Gwanjongcheonma’s Game Broadcast - Chapter 85
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 85
Though not visible from the camera angle, Choi Gang-sik was holding Hae-rang’s hand.
Squeeze.
It didn’t feel like flesh at all.
Choi Gang-sik’s hand, which only felt like bone joints, tensed up with force.
Cold sweat was a bonus.
Normally, he might have shaken it off in disgust.
But Hae-rang just stayed still.
He knew how long Choi Gang-sik had been waiting for these words.
“Did you say tester? An official tester for the new ‘Assassin Series’?”
-That’s correct. Mr. Choi. ‘Gonau Soft’ highly values Mr. Cheon’s genius skills, so we would like to formally invite him to this schedule.
“Thank you. This is truly wonderful news!”
His voice was too loud, so Choi Gang-sik looked around the Store with an “oops” expression.
Hae-rang buried his head and trembled from the sudden Surprise Worship.
‘What interesting people.’
A faint smile bloomed on Robin’s lips.
Choi Gang-sik asked cautiously in a slightly lower tone.
“But, would that be alright? The team leader mentioned something, so I looked into it myself. I understand there are already predetermined Korean testers.”
-That’s correct. Gonau Soft has already decided to invite Korea’s Singularities to handle the testing. However…
Robin was about to speak but turned his head slightly to the side.
A menacing voice flowed from beyond Choi Gang-sik’s Laptop.
-Hey you fucking bastard! Why are you causing delays on something the CEO already approved? Update the page right now before I fucking destroy your fucking ass!
Robin shrugged his shoulders.
As if there was no need for him to explain.
Hae-rang and Choi Gang-sik understood well enough.
The colorful profanity from earlier was definitely Choi Ji-man’s work.
-Our team leader’s interest in Mr. Cheon… no, at this point it would be fair to call it fanatical obsession. Anyway, he’s working day and night for Mr. Cheon. Both this testing matter and the new page issue for Mr. Cheon.
“Why go to such lengths… It’s good for us, but I’m worried about Team Leader Choi’s reputation.”
-Ah. Don’t worry about that. The team leader’s reputation is always, forever, constantly at rock bottom.
“Excuse me?”
Choi Gang-sik thought.
So someone can joke with such an unchanging expression.
Choi Gang-sik had no way of knowing that Robin’s words contained no lies.
-Anyway, Mr. Cheon joining won’t be a problem at all. Mr. Cheon will proceed together with the existing Singularities.
“I see.”
Choi Gang-sik fell into thought for a moment.
It was definitely a good thing.
An opportunity he should accept all hundred times even if a hundred offers came.
But there was a slightly concerning part.
They were a group, and this side was just one person.
Would Singularity really acknowledge Hae-rang and proceed with testing together?
If by chance they conspired among themselves, they could ostracize Hae-rang.
Then Hae-rang suddenly asked.
“Gang-si Brother. Do you need to use the bathroom?”
“What?”
“You look exactly like someone who really needs to go. Isn’t this good news?”
“Hey. Even when you express things…”
Choi Gang-sik, who was responding without thinking, suddenly closed his mouth.
Snicker.
Then he smiled challengingly.
Right.
An ordinary person might be intimidated or shrink back from their territorial behavior.
But not This Guy in front of him.
Unlike other Streamers who are desperate to get into Singularity,
this bastard doesn’t admire them at all.
Far from admiration, he’d make them his prey.
Even if those guys showed territorial behavior, Hae-rang wouldn’t bat an eye.
“Good. Robin. We’ll accept Gonau Soft’s proposal.”
-Thank you. Team Leader Ji-man will be very pleased as well.
“However, we need to confirm the detailed conditions first. Things like travel expenses to and from America, the overall schedule. And I’m curious about the compensation as well.”
Choi Gang-sik gulped.
This was where the real Game could be said to begin.
How much money would be spent on Hae-rang.
In this type of project, the money the company invests becomes the right to speak.
