Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

Derick’s suspicious gaze.

“Come on, Derick, let’s think logically.”

Haruto raised his hands in exasperation.

“What connection could there possibly be between the information leak about Out Maker and Kim Shimun being friendly with that dwarf?”

However, contrary to Haruto’s intention. Was this the catalyst?

Instead of a sensible reaction.

Kuaaang!

A fist imbued with a silver aura came flying at him.

“Are you serious?”

Just as Haruto was about to split the space to block it.

Swish.

Instead of the front, the space beside him split open.

“Calm down, Derick.”

A man with a deep voice interrupted the silver-shimmering punch. The Guild Master of American Dream. Despite recent issues. They hadn’t diminished his prowess as one of the top players in America.

Thud.

The silver-infused punch was effortlessly intercepted, which was even more astonishing.

“I understand how you feel, but I advise you to have a bit more patience.”

The hand that blocked the punch was bare, without any energy imbued in it. Was this fact particularly unsettling for Derick?

“You interim boss. That annoying ability of yours remains unchanged.”

Derick raised his thick eyebrows but did no more. Unlike Haruto, who was seen differently.

“You better have an acceptable reason.”

Derick released his aura and withdrew his fist. The middle-aged man, with a beard as neatly trimmed as Derick’s, who was called the interim boss.

“Mid-Boss! When did you arrive? I didn’t even notice.”

“I came as soon as I saw the news.”

Despite having been nearly decapitated moments ago. He casually gestured to Haruto, who understood it meant to step aside. Knowing this, Haruto remarked.

“As expected of the Mid-Boss~. You sure move swiftly when it comes to business.”

He shrugged and moved behind the Arab man. Once Haruto settled, the Mid-Boss spoke.

“The failure of this operation is, without any excuse…”

He then looked at the irritated Derick.

“It’s entirely our fault. The boss acknowledged that as well.”

“You’re stating the obvious.”

Derick responded irritably.

“Do you know how many dollars were spent on this commission? And the items?”

“I’ll say it again; this is clearly our fault, and I won’t make any excuses. As always, the commission will be fully refunded.”

“Hah!”

Derick scoffed, even at the promise of a full refund. It was no wonder.

“Acting boss, don’t you think I’m fuming just because of the commission?”

He had brought up the commission in his irritation, but his intention wasn’t to seek compensation for the mission’s failure.

“So, what now? Huh?”

Derick pointed to the screen on one of the walls. More precisely, at the news contained within it.

“No matter how much the commission was, I told you to destroy that Out Maker!!”

He exploded in anger. Yet, the Arab man known as the Acting boss said nothing. Perhaps this made Derick even angrier.

“Weren’t you the ones who assured me this wouldn’t be a problem? So, I agreed to all your conditions without a second thought! And now? Refund?”

Derick poured out his anger. He then pointed at the photo occupying the largest part of the screen.

“The information you provided me about the dwarves was correct, acting boss.”

He struck the part showing Kim Shimun and the dwarves with his fist.

Crack.

The impact caused the wall displaying the screen to split.

“Now the European Union will source high-quality equipment, which means…”

“That the EU, which relied heavily on the US for these high-quality supplies, will gradually break free from America’s influence~.”

And the resulting decrease in revenue from exports would be a bonus~

Haruto sang these words.

Grit.

The grinding of Derick’s teeth was audible. The Acting boss, who had been listening like a statue, finally turned to Haruto.

“Oops~ Sorry! I said it without thinking, haha!”

Haruto covered his mouth playfully as he usually did. But, putting Haruto’s obnoxious manner aside. The point he wanted to convey was already clear.

“The same fact that idiot knows. Surely, the so-called Acting boss must also be aware of it?”

“Hey, who are you calling an idiot? That’s too much~.”

Ignoring Haruto’s cheeky remarks. Derick continued to glare at the Acting boss. Acknowledging the reality of the situation.

“Of course, Derick.”

The Acting boss slowly nodded.

“In this matter, no form of compensation will suffice.”

Indeed, unless they preemptively triggered it like the previous four Platinum-tier outbreaks. There was no way to prevent the two forces from interacting. The only way to stop an Out Maker was to forcibly open it.

Therefore, as Haruto mentioned. America was bound to suffer significant losses in equipment trade against the European Union moving forward.

However.

“But Derick. There’s one aspect you’re overlooking.”

There was a critical flaw here.

“What is it?”

“Out Maker, in terms of risk, is not fundamentally different from Outbreaks.”

