The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 197

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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 197
197. The 12 Rounds Begin
Players grow anxious as the end of each month approaches.
The moment they cross into the Other World, their physical bodies in reality become defenseless.
With nothing but a well-secured home to protect them from narcolepsy, they’re left vulnerable.
December 1st—thirty minutes remained until midnight.
“Couldn’t we simply hire ordinary security guards?”
When Jang Chen, the junior who had been listening to the explanation, dared to contradict his senior, he received a swift blow to the back of his head.
“You idiot. Players who trust no one but themselves—you think they’d hire outsiders? And then get backstabbed like this?”
“But surely a guard wouldn’t target a sleeping player? There’s no money in killing them.”
The senior raised his hand again, and Jang Chen flinched.
“No money for the guard, you fool. But another player hiring them as a hitman? That’s where the payment comes from.”
“So now security guards are being bribed for contract killings?”
“Exactly. Don’t you understand the times we live in? Nobody can be trusted. Your problem is you trust people too easily.”
“Hehe…”
Jang Chen rubbed the back of his head with a foolish grin.
“Now I understand why Black Scythe doesn’t employ bodyguards.”
“Right. No matter how strong you are, a slit throat while you sleep sends you to the grave. Would you want people around in that situation?”
“But isn’t that villa awfully poorly secured? It looks easy to break into.”
“All players live in well-fortified homes. He probably figured a place like that would be safer instead.”
“Ah, that makes sense. You really do have excellent insight, hyung.”
“Don’t butter me up. You think flattery will make me like you?”
The senior answered curtly, but the corners of his mouth were already curving upward.
He didn’t particularly enjoy having such a naive junior, but that naivety made him trustworthy.
His swordsmanship was exceptional, and when he acted like this occasionally, he even looked cute.
“But when do we move? We’ve been waiting for an hour now.”
“Damn it, you idiot. What’s with all these complaints? Stop talking and just wait.”
Never mind—cute was off the table.
When he acted so thoughtlessly, his hand automatically went to the back of his head.
As if on cue, the senior glanced back at the Triad members crouched around him.
Five in total, including himself.
More than enough for an ambush.
In fact, they might even be overkill.
One person was sufficient to take down a target.
“Just wait a bit longer. Twenty-five minutes until midnight.”
“My legs are numb, but I’ll endure it. You said we’d get a hefty bonus once this is done…”
“Don’t worry, you bastards. Our Boss is meticulous about things like that.”
They grinned wickedly and waited patiently for midnight to arrive.
And as time passed, the moment came.
“Huh? The lights went out.”
The lights that had been on in the Villa the entire time went dark.
Checking the time, it was five minutes before midnight.
“The target is getting ready to head to the Other World soon.”
Of course, they knew exactly which room Black Scythe was in.
They had already received information from Yang Chui-wen and even confirmed it with their own eyes.
The sight of Black Scythe opening and closing the window.
“Should we move now?”
“You want to die? The Boss said to move exactly at midnight.”
“Exactly at midnight?”
“Yeah. The timing of when he falls into narcolepsy is precise as a blade. We won’t be late even if we move then. We don’t even need to be careful. Even if a bomb went off right next to him, that bastard wouldn’t wake up.”
“I see.”
Jang Chen nodded and watched the time.
Tick—tick—tick!
Exactly midnight arrived.
“Good. Now let’s move….”
The senior operative about to commence the operation suddenly lost his words.
Thunk—thunk—
Jang Chen was driving his blade through his comrades’ throats while silencing their mouths.
Thud—thud—
“You bastard…!”
Seeing his subordinates collapse, the senior operative tried to respond immediately, but Jang Chen’s sashimi blade was faster.
Thunk—!
“Gasp!”
Thunk—thunk—thunk—thunk—!
The senior operative, struck by dozens of blade thrusts to his abdomen, glared with eyes that couldn’t believe what was happening.
It was as if he was asking how you could possibly betray us.
“Don’t look at me like that. I have a different master.”
Jang Chen, gazing down at his senior’s death with vacant eyes, lifted his head.
