A Sudden Bet.
Player Headquarters
Talent Management Team Office
Employee Yoo Jia looked at Park Changseok with a worried expression. The bearded man slumped weakly into a soft chair, his face looking strangely pitiful.
"Assemblyman, are you alright?"
Despite her question—
"Sigh…"
Park Changseok merely let out a deep sigh.
Yoo Jia was intelligent—one of the top elites in the headquarters. She didn't need to ask what was wrong; she already had a good idea.
'He's been like that ever since he met Assemblyman Im Heesoo.'
How long had it been? He had stormed off in anger, talking about settling the matter once and for all, and then returned like this.
'There's no helping it.'
Originally, Park Changseok was an extremely steadfast man. The Yaksha of the headquarters, a player respected by all employees.
But—
'Baek Jinwoo…'
Ever since he began helping that gamer player, he had gained many weaknesses.
"It's because of Baek Jinwoo, isn't it? Why? Did Assemblyman Im Heesoo demand compensation for the low-grade summoning scroll? Should I talk to my grandfather?"
"…"
Park Changseok stared at her silently.
Employee Yoo Jia.
Age: 28.
Though she was a capable young professional, her background was extraordinary.
The fourth granddaughter of Yoo Byungcheon, the founder of Daeseong Group, the No. 1 conglomerate in South Korea.
Although she was not directly involved in management, she had grown up receiving immense love from her grandfather thanks to her beauty.
The reason she was an elite was simple. She had received every form of chaebol education imaginable with Daeseong's full support.
However, after the world changed, Yoo Jia became deeply interested in players. That was why she had chosen to join the headquarters.
"Thank you for your concern."
Park Changseok, who had been sighing, smiled faintly.
"It was my choice. I can't rely on the power of the business world just because things got complicated."
"Yes, that's right."
"Hmm?"
When Yoo Jia agreed immediately, Park Changseok widened his eyes.
What? Was that just something he said casually?
"Of course it was a joke. I just wanted to comfort you."
"…What?"
"My grandfather hates that the most—when someone who can overcome something on their own tries to rely on family power instead."
Heh. So that was the mindset of a conglomerate founder.
Park Changseok also agreed with that way of thinking.
"Actually, the issue with the low-grade summoning scroll has already been resolved."
"Really?"
"That much wasn't even a problem. It happened within my authority to begin with."
"Then why do you look so troubled…?"
"It's because Im Heesoo keeps provoking me."
Park Changseok recalled what had happened earlier.
His rival—Assemblyman Im Heesoo—had criticized none other than the Talent Management Team.
"How can you call it a Talent Management Team when you can't even nurture proper talent? Are you just trying to waste the headquarters' budget again? Surely you're not planning to use it to raise those rankers you've been keeping under your wing? Those rejects who can't even make the national team selection. Ha! Why not transfer the Talent Management Team's budget to my side instead?"
Every word he spoke was carefully chosen to provoke.
Yet Park Changseok had no counterargument. In reality, the rankers under Im Heesoo's management were consistently selected for the national team and had achieved significant accomplishments.
As annoying as he was, he was undeniably capable.
"You're not puffing out your chest just because you set a record in a low-grade Fire Dungeon this time, are you? Assemblyman Park Changseok, you should just keep doing what you always do—take down gangs. Don't bother trying to nurture talent that won't amount to anything."
Crunch.
The sound of his teeth grinding echoed.
Although often calm and composed, Park Changseok also had a fiery side. In the end, he couldn't hold back and lashed out—right in front of the Headquarters Director.
"What will you do if the talent I've raised makes it to the national team selection this time?"
Seeing Im Heesoo smirk in response, he simply couldn't endure it.
"Shall we make a bet? Whether or not my affiliated rankers make the national team?"
At the year-end World League, each country could send only ten players.
"Shall we compete to see whose ranker places higher?"
"Oh? Are you serious? What's the stake?"
Im Heesoo grinned.
Naturally so—none of Park Changseok's players had ever made the national team, whereas Im Heesoo had sent two representatives just last year.
That was an incredible achievement, considering rankers from powerful guilds also competed alongside those from the headquarters.
"How about publicly appealing to the citizens that the other assemblyman is more capable, and voluntarily resigning?"
"Are you insane? Are you serious?"
"Yes. If either of us breaks the agreement, there will be a penalty of one billion won. Shall we draft the contract immediately?"
The atmosphere in the director's office grew heated.
"Ha-ha… Gentlemen, calm down. Why are you acting like this?"
The director—whom Park Changseok privately called an old relic—tried to mediate, sweating nervously.
But neither assemblyman paid him any heed.
Their pride was at stake.
In the end, they signed the contract on the spot.
"So, in a fit of anger, I went through with it."
"…Does that even make sense?"
After hearing the explanation, Yoo Jia looked dumbfounded.
What kind of reckless bet was that? The chances of winning were practically… zero.
"Wait…"
Yoo Jia asked cautiously.
"Are you doing this because you believe in Baek Jinwoo?"
"I am."