Did Derick grasp onto something with those words?

“That means…”

Derick trailed off.

The Acting boss nodded slowly.

“Yes. Like Outbreaks, out Maker will eventually close on its own.”

“It will close again… and it appears it would close faster than an Outbreak?”

“That’s right. We don’t know how many days it will take, but I don’t think the European Union will be able to complete many deals in the meantime.”

“Hence, your losses will be temporary~.”

Haruto added slyly again. Seeing some sense in this argument.

“Hmm.”

Derick nodded faintly. However, it was only momentary.

“I like the part about it closing soon, but I can’t agree that the volume of trade will be low.”

Derick gestured towards the cracked screen. Specifically pointing to Shimun who was talking with the dwarves. Following his gesture, the Acting boss observed the news.

“Derick. You must have relied heavily on Colin and Olivia until now.”

For the first time, he let out a low chuckle. Which seemed to irk Derick.

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

He growled immediately. However.

“Even if not as much as Zhang Liqiu, you must have faced Kim Shimun quite a bit. Do you still not understand him?”

The Acting boss continued speaking with a faint smile.

“Seeing Kim Shimun’s past actions, he won’t show any movement in this deal.”

“You seem to rely heavily on your subordinates too, acting boss.”

Derick sneered back.

“Of course the European Union will do whatever they can to secure a deal with the dwarves, involving Kim Shimun in the process, wouldn’t they?”

“Even if that’s the case, there won’t be a substantial release of dwarf-made equipment.”

The Acting boss rested his chin on his hand.

“Think about it, Derick.”

He gestured towards Kim Shimun on the cracked screen.

“Kim Shimun has been checking you and Zhang Liqiu. But what if you look at it from a broader perspective?”

“… United States and China. Essentially, he has been keeping both countries in check.”

“Exactly.”

The Acting boss lightly stroked his well-groomed beard.

“He has been keeping other countries in check, except for South Korea. And those countries are all Awakener powerhouses.”

“If that’s the case…”

“Yes. Excluding the US and China, the European Union is essentially the next big player.”

It wasn’t wrong. Aside from the US and China. The European Union and the Middle East are the contenders for the number two spot as Awakener powerhouses on Earth. Given these circumstances.

“So, you’re saying he won’t make any moves to increase the European Union power?”

“That’s right. Naturally, he won’t actively pursue deals with the dwarves. Wouldn’t that be favorable for you?”

“Indeed… As long as the dwarf-made equipment isn’t widely circulated, it’s good for me.”

Derick nodded. The whole reason he had commissioned Desperado was for this very reason. From the perspective of the US, which had numerous high-rank producers.

Preventing the spread of dwarf-made equipment was crucial. Additionally.

“So, what we need to do now is close the Out Maker as quickly as possible.”

Perhaps intrigued by the Acting boss’s continued words.

“Close it faster? Is that possible?”

Derick’s thick eyebrows arched slightly.

“Of course. And…”

The Acting boss made a light gesture with his hand.

“There aren’t many places on Earth where we can’t intervene.”

Then.

Swish.

A holographic globe appeared in front of him. With another flick of his fingers. Red dots appeared on various parts of the globe.

Among them.

“As you can see, Germany is one of them.”

He tapped on the location representing Germany.

“Hmph. You, who failed to forcibly open the Out Maker, now claim you can close it?”

Derick’s clear mockery followed. Yet, it seemed to unfaze the Acting boss.

“This time, I’ll be personally involved and mobilize all our major resources in Germany. Failure is not an option. Therefore…”

The Acting boss continued nonchalantly.

“I hope this provides some solace for the mission failure.”

“Hah, you think this can make up for it?”

“Of course not. Now, let’s properly discuss the compensation.”

For a while. The voices of the two men continued without pause.

*

In an empty black-purple space.

Yet there.

Step.

Footsteps echoed clearly, as though on a hard surface.

Soon.

“Haruto.”

The Arab man, having halted his steps. The Acting boss glanced back slightly.

And.

“Why?”

A soft inquiry followed. Though lacking any clear subject or object.

“Come on, mid-boss. You can guess, can’t you?”

Haruto responded immediately.

“Milia and Millard let their pride get in the way, you know.”

“Haruto. I personally contacted you, didn’t I?”

“And yet, their pride insisted they could handle it. You know that. Why ask?”

Haruto shrugged, dragging out his words.

“Surely! You’re not blaming me for this, right?”

“Even if they were prideful, it doesn’t absolve you of responsibility, Haruto.”

