Max Talent Player

“CEO Song, hasn’t there been some conflict with American Players lately?”

Since the conversation was previously about deals with China, that was where Song Kiyoung’s attention was focused. He was somewhat caught off guard when the topic suddenly jumped to the US.

‘How did he know that?’

Hardly anyone knew about this, not even his grandson Song Kiyeol. In interest of securing a stable supply of mana crystals, Sungshin was procuring them from a spot other than Boracay. To that end, a base was set up in the Maldives, on an island with a Four Seasons Resort, a hotel from a world-class chain.

On the resort island was a dungeon, one that produced a lot of white mana crystals.

‘It was done in top secret.’

Taeguk Shield, Blood and Iron Lion, none of them knew about it. CEO Song believed there was no chance it was leaked from the inside.

‘I heard he was a Precognitive Dreamer, but he definitely seems to have some kind of mysterious power.’

Meanwhile, Kim Hyukjin could tell from Song Kiyoung’s reaction that his stab in the dark had struck true.

A few hours ago, Hyukjin was contacted by the US sovereign Michelle. She said there was a conflict with Korean Players in the Maldives and asked if he knew them. At the time, he just said no. Apparently, their items and skills were pretty outstanding, so even Michelle was having a bit of trouble with them.

Song Kiyoung’s eyes flashed, and he said, “You just took a guess, didn’t you?”

He was indeed very perceptive.

“Was it that noticeable?”

“Haha. To think I fell for a wild guess. I’ve really put my years to shame.”

Hyukjin smiled. “Let’s just chalk it up to me being perceptive.”

“Well, alright. How did you know? I ask because I’m truly curious.”

“I was contacted by Michelle. She said she’s been having some conflict with Korean Players.”

“What I want to ask is, how did you link those Players to me? There should have been no indication whatsoever of us being connected. Did you see it with Precognitive Dream?”

Hyukjin smiled again. “There aren’t many Korean Players who have been dispatched overseas, especially ones who have been sent with the specific goal of securing mana crystals.”

Everyone was busy Playing in their own servers (countries). They were still beginner period Players. Normally, there was no need or reason to branch out into other servers.

“So it’s certainly strange that there are Korean Players out in the distant Maldives farming mana crystals.”

“...”

“But I’m told those Players are quite skilled. Skilled enough to give Michelle trouble.”

Of course, it wasn’t the Michelle Division’s elites out there—those guys were thriving within the US borders.

“Michelle’s crew in the Maldives is still her secondary squad. The Korean Players going head to head with such a force to collect mana crystals instead of focusing on their own growth can only mean they’ve been instructed by someone, or there’s a reward bigger than their growth. One of the two.”

“That seems a little inadequate to link them to me.”

“There are a limited number of people in Korea who are in great need of mana crystals,” Hyukjin explained.

The world didn’t know how to use mana crystals properly yet. But because Sungshin was Sungshin, they were pioneering the research to use mana crystals in pharmaceuticals, a move that was, in part, informed by the tip Hyukjin gave last time.

“Of them, there is one corporation that is already getting a steady supply of mana crystals from Boracay.”

And that was Sungshin.

“They say people in the industry know each other. You would think that Players from Sungshin would recognize a famous face, but they didn’t know who Michelle was at all. They’re Players who either suddenly acquired power or were raised in secret.” Hyukjin stared at CEO Song. “The only person who can satisfy all of these conditions is you, CEO Song.”

“Hahaha.” CEO Song neither denied nor confirmed. Instead, he asked, “It’s news to me that you’re involved in a mercenary company, but what does that have to do with me?”

“I am in partnership with Michelle.”

“With Michelle?” CEO Song laughed dryly with a stupefied expression. “And that’s why you’ve come to me? To tell me to withdraw my people in the Maldives?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Song Kiyoung scoffed lightly.

“It’s true that I value you and am paying attention to your infinite growth potential, but are you unaware that I’m still far stronger than you?”

That was no empty boast. Song Kiyoung was someone standing behind the entire country. No matter how strong Hyukjin might be, he could not oppose all of South Korea. The institution that was the ‘country’ was a massive system, one that an individual could not win against.

“I am aware.”

“But what you’re doing right now seems a bit like a threat to me.”

“There’s no way I would do that.” Kim Hyukjin took out a few mana crystals from his Inventory. “These are yellow mana crystals. They’re far higher in grade than white ones.”

Song Kiyoung picked up one of the crystals. His heart fluttered, and a rush of long-forgotten exhilaration coursed through him.

‘He’s running me through a rollercoaster.’

It wasn’t unpleasant. Rather, he felt as though he had met a worthy opponent, a feeling he hadn’t enjoyed ever since he became the absolute powerhouse of Korea.

‘And the reason he’s doing that… must be for the Guardians.’

The Guardians enjoyed stories with twists and turns.

“So you want to make a deal with me. Using these yellow mana crystals as a pretext.”

“Yes. I will put up thirty of these yellow mana crystals.”

“In exchange for my withdrawal from the Maldives?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a bit of a losing deal for me.”

“I’ve confirmed one of the effects of these mana crystals.”

“What is the effect?”

“They’re exceptionally good at eliminating drunkenness. With just one, you can produce an incredible amount of hangover cure.”

That was a secret found by Sungshin not long after the discovery of yellow crystals. Hyukjin was using info they would obtain anyway as a trade condition.

“Last time, you came to me with a hair loss cure, and this time, it’s a hangover cure?”

“Is this sufficient?”

“It is.”

CEO Song Kiyoung nodded. But there was something he was curious about.

