All‑Master Who Regressed to Bronze - Chapter 50
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
All Master Who Regressed to Bronze Episode 050
The prosecution, police, and National Tax Service.
Like most countries, these were the powerful swords and spears that the nation wielded.
Even excluding the military, they were weapons sharper and more violent than the army in some aspects.
This remained true even after the birth of Players.
High-tier Players were somewhat free from their reach, but ultimately it was just a loose leash.
A leash that could be tightened again at any time when necessary.
And Sung-hun could clearly see just how powerful a tool that leash was when pulled taut more than ever before.
“We received a report of confinement and labor close to exploitation.”
“That’s ridiculous! Confinement and exploitation!”
“Hmm, for that to be the case, the employees look quite pale. How many hours have they been working?”
“…We’re paying sufficient overtime for the additional work.”
“Money isn’t important, lives are. So how many hours exactly?”
“…36 hours.”
“You’re insane. It feels like we’re not in the 21st century but the 20th, no, not even the 19th century. First, send all the victims home and have them receive medical examinations and treatment.”
“If we do that, the deadline will…!”
“That could result in additional punishment and aggravated penalties. Do you still want to continue making them work?”
“…I’ll arrange for them to go home.”
It started with the police.
They came saying they received reports of confinement and labor close to exploitation, literally turning upside down the workplace of the lower-level alchemists.
Nearly 90% of the lower-level alchemists in the materials management and mixing department were forcibly sent home, bringing all processes to a complete halt.
At this, Sung-hun ground his teeth and contacted the Seoul Metropolitan Police Chief with whom he had connections.
“What the hell is this! Do you think I fed you bribes for this? You should have naturally blocked something like this!”
-How can I block directives that came from above! Besides, I’ve done enough to earn the bribes you gave me!
“To say that now…”
-Anyway, don’t contact me anymore. If you do, I might throw you in instead of the company!
“Wa, wait!”
Click!
Of course, it wasn’t very effective.
There’s always a sky above the sky.
Even the Seoul Metropolitan Police Chief had no choice but to bow his head like ripened rice before the Commissioner General, the top police chief.
While he was watching the police send the lower-level alchemists home in a daze.
“Mr. Baek Seong-hun. You’ve received quite a lot of kickbacks. Job placement, preferential treatment for product selection companies, etc. You’ve done it in quite various ways… I think we need to have a deep conversation.”
“…You guys are making a mistake. Do you know who I am? I’ve eaten meals with your chief! Gone to saunas! Done everything!”
“Ah, yes yes. I don’t know about such things. I go after deputy chief prosecutors, chief prosecutors, and even the prosecutor general.”
“Crazy! Do you think you can survive in this field after doing this? Huh!”
The second blade.
The prosecution approached.
When a man who appeared to be an ordinary prosecutor looked down on him, Sung-hun became furious and threatened him.
A blatant threat that he would make sure the man could never make a living in this field again.
But instead, the prosecutor laughed at Sung-hun.
“I’m going to join the Shinwha Group Legal Team, so I’ll eat well and live well, won’t I?”
“…What?”
“I’m honestly nothing but grateful to you. Thanks to you, I get to use my one and only bullet in a very good place~”
“…”
The Shinwha Group Legal Team.
Boasting the best treatment in the industry with house, car, secretary, etc.
A dream workplace that supports everything.
Sung-hun was stunned by the sight of the prosecutor giggling, saying he could enter there thanks to him.
Looking at such Sung-hun, the prosecutor stood on one leg like a neighborhood thug and sneered mockingly.
“I’m going to strip you down to your underwear. Mercy? Don’t expect that from me. They said the compensation varies depending on how well I strip you clean.”
“Do, don’t do this. What they offered? I can give you that too! Right? So for now, just back off-”
“Ah, shit! Why are you acting like this when you know everything? Accept it gracefully. If you move, the syringe might go into a strange place.”
“…Ugh!”
He even grabbed the ordinary prosecutor’s arm and begged, but all that came back was humiliating mockery.
Finally, Sung-hun’s legs gave out and he collapsed into his seat with a thud.
Someone lifted such Sung-hun up.
“National Tax Service. Mr. Baek Seong-hun. There seems to be quite a lot that you’re estimated to have evaded in taxes. Not just the company but personally too. Even transactions in goods instead of money. Thanks to Mr. Baek Seong-hun, the national treasury will become very abundant.”
“…Ha, haha, hehahahaha.”
Naturally, it wasn’t a benevolent angel, but the National Tax Service that even the demons of hell were said to fear.
The sight of him smiling brightly while mentioning the corporate and personal tax evasion that Sung-hun had committed was more than enough to drive Sung-hun insane.
This was exactly what happened 3 hours after Shin Hyeok left.
And this was just the beginning, not the end.
* * *
[The Ugly Reality of Alchemist Korea Branch!]
[Who is Branch Manager Baek Seong-hun?]
[‘I couldn’t even sleep properly for 1 hour a day’ – Shocking testimony from Korea Branch alchemist!]
