Chapter 1

Prologue

On the long-distance fishing vessel, I was merely a deckhand. However, in reality, I was a more skilled sailor than anyone else.

Having worked as a navigator on commercial ships, rising to the rank of first officer, and then transferring to a land-based position at a shipping company where I served for a long time, I was already a seasoned veteran in the shipping industry.

"When I was young, I also wanted to become a shipping magnate."

I was reminded of old memories.

In my youth, my dream was to become a shipping magnate like Greece's Onassis.

< Ding >

+

<You have been selected as a regressed character to complete the Shipping Magnate Quest.>

You, who have lived a life filled with regrets, have been selected as a regressed character!

Special Benefits: Regression, Quest, Status Window, Level Up

Main Quest: "Become a Shipping Magnate"

Clear Condition: Obtain the title of Shipping Magnate

+

You are regressing to the past.

Long-Distance Fishing Vessel

"Hey! What do you plan to do with the money you've saved when we get off the ship this time?"

"Don't know. I've worked like a dog, so I'll drink a lot first."

"And then?"

"Then I'll play until I'm tired and think about it later, I guess."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. If you spend all the money you've earned, you'll end up stuck here even when you're old."

"Hey! Do you want to say something scary?"

"You should be more careful. If you don't, you'll end up like those guys over there."

"Sigh, yeah. We shouldn't end up like that when we get old."

On the deck of the long-distance fishing vessel Cheongjin.

Cheongjin was a large-scale long-distance fishing vessel.

Two young men were chatting and occasionally glancing sideways.

Jang Bogo, who was sorting the nets, paused his busy hands when he heard their conversation.

The young men lowered their voices and started whispering when they saw me stop.

"Hey, did that uncle hear us?"

"You should have lowered your voice, you clueless guy."

Jang Bogo didn't turn his head, but he easily figured out that they were talking about him.

The two young men introduced themselves as college students who had taken a break from school to gain social experience by working on a long-distance fishing vessel.

There wasn't much interaction between us due to the age difference.

However, I was aware that they often whispered about me, calling me a failed life.

Their disrespectful behavior wasn't new.

'While they're still young.'

The two young men seemed to believe they had a bright future ahead.

They came here to gain new experiences during their break and mentioned that some people even seek out hardship when they're young.

At their age, they might have the courage.

I, too, had a fearless time.

But does life always go as planned?

Their stories were typical of first-time long-distance fishing vessel crew members, but many eventually returned to the ship after a while.

The reasons were obvious.

They had squandered their savings on gambling or failed in business—common and predictable stories.

Jang Bogo stopped asking those who returned why they came back.

"Hey, Mr. Jang! Don't play with the kids; let's finish up quickly. When we dock today, let's have a drink at a bar! I'll treat you!"

The deck officer approached me, patted my shoulder, and tried to be friendly.

I raised my hand to push his hand away and replied.

"I have something to do today, so I can't. Let's meet another time for a drink."

I gave a short answer and tried to continue my work.

"Another time? When?"

"Whenever there's a chance."

"Come on, Mr. Jang, are you skipping again? I'll be really disappointed!"

The deck officer frowned, but I just chuckled.

The deck officer seemed to lose interest and moved on to someone else.

The deck officer was particularly curious about me.

I appeared occasionally to work on the long-distance fishing vessel but never revealed my true feelings to anyone.

To them, I was an enigmatic old man.

How did I end up on a long-distance fishing vessel at my age?

That was the kind of curiosity they had.

Many on the ship were curious about my story, but I never shared much.

Everyone has a story.

I was no exception, and the people gathered on this long-distance fishing vessel had even more compelling stories.

Those with stories tend to stay on the long-distance fishing vessel for a long time.

Despite the hard work, they didn't leave because the pay on the long-distance fishing vessel was not bad.

The working conditions on a long-distance fishing vessel were harsh, but the pay was better than most jobs on land.

Moreover, there was no way to spend money while on the ship, making it an excellent way to save money in a short period.

"Finally, this damn ship is over!"

The deck officer, standing at the bow, shouted loudly, looking ahead.

A familiar place came into view.

His voice was filled with energy.

After some time, the end of the long voyage was in sight.

Someone shouted.

"Look, the pilot boat is coming!"

The deck officer heard the shout and called out.

