The Yeon Family's Calculations
“When?”
—Are you really just going to sit this out? If you step up now, you might still be able to stop it.
“Thanks for the heads-up.”
Choi Min-su scratched his cheek with a finger after hanging up.
It was a hurdle they had to break through anyway. He couldn't let emotions cloud his judgment and miss the truly important things.
His phone rang again.
“I'm fine, Mun Yeo-sa.”
—This is Kim Jun.
“Oh? It's you. What's up?”
—I have something to discuss.
“About tanking?”
—Yeah, how'd you know?
Choi Min-su shook his head. Yoo Wan-seop's prophecy... was coming true. Yoo Wan-seop was an incredibly reliable friend, but one who should never become an enemy—a terrifying force.
“Where are you?”
—Near Cheonhondan headquarters.
The fact that Kim Jun had come all this way before even calling to ask pleased Choi Min-su. He'd given his all, even without certainty of a meeting.
Someone like Yeon Jong-ho could never understand that mindset.
“Come on in.”
—Yes, sir. On my way.
After instructing the Pacheon Team to continue autonomous training, Choi Min-su walked to the lobby at the headquarters entrance, pondering why Yoo Wan-seop had asked him to send Kim Jun to Yeon Ga.
It stung his pride a little.
No matter what anyone said, wasn't he, Choi Min-su, the pillar of Cheonhondan and Korea's strongest tanker?
But thinking it over, there was a convincing reason.
Kim Jun's primary internal art was the Cheonroe Heart Technique. To learn tanking skills based on that, going to Yeon Ga made perfect sense.
Was that all?
It didn't seem important enough for Yoo Wan-seop to call personally with advice.
It was probably because of Jushin.
Not only had he crushed the Medici Team led by Kim Se-wi, but their spokesperson had even apologized publicly. To Jushin, Kim Jun must feel like a thorn in their side.
With all the public and media attention, they couldn't touch him here. But Jushin wasn't the type to just let him slip away in a dungeon either.
So, sending Kim Jun to Yeon Ga to prepare for Jushin's attacks?
That's when it hit him—an item cherished by Yeon Un-jae.
No way?
Would that stubborn old man hand over such a precious item to Kim Jun so easily?
Not likely.
“Teacher!”
It was Kim Jun.
Choi Min-su greeted his clientele with a warm smile.
Daecheonjae was serene.
Sipping hot tea in this study, where even the faintest noise couldn't intrude, brought Yeon Un-jae a profound happiness.
A towering stack of documents awaiting his approval covered the solid wood table. Those damn papers never seemed to dwindle, no matter how many he read.
Yeon Un-jae set down his teacup, donned his round glasses, and picked up a report.
A sigh escaped at the news of declining Yeonhyangcho sales.
Cheonun-gak's analysis called it a temporary dip.
They always fell back on that excuse when they couldn't pinpoint the cause. Incompetent fools.
'Part of me wants to fire them all.'
Yeon Un-jae checked more specific figures.
Yeonhyangcho was now sold not just to raiders but to the general public. 74% of total sales were tied to ordinary folks who'd never set foot in a dungeon.
In revenue terms, it was even more skewed—89% from regular pockets.
Yeon Un-jae immediately identified the cause: the targets of their billions-invested promotional programs were off-base. Sales data showed ads should target civilians, not raiders.
Precise analysis was needed.
One misstep could lose the raider market. Could civilian sales ramp up enough to compensate?
Yeonhyangcho was the best in its class, so marketing would make or break sales.
Yeon Un-jae pressed a button and spoke.
“Have the marketing team leader come in.”
—Yes, family head.
His secretary's pleasant voice replied.
As he skimmed other documents, the mantis-like marketing team leader Baek Du-seop entered, bowing deeply.
“You called for me?”
“Sit.”
“Yes, family head.”
Baek Du-seop sat across the wood table without a sound. Anyone entering Daecheonjae had to be sensitive to noise.
“What do you think is causing the sales drop?”
“I believe our marketing focus has shifted off-target.”
As expected, the marketing head knew.
The do-nothings like Cheonun-gak's leader had probably ignored such input.
“If I gave you full marketing authority, what would you do? I'm curious.”
Baek Du-seop swallowed hard at Yeon Un-jae's words.
This was his shot at rapid promotion, depending on his answer.
Yeon Un-jae watched the man's changing expression with amusement.
Anyone looked beautiful in the instant raw desire burst forth. Even this booze-soaked middle-aged man, for those fleeting three seconds, rivaled the charm of a raider like Lee Hwan.
“I'd change the ad model.”
The current model was Lee Hwan, representative of Brave Guild and Korea's top raider.
“To whom?”
Yeon Un-jae already knew the answer.
If Baek Du-seop nailed it, he'd promote him to ad director on the spot.
“Kim Jun.”
Baek Du-seop had mustered his courage.
Yeon Un-jae smiled faintly. He committed the name Baek Du-seop to memory.
“Why?”
“Sales show civilians dominate—74%, with women at 68% and 30s the largest group. We surveyed via a research firm; most buys were for the incense's effects themselves. Lee Hwan's ad impact was lower than expected. He's still valuable as a model, but not ideal for Yeonhyangcho.”
“Would Kim Jun be different?”
“He has a story. Lee Hwan was born elite and rose to the top, but Kim Jun went from carrier to raider to team leader. Tying that narrative to Yeonhyangcho could massively expand our reach.”
