Breaking the Achievement Record (1)
The first request Baek Jinwoo made to Park Changseok was that news of this record-breaking achievement must not spread to the world through the media or any other channels.
"Why is that? Setting a record is certainly something worth celebrating."
"My safety has not been secured."
"Pardon? If it's your safety, Baek Jinwoo, our headquarters will—"
Park Changseok, who had been about to continue speaking, suddenly fell silent.
Well, that's true.
What ability did the headquarters have to protect such a valuable talent?
This was the same headquarters that couldn't even properly deal with a single gang.
Let alone that.
If world-class rankers were to visit Korea and launch an attack, the reality was that the current Republic of Korea would not be able to withstand it.
What was the greatest form of safety?
Not revealing oneself.
"I understand. I will request media control under the authority of the headquarters. However, even if we try to keep it quiet, it will inevitably spread. Some of our staff and the judges are already aware of this matter…"
"That level is acceptable. After all, I'm not the only person in this world named Baek Jinwoo."
"Understood."
If it were a world record, the headquarters wouldn't be able to do much about it, but a national record within Korea could still be kept under control.
* * *
Once the meeting ended, the first thing Baek Jinwoo did after stepping into a café was to check his rewards.
[Advanced Summoning Scroll ×3]
[Low-Grade Polish ×2]
The polish was a reward from the Tuesday Dungeon, but the Advanced Summoning Scroll was a jackpot.
It was the first achievement reward obtainable from the beginner tier of the Tuesday Dungeon—something that could only be received once.
Even if someone later broke the national record in that dungeon, no further rewards would be given.
'Should I open them right away?'
The probability rates for the Advanced Summoning Scroll were as follows:
[D Grade: 94%]
[C Grade: 5%]
[B Grade: 1%]
With enough luck, he could immediately obtain a B-grade summon.
But gambling with just three scrolls feels reckless.
What Baek Jinwoo needed right now was not a B-grade summon, but an EX-grade summon—something akin to a bug.
First…
Let's check the price.
Taking out his phone, Baek Jinwoo launched an app.
[Player Web]
This app could only be used by players registered with the headquarters. Park Changseok had installed it for him as soon as he received his certification.
Runes, polish, summons, summoning scrolls—most transactions could be conducted through this platform.
Baek Jinwoo immediately navigated to the Marketplace tab to check the prices of summoning scrolls.
And he was shocked.
This is insane.
[Low-Grade Summoning Scroll – 5,000 won]
[Mid-Grade Summoning Scroll – 500,000 won]
[Advanced Summoning Scroll – 3,000,000 won]
[Top-Grade Summoning Scroll – No listings]
[Ultimate Summoning Scroll – No listings]
Advanced Summoning Scrolls were this expensive?
He had just obtained three—worth 9 million won.
From running a dungeon once?
Wow…
Baek Jinwoo's hands trembled.
In the past, it would have taken him a full month of nonstop part-time work to earn such an amount.
But now?
He had earned this much in less than five minutes.
If this was already the case now…
What would it be like in the future?
"…This is crazy."
Dad, Mom, Ajin.
Just wait a little longer.
'I'll make sure you never have to worry about money again.'
After browsing through various pieces of information, Baek Jinwoo made a rational decision.
'For now, I'll sell the Advanced Summoning Scrolls.'
And then?
'I'll use the money to buy countless Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls.'
Until he summoned the E-grade Training Instructor and the D-grade Explosive Dragon Sorcerer, it was best to keep summoning low-grade scrolls endlessly.
Both were overpowered summons that rivaled even B-grade ones.
* * *
Samsung-dong Player Zone
"Thank you."
After handing over three Advanced Summoning Scrolls to another player and receiving 9 million won in return, Baek Jinwoo smiled broadly.
Now he needed to purchase Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls.
But before that…
A fundamental question arose:
Why were Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls priced at 5,000 won?
In Battle of Summoners, low-grade summons were simply items that dropped from clearing dungeons.
They could also be obtained with about a 10% chance from daily attendance rewards.
In other words, they were scrolls that accumulated endlessly just by doing nothing.
Yet when he browsed the Marketplace, there were many sellers but very few buyers.
Why?
This contradicted the basic principle of supply and demand.
If there were many sellers, the price should naturally fall!
Beep, beep!
When he didn't know something, asking his younger sister was the best solution.
"Hello, Ajin."
—Hey, Oppa.
"Ajin, why is everyone selling Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls for 5,000 won? There are so many listings."
—Oh, that? The headquarters is buying them.
"The headquarters?"
Baek Ajin carefully explained the situation.
To support rankers, the headquarters was purchasing large quantities of summoning scrolls using national funds.
The minimum purchase price was 5,000 won per scroll.
However, since the budget wasn't unlimited, there was a daily purchase limit.
—So the leftover scrolls that couldn't be sold to the headquarters end up on the marketplace. Those sellers never lower their prices. Why would they, when they can just wait and sell to the headquarters later?
"I see."
It all made perfect sense.
—But there's also a rumor these days.
"A rumor?"
—Since this policy was introduced early on, the headquarters has accumulated too many Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls. They're becoming a burden, so the system might be abolished soon. If that happens, the price of Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls will drop even further.
"Oh, really?"
That made sense.
It had been the same in Battle of Summoners.
Mid-grade scrolls were valuable, but low-grade scrolls were so worthless that people wouldn't even take them for free.
"Thanks."
—No problem! Oh, by the way, how did your registration test go? Isn't the Player Tournament coming up soon? Should I go watch?
"Ah…"
Registration.
It was already complete.
Should he tell her the truth?
He decided against it. If she found out he had received special treatment, she would bombard him with questions.
"I'm doing well. It's nothing special. I'll probably pass."
