Chapter 130
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: The Golden Age of Trading Cards (6)
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How long had it been since he'd set foot in America? Bang Jeong-hwan had already become what people nowadays call an "insider"—the popular guy everyone gravitates toward.
"—So, what can you do when English isn't an option? You've got to use these heaven-sent arms and legs of mine. I put on a full-body performance with gestures like this and that, and wouldn't you know it, the clerk caught on and did the exact same—"
Bang Jeong-hwan was already a celebrity.
Not just because he was Korean, but even with the penalty of skipping church, nothing could stop this heaven-blessed social butterfly.
He'd learned a bit of English and strutted out onto the streets like a street performer, spinning tales for the kids—and just like that, he became the talk of the town.
But with things turning out like this, sorry kids, but I'm borrowing Teacher Bang for a bit.
"A trading card game? You mean some kind of exchange-based pastime? I... I have no idea what that could be. What exactly are you talking about?"
"Seeing is believing, as they say. Why not give it a quick try?"
An hour later, Bang Jeong-hwan's affable face had turned beet red like a ripe persimmon.
"Again! One more time! I've got the hang of this game now. No matter how great the cards are, if they don't end up in my hand, they're worthless! Now I can win. For real, this time."
"Easy now, calm down."
Oh man, this guy's a total noob at games. Go team up with that loser Kim Eugene over there.
Daring to challenge me—a pro with decades of card game experience under my belt—in a game of trading cards? I've already claimed my war hero title; now it's time to hear them proclaim that Eugene Kim invented trading cards back in the beginning.
I'd crudely drawn pictures and cut out paper to make them, but my soul craved 21st-century entertainment.
Look at this no-fun 1920s world. My guess? At least 24% of why guys and gals are out there doing free love and all sorts of wild stuff is sheer boredom—no fun to be had.
Just fiddling with these cards brings a sense of peace to body and mind. Yeah, this is what I wanted. In this nightmare of a world without PCs or consoles, can't I at least pioneer one analog game?
"I'd like to add some story to this game."
"A story for a game? I have no clue what you mean."
Trying to explain in an era where the pinnacle of games is snakes and ladders? Tough sell.
I called over Eugene, who was shuffling through cards and building his deck, to explain together.
"No one knows if just selling these will make it big."
"Honestly, once people try it, it's pretty fun, so it'd sell. But yeah, like you said, the process is the issue."
"People collect baseball cards because they love the games and players. So we need to infuse our cards with narrative too."
I tapped a few cards as I spoke.
"If we create novels or comics to share with the masses, it could create a virtuous cycle."
"And how do you sell that?"
"Stuff it into newspapers."
"So you're asking me to write a serialized newspaper novel? I just got to America!"
"Just give it a shot for now. Once Teacher Bang lays out the big framework, we can hire an American writer to polish it."
Even as I explained, Bang Jeong-hwan looked visibly troubled.
"Help out, and I'll make a card modeled after you."
"Make it a scam card that makes people curse."
He agreed without hesitation.
Man, if it's this easy, what am I supposed to do?
How much time passed after handing him the task?
When I met Bang Jeong-hwan again, he'd turned into a gaunt, hollow-cheeked shadow of himself.
"Haven't you been eating? What happened to that hearty build?!"
"Once I got into it, the passion took over..."
He spread out dozens of planning documents and belted out his pitch like a job candidate in an interview presentation.
"I've synthesized American tales and the kids' opinions, and the clear trend is adventures in a mysterious world!"
"Is that so?"
"Exploration and trials in a strange, mystical realm! Dragons and knights, witches and princesses, magic and intrigue, companions and heroes! This is a surefire hit. Korea and America have stories for kids, but nothing approaches it with this variety. General Kim, your tales inspired me greatly. Now kids won't just be spectators—they'll become the protagonists of their own adventures, slaying foes and claiming great victories! With that in mind—"
Nope, can't let that monologue suck me in.
"So what'll you do? Write it yourself?"
"Just assign a few people. My English isn't fluent enough yet; I need someone to refine it into the most accessible language for the masses."
"Anything else?"
"People to play the game and give feedback. And we need to gear up the printers too."
Had I properly ignited his creative fire?
He already seemed convinced this project would go down in history.
And so time flowed on.
"Where's the next issue?!"
"Next chapter! Next chapter!!"
"Card packs sold out! Everything's gone!"
"Selling unopened packs cheap! Cheap deals!"
Madness swept across all of California.
"Bro... what have you unleashed this time...?"
"Why are you acting like you weren't part of it? You did most of it."
"How was I supposed to know it'd blow up like this?!"
