Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: The First Commission (1)
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After shaking hands, Bakeu spoke.
“I’d like to pay you for the shield you made me.”
“That was a gift from me.”
“If it were just any shield, I would've gladly accepted it. But this isn't just any shield, is it?”
Bakeu gave a wry smile.
“I'd feel burdened if I just took it.”
Hyun-soo understood him. He also knew that Bakeu was considering his circumstances.
“Then I'll gratefully accept.”
He also knew that Bakeu was the type of person who felt more comfortable paying money than carrying a burden on his mind.
The Bakeu Hyun-soo knew was a real estate tycoon.
A man worth tens of billions.
No, that was just his guess; he could be worth even more.
“I've already looked up the market price. I'll deposit 400 million won into your account today.”
Hyun-soo's mood brightened at the unexpected windfall.
‘That brings the total to 2.5 billion…’
Money Hyun-soo still had to pay the hospital.
“The most important thing right now is to make Hyeon's Smithy rise to prominence. What are you going to do next?”
At Bakeu's question, Nel stepped forward.
“We plan to start taking commissions.”
“Oh?”
Bakeu smiled with interest. Hyun-soo’s heart pounded as well, as this was something he had been waiting for for a long time.
‘The first commission is the most crucial step in introducing Hyeon's Smithy to the public.’
Until now, Hyun-soo had never accepted a commission for Hyeon's Smithy.
Because of that, an air of mystery had been maintained.
“Since this is the most important step for Hyeon's Smithy, we need to gain a lot from this commission.”
Nel looked at the two men with a deliberate expression.
“We need to get as much public exposure as possible and also generate significant profit from this. To do that, the most important thing is the client.”
“The client?”
Hyun-soo looked puzzled.
“Yes, the client must meet several conditions. First, they have to be very favorable toward us. That way, they'll be willing to widely publicize the information about the completed artifact.”
Hyun-soo nodded.
“Next, they have to be the hottest user right now, with no history of controversy. And if it's a woman, it would be good if she's pretty, and if it's a man, it would be good if he's handsome.”
Hearing this, Hyun-soo let out a dry laugh.
“Does someone like that even exist?”
In response, Nel looked at Hyun-soo with an unreadable smile.
“There's one person very close by. Someone who's the hottest topic right now, has handsome looks, and has never been involved in any controversy. Also, someone who is more than just favorable toward us—someone who wants to make Hyeon's Smithy a sensation.”
Bakeu stroked his chin and looked at Hyun-soo.
“Oho, I know someone close by too. I think he's about 185cm tall and very handsome. More importantly, didn't he just win a recent tournament with overwhelming results?”
Hyun-soo looked back at the two of them, his expression puzzled as their gazes fell on him.
For some reason, it felt incredibly familiar, and as something dawned on him, Hyun-soo pointed to himself.
“...Me?”
***
As Ares became a global hit, Pureum Co. had partnered with several broadcasting stations.
In addition to terrestrial networks, internet broadcasting stations also streamed through JeulTube.
One of them was AJ Internet Broadcasting.
PD Kim of AJ Internet Broadcasting chewed on his pen.
“The hottest ‘Crazy Rookie’ and Hyeon's Smithy appearing together... If this really happens, it'll be a huge hit.”
PD Kim sat across from Writer Im with a wry smile.
The plan was as follows.
“The Crazy Rookie commissions an artifact from Hyeon's Smithy and uses it to clear a dungeon. That would be really interesting. The problem is casting, right?”
“Yes. We might get the Crazy Rookie, but the owner of Hyeon's Smithy is completely shrouded in mystery.”
“That's why I said his face doesn't have to be shown. He can just send the commissioned item.”
“Right.”
“Haa, if this really works out, it'll be huge…”
The Crazy Rookie and Hyeon's Smithy, a collaboration!
It was the perfect picture.
The problem, as always, was the casting.
‘In cases like this, we always fail to cast one of the two…’
Just then.
“Huh? P-PD-nim!”
“Hm?”
PD Kim looked over, puzzled.
“We got a message from Hyeon's Smithy. They said it's fine for him to just send the commissioned artifact without showing his face.”
“Does that mean we get to broadcast his first-ever commission?”
And then, the writer’s eyes went wide.
“Gasp, this is huge…!”
“What now?”
PD Kim looked at the writer with a hopeful expression.
She spoke with a look of sheer delight.
“The Crazy Rookie contacted us saying he'll appear too!”
“Yes!”
PD Kim clapped without even realizing it.
The Crazy Rookie and Blacksmith Hyeon.
The appearance of the two hottest figures in recent memory might just be the CPR that AJ Internet Broadcasting's dying ratings needed.
***
“Me?”
Hyun-soo wore a slightly puzzled expression at the idea that he would be the one receiving the commission.
It sounded like they were asking him to play two roles by himself.
“Right now, the viewers think the Crazy Rookie and Blacksmith Hyeon are two different people.”
That was certainly true.
But Hyun-soo had a concern.
“I've already been suspected once. Will it be okay?”
“It'll be fine. We're going to appear on this internet broadcast.”
She held out a file folder.
The first page of the report-like document read ‘AJ Internet Broadcasting.’
“AJ Internet Broadcasting has made a joint appearance offer to both Blacksmith Hyeon and the Crazy Rookie. The content they're proposing is a dungeon clear.”
“Isn't it impossible for Blacksmith Hyeon and the Crazy Rookie to clear a dungeon together?”
“Fortunately, the station said it's fine for Blacksmith Hyeon to just send an artifact suitable for the dungeon clear. Something about respecting our air of mystery.”
