Chapter 56 – GOY 56

#56

However, ​Aaron’s ​plan ​went ​awry ​once ​again.

“What do you ​mean ​the ​matching ​rate ​test can’t be done?”

“It’s ​because ​Joo Seung-hyuk refused ​so stubbornly… Guide ​Aaron, ​you ​were ​aware ​that ​Joo Seung-hyuk destroyed ​the ​building ​yesterday, weren’t you?”

Yesterday, ​Professor Jeon, at the ​request of ​Professor Oh, ​had called ​Joo Seung-hyuk ​aside. ​He ​suggested that he ​undergo a ​1:1 matching rate test ​with Aaron.

Even without Professor ​Oh’s request, it would ​have been ​the ​logical move. If Aaron became Joo ​Seung-hyuk’s imprinted guide and ​naturalized, ​South ​Korea ​would ​have two S-Class ​Guides in ​their ​twenties. Furthermore, it ​would ​allow Lee Yeon-soo, who was ​currently tied ​to ​Joo Seung-hyuk, to ​return ​to ​being ​a ​freelance guide; ​there ​couldn’t be ​a better outcome.

But Joo Seung-hyuk refused flatly.

When ​they suggested that ​if he found ​a formal matching rate ​test too ​tedious, he could ​at ​least try a ​simplified test at ​’Han Examination ​Room,’ ​he simply ​destroyed ​the building.

Of ​course, ​Aaron had ​heard ​about ​it. But that ​was ​none of ​his ​concern.

“And ​so?”

“It ​seems it will be difficult visit our sitestolen contentto conduct the matching rate test. Besides, Joo Seung-hyuk already has an S-Class Guide with a high matching rate…”

“Who has a high matching rate! He’s just lucky!”

Aaron interrupted Professor Oh, shouting irritably.

When Espers recover from Guiding Rejection reactions, there are often cases where all matching rates temporarily spike.

According to his research, the initial matching rate between Joo Seung-hyuk and Lee Yeon-soo was below 50%. Yet, it had suddenly jumped by 40% over a few years. Such a leap was difficult even with bonding.

It was certain that Lee Yeon-soo had luckily performed the matching rate test exactly when Joo Seung-hyuk’s rate temporarily rose while recovering from Guiding Rejection.

Seeing Lee Yeon-soo cling to Joo Seung-hyuk by utilizing a temporarily high matching rate obtained through sheer luck made Aaron seethe with annoyance.

“Even so, since Joo Seung-hyuk is so adamant, there is no other way…”

“Isn’t persuading him your role, Professor Oh?”

“That is true, but…”

Professor Oh broke into a cold sweat.

After smashing the building, Joo Seung-hyuk had vanished leisurely. A few hours later, the legal team from the Seong Han Group arrived at the Esper Academy.

They claimed that the problem lay with the Esper Academy continuously forcing [unauthorized copy]matching rate tests on Joo Seung-hyuk, and that this incident [Read on Read BL Novels]occurred [stolen content]due to the extreme stress caused by such pressure.

It was an absurd claim.

Normally, the matching rate test was something the Seong Han Group should have handled. After all, a problem had arisen with their own Esper—the heir who was to lead the group in the future.

They said they were in a panic at first. However, their attitude shifted completely once the matching rate results with Lee Yeon-soo came out.

Seong Han had always coveted Lee Yeon-soo. Now that it was said Joo Seung-hyuk only had a high matching rate with Lee Yeon-soo, they were using this as an excuse to snatch him away.

Naturally, other parties would not just stand by and watch. Even the Chairman of the Ability User Association stepped forward to protest to Seong Han, but they didn’t even pretend to listen.

The Center was also in a state of emergency. S-Class Park Geon-woo was scheduled to join the Center after returning from Africa. The Center planned to scout Lee Yeon-soo as well and assign him as Park Geon-woo’s exclusive guide.

By putting forward Park Geon-woo and Lee Yeon-soo, they intended to pull the balance of power, which had tilted toward corporations, back to the Center.

