Chapter 53
It’s My Business, Got a Problem? (2)
3.
Cold.
The looks I was getting were downright icy—sharp enough to hurt.
The people who had been passionately arguing a moment ago all turned to me, frowning.
Every one of them… sixth-floor players.
Once, I had casually asked Inseop how many there were in total.
He’d said seventy-seven, wasn’t it?
Considering China and Japan each have well over two hundred sixth-floor players, Korea’s seventy-seven really highlights the gap.
So yeah—given that, everyone gathered here definitely belongs to a top-tier Korean guild.
Inside this cramped meeting room, there were four players recognized as “sixth-floor.”
Three of them looked ready to kill me.
The fourth looked at me like I was some kind of rare animal.
“Anyone want to take the Yacha role?”
I basked in their stares as I casually walked deeper inside.
At the head of the table—the seat of honor—one chair was empty.
And behind that chair stood a familiar face.
“Director Cheon. I’m not interrupting, am I?”
I called out in a sly, easygoing voice, and Mirage Guild’s Director Cheon Woo-hyuk smiled brightly, waving his hand.
“Of course not. We were just about to decide on the raid leader. You should’ve let us know you were coming.”
Our masochistic director personally pulled the chair out for me, as if inviting me to sit.
I savored the chill in the room as I walked toward it.
The woman seated in the main chair rose and greeted me cheerfully.
“Nice to meet you, Player Yoo Sung-woo. I’m Cheon Ria, Guild Master of Mirage. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Ah, pleasure’s mine. And next to me here is—”
Just as I was about to introduce Inseop, Ria wrapped an arm around his shoulder with a bright smile.
“Oh, I already know him. It’s been a while, Inseop. You’ve been avoiding my calls lately, huh?”
“Haha, been doing well, noona. Just got busy, that’s all.”
Inseop’s about 175 centimeters tall, and since they’re roughly eye-level, she’s around the same height.
Fair skin, shoulder-length hair.
Wearing glasses with no lenses, and a bracelet on her right wrist that shimmered faintly blue.
A sleeveless beige knit top with wide pants—an easy summer look.
Except…
‘It’s winter right now.’
Does she just not feel the cold?
Her sense of season was shot, but somehow, it suited her.
Conclusion: quirky, but not the pretentious type of guild master.
Someone I could probably talk to easily.
“Glad you get along with Inseop. He’s like a little brother to me.”
“I feel the same. Though we had a bit of a falling out a month ago due to… some incident.”
“Oh? Our Inseop doesn’t seem like the troublemaking type.”
“Well, one of our guild’s rising stars had a rough time after appearing on his stream. Nothing serious—just business. Right, Inseop?”
“I made a follow-up video featuring Mirage afterward, didn’t I?”
Yeah, Inseop really is connected to everyone in the Abyss scene.
And Cheon Ria—I’d heard a ton about her.
One of the top-tier players currently challenging the sixth-floor advancement quest.
Do-yoon’s old comrade.
And now she even knows Inseop. Lots of overlap with my world.
“Please, make yourself at home.”
“How kind of you.”
I sank into the chair—it had just the right amount of cushion.
From here, I could see everyone’s faces clearly.
A minute ago, the room had been a chaotic marketplace.
Now, everyone was watching carefully, quiet.
Aw, come on, my little troublemakers. You’re behaving already? Too soon for that.
“Now that Player Yoo Sung-woo is here, let’s resume the meeting.”
Director Cheon Woo-hyuk seemed to be chairing the session.
He spoke smoothly and confidently.
“Oh, and for the record, the representative for Mirage Guild in this raid will be Player Yoo Sung-woo.”
I raised my hand.
Director Cheon leaned in slightly.
“Yes, do you have a question?”
“I’m the representative?”
“Yes, that’s correct. We wouldn’t dare order you around. It’s only natural.”
“So you’re just slapping a title on me, huh?”
“If you’re uncomfortable with it, you can decline.”
“No, this sounds fun. I’ll do it.”
After all, to stir the pot properly, you need authority.
And I’d been getting bored anyway. Perfect timing.
Once I nodded, the meeting continued.
“Currently, Japan is demanding all five of the quota slots originally allocated to China.”
At that, a middle-aged man with a thick mustache frowned.
“And the government? No mediation?”
“Since this raid is being coordinated between guilds rather than governments, they’ve stated they won’t intervene.”
“Would’ve been nice to know that earlier. Fine, whatever. Once Japan starts drooling, we’re screwed anyway.”
His grumble drew nods from others—everyone looking irritated.
Where did all the fighting energy from earlier go?
Anyway, Japan taking over China’s spots? Not happening.
“Director Cheon.”
“Yes, Player Yoo?”
“Why should we give them that? China ceded it to Korea in the first place.”
The mustached man snorted.
“You’re missing the big picture, kid. There’s no point picking a fight with Japan. Typical streamer logic. Guildmaster Cheon, are you sure it’s wise to invite people who can’t see the big picture?”
Ah, perfect.
Today’s idiot of the day: you.
“Hey, what’s your name?”
“Kim Yoo-jin. Maru Guild.”
“You know me?”
“Do I need to? Just doing you a favor, telling you this isn’t a playground for newbies. No point butting heads with Japan over a third-floor raid slot. Once you climb higher, you’ll understand.”
“No, I asked if you know me.”
“…What?”
“Then why the hell are you talking down to me?”
