Chapter 11

Chapter 11: I Alone Am an EX-Class Summoner

Preventing the media from broadcasting the details of his historic performance to the public was the primary requirement Baek Jinwoo presented to Park Changseok.

“What is the reason for this? Breaking a record like that is certainly a milestone worth celebrating.”

“Because my personal security isn’t guaranteed yet.”

“Excuse me? If security is your concern, our central headquarters is fully capable of—”

Park Changseok abruptly cut himself off.

Of course.

How could the organization hope to safeguard a prodigy of this caliber?

This was the very same institution that lacked the power to handle a local criminal syndicate effectively.

And that was just small-scale crime.

If international top-tier rankers decided to cross borders and orchestrate an assassination, the local authorities would be completely powerless. That was the grim reality of the current state of South Korea.

What was the ultimate form of protection?

Remaining completely anonymous.

“I understand. I will exercise headquarters’ executive power to enforce a media blackout. However, we cannot control the details that spread through word of mouth. Some of the facility staff have already glimpsed the leaderboard, and numerous evaluators are aware of the outcome…”

“That level of exposure is fine. It’s not as if my name, Baek Jinwoo, is entirely unique in this world.”

“Understood.”

Had it been a global milestone, even the highest authorities wouldn’t have been able to suppress the news. But a domestic record? That was something they could successfully keep hidden.

Following the conclusion of their talk.

The moment he stepped outside the coffee shop, his immediate priority was to inspect his earnings.

High-grade summoning scroll x 3

Low-rank abrasive x 2

The polishing materials were standard drops for a Tuesday dungeon run, but obtaining high-grade summoning scrolls was an absolute stroke of luck.

This was a unique first-clear milestone prize tied exclusively to the entry-level tier of the Tuesday dungeon.

It was a one-time acquisition.

Moving forward, even if he shattered the domestic record in this specific instance again, no additional bonuses would be granted.

Should I break these open right this second?

The drop probabilities for this specific tier of summoning item were clearly defined:

• D-Rank: 94%

• C-Rank: 5%

• B-Rank: 1%

If fortune favored him, he might pull a B-rank entity immediately.

However, risking everything on a mere trio of scrolls felt foolish.

The asset Baek Jinwoo truly required at this moment wasn’t a standard B-rank asset.

He needed a broken, rule-defying EX-rank entity.

First things first, he needed to gauge the current market values.

Pulling out his smartphone, Baek Jinwoo opened a specialized mobile application.

Player Web

This digital platform was restricted solely to operatives officially registered under the central organization. Park Changseok had personally set it up on his device the moment his authorization credentials were finalized.

The platform facilitated commerce for runes, polishing materials, entities, summoning tools, and various other essential goods.

It appeared that the vast majority of player-to-player commerce occurred within this network.

Baek Jinwoo tapped directly into the Marketplace section to investigate the current valuation of summoning materials.

His eyes widened in sheer disbelief.

Unbelievable.

Item Type	Market Price
Low-grade summoning scroll	5,000 won
Mid-grade summoning scroll	500,000 won
High-grade summoning scroll	3,000,000 won
Supreme-grade summoning scroll	No active listings
Ultimate summoning scroll	No active listings

He couldn’t believe high-tier summoning tools commanded such an exorbitant price.

Since he had just acquired three of them, that equated to a staggering 9 million won.

All from a singular instance foray?

Amazing.

Baek Jinwoo felt a slight tremor in his fingers.

Under normal circumstances, that sum represented the grueling effort of grinding a regular part-time shift for an entire month without a single day off.

Yet for the current Baek Jinwoo?

He had secured that exact amount through a casual, five-minute excursion.

And this was merely the opening act.

What heights would he reach further down the line?

This is completely wild.

Dad, Mom, Ajin.

Hold on just a bit longer.

I am going to ensure our family never has to stress over finances again.

“……”

After analyzing a variety of market data points, Baek Jinwoo arrived at a cold, pragmatic conclusion.

He finalized his strategy.

I will liquidate the high-tier scrolls immediately.

And after that?

I will reinvest every single won into acquiring the maximum possible quantity of base-tier summoning scrolls.

