Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

Chapter 40: Foundation (2)

TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader

“I’m not just a client but a partner.”

“Ha ha! Being told I’m a partner after receiving such a great favor, I, Park Jinwook, don’t know what to do with myself.”

“That’s right, hyung. Just treat the senior like a servant.”

“You shi… Sigh. Excuse me, damn junior? Am. I not in the middle of a consultation with a VVIP client?”

Park Jinwook sets a coffee down with a thud in front of Shimun. Today, his gaze towards Kim Shihyuk was unusually fierce, knowing well that his brother was silently watching from behind.

“Tsck.”

Kim Shihyuk chose silence over retort, evidently quite pleased with the outcome.

“Ha ha! But Shimun-ssi, what brings you here today?” Park Jinwook asked with a rare cheerful smile.

Shimun opened his inventory and took out ten bottles filled with a navy-blue liquid.

“Remember the business talk we had last time?”

“Of course. I memorized it very… Ha! Is this all of it?”

Shimun nods without a word, and Park Jinwook’s eyes widen in disbelief at the navy-blue liquid potions [Mana Petrification Cure] laid out before him.

“Did you manage to make so much so quickly?”

“Creating them doesn’t take too long. It’s just that one of the ingredients requires a bit of a troublesome refining process.”

“Heh…”

Park Jinwook let out a weak laugh, for a good reason.

‘Silver Rank already refining ingredients?’

Refining or special processing of materials is considered work for the upper levels in the production field. Typically, one would need to be at least Platinum Rank to handle such tasks.

Yet here was a Silver Rank who had debuted in the Arena not long ago already refining ingredients? And considering…

‘Though he mentioned the refining is bothersome… considering the skill we saw on the broadcast, it must be high-level refining.’

Especially considering that tremendous brain-attribute strike he had displayed in a previous broadcast.

If an alchemist capable of such feats described it as ‘troublesome,’ it was clearly not an ordinary level of refinement.

“Anyway, Mr. Jinwook. As we talked about last time, I’d like you to handle the sales for these.”

“Of course! We can get a decent price through the black market. But… there’s one issue.”

“An issue?”

“Yes. As you know, I’ve recovered thanks to Shimun-ssi’s cure.”

“Ah.”

Shimun immediately understood what Park Jinwook was getting at.

“It’s about the source of the cure.”

“Exactly, you catch on quick. Ever since then, visitors have been nonstop. Every one of them asking about the source of the cure.”

Park Jinwook’s words made Shimun nod in understanding. The value of an Arena disease cure was something he had anticipated even before producing the cure.

Given that recovery from these diseases, if not naturally healed by a miraculous chance, was considered impossible.

It was a natural consequence that a renowned expert, once a shining name among the Diamond Ranks, had fully recovered.

‘Well, that’s why. I brought up the topic of sales representation with Park Jinwook.’

Besides demonstrating outstanding task management skills in his previous life, Park Jinwook was recognized for his considerable abilities, as intimidating as his exterior might suggest.

Especially known as a master in the assassination field, extreme methods like surprise attacks or kidnappings would be challenging against him. Consequently, he wouldn’t be threatened due to the source of the cure.

‘I definitely chose the right person.’

All in all, the perfect candidate for the sales representation of the cure. Satisfied, Shimun was about to express his thoughts when—

“I can help with that, hyung.”

—before a clear voice interrupted.

“Shihyuk, you?”

“If it’s about the cure the senior took, can’t we just say. I gave it to him? Wouldn’t that solve everything?”

“It would be the best, sure. But, are you okay with that?”

“Yeah.”

Kim Shimun watched his younger brother, Shihyuk, lightly nod his head.

“Shihyuk. You realize this is practically becoming a meat shield, right? It could become dangerous.”

“Well? I doubt there are many in this world who could pose a threat to me.”

Wow, what a smug brat.

But no one could deny that the confident younger brother wasn’t wrong.

Even the normally quiet Park Jinwook nodded in agreement.

“Indeed, with that monster of an underclassman, nobody would even dare to ask how it was obtained.”

“Senior, that almost sounded like an insult?”

“It was an insult.”

Snap.

A vein popped on Kim Shihyuk’s forehead, but

“Sigh… Senior, you really do have a mischievous side.”

he quickly returned to his usual, refreshingly bright smile.

Only,

Crack.

