Chapter 17
I Alone EX-Class Summoner –
Yoo Ji-ah (1)
“Whoa.”
Baek Jin-woo’s eyes went wide.
Holy shit!
Unbelievable!
“What the hell, why is it so expensive?”
As he scrolled through the summon prices in the [Marketplace], a sudden wave of reality hit him.
He had expected high prices, but it was even worse than he imagined.
‘D-rank was practically trash.’
What the hell.
From C-rank onward, each one costs as much as a compact car.
Swish, swish!
Baek Jin-woo quickly scanned the information on his phone.
The rough price breakdown was:
C-rank: around 20 million won on average. The better ones went for 100 million won.
B-rank?
Even crazier.
Average about 200 million won, with the good ones exceeding 500 million won.
A-rank and above?
There weren’t even listings. Likely, the price would be whatever the seller demanded.
S-rank? Obviously none.
Thinking about it, it made sense.
B-rank summons could only be obtained by tearing up Advanced Summon Scrolls at a 1% success rate.
The expected value: 100 scrolls.
An Advanced Summon Scroll costs 3 million won, so 100 scrolls equals exactly 300 million won.
‘So with 300 million, you could get one B-rank or five C-ranks…’
That explained these ridiculous prices.
“Ha.”
It was truly insane.
During Battle of Summoners, it hadn’t been this extreme.
Now he understood why someone like Park Chang-seok only owned three C-rank summons, and why Baek Ah-jin called her Shadow Elf “noble.”
‘I wonder how much my sister’s is worth.’
He tapped the magnifying glass in the top right corner of the [Marketplace] tab and typed: “Shadow Elf.”
[Shadow Elf (C-Rank)]
Price: 42 million won
Quantity: 8
“Insane.”
4,200… Baek Ah-jin.
“She’s way richer than me.”
Baek Jin-woo’s meager balance was currently just 6 million won.
‘But whatever.’
He wasn’t planning to use this money anyway. Baek Jin-woo had other sources.
“Hmm-hmm.”
Closing the Player Web, he checked his contacts.
Park Chang-seok had said that if he contacted them directly, they would help immediately.
[Headquarters – Hwang Tae-seop, Deputy]
“This is where I’ll submit it.”
Baek Jin-woo nodded and started jotting down something.
It was a list of the core units he needed for the weekday dungeons.
“Congressman.”
Quick as a flash!
Hwang Tae-seop, having received Baek Jin-woo’s message, immediately went to Park Chang-seok.
“What is it?”
“Player Baek Jin-woo has sent a proposal.”
“What?”
Park Chang-seok, flipping through paperwork, jumped to his feet.
A proposal meant: if it was solved, Baek Jin-woo would provide information!
“What did he propose?”
“Just a moment. Here it is.”
Hwang Tae-seop scrolled through his phone and shared the message.
It was a list of summons, complete with quantities and prices.
[Summon Purchase List]
- Battle Sheriff (C-Rank), 1, 18 million won
- Radiant Priest (C-Rank), 1, 35 million won
- Spotted Komodo (B-Rank), 1, 150 million won
- Wind Falcon (B-Rank), 1, 300 million won
- Titanium Golem (B-Rank), 1, 300 million won
- Horn Fairy (C-Rank), 1, 50 million won
- Frost Mausoleum (C-Rank), 1, 100 million won
- Sky Dolphin (C-Rank), 1, 10 million won
- Celestial Wyvern (B-Rank), 1, 200 million won
- Lava Drake (C-Rank), 3, 50 million won each
“What is all this?”
“…He wants the Headquarters to buy all of it. No exceptions. Prices are the listed minimum.”
“What?”
Park Chang-seok was flabbergasted.
The Headquarters was supposed to buy all of this? How much was that?
He quickly ran the numbers in his head.
“…1,313,000,000 won?”
Good grief.
No wonder Park Chang-seok only used C-rank summons.
The Headquarters budget is extremely strict. Every expense is closely monitored by other congressmen.
Even the slightest misuse? Immediate public outrage.
You could lose your office or even face embezzlement charges.
“This is beyond my authority… But he says he’ll give information if we buy them?”
“Similar to last time. He’ll reveal the secrets to weekday dungeon time attacks.”
“Weekday dungeons?”
Park Chang-seok’s eyes lit up.
“He specifically said weekday dungeons? Not just Monday or Wednesday?”
“Yes, definitely weekday dungeons.”
“Hoho.”
If true, this would be huge.
After the domestic record in the Tuesday dungeon, the public had gone wild.
Now, he could break records from Monday to Sunday?
South Korea would probably throw a national celebration.
‘The problem is money.’
The Headquarters wouldn’t just hand out the budget.
They would likely demand proof first. But that would break the trust between Baek Jin-woo and them.
He didn’t want to disappoint Baek Jin-woo.
“Understood for now. I’ll report to the Director.”
Park Chang-seok tossed the paperwork aside.
He needed to speak directly with the Director.