The E-rank Drill Instructor.

And the D-rank Storm Dragon Sorcerer.

Until those two specific entities were safely in his possession, the optimal strategy was to relentlessly open low-tier scrolls day and night.

Both possessed broken mechanics capable of utterly outclassing conventional B-rank options.

Samseong-dong Player Zone

“I appreciate your business.”

Baek Jinwoo passed the trio of high-tier summoning tools over to a purchasing player, confirmed a digital wire transfer of 9 million won, and let out a satisfied smile.

The next step was utilizing these funds to stock up on base-tier scrolls.

However, a lingering question gave him pause.

Why exactly did the base-tier summoning items maintain a static price of 5,000 won?

The underlying economic logic puzzled him.

In the universe of Battle of Summoners, these low-tier items were common drops that could be farmed effortlessly just by clearing basic zones.

Furthermore, daily login incentives provided roughly a 10% probability of granting one for free.

Essentially, they were common commodities that flooded the market passively.

Moreover, a quick glance at the active listings revealed an immense surplus of available supply with virtually zero consumer demand.

Why was this the case?

This reality directly contradicted traditional supply and demand economics.

An overabundance of suppliers should naturally force valuations downward. That was foundational financial theory.

Ring, ring!

When confronted with an analytical puzzle, consulting his younger sister was invariably the swiftest path to an answer.

“Hey, what’s up, brother?”

“Ajin. Do you know why everyone lists base-tier summoning scrolls at precisely 5,000 won? The market is absolutely flooded with them.”

“Oh, that? It’s because the central organization actively purchases them.”

“The headquarters?”

Baek Ajin proceeded to dissect the situation clearly for him.

As an initiative under their official elite development program, the government was utilizing public tax revenue to buy up these low-tier scrolls in massive quantities.

They established a guaranteed minimum valuation of 5,000 won per unit.

However, because public funds were finite, they implemented a strict ceiling on how many they would purchase each day.

“Because of that, the excess items that fail to make the daily government cutoff end up sitting on the open market. Those vendors refuse to lower their prices. After all, why would they cut their profit margins when they can simply wait for the next cycle and dump them on the state?”

“Ah, I see.”

The puzzle pieces snapped together perfectly.

“Though there are rumors circulating at the moment,” she added.

“Like what?”

“This strategy was implemented during the early phases, meaning the organization has accumulated mountains of low-tier scrolls that are just collecting dust. Word is the entire program might be terminated shortly because it’s turning into a massive financial drain. If that happens, the open-market value of those scrolls will crater.”

“Is that so?”

Incredible.

That mirrored the exact historical progression of BoS as well.

Mid-tier assets and above maintained stable valuations, but the lowest tier? Players wouldn’t even waste inventory space on them.

“Thanks for the info.”

“Don’t worry about it. Oh, by the way! How did your official evaluation turn out? The upcoming Player vs Player exhibition is scheduled soon, right? Do you want me to come support you?”

“Uh…”

The evaluation process.

He had already bypassed that entire stage.

Should he disclose the reality of the situation?

He considered it for a moment before deciding against it.

If she began interrogating him about how he had managed to secure such unprecedented exemptions, explaining the finer points would become incredibly tedious.

“Everything is moving smoothly. It’s nothing to worry about. There’s no need for you to travel down here. I’ll pass without any issues.”

“Wow, that’s incredible! I kept hearing that the assessment was notoriously brutal, though?”

“Brutal? Not even close.”

It was an effortless stroll.

Baek Jinwoo retraced his steps back toward the main facility.

His goal was to reconnect with Park Changseok.

“Mr. Baek Jinwoo!”

The individual with the dense, unkempt beard came hurrying toward him from down the corridor.

Observing the surrounding personnel offering respectful nods as the man rushed past, it was readily apparent that this administrator wielded substantial corporate authority.

“We parted ways only a brief moment ago and you are already requesting my presence. Did you find yourself missing my company that quickly?”

“Uh… sure, let’s go with that.”

Well, then.

A rather entertaining attempt at humor.

