Chapter 56

In reality, Jo Jihak and his core officers found themselves backed into a corner with very few paths forward.

Surrendering was out of the question; it meant a definitive execution. The scale of the offenses they had racked up over the years put them on the same level as a treasonous insurgent group.

Attempting to flee didn’t seem like a viable path either. Observing how Baek Jinwoo had operated up to this point, it was clear the man possessed an information-gathering network that eclipsed even the state’s intelligence agencies.

With those routes closed, only one choice remained.

“All units, coordinate attack!”

Jo Jihak wasted no time in summoning his forces.

Baek Jinwoo, your power is undeniable. However, throwing yourself entirely alone into a hornets’ nest of our gang’s elite isn’t exactly the smartest play you could have made.

“Swarm him!”

“Take him down!”

In the blink of an eye, a massive wave of summons converged on Baek Jinwoo. As expected of individuals rooted deep in the underworld, every single entity they called forth was tailored specifically for Player vs Player engagement.

Baek Jinwoo remained completely unfazed.

Shing!

Drill Sarge unsheathed his blade.

Whooom!

Rolly raised his lethal scythe.

Then, the execution began.

The sheer velocity at which the pair swung their weapons was utterly mind-boggling. It transcended basic swiftness—there was a fundamental wrongness to the physics of it.

What is happening?

How can anyone move at that pace?

My eyes can’t even track them—

It felt as though the two summons were operating on an entirely different plane of time. This was the direct result of Ramba diligently accumulating efficiency stacks on both of them for over two consecutive hours.

THWACK!

The grim avatar of death buried its curved blade directly into the skull of an enemy summon.

“…!”

Before the surrounding officers could even process the sight—

FWISH!

The weapon whipped around in a devastating, seamless circle.

SPLRRRCH!

The immediate vicinity transformed into a horrific display of spraying crimson and shredded material.

What in the world? What kind of absurd acceleration is that?

With just that single, sweeping motion, the collective vitality of nearly thirty summons that had grouped together for the charge was instantly vaporized.

Granted, surviving a singular blow of that caliber shouldn’t have been impossible under normal circumstances. Rolly wasn’t utilizing a top-tier graduation rune; he was merely equipped with a standard high-rank variant. The true terror wasn’t the raw impact of the strike.

THWAK-FWISHISHISHISHISH!

It was the relentless, monstrous cadence of the thrusts and rotations. The speed was so blinding that the overwhelming majority of the opposing summons couldn’t form a defense, leaving a trail of afterimages behind Rolly that made it appear as though eight duplicates were striking simultaneously.

The skirmish concluded in the blink of an eye. The window of time it took for greater than ninety percent of the invading force to be forcibly dismissed back into their shards was a mere twenty seconds.

“This defies reality.”

Jo Jihak watched the systematic annihilation, the words slipping past his lips unbidden. This was a man who regularly analyzed global tournaments and watched international high-rankers clash without ever losing his composure. Yet, witnessing the performance of Baek Jinwoo’s subordinates… it broke every established rule of combat.

“…This makes absolutely no sense.”

The distribution of power in the world was fundamentally broken. Where on Earth could anyone obtain entities of this caliber? Even a global icon like Rachel would have looked upon this scene with utter bewilderment.

If I had an inkling that a cosmic anomaly like him existed, I would have never stepped foot into organized crime.

He would have chosen a quiet life, content with simple pleasures.

TAP!

While Rolly carried out his whirlwind of destruction, Drill Sarge had been far from idle. He systematically picked apart the opposing ranks, isolating and neutralizing the enemy summons with surgical precision.

Swoosh, slash! Slash!

Gliding through the chaotic battlefield, evading counterattacks seamlessly while identifying and piercing vital zones—his methodology resembled a choreographed performance.

The premiere combatants of the syndicate, the absolute upper echelon, were being utterly disassembled by just two entities. And it was happening at an unprecedented pace. Most of their protective barriers had already been shattered into pieces, and the overwhelming suppression from the Storm Dragon Sorcerer kept them completely immobilized, eliminating any hope of retreat.

Furthermore, Drill Sarge didn’t stop at the summons.

Twing!

Whenever he identified a player whose defensive shielding had collapsed, he delivered a precise, sharp strike with his fingertips to hit their vital pressure networks. It was a five-minute demonstration of a technique designed to split sinews and scrape against bone—the exact penalty for daring to oppose his master’s commands and attempting an assault anyway.

“AAAAAAAARGH!”

“GRRAAAAAAGH!”

One after another, the officers collapsed onto the dirt, thrashing and groaning in pure agony.

“Ha.”

Jo Jihak let out a hollow breath. There was no strategy to deploy against an unstoppable force of nature. His only option was to sit tightly and await his inevitable turn.

“Damn it.”

Fwoosh!

The fierce, hellish blaze encircling the derelict structure seemed to burn with an especially oppressive heat.

Exactly ten minutes following the arrival of Baek Jinwoo, the enforcement units from headquarters, the local police forces, and Councilman Park Changseok arrived at the location.

