Season 3: Chapter 36: G-Star Settlement (1)
The Hitman Simulator booth started bustling after Almond's challenge points were tallied.
"… Wow."
"Looks like we can leave early today. Heh."
"Sigh. I was happy when he failed the 3.5 km mission..."
The 3.5 km mission was already supposed to be an impossible distance to succeed at, yet Almond had succeeded at a staggering 4.1 km.
"Who knew he'd survive and attempt another snipe? Is that even supposed to happen?"
Failing a snipe normally meant death in the usual course of events.
"Well, theoretically, it's not impossible."
"No, the guys chasing afterward seemed weak. They went down in one shot."
"No matter how tough you set it, a headshot means death. We're not fighting monsters here."
They could be quick or numerous with great aim, but they would still die from a headshot in the game. If that changed, the entire genre of the game would also change.
Almond had aimed solely for their heads and killed them all.
"So all those kills were headshots?"
"Yes."
What seemed like casual shooting while exiting the hotel had all been headshots.
"They were all elites too, so he really cleaned up the challenge points."
The booth felt deflated like they kept losing points that shouldn't have been lost, but what happened next was relatively minor compared to what was to come.
"And then to kill the bodyguards from a distance of 4.1 km too..."
From a distance of 4.1 km, assassinating just one target would already reward a huge number of points. However, Almond also took out the bodyguards.
"Wow."
Now, they had no reason to stay open until tomorrow. Packing up the booth right after Almond left wouldn't be odd.
"Is it possible to purchase any more points?"
"Come on. If that were possible, we would have done it long ago."
The challenge points had a set maximum.
"Alright. We're just salary workers anyway. Let's just quickly find an advertising model."
"Yes~"
They consoled themselves in that way. Thinking of themselves as salaried workers, it wasn't such a bad situation. They could leave work early and it wasn’t like they hadn't found an advertising model.
If the very existence of this booth was to find an advertising model, they had just completed their mission too quickly. Of course, it hadn’t been done voluntarily but by force.
"But... why isn't the manager coming back? The manager left a while ago."
Only then did they all turn to look toward the conference room. The manager sat there quietly at the edge of the table, staring blankly as if his spirit had left.
"…?"
The employees wondered what on earth was going on.
Then, someone brave went to speak to the manager and returned with a rigid face.
"Um…"
"?"
He bowed his head and relayed the manager's words.
"He says we all need to go to the conference room."
***
The sound of hissing filled the air. Eventually, the capsule opened and Sang-Hyeon walked out. He wore a broad smile on his face. No, he was trying to hide a bursting laugh. His face literally radiated happiness.
[Manager has donated 10,000 won.]
[Sang-Hyeon, you look happy today~? Did something good happen?]
— Manager lol
— Ah, I flinched thinking about the company for a second lol
— lol lol
— Ah, it’s great~ Got the manager's monthly salary in one go~ lol lol
— lol what an office comedy
"Ah. Yes, Manager. Donations are really popping today."
Although Almond usually didn’t mention donations much, today was an exceptional day.
— lol for real
— Why is it popping? I really don't know.
— It's just one of those days~
If he didn’t mention it on a day like this, it would look like he was deliberately ignoring it. Being genuinely happy about receiving many donations also pleased those who donated.
"Seems like guns are more popular than bows..." Almond pondered while scratching his head.
— Ah…
— Almond betrayed the bow lol
— Sang-Hyeon, your archery seniors are watching you with sharp eyes
— for real lol bows are less popular than guns
— Just saw the fiery taste of guns and got hooked~
He casually muttered a remark and viewers teased him playfully.
Ding.
[Eggplant has donated 3,000 won.]
[Almond feels alive shooting capitalist gunpowder weapons after always using medieval weapons. Who agrees~?]
— lol lol lol lol big recommend!
— lol Eggplant lol
— This guy always stuffs his donations full of rice lol lol
— Medieval weapons lol agree lol lol
Ding.
[RubySword has donated 100,000 won.]
[Bow-wielding Almond vs Gun-wielding Eggplant]
— Vote 1
— Match~
— Isn't this a fixed match? lol lol
— Eggplant needs to wear an Iron Man suit to balance it lol
— 1111
"Ah. Thank you RubySword for another 100,000 won donation. I’m ready for the match~"
— lol lol
— Match lol it's funny when he says it
— It's a match~ lol lol
— Why doesn’t Eggplant respond to donations? lol
— But seriously, donations today are insane
[Eggplanty has donated 50,000 won.]
[Eggplant shamelessly donating a thousand won while everyone else is donating in ten thousand increments. Who agrees~?]
— I agree~
— lol lol lol
— That's too much lol lol
— Eggplant is crying
Ding.
[Manager: Please note, familiar nicknames are bannable]
Ju-Hyeok suddenly posted a notice in the chat.
— Ah…
— Oh no
— Is that considered too familiar...?
— Don't cross the line, kids tsk tsk
The viewers frequently mentioned each other's nicknames, which could potentially lead to cliques.
"Oh. What? You were watching."
Sang-Hyeon felt somewhat relieved when he realized that Ju-Hyeok was watching from somewhere. Nevertheless, the situation did not evolve into cliques forming. Instead, the donors kept each other in check and the donations skyrocketed.
"Thank you for your donation, Eggplanty. I agree~"
— lol lol he agrees
— lol lol
— Are you Eggplant?
— lol lol
— Eggplant…
Sang-Hyeon wanted to continue teasing Eggplant.
