Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: The Strategic Broadcast
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Boom!
The door flew open violently. If this weren't a game, something would have been solidly broken.
But Pattern, who had thrown it open, didn't care. He wouldn't have cared even if this were real life and the actual door had shattered.
Anyone could see he was worked up.
"Fuck. Those goddamn bastards."
It was natural for curses to spill from his mouth. On the contrary, if he suddenly started speaking politely, the people around him would panic, wondering if he'd finally gotten his comeuppance.
But right now, Pattern was more pissed off than he could count on one hand in his entire life.
"One screw-up and they're throwing a goddamn fit!"
When he returned to the guild, the exact situation his brother Python had predicted was unfolding.
The opposition faction, led by Apollo, was trying to tear into Python and his brother Pattern however they could.
Of course, they hadn't come close to ousting the Python faction or even inflicting major damage. The incident wasn't important enough for that.
But it was plenty to piss off Pattern.
Even now, he was walking through cold stares from the other guild members.
The problem was the Cooking Day video uploaded a few days ago.
The video introducing Meteor had been enough to stir up a small ripple across the world. A new player had joined the notoriously hard-to-enter and capricious Arbitrary guild.
And the story behind the recruitment was intriguing. It revolved around a single low-level player named Meteor, pitting Cooking Day and Pattern against each other, with Western Flower Garden and Python joining in.
Sure, the last two had backed off after just glaring at each other, and neither guild wanted to blow the incident out of proportion. But from a spectator's perspective, the drama alone was thrilling.
Naturally, public interest exploded. And people concluded that Arbitrary had won by a decision for successfully scouting Meteor first.
Naturally, C.O.T.S guild members were pissed. So whenever they overheard someone walking around muttering about Arbitrary's decision win or C.O.T.S's decision loss, they'd brutally crush that person.
But they couldn't silence all the public opinion.
Inevitably, the guild's internal sentiment chewed out Python and Pattern for causing the mess—especially Pattern.
"You think they'd have done any different?"
He knew. It was buzz that would die down in less than a month. Treatment toward him would return to normal.
But Pattern wasn't the type to just rationalize it like that. It wasn't for nothing that he had a reputation as the guild's unrivaled asshole.
That's when he was grumbling and cursing back at everyone badmouthing him.
"Still a lot of discontent, I see."
"Bro?"
Python walked in through the open door.
This was Pattern's room in the guild, but it was set up so his brother Python could enter anytime.
"What's up here?"
Pattern's spot was plenty high-level, but it was clearly distant from the frontline where Python should be. Yet Python had shown up out of nowhere.
"I'm here too."
Willy followed behind Python. It wasn't a place just anyone could enter when the door opened, but Python must have given permission.
"Mr. Willy?"
"Long time no see, Pattern."
Willy waved with that same charming smile.
"What is it? Something really up?"
The three of them together was an extremely rare occurrence. Their level gaps were too wide to hang out constantly.
"We came because of the thing you're grinding your teeth over."
Python sat in the chair across from Pattern. Willy quickly took the seat next to him.
"Yeah, little bro. Pissed about the public opinion right now?"
"Of course."
He wanted to rip apart every chattering mouth without mercy.
"That's why I'm saying. Do a broadcast with the people you scouted this time."
"What?"
Pattern scowled hard.
Sure, the blame and mockery aimed at him right now was infuriating, but why did that mean he had to look after those guys?
For Pattern, who was grinding levels to become a ranker ASAP, it felt like nothing but a waste of time. And crucially, his personality didn't suit babysitting anyone.
But he couldn't snap back with a firm "Fuck off!" because it was his brother.
Still, Pattern wasn't meek enough to just say "Got it" obediently.
"Why me?"
So he threw up a roadblock.
Python didn't get annoyed. If his little brother had meekly agreed, he'd have grabbed him by the collar right then. Wondering what other trouble he'd caused to act so compliant.
"The guild policy's shifted a bit."
Python spoke up.
"We were planning to focus on supporting the new recruits for a while, but Arbitrary's scout is blowing up right now."
Pattern nodded. That's exactly why he was fuming.
"It's getting more buzz than expected, so we're riding the wave."
"Riding it? How?"
"By dropping our own scout story."
Python shrugged.
"Cover hype with hype. Even if that player got snatched by Arbitrary, he was just one of the many we were scouting. We have tons of talent like that. We'll become Ark's top guild with them. Or something like that."
"You want me to say that on my stream?"
"You're perfect for it. You're the one who clashed head-on with Cooking Day from Arbitrary. People will be more interested if it's you."
