Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 242



Only Krnovel

The Regressor’s Notepad 242

Opportunity cost, sunk cost (1)

I met Jesco at the synthetic stone factory. He placed some papers on a simple table.

“This is the business expansion plan written by Crow.”

Business expansion.

From now on, Jesco will take one of the steps of division.

I skimmed through the documents.

“How is it? Can you do it? Do you understand what it’s about?”

“… … It seems that the new route will require five times more supply than what we have now.”

“5 times?”

Jesco’s eyebrows furrowed.

“5 times would be difficult, right?”

“No. It seems possible if the facilities are in place, but that would require not only quantitative but also qualitative expansion.”

I was searching for something on an auction site for laptops.

“… … If you look at this.”

I slowly turned the screen around.

“A new filter and melting furnace have been invented.”

“hmm.”

Jesco narrowed his eyes.

“Each one costs 5 million renminbi… …. If we install all the equipment with this, will that cover it?”

“yes.”

This is a machine invented by Jia’s company. It has excellent performance, but it is definitely expensive.

The investment cost is at least 100 million renminbi.

“It’ll cost around 100 million renminbi.”

Jesco was surprisingly quick-witted.

“I’ll be able to harvest the mulberries in 3~4 months.”

“I think so too.”

Now I feel like it’s not called Quantum Mechanic for nothing.

There is a reason why they have survived so tenaciously in this tough industry and established a distribution network in the Midwest.

“It’s worth doing.”

Jesco chuckled. Then he rummaged through his pockets and took out a smooth, spherical magic stone.

“Belkman. Do you know what this is?”

“… … It’s a top grade magic stone.”

I deliberately made an expression of admiration.

“That’s right. It’s the highest grade. It’s a work of Quantum Mechanics. You’re qualitatively consistent, but I tend to jump around a lot. That’s why even this top-of-the-line product came out.”

Jesco boasted with a satisfied look on his face.

Since he has this kind of pride, I have to give him a thumbs up. If I were superior in every way, he would be wary and jealous.

“It’s a wonderful piece of work.”

“Ha! That’s not really necessary. Anyway, you and I can fill in each other’s shortcomings.”

Jesco placed the highest-grade magic stone on the desk.

“But, Belkman. Isn’t that it? There aren’t many people who use high-grade or higher synthetic magic stones as magic stones themselves. Synthetic magic stones have different properties from natural magic stones.”

“Drugs… are you talking about?”

“That’s right. You’re very perceptive.”

Kwajjeok-! He smashed the magic stone with his palm. The magic stone that was as bright as a pearl turned into dust in an instant.

“If you crush it like this, it becomes a drug right away. It’s the best among synthetic magic stones, so there’s no need for any additional processing. Even if you inhale just a small amount, the high will kill you.”

A deep smile appeared on Jesco’s lips.

“The higher grade magic stone you make is not the best, of course. But if you mix it with chemicals, it can become drugs like crack and speedball. That’s why it sells so well.”

He gathered the powders and put them into a small plastic bag.

“Of course, engineers shouldn’t do drugs. You know that? Don’t even think about doing it yourself.”

“Yes, I don’t. But how are drugs usually distributed?”

It’s painful to talk about the harmful effects of drugs. Especially in the underworld, almost half of the population is drug addicted.

“Well, the lower class will consume the low-quality ones. The upper class will pretend not to know about the purest products. We don’t care about such things and all we care about is making money. Right?”

Jesco chuckled and shook the blue magic powder in a plastic bag.

“In the end, it’s this ‘powder’ that makes more money than the rocks. But up until now, we’ve only been acting as a supplier of raw materials. Even though the Nodaji was right in front of us, we just had to watch.”

He paused for a moment and pointed at me with his finger.

“But, if you’re here… … .”

“Can the drug itself be processed and sold?”

“As expected! You understand well. Is it because you are a desert person?”

He chuckled and buried himself in the sofa.

“So let’s work hard, as fellow citizens. If things go well, I’ll raise the percentage to 4%.”

“4%? Brother, isn’t that too much?”

“Good technicians deserve good treatment.”

Thump! A bankbook came out of Jesco’s pocket. He placed it on the desk and smiled proudly.

“Look. It contains all the money you’ve earned from your work so far. It’s been laundered warmly, so it won’t get caught no matter where or how you use it.”

I opened my bankbook. There were quite a lot of digits.

“… … This is amazing.”

“Wow, that’s only for two months. What are you going to do with it?”

“Um… … There are some uses for it.”

Anyway, I can’t use the money I earned with the identity of ‘Belkman’ as I please. It would just be creating a useless link between my identities.

So, I plan to return all the money I earn by deceiving the desert back to the desert.

“I won’t use it for anything.”

“It’s blind money. No one cares where you spend it.”

Jesco got up.

“I’ll send Crow to talk to him about the equipment… … Ah.”

