Chapter 73
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Taking Down the Valmut Family
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How does an individual fight against a group?
The first method that came to Lee Se-hun's mind in response to that question was the strategy of the Three Dogs, whom he had frequently encountered before his regression and had agreed to help.
"Train until you can win."
"Blow up their related operations one by one, and they'll collapse on their own."
"Only fools fight head-on. Infiltrate and eat away from the inside."
Brutal, insane, or just plain lazy methods. Of course, they had a high success rate as guaranteed by the Three Dogs, but Lee Se-hun boldly discarded those strategies.
Such tactics were only feasible for the Three Dogs, who were powerful heroes, terrorists, and heads of intelligence organizations. They didn't suit him as a blacksmith.
So, what method would fit him? As Lee Se-hun pondered this, he quickly arrived at the answer.
"Would you be willing to help me bring down the Valmut family?"
Like a proper blacksmith, just hand over weapons and watch from the sidelines.
"......"
Kim In-cheol stared blankly upon hearing Lee Se-hun's proposal.
Showing up at the workshop first thing Sunday morning and declaring he'd topple the Valmut family?
Wondering if he was still half-asleep, Kim In-cheol rubbed his eyes and asked again.
"You mean that friend Bier, by any chance?"
"No. The entire Valmut family."
"So...... you're saying you'll bring down the whole family?"
"Yes."
Seeing Lee Se-hun answer without the slightest hesitation, Kim In-cheol felt his drowsiness vanish completely as he straightened up in his seat.
"Tell me what happened first."
In response to Kim In-cheol's question, Lee Se-hun roughly explained the clash with Bier, Aria's proposal for mass-producing sword aura gear, and the other events from the exchange meet.
"Not only did he improve their prototype on the spot, but he also created sword aura equipment without help from a sword aura user...... You're really something......"
Not lacking talent, but too exceptional to the point of worry. Kim In-cheol gave a wry smile as he mulled over the absurd situation, even by his own standards.
"I get the situation. If you rejected their recruitment and overwhelmed their tech head-on, they won't stay peaceful anymore."
Recalling the tyranny the Valmut family had wrought in the Forging Department, Kim In-cheol furrowed his brow and sighed.
"But with just this, pressuring them is tough. There's no solid evidence that Bier tried to attack you right away."
Any objections would be dismissed as a prototype flaw or Bier's incompetence.
There was no justification strong enough to topple the Valmut family.
'Even after getting one-sidedly screwed over, there's nothing I can do......'
This wasn't the first or second time, but Kim In-cheol felt a deeper sense of helplessness than before.
The talent that could bring massive change to the era might crumble pointlessly due to his own shortcomings. How pathetic was that?
'Not this time. I absolutely won't just take it lying down.'
As Kim In-cheol steeled his resolve and seriously pondered his options,
"I'm not planning to attack them that way either."
Lee Se-hun continued calmly.
"I've already decided how to do it, so Professor, I just need your help with the details."
"Already decided......?"
Attacking a massive force like the Valmut family so easily? As Kim In-cheol looked at him puzzled, Lee Se-hun grinned.
"What's so hard about bankrupting a company? If their stockpiled goods don't sell, that's it."
"True, but......"
Was it that simple?
Especially in the industry dominated by Valmut, where their tech was leagues ahead—catching up was no small feat.
As Kim In-cheol opened his mouth to call it unrealistic,
Thud!
A thick stack of papers landed on the table from Lee Se-hun's subspatial pocket.
"......Blueprints?"
Kim In-cheol eyed the bundle Lee Se-hun pulled out curiously and picked up the top one for a closer look.
It depicted a single sword. Nothing special at first glance, but as he examined the details, Kim In-cheol's eyes widened more and more.
"W-Wait. What the hell is......"
Blueprints detailed enough for immediate mass production.
The perfection was impressive, but what shocked Kim In-cheol were Lee Se-hun's annotations.
[Superior to Valmut's current market-dominant E-grade mass-produced longsword in both power and durability by over 20%.
Material costs can be reduced by up to 30% if manufacturing processes are properly established.]
A perfect upgrade over Valmut's mass-produced gear. Staring at it, Kim In-cheol quickly checked the others.
Flip flip
Weapons, armor, auxiliaries—all of Valmut's main mass-produced items had superior versions precisely drafted here.
Exceeding his expectations, Kim In-cheol reread the blueprints multiple times to verify.
'This is...... the real deal.'
A blacksmith's instinct, honed over decades, told him so without needing tests.
Realizing the manufacturing methods were genuine, Kim In-cheol couldn't tear his eyes away. Watching from across the table, Lee Se-hun smiled confidently.
"What do you think?"
"What do I think?"
Kim In-cheol set down the blueprint with a hollow laugh.
"I can only laugh."
Mass-producing consistent quality items was never easy, and even harder post-mana emergence.
Refining basics now required considering mana circuits, material properties—dozens of times more factors.
'One sheet alone would take a research team years of agony, yet he brings dozens......'
No matter how talented, this was abnormal.
Kim In-cheol briefly suspected ties to Lee Se-hun's past "group," but dismissed it.
'If it were them, they'd build his skills, not hand over blueprints like this.'
Purely Lee Se-hun's talent. Organizing his thoughts, Kim In-cheol asked,
"So, how do we use these?"
"Select manufacturers competing with Valmut who'll fight to the end, and hand these over. Leave minor negotiations like profit shares to you, Professor."
"You okay with that? Setting up your own workshop would rake in incomparable profits."
"That'd take too long. To shake a giant like that, we hit all at once."
Plus, starting a workshop creates a vulnerability, dragging him into hassles.
Thus, Lee Se-hun opted for slight profit sacrifice for maximum ease.
