Chapter 80

Chapter 80:

— Darling. You are doing well out there, right?

“Of course, Dad! Stop worrying. If everything goes according to plan, I think I’ll be bringing home even more than before!”

— More money? Beyond that one billion won you talked about earlier? Just how much are we talking about?

“I’m sorry, I really can’t say anything specific right now.”

Hwang Jiwoo made sure to check in with her mother and father on a regular basis.

Though the strict non-disclosure agreement prevented her from sharing any real details, she made sure they knew she was safe and on track to secure a massive fortune.

— It isn’t too exhausting for you, is it?

“Not at all. Even when the training gets intense, I can handle it.”

Naturally, that was a complete fabrication.

It was brutally exhausting.

To claim otherwise would be a blatant lie.

Even when she pushed herself past the point of collapse during physical conditioning, Baek Jinwoo only continued to escalate the difficulty. To make matters worse, the Storm Dragon Sorcerer remained glued to her side constantly, which completely eliminated any semblance of personal time.

It was an existence stripped of any comfort or dopamine, replaced entirely by relentless conditioning.

A normal person would have cracked before the first week was up.

Even so.

She had to push through.

It was a commitment of a mere hundred days.

A hundred days valued at a staggering hourly wage of 41.66 million won, paired with the absolute highest tier of strategic instruction that every single active player across South Korea would desperately fight for.

If you pulled a random pedestrian off the sidewalk and offered them this exact deal, they would instantly drop to their knees in gratitude.

Anyone with a shred of decency would bite the bullet and endure the pain.

If I actually manage to secure one hundred billion won…

Her mind raced with all the possibilities.

She would purchase a beautiful home for her devoted parents, and then select a stunning residence and a luxury vehicle for herself.

The remaining capital would be safely funneled into high-yield dividend funds and prime real estate, allowing her to step into a life of pure financial independence.

As for her career as a player?

She could treat it as an enjoyable pastime, or commit to it fully on her own terms!

And beyond that.

If she applied herself properly during this regimen, she might even earn a spot on the national team.

Then there was what happened just the previous day.

She had distinctly noted an expression of genuine astonishment on Baek Jinwoo’s face.

I’m actually proving my worth, aren’t I?

Fwoosh!

Hwang Jiwoo’s gaze shone with renewed determination as she observed Stormy continuing to train right beside her.

“Jinwoo-ssi?”

Click!

The handle turned and the door to the briefing room opened as Yu Jia stepped inside.

Ever since he put Hwang Jiwoo through her paces the day before, Baek Jinwoo had spent the entire day weighing his options.

Should he fully commit resources to developing Hwang Jiwoo, or should he pass?

In all honesty, if a player demonstrated legitimate potential, there was zero downside to cultivating their growth.

The process wouldn’t demand too much of his time, nor would it place a heavy burden on him.

Drill Sarge handled the heavy lifting of the physical conditioning anyway.

The entity was a fascinating anomaly whose personal fulfillment seemed to scale directly with the number of grueling training blocks added to the schedule.

The true obstacle lay elsewhere—

“Are you planning to establish a guild?”

“Yes. We will keep Yubaek operating exactly as it is, but we’ll form an official guild functioning directly under the Yubaek corporate umbrella.”

“Where is this coming from so suddenly? Please don’t tell me this is entirely because of that Hwang Jiwoo girl you’ve been working with?”

As perceptive as always, Yu Jia.

She never missed a beat.

“That’s a factor. But there are several other elements at play.”

“Such as?”

“Do you recall the incident where the syndicate managed to infiltrate our space? We were incredibly fortunate that my disciples happened to be present at Yubaek City at that precise moment. Consider what would have happened if they hadn’t been there. It’s a terrifying thought, isn’t it? There is absolutely no promise that a similar crisis won’t occur down the line.”

Baek Jinwoo recognized the urgent need to have dependable, high-ranking individuals permanently stationed on-site at Yubaek City.

“…So your goal is to assemble your own private security force.”

Precisely.

No matter how much one dressed it up under the official title of a guild, at its fundamental core, it functioned as an armed group.

