Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Launching Regen
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“No, Section Chief Park, why are you only offering this price for it?”
President Yang pointed at the ogre leather on the intake officer’s desk as he spoke.
“President, I told you last time too. Look, it’s got a scratch here. Of course the price drops.”
The man called Section Chief Park pointed out a tiny scratch that you’d need a magnifying glass to even see.
“It’s going to be processed anyway—doesn’t that make scratches irrelevant?”
“I don’t know about that. Items with damage go for half price; it says so right in the contract. If you don’t like it, go somewhere else. Stop wasting my time.”
Section Chief Park turned his back entirely, sitting at his desk.
“No, are you saying other companies deliver without even these kinds of marks? Let me see them.”
“Why should you get to see other people’s goods?”
“Isn’t this just outright bullying?”
“I said if you don’t like it, leave. I’m powerless here.”
Watching quietly, it was clear he was brazenly throwing his weight around.
“President, let’s go.”
I grabbed President Yang’s arm as his face turned red from arguing with the intake officer.
“But we need to sell this to get funds…”
“It’s fine.”
I calmed President Yang down and led him outside.
“Is that guy the only one acting like this?”
“No. I even reached out to his superiors, but it seems like orders came down from above to squeeze the collection companies. They’re even colluding with others, so no new ones can get in.”
If it were just that one guy trying to skim money, I could’ve applied some pressure, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
“What do we do… The warehouse is already full. Paychecks are starting to lag too.”
President Yang’s face turned ashen.
“If they won’t buy our stuff, we’ll use it ourselves.”
“Huh?”
“You know Jaein, the crafter who works with me? We’ll make items directly from the materials we’ve gathered and sell them to hunters.”
“But our funds will be tied up until we can execute that.”
“I’ll cover it with my own money for now. And you don’t have to pay me what you owe until the business stabilizes.”
“That’s not as simple as it sounds.”
“Let’s just give it a try.”
Without delay, we went straight to buy a building. I found a warehouse-style factory not far from home and purchased it.
“No, you’re buying such a huge place without a second thought? You sure about this?”
President Yang fidgeted anxiously as I bought a factory worth billions like it was groceries.
“It’s fine. It’s fine.”
We even finished business registration. Thinking of my regenerated life, I named the company Regen. Even then, President Yang’s face still showed lingering worry.
“Alright, call all the employees here. Oh, and bring over all the materials we couldn’t sell too.”
“Sigh… Got it.”
People and materials filled the empty factory, and I called Jaein over too.
“Jaein, we’re going to mass-produce beginner-friendly items from these materials. I’ll get anything you’re short on—just say the word.”
“No way… President, how am I supposed to craft this much alone? It’d take years.”
Jaein stared at the mountain of materials in disbelief.
“You just supervise and handle the key processes. We’ll hire people for the rest.”
Craftsmen usually hate letting others into their workshops. They worry about skill theft and quality drops. But with thorough division of labor, skills stay safe, and since these are mass-produced budget items, not luxury goods, quality won’t be a big issue.
“President, you always talk about impossible things like they’re easy.”
“I won’t rush you. Just try it. Speak up for anything you need.”
“Understood.”
Jaein scanned the materials, opened her laptop, and got to work. Leaving her to it, President Yang and I discussed staffing.
“Ogre leather’s the most abundant, so let’s make entry- and mid-level armor with the highest demand. Get these items on the list, and we’ll need about thirty workers.”
An hour later, Jaein handed over the list of needed supplies.
“Then I’ll start on product designs and process layouts. Sigh. Overtime again.”
Jaein scratched her head with a pen and checked the factory corners.
“Sangheon, look into where newbie hunters buy gear and at what prices—do some market research.”
“Got it.”
A few days later, the supplies Jaein requested arrived, including tons of heavy equipment.
“President, I’ve got the factory floor plan ready. Move the setups accordingly.”
I lifted the equipment per Jaein’s instructions and placed them in position.
“Better than machines, President. This cuts prep time a ton.”
Sure enough, the factory took shape in hours.
“Roughly… we’re set. But rushing like this must’ve cost a fortune, right?”
Everything was rush-ordered, so prices were steep.
“It’s fine. We’ll make it back later.”
Investments had already surpassed ten billion, leaving everyone but me anxious. President Yang grew more uneasy with every expense, but starting was key.
