Chapter 79
Line Up (2)**
3.
This was the U.S. Paranormal Abilities Department, First Management Bureau, located in California.
Knock, knock, knock.
Avery Klein, the director of the Pacific Region’s First Management Bureau, spoke casually while holding a cup of coffee.
“Come in.”
“I’m entering, Director.”
A man walked in through the door.
He bowed politely to Avery, then smiled.
“You called for me.”
“Ryan. Your flight is today, right?”
“Yes, in five hours.”
“I called because there’s something we should talk about sitting down. Have a seat.”
Following his superior’s order, Ryan Beckett—team leader of Team 1 in charge of Northeast Asia—smiled and took a seat.
Once Ryan sat, Avery poured him coffee and asked,
“Busy these days, aren’t you?”
“Kinda impossible not to be.”
“Our line of work is only good when there isn’t much to do.”
“I even canceled my vacation to Malta, Director. You’ll compensate me later, right?”
“You’ve already played plenty, haven’t you? Saying that makes me sad, you know?”
After some light small talk, Ryan took a sip of his coffee and calmly set it down.
“I think I know why you called me so urgently.”
“Yeah. The Pentagon contacted us.”
“Is this about the Meteor Shower player?”
“Exactly.”
Avery pulled a document from a stack on the side of his desk and pushed it toward Ryan.
“Do you think Mr. Yoo will sell that transcendental-grade trait? Intelligence says the Chinese government is already moving. The Japanese too.”
“Well… shouldn’t you ask the intelligence agencies? I’m not the right guy to predict that.”
“You’re the only one on our side who’s met that kid.”
“Hm.”
Ryan carefully examined the document.
Several Chinese corporate representatives had suddenly entered Korea—most backed by the Chinese government.
They were “companies” only in name. In reality, the inside functioned like guilds.
Corporations whose influence grew through players and the loot they brought from the Abyss.
China fundamentally rejects the guild system, fearing it weakens state control.
“Want the honest answer?”
“Go ahead.”
“He’s not going to sell.”
“Probability?”
“How would I know? It’s not like I’m Meteor Shower. But I can guarantee one thing—there’s almost a zero percent chance he sells it to China.”
Ryan set the document down and grinned at the director.
“That’s what you’ve been worried about, right? That China might get their hands on a transcendental-grade trait.”
“I trust you, but the pressure from upstairs is no joke. They’re screaming about congressional hearings if that trait crosses into China.”
“You know how it is between Korea, China, and Japan.”
The three Northeast Asian nations.
Relations were never great, but ever since the Abyss appeared, the competition became vicious.
Before, it was just military competition.
Now, it was direct Abyss competition.
And among the three, Korea had definitely been lagging behind.
“Honestly, we haven’t given Korea much support either. Even though they’re our ally.”
“Japan’s our ally too. And if we want to check China in the Abyss, we naturally support the side with better potential.”
“You saw the report from my discussion with Korea’s Ability Management Department. That’s the current reality.”
Ryan leaned back, smiling lazily, and ran a hand over his face.
“If he was planning to sell his trait, he wouldn’t be acting like this. He’d be kicking up a huge fuss and making a proper business out of it.”
“But if it does go to China, we’ll have to overhaul our entire Northeast Asia strategy. What if he has some complicated plan with the Korean government—”
“Director.”
“What.”
“Meteor Shower is just a crazy bastard. Nothing is more pointless than trying to guess what a crazy bastard is thinking.”
Ryan recalled Yoo Sung-woo from the Korean Ability Management Department meeting.
Totally unpredictable.
Everything he had done so far hadn’t just been unconventional—it was beyond that.
He’d easily demolished Japan’s top prospects.
And in raids, he’d shown quick decision-making and improvisation on a level impossible for someone who had just entered the 3rd floor.
He fought like a veteran with years of experience.
A 3rd floor player and “veteran” were fundamentally incompatible terms—yet Yoo Sung-woo made it possible.
“If he won’t sell to China… how about we buy it? Congress said they’d fund it. If it’s throwing money around, we’re pretty damn good at that.”
“How much are you planning to offer?”
“Enough to make refusal difficult?”
“He’s putting out results like this at just the 3rd floor. You want to bribe him with money? That’ll never work.”
The longtime universal rule:
If money doesn’t work, the amount is too small.
But Ryan was certain—money would not work on Yoo Sung-woo at all.
“When dealing with someone that insane, putting money on the scale is idiotic.”
“Then what do we put on the other side of the scale?”
“How should I know?”
“What?”
“If I knew that, I’d already be the director, wouldn’t I?”
Avery let out a deep sigh and shook his head. He waved his hand.
“Fine, fine. Then what do you suggest we do?”
“What else? Do exactly what we’re doing now—no, get even friendlier. That’s the best option.”
“What about offering him U.S. citizenship?”
“I brought that up once. He didn’t budge. Better not half-ass it. Just openly get friendly country-to-country. Push hard, support loudly. Korea succeeded in its recent raid and got an insane buff. Their players are going to rise fast now.”
One newcomer who appeared like a comet in a small Northeast Asian country.
And it took him barely half a year to break the balance that had been maintained ever since the Abyss appeared.
Calling him a monster was not enough.
Natural disaster.
Calamity.
