Chapter 21 : The Offer He Turned Down

“Sorry!”

On his way out after disposing of the mana stones, Go Byeong Jae blocked Yuseong’s path and shouted.

He caught a glimpse of Yuseong’s expression and was about to step back, but quickly folded his hands behind his back again.

“Sorry for last time!”

He shouted once more.

Yuseong wore a bewildered look.

“What…?”

He had no memory of what this was about, even if someone suddenly appeared to apologize.

Go Byeong Jae realized his mistake and briefly explained the situation.

“Last time when we met, I was a bit rude. I apologize!”

“So… who are you?”

At Yuseong’s question, Go Byeong Jae’s face crumpled as if the sky had fallen.

The memory of being scolded so harshly by Seong Jeokpyo came back vividly.

“Well, I’m from the Red Eye Guild… I spoke to you at the gate about two weeks ago. I think I was a bit rude.”

Yuseong’s face was still blank.

That incident had already been wiped clean from his memory.

Feeling an indescribable sense of defeat, Go Byeong Jae buried his head in his hands.

“Anyway, it’s not about the name… I wanted to see if you had a contract with any guild.”

“Me? No, I don’t.”

A hint of color returned to Go Byeong Jae’s face.

He fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a business card.

“Our big brother… the Guild Master wanted to meet you in person, but he had overlapping appointments, so I’m here instead.”

“What’s this about?”

“Of course, it’s a recruitment offer. Our Red Eye Guild was only founded five years ago, but it’s a guild with great potential.”

Now that things had come this far, Go Byeong Jae steeled his expression and decided to make a recruitment proposal to Yuseong.

“What sets our guild apart from others is, first, the family-like atmosphere! In fact, all our members treat each other like brothers and sisters.”

“Hmm.”

“Second, transparent profit sharing. The mana stone distribution is settled at 60 to 40. But Mr. Yuseong is someone our big brother has placed high hopes on.”

“Hopes?”

“I’ve seen the records myself, hehe. You’re already achieving those records at this speed.”

As a first-class member of Red Eye’s elite team, it was a bit humiliating to be pestering a rookie.

But after being severely rebuked by Seong Jeokpyo, Go Byeong Jae humbly lowered himself from the start.

“For those with some experience, we offer 70 to 30. But for you, Baek Yuseong, we’d like to offer 80 to 20 as a special case.”

“Ah, ah.”

“Haha, you must be surprised by such a sudden proposal. But that’s how much we see your, well, potential. I’ll also add a 5 million won signing bonus.”

It was an abrupt conversation in the middle of the street, but Go Byeong Jae felt no strangeness.

He himself had only signed a 70 to 30 contract without any signing bonus.

He thought that the rookie Baek Yuseong wouldn’t accept such an offer and would soon cave under the pressure.

“Write it up. I’m not particularly interested.”

But Yuseong’s expression showed no excitement.

Hiding his disappointment as best as he could, Go Byeong Jae urgently grabbed him.

“Ah, of course, if it’s approved by the president, we can adjust the terms. For now, just take this business card.”

He then handed over the business card of Guild Master Seong Jeokpyo from his pocket.

“No thanks.”

But Yuseong turned his body as if he had no more business.

Startled, Go Byeong Jae called after him.

“Uh, uh… Yuseong!”

But Yuseong didn’t even glance back.

Go Byeong Jae watched him leave with empty eyes.

“Sigh… well, that’s that.”

He had expected the contract to be sealed without fail.

It was utterly impossible.

***

As Yuseong walked quietly, Jang Dojin asked.

“Did you turn them down?”

“Huh?”

“The Red Eye Guild is supposed to be one of the better-known ones.”

“Have you heard of them?”

Jang Dojin seemed to know about the Red Eye Guild.

Since it was a guild Yuseong had seen upon his return, Yuseong looked at Jang Dojin anew.

“Yeah, it’s a new guild, but not very famous. The guild master is somewhat well-known though.”