Under Jaein’s guidance, the Huagok collection staff learned to operate equipment and work processes, producing prototypes.
“This armor should rate D or E. It’ll block goblin daggers, arrows, even hellhound teeth bred on Earth.”
I tapped the armor Jaein handed me, feeling the hardened ogre leather’s toughness.
“Check this out.”
Jaein slashed a dagger at the mannequin’s armor, leaving just a light scratch—no major damage.
“Looks good.”
“Um… hold on. We’re selling it like this?”
Nayeong, watching from the side, spoke up.
“Why?”
Jaein tilted her head.
“Could we tweak the design a bit?”
What Jaein brought was so rough it barely qualified as designed.
“Let me sketch it. Like this… and this… cleaner colors too.”
Nayeong sketched away. Even design-blind me could see it beat Jaein’s.
“Oh… definitely better. I’ll make it like this.”
Adjusted to Nayeong’s design, the new armor kept practicality while looking sharp. Hunters buy on price and performance, but style helps sales.
With the factory somewhat ready, I called in day laborers—Awakeners and F-Rank hunters.
“Your job today isn’t raiding gates. Follow Factory Chief Park Jaein’s instructions to process materials and craft items.”
President Yang and Jaein briefed the newcomers. Low risk, less strain, same pay—everyone started without complaints.
Awakeners were pricey for rote tasks, but their strong grip, fine control, and stamina made them useful over normals.
Work progressed worth the cost.
We churned out dozens of prototypes on day one. We’d ramp production slowly.
“Thanks for coming today, everyone. Anyone interested in going full-time?”
After paying the laborers, I asked. Most headed for the exit, uninterested.
“Starting salary 70 million, four insurances, guaranteed vacation.”
The day laborers paused.
“Have a seat and hear me out?”
“Ahem…”
Many sat reluctantly, and most converted to full-time.
I also got a list from Section Chief Baek Yeongsin at the Management Bureau of Awakeners wanting normal jobs and made calls.
High Agility but low Strength and Stamina ones unfit for combat or labor were perfect for precision work. Sitting and using hands—no stamina or strength drain.
A timid wizard who flunked academy went under Jaein as an apprentice.
I slotted talents where needed.
My savings visibly plummeted.
“I’ll just earn more.”
I raided gates like mad, gathering mana stones and byproducts. Processed some byproducts for storage; mana stones had buyers. Leveled up nicely too.
“This is good to sell now.”
Jaein finished quality checks on factory output.
Sourcing materials ourselves and self-producing let us price at half market rate despite solid margins. Showed how much big firms and workshops skim.
“Let’s sell!”
Sangheon, on marketing, posted promos on hunter forums.
Nayeong made Regen’s promo site and photos. Her armor design knack shone here.
“But no sales record—will it sell even at this price?”
President Yang fretted. My investments and mana stone earnings bridged the last month, but he feared total loss if it flopped.
As worried, initial sales were zero. Hunters risking lives in gates wouldn’t trust half-price gear from unknown Regen. Holding out would build word-of-mouth, but cash burn needed fixing.
“Fire away.”
I donned armor, stood at the factory back, and had an arrow-savvy staffer shoot me.
“President, really shoot? What if I miss?”
He seemed uneasy.
“That arrow won’t kill me. Just shoot.”
He shrugged and released the taut bowstring.
Thwack.
It should’ve hit the armor—flew at my head instead. I snatched it.
The shooter paled.
“Again~ lower.”
After, arrows consistently missed wide. Dozens of shots later, I got helmet-cam footage hitting armor.
As Jaein said, arrows embedded but didn’t pierce. Blocking these would skyrocket newbie survival.
We filmed dagger stabs proving defense too. Nayeong edited promo vids; dozens sold.
Days later, reviews hit forums. Word spread—stock vanished. Weeks on, production lagged demand; waitlists grew.
“Jiseok… incredible. Really. Never dreamed it’d boom like this.”
Far from recouping yet, but margins meant soon. President Yang had to admit it.
“Oh, President, ease off fieldwork and take CEO here too?”
“Me?”
“I’m always out. Combine with Huagok collections.”
“I’ve never done this…”
“Salary like this…”
I whispered the figure.
“Chairman. I’ll work hard.”
President Yang bowed deeply.