Master Roulette Ticket

The broadcast at 9 PM on the public channel.

With grand background music and the official logo laid out.

Two anchors greeted each other side by side, and a refined voice was heard.

"Everyone, hello. Today, we start the news by reporting the victory of amateur Kim In-ha, the new face of Korean Go."

This is the first article in the main news, not the sports corner, dealing with politics, economy, and social issues.

Kim In-ha was featured in the news that every Korean was watching.

The nation was paying attention, cheering, and expecting the story.

Kim In-ha: I didn't waver, I bet on my own Go. I intended it, calculated it, and trusted myself.

His voice was quiet and clear.

In his eyes, there was a conviction that had been built one move at a time.

Anchor: Recently, his quotes have been trending. Not just simple victories, but the will to never give up. The story of starting from a bank security guard and reaching the top of the world is giving hope to many people.

The screen showed Kim In-ha placing stones.

After the last move, his face looking up, the interview appearance crossed.

The smile of In-ha holding the trophy after winning.

The nation is paying attention, cheering, expecting the story.

To someone who has struggled through the day, Kim In-ha's success was like a small ray of hope.

The largest domestic community site.

The best board was filled page after page with posts about Kim In-ha.

The community was boiling with Kim In-ha stories.

The hottest, the best material for views.

No matter what community, instead of finding Kim In-ha, it was faster to find what wasn't there.

Park Ji-man's Baduk in YouTube channel.

Replay of the 30th Ciel Bank Cup finals game 2 live broadcast.

After Kim In-ha's half-point win, Park Ji-man sensei shouted with an excited expression.

"Everyone, what did I say?! If In-ha wins, he'll become a world-class player. In the end, In-ha did it. He did it!"

A refreshing laugh.

Despite poor investment, popularity, infrastructure compared to China, the fact ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that a player shaking the world appeared was just heartwarming.

"Sihoo, you should be tense. In-ha doesn't seem like he'll stop here."

The amateur's challenge to the world #1 Jeong Si-hoo 9-dan.

Just imagining it is an amazing thought.

The chat was hot too.

- I think it's still too early, ten years.

- Does the sensei see Jeong Si-hoo 9-dan as water?

- I'm not belittling the sensei's win for In-ha, but we can't deny that the draw was favorable.

Different opinions poured out, but Park Ji-man sensei didn't stop laughing.

"Everyone, the important thing is that we have In-ha. And he's a Chinese killer, right? Wouldn't it be good if we two shared him?"

He laughed and scrolled the screen with the mouse.

The headline from China's largest Go media.

- Rishabh Verma's shocking defeat. The match is again, the small country's shield?

- [Column] The ugly side of a Chinese elite player worse than a street kid from Korea.

- Kim In-ha player who showed hatred towards China. He needs to be stepped on for Chinese Go to survive.

"Whoa. Everyone, when eating chicken tonight, you might not need to drink soda. This is soda, it really tickles."

The day he reclaimed the Ciel Bank Cup title that Rishabh Verma had taken from him last year.

The day a new Go prodigy was born.

For Korean Go fans, it was a day like a festival.

Jang Yu-na 2-dan's live streaming.

Under the lights, Jang Yu-na 2-dan spread her arms wide.

Like a resurrected Jesus.

"You saw it? This is Mumyeong. Our believed Mumyeong! I didn't doubt it. I said I'd beat the cheating! You believed it too, right?"

The shout spreading beyond the monitor.

A passionate, fanatical praise that evokes religion.

- I believed it, Mumyeong.

- I believed without doubt.

- No, if you say you didn't believe, you'd have been kicked out lol

- Even black was included lol lol

"Everyone, be proud. Our broadcast viewers! Our broadcast participants! Today, we shook the world. We watched and did it together."

A slightly teary-eyed look.

A sense of unity.

A sense of belonging.

The hot passion transmitted even beyond the screen.

The broadcast that grew with Mumyeong.

The day Kim In-ha's success made it the happiest day of all.

Hotel lounge bar.

Sitting on the sofa by the window, looking down at the smartphone.

The news feed and notification window pouring out endlessly.

Shorts from the YouTube 'Park Ji-man Baduk in' channel and Jang Yu-na 2-dan channel.

I quietly lowered my smartphone after flipping through them.

Laughter kept leaking out.

I hadn't changed, but it felt like the world had changed.

Somehow, my chest felt a little tight.

The realization that what I had done had brought me to this place.

It came quietly, like a ripple spreading calmly.

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard.

"Congratulations on the win. You proved it in the end and used a miracle."

When I looked up, team leader Jeong Soo-yeon was standing there.

Always in office attire. But today, there was a soft smile somewhere.

She sat in the seat opposite me.

"How do you feel? The feeling of being the headline figure that the whole nation is focusing on."

"Privately or publicly?"

"Privately."

I smiled faintly.

"I'll kill you."

Team leader Jeong Soo-yeon couldn't hold back and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠burst into laughter.

A smile even better than mine.

"What? Kim In-ha, I thought you were serious... so you can say such things too."

She took a sip of the coffee she ordered and quietly set the cup down.

