AECS 19

Chapter 19

Early morning.

• Is that all you’ve got? Move more! More! More! Push yourself to the limit. Only then can you grow.

The training ground was soaked with the sweat of the summoned creatures.

• Huff… huff…
• Hoo… hhaa…!

Ramba’s panting and the groans of the Tyrannodragon filled the air.

Baek Jin-woo didn’t really know what the trainer, Hoon-gyo, was putting them through, but he decided to just follow along and started exercising as well.

• Master, if you do it that way, your muscles won’t grow efficiently. Like this. Yes, take the posture like this.

The funny thing?

Even Baek Jin-woo couldn’t stop Hoon-gyo, the training fanatic.

He explained ways to evenly strengthen upper body, lower body, core muscles, and cardio. Baek Jin-woo listened carefully and accepted the guidance.

Hoon-gyo was born to be an undisputed top-tier master.

“Could it be that my latent potential will unlock too, later?”

Anything. If it could help him grow, it was good enough.

After a long while of training…

• Quiet, everyone.

Hoon-gyo silenced them all.

Then he approached Baek Jin-woo and bowed slightly.

• Master, someone is approaching.

“Okay.”

Wiping his sweat with a towel he had brought, Baek Jin-woo stood up.

He could already guess who it was.

Yujia.

She was the reason he had come here today.

“By the way…”

Hoon-gyo was pretty perceptive.

He trained others by forcing them, but he led by example himself. That caused his level to rise quickly, and his stat increases were significant.

Truly EX-class material.

When Hoon-gyo warned that someone was approaching, Ramba and the Tyrannodragon quickly covered their mouths with their hands.

Talking in front of others was strictly forbidden.

That was an absolute command from Player Baek Jin-woo.

Soon after…

• Hoo… hoo…

Yujia appeared, wiping sweat from her forehead as she climbed up.

“Last time I felt it too, but the altitude here is quite high.”

“You’re here?”

“Yes, were you working out from early morning? Oh my, there are summoned creatures too.”

Yujia’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the creatures lying in the clearing.

“So this is like a team? I’ve seen Mini-Kong and the Golden Fairy before, but the rest are new to me.”

Ramba, Hoon-gyo, Tyrannodragon—Yujia had no way of knowing them.

They were one-of-a-kind summoned creatures in the world.

Even the rare humanoid summon!

“Haha, yes. I’ll explain more later, but these are my main team.”

“I see. First, I’ll give you the gift. That’s why I came all this way.”

Whirrr!

Yujia extended her hand, and light emanated from it.

[Player ‘Yujia’ proposes a trade.]

[Carefully review the opponent’s offer.]

In the reality-based Battle of Summoners, trades between players were supported.

To prevent scams, the system would ensure that if the promised items weren’t exchanged, a curse would be inflicted.

The curse was extremely powerful—possibly fatal—so extreme caution was needed.

[Yujia: Battle Warden (C), Priest of Radiance (C), Spotted Komodo (B), Wind Sparrowhawk (B), Titanium Golem (B), Horned Fairy (C), Frost Mausoleum (C), Sky Dolphin (C), Celestial Wyvern (B), Lava Drake (C), Lava Drake (C), Lava Drake (C)]

[Baek Jin-woo: No consideration.]

The trade lists were displayed.

[Do you accept Yujia’s proposal?]

[Y/N]

There was no reason not to accept.

“She actually brought all of this…”

Baek Jin-woo nodded, and the summoned creatures were added to his inventory.

Everything now belonged to him!

From today, the members for intense training with Hoon-gyo had increased.

“Thank you. This is truly a valuable gift. I mean it.”

“Hehe, it’s nothing. Now you’ve officially joined the family.”

Yujia smiled gently, licking her lips.

“Shall we get down to business now?”

Yujia quickly and precisely relayed information.

The management company would be called Yubaek, combining Yujia and Baek Jin-woo’s names.

Baek Jin-woo owned 70% of the company, Yujia took 25%.

The remaining 5%?

It belonged to Park Chang-seok.

He was stationed at headquarters to help Yubaek grow and also received it as a gift.

“Because he played a big part in discovering Baek Jin-woo.”

Of course, as a politician, Park Chang-seok had to make his assets public, but Yujia had a way.

“Just tie it in a contract.”

A player-to-player contract, the most reliable method.

Later, when Park Chang-seok retired, he would transfer the 5% under the agreed condition, which he agreed to willingly.

“So anyway, the largest shareholder is Baek Jin-woo, I’ll be the CEO, Park Chang-seok as advisor, and we plan to hire Kim Byung-jin and Hwang Tae-seop under favorable terms.”

“Kim Byung-jin and Hwang Tae-seop… aren’t they HQ people?”

“They all resigned this morning. They couldn’t resist the offer of triple their previous salaries.”

Grandfather always said not to skimp on talented people.

Park Chang-seok also disbanded the talkative Talent Management Team and returned to focusing on his usual tasks.

“By the way…”

Baek Jin-woo asked cautiously,

“Is it okay for me to get 70%?”

It was nice, but… a little overwhelming.

“I funded it, but the real core of Yubaek is Baek Jin-woo. Once you become famous, other companies or even nations might reach out. But I’m confident no one will give you over 50%.”

