The Fans' Invaluable Gift

In the middle of a heated filming session at the content studio, Lee Shin had stepped aside to take a phone call. When Chae Dong-ha spotted him and started to approach, Lee Shin quietly muttered, "Bureau, Bureau," waving him off before turning his full attention back to the conversation.

"Oh dear, that sounds troublesome."

His words were sympathetic, but the corners of Lee Shin's mouth were already riding a massive wave. He did it. He stole the opening match. Hooray!

There was no need to check community reactions or real-time search rankings. The moment you stepped outside, the entire world was talking about nothing but this opening match.

The purists grumbled about how a guild that had only just been promoted could possibly take the opening match from a former champion team, while the fun-loving crowd declared it was actually a great thing. The Kirin fandom screamed that it was a scam and an insult to the defending champions, while rival fans mocked them with things like Hoxy, Kirin cockroach? Haha.

And then there were the Yongbungs, who had moved beyond mere surprise attacks to full-time worship, chanting, "Sanwang is a god and Lee Shin ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is invincible," along with the American Yongbungs screaming "Lee God So Cute~!"

In short, it was total chaos.

"Ah, I know that struggle all too well. That's just the life of a celebrity."

"Of course, of course. Your heart is my heart, Director."

Lee Shin was riding the wave a little too hard. He had known it would become a hot topic, but seeing it in person, it was an inferno. That was exactly why the Bureau felt so awkward. They had made a perfectly reasonable decision, but the flames had grown so high that they were now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in a position where they absolutely had to deliver something spectacular.

This was also why the League 1 department head was essentially begging a man young enough to be his son and laying down the bait. Show us something! Please, you have to show us something!

After a long-winded explanation, it all boiled down to one thing: spend the money.

No matter how happy Lee Shin was, business was business. A guild representative had to be ruthless with calculations even at the gates of hell.

He cleared his throat, organizing his voice, and spoke in a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠calm, resolute tone.

"Very well. Since it's a request from you, Director, I'll show you what I can do."

Asking for anything more here would only annoy the other party. The director was a professional too. He knew exactly what those words meant.

A moment later, after a heavy sigh, the voice returned.

After hanging up, Lee Shin's inner voice exploded. What are you doing? Shake it right now! Yes! Yuhu! Eehit!

Kill the pheasant and take the eggs! Hit two birds with one stone! Catch the crayfish while draining the ditch!

Even without the Bureau begging him, Lee Shin had already planned to pour everything into this. No, he had no choice but to pour everything in.

There was simply too much on the line.

First, it was League 1, which had returned after sixty long years.

Second, it was the second opening match being held in Busan.

Third, the team taking the spotlight was the Mir Guild. On top of that, this was the very city that had won the inaugural League title—and its only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠championship.

Everything was special. There wasn't a single part that wasn't.

"This will definitely turn the whole city into a sea of fire."

In fact, Yeongdo District Office Head Noh Hyeong-sim was already pressuring his subordinates in preparation for the opening match. The Busan mayor was visiting the guild so often it felt like he came every other day.

"And for our beloved strategy team, this opening match is especially meaningful."

It was the day Hwarang Kim Yu-shin would debut as a member of Mir.

It was the day the freshly rejuvenated Kim Jong-pil would make his debut.

And it was the day their dear Yeonu would step onto the stage as well.

The three pillars who would bring glory to the guild were all taking the stage together. As their representative, shouldn't he at least dance and light up the whole performance?

Besides, this stage didn't belong to Lee Shin.

It was a stage the fans had created for him.

"Since it's a 'gift' from the fans, I have to repay them with the absolute best."

Did the Yongbungs realize they had given Lee Shin a gift that could not be bought with money?

Stats above 90 could not be raised with points unless through achievements or quests. Yet the moment the opening match was decided, his Dominance stat had shot up by a full five points.

A stat that would normally only rise by one point even with a major achievement had increased by five at once.

With this, Lee Shin finally understood the situation clearly.

"The system gives bigger rewards for achievements that break away from its own rules."

Just like the surprise event back in Dynasty, or the fruit he had fed to Mountain King Kim Jong-pil. The opening match was originally supposed to belong to the previous year's champion team according to the system. By stealing it, he had triggered an overpayment of rewards.

If he played his cards right, reaching 100 in two different stats might not be a dream after all.

Lee Shin grinned.

"I'm already overflowing with motivation here?"

Let's go! Hup! Aja aja!

Having pumped himself up once more, Lee Shin strode forward with powerful steps, heading back toward the broadcasting content team that was still in the middle of filming.

"How's it going?"

"Representative? It's incredible. The best! Absolutely the best!"

"It's not just because it's our guild—the photos are bursting with charm!"

"Come here and take a look. Here, sit down right here."

"Shall I?"

Lee Shin sat down and began reviewing the profile photos that had been taken.

The first set was of the tank team. The styling was simple—rough jeans and white shirts—but after seeing Kang Mal-suk's cut, it was clear why they had chosen such an understated look.

"Whoa, that body..."

"It's a work of art, right?"

