Chapter 22

<Chapter 22: The God of Martial Arts Regressed to Level 2>

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Manager Zero.

Her gift was none other than 'Cultivation.'

'Supporting Gift, Cultivation.'

Supporting Gift.

This ability, which helps players outside the game, was initially overlooked during the tutorial phase because it wasn't very useful.

However, after the tutorial ended.

As the world fell into chaos and the ranks of gifts began to grow, supporting gifts started to receive more attention.

'Among them, Cultivation was considered the top-tier ability.'

Gift 'Cultivation.'

Players with this gift can accelerate the growth rate of other players.

During the tutorial phase, this ability only gave a 10% experience boost to a few players, so it didn't receive much attention.

The experience boost during the tutorial was the same as the Growth Blessing effect that guilds could purchase by paying GP, and since it didn't stack, there was no need to favor those with this gift.

'But after the tutorial phase, things changed.'

After the tutorial, guilds could no longer buy experience boosts with GP, and the scope of the 'Cultivation' gift expanded significantly.

It was later revealed that this ability, which initially only affected experience, now applied to all areas, including stat growth rate and gift rank-ups.

Additionally, it was known that the higher the position in a guild, the wider the range of players the user could affect with 'Cultivation.' As a result, this once-overlooked gift began to receive more attention.

After that, if a manager of a famous guild had the gift of 'Cultivation,' it was a must-have.

'Among them, the one with the highest rank was Manager Zero.'

Manager Zero.

She was a unique figure within the American First guild.

She wore an iron mask that covered her entire face except for her mouth, which was covered in burn scars.

'Even though the Holy Maiden offered to heal her, she refused, saying it was the price of a deal with the devil.'

At first, it was impossible to connect Lee Hyeon and Zero.

But except for her face, her voice, body shape, and actions were very similar to Zero's.

Her unique gestures and gambling addiction were also similar.

'The reason she was called Zero...'

Manager Zero.

She was an alcoholic and a gambling addict.

And like the typical ending for a gambling addict, her wealth was always 'zero.'

- Ji-han, Ji-han! I know you well. You're a gambler, Mr. Seong!

- Tell me, what should I bet on these days?

At a party in the American First guild.

Manager Zero approached Seong Ji-han, who was an outsider, and said she was Korean.

She pestered Seong Ji-han to predict the outcomes of bets.

But when he actually made predictions, she had a clear bias.

- Ji-han, what about this guy? Diego Machado. His SSS-rank gift is called 'God of Football.' Football, my ass... This guy is going to lose, right? If I bet against him, I can make money, right?

- I've told you many times, no. Do you think SSS-rank gifts are given to just anyone?

- No, no! Diego Machado will lose! He will lose!

- I clearly said Machado will win.

- Shit, I know your win rate. It's 62%. This time, it will be 38%, and you will lose!

Whenever Zero said such things, Seong Ji-han always won.

- Shit... That guy only knows how to play football. Why is he hitting a cannonball?

- Do you think SSS-rank gifts just appear?

- No, no. I will win next time!

- Just don't gamble.

- Huh, when the world is full of possibilities, it's hard to ignore them...

- Zero, you only have the possibility of losing.

- Shut up.

No matter how much she was advised, she ignored it, drank vodka, and acted recklessly.

However, even when drunk, she never took off her mask and only lamented.

- You, why are you so strong now?

- If you were this strong in Korea, my friend wouldn't have died.

- You bastard...

- No, I don't have the right to say such things. I'm a bad woman... Shit...

Seong Ji-han, who was also a serious alcoholic and gambling addict.

If it were a regular company, she could have been fired at any time.

But the reason she became the leader of the second division of the American First guild was due to her unparalleled cultivation ability.

'It was on a different level.'

The experience boost she provided started at a minimum of 100%.

The talent she cultivated in the second division of the guild was countless.

'I must recruit Zero.'

The woman in front of him.

Although she looked completely different from the scarred, masked Zero, Seong Ji-han had a feeling she was Zero.

If he could confirm her gift, he would be certain.

'But in my current situation, it's impossible to recruit her.'

Lee Hyeon, a member of a wealthy family and the deputy of the most successful guild in Korea.

Compared to her, Seong Ji-han was just a promising but still bronze player, so he had no way to recruit Lee Hyean to his side.

'I should focus on the fact that I've found a potential Zero.'

While Seong Ji-han was organizing his thoughts.

Im Ga-young, who was standing in front of Lee Hyeon, demanded an answer from him.

"Please answer, Seong Ji-han. How do you not know what the lady always says?"

Seong Ji-han casually replied to Im Ga-young, who was looking at him with a fierce expression.

"Back when I ran the Seong channel, I saw this phrase in the chat. I thought you might be a subscriber, so I mentioned it."

"Did the lady write that phrase in the chat room?"

