Chapter 85
Boss, Gambling Should Only Be for Fun (2)
2.
The day after the enhancement system was unlocked.
I sat at home, leisurely browsing the web.
“Hot, hot.”
When a fire starts, you add fuel—basic rule 101.
And the firewood I tossed in through the Ability Management Department?
It made the flames explode instantly.
「New System Introduced in the Abyss?」
「Korea vs Japan Raid Hero ‘Meteor’! Korea Once Again in a Frenzy!」
「How Will the Abyss Change After Equipment Enhancement Is Introduced?」
「Currently, only Korea has access to equipment enhancement. Other countries may need to thoroughly search Floor 3 to find it。」
「Anonymous Chinese Player: ‘I want to naturalize into Korea. If I could enhance gear, I’m sure I could climb to higher floors.’」
「Ability Management Dept., ‘We are receiving an increasing number of naturalization inquiries. The little tiger of Asia is back.’」
「MiTuber Meteor: ‘3% stat increase per enhancement, up to +15. Cost is two mid–tier mana stones. 30% of fees will be donated to gambling addiction treatment centers.’」
Breaking news spread across all media.
To a nation starving for patriotic hype, this was more than enough stimulation.
Requests pouring in from neighboring countries.
Players from all over the world pestering their governments after watching my stream.
My popularity exploded again.
MiTube: 2 million subscribers crossed.
Membership: increased by 20,000 in a single day.
…Is it even okay to blow up this fast?
“Did this guy eat something weird? Why’s he acting like this?”
Jinseong-hyung, sitting on the sofa, turned his phone toward me.
On his screen was none other than Ggeokjeong’s newest video.
The title: “Radiant Saint vs Corrupted Has-Been.”
The person he was sniping this time—
—Look at Meteor. Isn’t he amazing?
He defended Korea’s honor in the Korea–Japan raid, cleared the dungeon with zero casualties, and now he even unlocked the world’s first enhancement system.
And on top of that, his personality? Perfect.
Did you see the article? He could’ve kept all the benefits for himself, but he’s donating 30% of the fees.
That’s what a positive influence is.
Honestly, I’m ashamed I ever criticized him. Makes me want to bite my tongue off out of embarrassment.
…Why is he praising me out of nowhere?
He filmed this overnight?
Ggeokjeong, you’re a lot more quick on your feet than you look.
But the real kicker was the part that came after.
—Meanwhile, a certain MiTuber who claims to be Abyss Rank 1… recently had both a scandal and a legal incident.
According to my source, he got drunk at an expensive bar in Gangnam and beat someone up.
The victim is hospitalized with 32 weeks of recovery time…
And the investigation was stopped because of the Player Special Act.
The polar opposite of someone who’s actually contributing positively to society.
Obviously, Abyss Rank 1 refers to Daeho.
All I had to do was subtly nudge, and Ggeokjeong went straight in for the kill.
A man with zero loyalty—switches sides like it’s a professional skill.
I expected him to betray Daeho eventually, but this fast?
Unbelievable.
“That’s Daeho, right?”
“You know him?”
“I handled a ton of cases involving that animal.
That bastard does every dirty thing behind the scenes while pretending to be righteous in public.”
If even my lawyer brother talks like that, then he must be a truly rotten guy.
He’s known for abusing his staff—so outside work, he must be even worse.
According to the saying, a bowl that leaks inside will leak outside too.
“He used to be Daeho’s mouthpiece, didn’t he? Did you beat him up after ending stream?”
“As if. What am I, a barbarian?”
“Then why’d he do a sudden 180? Strange.”
“I talked to him. Verbally.”
“No loyalty whatsoever. Don’t get close to him.”
“Don’t worry, I hate clout chasers.”
Betraying once is hard—after that? Easy.
Our relationship ends right here.
He’ll probably continue supporting me on his own anyway.
No need to stay close.
Though if he does this, he’ll definitely be targeted by Daeho…
But that’s his karma.
From what I heard, Ggeokjeong caused tons of damage to people while living as a clout-chasing leech.
He paid for what he did to me.
He still owes plenty to others.
“Seriously, the end times. People don’t know who my younger brother is. Tsk tsk. They call him a hero?”
“Aren’t I pretty nice?”
“You said that seriously?”
“…Compared to you—actually, no. You’re a public-interest lawyer. I probably am worse.”
It’s too early to compare myself to someone who works tirelessly for the public.
Still, popularity was clearly soaring.
Doing good deeds made me want to do some ego-searching.
I whistled and opened my usual online community.
First stop: the player community.
Let’s see the most upvoted post—
Why does the title look like that?
<Title: Meteor, You B@stard!!!!!!!>
Content:
Before starting the Floor 6 promotion quest, I broke open my savings to enhance my gear… and THIS happened? (Photo)
What am I supposed to do with my precious Blackie? ㅠㅠㅠ
I should’ve stopped at +10 I should’ve stopped at +10 I should’ve stopped at +10
Gimme my money back ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
Comments:
— Isn’t this guy a famous old-account user? Why’s he like this suddenly?
