Geumo Group — Part 2
Talk about a bold lady.
She was like this in the game too.
Unlike the petty behavior of her eldest and second brothers, Seong Huiyeong had none of their stinginess.
Maybe it was her survival strategy to stand up against her much older brothers.
I examined the pistol in Seong Huiyeong’s hand.
“A destruction-type pistol, I assume?”
“That’s correct. The success bonus is a stasis-type pistol.”
Ah, that rang a bell.
I had mentioned it once before—Dasan Guns share their abilities.
Right now, I already have the [Impact] shotgun and the [Phantom Shot] sniper rifle.
Adding destruction and stasis to the mix?
Destruction specialized in breaking through armor and demolishing structures, while stasis could temporarily freeze an opponent’s movements.
These would certainly come in handy.
Especially in the middle of a heated battle.
Freeze the enemy, break their armor—what could they possibly do after that?
I nodded calmly.
“You certainly live up to your reputation as a straightforward person. Sounds good. Shall we draft the contract right away?”
Seong Huiyeong gave me a radiant smile.
“Perfect. I’ve brought the contract with me. Please sign here.”
She flicked the gemstone beneath her ear with a finger.
A blue light flashed, and a neatly bound paper contract materialized.
So, she had a fascinating augmentation implanted in her.
Manager Choi cleared his throat and took the contract to review it.
“Superhuman, let me review this first. Let’s see… Huh? The duel is scheduled for tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?”
Seong Huiyeong tilted her chin upward arrogantly.
Ah, right.
No, it wasn’t a problem.
There was a reason she had rushed over as soon as I replied.
Her confident demeanor was amusing. It even made me smile.
“Well, I appreciate the efficiency. I heard this is a five-round duel series—what exactly do you need me to do?”
“It’s simple.”
Seong Huiyeong locked eyes with me.
“Win. At least once, if possible. Twice or three times would be even better.”
“Is it a consecutive win format?”
“Yes. It’s the perfect setup for a protagonist to emerge.”
Her expression wasn’t great.
It made sense—her eldest and second brothers had fairly well-known Level 6 Superhumans on their side, but the Superhumans she had secured weren’t on that level.
“If you win even once, I’ll pay you the success bonus. For two or three wins, you’ll receive additional bonuses each time. Of course, this is on average—since we’ll have to fight twice overall.”
“What about rounds four and five?”
“Four? And five? You’re aware that two of the five opponents are Level 6, right?”
Seong Huiyeong gave me a look like I’d just said something absurd.
But then, after glancing at the Black Tiger Sword on my waist and the three emblems pinned to my chest, she seemed to reconsider.
“Well, with you, Superhuman… But still, there’s a gap between Level 4, Level 5, and Level 6… Fine. If you achieve results, I’ll provide performance bonuses accordingly. I haven’t decided on the specifics yet, but you have my word. The more wins you secure, the more rewards you’ll get.”
“Thank you. What’s my position in the lineup?”
“You’re my joker. I’ve placed you third.”
Third, huh.
That meant she planned to save me for last among the Level 5s.
Should I ask her to move me up to first?
If I crushed both the Level 5s and the Level 6s, sweeping all five rounds…
‘Nah, forget it.’
I’m not some attention seeker. There’s no need to go that far.
This isn’t a secret duel, either.
It’s bound to make the news.
Having my face plastered across the nation and being hounded by paparazzi doesn’t sound appealing.
Better to play it safe.
“That’s fine. Third sounds like a good spot.”
“I won’t ask you to risk your life. If you win even one match, you can surrender at any point after that. We’ve already agreed to end the fight immediately upon surrender.”
“Understood. But there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“If I win three matches for you, does that mean you’ll win the five-round duel series, gain the board’s approval, and be inaugurated as the group’s chairwoman?”
It was important to clarify the exact victory conditions.
At my question, Seong Huiyeong’s expression darkened.
“No, that won’t be enough. To be honest, my chances of winning this five-round duel are slim. My brothers will fight each other first, and then I’ll face the winner. Finally, I’ll fight the loser in the last round. Both of my brothers have renowned Level 6 Superhumans supporting them.”
“I see…”
“But I can’t give up. There’s still time before the board reconvenes. If I put on a good performance in this duel and manage to find the Crow Chip by then, I might still have a chance.”
