Chapter 26: Winter Kingdom (1)
After a back-and-forth negotiation, he handed over 10% of the shares to Ilsung.
The price tag: 5 trillion won.
The most decisive factor in setting that price was none other than Park Siwoo's existence.
He'd brought in an SSS-rank achievement holder overnight. What law said it would end with just Park Siwoo?
Expectations for the future had inflated the share price massively.
‘If I'd founded the guild alone, 5 trillion would have been a pipe dream.’
He was already in a position to receive 1 trillion won in support. Even if things went perfectly, he might have gotten around 2 trillion at best.
‘Well, looking far into the future, this is still a bargain…’
An EX-rank Awakener and an SSS-rank Awakener to boot.
Honestly, if he revealed all his abilities, nations would line up with even bigger bundles of cash.
‘But then I'd be properly leashed.’
He'd end up caged like a zoo animal before he could even spread his wings.
Not a great option.
In contrast, Ilsung had invested a huge sum while offering a contract close to that of a sugar daddy—with almost no interference.
‘This is the family buff in action.’
What good family really means.
Since he'd need to keep leveraging Ilsung's power going forward, handing over the shares at a fair price was a win-win.
‘Money acquired.’
Of course, this sum wasn't solely for his own use.
Park Siwoo.
He needed to invest in the kid to some extent. That was the point of the investment in the first place.
He looked at him.
“Did you hear earlier? Siwoo, once you hit level 101, you'll join the guild I create.”
“Yes. I understand. Joining now would draw too much attention.”
Park Siwoo nodded as if he got it.
When they cleared Osiris's Tomb, Kim Minwoo had still been an unproven newcomer.
Challenging records?
Had he hit his head or something?
That had been the prevailing opinion.
But now it was different.
He'd already proven himself with one clean shot.
If Park Siwoo drew eyes as an S-rank on top of that?
The saying “even a cousin buying land makes your stomach hurt” isn't for nothing.
People always want to knock down the guy who's doing well.
And right on cue, an S-rank achievement with a level 1 baby Awakener in the spotlight?
Dark hands would reach for Park Siwoo from all sides.
From small-time recruitment and temptations to major assassination attempts inside gates.
Recruitment wasn't a big deal.
Their friendship, built in a short time, ran deep.
With generous support, there was little worry Siwoo would go elsewhere.
Gate assassinations, though—that was different.
‘Gotta be careful with that.’
Sure, he'd crushed Lee Seoyoon easily, but Park Siwoo wasn't fully formed yet.
If assassins of that level came, things would get seriously messy.
That's why he'd negotiated terms with the chairman.
He'd form the guild right away.
But Park Siwoo's entry would be delayed a bit.
That was the gist.
The benchmark: level 101.
The starting line for D-rank.
By then, he'd have some real combat experience, and his skills would be second nature.
At minimum, he'd enter the guild with the power to protect himself.
“I'll tell you what to do until then.”
“Got it.”
He handed over Choi Yuna's number.
“Contact her and ask for elixirs. Prioritize over my orders. Use those for low-grade and mid-grade elixir grinding.”
“Yes.”
“Solo clear gates of appropriate difficulty up to level 101.”
The kid was innately unsuited for party play.
The moment he swung his holy sword massacring monsters.
Huh?
Just how many achievements does this guy have?
Suspicion was inevitable. Hiding his full power in parties would cripple his growth speed.
Solo it was.
Luckily, not all gates were brutally hard.
Even same-rank gates varied wildly—30-point difficulty versus 90-point.
Low-score gates didn't draw massive attention even if soloed.
On top of that.
He handed over a few IDs.
All registered long ago, still stuck in their brackets…
‘Stagnant pool IDs.’
F-rank gate specialist.
E-rank master.
One of these lets you swagger right in.
“Use these to match gate ranks. Photos are tweaked to look like you.
Long-term stagnant pool types clearing low-score gates won't raise eyebrows.
Even gate guards would shrug. Every bracket had its stuck players.
Park Siwoo nodded at the IDs.
“You'll get a master too, so train your sword hard.”
“A master?”
“Yeah. Hold on.”
He made a call right away.
Moments later.
—Minwoo? Long time no see.
A familiar voice came through the receiver.
“Yes, it's been a while. I found a promising talent worth your guidance. Could the Sword Sage take him under his wing?”
—Promising, huh. If you say so, he's no ordinary kid.
“You'll have quite some fun with him. Mind if I send him over?”
—Send him. I'll check him out myself.
“Thank you. I'll visit when I have time. Yes, yes.”
He hung up and looked at Park Siwoo.
“Go to Sword Sea Pavilion whenever you're free and learn the sword. Okay?”
“…Whoa, bro. You're incredible. Direct line to the Sword Sage…”
Even instructors at Sword Sea Pavilion rarely met the Sword Sage.
Direct lessons were a pipe dream for most.
Yet Kim Minwoo had arranged it with a casual call.
