Chapter 136

Yu Jia excused herself from the room for a moment.

As expected.

This was the best approach.

Why bother racking her brain over it alone?

The country’s top experts would gather and assign a fair value on their own.

I just need to make good use of the Mindreader Eagles.

She’d been feeling it more and more lately.

There was no other summon as broken as the Mindreader Eagle.

Forget two — I wish I had about five of them……

As an A-rank Rare summon, there could only be about fifty in the entire world.

Should I start monopolizing them early?

Probably should.

She’d been swimming in money lately with nowhere to invest it, so buying up more Mindreader Eagles seemed like the way to go.

Getting them out of the hands of most tycoons would be tough, but……

Still, if Yubaek came knocking, wouldn’t some people be willing to test the waters?

Anyway.

Yu Jia wasn’t trying to strong-arm the government.

She planned to give the country plenty of benefits, and receive her fair share in return.

However.

Yu Jia was a merchant at heart.

She simply refused to be played for a fool.

Only relationships built on mutual respect — win-win — could last. Relationships where one side sacrificed were destined to crumble.

Time passed.

The meeting resumed, and the Prime Minister personally laid out the situation.

“First, we’ve assessed each technology at a minimum value of one hundred billion dollars. That’s approximately 130 trillion won. With ten technologies, that comes to 1,300 trillion won. Additionally, ten billion barrels of crude oil, priced at eighty-five dollars per barrel, amounts to 850 billion dollars. Approximately 1,130 trillion won in value.”

Yu Jia’s eyes narrowed slightly with suspicion.

Hmm, Hwang Juwon said the oil field would be worth around 1,300 trillion won……

Then again.

Juwon did have a bit of a pseudo-intellectual streak.

And she could just verify with the Mindreader Eagle anyway.

“Therefore, based solely on the value of this championship’s compensation, the total comes to 2,430 trillion won.”

“Good lord……”

“My God……”

Gasps escaped from every corner of the room.

Even though this was a figure they themselves had reached through deliberation, the sheer magnitude of the number was staggering.

Oh.

Even Yu Jia was a little surprised.

It really was enormous.

Forty times Daesung Group’s annual pure profit.

More than four times the national budget.

“Beyond that, there’s the additional prestige of having represented South Korea and brought home a championship, which creates even greater value. But as you know, South Korea simply cannot afford to pay this amount. Our national debt already exceeds 1,000 trillion won.”

“Of course.”

Yu Jia nodded.

What she had requested was simply the value of the compensation.

Knowing that was enough.

Every decision after that was hers to make.

First.

She used the Mindreader Eagle to determine whether the Prime Minister was telling the truth.

A brief moment passed.

Truth.

She confirmed there was no deception in his words.

That’s all I needed.

Yu Jia’s gaze softened in an instant.

“Let me share Yubaek’s position.”

“Please.”

“Go ahead.”

“By all means.”

Everyone swallowed hard, listening intently.

The tension on their faces was unmistakable.

“Please establish a special law. One that applies a different tax rate to Yubaek and SKY.”

“You’re asking us to amend legislation?”

“Yes. Abolish the inheritance tax and gift tax. Exempt us from value-added tax, and we’ll pay only twenty percent of income as income tax. That alone should make the country wealthy in no time, don’t you think?”

“……That it would.”

Considering what they would earn going forward.

It wasn’t a difficult request.

By handing over those technologies and the oil field alone, hadn’t she already paid decades’ worth of taxes?

Convincing the National Assembly would be necessary, but it was entirely feasible.

“Next, please cede all the land surrounding Geomdan Mountain to Yubaek and lift the greenbelt restrictions. Also, transfer all development permits for that area to Yubaek.”

“……!”

“This won’t cost the government anything either. If we build a landmark there, that alone elevates the nation’s standing. And we’re offering to do it ourselves.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Something felt off.

They’d expected outrageous demands, but these were concessions anyone would naturally grant.

In fact, other countries didn’t tax their national team players at all.

To prevent naturalization.

Yet here, she was volunteering to pay taxes.

Twenty percent, no less.

On top of that, she was declaring she’d launch a tourism venture in Hanam that would draw the world’s attention…… This wasn’t a demand — it was practically a gift, wasn’t it?

“……”

The conference room fell silent.

Yu Jia, too, kept her lips firmly pressed together.

“S-surely that’s not all?”

The Prime Minister stammered the question.

Yu Jia smiled and nodded.

“You can manage this much, can’t you?”

“O-of course.”

“It’s not even a matter of ability — it’s absurdly easy……”

“Is that really all it takes?”

When the ministers asked with emotion brimming in their eyes, Yu Jia grinned.

“Oh, come on. What do you take me for?”

“The technologies and the oil field — the people already paid for those. They stayed up all night watching the league, cheering us on, celebrating with us. If I can’t even give back this much, what kind of person would that make me?”

“My word.”

Every person seated in that conference room trembled, lips quivering with emotion.

A hush of pure awe swept through the room.

Shock.

And then, gratitude.

What an incredible person.

She planned to give it all from the very beginning.

As expected of the Daesung family. They certainly know how to raise someone right.

She truly has the caliber to keep someone like Baek Jinwoo in check.

The atmosphere in the conference room, which had grown heavy, shifted to something warm and positive once more.

And then.

“……Thank you. Truly.”

The Prime Minister barely managed to speak.

“I never imagined you would go this far. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making a decision that will be such an immense source of strength for our people and our nation.”

With those words, he bowed his head with the utmost sincerity.

CRASH!

Kang Geonho’s Paladin (A-rank) was bitten and brought down by Ahn Gijeong’s Seven-Spot Spider (B-rank).

He’d tried every trick he knew to hold on, but it was no use.