An armed group backed by legal government authorization.

Baek Jinwoo had a growing list of individuals depending on him for safety.

In the past, that circle was limited strictly to his immediate family. Yet over time, the group of people he genuinely cared for had steadily widened.

Yu Jia. His four dedicated disciples.

And at this point, the entire employment staff of Yubaek had become his people as well.

To ensure their absolute safety?

Possessing overwhelming combat power was an absolute requirement.

“With that said, I have no intention of creating an oversized organization. A compact, elite unit comprised solely of individuals I personally select would be ideal.”

Flooding the ranks with mediocre talent only created dead weight.

A single, masterfully conditioned player held far more value than a hundred average combatants.

“Hmm, looking at it that way, it actually makes a lot of sense.”

Yu Jia’s interest was clearly piqued.

“From a purely financial perspective, generating revenue through a structured guild is significantly less complicated than managing individuals one-on-one.”

“That is a relief to hear.”

“Ahem, cutting through the red tape for official guild authorization is usually a nightmare, but… given your current standing and public image, Jinwoo-ssi, I am confident we can accelerate the approval process. We have Changseok-ajeossi on our side as well. Furthermore, our existing infrastructure already matches or eclipses what the top guilds have to offer, hehe.”

“That’s an undeniable fact.”

Even the dominant Big Three guilds within South Korea fell short when compared to the sheer scale and magnificence of Yubaek City.

The others merely rented out highly priced corporate real estate in the heart of Seoul.

In the future…

Perhaps Yubaek would establish a dedicated branch in Seoul as well?

“Understood! I will organize the paperwork precisely according to your vision and present the final plan to you. You already know how I operate. No matter what path you choose, I am fully prepared to dedicate myself to it completely.”

“Thank you for the support. Oh, and while you’re at it, could you look into acquiring a specific set of summons for me?”

“What variety are you looking for?”

Baek Jinwoo slid a prepared document across to her.

It detailed specific ice-element summons that he had utilized throughout his past endeavors.

A single A-rank, a trio of B-ranks, and one C-rank.

He had no intention of handing over registration rights to Hwang Jiwoo immediately, of course.

Her evaluation period was far from over.

Raw capability, mental fortitude, unwavering allegiance — only after she successfully navigated every single trial would these summons be presented to her as a formal welcoming gift alongside her guild contract.

And in the scenario where she failed to meet expectations?

He would simply retain them for his own personal arsenal. It made no difference to him.

While their ultimate growth potential had a clear limit, it represented a highly reliable combination that had previously earned a reputation as an incredibly powerful tactical setup.

They would undoubtedly prove useful down the line.

Kangnam.

The main headquarters of Baekho.

Knock, knock.

The primary leaders of the Ilwol guild, guild master Ahn Gijeong and vice guild master Hwang Juwon, knocked briefly before entering the Baekho corporate office.

“Welcome, welcome! Hyungnim!”

The presiding guild master of Baekho, Park Ho, came forward to welcome the two visitors with an expansive, welcoming smile.

“We find ourselves crossing paths nearly every single week. What was so urgent that you required us to come all the way over here?”

Hwang Juwon, currently fifty-three years old and holding the status of the senior elder on the national squad, offered a booming laugh.

The core roster of Ilwol generally consisted of older, more seasoned veterans.

While no one could pinpoint the exact reason for this demographic split, that was simply the way the community had naturally organized itself.

Combatants navigating their late thirties generally gravitated toward the ranks of Baekho, whereas those who had crossed into their mid-forties and beyond preferred the environment of Ilwol.

Those sitting squarely in their early forties?

They were split right down the middle.

As a quick point of reference, the younger crowd in their twenties almost universally joined Arirang, while the teenage prospects pledged themselves to Carpe Diem.

“Please, make yourselves comfortable and take a seat.”

Park Ho extended every courtesy due to his respected seniors.

Of course, the true motivation behind this urgent gathering was entirely distinct from simple pleasantries.

After establishing a comfortable atmosphere through standard casual banter, Park Ho abandoned the small talk and addressed his primary concern.

“Hyungnim.”

