The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 173

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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 173
173. Bribery
The bell chimed softly.
Two foreign men entered the cafe, their eyes sweeping across the interior.
It was a pleasant establishment with just enough patrons to maintain a good atmosphere for conversation.
“Jeffrey, where is The Seer?”
“I’m not certain. Since I don’t see him, it appears he hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Well, we still have thirty minutes before our appointment.”
Nathan and Jeffrey had headed straight to the cafe The Seer had mentioned upon arriving in Korea.
Though Nathan couldn’t consume coffee, settling into a cafe didn’t displease him.
Today, coming to apologize to The Seer, he was prepared to humor the man’s preferences.
“Let’s sit here.”
“Yes. Shall I order us some beverages?”
“Not for me. Go order yourself a coffee.”
“No, sir. If you don’t have anything, neither will I.”
Nathan smiled with satisfaction, though it faded quickly.
‘For someone so respectful, he certainly lost his composure and created this mess.’
Whenever I recalled that recording file where he’d threatened The Seer, my lips refused to curve upward.
“Why did you do it?”
“Pardon? Do what…?”
“I thought of you as an assassin with a cold heart. Yet you displayed uncharacteristic fury toward The Seer, burning with rage. Why?”
“Didn’t I explain? I wanted to help Christine…”
“And for that you resorted to such crude methods? Moreover, your voice carried no composure—you sounded like a beast consumed by blind fury.”
“…”
“Don’t tell me you harbor affection for my daughter?”
Jeffrey’s chest tightened, but he struggled to maintain his composure.
“…That couldn’t be.”
“Then how else did you lose your reason? Like some lovesick fool blinded by passion.”
“I have no excuse…”
Jeffrey could only lower his head.
He knew that any further explanation would amount to nothing but excuses.
The bell chimed softly.
At the sound of the door opening, Jeffrey looked up casually and his mouth fell open.
“He’s here.”
Nathan turned to see a small-framed Oriental man walking toward them.
‘First impressions aren’t particularly impressive.’
Short in stature, lacking visible musculature—an ordinary-looking Oriental man who appeared weak to any observer.
Yet Nathan found himself unbothered by this assessment.
What did appearances matter?
This was the Nostradamus of the modern age, one who could peer into the future itself.
“Good day, Seer.”
Nathan greeted me with a benevolent expression, and I nodded in acknowledgment.
“You’re Nathan Craig, aren’t you? Christine’s father?”
“That’s correct. Please, have a seat.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Seer.”
I glanced at Jeffrey as he offered his greeting, then responded curtly.
“I’m not particularly pleased.”
“I sincerely apologize for what happened then. I’ve committed an unforgivable sin against you, Seer.”
Jeffrey began with an apology to appease my mood.
He bowed deeply, his sincerity unmistakable.
‘In Korea, they say a bow this deep is how you earn forgiveness.’
It was information gleaned from K-dramas.
Though it would prove useless against someone who reads true intentions.
“Then die.”
“Pardon?”
“You said you’ve committed an unforgivable sin. So die.”
“No, Seer. That’s too harsh….”
“Too harsh? How strange. It’s only been a few days—have you already forgotten? You threatened me with a blade and said you’d kill me. Isn’t what I’m saying less severe than that? Don’t you remember? If you’ve forgotten, shall I play the recording loudly here?”
“….”
Jeffrey’s expression hardened at my unexpectedly harsh response.
He’d expected that after such a deep bow, I’d laugh and say something like, “It’s fine, don’t worry about it. It’s all in the past,” but I surprised him.
Nathan, too, seemed taken aback by the Seer’s raised voice, contrary to his appearance.
“I-I’m terribly sorry… I’ve made a thousand mistakes.”
“Why do you keep apologizing? I don’t even sense genuine remorse.”
“….”
That last remark was a provocation—a test of sorts.
To easily read Jeffrey’s true thoughts.
And as expected.
-This pint-sized Seer is annoying. I can’t even kill him with Nathan here.