“The Crow Chip?”
Seong Huiyeong’s face shifted as if she’d just let something slip.
“It’s… something like that. A family secret. Please forget I mentioned it.”
‘Forget it? I already know everything.’
The Crow Chip.
It’s the Geumo Group’s secret enhancement recipe.
A memory chip containing the formula for the Golden Crow mutation factor combined with gemstone magic arrays and mechanical augmentation.
You could call it the legacy of their half-dead chairman.
In the game, it was the decisive factor in determining the winner of the succession war.
“And there’s one more thing I should mention. Since this duel follows a consecutive-win format, there are certain restrictions. I heard you’re skilled in making elixirs and enhancement catalysts, but you won’t be able to use them in this duel.”
“That’s a bit unfortunate.”
Maybe they adjusted the rules to speed things up?
When I probed a bit further, she mentioned there was a target.
Apparently, one of the eldest son’s close aides was a famous Level 6 assassin who specialized in poisons and drugs, and the rule change was aimed at neutralizing him.
“Superhuman, I’ve finished reviewing the contract. It’s a standard duel agreement. All that’s left is to add the bonus terms mentioned earlier.”
“I haven’t decided what to offer yet…”
“Take your time deciding. Oh, by the way, I prefer magical equipment, Diamonds, or nectar over cash.”
“Magical equipment, Diamonds, nectar… Got it. I’ll make sure it’s one of those three.”
“Thank you.”
The revisions to the contract and my signature were completed quickly.
Seong Huiyeong extended her hand for a handshake, winking as she spoke.
“With this, we’re in the same boat. See you tomorrow at the headquarters building.”
“Sure.”
Click-clack.
Seong Huiyeong walked out, not bothering to look back.
Her exit was as arrogant and daring as her entrance.
“Whew!”
Baek Sorin, who had been quietly observing, finally exhaled the breath she’d been holding.
“Her aura is no joke. I really thought I was going to suffocate.”
“She’s a chaebol heiress and a Level 6 Superhuman, after all.”
“At that age? She looks like she’s around my age…”
In fact, she looked about the same age as me—well, as Warrior Kim.
In the game, she was in her 30s, but this was a few years before the events of the game began.
Baek Sorin looked at me with a concerned expression.
“Teacher, isn’t this dangerous? I mean, anyone involved in a chaebol succession war has to be a big deal.”
“What do you think?”
Janet chimed in from the side.
I simply smiled.
“Your teacher is also a ‘big deal.’”
“Even so…”
“At least among the duel participants, no one can really touch me.”
That applied to the Level 5s, of course.
Level 6s?
Now, that was a bit riskier.
Once you reached Level 5, characters with advanced traits started appearing. By Level 6, it wasn’t uncommon to see multiple advanced traits stacked together.
In other words, crushing high-level Superhumans like I used to wouldn’t be as easy anymore.
‘I’ll assess the situation as it unfolds.’
There was no need for me to win all five rounds by myself.
Even if Seong Huiyeong lost the five-round duel, that was her problem, not mine.
If I truly wanted to make her the chairwoman of the conglomerate, the quickest and most reliable way would be to secure the Crow Chip mentioned earlier.
Kim Chulkwon, who had been quietly listening, raised his glass high.
“A toast to the Superhuman’s victory!”
“Cheers!”
I decided to set aside thoughts of tomorrow’s duel and lose myself in the party.
Time passed quickly, and the day of the duel arrived.
The venue was the headquarters in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu.
This area housed the headquarters of the Five Great Conglomerates: Shinwha Group, Daeseong Group, Dragon King Group, Geumo Group, and Ascension Group.
Like Songpa-gu, where the Superhuman Tower was located, the area was a forest of skyscrapers.
I entered one of the sleek, wing-shaped skyscrapers.
The duel was to take place on the rooftop.
A three-dimensional magic array completely enveloped the towering heights, and stylish flying cars arrived one after another.
The eldest and second brothers had yet to arrive, but Seong Huiyeong’s faction was already waiting for them.
“You’re here?”
Even Seong Huiyeong looked slightly tense.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Team Leader Ko Ilseok.”
“I’m Team Leader Jeong Munyoung.”
“Warrior Kim. A pleasure to meet you.”
