Chapter 79

Chapter 79: An Unexpected Encounter - (2)

Han Hyunjeong's private office, which seemed to be well over 100 pyeong in size, was itself a massive training ground.

There was a training facility that implemented virtual dungeons using VR, and the recovery facilities were also incredibly diverse.

The office was so luxurious that it looked like hundreds of billions of won had been spent on it.

Security was certainly thorough.

To enter the office from the outside, one had to go through five layers of security checks.

Moreover, the security door itself was unimaginably thick.

To exaggerate just a little, even if a bomb exploded right in front of the door, the inside would likely remain intact.

"Coffee? Ade? Which would you like?"

"I'll have coffee."

"Would you like to try mana coffee?"

"If you're offering, I won’t refuse."

Mana coffee.

As the name suggests, it is a beverage that combines mana potion and coffee.

It is known that the essence of mana, which is difficult to extract, is turned into a concentrate and mixed with coffee.

Its effects are similar to a nutritional supplement.

Though not dramatic, drinking it consistently helps with mana recovery and even increases total mana capacity.

The production cost for a single cup of mana coffee is at least 500,000 won.

She was essentially treating Sanghyun with the equivalent cost of a high-end bottle of liquor.

Since Sanghyun understood its value, he carefully accepted the teacup Han Hyunjeong handed him.

"Drink up. It's good for you."

"Thank you. This is my first time trying mana coffee."

"Hoho. It’s quite effective. I’ve been drinking two cups every day for a year, and thanks to it, my mana has increased by 50."

"Is that purely from the coffee?"

"That’s right. I didn’t use any other mana-enhancing supplements, so there’s no need to account for any other variables."

"That means your mana increased by one every week."

"Exactly. Investing about 400 million won for an increase of 50 mana per year. It’s a very profitable deal. Of course, it’s a bit hard to obtain."

Han Hyunjeong's words were correct.

Most players, however, had little interest in mana coffee.

For one, it had to be imported from overseas, and the customs process made it difficult to acquire.

Additionally, since it didn’t dramatically increase mana in an instant, its effects weren’t immediately noticeable.

Players, accustomed to short-term gains and immediate gratification, were not yet willing to invest in long-term growth.

Of course, this tendency would change in two or three years.

All thanks to this woman.

Han Hyunjeong would start promoting various growth-supporting supplements like mana coffee.

With systematic marketing from numerous influencers, consuming these supplements would become a major trend in just a few years.

"It’s delicious. It seems like you've added some extra flavor."

"You’re sharp. I really like hazelnut, so I added a little syrup."

"I thought so."

"Ah, by the way, Shin Sanghyun. I have something to ask you. How does it feel to receive the attention of a Divine Throne?"

At the sudden mention of a Divine Throne, Sanghyun quietly looked at Han Hyunjeong.

He wasn’t flustered at all, convinced that she was testing him.

On the contrary, Sanghyun thought it wouldn't be strange if Han Hyunjeong had a contract with a Divine Throne.

Considering the sharp upward trajectory of her growth in the future, it was only natural.

"What’s a Divine Thronet?"

Sanghyun asked innocently.

So far, no information about Divine Thrones had been disclosed anywhere, including player communities.

Players who had contracted with Divine Thrones were strictly keeping their mouths shut, maintaining secrecy.

In a way, Han Hyunjeong was breaking an unspoken rule. Of course, as a contractor, she probably didn’t care if their existence was revealed.

"Do you really not know?"

"Is it different from a Constellation?"

"Ah, so you do know about Constellations. People call them by all sorts of names. I just prefer 'Divine Thrones.'"

"I see. Constellations…! They're a topic that never runs out of discussion."

Thanks to Sanghyun’s smooth answer, Han Hyunjeong simply took a sip of her coffee without pressing further.

She had likely just been testing him.

It seemed that, in her eyes, someone of Sanghyun's caliber would naturally attract the interest of a Divine Throne at least once.

"That was a pointless joke. Sorry. Anyway, the reason I wanted to talk to you is simple."

She quickly got to the main point.

She had always been known for not beating around the bush, and it seemed that hadn’t changed.

"Let’s hear it."

"Would you be interested in signing a sponsorship contract with Hyunjeong Corporation? A sponsorship. Not a guild membership, nor some vague cooperative relationship."

Sponsorship.

It was financial backing.

Similar to how athletes receive support from companies and wear branded clothing or shoes.

In the case of player sponsorships, it went a step further, with the company's name appearing in interviews and activity records.

If Sanghyun, currently a one-man guild under SH Guild, were to give a press interview, the article would read:

Shin Sanghyun (25, SH, Hyunjeong Corporation)

It would be prominently displayed right after his guild name.

‘The offer itself is not bad.’

There was plenty of merit in it.

First, organizations associated with Han Hyunjeong were neither criminal groups nor ones with bad reputations.

At the very least, associating his name with hers would be beneficial, not detrimental, in the future.

"What amount are you considering?"

"50 billion won per year. How about it?"

She was testing the waters.