"Thank you for keeping your promise. The promise not to back out."

"You kept it too, team leader. Investing in me because you believed in my value."

We looked at each other and smiled quietly.

"Kim In-ha is the best investment of my life."

A sincere word.

Instead of answering, I smiled.

"Now, more CF proposals will pour in besides us. Besides 'Who Today', more entertainment offers are coming, and this heat won't die easily."

She laughed shortly.

"I was planning to go to the Korea Baduk Association later anyway. Apparently, they manage it normally."

Most pro Go players are affiliated with the Korea Baduk Association.

Unlike other sports players or entertainers, the Korea Baduk Association often handles agency work for them.

Team leader Jeong Soo-yeon cautiously opened her mouth.

"The Korea Baduk Association isn't bad, but... I recommend that Kim In-ha contracts with a separate agency or management company. You have star quality."

I thought for a moment and nodded.

"Ah, I'll consider that too."

It was expert advice.

No reason not to listen carefully.

She seemed to recall something and opened her mouth.

"I saw the video about your mother. The ice cream tteokbokki was a huge hit... Kim In-ha, I didn't know you had talent in cooking too. If I had known, I would have promoted it by hiring you."

"That's a no."

We naturally smiled at each other.

"Will you quit the bank soon?"

I quietly nodded.

"Probably. Working more would be weird."

"The branch manager will be disappointed."

"You'll understand."

The branch manager is the person who believed in and supported me first, even before my parents, in me becoming a pro Go player.

More than regret, he would definitely cheer.

Team leader Jeong Soo-yeon checked her smartphone and picked up her coat and bag.

"I'd love to talk more, but time doesn't allow."

"I know you made time hard. Thank you for coming to celebrate."

She came even though she didn't have to.

That feeling was felt.

She lightly smiled and tried to leave, then turned back.

"When will you have a drink with me?"

An unexpected proposal.

More surprising because it came from the most businesslike person.

"Privately or publicly?"

Team leader Jeong Soo-yeon tilted her head for a moment, then said playfully.

"...Um, how about meeting publicly and finishing privately?"

A strange answer.

If it didn't interest me, it would be a lie.

"Um. I'll think about it."

I left a vague answer with a smile.

She laughed as if amused and turned, then left the lounge bar.

Left alone, I breathed lightly and checked my smartphone.

There was still time until the hour for visiting the Korea Baduk Association for the induction and promotion ceremony.

I unfolded the folded system window.

Primary Job Exchange Ticket.

Talent Enhancement Ticket.

Platinum Enhancement Exchange Ticket.

Master Roulette Ticket.

I had been thinking all night how to use these yesterday.

And I came to a conclusion.

First.

'Talent Enhancement Ticket: Keep.'

There was a restriction that enhancement was impossible from A-rank talent onward.

If I had to use it, I could raise B-rank to A-rank, but did I really need to?

This one I'll hold off for now.

Next.

'Platinum Enhancement Exchange Ticket.'

A roulette ticket guaranteeing at least B+ rank talent.

If lucky, a chance to aim for S-rank talent.

Using the Talent Enhancement Ticket allows instant evolution to A-rank.

'Personally, the investment side talent is good...'

No matter, it didn't matter.

While playing Go, I realized.

Even if the investment talent wasn't there, money would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠follow depending on how you utilize the talent.

I turned my gaze.

The one I wanted most.

'Primary Job Exchange Ticket.'

And.

The dilemma that had made me most worried.

The condition for maintaining the Go talent, primary job.

That is, bank security guard.

Now, it was a situation where I could choose by my own will.

I didn't have to remain a security guard, I could maintain the Go talent.

But the problem was.

'Talent maintenance is only possible up to A-rank.'

A fact I learned yesterday.

If I maintain the evolved Go talent to A+ rank, it will downgrade to A-rank.

'...Ha, is this even possible?'

Even thinking again, it was unbelievable.

There was a choice, but in reality, it was impossible to choose.

Honestly, I was afraid.

The fear that I might lose all the senses, reading, intuition, and data combined into moves that I've built up so far.

And most of all, I wanted to go higher as a pro Go player.

'Using the Primary Job Exchange Ticket is correct.'

I no longer needed to hesitate.

I quietly selected 'Primary Job Exchange Ticket'.

At least 60 games per year.

Although there was a condition, it didn't matter.

And it seemed that only the primary job that met the condition could be replaced.

'Compared to working 5 days a week, it's better?'

Compared to bank security guard, it's heaven and hell.

No reason to refuse.

Also, the fact that system bonus points are calculated based on Go performance was pleasing.

My gaze turned to the last line of the system window.

[Master Roulette Ticket]

A roulette ticket guaranteeing at least S-rank talent.

Perhaps even S+ rank talent.

I slowly took a deep breath.

The constraints that had been limiting me after changing the primary job disappeared.

The moment to decide on a new side job to change my life.

If I had to choose, it seemed better to use the certain 'Master Roulette Ticket' rather than the 'Platinum Enhancement Roulette Ticket'.

'...Shall we go.'

A slight thrill and expectation.

A huge roulette window.

Drdrdr.

The border disc began to spin at high speed.