Chapter 19
Chapter 19: Yu Ji-a (3)
Early morning.
—Is that all you've got? Move more, more, more, more. Push yourself to the very limits. That's the only way you'll grow.
The open ground was drenched in the sweat of the Summoner Beasts.
—Huff, huff.
—Phew, phuah—!
The sound of Lamba collapsed and wheezing, and the groans of Explosive Dragon.
Baek Jin-woo didn't know exactly what Drill Instructor was training them in, but trusting that it would handle itself, he started his own workout.
—My Lord, doing it that way won't let the muscles grow efficiently. Like this. Yes, that's the posture you need to hold.
The funny thing was.
Even Baek Jin-woo couldn't stop the training fanatic, Drill Instructor.
Upper body, lower body, core muscles, and cardio.
He showed him ways to develop everything in a balanced way, and Baek Jin-woo listened carefully and took it all in.
Drill Instructor was, without question, a Summoner Beast born to be the greatest trainer.
I wonder if I'll eventually unlock some kind of latent ability too?
Whatever it was.
If it meant growth, that was good enough.
He had been working out for a good while when it happened.
—Everyone, quiet.
Drill Instructor silenced them all.
Then he approached Baek Jin-woo and lowered his head.
—My Lord, someone is approaching.
"Okay."
Baek Jin-woo stood up, wiping the sweat with the towel he'd brought.
He knew exactly who it would be.
Yu Ji-a.
Coming out here today was entirely because of her.
That said.
Drill Instructor, this guy.
His energy sense is quite impressive, isn't it?
As much as he forced others into training, he led by example himself.
As a result, his level had risen quickly and the range of his stat growth was considerable.
Truly the qualities befitting an EX-Rank.
At Drill Instructor's words that someone was approaching, Lamba and Explosive Dragon both slapped their hands firmly over their mouths.
No speaking in front of others.
That was the absolute command of Player Baek Jin-woo.
Before long.
"Phew, phew."
Yu Ji-a came up the path, breathing deeply, and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"I noticed it last time too, but this place is at quite a high elevation."
"You're here."
"Yes, it looks like you've been exercising since early morning? Oh my, the Summoner Beasts are here too."
Looking at the Summoner Beasts spread out across the open ground, Yu Ji-a's eyes lit up.
"So they're all one team? I've seen Mini Kong and Golden Fairy a few times before, but the others are new to me."
Lamba, Drill Instructor, Explosive Dragon.
There was no reason Yu Ji-a would know those 3.
They were Summoner Beasts of which only 1 existed in the entire world.
And on top of that, the rare humanoid Summoner Beasts!
"Ha ha, yes. I'll explain more later, but they're my core members."
"I see. First, let me give you the gift. That's why I came all the way here."
Woooong!
Yu Ji-a opened her palm, and light seeped out.
[Player 'Yu Ji-a' is proposing a trade.]
[Please review the other party's offer carefully.]
The real-world version of Battle of Summoners supported player-to-player trades.
To prevent scams and defaults, the status window enforced the trade, and if the agreed exchange failed to go through, a curse would descend.
The curse was powerful enough to potentially result in death at its worst, so one had to exercise extreme caution.
[Yu Ji-a: Combat Marshal (C-Rank), Radiant Priest (C-Rank), Spotted Komodo (B-Rank), Wind Falcon (B-Rank), Titanium Golem (B-Rank), Horned Fairy (C-Rank), Frost Cat (C-Rank), Sky Dolphin (C-Rank), Sky Wyvern (B-Rank), Lava Drake (C-Rank), Lava Drake (C-Rank), Lava Drake (C-Rank)]
[Baek Jin-woo: Nothing in return.]
Both parties' trade lists appeared.
[Will you accept Player 'Yu Ji-a's' proposal?]
[Y/N]
There was no reason not to accept these terms.
She really went and gathered all of this.
Baek Jin-woo gave a nod, and the Summoner Beasts stacked up in his inventory.
From this moment on, every single one of them was now Baek Jin-woo's property!
Starting today, the number of members Drill Instructor would work to the bone had just grown.
"Thank you. This is a truly precious gift. I mean it sincerely."
"Heh heh, it's nothing. We've agreed to become one family now, haven't we?"
Yu Ji-a smiled softly and licked her lips.