Jeffrey showed no sign of genuine remorse.
Of course, with Nathan present, he maintained a facade of composure on the surface.
‘Tsk, that’s why you can’t trust blond beasts so easily.’
It was hardly surprising.
I’d anticipated all along that resentment would linger.
‘I can’t leave such an unpredictable variable unresolved.’
I’d already decided to eliminate this variable.
From the start, I had no interest in his apologies.
Unaware of this, Nathan smiled earnestly and tried to ease the tension.
“Haha… The Seer is quite upset, it seems. Understandably so. Even I was furious hearing that recording… But wouldn’t it be better for both of us if we let this go now and showed some generosity? Besides, I’ve already scolded him severely, and I’ve even extracted a vow that he’ll never do it again. You may not know this, but for those who serve the divine, the weight of an oath is far different from that of ordinary people….”
His words droned on at such length that they barely registered.
Knowing that Ryu Min had prepared a bribe, I could only hope he’d open it quickly.
Fortunately, noticing my lukewarm expression, Nathan let out an “oh” and retrieved something from his bag.
“A five-carat diamond. In Korean currency, that’s worth approximately 300 million won. Please accept it.”
“Why this?”
“As an apology.”
“But the fault isn’t yours, is it, Nathan?”
“On the contrary, it is my fault. Jeffrey is a child I’ve raised since he was young. In many ways, he’s no different from my own son. And isn’t a parent responsible for their child’s upbringing? Therefore, this is my responsibility.”
Ryu Min gazed quietly at the diamond.
For someone drowning in wealth, it wasn’t an extravagant bribe, but for others, it would be more than excessive.
‘Since he’s offering it, there’s no reason to refuse. It’s useless to me anyway—I should give it to Min Ju-ri.’
If I gave it to Min Ju-ri, she’d likely feel indebted and become even more loyal to me.
If I could win Buffer’s heart with merely 300 million won, it was hardly a waste.
“Very well. I accept your apology.”
Ryu Min smiled and accepted the diamond.
It might make me look mercenary, but I didn’t care.
After all, Nathan’s apology carried more than just regret—it was also a plea to look after his daughter.
‘It’s just a transaction. A simple transaction.’
Though I’d accepted the bribe, there was still one more thing to receive.
“I’ll use the restroom for a moment.”
As Ryu Min left his seat, Jeffrey’s expression quickly turned discontented.
“That Seer is impossible to appease, I tell you.”
“Don’t say such things. It’s because of The Seer that Christine is alive.”
“Yet he keeps the truly important information hidden…”
“Jeffrey.”
Nathan’s eyes turned cold as he glared at him.
“I don’t care whether you harbor resentment or not. But keep your mouth shut in front of The Seer. Don’t ruin the relationship we’ve barely restored. Understand?”
“Yes, sir. Don’t worry.”
Though Jeffrey said not to worry, bitterness still lingered in his heart.
Until Yamtti appeared before him.
“Hello.”
“What is it?”
“Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but it’s gotten a bit loud. Could you please keep it down? Please.”
She appeared and vanished just as quickly, but that alone was enough.
Enough to place Jeffrey under Yamtti’s dominion.
“Who was that? Do you know her?”
At Nathan’s question, Jeffrey turned to look at Yamtti.
When Yamtti shook her head slightly, Jeffrey turned back.
“I’m afraid I don’t know her either.”
“At least I could understand what she was saying, for heaven’s sake.”
Just then, Ryu Min returned from the restroom.
My eyes met Jeffrey’s, but I detected none of the hostility from before.
‘He’s been dominated by Yamtti.’
With that, the variable had been eliminated.
I could give detailed instructions over the phone later.
Ryu Min flashed a satisfied smile and spoke pleasantly.
“Well then, shall we have some coffee as a gesture of reconciliation? My treat.”
“Y-yes, let’s do that.”
Only Nathan, who couldn’t drink coffee, wore a bitter expression.

