Choi Yu-Seong had a large house with many empty rooms. In one of those rooms, there was a long desk and three chairs and he sat in the middle chair. Naturally, Jin Yu-Ri sat by his left while Jin Do-Yoon stood by his right with his arms crossed.

"You're not going to sit?"

"If I sit down, I’m afraid I can’t quickly respond to any unexpected situations, sir."

Do-Yoon said this with a determined look that seemed like he was even willing to take a bullet for Yu-Seong if an applicant tried to shoot him. Yu-Seong wanted to respond but kept his mouth shut. He knew that Do-Yoon wasn't going to listen, even if he told him not to.

"Anyways, Yu-Seong oppa, how's your condition?"

"Perfect."

Yu-Seong answered as he raised his thumb.

"An active skill is described as limitless, but it definitely consumes your mana. Since you don't know how it feels yet, then even if it’s the middle of the test, you should stop if you feel you're overdoing yourself, okay?" She cautioned him.

Every skill consumed mana by default, but the total amount of mana one possessed was unidentifiable unless the person measured it himself.

'And the result of that measurement isn’t perfectly accurate either.'

Yu-Ri's concern for Yu-Seong was quite understandable. Before he posted the job recruit, Yu-Seong told the Jin siblings his skill set and how he was planning to use them.

There was no reason not to tell them. The Jin siblings were the only people that Yu-Seong could trust to have his back. Why doubt them when he already knew that in the original novel, they had stood by his side until his death? It was better to share things with them honestly and let them help.

That was why the siblings passively followed Yu-Seong’s lead, even when he put on this sudden and odd event. Even if Yu-Seong had a lot of money, the fastidious Yu-Ri wouldn't have allowed him to do such an event if he didn't explain his motive.

'It's not like I have an oilfield that endlessly produces money.'

The more money the better as it was often spent, then gone.

While spending two hundred million won in a day wasn't possible, it would someday be used up if it was used indiscriminately. He had to use it efficiently. In that sense, Yu-Seong and the Jin siblings didn't consider this event to be a waste of money.

'Instead, the benefits greatly outweigh its cost.'

The half-transparent window that displayed the player profile floated in front of the pleased Yu-Seong. Although Star-Factor was certainly an attractive skill, he was more focused on his second special skill, Fusion, and his general skill, Eye-of-Replication. To be sure, he was confident that he could use them more skillfully than Star-Quality.

'Let's check it again.'

Yu-Seong quickly scanned through the skill descriptions of Fusion and then the Eye-of-Replication.

『General Skill, Eye-of-Replication E

Cannot be used for Fusion.

When used, a skill with a lower rank is copied by the user. The usage count and capacity of the copied skill varies according to its rank.

After copying a skill, this skill cannot be used on the same person for three months. Similarly, recopying the same skill also requires three months.』

Truthfully, when Yu-Seong first saw his skill set, the Eye-of-Replication was the only skill that he wasn't actually that curious about.

'After all, I already knew about this skill.'

The Eye-of-Replication appeared early in the original novel as the villain, Jack the Clown, possessed it. But the readers thought it to be an unfortunate skill as it couldn't blossom to its full potential because of its excessive penalties.

'It certainly is extraordinary in that it copies others' skills right away.'

This was especially effective when the skill was used against powerful players like Kim Do-Jin. The problem, however, was that excessive penalties were attached to it to balance its ridiculously good ability. It had many disadvantages as the usage count and capacity of that copied skill was limited, not to mention, it was also hard to reuse it against the same person.

'Jack the Clown's Eye-of-Replication skill was B-rank.'

Jack the Clown was able to copy the same B-rank skill to 70 percent of its fullest capacity and could use the copied skill ten times. Yu-Seong wouldn't be that different, although his skill was of E-rank.

'Fusion and Eye-of-Replication.'

Both skills had something in common—they both possessed great potential but had penalties to balance them out. In a way, the skill was like fool’s gold.

After confirming the two skills, Yu-Seong devised a plan.

'Fusion is useless on its own. It has to be fueled by other skills. Fortunately, I have the Eye-of-Replication.'

But the copied skill by the Eye-of-Replication had penalties of limited usage, capacity, and recharge time to recopy.

The fundamental disadvantage of Fusion could be solved by the Eye-of-Replication. But what about the disadvantages the Eye-of-Replication had? The solution was simple.

'I can combine the copied, limited skills with Fusion.'

What if he could eliminate all the weaknesses and limitations of the copied skills by fusing them? He needed to say no more.

