Season 2: Chapter 77. Proof (2)
Ji-Ah, Sang-Hyeon, and Ju-Hyeok each grew significantly in their respective fields during Sang-Hyeon’s streaming career. For example, Sang-Hyeon developed a mentality to handle any situation calmly even if an issue arose. Ju-Hyeok accumulated know-how on finding solutions and Ji-Ah mastered the art of turning any issue into views. She could literally turn rumors into gold.
[Ji-Ah: So exciting~]
[Ji-Ah: I'll prepare a video by tomorrow!]
Despite the frustrating situation, she felt thrilled because she knew how to turn it into gold. Sang-Hyeon found her reaction quite reliable.
"Sounds good."
Crunch.
He finished snacking on almonds and declared to the assigned officer.
[My stream will start at 3 P.M. today. Please send an observer then.]
[Okay, understood. Please contact us again when you connect to the capsule. You need to start by sharing your screen.]
[Understood.]
Sang-Hyeon seemed a bit sulky as he headed toward the room with his capsule. In reality, it was just because he was munching on almonds.
Click.
As he approached, the capsule’s [Almond] welcome sign lit up as it prepared to accept him.
'They said three times.'
They would observe and evaluate three matches.
Sang-Hyeon decided to prove himself beyond any doubt in these three games.
[Streaming now.]
[Title: Hello, I'm the Cheater.]
***
"Yeah~ Yeah~ The point is whether the same suspicious performance will appear in these three games."
A seemingly irritated man responded into a microphone. The large mic attached to his headset was often used by those who frequently made calls. This indicated that his job involved a lot of communication.
"A user in Korea receiving so many reports in such a short time is rare. We need to handle this properly. Yes, I know. He's a famous streamer, right? Yes~ Yes~ If he's innocent, there won't be any issue. I have to observe now. I’m going."
Click.
He ended the third complaint call of the day. How did they even get this internal phone number?
"Ah, geez. Just because of one streamer. What is this?"
His usual job was server management. Since Civil Empire wasn’t very popular in Korea, he was also tasked with handling such issues.
"Streamers don't use hacks? If anything, they'd want to use them more."
He was quite experienced and even capable of detecting cheaters by sight. To him, there was a 98% chance that the user Aalmmond was using hacks.
Ring-ring.
"Yes, hello? Ah... No, you shouldn't call this number. How did you even get this? Ah..."
Almond’s fans called to say that they should watch recordings of Almond's personal stream.
"Of course, I've seen his personal stream. Raina? No, I already explained to the person who called earlier... Yes? King~ what? No, I'm not trying to beat anyone... Hello?"
Click.
The call disconnected.
"Why are his fans all nuts? And why do they keep telling me to watch Raina's gameplay?"
The fans suggested other games as evidence, but each game had different modifiers and mechanics. Such references couldn’t be used according to their internal rules.
Therefore, the observer hadn’t watched Almond play any other games because it was pointless.
"He’s almost certainly using a hack."
At least to the observer's eyes, this Aalmmond user was using hacks 90% of the time.
"He doesn't even aim properly and just shoots."
The observer recalled scenes of Almond quickly aiming and shooting. To ordinary eyes, it looked like he shot without even looking. Such an act would be possible in a fantasy action game with high correction values like LIL, but that was impossible in Civil Empire.
Of course, Almond wasn’t shooting without looking. His high VNS allowed him to focus for just a moment, but it felt like several seconds to him.
The observer wouldn't know this. In fact, no ordinary person could truly understand this.
Regardless, the observer was almost certain that he was a cheater.
"He should have some conscience. Tsk..."
The observer hadn’t issued an immediate suspension because he didn't know what hack Almond was using. This situation was akin to having circumstantial evidence of a crime, but not having found the murder weapon yet. The observer’s mission was to find this evidence and determine the murder weapon. In other words, he had to find out what hack Almond was using and not whether Almond was using a hack or not.
Ring-ring.
Another call came in.
"Sigh."
After a deep breath, he answered the call feeling quite irritated.
"No, he’s a hacker. Alright!? Yeah! Your oppa is a hacker! This damn... Ah, yes. Okay, I'll connect now. I got the link. Alright..."
***
[Screen sharing has started.]
[Please start.]
Finally, the message arrived.
Almond looked at the camera and spoke to his viewers, "I'll only play three games."
— Hacker Almond lol
— Nut hacker lol
— This happens in every game he plays lol
— Game destroyer lol
— Wow, the title wasn't clickbait after all lol
Viewers who saw the entire conversation with the observer were astonished. They didn't expect the situation to escalate this much just from the stream title.
[RubySword has donated 10,000 won!]
[This is real? lol]
"Thank you, RubySword. Yes, this is real."
[ShyNapoleon has donated 10,000 won!]
[This is all my fault for setting that mission. Sorry Almond. Sob sob]
"Thank you, ShyNapoleon. Now that I think about it, it does seem like your fault."
— lol
— Really lol
— He is the culprit who made Almond into a hacker~
— The culprit is here~~
— There's the hacker lol
Almond received several welcome donations and began.