The entire engagement was already settled. Bound securely with high-durability restraint tape that Ramba had prepared ahead of time, the syndicate members lay on the ground, shivering and incoherent.

Baek Jinwoo handed the prisoners over to Park Changseok’s custody.

“In all honesty… the word ‘unbelievable’ doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Councilman Park Changseok remarked in absolute awe.

Jo Jihak, an individual who had successfully evaded law enforcement for three long years despite massive national mobilization, had been neutralized in under a week. Every single syndicate member embedded within the borders of South Korea had been extracted from their hiding spots like ripping up rotting roots from the soil. And it was all accomplished by a single player.

“I will leave the remaining administrative processing to you, Councilman.”

“Rest assured, it will be handled perfectly!”

Park Changseok grabbed Baek Jinwoo’s hand, shaking it with profound intensity. Without a shadow of a doubt, this man had solidified himself as the crown jewel of the nation’s talent pool—a figure worthy of being classified as a national treasure and provided with boundless state resources.

“You have my deepest gratitude.”

Park Changseok was a public servant, an elected official representing the citizenry. Thus, he delivered his appreciation on behalf of the entire populace.

“Because of your actions, South Korea has cast off a massive plague.”

On this day, the criminal syndicate that had long been a dark stain on the nation was completely dismantled. For the first time in years, the general public could breathe a sigh of relief.

[Player Baek Jinwoo Obliterates Syndicate in a Single Evening!]

[Citizens Rejoice as Captured Gang Members Facing Homicide Charges Head Straights to Maximum Sentencing!]

[Stunning Admission from Rank-and-File Member: “Our vanguard was completely neutralized in under sixty seconds.”]

[Player HQ Announcement: Summon-Based Infractions Will Face Absolute Zero Tolerance Moving Forward!]

With the criminal element locked away and headquarters announcing the definitive dissolution of organized syndicates, public approval reached an all-time high. Even those who had previously stayed indoors out of fear began frequenting restaurants and shopping districts once more. The domestic marketplace experienced an immediate, massive revitalization.

“Heh heh heh.”

Inside the primary briefing room at Player HQ, the Director’s expression was locked in a perpetual grin. As Baek Jinwoo’s reputation soared to new heights, a significant amount of positive press began reflecting back onto the institution itself.

└ To be fair, when HQ announced they were allocating another trillion won in funding, I thought they were crazy. Turns out it was a masterclass in management.

└ I’m currently employed at HQ, and the internal culture has completely transformed. The mandate now is basically ‘give Baek Jinwoo whatever he wants, no questions asked.’

└ That’s exactly how it should be! No complaints here!

└ Councilman Park Changseok is fully aligned with Baek Jinwoo, and the Director seems more than happy to ride the wave.

└ Interesting.

└ We definitely need to keep Park Changseok in office next term. If he delivers results like this, give him even more authority!

“Hehehehe,” the Director chuckled without a care for his formal standing or age, completely throwing decorum out the window. The atmosphere within the management team was exceptionally bright.

“Director, what was my assessment from the start?” Park Changseok noted, breaking the comfortable silence. “Did I not tell you that simply ensuring player Baek Jinwoo has everything he needs guarantees our success?”

“Hahah! Success? We haven’t just succeeded—we’ve cleared the atmosphere entirely!”

“And considering that trajectory…”

“Hmm?”

“Should we not arrange a substantial financial bonus for his efforts?”

Baek Jinwoo had effectively purged a deep-seated rot from South Korea. When a specialist successfully treats a critical ailment, it is only proper to settle the account generously.

“An incentive bonus! Most certainly! There is absolutely no question about it!”

The financial drain headquarters had sustained while trying to suppress the syndicate over the years was astronomical. Because Baek Jinwoo had single-handedly eliminated those ongoing expenditures, the justification for a massive payout was ironclad. Park Changseok had framed the narrative flawlessly. Furthermore, given the current fervor of the populace, failing to reward him would trigger an immense public outcry.

“What scale of compensation are we looking at?”

“Why even deliberate? Allocate every single remaining asset from this fiscal year’s HQ surplus.”

“…The entirety of the reserve budget?” The Director’s expression stiffened slightly, silently wondering if that bordered on excessive. Managing an entire organization required liquid capital, making it impossible for him not to feel a bit protective of the coffers.

“Baek Jinwoo is currently executing duties that should require the entire apparatus of headquarters. My position is that we retain only what is vital for basic infrastructure and divert the entirety of the surplus to his accounts. Since internal protocols complicate direct monetary transfers of this scale, we can alternatively acquire top-tier runes or high-value items on his behalf.”

“Hmm… Your reasoning is sound. Let us proceed with that plan.”

“An excellent resolution, Director. I will coordinate with the executive team at Yubaek to finalize the official documentation for authorization.”

Park Changseok held a confidential five-percent equity arrangement with Yubaek. It wasn’t an active holding at the present moment—rather, it was an asset scheduled for transfer once his tenure at headquarters concluded. It was locked down tightly through a system-verified contract with Yu Jia, ensuring absolute legal security.

