Chapter 105: Lee Yeon - (2)
I was caught!
By the time Lee Yeon realized the gravity of the situation, all the conditions had already turned for the worst.
Was the illusion she had dismissed as obvious actually not an illusion?
That was certainly not the case.
Just moments ago, the attacks unleashed by Sanghyun’s illusion were nothing more than mirages, unable to inflict any harm on her.
‘How is this even possible?’
Causality did not align.
An illusion is an illusion, and reality is reality. The two cannot coexist. This applies even to a player’s abilities.
‘No way.’
Lee Yeon’s thoughts expanded.
There was one possible explanation.
If one could switch the positions of illusion and reality, then the current situation made perfect sense.
‘Is that even possible?’
The real issue was this.
How on earth did Sanghyun possess such an ability?
Most players specialize in skills suited to their class.
How advantageous would it be if an assassin player had a mage’s skills?
But because such diversification was rare, players could only grow by utilizing the abilities given to them.
Yet, Sanghyun had multiple skills that were difficult to coexist.
Even the Death Touch skill, a forced summoning technique, was something Lee Yeon had not anticipated.
At that moment, Sanghyun’s cold voice rang out.
"You're overthinking this."
Shwaaak!
He thrust the Crushing Blade forward.
In truth, he would have used it regardless of Lee Yeon’s reaction. He had already secured victory.
If this were a real battle, a fountain of blood would have erupted from her throat, but fortunately, such a gruesome scene did not unfold.
Instead.
Beep— Beep— Beep—
The alarm of her protective gear rang loudly, signaling that its durability had dropped below 100.
A complete defeat.
"……"
"No murmuring. Stick to the agreement. You have one minute."
Sanghyun reminded her of the conditions they had agreed upon before the duel.
He held no personal grudge against Lee Yeon.
It was the fate of a bodyguard.
To continuously doubt anyone trying to get close to their master.
No different from a security guard. From Lee Yeon’s perspective, she had done her best.
Sanghyun’s voice rose slightly.
"Going back on your word?"
"I won’t."
Lee Yeon quickly removed her protective gear, placed it back in its original position, and cast a fleeting glance at Sanghyun.
She felt humiliated.
She had believed she could subdue him easily, yet she was the one who had been overpowered.
At that moment.
Clank. Clank.
The sound of the tightly shut security door opening echoed.
Only two people had the authority to pass the security verification to enter here: Lee Yeon or Han Hyunjung.
Creeeak. Thud!
"Oh my! What on earth happened here?"
Han Hyunjung was never good at lying. Even in her past life.
Judging by her startled expression, this might have been a unilateral action by Lee Yeon.
Her gaze darted back and forth between Lee Yeon and Sanghyun.
Whether this was part of a prearranged script or something truly unexpected, Sanghyun didn’t bother to pursue the matter further. It was already done.
He wasn’t displeased.
If anything, he had successfully gauged the combat abilities of her personal bodyguard.
Of course, if this had been a life-or-death match without durability restrictions, the result might have been different.
‘Han Hyunjung wouldn’t keep a bodyguard simply because she couldn’t protect herself.’
It was a natural assumption.
Considering Han Hyunjung’s level and prowess, Lee Yeon was more of a publicly visible escort than an actual necessity.
With her face flushed red, Lee Yeon finished tidying up, and Han Hyunjung called out to her.
"Yeon-ah."
"Yes."
"The entire lobby is a bit chaotic due to the VIP’s arrival. Could you help organize it?"
"……Understood."
Without hesitation, Lee Yeon turned and exited the room.
Sanghyun watched her leave hastily, sensing a completely different aura of self-reproach than before.
It would linger for a while.
She must have requested the duel expecting a high chance of victory. The outcome had been completely overturned.
Lee Yeon left.
After a sufficient amount of time passed.
As the silence deepened, Sanghyun finally spoke.
"It would have been better if you had just said it was a verification procedure."
"Hmm? I had a feeling, but did you really spar with Yeon?"
"That’s how it turned out. That’s not my concern, though."
"I’ll personally apologize for Yeon’s rudeness. I’m really sorry."
"No need. I’ll take it as a victor’s generosity. However, you should hear the full story."
Sanghyun recounted what had transpired between him and Lee Yeon.
Both the process and the result.
After listening carefully, Han Hyunjung nodded repeatedly and even gave Sanghyun a thumbs-up, her eyes filled with admiration.
"Yeon’s level is 280. Among those who have humbled her arrogance, you have the lowest level."
"That’s quite the evaluation."
"It’s different when a level 300 defeats a 280 versus when a level 140 defeats a 280."
It seemed that out of everyone who had gone through Lee Yeon’s "test," Sanghyun had the lowest level.
That held significant meaning in itself.
It meant he had overcome the gap in level and skill. Han Hyunjung continued speaking.
"This happened unintentionally, but thanks to it, I got to see your abilities and properly assess their value."
"I didn’t take it as malice."
"Alright, let’s get to the main topic now. Shall we?"
"That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?"
"Hoho, that’s right. I’ll explain everything first, and you can share your thoughts afterward."
