Chapter 39
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: March 4th
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"Nickname, Hwang Yong-min. Assuming that's his real name, there are dozens of people with the same name across the country. However..."
Ahn Sang-chul said, his eyes gleaming.
"If we assume he's in his twenties and lives in Seoul, the number narrows down to five."
"Are you sure he's in his twenties?"
Ahn Sang-chul nodded at Ma Kyung-rok's question.
"He said himself that he's a young man in his twenties who wants to be a gangster, so the possibility is high."
"What about their locations?"
"The private investigators said it would take over a month to accurately track down the home addresses of all five."
"Over a month... So we won't know the results until after the 4th Round is over."
"Yes. There's no rush, so you can just wait."
"Are there any other names?"
"Someone in his party named Kim Seung-han is also using a nickname presumed to be his real name. We're tracking him as well, but it's a common name, so it will take more time."
"Is that so?"
Ma Kyung-rok clicked his tongue in disappointment, pouring a glass of whiskey as he asked.
"How much gold have you collected?"
"About 10,000 gold."
"So you've gathered fifty percent."
Ma Kyung-rok tossed the whiskey back.
*Gulp.*
"There's a common skill in the shop called 'Tracking,' right? As I said before, learn it as soon as you have 20,000 gold. It might be useful in the future."
"Understood."
Even though he was being told to learn the skill instead of his boss, Ahn Sang-chul showed no sign of discontent.
His only thought was to quickly save up 20,000 gold and be of help to the Representative.
"Ah, Representative."
A thought suddenly occurred to Ahn Sang-chul, and he spoke up.
"I was so preoccupied I forgot to mention it, but last month, a shareholder bought a large volume of stock in your company."
Ma Kyung-rok tilted his head.
He was involved in more than just one or two businesses.
"Which of my companies are you referring to?"
"Cheonma Consulting, the one you're currently focused on."
"Ah."
Cheonma Consulting was his largest and most meticulously managed business.
*'It's the company I founded to gain my father's approval.'*
His father had said it.
He would decide the proportion of the inheritance based on Cheonma Consulting's success.
*'Ranking 150th on KOSDAQ isn't bad right now, but...'*
A company not even listed on KOSPI was nothing but an old-fashioned firm in his father's eyes.
"There's a major shareholder who bought into Cheonma Consulting? What's their stake?"
"Prepare yourself. It's a staggering fifty-one percent."
"What?"
Ma Kyung-rok couldn't believe his ears.
Fifty-one percent meant they were the majority shareholder.
"One person bought fifty-one percent of the shares?"
"Yes. I couldn't believe my own eyes when I saw the monitor."
Cheonma Consulting's market capitalization was 550 billion won.
Fifty-one percent meant an investment of 280 billion won.
*'An individual has that much money?'*
A chaebol? Or is this one of my siblings' schemes?
*'They must have invested fifty-one percent to get directly involved in management.'*
Ma Kyung-rok thought.
Whatever the case, he had to meet them.
"What's the major shareholder's contact information?"
***
Having returned to reality, Ryu Min looked at the date.
*'It's about time I got a call.'*
He was waiting for Ma Kyung-rok's call.
Having invested 280 billion won last month, there was no way Ma Kyung-rok wouldn't know.
Of course, he could have contacted him first.
*'A major shareholder has his pride.'*
He expected the call, so there was no reason to take the initiative.
Just then.
"Bro! What's your level?"
The door burst open, and Ryu Won came in.
"Why the sudden question?"
"There's this kid in my class who keeps bragging in the group chat about how high his brother's level is."
"Oh yeah? What level did he say?"
"Level 11. Said he already has a class, too."
*'Eleven?'*
Ryu Min almost scoffed but quickly regained his composure.
"Don't worry, my level is higher."
"What is it?"
*'What should I say?'*
He had to give a number that wasn't too high or too low.
"Twelve."
"Huh? Really? Then do you have a class already?"
"Yeah."
"What is it, what is it? What class is it?"
Ryu Min shut down his brother's curiosity with a single word.
"Secret."
"Aw, come on. There are no secrets between brothers!"
"Yes, there are. Now get out. I'm going back to sleep."
As he lay down on the bed, feigning exhaustion, Ryu Won backed away.
"Hmph, okay. Rest well."
The door closed, but Ryu Min didn't close his eyes.
The phone might ring any moment; sleep was impossible.
*'Should I buy a common skill?'*
He opened the shop window and purchased the common skill he'd been planning to buy.
20,000 gold was spent, leaving him with 8,000.
*'I'll use the remaining money to buy the epic item that's coming out in a few days.'*
The epic item he wanted was scheduled to appear in the shop in a week.
*'I'll have to meet Ma Kyung-rok before that.'*
The meeting with Ma Kyung-rok was important.
In corporate terms, it was no different from meeting with a key business partner.
*'Of course, I won't form a close relationship. I need to keep my distance, use him thoroughly, and then discard him like a card.'*
To do that, he had to pretend to join hands, stay by his side, and understand the situation from up close.
This was why he needed the Rune of Inner Thoughts.