“Who’s the guild master?”

“Seong Jeokpyo… a top-tier explorer.”

“Never heard of him. Isn’t he just famous because of his funny name?”

Yuseong spoke casually about Seong Jeokpyo, whose name alone could cause chaos if he was around.

“Well, he’s got a terrifying Gift related to blood. They say it’s pretty strong. I don’t know much, but the profit-sharing ratio of 80 to 20…”

What Go Byeong Jae said was not wrong.

An 80 to 20 split for a rookie, even in a new guild, was an extremely generous condition.

But Yuseong firmly dismissed Jang Dojin’s words.

“You don’t just join any guild carelessly.”

“Still… wouldn’t it be better to have comrades? I’m not qualified yet anyway, and I’m a bit scared…”

“You know well. Then it’s better not to join.”

With that, Yuseong suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“A guild makes a recruitment offer because they want something.”

“Right?”

“What I mean is, since they’re raising the terms to 80 to 20 and offering a signing bonus, they expect more than that in return. Nothing in this world is free.”

Yuseong’s serious words left Jang Dojin speechless.

“So if you sign enthusiastically but that guild turns out to be a bunch of thugs or worse, you’re the one who suffers.”

Yuseong poked Jang Dojin’s chest.

“If they come to help, you have to give just as much back.”

A strange passion flickered in Yuseong’s eyes as he continued.

Jang Dojin was silent for a moment before speaking.

“Why so serious all of a sudden?”

“Shut up.”

“Have you been screwed over before?”

“This is my first proper venture. Now give me that license.”

Yuseong finished the conversation with a flair.

Jang Dojin showed his own license and sent Yuseong’s contact information.

“I’ll contact you later. Rest up for now.”

“By the way, isn’t it because you want something from me that you proposed the party?”

“Yeah, man, I’m trying to exploit you.”

Jang Dojin laughed lightly as Yuseong patted his belly.

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

It looked like a light hit, but it wasn’t.

Jang Dojin hunched over in pain, clutching his side.

“See you next time.”

Yuseong left Jang Dojin behind and resumed walking.

When he was quite a distance away, Yuseong let out a deep sigh.

“I got excited because it reminded me of old days.”

Perhaps because of the guild recruitment offer, memories from before his return flashed through his mind.

He wasn’t always set on solo play.

Even if he was a bit eccentric for living on Abyss food, it didn’t mean his ability was lacking. He was fairly ambitious.

Although the Gift didn’t directly aid him in combat, he had his own strengths.

Thanks to the Blessing of Taste from his grandfather, even when injured, he could return to the front lines shortly after.

His unique battle sense that spared no effort was also well-regarded.

“I wonder how those who tried to exploit me are doing.”

But that was the sum total of Yuseong’s usefulness.

Several harsh guilds had treated him as nothing more than a tool.

He wasn’t scammed or betrayed.

He just took more preemptive blows than anyone else, received the most injuries, and survived the most.

The ambitious young Baek Yuseong had given up on promotion back then.

He left the guild, withdrew from the front lines, and lived alone, cooking his own meals.

It wasn’t that he resented the guild masters and explorers at that time.

It was simply that his value was only worth that much then.

“Well, things are different now.”

Now that he had returned to the surface, Yuseong immediately opened his fully charged phone.

“Hello?”

When the other party answered, a smile Yuseong himself hadn’t noticed spread across his face.

“Yes, Chairman. I’m back. I know you’re busy, but can we talk for a moment?”

The caller was Lee Woo Do.

After this call, he would also call Shin Jia and her grandfather.

“Are you hurt anywhere? Haha, it’s nothing—just like I told you before, I brought some good ingredients this time. Yes. Hehe, I have to treat you properly, of course.”

It hadn’t even been a month since his return, yet Baek Yuseong’s life was already moving in a very different direction.

“Yes, yes. I’ll call again. Stay healthy.”

This life would be happier than the last.