“Hmm?”

“Have you not noticed something incredibly bizarre regarding the recent conduct of Hong Ari and the rest of those kids over at Carpe Diem?”

This particular grievance had already been generating significant friction within the halls of Baekho.

Hong Ari, Ki Jaehyeok, and Kang Jiho.

All three individuals had experienced an abrupt and massive surge in their combat thresholds, and whispers had spread that they were receiving exclusive, isolated instruction at Yubaek City alongside Oh Seonyeong from the Arirang guild.

An explicit violation of cooperative agreements, and a textbook case of unfair favoritism — that was the core of the accusation.

“Hmm, is that truly what’s going on?”

Hwang Juwon let out a soft chuckle.

“It’s no wonder I’ve been finding it impossible to outpace those youngsters lately… I merely assumed they possessed the advantage of youth and were simply developing at an accelerated rate. I didn’t think much else of it.”

“This is hardly a laughing matter, Hyungnim. Baek Jinwoo was granted an additional one trillion won in state funding. He is drawing a massive paycheck from the taxpayers to elevate our national strength, yet he is introducing massive discrepancies into his instruction? How can we possibly sit back and accept that?”

“Hmm.”

Hwang Juwon lowered his eyelids, slipping into deep thought.

After a long pause to weigh the situation, he looked back up.

“And?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“What exactly is your grand plan here? Are you proposing we openly challenge Baek Jinwoo?”

“Precisely.”

“Hmm.”

Hwang Juwon read Park Ho’s underlying strategy clear as day.

To break down the numbers:

Baekho currently boasted four active rankers on the official national roster for this particular phase.

Kang Geonho, Park Ho, Bok Jeonghui, and Seo Sangwon.

If they managed to rope in the two primary figures from Ilwol, that would total six elite players stepping forward to present a unified grievance.

There was safety and leverage in numbers, after all.

“Look at the broader picture very carefully. Baek Jinwoo? I will readily concede that the man possesses unmatched capabilities and is an incredible instructor. He might very well be the modern equivalent of the mythic JinuGod. However, if he persists in funneling his best insights exclusively to Arirang and Carpe Diem? We will inevitably be left in the dust. That is a mathematical certainty.”

“And your goal is to have Ilwol stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you to validate this protest.”

“Have you considered attempting to win his favor through diplomacy instead of lodging a formal complaint?”

“…Are you suggesting we offer further concessions to a person who has already walked away with a cool trillion won?”

“That’s all well and good, but this trajectory is far too perilous. What happens if Baek Jinwoo loses his temper and bars us from his circle completely?”

From where Hwang Juwon stood, this was a perfectly logical and rational objection.

To their own guild, this might feel like a completely warranted grievance, but from Baek Jinwoo’s vantage point, the optics would be entirely different.

Providing supplementary training sessions to individuals he shared a closer personal report with did not breach any actual laws.

When the dust settled, the choice of who Baek Jinwoo dedicated his personal time to was entirely at his own discretion.

“Ho.”

“Yes, Hyungnim.”

“I believe you are moving far too quickly here. I completely comprehend Baekho’s intense desire to lock down and protect its number-one ranking on the domestic stage. However, you must come to terms with reality. Baek Jinwoo holds the ultimate leverage, and he maintains every right to distribute his proprietary insights and advanced methodologies exactly as he deems fit.”

“…Even if that’s true, standing by and watching our dominant position evaporate because of one man’s personal biases? It is absolutely infuriating, Hyungnim.”

“Whether it infuriates you or not, what realistic alternative do you have? If you take issue with the current dynamic, then focus on increasing your own strength. To put it bluntly, the singular reason we over at Ilwol do not hold the top position is simply because our combat metrics are inferior to yours.”

“Baekho is far from helpless. We have the full financial backing of MK Group and Mirae Group, the second and third most powerful conglomerates in the nation. Our network extends deep into the core political spheres, including the central headquarters. Even an individual of Baek Jinwoo’s stature cannot simply write us off.”

“…”

Sigh.

Hwang Juwon let loose a heavy breath.