* * *
After the 10th Round concluded, the Heavenly Realm fell into chaos.
The cause was none other than the disappearance of Remiel, one of the Seven Archangels.
[Tell me truthfully. Is this accurate?]
[Yes. I witnessed with my own eyes him entering the Akashic Record and then departing.]
[And that was the last time you saw the Archangel?]
[That is correct.]
Upon hearing the soldier’s testimony, Michael, one of the Seven Archangels, furrowed his elegant brow slightly.
[Very well. You are dismissed.]
[Yes, sir!]
Michael folded his wings and fell into deep contemplation.
He had gathered all the information worth collecting from the soldiers’ testimonies.
‘I’ve heard rumors that a single Player has been summoning angels at the Oracle Altar and slaughtering them. However…’
By a strange coincidence, Remiel had vanished at precisely that moment.
The last the soldiers had seen of him was when he emerged from the Akashic Record and departed somewhere.
‘Could it be that he too descended to the Oracle Altar in pursuit of that Player?’
If so, why had he not returned to the Heavenly Realm even after several days had passed?
Why was he not responding to his own summons—he who wielded absolute authority among the Seven Archangels?
Only one hypothesis came to mind.
‘Is he dead? Has Remiel perished?’
Could he have fallen in battle against that Player who slayed angels?
‘It’s unthinkable. One of the Seven Archangels, killed by the hands of a Player still in the 10th Round?’
Yet no other hypothesis could reasonably be constructed.
‘In the end, I have no choice but to visit the Akashic Record myself.’
He already knew that Remiel frequented the Akashic Record.
The Archangel had made a habit of saying he would visit to hear tales from other dimensions whenever he grew bored.
‘He emerged from there and immediately descended to the Oracle Altar. As if he had received word of the angels’ slaughter beforehand.’
There was only one way to receive information while cut off from the outside world within the Akashic Record.
‘He must have learned something from Rubahi.’
That thought-form entity had a penchant for talking, so it was possible he had shared tales of the earthly realm with Remiel.
A flash—
Michael arrived in front of the Akashic Record via teleportation in an instant and opened the door.
Rumble— Thud!
As he stepped inside, the door closed behind him, and he could see Rubahi standing there as if waiting.
[Archangel above Archangels, I greet you, Michael.]
[Did you know I would come?]
[Indeed. The Akashic Record, a trans-dimensional information collective without equal in the universe, reveals many truths.]
[Then you must know why I’ve come.]
[It concerns Remiel.]
[Yes. As you likely know, he has vanished. I would appreciate an honest account of what transpired.]
[Have you heard of Black Scythe?]
At the unexpected mention, Michael’s brow furrowed.
[What is that?]
[You haven’t heard of him. He is the player currently maintaining the rank of first place.]
[Is he the one who slaughtered the soldiers?]
[He is.]
[An insolent creature. To dare harbor the thought of killing an Angel.]
[Not merely soldiers. Remiel fell to him as well.]
[….]
I had suspected as much, but hearing it directly was somewhat shocking.
[One of the Seven Archangels, capable of facing one hundred first-class Angels, slain by a mere human? Is such a thing even possible?]
[Possible or not, it has already come to pass.]
[….]
Rubahi would have no reason to lie.
‘Black Scythe, then… an extraordinary human indeed.’
Only ten rounds have passed, yet he has already grown strong enough to kill an Archangel.
‘Remarkable. But that ends today.’
With a soldier dead and now an Archangel fallen, as the leader, Michael could not overlook this matter.
[I must kill him before he grows any further.]
[Black Scythe remains on Earth. In a few days, the eleventh round will begin.]
[Then I should target him when the eleventh round starts. Forcibly opening a dimensional gate and manifesting would incur penalties I cannot afford.]
[That would be wise. However, I recommend you wait a bit longer—not until the eleventh round.]
[Why is that?]
Rubahi, who had paused briefly, finally spoke.
[Because it will serve your greater purpose far more effectively.]

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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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