Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: I've Got a Lot of Greed
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I've got a lot of greed.
"Thank you. Truly... I can't even find the words to express how grateful I am."
"…."
"You saved my life, you saved my daughter Ji-yu... and now you've even brought back my wife Yun-seo, who I thought was dead."
His shoulders shook.
He had received a debt of gratitude that he couldn't repay in a lifetime.
Who else would do this much for him?
Would anyone give so much to another person?
If it weren't for Si-woo, he would still be hounded by loan sharks over his daughter's hospital bills, eventually throwing himself into the Han River.
If not for him, his wife would have died miserably in that cold lab.
And on top of that.
He had heard the entire conversation with Clozer.
"For choosing me. For giving me the power to get my wife back... ."
Clozer's voice echoed in his ears.
[How the hell do you trigger reawakening?]
[You know that better than anyone. That's why they're after you.]
[Why did we decide it was okay to hand over such an important test subject at this timing? What do you think?]
[You get it now, right? Why I want you?]
[Reawakening has a 99% chance of driving the mind to collapse—death or insanity. And you pulled it off three times without a single failure? Just coincidence?]
[If you thought we wouldn't figure it out, you're either a complete idiot or damn sure we wouldn't catch on.]
[The conclusion is clear: you have the ability to forcibly reawaken others.]
Everything he said was something Choi Min-seok had felt himself.
Any Awakened who craved strength dreamed of reawakening.
Some dreamed of reawakening, others of blooming to climb even higher.
But reality provided cold data: it wasn't that easy.
The World Awakened Alliance's statistics pegged survival at just over 1%, and it was accepted as fact.
Yet three perfect reawakenings—and even a bloom.
All coincidence?
'I suspected it too. That's why I was even more grateful. I wasn't going to ask until he told me. Just being chosen was salvation enough.'
He had been a worthless F-rank porter, scorned by all.
A bleak life with no hope in sight.
Why him?
Si-woo had chosen him, healed his daughter's illness, and even found his lost wife.
And even then.
'Knowing he was under threat.'
'Knowing he was being targeted.'
Despite that, he sacrificed for him again.
When he arrived, running like mad, Si-woo's body was drenched in blood, looking like he had no strength left to move.
Yet he was cradling Yun-seo protectively.
Even in his own danger.
Thud!
Choi Min-seok slammed his forehead to the floor.
Thick tears fell from his eyes.
"My remaining life, my very soul."
By watching him up close, protecting him, he had learned something.
He always thought in terms of profit.
Because he was a businessman.
He judged everyone around him by their value to him.
Because he was the CEO.
Yet he helped without regard for his own life.
When it clearly wasn't beneficial.
What businessman risks his life on a desperate investment?
At least the one he knew was devoted to those he accepted.
He didn't discard them.
Like how he hadn't abandoned Lee Chae-i but found a way to use her.
So he resolved himself.
"I'll devote my life to you, Boss."
Choi Min-seok's eyes burned with fierce determination.
"…."
The hospital room fell silent.
Even Kim Ye-eun stopped her bickering to watch.
Si-woo was quiet for a moment, then began searching for something.
He quickly found his smartphone and tapped away.
Then he paused, thinking.
'...Do I really need to explain?'
He had been about to clear up Choi Min-seok's misunderstanding.
Choi Min-seok thought he had been specially chosen.
Lee Ji-ah's gaze had looked strange too, after hearing it.
Kim Ye-eun had nodded like it was obvious.
"…."
He started typing again.
Then he held out the phone to Choi Min-seok.
Choi Min-seok stared at it for a moment before bowing his head and sobbing.
[No, Choi Min-seok—you chose me. Thank you.]
**
A few days later.
The moment Si-woo was discharged and returned to the office, all of Korea erupted.
[Exclusive] FBI's Top Wanted Villain Flicker Captured! Miracle's Choi Min-seok and Others...
[Exclusive] S-Rank Villain Organization Crushed! Miracle Management at the Center?
[Shock] Miracle's Han Si-woo CEO Severely Injured Saving Citizen Kidnapped by S-Rank Villain...
Under the Association's guidance, every media outlet reported Miracle's exploits.
But the real bombshell was elsewhere.
A single post on an anonymous community lit the fuse.
Title: Isn't this kinda suspicious?
Lee Ji-ah: F-rank > Reawakening > A-rank > Bloom > S-rank
Choi Min-seok: F-rank > Reawakening > S-rank
Kim Ye-eun: S-rank who popped up out of nowhere
Lee Chae-i: Same, B-rank out of nowhere
Does this make sense as results?
I think Kim Ye-eun was a regular person before.
And Lee Chae-i probably reawakened too.
Can one guy get this lucky? No way, right?
Everyone was just keeping quiet about their suspicions.
Honestly, I thought the same.
You just figuring this out now?
Nah, total delusion. If that was possible, why bother working?
But it's a fact that everyone who joins Miracle skyrockets, right?
For real, Han Si-woo must be the one granting reawakenings lol
The post spread like wildfire, and people piled on like they were waiting for it.
[Anonymous Tip] "Han Si-woo CEO Has Ability to Forcibly Unlock Hunters' Potential?"
