The Regressor Can Make Them All
Chapter 353

Chapter 353

The revelation that the Eternal Nocturne was on guard against them would have put any normal person on their toes. Se-Hoon, though, was an exception.

It just feels like the inevitable has arrived...

While Wurgen had always been an ally to humanity even before the regression, he was far from a virtuous individual. Before the Towers of Heroes emerged, he was a corrupt businessman, and his greedy and stingy nature had remained unaltered ever since.

In essence, Wurgen was someone who could easily turn his back on anyone or anything the moment he perceived a threat to himself.

I’m not sure if I should feel glad or upset about this...

On one hand, being recognized for his strength was a positive sign. But on the other, losing access to the considerable power of a Perfect One like Wurgen was a significant setback.

Contemplating over what to do, Se-Hoon pressed on his temples for a moment before asking, “Do you have any idea when he likely started viewing me as a threat?”

“Hmm. I’m not particularly close to the President, so I can’t say for certain, but... I think it should have been relatively recent.”

“Relatively recent, huh...”

Se-Hoon began combing through his memories of recent interactions with Wurgen, and soon, one particular scene surfaced in his mind: the negotiations to recruit him for the purge operation.

Back then, when he had convinced Ludwig and Karl to hand over control of a Danger Zone over a single phone call, Wurgen had reacted strangely lukewarm to the news. He had dismissed it as mere surprise, but now, in hindsight, it felt different.

So that was the trigger.

Since Ludwig, Karl, and Wurgen were all actively engaged in external activities around the world, they frequently clashed with each other. And among the many conflicts, control over the Danger Zones had been particularly contentious, continuing for a long while. Yet, through Se-Hoon, Wurgen got full control from Ludwig with just a single phone call.

That moment had to be when Wurgen must have acknowledged Se-Hoon’s capabilities while simultaneously perceiving him as a threat.

He likely perceives me as a dubious individual who exploits Perfect Ones for personal gain.

Considering that Se-Hoon had indeed skillfully used the Perfect Ones to bring down members of the Ten Evils so far, it wasn’t an entirely unreasonable assumption.

Now understanding the situation to some extent, Se-Hoon glanced at Richard.

“Is there any way for us to break through this?”

“Hmm... I don’t think so. The Heroes Association already transferred authority over the Danger Zones to them, and there doesn’t seem to be any room for intervention.”

There was the option to use the Association’s authority to intervene forcibly, but the UD Group was a corporation operated by a Perfect One. If things went awry and tensions escalated, the air raids used in the purge operation could very well turn toward the Association itself. It wasn’t a risk to take lightly.

“What about requesting help from other Perfect Ones? If they all put pressure on him at once, even he would—”

“I don’t think that would work.”

“Huh? Why not?”

Interrupted, Richard made a puzzled expression.

“If he was concerned about them, he wouldn’t have isolated me so thoroughly in the first place. He’s likely prepared for such scenarios.”

It was clear Wurgen had either the confidence that no other Perfect Ones would step in or the resolve to push forward, even in the face of interference.

“Hm... I guess this is why people say not to pick fights with the Perfect Ones.”

It wasn’t just about their strength—it was their unparalleled influence on the world itself. While Richard sighed in frustration, stumped for solutions, Se-Hoon’s eyes narrowed as he reflected on the situation.

But why is he acting so aggressively?

If Wurgen truly saw him as a threat, wouldn’t it have been more efficient to eliminate him quietly rather than adopt such an overtly confrontational approach? As he puzzled over why Wurgen was going so far just to interfere with a single individual like him, a thought occurred to him.

“Wait, I have a question.”

“Yeah? What is it?”

“Do you know when Wurgen started aiming for control of the Danger Zones?”

“Hmm... The plan’s been in the works for a long time, but he only seriously started after becoming a Perfect One. He probably thought it was possible then, unlike when he was just S-rank,” Richard answered after thinking for a moment.

As an S-rank hero, he had to hold back, unable to sway the Heroes Association any bit. But as a Perfect One, the possibility became well within his reach, so he started acting aggressively. A plausible story, but something struck Se-Hoon as odd.

Someone who could compromise as an S-rank suddenly becomes this forceful immediately after becoming a Perfect One?

The higher-ranked a hero was, the more stable their synesthetic mindscape was, solidifying their values. Thus, when someone reached the top and became a Perfect One, their synesthetic mindscape typically crystallized into a singular principle.

Keeping that in mind, it was strange for Wurgen to suddenly push for control over the Danger Zones, even risking conflict with other Perfect Ones.

In other words, the value of those zones must have increased significantly after he became a Perfect One.

But what had changed for Wurgen to make that choice? Though he didn’t yet have the answer, one thing was certain.

I need to get involved.

Se-Hoon had been briefly considering stepping back to avoid provoking Wurgen further, but now it wasn’t an option. He quickly rose from his seat.

“Richard, investigate the UD Group’s internal situation in as much detail as possible and report it to Amir.”

“Amir? Isn’t he working under the President right now?”

“Don’t worry. No matter what happens, Amir is going to be on my side.”

Slightly taken aback by Se-Hoon’s absolute confidence, Richard stared at him before nodding. “Alright. We’re not in a position to be picky about methods right now.”

