AECS 82

Chapter 82

The Price of Complaints (4)

“Huff… huff!”

Hwang Ji-woo clutched her wildly beating heart as she entered the training hall.

She had sweated so much that her clothes and even her shoes were soaked.

“You called me?”

“Drink.”

Whoosh!

Hwang Ji-woo instinctively caught the water bottle flying toward her.

Good.

Her reflexes had improved a bit from the training sessions.

“This is refreshing ice water.”

“Ah! Thank you!”

She opened the cap and tilted her head back, gulping it down.

She looked incredibly refreshed.

“I told you to run for just an hour. Why did you run longer?”

“Huff… is that not allowed?”

“No, I’m just asking because I’m impressed.”

“…I have to work hard too. You all didn’t run that well from the start, did you?”

She glanced outside.

Her four disciples were running hard.

They were also learning the breathing techniques from the trainer recently.

Not Gancheong Heart Technique or anything, but each had their own specialized energy control methods.

“Keep going. If you persist, you’ll become healthier than most athletes.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“Now, let’s make the deal.”

“Deal?”

Hwang Ji-woo tilted her head in curiosity.

“Just take it first.”

A flash of light appeared in Baek Jin-woo’s outstretched hand.

‘What is this?’

She reached out, and her eyes widened in shock.

What was offered was absolutely incredible.

[Baek Jin-woo: Ice Phoenix (A-rank), Lich (B-rank), Ice Ghost (B-rank), Ice Ghost (B-rank), Frost Cat (C-rank)]

[Hwang Ji-woo: No payment required.]

“…A-rank, three B-ranks, and even a Frost Cat…”

She muttered to herself, stunned.

Her trembling lips revealed how overwhelmed she was.

[Do you accept Player ‘Baek Jin-woo’s’ offer?]

[Y/N]

She couldn’t bring herself to press Y.

How could she accept something like this?

“It’s not just given for free.”

Baek Jin-woo seemed to read her mind and chuckled.

“I’ll lend them to you for 100 days. Train them well, and if the trainer approves, you can keep them as a condition for joining the guild.”

“…Really?”

She was so flustered that she didn’t even register that Baek Jin-woo had mentioned guild.

An A-rank summon!

Normally worth over 10 billion, and only available if it even appeared on the market.

Usually, there’s no stock at all. Yet he handed it over without hesitation?

“However, if the trainer doesn’t approve, you can buy them later with a portion of the 100 billion you received. I spent 13 billion getting them, so you’ll just pay the proper price.”

Perfect.

Even better, they’re all ice attribute summons!

Given her constitution, Hwang Ji-woo needed to raise ice summons anyway.

“Why don’t you press Y already? Cancel? Too bad, this is a great combo.”

“I-I’ll press it!”

She quickly pressed Y.

Her mind was dazed, but a bright smile appeared on her face.

What she received today wasn’t just summons—it was hope.

She would do whatever it took… to earn the trainer’s recognition!

To join the guild that Jin-woo mentioned!

Then she noticed something strange.

Guild?

Did Jin-woo even have a guild?

Creating a guild was complicated.

Complicated paperwork, approval from headquarters, ministers’ scrutiny, even consent from political leaders.

A guild was like legally establishing an armed organization within the country.

Summons were the modern high-tech weapons at the top.

Hence, most countries didn’t grant guild licenses easily, and even if they did, they monitored them strictly.

But Yu-baek was different.

Under Yu Ji-a’s guidance, everything proceeded smoothly.

With the national team captain as the guild master, Ji-a’s capital as the granddaughter of Daesung, and Yu-baek’s rising capital, there was no reason it wouldn’t succeed.

No lobbying was even necessary.

“Haha, Yu-baek? Of course we must approve! Just stamp it here! You only need to remember my name.”

“Oh-ho, I’m Jo Dong-hoon, newly elected. Pleasure to work with you!”

“Sure, do you need anything else? Should I loosen some development restrictions near Geomdansan?”

Politicians and ministers treated them with utmost respect.

It was inevitable.

As long as Yu-baek owned Baek Jin-woo, she was the clear authority.

“Haha, relaxing the greenbelt is okay for now.”

Hanam City, with over 77% of its metropolitan area under greenbelt restrictions, was unique.

If lifted, big companies would rush to develop the land.

‘Can’t let that happen yet.’

Yu-baek planned to buy the land cheaply to expand Yu-baek City.

If the greenbelt was lifted, speculators would drive prices sky-high.

“All the same, I’ll keep the intent in mind.”