This exact mindset was the fundamental flaw embedded within the leadership of Baekho.

Their primary guild master and vice guild master were simply too young to handle this level of crisis.

The presiding guild master, Ho, was only thirty-five. Their highest-rated combatant, Geonho, was a mere thirty-three.

While they weren’t children by any standard metric, they were still far too inexperienced to properly steer a massive, high-stakes organization. They were still at an age where raw emotion and pride could easily cloud logical judgment.

The period of life where passion overrides reason!

To be fair, he could empathize with the source of their anger.

Watching an unassailable legacy begin to fracture purely due to the personal preferences of a single player — anyone would find themselves feeling bitter.

However, that was a crisis for Baekho to navigate, not a burden for Ilwol to carry.

“If you wish to pick a fight, you are entirely free to do so,” Hwang Juwon stated firmly. “Just ensure that our guild is left completely out of the equation.”

“Hyungnim!”

“You are smarter than this, surely. Pressuring someone to embark on a path where the disastrous conclusion is blindingly obvious — that is a profound form of disrespect to our partnership.”

A trajectory leading directly into an unmistakable brick wall.

The landscape of the world had undergone a permanent transformation.

Corporate alliances, family lineages, massive financial syndicates, and influential politicians?

None of those levers held any real weight anymore.

The moment a singular combatant achieved a level of overwhelming, absolute power, all traditional leverage ceased to exist.

One needed to look no further than the example of Rachel in England.

If you were to aggregate the collective influence of every single corporate titan and high-ranking politician across the globe, their total leverage still failed to measure up to her singular authority.

“And to be completely transparent — you haven’t even approached Baek Jinwoo directly with a polite request yet, have you? You haven’t simply asked him to extend an invitation to Yubaek City for our roster as well.”

“We intend to extend that request, naturally. I am mapping out our strategy for the exact moment he turns us down.”

“Tsk, tsk. Then you truly are acting like a fool!”

Hwang Juwon pushed himself up from his chair.

“Make the formal inquiry first, and leave the worrying for later. And, as I stated before, ensure you leave us completely separated from whatever fallout occurs.”

Baek Jinwoo undoubtedly maintained his own specific rationale for focusing his efforts on those particular combatants.

Storming into his domain demanding an equal share of his attention like an entitled child under those circumstances?

Good grief.

That was the absolute fastest method to guarantee you landed permanently on his bad side.

Hwang Juwon had zero intention of drawing Baek Jinwoo’s personal wrath.

If their own representatives put on an exceptional showing during regular sessions, wouldn’t the man naturally offer advanced instruction when the timing was right?

If I am being completely honest with myself…

The absolute reality was that simply keeping pace with the standard, baseline training program was already pushing his physical and mental limits to the absolute edge.

Sigh.

He let out a quiet, internal sigh.

Well, look at that. The countdown to Baekho’s decline has officially begun.

An elite structure was only ever as viable as the wisdom and foresight of the individual steering it.

You had to accurately decipher the rapidly turning tides of the era and learn to navigate alongside them if you wanted to maintain your existence.

The true epicenter of gravity in this current age did not reside with Baekho. It rested entirely with Baek Jinwoo.

Anchor yourself to his trajectory, and even if you failed to secure the crown of the number-one spot, you would at the very least guarantee your long-term survival.

“Hyungnim, are you absolutely certain you won’t look back on this decision with regret?”

“…You are the one who needs to remain deeply concerned about future regrets. Take my counsel and imprint it deeply into that stubborn mind of yours.”

The solitary reason Baekho had managed to occupy the peak of the domestic rankings for this long was nothing short of pure, unadulterated luck.

It was a direct consequence of South Korea’s collective combat threshold being utterly mediocre on the global stage.

Like literal frogs trapped at the bottom of a narrow well, comfortable in their small enclosure, a group of rankers had simply become overly familiar with one another and consolidated their numbers to form Baekho.

While the executive officers certainly possessed genuine mechanical skill, they were critically deficient when it came to understanding how the real world operated.

My, my.

He found himself genuinely intrigued, though.

To see exactly how this entire situation would unfold.