"Let's start now."
He stopped talking and entered the game. The first to greet him was the fairy Peeeeanuuut.
"Kyaa! Aalmmond!"
She flew toward him with fluttering wings and urged him to shop.
"Let's quickly shop around! All that gold is wasted if not spent! That's a human proverb, right?"
— It definitely has a connection with the weapon shop lol
— Taking a commission?
— Waste? Don’t you mean waaaste?
— Suspicious lol
Although Peeeeanuuut was overly insistent about shopping, this was merely a procedure to guide beginners. Almond had no reason to refuse since he was thinking of buying a bow anyway.
"Alright, let's go. I want to start with weapons."
"Okay! Follow me!"
Peeeeanuuut led the way. They walked, or in Peeeeanuuut's case, flew to their destination Instead of entering a portal.
"Here it is!"
They found a weapon shop after leaving the tavern and venturing through the medieval city streets. As they stepped through the arched door, a blacksmith who looked very much like an NPC greeted them.
"Hehe~! Welcome~!"
Almond first looked for a bow without much consideration for other items. He was unfamiliar with such classical bows that differed from modern archery and started by checking the prices.
'One gold for a bow?'
The cheapest bow cost one gold. Considering that the cheapest spear cost five silvers or half a gold, a bow was twice as expensive. More expensive bows started at three gold, and the priciest one cost a staggering fifty gold.
[Joseon Horn Bow] [50G]
"Wow..."
That bow would almost deplete Almond's entire fortune. Its name, the Joseon Horn Bow, caught his eye.
— Wow, for national pride
— Bartender~~~
— The process of making a horn bow is crazy lol
— Awesome lol
— Looks cool lol
“Wow...”
Almond observed it with curiosity. He recalled a bow his old coach once proudly showed him.
"It's even historically accurate with the round shape for storage."
— As expected of an archer
— He knows his stuff
— I didn't know that was a bow lol
— He suddenly seems smart
A horn bow was made by joining two buffalo horns and its tension allowed an archer to shoot very far. It had practical issues like being sensitive to humidity, but...
'It's magnificent...'
The bow was undoubtedly strong and impressive. Almond admired the Joseon Horn Bow, but ultimately didn't choose it.
'I can't start with the horn bow.'
He only had fifty-six gold and that bow alone cost fifty gold, which was nearly his entire wealth. In a game like Civil Empire where dying upon entering the battlefield was common and players lost all their equipment upon death, carrying a bow that cost fifty gold didn’t seem like a good idea. It was an impractical choice.
He turned his attention back to the bow that cost one gold.
'One gold, huh...'
Even one gold seemed expensive for a disposable item.
Peeeeanuuut sensed Almond's hesitation and came over to explain, "Ah, Almond! Bows are generally more expensive than basic weapons! They require more skill to make and shoot! Why don't you consider a beginner friendly spear?"
"No, I already have a spear."
"But, but that's just a basic training..."
"No, I said no."
— He's so firm lol
— Too harsh lol
— lol
“Ah... You don't like it? Well, can't help it then!” Peeeeanuuut stammered and decided to help with his bow purchase.
“You have to buy the bow with a quiver and arrows as a set!”
A quiver and arrows cost five silvers each, which totaled one gold. Everything including the bow would total two gold. That was quite an expensive price for beginner items. The rationale for ranged weapons demanding higher prices was possibly because they could reduce the risk of death.
— The prices are insane
— Why is it like this?
— Archers are being ripped off...
'I don’t have a choice.'
After all, the bow was synonymous with Almond.
"Give me both."
Peeeeanuuut spoke as he made his decision, “Ah, are you sure? There are different types of arrows. Some have deadly power!”
She pointed to a section with an array of arrows from broad ones that did heavy damage to tiny lethal ones with poison for assassinations. However...
[Viper] [16G]
[Screw Nail] [10G]
[ExCrash] [7G]
[Broadhead] [7G]
The better arrows were as expensive as the bows.
“The prices are even more lethal.”
“Hehe... Is, is that so?”
— lol
— A straight shooter lol
— lol
Almond chose the most basic arrow.
[Bodkin] [0.5G]
“I'll take these.”
The arrows cost five silvers.
— He’s extremely frugal
— Just buy something better
— Exactly 2 gold for equipment?
Later, Almond picked the cheapest armor available for five silvers at the armor shop.
“Are, are you sure? For just thirty gold, you could buy the cheapest horse... If a horse doesn't die, it returns to its owner.”
“... No.”
— So resolute lol
— He’s just about money
— Peeeeanuuut is flustered lol
— That's just how he is
— The art of refusal
“Okay, then...”
Back at the tavern, the other mercenaries warmly greeted Almond.
"Hey there, hero! We heard about your exploits!"
“I heard you were amazing last time!”
He ignored their greetings and immediately wrote his name on the board.
[C Rank]
Aalmmond
Ftype
DamageDealt
Coi
Almond gazed at the board and murmured, "I hope I get assigned as an archer."
Soon, a request came in.
Ding!
[Commander nodukan requests your assistance!]