The result?
Nothing.
“Ugh, that old bureaucrat! Stupid old man!”
Park Chang-seok stormed around the office, pounding his desk.
“This is Korea’s chance to truly advance, and they won’t approve it! Ha!”
“Honestly, it’s a bit much,” muttered Yoo Ji-ah, observing.
It couldn’t be helped.
Being a national agency, the Headquarters could only invest when the information was reliable.
If Baek Jin-woo bought the summons and then naturalized abroad or joined a gang?
They couldn’t rule out such risks.
“But the info is reliable, right?”
“Of course it is. I told you last time—I have a good eye. Definitely reliable. Arrgh! Damn it! That’s why our country’s always last place!”
“….”
Not wrong. South Korea being behind in summoning was partly because of rotten congressmen.
Not much different from politicians.
‘If every congressman were like Park Chang-seok, our country would become advanced in no time.’
Yoo Ji-ah smiled bitterly.
Park Chang-seok was still stomping his feet in frustration.
“That Director… I knew it the moment he started meeting with Lim Hee-su. That guy… took the money. 100%.”
“Congressman. There are others listening.”
“There? It’s just you, me, and Byung-jin here.”
“Six ears are still a lot.”
“…What do you mean by that scary remark?”
“In any case, the Director wants proof first. Otherwise, show him you cleared it first, then request afterward.”
“Right, ha.”
The problem: Baek Jin-woo couldn’t attempt the time attack without the summons.
It was obvious.
Without the Spotted Komodo, you couldn’t time-attack the Tuesday dungeon.
“Technically, we have to buy the summons with public funds…”
“But,”
Yoo Ji-ah licked her lips, a gleam in her eye.
It was instinct.
The instinct of someone with the blood of South Korea’s richest conglomerate.
“If the info is true, it would be an absolute jackpot, right?”
“Absolutely! Mega jackpot! And the Headquarters is too dumb to see it!”
“Even I can tell it’s huge… Honestly, selling it to the HQ for just 1.31 billion… kinda lame, right?”
“What?”
“Hmm… kinda weak,” Yoo Ji-ah closed her eyes.
Her mind started working rapidly.
She had become very interested in summons and players over the past three years.
“What is it? What are you thinking?”
Even as Park Chang-seok protested, Yoo Ji-ah focused intently.
After some time passed…
“That money,” she began.
“Yes?”
“I can cover it.”
“…What?”
Park Chang-seok’s eyes went wide.
What the hell was she saying?
Yoo Ji-ah – Daeseong Group
Grandfather Yoo Byung-chun’s most cherished granddaughter.
She actually had company shares and could participate in the management battles.
Using her shares to support her father could later become hers.
But she had no interest.
She disliked seeing bloodshed within the family.
She preferred to protect her father’s shares and pour all her energy into players.
‘And,’
A player had recently caught her interest.
Baek Jin-woo.
A mysterious first-year gamer.
Hid his identity, seemed to know info not available in South Korea.
Not a pushover.
Could even risk a bet against the country.
‘Definitely smells like money.’
Yoo Ji-ah inherited Yoo Byung-chun’s knack for sniffing out money.
The business idea that came to her mind was management.
Solo management.
A support company controlling just Baek Jin-woo.
Isn’t that the same as the Headquarters <Talent Management Team>?
‘No, it’s completely different.’
From Yoo Ji-ah’s perspective, the HQ were idiots.
They didn’t recognize the value of the info or investment concepts.
‘The info Baek Jin-woo has is worth at least hundreds of billions.’
Being able to time-attack meant faster dungeon farming, astronomically valuable.
And ordinary companies invest boldly where expected returns are high.
1.3 billion? Worth throwing away for potential returns.
Also, unlike the HQ <Talent Management Team>, management splits profits with the player.
A true Win-Win.
Baek Jin-woo, once he tasted money, would provide info even more actively.
Not just observing each other, but truly forming a team.
‘If I run this business,’
She would even share the stake with Park Chang-seok.
Of course, on the condition he stayed in the HQ.
HQ connections could still be useful.
‘He’ll be thrilled.’
She chuckled inwardly, imagining the old man’s excitement at making money while being patriotic.
Returning to the office:
“You’re seriously covering that money? 1.313 billion won? That much?”
Park Chang-seok stared at her.
Not a subordinate-to-boss stare, but awe at untouchable wealth.
“Yes. But…”
Yoo Ji-ah tapped her nails nervously.
“Before I pay, I want to meet him once more.”
“Meet… Baek Jin-woo?”
“Yes.”
Not everything can be achieved by thinking alone.
The most important thing: Baek Jin-woo’s consent.
Yoo Ji-ah wanted to see him again.
Business, romance, education, recruitment.
All relationships succeed only when the synergy is perfect.
Baek Jin-woo would judge her, and she him.
“We’ll talk details afterward. For now, I’ll step out for a moment.”
With that, Yoo Ji-ah straightened her clothes and exited the office.
