Chapter 19

Chapter 19: I Alone Am an EX-Class Summoner

The sun was just beginning to rise.

“Is that all the effort you can muster? Keep those bodies moving!” Drill Sarge roared. “Hup-two-three—” He briefly tripped over his rhythm before forcing his way through. “Push past your breaking point. True progression only happens when you exceed your limits.”

The open space was soaked with the perspiration of the gathered entities.

“Hah… hah…”

“Ugh… haah…!”

Ramba lay flat on the dirt, her breathing ragged and heavy, while Stormy let out low groans of exhaustion.

Baek Jinwoo couldn’t quite grasp the training regimen Drill Sarge was enforcing, but trusting that the compact instructor had everything under control, he launched into his own physical routine.

“Master, that particular stance won’t optimize your muscular development. Shift like this. Correct, you must maintain that precise form.”

The ironic part?

Even Baek Jinwoo found himself unable to moderate the exercise-obsessed Drill Sarge.

From upper body strength to lower body stability, core conditioning, and cardiovascular endurance—the small commander left nothing out.

Drill Sarge coached him through routines designed for comprehensive Growth, and Baek Jinwoo paid close attention, absorbing every piece of advice.

The entity was undeniably a summon built to be the ultimate tutor.

Could this regimen eventually awaken some hidden capability within me as well?

It didn’t matter.

As long as it brought advancement, he was more than willing to do it.

He was in the middle of a strenuous set when the atmosphere shifted.

“Silence, everyone.”

Drill Sarge instantly quieted the group.

He then stepped toward Baek Jinwoo and bowed his head slightly.

“Master, an individual is making their way up.”

“Understood.”

Baek Jinwoo picked up his nearby towel, drying his face and neck as he stood up.

He already knew exactly who was arriving.

Yu Jia.

She was the sole reason he had chosen this location today.

Still, it was impressive.

That little Drill Sarge possessed remarkably sharp perception.

He pushed others to their limits while working just as hard himself, which explained why his level was skyrocketing and his attribute increases were so substantial.

He truly earned his EX-rank designation.

Following Drill Sarge’s alert about the newcomer, both Ramba and Stormy clamped their hands over their lips.

They knew the rule: absolute silence in the presence of outsiders.

That was a strict directive from their player, Baek Jinwoo.

Moments later.

“Phew… huff…”

Yu Jia crested the final ridge, her breath coming in heavy gasps as she wiped away the sweat pooling on her brow.

“I recalled this from my previous visit, but the elevation here is truly demanding.”

“You made it up.”

“Yes. It seems you’ve been exerting yourself since dawn? Oh, your summoned forces are present as well.”

Her eyes gleamed with curiosity as she observed the exhausted entities scattered across the field.

“Is this your entire roster? I recognize Minikong and the Golden Fairy from before, but these others are unfamiliar.”

Ramba, Drill Sarge, and Stormy.

There was zero chance Yu Jia would recognize them.

Every single one of them was entirely unique across the globe.

Furthermore, they were humanoid types—the rarest category in existence.

“Haha, correct. I can provide details later, but they constitute my primary vanguard.”

“Understood. Then let us handle the presentation first. That is the primary purpose of my trek.”

Vwoooom!

A bright radiance emanated from Yu Jia’s open palm.

[Player ‘Yu Jia’ initiates a transaction.]

[Please thoroughly examine the terms offered by the counterparty.]

The systems of the Battle of Summoners, which had manifested in reality, fully facilitated secure commerce between players.

To eliminate any possibility of deceit, the interface strictly monitored compliance. If either party failed to deliver on the finalized agreement, a severe hex would take effect.

The penalty was severe enough to be fatal under extreme conditions, demanding absolute vigilance.

[Yu Jia: Battle Warden (C-rank), Priest of Radiance (C-rank), Spotted Komodo (B-rank), Wind Falcon (B-rank), Titanium Golem (B-rank), Horn Fairy (C-rank), Frost Cat (C-rank), Sky Dolphin (C-rank), Skypierce Wyvern (B-rank), Lava Drake (C-rank), Lava Drake (C-rank), Lava Drake (C-rank)]

[Baek Jinwoo: No items offered.]

The respective trading interfaces materialized before them.

[Do you consent to the transaction proposed by Player ‘Yu Jia’?]

He had no reason to decline.

She had successfully gathered every single one of them.

Baek Jinwoo gave a firm nod, and the entities immediately transferred into his personal storage space.

The entire collection was officially his!

From this moment on, Drill Sarge’s intensive training regimen was going to welcome a massive influx of recruits.

“You have my gratitude. This collection is incredibly significant to me. Truly.”

“Please, think nothing of it. After all, our interests are intertwined now.”

Yu Jia offered a gentle grin, her expression turning focused.

“Now, shall we address the structural details?”

