The F-Rank Guild Master Has Too Much Money Chapter 32

 

“The reason I called this guildmaster meeting today is to extend a scout offer to Guildmaster Ji Yeon-woo. Guildmaster Ji Yeon-woo, have you considered joining the Kanghyeon Guild?”

 

“What?”

 

“If it’s money you want, I’ll give you money. If it’s a guildmaster seat, I’ll give you that too. Just name your terms—I’ll meet them.”

 

☆ Amazing has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

Our Aether just got scouted!

 

☆ Let’s Go! has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

Take over the number one guild! Let’s be the strongest in this world!

 

Do I lack money? Do I lack people?

 

You think I’d be crazy enough to accept?

 

I shook my head firmly, making it clear there was no chance.

 

“As you already know, I have more than enough money, and I have no interest in power. Above all, I refuse to work with you, Yeon Do-jin.”

 

Yeon Do-jin sighed theatrically, striking a pose like a stage actor.

 

“Then I’ll just have to train you myself.”

 

“I told you already, stop joking around.”

 

“Choi Tae-hyuk, you don’t seem to realize—I like Guildmaster Ji Yeon-woo.”

 

“That’s just your delusion—!”

 

“Choi Tae-hyuk, maybe you haven’t noticed because you’re standing in the way, but I’m not the only one aiming for Guildmaster Ji Yeon-woo.”

 

“…Targeting me?”

 

Why would anyone target me?

 

I tilted my head in confusion. Yeon Do-jin only smiled.

 

“Do you really think your solo-clear of the Ant Nest is still a secret?”

 

“Ah…”

 

The only ones who knew were the Hunter Association and the Kyunghee Guild.

 

So one of them leaked it?

 

‘Wait… did I even ask the Kyunghee Guild to keep it secret?’

 

“If you had joined an established guild, maybe things would be different. But instead, you created your own—a guild with no powerful backers, only rumors about piles of money. A perfect target, don’t you think?”

 

I had to admit, he wasn’t wrong. A small guild without backing was bound to attract hungry predators.

 

But do they really think I’ll go down that easy…?

 

“There are rumors that Guildmaster Ji Yeon-woo is weak when it comes to his people. Especially that little girl.”

 

“…No way.”

 

“Oh, I think everyone knows.”

 

So they plan to use Ji Yun-seo to get to me.

 

“Ha.”

 

They dare try to use Ji Yun-seo against me? Even knowing I’m no mere F-rank?

How dare they.

 

Anger began to boil inside me. If I let it take over, I’d lose control of my power. I glared at Yeon Do-jin, the one pulling the strings.

 

But he simply raised both hands, utterly nonchalant.

 

“The fact that no guild has moved yet, even though it’s first-come-first-served… What do you think that means?”

 

“…That someone’s been blocking them?”

 

“Correct.”

 

“Why would you do that?”

 

Choi Tae-hyuk, perhaps thinking the same as I had—that Yeon Do-jin had been blocking everything—frowned as he asked.

 

Yeon Do-jin dismissed his sword and replied,

 

“Don’t you know? Even F-ranks can advance if they perform well.”

 

At the word advancement, Choi Tae-hyuk opened his mouth, then shut it again.

 

Just as A-ranks could advance to S-rank, there were rare cases of rank advancement. Some F-ranks had even managed to advance as high as C-rank. That was why many risked their lives in dungeons.

 

“An F-rank who can knock me out, an F-rank who clears the Ant Nest alone… If Guildmaster Ji Yeon-woo—an F-rank with the strength of an S-rank—were to truly advance to S-rank, just imagine how much stronger he’d get. Isn’t that thrilling?”

 

His ambitious gaze shifted from Choi Tae-hyuk to me. And I realized—I’d caught the attention of a madman.

 

☆ The Power of God has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

What nonsense. Divine power can’t even be advanced. It couldn’t even be measured, so Aether was stuck as F-rank.

 

‘Exactly. If I can’t advance anyway, why would I ever join him?’

 

“If I said I’d personally raise you, you’d just reject me. So instead, I’ll say—join our guild. Name your conditions, I’ll match them.”

 

“I must decline.”

 

As I glared at him, Yeon Do-jin struck another exaggeratedly disappointed pose. I finally voiced something that had been bothering me.

 

“By the way, why are you speaking formally to me?”

