Chapter 16

Chapter 16:

Player HQ.

Talent Management Team office.

Staff member Yu Jia observed Park Changseok with a highly concerned look.

The bearded man was slumped deeply into an expensive chair, every ounce of strength completely drained from his frame. He appeared thoroughly defeated.

“Councilman, are you doing alright?”

Even when she spoke.

“Siiiiiiigh.”

The only thing Park Changseok did was release heavy sigh after heavy sigh.

Yu Jia was highly intelligent.

She was one of the most brilliant elites the headquarters had ever produced.

She didn’t require an explanation of the specifics to deduce exactly what had transpired.

He had been in this state ever since his encounter with Councilman Im Huisu.

Was that four days back?

He had marched off in an absolute rage, swearing to settle their dispute once and for all, only to return looking completely shattered.

There was no salvaging this situation.

In truth, Park Changseok was a remarkably resilient individual.

Known as the Yaksha of headquarters, he was a player who commanded total reverence from all the employees.

And yet.

Baek Jinwoo……

From the moment he began supporting that player who was labeled a gamer, his vulnerabilities had multiplied drastically.

“This is about Baek Jinwoo, isn’t it? What took place? Did Councilman Im Huisu demand that you reimburse the cost of the low-grade summoning scrolls? Should I request that my grandfather intervene?”

“……”

Park Changseok gazed at her with a blank stare.

Staff member Yu Jia.

Age: twenty-eight.

A highly skilled young professional in the early stages of her career, though her lineage was nothing short of staggering.

She was the fourth granddaughter of Yu Byeongcheon, the creator of Daesung Group, the premier conglomerate across South Korea.

She held no direct claim to the corporate succession, but her striking appearance had earned her the immense adoration of her grandfather throughout her life.

Her status as an elite was easily explained as well.

She had been provided with every form of chaebol instruction conceivable, all bankrolled by the vast resources of Daesung.

Nevertheless, following the transformation of the world.

Yu Jia had developed a profound fascination with players.

That was the exact motivation behind her choosing to enlist at the headquarters.

“I appreciate the gesture.”

Park Changseok, amidst his sighing, allowed a slight grin to surface.

“This was a path of my own choosing. I cannot go running to rely on the corporate world’s leverage simply because a situation turns sour.”

“Yes, you are completely right.”

“Huh?”

When Yu Jia agreed with him without a moment’s hesitation, Park Changseok’s eyes went wide with surprise.

What.

She was merely saying that?

“Naturally, I was only kidding. I merely suggested it to lift your spirits.”

“…Beg pardon?”

“That happens to be the exact behavior my grandfather loathes above all else. When an individual clearly possesses the capability to fight through an obstacle by themselves, but opts for the path of least resistance by leaning on the family name.”

Ah.

So that was the philosophy of a chaebol patriarch?

Even Park Changseok found himself agreeing with that perspective.

“As a matter of fact, the issue regarding the low-grade summoning scrolls has already been settled.”

“Is that so?”

“A minor detail like that poses no issue whatsoever. It fell under my own jurisdiction from the start.”

“Then why do you look like a walking co—”

“Im Huisu. That miserable wretch keeps rubbing me the wrong way.”

Park Changseok envisioned the recent confrontation.

His ultimate nemesis.

Councilman Im Huisu.

The target of that man’s mocking insults was none other than the Talent Management Team itself.

“You lack the ability to cultivate actual prospects, yet you dare label yourselves the Talent Management Team? Is your goal to squander the headquarters’ funding yet again? Pray tell, are you intending to blow it on those rankers you harbor? The ones incapable of even passing the qualifiers for the national team selection? Ha, why don’t you simply hand over that Talent Management Team allocation to my department instead?”

Each. Individual. Utterance.

Perfectly calibrated to provoke a violent reaction.

Yet he had been utterly powerless to contest it.

Because in truth, the headquarters rankers operating under Im Huisu’s management were regularly chosen for the national squad and continuously achieved substantial success.

A thoroughly detestable individual, but one of undeniable competence.

“You surely aren’t boasting just because you managed a single record in a low-tier Tuesday dungeon? Councilman Park Changseok, why don’t you stick to your area of expertise, dismantling criminal syndicates? And cease trying to nurture prospects that will ultimately amount to nothing.”

Crrrrrrrk.

His jaw clenched tightly of its own volition.

Park Changseok was capable of freezing logic when circumstances demanded, but there were moments when his temper blazed fiercely.

Ultimately, he refused to let the insult pass. He retaliated.

Right before the eyes of the Director, no less.

“What will your response be when the talent I nurture successfully qualifies for this national team selection?”