"Like a sculpture!"

A perfect physique didn't need clothes. The more you took off, the more beautiful it became. They had always been physical geniuses, but their recent trip to North Korea had taken them to another level entirely.

Especially the final group shot, with the six tankers walking forward against the backdrop of a construction site. It looked like a scene straight out of a noir film.

"The dealer side looks great too."

"They're a bit more free-spirited. There are so many of them, after all."

"We had them bring their weapons to show off their individuality."

Dealers were easily overlooked because of their numbers. To make up for that, equipping each with their signature weapon had become a fun highlight.

In the photo of Shin Yong-jae leaning against his spear and yawning, his laid-back personality was on full display.

"We went with a casual feel for the supporter team. That's the main point."

"The healer team looks like guardian knights serving a princess."

"Representative, why are the healers so bulky? I thought they were tanks."

"Hye-jung ended up shooting with Team 2. It feels like a little strategy team inside the main one, doesn't it?"

"The age gap isn't that big, but she looks like their mom or something."

After looking through all the photos, Lee Shin's overall assessment was simple: As expected, you really do have to spend the money.

He had told the broadcasting director not to worry about the budget and to bring in the absolute best. The next day, the invoice had come with a price tag that was hard to believe. Top-tier photographers and the industry's highest-paid styling team, apparently.

Still, the results were well worth it. The money didn't feel like a waste at all.

"Huh? Representative, are you already satisfied?"

"You haven't even seen the real highlights yet!"

"This is today's main dish."

"You're going to be shocked when you see it, Representative."

"Really? What's got you all so excited?"

To get straight to the point, they had every reason to be excited.

Even Lee Shin nearly swore out loud when he saw them.

"Holy... shit..."

Yu Ri-ra, flying through a storm of crackling lightning, flashing a bright V-sign while reaching out with her other hand.

Kim Yu-shin as a silver knight holding his shield against a barrage of cannon fire pouring down from beyond the sunset.

Park Su-bin arrogantly looking down with a giant summoned behind him, his black mink coat dramatically flapping.

Baek Yeon-woo in a white uniform, one hand resting on a sword stabbed into the ground as he gazed up at the sky.

And finally...

In the center of them all, Mountain King Kim Jong-pil sat upon a throne with his hands clasped. On his rejuvenated head, a golden laurel wreath shone brilliantly.

"......"

It was mesmerizing. He couldn't speak. For a long time, he simply stared at the photos in a daze.

Finally regaining his senses, Lee Shin quietly set aside Kim Jong-pil's photo and spoke with complete seriousness.

"...Give the people who took these photos a very generous bonus and make sure you get their contact information. From now on, this team handles all our photography."

He had asked them to create a product, but they had delivered a work of art instead.

And they were turning this into a video as well?

They needed to be punished. He would have to punish them thoroughly—with bundles of cash.

As Lee Shin was pondering how to tie this team down to the Mir Guild, a voice called out.

"Representative! We're ready to start your shoot!"

It was Lee Shin's turn.

Standing beside the broadcasting director, Lee Shin listened as the man spoke.

"Representative, do you remember three years ago when we filmed Sanwang's recruitment showcase with you?"

"The scene where I was standing in the light?"

"Yes, exactly! This time it's the opposite. We're going for more of a challenger vibe. How does that sound? You get the feeling, right?"

"Hmm. Not at all."

"...I see. Then..."

The director positioned Lee Shin in front of a door prop set up on the chroma key stage.

"Let's start by pushing this open. Boldly."

"Push it open. Boldly."

"With power. With force."

"Okay. Boldly. With force."

"Ready? Here we go?"

"I got it!"

3.

2.

1.

Action!

At the director's signal, Lee Shin threw both hands forward and flung the door wide open.

Creak—!

* * *

While the Mir Guild was burning with the heat of the upcoming opening match, the atmosphere on the other side was that of a funeral home.

Kirin Guild headquarters.

In the representative office, the video promotion team was huddled and trembling in the far corner.

The furious shouting that pierced through the tightly closed door of the representative office belonged to a hysterical Han Jeong-do. The moment the team realized the sharp edge of that hysteria was pointed at their team leader, their faces turned deathly pale.

"Why is he like this?"

"We lost the photographer and stylist team we used every year to them. That's probably why."

"Hey, watch your words. It's not like we wanted to lose them. Their offer was just too high! What was I supposed to do?!"

"Sorry, sorry. I wasn't blaming you."

"...This is insane. Every day feels like walking on thin ice."

"This isn't a bomb, it's a nuclear warhead. What the hell is going on?"

"Wasn't he supposed to be on vacation during the Stove League? Why does he look so destroyed?"

"Well, the rumor is that Sanwang... Eep!"

"For the love of god, shut up."

A moment later, the team leader emerged from the representative office.

His eyes were completely lifeless, as if his soul had been threshed out of his body.

"Team leader. Team leader."

"What happened?"

"What did he say?"

The team leader glanced back at the representative office, then spoke with great difficulty.

"Let's talk somewhere else..."