“Why are you making such a trade?”

“Because I’m in partnership with Michelle. Michelle’s company needs to grow in order for me to reap the profits as well.”

“I don’t think that’s the whole of it.”

Hyukjin took a sip of the green tea on the table in front of him. CEO Song was definitely sharp-eyed. A little carelessness, and all his secrets would be laid bare. Truly, life experience and years of business were not to be underestimated.

CEO Song continued. “In truth, even if you didn’t take action yourself, Michelle could just deploy her primary squad and that would be that.”

“Michelle is very busy with work in California, so she’s unavailable.”

“And what about you?”

“I am also very busy.”

That was true. He had to clear the Gardens by the Beach Dungeon in Singapore, as well as the Sangam World Cup Stadium Dungeon that would soon make its debut. He also had to uncover the world’s secrets. In addition, he simply wanted to grow. He wanted to become stronger. There was truly a lot to do. There was much to do, but the most important of them all was still to live a happy life with the people he loved.

“I want to maintain a good relationship with Michelle. Let’s just leave it at that.”

That wasn’t a lie, of course, but at least in this moment, it wasn’t the whole truth.

‘Actually… it’s that my older sister wants to learn a bit from Michelle’s younger brother.’

Michael. He was a famous chef in the US.

‘A prominent figure who will mark the turning of an epoch in the culinary world as a cooking-class Player.’

Hyukjin using mana crystals and knowledge from the future to make a deal with Song Kiyoung was partly related to Playing, but it was also an investment he was making for his sister. He remembered his conversation with Ahyoung.

“Guess so. It’s not like I have any particular work experience or anything. Just some shabby kitchen assistant work.”

“What’s that chef’s name?”

“Michael.”

“Ah. Michael?”

Back then, he resolved to get his sister the chance to at least meet Michael once. He couldn’t force Michael to teach Ahyoung, but he could at least arrange a meeting between them.

‘I want to give my sister a chance.’

That was the real motivation for this trade, but that possibility didn’t even occur to CEO Song. His conjecture went in a completely different direction, more towards the business side.

“Can I take this to mean that Michelle is that important of a person to you?”

“Yes.”

CEO Song took a sip of green tea.

‘Looks like I’ll need to consider the variable called Michelle a little more carefully when planning in the future.’

Even the great and mighty Song Kiyoung was unable to read Kim Hyukjin’s heart.

* * *

* * *

Michelle was an extremely famous Player in the US. On top of her already enormous wealth, she solidified her position at the top as a sovereign and was considered a next-gen leader of the country.

She went to see her little brother at a certain restaurant.

“Michael. I have a favor to ask.”

“You have a favor? To ask of me?”

Michael stared at Michelle in amazement. His haughty sister never stooped to ask for favors. She was a mighty sovereign who staunchly insisted on doing everything on her own. That was how Michael saw his older sister.

“Go on a quick trip to Korea.”

“To Korea? Why? I don’t wanna. I’m busy.”

“Michael. Have I ever asked you for a favor before?”

“No, never.”

Not once in his entire life. His amazing sister asking him for a favor was really a first, a phenomenon he’d never once considered happening.

“Exactly. Indulge me in this favor, just once.”

“Mm.”

Michael thought for a moment. What kind of grave matter might cause his sister to personally make such a request?

“Alright, I’ll hear you out. What in the world would make you ask me for a favor?”

“You just have to meet a person in Korea.”

“A person?”

“Yeah.”

“Who is it?”

“Someone who wants to learn cooking from you.”

“Hah?”

Here he was, wondering what got Michelle asking so earnestly for a favor—was it some urgent matter concerning the country’s fate?—and it turned out to be a trivial interview.

“It’s not even that important. Why are you going so far?”

“Would I ask you for a favor if it wasn’t important?”

“...” Michael lapsed into thought, then gave his response. “Alright. I’ll do it. Since it’s the first time you’ve been so insistent.”

“Thanks. I’ll give you the address.”

“But if they want to learn cooking from me, shouldn’t they come to me instead of me coming to them?”

“They’re a VIP.”

“But a VIP to you isn’t a VIP to me.”

Michelle stared at Michael in silence. Honestly speaking, she had no defense to that—she didn’t want to say anything about Kim Hyukjin.

“Eh, whatever. Anyone you’d call a VIP must be someone huge. To you, even the President of the United States is an ordinary chump. Alright, I’ll go.”

“Thanks.”

“That’s the first thanks I’ve heard from you.”

“Because you’ve never done anything for me that would warrant a thanks.”

Scowling a little, Michael got up. “Even if I want to, what’s there to do for someone who already has it all?”

That was how Michelle was, in Michael’s eyes. A person who didn’t even give him the chance to do something that would warrant thanks. A person far ahead of him, despite their shared blood.

Michael turned around and left, a small smile on his lips.

* * *

On the other side of the world, Kim Hyukjin returned home in an inexplicably good mood.

‘By now, Noona should have gotten word.’

Michael would be coming to Korea. To their house, in fact. After meeting Ahyoung, he might take her on as a disciple. She had a chance, at least. He could already envision how happy she would be.

Hyukjin reached up to his shoulder and scratched Darongi’s head.

[𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮]

Darongi was on his back, flailing his stubby limbs in pleasure. Today was indeed a happy day.

‘This is what you live for,’ Hyukjin thought as flopped onto his bed, intending on taking a quick rest. But something stopped him. Something was weird.

‘Huh?’

The Yellow Charm that was always under his desk wasn’t there. Instead, there was a ‘Red Charm’.

Hyukjin jumped to his feet.