 

“Ah. It’s courtesy toward a fellow guildmaster.”

 

‘Courtesy? Then where was that courtesy back in the dungeon?’

 

Yeon Do-jin chuckled low.

 

“If you don’t like it, I could always drop the honorifics.”

 

“I never said I disliked it.”

 

“You seem like you do. If you really insist—”

 

“No. Please, by all means, continue speaking formally.”

 

—WEEEEE-ENG!

 

Suddenly, a blaring siren pierced the air, making me wince.

 

“Fire?”

 

Yeon Do-jin stood and looked out the window.

 

The once-clear sky was filled with black smoke.

 

I got up, moving beside him. Smoke was rising from the middle of Namsan.

 

“…So it’s today.”

 

“What is?”

 

He didn’t answer. After fiddling with his phone, he looked up and said:

 

“A Fire Dungeon has appeared. Let’s go together.”

 

‘A dungeon?’

 

Even leaning out the window, it still looked just like a fire. The thought—How could he look at that and call it a dungeon?—flickered only for a moment.

 

‘Wait. Wasn’t the Fire Dungeon supposed to appear four years from now?’

 

Confusion washed over me. I turned to Yeon Do-jin.

 

With narrowed eyes and a radiant smile, he pointed toward the smoke.

 

“The Fire Dungeon produces many spoils—Mana Stones, fire-type weapons, and most importantly, abundant S-rank Fire Spirit Stones.”

 

“How could you possibly know that?”

 

“Why don’t we talk about that while exploring the dungeon together?”

 

“I’ll pass.”

 

Choi Tae-hyuk’s arm suddenly slipped between us.

 

When had he gotten so close?

 

Before I realized it, Yeon Do-jin was standing less than a hand’s breadth from me. As I discreetly stepped back, he only smiled again.

 

“Then let’s do this. Since the Fire Dungeon is S-rank and your attribute is wind, it won’t be easy to clear it alone. Why not come with me? You’ll hear more about my guild while we raid it together.”

 

“Your guild…?”

 

“It seems you turned me down without even knowing much about us. Let me explain. As for the loot from the Fire Dungeon—Guildmaster Ji Yeon-woo, you can keep it all.”

 

‘I… I can take everything?’

 

As Yeon Do-jin said, the Fire Dungeon was known for its abundant spoils.

 

In particular, the S-rank Fire Spirit Stones were priceless treasures. For fire-attribute hunters, they could grant tremendous strength—or even trigger advancement. Rare as they were, they were valued on par with Amantadium itself. And he was offering every last one to me?

 

☆ Aether has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

He’s wavering. The drops are far too tempting.

 

“Guildmaster!”

 

A sharp voice jolted me back. Choi Tae-hyuk was staring at me, worry in his eyes.

 

“You should refuse.”

 

“Choi Tae-hyuk.”

 

“Whatever you decide, I’ll follow. But just this once—I must oppose it.”

 

“Mr. Choi Tae-hyuk.”

 

“You haven’t even recovered yet.”

 

Yeon Do-jin cut him off with a scoff. “What’s there to worry about? Do you think I’d let Guildmaster Ji Yeon-woo fight alone?”

 

“It’s best not to get involved with Guildmaster Yeon Do-jin.”

 

Much as I hated to admit it, Choi Tae-hyuk was right.

 

But re-entering a cleared dungeon meant waiting—safety checks, respawns, all of it took time. And since my wind attribute was the worst match against fire, teaming up with Yeon Do-jin might actually be the more practical option….

 

☆ At This Rate has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

Don’t tell me you’re really going to tag along like some kid chasing candy.

 

“Guildmaster.”

 

Choi Tae-hyuk’s firm voice cut through my thoughts. His expression was like stone, his face practically shouting absolutely not.

 

With him opposing so strongly, how could I agree?

 

I sighed. “Sorry, but we’ll handle the Fire Dungeon later, just within our guild.”

 

“It’ll be tough with your wind attribute.”

 

“I’ll manage. That’s enough—please leave.”

 

Clicking his tongue at Choi Tae-hyuk, Yeon Do-jin turned back to me. “Guildmaster Ji Yeon-woo.”

 

“Yes?”

 

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a ring, holding it out.

 

A ring? For what?

 

“What is this?”

