All‑Master Who Regressed to Bronze - Chapter 54

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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All Master Who Regressed to Bronze Episode 054

 

After a brief moment of ecstasy, Hyo-rin came back down to the human world and immediately made her choice.

 

“Mmm! I’ve made my choice.”

 

“W-wait, Hyo-rin. Let’s think about it a little more.”

 

“Why? I could choose Dad, you know.”

 

“…You know better than anyone that’s not going to happen, yet you say such things?”

 

Sung-hun immediately showed fear at that choice.

 

Because the expression Hyo-rin had just shown gave Sung-hun his answer.

 

Especially since it was her own choice, Hyo-rin’s faint smile, already knowing the answer, gave Sung-hun yet another confirmation.

 

At that, Hyo-rin let out a sly laugh.

 

When Sung-hun gritted his teeth at the meaning contained in that laugh overflowing with decadent beauty.

 

“I’ll go with that handsome guy over there. That side looks good.”

 

“…!!!”

 

Finally, Hyo-rin’s choice burst out of her mouth.

 

Sung-hun collapsed at the choice that announced his own doom.

 

Kneeling on the floor with a face that had lost the world, burying his head down, Sung-hun lashed out at Hyo-rin with a trembling voice.

 

“Crazy bitch! Ungrateful bitch! How could you abandon your father! If you’re really human! If you’re really my daughter, you shouldn’t have done that! Who do you think will love you when you’ve abandoned your family for alchemy obsession! You’ll live alone and lonely for the rest of your life and end your days buried in alchemy!”

 

“Hmm…”

 

A barrage of indescribable profanity.

 

No matter how much she had abandoned him, these were words too harsh to be the last thing said to one’s own daughter.

 

“How terrible!”

 

“…Young master. Shall I handle this? The contract has already ended. There would be no problem even if we killed him now.”

 

Su-a, who had been listening, burst with indignation, and even Man-seok, who usually showed no emotion, fingered the sheath containing his dagger at such verbal abuse.

 

However, Shin Hyeok raised his hand to stop them and quietly observed the situation.

 

‘Lü Bu Diaochan. That was the nickname symbolizing Baek Hyo-rin from my previous life.’

 

Lü Bu Diaochan.

 

A combination of nicknames that seemed incompatible.

 

Of course, the latter part, Diaochan, was an understandable nickname.

 

Hyo-rin’s appearance reached the pinnacle of decadent beauty to the extent that the nickname Diaochan made sense.

 

But the nickname Lü Bu was bound to raise questions.

 

Lü Bu was essentially synonymous with martial prowess.

 

Though she was called Earth’s greatest alchemist, it wasn’t a nickname that would suit Hyo-rin, who had the profession of alchemist, which had no connection to martial force.

 

However, those who knew Hyo-rin’s secret unanimously agreed that nickname belonged only to Hyo-rin.

 

Shin Hyeok also didn’t know in the past, so he understood well now.

 

And Hyo-rin clearly showed why she was called ‘Lü Bu.’

 

“Then isn’t that perfect?”

 

“…What?”

 

“It’s what Dad has been saying until my ears were worn out since I was little. That I was born to do alchemy. That I could give up anything for that purpose.”

 

“That was only-”

 

“I can give up everything, so why is Dad the only exception? That’s too… ugly. If it’s necessary for alchemy, shouldn’t I be able to give up Dad too?”

 

“…!!!”

 

“For alchemy. For that great cause, Dad can be replaced, right? Isn’t that so?”

 

“Th-this crazy…”

 

Baek Hyo-rin.

 

The reason she was called Lü Bu Diaochan.

 

It was because she had replaced several fathers or masters, earning that nickname.

 

‘Before regression, there were a total of 3 ‘Lü Bu’ actions. The first was naturally Baek Seong-hun trembling over there, the second was the Villain Union, and the third was the United States, I think. Eventually, she drew the ire of major organizations in both the underworld and legitimate world, hiding somewhere no one could find. Until I found her and made her my exclusive alchemist. Even that ended with her being assassinated.’

 

Having performed such actions three times before regression, her Lü Bu tendencies could be said to be quite remarkable.

 

Such a woman passed by Sung-hun, who had lost his words in disbelief, and walked gracefully toward me, placing the freshly made, still-warm elixir in my hand while drawing an eye-smile.

 

“Please take care of me, new daddy.”

 

For some reason, the elixir in his hand felt heavy to Shin Hyeok.

 

Of course-

 

“Please take care of me, our daughter.”

 

Gulp!

 

Shin Hyeok planned to devour and embrace everything, whether it was the elixir in his hand or Hyo-rin who had abandoned her father and chosen him.

 

‘But Baek Hyo-rin’s current age is 25 as I know… Hmm, is this right?’

 

However, he couldn’t help but feel slightly puzzled about his daughter being older than himself.

 

Well, good things were good things.