“Let us relocate to a more private space first. There are far too many onlookers in this corridor.”

Park Changseok offered a polite grin and guided Baek Jinwoo toward his personal executive suite.

“What can I do for you today?”

“The truth is… I’m currently looking to acquire a significant quantity of low-tier summoning scrolls, and I was curious if you possessed the leverage to facilitate that acquisition.”

“Low-tier summoning tools?”

“Correct.”

“Are you certain low-tier assets will suffice? Once your official clearance is finalized, I can easily authorize a pipeline consisting of mid-tier or even high-grade scrolls. There would be a fixed monthly quota, naturally, but…”

“No, my current strategy demands low-tier scrolls specifically.”

State sponsorship?

That was merely a financial obligation dressed up as a benefit.

It was far wiser to accept organizational backing only after he had solidly negotiated his long-term affiliation.

“To be frank, I’ve caught wind of rumors suggesting that headquarters is currently burdened with an uncontrollable surplus of these low-tier items.”

“Those discussions are indeed accurate,” Park Changseok admitted, a flicker of discomfort crossing his features. “And there is real substance to those claims. There is a definitive ceiling on how much utility you can extract from the entities pulled via low-tier scrolls.”

Within the designated Player Zone, there existed a facility known as the fusion laboratory.

It was a system designed to consume low-value entities to boost the level of primary summons. While highly effective during an initiate’s early progression, its utility fell off drastically once a player reached a certain threshold of power.

Consequently, it eventually served as nothing more than a method for clearing out excess warehouse space.

“What is the target number you are looking to acquire?”

“…As many as your inventory can provide.”

“As many as possible…”

Park Changseok began calculating the logistics internally.

Their containment facilities were practically bursting at the seams with basic summoning scrolls.

Roughly fifty thousand fresh units flooded their intake daily.

Because it was impossible to utilize that volume productively, they simply continued to pile up indefinitely.

“I could potentially log a distribution indicating that active rankers utilized them and redirect the supply to you, but if you were to attempt to flip the excess on the open market…”

“I’m fully aware they have no real commercial value right now. Even if I attempted to liquidate them below market rate, the organization tracks all transactions on the network, correct? My sole intention is to utilize them for my own progression.”

“……You have a specific strategy in mind.”

Park Changseok’s gaze sharpened with intense curiosity.

Baek Jinwoo was a player.

But he was a player who commanded insights that existed on a completely different plane compared to the current generation of operatives.

If a strategist of his caliber was going to extreme lengths to hoard basic-tier summoning tools…

It meant a highly lucrative application existed for them.

“Very well,” Park Changseok conceded with a calculated smile. “However.”

“There is a caveat.”

“A condition?”

“As you are well aware, executive positions within this organization are determined by public election. If a figure holding my level of responsibility were exposed transferring state-owned assets without a ironclad bureaucratic justification? My standing with the public would be completely ruined.”

“What exactly are you proposing?”

“Provide me with a singular demonstration of your insight as a proof of concept. In return, I will authorize a volume of low-tier scrolls matching the exact valuation I place on that intelligence. That way, even if the transaction faces internal scrutiny, I will possess a definitive asset to justify my actions.”

Oh?

A slight smirk played on Baek Jinwoo’s lips.

Park Changseok.

The man was undeniably a sharp operator.

So he had no intention of acting like an easily manipulated pushover?

That actually worked out better.

The more shrewd and calculated the administrator proved to be, the greater the premium he would offer in exchange for premium intelligence.

I had planned to hold onto this specific strategy for a bit longer, but…

Whatever.

Let’s set the wheels in motion right now.

“Are you familiar with the concept of milestone micro-shaving?”

“…Milestone micro-shaving?”

Park Changseok felt his pulse quicken.

What manner of priceless tactical data was about to be unveiled by this individual?

The reward for holding the absolute number one domestic rank was a trio of high-tier summoning scrolls per instance.

Furthermore, speedruns were consistently recorded down to the exact second.

This meant that if two separate operatives both concluded a run at precisely 2 minutes and 30 seconds?

The individual who logged that duration first retained the premier rank.

Following that logic?

