Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

A heavy silence descended, matching the solemn atmosphere. No one in the association president’s office reacted. Olivia remained in an unmoving posture, still bowing.

The only hint of change in the room was:

“…..”

Kim Shihyuk’s mouth gaping in surprise at the entrance. This could be regarded as the only shift in the otherwise static setting. It was not something ordinary.

‘The Winter Queen bowing in apology like this…’

The Winter Queen. Olivia Denson was well-known to Kim Shihyuk, not just for her renowned recruitment abilities. He knew her through other means as well.

‘Wasn’t she the epitome of cool-headedness and pride?’

A high-ranked diamond-rank mage class player, in a way, similar in essence to his uncle, Kim Muyeol.

-Despite her formidable reputation, she had even asked to meet his brother just to offer such a deep bow in apology?

‘This is quite surprising.’

Though the situation elicited a wry smile naturally, Kim Shihyuk suppressed his emerging reaction.

Likewise, ‘I didn’t expect her to go this far…’

Shimun was not much different. Watching her for a moment, Shimun sighed briefly and spoke.

“Olivia, you don’t need to do this.”

“I cannot afford not to.”

A swift, firm denial. She maintained her stance and added, “Even though it’s a business relationship, we know well that you have treated us sincerely.”

In a dry yet slightly trembling voice, she continued, “I likewise approached you sincerely, Shimun…”

The day before the global public resource agenda for the growth buff was passed, they had shared a semblance of candid conversation, marking a slight breach in their professional boundary.

“Ultimately, my words were just that, words. My actions were starkly different, weren’t they?”

Right on the ‘day before’ the growth buff agenda was approved.

“In my personal opinion,” This was, in a way, more despicable than blatant hostility.

“It was more uncouth than China’s actions, who proposed the agenda.”

Indeed, it was a more vicious act. Not only did she betray good faith, but she also outright betrayed us. Olivia still didn’t straighten her bowed waist.

Instead, she seemed about to let her knees hit the floor. Shimun quickly stood up.

“I understand what you’re saying, but Olivia, there’s no need for this.”

He grabbed her shoulders as she descended. Gently, he lifted her. At first, she resisted. Hesitating momentarily, she gradually stood up, guided by Shimun.

Was it because she had been bowing for so long?

Or was it because of the emotions she was currently feeling?

“……”

Behind Olivia’s still businesslike expression, her quite reddened face was visible. Seeing this, Kim Shihyuk added his hands to his already gaping mouth.

“Olivia, let’s sit and talk.”

Shimun’s face had also become somewhat rigid. Despite his suggestion,

“Shimun, you don’t need to feel uncomfortable at all.”

Olivia steadfastly continued her apology.

“This is a very appropriate action for me….”

“Olivia, let me be clear with you.”

Shimun interrupted her apology, staring firmly into her eyes.

“You don’t need to bow your head this much.”

“Shimun, you know, don’t you? I betrayed you.”

“Not you, but American Dream did.”

He promptly corrected Olivia’s statement. She moved her lips but couldn’t speak further. Not like her usual prominent position in the sales department.

“……”

She seemed like her throat was clogged, unable to continue easily.

“If you are the Olivia Denson I know, surely you opposed the idea when it was proposed within the guild, didn’t you?”

Shimun asked in a calm tone. Olivia moved her lips again. Fortunately, “…… Yes.”

This time, her voice came out.

“And the ones who pushed for the agenda’s approval are probably Vice-guildmaster Colin or Guild Master Derick, who are probably downstairs rubbing their hands together right now.”

“How, how do you know…!”

Olivia’s eyes widened in shock. Shimun sighed softly.

“So what I’m saying is, American Dream betrayed me, not you, Olivia.”

Shimun hadn’t witnessed American Dream’s internal affairs directly. But the situation was clear enough.

‘Not just Colin, but I’ve had enough of Derick’s personality.’

From back on Earth in Shimun’s previous life. Derick, known as America’s superhero, is a type of person he was thoroughly familiar with. Hadn’t he gone through enough to be sick of him?

‘It’s no wonder the guildmaster position passed to Andrew instead.’

But Olivia seemed to interpret this conviction in a slightly different way.

“Shimun….”

Her voice softened slightly.

Then, “You have a more composed side than I thought.”

She took a moment to catch her breath, then spoke with a slightly playful expression.

“More composed than you thought? That makes me want to take back what I said earlier.”

Shimun responded with a witty smile. To that, “Hoho. It was a joke.”

Olivia let out a rare laugh and took a sip of her now lukewarm tea. She typically enjoyed coffee more than tea. Yet somehow, drinking this lukewarm tea seemed to relieve her pent-up worries.

After a brief pause, Olivia spoke.