 

Thus, it was the moment when everything from the Alchemist Korea Branch and Hyo-rin, who was more valuable than all of that combined, fell into Shin Hyeok’s hands.

 

* * *

 

After completing Hyo-rin’s adoption-like recruitment.

 

Shin Hyeok immediately arranged an appointment with the Minister of the Player’s Department.

 

It wasn’t particularly difficult.

 

“The young master would like to meet with the Minister.”

 

-Haha, if the young master of Sinwha wants to meet, I should come running barefoot. There’s a pavilion near Yeouido here, would you come to this place?

 

“Understood.”

 

The satellite phone that came from Man-seok’s pocket was an item connected to every corner of South Korea’s political and business circles.

 

Having arranged an appointment with a minister-level official of a country with one phone call, Shin Hyeok took Su-a, Man-seok, and even Sung-hun and Hyo-rin, who could be called the protagonists of this situation, all heading to the pavilion in Yeouido.

 

“Nice place. Do you know how much one meal costs at a place like this?”

 

“You’d easily spend hundreds. And it’s not a place that takes reservations just because you have money.”

 

“You know well?”

 

“Being by the chairman’s side, you naturally learn such byproducts.”

 

“Well, that would be the case. Let’s go in.”

 

The heart of Seoul.

 

A high-class pavilion built in Yeouido, which despite being on the outskirts, had expensive land prices.

 

Since he could guess the dark secrets lurking there without being told, Shin Hyeok shrugged his shoulders roughly and entered the pavilion’s interior as if it were his own bedroom.

 

When people suddenly entered in a group, the guide was slightly flustered, but there had been prior notice, and seeing Man-seok’s face, he soon smiled broadly and guided the party.

 

Instantly guided to a room that boasted one of the top three sizes within the pavilion, Shin Hyeok could see the Minister he had met not long ago.

 

The Minister, whose face was flushed red from having drunk some alcohol, greeted him lightly, and Shin Hyeok took his seat.

 

“Hmm, I’ve seen Secretary Hong’s face several times. Why is the Alchemist Korea Branch Director here? And who are these other two ladies?”

 

“My introduction is late. The short-haired girl is Han Su-a, a Silver Tier Player who will soon participate in the integrated Silver League.”

 

“Ah! Aah! Player Han Su-a! I know, of course I know! Hehehe, how could I not know when I’m the Minister of the Player’s Department?”

 

It seemed like he didn’t know.

 

Though the Minister clearly seemed not to have known about Su-a, Shin Hyeok didn’t bother to point that out.

 

“This is Ms. Baek Hyo-rin, daughter of Mr. Baek Seong-hun and now my daughter.”

 

“…What? Maybe I’m a bit drunk… I think I heard something strange?”

 

“Ms. Baek Hyo-rin. No, Hyo-rin is my daughter. Now, that is.”

 

“…Phew, some cold water please.”

 

Gulp gulp!

 

Because he had to drop the bomb that was Hyo-rin.

 

The Minister’s face literally became spectacular upon hearing Shin Hyeok’s words.

 

The Minister, whose face showed that all the expensive alcohol he had consumed had completely sobered him up, finally regained his senses only after drinking not just one glass of cold water but two and three glasses.

 

Of course, even after that, whether he still hadn’t regained his senses, his eyes lacked vitality, but that wasn’t Shin Hyeok’s concern.

 

“Ri-right. Congratulations on gaining an adopted daughter. But did you call me to tell me that story?”

 

“There’s no way. You must know that I had some disturbance with Mr. Baek Seong-hun.”

 

“I couldn’t not know. It was the noisiest incident of the past few days. But seeing you two together, was it resolved well? No, since he lost his daughter, it might have been resolved poorly.”

 

“It’s both, actually. For both sides.”

 

“What on earth happened?”

 

The conflict between the Alchemist Korea Branch and Shin Hyeok, an incident the Minister had also been watching closely.

 

Realizing that the answer to that had just occurred moments ago, he looked at Shin Hyeok again with eyes full of life.

 

Shin Hyeok calmly received that gaze filled with naked curiosity and dropped the bombshell.

 

“About Baek Seong-hun…”

 

“Don’t beat around the bush and tell me.”

 

“He was a villain.”

 

“Yes, yes, he was a villain… what?”

 

“And quite a high-ranking one at that. He called five Diamond Tier villains to kill me. Oh, don’t worry – I have the evidence video safely stored.”

 

“…Good heavens.”

 

A nuclear bomb, indeed.

 

The Alchemist Korea Branch was a place worthy enough to bear the label of a major corporation.

 

Not only was the branch director of such a place a villain, but he was a core-level villain in the union?

 

If this became known, it would be a major incident that could cost the Minister his position due to negligent oversight.

 

Like a politician who was more sincere than anyone about keeping his position, the Minister urgently checked on Shin Hyeok’s safety.

 

“A-are you hurt anywhere? Any damage?”

