Chapter 46

Hwang Myeonghui, the mother of Baek Jinwoo, felt as though she were floating through a fantastical dream lately.

Because of the specialized family support package offered by Yubaek, her monthly allowance for basic living costs had risen to ten million won. This financial cushion allowed her to scale back her grueling schedule from three separate employment positions down to just a single job. With this newly acquired freedom, she could finally participate in school reunions that she previously lacked the time to attend.

“Jeonghye. What about your boy? Wasn’t there some big update about him?”

“Oh, him? He actually managed to secure a spot at Baekho.”

“Baekho? You mean one of the absolute Big Three? Goodness, girl! Why on earth did you keep that a secret until now!”

“Is that so? He must be performing exceptionally well.”

The gathering was filled with the usual boasting about children, but Myeonghui remained entirely undisturbed by it. There was a visible serenity in her demeanor now, a sort of relaxed composure.

Baekho?

She had only recently become aware of its significance through the conversations of her peers. It was recognized as one of the three titan guilds that dominated the landscape of South Korea, alongside Arirang and Ilwol. These organizations were so colossal that anyone oblivious to their existence would practically be viewed as an outsider or a foreign operative.

“If he is operating as a licensed player under the banner of Baekho, isn’t that basically achieving the status of a minor tycoon? Jeonghye, your son has truly hit the jackpot!”

“Well, it isn’t quite at that level just yet. He is merely a freshman recruit, after all. His entry was secured through a highly competitive special talent track, and the word is that the top leader of the guild personally commended him for his exceptional innate capacity.”

“Incredible! If the praise came directly from the guild master of Baekho… that means he was noticed by the number two ranked individual in the entire nation!”

The man holding that second-place national ranking was Park Ho. He was a terrifyingly powerful combatant who had recently secured the third-place spot during the highly competitive national squad selection trials. Furthermore, the top-ranked powerhouse in the country, Kang Geonho, held the position of vice guild master right within Baekho! This concentrated power was precisely why Baekho was widely considered the premiere establishment among the Big Three.

Even though that entire reality felt like a completely different universe to her, Myeonghui simply kept a broad, bright grin on her face.

Let them have their Baekho. To her, her son was simply Baek Jinwoo.

Yet, the absolute weight that those three syllables carried across the entirety of South Korea was profound enough to shake the nation. Park Ho? Kang Geonho? If they were ever forced to confront Baek Jinwoo, they would be utterly incapacitated in less than sixty seconds.

However, Myeonghui kept every bit of this knowledge strictly to herself. While she felt a desperate urge to boast, she had established a firm agreement with her husband, Baek Jincheol. They had sworn not to let a single word slip. Their only duty was to silently back their son from the shadows as he climbed to unimaginable heights. What possible benefit could there be in gossiping about his achievements to the public?

“By the way… Myeonghui, it really has been quite a long time, hasn’t it?”

One of her former classmates turned the spotlight toward her.

If one were to analyze the collective opinion her old schoolmates held regarding Hwang Myeonghui, it could be summarized quite poorly: completely destitute; a son who had been incapacitated by a severe vehicular accident; residing in a crumbling, cheap apartment complex; working three grueling jobs just to survive; and possessing a visually stunning daughter who was nonetheless viewed as a poor match for families of high status. It was a collection of nothing but condescending perceptions.

“Yes, it really has been a while. I actually stepped away from most of my work recently, so my schedule has opened up considerably.”

“My goodness, but look at your complexion! What did you do to your skin?”

The moment the word skin left her mouth, every single gaze at the gathering locked firmly onto Myeonghui.

“Now that she mentions it, it’s true!”

“You look almost exactly like you did back in our school days.”

“…How are you managing to look so much younger? There isn’t even a single line or wrinkle visible on your face.”

“Oh my gosh, look at her fingers. How can they be this smooth? Have you somehow stopped aging entirely?”

Driven by intense curiosity, the focus of the group shifted entirely away from Jeonghye and centered squarely on Myeonghui.

