Chapter 153

'Th-this…' Everyone on the negotiation team was shaken by the request. His demand for exclusive rights to the country's guild buffs was unimaginable. They might've had full authority from the government, but it wasn't an easy decision.

'The growth buff is doable, but the member expansion option is…!'

Unless they were specialized, most guilds didn't need the growth buff. The member expansion buff, though, which gave a +4 bonus to the option, was given to the top 10 guilds and allowed them to accommodate more members.

Thanks to that and the stat increases, guilds that weren't in the top 10 were left even further behind and had no hope of breaking through the rankings.

"We're sure the growth buff is something the top 10 guilds would be ready to give up, but the member increase would require us to change the entire top 10 guild list… We can't give an immediate answer."

"Even if we agreed, the buffs have diminishing returns and wouldn't raise the option by 40. Receiving all of the member expansion buffs would only increase the effect to about +15 or +20."

"Aah, I see," JiHan said. The negotiation team was asking him to consider the complex problem that would arise if the top 10 guilds suddenly had to drastically reduce their numbers.

JiHan smiled. "Would it be better if I went to the USA?"

"N-no! How about we negotiate and give you half of the member buffs? That way, you'd still receive a +10 bonus. In exchange, we'll accept your other terms and offer the benefits we already prepared."

"You mean a tax exemption?" JiHan asked. "But taxes are supposed to be paid."

"Ah! How could we possibly ask you to pay taxes, Mr. Sung? There's also a property next door that the government was going to auction. We can give you that and more…!"

"Hmm…" JiHan frowned as if he were unimpressed. He didn't seem interested in things like tax exemptions or other offers and was only focused on being able to have as many guild members as possible.

'Ah! The member expansion is the most important buff… The repercussions would be unimaginable if we let him monopolize it.' The negotiation team was nervously wondering whether or not they should cry and beg him for leniency.

HaYeon, who'd been watching from the side, stepped forward. Instead of referring to him formally like she usually did, she softly tried to dissuade him. 

"Oppa, don't be like that," she said. "Even if they did give all of the member expansion buffs to us, it'd only be a difference of five levels, right? That's 25 people. Let's just do as they suggested and take half of the buffs."

"It's not too much to ask for," JiHan said. "The United States offered me 10% of America First's shares, after all."

"Oppa…! My family's Twin Star Guild is among the top 10 guilds as well. Can't you be a bit more considerate? They offered half as a good-faith compromise, and you also want to keep living here anyway!"

"Hmm…" JiHan seemed to think about it for a moment.

'An opportunity might arise if we can persuade him!' The negotiation team pushed the initiative HaYeon had given them and fell back on the measures they'd prepared beforehand.

"Going this far would put too much of a burden on us," HaYeon said.

The negotiation representative became certain she was the key and supported her by offering JiHan more benefits.

"Oppa~ Isn't this good enough?"

"Hey, this is supposed to be a formal occasion," he said.

"Didn't I talk to you formally?"

"Ahh… Being able to accept more members is extremely important. Fine. I'll wait outside and leave this to you, okay?"

"Okay, Oppa. Trust me~!"

Despite their bickering, the two seemed extremely close. The negotiation representative had heard the rumors and assumed they were a real couple, which was why he put all of his effort into supporting her.

"Oppa, no, Mr. Sung is quite stubborn. This might not be enough," she said.

The negotiation leader nodded. "Ah. Then… how about this?"

"Hmm… This should be enough. I'll see if I can convince him." With her stronger authority, HaYeon obtained all sorts of benefits from the government negotiation team.

'Ah, we ended up offering more than expected…' one of them thought.

'Still, this is better than having to give up all of the member expansions.'

'Making a compromise with the top 10 guilds is much better than making trouble with them.'

Though they'd been led like a dog on a leash, they felt relieved that they only had to give up half of the member expansion buffs.

"I'll see if I can persuade Mr. Sung with this," she said, "but…"

"But…?" The negotiation team nervously wondered if she was going to ask for even more.

"Could you select us as this year's most promising guild? Mr. Sung is extremely interested in the guild's growth, after all."

"Ah, yes. We can do that right now!" the negotiation leader promised.

"Thank you~!"

The government had been willing to offer her last request from the start. In the end, the negotiation team gave up half of the expansion buffs, all of the growth rate buffs, and everything they'd prepared beforehand.

The government team felt relieved and spoke with each other as they left.

"Ha… She was extraordinary. She took everything we had for backup."

"That's fine… We should be glad that's all it took. All of it combined isn't worth even 2% of America First's shares."

"That's true."

"We'll have to quickly talk to the top 10 guilds and prepare an announcement. I'm glad that's over with."

HaYeon let out a deep sigh and mumbled, "Ah, that was tough…"

JiHan and the others entered the room as she was taking a moment to rest.

"Well done, HaYeon."

"Woah, HaYeon~ Your acting was amazing," Sae-ah said. "I really thought you two were dating."

GaYeong chimed in with, "Miss, I was also amazed. I thought you only had talent for covering up your gambling."

HaYeon shrugged and said, "You didn't need to mention that, did you?" Mr. Sung, your telepathic message earlier took me by surprise. I didn't think you'd ask me to continue playing up our rumored romance."