Recalling how Im Huisu had smirked in amusement at those words, Park Changseok simply lost his restraint.

“How about a minor wager? On whether my rankers secure a spot on the national team or fail.”

The year-end World League.

A mere ten players from each country were permitted to join.

“Even better, let us determine whose rankers achieve the superior placement. Are you willing?”

“Oh? You are earnest about this? What are the conditions?”

Im Huisu smirked.

Of course he did.

Never in history had a single one of Park Changseok’s players successfully entered the national team.

In stark contrast, Im Huisu had placed two of his own rankers onto the national roster just the previous year.

That was an immense feat.

It wasn’t merely headquarters rankers vying for spots. Master-class rankers from every prominent guild across the nation entered the fray.

“The defeated party will openly concede that the victorious councilman is superior and step down from office willingly. What is your answer?”

“Have you lost your senses? You mean this?”

“Completely. Should you withdraw, the forfeit is one billion won. We can formalize the agreement this very second if you prefer.”

The temperature within the Director’s office had reached a boiling point.

“Now, now, gentlemen. Let us maintain our composure. What has gotten into the pair of you?”

The Director, whom Park Changseok secretly referred to as the old fossil, attempted to intervene while dripping with sweat, but neither councilman paid him the slightest shred of attention.

This had transformed into an issue of pure pride.

In the end, the two finalized the legal agreement right then and there.

Precisely as detailed.

“And so, I went ahead and finalized it in a moment of sheer anger.”

“…No, how can that possibly make any sense?”

Yu Jia’s face was a mask of sheer astonishment upon listening to the tale.

What manner of volatile, reckless gamble was that?

Furthermore, his probability of emerging victorious was essentially… dropping down to absolute zero!

“It cannot be.”

Yu Jia inquired with a faint glint of optimism.

“Baek Jinwoo. You are placing your stakes on him?”

“I am indeed.”

And that was the exact reason Park Changseok could not stop his sighing.

Baek Jinwoo was not completely aligned with him yet.

Leaping blindly into a wager when he possessed no certainty that the player would stand by him. It deviated completely from his usual character.

No, perhaps this IS exactly who I am?

Well.

Could anyone truly define someone as level-headed when they had gone entirely all-in on Baek Jinwoo, staking every asset in their possession?

“His past achievements are undeniably remarkable, yes, but he remains merely a gamer. I cannot speak for what lies ahead, but as of right now, he is in no position to square off against true rankers.”

“I am aware. I am fully aware of that.”

Sigh!

Park Changseok let loose another heavy breath.

“But are you aware of something else?”

“What is it?”

“I possess an incredible intuition for identifying talent.”

Yu Jia locked her lips together.

Secretary Kim Byeongjin, staff member Yu Jia, staff member Hwang Taeseop.

Every single one of them had been hand-picked by Park Changseok, and that specific team was what every rival councilman at headquarters coveted most.

“I place my faith in Baek Jinwoo. Provided we supply him with the correct backing, he will go on delivering invaluable intelligence to us.”

“…Sigh, very well.”

Yu Jia exhaled and rolled her head back in acceptance, and at that very second.

“Councilman! Councilman!”

A figure threw the door open from the hallway with a loud slam.

It was Secretary Kim Byeongjin.

“You instructed me to investigate the player who has been solo-running dozens of D-rank dungeons at a ridiculous pace, correct?”

“Yes, what of it?”

“The individual was Baek Jinwoo.”

“WHAT?”

Park Changseok leaped to his feet.

Yu Jia’s eyes widened in shock as well.

“Baek Jinwoo? Is that accurate?”

How could such a feat even be feasible?

A player who had initiated their registration barely over a month ago, solo-clearing D-rank dungeons?

Furthermore, he had caught wind that the median completion mark did not even cross the five-minute threshold.

That represented a terrifying velocity of advancement, and it instantaneously demonstrated that the sheer magnitude of knowledge Baek Jinwoo held was beyond comprehension!

“See? What did I express to you.”

Park Changseok grinned and shifted his gaze toward Yu Jia.

“Did I not proclaim that Baek Jinwoo is the real deal?”

The real deal?

Yu Jia twisted her lips.

What ancient era did that expression even originate from?

At that precise moment.

“Heh heh heh.”

Baek Jinwoo was unable to suppress the grin spreading across his features.

[Account Details]

[Account Holder: Baek Jinwoo]

[Premium Savings Account]

[Available Balance: 26,002,500 won]

A mere four days.

In the brief span it took for dawn to break and fade four times, he had conquered a grand total of 160 D-rank dungeons.

The outcome.

Approximately sixteen million won in earnings.

