Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

Chapter 82. Counterattack (1)

TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader

Association President, Kim Muyeol.

Back in his heyday, known as the Ironwood King, Kim Muyeol’s composed face is now flushed with shock.

It couldn’t be helped.

“How did you… end up here…?”

A clear-cut handsome man with distinct features. His nephew, Kim Shimun, definitely wasn’t supposed to be here.

No.

‘How is he still alive?’

He was supposed to no longer exist in this world. Thus, ‘Did the plan of the Continental fail?’

An unbelievable possibility flashed through Kim Muyeol’s mind.

‘Considering the Diamond-rank combat system Gong Yeolryu and the Platinum-rank magic system Sing, along with numerous Golds…’

Even taking into account ‘that thing’ the continent secretly prepared. No matter how you slice it, it was clear his Gold-ranked nephew should not have survived!

‘Calm down. Nothing’s certain yet.’

Kim Muyeol calmed his startled heart and slightly shook his head.

‘It’s not unlikely that something urgent came up for them, forcing a retreat.’

Wasn’t it known that the experiment being secretly conducted was imperfect?

‘Due to an unexpected situation with the experimental subject, they might’ve broken the barrier and given up on the assassination.’

Yes. That must be it.

“Uncle, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

Could he see right through him?

His damned nephew smirked with a strange light in his eyes.

And then, “Well. For a Gold to return alive after facing an assassination squad made of Diamonds and Platinums.”

He blatantly drove the point home.

“Even I think it’s something worth being surprised about.”

No sooner had he finished speaking, crackkk!

All the wooden furnatures in the president’s office, including the wooden desk, shot out like spikes.

‘To kill him.’

At this point, there was no use in weighing pros and cons. Even if it meant getting rid of a corpse from his office, he had to kill his damned nephew right away. If his nephew spoke, everything would be over.

But.

Flinch.

“What, what!”

As if time had stopped. The wooden spikes flying towards his nephew suddenly froze in place. Was he surprised as well?

Looking slightly startled, his nephew said, “Huh? I wasn’t aware of this.”

Spouting incomprehensible babble, “It does seem like uncle is quite concerned about me. To exhibit murderous intent so openly.”

He looked down at him with full disdain in his eyes.

* * *

Bang.

“Hyung!”

Kim Shihyuk smashed through the door and stormed in. But his motion didn’t last long. Not just because Kim Shimun simply raised his hand to stop him.

‘Could it be… Uncle’s power has been stopped?’

The wooden spikes, seemingly ready to tear everything apart with murderous intent, were all fixed in the air.

And then, “You! What on earth did you do?”

The man known as the Ironwood King.

Given the rare sight of an appalled Kim Muyeol, “Answer me!”

It was clear that it wasn’this uncle but his brother, Kim Shimun, who was in control of the situation. Kim Shihyuk quietly took his place behind Kim Shimun, surrounded by the wooden spikes.

Then he firmly looked at a man.

There was…

“……”

Kim Muyeol’s trusted aide. The face of Choi Changwook, the golem, became visibly uncomfortable. He twitched his fist large as a pot lid, taking a step back from moving towards Kim Shimun.

“You! Answer me now!”

“Uncle? Maybe calm down first. After all, shouldn’t I be the one who’s actually upset here?”

“How dare you!”

Whether he took it as mockery, the sight of the Ironwood King, Kim Muyeol’s face turning red unfolded yet again, but Kim Shimun just gave a bright, easy grin.

Not merely to provoke his uncle Kim Muyeol’s emotions.

‘I never knew the World Tree attribute could have such an effect.’

The addition of the World Tree attribute to the Philosopher’s Stone. The discovery of this new ability naturally brought a smile to his face.

-Hehe! Oppa, did I do well? I was preparing for quite some time because it seemed obvious we’d be targeting the eradication of enemies.

‘Yes, you did well.’

Shimun generously praised the excited Philosopher’s Stone.

-That man is really unlucky, having the ability to manipulate trees~.

‘Besides trees, he can manipulate other plants too. Despite how he looks, he has an SS-rank attribute.’

-Really? Aha! SS-rank attribute, the Ruler of Plants, right?

‘Yes.’

SS-rank attribute, the Ruler of Plants.

Though by name, the Ruler of Plants might seem suitable only for farming, it was a powerful and versatile attribute that made the first generation ranker of South Korea, the current Ironwood King, what he is today.

However.

-Then there’s no helping it.

The Philosopher’s Stone could only scoff.

-No matter the plant, it’s useless against you.

‘Really? Any plant at all?’

-Yep. Unless it’s some special case like demonic plants, there’s no chance. They say handsome men shouldn’t even be hit with flowers.

‘You rascal.’

Shimun laughed heartily at the stone’s silly joke.

‘This is indeed a great opportunity.’

As the Philosopher’s Stone said, if no plant could harm him, ‘I must be the worst matchup for uncle.’

Furthermore, “This acrid smell.”

The sharp scent mixed with the smell of trees, ‘It’s clear.’