Tuesday Dungeon – Low-rank

National Record #1 – Baek Jinwoo

Clear Time – 00:05:32

If a coordinated group of players took turns systematically reducing the record time to 5 minutes 31 seconds, then 5 minutes 30 seconds, and progressively downward?

They could mathematically optimize the total volume of milestone rewards extracted from the system.

The collective offensive capabilities of South Korea would experience an unprecedented surge.

“I grasp the theory behind milestone micro-shaving. To be precise, that is a tactical approach we have previously executed ourselves. Our established rankers have already capitalized on their respective brackets.”

Ah.

That tracked.

They had already squeezed out rewards by establishing milestones prior to his 5:32 breakthrough.

“Well, that doesn’t truly alter the equation. Elite rankers aren’t the only individuals capable of resetting records. There is a vast ocean of standard players who have never secured a single milestone bonus in their careers.”

“The intelligence I am putting on the table is the definitive optimization path for the Tuesday instance speedrun.”

“…Unbelievable! The exact tactical route you deployed during your run!”

Park Changseok could scarcely conceal his mounting anticipation, unconsciously rubbing his hands together—a telltale sign that invariably manifested whenever his anxiety spiked.

I’ll give you a viable strategy, certainly, but…

Baek Jinwoo had absolutely zero intention of exposing his personal methodology.

If he revealed the existence of distinct, randomized layout templates and explained that he had meticulously memorized every corridor of those immense labyrinths, who would actually buy it?

Instead, he would simply pass along the specialized strategies that global elites like Rachel, Sugoi, Xenos, and their peers had utilized.

“Correct. Great Britain, Japan, the United States, Russia, Taiwan… every one of those territories utilizes this exact tactical approach. Any operative who implements it can effortlessly bring their average completion duration down to roughly three minutes.”

“…!”

Park Changseok’s eyes widened in sheer shock.

It made perfect sense.

Those specific five global powers did indeed maintain suspiciously optimized dungeon clear metrics.

The pieces fit together flawlessly.

Those were the exact territories that claimed the allegiance of the Five Emperors.

That caliber of strategic data was typically locked tightly within the exclusive Ilcheon Oje communications channels.

“A-a three-minute threshold? What exactly does this methodology entail?” Park Changseok inquired, a distinct tremor present in his tone.

“Hold on, before we dive into the specifics… let’s properly determine the financial value of this asset.”

The valuation?

Even considering just the foundational framework, the implications were staggering.

At a bare minimum, it meant records could be systematically broken across every single tier of the Tuesday dungeon—low, mid, high, and supreme.

“For information of that magnitude, I can easily justify anchoring a continuous, indefinite supply of low-tier summoning scrolls for your personal use.”

“In addition to that.”

Baek Jinwoo inserted an extra requirement into the deal.

“I require fifty high-grade summoning scrolls upfront. Does that strike you as an equitable trade?”

“Fifty units?”

A package of fifty high-tier summoning scrolls held a precise market value of 150 million won.

“I am practically giving this away. Consider the sheer volume of milestone rewards your organization can harvest across the low, mid, high, and supreme tiers of those four distinct dungeons. The systemic value of the intelligence I am offering easily surpasses tens of billions of won.”

His assessment was flawless.

Even without a detailed financial audit, the raw math spoke for itself.

Park Changseok signaled his agreement without a shred of ambivalence.

“You can guarantee the absolute validity of this method?”

“Implement it yourself and the outcomes will speak for themselves,” Baek Jinwoo replied with a confident grin.

He had briefly pondered demanding a formal legal contract but dismissed the notion.

The strategic insight he was transferring right now?

It failed to represent even the barest fraction of his total knowledge base.

If Park Changseok attempted to abscond with this data, cut him out of the loop, or alter the terms to his disadvantage?

Well, there simply wouldn’t be a secondary transaction.

“Very well. The moment the validity of the strategy is verified, I will initiate an immediate wire transfer of 150 million won and coordinate a recurring daily shipment of 10,000 low-tier summoning scrolls directly to you.”

Excellent.

A wide, triumphant smile spread across Baek Jinwoo’s face.