"Then shall we get into the real conversation now?"
***
Yu Ji-a delivered the information swiftly and precisely.
The name of the management was ‘YuBaek’.
It was named after the family names of Yu Ji-a and Baek Jin-woo combined.
70% of the company's shares belonged to Baek Jin-woo, while Yu Ji-a would take 25%.
And the remaining 5%?
That was Park Chang-seok's share.
It was also compensation for his role in helping YuBaek grow while remaining at headquarters.
And a gift on top of that.
Because the credit for discovering Baek Jin-woo was significant.
Of course, Park Chang-seok, as a congressman, had the obligation to publicly disclose his assets, but Yu Ji-a had a way around all of that.
Binding it with a contract will do.
And not just any contract—the most reliable kind known: a player-to-player trade contract.
A condition stating that the 5% share of the company would be transferred once he stepped down from his congressional seat in the future would be sufficient, and Park Chang-seok readily agreed to the proposal.
"In any case, the majority shareholder is Baek Jin-woo, and I will be the representative of the company. The advisor will be Congressman Park Chang-seok. And as staff, we plan to hire Kim Byeong-jin and Hwang Tae-seop under favorable terms."
"Kim Byeong-jin and Hwang Tae-seop…… Aren't those the headquarters people?"
"They both resigned this morning. Guaranteeing triple their previous salary—there's no way they could hold out without handing in their resignations."
Triple meant 3 times.
Her grandfather used to say that.
Never be stingy with good talent.
Park Chang-seok had also dissolved the bothersome Talent Management Team and decided to return to devoting himself to Yaksha business as usual.
Apparently, having the idiotic headquarters manage Baek Jin-woo would be an act of national betrayal.
"But."
Baek Jin-woo asked carefully.
"Is it really alright to give 70% to me?"
It was great, sure.
But it was too much.
It felt a little burdensome, if anything.
"Even though I put up the money, the core of our YuBaek is Baek Jin-woo. Once you become famous, other businesses, corporations, and even the government will likely reach out for you. But I'm certain. Not one of them will ever give Baek Jin-woo more than 50% of the shares."
That was only natural.
The moment more than 50% of the shares were handed over, voting rights would be as good as nonexistent, and it would essentially become Baek Jin-woo's company.
What kind of fool would hand a company over the very moment it was founded?
"Then why would Yu Ji-a……"
"It's a bet of sorts."
"A bet……"
"I take a guaranteed 25% of whatever the company earns. Either way, I'll be working hard on the decisions, and as long as they're reasonable, the majority shareholder won't turn them down, right? I'm confident. I have the ability to maximize the value of that 25% as well."
Also, since it was essentially a 1-person company, voting didn't matter all that much.
After all, if the very subject of that 1 person—Baek Jin-woo—didn't want it, every decision would fall apart anyway!
What matters in the end is the relationship.
Setting aside her own greed just slightly and forging a solid bond.
When the bond is solid, neither conditions nor other temptations can shake it.
That was the strategy Yu Ji-a had decided to employ.
"I'm the one who's grateful."
Baek Jin-woo examined the contract carefully.
Even as an ordinary person, he was someone who had once reached the top of an entire game.
He was capable of filtering out any toxic clauses.
There's nothing more to want—it's clean as can be.
It was set up so favorably for Baek Jin-woo that he almost wondered if this was even okay.
"Do I just press my thumbprint here?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll be in your care, Representative Yu."
"But of course."
And just as management YuBaek was about to be established.
Fwoosh!
That was when Drill Instructor, who had been silently watching the Lord's conversation, shot forward.
His direction: the nearby bushes.
"Wha, what is it?"
"Hmm, I'm not sure either."
Baek Jin-woo and Yu Ji-a both flinched in surprise.
And soon after.
"Kyaaaaak!"
A woman's scream rang out.
Flap, flap, flap!
Parting through the bushes, Drill Instructor emerged with a figure gripped by each hand.
In his left hand—Shadow Elf (C-Rank).
In his right hand—Baek A-jin.
Drill Instructor's wordless expression seemed to say: I've caught intruders eavesdropping on the Lord's conversation.
Of course, Baek A-jin's entire body was wrapped in a Shield, so there would be no physical damage.
"Wait."
Bewilderment crossed Baek Jin-woo's face.
