NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 28 - Tower of Trials, 1st Floor (1)
Chapter 28: Tower of Trials, 1st Floor (1)
After finishing her meal, Yoo Ji-ah returned to the office.
She couldn’t control her pounding heart that had been racing since earlier.
It was definitely a pleasant meal, even though it was their first meeting.
Baek Jin-cheol was cheerful, and Hwang Myeong-hee was warm.
But.
– Jin-woo, that kid is supposed to be that famous gamer, right?
– He didn’t study at all, just kept playing mobile games, and now we’re reaping the benefits.
– Hasn’t Jin-woo been playing that game for almost 10 years?
Baek Jin-cheol’s words were the trigger.
– Oh, come on, Dad. He only played that game for a year. Do you think my brother would stick with just one game?
– Tsk, tsk. You still don’t know your brother, do you? I know him. Jin-woo has always been like this; once he’s hooked on something, he goes all in. Wasn’t it back in middle school? I remember sneaking a look at his game late at night, wondering how long he’d keep at it, and he was still playing it in high school senior year.
– Really?
– Yeah, thinking back now, that game… Wasn’t it that “Battle of Summer-something” game that became the basis for this reality?
Baek Jin-cheol, looking at Yoo Ji-ah, brought her into the conversation.
When she confirmed, he said:
– Yeah, I’m pretty sure it was that game. I can’t recall perfectly, but…
Baek Jin-cheol declared it.
He announced that his son might be a 10-year-old game veteran.
– Dad! Is that true? If it is, that’s amazing!
– Really, Father?
At that moment.
Baek Ah-jin and Yoo Ji-ah had only one thought in their minds.
JinuGod!
The legendary figure praised by global rankers!
“Right, why didn’t I think of that?”
Yoo Ji-ah, returning from her thoughts, rested her head on her interlocked fingers on the office desk.
“Even if he’s a gamer, it didn’t make sense.”
Could he really have broken records so easily with just one year of experience?
There are gamers out there with two, even three years of experience.
They are outstanding players, but they don’t exude the same aura as Baek Jin-woo.
“Besides.”
There was one critical piece of evidence so obvious that it was strange she hadn’t noticed it.
Jinu.
Jin-woo.
“Haha.”
The names were shockingly similar.
“Didn’t he say he started playing in middle school?”
In that case, such a nickname makes sense.
“It’s 100%.”
Should she tell Uncle Park Chang-suk?
But she decided not to.
She hadn’t heard it directly from him, and it was just her own conviction.
And, most importantly.
“He doesn’t like to reveal himself.”
YooBaek was a company that only worked for Baek Jin-woo.
She didn’t want to risk upsetting him.
So, she also instructed his family.
– Father, Mother. Let’s keep this between us. If word spreads, your son might feel pressured. You too, Jin-a.
– Yes, sis. I’ll keep my mouth shut!
– Jin-woo probably has his reasons for not bringing it up himself. I understand.
No parent would go around boasting if it might harm their child.
Baek Jin-cheol and Hwang Myeong-hee nodded as if it were obvious.
“For now, I’ll keep it to myself.”
Yoo Ji-ah decided to keep quiet even with Kim Byeong-jin or Hwang Tae-seop.
She wouldn’t even ask Baek Jin-woo.
When she thinks of him.
A wild cat comes to mind.
If she approaches too eagerly?
It might push him further away.
Slowly.
And carefully.
Yoo Ji-ah, who had been lost in thought with her head down on the desk, finally looked up.
She began to search for information and articles about “JinuGod.”
[World Rank #1, Rachel: “I learned a lot from South Korea’s JinuGod.” Expresses her longing.]
Starting with Rachel’s article.
[Yoshida Hikaru from Japan: “South Korea needs to find JinuGod quickly. It’s essential for South Korea and for humanity’s progress up the Tower of Trials. If we can’t find him, humanity has no future.”]
Including the famous Yoshida’s mention of humanity’s future.
And also.
Zenos from the United States, Moscow Man from Russia, and Baek Cheon from Taiwan, etc.
Famous figures each mentioned JinuGod at least once.
Especially Moscow Man.
– The country we should be most wary of is South Korea. It’s because they possess JinuGod.
He even said this.
And that incredible JinuGod is none other than Baek Jin-woo?
“This is…”
Amazing.
Yoo Ji-ah’s eyes shone.
Our company “YooBaek” has now suddenly become the company with JinuGod!
Something began to stir inside Yoo Ji-ah’s chest.
A desire to build YooBaek into a true powerhouse!
A genetic ambition her grandfather Yoo Byeong-cheon had.
* * *
“Time to move on.”
Baek Jin-woo made a decision.
To graduate from the low-level daily dungeon.
Thanks to Hun-gyo’s efforts, the levels of his summons, specifically for the daily dungeon, had risen considerably.
Their stats had increased, and they had acquired several exclusive skills.
Now, mid-level would be much more efficient than low-level.
[Baek Jin-woo: I’m planning to try mid-level next week, so get ready to record?]
Baek Jin-woo sent a direct message to Yoo Ji-ah.
The reply came in less than five seconds.
[Yoo Ji-ah: Yes! Jin-woo! I’ve been waiting for this!]
“He doesn’t even ask if it’s possible now.”
Baek Jin-woo chuckled softly.
Well, that means he trusts me that much.
I’ve shown enough so far.