“Thank you for your words, but it doesn’t change the fact that we betrayed you.”

“That’s true. Despite what I’m saying, I was quite hurt.”

Perhaps not wanting to dampen the brightened mood, Shimun displayed a slightly exaggerated demeanor.

“So, I hope the apology gift you brought will be to my liking.”

Smiling faintly at Shimun’s consideration, Olivia shook her head.

“That’s why I took the liberty of coming here.”

Her face turned serious as she placed the documents she had brought on the table.

“What’s this?”

“While the vice-guildmaster downstairs has presented an official apology gift in the VIP reception room, I felt that wasn’t enough.”

Shimun glanced at the documents. Familiar terms caught his eye. It wasn’t hard for Shimun to understand.

“These are the terms I promised during the Yujeong incident.”

“Yes, it’s the contract from then.”

It was immediately clear that it was the agreed-upon compensation related to the villain designation of Lee Yujeong.

“Shimun, you promised us up to three months. You said you’d waive the rental fee for the improved growth buff.”

She held up the document and pointed to the relevant clause herself.

“And that includes all the ten additional slots for new members assigned this time.”

“However.”

Rip!

It was torn into two pieces.

“I’ll consider everything void.”

Was this an unexpected action?

Shimun’s eyebrow slightly raised.

“That’s not all.”

Olivia continued speaking.

“I don’t know how much you plan to sell this buff that includes the death penalty nullification for.”

She took out another document and placed it on the table. With a pen she took out from somewhere.

“I will pay double the rental fee for the next three months as promised.”

She struck through the clause at the top of the document. Shimun glanced at the clause she struck through.

Just as she said, it stated that ‘we will pay double the rental fee for three months’.

“I don’t even know how high the rental fee will be. Isn’t that a bit too much?”

“For betraying the goodwill you’ve shown, I don’t think it’s too high a price. Besides…”

Olivia trailed off.

Then.

“It’s strictly guild funds. It’s not my money. So feel free to take whatever you can.”

She wore a playful smile. Shimun also chuckled.

“You’re a scary person, Olivia.”

“I’m appointing myself as a necessary evil. As old as the guild is, it sometimes needs a good whipping.”

“So, you want me to teach them a lesson?”

“Think of it as easing the stress you’ve been under, killing two birds with one stone.”

“And relieving the stress Olivia’s been under as well?”

“I’d call it a form of education. The guildmaster sits at the top and only understands things when blood is shed.”

It was obvious that this referred to the guildmaster, Derick.

“Haha!”

Shimun burst into a hearty laugh.

Then.

“Fine. If you’re telling me to take it all, I’ll do just that.”

Shimun winked and immediately signed the document. At that, Olivia interjected, “Excuse me, but isn’t the official guildmaster Swords Saint? Shouldn’t the signature be from Swords Saint…?”

She momentarily held back Shimun and asked. Shimun chuckled.

“That’s true, but that’s just for appearances.”

He glanced at his younger brother standing blankly at the entrance. Olivia’s eyes widened slightly.

“You mean… all the growth buff contracts for Shimdrasil until now…”

“Yes. They’ve all been issued with my signature. Every single one.”

Answering thus, Shimun signed his name boldly on the signature line.

“Sigh… And here you are, handling the guild’s operations as well. Unlike some idiot leading my guild. Truly impressive.”

Olivia let out a hollow laugh as she confirmed the familiar signature form.

At that moment, Kim Shihyuk, who had been standing at the entrance, gave a slightly uncomfortable cough, but that was all.

Shimun, not paying any attention, said, “Now then, I’ll make sure to properly punish the American Dream and that… idiot.”

“Please, I ask you to definitely do so.”

They shook hands. And the next day.

“Yes, this is Olivia, the head of the recruitment department.”

“Olly! What on earth is going on? A trillion won per person?! And that’s every month!!”

She received a very satisfactory phone call.

*

A desk piled with hundreds of documents. And the rough-looking man who owned that desk.

“Haha…”

Let out a hollow laugh with a face showing his soul had left him. It was no surprise. The growth buff rental was completed in just two hours. Contracts worth about 500 billion won per month now filled his desk with hundreds of documents.

His ears then heard…

“You’ve worked very hard.”

A clear, beautiful voice flowed. It was Shimun, organizing the documents at the next desk.

“I just did what you told me to do, Shimun-nim. It wasn’t much.”

“You stepped in as a representative. I know that’s already a hard task in itself.”

Feeling awkward about Shimun’s compliment, Park Jinwook scratched his head.

“Ahem! Then, for the next stat-enhancing potion production, can I…”

He asked in a subtle voice.

“I’ll make sure to take care of you first. But you know, right? Elixirs…”

“Lose their effectiveness with repeated usage? I’m well aware!”