Then he asked with his eyes narrowed sharply.

“What didn’t Face say?”

“… … Yes. These days, they are paying close attention to security.”

“Okay. Okay. Let’s go.”

Jesco left in a flash.

I could hear someone talking to the guards outside.

“… … .”

I took out a small diary from a drawer in my office.

This diary is a possible deciding factor.

Day by day, I will write only good things about Jesco and things that will evoke a sense of camaraderie and desert solidarity, and about his second-in-commands, I will write sentences full of worry and foreboding.

With ‘Belkman’ gone, only Jesko will be able to read this.

* * *

[Golden Ornament]

[Ancient Magic Pumpkin Jewel]

[Sun Branch]

[Green all year round… …]

Knock knock knock

Libra’s Sky Garden, the eldest daughter’s office.

Jahanna is scrolling through the auction catalog on her monitor, her chin on her hand, her face blank.

“… … Hmm.”

Thanks to my ownership of the Golden Casino, I have a ton of money, but I don’t really have anything to buy.

boring.

What’s more serious is that today is the best day I’ve had in a while.

Why?

Thanks to Jedrick being publicly humiliated at the hearing.

“I’m starting to get sick of it now.”

I was starting to get tired of replaying the hearing footage.

dripping-

Just then, there was a knock.

“Come in.”

The door opened at Jahanna’s words.

It was the balancer Beckman.

“Your Majesty, this is the intelligence you ordered me to provide last time.”

He handed the file to Jahanna. Jahanna unsealed it. A flood of photographs poured out.

Now retired mafia, Carl Ross.

His fiance, Eva

It was a picture of two people.

They left for Bergen, a neutral country.

“This is fucking shit, this is fucking shit… … .”

The people who live in the island nation with a population of about 2 million were filled with happiness in every photo they took. They were splitting it up as much as they wanted to split it up.

“If you give me the order, I can kill you right now.”

Beckman snapped. His tone was still laced with anger and murderous intent.

“Leave it alone.”

“But-”

“Leave it alone.”

Jahanna glared at him.

“It hasn’t been that long yet. How long do you think this gambling-crazy woman will love an old man?”

She threw the photos away.

At most one year.

Eva will leave Karl Los within a year. A person who is addicted to gambling, competition, and money can never be sincere in love. In the first place, it is an emotion that cannot be a goal.

It is just an illusion that a weak human being is trying to make up for his or her own imperfections.

“Prepare well for the auction.”

She is participating in this auction.

If you earn a lot, you should spend a lot.

“Yes, I understand.”

Jahanna waved her hand, but Beckman continued to stand.

The veins on Jahanna’s temples popped out.

“… … Are you rebelling?”

“Would you like to mobilize the chaser?”

At those words, Jahanna paused for a moment.

“Something like last time could happen again, so it seems best to be as prepared as possible.”

Chaser. Since the auction is a pretty serious matter, you can legally mobilize a few dozen chasers.

“… … Okay. Do you have a list?”

“yes.”

Also, Chasers are fundamentally a resource available to all direct lineage members. Regardless of faction or lord, once the call to action is given, they must be dispatched.

“Here it is.”

“… … .”

As soon as Jahanna received the list of chasers, she pretended not to know any of the names.

It was not far away.

A larval smile twitched at the corners of her mouth.

[Zion Ascal]

* * *

[BALANCE]

There are a lot of people.

It’s not just a lot. Beyond the human sea, it seems like a human whirlwind is swirling around a single building.

This is how I would describe the exterior of the cafe [Balance] founded by Jedrick.

“… …Wow. There are so many.”

“Yeah. I can’t come in today. It’s such a shame.”

Raye pouted her lips.

“Well, I expected it. I knew this would happen when you said it. It’s too bad.”

Elise snorted. It was more a tone of reprimand rather than regret.

“What? Ellie, you want to come too!”

“I heard the rumor, so it didn’t really matter if I didn’t come. I wasted my lunch hour because of it.”

Elise teased Raye with a smiling face. Next to her, Gerken stood like a stone statue looking at his wristwatch.

He’s just waiting around for lunch and stuff.

“… … Ellie, what’s wrong? Huh? Asher and Kane are there too. They’re in front of us. Should I switch seats with them?”

“Are you a gangster?”

Kane and Asher are seen not far away, each carrying a woman.

Looks like you’re having fun.

“Ah… … I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get in. Where did they all hear the rumors from?”

First of all, there are a lot of college students besides those two guys. It’s 15 minutes away from a national university.

For reference, these are the location conditions I recommended. As you can see, the group that spreads word of mouth the best is college students.

“Oh, that’s right. Zion! You said Libra was your future dream. Why don’t you try pushing in?”

Suddenly, Raye spoke. Elise and Gerken also looked at me with expectant eyes.

“… … Look.”

I walked towards the entrance, coughing. There were three or four guards standing there.

