The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 153

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Maxed-Out Player’s 100th Return – Episode 153
153. Return Home
[Our aircraft will be arriving at Incheon Airport in approximately ten minutes.]
Ryu Min, who had been sleeping with a sleep mask on, quietly lifted it away from his eyes.
‘We’ve arrived?’
Glancing to his side, he noticed Yamtti’s head tilted at an unnaturally grotesque angle.
She was completely passed out.
‘She’s earned the rest.’
During those four days in Nigeria, I had accomplished quite a great deal.
I had annihilated dozens of organizations, including human trafficking rings, and even located and eliminated IS’s headquarters.
In the process, I received gratitude from countless people who had been kidnapped, and I obtained the Slaughterer title.
I collected thousands of items, and carefully stored hundreds of potions that the IS leader had been hoarding in my inventory.
‘Most importantly, I managed to bring the Alchemist completely to my side. Without even using Yamtti’s Fascination.’
Ever since I offered my counsel, Victor had completely opened his heart to Black Scythe.
Having read his true feelings, I was absolutely certain of it.
What I gained in Nigeria doesn’t end here.
‘Once word spreads that Black Scythe has eradicated IS, my reputation will skyrocket incomparably compared to before.’
Since I had already set the groundwork, all I needed to do was wait.
Everything was perfect and satisfying.
Ryu Min, grinning wickedly, shook Yamtti awake.
“Wake up.”
“Uhhh, just a little longer.”
“Speaking informally to your master? Have you lost your mind?”
“Huh? Oh, m-master?”
Upon noticing Ryu Min’s glare, Yamtti jolted awake in surprise.
“Your education is clearly lacking if you’re speaking informally to your master.”
“I-I’m sorry. I thought it was a dream.”
“I’ll let it slide this once.”
“Th-thank you! You truly are as magnanimous as the sea, master!”
“Wipe the drool from your mouth before you start flattering me.”
“Gulp.”
“We’ll be landing soon. Start gathering your things.”
“Understood!”
Soon enough, the two of us arrived at the airport.
Including the flight time, the entire journey had taken exactly one week.
If it hadn’t been for the chartered plane that the Chairman of Player Cafe had lent us, it would have taken considerably longer.
“Yamtti. You did well for me in Nigeria.”
“You worked hard too, master.”
“Let’s part ways here. You can make it home on your own, right?”
“Well… I think it would be nice if you could give me a ride home.”
“You can go alone? Fine. Go ahead.”
“Understood. I’ll head out first then. Take care of yourself, Master.”
Ryu Min nodded and made his way to the Parking Lot, where he changed his appearance inside the car.
A wave of dizziness washed over him—
I reverted from Lost Yak back to my true form.
Soon after, I arrived home in the Lamborghini and opened the Entrance door.
“I’m home.”
“Brother? Brother!”
My Younger Brother, who had been idly watching TV at home, greeted me with an animated expression.
“You made it back safely! I was so worried!”
“Of course. When would I ever get beaten up anywhere?”
“The world is dangerous, that’s why!”
“I see.”
Now that I thought about it, my Younger Brother only knew me as a fragile Seer class.
He had no idea that my true identity was Black Scythe, the commander of the CPF Unit.
‘Here I am, hiding all sorts of things from my Younger Brother while advising Victor to be honest with him.’
Was there ever a more blatant case of double standards?
I smiled wryly at my Younger Brother.
“Were you doing well while I was gone? Nothing happened?”
“Nothing much! If anything, I was so bored I wished something would happen.”
“Don’t say things like that, even as a joke. Boredom beats urgency any day. That’s what peace is.”
If my Younger Brother had been born in Nigeria, where crime runs rampant, such words would never have left his lips.
‘Well, he’s still in middle school, so I understand.’
He’s still too young to have matured beyond his years.
“By the way, Brother.”
“Hmm?”
“Did you bring back anything from Japan? A souvenir or something….”
“…No.”
I let out a quiet sigh that no one else could hear.