It was an interesting story. And Hyun-soo was curious about the game Nel was playing.
And just how competent and meticulous she really was.
“If viewers post anything suspicious, AJ Internet Broadcasting will handle it. They'll say, 'This content was our proposal to both of them.’”
“...Wow.”
Hyun-soo was impressed.
The internet station would announce that this happened because they made the offer themselves.
They'll even attach evidence, so people will have no choice but to drop their suspicions.
Nel continued.
“You're also probably thinking about whether you'll face public backlash later when you reveal you're the same person. Don't worry about that. The shock of discovering you were both the same person will suppress any and all criticism.”
Hyun-soo ran a simulation in his head.
It was certain that her plan was safe.
It also seemed like they would be able to achieve the effect they most desired.
Now, the important thing was information about AJ Internet Broadcasting, the station that would broadcast the first commission.
“What kind of place is AJ Internet Broadcasting?”
“It was the station with the highest viewership during the early days of Ares. Their peak viewership reached nearly 200,000.”
“Wow.”
A viewership of 200,000 for an internet station was an incredibly high number.
“But recently, they don't even get 40,000 viewers. Three years ago, AJ Internet Broadcasting ran content using level 80-100 users, but viewers aren't interested in that level range anymore.”
It couldn’t be helped.
Back then, they might have been high-level, but now they were barely out of the beginner stage.
“Viewers are only interested in level 300 or so now, but AJ Internet Broadcasting is still doing similar content. So of course their ratings are dropping. But since you'll be appearing, Hyun-soo, I think we can generate some buzz.”
Hearing this, Hyun-soo felt positive about it.
‘Is there no other choice?’
The Crazy Rookie's level was low, so it couldn't be helped. Nel soon added.
“Is the station that important? The guest is what's important.”
Her words had a point.
“I'll send the approval message right now.”
Hyun-soo indicated his acceptance of AJ Internet Broadcasting's proposal.
The reply came quickly.
[Hello. This is PD Kim Min-woo from AJ Internet Broadcasting. It's a pleasure to be working with you, Crazy Rookie. We're planning a short interview tomorrow. It can be in the real world or in virtual reality. However, in the case of virtual reality, you will appear almost identical to your real-life self. This is because it will take place in a personal space linked to Ares to reduce the hassle of travel.]
Even though it was in virtual reality, he would be dressed as he would be in real life and interviewed as his true self.
‘The scar won't be visible, then.’
[I think it would be best to meet in Ares.]
[We will send you an invitation tomorrow at 1:50 PM. Once you approve, you will be immediately moved to a personal styling space. After you've dressed in your desired style, we will proceed with the interview at 2:00 PM.]
After finishing the correspondence as the Crazy Rookie, a message also arrived for Hyeon's Smithy.
[Blacksmith Hyeon, a pleasure to meet you. AJ…]
The content was similar.
[Pardon me, but how should we conduct the interview?]
The setup was that Blacksmith Hyeon would only send the commissioned item.
Hyun-soo came up with a clever idea.
[I've done business with the Crazy Rookie before, so we're acquainted. I'll send him a whisper and have him answer on my behalf.]
Hyun-soo handled it cleverly.
“I'm off to test these pieces of armor.”
Bakeu vanished in a flash of light. Nel told him what to be careful about saying and then logged out.
And Hyun-soo, left alone, took a moment to calm his pounding heart.
‘Can I do this?’
He wasn't used to being on camera.
He also worried whether his appearance on the show could really draw in a lot of viewers.
And the next day, at 1:50 PM.
[An invitation to AJ Internet Broadcasting's virtual space has arrived.]
[You will first be moved to the styling space.]
Hyun-soo vanished in a flash of light.
***
[Preparing to broadcast.]
On the AJ Internet Broadcasting channel, viewers who had logged in early waited for 2:00 PM.
- It's about to start, the legendary AJ Broadcasting ‘Room of Truth.’ lololol
- The Room of Truth that no one can escape, right? Man, these AJ guys have a talent for this.
- fr, every single person they bring on is ugly.
- The Crazy Rookie is on today, right? Hope he doesn't look like an actual crazy person lololol?
AJ Internet Broadcasting was famous for its 'Room of Truth.'
This was because the true appearances of the users, revealed during the 2:00 PM interview, usually disappointed the viewers.
When users hear stories about someone, they imagine their face based on their skills and dazzling abilities.
But many had shattered those expectations.
For some reason, the guests who appeared on AJ Internet Broadcasting were particularly bad.
- Their casting luck is the worst, fr.
- Watch, the viewer count is gonna drop the moment his face is revealed lololol
The interview was a kind of preview. That's why looks could be considered important.
- How many viewers now?
- 6,900.
- I bet it drops to 5k today lololol
- Blacksmith Hyeon is supposed to be on too, but he's not showing his face.
- What's with that?
- There's a rumor he's a 50-year-old dude, 160cm tall with a beer belly *shudder*.
- Totally possible. Why else would he hide his identity?
- true
As they waited.
[The broadcast will begin in 5 seconds.]
- To the Room of Truth, let's go!
- To rock-bottom ratings, let's go!
The viewers spammed the chat in time with the countdown.
- 3!
- 2!
- 1!
Fwaaa-!
The 'Preparing to broadcast' message vanished, and the screen flashed bright as if a light had been turned on.
A man was standing there.
- ...?
- What the?
- fr?
- Is that him???
The viewers commented as they looked at the man on the screen.
- Why is he so handsome...?
- He's so handsome, I want to lock the door to the Room of Truth.
The viewer count began to rise.