Since she wasn’t even trying to flatter him by saying she was offering more because it was him, it didn’t seem like a serious proposal.

She just wanted to gauge whether he was even interested in sponsorships.

Sanghyun immediately saw through her intentions.

‘Then I’ll just give the answer you expect.’

He grinned.

What a clever fox of a woman.

"That’s more than I deserve."

He deliberately feigned modesty.

Since she was only testing him, he pretended to be flustered in response.

"Hohoho. How mischievous."

"What’s mischievous?"

"If the amount doesn’t suit you, you could just say so! Isn’t this too obvious a rejection?"

"I don’t think that’s something I should hear. You were the one probing first, Han Hyunjeong."

"Sharp as always, Shin Sanghyun."

"I’m not one to speak in circles, so I’ll be honest. Right now, if I wanted to, I could make 50 billion won in just a few days."

Sanghyun spoke calmly.

It is a truth without a single lie.

Even just today, if he disposed of four Platinum Artifacts at Hyunjung Market, he would secure at least 4 billion won.

That was why he could only scoff at the condition of 50 billion won per year.

"Alright. That was just a very basic proposal. In fact, the important discussion starts now."

"Hmm?"

"If you provide authentication for the Constellation you've contracted with, the sponsorship amount could change entirely."

'How cunning, this woman.'

She was trying to extract the player's core information while building anticipation for a high payout. It was a plausible tactic.

Seeing her fully armed with the logic of capitalism, he could understand why she had succeeded.

'She is indeed interested in me, but she hasn't completely finished evaluating my worth yet. It’s incomplete.'

Sanghyun accurately read the situation.

The proposal was not specific, and the discussion was conditional, meaning she still did not fully understand him.

It seemed she wanted to put a name to his face after meeting him once in person. That was the feeling he got.

"Thank you for the drink. It seems there will be another time for a more concrete discussion."

Sanghyun stood up first.

If she had been truly desperate, she would have tried to hold him back, but as expected, she maintained a certain ambiguous distance.

"I'm looking forward to the future. Please contribute a lot to enhancing our national prestige. Our country's players are quite popular, aren’t they?"

"I should be faithful to the tasks given to me. I don’t know about national prestige, but well, there will be opportunities."

He answered with a smile.

Anyway, since he had established a connection with a figure who was sure to grow rapidly in the future, there would be many benefits.

Sanghyun was certain that today’s coffee meeting with her would not be the last.

"Let’s meet again if the opportunity arises."

"I would welcome that. If you wish."

With that, they concluded their meeting, and Sanghyun immediately exited and took the elevator leading to the Platinum tier.

It had only been a short tea time, but the conversation held an immeasurable monetary value.

His connection with Han Hyunjung.

It seemed it would be extremely useful.

Meanwhile.

After confirming that Sanghyun had left via the elevator, Han Hyunjung pressed a button on her desk table.

Then, the wall clock in the corner of the office moved, revealing a person emerging from within.

It was a secret space inside the office, one that Sanghyun had not noticed at all.

The person who stepped out was a woman with long black hair, calmly flowing down and covering half her face.

Only one eye, half of her nose, and part of her lips were visible, making her appearance anything but ordinary.

"Yeonah."

"Yes, Master."

"Gather more detailed information on Shin Sanghyun. Not just the general information known externally."

"To obtain internal information from the Union or Eden Guild, a significant deposit will be necessary. They all have tight lips."

"Does that matter? Have you ever seen me skimp on money?"

"I will begin immediately."

"Find out everything. Especially the connections he’s growing close to. He won’t remain alone forever."

"Understood."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lee Yeon, Han Hyunjung’s confidante and so-called 'Shadow Warrior,' disappeared without a trace.

"Indeed, even compared to foreign cases, Shin Sanghyun's growth trajectory is exceptional."

Han Hyunjung's gaze deepened.

She was certain.

Even if she didn’t know which Constellation he had contracted with, it was clear that Sanghyun had made a pact with a rare one. The synergy would be strong.

And with such growth, it was highly likely that a Divine Throne would take interest in him.

"Shin Sanghyun is definitely a player worthy of a Divine Throne’s attention. You agree with me, don’t you?"

As Han Hyunjung spoke to someone, a response immediately came.

"Hoho, as expected, it’s not just the Constellation I contracted with. Anyway, I should take a deeper interest in this."

The Immortal Divine Throne she had contracted with.

The power granted to Han Hyunjung by the Divine Throne was none other than immortality. Of course, there was a major premise. Non-killing.

She must never kill anyone.

'4 billion is nothing. Considering it’s a reward from someone who tried to kill me, it’s actually quite cheap.'

Having completed his artifact sales on the Platinum tier, Sanghyun smiled at his vastly increased balance.

A balance of 10.6 billion won! For the first time in his life, he had broken past the 10 billion won mark, something he had never achieved in his past life.

Less than a month after his regression, he had already surpassed the entirety of his 30 years in his previous life.

A life that had changed drastically!

The life after regression was undeniably different.

Wealth, fame, and growth!

There was nothing lacking.