—Wow, that's amazing! I heard it's really difficult.
"Difficult? Not at all."
It had been incredibly easy.
* * *
Baek Jinwoo returned to the headquarters to meet Park Changseok.
"Baek Jinwoo!"
The bearded man came running from afar. As he ran, nearby employees bowed their heads one by one—it was clear he held a high position.
"It hasn't been long since we parted. You called me again already. Did you miss me that much?"
"Uh… yes, well."
What a humorous joke.
"Please follow me first. There are many eyes watching."
Smiling gently, Park Changseok led Baek Jinwoo into his office.
"What brings you here?"
"Well… I'm trying to acquire some Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls. I was wondering if you could help."
"Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls?"
"Yes."
"Would those be sufficient? If approved, we could provide Mid-Grade or even Advanced Summoning Scrolls as support—though there would be a monthly limit…"
"No, for now I need Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls."
Support?
That was both a debt and a shackle.
If he were to receive support, it would be better to do so after firmly deciding to walk the same path together.
"I heard rumors that the headquarters is having trouble dealing with Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls."
"There have been such rumors."
Park Changseok looked troubled.
"And to some extent, they are true. There is a limit to leveling up using summons obtained from Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls."
Within the Player Zone was a facility called the Fusion Center.
It was a system where miscellaneous summons could be sacrificed to increase levels. It was efficient in the early stages but became extremely inefficient beyond a certain point.
Eventually, it was used merely to clear out storage.
"How many do you need?"
"…As many as possible."
"As many as possible…"
Park Changseok pondered.
There were countless Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls in storage. Every day, 50,000 new scrolls were added, and they continued to accumulate because they could not all be used.
"I can report that they were used by rankers, but if any are left over and you resell them…"
"I know they won't sell anyway. Even if I sell them cheaply, the headquarters tracks everything. I intend to use them myself."
"…You have something in mind."
Park Changseok's eyes gleamed.
Baek Jinwoo was a gamer—one with information on a completely different level from ordinary gamers.
If someone like him was gathering Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls, it meant there was something valuable they could be used for.
"Very well."
Park Changseok said with a smile.
"However… there is a condition."
"A condition?"
"As you know, executives of the headquarters are elected by the public. If I were to use summoning scrolls from the national treasury without a justifiable reason and it were discovered, I would lose the trust of the people."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Provide me with a useful piece of information as a sample. I will provide Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls equivalent to the value of that information. That way, even if I am questioned, I will have justification."
Oh?
Baek Jinwoo's lips curled into a smile.
Park Changseok was indeed a remarkable figure. He wasn't going to give things away like a fool.
On the contrary, the more reliable the information, the better the treatment he would receive.
'I was planning to reveal this later…'
But why not?
Let's do it now.
"There is something called Breaking Achievement Seconds."
"…Breaking Achievement Seconds?"
Park Changseok's heart began pounding.
What kind of invaluable information would emerge from this man's mouth?
The reward for achieving first place in national achievements was three Advanced Summoning Scrolls per dungeon.
And time attacks were always measured down to the second.
If two players both achieved a time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds, the one who achieved it first would rank higher.
So what would happen if players alternated breaking the record—5 minutes 31 seconds, then 5 minutes 30 seconds, and so on?
They could maximize the frequency of achievement rewards.
The average power level of Korea would rapidly increase.
"I understand the concept of Breaking Achievement Seconds. We have used this method before as well. Current rankers have already received their rewards."
Ah.
That made sense.
They must have claimed rewards prior to the current record of 5 minutes and 32 seconds.
"Well, it doesn't matter. Rankers aren't the only ones capable of breaking records. There are countless players who have never received achievement rewards."
"The information I will provide concerns the Time Attack strategy for the Tuesday Dungeon."
"…As expected! It's the method you used this time!"
Park Changseok rubbed his palms together in excitement—a habit he displayed whenever he was anxious.
Baek Jinwoo had no intention of revealing his own personal method. Who would believe him if he claimed he had memorized every type of dungeon layout and its vast labyrinthine structure?
Instead, he planned to share the methods used by Rachel, Sugoi, and Xenos.
"Yes. Most likely, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, Russia, and Taiwan all use this method. Anyone who uses it can achieve an average clear time in the three-minute range."
"…!"
Park Changseok was astonished.
Indeed, those five countries consistently held exceptionally high dungeon records.
It was only natural—they were the nations of the Five Emperors.
This information had only been shared within the private chatroom of the One Heaven, Five Emperors.
"Th-three minutes? What exactly is this information?"
"Before that… we should determine its value."
The value?
Even hearing about it sounded enormous.
With this information, records could be broken in the Low, Mid, Advanced, and Top tiers of the Tuesday Dungeon.
"At that level, we can provide you with Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls continuously."
"And in addition," Baek Jinwoo added, "50 Advanced Summoning Scrolls. Is that acceptable?"
"Fifty?"
Fifty Advanced Summoning Scrolls were worth 150 million won.
"You're getting them cheaply. Considering the value of the achievement rewards from the Low, Mid, Advanced, and Top-tier dungeons, this information is worth tens of billions."
"…."
Indeed, that was true.
Even without precise calculations, Park Changseok could tell.
Without hesitation, he nodded.
"This information is certain, correct?"
"Yes. You'll see once you try it."
Baek Jinwoo smiled.
He had briefly considered drafting a contract but decided against it. After all, the information he was about to provide was merely the tip of the iceberg.
If they betrayed him or responded unreasonably—
There would simply be no next time.
"Very well. If the information proves accurate, we will immediately transfer 150 million won and provide 10,000 Low-Grade Summoning Scrolls daily."
Nice!
Baek Jinwoo smiled brightly.
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