“Oh, you mean this?” Myeonghui offered a gentle smile. Then, maintaining a perfectly naive expression, she invoked her specialized companion.

“A snail?”

“What in the world is that?”

“Is that… a summon?”

Observing the bewilderment of her friends, Myeonghui seized the opportunity for a subtle display of pride.

“Yes, it’s a little creature my son purchased for me. I believe it functions similarly to a high-end beauty treatment. I’ve been using what it produces, and the transformation has been incredible. Would you care to test it out?”

She extended the snail toward the classmate who had initiated the conversation.

“Are you sure?” The woman’s expression sparkled with interest as she carefully accepted the small creature. She then proceeded to smooth the tiny amount of clear fluid it discharged across the surface of her right hand.

“It certainly feels incredibly hydrating.”

“Just wait until tomorrow morning—you will be absolutely amazed. Any fine lines will be completely smoothed out.”

“Are you serious? In that case, let me apply some to my left hand as well.”

“Regrettably, it can only generate a fixed quantity each day.”

Jeonghye, who had been silently observing this lively exchange from the sidelines, creased her brow in annoyance. The conversation regarding her own son had been cut short, and the spotlight had been entirely stolen from her. The shift left her feeling deeply irritated.

But right then, Jeonghye paused, tilting her head in confusion. That specific snail seemed incredibly familiar. Where had she encountered it before? She searched through her memories for a brief moment before her eyelids snapped wide open in sheer disbelief.

Could it be a Rainbow Snail?

Among the elite circles of ultra-wealthy women who prioritized luxury brands and spent fortunes without a second thought, whispers had already circulated extensively. For anyone seeking flawless skincare, the Rainbow Snail was regarded as the absolute pinnacle of luxury. Rumor had it that the massive Daesung Group was currently finalizing plans to launch a chain of exclusive aesthetic clinics centered entirely around the capabilities of that specific creature. Across the entire globe, there were only a select few gastropod-type summons in existence, and precisely one that boasted a radiant, multi-colored shell.

“That… That is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE!” Jeonghye suddenly shrieked aloud.

“Huh?”

“What’s so impossible?”

As the rest of the circle turned to look at her with bewildered expressions, Jeonghye pointed an accusatory finger straight at the creature in Myeonghui’s possession.

“That particular creature! Isn’t that an authentic Rainbow Snail?”

“…A Rainbow Snail?”

“What exactly is that?”

Jeonghye looked at them with utter exasperation. “You blind fools—do you have even the slightest concept of the sheer monetary worth attached to that creature?”

“How much could it be?”

“Is it really that valuable?”

“Didn’t Myeonghui mention her child presented it to her as a token? Come to think of it, didn’t her son suffer a major accident?”

“Oh, honey, you’re out of the loop. He regained consciousness a considerable time ago.”

Jeonghye observed her gossiping peers, a deep wave of skepticism washing over her features. Hold on—how could someone like Hwang Myeonghui possibly come into possession of such a rarity? Myeonghui was completely broke. She lacked capital, and she possessed zero high-society leverage. She ranked well below the average standard of even normal citizens.

Yet here she was.

The current valuation of a Rainbow Snail on the open market, to the best of Jeonghye’s knowledge, stood at a staggering fifty billion won. Because the total global supply was strictly capped at one hundred units, that valuation was continuously skyrocketing. The projected worth was currently hovering closer to one hundred billion won. It was precisely why well-connected multi-millionaires jokingly referred to the practice as “snail asset management.”

“…”

Noticing the drastic shift in the room’s energy, Myeonghui quickly deactivated the summon, causing the creature to vanish.

“Oh, please, it was merely a simple token from my boy. I am completely unaware of its actual market cost. I am certain it cannot be anywhere near that extravagant.” Cold sweat began to form along her hairline as she spoke.

I must exercise far greater discretion.

Truthfully, it had never occurred to Myeonghui that anyone in her social circle would be capable of identifying the creature. More to the point, she herself had been completely oblivious to its true financial worth.

