Chapter 135
In the Surface Korea’s LoS operations team, an imminent competition loomed.
Lee Youngju, Assistant Manager.
Her fate today was sealed; it was the common enemy of office workers.
Overtime.
However, unlike a typical office worker facing overtime, she exclaimed with an excited voice.
“Video setup is complete! It will premiere in 30 minutes.”
“Good work. Everyone else can now leave.”
“Understood. Wow! But, Team Leader, not everyone will be leaving, right?”
“Oh, right. Manager Kim will stay behind to handle today’s schedule, and the rest can disperse.”
Three days had passed since the internal point rivalry ended.
During that time, the operations team had contacted the remaining streamers and created a video for the roster announcement.
Today was the roster announcement day. After that, the task was simply for the team leaders to evaluate the team members on the official account.
Tomorrow, the auction would start.
‘We’ve done enough promotion for weeks now.’
The small balance issues would be managed by the streamers during the auction.
The major concerns, like the drama around Sojun, had already been addressed.
“Manager Kim, good luck. Ha-ha. Finally, clocked out on time.”
“Please, could you stop doing that?”
“Excuse me? Doing what?”
“Approaching with a mysterious and overly confident face since that day, constantly laughing. I’m sorry. I was wrong. I apologize.”
Manager Kim pleaded, seemingly tired of her antics.
“Puha.”
“Isn’t it enough that I’m doing the tasks that Assistant Manager Lee was supposed to handle? Stop the harassment!”
“Sure~. Take care!”
Lee Youngju exited the office and entered the elevator.
“Ao.”
Manager Kim muttered complaints internally.
Why did she have to defeat Spoon?
With a synch rate of just 10!
Is it playable? Is it safe?
“Take care, hehe. I mean, who asked you to make the bet?”
“Who would have known I’D beat Eric one-on-one?”
“Assistant Manager Lee knew.”
“Well… True.”
The team leader, ready to leave, patted Kim on the shoulder.
“Well, some are saying there’s still uncertainty, so maybe Manager Kim was right.”
“The synch rate?”
“Something like that. No one knows exactly what a 10 synch rate is like, but it’s obvious it’s really, really low.”
“Indeed.”
“Some heroes might be difficult to use, and there could be other penalties too.”
“So, what are you saying?”
“I’m just saying maybe you should place another bet with Assistant Manager Lee about possibly achieving Grade a…”
Kim decided it was unnecessary to listen anymore to the team leader’s suggestion for another round with Assistant Manager Lee.
“Goodbye, Team Leader.”
Once bitten, twice shy.
Stirring up others into fights.
What a piece of work.
Then again.
On second thought, the team leader was the overall supervisor responsible for the LoS, where streamers engage in battles.
* * *
A subsidiary of Surface and a game distribution platform.
Section Chief Han left the director’s office at Stream Korea.
“Yes, understood.”
He headed back to his desk, reflecting on an earlier conversation.
-Sir, what about the decision on the streamer contract exclusivity?
-We’ve decided to wait until Crown makes the first move.
-You’re just waiting? Even with the clear result this time?
-Yes, that’s the decision.
-Well, it could be that Crown is engaging in covert contact, and even if we make the first move, it isn’t necessarily disadvantageous.
-This idea originated from the Crown side, and our role was just to follow. We’re told to watch and respond. Unless you want to leak the contract preparations from their side?
-Hahaha…
-That’s how it is.
-Yes, I see.
“Can’t be helped.”
As Section Chief Han sat down, a junior team member asked him.
“What did the Department Chief say?”
“Just that it turned out well.”
“Of course, it did. Of the games released, ours sold the most! Chief, can we expect a bonus?”
“Probably.”
“How about a team dinner today?”
“Why do you love team dinners so much?”
Especially someone as junior as you.
“Because of free drinks and free food?”
“Oh.”
That made sense.
Unless one disliked company colleagues, there were no better occasions than a team dinner.
No one hates free stuff.
“Got it. But I’ve got plans tonight. Have dinner without me.”
“With the CEO of Monster?”
“Yes, although they probably have already checked the results, we should meet up to discuss.”
Section Chief Han handed over his card.
Wohoo!
The junior member made strange noises of delight as he received it.
“Let’s all get up, then.”
It was time to clock out.
After leaving the office, section Chief Han made a call.
The recipient was the CEO of Monster.
『Hello?』
“Hello.”
『Hello, chief. Are you aware of today’s LoS roster announcement?』
Why on earth is he talking about that right upon starting the call?
Sure, they could verify this information, but shouldn’t what the person in charge says about their own game’s success precede a LoS announcement?
It was a fact acknowledged by everyone in the company that the streamer had significantly contributed to the game’s success.
That made it sting even more.
Because he had been informed directly by the CEO.
That there was a streamer being a constant sore point.
That’s why they felt it necessary to act now or end up paying dearly later, but the higher-ups were opting to wait.
『Would you like to quietly watch it together at a nearby restaurant again?』
The CEO seemed to be in high spirits.
No wonder.
He had already navigated past a big hurdle and even achieved success.
“Hahaha.”
『Oh, by the way, about this LoS.』
“Yes?”
『It’s a good opportunity. Really good.』
Oh, quit it with the stock talks.
It’s unnerving, you know.
* * *
『Starting the stream.』
Sojun began streaming from his desk.
Today, he didn’t plan on entering the capsule.
-Soha
-Soha
-Trha
-Soha
“Hello, everyone. Ah, you’re asking what we’re doing today? I’m just bored and decided to check out the LoS roster announcement. Just because I’m bored.”
Sojun reclined comfortably on his chair. It felt relaxing.
Broadcasting like this every day might not be so bad?