 

“Your defense is too weak. Wear this while exploring the dungeon. You’ll face me sooner or later, and I’d rather you not be hurt by monsters.”

 

I wanted to argue, but… he wasn’t wrong.

 

Still—I might lack defense, but I don’t lack pride!

 

“No thanks. I’ll just buy one from the auction house.”

 

“Oh? You won’t find anything better than this.”

 

“It’s just a ring.”

 

“Take a look.”

 

He placed the ring on his open palm, casually inviting me to use Clairvoyance.

 

I gave him a suspicious look. He only shook his hand, urging me on.

 

‘Fine. How good could it possibly be?’

 

Clairvoyance.

 

[Ring of Defense]

 

• Rank: S
• Defense +500, Poison Resistance +3%
• Cannot be removed until the user’s death.

 

An S-rank…

 

Accessories like this were impossibly rare.

 

Defensive accessories weren’t the sort of thing you found at auction—hunters who cleared dungeons kept them for themselves. A-rank was rare enough, but S-rank? That was like plucking stars out of the sky.

 

I glanced at Yeon Do-jin. He was smiling, urging me to take it.

 

‘This feels fishy. What if it’s bugged with a tracker?’

 

Too shady to accept, too valuable to refuse. I hesitated, then clenched my teeth.

 

As tempting as it was, I couldn’t afford to be tied to Yeon Do-jin.

 

Who knew what kind of leverage he’d get with that ring?

 

“I refuse—”

 

“Then I won’t raid that dungeon.”

 

I blinked. Yeon Do-jin smirked.

 

“Our guild already claimed that dungeon. I gave the order the moment the Fire Dungeon appeared, so no one will enter.”

 

Once a guild claimed a dungeon, no other guild would dare step in.

 

But why?

 

“If I don’t go, Kanghyeon Guild won’t either. The dungeon will explode.”

 

“…And what does that have to do with me?”

 

“The Fire Dungeon has a blast radius of up to ten kilometers.”

 

Ten kilometers?! That included Myeongdong—our guild as well!

 

“The choice is yours.”

 

This was nothing but a threat, weighing my guild’s safety against my own. Staring at the ring swaying in his palm, I bit my lip and snatched it.

 

‘I’ll just take it and not wear it.’

 

“You can’t just take it without putting it on.”

 

“Damn it. Fine. I’ll wear it.”

 

Glaring at Yeon Do-jin, I shoved the ring onto my thumb. It shrank to fit snugly around my finger.

 

☆ Defense Increase! has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

Our Aether’s defense just went up!

 

“Happy now?!”

 

“Yes. I’m satisfied.”

 

“Then clear the dungeon already.”

 

“Since you’ve accepted my request, I’ll do my best. See you again soon.”

 

With that, Yeon Do-jin slid open the window and leapt outside.

 

I rushed to the window, but the dense forest below was empty. He had already vanished.

 

I stared down at the ring on my hand.

 

The clear mana stone at its center gleamed faintly. Once worn, it couldn’t be removed. The unease in my chest only deepened.

 

‘Just think positive.’

 

“Guildmaster. Let’s return to the guild.”

 

“…Yeah. Alright.”

 

Dismissing my wind sword, I followed Choi Tae-hyuk out of the Hunter building.

 

The Fire Dungeon.

 

In my past life, the dungeon where flame frogs spawned had appeared four years later.

 

And since it couldn’t be suppressed, it eventually collapsed. Back then, Yeon Do-jin had been…

 

‘…at a seminar in the U.S.’

 

Though a Korean guildmaster, he somehow spent more time abroad than at home.

 

So why had the Fire Dungeon appeared early this time? And how did he know its rank, its eruption, and even its impact?

 

It almost felt like he’d staged the guildmaster meeting just to lure me here.

 

What is his true intention?

 

Calling him a power-hungry mad dog wasn’t enough to explain the way he treated me.

 

Did he know something? And Choi Tae-hyuk…

 

“Choi Tae-hyuk, do you happen to know Yeon Do-jin?”

 

“I know him a little.”

 

“How?”

 

“We’re connected through an acquaintance.”

 

His frown made it clear how much he hated even mentioning Yeon Do-jin. It stopped me from pressing further.

 

They seemed close before the regression. Wasn’t that the case? His tone now dripped with disgust.

 

“I’d prefer if you didn’t get involved with Yeon Do-jin, Guildmaster.”