Once ownership exceeds 50%, voting rights become almost meaningless, and the company essentially becomes Baek Jin-woo’s.

No fool would hand over the company immediately after founding it.

“But why did you… Yujia?”

“It’s my bet.”

“Bet?”

“I only take 25% of the profits. Decisions I make rationally, and the major shareholder won’t refuse. I’m confident I can maximize the value of that 25%.”

Since it was a single-person company, decisions weren’t crucial.

Ultimately, relationships mattered. Strong relationships prevented distraction from conditions or temptation.

“I’m the one who should be grateful.”

Baek Jin-woo examined the contract carefully.

Even a normal person could navigate to the top of a game; he could spot hidden clauses.

“It’s perfectly clean.”

It was overwhelmingly favorable to Baek Jin-woo.

“Should I stamp here?”

“Yes.”

They stamped in all intended places and split the two copies of the contract.

“Let’s discuss details later. For now, spend some time with your sister.”

“Yes, understood. I’ll call you.”

“Yep.”

Baek Ah-jin couldn’t comprehend the situation—at all.

Suddenly, Hoon-gyo, who had been silently observing the conversation, leapt toward the nearby grass.

“What… what is it?”

“I’m not sure…”

Baek Jin-woo and Yujia were startled.

Then,

“Ahhh!”

A woman’s scream pierced the air.

Hoon-gyo emerged from the grass, holding two pairs of ankles in his hands.

In his left hand: Shadow Elf (C)
In his right hand: Baek Ah-jin

Hoon-gyo’s expression was silent, as if saying he had caught the intruders eavesdropping on the master’s conversation.

Of course, Baek Ah-jin had protective shields around her body, so she took no physical damage.

“No.”

Baek Jin-woo’s face was a mix of shock and disbelief.

“You… why are you here?”

“Who is this person…?”

“Oh, she’s my younger sister.”

This guy… he was eavesdropping the whole time?

Baek Ah-jin was stunned. Her heart raced uncontrollably.

Just seeing Yujia here was shocking enough.

“No way.”

Yujia had come here to see our brother.

Does that even make sense?

Why would South Korea’s top conglomerate have anything to do with our family?

She couldn’t ignore it and hid nearby.

The Shadow Elf was specialized in stealth.

Deceiving two players was nothing.

“But…”

She couldn’t hear exactly what was said.

One thing was clear: their atmosphere was very friendly.

“What… is this?”

This wasn’t the kind of feeling you get from secretly watching your brother on a date.

This was horror.

Baek Jin-woo seemed like he lived in another world entirely.

The unease only grew stronger.

Especially because one of his summons was rapidly approaching her.

“He senses my hiding?”

It was a C-class summon.

Even most B-class summons would struggle to detect a fully hidden target.

Yet, the armored summon was running directly toward her.

“I have to avoid it.”

Baek Ah-jin signaled the Shadow Elf, but Hoon-gyo’s speed was beyond imagination.

Like a toad snatching a fly, he reached out and grabbed the Elf’s ankle with unbelievable speed.

Sssht!

The Shadow Elf tried to respond quickly.

Thump! Thwong!

A light touch froze the Elf’s body. Vital points were hit, perfectly subduing it.

“Crazy.”

Baek Ah-jin had never seen such a summon.

She watched the player leagues as well, but such combat abilities…

Then…

“Ahhh!”

Hoon-gyo subdued Baek Ah-jin as well.

“Ah, shit.”

She had hoped to just observe and escape, but everything had gone completely wrong.

“So…”

Baek Jin-woo muttered in disbelief.

“You recognized Yujia, and since you were a fan, you followed her?”

“No! Not following, just curious, that’s all.”

“That’s following.”

“…”

“And you came along, saw me, and hid because you couldn’t resist?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

Eventually, Baek Ah-jin admitted it.

“And you, brother? You seem to need a longer explanation.”

Ha.

Baek Jin-woo sighed inwardly.

This was… troublesome. Fate was playing tricks.

He had intended to explain later, but it had been discovered too soon.

“How do you know Yujia… and why does that ridiculous summon exist? She subdued my Shadow Elf in less than five seconds! How is that possible? And my brother just woke from a coma two months ago! This makes no sense!”

“Slowly, slowly.”

Baek Jin-woo gave Yujia an awkward look.

“Sorry, I forgot your sister might know this place.”

“Hehe, it’s okay. Since she’s your sister, I was going to greet her soon anyway. This worked out well.”

Ah…

She must have seen the contract.

As Baek Jin-woo’s dedicated management, it covered even family.

“Really?”

Baek Ah-jin was astonished.

“Y… Yujia… is going to greet me?”

Baek Jin-woo saw Baek Ah-jin’s ecstatic expression for the first time.

It made sense. She was in awe of someone of the highest tier she admired most.

“First…”

Baek Jin-woo organized the situation.

“I’ll stamp the contract immediately.”

He stamped all the necessary places and split the two copies.

“Let’s discuss details later. For now, spend some time with your sister.”

“Yes, understood. I’ll call you.”

Baek Ah-jin still couldn’t understand what was happening. Not at all.