway, he chose to keep them under his watch?”

“You understand quickly. Yes, he judged it safer to keep those lunatics within his sight.”

As Choi Changwook confirmed this, Shimun rested his chin on his hand and responded,

“And that someone would likely be Chairman Lee Suncheol, right?”

“H-How did you know that!”

Choi Changwook exclaimed in shock.

“You… how do you know…?”

Kim Muyeol also looked at Kim Shimun with surprise.

Then, “I see. So Choi Woosuk confessed everything?”

“Yes.”

Although the black market owner had already informed him earlier, Kim Shimun nodded lightly, took his phone from his pocket, and turned it on.

Then,

– It’s true! Chairman Lee Suncheol personally ordered that research lab!

– An all-too-familiar voice continued, And not just that… he manipulated the domestic villains…

On the phone’s screen, a middle-aged man passionately ranted in a dimly lit room.

Kim Muyeol muttered to himself, “He confessed to everything…”

“Exactly. With this kind of evidence, bringing down Chairman Lee Suncheol shouldn’t be too hard, right?”

Kim Shimun’s question made Kim Muyeol’s face harden.

“You want me to cut down that old man’s head?”

“Something like that. For now, we need to remove him from his position. Further punishment will follow.”

Kim Shimun smiled brightly.

In response, “Why don’t you do it yourself?”

“Oh, come on~ How could a lowly commoner like me manage that?”

“Ha!”

It was almost laughable, Kim Muyeol snorted and glared at the smiling Kim Shimun.

“You just don’t want to dirty your hands. Besides, even with this evidence, it won’t be easy to bring down that old bastard.”

“Add to that, your connections in the political and business sectors also play a part.”

Kim Shimun took a sip of his now-cold tea.

“For decades, he’s been one of the elite among the elite. People who could never challenge him would find his downfall irresistible, right?”

Kim Muyeol silently glared at Kim Shimun without responding.

Then, he drained his cold tea in one gulp, placed the teacup down with a firm thud, and spoke, “I understand part of your plan. Apart from revenge on Lee Suncheol, you also aim to sever the relationship between me and that old man.”

In the past, the Continental…

More precisely, seeking to sever his ties with Zhang Liqiu.

“You want me to be the one to betray the old villain I’ve worked with all this time?”

This time, Shimun offered no reply, just that infuriatingly smug smile in response. Kim Muyeol ground his teeth in frustration.

“It’s like you’re testing my loyalty to you. Do you think I’m your servant, Kim Shimun?”

“Why go that far, Uncle?”

“Shut up!”

Bang.

Kim Muyeol slammed the table hard. Blood flowed from his fist, mixing with the shattered teacup fragments.

“Answer me. What’s the real reason you’re insisting on me handling this?”

Kim Muyeol stared unflinchingly at Kim Shimun.

“Surely Kim Shihyuk, Lee Yujeong, or Lee Yeonhee could handle this just as well, couldn’t they?”

As Kim Muyeol pointed out, removing Chairman Lee Suncheol was something not only Kim Muyeol could achieve.

“Especially leaving it to those Lee women would make the process smoother. They wouldn’t defend their own blood for pulling such stunts.”

Being family and part of the same group, with a strong sense of duty, they wouldn’t forgive Lee Suncheol even if he was family.

“I’m aware of that.”

Bitter memories from his past life surfaced. The last image of Lee Yujeong from shocking news reports came to mind.

‘I tried so hard to find her back then, but I never saw her again.’

Kim Shimun’s smile subtly faded.

Taking another sip of his now-cold tea, Shimun gazed at his enraged uncle.

“I don’t want to burden those three with this task.”

“What?”

Was that answer unexpected?

The venom in Kim Muyeol’s eyes momentarily softened.

“I mean it. Especially for Lee Yujeong and Aunt. It would be an act of betrayal against them. I can’t force them into that.”

“You.”

“So, Uncle. Let’s handle this between us. After all, neither of us will lose anything from this, right?”

Physically or mentally.

With a bitter smile, Shimun murmured.

“…….”

Kim Muyeol fell silent.

But despite the calm, inwardly, ‘Let’s end this between us, Muyeol. After all, neither of us has anything to lose, right?’

The deja vu of familiar words left his eyes visibly shaken.

And then, ‘Of course, you’re just like her! Pretending to be righteous until the end!’

Anger surged within. It felt like something hot was rising all the way to his throat. Kim Muyeol tightly closed his eyes, suppressing the emotion with all his might.

If he acted on it now, he could easily end his wretched nephew’s life.

‘Even in death, you…!’

His ardent eyes fixated on the sharply featured young man. An unforgettable image overlapped with the young man’s face.

Then, “… Alright.”

Cooling his molten fury in an instant.

Who said it?

The past repeats itself.

Kim Muyeol, confronted the same death once more.

Thus, “I’ll end this myself.”