Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Starlight Ruin Operation
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The operation unfolded in an instant.
The goal: Starlight's total collapse.
And a clean, complete acquisition.
Dozens of people hired through a temp agency began posting across various communities.
📰 Breaking News ‘Do you know the president of Isekai Witch Raising is Chinese?’ A mysterious post appeared out of nowhere.
People were shocked by the sudden claim that the president of a hugely popular game was Chinese.
After all, a quick search on portal sites turned up a Korean name.
What the hell was this...?
— Anonymous Surprised to hear he's Chinese out of the blue, right? Unfortunately, it's true. I searched on portals at first too and saw a Korean name, so I didn't suspect a thing. But like they say, there are no eternal secrets in this world. He looks kinda Chinese despite the Korean name. So I dug into it. Whoa... check this out. (Photo) (Photo) (Photo) See this? We have this event called G-Star in Korea, right? A game expo where companies showcase titles, let people try demos, that whole festival vibe. China has something similar. This is a photo of some guy who showed up there. Look—doesn't he look exactly like him? What? Could just be a lookalike? Fair enough, maybe you're right. But check the guy's wrist. Same watch, huh? That's no off-the-shelf piece—it's custom-made. Artisans handcraft them, so money alone can't buy you one. Even funnier? They're only made in China lololol. For those still in denial despite the evidence, I got one more. (Photo) (Photo) (Photo) Lololololololol. Surprised yet? Irrefutable proof, right? No cap? One last thing. For every bad person in the world, there's a good one too. That's true anywhere. But there's that joke: "See someone cursing? Must be Chinese." How many Chinese games have launched here, tanked hard, refused refunds, and ghosted? Fun game? Can survive trash management? Nah, wishful thinking. Starlight's probably plotting an exit right now. Domestic rep's in the toilet—no way they sacrifice more. Unless some rich Korean buys it out of spite, they're done for good. 💬 Comments — Anon1 Is this legit? President's a chink? — Anon2 Fuck, search says Korean name tho? — Anon3 This illegal? Dual citizenship? — Anon4 Born in China probs. Lives in Korea. — Anon5 Full-on Chinese then? — Anon6 Won't even reveal name—def prepping to bail. The community was on the verge of exploding.
Curses flew everywhere, and calls to sue the police immediately had people running laps around the field like it wasn't enough.
This news even reached Jin-seong, who was deep into gaming at the time.
Right on cue, he was ripping into Isekai Witch Raising.
"No fucking way... bros! Does this make sense? Slipping 24 times on a 50% chance?!"
For example, a coin flip is 50% heads or tails.
What's the odds of tails 24 times in a row?
No need to calculate—you know it's decimals for days.
He'd dumped 15 million won already.
Jin-seong was so pissed he couldn't sleep.
"Games like this trash are why Korea's mobile market's falling behind. Sure, some Chinese devs are good."
Jin-seong slammed his keyboard with both fists.
Unable to contain his rage, he snorted like a wild boar.
"There's a line, though. Not 10% or 20%—50% and this happens? Anyone who knows basic math knows 50% is half!"
💬 Chat — Viewer1 Agreed; this is too much. — Viewer2 BM structure sucks. Prices higher than other games. — Viewer3 Wtf, what're players thinking with this garbage? — Viewer4 That's why we call 'em suckers lololol — Viewer5 It's fun. Fun enough to tank even if it's shit. — Viewer6 Dumped 7 mil into this. Can't quit now. Viewers started playing because the streamer did, hooked by the addictive opening cinematic and explosive growth spurts that flooded them with dopamine.
The character progression felt damn satisfying.
"Ugh, I can't let this slide. Bros! Never, ever play this game. This rigged-probability, motherfucking orphan game!"
In the end, Jin-seong deleted the game, failing to hit even 30 hours out of the 60 he'd promised Bukppudeupppu.
"This is a scam! A scaaaaam!!!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Starlight.
The game studio started with just five people but hit it big with a value-packed title.
Isekai Witch Raising.
The classic idle game.
But Ma Chun-dong, who'd benchmarked countless games, wondered: Why's the monetization so predatory?
Front-load growth to hook 'em on time investment, then trash the ops later—they won't quit 'cause sunk cost. Heh!
The infamous "Even this won't make you quit?" strategy.
Seamlessly baked into the game so players couldn't drop it despite everything.
The result: massive success.
Topped Google Play charts on launch and held top ranks for nine weeks straight.
Squeeze more. I'm Chinese—will they really prosecute me here for fraud?
Joseon Peninsula's basically a Chinese vassal. They should be grateful for a game this good!
Ma Chun-dong thought that way and gradually nerfed probabilities.
Ignoring user complaints as usual.
Heh! Milk 'em dry then bounce.
Ironically, sales didn't drop even as odds worsened—exploiting player psychology perfectly.