[Experts: "Three Consecutive Reawakenings Theoretically Impossible... No Reports on Awakening Abilities that Unlock Potential, But That Doesn't Mean They Don't Exist."]
[World Watching Miracle Management... "Turn S-Rank If He Touches You?"]
SNS and platforms went berserk.
"Han Si-woo Maker Theory" and "S-Rank Manufacturer" dominated real-time trends.
"Boss! This is bad!"
The PR manager burst into the CEO's office, pale as a ghost.
"Calls are flooding in from all over the world right now! America, China, Europe... even Africa! They're begging for just one meeting with you!"
He reported that the office phones wouldn't stop ringing.
Especially, Miracle's website server had long since crashed from traffic overload.
"What do we do? Or at least deny it and clear things up...!"
The manager stomped his feet in frustration.
At this rate, it wouldn't just be business paralysis—Hunters from around the world would swarm the Miracle building.
But Si-woo calmly gazed out the window.
A massive crowd had already gathered outside, causing chaos.
'Clear it up, huh.'
Si-woo tapped his smartphone.
Then showed a message to the PR manager.
[Let it be. Issue an official statement: The CEO is still recovering from injuries, so personal meetings are impossible.]
"...Pardon? Just leave it? Announce that the CEO is still recovering so no personal meetings... Boss...?"
Si-woo smiled and looked out the window again.
The massive crowd couldn't step foot in the Miracle building.
Because Choi Min-seok was blocking them.
After Si-woo returned to Miracle, he had resumed his guard duty just like before.
He had notified the White Tiger Guild that he'd stand guard until the CEO recovered.
They had no choice but to grant him leave, and this was the result.
That was when it happened.
A sleek black luxury sedan—the same one from before—pulled up in front of the Miracle building.
The driver got out and opened the rear door.
Out stepped Baek Chang-gi.
He smiled up at the CEO's office window, then pushed through the crowd toward Choi Min-seok.
"Hey, Min-seok."
"Good to see you, White Tiger Guild Master."
"The CEO's inside, right?"
"He is, but he's recovering."
"Recovering? Come on."
Baek Chang-gi's scoff acted like a signal flare—golden battle aura rose from Choi Min-seok like a heat haze.
Baek hadn't expected such a sharp reaction and waved his hands exaggeratedly.
"Whoa, my bad, my bad. We're comrades who fought together—ease up? You're hurting my feelings."
As Baek played the clown, the murderous glint in Choi Min-seok's eyes slowly faded.
The tense air began to relax.
Then a voice came through the in-ear piece in Choi Min-seok's ear.
[Let him in, Min-seok.]
It was Oh Jin-seong.
Choi Min-seok immediately withdrew his aura and stepped aside.
"Please go in. The CEO is waiting."
"Same old you. Let's grab a drink sometime."
Baek Chang-gi sauntered into the building.
**
The door to the third-floor CEO's office flew open without a knock.
"Man, living the dream, huh, CEO Han?"
He flopped onto the sofa and crossed his legs.
Then looked at Si-woo opposite him.
"...What? You really not healed yet?"
Si-woo still had white bandages around his neck, his face a bit pale.
He looked genuinely ill, but he bowed politely to Baek without a hint of disorder.
"Ha, seriously. Sorry about this."
As Baek grumbled, Si-woo picked up the tablet on the table and typed.
[Welcome. My throat isn't good, so please bear with messages.]
Baek clicked his tongue at the screen.
"Tch. They said your vocal cords were shot—guess it's true. Makes sense after that mess. Anyway... good thing I brought this."
Baek scanned Si-woo, then rummaged in his pocket and tossed something out.
"Catch."
[What's this?]
"Can't you tell? It's a potion."
As Si-woo eyed it curiously, Baek jerked his chin.
Si-woo hesitated briefly before bowing to take the vial.
"That's expensive stuff. Don't whine—just drink it if you're in danger. I don't wanna see you die."
[Pardon?]
"Argh, just yes! Anyway. You remember the Gangwon-do thing, right?"
Si-woo nodded.
[Of course. Thank you for your help.]
"Yeah, you'd better."
Tap, tap.
Baek's finger drummed the table rhythmically, shattering the warm mood.
"But you know, CEO Han... our deal feels off now, doesn't it?"
[What part?]
"I've got a lot of greed. I wanted to hog all the tasty stuff, monopolize the good shit. That miracle ability of yours to mint S-ranks."
Baek leaned forward abruptly, closing the distance with Si-woo.
"We made a deal on that. But now? The whole world's in on it in days. Internet, news—it's all about you."
[Sorry for the worry from public misunderstanding. I have no such divine power. But if coincidence strikes again and another S-rank is born... I'll propose to White Tiger Guild first.]
"...Really? Gonna deny it? Fine, whatever. We got priority rights anyway—that's enough."
Baek smirked in satisfaction.
He was griping, sure, but he had zero intention of breaking ties with Si-woo.
If anything, he planned to bind them tighter.
"Enough foreplay. Onto why I came in person."
[What is it?]
"CEO Han. Don't think the crowd outside is just fans."
[...You know something?]
Baek pointed out the window with his finger.
"Can't you see the rats mixed in that crowd? They're plain as day to me."