A Regressed Villain: Heroines, Villainesses and Me?

He had settled himself in the corner, his gaze fixed on his phone.

Bzzzz

Moments later, the device buzzed softly, a silent notification alerting him to an incoming call.

Although the phone did not ring, the caller ID illuminated the screen, catching his full attention.

Thanks to advancements in technology, transferring data from one device to another had become a thing of the past.

Now, individuals only needed their character ID to seamlessly transition to any phone, allowing them to download all their data effortlessly and turn a phone into their own.

Moreover, due to the sophisticated caller ID feature, unknown numbers had essentially vanished.

When a person purchased or was assigned a new number, comprehensive biometric identification ensured that the caller\'s name would automatically appear on the screen, leaving no room for anonymity.

Of course, these conveniences come at a cost—after all, quality services require quality funding.

However, this was hardly a concern for Avendial, considering that many of the companies providing these global facilities and innovations either had him as a shareholder or were outright owned by him.

Naturally, rules mostly affect those in weaker positions. Right now, for instance, Avendial could see the caller ID displaying \'Rivia ⁠♡\' instead of \'Dominic Rivia Aurelia.\'

It seemed that while not everyone had the luxury to bypass certain norms, some noblemen had the means to change things to their advantage.

This was clearly evident with Rivia, who, leveraging her influence as Avendial\'s bodyguard, had altered her official name accordingly.

Amusingly, Avendial noticed that this special caller ID appeared only when he was using his own phone, not when Alfred or others had it.

So, it was likely that this unique display was visible only through Avendial\'s character ID. He found himself feeling amused, realizing that he had never noticed this detail before, even in his previous life.

But now, equipped with insight into Rivia\'s innermost thoughts, he began to pay attention to these small details before answering the call.

As he slipped into the dialer, a smile tugged at his lips, grateful for this newfound awareness.

:: Now, tell me, what kind of money are you willing to offer me to save your life? ::

"Berlyn? They really chose the most idiotic one first," Avendial thought to himself as he gazed at the screen, the video call connecting slowly.

On the other side, a chubby, limbless man lay sprawled on the ground, his body soaked in blood and emitting a foul stench.

The clarity of the internet connection allowed Avendial to notice the hint of a reflection in the man\'s eyes— a shadowy figure, likely the face of Rivia, hovering ominously in the background.

From that reflection, Avendial could clearly see the bloodstains marring Rivia\'s face, his cold eyes fixed intently on Berlyn.

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:: S-save me! I can offer you all my life savings— a whopping 100 billion Imperial Crowns! ::

Avendial fell silent as he processed Berlyn\'s desperate confession. The offer of such a colossal sum of money sent a jolt through him. How could Berlyn expect to acquire that much without drawing attention?

He had been completely unaware of any discrepancies in the expense reports that Alfred always submitted for his signature.

It seemed implausible that Berlyn could have amassed such wealth without anyone else noticing.

Naturally, Avendial could believe that he had overlooked Rivia\'s subtle gestures and signs in his previous life, as his primary focus had been on accumulating wealth rather than paying attention to such nuances.

However, it was impossible for him to have never noticed even a single penny missing in his prior existence, which implied that someone of a higher authority was involved.

"100 billion? Don\'t lie to me; I know you can\'t possibly have that much money at your disposal, given how strict Lord is," Rivia inquired.

The network within the process state was monitored around the clock by a specialized team that Alfred personally oversaw.

This scrutiny was in place to ensure that mayors did not attempt to engage with outsiders.

Thus, the likelihood of this mayor investing in foreign businesses or selling information to the outside world via internet services was virtually nonexistent.

\'Hmm, if I were in his place...\' Avendial mused, glancing at the screen while maintaining a composed demeanor in his chair.

He made an effort not to disturb those around him, as the sound transmitted from the phone was directed straight into his ears through inbuilt micro earbuds.

Imagining himself in Berlyn\'s position, he considered how, were he in that role and intent on earning money under such intense surveillance, he might adopt strategies that could exploit loyalty, trust, and local contract manipulation.

It was likely that he would focus his efforts on a minimum wage system to maximize his gains while remaining under the radar of constant observation. After all, even he knew that there was a legal loophole in the entire system.

:: Haah... Haah... I-I only provided minimum wages to all of the employees and encouraged others to contribute their own money to help those in need :: Berlyn stammered as he revealed the method of presenting a contract that adhered to the minimum wage system.

As expected, Avendial grasped Berlin\'s words with clarity. He understood that the issue with the minimum wage system was that it was unreasonably high for anyone to manage.

However, since it was labeled as the minimum wage, individuals could easily earn double or triple that amount if their job fell within a particular category.

It became evident that Berlyn had cleverly manipulated the salaries, ensuring that despite receiving what they believed to be minimum wages, no one complained, as they accepted this as the salary they rightfully deserved—even if that meant it was still considered substantial.

Take, for instance, a gardener who, despite being an expert in botany and adept in handling various pesticides, received a remuneration of 10,000 Imperial Crowns.

This sum might seem generous to him; however, the actual fixed salary for such a position was set at 15,000 Imperial Crowns.

This discrepancy highlighted the reality that the missing 5,000 Imperial Crowns were flowing directly into the mayor\'s pocket.

At first glance, these salaries might strike many as extravagant or shocking, especially considering the challenge of earning even a mere 100 imperial crowns as a gardener.

Nonetheless, these wages were what every citizen within Croceaus territory truly deserved.

They had weathered the tumultuous times under the previous Marquess and stood firm during decades of hardship, including a devastating drought that left the territory on the brink of bankruptcy.

Their loyalty to their homeland during such trying times was commendable, and they were worthy of a fair compensation that reflected their unwavering commitment.

Avendial was paying these individuals more than a hundred times what they could earn in the outside world, all as a gesture of gratitude for their ancestors who had consistently supported the territory.

Yet, being the businessman that he was, he viewed this as more than just generosity; he saw it as an investment.

In return for the high salaries, he anticipated loyalty from these people, making them feel they owed something to him.

To avoid appearing like a pushover, he made them work seven days a week without any Sunday break, taking on more jobs to ensure they felt they deserved such high salaries for their overwork.

Of course, there were different night shifts and day shift employees.

After all, he couldn\'t work them to death.

But this mayor was embezzling money through this legal loophole?