He couldn't say 'You're a main player too, bro.' If one of them had to take the bullet, it made sense for non-ranker Pattern to do it. Plus, Python hadn't really jumped into combat.
Of course, just because it made rational sense didn't mean Pattern was big-hearted enough to accept it gladly.
His displeasure was plain on his face.
"Got a problem?"
"......"
"It's not bad for you either. It'll add experience helping this project to your resume, and you can get familiar with the new recruits. I told you, right? Better to get along with these new scouts."
"That's it?"
"The guild vibe will shift to you taking responsibility too. That'll dial down the blame on you."
For a ranker-aspirant like Pattern to sacrifice his time helping newbies would definitely help squash the rumors.
Especially since others would hate helping newbies just as much as Pattern had openly dreaded it at first.
"It's beneficial all around. But if you can't wrap your head around it, oh well."
Python spat it out curtly, face blank.
"Do it."
A command ignoring reason and emotion alike. With his brother like that, no choice. Pattern nodded.
* * *
"Haha, first time moving together as a duo, huh."
Willy spoke up with a smiling face. But Pattern's scowl didn't soften.
Just do a broadcast with Mr. Willy first.
When Python had said that initially, Pattern hadn't gotten it. 'With Mr. Willy first'? Weren't broadcasts supposed to feature all the new recruits together?
The response he got was the worst for him.
'Mr. Willy's our golden boy, so he'll do a solo one first. After that, we'll decide on grouping the other newbies or doing them separate.'
Meaning Pattern had to play babysitter at least twice.
'What the hell, it's not like they're actual babies in cribs!'
How was this any different from the derogatory nicknames mocking their guild? If Cooking Day heard, they'd laugh their asses off, saying it fit the name perfectly.
But he couldn't refuse.
Partly because of past screw-ups, but mostly because it was his brother's order. Plus, the guild would reward him generously for it.
Still, annoying was annoying.
They headed to an area suited to Willy's level.
Whether he was genuinely bold or not, Willy kept chatting at Pattern despite clearly seeing his bad mood.
Normally, Pattern would have told him to shut up. But not this time.
Willy seemed pretty tight with his brother now, and there was Python's firm order.
Above all, Pattern figured Willy would rise high in the guild.
'With that physical talent and the guild's full backing, it'd be weirder if he didn't get strong.'
No need to leave a bad impression on a future guild pillar.
Of course, he wasn't actively sucking up. His mood sucked, and it wasn't his style.
But he held his temper, answering curtly but properly and keeping the conversation going. Luckily, Willy seemed satisfied with that.
"Here it is."
Arriving at the destination, Willy looked around in wonder.
"Yeah."
"We starting the broadcast now?"
"Nah. Heading to the nearby hunting ground first."
Pattern led Willy to the hunting ground. It seemed exclusive—guards at the entrance. But they let Pattern and Willy in after spotting Pattern's face.
"No people around. Rented the whole thing?"
"Yeah."
"Must be pricey."
"It's an exclusive spot from one of our sub-guilds. No cost."
Willy looked genuinely surprised to hear it was a sub-guild hunting ground, even after assuming they'd paid to rent it out whole. Pattern felt satisfied seeing his wide eyes.
"Turning on the stream. Get ready."
"Got it."
Pattern started the broadcast.
"I'm here."
A perfunctory, rude greeting. The kind that might make viewers uncomfortable.
But Pattern didn't care. Birds of a feather, right? His viewers didn't give a shit about his rudeness.
They were rude themselves anyway.
[Came back, loser?]
[Lol, the hottest retard right now shows up]
[Thought you were too ashamed to stream, but nah?]
[Like that guy's even capable of shame?]
"Shut up, you fucks."
He tossed out light curses. Viewers laughed and kept mocking him.
"If not for that Western Flower Garden bitch, I'd have crushed both those punks."
[Yeah, couldn't even catch a non-combat class scrub]
[Yeah, brought a ton of mercs and still couldn't nab one lowbie, third-rate]
[Guild's golden boy (pfft)]
[You'd be dead there too without your bro]
"You little... "
Pattern ground his teeth. Viewers got even more entertained.
After trading curses with viewers a few more times, Pattern gave up the fight. No way to spin a mental win after that pathetic showing.
Plus, the decent donations from viewers calmed his rage.
Financial therapy was the best, as always.
"Shut up already, all of you. I turned on the stream today to introduce someone to you."
Then Pattern pulled Willy over.
"Say hi. Our guild's new golden boy."
"Hello, I'm Willy."