Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 210

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Genius Blacksmith’s Game
Reunion (14)
Ayaka was someone who maintained a clear distinction between public and private matters.
Business negotiations were about creating more favorable conditions.
The fact that Ayaka lowered her contract terms was itself a basic business tactic.
Yet through Hyeon-su, she had become completely captivated by the mad movie.
It was unlike ordinary mad movies.
This single mad movie contained his entire life and his growth.
Because of this, she offered him the highest praise she could muster.
“This isn’t just video. It’s art.”
She also saw tremendous potential.
This potential was the most precious thing in the world.
The world was now convinced that Hyeon had obtained a legendary-class Master Craftsman from the Beginner Zone.
The success of the Wooden Dummy Breaking achievement was further cementing this belief in people’s minds.
There were over fifty Beginner Zones in Korea alone.
People were speculating that Hyeon had met an exceptional Blacksmith in one of those Beginner Zones, became legendary, and broke the Wooden Dummy.
But what if they learned that this wasn’t due to class correction bonuses later, but pure skill?
‘Even in this day and age, a Blacksmith actually exists?’
The realization felt as surreal as discovering that samurai actually existed.
“There must be a reason you haven’t made this art public.”
Team Leader Ayaka couldn’t disclose this either.
According to Pureum Corporation’s user information protection clause, company officials had to be careful with their words.
Though she had no intention of speaking about it anyway.
Ayaka had now confirmed her suspicions about the reason.
“Because you’re about to become the center of controversy.”
Hyeon-su didn’t answer, only gazing at Ayaka.
If he were truly legendary-class, the system would have granted him some degree of correction.
But Hyeon-su had nothing to be corrected.
‘What kind of insane game would correct skill?’
Because of this, he would continue advancing, and controversy would follow.
Global controversy.
Just as China had suspected connections between Hyeon and the Korean branch, the entire world would question and come at him.
What if they released this video then and revealed it was pure skill?
‘The entire world would be turned upside down…?’
And the important thing was that Ayaka still had to negotiate the signing bonus.
“As I mentioned, I have no intention of signing for anything less than three billion.”
Hyeon-su drove the wedge in.
Ayaka’s lips twitched slightly.
There were countless countermeasures available.
But Hyeon-su spoke first.
“I don’t want to hear that appearing in the server integration announcement gives me hundreds of billions in value. That’s the same outdated nonsense from old film industry days—’If you let us use your restaurant, you’ll get free publicity, so we’ll only pay you a little.’ I won’t accept that.”
“….”
“And I don’t want to hear that Pureum Corporation gains nothing either. When you factor in the revenue from broadcasting, the new influx from the teaser, and how a well-crafted teaser gets steady clicks for years, there’s far more than enough profit.”
“….”
“I’d like 5% of the broadcasting fees based on the contract amount.”
“….”
“And you know what? The moment it’s revealed that I’m an actual Blacksmith, people will click that teaser again and it’ll skyrocket. You’re curious about my skills? You want them to be the kind that becomes a major issue?”
I pulled out my smartphone and showed her a photo from my gallery.
“The Seven-Branched Sword of Baekje.”
“…!”
This had been Korea’s biggest story this year.
Through it, Korea had obtained the treasure known as the Seven-Branched Sword.
And there in the photo was that flawlessly crafted Seven-Branched Sword.
‘He doesn’t just have skill—he’s actually at the level of a Master Craftsman…? This young person…?’
I spoke.
“I know my own value better than anyone. Don’t lowball me—price me accurately. And finally….”
Ayaka raised both her hands and feet in surrender.
“Don’t even try saying you’ll use another User if the terms don’t match.”
She’d been rendered speechless.
If the price didn’t work, she could simply find someone else.
The problem was that Global Promotion Team Director Ayaka’s mind was completely fixed on the idea that it had to be Hyeon—no one else would do.
‘Wait, just 5% would be over a billion won…? No, how does he even know the revenue structure of broadcasting fees?’
She didn’t know it, but I had a powerful backer.
The director of AJ Internet Broadcasting Station.
Before coming here, I’d called the director of AJ Internet Broadcasting Station.
But she’d already made up her mind about me.
She had no choice but to calculate my value fairly and accurately.
Even if Pureum Corporation paid me a high contract fee, it would still be profitable for them.
Especially since Pureum Corporation had a reason they absolutely had to successfully complete the server integration of Ares, which was opening a second era for them.
A chain of connection would form.
After the server integration teaser aired successfully and time passed, once my story was revealed, Ares would achieve even greater new user influx.
‘Ares, where your dreams can come true.’
That’s the tagline they could use.
Because I was the prime example of it.
Someone who rose from the lowest place to the highest.
Even those who’d shown no interest in Ares would be captivated.
‘It’s fine. I’ve successfully closed many contracts until now.’
All the contract fees Ayaka had negotiated down before.
They were all her achievements, so she’d leverage them.
She began tapping the calculator in her mind. My value for the teaser.
Ayaka soon made her decision.
“I’ll provide 2.8 billion won. And I’ll apply a 5% profit share as well.”
With just this value alone, I possessed at least 4.5 billion won or more.
Literally the minimum.
But Hyeon-su tilted his head. However, Ayaka spoke up.
“That’s the maximum amount I can offer.”
In reality, as Ayaka, I couldn’t raise the amount any further.
Especially the 5% profit share was significant.
The profit share was structured so that the bigger the success, the more I would take.
But Hyeon-su said.
“I heard a new Ares VVIP Capsule is being released soon. Is that right? Limited to 50 units?”
This was different from what Ayaka’s department knew.
But after the server merger, Ayaka also knew that new VVIP Capsules were being released.