Baek Du-seop finished, gauging the family head's reaction.
“Projected increase?”
“...At least 40%.”
“Good. Give it a shot, Ad Director Baek Du-seop.”
“Th-thank you, family head!”
Elated, Baek Du-seop unwittingly thudded out of Daecheonjae.
Yeon Un-jae pondered briefly.
'Should I rescind the promotion?'
Fortunately, age-earned wisdom curbed his impulse.
He knew the backlash this decision would bring.
Prideful Lee Hwan would wonder who ousted him—and flip out upon learning it was Kim Jun over pocket change model fees.
If Lee Hwan clashed with Kim Jun, the media would swarm, skyrocketing Yeonhyangcho's popularity.
In that moment, Yeon Un-jae wasn't Kim Jun's patroness—he was Yeon Ga's family head.
Sometimes, one had to choose between two paths.
Then, his phone vibrated.
Who could it be? Few knew this number.
Maybe that guy?
Thinking of Maeng Gyu-pil, Yeon Un-jae slowly picked up. Seeing the number, a smile formed unbidden.
“What is it?”
—I'd like to see you.
“Come.”
—On my way.
Short exchange.
Since becoming clientele, Kim Jun had never visited Yeon Un-jae personally.
He was intrigued.
Yeon Un-jae stopped speculating on Kim Jun matters. Better to enjoy purely than guess wrongly.
As he scanned more documents, another call came.
Yeon Un-jae frowned. Time for a new number, perhaps. Direct lines should ring once a day at most, in his view.
Not the headache from his old disciple hiding in the black market.
“What is it?”
—Yoo Wan-seop has come down from the mountain.
Choi Min-su's voice carried a mischievous brat's vibe.
“You didn't call just to tell me that, right?”
—Of course not.
“Looks like that friend has chosen his path. Brave Guild?”
—No.
A guessing game.
“Then Miracle.”
Only Brave or Miracle could take Yoo Wan-seop, former Jushin top dog. Cheonhondan was too chaotic now.
—Sadly, no.
“Don't tell me... you convinced him?”
—I'd love Wan-seop to join Cheonhondan, but it's unrealistic.
“Going abroad, then?”
Yeon Un-jae was getting irritated.
—Don't be shocked. Wan-seop chose Uramata Guild.
“...What?”
Uramata Guild—Kim Jun's guild.
Why would Yoo Wan-seop...?
Then it clicked: Yoo Min-jeong, Yoo Wan-seop's daughter, was on Kim Jun's team. But a titan like him joining a third-rate guild for his daughter?
Absurd.
—Oh, and he's the new guild master.
Yeon Un-jae was speechless.
With Yoo Wan-seop's talent, he'd excel even as Jushin guild master—in fact, elevate it to undisputed top guild.
—Official announcement after this raid. That's all.
Yeon Un-jae set down the phone, deep in thought.
Within five minutes, he grasped the reasoning.
Foolish at first glance, but exquisitely clever otherwise.
“Huhu.”
Laughter burst forth.
Then, the desk phone rang briefly.
Yeon Un-jae pressed the button.
—Kim Jun has arrived, family head.
His secretary spoke.
“Send him in.”
The family head awaited his clientele with delight.
Kim Jun stood before Yeon Ga's entrance.
He felt murderous glares.
The Yeon Ga warriors guarding the gate eyed him like prey. Both radiated refusal to accept a guy like Kim Jun as the family head's clientele—or even as a raider.
No need to stir trouble.
Kim Jun waited leisurely, surveying the area. Yeon Ga evoked a serene folk village amid the city.
Gazing at clouds drifting over Yeon Ga, his face twisted.
The clouds... resembled a coiled king snake.
One monster had nearly wiped Pink Team. Go Cheolmin, still official guild master, cited the association report's 3.9% chance as near-zero in real raids, but Kim Jun wasn't satisfied.
Without boosting tanking power, he had to sit this raid out.
Thus, he needed a reliable tanking skill, come hell or high water. With Choi Muhyun as double tank, they could endure even a king snake assault—only then could they enter.
An ornate door caught his eye.
The North Gate—Beukmyeongmun.
No nameplate, but Kim Jun had learned from Leaderbook that Yeon Ga's four gates had names.
Beukmyeong, from Zhuangzi's Xiaoyao You, meant "northern sea." The giant fish Kun transforms into the bird Peng, flying to the southern sea.
Peng, vast enough to blot the sky.
Yeon Ga aspired to blanket the world in prowess and fame like Peng.
If the entrance was Beukmyeongmun... did a Kun lurk inside? Or a Peng ready to soar? Or perhaps a sparrow chirping, dreaming of Peng-hood.
A warrior approached.
“The family head awaits.”
Still radiating hostility, but polite in tone. True warriors—upright. They'd accept the family head's clientele, like it or not.
Kim Jun admired such folk. Better than quick-witted types shifting loyalties hourly; the stubborn and rough stuck to decisions.
He passed through Beukmyeongmun.
Hearing the news, many Yeon Ga warriors lined the path inside.
Kim Jun recalled his first visit. He hadn't been alone then—beside Choi Min-su, most glares weren't for him.
Now, he faced them solo. Kim Jun puffed his chest, squared his shoulders. I've done nothing wrong. No need to cower.