“Then I’ll prioritize you next time, Jinwook.”

“Ha ha ha! As expected, Shimun-nim! You’re very straightforward!”

Satisfied with Shimun’s promise, Park Jinwook laughed heartily.

Then.

“Oh, by the way, Shimun-nim, is this for real?”

He shook a dozen or so contracts he had set aside.

“A trillion won per month? Will American Dream really accept these terms?”

“If they don’t, what can they do?”

“Huh?”

It was an unexpected answer. Park Jinwook blinked blankly for a moment.

“Don’t worry. American Dream has no choice but to accept those terms.”

Shimun wore an enigmatic smile.

“Besides, there are places that didn’t even get such terms, right?”

Before he could even finish speaking,

“Hyung.”

The door swung open and Kim Shihyuk barged in.

“There’s a guild insisting on meeting you…”

His face was notably displeased.

“Ah, they are right on time. Lead them to the reception room.”

As if he had been waiting, Shimun stood up.

“Let’s get this sorted out quickly and head to the training ground.”

*

“Ha ha! This is our first real meeting, isn’t it? It’s an honor to meet the creator of the stat-enhancing potion in person!”

A middle-aged man with eyes half-buried in flesh stood up and greeted him. Behind him, “It’s been a while, Shimun-nim.”

A tall, handsome man, Seo Wiryong, greeted with a somewhat dark expression and a respectful bow.

Nodding slightly in acknowledgment, Shimun immediately moved towards his seat.

The rotund middle-aged man…

“Ha ha! It seems we have truly displeased you.”

The Vice-guildmaster of Continental, Zhang Wanzhi, twitched his eyes. It was an attitude that showed he was being addressed by a subordinate. However, the disadvantaged side right now was Continental.

“I fully understand that sentiment. Of course!”

He nodded with a still kind smile.

Of course, internally, he sneered, ‘Showing such open displeasure. An amateur is still an amateur.’

Like a seasoned merchant, he said, “Although we issued an official apology through the association yesterday, it still bothers me.”

Rubbing his rather thick hands together, he continued, “So, I’ve prepared a personal token of sincerity.”

From his inventory, he pulled out a small vial. A potion with dark red liquid swirled inside.

“This is a special elixir developed by us, called DS. You should know its efficacy from the sample we gave you earlier.”

He placed the Dragon Serum on the table.

“Since it seemed like you hadn’t consumed it, let me remind you that it’s a very valuable elixir that enhances attributes.”

“Pfft!”

Shimun burst into laughter unexpectedly. Maintaining his smile, Zhang Wanzhi tilted his head slightly.

“Oh! Excuse me. I was just a bit surprised by this unexpected gesture. I received the details from Seo Wiryong earlier.”

Shimun responded with a deep smile.

“Haha! I’m glad you like it.”

His kind smile deepened. But, “Well, with your token of sincerity displayed, can we have a more in-depth conversation…”

“Do you have anything more to offer?”

Shimun interrupted, asking directly.

“Huh? Ah. Ha ha! Well…”

For the first time, a trace of difficulty appeared in his kind smile.

“DS is extremely rare even in Continental… Of course! If you wish, I can send you another vial.”

“So, you have nothing more to give right now?”

“I didn’t expect you to like DS this much. I’ll contact our base immediately…”

Zhang Wanzhi reached for his phone.

“That will be enough.”

Shimun stopped him with a nod towards a direction. Following Shimun’s nod, Zhang Wanzhi blinked for a moment. The reason was simple.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”

There was nothing in his view but an ornate door. Even then, his kind smile remained.

“What does it mean when you point to the door to someone who has nothing more to give?”

At Shimun’s following words, Zhang Wanzhi stiffened. He knew it meant, “If you’ve given everything, get out.”

Of course, only his eyes buried in flesh solidified. His thick lips still held a kind smile.

“This is… an unexpected development.”

“Is that so? Then you’ll need to be on guard from now on. Many unexpected things will happen.”

Shimun responded with a sly smile as well.

“…”

A brief silence followed. Zhang Wanzhi quietly examined Shimun with a smiling face. Finally, “Very well.”

He naturally stood up.

“I didn’t come to cause discomfort, so I will take my leave. Seo Wiryong?”

“Yes, Vice-guildmaster.”

“Please have a good conversation in my stead.”

He warmly patted Seo Wiryong on the shoulder and then left the reception room. As soon as the door closed, Seo Wiryong immediately stood up and bowed deeply.

“I sincerely apologize, Shimun-nim.”

Shimun let out a small laugh at the situation similar to yesterday.

“Please, take a seat.”

Shimun grasped Seo Wiryong’s shoulder and gently raised him, just like yesterday.