-Are you really bored? LOL
-Why don’t you admit, you’re in it, you’re grade a!
-Sure, sure
-It’s not weird since most streamers are ready to watch now
-But you’re in it, right?
The viewers weren’t far off.
After entering The League category, the streaming screen showed most people were prepared for the premiere.
What was on Sojun’s monitor was the same video.
Travel’s LoS dedicated account.
“No comment on whether I’m in it. Oh, lots of viewers today.”
『Viewers – 25,000』
Sojun’s viewer base had grown again.
Beating Spoon and revealing his synch rate played a big part in that.
Of course, the side effects of rapid growth were not small.
Such is the way of the world.
-a lower synch rate than mine, pathetic guy
-Can’t use any other heroes, lOl
-He must have said it lower on purpose to get attention!!!!
-Proper certification needed. Whether through a professional medical center or whatever
Such comments peppered the chat.
And swiftly, the hammer of justice wielded by the manager descended upon them.
These were people who came, did that, and got a one-day ban every time for the past three days.
“At this rate, I’ll memorize all your nicknames.”
Rather than being annoyed, he found it somewhat endearing, so Sojun only banned them for a day.
Come back tomorrow.
Come back stronger.
-Loyal ones LOL
-Why would they think he’s pathetic when he’s doing well with that synch rate?
-It’s like they’re lacking brains
-Still, being low does feel like you have a sandbag…
In the past three days, there had been many opinions exchanged.
Excluding Sojun, it was commonly known that a 40 synch rate was the lowest.
Therefore, a synch rate of 10 was shocking in many ways.
Starting from questioning if it was even playable.
Concerns about health, potential feelings of alienation, dizziness.
And.
How on earth he was so skilled with that synch rate.
Was he perhaps addicted to the game?
Or streaming?
Could he be flying in reality?
Numerous opinions flowed back and forth.
While no conclusions had been reached, fortunately, only Sojun’s accustomed viewers arrived at a conclusion.
『Streamer-nim balances too well in virtual reality, to the point the capsule wishes for him to ease up for other gamers!』
He felt slightly let down.
In that world inside the capsule, he only had memories of providing help.
“Oh, it’s starting.”
As usual, talking had made time fly by.
『Announcing the LoS Player Roster!』
『1 second ago』
Since it was a premiere, the chat over there was visible too.
-LOL Now they’re screwed
Even amidst the fast-moving chat, Sojun caught sight of a comment by a user with the Travel nickname, Kim Taewoo.
Incidentally, Taewoo was preparing for a stream in the room next door.
For the upcoming conversation between team leaders.
‘Crazy guy.’
Indeed.
One must choose their friends wisely.
-Let’s go!
-Pretty sure I saw Taewoo, must be my imagination?
-It’s starting
-Wonder who got picked
An energetic background music track played.
After mixing various text styles for about three seconds, the reveal began.
『E!』
A glimpse of the streamer appeared, and the gameplay followed shortly after.
They showcased six people this way.
Ha Yunho was among them.
Above Ha Yunho’s name, there was a small caption stating “Team Leader”.
Sequentially, D, C, B were introduced.
Finally.
『A!』
-It’s A
-Streamer-nim is up now
-LoL
-I wonder what kind of footage is brought?
“Oh, I’m first?”
Despite being a newcomer, the label ‘new!’ was adorably printed in a lively font above Sojun’s name.
-Wow, handsome!
-Seriously, streamer’s face is the size of a billboard, LOL look at them zooming in because he’s handsome
-Inequality runs rampant!
-This is the life of a top-tier man…
Following this, Sojun’s play was shown.
-Wow
-The 4-second Judgement Sword is insane
Towards the end, a brief display of Eric’s ultimate was showcased before transitioning to the next.
“Turned out well.”
The video quickly covered all the players from a to E, a total of 30 contenders, closing with a glimpse of one caster and three commentators.
The screen naturally transitioned into a live stream.
『Hello everyone! I’m Ark, your commentator for today’s pre-event!』
Ark snagged a commentator spot amidst former professionals.
-Wow!!
-Long time no see, Ark
-That turned out nice, especially after the Cooperation ended, just like someone here LOL
-Streamer-nim 〈– that someone
-What opportunists LOL
『Now! During this pre-event, we’ll take a brief look at the players, overview some strategies. Having received the roster yesterday, our team leaders have prepped their thoughts. Let me introduce them! Please come out!』
The screen displayed six faces like they were on a video call.
Sojun recognized Taewoo and Ha Yunho, but the rest were unfamiliar.
『Ah. It’s really nice to meet the team leaders guiding our competition. How do you all feel about participating as team leaders?』
『Hello. Feeling very nice!』
『Truly honored to be invited here, this is Ha Yunho… 』
『Mom, I’m on TV!』
Note, “Mom, I’m on TV” was Taewoo.
-These lunatics LOL
-Feeling dizzy already
-This is the charm LOL
-Those guys are seasoned bills, LOL, so they’re not even nervous
Ark didn’t miss a beat.
Ark was also a veteran.
Moreover, despite the scale, since this was a streamers’ event, such minor elements were always present.
『We’ll jump right in then? First player up? Drum roll. Ah! The man balancing the game capsule. Streamer Sojun!』
As Ark slid to the next screen, a large photo of Sojun, used for the player reveal earlier, appeared.
Below it was the phrase, ‘The man who balances the game capsule’, and Ark merely read this out.
『Now, even though Jin Sojun is a newcomer and unranked, he was assigned to Grade A. What do the team leaders think about Sojun? Let’s hear it.』
And in unison.
『Not buying it.』
『It seems better not to buy.』
Kim Taewoo and Ha Yunho spoke sequentially.
TL’s Corner:
Taewoo and Yunho are scammers.