'Jackpot.'

An ultimate combination could be created that the blessed main character, Kim Do-Jin, might even be shocked by. That was why Yu-Seong immediately called in the Jin siblings yesterday morning to confirm his hypothesis. He asked them to demonstrate two E-rank skills that weren't ranked up due to their lack of usage. And as a result?

Yu-Seong glanced at his 'fifth' skill that didn't exist until yesterday morning.

『Skill, Fancy Disco E

Can be used for Fusion.

Once used, flashes of light are added to every action of the user for five minutes』

'Jackpot!'

This was more than enough compensation for his terrible pain during the Awakening.

'There's no limitation in its usage count.'

There also wasn't any description saying that the capacity of the skill decreased. Moreover, this was fusible again. In other words, the setbacks for both Fusion and Eye-of-Replication were all gone.

Through this, Yu-Seong had infinite potential. That was why, yesterday, he clenched his fist and cheered even though the Jin siblings were in front of him.

"Yesterday was really shocking. I never knew there would be such easy ways around in using these skills."

When Jin Yu-Ri saw Yu-Seong smiling into the air, she smiled somewhat dejectedly as she realized his plans. Yu-Ri's eyes were full of awe at the sight of Yu-Seong.

"I got lucky."

"This isn't luck, sir. If I was in your situation, I would never have thought of what you had in mind."

It was when Yu-Seong was shrugging his shoulders and trying to be modest at Jin Do-Yoon's compliments when a middle-aged woman, the housekeeper that was responsible for Yu-Seong's food, carefully knocked on the door and spoke.

"The applicants have all arrived."

"Ah, tell them to come in."

Her role today was escorting the applicants.

* * *

The interview, no, the job of copying low-ranking skills started at ten in the morning.

“Welcome. It’s a pleasure to have you here.”

Yu-Seong charmingly greeted the players entering the room. Although the majority of the players that were entering had somewhat nervous and tense expressions and were a little disconcerted by his greetings, they soon smiled slightly back at him.

Their attitude was natural. After all, the Choi Yu-Seong they knew was a snob. They didn’t know why he created this peculiar event, but they thought they would be lucky if Yu-Seong didn’t mock them, let alone give a warm greeting.

But everybody who came here had the same thought: they could earn a million won without putting in any effort. It was worth it, even if Yu-Seong mocked them. That was why players with pride or powerful abilities didn’t come to the event.

However, that didn’t matter much to Yu-Seong, as he only needed skills under E-rank. The players who chose money instead of pride would realize that he wasn’t what the news or magazines described him to be.

“Thank you for demonstrating your precious skills.”

It wasn’t anything difficult, they had simply demonstrated their E-rank skill, but he thanked each person after they were done. Even if the applicant considered the skill to be useless, Yu-Seong’s attitude was the same.

Everyone reacted differently to his attitude.

“You’re welcome.”

“It’s all for money, so no need to thank me.”

“Call me whenever you want to watch it again.”

But their response was similar in that they expressed gratitude regardless if it was big or small. Until he finished the morning session, Yu-Seong met various applicants and only a few of them still doubted him or grumbled as they left.

“Let’s continue after lunch,” Yu-Seong announced.

Since his house was large with a yard in front, it wasn’t that hard to call the hotel chefs to set up a buffet. The players were suspicious about the chefs showing up this early, but they didn’t put much thought into it. The majority of them thought that Yu-Seong was just showing off his money.

They weren’t entirely wrong.

“You can have your lunch in the yard. There won’t be any fees, so the young master wants everyone to please enjoy their meal.”

As the housekeeper that served as their guide today gave this announcement, the players, who had been waiting bored out of their minds, smiled brightly.

“So he was flexing for us, huh?”

“It’s been so long since I ate this well.”

Since the meal was prepared to suit everybody considering the large number of people, nobody was dissatisfied: barbeque grilled above a grate, various skewers including shrimp and clam, and a sweet yet intensely flavored kimchi stew with neatly trimmed seafood by its side.

Among them were players who already demonstrated their skills and were waiting for their friends. After some beer, they began to talk loudly.

“Hey hey, isn’t it true that Choi Yu-Seong suddenly became a new person?”

“New person my ass. It’s just weird that he's behaving like a pushover.”

The second young man snickered at the words of the first young man, who seemed to be around twenty.

“No, it’s like the aura of Choi Yu-Seong changed all of a sudden. I went in earlier, right? He’s got a different atmosphere compared to what he was like previously. What do you call it, charisma?”