[Special-grade alchemists weren’t actually special-grade alchemists? Special-grade alchemist title that anyone could get with just money!]
[Baek Seong-hun, who changed the paradigm of the alchemy industry, changed not just the industry but others’ lives as well.]
[Suspected of tax evasion worth hundreds of billions of won-]
[Special assault, kidnapping, blackmail and threats – not hesitating to commit crimes when necessary-]
“What is this!!!”
The prosecution, police, and National Tax Service.
Exactly one hour after the fantastic, maddening trio had passed through.
Not only what they had dug up, but even things they hadn’t yet uncovered all became articles spreading throughout the internet world.
Sung-hun, who had instantly become a national bastard, frantically called the reporters he had been bribing-
[Beep- After the tone, you will be connected to voicemail…]
“Fuck!!! Damn!!!”
Bang!
Not a single one of them answered.
Sung-hun threw his phone to the ground in anger, and still not satisfied, was grinding the broken phone to pieces when.
“Br, Branch Manager…”
“What now!”
“Please look at the TV.”
“TV?”
“Yes.”
Beep-
Sung-hun, who saw the TV screen that his secretary had carefully turned on while breaking out in cold sweat, felt his mind snap.
[Breaking News – Alchemist Korea Branch Manager Baek Seong-hun]
“…They’re doing breaking news about me right now?”
“…Yes. Not just the three major broadcasters, but all cable channels have organized breaking news.”
“All of them without exception?”
“…Yes. All of them without exception are announcing breaking news. And…”
“And what else.”
“There are protesters outside…”
“…”
Every news channel was pouring out criticism and curses about him.
Outside the building, all kinds of civic groups had gathered to protest.
“Ugh…”
He felt dizzy.
Why had things turned out this way?
The answer was clear.
“Shin-hyeok Choi…! That damn brat who deserves to be chewed up and spat out!!! If it weren’t for his grandfather!!! If it weren’t for his pathetic Player talent!!!”
Shin-hyeok Choi.
If it weren’t for that brat who had spouted nonsense just a few hours ago, demanding he hand over Hyo-rin, he wouldn’t have ended up in this situation.
In fact, that thought was correct.
If Shin Hyeok hadn’t stepped forward, all the things he had buried deep underground wouldn’t have suddenly been excavated and exposed to the world.
“I’ll kill him…! I’ll kill him…! I’ll definitely kill him…!!!”
Everything he had built up had crumbled like a sandcastle in just three or four hours, and his decision was already made.
“Contact Shin-hyeok Choi.”
“What should I tell him?”
“…Tell him I’ll hand over Baek Hyo-rin. Tomorrow night, right away. So tell him to stop everything he’s doing right now!”
“Ah, understood.”
After telling his secretary to contact Shin Hyeok, he left behind his shattered phone and pulled out a flip phone that had been sleeping in his hidden safe.
“Villain Union. I need help.”
-What’s the price?
“Once this matter is finished, I’ll join your union completely.”
-Good. I’ll send people right away. What you desire will soon come to pass. There are many people in the union who covet that Arcane Spear he has anyway.
“They need to come secretly. He can’t know.”
-I know. I’ll send the most discreet and skilled ones. Don’t worry. Even if he’s called top Gold rank, he’s still Gold in the end. Send a few Diamond tier villains and they’ll crush him like rice cake. Don’t worry.
“Right. Got it.”
After making the call to the only number saved in his flip phone and finishing what he had to say, Seong-hun leaned back in his top-quality custom leather chair and let out the breath he had been holding.
“Baek Hyo-rin… I just need Baek Hyo-rin. Whether it’s the underworld or the legitimate world, it doesn’t matter. As long as I have that woman, I’ll be… no different from a living god in the alchemy world.”
In the office that was destroyed as if a storm had swept through, only Seong-hun’s muttering echoed hollowly.
* * *
“It’s about time. Let’s go.”
“…Shin Hyeok, is it really okay to do this?”
“There’s nothing wrong with it. And all I did was give him a push. There wasn’t a single crime that didn’t exist.”
“That’s true, but…”
“Rather, infected areas need to be cut quickly. Before the current damage grows so large that it makes this seem like a drop in the bucket.”
“Yeah…”
The next day.
Heading to the Alchemist Korea Branch again with Su-a, Shin Hyeok engaged in light conversation.
Su-a showed a reaction of amazement at the massive thing Shin Hyeok had done, while also showing understanding.
As Shin Hyeok said, he hadn’t created crimes that didn’t exist, but had excavated existing crimes and handed them over to the authorities.
The two people who had come to the Alchemist Korea Branch again in just one day clicked their tongues at the scenery that had changed 180 degrees in just one day.
“It’s a complete mess?”
“The prosecution, police, and National Tax Service stormed in and swept away all the people and materials. The outside is a mess with eggs and tomatoes thrown by protesters. Both inside and outside are completely ruined.”
The Alchemist Korea Branch had been brilliantly magnificent until yesterday, but now it had become worse than an abandoned ruin.