 

“No injuries or damage, so don’t worry. For now, please have the Player’s Department handle Baek Seong-hun’s custody.”

 

“W-would that be alright?”

 

“Yes, let’s make it public that the Player’s Department discovered and arrested Baek Seong-hun for being a villain.”

 

“…You’re even giving us the credit?”

 

“It’s credit I don’t particularly need. More importantly, isn’t this the kind of thing needed by someone like the Minister who will do great things in the future?”

 

“Hah, hehe, hehehehehe!!! That’s right! They said a saint was born in Shinwha! But even that was an understatement! Yes! Of course! Thank you! Thank you!”

 

While this typical self-serving behavior might have warranted a sneer, Shin Hyeok instead smiled gently and handed over Sung-hun’s treatment to the Minister.

 

His words were smooth.

 

A clever rhetoric that diminished himself while elevating the Minister.

 

Of course, someone in the Minister’s position would have heard countless similar flatteries from many people, but flattery naturally feels sincere when heard from someone above one’s own status.

 

The third-generation chaebol of Shinwha Group.

 

The guild master of a guild with a legendary blacksmith.

 

A player capable of shaking the entire world.

 

Any one of these would be enough to make the Minister grovel, yet Shin Hyeok possessed all three and was praising him so highly that the Minister could only grin foolishly.

 

Well, it wasn’t a bad deal for Shin Hyeok either.

 

‘If I disguise the villains’ deaths as being caused by Player’s Department members – that is, government players – the Villain Union won’t be unnecessarily wary. Furthermore, putting the Player’s Department Minister in my debt opens up many possibilities.’

 

The Villain Union.

 

They were giants of the underworld.

 

At Shin Hyeok’s current level, he couldn’t defeat them even if he died and came back to life.

 

Just the Diamond Tier villains belonging to them numbered in the hundreds, not dozens, and the union’s executive level boasted abilities beyond Diamond Tier.

 

If they had come out into the light and operated openly, the positions of Iwhang Samjeo Owang might have been reversed.

 

Of course, since there were many hidden masters in the light as well, the balance between black and white would naturally be maintained, but the important thing was that Shin Hyeok would have difficulty facing them.

 

Therefore, Shin Hyeok chose to hide behind the wall of the Player’s Department.

 

Furthermore, the Korean government itself.

 

He also planned to quickly liquidate what he had gained through the debt he had just cleared.

 

Thud-

 

“What’s this?”

 

“These are the authorities I received from Baek Seong-hun. It’s a written agreement transferring full authority over the Alchemist Korea Branch building and its affiliated alchemists.”

 

“…The value must be enormous. But when a villain is caught, their assets are returned to the state…”

 

“Minister. Minister, would you also like to try some ‘Hoi!’?”

 

“…?”

 

“Well, there are such things.”

 

The Minister’s eyes gleamed with greed as he checked the documents Shin Hyeok presented.

 

Watching such a Minister, Shin Hyeok raised his index finger, causing the innocent Sung-hun to tremble violently.

 

Having already fallen victim to Shin Hyeok’s ‘Hoi!’ once and ended up in this state, while Sung-hun reflexively trembled in fear.

 

Shin Hyeok tapped the documents on the table with his finger.

 

“Anyway, Minister, just know one thing.”

 

“…What would that be?”

 

A voice utterly dry and emotionless.

 

The atmosphere changed so drastically that one might doubt whether this was the same 20-year-old brat who had been flattering him just moments ago, causing a cold sweat to trickle down the Minister’s back.

 

“I am someone who gives things down. So don’t try to take something from me.”

 

“…Are you saying I should just accept whatever scraps you throw down like a pet dog!”

 

Bang!

 

The Minister’s rage, having grasped the meaning in Shin Hyeok’s calm voice, struck the table.

 

Food dishes worth hundreds of thousands of won each became a mess, spilling and dirtying the table.

 

Even so, Shin Hyeok watched without the slightest panic, then retrieved his documents and tucked them into his jacket before the food sauce could wet them.

 

“You understand well. Live that way. I’ll let it slide this time since it’s the first. But if you keep taking my ‘goodwill’ for granted… then ‘goodwill’ will become ‘Hoi!’.”

 

“…”

 

At the same time, as Shin Hyeok stood up and was about to leave through the door, not forgetting his final warning.

 

With a face as if he had just remembered something, Shin Hyeok turned around and pointed at Hyo-rin.

 

“Hyo-rin. She’s my daughter. That means she’s my family. So please handle this matter as well with good sense, cleanly and tactfully.”

 

“…”

 

Clunk!

 

With those words, Shin Hyeok left the fairy’s room, abandoning Sung-hun like trash.

 

Left alone with Sung-hun, the Minister stared blankly at where Shin Hyeok had disappeared, then straightened an overturned cup and poured premium sake into it.

 

But even as the sake filled the cup and overflowed, thoroughly soaking the table, the Minister only stared blankly at where Shin Hyeok had been sitting.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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