Chapter 26
Chapter 26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Rural Loser Wants to Become a Masturbation Addict
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The move was wrapped up in no time.
Normally, it would have taken at least three months. But who am I? A filthy rich nouveau riche and the owner of an American pharmaceutical company, that's who.
"Boss, there's an issue with the ground fault circuit interrupter, so we need to redo the electrical work. It's going to take some time since we have to check the whole building..."
"Make it faster. I need to move in right away."
"B-but..."
"I'll pay you five times more."
"Hahaha, looks like you've got the wrong idea, boss. A job like this? Won't even take two days~"
Situations like that.
"We've confirmed leaks on the 4th and 9th floors. We checked it out briefly, but it's hard to pinpoint the source. To be safe, it'll take a few days..."
"Just punch right through it."
"...Pardon?"
"I'll pay you three times more."
"Oh man, even if I have to pitch a tent, I'll work through the night and get it done."
Problems like that got solved.
If the timeline dragged on, throw more manpower at it. If manpower wasn't enough, bring in multiple pieces of high-tech equipment.
This world was steeped in capitalism.
Money could solve anything.
And so, what should have taken three months was finished in just one.
This place would be Starlight's new home from now on.
The employees looked around everywhere, hugging each other like birds thrilled with a brand-new nest.
Was it really that great?
"Of course! Honestly, the old building was so creepy at night, I was scared to leave work."
"If someone jumped you from behind, it was a total blind spot. I always clocked out at midnight... terrifying."
"And that's not all? I kept hearing rats scurrying around."
"Right! Rats everywhere. Last time in the bathroom..."
The story ended there.
I could guess the rest without hearing it.
In short, it was no better than a slum.
"Let's start the meeting."
This was an incredibly important one.
It had to happen even if the move wasn't fully done.
The main topic was the development process for the game based on Kang So-yeon's novel.
In other words, the prototype.
"We have to stake everything on this new title. Whether Starlight skyrockets or slowly sinks like a ship with a hole in it depends on this."
Everyone fixed their eyes on me.
All executives, business division, PR, development—every single employee was gathered. That's how crucial it was.
"There are three conditions that must absolutely be in the prototype."
I cleared my throat and scanned the room, meeting the sparkling eyes of each employee one by one. Faces full of determination.
Under the former CEO Ma Chun-dong, the more you worked, the worse it got—suggestions were ignored as a matter of course. But not anymore.
To succeed in business, you need loyal retainers. And Starlight's loyalists were right here.
These people were my assets and my hope.
"The first is enabling trading for all in-game items and currency."
"B-Boss!"
One executive shot to his feet.
I could guess why.
Item trading systems like that were all the rage in the 2000s. But the problem was users' wallets flowing to so-called cash trading sites instead of the game companies.
In-game currency kept inflating, but the sinks for spending it went to those cash sites, not the game pubs.
Sales dropping was inevitable.
"If we implement a trading system like that, users won't invest in Starlight—they'll go to shady trading sites..."
"I know. Of course I know."
How could I not?
I was a shut-in hikikomori, a total rural loser.
What does a guy like that do at home?
Setting aside the daily porn marathon and jerk-off sessions, I watched internet broadcasts or played games.
Spending so much time gaming let me pick up all sorts of info.
'What users gripe about most right now is devs controlling the market prices.'
People say there are tons of exchanges these days.
Trying to maintain a market economy within arbitrary floor and ceiling prices set by the game company? Impossible.
I didn't want a game like that.
"Most games with exchanges have a dead economy. To curb reckless cash trading, they set whatever min and max prices they feel like."
"......"
Everyone knew it.
I dropped a massive hammer on them.
To snap them awake.
Starlight's ultimate goal was a game anyone could enjoy without burden.
"Instead of controlling users like that, let's just unleash them like wild bulls. Let them build their own economy and set the prices."
"...We can't stop cash trading."
The executive from earlier muttered darkly.
That was exactly what I wanted.
We couldn't keep forcing one-sided sacrifices on users who loved the game forever.
"Let them trade."
"Pardon?"
"Let them trade, I said."
"!"
Their pupils quaked like an earthquake; most of the staff blinked in shock. No dev these days would do this. Who'd voluntarily tank sales to reward users?
Someone did.
Right here.
With overwhelming capital, relieving the grudges of users screwed over unfairly.
"Sales might tank hard short-term. But users aren't animals. They'll repay us in kind for what we give."
"......"
"Everyone, think long-term. What are game companies like these days? Pump out hits for under a year, then jump ship. Is that for the users who love the game?"
The game market was rotten.
All about flashy monetization and short-term results.
Churning out games like a gacha machine.
I didn't want to be that kind of dev.
'Boost sales with gameplay, not predatory monetization. Users will recognize it.'
Half black, half white.
Perfectly split.
Don't give me those looks.
I'm a trillion-won nouveau riche.
Still cranking out cash like a factory.
50 billion for this game? 100 billion?
Even 500 billion wouldn't make a dent in my assets.
'Time to give the Korean game market a thorough spring cleaning.'
With pure gameplay.
"Second is optimization. No matter the cost, provide the absolute best environment. Invest without hesitation. Especially no frame drops between PC version sync and devices. Users are sensitive these days—scrutinize it."
"Got it."
Everyone agreed on this one.
No matter how good the game, lag or bugs leading to item dupes would ruin everything.
The overheating issue was especially bad.
Optimization might be the most critical of the three.