Fortunately, Jeonghye chose not to interrogate her any further. What on earth is her child involved in that allows him to hand over something so absurdly expensive as a casual token? She simply kept her gaze fixed on Myeonghui, her eyes narrowed with intense suspicion.

“Excellent! The project is officially complete!”

Situated right at the base of Geomdan Mountain within Hanam City, Yu Jia extended her arms wide toward the sky and shouted in triumph.

“Wow…”

“Good grief…”

Kim Byeongjin and Hwang Taeseop, who had accompanied her to the location, stood completely paralyzed with astonishment. The engineering and construction teams had finalized every single aesthetic detail and fully vacated the premises. The massive tract of land that Yu Jia had secured had been utterly converted into an estate that looked like it belonged to an entirely different dimension. Majestic skyscrapers and a breathtakingly designed grand entryway dominated the landscape.

“Quite spectacular, wouldn’t you say? From this moment forward, this location will serve as the official base of operations for Yubaek,” Yu Jia spoke in a quiet tone, her voice thrumming with the massive scale of her internal ambitions.

“…The base of operations for Yubaek.”

“As the planet’s absolute premiere boutique management firm for a singular talent, we will strictly onboard the most capable elite professionals from every corner of the globe… and naturally, we must promise them the absolute pinnacle of financial rewards and corporate perks across the entire sector.”

The foundational phase of that promise began with their living arrangements. Yubaek intended to offer its corporate personnel and their immediate households massive, luxury residences entirely free of charge, contingent upon their continued employment with the agency. Furthermore, upon reaching their formal retirement at the conclusion of their dedicated service, the deeds to those properties would be signed over to them permanently.

“Does that imply that we will be relocating our own households here as well?”

“Most definitely.” Yu Jia offered a confident smirk before breaking down the details. “However, before anyone else moves in, there are specific individuals we must transition to this property ahead of time.”

She had officially designated the entire secure zone as Yubaek City. She desired to create the distinct atmosphere of a private, self-contained micro-metropolis reserved exclusively for the individuals tied to Yubaek.

To break down the architectural blueprint:

Directly at the geometric center of the layout stood the towering, thirty-five-story corporate headquarters of Yubaek. This massive structure would serve as the operational hub for the specialized analysis laboratories, the corporate legal department, the transactional sales teams, the promotional marketing division, the corporate finance sector, and standard administrative support units. Every single one of these specialized branches existed for the sole purpose of elevating and protecting Baek Jinwoo. Naturally, the top penthouse level had been magnificently crafted into exclusive executive suites dedicated entirely to Yu Jia and Baek Jinwoo. Only the primary foundational partners, which included Byeongjin and Taeseop, possessed security clearance to enter.

Moving onward.

To the northern sector lay a massive, private training complex constructed for the exclusive use of Baek Jinwoo. A vast outdoor training field mirroring his original isolated practicing ground had been laid out, supplemented by a completely soundproofed subterranean level, every conceivable variety of advanced athletic training apparatus, state-of-the-art recovery showers, and specialized temperature-controlled storage rooms. Every single element had been meticulously planned so that his summoned entities could engage in development under flawless conditions.

To the eastern quadrant sat the high-end housing sector, comprised of four distinct residential towers. The highest floor of each thirty-story structure featured a massive duplex penthouse unit covering 489.25 square meters—which translated to roughly 148 pyeong of premium space. The remaining floors beneath them were organized into incredibly spacious apartments measuring within the sixty-pyeong threshold. The parking facilities descended two entire tiers into the earth, providing more than enough space for every individual occupant to store two personal vehicles comfortably, supplemented by an astonishing array of community perks. The complex offered fully catered morning dining, professional housekeeping, dedicated valet services, commercial-grade laundry operations, a state-of-the-art fitness hub, indoor golf simulators, an Olympic-sized swimming arena, specialized pet care facilities, and premium commercial storefronts. The entire layout was engineered so that an individual could comfortably sustain themselves indefinitely without ever needing to cross the outer perimeter of the estate.