Just as she said, he'd sent her a telepathic message during the negotiation.

- I'm okay with half of the member expansion buffs. I'll leave the rest to your discretion. Ms. Lee, act like you're my lover and try to dissuade me.

She'd flaunted her closeness with him and contributed to keeping him in South Korea, but it was all according to his plan.

What the negotiation team perceived was something entirely different. They couldn't even imagine that he'd planned the whole thing out.

"You did better than I expected," he said. "You seemed quite comfortable calling me 'Oppa.'"

"Really? Should I continue calling you that?"

"No."

"Tsk." HaYeon pouted after his firm refusal. He felt extremely rigid sometimes.

At that moment, Sofia finished her game and entered the conference room. "Is it over? Have you decided to stay in Korea?"

"Yes. In the end, staying in my home country is more comfortable."

"That's too bad, JiHan, I wanted us to be closer." She took a look around the room. "Ah, now that I think about it, I can just stay in Korea, right?"

"No, it's okay," he said. "Please go back, Sofia."

"How harsh. You keep trying to send me away," she grumbled. "You told me you'd like me if I became the world's best Support, right?"

"Through Sae-ah, yes."

"It's the same thing! Anyway…" She looked at HaYeon. "You should keep your eyes off of him in the meantime."

"Don't worry," JiHan said. "I won't be swayed by her."

"Why not?? Is there something wrong with me?" HaYeon asked.

"I don't see gambling addicts as potential romantic interests."

"I'm not a gambling addict…!"

"Really?"

Her past lifestyle flashed through her mind. She couldn't exactly deny it, but…

"Yeah, she's a gambling addict," GaYeong said with more conviction than ever. "The Miss has a severe gambling addiction."

"Hey!" HaYeon protested.

"Well, I gained freedom thanks to her, but I wish she'd stop now… I don't want to see her suffer anymore."

"What? I'm a gambling addict? Ridiculous! I just like to predict outcomes!"

JiHan glanced at HaYeon's flushed face and turned to Sae-ah. "Sae-ah, I'll confiscate the Sword Palace if I ever catch you betting again."

"Okay… Uncle! Seriously, I don't participate in betting."

"I don't believe you."

"Come on! Trust me!"

Sofia sighed. "Koreans really love gambling."

"Hey now…" HaYeon exclaimed. "The USA has Las Vegas! Gambling pretty much originated from you guys!"

Sofia looked at JiHan. "It seems like I won't have to worry about the others. I'll become the top Support and come to Korea, okay? Will you accept me then?"

JiHan smiled. If she became the world's top support, then the world's survival or destruction would have probably already been decided.

'It won't be hard to accept her if the world survives.' He'd experienced the end of the world in his past life, so he was open to pretty much anything as soon as its future was guaranteed.

"Okay. I'll accept you."

Sofia smiled and said,. "That's a promise."

Soon after, she left Korea with renewed determination.

Then…

[Sung JiHan Stays In Korea!]

[Bloom Guild, Major Expansion And Revamp! All Additional Members From The Country Bonus Will Be Korean!]

The news quickly spread all over the world.

[Sung JiHan Stays In Korea!]]

[The South Korean government offered major benefits, but all of it combined doesn't even add up to 1% of America First's shares…!]

["America Will Always Welcome You." Sofia Leaves Korea After Giving Last Interview.]

[Bloom Guild Received All The Growth Buffs. Their Future Plans? "Focus On Strengthening Korean Players."]

The South Korean government had done its best to retain JiHan and decided to return the Sword Palace, give him tax incentives, officially support him, and grant him many of the country's guild buffs. It was an over-the-top amount of effort for a small country like South Korea, but…

- It turns out that Sung JiHan is a saint, hahaha.

- Is he going to stay for such a meager offer?

- I'm grateful that he's Korean, but if I were his family, I would have suggested going to the USA.

- As a fan, it's regrettable that he stayed there…

- What's wrong with our country?!

- They're last, but that's all they could offer?!

Other countries' top players received awe-inspiring support and treatment, so JiHan's benefits seemed insufficient to the public. Most believed that he deserved more wealth and fame.

'This much is enough,' JiHan thought. The growth rate was most important to him, after all.

'It isn't as crucial for me thanks to Martial Soul, but Sae-ah and the others can greatly benefit from it.' He thought of all of the promising players in the Bloom Guild who would sustain Earth's ranking in the upcoming Space League. His role as the guild owner was to maximize their growth.

When October 25th arrived and the 'Top 100' Gold players were selected from around the world, JiHan's name wasn't on the list.

- Why isn't JiHan here?

- Could it be that he isn't level 100 yet?

- No way. He even leveled up during the international matches.

- He didn't play during the negotiations, right? Maybe he needed to level up more to participate.

- It'd be a pity if he stayed in Gold.

People speculated on why his name was absent, but then October 26th arrived, and they saw a never-before-seen message.

- Player 'Sung JiHan' has been invited to the Space League's 'Top 25' Gold promotion match.

Earth was still in the Tutorial Season, and it was its first true experience with the Space League.