Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The All Master Who Regressed to Bronze
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Prosecution, police, National Tax Service.
Like most countries, they were the state's sharpest swords and blades.
Even excluding the military, in some ways they were sharper and more violent weapons than the army itself.
That held true even after Players emerged.
High-tier Players enjoyed a bit more freedom from them, but it was still just a loose leash.
A leash that could be tightened at any moment if needed.
And Seong-hoon knew better than anyone just how powerful a fully yanked leash could be.
"We've received a report of what amounts to confinement and exploitation through forced labor."
"That's ridiculous! Confinement and exploitation?!"
"Hm. For something like that, the employees look awfully pale. How many hours have they been working?"
"......We're paying them full overtime compensation."
"It's not about the money—it's about their lives. So, how many hours?"
"......Thirty-six."
"You're insane. It feels like we're not in the 21st century, but the 20th—no, not even the 19th. Send all the victims home for now and get them medical checkups and treatment."
"If we do that, the deadlines—!"
"That could lead to additional penalties and aggravated charges. Still want to keep them working?"
"......We'll send them home."
It started with the police.
They stormed in after a report of confinement and exploitative labor, turning the junior alchemists' workspace upside down.
Nearly ninety percent of the junior alchemists in materials management and compounding were forcibly sent home, halting all operations.
Gritting his teeth, Seong-hoon called the Seoul Metropolitan Police Chief, to whom he'd fed bribes.
"What the hell is this?! Do you think I greased your palm for this? You should've blocked something like this!"
-How am I supposed to block orders from above?! I've more than paid back your bribes already!
"You call that—"
-Don't contact me again. Do, and I might drag you in instead of the company!
"W-Wait!"
Click.
Of course, it was useless.
There was always a sky above the sky.
Even the Seoul Chief had to bow like ripe rice before the National Police Commissioner.
In the end, as police escorted junior alchemists out, Seong-hoon could only watch in a daze.
"Baek Seong-hoon. Looks like you've taken quite the kickbacks. Job placements, favoring certain product selectors... all sorts of ways. We need to have a deep talk."
"......You're making a mistake. Do you know who I am? I've eaten with your Commissioner! Hit the saunas together! Everything!"
"Ah, sure, sure. I don't know about that. My superiors—department heads, vice prosecutors, even the Prosecutor General—handle all that."
"Crazy! You think you can survive in this field after this?!"
The second blade.
The prosecution arrived.
Furious at the slight from what looked like a regular prosecutor, Seong-hoon threatened him outright.
A blatant threat to make sure he never worked again.
But the prosecutor just sneered at Seong-hoon.
"You'll probably join the Shinwa Group legal team, right? Live large."
"......What?"
"Honestly, I'm grateful to you. Thanks to you, I've got my one bullet—and it's going to a great spot~"
"......"
Shinwa Group's legal team.
The dream job with top perks: house, car, secretary—all provided.
As the prosecutor chuckled about landing it thanks to him, Seong-hoon was dumbfounded.
Watching him, the prosecutor leaned back cockily, sneering like a street thug.
"I'm stripping you down to your underwear. Don't expect mercy. My reward depends on how thoroughly I shake you down."
"D-Don't do this. Whatever they offered you? I can match it! Right? So back off for now—"
"Bullshit! Why play dumb when you know the score? Take it like a man. Move, and the needle goes somewhere funny."
"......Kuh!"
He even grabbed the prosecutor's arm and begged, but got only scornful laughter.
Legs giving out, Seong-hoon collapsed into his chair.
Someone hauled him up.
"National Tax Service. Baek Seong-hoon. We've got tons of suspected tax evasion—company and personal. Barter deals instead of cash too. Thanks to you, the national treasury's about to get fat."
"......Ha, haha, hahahahaha."
Needless to say, no good samaritan—just the IRS, feared even by demons.
Mentioning Seong-hoon's corporate and personal tax crimes with a smile was enough to drive him mad.
This was exactly three hours after Shin-hyeok left.
And this was just the beginning.
"What the hell is this?!"
Prosecution, police, National Tax Service.
Exactly one hour after the dream (or nightmare) trio passed.
Not just what they'd uncovered, but everything else poured out as articles across the internet.
Instantly the nation's top asshole, Seong-hoon rampaged, calling reporters he'd bribed—but
[Beep—then voicemail...]
"Fuck!!! You bastards!!!"
Crash!
No one picked up.
Furious, he smashed his phone on the floor, then stomped the pieces.
"B-Branch Chief..."
"What now?!"
"Check the TV."
"TV?"
"Yes."
Beep.
Glancing at the TV his sweating secretary timidly turned on, Seong-hoon's mind snapped.
[Breaking News - Alchemist Korean Branch Chief Baek Seong-hoon]
"......They made breaking news about me?"
"......Yes. All three major broadcasters, even cables—full breaking news."
"Not one skipped?"
"......No. Every channel's running it. And..."
"And what."
"Protesters outside..."
"......"
Every news channel spewed outrage and curses at him.
Outside, citizen groups protested.
"Urk..."
His head spun.
How did it come to this?
The answer was clear.
"Choi Shin-hyeok... That punk I could chew up and spit out! If not for his grandfather!!! If not for that worthless Player talent!!!"
Choi Shin-hyeok.
If not for that brat demanding Hyo-rin hours ago, this wouldn't have happened, he thought.
And he was right.
Without Shin-hyeok, the buried secrets wouldn't have been exhumed.