However, if Lee Yeon-soo went to Seong Han—the strongest entity in South Korea—their grand plan would be derailed.

The Center pressured the Esper Academy to send people and find a guide for Joo Seung-hyuk. But Joo Seung-hyuk rejected everyone.

Joo Seung-hyuk was the strongest Esper in South Korea. If not for him, an S-Class gate would have opened in the middle of Seoul. Through the ‘Horaitron Gate’ incident two years ago, the Center and the government realized the extent of Joo Seung-hyuk’s power. (And the fact that even Park Geon-woo was no match for him.)

If Joo Seung-hyuk continued to be stubborn, the government had no choice but to side with him. Joo Seung-hyuk knew this well. That was why he acted so arrogantly.

The same went for Seong Han. They [unauthorized copy]insisted that the [Read on Read BL Novels]cause of this incident lay with the Esper Academy.

However, they stated they could take moral responsibility if the Academy promised not to publicize the fact that Joo Seung-hyuk collapsed the building and agreed not to force matching rate tests with other guides in the future.

They proposed to build a new building where ‘Han Examination Room’ once stood and provide the latest testing equipment.

They didn’t forget to add a threatening remark: if the Academy rejected this proposal, they would formally protest the issue of forced Guiding.

Recently, the issue of ‘forced Guiding’ had become a social flashpoint. The world was buzzing with the sentiment that forcing Guiding on an unwanted partner due to matching rates was no different from violence.

In such a climate, the Esper Academy was entirely disadvantaged in a public relations war against Joo Seung-hyuk.

Ultimately, the Academy accepted Seong Han’s conditions.

Professor Oh had no choice but to follow the school’s decision.

“If Guide Aaron could just be a little understanding…”

“Then what do you want me to do? Are you saying a matching rate test is truly impossible?”

Aaron cut Professor Oh off, snapping irritably.

‘You rude brat.’

Oh Seok-gwang’s insides were boiling.

He did not like Lee Yeon-soo. It grated on him to see the man being revered by people for being S-Class.

He himself had been born with a silver spoon—no, a dirt spoon. Born into a poor family, he had suffered all sorts of hardships because his rank was ambiguously high. Moreover, for an A-Class, his mana was on the lower side. If measured with today’s precise tools, he might have been judged as B-Class.

Arrogant high-rank Espers would question his rank, claiming the quality of his Guiding was poor for an A-Class, and frequently demanded a change of guides. High-rank guides also refused to acknowledge him as a peer. Since he came from a poor background and was a Beta, he had nowhere to turn for support.

Oh Seok-gwang had endured all kinds of condescension and contempt, fighting tooth and nail to eventually reach this position.

But once he actually attained a high position, he found those from the same ‘dirt spoon’ background more irritating than those born with diamonds in their mouths. It could be called a form of kinship hatred.

Lee Yeon-soo, in particular, was an eyesore just by existing. Despite being born into a similar environment, his life seemed easy. And that was with only a one-rank difference.

Every time Oh Seok-gwang saw Lee Yeon-soo, he felt as if his own life was being negated. Beyond simply being annoyed, he felt an impulse to drag him down from that position.

However, he knew that Lee Yeon-soo as a person wasn’t bad. In contrast, Aaron was a complete disaster. He wondered how his grandfather and parents had raised him; his lack of manners was beyond words.

Yet, no matter how arrogant Aaron acted, he wasn’t as hated as Lee Yeon-soo.

“The thing is, a matching rate test seems difficult.”

“That’s different from what was promised. And you haven’t forgotten, have you? I’ll only naturalize if things work out with Joo Seung-hyuk, and only then can you become a guild master, Professor Oh.”

To establish a guild in South [visit our site]Korea, one had to Read on Read BL Novelspass stringent requirements, one of which was nationality.

To be a guild master, Korean nationality was mandatory. Even those with Korean nationality, such as dual citizens or naturalized foreigners, could not become guild masters.

