Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Books and the Toto Jackpot
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Lee Myung-ho's curiosity was piqued.
What could that guy's troubles be?
"I don't know."
"...?"
"The more I think about it, the more questions pile up."
What didn't he know?
That he even had questions?
"How should I live?"
"...?"
"What should I do with my life?"
How could he live a life without regrets?
The Forgotten Book Master had said Lee Myung-ho held the answers.
So he poured out his inner doubts and worries honestly.
Lee Myung-ho listened to the story.
Heh.
Jin-seong looked adorable as he smiled.
"It's simple."
Lee Myung-ho replied softly.
"Just read books."
"Books?"
"Yes, books. Build knowledge, think, gain experience, and you'll naturally find answers to your questions."
Books...?
It was a completely unexpected answer.
"Hmm, I suppose I should explain IQ. IQ is innate. It's a fixed value. My IQ is 130. What's Jin-seong's IQ, by any chance?"
"I don't really know."
"Is that so? Alright then. Let's assume my IQ is 130 and yours is 140 for example."
Lee Myung-ho slowed the treadmill.
"There are life strategies. Regarding whose life strategy has the highest chance of success—between my IQ 130 strategy and your IQ 140 strategy, which do you think has the higher probability of success?"
"Mine?"
It was an easy question.
"Right. Your life strategy would have the higher chance of success because your IQ is higher than mine. Now, let's make another assumption. Among an IQ 150 genius, you at 140, and me at 130, whose strategy has the highest chance of success?"
"The genius?"
"Exactly."
Lee Myung-ho nodded.
"Jin-seong, there are countless geniuses superior to us out there—people with far higher IQs, brains that have studied, experimented, failed, and succeeded far more than ours. Their books fill the world. Read those books packed with their know-how and strategies, absorb them, apply them appropriately, and your own life strategy's success rate will skyrocket."
"...."
"The same goes for the questions weighing on you. Innumerable geniuses have pondered those very problems, experimented, and recorded their answers in books. Reference their advice, adapt it to fit you perfectly, and all your doubts will resolve naturally."
Lee Myung-ho's advice boiled down to this.
Read books. The answers lie within them.
Books are true teachers. The answers dwell within books.
I hope Jin-seong gets close to books.
Jin-seong's young and a good guy, so I stuck my nose in unnecessarily.
Jin-seong paused the treadmill for a moment.
"Myung-ho hyung."
He looked at Lee Myung-ho.
"Thank you."
Jin-seong bowed deeply.
'Thank you.'
He was grateful for Lee Myung-ho's advice. Thankful for his warm heart.
"No need."
Lee Myung-ho's winter-cold demeanor softened.
Favorability: 60
Lee Myung-ho made a suggestion.
"Want to grab some tea sometime?"
"Sure, tea sounds good. I'll buy."
"No way. I'll get it. How could a hyung mooch off his dongsaeng?"
It felt like he'd met a good connection.
Inside the gym shower room.
Shhhhh!
Water poured from the showerhead.
'Warm.'
A post-workout shower felt amazing.
'Books, huh...'
Jin-seong was a high school dropout. He'd avoided studying in school. Naturally, he'd barely touched books.
To Jin-seong, books were like another world. Comics were the only ones he'd read.
'I need to start reading.'
With Era of Success, he wanted to live flashily if he could.
Books supposedly held the secrets to living flashily—no reason not to read them.
'But which one first?'
No clue. He was clueless.
He'd know if he'd ever read any.
'Gotta ask Myung-ho hyung.'
He finished showering, changed into his work clothes, and stopped by the bathroom.
Myung-ho hyung, hi.
Sorry, but could you recommend some books?
I have no idea what to read.
He sent the KakaoTalk messages.
'It's shopping time!'
Achieved Achievement 62 and received 70 points as reward.
'50 points to looks...'
'10 points to hair...'
'Remaining 10 points...'
Jin-seong pondered.
Where to invest?
Stamina? Hair? Height? Appearance? Skin? Down there? Vitamins? Lucky Cookie? Or Small Happiness Random Box?
'Hmm, alright! Time to try something different today.'
After agonizing, he decided.
Purchased Random Luck Note for 10 points.
A pure white paper the size of a ramen soup bowl materialized in midair.
A neatly folded note.
Random Luck Note
Content: Randomly lists near-future luck, missed opportunities, dodged misfortunes, and more.
His heart raced. He was thrilled.
What luck was written on the note?
He hoped for money-making info.
Lots of expenses, living funds nearly depleted.
Truth be told, he'd bought the Random Luck Note hoping for money tips.
'No way?!'
He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and unfolded the note properly. Golden letters gleamed on the white paper.
He checked the content.