[Yoo Ji-ah: I’ve already prepared the entire promotion. Jin-woo, all you have to do is gear up and turn around like last time!]
Yoo Ji-ah sent over some related documents via text.
Wow.
She already prepared all this?
Bundle package!
Lower + Intermediate video = 200 million won -> 150 million won!
Lower + Intermediate text information = 20 million won -> 15 million won!
1. There is a confidentiality clause.
2. Video information (Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat) is 100 million won; text information (Thu, Sun) is 10 million won.
3. Sales limited to players registered with Korean nationality.
4. Discounts are applied for repeat customers who make additional purchases.
Starting with the bundle package.
Today only! Limited-time special promotion!
The boss has gone mad!
1. Lower + Intermediate video = 200 million won -> 130 million won!
2. Lower + Intermediate text information = 20 million won -> 13 million won!
They even added a package with a bigger discount for same-day purchases.
I don’t know why they planned all this.
When it comes to marketing, Baek Jin-woo doesn’t pay any attention at all.
It’s more profitable to spend that time doing dungeons.
[Baek Jin-woo: Sounds good. Great!]
His trust in Yoo Ji-ah was already at 100%.
He heard from Ah-jin.
She even went to meet his family, gave them gifts, ate with them, and promised personal care.
Honestly, he was surprised.
She could have just assigned security and staff, but she did it herself?
And the fact that it wasn’t a prearranged business obligation but a personal gesture made it all the more appealing.
But that’s not all.
Baek Jin-woo directly checked YooBaek’s revenue.
The numbers were staggering, bringing out an involuntary “Wow!”
If he ever needed money?
She’d immediately give him a payout based on his share.
How reliable.
“Even more so.”
Baek Jin-woo had only requested 1 billion won as living expenses.
He asked to reinvest the rest.
But do you know what she said?
– Oh, if it’s for living expenses… Use this.
She handed him a card as if it had been prepared in advance.
It was a luxurious card from a major bank.
One side of it bore the word “VIP.”
– It’s the company’s corporate card. You can freely use it for dining and living expenses up to 1 billion won per year.
Wait.
Who needs 1 billion won a year for food?
Oh…
Maybe it’s possible if you’re a chaebol?
Anyway, Baek Jin-woo was grateful.
– And for investments like summons or runes, just bill the company up to 10 billion won annually, and we’ll purchase it for you.
That much?
– It’s not a loss for the company. Jin-woo, you’re practically an asset of the company. If that’s not enough, submit a request, and if it passes the internal review, we’ll support you further.
Wow.
Yes!
This is it!
This is real management!
It was different.
Completely different from dealing with the government.
So, he decided to trust her and leave it to her.
With Yoo Ji-ah, he didn’t have to worry because she’d handle it well.
“And the amazing part is.”
Corporate card and family support expenses, etc.
In a way, the company is covering what could be Jin-woo’s personal expenses.
Meaning, even Yoo Ji-ah, who has shares, shares in these costs!
“This makes it worth giving real information.”
The old saying “Give an extra rice cake to the disliked one” isn’t true.
Baek Jin-woo was the type to give more when treated well.
“This really seems like a good deal.”
The future with YooBaek.
“I should put my all into Intermediate dungeons as well.”
* * *
The very next week.
The Intermediate daily dungeon had similar yet slightly different details from the lower level.
Baek Jin-woo focused on explaining these as he recorded.
And.
Of course, he set all-new records in South Korea on his first try.
The world was buzzing, and Baek Jin-woo gained record-breaking popularity.
[The Record God, Baek Jin-woo! When will he enter the rankers? Countdown begins!]
[YooBaek starts selling Intermediate information! Huge same-day discounts, and even non-rankers start lining up!]
[Will he challenge the highest-level dungeon, known as the realm of the impossible?]
While the world was talking.
Baek Jin-woo was casually grinding, heading to an ordinary dungeon date with Bokrang.
“When will he learn?”
The repetitive Bokrang Breath .
He was tired of waiting.
– It’s… just not working. Why isn’t it working?
Bokrang tilted his head, looking slightly troubled, and went to see Hun-gyo.
At the same time, he heard a shocking statement.
– My lord.
“Huh?”
– Please come here for a moment.
Hun-gyo led him to a secluded spot, leaving Bokrang behind.
– I think Bokrang is pretending not to know.
“Eh?”
What kind of nonsense is that?
– I can’t understand it. The amount of mana, the flow of control—he’s already surpassed the required level. If he still can’t produce the skill, it’s because he’s controlling it.
“Would there be a reason for that?”
– This is just my guess… Hasn’t my lord only taken Bokrang along to dungeons recently?
“Yeah.”
– Bokrang seems to enjoy it.
“… What?”
– All summoned creatures instinctively live off their player’s attention. Bokrang believes this may be his last chance to go alone with you to dungeons. If he grows up too quickly, the time he can spend with you will decrease.
“Ha.”
He was speechless.
Is that true?
Then what should he do?
He felt a mix of fondness and confusion.
“It wasn’t about chicken and beer after all.”
– How about changing your training approach? Stop taking Bokrang to dungeons, and tell him he can return to dungeons once he learns 연 (聯).
“You think that will work?”
– He might master it by tonight.
“…”
Really?
Come to think of it, Hun-gyo’s advice had never been wrong.
“Even if it hurts.”
Maybe he should try that?