“Thanks. Let me know as soon as you find anything.”

Without another word, Se-Hoon vanished as abruptly as he had appeared, leaving Richard watching the now-empty area.

“...This isn’t going to be easy,” Richard muttered, his gaze darkening.

He had suggested the alliance with Se-Hoon, believing him capable of landing a blow against Wurgen, but things were already hitting unexpected roadblocks.

Can we really win this?

As someone who understood Wurgen better than most, Richard had to admit he didn’t see much of a chance. However, it had been a gamble from the start, and there was no turning back now.

Well, if we fail, I’ll just deal with the aftermath later.

Recalling a business card he had received recently, Richard thought for a moment before getting up. He then began moving swiftly, determined not to let Se-Hoon fall behind.

***

Flip, flip-

Scribble-

It was early evening in the chairman’s office, and no other noise than the sound of flipping pages of documents and signing could be heard. The monotony of sounds made the place seem completely disconnected.

As Ludwig continued signing the important documents in the monotonous place, he soon felt a disturbance in the space outside his office.

Swish-

He was sure that the entire Marduk mansion had been veiled in Whitespace, and yet something managed to breach it.

“I see...”

Surprised by the unexpected situation, Ludwig stared at the door of his office until he felt the cause approach, unveiling itself and knocking when it was right outside.

“Chairman, it’s me. May I come in?”

“You may, indeed.”

With permission granted, Se-Hoon opened the door in front of him and stepped inside under Ludwig’s watchful gaze and gentle smile.

“You’ve become quite accustomed to the Whitespace. Wasn’t it difficult to reach all the way here?”

“So you noticed, as expected,” Se-Hoon replied with a wry smile, acknowledging that Ludwig had perfectly discerned his spatial movement.

Initially, he had intended to teleport directly to the office, a familiar place he visited often. However, upon sensing an unusual gaze, he abruptly altered course, stopping just in front of the door instead.

“Well, the Whitespace is a type of space itself. If it intersects with other forms of space, it’s only natural that it would be sensed,” Ludwig explained.

“Ah... I see.”

Thanks to Ludwig’s explanation, it only now dawned on Se-Hoon that he had been overestimating the Whitespace. Despite having always passed through undetected until now, its limits were evident. The Whitespace, in the end, was still a force subjected to interaction.

Well, it did work against everyone else so far.

But even though no one other than Ludwig seemed capable of detecting him veiled within the Whitespace, Se-Hoon still started considering the need for further preparations in case things turned sideways.

“So, what brings you here unannounced today? This is quite unlike you,” Ludwig brought up, gazing at Se-Hoon’s thoughtful expression with an approving gaze.

“Ah, my apologies. It was a bit urgent...”

“No need to apologize. Now, what is this urgent matter you have?”

As always, Ludwig spoke with a soft demeanor, allowing Se-Hoon to calm down and get straight to the point.

“I came to discuss the management rights over the Danger Zones, which were recently transferred to the UD Group.”

Seeing Ludwig nod for him to continue, Se-Hoon explained in detail about the development of specialized equipment for the undead and the growing tension with Wurgen.

“Hmm... I can see why he might perceive you as a threat,” Ludwig mused.

“Yes. And I’ve been wondering why now of all times.... I suspect the specialized equipment they’re trying to develop is related to Wurgen’s power of Boundaries somehow.”

Hearing Wurgen’s power brought up, Ludwig's eyes flickered with intrigue, his demeanor growing more serious.

“Are you certain about that?”

“I don’t have concrete evidence as of now, but it’s the only explanation. If not, there’d be no reason to exclude me entirely from the development project,” Se-Hoon replied.

If all Wurgen wanted was high-performing equipment, he could have used Se-Hoon and then stolen the technology or offered unfair compensation. To completely exclude him implied that there was something in the equipment’s design—a secret tied to the power of Boundaries—that Wurgen alone knew.

“...It’s not an impossible theory,” Ludwig conceded. “You are, after all, second only to him in mastering the power of Boundaries.” He paused in deliberation. “But even if it’s true, it still doesn’t provide for me enough ground to intervene. He could simply claim he didn’t want to reveal more about his power. That would be enough of an excuse.”

Indeed, divulging details about one’s powers was a sensitive issue among heroes. Such reasons wouldn’t suffice to bring Wurgen into open conflict.

Knowing that as well, Se-Hoon voiced another possibility he had considered. “Just as I’ve come to understand Wurgen, he likely knows what kind of person I am and what I value most.”

Wurgen had witnessed firsthand Se-Hoon’s efforts to eradicate the Demon Force and promote peace for humanity. Anyone who had done the same, especially someone like Wurgen who also had a key role in eliminating the Dream Demon, would easily grasp Se-Hoon’s intentions.

And while some would dismiss that as a matter-of-course, it was precisely that newly gained insight that allowed Se-Hoon to be certain of Wurgen’s motivations.

“While I believe all of humanity desires peace, I don’t think everyone defines it the same way.”

“...”

“Everyone has their own values, their own definition of peace.”