"Sounds good."
“Three-month short-term contract. It will be automatically terminated upon expiration. If you want to extend it, you must renew the contract. That is the basic framework.”
“The period is quite short.”
“A skilled player’s value can change even within a month. Conversely, their valuation could also decrease.”
It was clear that Han Hyunjung had her own thoughts.
If an issue arose that would increase his value, she would compensate accordingly, but if a negative issue arose, she would discard him.
It seemed like she was determined to avoid getting tied down by investing a large sum in a long-term contract all at once.
“Go on.”
“The monthly contract fee is 35 billion won. The total contract amount is 105 billion won. That’s the financial aspect.”
Sanghyun nodded.
He didn’t respond immediately because he needed a moment to assess the value of the amount.
It was a striking sum.
Was there a precedent?
There was no precedent in South Korea for a player at Sanghyun’s level receiving such a sponsorship contract.
Looking internationally, the name of someone like Jerron D.K. would have to be mentioned.
Of course, he didn’t think Han Hyunjung would recklessly waste money just because she had excess funds.
There were surely conditions.
“What are the terms of Hyunjung Corporation?”
“First, you must participate in a player interview that we arrange once a month. It must be at least 30 minutes long. It won’t be a short interview.”
“For promotional purposes.”
“If we hire a model, it’s a waste not to use them, right? Of course, the questions and answers will be pre-discussed.”
“Are you asking me to fabricate positive stories?”
Sanghyun threw a sharp question. It was a purely commercial-minded inquiry.
“No. Just evaluate us as fairly as we treat you. We are confident in ourselves.”
The confident smirk on Han Hyunjung’s face showed her certainty. It wasn’t just bluffing.
“I understand the first condition. Please continue.”
“Second, you must participate in large-scale raids organized by Hyunjung Corporation. Once every six weeks. Considering the contract period, you must participate twice.”
“And the next?”
“Lastly, third. This is obvious but often neglected. Do not engage in any illegal activities that could cause controversy.”
“That goes without saying. So, these three are the main conditions.”
“For three months, you will be actively marketed as a sponsored player of Hyunjung Corporation.”
“That’s expected.”
“What do you think? These are the highest terms I’ve prepared, so negotiating for a better deal will be difficult.”
“Alright. Let’s sign the contract.”
Sanghyun agreed without hesitation.
He already believed that his valuation was high enough. Han Hyunjung wasn’t stingy with her money.
“Would you like the payment in a lump sum? Or in three installments of 35 billion won at the beginning of each month? Your choice.”
The decision of whether to take the full amount at once or receive it in installments was now in Sanghyun’s hands.
His answer was quick and straightforward.
“I’ll take it all at once and decide later.”
The contract was executed swiftly.
With the contract signing, 105 billion won was immediately deposited into Sanghyun’s bank account.
Since it was post-tax, the pre-tax amount that Hyunjung Corporation had to cover was even higher.
News reports were published immediately.
As a result, Park Jungmin, who had come to cover the meeting between Han Hyunjung and Jerron D.K., ended up with an even bigger exclusive.
He was surprised upon hearing the total contract amount, but knowing that the recipient was Sanghyun, he was no longer shocked.
He judged that Sanghyun was worth it.
Even from Park Jungmin’s perspective, Sanghyun had immense potential.
Meanwhile.
Kim Miso’s expression darkened as she read about Sanghyun’s sponsorship contract, which was stirring up the player community.
Jinho Cho, who had been having tea with her at that moment, was also present.
Kim Miso meticulously counted the digits again, confirming the contract amount. It was indeed 105 billion won.
“The amount is insane.”
“Han Hyunjung has always been known for aggressive investments. She makes that much in a month, so she wouldn’t feel bad about it.”
“If Sanghyun oppa were just an average level-130 player, he wouldn’t even have gotten 1.05 billion won.”
“True. But the current Shin Sanghyun is a walking headline. He’s an issue-maker.”
“…”
“It’s a rational investment. It’s also a bet on the future. Even if the contract ends in three months, their first association will always be remembered as an event.”
“It feels like I’ve lost a man I had a crush on to another woman.”
“Is that analogy even appropriate?”
“I just mean it feels strange.”
“Don’t fool yourself, Miso. Shin Sanghyun was never ours to begin with. Even now, it’s just a business relationship.”
“I was too soft, wasn’t I?”
“To be honest, yes.”
“I guess it’s greed. He was the only player who ever truly caught my attention.”
“Han Hyunjung was just smart. I think we should also consider a sponsorship contract.”
“I should probably give up on trying to forcibly recruit him into our guild.”
“Yeah. He’s grown too much for that. He’s not someone you can easily claim anymore.”
The frankness in Jinho Cho’s voice carried his clear assessment of Sanghyun.
Kim Miso agreed.
She realized that she needed to rethink her perception of Sanghyun.
He was no longer someone she could simply reach out and grab.
Now, he was someone she had to carefully consider whether she even had the right to reach out to.
He was no longer the fresh, inexperienced rookie player of the past.