*'I can get it in just three days. The Rune of Inner Thoughts.'*
Just then, his phone vibrated.
*'It's here.'*
A call from an unsaved number.
But Ryu Min instantly knew it was Ma Kyung-rok's number.
"Yes, hello."
-Is this Mr. Ryu Min?
"Yes. Who is this?"
-Good day. My name is Ma Kyung-rok, the CEO of Cheonma Consulting.
"Ah, hello."
Ryu Min deliberately put on a naive voice.
He intended to start building his image from this moment.
The more of a pushover he seemed, the more he could lower his opponent's guard.
-You invested a large sum in our company last month, correct?
"Yes. Is there a reason for your call...?"
-It's just that you've become our company's largest shareholder, and I wanted to meet you in person. I'd like to treat you to a meal.
"Ah... okay, I'll do that."
-Excellent. Then how about we meet this Friday?
*'Friday?'*
Friday was the important day he needed to acquire the Rune of Inner Thoughts.
If they were to meet, it would be better to do so after he had the rune.
"Ah, I have something on that day... How about the next day, Saturday?"
-Yes, that's fine. I'll see you then.
After the call ended, a faint smile graced Ryu Min's lips.
*'I knew Ma Kyung-rok would call.'*
Cheonma Consulting was a company he managed with intense focus.
There was no way he would neglect a major shareholder who had invested fifty-one percent in such a company.
*'We'll surely discuss management rights and other things.'*
At that time, Ryu Min planned to appeal his value to Ma Kyung-rok.
To make it so he had no choice but to take his hand.
*'But first, I need to get the Rune of Inner Thoughts.'*
He closed his eyes, intending to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
There were three days left until Friday.
There was still plenty of time.
***
There are various ways to obtain runes.
They can drop from boss monsters, or be found in specific locations during certain rounds.
They can be special round rewards, and sometimes even drop from regular monsters.
*'Though the probability is extremely low.'*
People would come to realize.
Just how hard it is to acquire runes.
However, they would figure out the methods.
It's just that executing them is difficult.
*'But.'*
There is a method people don't know about.
*'They wouldn't know you can get them in reality.'*
They would assume you have to kill monsters or complete quests in the other world to get runes.
*'You can get runes in reality, too.'*
They are called Hidden Runes.
Because they are not runes that can be obtained through ordinary means.
Of course, there aren't many of them.
*'Five at most?'*
You can get five runes in reality?
If people knew that fact, they wouldn't be resting idly.
They would be frantically searching even after a round ended.
*'Of course, I don't need to do that. I know where to go to get the runes.'*
Was it just the location?
He also knew that they manifested under specific conditions.
*'When a specific condition is met at the location where the rune is hidden...'*
He would be able to obtain the rune.
This was why Ryu Min was hiding in an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province.
*'Jang Seok-hyun will show up soon.'*
Nickname [Jang Seok-hyun].
Real name, also Jang Seok-hyun.
An unforgettable name.
Because he was the criminal who had kidnapped his younger brother.
*'Even though it was way back in my eleventh regression...'*
He still remembered it clearly.
The bastard's voice, demanding information if he wanted his brother to live.
*'I can't forget his appearance, either. The man's face was a mess of pockmarks.'*
That pockmarked bastard had the Rune of Inner Thoughts.
Because of it, his identity as a regressor was exposed, and even his brother was kidnapped.
*'This is why I don't tell my brother I'm a regressor.'*
He had already taken his revenge on Jang Seok-hyun.
From the eleventh regression all the way to the present.
Thus, there was no lingering resentment.
*'I'll just use him.'*
Although they weren't in the same zone, so they couldn't meet in the other world.
This was the only way, through reality.
*'Of course, once the zones merge, we could meet someday, but...'*
If not now, he wouldn't be able to take the Rune of Inner Thoughts.
That was precisely why he remembered the date: today, Friday, March 4th.
*'Before he gets it, I will. And then...'*
A sneer escaped his twisted lips.
*'I'll kill him.'*
Ryu Min's gaze shifted to a corner of the system window.
[Target 'Jang Seok-hyun's location has been identified.]
[Currently 2,285m away.]
[Currently 2,221m away.]
[Currently 2,160m away.]
………………
…………
Seeing the distance decrease so rapidly, he must be in a car.
*'Judging by the closing distance, he's heading this way.'*
The corners of Ryu Min's mouth lifted.
It was a welcome development.
*'I'll wait here in this abandoned factory until he arrives.'*
Ryu Min passed the time in the silent, abandoned factory.
Then, when the distance to Jang Seok-hyun closed to within 100 meters.
*Shhhk-*
He equipped his gear.
He armed himself, even gripping his large scythe.
However, his face was uncovered.
*'Just in case, it's better to hide my identity.'*
He took out the mask he had prepared in advance.
It was a common, face-shaped white mask you could buy online.
*'This should be enough to hide my face.'*
He put on the mask, hid in the shadows, and prepared to welcome his guest.
Just then.
*Thud, thud.*
Jang Seok-hyun appeared.
*'He's finally here.'*
It was an unmistakable face.
And the woman slung over his shoulder was also…….