"Why are you here?"
"Who is this person……"
"Ah, she's my younger sister."
This girl.
Don't tell me she was listening to the whole conversation this whole time?
***
Baek A-jin was dumbfounded.
Beyond dumbfounded—her heart kept pounding and pounding.
The fact that Yu Ji-a had appeared in a place like this was already shocking enough.
Good grief.
Apparently, she was on her way to see my older brother.
How could that even make sense?
What connection could the number 1 conglomerate heiress in Korea possibly have with our family!
She absolutely could not let it go without seeing for herself, so she had hidden in the vicinity.
Shadow Elf was a Summoner Beast specializing in stealth.
She thought deceiving 2 players would be child's play.
However.
They were saying something or other, but she couldn't quite make out the exact content.
The 1 thing she was certain of.
The atmosphere between the 2 of them was extraordinarily good.
What the.
This was not the kind of feeling she got when secretly watching her older brother on a date.
This was horror.
The yawning disconnect of realizing that Baek Jin-woo, who she'd thought was ordinary, seemed to be living in an entirely different world!
That disconnect only grew even wider in the next moment.
Because what appeared to be Baek Jin-woo's Summoner Beast was rapidly closing in on her.
They see through the stealth?
C-Rank, no less.
Even most B-Ranks couldn't easily find a Shadow Elf when it was seriously hiding.
And yet clearly.
That armored Summoner Beast was running straight toward this very spot.
I need to get away.
Baek A-jin sent a signal to Shadow Elf.
But.
Drill Instructor's speed was beyond imagining.
Like a toad snatching a fly, he shot forward at tremendous speed and snatched the elf by the ankle, hoisting it into the air.
Swish!
Shadow Elf tried to react nimbly as well, but.
Thud, thump!
A casual flick of his hand froze the elf's body solid.
He had struck its pressure point and completely subdued it.
What the hell.
Baek A-jin had never seen a Summoner Beast this outrageous.
She watched the Player League regularly, but combat ability like this……
And then shortly after.
"Kyaaah!"
Drill Instructor subdued Baek A-jin as well.
Oh, damn it.
Baek A-jin despaired.
She had planned to watch for a bit and then slip away.
Everything had gone completely sideways.
***
"So."
Baek Jin-woo muttered in a bewildered tone.
"You recognized Yu Ji-a and, being a fan, you followed her?"
"No! It wasn't following, I just went after her out of curiosity."
"That's following."
"……"
"And you followed along, found me there, and couldn't stand the curiosity so you hid with stealth?"
"Yes! That's right!"
Baek A-jin finally admitted it.
"But what about you, oppa? You're the one who needs more explaining."
Ha.
Baek Jin-woo let out a silent sigh.
This.
Had become a headache.
What kind of twist of fate was this.
He had planned to tell her eventually, but she'd found out far too soon.
"How do you know Yu Ji-a……, And what on earth are those ridiculous Summoner Beasts? That Shadow Elf of mine was subdued in what, under 5 seconds! Does that even make sense? And all from an oppa who hasn't even been awake 2 full months since coming out of a coma? The logic isn't just thin—it's nonexistent!"
"Slowly, slowly."
Baek Jin-woo made a troubled face and looked over at Yu Ji-a.
"I apologize. I forgot this was a place my sister knew as well."
"Heh heh, it's fine. She's Baek Jin-woo's younger sister, so I was going to introduce myself soon enough anyway. This works out well."
Pardon?
Ah……
She must have seen what was written in the contract.
Apparently a dedicated management for Baek Jin-woo covered the family as well.
"Fo, for real?"
The one who was startled was his younger sister.
"Yu…… Ji-a nim is coming to me? To say hello?"
It was an expression on Baek A-jin's face that Baek Jin-woo had never seen before.
Understandably so.
She was at the very top tier of the people Baek A-jin had admired all along.
"First."
Baek Jin-woo sorted out the situation.
"I'll press my thumbprint right now."
Squish!
He pressed his thumbprint in the places he'd been about to press it in originally, took the 2 copies of the contract, and they each kept 1.
"We'll save the more detailed conversation for next time, but for now it seems I need to spend some time with my sister."
"Yes, understood. I'll call you."
"Sure."
Baek A-jin couldn't make sense of this situation.
Not even a little.