97. One Week Before the World League (1)
Well, then.
Shall we organize the rewards from the 27th floor to the 30th floor?
[27th Floor - Mind-Reading Eagle (A-rank) x1]
[28th Floor - Essence of Light x20]
[29th Floor - Essence of Darkness x20]
[30th Floor - King's Emblem (Nobility) x1, Ultimate Summoning Scroll x1]
First of all, another Mind-Reading Eagle.
'I had figured it was about time another rare summon showed up, but who would have thought it would be another Mind-Reading Eagle of all things?'
It wasn't bad.
'I can just give one more to Yoo Jia.'
The Mind-Reading Eagle's utility is tremendous.
Even one had been useful, but with two, it would be even more valuable.
As for the Essence of Light and Essence of Darkness, they were top-tier materials used for items or blueprint crafting.
Just having them would make them incredibly useful later on.
'I could sell them to someone who needs them, but why bother?'
Money is no longer that urgent now.
'The 30th-floor reward… this is seriously insane.'
Another Ultimate Summoning Scroll.
That meant Baek Jinwoo now possessed a total of two Ultimate Summoning Scrolls.
[B-rank: 94%]
[A-rank: 5%]
[S-rank: 1%]
Those were the pull rates for the Ultimate Summoning Scroll, so with two of them, the chance of pulling an S-rank had risen to 2%.
'Let's keep them a little longer.'
Not only were there none on the market, but even with Baek Jinwoo's capital, they were difficult to obtain.
Oil tycoons, global-scale hedge funds, entire nations—those were the kinds of players all frantically searching for Ultimate Summoning Scrolls like these.
There were plenty of entities that could pay ten trillion, twenty trillion, and they all had their eyes on them.
'It makes sense.'
An S-rank's value was more than sufficient.
The ultimate peak of potential!
Only summons with overwhelming presence could receive the title of S-rank.
If EX-rank felt like something ordinary that got hit with a ridiculous balance patch and turned broken?
Then S-rank felt broken simply by existing.
Like they were born different.
Just owning one would inflate a nation's power dozens of times over, so it would be stranger not to seek one out.
'But still.'
Baek Jinwoo knew.
If our EX-rank kids grow properly, they can smash the heads of any S-rank out there.
'No point placing hope on empty odds. First, I'll take care of our kids.'
Now there were only exactly two weeks left until the World League.
They said a system message would appear one week before the league, so now it was truly time to clear his mind and prepare.
Baek Jinwoo postponed climbing the Tower of Trials and focused only on his usual training.
He also had the guild members checked over once more, and he finished as much as he could in terms of rune setup and reinforcement.
Not quite to the level of an endgame rune, but usable enough?
'Control is what matters anyway.'
For now, that was enough.
* * *
Daeseong family mansion.
At the summons of founder Yoo Byeongcheon, the extended family had gathered together for the first time in a while.
Starting with Yoo Daehwan, who was currently leading Daeseong at the front lines, branches of the Yoo family spread all across the place.
Naturally, Yoo Jia was there as well.
"Jia, you've been so busy lately that we can't get in touch with you at all?"
"Seriously. Your head's gotten big, that's what it is. These days, you're on a completely different level from people like us, aren't you?"
"Well, sure. You're the CEO of Yoobaek, after all… So jealous, really."
Yoo Jia was the eldest daughter to her father, Yoo Daehwan, but to her grandfather, she was the fourth granddaughter.
Faced with the attention of relatives she had not seen in a long time, Yoo Jia merely smiled.
"Oh, come on, sisters. Don't be like that. I just dug persistently into what interested me."
When that bright little girl had said she was joining headquarters as a low-level employee, how much had they looked down on her?
But Yoo Jia had found a rough gem there that shone brighter than anyone else, and she had won that gem's favor.
As a result, she had firmly elevated her father into the position of successor, and had gone on to help build the largest conglomerate and guild in South Korea, standing shoulder to shoulder with Daeseong.
Now, no one could look down on Yoo Jia anymore.