"Anyway, thanks to you too, Eggplant~"
He didn’t want to tease them anymore since they were regulars who donated a few thousand won each time. He thanked them and finished.
— Anyway, thank you~ lol lol
— Anyway, thanks lol
— It's true, thanks to Eggplant we made more lol
— Guys~ say thanks to Eggplant~
— But he thanked him lol
— lol lol
Ding.
Another donation came in.
[KimCheomJi has donated 10,000 won.]
[A Lucky Day]
— lmao lol
— Shh!
— Hey!
— Shut up tsk tsk
— Be mindful
Although the donation openly teased him, Sang-Hyeon just kept grinning.
"Yes, KimCheomJi. It is indeed a lucky day."
— Fyi: Art students are known for sleeping during Korean class, so they don’t know what a lucky day is
— KimCheomJi lol lol
— Poor thing knows nothing~ slept through class~
Sang-Hyeon crossed the Hitman Simulator booth.
"Hm?"
He sensed something odd. He knew from previous experiences at smaller game events like Run Guys that there was no celebration ceremony.
"What’s with this funeral home atmosphere?"
The booth had a strangely somber atmosphere. Even Sang-Hyeon, who wasn't particularly perceptive, felt something was off. Other players could possibly even feel overwhelmed by this atmosphere and turn back.
— ??
— Booth cleaning up?
— It seems like they’re about to close lol
— Is it almost over?
"Ah."
After checking the chat, Sang-Hyeon guessed the reason.
"It’s almost time for the final tally."
The current time was 8:23 P.M. The event would end at 9 P.M. with a final tally of the scores.
Of course, the booth’s funeral atmosphere had nothing to do with the upcoming tally. Given the timing, Sang-Hyeon and the viewers didn’t think much of it.
Sang-Hyeon took out his phone and said, "I'll go meet with Walnut and head over together."
He planned on going to the final event with Ju-Hyeok.
[Sang-Hyeon: Where are you?]
[Ju-Hyeok: I'm already at the event venue. Came out for work and just waiting here]
[Sang-Hyeon: Ah. Okay.]
[Sang-Hyeon: But where is that?]
The announcement aired before Ju-Hyeok could respond back.
Ding-dong~
[Attention participants: The final tally of today's challenge points will begin in 30 minutes at 9:00 PM sharp. The event location is…]
***
As they headed to the venue, announcements continued to spread from speakers everywhere.
[… The event location is at H34 Stage. You may use your collected challenge points to purchase various items today. Those ranking high in challenge points can expect great rewards…]
Sang-Hyeon murmured regretfully as he moved through the crowd flocking to the settlement location.
"Wow. It feels like everything is ending now. I wish it was G-Star every day."
— lmao lol lol lol
— So cute lol lol
— This is why he gets donations.
— He just has a way with money.
— The final tally isn't over yet!
Indeed, Sang-Hyeon was unaware that the final tally was also considered the highlight of G-Star. That was why so many people were heading there.
"But there are a lot of people going to the event."
Sang-Hyeon felt puzzled as he watched the crowds. To him, the final tally only mattered to those who had collected challenge points.
"Wow!"
"Is it finally starting?"
"How much did you collect?"
Everyone excitedly chatted with each other.
— There's a lot to do at the tally
— They hold auctions and all sorts of things
— The Nut can likely buy about three epic version iPads with all his points lol
The final tally marked the end of the event, but also the start of something new. Challenge points were not just for rewarding 1 million won to first place and 500,000 won to second. That was just extra.
A lot more could be done with challenge points. Not only could one buy various souvenirs, but expensive electronic devices were also available. That was why each game booth had to buy challenge points from G-Star at a high price.
"Ah. Is that so? It was money after all."
— lol just money
— Might as well exchange it. True to form.
— Sang-Hyeon's eyes getting unusually big…
As he said, challenge points were as good as money. In fact, they were possibly even better for gamers considering the limited edition goods and electronic device editions sold only at G-Star.
It was a currency that could buy things that money usually couldn't. There were definitely enthusiasts who had been waiting just for this moment.
"Here comes the final tally. My destroyer... my savior..."
"Wow, the auction is nerve-wracking."
"I missed it by a whisker last time... this time..."
Because of this event, streamers and gamers were keen on the challenges. Since introducing this system, G-Star attracted gamers who approached the event competitively and enhanced the entertainment value.
Giving back the participation fees collected from game companies to the participants reinvigorated the event.
That wasn't the end. G-Star created a reward system for ranking challenge points to prevent laziness after collecting enough points for desired items.
The prize for the first place always came with something special.
"By the way, I wonder who will be first this time."
People were curious about who would be first.
"What's the prize for first place?"
"Prize money and new game drops."
"Wow. Drops? That’s useful for streamers."
"First place is almost always a streamer."
Challenge points were as good as money, so the rewards were usually things that would help in streaming or something special to gamers. Of course, some would prefer the money...
"Ah. Over there."
Following the bustling crowd, Sang-Hyeon arrived at the venue. From a distance, Ju-Hyeok and BornToB waved.
"Here!"
"Over here!"
Sang-Hyeon waved back and made his way to them. It took some time and it was already 8:50 P.M. when he arrived.
The final tally show was about to begin.
"I'm going to get ten million won."
Sang-Hyeon whispered to his viewers as he sat down.
The chat went strangely silent for a moment. Only a few short sentences popped up.
— lol lol
— Let’s go~~
— Gotta get it~~