"I'll kill him... Kill him... I'll definitely kill him!!!"
Everything he'd built crumbled like sandcastles in hours. His decision was set.
"Contact Choi Shin-hyeok."
"What should I say?"
"......Say I'll hand over Baek Hyo-rin. Tomorrow night. Tell him to stop this now!"
"Y-Yes, sir."
After instructing his secretary, he grabbed a burner flip phone from his hidden safe, ignoring the smashed smartphone.
"Villain Union. I need help."
-What's the price?
"Once this ends, I'll fully join your Union."
-Deal. Sending people now. What you want will happen soon. Plenty in the Union covet that magic spear anyway.
"Be discreet. He can't know."
-Got it. Sending top stealth pros. Don't worry. Gold-upper at best—still Gold. A few Diamond villains will crush him.
"Good. Thanks."
After the call to the only saved number, Seong-hoon sank into his luxury custom leather chair, exhaling held breath.
"Baek Hyo-rin... Just get her. Shadow or light, doesn't matter. With her, I'm... a living god of alchemy."
In his storm-wrecked office, only his hollow mutter echoed.
"Time's about up. Let's go."
"......Shin-hyeok, is this really okay?"
"No reason it wouldn't be. I just gave a push. No crimes created—only uncovered ones handed off."
"True..."
"Better to lance boils early. Before the damage feels like a paper cut."
"Yeah..."
The next day.
Heading back to Alchemist Korean Branch with Su-ah, Shin-hyeok chatted lightly.
Su-ah was amazed yet understanding of his massive move.
As he said, he'd just exhumed existing sins for the authorities.
Returning after a day, the pair marveled at the 180-degree change.
"Total mess."
"Prosecution, police, IRS swept people and files. Outside's trashed with eggs and tomatoes from protesters. Inside and out—ruined."
Yesterday's splendor was now worse than a haunted ruin.
Shin-hyeok, the culprit, rode the elevator to the mid-floor executive offices without a care.
It whisked them up instantly.
Following yesterday's path alone, they reached Seong-hoon's office.
Shin-hyeok found him alone.
"By yourself?"
"Not surprised, huh."
"Well, you said you'd hand over Hyo-rin, but why would I buy that?"
"......Then why stop the pressure? Why come?"
"A one-in-a-thousand, one-in-ten-thousand chance? Worth checking. She's worth that to me. Low odds, so expected failure, naturally."
No Hyo-rin anywhere, but Shin-hyeok showed no disappointment.
Zero regret, as if anticipated.
So calm, Seong-hoon swallowed dryly, spreading his arms dramatically.
"......Ha! Arrogant. Your skills are impressive, but you're still a rookie. For you, I've prepared—"
"Villain Union villains, right."
"......Huh?"
Shin-hyeok stole his reveal mid-sentence.
Seong-hoon never imagined he'd spotted the trap. Shock hit hard.
Meanwhile, Shin-hyeok casually scanned, pointing with fingertips.
"There, here, over there, this spot. Ceiling too. Five... you pulled strings."
"......How?!"
"Good eyes. Sharp senses."
Spotting hidden villains perfectly, Shin-hyeok was impressed inwardly.
'Observation Eye's beyond expectations. Piercing five dedicated hiders perfectly. Synergizes great with Tracking. Nice.'
Observation Eye.
Colosseum 10-win reward trait. Incredible effect.
Status windows were tough, but stealth? Nailed.
Villains dropped stealth, landing by Seong-hoon.
"Cocky brat."
"I'll kill you."
"Heh heh, who gets the magic spear?"
"Spear's nice, but he's got other goodies."
"Loot later. Focus now."
Five villains, each wildly distinct.
Woman, man, elder; scarred, handsome, ugly as sin.
One commonality.
"All Diamond Tier... real pull."
Every one Diamond Tier.
Low-to-mid Diamonds individually outclassed by past foe Mujunggeom, but numbers overwhelmed.
Even Mujunggeom couldn't handle two ganging up.
"Die easy, die painless."
"Heh, nah? Wanna see that pretty face twist! Look how excited I am!"
"Put that nasty away before I cut it off."
"I'll take the girl beside him. Love ruining that innocent purity."
"Finish the job, do what you want."
Knowing this, villains taunted Shin-hyeok and Su-ah alike.
Gold and Silver rookies-gods meant nothing to veteran Diamond Players.
Adult vs. kid gap.
For Shin-hyeok; Su-ah made it human vs. ant.
Their carelessness was natural—and fatal.
"Manager Hong. Show your skills."
"Yes, Young Master."
"......What?!"
Slash!
One villain's head flew from a sudden ambush.
A black-clad from their shadows swung a dagger, sawing the head off like a log.
It rolled across the floor.
Villains identified instantly.
"Shadow! Top-three Diamond assassin—why here?!"
"Crazy! Baek Seong-hoon! No heads-up! Just a couple kids!"
Shadow—the Diamond nightmare.
But as they panicked, Shin-hyeok toyed with his ring.
"Transcend - Necromancy. Arise."
Transcendent - Necromancy
[Dullahan Summoned]
"......!"
Rumble...
Manseok's headless villain corpse rose, head tucked under arm.
Dullahan.
Headless knight—A-rank undead, necromancers' pinnacle.
"Now, 4 vs 4? Fair."
5v2 flipped to 4v4 in a blink.
Villains realized.
"......Screwed."
"......We're fucked."
They were utterly screwed.