DCRBG 13

Chapter 13

Just Run (2)

<Title: Surprise Live Broadcast Notice. Starting in 10 minutes. Capsule gacha + raffle incoming>
<Content: Something good might happen if you watch live?>

The scene shifts to the appraisal room on the second floor of the Seoul branch of the Ability Management Bureau.

Normally, this was a place where players freely came and went to get their items appraised, but thankfully, the Bureau had provided me with a private room.

They usually used it as a meeting room, and sure enough, it was pretty spacious.

“Um, Mr. Sungwoo?”
“Yes.”
“Do we really need to participate? We’re just renting you the room…”
“As you know, it’s only my second day streaming. Is it too much of a burden? That’s a little sad… but if it’s really uncomfortable for you, I can’t force it.”
“…No, it’s fine.”

Was it thanks to the subscriber event?

My subscriber count had already passed 50,000.

Fifty. Thousand.

That’s a tenfold increase in just two days.

At this rate, even a Silver Play Button didn’t seem like just a dream. And when I hit 100,000, my ability would unlock to the next stage too.

Ah, feels like my teeth are already rotting from smiling so much.

“Please take care of me today. Oh, and your name is…?”
“Lee Ji-hyun.”
“Would you mind appearing on stream?”
“Not at all! In this industry, name value is everything.”

Apparently, there were also private appraisal companies.

The higher the capsule drop floor, the higher the required appraisal level. The Bureau only offered free appraisals up to the 3rd floor.

Since appraisal level rose with more practice, most appraisal players worked in the Bureau first as civil servants, then transferred to private companies.

For them, popularity was another weapon. So for Ji-hyun and me, this was a win-win.

“Today’s stream won’t be too long. Just the appraisal, then the raffle.”

The real reason I wanted the Bureau on stream was simple.

Right now, strange rumors were spreading about me online. Even if they were spread by “fans,” bad rumors are never good.

So, if the Ability Management Bureau appeared on my stream?

That alone boosted my credibility. It was practically like having an official government certification mark.

I was pretty sure Deputy Chief Choi had figured that much out too. He wasn’t the type to miss a hint.

“Deputy Chief Choi, shall we go together?”
“Then you’ll need to sign a contract.”
“Do friendships always need paperwork? I don’t think so. Friendship can’t be documented.”
“There’s no law saying it can’t be.”

This guy was persistent.
So this was how he planned to corner me?

No good—I’d better steer this back on track.

“Alright then, shall we get the stream ready?”

I smoothly pulled out the prep items from my inventory:

A filming drone and two rare-grade capsules.

They glowed with a dazzling golden-yellow shine—definitely expensive-looking.

Please, let me hit the jackpot today. If I pulled an item worth billions, I’d honestly jump around like crazy.

“By the way, I’ve been really satisfied with this drone. The AI level is amazing.”
“Actually, that AI technology is military-grade. The manufacturer’s American.”
“No wonder—it kept its distance automatically while I was fighting.”

Even outside the Abyss, preparing for a broadcast wasn’t much different.

I popped in my earpiece, booted up the drone, and—

[Would you like to start the broadcast?]

Everything was ready in an instant.

Honestly, this was easier than the old days. Back then, setting up a computer stream took forever. Now, I just wore the earpiece and it was done.

No need to even mess with camera settings.

As for today’s title…

“Hm. Simple is best.”

[Set Broadcast Title: Starting Capsule Gacha Right Now (ft. Ability Management Bureau)]

Perfect.

“Start broadcast.”

At my command:

[Broadcast is starting.]
[Synchronized with your system.]
[Currently connected to channel <MeTube – Meteor>.]

The broadcast start messages floated before my eyes.

And moments later—

meha
meha
Wait, are we really doing the raffle today?
Isn’t it too soon for a raffle after just one day?
Total surprise stream lol
Who taught you to post announcements just 10 minutes before starting?

The familiar chat window popped up in the corner of my vision.

Meteor’s second stream—
begins now!

4.

Viewers who entered reacted with surprise.

Is this really the Ability Management Bureau?
They usually don’t allow filming, right? Say it’s classified.
Thanks to Megod, I finally get to see inside the Bureau.
Damn, I can watch the Bureau from my room now. What a world.
Did you sign a direct contract with them?

Definitely fewer trolls than yesterday.

Smiling leisurely, I greeted the viewers.

“Remember, I said I’d talk casually starting today? Good to see you, guys. It’s Meteor.”