The capsule price alone was approximately 450 million won.
“At cost, wouldn’t it be around 200 million won?”
Ayaka thought to herself.
‘Why are you calculating at cost price? You’re squeezing me dry…!’
Still, Ayaka had the authority to decide whether to sell one of those 50 units to someone.
“Understood.”
Only then did Hyeon-su smile and extend his hand.
Ayaka grasped that hand, and Hyeon-su brazenly glanced around.
“Is there anything else you’d like to take?”
The words ‘Hey, you crazy bastard!’ nearly came up to my throat.
It was as if he were saying, ‘Ah, I need to receive more money, so I’ll take this too.’
Of course, since Ayaka knew Hyeon-su was joking, I steadied my startled heart.
Hyeon’s name was inscribed on the contract.
Soon the two of them left together.
“Of course, we’ll handle the bill. Thank you for today—it was enjoyable.”
“I enjoyed it as well. Thank you.”
Hyeon-su bowed with impeccable courtesy, quite different from moments before.
Ayaka offered a wry smile.
I decided to think of it as simply paying an excessive price today.
And when Ayaka received the bill, she was taken aback.
“Coffee for 1.25 million won…?”
“Ah, the two guests who just left ordered the hotel’s finest premium Kopi Luwak coffee.”
“….”
No wonder they drank every last drop.
Ayaka, completely drained, watched the retreating figures of the two people leaving the hotel.
Then I made a phone call.
It was the Capsule Development Team.
“Yes, a call will come shortly under the name Kang Hyeon-su. I’ll approve it with my authority. We’ve decided not to accept payment.”
Then Ayaka noticed something odd.
‘Doesn’t he already have a VVIP Capsule?’
So why had he demanded a VVIP Capsule?
If it were me, I would have requested different royal privileges instead.
Of course, if actually purchased, it was an astronomical capsule priced at 450 million won.
Of course, this item in its fifties couldn’t be bought with money alone either.
“What are the advantages of this new VVIP Capsule?”
-The previous VVIP Capsule was calibrated for synchronization rate. We actually claimed a synchronization rate close to 99.9%, but in reality it was 93%. Because of that, we were fined for false advertising not long ago.
Ayaka was aware of that fact.
-The advantage of this capsule is that the synchronization rate, which was that false advertising, has now become truly 100%. Not the exaggerated 99% level from before, but genuinely 100%.
Ayaka’s expression turned to one of shock.
“Surely you’ve issued a certificate?”
-Of course. This time it’s genuine, not exaggeration. It’s our confidence.
Ayaka’s eyes wavered.
A true 100% synchronization rate.
In other words, it meant complete identity with reality.
Of course, even so, most Users wouldn’t perceive that minute difference.
But Hyeon-su was different.
‘As a master craftsman, he would be affected by that synchronization rate, and he’s obtained a foundation to create even better works?’
Ayaka felt a chill run down her spine.
Because of that condition, which had merely seemed like a proposal, Hyeon-su had become far superior to before.
But the employee’s words weren’t finished yet.
-However, there’s something included that’s more important than the synchronization rate.
“Something more important than the synchronization rate?”
Ayaka’s expression turned puzzled.
Could there be anything more important than that when playing the game with a capsule?
-Yes, that is….
Upon hearing those words, Ayaka’s eyes widened in astonishment.
And after ending the call, Ayaka let out a hollow laugh.
“He took it all, took it all, ho, hohohoho….”
Ayaka wore a bitter smile.
And Ayaka decided to do her part since she’d given the advance payment.
“We’re going to make this server integration teaser into something unprecedented and the best, everyone understands, right?”
The team members understood what Ayaka meant.
‘Make it the best…!’
‘We can do this, we’re adults after all….’
‘Mom, I don’t think I’ll be able to come home for a while.’
That meant everyone on the Global Promotion Team would be working overtime.
*
*
*
“We meet again?”
“It’s been a year, and I’m delighted to see you. Thank you again for leading our country to victory in the Continental War.”
Hyeon-su felt a strange sense of emotion wash over him.
The two Installation Technicians he’d met roughly a year ago.
The two special installation team members who were so meticulous about protecting customer information were beaming with bright smiles.
“We’ll be retrieving the existing Capsule, and we’ll deposit thirty million Won—sixty percent of its value—into your account.”
Just like a year before, the two men completed the installation in the blink of an eye.
“Thank you both. You’ve worked hard.”
The two men, who had even provided a thorough explanation, were just about to bid farewell and leave.
Then one of the Installation Technicians suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Memories of the day he first met Hyeon-su suddenly flooded back to him.
The young man had worn a mask even inside the house, and burn scars were visible across various parts of his body.
After finishing the Capsule installation, one of the Installation Technicians had said something.
‘Sigh… he’s practically like my own son…’
Both of them knew the fact that he was the first to break the Wooden Dummy.
But seeing the Capsule that filled half of the studio apartment, they had hoped he would do well.
That young man had become more cheerful, and now he was living in a spacious, clean Officetel instead of that cramped studio.
Before leaving, the Installation Technician spoke.
“I’ll be cheering you on from now on. And I’m a fan of yours.”
After he left, Hyeon-su smiled softly to himself.
And he gazed at the Capsule.
‘This is a dream Capsule for me.’
Perhaps it could become a dream Capsule for someone else as well.
When I first logged into Ares, I had thought, ‘I wish there was a Capsule with a feature like this.’
This one was that dream Capsule made reality.
Hyeon-su entered the new Capsule.
[100% Synchronization Rate is now applied.]
This too was an extremely important feature.
However, there was one more function that Hyeon-su desperately needed.
[Rehabilitation Mode is now active.]

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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