Ahn Gijeong’s movements were both seasoned and relentless, and in the end, the accumulating poison damage stacked too high to withstand.

He crumbled.

“Gijeong Hyungnim wins! Geonho Hyungnim loses!”

Damn it.

Today of all days, Kang Jiho’s voice grated on his nerves even more than usual.

Kang Geonho had been in a slump lately.

Nothing seemed to improve no matter what he did, and he couldn’t muster any motivation.

[National Ranking #8: Kang Geonho]

Dropped from first to eighth.

He hadn’t even made the world ranking.

What was it?

What the hell was wrong?

Eyes squeezed shut, Kang Geonho headed to none other than where Baek Jinwoo was.

He wanted answers, even if it meant swallowing every last shred of his pride.

“So…… you feel like you’ve hit a wall?”

Baek Jinwoo, who had been doing breathing exercises beside Aso, rose to his feet.

“……That’s right, Guild Master.”

Kang Geonho muttered, frustration thick in his voice.

“I’ve been keeping up with physical training, and I’ve been trying my best to absorb everything Drill Sarge teaches. I just can’t figure out what I need to change.”

“……What to change?”

Baek Jinwoo let out a quiet sigh.

“Everything. You need to change everything.”

“Excuse me……?”

“You think you’re doing well, but you’re not improving? That’s not it. The fact that you’re not improving means you’ve grown enough to reach this point, but now you’re looking at a level far beyond where you are. Right?”

“……That’s right.”

“Have you truly given it your all?”

Kang Geonho clenched his fists.

He had.

He’d gritted his teeth and pushed himself. He’d practiced his control consistently.

But talent.

A lack of talent……

Except Juwon Hyungnim was doing just fine, wasn’t it?

“Because from where I’m standing, you haven’t.”

Baek Jinwoo’s voice was blunt, leaving no room for argument.

“Sure, up until now you’ve been doing well enough. But your goal is world ranker, isn’t it? Then you can’t keep doing what you’ve been doing.”

“The routine, the habits, the practice you had when you were the national number one — if you’re still clinging to all of that, then you’re standing still. Obviously everything needs to change. You don’t come out at dawn, do you?”

Whenever Baek Jinwoo couldn’t sleep, he’d train his breathing exercises on the rooftop at dawn.

And every time, he saw them.

Hwang Juwon, pushing himself in secret, bleeding and sweating to reach the benchmarks Drill Sarge had set.

And Hong Ari, Oh Seonyeong, Ki Jaehyeok, Kang Jiho……

“The world is fair, Geonho.”

“And like I mentioned before, we’ll be recruiting a second generation soon. The tryouts will be held within SKY. If you get caught from behind there too…… there’s nothing I can do. You’ll be eliminated from next year’s national team.”

He held no ill will toward Kang Geonho.

If anything, his feelings were favorable.

They were guild members, after all.

But that didn’t mean he’d cover for a lack of skill, and a guild master had to be fair.

If he ran the guild on sentiment, he might as well turn it into a social club.

“I…… understand.”

Kang Geonho dipped his head in a bow, biting down hard on his lip.

Blunt, but crystal clear.

He wasn’t improving because he wasn’t doing enough.

Was I stuck in a rut this whole time?

He’d been waking up out of habit, doing the same familiar exercises.

He hadn’t actively sought out his weaknesses to fix them.

At first, he hadn’t noticed.

He’d been the national number one for three whole years.

He’d assumed Hong Ari, Oh Seonyeong, Ki Jaehyeok, and Kang Jiho were doing well because they’d received personal tutoring from Baek Jinwoo.

But no.

That wasn’t it at all.

Pure lack of effort.

Lack of self-driven learning.

They’d caught up to him because, compared to them, he simply hadn’t put in the work.

Again.

He would try again.

He couldn’t give up here.

Song Yeonhui and Hwang Jiwoo were climbing up from behind at a terrifying pace.

“Thank you, Guild Master.”

His resolve renewed, Kang Geonho turned on his heel and headed for the training grounds.

England. Player Zone.

“Unni.”

Olivia watched Rachel with worried eyes.

“Are you really going right away? It’s your first time. You’ve never gone in this unprepared before.”

“Unprepared? I’m fully ready.”

She was currently standing before the main gate of the Tower of Trials.

It was time to challenge Floor 51!

A world first.

“Liar.”

Olivia pouted.

“It’s because of Baek Jinwoo, isn’t it? You’re scared he’ll actually catch up next year?”

“What?”

Rachel stared at her as if she’d just heard the most absurd thing in the world.

“He’s already caught up. What are you talking about?”

“Oh come on, we don’t see it that way. You’ll always be number one in our hearts, Unni.”

“Cut the crap. You can think whatever you want, but the number one in my heart will always be JinuGod.”

Olivia’s lips jutted out even further.

Seriously.

Was she really that obsessed with JinuGod?

Ever since the whole ‘Yeah, go back’ incident, just thinking about JinuGod made Olivia’s skin crawl.

“Olivia, put those lips away. What are you, a seahorse?”

“Unni!”

“Anyway, I’m going up.”

Climb first, then work toward conquering Floor 100.

That was Rachel’s goal.

For humanity.

To uncover whoever was behind this suspicious system that was throwing the world into chaos.

“The Floor 60 boss is Asmodeus. I’ve already got the full strategy mapped out in my head. I’ll be fine, so stop worrying.”

Step.

Rachel began to walk.

“You all keep training hard and wait for me.”

Her golden hair, pulled back in a long ponytail, swayed gently in the breeze.

Swoosh.

All Olivia could do was watch with uneasy eyes as Rachel strode confidently through the main gate and disappeared from sight.