To be honest, perhaps even Yoo Byeongcheon himself could not treat Yoo Jia carelessly now.
"By the way, what about this league?"
"Do you really think you'll make it to the semifinals?"
"Baek Jinwoo isn't even ranked right now, is he? So how good is he?"
"He has to be within the world top 100 at least. Didn't you see the last qualifier? He toyed with Kang Geonho."
"Then the semifinals?"
"It's just noise marketing. Thanks to that statement, they got to build the national team exactly how they wanted, and they even made SKY."
The relatives knew nothing.
The same was true for the ordinary public.
'Sorry, but Mr. Jinwoo is a player on an entirely different dimension.'
Even Yoo Jia, the one closest to him, still had not fully grasped Baek Jinwoo.
She could not even begin to predict what kind of path he would show going forward.
"I just watch the matches for fun."
Just as she was smoothly brushing aside the barrage of conversation from her relatives while sipping wine at a standing table—
"Jia."
Her father, Yoo Daehwan, approached.
"Father."
"Grandfather is looking for you."
"Really?"
Yoo Jia gave a slight nod to her older sisters and brothers, then walked off gracefully.
Her relatives watched her with envy.
'Wow.'
'Grandfather personally called for her?'
'Seriously… I'm jealous of how composed she is.'
Yoo Byeongcheon was a frightening man.
If he spotted even the slightest flaw, he would begin by shouting, and the moment one fell out of his favor, he was cold-blooded enough to cut them out of the family registry entirely.
To him, Daeseong always came first.
That was why the relatives never went near their grandfather.
And if he ever called for them?
Shiver!
Just imagining it made their knees go weak.
"Grandfather."
"Haha, you've come?"
The moment Yoo Byeongcheon saw Yoo Jia, he broke into a wide smile.
Then he dismissed everyone else around them.
To Yoo Byeongcheon, Yoo Jia was a very lovely and highly capable granddaughter.
'I heard it from Daehwan.'
She had reported after fully identifying all of the competitors' weaknesses.
And that wasn't all.
Daeseong's public image had improved tremendously thanks to her as well.
All of that was a reflected benefit from 「Yoobaek」 soaring so high.
Even elementary school kids knew that Yoo Jia was Daeseong's granddaughter.
"So, the guild is being managed well?"
"Yes."
"Jia."
"Yes, Grandfather."
"Continue maintaining your relationship with Baek Jinwoo as well as you have been. Take good care of him."
"Of course."
"Have I not said this before? This old man can tell a person's capacity and potential just by looking into their eyes. That fellow will definitely become someone who shakes the whole world in the future."
"That's true."
Yoo Jia nodded vigorously.
'As expected of Grandfather. His eye for people was definitely on a different level from the relatives'.
"So then."
Yoo Byeongcheon continued with a grin.
"How much have you seduced him?"
"Pardon?"
"Baek Jinwoo, that fellow. When are you holding the wedding?"
"...Pardon?"
Yoo Jia stared at her grandfather in bewilderment.
What had he just said?
A wedding?
Had she heard wrong?
"Oh, Grandfather….. that's…"
"A girl who understands Baek Jinwoo's value that well surely hasn't failed to even consider seducing him, has she?"
"Ah."
'...I haven't, though?'
It would be a lie to say she had no interest, but she really had been busy.
And as time passed, their relationship had simply settled into this form.
Romantic feelings?
Right now, she thought it would be strange for such feelings to arise, and if anything like that seeped in, it would only interfere with work.
"Think of everything from a business perspective. Baek Jinwoo's value far exceeds your imagination. To be frank, if he truly is God Ji-nu, whom even the Five Emperors deeply respect... this old man can already see him becoming world number one before long."
"That's true."
"World number one becomes justification in itself, power in itself, a reason in itself. You don't need to ask why Britain reclaimed hegemony after surpassing the United States."
"⋯⋯"
"Now imagine Baek Jinwoo forming ties with another woman."
Uh....
Could that happen?