“I understand it couldn’t be helped. The Chinese federation representative, Yuan Hong, is on Zhang Liqiu’s side.”

“But we couldn’t be of any help while the agenda was being passed, could we?”

A dark shadow fell over Seo Wiryong’s tall, handsome face.

“We are receiving significant support from you, Shimun-ssi… I’m truly ashamed.”

Since their last meeting, Shimun had been supporting him and the moderate faction through various channels in the black market.

Yet, when Shimun was struggling, they couldn’t provide any help, making Seo Wiryong unable to show his face. Knowing his feelings well, Shimun nodded unexpectedly and acknowledged it.

“That’s true.”

This deepened the shadow on Seo Wiryong’s face even more.

“But won’t things change now?”

“Huh?”

Seo Wiryong blinked at Shimun’s continued words. Shimun glanced towards the entrance and spoke.

“The Chinese representative position in the federation is currently vacant, right?”

“Yes, and that’s been the cause of many discussions within Continental… Ah!”

Seo Wiryong let out a small sigh. Unlike before, he looked at Shimun with sparkling eyes.

“You mean to fill that vacant position with someone from our side?”

“Exactly.”

Shimun nodded.

“Given that the former representative resigned in disgrace, the public opinion on Zhang Liqiu within Continental is likely not very favorable.”

“You’ve analyzed the situation precisely. Thanks to that, we moderates are now quite vocal.”

“Precisely.”

Due to the global apologies extended, Shimun had been renting out the growth buff at an exorbitant price of 5 billion won per person. The only country that hadn’t even received that expensive rental was China—namely, Continental.

‘That’s probably why Vice-guildmaster Zhang Wanzhi requested this face-to-face meeting.’

Even though Continental is currently one of the top two guilds in the world, that was for now. Seeing the promising future talents growing with the World Tree’s growth buff, they would inevitably be overtaken someday.

The gap with their rival, American Dream, would only widen.

“I will offer Seo Wiryong-ssi a very expensive condition: about five membership slots, half of what the Americans were given.”

At Shimun’s ensuing words, Seo Wiryong, understanding his intention, responded.

“Then, dissatisfaction towards Yuan Hong and Zhang Liqiu who created such conditions and situations will increase, right?”

“Exactly. Naturally, Zhang Liqiu will lose public opinion and influence, and the moderate faction will rise correspondingly.”

“So, it will be easier to place our own person in the vacant federation representative position?”

“As a bonus, his influence will take a hit as well. He’s negatively impacting the guild’s future.”

“Indeed! It’s a brilliant strategy!”

Seo Wiryong continuously marveled with eyes shining with admiration. Shimun looked at the surprised Seo Wiryong with a calm tone.

“If this event proceeds successfully, the moderates will be able to properly check Zhang Liqiu in the future.”

“Of course! Even now, we’re doing our best to hinder their elixir production, but this will allow us to check Zhang Liqiu more effectively!”

Reducing Zhang Liqiu’s power and prestige while simultaneously providing the moderates with solid support and justification to rise. It was a plan that weakened the radical faction while strengthening the moderate faction—a true two-birds-one-stone effect.

Besides, ‘It’s not like the moderates can be purged at a whim.’

Typically, large and powerful organizations suffer the most from internal discord. Zhang Liqiu, knowing this well, would not hastily cut his own flesh.

In fact, ‘In my previous life, the purge of the moderates only occurred after the regular arena.’

The large-scale purge revealed by Seo Wiryong happened only after the regular arena, didn’t it?

‘Ultimately, the alliance’s representative position will have to be conceded to the moderates as a result of this event.’

Unless he truly decides to cut his own flesh, ‘He could try a drastic purge according to his temperament.’

But that would mean giving up the title of the world’s top two guilds. Shimun’s lips curled into a smile.

‘This is how politics is done, Zhang Liqiu.’

Having attempted to hinder with the growth buff, Zhang Liqiu instead lost his own goods from his bundle. With a victorious smile, Shimun looked at Seo Wiryong.

“Then, Seo Wiryong-ssi, I expect you to act as a proper partner from now on.”

“Of course! You’ve set up the board so well. I, Seo Wiryong, will respond appropriately!”

Seo Wiryong responded with a respectful bow.

*

Bang!

The luxurious marble floor cracked violently.

Above it, “What did you just say, uncle?”

A voice, low enough to chill to the bone, followed.

“I-I am truly ashamed.”

The middle-aged man with a rotund figure, Zhang Wanzhi, shut his eyes tightly.

However, “Heh heh. Humans are something. Even within the same bloodline, they’re this ruthless.”

A disgustingly sticky voice saved him. Immediately, the anger that was directed at his uncle shifted.

“Why did you crawl out here, Delphina?”

The voice turned towards its owner.