AECS 67

Chapter 67

Korea-Japan Friendly Match (3)

“…What confidence are you talking about?”

Shusuke was taken aback.

Is this right?

Do Koreans really talk about having “confidence” against Japan?

Really?

Hmm.

This wasn’t the reaction he expected.

If it were the original Korea, they would have agreed unconditionally.

After all, a friendly match isn’t just about playing the game.

They record each other’s matches, and through that, they can analyze basic techniques, skill timing, and strategies.

And the prize is 1 billion?

In the industry, that’s actually quite cheap.

The accompanying rankers were also confused, and so were his four disciples and Yujia.

“Jinwoo… this isn’t a bad offer,”

Yujia whispered as she came closer.

“You might not need it because you’re strong, but actual match experience against Japan would be pretty valuable for us. It’s a condition the headquarters has been asking for consistently over the past three years.”

Hong Ari also encouraged the friendly match.

Right.

That reaction must be honest.

Shusuke nodded.

As far as he knew, Korea wasn’t in a position to pick and choose battles right now.

Historically and geopolitically, they needed to grow stronger.

They’re just trying to act tough.

He remembered what Hikaru had told him.

“Jinugo?”

The overwhelming “stale water” from the past Battle of Summoners—he had seen Hikaru’s interview too.

But so what?

That was in a game. This is real life, and Japan’s summoning combat abilities had been steadily improving over the past three years.

No matter how skilled the author was, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

“No, I’m serious,”

Baek Jinwoo looked at Yujia and continued.

“Fighting someone and paying them only makes sense if there’s something to learn from them, right?”

“…Right, that’s true.”

“I honestly think there’s nothing to learn from them. You should think carefully too.”

Jinwoo looked at his disciples.

“Instead of wasting money fighting, it’s much more beneficial to just continue training with me. 1 billion? Nonsense. Better to use that money to help the needy… or give it to me.”

He turned his back.

Clearly a rejection order.

Now Shusuke was panicking.

Oh no, this is bad.

Hikaru had explicitly instructed him to properly gauge the opponent’s strength.

But now it had gone sideways from the very start.

What should I do?

Go back to Japan and tell them 1 billion is too cheap?

Hikaru would explode.

What 1 billion? Are you crazy? I told you to fight for free!

He’d rant and rage.

And even if he just got angry, it could cost him his position as right-hand man.

Shusuke owed his spot as the world’s 30th-ranked player entirely to Yoshida Hikaru.

If he got abandoned?

He’d be immediately pushed out.

Another right-hand would take his place.

That’s how massive the gap is between the Five Emperors and normal world rankers.

In Japan, Yoshida Hikaru’s influence was said to rival even the emperor.

“Wait!”

They grabbed Baek Jinwoo as he turned to leave.

Now Shusuke was desperate.

“What is it?”

“For free!”

Forget it.

A shocking offer.

“Huh?”

“Let’s do the friendly match for free! We’ll just play the matches!”

“…?”

Jinwoo frowned again.

What was that supposed to mean?

Then his next words were like a thunderclap.

“I don’t think you understand… Why would we play a friendly match for free? Even 10 billion per match would make sense, but…”

Honestly, the ones who would gain the most were the Japanese side.

At least, that’s what Baek Jinwoo thought.

Hearing this, Shusuke and even Yujia and the disciples were wide-eyed.

What?

Not receive…

Give?

And 10 billion per match?

Are they crazy?

“Hey!”

Hong Ari shouted in disbelief.

“Hyung! Isn’t that too far…?”

Kijae-hyuk and Kang Jiho were watching the Japanese rankers carefully.

Playing a friendly match for free was already an enormous act of goodwill.

Are they just regular rankers?

No—they are Japan’s national representatives, from a powerful country.

Asking 10 billion per match—or offering it for free—is basically just inviting conflict.

No matter how strong hyung is… this is too much.

Couldn’t this ruin relations?

In reality, anti-Japanese sentiment in Korea had largely diminished.