A faint sound of bone cracking came from Kim Shihyuk’s hand. Park Jinwook’s bulky frame subtly leaned towards Kim Shimun.

“Cough! Anyway, if a Ranker becomes the source of the cure, there will be no problems with sales.”

At that, Kim Shimun, who had been stroking his chin, nodded. Indeed, in such situations, having a Ranker around was unmatched.

“Then, Shihyuk, I’ll have to ask for your help.”

“Bro, this isn’t something you should be asking for. This is what you ask for.”

Kim Shihyuk approached and opened his inventory.

Whoosh.

Materials quickly piled up on the table. Starting with the venom of a basilisk needed for the cure for Mana Petrification Disease.

‘Snake root mushrooms to fairy dust, and even Arcane Polyhedra!’

Moreover, items of at least class C were abundant. Considering that most material items were traded in cash, the total value easily surpassed tens of millions of won.

“These are the materials you asked for last time. I was about to go look for them anyway since my inventory was getting full.”

“Si, Shihyuk… you!”

Seeing his brother’s eyes spin with surprise, Kim Shihyuk smiled proudly.

“How about that? I fulfilled your request well, didn’t I?”

“Of course, you lucky brat!”

“Hehe.”

Kim Shimun cheerfully messed up his younger brother’s hair and swiftly scooped all the material items into his inventory.

And then,

“Oh right, Shihyuk.”

“Yeah?”

“You know this is a long-term request, right? Come to me again when your inventory fills up.”

He didn’t forget to add that important bit.

* * *

“Yes, I’m aware. It’s been quite noisy these days.”

The voice was aged, filled with deep wrinkles. Yet, the hardships of the years seemed not only to carry downfalls. The elderly man on the phone would have passed for a man in his 50s, were it not for his white hair.

“That’s your area of expertise, isn’t it? I don’t see why you’re reaching out to me.”

And then, “How presumptuous. No matter how awakened you are, you’re not in a position to argue right or wrong with me. Must I remind you?”

His temper was as hot as any youth’s.

“Deal with your own matters, be it staging accidents or assassination, and just send over the completed product for this quarter.”

The elder hung up the phone.

Soon,

Snap.

“A mere awakened, changing his fortunes! This is why you can’t trust the Chinese. ”

The archaic wall now bore the brunt of the impact, as the cellphone smashed against it, breaking apart and falling to the floor.

The ensuing silence swallowed the room, suffocating like the quiet of a noir film, until a clear voice shattered it like an illusion.

“At your age, you’re still so rough. Don’t you know such remarks are dangerous, especially for someone of high status nowadays?”

The old man glared at the source of the voice, his anger uncooled.

“Yujeong, did I raise you to be so disrespectful?”

“If you’re referring to knocking, I already did.”

His gaze was sharp enough to make most people shrink away, but familiarity could dull even the sharpest looks.

“You just didn’t hear me, Grandfather.”

With a casual shrug, Yujeong gestured towards the elegant door.

“Really, you should temper your temper. You’re not getting any younger.”

“Hmph,” the old man let out a huffy breath.

Chairman Lee Suncheol ran his fingers through his white hair as he spoke.

“You hardly show your face, and now you come here. What for?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

Though it wasn’t a new tone for her, today, her voice seemed particularly cutting, making Chairman Lee chuckle ruefully.

“Tsk. This is why dogs can only be dogs. Can’t even handle one thing properly.”

“Dogs resemble their owners. Don’t know why you keep such useless fools around.”

At her words, Chairman Lee’s stubborn brows twitched.

“Yujeong, you’ve lost your fear.”

“I had to. Didn’t you leave all guild-related decisions to me? It was our agreement.”

“You are my only granddaughter. There was never a need to talk about deals or anything. Even if you weren’t a ranker, as an Awakened, the Holy Trinity Guild would have been yours.”

“Funny, coming from someone who gambled his only daughter’s life in a deal with his granddaughter.”

Bang!

Chairman Lee slammed his desk, a gesture that reminded any onlooker of the power held by the chairman of Korea’s top conglomerate, Holy Trinity.

Anyone else might have quaked in fear at the threat, but Yujeong was a different kind of intimidating.

“Stop babbling. I don’t have the luxury to indulge your whims right now. Don’t forget who’s getting your mother’s medicine.”

“…I won’t bother explaining further.”

