As October arrived,

The Northeast Asia Regional League divided distinctly into two powerhouses.

Korea and China.

Undefeated Korea and China, victorious in all but one match against Korea,

stood on the brink of deciding the league champion.

=Good day, viewers.

=Today, we finally have the match that will determine the top spot against China.

=Korea, riding a winning streak, faces China, which has only lost once to Korea. If China wins here, we might have to face them again for the leagues top spot.

=Exactly! Neither team has lost to any other countries!

Commentators, who hyped the upcoming match with fervor, drew viewers attention,

who watched with nervous anticipation.

-Todays game is so crucial.

-Despite not having Seong Jihan, we held the top spot well haha

-The Sword King duo and Sophia really played key roles.

-Key roles? Those players carried the team, lol

-True, the other players still lag far behind China.

-Honestly, I still dont know how we won without Seong Jihan last time.

-Yeah, we got lucky with the map lol

-Je Galheon has gotten super strong this time; it wont be easy

While Korea had beaten China without Seong Jihan,

even Korean viewers acknowledged luck played a huge role in that victory.

Hoping for another stroke of luck this time seemed too much.

Naturally, people started thinking about who was missing from the national team lineup,

Seong Jihan.

-Cant Seong Jihan just step in once?

-Asking an adult to handle kids fights, huh?

-Come on, just this once, whats the point of having strong connections?

-Dont drag Seong into trivial matches while hes handling cosmic tasks for humanity.

-Right, do you really want him to come down for a mere national match?

-Look at how the Chinese are wary of Seong Jihan coming ;

-Thats a valid point haha

Koreans hoped for Seong Jihan to just step in once to secure the top spot, but didnt hold high expectations.

Since he was responsible for humanitys victory in the Space League and walked a path no one had dared before as a constellation candidate,

it seemed unlikely he would come out for the national team he had already led to victory.

=Focus is on whether China will ban Seong Jihan again today.

=Last match, China didnt ban him even from the first match, unlike other countries who banned him in the first and second matches.

=Exactly. It raised questions about BattleNet Centers security.

=Do you think Seong Jihan will compete today?

=It would be great, but given the major event he recently participated in, its unclear if hell cover this match

Even the commentators were skeptical of Seong Jihans participation.

However, at the BattleNet Center,

SeSeong Jihan!

Seong Jihan unexpectedly visited, overturning all predictions.

Ah, Coach, I just dropped by for a visit.

Seong Jihan greeted Coach Noh Youngjun,

If they dont ban me in the first match, Ill secure one easy win before leaving.

Rereally? That would be fantastic!

Seong Jihan declared his intention to participate in the first match.

Coach Nohs face lit up instantly.

We were worried about Je Galheons increased strength, but if Jihan joins, well win easily!

Despite the racial bonuses Seong Jihan earned benefiting the Chinese team,

Korea, originally weak in the mage class, faced significant power differences.

But Seong Jihans participation would change everything.

Jihan, since youre here Could you stay in the coaching room until just before the first match?

Stay in the coaching room?

Yes. Last match against China, they seemed to have a lot of our strategies figured out. Its almost as if they knew in real-time you werent playing.

Is there someone leaking information to China?

Possibly. Some are suspected, but nothing concrete.

Coach Noh spoke, furrowing his brows.

For now, catching the spy isnt the priority. Winning this match is. Please come to the players waiting room when I contact you.

Alright, Ill look around the coaching room.

Yes, relax here. The match will start soon.

Wooosh

Coach Noh exited,

while Seong Jihan casually looked around the coaching room before sitting on a sofa, taking out his smartphone.

Seems no one expects my participation.

Seeing real-time viewer responses, Seong Jihan chuckled.

Knock, knock.

Is anyone here?

Hearing a staff members voice outside, Seong Jihan didnt respond.

He could pretend he wasnt there if the person came in.

After all, concealing his presence from ordinary people was too easy for someone like Seong Jihan.

However.

Knock, knock, knock.

Seong Jihan, are you in?

The staff specifically mentioning his name changed things.

How did they know I was here? Did the coach inform them?

It wasnt yet time for the match.

Seong Jihan tilted his head in curiosity but responded,

Yes, Im here. Come in.

Click.

A seemingly ordinary, exhausted staff member entered and approached Seong Jihan.

Did the coach call you out?

No, I have a message from him.

From who?

The person is

The staff checked around, then approached Seong Jihan,

lowering his voice,

Gilgamesh has a message.

* * *

Gilgamesh that guys quite active, huh.

Hearing the staff mention Gilgamesh, Seong Jihan frowned.

Despite repeatedly warning the public about Gilgameshs dangers,

he seemed to be growing his influence from behind the scenes.

For a Korean staff member to carry his message implied strong inroads.

So what does he say?

Seong Jihan decided to hear him out.

Then.

He says he will reveal Tuseongs secret

Tuseongs secret?

Yes. He asks you to participate in this match against China.

