GM is a game about managing a guild, not a game about achieving results in the league.
This is a mistake that beginners make a lot. In such cases, if the guild goes all-in on the league and gets utterly crushed by an “information guild”...
― From Beginner GM’s Must-Read Guide Part 2 by Teacher Lee
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Information Guild <Scavenger>.
At a gathering of guild members, Jung Sumi spoke with a determined expression.
“Listen carefully, this is a crisis.”
The Jung Sumi who was always composed in front of Lee Myung-hwan was gone.
The Jung Sumi here now was a cold-blooded woman rumored to be the toughest even in the notoriously ruthless world of information guilds.
She had destroyed countless guilds with her sharp tongue.
Her bold plan to turn the Third Division League into a massive “gambling den” was still recognized by influential figures in the underground world.
That was why she earned her place beside Lee Myung-hwan, the treasure of the Lee Do family. But what if she couldn’t even control a Fourth Division League guild?
What if she couldn’t demonstrate her usefulness to Lee Myung-hwan?
“―My reputation getting worse is the secondary issue. The trust in Scavenger is at stake, got it?”
Of course, that Fourth Division League guild had Kim Jong-pil, the Mountain King, and backing from the LeeDo Group, but everyone fell silent in front of Jung Sumi, who exuded a cold murderous intent.
“The method is no different from usual. Cut off their business partners! Isolate the guild! Make their supplies unstable! The front office will run around frantically patching holes in the supply chain, the raid team will be worried about upcoming raids. Eventually, the guild will shake.”
“Isn’t that what we’ve been doing so tediously already?”
All Scavenger guild members nodded.
Indeed, it was exactly as said.
After the abuses they had done so tediously could the guild scene operate purely on skill?
Absolutely not.
Guilds are already an irreplaceable, high-value industry because they handle “mana stones,” the energy source that moves the world.
At the point where astronomical funds are circulating, the league can never be purely about skill.
The privileged and the underprivileged.
The strong and the weak.
Scavenger always sided with the strong in this structure, crushing the weak.
The method Jung Sumi mentioned was the most effective way for privileged guilds to pressure new guilds, and also the reason why information guilds survived in this fierce guild world.
“The operation always starts with potion contracts. No need to explain how important potions are in raids, right?”
Starting with potions, cutting off calorie suppliers and the only respite for intense raids, “combat rations,” simple magic and versatile “scrolls,” “whetstones” for weapon maintenance, and essential “throwing weapons” for melee dealers. Everything that could be cut was cut.
A method so simple it’s almost embarrassing to call it an operation.
Yet it works, and the reason is simple: Speed.
It proceeds at a pace too fast for the target to respond.
With lower league guilds’ weak networks and infrastructure, they cannot detect this operation, and even if they do, by that time the situation has deteriorated too far to intervene. The league’s final report usually ends with a single line: “Limitations of lower league guilds.”
Of course, Jung Sumi knew this.
Mir Guild had too much to lose to fall into this worst-case trap.
Then why proceed?
Simple. The target of this operation was not Mir Guild, but Lee Shin.
“If Mir Guild falters due to these disruptions, the responsibility will naturally fall on the representative, Lee Shin. And I predict that the backlash will be intense. That’s exactly how we’ll make it happen.”
The guild members understood the unspoken warning:
It will be severe. If it doesn’t happen that way, your necks are at stake.
Everyone swallowed nervously.
“Finally, let me summarize. We will cut off all of Mir Guild’s suppliers, completely isolate Mir Guild, and make them doubt this guy’s abilities!”
BAM!!
Jung Sumi slammed her hand on the whiteboard, where a crumpled photo of Lee Shin was pinned.
The moment the target was confirmed, the Scavenger guild members’ eyes changed. Less human, more beast-like, briefly shining with the predatory glint of hunting dogs.
“Move out.”
The order was given.
The unleashed hunting dogs stormed out the door.
But they did not know that the crazy dogs on this side were just as formidable.
________________________________________
Inside the car, like the quiet gliding of a Rollin, Lee Shin’s nonsense echoed quietly.
“Hyung, what we’re aiming for is restructuring relationships.”
“…Restructuring, suddenly?”
“Yep!”
Just now, the guild’s food and beverage supplier, ‘Daehwa Foods,’ had informed them of a contract termination. Chae Dong-ha was tearing his hair out, making frantic calls to manage the situation. And yet, Lee Shin offered this as the solution.
Chae Dong-ha continued, hiding his simmering frustration.
“Excuse me, CEO, may I ask just one question?”
“You can ask two.”
“…You know we’re the ones being attacked, right?”
“Of course.”
“And that today alone three contracts were canceled, you know that?”
“I’m the CEO. Don’t you think I know that?”
“Then why does restructuring relationships suddenly come up?”
“Because it’s an opportunity.”
What more do you need?
Chae Dong-ha muttered, “Ah, I see. It’s an opportunity,” and quickly searched for the call records.
Where was the psychiatry number…?
Whether he knew Chae Dong-ha’s mood or not, Lee Shin’s face was full of a wide smile.
“Don’t worry too much. Realistically, there’s not much they can do. Just like this potion deal, it’s only cutting off all of the guild’s suppliers.”
“…I’d say that’s quite fatal, not ‘not much.’”
Guilds insist on conservative operations for good reason.
Once the league starts, the front office of each guild becomes extremely busy.
Tight schedules, gate analysis, raid team status checks, even preparations for next year’s league.
And that’s not all—fan projects, regional community projects, and guild management. Looks easy, but it’s a lot to manage.
