Chapter 118
Players Channel.
For the players of this era, it was no different from another vast virtual world.
Videos, streaming, community, betting…
With countless enjoyable features, eight out of ten players used the Players Channel. And because of that, the channel had immense influence.
『Real-time Rank 4: All the way to Asgard』
Among the hundreds of thousands of videos uploaded on the Players Channel, Lee Suhyuk’s video ranked fourth in real-time.
Valkyries, Muspelheim, and Asgard. The video was packed with numerous exciting elements that any player would find intriguing. Even the title was enough to arouse interest.
However.
– Falcon Eye, you scumbag ㅡㅡ;
The comments on that video were flooded with insults directed at a certain streamer.
– Falcon Eye, you bastard ㅡㅡ
– Falcon Eye, you jerk ㅡㅡ
– Falcon Eye, you piece of crap
– What’s going on?
The reason was simple. It was because of the viewers who came from Falcon Eye’s stream.
– This and that happened, and that’s what went down
– Oh, I see
– ?? What’s with the ‘I see’ ㅡㅡ
– LOLOLOL Falcon Eye just showed a preview of this video and then ended the stream
In a short amount of time, Falcon Eye’s stream recorded nearly 30,000 viewers. The impact of Lee Suhyuk’s stream combined with Falcon Eye’s regular viewers.
Adding to that was the word of mouth in the community.
As a result.
“… This video is blowing up.”
Checking the real-time views of the video, Un Hyang clicked his tongue. Within hours of being uploaded, the video had already surpassed 300,000 views.
At this rate, it looked possible to easily exceed a million views.
“Is the reaction good?”
“It’s great, incredibly so. It even climbed the real-time rankings.”
“Really?”
“Moreover, the views on other videos are rising too. Subscriptions are increasing…”
Although Lee Suhyuk didn’t fully understand what was being said, Un Hyang’s expression was very positive. Judging by his excitement, the response seemed to be very favorable.
Indeed.
‘It’s bound to be interesting.’
Even in Suhyuk’s opinion, this test had many elements for success. A combined test involving gods and demons. And the results were perfect.
Even before this, he had been gaining attention as the new lightning user, and the test further amplified that.
Additionally.
“If this collaborative stream goes well, we could significantly increase our viewers in one go.”
Suhyuk still had a collaborative stream left.
And it was with a major streamer, Bald Suhyuk.
***
It was quite a long journey.
The accommodation prepared by Balhae was top-notch again this time. After unpacking in the luxurious accommodation that resembled a hotel and filling his stomach with a hearty meal, Suhyuk was the first to get up from his seat.
“Where are you going?”
“I have something to take care of for a bit.”
As Suhyuk stood up first, Un Hyang looked puzzled. It was rare for Suhyuk to go somewhere alone. Whenever he did, something always seemed to happen.
Like getting ambushed or having his identity exposed.
“Give him some privacy. Suhyuk should be able to go somewhere alone, meet people, maybe even meet a girl-.”
Whack-.
Cheon Ryang, who made a comment, was immediately kicked in the shin by Un Hyang. Ignoring Cheon Ryang who was rolling on the floor clutching his aching leg, Un Hyang spoke.
“You know you shouldn’t be too late, right?”
“I’ll be back within three hours.”
“Then that’s enough time.”
Considering Suhyuk’s schedule, Un Hyang nodded. Three hours was more than enough time before the collaborative stream with Bald Suhyuk.
“I’ll be back.”
After a brief farewell, Suhyuk promptly stood up. As he left the accommodation.
Swish-.
Suhyuk took off the mask he had been wearing.
Tap-tap-.
He quickly made his way to a dark alley in the city. After passing through several alleys, he arrived at a dismal slum, hidden beneath the bright lights.
Children in ragged clothes swarming with flies. Beggars who had lost their legs crawling and begging with their arms, and women throwing stones at them.
The other side of the bright city was revealed. Amidst all this, Suhyuk, in his clean and neat clothes, stood out starkly.
With everyone’s attention on him. Suhyuk headed towards one of the shacks in the slum.
“What brings you here?”
A beggar, stark naked except for a blanket wrapped around him, greeted Suhyuk. A quite assertive statement for a beggar.
Suhyuk responded to his question.
“I came to meet the penniless rich man.”
The beggar’s eyes gleamed.
Whirl.
Turning swiftly, he responded without even looking back at Suhyuk.
“You’ve come to the right place.”
Tap-tap-.
He disappeared into the narrow interior of the shack. Literally disappeared. As if there was an unseen space behind it.
Suhyuk quietly followed him. Stepping into the back of the shack, the space around him warping, a completely different scene emerged.
Swish-.
Inside a building lit by torches. Walking slowly down the long corridor, the beggar guided Suhyuk somewhere.
“Here to buy? Or to sell?”
“To buy.”
“How did you know to come here?”
“There are places like this everywhere, aren’t there? Why ask about something you’re not even hiding?”
The beggar had no words for Suhyuk’s question and remained silent thereafter. At the end of the corridor, the beggar halted. Ahead, there was a tent-covered room.
“Enter.”
“Thanks for the guide.”
Swish-.
Suhyuk extended his hand towards the beggar.
『Consumed 10 points.』
A small tip.