To the western flank lay the defensive bunker. Engineered specifically to meet the high-security demands requested by Baek Jinwoo, the structure had been tunneled profoundly deep into the subterranean bedrock—engineered to withstand the direct impact of a nuclear warhead. It contained dedicated emergency quarters for every single occupant to relocate beneath the surface instantly, fully backed by completely autonomous life-support systems.

And finally, to the southern perimeter lay the monumental main gates, pristine landscaped courtyards, and scenic pedestrian pathways.

“…Oh my word.”

“What am I even looking at right now?”

“Hehehe.”

Yu Jia brought Baek Ajin, Baek Jincheol, and Hwang Myeonghui to the location before anyone else.

“This aligns with the specialized care package I outlined to you previously. The three of you represent the absolute highest-tier VIPs within our corporate structure… which is why we are officially assigning the penthouse suites to you.”

The designated occupants for all four premium penthouse properties had already been locked in:

1. Baek Jinwoo.

2. Yu Jia.

3. Baek Jincheol and Hwang Myeonghui.

4. Baek Ajin.

After completing a comprehensive walk-through of the premium penthouses and the surrounding infrastructure under Yu Jia’s personal guidance, the three family members looked completely overwhelmed with powerful sentiment.

“…Mom, Dad. This has to be the most magnificent living space I have ever laid my eyes on,” Ajin whispered in absolute awe.

“Because of our incredible boy, we will never have to stress over a roof above our heads for the rest of our days.”

“…Is it truly acceptable for people like us to simply take ownership of an estate this grand?”

Jincheol and Myeonghui were completely at a loss for words. They had spent their entire lives crammed inside a decaying, low-end villa.

“I have never witnessed a residence of this caliber even within my wildest fantasies.”

“It seems our own capacity to imagine things fell completely short of reality.”

“Even so… I must confess, our old neighborhood did have a certain charm that grew on—”

Right in the middle of his thought, Jincheol broke out into a massive, self-aware grin. “Ah, who am I kidding? Forget that place, right?”

“Absolutely, dear,” Myeonghui agreed without a single shred of hesitation. “Don’t you dare utter an intrusive thought that terrifying. Sentimental nostalgia can burn in hell.”

Nostalgia? Nostalgia wasn’t worth a single thing! A brand-new luxury estate triumphed over past attachments every single day of the week, no matter what perspective one took.

And why shouldn’t they have this? Her son was undeniably the most powerful, extraordinary player on the entire planet! She had watched the official broadcasts—the central government itself was funnily funneling two trillion won into dedicated resources to back his endeavors! It made perfect sense that he could effortlessly provide a residence of this magnitude.

“I possessed absolute certainty from the very beginning that our Jinwoo was born to achieve historical greatness!”

“…Weren’t you the exact person who completely despaired over him because he spent all his time playing video games?”

“I NEVER did such a thing! And what about your own words? You explicitly stated you wished he would turn out even half as successful as Jeonghye’s boy—!”

“Hahaha, sweetheart.” Myeonghui instantly darted forward to press her palm firmly over Jincheol’s lips to silence him. “Other people might overhear your nonsense. Let us strictly focus on positive remarks today, understood?”

“Understood.”

Yu Jia silently observed the married couple engaging in their affectionate bickering, a gentle, affectionate expression gracing her face. She then extended the set of electronic access devices, user guides, and architectural layouts toward them.

“Our team will facilitate the relocation process to ensure it is as rapid and stress-free as possible. Please, feel entirely free to explore the grounds at your own pace.”

“Hehehe, thank you so much.”

“We are constantly in your debt.”

Yu Jia offered a polite bow as she accepted the couple’s profound expressions of gratitude.

Think nothing of it. When compared to the astronomical wealth and power that Baek Jinwoo was projected to secure moving forward, an investment of this scale was not merely minor—it was virtually an afterthought.

After finalizing the pleasantries, Yu Jia immediately transitioned straight back into her administrative duties. With the scale of Yubaek expanding at an unprecedented velocity, the mountain of tasks requiring her attention was stacking up rapidly.

Yet, even with the intense workload, she approached every single objective carrying the most radiant, genuinely fulfilled smile she had ever possessed in her entire life.