Pride was an issue, but he could end up flying all the way to America only to become mute.
-That part is simple. Mr. Choi.
“If it’s simple…?”
-We’ll match all conditions to be identical to Korea’s Singularity.
“Excuse me?”
Choi Gang-sik unconsciously shot up from his seat.
There was no need to gauge Hae-rang’s reaction.
The guy was at exactly the same eye level as himself.
“Is that true? You’re saying he’ll receive the same compensation as Singularity?”
-Why do you ask? If the amount is too low, we could discuss it again.
“Oh, no.”
How could it be too low?
Though it’s something done unofficially across all industries, they still knew the rough estimates.
The money Singularity receives for participating in games amounts to tens of millions of won.
Regardless of how much they actually receive, Hae-rang would be participating with equal qualifications.
-To be honest, we had doubts about Mr. Cheon’s skills at times. After all, he’s not currently in Singularity.
Robin candidly revealed his inner thoughts.
-But after seeing the various videos our team leader showed us, all our team members became convinced. Mr. Cheon’s skills are real.
“Thank you for viewing me favorably. What’s the schedule for the test?”
-It’ll probably be around next month. Once the schedule is confirmed, headquarters will book the flight.
Booking the flight meant they would cover all expenses beyond the compensation.
Choi Ji-man could truly feel Hae-rang’s changed status.
-An official email will be sent to the manager within 24 hours. Since we’ve reached agreement on the general aspects, there shouldn’t be any special problems…
-Hey you bastard! What test? It’s an existing page! Update it live right now!
Once again, Choi Ji-man’s loud voice could be heard.
Robin stopped mid-sentence and let out a sigh.
-The special problems aren’t on your side but happening on ours. Sorry, but we’ll have to end the video call here. I think I need to drag the team leader away.
“Ah. Of course. Thank you for your hard work today.”
Following Choi Gang-sik, Hae-rang also slightly bowed his head.
Soon after, the video call app screen went dark.
The two men looked at each other and chuckled.
“That side doesn’t seem like an ordinary company either. Don’t you think?”
“It seems so. On one hand, I also think they’re incredibly competitive.”
“Right. The company seems to be doing well because they express their opinions so actively like that.”
Choi Gang-sik lifted up the glass cup containing coffee.
Hae-rang also raised the tea cup filled with Ssanghwa tea.
Then they clinked their cups together.
Like people making a toast.
Ting!
“Congratulations, Hae-rang. This test proposal will be a very meaningful step forward.”
“I think so too. It’s all thanks to Gang-si brother helping me.”
“You rascal. It’s nice that you say that, even if it’s just words.”
The measure to confirm a streamer’s value
can ironically be confirmed through work outside of broadcasting.
Advertisements.
And testing.
When these things start to attach, one is finally evaluated as an ‘influential streamer.’
What Choi Gang-sik called a meaningful step wasn’t just empty words.
Hae-rang had truly achieved a great leap forward.
“You were right, Hae-rang. Whether I drink coffee or not, sleeping early was out of the question anyway.”
“That’s right.”
He probably wouldn’t be able to fall asleep easily tonight from excitement.
Hae-rang’s gaze turned toward the sky outside the cafe.
As if praising Hae-rang for receiving the tester proposal,
the stars were twinkling as if competing with each other.
* * *
In the heart of Gangnam.
They were on the rooftop of a towering building.
Celebrities who influence South Korea’s gaming industry, beings who could pick and choose national representative positions.
Singularity.
Several men and women sat on glamorous, luxurious sofas.
Among them, a long-haired, curly-haired man asked with a sleazy smile.
“Manager. What’s today’s training event?”
“Today is Iron Fist Nine.”
“Oh my. It’s going to be a painful day for someone.”
The curly-haired man, Jo Sang-jin’s gaze turns toward one direction.
Naturally, the other Singularities’ gazes also point to the same place.
Pity.
Compassion.
