The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 39

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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 39
39. March 4th
“The username is Hwang Yong-min. If we assume it’s his real name, there are dozens of people nationwide with that name. However….”
An Sang-chul’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.
“If we narrow it down to people in their twenties living in Seoul, that number shrinks to five.”
“Are you certain he’s in his twenties?”
Ma Gyeong-rok’s question prompted An Sang-chul to nod.
“Since he said he’s a young man in his twenties who aspires to become a gangster, the probability is quite high.”
“What about their location?”
“According to the Detective Agency, it would take over a month to precisely track down the home addresses of all five people.”
“Over a month… Then we won’t have results until after the fourth round ends.”
“Yes. Since there’s no rush, it seems we can simply wait patiently.”
“Are there any other names?”
“Among his associates, there’s someone named Kim Seung-han whose username is suspected to be his real name as well. We’re tracking him too, but since it’s a common name, it will take longer.”
“Is that so?”
Ma Gyeong-rok clicked his tongue regretfully and poured himself whiskey before asking.
“How much Gold have you accumulated?”
“Approximately 10,000 Gold.”
“You’ve gathered 50% of it.”
Ma Gyeong-rok threw back the whiskey in one gulp.
Gulp—
“There’s a common skill called Tracking in the shop. As I mentioned before, the moment you reach 20,000 Gold, learn it. It may prove useful in the future.”
“Understood.”
Despite being told to learn the skill instead of his employer, An Sang-chul showed no sign of discontent.
His only thought was to accumulate 20,000 Gold as quickly as possible and be of help to the boss.
“Ah, boss.”
An Sang-chul suddenly remembered something and opened his mouth.
“I was too busy to mention it, but last month a shareholder purchased a large quantity of stock in your company.”
Ma Gyeong-rok tilted his head.
He was running more than one business, after all.
“Which company are you referring to?”
“Cheonma Consulting, which we’re currently focusing on.”
“Ah.”
Cheonma Consulting was the largest in scale and the venture Ma Gyeong-rok was personally investing effort into.
‘I started this company to gain my father’s recognition.’
My father had said so.
He would determine the proportion of assets to pass down based on the success or failure of Cheonma Consulting.
‘Ranking 85th on KOSDAQ isn’t bad even now….’
A company not even listed on KOSPI would appear to his father as nothing more than an outdated enterprise.
“There’s a major shareholder who acquired Cheonma Consulting? What’s their shareholding percentage?”
“Don’t be alarmed. It’s as much as 31 percent.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Ma Gyeong-rok doubted his own ears.
31% made them the largest shareholder.
“A single person purchased 31 percent of the shares?”
“Yes. I also doubted my eyes when I saw it on the monitor.”
Cheonma Consulting’s market capitalization was 900 billion won.
31% meant someone had invested 280 billion won.
‘An individual possesses that much capital?’
A conglomerate heir? Or perhaps a scheme by one of his brothers?
‘They must have invested 31 percent to directly participate in management.’
Ma Gyeong-rok contemplated the situation.
Regardless of what had transpired, he needed to meet this person.
“What is the contact information for this major shareholder?”
* * *
Ryu Min, having returned to reality, stared at the calendar.
‘It should be about time for a call.’
He was waiting for Ma Gyeong-rok’s phone call.
With 280 billion won invested last month, there was no way he wouldn’t notice.
Of course, I could have reached out first.
‘But a major shareholder has their pride.’
Since I anticipated he would call, there was no reason to make the first move.
Then.
“Hyung! What’s your level?”
The door burst open and Ryu Won entered.
“Why the sudden question?”
“There’s this show-off in my class who keeps bragging in the group chat about his older brother’s high level.”
“Yeah? What level is he?”
“He said 11. And he’s already got a job class.”
’11?’
Ryu Min nearly scoffed before regaining his composure.
“My level is higher, so don’t worry.”
“What is it?”
‘What should I say?’
I needed to give a number that wasn’t too high or too low.
“12.”
“Really? Then you already have a job class too?”
“Yeah.”
“What is it? What’s your job class?”
Ryu Min dismissed his younger brother’s curiosity with a single remark.
“A secret.”
“What? Since when do brothers keep secrets from each other!”
“We do. Now get out. I need more sleep.”
As I lay back on the bed with a tired expression, Ryu Won took a step back.
“Fine, fine. Get some rest.”
The door closed, but I didn’t shut my eyes.
A call might come soon, so sleep was impossible.
‘I should buy a common skill.’
I opened the shop window and purchased the common skill I’d been meaning to get.
Twenty thousand gold disappeared, leaving me with eight thousand.
‘I’ll save the rest for that epic item coming out in a few days.’
In a week, the epic item I wanted should appear in the shop.
‘Before then, I need to meet with Ma Gyeong-rok.’
Meeting Ma Gyeong-rok was crucial.
In business terms, it was no different from meeting with a major client.
‘Of course, I won’t develop a close relationship. I need to keep my distance and use him as a disposable card.’
To do that, I had to pretend to shake his hand while keeping him close, always staying one step ahead.
This was precisely why I needed the Rune of True Intentions.