“You’re quite knowledgeable.”
The beggar chuckled and walked away, clearly pleased. Leaving the beggar behind, Suhyuk entered the tent. The first thing that greeted him was the blistering heat and light of the torches that made his face flush.
The room was illuminated by even more torches.
“A new visitor, I see.”
The room, containing only a desk and two chairs, stood bare. The owner of the room was entirely different in appearance and atmosphere compared to the outside beggar.
Adorned with gold ornaments all over his body, wearing expensive silk clothes, and revealing golden teeth with a grin. A man in his late twenties with dark skin, looking unmistakably like a ‘rich man.’
“Welcome. I am the penniless rich man you sought.”
“I know you’re not.”
Scrape-.
Ignoring the man’s words, Suhyuk pulled back the chair opposite to him and sat down.
“The penniless rich man refers to Dark Map.”
“Oh-.”
The man nodded in approval, letting out a small exclamation.
“Correct. The penniless rich man is the name of our guild. So, you really do know everything.”
Penniless Rich Man.
It was a term and code word referring to the guild ‘Dark Map’. And the reason Dark Map was known as the ‘Penniless Rich Man’ was simple.
“Yes, my name is Greg. Not penniless rich man. Anyway, what kind of information are you here for? To buy? Or to sell?”
Because the product they dealt with was ‘information’. Information turns into money. Sometimes, it’s even more valuable than any treasure.
Even if you have nothing in your pockets, you can become rich if you monopolize all the world’s information. That was the ideology of Dark Map.
They existed everywhere in the tower. Players short on points would sell valuable information to earn points, while players needing specific information sought them out.
Instances of players selling information about major guilds to Dark Map for a hefty sum occurred dozens to hundreds of times a year.
“I’m here to buy.”
“What information? Oh, by the way, the information about major guilds is expensive.”
“It’s about Blue Zone.”
“Looks like I gave good advice.”
Greg’s expression turned playful. Smiling as if amused, he leaned back into his chair.
“So, what information about Blue Zone? Want me to find out Kim Ilsoo’s underwear color?”
“No need.”
Suhyuk waved his hand dismissively before continuing.
“I want to know what they did on the 6th floor, whether the rumors are true, and everything related to that.”
“Oh, that rumor?”
Greg was well-informed. From trivial rumors circulating in communities to detailed underground stories, his head was full of information.
Naturally, he was already aware of the sensational stories about Blue Zone.
“It was an interesting story. Betrayer in Blue Eyes, they said.”
Lighting his half-smoked cigar, Greg added his thoughts.
“But if it’s about that, it’s likely true.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Because without it, I can’t see a scenario where Lee Suhyuk fails.”
An unexpected answer. Greg took a long puff from his half-burnt cigar.
“Isn’t it obvious? Think about what kind of player Lee Suhyuk was. And what about the players around him? Kim Shiwoo, Kim Minjae, Choi Suhoon, Kim Yerang… each one of them is a legend.”
Facts known by everyone. But Greg added one more thought to those known facts.
“Those people, dying meaninglessly during a critical Guardian raid? I don’t think that was an accident.”
“Then what is it?”
“That’s how big guilds operate. They’re all rotten inside. Full of greed.”
“What does that greed have to do with betrayal?”
“It has everything to do with it.”
Ssss-.
As Greg extinguished his nearly finished cigar by pressing it against the table, he continued speaking.
“Competition.”
“Competitio?”
Suhyuk raised an eyebrow, seeking a more detailed explanation. However, just like the extinguished cigar, Greg’s explanation also came to a full stop.
“Alright, that’s it for your bonus. But why? Do you have any personal connection to that incident?”
When Suhyuk frowned, Greg raised his hands with a mischievous smile.
“Just kidding~. As you know, we don’t meddle in our clients’ personal matters. When selling information, it doesn’t concern us who the client is or how they’ll use it.”
This was already well-known.
Dark Map was meticulous when it came to information. As long as payment was made, they would safely deliver any information to the client.
Without such reliability, dark Map wouldn’t have grown to its current stature.
“Let’s see… Unfortunately, we don’t have that information at the moment. It’s something we’ll need to acquire separately.”
After rummaging through a kit for a while, Greg stroked his chin.
“The initial fee is at least 50,000 points. Additional costs, depending on the manpower needed to gather the information and its importance, will range from 100,000 to 1,000,000.”
“The range is too broad.”
“It’s information related to a major guild. This much is expected.”
It was what Suhyuk had anticipated. Thankfully, the down payment was within his current point range. Although it pained him, Suhyuk extended his hand as if nothing was wrong.
“I’ll place the order.”
“Thank you for trusting us, esteemed client.”
『Consumed 50,000 points.』
An amount nearly equivalent to his entire fortune was deducted. After the transaction was completed, Suhyuk took out a kit from his bosom and handed it over.
“Contact me at this number. Please make it as soon as possible.”
“Of course.”
Ding-.
Greg registered Suhyuk’s kit information into his own. Then, to store Suhyuk’s name in his kit, he asked.
“What’s your name?”
“Register it under Jung Chan-yung.”
“Jung Chan-yung…”
After saving the name in his kit, Greg looked at Suhyuk with a curious expression.
“That name really doesn’t suit you.”