Or mockery.
At the center of those gazes was a woman.
With proudly upturned eyes and glamorous features.
Da-hong asked Sang-jin.
“Are you talking to me?”
“Well. I won’t deny it.”
“I don’t have any pain anywhere.”
“You don’t need to pretend otherwise. The one who was once the best among us is hesitating because of the breaking techniques, aren’t you?”
Jo Sang-jin shrugs his shoulders and turns his head alternately.
Da-hong is past her prime now.
It would be faster to look into other events besides Iron Fist.
His gesture carried that meaning.
“My recent record has been shit. Same goes for you and the other kids.”
“Right. That’s why I told you. Let’s do special training together. Your talent is too good to just sit down here…”
“Aha. So that’s why you called me drunk at dawn? Telling me to come out to the front of my house?”
“…!”
Jo Sang-jin’s triumphant face hardened stiffly.
The other Singularities who had been listening without much thought sparkled their eyes.
“I didn’t know you’d worry about my talent until that deep night. I’m so grateful, what should I do?”
“You. Why are you bringing up that story in this situation…”
“Since it came up. Want to make a bet?”
“A bet?”
“In today’s training, the one who loses has to do one thing the winner wants. How about it?”
“Do one thing… they want.”
Greed gleams in Jo Sang-jin’s eyes.
How many times had he been rejected when asking her to have a meal together?
Her words were true.
Forget all that bullshit about talent and training, he actually just wanted to get close to Da-hong.
Even hate can turn into affection.
If you stick close and rub shoulders, isn’t that how things can change between men and women anytime?
“Haha. Da-hong. If you want to go on a date, just say so. Why make a bet that I’ll obviously win…”
“Shut up. Are you doing it or not?”
“Deal. Let’s start right now.”
Jo Sang-jin jumped up from the sofa.
Then he looked around and asked.
“I can go first, right?”
The companions shrugged as if they didn’t care either way.
The manager checking the schedule also showed agreement.
“Then you two. Please enter the capsules.”
Whirrrr.
An amount of information that regular capsule machines cannot handle.
To transmit a Singularity’s senses, this machine is absolutely necessary.
High-end capsule.
This place where they were sitting comfortably was the National Team Practice Room supported by the government.
Ten high-end capsules that Singularities could use were installed here.
While private capsules are for just one person, these high-end capsules can be used by all Singularities.
A product several times more expensive than the private capsules known to be costly.
It’s also the machine used in the annual ‘Capsule Cup.’
Da-hong and Jo Sang-jin entered the capsules side by side.
Soon after, the ‘Iron Fist 9’ screen appeared on the public monitor.
【Select your character!】
Jo Sang-jin’s choice was ‘Geyachi.’
A fundamental character that had appeared since Iron Fist 1,
An old man character known to have good performance in all series.
“He must really want to go on a date.”
One of the Singularities giggled while looking at the screen.
Geyachi was Sang-jin’s main champion used in competitions.
It was a passage that showed how strong Sang-jin’s desire for Da-hong was.
Unlike Jo Sang-jin who made his choice boldly, Da-hong hadn’t chosen her character yet.
She was looking not at the selection screen,
But at memories of the past.
When only a few seconds remained, she opened her closed eyes and selected her character.
【Kiroi.】
The Singularities watching the screen let out sighs.
A character whose countering method had already been discovered.
Not to mention international competitions, it was that champion who now suffered consecutive defeats even against fellow Korean National Team members.
“Oh my. Is she really trying to meet with Sang-jin oppa?”
“I guess her pride wouldn’t let her do it directly, so she needed an excuse like this.”
Whether she knew about the pessimistic public opinion or not,
Da-hong glared at ‘Geyachi’ with her reddish-brown eyes.
And in her heart, she recalled someone’s face.
‘I’ll do my best. Just like you taught me.’
As she clenched both fists tightly, the starting signal rang in her ears.
【Round One! Fight!】
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————