"Um, I guess? Let's change the subject, Ga-young?"

He was just trying to bluff, but it seems she really did write it.

Seong Ji-han grabbed Im Ga-young's shoulder, smiled at Lee Hyean, who was stepping forward again.

As Seong Ji-han's relaxed demeanor became apparent, Lee Hyean's eyebrows twitched slightly, but she soon smiled and spoke.

"Remembering the chat of a subscriber, you are quite meticulous, Mr. Seong Ji-han."

"Not at all."

"Anyway... The reason I came here is that I want to recruit Mr. Seong Ji-han to the Lee guild."

"To the Lee guild?"

"Yes, Mr. Seong Ji-han. First..."

Just as Lee Hyean was about to make a formal recruitment offer.

Seong Ji-han cut her off.

"I'm sorry, but the weather isn't good today. My nephew isn't feeling well, so I need to go."

"Ah, I see."

Seong Ji-han's outright rejection without even listening to her proposal surprised Lee Hyean, who showed a moment of confusion but quickly composed herself.

"Of course. If your nephew isn't feeling well, there's nothing we can do. Then..."

She looked up at Seong Ji-han with sparkling eyes.

"Could you give me your phone number?"

"My phone number?"

"Yes."

At the mention of the phone number, Im Ga-young's expression stiffened slightly.

Was she remembering the time she asked for Seong Ji-han's number and was brutally rejected?

'...Come to think of it, she still hasn't found out my number.'

With all the recent events, he hadn't even thought about finding out his own number.

He didn't even need a phone.

Seong Ji-han glanced at Im Ga-young and gave the same answer as before.

"Sorry, but I can't remember my phone number."

"Really?"

Seong Ji-han's response made Lee Hyean's smiling face freeze.

"Eh?"

Yoon Se-a, who was standing next to him, also had a bewildered expression.

Why doesn't he know his phone number?

"Se-a, what's my number?"

"..."

Seong Ji-han, calmly asking for his own phone number.

He really didn't know, but...

'No, my uncle, who suddenly became smart recently, can't possibly not know his own number.'

Yoon Se-a thought it was unlikely and tried to figure out his intentions.

There must be some reason behind this.

'Does he hate the idea of joining the guild so much? Or is he playing hard to get?'

Both seemed possible.

'He did stare at that person blankly earlier.'

She cautiously guessed it was the latter.

If so, she should help him achieve his goal.

"I don't know my uncle's phone number either."

"Really?"

"Yes, of course it's saved on my phone. But I left my phone at home... so it's not here."

Yoon Se-a put her hand in her pocket and showed her empty hand.

In fact, her phone was in that pocket, but no one noticed.

"Hmm, I left mine upstairs too. Then, can I have your business card?"

"Ah, yes."

Forgetting his phone number and conveniently leaving his phone upstairs?

Both uncle and nephew?

Is such a coincidence possible?

'...'

Lee Hyean, trying to maintain a calm smile, pulled out a business card from her pocket.

"Here it is."

As she handed the card to Seong Ji-han, he looked at Yoon Se-a.

"Thank you. I'll contact you later. Se-a, let's go?"

"Okay, uncle."

Yoon Se-a lightly greeted Lee Hyean's group and got into the elevator with Seong Ji-han.

Lee Hyean, standing there with a formal smile, watched them.

Ding.

As the elevator doors closed, she sighed in disbelief.

"...Ha, not knowing your own phone number?"

To be rejected with such a ridiculous excuse.

Me, Lee Hyean?

When Seong Ji-han was openly staring at her, she thought the recruitment would go smoothly.

She didn't expect it to turn out like this.

"Phew."

"What?"

"Nothing, lady."

"If you have something to say, say it, Ga-young."

"Nothing."

Lee Hyean turned around.

Im Ga-young stood with a blank face, but her lips were twitching.

"You have something to say, don't you?"

"Just thinking about how you used to mock me. Phew."

"Ugh..."

Lee Hyean gritted her teeth.

Being rejected for such a ridiculous reason and being mocked by Im Ga-young.

'I'll show you, Seong Ji-han...'

I'll definitely recruit you and make you call me 'Deputy' and even 'Lady.'

Looking at the penthouse elevator, Lee Hyean's eyes sparkled.

* * *

In the elevator.

"Uncle, but playing hard to get like that. It's... not good."

Yoon Se-a was giving her uncle advice as a woman.

"What are you talking about? Playing hard to get?"

"You're the first man to reject me! Are you trying to play hard to get? Tsk, that's too old. It's something from old dramas. Nowadays, people like direct pitches."

"...How did you understand my words?"

Seong Ji-han looked at Yoon Se-a with disbelief.

It seemed she had a major misunderstanding.

"Ahem, this niece has a hundred levels of perception and perfectly understood