“Oh, come on, mid-boss. Think of my plight for once.”

Haruto twisted his body like a whining child. Though his gestures were exaggeratedly deceitful.

“Always being overlooked because I’m not combat personnel, having to look after all these psychos. You understand, right?”

His argument was somewhat convincing.

“… I won’t report this to the Boss.”

Instead of further scolding.

“But be cautious. American Dream is our biggest supporter. So is Continental.”

Leaving a soft warning.

Step.

The Acting boss resumed his stride.

“Yes, sir! I’ll keep that in mind!”

Saluting with a hand to his forehead, Haruto watched. How much time passed?

Once the Acting boss’s presence faded.

“Sigh… What a situation. I’m the only spatial ability user left in the organization now?”

He murmured with a peculiar smile.

“So, Eternal Fetus? I’m the only talent worth sponsoring now. How about a little push?”

He shouted towards the pitch-black purple sky.

“Thanks to that Edge Beast, I’ve even dabbled in time manipulation!”

To anyone else, it would have seemed like the act of a madman. But surprisingly.

Sssss…

Responding to Haruto’s shout. The flickering black-purple void descended around Haruto.

“Uh-huh! Uh-hahaha!! Finally! At last!!”

Covering his face with his hands, Haruto burst into maniacal laughter.

“Being the only spatial ability user in the worst villain organization…”

Through his fingers, his eyes gleamed.

“Should I create a masterpiece~?”

His eyes shone with a sinister black-purple hue.

*

At the entrance of the Diamond-tier Outbreak.

Or rather.

The entrance of the Out Maker.

“Just one statement! Just one word, please!”

“You don’t have to be a representative! Any player who has seen a dwarf, please!”

“Please! Just one picture! That’s not too much to ask, is it?”

Journalists from all over the world, equipped with cameras and various broadcasting equipment, surged forward.

Naturally.

“Hey! Don’t cross the line!”

“We will have to take firm action beyond this point!”

“Everyone, back off!”

Players affiliated with the European Union were physically blocking the reporters.

Not long ago.

They had risked their lives fighting monsters pouring out of the Outbreak.

Now, they had to fend off a flood of reporters.

“Sigh… These reporters.”

“When will the negotiations end?”

“Hey, has anyone heard anything from higher-ups?”

Due to the Awakener laws, they couldn’t use force against civilians, and could only grumble in frustration.

Meanwhile.

“Wow! So this is what TV is? How fascinating!”

Beyond the crowd. The base camp at the entrance of the Out Maker was in a completely different situation.

“How do they make something like this without any magic… Benefactor! Can I disassemble this?”

A twin-tailed girl, examining various devices inside the tent. With a small hammer and various other tools in hand, she wandered around the tent, eyes sparkling.

From above her head.

“Stay put! You little rascal!”

Thwack.

A large hand struck her. Apparently, it caused considerable pain.

“Ouch! My head! My head!!”

The twin-tailed dwarf girl. Marnel clutched her head and rolled on the ground.

“Tsk.”

Makur, the current representative of the Out Maker and chief of the Steel Anvil tribe, glanced disapprovingly at his niece. He quickly turned around.

“This is quite embarrassing because of that unruly child… I am ashamed to face the benefactor.”

Joining his hands together in a respectful gesture, he bowed deeply towards a man.

In response.

“No, it’s alright. We are from different dimensions after all. It’s natural to be curious.”

The man who received Chief Makur’s apology, Shimun, shook his head with a gentle smile.

Feeling relieved by this.

“Haha! The benefactor’s magnanimity is truly as vast as the sky! When I see that unruly child, all I feel is wrath.”

Makur laughed heartily.

“By the way! The trade requested by your fellow countryman will be fulfilled without fail. So, don’t worry about it at all.”

Despite his age.

“We have attempted the Out Maker countless times solely to repay the benefactor.”

He patted his rock-solid chest.

“As long as we can repay the benefactor! We would abandon our usual policy of ‘reasonable transactions’ and provide all equipment for free!”

Shouting as heartily as his appearance suggested.

“Is there anything else you might need? Like a defense system? We’ll equip everything to the highest standard.”

Had Fabian Wolf or any European individual been around, they might have been shocked by his words. Fortunately, under the guise of ‘personal friendly exchanges with the dwarves’.

“Chief Makur, I actually have something to discuss regarding that.”

Grateful that they were having a private conversation.

“While I deeply appreciate the sentiment, such provisions may not necessarily help me.”

Shimun began to speak calmly.