"Man, I look like shit," I chuckled while eyeing myself in the mirror.
After that unexpected mixed up with the Nexus Legion, I decided to head back home first to fix my bearings.
My charisma really took a hit after I almost turned into a human BBQ, but I could feel it making a comeback, slowly but surely.
Wiping off the burn scars on my face, I noticed this sticky substance. It felt strange, like I could peel off my skin. So, I did, almost like shedding my skin like a snake.
The burnt skin started peeling off and falling to the floor—disgusting, yet oddly satisfying. You know that feeling when a wound heals, and you just can't resist peeling off that dried, dark skin? Well, imagine that sensation covering almost 80% of my body. Had to get creative and use my Telekinesis to help clean up the mess.
Underneath, a newer and much softer skin emerged. It was so soft that I could even see my veins through it.
I looked like those monsters on an alien movie that had just been born from a carcass.
"Well, it could have been worse," I reassured myself. Thanks to my high endurance and Serenity Surge, I'm back to full health, and this skin issue seems to be only skin-deep.
Figuring that wearing clothes wasn't the smartest move in my current state, I casually walked out of the bathroom naked and sat on my bed.
"Status"
===========
Name : Ji-Hoon Zyden
Title : System Holder
Age : 18 years old
Overall Stats : 145.1 (-15)
Level :19 [1050/14000]
———————-
<Attributes>
Strength: 20
Agility: 20
Stamina: 20
Endurance: 30
Intelligence: 20
Charisma: 20 (-15)
Mind Power : 15.1
———————-
<Skills> Discover exclusive content at m,v l'-novelhall.net
Mind Eye [Level 35]
Domination Points: 19
===========
Checking out my current stats, I felt a bit better about what went down. Those incidents, as rough as they were, came with some serious perks. Right now, my power reached a whole new level. I even took down Lee Hyeonu without breaking a sweat.
As long as I steer clear of surprise attacks like last time, I'm pretty confident in my chances of winning. It's all about staying on my toes.
Unfortunately for the victims, it came at a heavy cost—the lives of hundreds. The explosion happened so quickly that many couldn't react in time.
No longer my problem, though. I avenged all their deaths by taking down Lee Hyeonu.
'Is it just me, or am I really the good guy here?' I chuckled to myself, contemplating how surprisingly generous I am in seeking justice for them.
'I'm just going to sort out my points and then rest,' I said with a yawn, feeling ready to sleep already.
[Aegis Projection Level 38 —> Level 50]
I felt a lot safer now that my Aegis Projection has become stronger. A bigger projection means a wider range, and the recent battle highlighted just how crucial and versatile it was.
I figured out that I don't have to summon the whole thing every time—I can call out specific parts, like that giant hand for restraining someone. So, increasing its maximum size was a game-changer, especially when dealing with a bunch of opponents at once.
With that done, I crashed onto the bed, ready to soak in some well-deserved sleep.
***
***
"Here's your coffee, Darling," Elaine placed my drink on the table as I read into some books about stocks.
After the recent incident, I decided to lie low. Currently, Cerebrum was on high alert, making it the worst time to do something stupid, like attacking their base.
I'm also waiting for Rei Mei to come back with the additional help; once that's sorted, we'll be all set for the rescue mission after I formulate a plan.
For now, I decided to spend some time working in the office. Playing the boss has its advantages, especially when surrounded by a bunch of beautiful freshly graduate girls.
In just three days, our office got busier with more people, and they were all women. I thought, why not stick with that? But then I realized we might need a bit more variety.
To make things look good and legit, I decided to mix it up. So, I added some guys to the team, like external attorneys, brokers and such. Not just for paperwork, but also to make sure we could operate without an issue.
Having women as employees was a treat for my eyes, but let's be real, men tend to be more efficient at certain tasks.
But here's the thing: those guys are just employee on paper. They all do their work from home, and the only people in my office are the beautiful women, adding a bit of motivation to my day.
Of course, I'm not a petty person, so I made sure to give them a decent salary, especially since I asked them to quit their previous jobs.
Meanwhile in those three days, the regulators for investment companies in Korea were no joke—they were as strict as they come. Soon enough, some government officials paid us a visit for a routine check.
A newly established investment company with no way to make money like mine wouldn't usually sail through this kind of scrutiny.
But, with my skill, I managed to turn the tide. A casual conversation with me was all it took to smoothen things out and, expectedly, make those audit sessions feel more like a breeze than a storm.
I had a pretty sweet advantage with my power—I could probably sell anything, even drugs, and the authorities would green-light it based on my words alone. But I had to still be careful not to push it too far; drawing too much attention from the higher-ups could land me in some serious legal trouble.
"Get the girls for me. I want to give them some hands-on coaching," I said to Elaine with a smile. I've been holding back for far too long.