Yu Jia laid out the administrative framework with clinical efficiency.

The corporate entity would operate under the name 「Yubaek」.

The title combined their respective family names, Yu and Baek, she noted.

Baek Jinwoo would command a 70% controlling interest, while Yu Jia would retain 25%.

As for the remaining 5%?

That allocation was designated for Park Changseok.

It functioned partly as a reward for his upcoming role in anchoring 「Yubaek」’s advancement from within the main administration.

And partly as a token of appreciation.

His initial role in identifying Baek Jinwoo’s potential was undeniably critical.

Naturally, as a sitting public official, Park Changseok faced strict transparency requirements regarding his financial holdings, but Yu Jia had already engineered a solution.

A binding agreement would manage the arrangement.

Specifically, a player-to-player system covenant, which stood as the most unbreakable form of legal bond.

The parameters were straightforward: upon concluding his political tenure, the 5% equity stake would officially transfer to him. Park Changseok had accepted without hesitation.

“To summarize, you hold the controlling stake, Jinwoo, while I assume the role of Chief Executive Officer. Councilman Park Changseok will guide us as our chief consultant. Regarding personnel, my intention is to recruit Kim Byeongjin and Hwang Taeseop by offering highly lucrative packages.”

“Kim Byeongjin and Hwang Taeseop… Aren’t they members of the main administrative staff?”

“They tendered their departures earlier this morning. When offered triple their existing compensation, staying put simply wasn’t a logical choice.”

Three times their current earnings.

His grandfather’s old wisdom came to mind.

Never hesitate to spend money on premium personnel.

Park Changseok had additionally dismantled the controversial Talent Management Team, opting to redirect his full attention to his operational obligations as a Yaksha.

Apparently, leaving the management of Baek Jinwoo to the inept main office was considered a complete failure of duty.

“Though, there is one thing.”

Baek Jinwoo inquired with a degree of hesitation.

“Are you entirely certain about granting me a 70% share?”

It was a phenomenal offer, certainly.

Yet it felt disproportionately massive.

A bit daunting, to be completely frank.

“While the initial capital originates from me, the core value of Yubaek rests entirely on your shoulders, Jinwoo. Once your reputation spreads, competing agencies, conglomerates, and potentially state departments will try to recruit you. But I am absolutely certain of one thing—none of them will ever yield more than a 50% stake to you.”

The logic was undeniable.

The instant an outside entity secures over half the equity, voting power becomes an illusion—it effectively belongs to them.

No rational investor designs a venture merely to surrender total control.

“Then what is your motivation for…”

“View it as a calculated wager.”

“A wager…”

“I secure a guaranteed quarter of the total corporate yield. In terms of governance, provided my performance remains stellar and my strategies rational, the principal owner has no incentive to override me, correct? I trust my capabilities. I am entirely confident in my ability to maximize the returns on that 25%.”

Furthermore, since the operation was essentially centered around a single asset, rigid voting percentages carried little weight.

If the sole individual driving the venture—Baek Jinwoo—refused a path, the entire operational structure would ground to a halt regardless!

What ultimately mattered was the interpersonal dynamic.

By restraining her immediate avarice, she could cement an unshakeable partnership.

When the foundation of trust is absolute, no external enticements or rival bids can compromise it.

That was the exact approach Yu Jia had decided to implement.

“You have my sincere appreciation.”

Baek Jinwoo carefully reviewed the document lines.

Even during his time as an ordinary citizen, he had ascended to the absolute pinnacle of a highly competitive ecosystem.

He possessed an innate ability to spot hidden traps in legal text.

The document was completely pristine.

If anything, the parameters skewed so heavily in his favor that it felt almost unearned.

“I simply apply my validation print here?”

“Correct.”

“In that case, I look forward to our partnership, Director Yu.”

“Likewise.”

And at the exact moment the corporate birth of Yubaek was being finalized—

SWISH!

Drill Sarge, who had been silently monitoring his master’s interactions, lunged forward like a coiled spring.

He targeted a cluster of dense foliage nearby.

“What is occurring?”

“I have no certainty.”

Both Baek Jinwoo and Yu Jia reacted with surprise.

Right after.

“EEEEK!”

A piercing female shriek cut through the quiet air.

Rustle, crash!

Drill Sarge emerged from the thick greenery, carrying two figures upside down, each gripped tightly by an ankle.

Secured in his left hand: a Shadow Elf (C-rank).

Secured in his right hand: Baek Ajin.

Drill Sarge’s impassive face conveyed that he had successfully neutralized the spies who were attempting to intercept his master’s private discourse.

Fortunately, Baek Ajin was completely enveloped in a defensive shield, meaning she had sustained zero physical trauma.

“Hold on.”

Complete bewilderment washed over Baek Jinwoo’s features.

“What brings you to this location?”

“And who might this be…?”