Although Se-Hoon didn’t understand what Wurgen’s version of peace may very well be, he was certain of one thing.

“And that very definition is why I think Wurgen has excluded me from this development project.”

He was certain that Wurgen’s version of peace was the very opposite of his own, perhaps even something akin to humanity’s extinction.

Ludwig gave Se-Hoon a deep, contemplative look.

“Since the Danger Zones are all connected to the Void Space Terminals, if we can prove the terminals are at risk, we should be able to justify intervention,” Se-Hoon finished.

The Void Space Terminals were the lifeblood of humanity, a vital infrastructure. Any perceived threat to their safety was always taken with the utmost seriousness.

“Will you be able to justify it, though?” Ludwig asked pointedly.

It wouldn’t suffice to merely claim Wurgen posed a threat to humanity. Without concrete evidence, they had no chance of winning a debate over the rights of the Danger Zones.

Yet Se-Hoon’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“That won’t be a problem.”

***

The top floor of the UD Group’s headquarters contained a room resembling a monitoring station, with hundreds of screens displaying feeds simultaneously.

All that could be heard was the flickering of screens until a faint knock resounded.

Knock, knock.

Though the knock went unanswered, the visitor, seemingly unfazed by the lack of response, opened the door and stepped inside.

The pale-faced visitor, Benjamin—the chief secretary of UD Group—approached the desk positioned facing the screens without hesitation.

There, atop a cushion on the desk, was a skull with its hollow eye sockets emitting faint black mist, making it impossible to tell if it was awake or asleep.

“Mr. President,” Benjamin called softly.

When there was no reply, Benjamin reluctantly manipulated the panel on the desk, shutting off one of the screens hovering midair.

“I’m not asleep.”

But then, as though waiting for this action, dim blue lights flickered within the skull’s eye sockets.

Wurgen’s sharp gaze turned to Benjamin, who quickly bowed.

“My apologies, Mr. President.”

“Tsk... What is it?”

“It seems Director Richard has begun acting independently. He had contacted Lee Se-Hoon.”

Despite Richard’s attempts to keep his movements discreet, the surveillance measures Benjamin had implemented through Gehenna proved to be not so easily circumvented.

Wurgen fell silent, lost in thought.

“And what about Lee Se-Hoon?”

“He disappeared right after. It seems he used spatial teleportation. We weren’t able to track him.”

“Damn it... he’s picking up annoying tricks again.”

Clicking his tongue, Wurgen turned his gaze to the floating screens.

I suppose they’re trying to involve those two.

It was common knowledge that dealing with Perfect Ones required Perfect Ones of equal rank. That had always been the case. But the situation now was slightly different.

Wurgen was intent on pushing his plan forward at all costs, and he doubted the others would perceive the same value in it.

If Ludwig gets involved, it’s a different story, but... I’ve already accounted for that.

Even if he had hidden his intentions well, it was inevitable that someone as skilled in the power of Boundaries as Se-Hoon would have uncovered them. Accepting the probable conflict, Wurgen’s gaze turned cold.

“...Hm?”

The hundreds of screens suddenly began showing the same broadcast: a press conference room. Subtitles in various languages appeared across the screens.

「Emergency Announcement from the Heroes Association.」

Wurgen’s eyes narrowed as he instantly grasped the situation.

He’s using the Association?

If Babel or the Pilgrimage Church had intervened, it might have been more understandable. But what did he hope to achieve with the Heroes Association, a collection of ineffectual figureheads?

The thought lingering in his mind, Wurgen watched Se-Hoon confidently step forward.

「This is an emergency announcement from the Heroes Association.」

Despite the global live broadcast, Se-Hoon spoke boldly, exuding confidence. Wurgen’s gaze sharpened.

Where is this confidence coming from?

An unsettling feeling crept over him.

「Recently, the UD Group was granted management rights over the Danger Zones. However, Babel has raised concerns about the Void Space Terminals’ safety...」

“So, they’re really using the Void Space Terminals as excuses...”

Wurgen smirked derisively. Using the safety of the Void Space Terminals as a pretext was an anticipated move. He had already figured that if he could prove their safety, it would become harder for Se-Hoon to challenge him in the future.

But what exactly are they going to achieve by bringing this up?

If they planned to say that the undead were too powerful for them to be under Wurgen’s total control, he could use their success in the purge operation as evidence of their effectiveness. If they questioned his judgment, he could just counter by showcasing the soon-to-be-developed specialized equipment.

But as Wurgen was mulling over the many possibilities, the broadcast took an unexpected turn.

「Therefore, we have determined that the UD Group’s control over its undead army is unstable. As such, the transfer of management rights will be suspended until further notice.」

“...What?”

Wurgen froze. He couldn’t have misheard—the broadcast was clear. The announcement directly accused him, Wurgen Kruger—the Eternal Nocturne himself—of flaws in his necromancy?

Flabbergasted by the unprecedented accusation, Wurgen could only stare blankly at the screen.

「If UD Group wishes to dispute this decision, please contact the temporary director of Babel’s Void Space Terminal Task Force: Lee Se-Hoon.」

The broadcast ended with what could only be described as a taunting challenge: a faint smirk on Se-Hoon’s face.

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