The chat exploded with replies.

?
How old are you to be talking down to us?
Hey. Kid. I’m forty-two. Show some respect.
Are we doing the whole ‘older brother’ thing? Bro, send me a million won and I’ll call you hyung for life.
So when’s the raffle? I’m already imagining buying a house with my prize lol
Since you’re streaming with the Bureau, no chance of you scamming us, right?
Watching from work hoping to win a capsule draw.

Scratch that—there were still plenty of crazy ones.
Maybe because it was morning, most of the chat were hardcore types.

Still, viewer numbers were climbing even faster than yesterday.

The mood was good.

“Let’s introduce today’s guests. Deputy Chief Choi?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Could you give us a self-introduction?”

He instantly put on a polished expression.

A neat suit, a well-practiced smile.

He’d looked reluctant earlier, but now he was all business.

“Day and night, the Ability Management Bureau works tirelessly for the safety of the people and the advancement of players. Nice to meet you all—I’m Choi Sung-hoon, Deputy Chief of the Special Unit 2 at Bureau HQ.”

Clearly, he had broadcast experience. Smooth as could be.

Oh hey, I know this guy. Doesn’t he sometimes lead press briefings?
Do they recruit the Bureau by looks or what?
Tall, skilled, and handsome… great.
It’s too early in the morning for me to feel this bad.
LOL Megod’s guest lineup is insane. Did he really contract the Bureau?

“No, no contract. We just agreed to stay friendly. What can I say? I’m a patriot. Sergeant, 3rd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, honorably discharged.”

Okay, respect.
A proper veteran.
Wait, so you served before becoming a player? That sucks lol
Don’t unserved players get automatically contracted to the Bureau?
Yeah, that’s true.

So that was the law, huh.
If you hadn’t served, you had to become a Bureau player by contract.

That alone showed how seriously the state took the Abyss.

After his intro, it was time for the appraiser.

Ji-hyun bowed shyly toward the camera drone.

“Hello! I’m Lee Ji-hyun, an appraiser at the Seoul Branch of the Ability Management Bureau. I’ll do my best today!”

The chat reaction was totally different this time.

Noonaaaaaa
Seriously, are they hiring by looks??
The mood just changed instantly.
Is this Seoul branch? I live in Daejeon, but I’ll come to Seoul for appraisals from now on.

…Unbelievable.

They didn’t cheer like this when I started streaming.

Jealous, I quickly shoved the capsules in front of Ji-hyun.

“Alright, enough intros. Shall we get to today’s main dish?”

Show the goods already.
Honestly, Megod’s good-looking too though.
Yessss Megod.
Gacha gacha gacha gacha!
Hey, does Ji-hyun have golden hands? Rumor says appraisers can influence drop rates.

[Abyss Encyclopedia has donated 10,000 won!]

Info) Appraiser skills don’t affect item drop rates. They only expand the appraisal range.

“Thanks for the info, Abyss Encyclopedia! Always appreciate you!”

Why do you speak politely only to him?
Thought you said you’d drop honorifics.

“If you’re jealous, you donate too.”

LOLOL
True, money makes the rules.
Capitalism’s slave lol
Honestly more likable for being upfront.
The true Meteor review.

“Ms. Ji-hyun? Please go ahead.”
“Should I do both at once?”
“Is that possible?”
“I’ve got two hands, don’t I? It’s fine.”

Time for fate to decide.

Maybe I should’ve checked a fortune teller beforehand. Even AI horoscopes are decent these days.

“What’s the minimum value for these, roughly?”
“Hmm… for a 1st-floor rare capsule, about 5 million won. On average, the items go for around 20 million.”
“And if it’s a good one?”
“It can exceed a hundred million. There was even a 1.2 billion won item once.”

As expected from an official buying institution, she knew the market cold.

Low end: 5 million. High end: billions.

If I hit big, I could literally buy a car with it.

My heart thumped. My hands shook. This was more nerve-racking than my very first broadcast.

That’s the thrill of gacha.

And this was real money. The dopamine rush was on another level—something I never felt even in another world.

Korea’s double-gacha miracle system—worthy of applause even from major game studios.

“Please take care of them.”
“Appraising Player Meteor’s two 1st-floor rare capsules. Beginning appraisal now!”

Wooooong!

A bright light enveloped the capsules from Ji-hyun’s hands.

I added a few lines for the audience.

“Once the appraisal ends, we’ll immediately do the raffle. Could be your item, guys, so pray hard.”