My Younger Brother was certainly still young.
* * *
The inventory that Players use is remarkably convenient.
Not only can you store an unlimited number of items without restriction, but you can also locate any item you want with just a thought.
This is why I can instantly retrieve the items needed for crafting.
‘Out of thousands of items seized from IS, I have 105 unique materials alone. That’s enough to craft dozens of unique equipment and still have leftovers.’
It seems the organization members were holding onto them instead of selling them at Pul-Pul Market.
I could craft them right now if I wanted, but I don’t need unique equipment.
I’ve already equipped myself entirely with unique gear, and I even have legendary and godly-tier items.
“Hmm, I have so many unique materials but no use for them. What a waste.”
Strictly speaking, there are uses for them.
I didn’t need them myself, but my acquaintances would go mad over a single Unique item.
‘I should craft a few and distribute them. I’ll share some of my equipment as well.’
It was little different from charity work, but their survival was directly tied to my own—a necessary investment.
Tap, tap, tap—
My fingers moved with purpose.
I texted someone to arrange a meeting.
* * *
“Prophet?”
Ma Gyeong-rok, arriving at the appointed place at my summons, had to open his eyes wide in shock.
“What is all this?”
“Unique items.”
“Ah, no—I can see that from the information, but why are you….”
“I’m hurt, Chairman.”
“Pardon?”
I spoke playfully to Ma Gyeong-rok, who was startled by my sudden words.
“What kind of relationship do we have? Aren’t we bound by fate? Especially since I even know your secret hobbies. So why would you question me sharing items with you? Aren’t you keeping too much distance from me? This is rather disheartening.”
“Ah… no, that’s not what I meant. I was simply wondering if there was another reason. Please don’t misunderstand, Prophet.”
Ma Gyeong-rok, sweating profusely as he tried to appease my feigned sullenness, found himself in quite the predicament.
With the difficulty escalating, if I turned against him, his chances of survival in the next round would plummet.
“Why are you so tense? I was joking. Just joking.”
“Pardon? Ha, ha… was that so? I thought otherwise….”
Ma Gyeong-rok exhaled in relief and studied my expression carefully.
An Sang-chul would have been terrified had he witnessed this.
But I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.
‘So my prophecies occupy such a significant place in Ma Gyeong-rok’s mind. Now he can’t live without them.’
Watching him react to my every emotional whim showed that the conditioning was complete.
Having tasted the fruit of prophecy, Ma Gyeong-rok could never escape my grasp.
‘In other words, I’ve reached the point where I can control Ma Gyeong-rok as I please.’
Even if I lied and called it a prophecy, he would believe it with absolute certainty.
For him, prophecy was his last lifeline.
‘He won’t even notice whether that lifeline is rotten or sound. He’s too desperate.’
I smiled faintly at Ma Gyeong-rok, who continued to watch my expression, and decided to throw him some bait.
I still needed him by my side.
“I’ll share information about Round 10.”
“Oh, that’s what I’ve been waiting for. Please do.”
I condensed only the essential information needed to clear Round 10 and shared it with him.
“The difficulty increases every round that’s a multiple of 5. In this Round 10, just like Round 5, only one-quarter will survive.”
“Hmm… one-quarter?”
“Yes. After this Round 10 passes, the number of players worldwide will drop significantly. The number of criminals will decrease, which is good, but it’s not good news for you, Chairman.”
“That’s true… Players are, after all, our company’s customers.”
A decrease in the number of players was synonymous with a decline in users of the Pul-Pul Market.
This contradicted Ma Gyeong-rok’s goal of pursuing a KOSPI listing.
“Please don’t worry too much. Isn’t there something I prepared you for in advance?”
“You mean the VVIP system?”
Considering the player count would continue to dwindle, the company’s limitations were glaringly apparent.
Yet a shrinking customer base didn’t necessarily spell the company’s doom.
A company’s survival hinged solely on revenue.