The pioneering trading card game, launched modestly in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and surrounding California areas, swiftly drained kids' pocket money.
I'd worried if a newspaper serial would reach the kids, but it was unfounded.
The local paper we paid to run our ads skyrocketed in popularity, begging us to keep serializing with promises of payment, while the standalone books flew off the shelves.
This frenzy didn't stop at California.
Others watching the hype clamored for distribution rights in their states, and once they started selling, they hit it big too.
The wave spread across America at a terrifying pace, exceeding our expectations. Desperate dads, hounded by whining kids to buy those damn card packs, lost their minds building decks.
"Whoa! A golden Black Lotus!"
"Sell it to me! How much? Name your price!"
"Not selling! You crazy? I wanna win for once too!"
Like I always say, this era was seriously no-fun.
How boring was it? The hottest pastime nationwide was crossword puzzles—those crosswords.
Half the passengers on a train are doing crosswords, dictionaries sell out like crazy, even stocked in every train car. And that's the cutting-edge entertainment.
That's the era. Strip away modern sensibilities, multiply the hype when StarCraft or Diablo first hit Korea by tenfold—that's the vibe.
And dropping a card game into that era resulted in...
"Are you Lieutenant Colonel Kim?"
"Excuse me, who might you be?"
"Sorry. I'm from the White House."
He handed over a small envelope with utmost courtesy.
"A private letter from the President, to be delivered in secret."
Harding giving me a secret mission? What could it be?
I carefully broke the seal and read.
—To my dear Lieutenant Colonel Kim... (excerpted) With that in mind, if you could just send two of those Black Lotus cards from the game your family made, I'd be eternally grateful...
I don't know.
Now I really don't know.
Once it exploded beyond our wildest dreams, my greed started bubbling up.
"That's the entrepreneur spirit—or gambler's instinct, if you will."
"Even if you say that, I'm not selling. I can't."
"Where did that devilish idea for the golden cards come from? Even Henry Ford couldn't make them all gold!"
Everyone's hoarding them, not selling.
Are you watching, gamers of 2020? Eugene Kim did it. Old dudes in cigars at work desks playing card games—it's that weird future.
"So, how do you plan to expand?"
"Thinking of making a movie."
"Isn't that a stretch?"
"What if we distribute special cards as gifts only to moviegoers?"
"Right, which studio? Theaters? They'll be lining up with cash bags, begging to work with us."
Good. If Ford himself says that, it's solid.
Time's not ripe yet. For visualizing this fantasy, animation beats live-action.
Best to strike again when the hype dips. Or use it as investment bait during the Depression for an aggressive push.
We've got the Hollywood entry weapon and massive cash windfall. What's next?
Back to the day job.
"Not working?"
"What job?"
"Heard you didn't rest on leave—instead, you ran around everywhere. Must mean you're dying to get back to work, right?"
Marshall's sly grin was pure Diablo reborn.
Late 1924.
Just before the card game craze engulfed the nation, I got Marshall's summons.
"This'll be our last meeting here. Pershing's retiring, so I'm done too."
"Next posting set?"
"15th Regiment in Tianjin, China. Worked my tail off, time for career management. Wanna come? They clearly want you there."
"No. Way. In. Hell."
No! Absolutely not!! I told you last time, why ask again!
"Alright then."
Pershing signed MacArthur's promotion to brigadier general right before retiring.
Only fitting post for a brigadier in the Philippines is district commander—basically, come back stateside. Pershing's got real class. If it were me, I'd promote and dump him in Panama.
"What're you staring at?"
"Just surprised he actually got promoted..."
"Not thinking about your own promotion? Nearly died twice, tons of achievements, medals—and yet no advancement because you're always out gallivanting."
No need to remind me about that Rising Sun.
"So what's my next assignment?"
"Got the perfect spot for your career. Builds networks, gives big-picture vision rare in the field—prime position."
Something feels off. Even Marshall dragging it out?
"Pershing's successor as Chief of Staff will be General Hines. 1st Brigade commander in our 1st Division during the war, 4th Division at Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne—you know him."
"Yeah, he sticks in my memory."
"His aide slot's fresh open. Did it myself—huge boost. I'd love if you took it."
No. Hell no. Look how skinny you got in a few years, Marshall!
"Cleaned the quarters I lived in for years. You'll love it. Hate it? Then China with me—"
"I've always wanted to be an aide! Thank you! Arigato! Xie xie!"
Marshall said, "Hines won't slack you off like Pershing might—don't worry." But I swear he was smirking.
"Hope this fixes that stubborn streak of yours."
"What's stubborn about me?!"
Says the stubbornest one of all!