Working as an agent for a secret society and receiving money periodically, it’s clear that the funds entering my account would be under national surveillance.
As the saying went, the IRS was scarier than the FBI; taxation was a serious matter.
And what the state monitored most closely was black money, funds that appeared suddenly without undergoing tax procedures.
-“Where did the 10 billion come from? For someone whose annual income is 30 million won. No gifts, no lottery win. How did you come to purchase a 33-pyeong apartment in Busan out of nowhere?”
-“I, I picked it up in a garlic field!”
-“So, you’ve acquired it illegally? You need to pay acquisition tax.”
-“Th, that’s!”
Touching black money carelessly meant not only dealing with its original owners but also facing immediate investigation by the tax authorities if spent recklessly.
-“Do you know when villains are caught most foolishly? When they steal someone else’s money, buy real estate with it, or spend an excessive amount of money compared to their annual income.”
Taxation was of utmost importance to agents, members, and collaborators of the secret society.-“Don’t get caught by governments around the world over mere tax issues.”
Whether through paper companies or other means, the Chief’s directive was to avoid investigation by tax authorities for suspicious fund movements.
-“Ahh, why would the society bother hiring accountants, tax lawyers, and clerical staff! To legally process all that money!”
To avoid hassle.
-“But then, wouldn’t we lack a method to financially influence the powerful?”
-“For that, we’ve prepared a strategy. Hehehe.”
The Chief suggested a method to collaborators spread across countries to deal with tax authorities in a valid, reasonable manner that even they would begrudgingly acknowledge.
-“I’ve identified a skyrocketing stock through the power of future foresight. Exactly 43 days from now, it’s going to surge, so contact the agents to invest in this stock.”
-“But, is it okay to use this ability? It’s future foresight.”
-“It’s better to use it and profit for the society’s activities than to let it go to waste!”
For instance, advising on buying specific stocks.
-“I’ve confirmed the Minister of Land’s new city development project through the power of mind control. Now, subtly purchase real estate around this area!”
-“But this is just a barren field.”
-“Trust me. I’ve already investigated the Minister of Land’s relatives visiting real estate agencies around here.”
Or, advising to hold onto real estate redevelopments for about three years before cashing out big.
-“Money, money, money. Operating a massive organization like the society requires a huge amount of funds. And the most important thing is to ‘legally’ manage it. What do you think is the easiest way to collect people’s money, Manager Do?”
-“…Mobile character collection-type gacha games?“
-“Oh, I hadn’t thought of reaching that far. Manager Do, prepare a PPT right away!”
Or teaching ways to amass huge amounts of money within the realm of legality.
The most representative example was the lottery, and fitting for the era of ability users, the ‘Hero Toto’.
For instance…
What if S-Class ability user Goblin and S-Class ability user Snow White fought each other?
Though such a match was rare in reality, if these battles were to occur regularly or become popular, many would watch.
And if betting was involved?
-“Can’t resist gambling!”
Even if real money was involved, as long as it was a sports lottery operated legally by the state, even if a lot of the fees and dividends were taxed, it could still make a huge amount of money.
-“When will ‘your’ Do be taken? Can’t even start in the selection, a washed-up has-been ww”
-“To the Toto we go! Oooo! Lord Do! As always, the best!!”
-“…If only one less goal had been scored. Making a hat-trick by coming off the bench.“
Even regular sports drew massive popularity with sports Toto.
But what if it’s a battle between ability users?
-“It’s inhuman to resist this!”
-“Banish those boring ball games! It’s the era of hero battles now!”
-“TenniPre is… a surrealist comic!”
To be able to watch superpower battles, which one would only see in movies or comics, in real time, and even gamble on them?
It’s bound to explode in popularity.
Humans would sell even the waters of the Daedong River if it meant making money, let alone the ashes of dead ability users. So, how could they ignore a market that opens a gambling scene around the existence of ability users and collects dividends?
Especially a government-sanctioned ‘legal’ market?
“Hero Toto? Are you talking about the one that became legal five years ago?”
“Is there another Hero Toto?”
“Of course, there are many. It used to operate illegally and in secret, but it started being officially operated by the government five years ago.”
Brewer was well-versed in the history of Hero Toto.
“It was officially approved by the Hero Association in 2020 and began full operation in 2021. Now, in 2025, the market is operating successfully. End of the wiki reading.”