“I-”

“ah.”

They nodded before I could say anything.

It was as if he recognized my face.

“Are you Lord Ascal?”

“… … .”

He seems to be somewhat famous because he is a chaser.

It’s also a physique that’s easy to remember.

“Yes. This is Ascal. By the way, can we enter the cafe? There are four of us.”

“Of course. There is a separate gate for VIPs.”

“… … .”

I gestured to the three behind me. Gerken, Elise, and Raye. The guys came running towards me, bright-eyed and cheerful.

“Are you members of Lord Sion Ascal’s party? Please follow me.”

“Oh~ Zion, what is it~”

We entered through the VIP gate.

The interior of the cafe is slowly revealed.

“and…….”

Raye was the first to exclaim in admiration. Elise’s eyes also widened. Even the dry Gerken showed a different expression.

It was worth it.

“… … It is different.”

Jade’s artistic sense is definitely outstanding.

The combination of colors, the arrangement of furniture, and the artistic wallpapers that were created by calculating the angle of a person’s field of vision are beautiful without being excessive, and the impressionistic paintings on the ceiling comfortably sway with a magical light.

It’s a perfect high-end cafe.

“Would you like to go to the Noble Floor?”

The bodyguard asked.

“Noble floor?”

“Yes. We have a separate space for VVIPs. We have a lot of orders right now, so it would be more convenient for you there.”

“What? When I asked, you said there was no such thing as a VVIP floor.”

Elise frowned.

Raye waited for that moment.

“What~? Ellie, I asked in advance~?”

“… … !”

A hiccup – Elise’s body trembled. The guy made a face of “Oh no.”

Raye continued her attack with a cheeky smile.

“I said it was okay if I didn’t go~ I even called in advance~”

“Yes, you said you wanted to go, so I did it in a hurry. You idiot.”

“You’re kidding me~ I haven’t seen Ellie call anywhere today~?”

“… … .”

“Would you like to come up? Lady Jade is here too.”

I tilted my head at the bodyguard’s words.

“Is Jade there?”

“yes.”

“Then… … what. Let’s go?”

I looked back at the three of them. Raye was moaning like a monkey.

“I have to go, haha, I have to go~ Ellie wanted it so badly that she called me in advance~”

“… …Be quiet.”

We climbed the stairs side by side.

Even the upper floors were quite impressive.

Not only the simple interior and design, but also the fantastic phenomena such as soap bubbles, butterflies made of magic, and water streams flowing down in patterns are a delight to the eyes and ears.

We arrived at the VVIP floor while we were absentmindedly looking around.

“… … .”

There was Jade at the window. As soon as I saw her, I straightened my clothes, but she already had a guest.

He was a person whose face was familiar.

The person behind me was more surprised than I was.

Senator──Gen Petra.

“… … .”

Gen looked back and forth between me and Elise while drinking his coffee.

Elise’s breathing, as if hidden behind my back, grew louder.

“Okay. I’ll be going now. The cafe is really well built.”

“Thank you, Senator Petra.”

Gen stood up from his seat. Jade followed suit and gestured.

“Then goodbye.”

Gen naturally approaches the exit, that is, towards us.

Step by step── step by step──.

The sound of footsteps resonating particularly loudly.

A body that still bears the marks of a warrior.

He walks toward me and looks me in the eye.

I don’t avoid those eyes.

Before long, he stops in front of my nose and looks me up and down.

We are on the same level as each other.

They are almost the same height.

“Zion Ascal… … that’s what it was.”

He asked.

I nodded, looking into his crimson pupils.

“Yes. This is Zion Ascal.”

“… … The spirit isn’t bad.”

He tapped my shoulder. He then glared at Elise behind him. Elise swallowed without saying anything.

“Then that’s it.”

Gen Petra went down.

It was quite an impressive encounter… …

“What are you doing just standing there?”

Jade smiled, pointing in our direction. It was a bright smile, unusual for Jade, with her lips elongating into a crescent moon.

“Oh, my, my, my. Zion! Why is he doing that to me?”

It seems that Raye misunderstood the plot that was being thrown at Jihan.

“… … It’s not you.”

“I don’t like people with a big age gap… … .”

“Not you.”

Jade said.

“Come and have a seat.”

“……yes.”

Before we knew it, Raye had flown over and landed in front of Jade.

“… …Who are you?”

“I am… … Rayeragu… … .”

“Why do you speak like that? Are you sick?”

“… … This is your original way of speaking… … .”

Jade looked at Raye with a very bewildered expression.

“Let’s go and sit down first.”

I said to the remaining two. Gerken nodded, but Elise’s complexion still did not look good.

I grabbed the guy.

“Let’s go.”

“… … Huh? Uh, yeah… … Let’s go.”

A bitter smile spread across the lips.

I felt like I knew something about the guy’s true feelings, but I didn’t show it.