That figure remained after liquidating every mid-grade summoning scroll, which materialized at roughly a 20% acquisition rate.

“The universe truly was structured for my benefit.”

The capital he had secured would be channeled back into empowering his summons down the line.

But prior to that.

Baek Jinwoo partitioned his funds first.

Divided into four separate allocations.

1. Living expenses account.

2. Family account.

3. Savings account.

4. Player account.

To begin, he transferred five million won into the living expenses account.

The living expenses account must remain locked at five million, without variation.

Whenever rent, utility fees, pastries, groceries, and miscellaneous costs depleted the total?

He would replenish it back to the five million threshold at the dawn of every month.

Following that, the family account.

An additional five million won was allocated here.

Five million on a monthly basis.

This constituted funds designated for his household.

He would accumulate it resolutely, then distribute it lavishly for Mom, Dad, and Baek Ajin.

Then came the savings account.

He intended to funnel ten million won into this specific allocation every single month.

Ten million a month!

Those were concepts entirely foreign to Baek Jinwoo’s past self.

Notions from a completely different reality that he could never have conceptualized during his days of working part-time positions.

For the present Baek Jinwoo, it was effortless.

The wealth stacking up within the savings account would be utilized exclusively for Baek Jinwoo’s prospects and his own desires.

Lastly, the player account.

That corresponded to his current premium account.

Baek Jinwoo intended to expend every single won that gathered here entirely on his summons.

Runes, abrasives, summoning scrolls, crafting assets, skill manuals, and beyond.

The metric of supreme importance is a player’s inherent worth.

Money?

The moment he ascended to the pinnacle of the world, wealth would gravitate toward him naturally.

The current period was no time to get defensive over hoarded savings.

Regardless.

While grinding out dungeons continuously through this period, his summons had developed significantly.

Ramba, Drill Sarge, Stormy.

Every single one of them had breached level 30.

This represented a staggering feat.

Metrics that the current creation laboratories could never hope to replicate.

Nonetheless, to advance beyond level 40, he would be required to farm dozens of times more intensely than his efforts thus far.

Because each subsequent tier demanded progressively massive quantities of experience metrics.

It was time to begin embedding runes and executing advancements.

And to accomplish that?

He was required to exploit Day Dungeons.

To be more specific.

He needed to cultivate the summons destined to conquer Day Dungeons.

A player is capable of establishing a limit of three distinct squads.

Ilcheon JinuGod had distributed his three squads in the following manner:

1. Player team.

2. PvP team.

3. Day Dungeon team.

First, the player team.

It earned the title of the player team because it journeyed alongside the player themselves.

The unit that remained flanked to Baek Jinwoo under all circumstances.

Typically, it was deployed for standard dungeon farming as he was performing currently, or for besting the Tower of Trials.

Given that the Tower of Trials demanded altering summons to match the specific mechanics of each tier, the roster shifted constantly.

Next, the PvP team.

Precisely what the title implied. A squad engineered for Player vs Player engagements.

With such a vast array of summons existing in the world, certain varieties naturally excelled in combat directed at other players.

Assassin-class entities, for example.

Baek Jinwoo had designated these PvP-centric summons straight to Team 2.

And finally, the Day Dungeon team.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Each separate day featured a distinct mechanic.

The Day Dungeon team held paramount importance because it was capable of automated farming even in the absence of the player, meaning once it was structured, it needed to commence resource extraction immediately.

Furthermore.

There existed entities designated as core units for each specific day.

The vital summons that unlocked hyper-fast completions of every unique Day Dungeon!

By way of example, the Spotted Komodo (B-rank) encountered previously served as the core unit for the Tuesday challenge.

Within Baek Jinwoo’s memory, every core unit spanning D-rank to C-rank to B-rank for each day of the week was completely logged.

Now I must begin tracking them down.

A squad capable of automated Day Dungeon farming at the swiftest pace imaginable!

Baek Jinwoo purposed to establish that foundation first.

Formulate the ideal roster?

Then subject them to unrelenting discipline under Drill Sarge.

That wasn’t the extent of it.

He was required to awaken their hidden potential and elevate their velocity to the absolute maximum peak.

Commence with speed trials in the lower-tier Day Dungeons.

The exact instant he commanded a squad capable of reducing every apex-tier Day Dungeon’s median clearing mark to under sixty seconds?

That would be the point where his progression speed would erupt far beyond any conventional logic.

For the moment.

[Available Balance: 6,002,500 won]

Following the partitioning of his funds as arranged, precisely six million won was left over.

Uncertain if this amount will suffice to procure summons, but…

Might as well evaluate the current rates.

Baek Jinwoo launched the Player Web and steered directly into the 「Market」 subsection.