Ultimately, Baek Jinwoo represented Yubaek’s premier asset. If a trillion won in institutional support was directed toward Baek Jinwoo, a guaranteed fifty billion won would eventually find its way into Park Changseok’s portfolio. Moving forward, the councilman fully intended to utilize the resources of headquarters to continuously elevate Baek Jinwoo’s market value.

“Ms. Jia.”

Having concluded the operation and returned to the primary corporate facility, Baek Jinwoo sought out Yu Jia.

“Oh, Jinwoo! You’ve made it back safely?” She shifted her focus away from the mountain of logistical charts she had been organizing to offer a bright welcome.

Yu Jia had been working around the clock recently. With Baek Jinwoo consistently dominating the headlines and viral spaces, she had been working tirelessly to establish a dedicated public relations and operational support infrastructure to handle his skyrocketing profile.

“Yes, there’s a specific matter I wanted to review with you.”

“What’s on your mind?”

“You handled the prior situation admirably, but going forward, do not hesitate to employ it during an emergency. I am referring to Desperate Call.”

Baek Jinwoo had fully deduced the underlying context. He understood perfectly well why Yu Jia had held back from signaling him during that high-stakes moment. It was out of consideration for Ajin—to avoid creating a conflict of priority if Desperate Call were to be activated from two different locations simultaneously. While the sentiment was considerate, it was ultimately unnecessary.

“Drill Sarge’s capabilities have advanced significantly. He is more than capable of managing an incident even if I receive overlapping summons now… Therefore, the moment you detect any anomaly, initiate the link immediately.”

If a crisis identical to the last one occurred, he could simply materialize at Ajin’s location first, station Drill Sarge there to secure the area, and immediately transition to Yu Jia’s side using Rolly. The entire issue would be resolved with far greater efficiency and safety. That was the operational understanding Baek Jinwoo wanted to establish.

“Understood. I appreciate you clarifying that for me.”

“The appreciation is mine to give. On another note… what is the status of those high-rankers from the incident?”

In the heat of the moment, his irritation toward the syndicate had been so intense that he had pushed all secondary matters aside to focus entirely on eliminating them. Consequently, he had left several details unaddressed—most notably, the four high-ranking players.

Hong Ari, Oh Seonyeong, Ki Jaehyeok, and Kang Jiho. Without their intervention, the outcome could have been disastrous. Yu Jia or his family members might have been compromised. He couldn’t simply ignore that debt.

“Ah! Those four!” Yu Jia struck her palms together. “As a matter of fact, on that particular day, their primary objective was to secure an introduction with you.”

“With me?”

“Yes, and it seems they are still incredibly eager to sit down with you. But given how tightly packed your schedule has been lately, well…”

“…I suppose that’s fair.”

“Because of that, I arranged accommodations for them in a few of our corporate apartment complexes. I suggested they take the opportunity to rest while awaiting your availability.”

In truth, this was a highly tactical calculation on Yu Jia’s part. Because Baek Jinwoo was consistently deployed on external assignments, providing local housing kept exceptional rankers stationed directly in the immediate vicinity of their headquarters.

“They are likely still holding on for word from you as we speak.”

“Is that so?”

What exactly are they looking to discuss? I suppose it’s time to find out.

Possessing the contact credentials for the individuals designated for the national roster, Baek Jinwoo proceeded toward the primary training facility and reached out to them. The moment the message registered, all four individuals arrived at a full sprint.

“HYUNGNIIIIM!”

“We received the updates! We expected nothing less from you, Hyungnim!”

Ki Jaehyeok and Kang Jiho—despite the brief duration of their acquaintance—were already conducting themselves like dedicated younger brothers, treating him with the reverence of a blood relative.

“…Ahem. Well. It was a reasonably competent performance, I suppose.”

“……”

Hong Ari and Oh Seonyeong maintained a slight distance, though their attention remained entirely locked on the conversation.

“Before anything else, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the four of you,” Baek Jinwoo stated, offering a respectful bow first.

“Absolutely not, Hyungnim!”

“There is no need for that! A master bowing to his juniors?!” The two younger male players practically bounced on the spot in protest.

Hong Ari gestured frantically in embarrassment, completely flustered by the gesture. Oh Seonyeong, maintaining her composure, stepped forward.

“Intervening against unlawful conduct is a baseline expectation. I have no requirement to be praised for simply executing a fundamental duty.” She reached out, gently prompting Baek Jinwoo to raise his head.

Then, a silent, intense sequence of glances flashed among Oh Seonyeong, Hong Ari, Ki Jaehyeok, and Kang Jiho. An undeniable, shared determination passed between the group.

Finally, Ki Jaehyeok took the initiative.

“Hyungnim!” He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, throwing caution to the wind as he made his declaration. “If you truly hold any sense of gratitude toward us—please allow us to become your apprentices! We earnestly beseech you!”