Those words fit far better.
“At least he’s part of an ally nation. That’s good for us. Thankfully, the side he’s most likely to turn against isn’t us—it’s China.”
“So what you’re saying is… line up properly?”
“As expected of the director I respect. I’ll do my best for the United States of America.”
The only thing one can do about a disaster is prepare well.
Ryan stood and bowed slightly.
“Well, seems like you asked everything you wanted, so I’ll be going.”
“Alright. Need anything else?”
Ryan paused, thinking, then grinned.
“If you’re bored, Director… try subscribing to Meteor’s MeTube channel. It has English subtitles now. Who knows? Maybe he’ll treat you nicely later if you’re one of his subscribers.”
Because Yoo Sung-woo was weirdly obsessed with MeTube.
Ryan smirked and left the director’s office.
4.
“Someone talking about me?”
“Why?”
“My ears are itching like crazy.”
I casually scratched my ear and shrugged.
I was currently at a gukbap restaurant near the Seoul West Gate.
I had a lunch appointment.
“Why don’t we get something pricier than gukbap? I was gonna treat you to Korean beef.”
“I’m good, hyung.”
“At least get the special.”
“I can’t even finish one bowl of this.”
“Hmph.”
Tae-oh gave an awkward smile and took a spoonful of soup.
My diligent editor.
He’s so hardworking he even uploaded a new video before our meeting today.
The Korea–Japan match MAD movie.
Responses were great.
-
This is a real MAD movie
-
A ‘mad’ movie lol
-
He’s just a crazy bastard lol
-
No regrets watching live lol
-
I watched at work and my boss caught me, then watched with me lol
-
GOD MAD GOD MAD
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What’s with this editing quality lol
-
That final sword burst was insane
It was focused on the “Reverse Heaven” I showed Tatsuya during our match, and the editing nailed the moment where the sky and earth flipped.
Honestly, it was more impactful than the live footage.
A true treasure.
“Want more kkakdugi?”
“I’m really fine, hyung. I’m full.”
“Something happened lately?”
“Huh?”
“You’ve had this stiff expression since earlier. Just wondering if work’s been too much.”
Tae-oh awkwardly laughed and put down his spoon. After hesitating, he spoke quietly.
“Daehos hyung contacted me again yesterday.”
“Daehos? Ah.”
Korea’s number one Abyss MeTuber.
Average 30,000 viewers per stream.
The only 6th-floor player who streams.
And Tae-oh’s former boss.
They even went to court.
So why the hell was that bastard contacting him?
“He said my editing quality improved, and that we should forget the past. He’ll pay double if I come back.”
“That shameless piece of shit.”
It was expected—ever since my channel blew up, the one losing the most was Daehos.
Lower average views, losing viewers whenever our stream times overlapped…
Modern competition, sure, but as the so-called top dog, I guess his pride wouldn’t let him swallow it.
“So I just sent him one text.”
“What text?”
‘I said “F*** off.”’
“Then blocked him.”
Hearing that from normally quiet Tae-oh was surprising.
How badly did that bastard traumatize him?
But more importantly—
“That foamy fraud bastard tried to steal my employee? He’s done.”
Crunch—!
My hand unconsciously tightened, bending the spoon.
Tae-oh waved his hands quickly.
“Hyung, I’m okay, really. I actually feel relieved I finally cursed at him. I never did before.”
“Why?”
“…Because I was scared.”
He was still stuck in that trauma.
He shivered a little as he said it.
I gave a bitter smile and nodded.
I’ll help him get over that someday.
Maybe bring Daehos to him and let him slap the guy? Would that help?
Still, I needed to address one thing.
“Tae-oh.”
“Yes?”
“Send me his number.”
“I’m really fi—”
“I’m not fine. If you don’t give it, I’ll just ask Inseop. I’ll call him after today’s stream.”
Some things need to be handled loudly so they don’t repeat.
He picked a fight first.
Swearing at him would still be legal.
Daehos, huh.
I’ve been itching for someone to beat up lately.
Tae-oh asked carefully,
“You’re not going to actually hit him… right?”
“You worried I’ll lose to Korea’s #1 MeTuber?”
“No… I’m worried that if you hit him wrong, he might die. I barely got a new job, and if my boss goes to prison for assault, I’m screwed.”
“Ah.”
So losing wasn’t the concern.
I chuckled and nodded.
“Still, thanks for being honest. It feels bad when family hides stuff.”
“…Family?”
“I told you. You’re family too. We work together, eat together this often—that’s family.”
People are the most precious asset—you can’t argue with that.
Tae-oh blushed slightly, embarrassed.
“Oh, right, hyung. You’re going for your 4th-floor advancement quest later, right?”
“Yeah.”
“You might run into someone. Gguk-jeong… He’s a famous Abyss drama-baiter. He’s also doing his 4th-floor advancement.”
“Gguk-jeong?”
“When you debuted as a streamer, he’s the guy who accused you of faking your footage. But the advancement quests pick one of three trials at random, so you might not meet him. I just wanted you to know.”
…What?
That rat bastard who sniped me…
Is going to be at the same place I’m headed?
“Tell me more.”
“About Gguk-jeong?”
“Everything.”
A miracle Matryoshka.
GOAT, it’s you again?