Four corpses besides himself were pooling blood.
“Now let me head back.”
The slaughter was not yet finished.
There was one more task remaining.
Jang Chen glanced at the Villa before turning his steps in the opposite direction.
* * *
The moment Ryu Min opened his eyes and saw the Monochrome Space, he understood.
The 12 Rounds had begun.
And after a few minutes passed, seeing his body still intact, he realized.
That Jang Chen had killed his comrades as planned.
‘Yamtti’s ability really is useful in many ways.’
Neutralizing Yang Chui-wen’s operation was not difficult.
All I needed to do was dominate one of the Underworld Organization members who had entered Korea, then have them betray us on the day of the operation.
‘I even revealed myself to prove I was at the Villa, so they had no choice but to believe me.’
In fact, I had genuinely stayed at the Villa until the very last moment to make them believe.
I had told my Younger Brother I’d be away for a week.
‘Because of that, it seems I’ve been misunderstood as having a girlfriend, but it doesn’t matter. As long as I can protect Won.’
To prevent any harm from reaching my Younger Brother, I abandoned my actual home and made the Villa appear to be my residence.
I could always return to take revenge on Black Scythe later, but since it was the Villa where Lost Yak used to live anyway, there were no lingering attachments.
‘The instructions I gave to Jang Chen weren’t limited to that.’
By now, the bastard who killed his comrades would be returning to China.
To carry out Yamtti’s order to assassinate all members of the Underworld Organization.
‘Since they’re on the same side, the assassinations shouldn’t be difficult. Most of the organization members will likely be dead.’
Once the Round ends, Yang Chui-wen will realize it.
That he’s been backstabbed.
And quite thoroughly at that, so it’ll sting considerably.
Think about it.
Returning to reality only to find all his organization members dead—how hollow that would feel.
And with the operation failing on top of that, Yang Chui-wen’s frustration would be immense.
‘Why would you poke a sleeping lion?’
The corners of my mouth curled into a smirk.
Since Yang Chui-wen’s operation had failed, I had no choice but to proceed with the operation that Swingman had proposed.
‘I’m sure John Delgado has figured it out by now. That Yang Chui-wen’s operation failed.’
He must have searched for Black Scythe’s name to track him down and realized I was alive.
‘I’d bet he’s sighing right now. He’ll have to apologize to Black Scythe, someone he despises so much.’
John would have to find Black Scythe and follow Swingman’s plan.
‘Will John Delgado really swallow his pride and come find me?’
The probability of him not coming was higher, but I decided to wait and see.
After standing with my arms crossed for a few minutes, someone else arrived instead.
“Black Scythe!”
It was Min Ju-ri, my indispensable ally.
“It’s been so long! I’m so glad to see you!”
“We saw each other two months ago—can you really call that long?”
“Has it only been that long? I thought years had passed.”
The last time Min Ju-ri had seen Black Scythe was in Round 10.
In Round 11, she hadn’t been able to meet him because of my prophecy not to encounter Black Scythe.
“You’ll let me join the party this time, right? My buffs are helpful, after all.”
“Party? You sound like you already know what this Round’s mission is.”
“That… couldn’t be. I’m just saying if there’s a mission that requires a party, please include me. Haha…”
Min Ju-ri’s attempt to hide her embarrassment at my teasing struck me as quite endearing.
‘Just as Min Ju-ri said, this Round is a cooperative Quest. I’ll need to form parties of five members each.’
I had already decided who to include as party members.
‘Min Ju-ri is obviously included.’
Min Ju-ri had mentioned wanting to join the party because of my premonition, but I deliberately pretended not to know.
“If I end up forming a team, I’ll add you as a party member. A buffer like you would be incredibly useful.”
“Really? Thank you so much. Just say the word anytime. I’ll shower you with buffs!”
“Much appreciated.”
Just then, another group arrived seeking out Black Scythe.
I thought it might be John Delgado, but I was wrong.
It was Seo A-rin, Ma Gyeong-rok, and An Sang-chul.