“Charisma…ha.”

“Come on, I’m serious.”

“Stop making a fuss. He’s not going to pay you more because you flattered him with his free lunch. Well, I do like this buffet, though. It’s nice how I could eat delicious food and get paid just by demonstrating an insignificant skill. Ha ha…”

“You’re driving me nuts.”

This was the type of conversation that was prevalent throughout lunch. The people like the first young man were mostly those who met Yu-Seong in the morning and those who were still waiting for their turn were like the second young man. Of course, those who still hadn’t met Yu-Seong also started to doubt their thoughts as everyone was talking about the same thing.

‘Choi Yu-Seong is really a changed man?’

Nonsense.

The second young man smirked and finished his beer.

* * *

Right after lunch was over, the second young man was the first person to meet Yu-Seong among the players who waited for the afternoon session. His emotions were conflicting as he entered.

‘Did Choi Yu-Seong really change?’

He was of half expectation and half concern.

‘It doesn’t matter if I’m overreacting.’

After all, he came here to earn a million won by getting mocked by Yu-Seong. But after he entered with a light heart and demonstrated his skill, he looked somewhat blank as he left the room.

“Hey hey, how was it? I’m correct, right? Wasn’t Choi Yu-Seong kind of different?”

Moving forward, the second young man nodded as if he was possessed by something.

“Was it because he’s handsome? Some female players had a crush on him, just from seeing his face. Perhaps that’s why he feels different.”

The first young man tried to explain how Yu-Seong was different from the rascal broadcasted by the media. But the second young man had already summarized the atmosphere Yu-Seong gave off in one word.

“...Dignity.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know why, but that’s how I felt. For some reason, he seems to be dignified…”

“What are you talking about?”

“To put it easily, …”

The young men, looking at each other, smiled mysteriously and spoke at the same time.

“He’s cool, even from a guy’s point of view.”

“He’s dope.”

They had slight goosebumps as they recalled their meeting with Yu-Seong.

* * *

After the afternoon session started, Do-Yoon’s lips twitched as he crossed his arms and overheard the conversations outside the room.

‘You feel that good?’

Glancing at Do-Yoon, who was smiling somewhat foolishly, Yu-Ri also grinned. Although the E-rank Yu-Seong couldn’t hear anything, the Jin siblings could clearly hear the applicants’ conversations outside the room thanks to their high rank. They couldn’t help it.

What was happening might seem trivial, but sadly, the Jin siblings never heard anything similar to a compliment about Yu-Seong. Until today, no, until they had this event, everyone had the same opinion about Yu-Seong: The rascal and outrageous scumbag; The incompetent snob who relied on family for support.

And this was understandable considering the number of alcohol bottles that Yu-Seong shattered was uncountable. The same went for the number of wrecked bars, clubs, and quarrels with the police Yu-Seong had.

When anti-Japanese sentiments peaked throughout Korea, he even smashed a Japanese car with a baseball bat just because he didn’t like it.

‘It’s not clear if he was being patriotic or just wanted to vent his anger.’

Although some praised Yu-Seong, for what they considered was his first good deed, this was also hard to be considered rational. So naturally, the Jin siblings faced a lot of hardship due to Yu-Seong.

But now, Yu-Seong was showing change. The Jin siblings experienced that transition more than ever, and now others were sensing the same thing as well. His image and reputation were changing.

This was a huge event not only for Yu-Seong but also for Yu-Ri.

‘If things turn out like this… It seems to be okay to make some changes to the plan.’

Yu-Ri smiled faintly, as she was always devising a plan for Yu-Seong that always put his survival as the top priority.

Everything seemed peaceful then.

* * *

Why did the saying ‘the calm before the storm’ always prove to be correct? An incident broke out when everyone was enjoying the peaceful and joyful atmosphere.

In a large room, similar to the reception room, a man with unparalleled aura compared to other players who came as groups came inside.

His eyebrows were thick and black; His indifferent expression scanned his surroundings. After slightly twitching the corner of his red lips that even men found attractive, he spoke.

“Choi Yu-Seong.”

Although Yu-Seong never saw him in person or heard his voice, he couldn’t possibly be unaware of that man.

“...Kim Do-Jin.”

The main character of the original novel [Modern Master Returns] and also a returner with an even more handsome name.

“Why aren’t you responding to any of my messages?”

Do-Jin asked sharply as he looked at Yu-Seong.