The curse slipped out naturally, and Mustache Man’s face twisted into an ugly scowl.
“Did you just say that to me?”
Oh, delicious reaction.
While I was savoring his outrage, Inseop whispered quietly,
“Hey, hyung. That guy—he used to be a gangster. He’s Maru Guild’s enforcer.”
“So gangsters go legit now? What a time to be alive.”
“He’s a sixth-floor player. You really shouldn’t provoke him.”
Provoke him?
Hell, that’s exactly what I should do.
Especially with Mirage Guild backing me.
“Hey, Mr. Kim.”
“Mr. Kim?”
“Use honorifics before I rip your mouth open. Or better yet, I’ll install a bidet in it myself.”
So, Maru Guild takes in ex-gangsters, huh? No wonder they lack class.
Now, a pop quiz:
What happens when a hot-headed ex-gangster top player gets publicly insulted?
Answer?
“This son of a—!”
Bzzt!
They charge in like insects on crack.
That’s the key to being a great troublemaker—learn what gets under their skin.
I grinned as his fist came flying toward me.
“Oh, this is going to be fun.”
Let the Gold Child of Meteor shine!
BOOOOM!
4.
The meeting room was a total disaster zone.
“Just so you all know,” I said casually, “those Chinese players yesterday? Do-yoon took them all down alone.”
The once plain wall now had a new piece of art.
Title: Man Embedded in Wall.
Kim… something. Kim Yoo-jin, right?
He was stuck halfway into the wall, unconscious.
The highlight of the piece: the mustache—nicely moistened with spit.
See how thoughtful I am? I even moisturized his facial hair.
“So, gentlemen. Why so quiet now? Weren’t you all ready to rip each other’s throats out a minute ago?”
I sipped the coffee Director Cheon had poured for me.
Nice aroma.
While I leisurely dominated the room, Cheon Ria whispered to her brother.
“He’s way crazier than you said.”
“Satisfied?”
“Oh, I love it. I actually prefer maniacs. Any chance we can recruit him?”
“Doubtful. Unless you try a honey trap.”
“Hmm, maybe I should. He’s kinda my type. But what if that doesn’t work?”
“I could try a handsome man trap instead. Might be into that.”
“…Oppa. Please. Have some prejudice for once.”
Yeah, I can hear you both, idiots.
Brother-sister gossip—muted.
“Anyway,” I said, “those quota slots China gave up should obviously go to Korean guilds. They gave them up as an apology. What gives Japan the right to take them?”
A bespectacled man cautiously raised his hand.
“Normally, raid quotas are distributed based on the officially announced raid territories. This one was 60% Korea, 20% Japan, and 20% China.”
“Go on.”
“Japan’s argument is that since China forfeited its 20%, the quotas should be recalculated from scratch.”
“Except that was a direct concession to Korea.”
“Well… it’s complicated. There are diplomatic factors. And since Japan’s a seventh-floor nation, if they get serious, they could make things difficult for us in the Abyss.”
Right. The Abyss runs on greed—and national borders still matter here.
The administrators designed it that way on purpose.
Higher-ranked nations get better player benefits, widening the gap further.
If Japan acts like this with just a one-floor lead, imagine the future.
No way the disparity will shrink. It’ll only grow.
“In that case,” I said, “let’s do this.”
A great idea had just struck me.
“Director Cheon, you said there’s a joint practice session before the raid, right?”
“Yes, next Tuesday.”
See, a real streamer knows how to milk a situation.
You don’t just film a raid—you create content.
China’s out of the picture, but Japan’s still around.
And come on, a Korea–Japan match? You can’t lose that.
Korea versus Japan always sells.
Korea’s rising star versus Japan’s ace—what a perfect setup.
“Let’s settle it in that match.”
This isn’t a cliché—it’s a classic.
“Oh, right. One more thing.”
Everyone stared at me silently, probably remembering how I’d one-shot a sixth-floor player.
“I’ll be broadcasting the match exclusively on my stream. Any objections? Raise your hand.”
Of course, no one moved.
No one here wanted to become the next wall ornament.
“See? Democracy in action. Oh, by the way—who can contact the Japanese side?”
“I’ll handle it,” said Director Cheon immediately.
He whipped out his phone and began speaking rapid Japanese.
Hmm. What if they refused?
Should I just go raise hell in their territory?
5.
But as if laughing at my concern—
[Breaking News: KOREA–JAPAN SHOWDOWN CONFIRMED!]
Post: LMAO, apparently Korea and Japan are having a match before the raid. They’re calling it a “friendly,” but it’s obviously over the China quota thing. Streamed exclusively on Meteor’s channel.
Replies:
ㄴ ???
ㄴ That quota was China’s apology to Korea, though.
ㄴ This has Meteor written all over it.
ㄴ And Japan actually accepted? Against Meteor?
ㄴ (Link) Check 3ch—tons of “Meteor’s overrated” and “Meteor’s fake” posts. Looks like Japan’s ready to go all-in.
ㄴ Korean “honorary Japanese” users are spreading it too lol.
ㄴ Fact: Japan’s been looking down on Korea since day one.
ㄴ Shouldn’t we be preparing for the actual raid instead??
ㄴ Who cares—grab popcorn. Korea’s screwed anyway lol.
ㄴ The guy’s a content-crazed lunatic.
ㄴ Whatever. Thanks to Meteor, there’s always something to watch. Cheers 🍻
Korea vs Japan.
Officially confirmed.
