Before coming to the auction house, Dojin had discussed a business idea with Rahi.
- You obtained access to the Store System?
- As an exclusive membership service? There would certainly be benefits.
At first, Dojin had simply been pleased that the Store System had been unlocked for him, thinking of it only in terms of his own personal gain.
But when he broadened his perspective a little…….
“It turns out other Players can use the Store System too.”
By then, the three of them had already moved to the second-floor VIP room where Rahi had been waiting.
The thoroughly soundproofed VIP room was perfect for a private conversation among a small number of people.
“Of course, it requires the consent of the Player who has access to the Store System.”
The idea had come from Dojin’s experience receiving help from his comrades before his regression.
How had they done it back then?
First, Dojin, who could not perceive the Store Window himself, would tell them which Item he wanted.
Then he would hand Gold to a comrade who had the Store unlocked.
That comrade would purchase the Item and transfer ownership to Dojin.
‘By that point, we were putting every card we had on the table just to survive.’
There was no rule saying that only the person with access had to use the Store System.
Back then, the Players had used every method they could think of to become even slightly stronger and save even one more person…….
Dojin was merely putting one of those methods to use ahead of time.
“…….”
“…….”
After hearing Dojin’s explanation, Tyron and Oliver looked at each other.
They were clearly tempted, yet their expressions showed hesitation over whether they could really trust him.
Watching the two men, Dojin continued. He needed to attach at least this much of a condition if he wanted Tyron to have any reason to trust his proposal.
“In exchange, I’ll charge slightly more Gold than the Item’s listed Store price. Think of it as a commission.”
“…….”
The word commission seemed to convince the two Americans more effectively than any lengthy explanation could have.
They exchanged slight nods, as though having reached a decision.
Oliver, the manager, took the lead.
“I’d like to know how much that commission will be. And if possible, the qualifications required to become a member of this Store System service.”
“…….”
As befitted an experienced manager from a major nation famous for its laws and lawsuits, his questions were sharp.
But Dojin had brought someone precisely for situations like this.
“You can discuss the details with me.”
Rahi.
A young businesswoman who had already discussed sharing the Store System with Dojin beforehand, and an elite considered a potential successor to the head of a major conglomerate.
The Guild Master of Test Guild, who had quietly listened to the three men until now, finally stepped in.
***
The commission would be ten percent of the Item’s purchase price.
Most of the membership qualifications were similar to ordinary enrollment requirements, except for one unusual condition that was particularly emphasized.
“Confidentiality…….”
Tyron ran a hand over the Item he had just purchased through the Store System.
Since it had come from the D-Grade Store, it was made of neither mithril nor adamant, but its striking head was crafted from a High-Grade Mana Stone, making it a highly useful weapon.
The price had also been far lower than Tyron had braced himself for.
‘If I’d tried to buy a weapon like this at auction, it probably would’ve cost three times as much Gold.’
That was why Tyron could not understand the confidentiality requirement Dojin had added.
“Hey, Lee. Why are you trying to keep this membership service secret? If you opened it to the public, you could rake in Gold from all over the world.”
Dojin answered immediately.
“Are you serious?”
“…….”
To be fair, Tyron had not meant it seriously either.
The more members there were, the more competitors there would be trying to purchase the same Items.
Eventually, Dojin’s Store would become no different from any ordinary auction house.
“I’m planning to run this Store as a small, exclusive privilege system.”
Having set aside the auction to talk things through carefully, completed Tyron’s membership, and shared the Store System with him for the first time—
Dojin and Tyron had already begun speaking casually with one another.
“I only intend to invite Players who are qualified to use this Store System.”
“And I qualify?”
“More than enough.”
Tyron Maxwell was undoubtedly a talented Player.
“So are you planning to send emails to Rankers you think qualify?”
“No.”
Ranker.
At that word, Dojin gave a faint chuckle.
For a brief moment, he had confused the Rankers in his memories with the Rankers of the Tutorial Season.
At present, ‘Ranker’ was a title used for the very best Players in each country.
‘Right now, that bastard Kim Suho is Korea’s Ranker.’
Before his regression, once human civilization had collapsed and humanity itself had been driven to the brink, Ranker had become a name reserved for only a tiny handful of people.