Shin Hyeok, the very person who had made it that way, didn’t care at all and got on the elevator heading to the middle floor where Seong-hun’s office was located.
The elevator instantly brought the two to the middle floor.
Walking the path that Seong-hun had guided them through yesterday, the two arrived at the office in one go, and Shin Hyeok could see Seong-hun alone.
“You’re alone?”
“You’re not surprised.”
“Yes, well, you said you’d hand over Baek Hyo-rin, but there’s no way I’d believe that.”
“…Then why did you stop the offensive and come here?”
“One in a thousand. One in ten thousand. If there’s even that probability, I have to come. Hyo-rin is worth that much. Well, true to the low probability, it seems to be a failure as expected.”
Even though Hyo-rin was nowhere to be seen, Shin Hyeok wasn’t disappointed.
As if he had expected this, there wasn’t even a hint of regret.
At his overly calm appearance, Seong-hun swallowed dry saliva while spreading both hands wide to introduce.
“…Ha! How arrogant. Your meager skills are certainly impressive, but you’re still a rookie who hasn’t properly grown yet. For someone like you, I’ve prepared- Just-”
“Villains from the Villain Union, right?”
“…Huh?”
Of course, that introduction was hijacked by Shin Hyeok in the middle.
Seong-hun’s bewilderment was great, as he couldn’t even imagine that his hand had been noticed.
Meanwhile, Shin Hyeok looked around leisurely with a relaxed face and pointed with his fingertips.
“There, here, and that place and this place. Finally, even the ceiling. Five people… You put quite a bit of effort into this.”
“…How!”
“I have pretty good eyes. Pretty good instincts too.”
Shin Hyeok, who had accurately pinpointed where the villains were hiding, was quite surprised internally.
‘The performance of Observation Eye is beyond imagination. To perfectly see through five villains who were seriously hiding. The synergy with tracking skills is good too, I like it.’
Observation Eye.
The effect of the trait obtained as a reward for 10 consecutive wins in the Colosseum was indeed amazing.
While observing status windows was a bit difficult, he had managed to see through their concealment.
Anyway, the villains whose concealment had been completely exposed by Shin Hyeok released their stealth and descended next to Seong-hun.
“Rude little brat.”
“I’ll kill you.”
“Kuhehe, who’s going to get the Arcane Spear?”
“I heard there are many other useful items besides the Arcane Spear.”
“Distribution comes after we return. Focus on the situation now.”
All five villains were overflowing with personality.
Starting with women, men, and elderly, there were those covered in scars, handsome ones, and those ugly to a hideous degree.
But there was one thing they all had in common.
“All Diamond tier… You really put some effort into this.”
The fact that they were all Diamond tier.
With skills ranging from lower to middle tier, individually they couldn’t compare to Mujeonggeum whom he had faced before, but their numbers overwhelmed everything.
No matter how excellent Mujeonggeum was, just two of the villains in front of him working together would be enough to secure victory.
“If you die quietly, I’ll kill you comfortably.”
“Kehe, but I don’t want to? I want to see that pretty face get distorted! Can’t you see I’m excited and hard?”
“Put away that disgusting thing. Before I cut off that useless thing.”
“I want to do it with that woman next to him. I want to see that pure innocence that seems to know nothing get distorted.”
“Once the job is finished, you can do whatever you want.”
Knowing this well, the villains joked around while insulting not only Shin Hyeok but also Su-a who was beside him.
Both were rookies and rising stars known in Gold and Silver, but to the villains who were seasoned veterans and Diamond tier Players, it was meaningless.
Like the difference between adults and children?
Even that only applied to Shin Hyeok; when it came to Su-a’s level, the gap widened to that between humans and ants.
Their carelessness was natural, and therefore-
“Secretary Hong. Please show your skills.”
“Yes, young master.”
“…What?!”
Swish!
It wasn’t strange that one of the villains’ heads flew off from the sudden ambush.
The moment a head, cut clean as if sawed off by the trajectory of a dagger wielded by a figure in black who emerged from their shadows, rolled on the floor.
The villains immediately recognized their opponent.
“Shadow! Why is that monster, one of the top three Diamond tier assassins, here!”
“This is crazy. Baek Seong-hun! This wasn’t part of the deal! You said we just had to deal with one or two kids!”
The being called Shadow, also known as the nightmare of Diamond tier, had appeared.
But while they were doing that, Shin Hyeok caressed the ring on his finger and spoke.
“Transcendence – Necromancy. Rise.”
“…!”
Crrrrrack!
The headless corpse of the villain that Man-seok created rises from its position, holding its own head tucked under its arm.
Durahan.
Called the headless knight, an A-rank undead that could be considered the pinnacle of necromancy.
“Now, it’s 4 versus 4, isn’t it? How fair.”
In an instant, the balance shifted from 5 versus 2 to 4 versus 4.
The villains realized.
“…Damn it.”
“…We’re screwed.”
That they were completely fucked.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
