Chapter 65

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 65

Chapter Title: EP. 65 A Strange Bet

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The maids attending to Taeyeon quickly slipped away, sensing the suffocating tension in the air.

In stark contrast, Suyeong was utterly relaxed. She crossed her sleek legs as if showing them off and savored her tea. Her gaze remained fixed on Taeyeon.

"……."

A whirlwind of thoughts swirled through the mind of Kim Taeyeon, the third-generation heir of Raon Group. But they all boiled down to one conclusion: she had to wipe that infuriating smirk off her frenemy's face.

And Raon could never afford to lose to Rose. Taeyeon opened her mouth, directing her words at Suyeong, who wore a smile on her lips.

"It's less 'brimming with spirit' and more 'clueless about the real world.' She might have the skills, but her background is so flimsy. Doesn't she have anyone around to give her proper advice?"

"Haven't you heard that background means nothing against overwhelming skill?"

"Ha! Saying that while banking on some first-year rookie... Doesn't that sound a bit off to you?"

"Not all rookies are created equal. What's the point of a high rank without substance? I told you—it's about real results. So what have Memoria's recruits been up to? Our newbie took down a [B-6] dungeon."

Taeyeon felt irritation bubbling up at Suyeong's rapid-fire retorts, not missing a beat. That subtle, mocking smile—like she was looking down on her—kept needling her emotions. Was that why?

"Fine. Let's see which clan handles raids better. I'll talk to Memoria's leader myself."

The woman always praised for her cool rationality was losing her composure in front of her frenemy. But Suyeong hadn't come to Kim Taeyeon's penthouse just for that.

"Hmm. Is that all? Isn't the mighty Raon being a bit too tame?"

"That confident, huh? Alright, fine. Might as well make the name R’s disappear while we're at it."

Kim Taeyeon's eyes sharpened into slits.

R’s used to be a top clan back in the day, but ever since Raid Leader Park Dayoung retired, it had been on a downward spiral with no signs of recovery. Without a capable leader like Oh Hyun-jung, it would've collapsed long ago.

And as if she'd been waiting, Suyeong spoke up.

"If you think you can, go ahead and try. Deal! We'll wager Shin Na-yeon. If we win, send her our way. I'll give you a fair price."

"W-what?! Are you insane?"

Taeyeon exploded at Suyeong's words.

Shin Na-yeon, a third-year with five stars. She was Memoria's most promising dealer prospect. Among dealers of her year, her overwhelming skill had her at rank one. The association rated her potential at nine, and she'd been growing right on track.

Moreover, the clan brass planned to promote her to the first string within a year or two, letting her experience A-difficulty raids. She was essentially Memoria's future, already tapped as a next-gen first-string dealer.

Especially if she matured alongside Kang Chaeyoung—Memoria's star hero and Korea's top-ranked dealer—the clan would boast the nation's best dealer lineup.

"In return, if we lose, you'll get Oh Hyun-jung, Choi Sun-kyung, and Kim Sua."

"Uh...?"

But Taeyeon's ears perked up at Jo Suyeong's follow-up. Oh Hyun-jung's talent for holding together the crumbling R’s was acknowledged by everyone in the industry.

Choi Sun-kyung was R’s first-string healer lead, and Kim Sua was Korea's fourth-ranked dealer, a veteran serving as raid leader for the first-string team.

If they poached those three from R’s? The clan might have to shut down for real. With Park Dayoung already retired, losing the first-string raid leader would crumble it in an instant.

It was a deal worth accepting—trading a promising future star for those three. But a bet meant only one side won everything.

As Taeyeon's thoughts deepened, Suyeong grinned slyly and spoke.

"Whoa... Why's Raon's Kim Taeyeon overthinking so much? Feeling the pressure?"

"What? What did ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you say?! Ha! Fine. Deal. If you win, Na-yeon comes free. But if we win, hand over Oh Hyun-jung, Choi Sun-kyung, and Kim Sua. I'll throw in ten billion dollars."

"Whoa? Slashing it to a fifth? Whatever, fine. We're winning anyway, so it doesn't matter. Shall we draw up the contract?"

"Deal. Let's see who regrets this."

In ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the end, Taeyeon fell for Suyeong's taunts and accepted the proposal in one go. It was a bet she couldn't refuse. The group's pride was on the line. And so the battle between the massive whales began, and soon the shrimp would crack under the pressure.

"Memoria accepted the proposal."

Those were Oh Hyun-jung's words to Minguk and Hyun-ah, summoned to the clan leader's office first thing in the morning.

"Y-yes? What?!"

Hyun-ah's eyes instinctively flicked to Minguk. He was just as stunned. Memoria, who'd stayed silent and offered nothing, accepting his proposal? Had the clan leader been replaced overnight?

Oh Hyun-jung slowly began to explain.

"Seems the sponsors made a bet."

"The sponsors?"

"Everyone knows our sponsor is Rose Group's third-gen, Jo Suyeong. Same for Memoria. It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠doesn't hit the headlines much, but industry folks all know Kim Taeyeon of Raon Group is Memoria's sponsor. And with this controversy, our sponsor must've really gotten under hers."

"Uh, um."

Minguk let out a low groan. Was this good or bad...?

Long story short, a sponsor pride clash had gotten his proposal approved. But Hyun-jung wasn't done.

"Raid Leader Han Minguk must be confident to stir this up, but now that it's on, we have to win."

"The clan's reputation is at stake, after all..."

Minguk nodded as if it were obvious. He knew that much.

"That's not all. Sigh."

Having already heard from the sponsor, Hyun-jung covered her face with a heavy sigh. Minguk and Hyun-ah exchanged puzzled glances at her unusually intense reaction. Only after a long pause did she speak again.

"If we lose, I'll transfer to Memoria along with the first-string raid leader and healer lead."

"What?! No way!"

Their eyes went wide. Hyun-ah's mouth hung open too.

"If we win, Shin Na-yeon joins us. She's the dealer prospect Memoria's been grooming."

"I-is that so?"

Things had escalated massively. And losing meant disaster.

The hero community exploded again at news of Memoria and Rose Shield clashing over clan pride. Major broadcasters jumped on the coverage too.

Yet both clans decided against leaking raid details to the press. The loser's risks were too high. Still, interest in the showdown was massive.

A few days later, Memoria's lineup reached Rose Shield. Naturally, controversy magnet Kim Sung-cheol was included. The other four...

"They went full best-of-the-best."

Hyun-jung's face hardened as she checked the names from Memoria.

The second-string raid leader was one thing. But there was Kang Chaeyoung—first-string dealer lead and Korea's top dealer. The other dealer was also first-string, ranked ninth among dealers.

The tank's specs were middling at best—second-string main tank. But still far more experienced than Oh Hyun-ah.

"Wow, zero conscience."

The controversy started with Han Minguk and Kim Sung-cheol, but Memoria sent first-string heavies. It was like adults jumping into a kids' fight. Even with equal gear scores, raid experience was worlds apart.

"This is... Shouldn't we protest or something?"

Hyun-ah said darkly. Facing Memoria's all-stars, Team GGW was all first-year rookies.

"Exactly. It's like the national team versus fresh pro league rookies in a soccer match."

Jung Ye-rin chimed in. Kim Sojeong and Choi Yuna looked grim too. Only Minguk stayed calm. He addressed the team.

"I'm Messi and Kim Hyun-jun combined, so it'll be fine. Oh, and tell Memoria—if they're fielding that lineup, we pick the [B-5] dungeon venue. They can concede that much, right?"

"We could push for more. This is ridiculous..."

Hyun-jung shook her head at Minguk's words. She'd leak it to the press ASAP to pressure Memoria.

But Minguk wasn't dwelling on the opponents anymore. He'd scouted dungeons favorable to them, anticipating this. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠One in particular for the bet.

The dungeon featuring the rank-4 special entity 'Ice Drake'.

This monster demanded perfect debuff management and healer prowess. [B-5] required Gear Score ~200 to clear.

Challenging at 185 meant elite skill—especially the healer covering HP.

That alone wasn't enough. Precise raid leading minimized healer burden. Dealer skill alone wouldn't cut it.

'Boils down to me versus Kim Sung-cheol.'

And in a healer showdown, Minguk had unbeatable confidence. World #1 GGW healer rank wasn't handed out.