‘Just four more days until I can get it. The Rune of True Intentions.’
Then my phone vibrated.
‘It’s here.’
A call from an unsaved number.
But I immediately recognized it as Ma Gyeong-rok’s number.
“Yes, I’ve answered.”
-Is this Ryu Min?
“Yes. What is it?”
-Hello. This is Ma Gyeong-rok, the representative of Cheonma Consulting.
“Oh, hello.”
I deliberately adopted a naive tone.
I was going to start building my image from this moment on.
The more harmless I appeared, the easier it would be to lower his guard.
-You made a substantial investment in our company last month, didn’t you?
“Yes. But what’s this about…?”
-Well, you’ve become our largest shareholder, and I’d like to meet you in person. Perhaps I could treat you to a meal.
“Ah… that sounds good.”
-Excellent. How about this Friday?
‘Friday?’
Friday was an important day—when I needed to obtain the Rune of True Intentions.
It would be better to meet after I had the rune.
“Ah, I have something scheduled then… How about Saturday instead?”
-Yes, that sounds good. I’ll see you then.
As the call ended, a faint smile played across my lips.
‘I knew Ma Gyeong-rok would call.’
Cheonma Consulting is the company I manage with meticulous care.
There’s no way I’d neglect a major shareholder who’s invested 31% in it.
‘There will definitely be some discussion about operational rights.’
That’s when I’ll appeal my value to Ma Gyeong-rok.
Make it so he has no choice but to take my hand.
‘But first, I need to obtain the Rune of True Intent.’
I closed my eyes, intent on catching up on the sleep I was lacking.
Three days remained until Friday.
There was still plenty of time.
* * *
There are many ways to obtain runes.
They drop from boss monsters, and they can also be found in specific locations during certain rounds.
They can appear as special rewards for completing a round, and even ordinary monsters drop them occasionally.
‘Though the odds are extremely low.’
People would come to realize it.
How difficult it is to acquire runes.
Yet they would learn the methods.
It’s just that executing them is hard.
‘But.’
There’s a method people don’t know about.
‘They don’t realize you can obtain them in reality.’
They’d believe runes can only be acquired by hunting monsters or completing Quests in the Other World.
‘But you can obtain runes in reality too.’
Those are called Hidden Runes.
Because they’re not runes you can obtain through ordinary means.
Of course, there aren’t many of them.
‘At most, around five?’
Five runes obtainable in reality?
If people knew that fact, they wouldn’t be resting idly.
Even after a round ends, they’d be searching with eyes blazing.
‘Of course, I don’t need to do that. I already know where to find the runes.’
Just the locations?
I also know the specific conditions required for them to manifest.
‘When specific conditions manifest at the location where a rune is hidden….’
I’ll be able to obtain the rune.
This was why I was hiding in the Abandoned Factory on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province.
‘Soon, Jang Seok-hyun will appear.’
Username [Jang Seok-hyun].
His real name is also Jang Seok-hyun.
A name I cannot forget.
The criminal who kidnapped my younger brother, after all.
‘Though it happened back in the eleventh cycle, long ago….’
I still remember it vividly.
His voice demanding information in exchange for my brother’s life.
‘I can’t forget his appearance either. His pockmarked face reminded me of corn bread.’
That scarred bastard possessed a Rune of True Intentions.
Because of it, my identity as a Returner was exposed, and my brother was kidnapped.
‘This is precisely why I haven’t revealed to my brother that I’m a Returner.’
I’ve already pursued my revenge against Jang Seok-hyun.
Continuously from the eleventh cycle until now.
Therefore, no lingering resentment remains.
‘I simply use him.’
Since we’re not in the same zone, we cannot meet in the Other World.
This is the only way through reality.
‘Of course, if the zones merge someday, we might meet eventually….’
But if not now, I cannot seize the Rune of True Intentions.
That’s precisely why I remember the date—today, Friday, March 4th.
‘Before he obtains it, I will. And….’
A sneer leaked through my twisted lips.
‘I will kill him.’
My gaze turned to the corner of the system.
[You have located the target ‘Jang Seok-hyun’.]
[Currently 2,285m away.]
[Currently 2,221m away.]
[Currently 2,160m away.]
…
…
The rapidly closing distance suggested he was traveling by car.
‘Given the narrowing gap, he’s heading this way.’
My lips curved upward.
The welcome I’d been anticipating.
‘I’ll wait here at the Abandoned Factory until he arrives.’
I passed the time in the silent Abandoned Factory.
Then, when the distance between Jang Seok-hyun and me narrowed to within 100 meters.
Whoosh—
I equipped my gear.
Grasping a large scythe in hand, I armed myself completely.
But I couldn’t hide my face.
‘It’s better to conceal my identity, just in case.’
I retrieved the mask I’d prepared in advance.
A common white mask shaped like a face, the kind you could buy online.
‘This should be enough to cover my face.’
I donned the mask and concealed myself in the darkness, making final preparations to receive my guest.
Then.
Thump, thump—
Jang Seok-hyun appeared.
‘Finally, he’s here.’
His face was unmistakable.
And the woman draped across his shoulder was also….

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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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