I exchanged greetings with the duelists on Seong Huiyeong’s side.
None of them particularly stood out.
From what I could tell, their traits were all R-rank at best.
If the eldest and second brothers brought similarly weak Superhumans, I could easily win this on my own.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh, fwoosh!
Lights burst as more flying cars arrived.
They weren’t the usual sleek, sports car-style flying vehicles. These resembled yachts floating in the sky, a mix between limousines and yachts.
In perfect synchronization, the cars landed on the opposite side, and the passengers disembarked, glaring at each other like they were ready to kill.
“You’re here, little brother?”
“Yes, I’ve arrived.”
Electricity crackled in the air.
The intensity of the mana waves they were emitting caused the three-dimensional magic array to ripple.
Meanwhile, neither of them spared a glance at Seong Huiyeong, as if they didn’t even consider her a competitor.
However, Seong Huiyeong didn’t seem bothered.
She held her chin high, glaring down at her brothers with disdain.
“Gentlemen, let’s proceed, shall we? There are 15 matches to get through; we’ve got a long day ahead of us.”
The facilitator, unable to bear the standoff, intervened.
“Hmph!”
“Hmph!”
Both brothers snorted, turning away from each other.
The duels began swiftly.
The first match was as expected—between the eldest and second brothers.
Judging by the atmosphere, it might as well have been the final round.
All ten duelists on both sides exuded killing intent so fierce that the mana waves made the air feel frozen.
Thanks to Seong Huiyeong’s consideration, I was seated nearby to watch the duels unfold.
“On the eldest brother’s side, you should watch out for Team Leader Kim.”
“That cyborg over there?”
“Yes. You’ve got a good eye, as expected, Superhuman.”
The man was massive, his entire body cybernetically enhanced.
Standing three meters tall, his mechanical limbs looked incredibly formidable.
He was like a cyborg version of the Hulk from Marvel movies.
And, of course, EMP bombs wouldn’t work on him.
They’d invested a fortune in reflective shielding.
“On the second brother’s side, Team Leader Lee is the famous one.”
That one was a mutant.
Other than his face, his entire body was engulfed in flames.
He had pushed mutation factors to their absolute limit to transform like that.
His only weak point was his face, but whenever it seemed like it might be hit, he would activate [Flame Form] to turn his entire body into fire and escape.
One was [SR Cyborg], the other [SR Flame Horse].
As expected of a conglomerate family, they sure had their share of enhanced fighters.
“The duel will now begin!”
Most of the other combatants didn’t catch my attention.
The only ones I recognized were those two.
But then, an unexpected turn of events occurred right at the start.
The eldest brother’s duelist unleashed a torrent of fire as soon as the match began, roasting the second brother’s duelist alive.
“Solar Flame!”
Seong Huiyeong shot to her feet in shock.
I narrowed my eyes.
The duelist, clad in a hoodie with the hood pulled low to obscure his face, had just shown his hand.
His arms, briefly visible, were steel prosthetics.
And beneath the hoodie, the glimpse of his face revealed a steel mask.
At first, I thought he was just another enhanced fighter—but he was a mage.
‘Could it be him?’
I activated [Insight].
I carefully examined the duelist.
[Solar Flame] [Solar Heart Furnace] [Mana Concentration]
[Magical Pulse Cannon] [Fusion Heart] [Cyborg Adaptation]
And one more thing stood out:
[Brand] — Debuff!
[Eclipse] — Buff!
There was no doubt.
It was the mage who had been expelled after getting tangled with me in the past.
Hired as a personal bodyguard, and now appearing as a duelist as well.
On top of that, they had gained traits related to enhancement builds and even acquired a unique buff.
‘The Eclipse buff, huh.’
That hadn’t been there before.
The Sun Mage Tower consisted of dozens of factions, and the Eclipse Faction—born from dark magic—was among its top five.
The Eclipse buff was something that Elder Jo of the Eclipse Faction always carried into battle.
It greatly amplified magic power and significantly boosted mana stats.
In prolonged battles, it could even drain mana from the opponent.
‘This won’t be easy.’
This was commonly called a Mage Warrior Build.
Just as Paladins straddle the line between warriors and priests, this build was a fusion of enhancement traits and mage traits.
Looking at the traits, they were no joke.