‘By the end, you had to be at least Lv.100 to even be called a Ranker.’
And now he had returned to a peaceful era where Players who might not even be Lv.70 were called Rankers.
Had he been alone, he would probably have burst out laughing.
“…….”
But as his thoughts reached that point, Dojin’s smile gradually turned bitter.
He quickly suppressed the emotion and extended a hand toward Tyron.
“I hope we can maintain a good relationship from now on.”
“……Okay.”
Tyron stared at Dojin’s hand for a moment before extending his own.
No.
A fist.
“…….”
Seeing that, Dojin grinned.
Then he extended his own fist as well.
***
“What kind of person is he that you trust him so much?”
Rahi’s quiet voice broke the silence.
There was no accusation or interrogation in her words.
Only quiet curiosity.
“I’ve been wondering ever since you told me about the Store System, explained your membership plan, and introduced him as your first candidate. So I did some research of my own.”
Inside the car returning from the auction house—a luxury limousine completely separated from the driver’s seat and boasting perfect soundproofing—
Rahi initiated a conversation with Dojin.
“…….”
At first, Dojin remained silent.
As though carefully choosing what he should say.
Both Rahi and Tyron had been precious comrades to him.
True companions who had watched each other’s backs even in the worst moments.
That was why he wanted to prepare for the coming crisis together as much as possible.
And build their trust anew.
Not simply force his way through everything because he was a Regressor who knew the future.
“So what did you think of Tyron Maxwell after investigating him, Ms. Rahi?”
Dojin smiled faintly.
It was not the smile of a twenty-year-old rookie, but that of an adult who had endured every kind of hardship.
“Haa…….”
Rahi let out a faint sigh.
They were the same age.
He had lived under far narrower and less favorable circumstances than she had.
So why did she keep getting the strange feeling that he was looking down at her from somewhere far above?
Yet it did not feel as though he looked down on her.
Player Lee Dojin clearly respected Choi Rahi.
That only made her more careful with her words.
‘His atmosphere is completely different from when I watch him streaming.’
That heavy sense of presence, coupled with such a gentle manner, was almost like—
‘Enough.’
Rahi cleared her mind.
This was no time for idle thoughts.
“I judged him to have talent as a Player. His character also seemed decent. He isn’t a bad investment target, but…….”
There were plenty of Players like that.
Players were not much different from celebrities in that they carefully managed their public image during streams.
Then how had Lee Dojin……?
“I’m curious why you chose Tyron Maxwell over all the other Players, Mr. Lee Dojin.”
Out of the countless talented Players with good reputations, why had he selected the American Tyron Maxwell?
“You even refused my offer to provide information on Korean Players who could become membership candidates.”
Rahi had not proposed that Dojin join Test Guild solely because of what she had seen on his stream.
She had carefully investigated Lee Dojin’s past and circumstances before reaching that conclusion.
That was why it puzzled her even more.
Dojin had never been in a position to possess extensive information about Players, and there had been no opportunity whatsoever for him to have any connection with a foreigner like Tyron.
Then Dojin slowly spoke.
“You investigated, but couldn’t find a convincing reason, could you, Ms. Rahi?”
“……!”
His words were a polite direct hit.
“As for that…… I can answer by saying that I have an information network Hangang Group doesn’t.”
For the record, Dojin was not lying in the slightest.
His information simply came from before the regression.
“To give you a hint, that information network is related to Quest rewards.”
At that, Rahi could only shrug.
He had not lied, and the range of rewards the System could provide was effectively limitless.
‘Tyron Maxwell…….’
In any case, Rahi’s words made Dojin fall into thought once more.
Tyron Maxwell was honest and fiercely loyal.
He was the type who could not stand owing someone a debt.
That was why, even before the regression, he had continued treating Kim Suho favorably simply because he had once owed him.
Even when the other Players began suspecting Kim Suho, Tyron had continued trusting him without wavering.
‘This time, I won’t let that bastard stab him in the back.’
Choi Rahi.
And Tyron Maxwell.
Without realizing it, Dojin had already met two of his former comrades and forged new connections with them.
But he had no intention of being satisfied with only this.
‘Next, I need to meet that kid.’
The youngest of the final Rankers.
And yet, the one who had survived more tenaciously than anyone else.