Now imagine if major supplies became unstable.
The raid team, who must focus on combat, would worry about shortages. The front office would scramble to prevent any impact on raid schedules.
If bad contracts are made or panic buying occurs, the guild’s finances could collapse in an instant. Isn’t that serious?
Yet Lee Shin just smiles.
“If you’re hit without realizing it, it’s fatal. But since we went first, it’s nothing.
Even Chae Dong-ha, future SS-class genius deputy, currently a rookie, understands the crisis. If he perceives it as a crisis, it’s no longer a crisis. In fact, it’s closer to an opportunity.”
“Hyung, just one question. How do you think the supplies our guild has received so far are holding up?”
“Suddenly, what are you talking about?”
“Answer.”
“…I guess they were just okay?”
“Wrong! The correct answer is: used only when necessary.”
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[Guild Management Window]
※ Mir Guild
• League 4
• Representative: Lee Shin
•
•
• Supplies: 34/100
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The supply value shown on the status window was 34.
Considering that from the 20s onward, a penalty is applied to actual combat power, 34 was a figure near the lowest within a usable range.
“Let’s turn back time. That day when we came down from Seoul, you said it yourself. This guild isn’t normal.”
“It was even worse in reality. Thinking about it now still makes me dizzy.”
“Right, there could be many reasons a guild fails.”
Their finances could be ruined, the raid team could be weak, or there could be internal power struggles within the guild.
In any case, the Mir Guild was the worst-case scenario, where all these negative influences came together. So then…
“The guild is in that state, but do you think the suppliers are fine?”
“…?!”
“No, going a step further, if the guild is that bad, wouldn’t the suppliers have contributed to it too?”
“??!!”
Was it that they were only ever this weak, or did the economic downturn make this year particularly bad? Or was it the result of a delinquent mindset like, “Well, we’re last place anyway, so whatever”?
Lee Shin didn’t know. He didn’t want to know and didn’t care.
He only trusted what he could see and experience.
The number 34 was visible in the “Guild Management Window,” and in his 20 years of experience, a GM’s status window had never been wrong, even if it was hidden.
“Now, let’s get back to the main topic. What’s our goal again?”
“Reconstructing relationships… ah!”
“Feeling it now? Right, we’re going to use those who attack us to wipe out all the existing contracts.”
“And then fill those emptied contracts…”
“With skilled partners, like the previous ‘Choi’s Pharmacy.’”
For example, a place like this.
Screeeech―!
Before the sentence was even finished, the vehicle came to a stop.
The warm smell of cooking rice tickled my nose. This place was…
[ Hyojoo’s Special Food ]
Opening the factory door revealed a space lined with completed box-type combat rations.
※ Hyojoo’s Special Combat Rations (Kimchi Fried Rice) — Rare
: Magical food made by a loving couple for their sick child.
• Maintains physical balance (6 hours)
Any malignant contracts could be handled without dirtying his hands. Plus, he could collect substantial penalties.
“Isn’t this the perfect relationship reconstruction?”
Wow… perfect…!!
Chae Dong-ha could only genuinely admire.
Unlike everyone else, who was busy managing the situation with cold calculation, Lee Shin was using this situation itself to achieve the best possible outcome!
How many steps ahead must he have seen?
“I think I’ve misunderstood you until now, Representative.”
“Huh? Misunderstood?”
“I thought you’d go wild. Like, immediately chopping that guy’s neck off.”
“That’s not a misunderstanding.”
“Right? Not a misunderstanding… huh??”
Their gazes intersected.
“Could it be you thought I’d just laugh it off because it benefits me?”
If so, it’s disappointing. That would mean misjudging Lee Shin.
Benefit is benefit, being hit is being hit.
Regardless of reason, if you get hit, you repay it!
“Just wait. Things are going to get interesting from now on.”
The eye that once radiated the dignity of a representative disappeared.
Now Lee Shin’s eyes growled with the malice and madness of a rabid dog.
________________________________________
There was a reason Jung Sumi was so confident.
The unleashed Scavenger Guild pressed the Mir Guild relentlessly, proving why they were considered pros in this field.
“Boss, we just got word from the ‘SS Scroll.’ They will accept our proposal.”
“The blacksmith contacted us. If we arrange another contract, they say they will sever all dealings with the Mir Guild.”
“All transport companies supplying the Mir Guild have agreed to boycott. In return, for this amount…”
Jung Sumi didn’t make a fuss despite the process going smoother than expected.
In fact, this was a natural progression.
Her Scavenger Guild was seasoned in the information field, while the opponent was a rookie front managed by a green representative with only LeeDo’s reputation.
Was it even necessary to test them?
“Just as expected. They rush to make contracts, but almost all are new. Hmm, Choi’s Pharmacy? Where’s that? Gwangyang? They even went there? Tsk tsk, well done, very well done. Too predictable, boring.”
“Good. Everyone is doing well. With this much progress, no one, whether Mountain King or LeeDo, can stop us. Let’s finish this in two days and take a refreshing week-long vacation. Got it?”
A predetermined battle.
Jung Sumi waited for the coming victory, already celebrating it mentally, until the guild members rushed in through the closed door.
“Bo-boss, a- big problem! Turn on the TV! Please, the TV!”
The news on the screen.
― “This document in my hands contains evidence that Busan guild-related suppliers colluded on prices. They are controlling not only potions but also scrolls and combat rations, essential items for raids, pressuring the guild…”
At that moment, a historic gate opened: the Busan Guild Distribution Gate.