I was planning to, anyway.

But why specifically the China match?

Has he already started supporting the Chinese players?

Seong Jihan had previously supported the Diamond TOP 100 during racial evolution.

Many of Chinas national players were among them.

Perhaps Gilgamesh had approached those not backed by Seong Jihan.

What a persistent guy.

Now, Ill take my leave. Ill resign as well.

The staff, caught as Gilgameshs lackey, announced his resignation.

Seong Jihan nodded,

Alright. How did you get his support? You dont seem to be a player.

Support? I wouldnt dare. I merely conveyed the kings message.

Where did you hear it?

A family member grew ears after racial evolution.

Ears grew?

A family member joined the Half-Elf Community?

Yes, there they heard the kings message.

The same Half-Elf Community Yoon Seah had joined.

Gilgamesh, under the name Owner of Tuseong, had been infiltrating this community, growing his power by fully supporting those with Half-Elf traits.

I requested BattleNet Association to handle this community, but it seems theyve grown stronger.

As expected, BattleNet Association proves inefficient.

Cant focus on this myself.

With so much to handle, he couldnt shut down the foreign-established Half-Elf Community.

He had warned them sufficiently; if they couldnt act, it wasnt his job to handle it.

Shortly after the staff left,

Brrrr

Seong Jihans phone vibrated.

[Jihan, its starting now.]

A message from Coach Noh Youngjun.

* * *

In the BattleNet Centers waiting room,

SeSeong Jihan!

Are you playing today?

There was no word from the coach!

Players, preparing for the game, were startled by Seong Jihans arrival.

And.

Wow seeing Seong Jihan in person

Wait, you havent seen him before?

No! I joined after the Worlds Champions League!

New team members idolized Seong Jihan.

Among national players, he had become a symbol of admiration and reverence.

Many new members had dreamt of joining the national team just to meet him.

Hmm

Scanning the room, Seong Jihan approached Coach Noh.

Shall I prepare?

Yes, its time to draw the ban and select cards.

Got it.

As Seong Jihan prepared,

Wow are we really playing with Seong Jihan?

I was worried about China, but this makes it an easy win.

True. Confirming top spot.

Players nervous chatter eased quickly.

However.

=Now, finally.

=Ban, select for the first match begins!

=Oh The Chinese coach bans the representatives first pick

=That means banning Seong Jihan. Unlike last time, their judgment is completely different!

=Given the importance, they might think Seong Jihan will play?

Chinas sudden decision to ban Seong Jihan surprised the team.

What how did they know to ban Seong Jihan

Maybe anticipating Je Galheons increased strength, blocking any odds?

Still odd

Debating Chinas different judgment, Seong Jihan narrowed his eyes.

Gilgamesh specifically mentioned this match.

How did Chinas coach know and just ban him?

The staff who delivered Gilgameshs message isnt a spy

No encounters until the coaching room.

That leaves someone within this waiting room.

Regardless of their surprise

Sinking into concentration,

amplifying his senses with Martial Soul,

he found one person with an excessively rapid heartbeat.

Lets see

Swoosh.

Seong Jihan stood beside a man clutching his phone.

What what is it?

The man seemed overly startled, trying to touch his phone more.

Excuse me a moment.

Whoosh

The phone slipped right out of his hand, floating before Seong Jihan.

[Urgent. Seong Jihan playing.]

Reading the short text, Seong Jihan smiled.

I didnt expect a national player to sell information to a competitor.

This, this is

Jinsoo! You

Did you send info before too?

Revealing the text to all, reactions of shock fixed on the man.

Even suspecting staff, why would a national player sell information?

Expel this person.

Wait, thats

Staff cant handle him alone. Let me deal with it.

Tap, tap.

Seong Jihan applied the Heavens Chaotic Flow on the man,

Ugh

He froze, collapsing.

Unlike Seong Jihan who could still move under such a seal, it had an overwhelming effect on him.

Still breathing.

Confirming his breath, Seong Jihan gestured to staff to remove him.

The traitor was carried out on a stretcher.

Wow China went far preparing. Didnt expect a national player sellout.

Yoon Seah, watching, approached and shook her head.

But uncle how did you know it was him?

His heartbeat was fast, so I checked him out.

You can sense that?

If you try, you can tell.

Of course, constellation candidate

Yoon Seah clicked her tongue,

Thought with uncle wed win easy, but they banned you.

Why cant you benefit from me?

What? Youre banned.

Different approach. Wanna become undead again?

Ah!

Though they tried to block Seong Jihans play,

he had other cards to use.

Cheat code?

Yes, theyll pay for planting a spy.

People were hyped for this match but itll be anti-climactic.

So, do you dislike it?

Nope. Winning easily in games is best.

She smiled broadly,

Ill smash them all for you, uncle.

In the ensuing game,

=Oh!

=Yoon Seah charges!

=Is she undead? Such power!

=Chinas defense crumbles!

She did as she promised.