“Hahaha! Excellent! Just say the word! The Hanam mayor is my university junior, so controlling this is easy.”

Technically, she didn’t need to do much.

Administratively, the mayor must follow the Minister of Land’s instructions.

In no time, the “approval certificate” appeared.

With it, they could establish a guild.

The guild’s name was SKY.

Named by Yu Ji-a.

One sky.

To honor Jinwoo-god, the one sky.

Of course, the guild master was Baek Jin-woo.

‘The problem…’

Was recruiting guild members.

“Jin-woo.”

Yu Ji-a asked at the training hall.

“To form a guild, you need at least ten members including the guild master.”

“…Ten?”

“I tried using me and my staff, but the headquarters requires certified players.”

“Ah.”

Baek Jin-woo scratched his head.

He wanted a small elite group, but ten was a lot.

“Baek Chang-seok?”

“Technically can’t join, he’s a legislator.”

“So it’s just me and Baek Ah-jin… that’s all?”

“Yes.”

Yu Ji-a, Kim Byung-jin, Hwang Tae-seop—all had their certifications revoked.

They didn’t go to dungeons.

“Hm.”

Baek Jin-woo pressed his temples.

This was troublesome.

“Double membership isn’t allowed either?”

No way to enroll his disciples?!

“Unfortunately, no.”

“Haha.”

Baek Jin-woo laughed.

“Then put the certificate aside until we have ten members.”

“You’re not recruiting separately?”

“If my disciples could join, that would be best. But since double membership isn’t allowed, we’ll wait. I only want players I personally train in the guild.”

He wouldn’t compromise.

Only verified, well-trained players could enter SKY.

‘Sorry, Ah-jin.’

She was more of a merchant than a player.

‘Current confirmed members: 0.’

And Hwang Ji-woo had a high chance of joining soon.

The rest? Slowly gather them.

Baek Ho, the guild master of Baekho, first went to the player headquarters.

Specifically, to the head of headquarters.

“Haha, well, well! Look who it is! The proud Baekho guild master!”

The head greeted him warmly.

Baek Ho raised his complaint.

Return Baek Jin-woo’s one trillion, or make him pay the proper tax!

The head had previously received massive support from the Mirae Group.

He couldn’t refuse easily.

“Uh… Baek Jin-woo?”

The head wiped sweat from his forehead.

Of course, he was not pleased.

For re-election, he needed public favor. Attacking a national hero like Baek Jin-woo? Bad for his career.

“Why not get along with the national team?”

“You really expect me to do that?”

“I’d love to! But it’s too late. The headquarters is already controlled by Baek Chang-seok.”

“Baek Chang-seok, the legislator?”

“All politicians are like that. Friendly at first, but powerless? They ignore you. I’m tired of it.”

The head politely refused to interfere.

Creak!

The headquarters route failed.

But they weren’t the only ones refusing.

“Haha, sorry.”

“Too risky for us. Baek Jin-woo and Daesung are too powerful.”

“We can publish an article, but direct attack? Too risky.”

No media, no politician would step forward.

“Damn it, this sucks!”

Baek Ho finally exploded.

“You were happy taking the money, and now you back off?”

“…What do we do now? Apologize and beg?”

Even the top-ranked player Kang Gun-ho humbled himself.

‘Can’t help it.’

The opponent was too powerful.

Honestly, Kang Gun-ho had seen Baek Jin-woo’s gameplay and consulting—he was amazed.

Yet Baek Ho’s pride caused this mess.

“Even apologizing won’t make Jin-woo help. Not yet.”

Baek Ho meant the real ones: the MK and Mirae Group chairmen.

Those behind Baekho guild!

But…

“Sorry, but stop causing trouble. Bad news is coming.”

“If one mistake ruins a guild we invested billions in, I’ll sue using all my resources.”

The two chairmen were negative.

Baek Ho realized someone was sabotaging them.

Annoyance surged.

“Just naturalize him?”

“Brother…”

Kang Gun-ho sighed.

With Baek Jin-woo present, Baek Ho’s return via naturalization? Better not.

Then, a moment later…

“Guild master, did you see this?”

An employee ran over, showing his phone.

“What is it?”

Annoyed, Baek Ho grabbed it.

It was a kind of flyer—unconfirmed info, a Japanese-style rumor sheet.

It read roughly:

• The national team captain and Big 3 leader, B, openly complains about Baek Jin-woo. Allegedly attempting political schemes to strip his captain qualification… Industry insiders claim, “B’s unilateral actions draw disapproval from most national players.”

“Damn, what is this now?”