It wasn’t that they liked Japan; it was about strategic alliance and putting pressure on North Korea and China.

In a world where nukes didn’t work, Yoshida Hikaru’s existence put pressure on China.

No surprise then that Shusuke’s face was red with anger.

“…About what you just said,”

His voice was full of rage.

“Can you take responsibility?”

“Hmmm.”

Baek Jinwoo crossed his arms and closed his eyes briefly.

Alright.

Maybe he was too blunt with Sugoi-hyung, but wrong is wrong.

Give 10 billion per match to them?

Even if it’s for free, that’s nonsense.

Still, they didn’t know the truth.

After collecting his thoughts, he nodded.

“Then how about this?”

“…Go on.”

“If both sides are confident in their skills, we hold a tournament. The winner takes money from the loser.”

“Betting?”

Exactly.

Shusuke laughed in disbelief.

Did he really think he could beat them?

Not just pretending… actually?

“Right. No one would use words like ‘10 billion per match’ or ‘for free’ for an opponent they couldn’t even beat.”

Jinwoo grinned teasingly, irritatingly so.

“Alright.”

Shusuke’s tone sharpened.

“Nothing wrong with that. Beating clueless opponents is worth every penny.”

“Really okay with that?”

Of course.

Who do they think we are?

The problem is money.

“How much will you bet?”

“Anything. I’ll match whatever you want.”

Baek Jinwoo smiled.

“Yubaek” had grown rapidly recently; money was no problem.

Besides, it wasn’t even his own money at risk.

The more we bet, the more I gain.

“Alright. Let’s discuss and get back to you tomorrow.”

“Yes, Yujia?”

“Yes!”

Hearing this, Yujia stammered.

My goodness.

To not lose even an inch to a giant ranker like Shusuke… and even bet money?

Looking at Baek Jinwoo gave her hope for Korea.

And from his eyes, she saw… absolute confidence.

“Please prepare a room for them. Seems like they won’t have anywhere to go.”

“Understood.”

Inside the apartment

The Japanese rankers, given a guest room, looked serious.

“What are we supposed to do?”

One ranker asked Shusuke anxiously.

Hikaru had clearly told them: don’t provoke him, help him however possible.

“I didn’t expect him to feel so experienced,”

“Right. Usually, facing a giant ranker, people tremble or grovel… but he was stiff.”

“He seems skilled. Did you see the videos?”

They had.

All the videos ended within a minute, nothing much to see.

“That’s easy. I can do that too.”

Shusuke muttered, dissatisfied.

From his perspective, Baek Jinwoo was a small fish in a well.

Causing chaos against weak Korean rankers?

Any Japanese national player could do that.

“So, how much do we bet?”

“That’s the issue… whether we win or lose, it’s problematic.”

Right.

Lose, and they lose money.

Win, and they go against Hikaru’s orders.

“Not losing is guaranteed anyway.”

Jinwoo proposed a tournament.

A tournament means a winner’s bracket.

If even one player is unbeatable…

Victory is guaranteed.

“Because I’m here.”

“Exactly.”

“Correct.”

Shusuke was ranked 30th in the world—on a different level.

No matter how skilled non-world-rankers are, they can’t beat a giant.

Exaggerating slightly, they could even use subpar summons and still succeed—the skill gap is that big.

The Japanese rankers agreed with Shusuke.

The question was… how much to bet?

“Since we already agreed… why not go all out? 100 billion, how about it?”

“100 billion?”

Shusuke’s expression shifted slightly.

That’s too much.

“The important thing is showing these arrogant people the difference in level. We’re going to win anyway… so we can just take the 100 billion and generously return half. They’d be amazed at our generosity.”

“Huh.”

Not a bad idea.

“Then 100 billion it is? Four of us, 25 billion each. Everyone agree?”

“Agreed!”

“Money-for-money, of course we should.”

The Japanese rankers laughed at each other.

Shusuke nodded.

“Let’s go.”

And so, the Korea-Japan friendly match began.

4 vs 4.

Format: tournament.

Recording: Yujia.