Thinking about the source of this smell, it seemed he was truly the natural enemy of a person named Kim Muyeol. Was it because Shimun’s lips curled up into a sneer?

“You dare!”

Kim Muyeol, growing even more furious, immediately grabbed Shimun by the collar.

Seeing the strength in his arm, it was clear what he intended, but Shimun calmly surrendered to his enraged uncle’s grip.

Was it the ranker in him?

Despite being a mage, Kim Muyeol easily lifted Shimun with one hand, saying, “Let’s see you laugh when your body’s riddled with holes!”

He threw Shimun towards the halted wooden spikes.

However.

Creak.

The tips of the spikes, sharp enough to cut through metal, started curling up all at once, “Ah, how comfortable.”

And formed a flat disc, was gently caught by Shimun.

“This!”

Kim Muyeol’s anger boiled over even more at this, “How, how is this possible!”

“My goodness…”

Choi Changwook and Kim Shihyuk, who were watching the situation, couldn’t hide their astonishment.

That made sense because, “To neutralize Muyeol-hyung’s attribute like that!”

“To totally immobilize uncle…”

They knew better than anyone the true capabilities of Kim Muyeol, the Ironwood King. Kim Muyeol, who could freely twist and change all sorts of plants if the terrain was right, was a formidable opponent even for multiple rankers.

Yet, “Uncle. You look like you need to rest a bit, shall I make one for you too?”

Just gold rank. Despite winning his debut, to have Kim Muyeol’s initiative taken away by Shimun, who had just entered gold rank?

Especially, “To control Muyeol-hyung’s attribute as he pleases…”

“To have completely take away uncle’s control over his attribute?”

Kim Muyeol’s appearance, as if he had lost control over his own attribute, was shockingly unexpected. Such a situation, despite seeing it with their own eyes, was hard to believe for anyone.

The famously brutal and cold Ironwood King, “Ah, this is comfortable~”

Hearing the crunch. To see him being so blatantly defied by a mere gold rank, Kim Muyeol furiously clenched his fists. Realizing he was being dragged around and mocked, “Huff…”

After a brief moment of deep breathing, Kim Muyeol, calming his flushed face, slowly began to speak.

“Let’s stop here. What do you want?”

“It seems you’re finally ready to talk, uncle.”

Though his demeanor was brash and arrogant, Kim Muyeol maintained his inherently cool composure.

‘I won’t be manipulated by your tricks any longer.’

Perhaps Kim Shimun felt this resolve too?

“Tsk. How dull.”

With a click of his tongue, Kim Shimun stepped down from the wooden disk that resembled an ancient bed.

“Fighting the assassins sent by uncle, I came across something quite entertaining,” he said.

“Speak clearly. When did I ever send assassins after you?”

Kim Muyeol drew a firm line with his words. To that, “So, you’re going to deny it?”

One of Kim Shimun’s eyebrows quirked upwards.

“Unusually uncool of you, Uncle. Normally, you’d just play it cool.”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Kim Muyeol replied without a hint of disarray.

“Do I look foolish enough to play along with your baseless accusations?” he countered, a hint of anger in his face—a picture of an innocent victim.

“Well, it takes a certain shamelessness to do what you’re doing. I must say, impressive, Uncle. That’s sincere admiration.”

Kim Shimun nodded to himself, slipping his hand into his pocket. Then he added, “Just in case something like this happened, I’ve come prepared.”

Out came a phone from his grasp.

Kim Shimun tapped the phone screen a few times.

“Making interesting claims, am I?”

“A mysterious assassin turns civilians into monsters and now offers the position of Secretary-General?”

The voices from the phone continued, growing more incredulous.

“You think I’ll believe that? Right, that would be the normal reaction! What now?”

As the conversation on the phone progressed, not only Kim Muyeol’s but also Choi Changwook and Kim Shihyuk’s faces hardened.

“Illegal immigration?”

“Yes, oh! Right. I have a witness!”

Finally, “Ask Kim Muyeol! Kim Muyeol!”

“Kim Muyeol? You don’t mean the President of the Korean Awakened Association?”

“Yes! Even though he suddenly withdrew from this mission, he was the one who helped us enter the country…”

The moment the conversation on the phone was nearing its end.

“Bastard!”

Crunch.

The president’s wooden projectiles flew at Kim Shimun once more. Kim Shimun smirked, spreading his arms as if to show off. The projectiles stopped dead in their tracks again.

“Seems like you’re quite shocked. Unusual for uncle to make the same mistake twice.”

“This is slander!”

Kim Muyeol’s face turned beet red, his eyes trembling as he shouted.

“You’d take the word of someone whose identity we don’t even know as evidence?”

“Uncle, let’s not make it more pathetic. This could get messy if it gets out to the media.”

“Nonsense! I’m the President of the Korean Association! Who would believe such slander from a mere Gold-ranked nobody?!”

“Well, you do have a point,” Kim Shimun nodded calmly, as Kim Muyeol’s voice rose in agitation.

“I’m just a Gold. I can’t compare to an uncle who was a Ranker of the first generation and is the current president of the Korean Awakened Association.”