For starters, women around him…
'There are a lot, aren't there?'
Just counting a few names was already enough. And they were all pretty and charming women.
Hong Ari, Oh Sunyoung, Hwang Jiwoo, Song Yeonhee…..
'...'
Yoo Jia's expression began to twitch.
A sudden, inexplicable irritation welled up inside her.
"Jia."
"...Yes."
"If you cannot become world number one yourself, then the fastest way is to make that world number one your person."
'My person.'
That was true.
And Yoo Jia could say it with certainty.
"Mr. Jinwoo is my person. And I'm sure I'm someone precious to him as well."
"Foolish words."
Yoo Byeongcheon said firmly.
"Surely you aren't trying to speak of emotions like love and friendship in front of me? Bonds that come from the heart do not last long. Dopamine is like that by nature. At best, those feelings last two or three years. Do you know where a real bond comes from?"
"...."
"Right there."
The place Yoo Byeongcheon pointed to with his finger was Yoo Jia's stomach.
"W-What are you talking about!"
Her stomach?
Was he telling her to have a child right now?
It was fast.
Far too fast.
To be honest, they hadn't even held hands yet.
"Your father will inherit this company. And when that happens, where do you think it will end up? With you, of course."
"..."
"Think about it. The status of this Daeseong, growing together with Baek Jinwoo, who will become world number one in the future."
Ah.
Watching her grandfather close his eyes and tremble with feeling, Yoo Jia thought,
'He really is a monster.'
It wasn't that she hated her grandfather. In fact, she respected him.
But whenever she saw him like this, he truly seemed like a monster.
A monster who lived only for Daeseong.
"And who do you think the financial power of that grown Daeseong would support? Naturally, Baek Jinwoo. A perfect relationship where each side benefits the other! And at the center of it all, your role will be the greatest."
Fine.
All of that was fine, and honestly, it wasn't as though she disliked the idea... but it was all so sudden, so fast...
"So, arrange a meeting soon."
"Wh-What?! What kind of meeting?"
"Invite Baek Jinwoo here."
"Mr. Jinwoo?"
"Shouldn't I at least see the face of the man who'll become my granddaughter's husband?"
"Grandfather!"
Yoo Jia shouted.
It was impossible to get through to him.
Did he have any idea how busy Mr. Jinwoo was…..?
"Cough, cough-hack!"
At that moment, Yoo Byeongcheon suddenly began coughing violently, his whole body shaking.
He even made a phlegmy rattling sound as he inhaled and exhaled heavily.
"G-Grandfather, are you okay?"
"This old man doesn't have much time left to live….. and if his granddaughter cannot even grant him such a simple request..."
No!
That is not a simple request!
"Then I suppose I should just die. Ah, Daehwan! Daehwan, come here at once!"
"...."
Watching her grandfather act, Yoo Jia let out a sigh.
'What am I supposed to do with this?'
Should she try inviting him just once?
In many ways, Yoo Jia had a headache.
* * *
Baek Jinwoo handed the Mind-Reading Eagle over to Yoo Jia.
"Uh.... thank you."
But her reaction was a little strange. It felt like she was somewhat out of it.
"Why, you don't like it?"
"No, no! I do like it. I like it so much I feel like dancing."
"...Then why."
"Ah, it's nothing. I've just been out of my mind lately."
"..."
What was that?
Baek Jinwoo tilted his head.
Well, it probably wasn't anything major.
The World League wasn't far off, so maybe she was just busy.
"But Mr. Jinwoo."
"Yes?"
"..By any chance."
"Yes, go ahead."
"Ah, never mind! The World League is right around the corner, so you need to focus on that."
Whoosh!
And Yoo Jia vanished like an arrow.
'What really is with her?'
There was definitely something going on. But what mattered right now was the league.
One day now.
Exactly one day later, it would be one week before the World League, and they said a system message would appear for the entire world.
Everyone knew about it except Baek Jinwoo!
Baek Jinwoo waited for that moment with an excited heart.
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