"If that's your will, so be it. But for this plan to work, we need two more things."
Kim In-cheol looked at Lee Se-hun seriously.
"First, a way to certify the gear's quality to the public. Second, protection for our cooperating manufacturers from Valmut."
Sudden massacres were unlikely, but a "accidental" factory explosion wiping one out? Then similar incidents over years, and resisters vanish.
Without safeguards, few would step up. At Kim In-cheol's words, Lee Se-hun grinned.
"I've got ways for those too, of course."
"Valmut's trying to kill me, so I'm thinking of taking them down first. Can you help?"
"......"
The red-haired woman across from him, Ryu Eun-ha, bowed her head slightly in thought, her face utterly expressionless.
After a long silence, her lips parted slowly.
"By 'take down,' do you mean...... physically?"
Her face hardened with resolve, as if ready to devour gear and reduce Valmut's estate to dust. Lee Se-hun quickly clarified.
"No. I mean ruin their business. Not literally smash them."
Tempting as that was, avoiding global wanted status was wiser—even pre-regression.
Ryu Eun-ha nodded with her unchanging expression.
"I see."
"Yes. So......"
"Should I collapse their factories at night?"
Suppressing the urge to say "exactly," Lee Se-hun shook his head.
"Legally. Being wanted defeats the purpose."
"Hm...... Understood. So, what's your plan?"
Perhaps baited by the assassination attempt, Ryu Eun-ha was proactive. Pleased, Lee Se-hun briefly outlined it.
"......Impressive."
Her eyes sparkled at "dozens of blueprints." Feeling her rare vitality break through the stoicism, Lee Se-hun smiled faintly and continued.
"Department Head, I'd like you to eat gear I designed and Valmut's, then compare them. Your reputation in this field is legendary."
If he or Kim In-cheol vouched, it'd be dismissed as grudge. But S-rank hero Weapon Eater, Borsippa's Department Head, and gear gourmet? Even Valmut couldn't ignore that influence.
"Just compare?"
"Yes. Oh, post it online, so video it. We'll handle the rest—no worries."
"Got it."
Accepting without hesitation, Ryu Eun-ha left Lee Se-hun satisfied yet puzzled.
'She's more cooperative than pre-regression.'
She'd helped generously before, but now it felt like she'd give her liver and gall if asked earnestly.
As Lee Se-hun eyed her curiously, Ryu Eun-ha spoke after a moment's thought.
"If even after this, no path opens...... tell me."
"To you, Department Head?"
"Yes."
She nodded calmly.
"I'll handle it somehow."
Her tone sent chills. Certain he must never ask, Lee Se-hun nodded awkwardly.
"For now...... I'll keep that in mind."
"Yes. I'll contact you once ready."
Settling with Ryu Eun-ha, Lee Se-hun left the office and headed to Aqar Quf.
The remaining issue: protecting workshops producing the items. This was the trickiest part of the plan.
'Many workshops to guard, and no telling when or how they'll strike.'
Immediate attack post-announcement? Or months later suddenly? Unclear.
Hiring security or heroes for that indefinite period? Questionable efficacy, and inefficient cost.
'Best to entrust one exceptional person.'
Someone who could protect dozens of workshops worldwide.
Recalling the figure accessible only through one intermediary, Lee Se-hun organized his thoughts.
'Nothing to lose.'
Great if yes, oh well if no.
With that, Lee Se-hun knocked on the door of the innermost Body Control classroom in the Martial Combat Department.
Knock knock
"Come in."
A gruff voice from inside. Entering, he saw Ma Gwang-su lying irritably on a bed.
"Others are dying for weekend rest, but you're wandering midday...... Got too much leisure, huh."
"Sorry. It's urgent......"
"......Fine. Spill. What's up?"
Lee Se-hun explained the situation roughly, like with the others. Hearing it all, Ma Gwang-su scowled.
"Wanna call it delusions of grandeur, but...... Valmut's got all sorts of rumors. They'd do it."
"Can you help?"
"Hmm...... But I've got a question first."
Trailing off, Ma Gwang-su eyed him.
"Why think I can help? I'm just a washed-up retired has-been."
Laced with suspicion. Outwardly, no reason to ask Ma Gwang-su.
'I know his organization from pre-regression.'
Unspeakable, so Lee Se-hun skirted.
"Retiring doesn't erase all connections. You're the most promising I know."
"And if not?"
"I'd find another way."
Ma Gwang-su stared briefly at the calm reply, then rose from bed.
"Fine. Not impossible. But not for free."
"Protection fees we can negotiate......"
"Nah. Don't need money."
Interrupting, Ma Gwang-su grabbed a document stack from the corner and tossed it to Lee Se-hun.
Catching it, Lee Se-hun read the top label.
[Tuan Ver.12]
'He's revised it a ton......'
Flipping through, he realized what it was.
"The technique you said you'd teach me before."
The talent for stealing opponents' movements he'd vaguely mentioned. Ma Gwang-su had actually systematized it.
'This level of structure in that short time.'
Impressed by his skill, yet mildly annoyed.
'He could make this, so why were the 'on credit' techniques he taught all so......'
Pre-regression matters—he tried overlooking, but irritation bubbled occasionally.
'Someday, proper payback.'
As he vowed inwardly, Ma Gwang-su added calmly.
"Master that, and I'll help."
"That alone?"
"Yeah. Worth tangling with those pains for."
Proving it helps detect doppelgangers. Reading the intent, Lee Se-hun nodded.
"Got it. Let's go then."
"Tomorrow. Skim it today."
Practicing Tuan required extensive setups—not feasible immediately.
But Lee Se-hun shook his head.
"Not practice."
"......Then?"
"Tuan. I'll show you."