If Kim Shimun were to release this recording, at most it might stir a small controversy or scandal. Likely, it would even get buried, considering that the president surely had connections in the media.

“But,” the corners of Kim Shimun’s mouth twitched upwards.

“What if a Ranker similar to uncle were to release this recording?”

“What?”

“What do you think, Shihyuk?”

Eyes immediately darted to follow Kim Shimun, and after blinking, Kim Shihyuk, much like his brother, said, “They probably would believe it, right? Not to boast, but my recognition as a player might now surpass that of uncle.”

He shrugged nonchalantly, his lips curled in a slight smirk—an evident display of arrogance. Yet, Kim Muyeol couldn’t retort. The truth was undeniable.

Kim Shihyuk had ascended to the rank of Ranker with his unprecedented talent, and even now, his potential for growth was such that his worth continued to skyrocket among the top players.

How did Kim Muyeol compare? No matter his achievements, he was, after all, a player from the first generation. With a grimace and teeth clenched, a sinister sound escaped from the tightly closed lips of Kim Muyeol.

His bloodshot eyes glaring at his two nephews, he took a light breath to calm his emotions before asking, “It’s obvious why you brought the recording here. Kim Shimun, what do you want from me?”

The world’s Ironwood King was at a disadvantage. At this, Choi Changwook and Kim Shihyuk’s eyes widened slightly, but that was all. They only looked at the back of Kim Shimun’s head, who had wrested the initiative from the Ironwood King.

“From now on, sever the ties with Continental that you have been maintaining, Uncle.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

Kim Muyeol furrowed his brow.

“Being targeted for assassination must be unpleasant, sure. But that’s your personal affair. As the President, I cannot simply draw a line against a giant force like Continental.”

“I know.”

“To think you understand, yet dare to say such a thing.”

Kim Muyeol looked at Kim Shimun with a cold gaze.

“To begin with, it wasn’t me but Continental who planned your assassination. I merely opened the way.”

“Of course.”

Kim Shimun nodded as if it was to be expected.

“If Uncle had personally planned the assassination, he would have deployed more forces, including some stationed outside the barrier, just in case. Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut is Uncle’s style, isn’t it?”

With a slight grin, Kim Shimun continued, “But Uncle, that doesn’t absolve you of guilt. You assisted in smuggling a foreign armed force into the country, didn’t you?”

“That is…”

“Looking at the bigger picture, Continental is neither beneficial to this country nor to you, Uncle.”

In truth, in a previous life on Earth, even after Korea was ruined and he sought asylum in China, Kim Muyeol, their uncle, was the most tragically destroyed among the Korean players.

Whatever leverage they had over him, “He had become a thorough puppet of Continental, forced into all sorts of deeds he would never have done on his own.”

Like he had become ‘someone else’ overnight.

‘Uncle must not be used like this.’

Albeit sworn enemies, their uncle, Kim Muyeol, was a more politically adept figure than their father, the previous president. Despite his willingness to use any means for his ends, objectively, this could be seen as an advantage in a position such as president. Therefore, ‘We must make full use of Uncle’s capabilities rather than letting him fall from power.’

Severing the alliance between Continental and his uncle was the first step towards that goal. Even if he were to fall from the president position later on, he must not be easily taken by Continental.

“Acting like an adult, but a child is still a child.”

Kim Muyeol’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Do you not understand the position of this country? They claim to be one of the top two powers in the world. We cannot just sever ties with them…”

“I’m not saying the Association should cut off all ties with Continental,” Kim Shimun cut in firmly.

“I’m talking about the ‘personal’ relationship Uncle has maintained. You should keep the other relationships for the sake of information.”

“You!”

“Uncle, you’ve received items or drugs related to power enhancement from Continental before, haven’t you?”

“How much do you know?”

Kim Muyeol’s voice grew more threatening, but Kim Shimun did not flinch.

‘It’s obvious.’

When they met during the previous dormitory terrorism incident, he only noticed a faint fishy smell. But having gained this piece of the puzzle and meeting again, he was certain.

‘The Dragon Force that those mutated civilians possessed, Uncle has it too.’

The faint putrid scent of Dragon Force he had sensed from Uncle Kim Muyeol, combined with what he had learned about the dragons and Continental, made this deduction not too difficult.

Kim Shimun smiled lightly, “I have no obligation to answer that.”

“Kim Shimun!”

“And,” Kim Shimun lightly interrupted Kim Muyeol’s scolding, continuing, “there are experiments being conducted by Continental to turn civilians into monsters. Please look into that. Whether it’s sending people or reports.”

“You’re not listening to me at all. You dare tell me to just obediently be a slave?”

“A slave? It’s about helping family. I want Uncle to remain president for a long time.”

As Kim Muyeol’s eyes widened in anger, Kim Shimun turned with a smile and said, “It’s getting late, so I’ll take my leave. Please make a wise decision, Uncle.”

Waving his hand nonchalantly, he left the president’s office.

Then.

Boom!

A powerful explosion echoed from the president’s office.

TL’s Corner:

Kim Muyeol got off easy. Though Shimun had his reason, he is too complacent.