Yujeong tossed the documents she held.

Despite the distance, they precisely landed on Chairman Lee’s desk.

“I’m not sure what you’ve been doing up until now, but stop using the Holy Trinity Guild’s name for any more shady dual contracts.”

Clack.

The documents landed effortlessly on the table.

“The Holy Trinity Guild is my guild.”

“Are you threatening me now?”

“Didn’t you teach me to separate personal matters from business, Chairman?”

Yujeong emphasized her words sharply, a disrespectful tone to her grandfather that might typically provoke a harsh rebuke. However, instead of raising his voice, Lee Suncheol merely lit a cigarette.

Yujeong’s pretty face twisted in mild disgust.

“I thought you’d quit smoking because you treasured what you had?”

“This one was made with materials from the Galaxy Arena. Instead of causing cancer, it supposedly clarifies the mind.”

“Such a bizarre… I can never understand smokers’ rationalizations.”

Regardless of being low-grade, anything made with materials from that level would be exorbitantly expensive on Earth – and yet, he chose to use them for cigarettes?

Ignoring her scoff, Chairman Lee took another drag and said,

“Did you know about Kim Shimun’s ability?”

“I had no idea. As you know, after that incident, orabeoni became unable to use magic.”

“Indeed. But how could it have been loud enough for me to hear? Has he recovered from his mana incapacity or what?”

“So they say.”

“… Really? He has recovered?”

Was it an illusion that Chairman Lee Suncheol’s voice sounded distinctly different?

However, to notice such a detail, Lee Yujeong’s mind was far too cluttered at the moment.

‘Damnable old man. What is he thinking? Why is he suddenly showing interest in orabeoni?’

It was unavoidable. After all, it was a matter about one of the few people who could shake her up.

‘I don’t know what it is, but. I mustn’t let Grandfather and orabeoni come together.’

Even though they were kin, she was all too familiar with her grandfather’s ruthless methods, to the point of exhaustion.

Obviously, now that her brother was beginning to shine, he would likely bind him in chains and exploit him like an animal. Perhaps.

‘It could also be a check against me.’

Her mother and brother.

The two most important people in her life, both could fall into her grandfather’s clutches. Then, even standing in her position as a top-ranked player, she wouldn’t be able to oppose her grandfather as she does now.

Contrary to her thoughts, however, “That fellow, he has no intention of joining your guild, does he?”

An unexpected comment flowed out of the dreadful grandfather’s mouth. At that, Lee Yujeong’s eyes widened, but only for a moment.

“Not at all. I have no intention of hiring him either.”

Lee Yujeong quickly maintained her poker face.

“Why is that?”

“Although it is a magical world, there are already more talented individuals than him in my guild.”

“I heard that he’s making moves as a potential top ranker. Several guilds are eyeing him, I’ve heard.”

“Well, if other guilds send scouts, I might send one to match them.”

Lee Yujeong’s gaze sharpened for a moment.

“Until someone comes along to smash my guild’s image, that is.”

“Blaming me is hardly reasonable. If you truly wanted to recruit him, you would’ve moved earlier.”

And he would not have been able to refuse your offer.

Chairman Lee Suncheol’s gaze made Lee Yujeong’s mouth shut momentarily.

Then, “That’s a misunderstanding…”

Before she could finish her sentence,

“It is.”

Lee Suncheol waved his hand lightly.

“Leave.”

“Chairman.”

“Do not use the name of your guild to recruit anymore. Of course, I will not send any more underlings to him.”

“… If you say so, I will trust you.”

Though it was an odd outcome, having achieved her objective, Lee Yujeong immediately turned around.

She couldn’t wait to leave this damned place. As she closed the door behind her,

“Tch. Should have settled it for good back then…”

Lee Suncheol’s low voice reached her ears.

Click.

‘What does that mean?’

Lee Yujeong’s eyes narrowed as she closed the door. She was a top-ranked player among players. Thus, despite the constraints of reality, she possessed far superior senses compared to ordinary people.

It surely wasn’t a case of mishearing.

Furthermore, ‘What happened between Grandfather and orabeoni?’

The last mumble was clearly directed at her brother, Kim Shimun. Biting her red lip, Lee Yujeong immediately took out her phone and dialed a number.

“Dayoung-unni, did you say there’s been a blockade in our investigation recently?”