— LOL he went to the Primordial Forge today and blew up his weapon. The rare one he bragged about last week.
— Who held a knife to your throat to make you try +11? LOL
— Have a drink, bro. At least you donated a lot.
— Gambling addiction hotline is 1336, gambling addiction hotline is 1336
— Megod collecting players’ money and donating back to society lmao
— This is economic circulation at its finest
— Send Meteor to the National Assembly
— dae-te-o!
— OP: WTF “daeteo”? Anyone I see supporting Nuke-teo from now on, I’m biting them IRL.
— ?? Sorry can’t hear you over the sound of your weapon exploding. Speak up, king.
— OP: ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
…And we already have casualties.
Koreans addicted to dopamine truly are built different.
But hey, he posted his receipt and everything—now he’s getting attention.
Isn’t that great?
I hesitated for a moment, then dropped a comment.
Me: Hey, I’m Meteor. Thanks for the entry fee lol. Hope you keep using the service. You’re not quitting here, right? Heart of a beast, LET’S GO.
And right away—
OP: ??? If you’re actually Meteor, I’ll do Zero Two dance naked at Seoul West Abyss Gate.
Me: ;;; that’s disgusting but thank you for using our service ^^7
Of course he doesn’t believe me.
Still, all the early reviews rolling in were heartwarming.
“Hyung. Should we move to a penthouse?”
“A penthouse this time? Your lying habit is an illness.”
“I’m serious.”
At this rate, I’m going to bleed the world dry.
In gambling, the one who makes the most money is the house.
Foreign players—from Japan, China, even the US and Europe—were asking if they could travel to Korea for enhancements.
Technically, if they reach Korean territory in the Abyss, they could.
But foreign players can’t use the Korean surface gate, meaning they must access through Floor 3 instead.
Meanwhile Korean players?
They can just walk in and press a button.
This system will accelerate Korean players’ climb massively.
Add the raid buffs + enhanced gear stats—
Korea is no longer an Abyss backwater.
A strong and mighty Republic of Korea.
As it should be.
“Samjjooon! Play with Iani!”
Right then, Ian toddled over and flung himself into my arms.
I lifted him with a smile.
“Shall uncle play with you?”
“Yesh!”
“What should we play?”
“Peanut! Samjjooon hide! Ian finds!”
“Oh, hide and seek? Perfect. Turn around and close your eyes! Uncle will hide fast.”
“Yesh!”
Ian—
This uncle will never go easy on you just because you’re a kid.
I will hide with everything I have.
“Stealth.”
[Unique Trait: <Skill Archive – Mad Tower Lord Velua>]
[Skill: Stealth (3rd Circle)]
A lion uses full strength even to catch a rabbit.
Good luck, Ian.
3.
After playing a soul-consuming hide-and-seek match, I barely managed to calm down the crying Ian and left the house.
Because I used magic and vanished completely, he ended up bawling.
“Samjjooon! Peanut gone! Wuaaaaah!”
Where did he get lungs like that?
A future general, surely.
He could even become a singer.
“Hyung, over here.”
“You’re early?”
“The younger one should wait for the older one. Sit, sir.”
“What’s with you?”
This was the unmanned café near our house.
Quiet, empty on weekday afternoons—perfect for our meetups.
I sat in the seat Inseob pulled out for me.
“Hey, is my back bleeding?”
“Your shirt looks fine. Why? Did you get hurt?”
“Your father-in-law is strong.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I accidentally made Ian cry and your brother smacked my back. Damn, it stung. Thought he was a Player.”
Inseob frowned and shook his head.
“That’s what you get.”
“I regret it already. I’ll buy strawberries on the way back.”
“Do that.”
“So what’s up? You want to enhance gear too?”
At the mention of enhancements, Inseob brightened.
“Can I go?”
“Of course. It’s open to everyone.”
“Then can it be free—”
“You’re rich. Don’t you dare try to freeload. Proper payment only.”
“Wow. Ruthless.”
“Money between friends should be crystal clear.”
I sipped the iced Americano he brought me.
This café’s coffee is always kinda muddy.
But I don’t drink for taste anyway.
“There’s someone who wants to meet you. That’s why I came.”
“You could’ve called or texted.”
“It’s not something to handle lightly.”
Who in the world makes him this tense?
I crossed my legs and nodded.
“Let’s hear it.”
“After you unlocked enhancement yesterday, our company inbox got hundreds of emails. I’ll send those later.
But this person called me directly.”
“So I know them, huh.”
“You do. And… sigh… I don’t know if this is even right.”
Inseob isn’t the type to beat around the bush.
If he’s hesitant, it means this person is uncomfortable for him too.
He sighed, then looked me straight in the eyes.
“Daeho called.”
Well, that explains everything.
“Oh.”
“He wants to meet you. What do you want to do?”
I smiled faintly.
“If the Abyss Rank 1 MiTuber wants to meet me, of course I’ll meet him.”
I’m not the type to put things off.