***

“Of course! Thanks to you, smiles have been blooming these days. I’ll do it! Hahaha!”

Lee Woo Do laughed heartily as he answered Yuseong’s call, while Chief Choi politely bowed beside him.

“Of course I’ll come! How could I not go to such an event? Don’t worry. I’ll prepare the best for you.”

The usually cold Lee Woo Do wasn’t exactly pleasant to see like this—laughing so freely.

For Chief Choi, who had watched him for a long time, it was even more unusual.

Still, Chief Choi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Until just a moment ago, Lee Woo Do was furious, shouting over worsening business reports.

But as soon as he received Yuseong’s call, his expression brightened like this, narrowly avoiding a curse.

“Alright! Hang up.”

“Is this Mr. Yuseong’s call?”

Chief Choi quickly asked to prevent Lee Woo Do’s mood from souring again.

“Heh, I heard through support that this guy has potential, huh?”

“Oh? Seems like he’s showing results.”

Chief Choi had heard about Yuseong’s achievements several times but asked straightforwardly.

“They say after just one expedition, he sold mana stones worth 24 million won.”

“…That’s really impressive.”

Even 24 million won was not a significant sum for Lee Woo Do, who routinely authorized projects worth tens or hundreds of billions daily.

But it was an unbelievable amount for a first-time explorer.

“That’s unofficially the highest individual record.”

“Seems like it.”

“More importantly, pass this on to Yuseong.”

Lee Woo Do took up a fountain pen and wrote a list of ingredients on a memo pad.

Chief Choi read the contents.

“A lot of black beans.”

“Yeah, thanks to Yuseong, we won’t need them anymore.”

Lee Woo Do proudly smoothed his neatly styled pomade hair.

His jet-black hair was enviably lustrous to the point of jealousy.

Not long ago, at the Council of Species meeting, the other leaders envied him so much they bombarded him with questions about the secret to his thick hair.

“Black bean noodles and freshly made kimchi. It’ll be amazing, really.”

“Yuseong is cooking again?”

“Yeah, he’s invited me. This time I have to go.”

Yuseong invited Lee Woo Do to taste his black bean noodles.

Of course, Lee Woo Do promised to go and was ready to offer his full support.

“January 3rd. Check the schedule.”

“Yes. It’s the 30th anniversary luncheon of the Press Association at the Korea Daily office.”

“Send the vice president in my place. That day is for eating black bean noodles.”

Lee Woo Do gave a blunt order.

Chief Choi calmly adjusted the schedule.

Then he said respectfully, “Then, I will escort the chairman that day.”

Though not outwardly showing it, saliva was already pooling in Chief Choi’s mouth.

Since the day he tasted the mint chocolate chip ice cream, the flavor shock hadn’t faded.

If Yuseong was cooking, Chief Choi definitely wanted to try it.

“What do you mean? You should go with the vice president.”

“…Huh?”

“I may be on leave, but if you’re not there, will things run smoothly?”

Lee Woo Do patted Chief Choi’s shoulder.

Though meant as sincere praise and trust, Chief Choi could not help but frown.

“I wish that day would come soon. Hahaha.”

Lee Woo Do laughed heartily, but Chief Choi’s head started spinning.

With the chairman saying that, he probably couldn’t attend Yuseong’s meal.

So, what could he do to change the chairman’s mind?

At that moment, a brilliant idea struck.

“Chairman, I have a proposal.”

“Oh? You do?”

Chief Choi wasn’t one to take the lead, so Lee Woo Do looked at him with a curious expression.

“Tell me.”

“Do you remember All Daily’s video?”

“Of course, I still watch it sometimes.”

Yuseong’s interview video had done quite well on the internet.

Thanks to that, Lee Woo Do personally called the All Daily president to express his gratitude.

The video was still saved on his phone.

“Let’s call the production team and create new promotional material.”

That was Chief Choi’s move.

A drop of sweat trickled down his neck from the tension.