“Being in 2021 means…”
“You can’t just make kids fight in Hero Toto. Having adults gamble on minors’ battles is a bit much, so only battles between adult ability users are organized.”
It seemed that Hero Toto only began to emerge into the limelight in 2020 when adult ability users started to appear one by one, perhaps because it was embarrassing to make minors with abilities fight each other for money.
That means it was only popular in the underworld before.
As soon as it came into the light, the system was already in place.
“It seems like Manager Do isn’t interested in old stories.”
“The only old stories I’m interested in are actual old tales. Or anything related to the secret society.”
“Yeah, yeah. But Manager Do, have you tried Hero Toto?”
“I’ve tried it a few times. Just once or twice, to see how it works.”
Even though I had bought lottery tickets and such in reality, I had never tried sports Toto.
My interest lay in novels, not in real sports.
“Then you don’t know much about the most recent issue?”
“The most recent issue would be the big sports festival, right?”
“Yeah. That time… the world turned upside down, and so did the world of Hero Toto.”
Brewer displayed the history of all the Hero Totos that took place this year on the screen.
“Did you know about the 120 billion won that vanished when Yoon Iseon won the big sports festival?”
“Sounds like a specific figure, but 120 billion won just flew away?”
“People who bet on Ray Hwang lost all their money. Ray Hwang was one of the favorites to win. The amount bet on him was a whopping 120 billion won.”
“…There was a Hero Toto for the one-day tournament?”
“The system is in place, so they were betting on each round while watching it live at the venue. The big sports festival Toto was essentially betting on the spot.”
The reactions in the Hero Toto community that Brewer showed were explosive.
-Those who tried to suck up to the traitor coin kk Gulp!
-Our countryman made it to the finals, who wouldn’t patriotically bet? Anyone bet on the nationality-switcher three times?!
-This is a scamㅡㅡ The academy dean rigged it for Yoon Iseon to win. What win, when it was doomed by Hayabusa?
Naturally, those celebrating Yoon Iseon’s victory were the ones who made money, and those denying it had all lost their money.
“So there was a lot of talk. People who bet on Ray Hwang lost their money, so they’re saying Yoon Iseon’s win is invalid.”
“Understandable. It’s an uncomfortable victory, and they lost money on top of it. But Jumo, did you bet here?”
“I only bet on sure wins. Yumir. Yoon Iseon. Thanks to them, I made a profit. Hehehe.”
“Weren’t the odds against?”
“To me, they were sure wins. Both are not just anyone but the ones Manager Do is after. Hehehe.”
“……Buy me dinner sometime.”
Going from E-class to D-class involved betting, and so did determining the winner who was recognized as A+ class.
“Brewer. So now that Armored Taejo has accepted the challenge, does that mean Hero Toto is happening?”
“Of course. It’s not just any Hero Toto. If Yoon Iseon wins, it’s the moment ‘the eighth S-class’ is born. Will the Reader win, or will a new S-class emerge? Even just the legal betting is seeing real-time increases in stakes, and illegal sites have already raised 200 billion won in stakes even though the battle is still a week away.”
“Indeed, it’s fitting for the era of great abilities.”
If this is what entertainment in this world is like.
I plan to use this entertainment to duplicate the money in ‘Do Ji-hwan’s account.’
“Jumo. I’m going to bet 1 billion won from my account now. Help me with it.”
“Who are you betting on?”
“Obviously, Yoon Iseon.”
Beep beep beep.
I made a call.
[Yes, teacher. This is Yoon Iseon.]
“Do you have time at 10 p.m. tonight?”
[…I can’t go out.]
“That’s okay. Is the time alright?”
[Yes.]
“Then, I’ll call you again at that time.”
I summoned Yoon Iseon.
“Brewer. Gather all the information on Armored Taejo.”
“……Manager Do, surely not?”
“Need to prepare.”
I reached out towards a spoon on the distant kitchen table.
Click.
The spoon flew through the air into my hand, and I grasped the spoon, gently shaking it.
“The trick is done by the Goblin, but the money is eaten by Do Ji-hwan.”
It’s a perfect plan.
“I will become Armored Taejo and spar with Yoon Iseon.”
Everything was for.
The victory of Yoon Iseon.
And for my bank account.
“How cheap. Raising it yourself only to profit off it.”
“Cheap? It’s a strategic investment.”
There’s nothing illicit about it.
“I’m just betting 1 billion won on the underdog with the heart of a beast.”
Investing was a personal choice, after all.
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