That was the very reason Park Changseok kept sighing.
Baek Jinwoo was not yet fully under his wing. Making such a rash bet when the young player might not even follow him was unlike his usual self.
'…Or is this the real me?'
After all, could someone who had invested everything into Baek Jinwoo truly be called calm?
"It's true his progress is remarkable, but he's still just a gamer. Maybe in the future—but right now, he's far from competing with established rankers."
"I know. I know."
Sigh…
Park Changseok exhaled deeply once more.
"But don't you know something?"
"What is it?"
"That I have a keen eye for judging people."
"…"
Yoo Jia pressed her lips together.
Secretary Kim Byungjin, employee Yoo Jia, and employee Hwang Taeseop—all of them had been personally selected by Park Changseok. It was something other assemblymen envied the most.
"I believe in Baek Jinwoo. With proper support, he'll keep providing incredible information."
"…Alright."
As Yoo Jia sighed and shook her head—
"Assemblyman! Assemblyman!"
A man burst through the door. It was Secretary Kim Byungjin.
"You asked me to investigate the player who's been clearing dozens of D-rank dungeons solo at incredible speed recently."
"I did."
"That player is Baek Jinwoo."
"What?!"
Park Changseok leapt to his feet in shock. Yoo Jia's eyes widened slightly as well.
"Baek Jinwoo? Are you serious?"
A player who had registered just over a month ago was solo-clearing D-rank dungeons—with an average clear time of under five minutes.
It was an absurd rate of growth and undeniable proof of the vast knowledge he possessed.
"See? What did I tell you?"
Park Changseok smiled at Yoo Jia.
"I told you Baek Jinwoo was the best."
"The best?"
Yoo Jia pursed her lips.
Wasn't that slang from ages ago?
* * *
At that same moment—
"Hehehe."
Baek Jinwoo couldn't hide the smile on his lips.
[Account Details]
Account Holder: Baek Jinwoo
Preferred Account
Available Balance: ₩26,002,500
It had only been four days. During that time, he had cleared a total of 160 D-rank dungeons.
As a result, he had earned approximately 16 million won—mainly by selling all the mid-grade summoning scrolls obtained with a roughly 20% drop rate.
"This really is a world made for me."
The money he earned would be reinvested later into his summons. But first—
Baek Jinwoo divided his bank account into four separate accounts:
Living Expenses Account
Family Account
Savings Account
Player Account
First, he deposited 5 million won into the living expenses account.
'The living expenses account must always maintain 5 million won.'
Whenever expenses such as utilities, food, or daily necessities were deducted, he planned to replenish it back to 5 million at the beginning of each month.
Next, the family account.
He deposited another 5 million won there.
'5 million every month.'
This money was for his family—saved diligently to one day spend generously on his parents and Baek Ajin.
Next, the savings account.
He planned to deposit 10 million won into it every month.
Ten million.
A word that once felt unreal to him during his days as a part-time worker. Now, it was easily attainable.
The money in the savings account would be used purely for his future—and for himself.
Finally, the player account.
This was his current preferred account. Baek Jinwoo intended to use every penny in it for his summons—runes, polishing agents, summoning scrolls, materials, skill books, and more.
'The most important thing is the value of the player.'
Money?
Once he became the best in the world, money would flow to him naturally.
Now was not the time to obsess over savings.
Meanwhile, after tirelessly grinding dungeons, his summons had grown considerably.
Lamba, HunGyo, and the Explosive Dragon Sorcerer had all surpassed level 30—an extraordinary achievement that could never be attained through conventional synthesis.
However, surpassing level 40 would require dozens of times more effort. Each level demanded exponentially more experience.
'It's time to start equipping runes and enhancing them.'
To do that, he needed to farm daily dungeons.
Players could form up to three teams:
Player Team
PvP Team
Daily Dungeon Team
God Ji-nu, the One Heaven, Five Emperors, had utilized his three teams in this way.
The Player Team accompanied the player in general dungeons and the Tower of Trials.
The PvP Team was specialized for player-versus-player combat.
And the Daily Dungeon Team—capable of auto-battle—was designed for endless farming.
Each daily dungeon also had a core unit that enabled faster clears. For example, the Spotted Komodo (B-rank) was the core unit for the Tuesday Dungeon.
Baek Jinwoo already had all the D-, C-, and B-rank core units organized in his mind.
'From now on, I need to find them.'
He planned to set up a team capable of rapidly farming daily dungeons. After assembling the team, he would train them rigorously through HunGyo and push their potential to the absolute limit.
'First, I'll begin with time attacks on low-grade daily dungeons.'
Once he created a team capable of clearing all high-grade daily dungeons in under one minute, his growth speed would become unimaginable.
[Account Details]
Account Holder: Baek Jinwoo
Preferred Account
Available Balance: ₩6,002,500
After dividing his funds according to his plan, exactly 6 million won remained.
'I'm not sure if I can buy summons with this…'
For now, he decided to check the prices.
Opening the Player Web, Baek Jinwoo immediately moved to the Market tab.
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