"Finally, the third."
I grinned ear to ear.
Did they have any idea?
About the unimaginable things coming.
"!"
"!"
"!"
The shocked staff forgot the CEO was right there and yelled outright.
"Whaaaat the fuuuuck?????!?!?!?"
They all stared at me like I was insane.
The third condition.
It was pure one-sided sacrifice.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Korean mobile market hit a storm.
Users rubbed their bleary eyes furiously.
They'd been locked in heated debates on communities all night.
— Anonymous Real talk? If true, Starlight's a bunch of lunatics? — GamerDude Trading system's wild enough, but this...? — Skeptic This has to be money-burning insanity. How loaded are these guys? — LOLer lololololololol — RageQuitter Fuck, never seen a game this nuts. Hidden cam prank? — FactChecker Nah, facts. Seems legit from insiders. — Cynic Sigh, Korean market so rotten a company sacrifices unilaterally... Something completely unexpected had happened.
Even just announcing a game based on a popular Lightpia novel had sparked excitement, but this blew it out of the water.
📰 Breaking News Starlight is the GOAT of the Game Industry! 📊 Post Stats Views: 371,299 Likes: 38,077 Comments: 17,634 A post that rocketed straight to hot.
Users who clicked it were floored.
Absolutely impossible, they said.
📝 Post Body You've all seen Starlight's policies starting from 'Isekai Witch Raising,' right? How much shit have we users been forced to eat? Listen to complaints. If no cash from complaints, pay up. Company broke? Server shutdown, fine whatever. Fuck, are we suckers? Early 2000s weren't like this, were they? No idea when the industry turned into pure short-termist hell, but this ain't it! Starlight, once the poster child for trash companies, is now making the most generous game in the biz. Check the CEO's mindset. Wants games that become users' memories, not judged by performance. All cash stats in 'Isekai Witch Raising'? Gone. Servers boosted for smooth runs. And that's not all. New game based on a novel by 【Moonlight Girl】 dropping. Hearing this pre-launch? I'm all in on that game. — Shocked Holy... for real? — InsiderFan Yeah, and a massive event thanking users too. — Curious What event? — EventHunter Raffle for 200 people: 10 million won PC + latest smartphone set? — Huh ? — Optimist Real? 200 winners? Totally worth a shot. — StreamerWannabe 10 mil rig is streamer-tier high-spec. — Worrier Worried though. Running at a huge loss? — Realist Agreed, sudden bankruptcy and back to square one lol — Optimist2 Nah, CEO's loaded AF. Biz side wouldn't greenlight if not. Debate raged on.
Some saw the bright side, others the dark.
Despite the controversy.
Starlight's next promo was a smashing success.
It rose as one of the most anticipated new releases for anyone who truly loved games.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ While the world buzzed over my moves.
I was oddly standing in front of Park Seong-ho's place.
Ding-dong!
The guy who opened the door wasn't the friend I knew—he was a primitive straight out of some ancient jungle.
Hollow under-eyes.
A musty stench seeped into my nose, like he hadn't bathed.
"Seong-ho, you alive?"
"...Sorry the house is a mess."
"No need to apologize. Mind if I come in?"
"Sure. Want some orange juice?"
"Yeah, that'll do nicely."
I let Seong-ho head to the fridge and looked around the place.
Photos capturing memories with his girlfriend hung everywhere worth noting.
A couple that close-knit destroyed in a single day...
"Here, drink this at least. No face to show you. First visit in years..."
"Don't sweat it. Water would've been fine between us."
"Yeah."
"Seong-ho."
I stared straight into his eyes.
I'd agonized over asking directly multiple times, but this wasn't it.
The brightest guy in our high school class—how long did he have to live like this?
Breaking up with the girlfriend he was about to marry must've shredded the last scraps of his spirit.
Suddenly, tears like chicken shit poured from his eyes.
"Sob... Mi-jeong was right."
"......"
"Others pick up their girls from work in luxury imports, but I'm crushed in the subway like cattle. Self-loathing, right?"
"......"
"Some are solid businessmen, some sons of local big-shot politicians, some from top unis in cushy megacorps—unlike me."
"......"
"Live within your means. Figured it out now. Women, marriage—above my station."
In the end, money.
This world really started and ended with it.
But who was I?
The guy at the pinnacle of money.
I couldn't broadcast my near-80-trillion assets outright.
Didn't mean the cash vanished from my pockets.
"Seong-ho."
"Sniff, what?"
"Hate to say it, but nothing in this world money can't buy."
"!"
The truth.
Love?
Buy it with money.
Happiness?
Money buys that too.
Even tie the knot on good vibes, but kid wants to study abroad later? What's needed?
Money, obviously.
Someone gravely ill needs hospital? Again, money.
Hell, money could even save lives.
Unpleasant truth, but no need to dodge it.
I gripped his shoulders hard.
With blazing eyes.
Yeah, you'd believe it.
Plus, Seong-ho had tons of sales experience at his firm.
Top performer there too.
'Perfect timing. Selig needs a branch chief for Korea entry.'
Jin Seol-hwa reported it herself.
"Seong-ho."
"...Whoa, your eyes are intense. You really Do-jun?"
Don't pass out. Listen up.
Chance of a lifetime.
"Stick at your company till mid-year, then take over Selig's Korea branch from the second half?"
"...Huh?"
Seong-ho looked like he'd heard a ghost story plot twist.
"Selig Korea's entering the market soon. I want you to run it."