Too late to notice; wallets were already empty, but rankings demanded more squeezing.
Ma didn't stop there.
Rig the rankings! Sales will skyrocket.
Targeted top spenders.
Made a fake normal account, upgraded gear bit by bit.
Like peeling an onion, layer by layer.
Classic GM account to bump whales down.
Second-place guy dumped millions more for first—no dice.
If they had +10 gear, GM account rocked +11.
Shoulda hid gear from the start. No proof then. Heh!
Calling himself a genius.
Funds to live large back in China already secured.
Feeling the mood sour, Ma Chun-dong checked flights to China.
Employees left behind?
Not his problem.
Fed and housed 'em already—what more?
Idiots.
He spent the day dreaming of bliss.
Yacht? Check.
Mansion with pool and yard? Done.
Envy-inducing supercar? Easy.
Money made it all possible.
But Ma couldn't daydream long.
"P-President!"
"What? I said don't come in till I call."
"S-Some people wanna see you."
"Who?"
"They said hand you over or it's public security..."
"What?"
"Th-They're weird. Can't hold 'em off—this huge woman tore through..."
Furious, Ma Chun-dong flung open the office door—
Only for an unknown hand to seize his throat.
"Found you."
"Wh-Who the hell are you?!"
Her grip was iron—he couldn't budge.
Her eyes, looking down: pure killer intent, like she'd rip a man apart easy.
"Ma Chun-dong? No—Li Wangzhang!"
"!"
A small-framed man appeared behind the fierce woman.
Oddly, half his face was masked.
The brute-force woman and the half-masked man.
Ma Chun-dong froze in terror at the bizarre duo.
"Care to talk?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I settled into the plush sofa, glaring at the fidgety middle-aged man across from me. That fucking bastard dragged me all the way here.
"I'll just call you Ma Chun-dong, the Korean name."
"Y-Yes, sure."
Fuck it.
Seeing his mug made my fingers twitch.
"You fucking piece of shit!"
My roar shook the office—staff jumped like they'd collapse.
Ma Chun-dong too.
"Yelling like that ain't polite for first meeting, right? Haha!"
"......"
The sudden curse hit him like a seizure.
I composed myself, adjusting my posture to calm things.
Corner a rat too hard, and humans do stupid shit.
Old saying: trapped mouse bites the cat.
Give him some slack.
"Mr. Ma, embezzlement, cooked books, gambling rigging, and adultery... impressive resume. How many lives you got to rack up that rap sheet?"
"Wh-What're you..."
I zeroed in on the adultery—worst PR sin.
Dropped a few photos on the table.
"Bet your wife in China would love these. Plus, fraud carries heavy sentences there, right?"
"......"
"Hmm, let's see. Bad enough? Death penalty. Special case, though—for you, asset seizure and, oh, lighter sentence. Three years?"
But it didn't end there.
"You know the situation, right?"
"Wh-What now...?"
I muttered in disbelief.
Doesn't this guy check news?
"Li Chan, Politburo Standing Committee member, visiting Korea—you unaware?"
"!"
"Here to mend ties, but you stirring national outrage? That'll be a show."
Obviously.
Fraud's a felony at home.
But as a Chinese national scamming abroad?
Massive hit to national image.
Especially with a top-five power player like Li Chan in Korea.
"500 million."
"?"
"Sell for 500 mil."
"Wh-What? 500 mil? Fair market's over 70 bil..."
"Then sell for 70 bil. Spend life in prison instead."
"......"
"Generous offer. Be grateful I didn't drag you to public security already—500 mil's a steal."
"Who the hell are you?"
I stood, done talking.
No obligation to answer.
"Just a big-spending black sheep player."
Ma Chun-dong's pupils shook like aspen leaves, mouth gaping blankly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "I'll make a comeback for sure."
Ma Chun-dong—Li Wangzhang—clenched his fist at Beijing airport after twists and turns.
At least he had 500 mil in pocket.
Sold a 70 bil company for peanuts, but he could rebound anytime. Experience? Check. Shenzhen branch? Set.
"Li Wangzhang."
A man in shirt, jacket, slacks, leather shoes grabbed his shoulder.
"Wh-Who?"
Showed ID.
"Public security. Arresting you for embezzlement, fraud, adultery."
"Wh-What? This is a setup!"
The man shoved the wailing Ma into a black van and sent a message.
[Seol-hwa, got Ma Chun-dong as requested. We're done now.]
[Thanks. Debts cleared. Oh, 500 mil's a gift.]
Incredibly, he'd messaged Jin Seol-hwa in the US.
Ex-PMC, she'd once saved his life in Africa.
[I'll use it well...]
Ma Chun-dong—Li Wangzhang—hoping for rebirth.
The black van crept off toward somewhere.
No one saw him again.
Vanished like a mirage.