“Ah, this is my younger sister.”

This troublesome girl.

Had she seriously been lurking there eavesdropping on everything?

Baek Ajin was utterly paralyzed.

Far beyond mere surprise—her pulse was racing out of control.

The mere reality that an elite figure like Yu Jia had materialized in a remote spot like this was mind-boggling.

Oh my goodness.

And she had simply been taking a path to locate her brother.

How could such a coincidence even occur?

The most prominent corporate heiress in the country maintaining an active relationship with her own family!

Unable to simply depart without verifying the situation, she had hidden herself in the brush.

Her Shadow Elf was a specialized entity engineered for absolute stealth.

She had assumed eluding the detection of two players would be trivial.

However.

They were exchanging words, though the exact phrases eluded her ears.

Yet one element was undeniable.

The rapport between the two individuals appeared remarkably close.

What in the world was happening?

This wasn’t the sensation of accidentally discovering your sibling on a private rendezvous.

This felt like pure terror.

The staggering realization that Baek Jinwoo—whom she had always perceived as entirely ordinary—was operating in an entirely separate stratosphere!

And that sense of alienation only intensified.

Because one of her brother’s summoned units was closing the distance to her position with terrifying velocity.

It had bypassed her concealment entirely?

A C-rank unit, at that.

The vast majority of B-rank entities were incapable of tracking a Shadow Elf when it was fully invested in its cloaking skills.

Yet.

That armored combatant was tracking her exact coordinates without a hint of hesitation as it advanced.

I have to retreat.

Baek Ajin signaled her Shadow Elf to move.

However.

Drill Sarge’s velocity defied comprehension.

With the swiftness of a predator striking its prey, he closed the gap instantly and seized the elf’s lower leg, lifting it off the ground.

Flick!

The Shadow Elf attempted an agile evasion maneuver, but—

Thwip, thwip!

With a rapid tap of Drill Sarge’s fingertips, the elf’s physical form froze entirely.

He had targeted its neural nodes, neutralizing it completely.

What on earth.

Baek Ajin had never witnessed a summon capable of such feats.

She routinely analyzed professional player matches, but martial proficiency of this caliber was unheard of.

And then.

“EEEEK!”

Drill Sarge restrained Baek Ajin in identical fashion.

Oh, no.

Baek Ajin fell into despair.

Her original intent was to observe briefly and slip away undetected.

The entire plan had imploded spectacularly.

“Let me ensure I grasp the sequence here,” Baek Jinwoo spoke, his tone a mix of confusion and exhaustion. “You spotted Yu Jia, recognized her, and trailed her up here?”

“No! It wasn’t stalking! I was simply intrigued, so I followed the path behind her.”

“That is the literal definition of trailing someone.”

“……”

“And upon arriving, you discovered me, and unable to suppress your inquisitiveness, you utilized stealth to spy on us?”

“Yes! That is what happened!” Baek Ajin finally confessed under pressure. “But what about you, Brother? It feels like you are the one holding out on the major explanations here.”

Haah.

Baek Jinwoo let out a quiet sigh to himself.

Sensational.

The situation had just grown immensely complicated.

What kind of bizarre twist of fate was this?

He had fully intended to disclose the reality to her eventually, but she had blundered into the truth far ahead of schedule.

“How do you even possess a connection with Yu… Jia-nim? And what is the story behind that terrifying summon? It completely shut down my Shadow Elf in under five seconds! How can that be possible? Particularly for someone who woke up from a vegetative state barely two months ago? Absolutely none of this aligns logically!”

“Take a breath, calm down.”

Baek Jinwoo displayed an apologetic look as he turned his gaze toward Yu Jia.

“My apologies. I overlooked the fact that my sister frequents this particular area as well.”

“It is quite alright. Given that she is your immediate family, I had intended to coordinate an introduction in the near future regardless. This merely expedites the process.”

Eh?

Wait…

She recalled spotting something in the structural framework.

A clause indicating that Baek Jinwoo’s comprehensive representation package would extend protections to his immediate relatives as well?

“Is that… factual?”

The one left entirely speechless was the younger sibling.

“Yu… Jia-nim was actually intending to… meet with me?”

A look of sheer enchantment washed over her face, a expression Baek Jinwoo had never witnessed from his sister before.

And it was entirely understandable.

Yu Jia stood at the absolute zenith of the public figures she held in high esteem.

“First,” Baek Jinwoo said, taking charge of the immediate environment. “I will finalize the authentication now.”

Thud!

He pressed his personal verification seal onto every required line, ensuring they both retained an official copy of the covenant.

“We can defer the comprehensive briefings for an upcoming session. For the current moment, I need to dedicate some time to sorting things out with my sister.”

“Naturally. I will initiate contact later.”

“Understood.”

Baek Ajin remained entirely incapable of processing the reality around her.

Not in the slightest.