"Everyone, prepare to dock! We're going home!"

A small, black boat was approaching the Cheongjin from the port.

The side of the boat read "PILOT" in English.

It was a pilot boat, carrying a pilot to guide the ship safely into the port.

The pilot, who looked quite old, started climbing up the ladder to the ship.

He glanced at me, but I turned my head away.

The large long-distance fishing vessel Cheongjin finally returned to Busan Port after a six-month voyage.

At the end of the long voyage, the crew looked very tired, but the day of disembarking and stepping on land was always a joyful one.

* * *

"Sir, do you want a ride home?"

After disembarking and completing the procedures, I was walking alone to the parking lot.

A familiar voice called out from behind me.

The young college students who had whispered about me being a failed life were the ones who stopped me.

"I'm fine."

"My friend is coming to pick me up. It would be nice to save on transportation costs."

"I also have someone coming to pick me up, so I'm fine."

"Really? Someone is coming to pick you up?"

When I answered, the young men looked puzzled.

They found it hard to believe that someone would come to pick up someone in such a pitiful state.

At that moment,

Screech!

A high-end luxury sedan pulled up in front of me and stopped quickly.

The young men's eyes widened as they looked at the luxury sedan.

"Hey, isn't that car a Bentley or something? It's super expensive!"

One of the college students shouted in surprise.

The door opened, and a man in a black suit hurriedly got out of the driver's seat.

He glanced at me and bowed deeply.

"Mr. Chairman! Are you here? Is everything okay?"

The well-dressed man smiled and spoke to me.

"Of course. Can't you tell from my intact limbs?"

"Haha, that's a relief. I was really worried."

"Without me, you must have had it easy, right?"

"No, we were waiting for you to return quickly."

"Enough talk. Let's go home quickly."

I got into the car through the rear door opened by the driver.

The young men stared at me with wide eyes.

A deckhand on a long-distance fishing vessel, and just a regular crew member, suddenly a chairman?

"Mr. Chairman, a yacht is also prepared nearby. Would you like to go by yacht this time?"

"No need. I've been on a ship for so long; I don't want to be on another one."

"Haha, a yacht might be a bit much."

A yacht?

I didn't turn my head, but I could tell the two young men were gaping at me.

The intense gaze on me was still felt.

"What about those guys?"

The driver nodded toward the college students.

Since I often gave envelopes with money to the young men who sailed with me after completing a voyage, the driver was asking if he should give them money this time.

I shook my head.

"They said they'll manage on their own."

"Understood."

'They must have been disrespectful.'

The driver glanced at the two young men and walked to the driver's seat.

The two young men watched me disappear with slightly open mouths.

The luxury sedan sped across the Busan Port Bridge.

I looked out the window, lost in thought.

The trembling eyes of the young men, who couldn't close their mouths, came to mind.

They were clearly shocked to find out that I, a deckhand on a long-distance fishing vessel, was not a failed life as they had assumed.

'Well, I guess no one else would do something this crazy.'

In the region, I was known as a fairly successful businessman. It was absurd that I had been sailing on long-distance fishing vessels every two years for the past decade.

Working on a long-distance fishing vessel and enduring the hard labor was a form of penance to atone for the past relationships I had failed to keep.

One day, I realized that this was the only way I could atone to those I had let down in the past.

Or perhaps, it was a form of escape to find peace of mind.

The wages I earned on the long-distance fishing vessel were not insignificant, but to me, a self-made man, they were like a speck of dust on a mountain.

The interesting thing was that the life at sea suited me well.

I had earned enough money and had a nice house, yet I found peace of mind in this hard work.

On the long-distance fishing vessel, I was just a deckhand, but in reality, I was a more skilled sailor than anyone else.

Having worked as a navigator up to the rank of first officer and having a long career in the shipping industry, I was a seasoned veteran in ship life.

"When I was young, I also wanted to become a shipping magnate."

I was reminded of old memories.

In my youth, my dream was to become a shipping magnate like Greece's Onassis.

* * *

The luxury sedan was speeding on the road, away from the port.

"Mr. Chairman, the traffic is a bit heavy. Should we take the bridge?"

"Sure, that's fine."

As the driver finished speaking, the car quickly sped up and headed toward the Busan Port Bridge.

Driving on the long bridge over the sea always felt refreshing.