“Upgrade existing members to VVIP status, and elevate new players to VIP tier to create an air of exclusivity. Strengthen the existing benefits and shift focus toward the auction system—this can mitigate revenue decline considerably. Beyond that, I can release a substantial volume of my accumulated items to expand the market pool.”
“Wait a moment. I haven’t heard anything about releasing items in bulk….”
“I’ve accumulated quite a collection over time. I’ve even prepared some specifically for you. Since we’re on the subject, let me give them to you now.”
Ryu Min withdrew dozens of unique equipment pieces from his inventory.
Gazing at the exquisitely refined gear—so impressive it drew an involuntary gasp—Ma Gyeong-rok swallowed hard.
“H-how did you obtain all of these….”
“I crafted them myself. I knew the combinations by observing the future.”
“Then where did you source the materials….”
“Where else? Didn’t you procure materials day and night by eliminating criminals? I used those. I also had some materials of my own.”
“Ah….”
In truth, the materials Ma Gyeong-rok had provided were woefully insufficient, but he would never discover this fact.
He wouldn’t even think to question it.
His attention was entirely consumed by the unique equipment before him.
“I’ve prepared sets for you to use, as well as for Director An, actress Seo A-rin, and your fiancée.”
“I-I can’t believe you’d do this much. I’m truly grateful. Should I at least compensate you with gold through the trading function….”
Ryu Min wanted to retort, ‘Don’t say things you don’t mean,’ but he held his tongue.
Instead, he offered a benevolent smile reminiscent of Gandhi and simply waved his hand dismissively.
“Take it all. I ask for nothing in return.”
“Ah…. Thank you so much. Prophet.”
Though I sensed his inner thought of ‘What unexpected fortune,’ the feeling wasn’t unpleasant.
His gratitude, at least, was genuine.
* * *
“Min! I saved you a seat!”
Ryu Min smiled as he approached Min Ju-ri, who was waving at him from the cafe.
“It’s been a while. Oh? You already ordered mine?”
“Yeah. Double espresso, one extra shot, right?”
“Heh, exactly right.”
Meeting regularly each month now, we knew everything worth knowing about each other.
‘Though our relationship shouldn’t progress beyond this.’
Though I knew Min Ju-ri’s feelings, I had no desire to pursue romance in these turbulent times.
‘Besides, I’ve never felt anything beyond friendship for anyone.’
Yet Min Ju-ri’s heart seemed to race every time she saw me.
Even looking at someone as short and unremarkable as myself.
‘First love is magic, after all. She must be wearing rose-tinted glasses.’
In a way, it was fortunate.
Since I couldn’t control her with the Fascination Rune, I had to avoid any rift between us at all costs.
“Did you call me just to share another prophecy? Prophet?”
“What else would it be? Buffer?”
The two of them chuckled before gulping down their coffee and continuing their conversation.
Mostly, Ryu Min spoke about prophecies while Min Ju-ri listened with attentive nods.
“The competition will be fierce. Only a quarter of the spots are available, so everyone will scramble to complete at least one Quest within the time limit.”
“I see. It’ll be quite competitive then?”
“I know a few low-difficulty Quests. Memorize them. If you prioritize those, you’ll easily make the rankings.”
Ryu Min shared strategy tips with Min Ju-ri that couldn’t be found anywhere else, taking special care to ensure she could pass.
Round 10 would require everyone to move independently anyway.
“Got it. These tips are worth their weight in gold! Thank you!”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Should I give you some Gold? The trading feature just became available.”
“No need. You sound just like someone else.”
“Huh? Who?”
“Never mind. Just focus on the Round….”
Just then, my phone buzzed.
A notification from the news outlet I’d subscribed to had arrived.
“Huh? What is it?”
“Oh. An article just came out….”
I stared at my smartphone, feigning surprise.
“This is huge news.”
“What? What is it?”
“Check the portal sites right now. It’s all over them.”
Curious, Min Ju-ri also pulled out her phone like I had.
And she couldn’t help but be shocked.
The headline featured the news that the head of IS had committed suicide.

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