‘He's really something.’
Park Siwoo swallowed hard, realizing the opportunity he'd grasped.
“Thank you! I'll work hard!”
‘No problem. I'm the one who should be thankful.’
Kim Minwoo grinned.
5 trillion in investment.
He planned to use it very well.
‘Sword users don't strictly need 9-strengthen skills.’
Nice to have, sure.
But far less efficient than for legion operation. Specialization for a reason.
Awakened him.
Got him a master.
Elixirs covered.
Gear fitted.
Duty done.
He deserved the full investment haul.
Pure high-efficiency money duplication.
“Good luck then.”
Time for him to clear a gate too.
* * *
[(Breaking News) Kim Minwoo now a guild master? New solo guild founded instead of Ilsung Guild!]
[(Breaking News) Guild name revealed as ‘Lavish’…]
[(Breaking News) Lavish Guild lives up to the name? Receives massive investment from Ilsung! Traded partial shares for enormous sum…]
[(Breaking News) Ilsung states new members will be selected in consultation with guild master…]
Han Baekgil, staring at the TV, turned to his crew.
Last week.
He'd poured Shadow's resources into hunting Lee Seoyoon's killer.
From No. 1 to No. 7.
All gathered again.
“No. 3. Investigation results?”
“No A-rank or higher. All alibis solid. No gate entry windows.”
“No. 7. Anything from low gates?”
The green-masked man shook his head.
“Boss, it's tricky.”
“How so?”
“That day, about 500 soloed low gates… Cleared most. But this one's different.”
No. 7 handed over personnel files to Han Baekgil.
[Park Cheolwoong (32)]
[Awakener Rank: D]
[Job: Swordsman]
Standard Awakener file.
No. 7 continued.
“Fake ID.”
“…Sure?”
“Yeah. Checked the address—empty house. Records say 10 years resident, but neighbors don't know him. Doesn't add up.”
Han Baekgil nodded.
Nine times out of ten, fake ID.
“And?”
“These jobs are black market exclusives. Dug around? No trace.”
“Merchants clammed up?”
“Nah, cleaner than that. Tied into government systems, even post-collapse.”
Fakes usually mimicked format superficially.
Guards and Awakeners didn't scrutinize details.
Especially low gates.
Linked to crashed gov systems?
Meant admin systems tampered. Properly laundered.
Not just money.
Needed power too.
Han Baekgil's face hardened.
“And they cut tails fast once we sniffed. ID fully burned. No 32-year-old D-rank Park Cheolwoong in Korea anymore. Overnight.”
“…Ties to chaebol or politics.”
“Yeah. Ironclad ones. Big backing. Like that Kim Minwoo on TV.”
TV still droned on about Kim Minwoo's guild founding.
Some crew watched entranced, then snickered.
“Hey, No. 7. You suspecting him?”
“Do I look that crazy? Just saying.”
Ilsung's eldest son.
Child's play for that level laundering.
But Kim Minwoo as killer? Hard to buy.
No, impossible.
Just hit level 1 days ago.
Level 300 A-rank achievement assassin felled by lowbie necromancer?
A hundred—no, thousand skeletons—still no win for Kim Minwoo.
Assassin?
Sneak, backstab, done.
Even if stealth spotted, same issue.
Charge front, dagger swing—skeletons crumble. Necro resist how?
Sword skills rumored, but level/gear gap unbeatable.
Common sense.
Shadow members elite Awakeners—very sensible folk.
Han Baekgil too.
“…Scour chaebol and politics. Recent Awakeners, levels—all of them.”
“Got it. Start high up. Needs that clout for seamless work.”
Their investigation veering off? Not surprising.
* * *
[Consuming Limit Break Elixir!]
[Level potential rises to 250!]
[Consuming Limit Break Elixir!]
[Level potential rises to 300!]
[Consuming Limit Break Elixir!]
[Level potential rises to 350!]
“Whew, that's the stuff.”
He let out a joyful scream at the dizzying new cap. No more bloody tears at mid-rank walls.
350: B-rank ceiling.
One more level: A-rank. Universal high-rank territory.
One more elixir—no sweat. By then, Shadow or whoever—smashed.
Achievements would duplicate.
‘Time to dive in.’
He eyed the necklace in hand.
D-rank gate.
Unknown contents.
But first time for this?
Kim Minwoo trusted himself.
Prep done.
No hesitation.
“Let's go.”
[Mysterious Necklace activates!]
[Transfer passage opens!]
Red portal spawned in the room.
Step in—
Scenery flipped.
Whoosh!
Blizzard winter.
Tiny village interior.
Broad clearing—Kim Minwoo summoned.
One oddity.
—What’s that, snort?
—Snort? Human? Looks human.
—Snort! Intruder! I kill intruder!
No villagers—instead, musclebound orcs swarming everywhere!
“Uh… hello?”
Human greeting met with orcs raising axes in reply.