The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player

Chapter 102: LC Group (2)

“[Player Place’s CEO unveiled as Osung Group’s successor…]”

“Did they throw money around? Why are there so many articles?”

Muttered Song Baekhyun, clicking through the comments on an article.

└Who else is using Player Place?

└Me! Selling items here is genuinely convenient! The app’s user-friendliness is top-notch.

└I sold all the unnecessary materials on Player Place too.

└Me too. Thought useless things wouldn’t sell, but someone bought them, lol.

└Was short on living expenses, but sold items on Player Place and made some money, lol.

└Lol, for real. Quit my part-time job and am surviving by selling miscellaneous items.

└Tend to buy good rare equipment as soon as it comes up.

└Buying equipment is really convenient.

└A site for players was needed, and Player Place fits the bill.

└Stock prices hit the ceiling every day, it’s a complete jackpot.

└More than in the heyday of Bitcoin. Need to earn money and put it in as soon as possible.

└This is right. Anyone who doesn’t invest in Player Place is an idiot.

└Maybe Chairman Song of LC Group won’t invest because of his pride?

└Player Place was made by Osung Group. It’s a big hit.

└Osung does it again.

“Like they know what they’re talking about. Phew.”

Song Baekhyun simply turned off the monitor.

Reading further might lead to dying of anger.

Ding-dong—

“Come in.”

Upon seeing the person entering the office, Song Baekhyun’s eyebrows shot up like arrows.

It was none other than his eldest son, Song Jaegyeom.

“Father. You called?”

“Jaegyeom. How old are you this year?”

“32 years old.”

“Your actual age.”

“30 years old… sir.”

“Hoo.”

(T/N: Under the “Korean age” system, babies are considered to be one year old on the day they are born, and every January 1, a year is added to people’s ages – regardless of their actual birthdate. )

As a sigh escaped the chairman’s mouth, Song Jaegyeom lowered his head like a sinner.

“You can only be a player if you’re 29, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Aren’t you feeling unjust? Just a one-year difference and you could be a player.”

“Well…”

“Why? Becoming a player would give you abilities, even if you’re incompetent. How great is that, to gain supernatural abilities even if you’re inept? Right?”

“…”

It might be great.

But Song Jaegyeom couldn’t smile.

Because he knew his father’s words were mocking his incompetence.

“Look at our rival, Osung Group. Despite expanding globally, we always lag behind as second. Why is that? Our technology isn’t significantly inferior, right? Right?”

“…”

“People remember only the first place. If it’s not the first, second, or third doesn’t matter. And that first place is often influenced by luck. The gap between second and first isn’t that significant. Do you understand what this means?”

“…”

“It means with effort, even second place can become first. Just with effort! But even though we make tremendous efforts, we can’t surpass them. The gap has widened so much that ordinary effort can’t narrow it. In that case, we need to strike a heavy blow, right?”

“…”

Despite the somewhat irritated tone, Song Jaegyeom listened quietly with one ear, letting the words pass without much impact.

By now, he was so accustomed to these kinds of lectures that it would be strange not to hear them.

“You know what article I read a little while ago?”

‘Probably something about Osung Group. You’ve been reading those topics all week.’

“Recently, Osung Group has been making waves with a groundbreaking app. Have you heard of Player Place?”

“Player… Place?”

With slightly widened eyes, Song Jaegyeom nodded, as if acknowledging his awareness.

“Heard of it?”

“I have.”

“Apparently, Osung Group created that app. And guess who’s behind it? Their second son, Ma Kyeong-rok.”

Ma Kyeong-rok is the representative of Player Place?

Song Jaegyeom’s expression hardened as if he had tasted something bitter.

“How many years apart are you and Ma Kyeong-rok?”

“Three years.”

“He’s younger than you, right?”

“…”

“But that young man still has the vision to run such a company. Especially seeing him explode with such a good idea. On the other hand, some, despite growing up in an environment where success is practically guaranteed, can’t even get a single line of news with their name on it.”

“…”

Despite the clear comparison, Song Jaegyeom remained silent.

He wasn’t bothered by it anymore.

“If you were at least a player, I wouldn’t have pressured you like this. What should you do then? Shouldn’t you try to expand your business like Ma Kyeong-rok? Not necessarily aiming for a big hit, maybe a moderate success, or even something small. Right? As the eldest son of LC Group.”

“I will show results.”

“Really? Well, do you have any ongoing projects?”

“I am preparing something quietly.”

“What is it?”

“It’s not time to reveal yet. Please wait a little longer, Father.”

“Didn’t you say something like this last time? Don’t make excuses to avoid criticism.”

“I really mean it, please watch and wait. I am preparing a significant thing.”

“Hoo, well, understood. You should have something by now. Go on.”

“Yes, please rest comfortably.”

Song Jaegyeom, bowing his waist, left the chairman’s office.

Thud—

Closing the door, he pondered deeply.

How did things come to this point?

‘It’s all because of that Ma Kyeong-rok guy.’

When someone is repeatedly compared to the point where it becomes like a label in one’s ears, it’s inevitable to harbor resentment.

Who wouldn’t want to become a player, claiming it’s themselves?josei

‘What can you do about bad luck.’

Some might consider it fortunate to be excluded by just a one-year difference.

After all, it was a life-or-death survival game.

But for Song Jaegyeom, whose reality was hell, it was nothing but misfortune.

‘I wish I had become a player at least…’

If that were the case, he could have competed with Ma Kyeong-rok on an equal footing.

‘Regretting now is pointless.’

Thud, thud—

With the sound of footsteps, Song Jaegyeom walked.

Click, creak—

Entering his private office, he leaned against the back of the chair.

“Hoo.”

Taking off his glasses for a moment, he massaged his temples.

Stress had been overwhelming lately.

‘Player Place was Ma Kyeong-rok’s?’

It was the first time he heard this information.

Suddenly, irritation surged within him.

Without even knowing, he had recommended it to cafe members to use.

Wasn’t this indirectly helping the rival he wanted to kill?

Frowning, he saw another article that caught his eye.

[National Assembly member Lee Seong-hyun. Massive Player Act passes!]

[Lee Seong-hyun says, “Players are like society’s cancer.”]

[With the increase in player crimes, voices supporting Lee Seong-hyun are growing…]

[When the law is enacted, players will be suppressed by force!]

[Player catching players? We decided to prioritize players among the police.]

[As early as next month, a large player police organization will be formed.]

‘As expected, that guy was a troublesome.’

Song Jaegyeom also harbors a disdain for players.

However, to expand influence and compete with Ma Kyung-rok, it’s unavoidable to side with the players.

‘That member of the National Assembly. We can’t leave him alone.’

Seeing that the meeting time had arrived, Song Jaegyeom logged into the chat room.

[The chairman has joined the chat room.]

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!