“Hello, Black Scythe.”
“….”
“….”
Seo A-rin greeted us brightly, but Ma Gyeong-rok and An Sang-chul could not.
In the previous round alone, they had earned no points whatsoever because of Black Scythe.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t Black Scythe’s fault.
“Hello, Democracy.”
“Hello, Seo A-rin, An Sang-chul, and Cheon Ma.”
Since we knew each other, we exchanged greetings, but the way Ma Gyeong-rok looked at Min Ju-ri was peculiar.
‘That bastard. He’s eyeing Min Ju-ri.’
It was inevitable.
After receiving buffs a few times, he must have realized firsthand how invaluable a buffer truly was.
“I’ve noticed for a while now—you three always travel together, don’t you?”
Seo A-rin answered Min Ju-ri’s question.
“Ah yes, we’re all from the same company.”
“So you’ve been together since Round 1?”
“That’s essentially correct.”
But Ma Gyeong-rok and An Sang-chul didn’t realize that Seo A-rin was subtly keeping her distance.
They were simply preoccupied with the thought of stealing Min Ju-ri away from Black Scythe.
“Where do you live, Democracy?”
At Ma Gyeong-rok’s sudden question, Min Ju-ri hesitated before answering.
“…Seoul.”
“Oh really? Where in Seoul?”
“Yeonhui-dong.”
“Oh, Yeonhui-dong? That’s quite close. I live in Gangnam. Would you like to meet up sometime? I’d like to introduce you to our company and agency.”
“Your company?”
“It’s called Pul-Pul Market. I’m the CEO there.”
“Yes? Ah.”
When Min Ju-ri’s expression showed surprise, Ma Gyeong-rok’s face grew puzzled.
“What’s wrong? You don’t know it?”
“No, I do. I’ve visited and looked around a few times.”
Min Ju-ri spoke calmly, but the reason for her surprise was something entirely different.
It was because she knew that Ryu Min was a co-operator of the Pul-Pul Market.
‘So this person works with Min…?’
Having identified Cheon Ma’s true identity, Min Ju-ri fell silent.
She didn’t want to accidentally reveal information about Ryu Min through casual conversation.
“You only looked around? You haven’t tried using it?”
“No….”
“Why not? You can earn cash through transactions, or acquire items you want. We even handle gold trades, and recently we’ve been considering adding a points trading system as well.”
“Ah, I see. But I don’t really have anything I want to buy or sell.”
That was true, but it was actually because of something Ryu Min had mentioned beforehand.
‘Min told me never to join the Pul-Pul Market.’
Though I didn’t know the reason, I had kept that promise all this time.
Because of that, Ma Gyeong-rok could only smack his lips with regret.
‘Damn, if he said he’d joined the Pul-Pul Market, I was planning to search for members living in Yeonhui-dong.’
That way, I could easily figure out Min Ju-ri’s real address.
While Ma Gyeong-rok watched Min Ju-ri with a disappointed expression, Angel appeared.
[Hello there, humans? Welcome to 12 Rounds. Let me start by checking the headcount.]
Angel manipulated the empty air with her fingers, then made a humming sound.
[We have 39,402 survivors—619 fewer than before. But what do we do about this? This round’s Quest requires teams of five. If we divide by five, unfortunately we’ll have 2 people left over, so hmm….]
Though Angel seemed troubled, Ryu Min already knew.
That this was all a calculated action.
That how the remaining 2 would be dealt with was already decided.
[I suppose there’s no choice. We’ll form teams of five, and the remaining 2 will automatically disappear.]
“Excuse me?”
“How can that even be allowed!”
[Finding a team quickly is a skill in itself, after all. There’s no helping it.]
Though Angel spoke those words, there truly was no helping it.
The system had been set up from the start so that players who couldn’t find a team would disappear.
[If you don’t want to be among the unlucky 2, you’d better find a team quickly, yes? Well then, I’m sure you’re all curious—shall we take a look at the 12 Rounds Quest?]
Moments later, a Quest window appeared before everyone.

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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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