Regulations were strict abroad, but they were especially severe in South Korea.

Aaron’s grandfather, Han Gun-cheol, had targeted the South Korean market for a long time. However, because he had naturalized, creating a guild was impossible. His son and grandson were disqualified for the same reason.

But the Korean market was too precious to give up just because of nationality.

Han Gun-cheol had done several interviews claiming South Korea was his homeland and intentionally staged scenes of enjoying Korean culture whenever he filmed a broadcast. If the law wouldn’t allow it, he tried to set foot on Korean soil by appealing to public sentiment.

But it was all a failure.

While pondering a solution, Han Gun-cheol joined forces with Professor Oh Seok-gwang.

Oh Seok-gwang needed the title of guild master of a top Korean guild, and Han Gun-cheol wanted South Korea’s treasures.

Oh Seok-gwang promised that in exchange for becoming the guild master, he would hand over special items obtained from gates or security-grade treasures purchased at special auctions to Han Gun-cheol. Of course, all costs for establishing the guild, scouting ability users, and purchasing treasures were to be covered by Han Gun-cheol.

The two were in agreement, and the business seemed to be progressing smoothly. Only the signing of the contract remained, but Han Gun-cheol hesitated.

If Professor Oh violated the contract and acted willfully, there would be no one by his side to monitor him. While Han Gun-cheol was continuing his deliberations, his grandson Aaron declared that he would go to Korea to meet Joo Seung-hyuk.

Han Gun-cheol was overjoyed. If things went [unauthorized copy]stolen contentwell, he could establish a connection with Seong Han. Furthermore, if Aaron went to Korea, it would be possible for him to monitor Oh Seok-gwang from the side.

Han Gun-cheol immediately contacted Professor Oh. He promised that if Oh helped Aaron become Joo Seung-hyuk’s imprinted guide, he would make him the master of a large-scale guild.

“Don’t you want to be a guild master, Professor Oh? Are you just going to rot away as a salaried professor your whole life?”

Aaron dug into Professor Oh’s weakness.

Professor Oh felt an impulse to unleash a torrent of curses on this arrogant brat. However, Aaron was not a student he could manipulate with a few meager grades, but the grandson of a precious financier who would provide the guild’s funding.

Through long effort, Oh Seok-gwang had gained public popularity. But to those above him, Oh Seok-gwang was nothing more and nothing less than an incompetent guide who barely received an A-Class rating thanks to outdated machinery—a fake A-Class, a tool useful for media play.

They had placed him in a professor’s position simply because his image was good; they had no intention of promoting him.

Oh Seok-gwang had absolutely no intention of ending his career as a salaried professor.

To enter the highest echelon of society, he needed the title of a large guild’s master. And for that, he needed to stay in Aaron’s good graces no matter what.

Suppressing his anger, Professor Oh put on a servile smile.

“How could that be. Guide Aaron, please calm your anger. While a matching rate test is difficult, I will arrange something even better.”

“And what would that be?”

“During the Gate Raid next week, unauthorized copyI will unauthorized copymake sure Joo Seung-hyuk [visit our site]receives Guiding from Guide Aaron.”

Aaron’s expression, which had briefly flickered with anticipation, suddenly crumpled.

“With Lee Yeon-soo clinging to him, would he actually accept my Guiding?”

“Do not worry. Guide Aaron only needs to enter the gate. Then, Joo Seung-hyuk will have no choice but to receive Guiding from you.”

“He’ll be even more likely to want it from Lee Yeon-soo inside a gate. Wouldn’t someone familiar be better during combat?”

Looking at the irritated Aaron, Professor Oh spoke firmly.

“Lee Yeon-soo cannot enter the gate.”

“What? What do you mean? He can’t enter?”

“That bastard is a half-guide who cannot even enter a gate.”

Professor Oh continued with a triumphant smile.

“Guide Aaron, are you aware of the Horaitron Gate incident that occurred two years ago?”