The combination of Solar Heart Furnace and Fusion Heart, paired with Solar Flame being fired from the Magical Pulse Cannon?
Their mana waves were definitely at the Level 5 range, but they might even be capable of going toe-to-toe with a Level 6.
“Next.”
A mechanical voice echoed through the tense air.
It seemed they had replaced their vocal cords with cybernetic parts during their Cyborg Adaptation process.
“Hah!”
The next duelist stepped forward with a gun in hand.
“So you’re from the Sun Mage Tower? I thought you were just another enhanced fighter, but now that I’ve figured out your true identity, it’s over! I’ll rip off that hood and expose your face! Come at me!”
His bravado was nothing more than talk.
When the expelled mage raised their hand to cast Solar Flame, the man was engulfed in a pillar of fire, reduced to ashes in an instant.
Such was the power of Solar Flame.
Even though I had resisted it in the past with fire resistance, magic resistance, and Black Flame, there was a reason Solar Flame was the signature magic of the Sun Mage Tower.
‘Impressive.’
Normally, Solar Flame was hard to use for someone at Level 5.
But the mage warrior was exploiting the combination of Solar Heart Furnace, Fusion Heart, and Mana Concentration, as well as the mana stored in their cyborg augmentations.
Those augmentations were essentially mana storage artifacts.
A walking human battery.
The duelists on the second brother’s side were utterly helpless against the mage warrior.
In the blink of an eye, the eldest brother’s team secured three consecutive victories.
One of the two remaining Level 6 duelists from the second brother’s side stepped forward, breathing heavily, but the mage warrior immediately forfeited, walking away without a care.
The score was now 3-1.
With two Level 5 duelists still left on the eldest brother’s side, the outcome was all but decided.
“Secretary Kim, who is that person?”
“They’re a Level 5 mage named Park Hyungjoo, formerly of the Sun Mage Tower. A direct disciple of Elder Jo Miyeon, a Level 7 mage, and previously a senior researcher at the Sun Mage Tower. After being expelled several months ago, they were hired as the personal bodyguard of Geumo Electronics’ president.”
“How is a Level 5 putting out that kind of firepower? Was the investigation not thorough enough?”
“I will investigate further. It’s confirmed that their cyborg augmentations serve as mana storage artifacts.”
“I know that much! But just having more mana doesn’t mean you can cast Solar Flame like that! And even if you could, it wouldn’t be that powerful!”
“Apologies. It seems our investigation was lacking.”
“Apologies? Do you think that’s enough? Director Lee and Director Cho are about to get killed!”
The first and second duelists for the second brother’s side wore grim expressions, looking as though they were about to walk to their deaths.
The 5-round duel between the eldest and second brothers was already nearing its conclusion.
Although one of the second brother’s Level 5 duelists had managed to kill two of the eldest brother’s, they were eventually defeated by a Level 6 duelist on the eldest’s side.
Even Flame Horse, who secured a victory, was ultimately no match. After a fierce battle against the Cyborg, they surrendered, barely saving their life.
The first round ended in victory for the eldest brother.
The eldest brother smirked as though he had already won everything.
“Well, what do you think? Your duelists fought well, but they couldn’t compare to my strategy. How does it feel to lose, little brother?”
“Go to hell.”
“Tsk tsk. You’re a long way from becoming the chairman of Geumo Group. Your strategy failed, little brother. You still have much to learn.”
Now, it was our turn.
I could see the mage warrior warming up on the other side.
They had finished recharging their mana during the break.
Through [Insight], I could see their cyborg augmentations glowing with a sun-like radiance.
If left alone, the same scenario would repeat itself.
Before our duelist could drag their half-dead body to their feet, I raised my hand to stop them and stood up.
“President Seong.”
“Yes?”
The mage warrior’s gaze turned toward me.
They had already recognized me.
I could feel their hostility.
A seething resentment and rage had been radiating toward me since earlier.
I recalled the feelings from back then as well.
How they had tried to deceive me, subjecting me to precision measurements and manipulating training programs to humiliate me.
What right did they have to be angry?
It was time to settle this long-standing grudge.
Suppressing my emotions, I calmly spoke to Seong Huiyeong.
“I will go first.”
My voice was low and cold, laced with a sharp, murderous intent.
–TL Notes–
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