Kim Kwang-woo regretted his toto bet. Missed out on 30 million won because of Tottenham.
Jin-seong's eyes bulged.
'Jackpot! Money-making chance!'
300,000 won?
No.
3 million won?
No.
A whopping 30 million won chance.
'Big event triggered!'
His breathing quickened.
His heart pounded. Bundles of cash danced in his vision.
'Thanks to Kim Kwang-woo hyung... that malice-filled hyung who always begs for loans... who knew I'd hit it big because of him.'
"Ugh..."
Jin-seong let out a groan.
"What's up? Tired? Or hurt somewhere?"
Lee Ji-seong asked worriedly.
"No, not hurt."
He shook his head.
"Just... morning workout was too intense. I'm wiped out. Overwhelmed."
Light jogging plus work versus Achievement 62 plus work.
The fatigue gap was like night and day.
It was too much. He was so exhausted that groans escaped naturally.
'No more achievements in the morning if possible.'
No matter how he thought, light morning jogs were ideal.
He'd aim for jog → work → achievements routine.
"Take it easy. Don't push too hard. Overdo it and something bad happens—you're the one who suffers. Nothing good comes from excess."
"Got it, hyung."
He glanced at Kim Kwang-woo.
Favorability: 5
Whew, if I lose today too... I'm quitting toto...
No more money to lose... no one left to borrow from... barely handling the loan debts.
Yoo Jin-seong's salary went up... nailed the diet... dating a girl... reputation soaring... everything's going great... but me... fuck...
Kim Kwang-woo's favorability had been in shambles for ages.
His inner world was parched. Utterly barren and wretched.
'Poor guy.'
He felt a twinge of pity for Kim Kwang-woo's ruined state.
Couldn't fathom wasting a beautiful life on something like toto.
"Kwang-woo hyung."
"Yeah? What?"
"Got interested in toto—mind filling me in?"
"Toto?"
He repeated the question.
Kim Kwang-woo shook his head.
"Don't. Once you're hooked on toto, there's no escape."
Lee Ji-seong jumped in alarm to stop him.
"Hey, toto? What toto? Focus on work."
Jin-seong flashed a sly grin.
"Just curious. Wanna try toto sometime."
30 million won. 30 million waving right in front of him.
A chance to pocket 30 million—no way he'd pass.
In the end, he convinced Kim Kwang-woo.
"You're a total noob, so at lunch, hit the toto spot and copy my picks exactly."
"Yes, hyung."
Kim Kwang-woo sent a photo.
ManU vs Chelsea: ManU win
Tottenham vs Arsenal: Tottenham win
Atletico Madrid vs Barca: Draw
Liverpool...
Investment: 50,000 won
Odds: 728.0x
Expected Payout: 36,400,000 won
'Jackpot.'
Not 30 million—36 million.
"But hyung, Tottenham? You think they'll beat Arsenal? Not a draw or loss?"
"Talk sense. Tottenham's home. North London derby. They'll grit their teeth and fight. Guaranteed win."
"Nah... no matter how I look, they won't win... best case draw, worst loss..."
Jin-seong dropped hints over and over. Urged him to bet draw or Arsenal win instead of Tottenham.
Thanks to Kwang-woo, he'd make bank—hoped Kwang-woo would too.
"Tottenham all the way."
Kim Kwang-woo snorted dismissively. Advice went in one ear and out the other.
A veteran's ear wouldn't heed a newbie's words.
'Sigh, oh well.'
He gave up persuading.
Lunchtime hit. Ate, then headed to the toto spot.
Tottenham vs Arsenal – Draw
Tottenham vs Arsenal – Loss
Bought two tickets.
50,000 won each—100,000 total.
All his spare cash thrown in.
72,084,000 won
45,022,000 won
Payouts updated.
Draw: 72 million won.
Arsenal win: 45 million won.
'Hit either one.'
Laughter bubbled up.
He checked the scores.
Tottenham 1 : 2 Arsenal
Arsenal won.
"Argh, so frustrating. Tottenham cost me 30 million!"
"...."
"If not for those chicken-legged Tottenham bastards—if Tottenham had just won—it would've been 30 mil!"
"...."
Kim Kwang-woo vented his rage.
"...."
Jin-seong had no choice but to stay silent.
He was overjoyed and proud beyond words.
But he couldn't show it in front of the raging Kim Kwang-woo.
Shouldn't show it. Bad manners.
He held it in.
No more toto. Absolutely not. If I touch it again, I'm not human.
Quit. Just quit.
Jin-seong thought to himself.
'What if Kwang-woo hyung quits toto?'
He'd be open to helping a little.
'But if he can't quit?'
He'd keep his distance.
Nothing good came from tangling with a gambling addict.
'What to do with this money?'