A Pragmatic Approach to Caring

At Chairman Yoo's remark, Tae-hyun decided to think it over. After about a minute of contemplation, he looked up with a genuinely clueless expression.

"Hmm. I really have no idea..."

"..."

Chairman Yoo stared at him, utterly exasperated. This was a guy who could instantly spot the slightest change in an enemy player's ring, yet when it came to things like this, he was as dense as a brick wall.

Normally, Chairman Yoo wasn't the type to meddle in other people's business. Why would a man of his stature interfere in the love lives of youngsters? Besides, as far as he was concerned, Tae-hyun was already an incredibly annoying punk. And yet...

Since I owe him for helping me corner the market this time... I'll help him out just this once!

In truth, this wasn't the first time he had been indebted to Lee Da-bi either. Back when he first started Pan-On and was completely lost, Da-bi was the one who had patiently explained the auction house mechanics and item descriptions to him!

Chairman Yoo was intervening for Da-bi's sake, not Tae-hyun's. Compared to all the kindness Da-bi had shown him, the things Tae-hyun had done were...

Tricking him, secretly dumping him in a mine...

Twitch. Just thinking about it made his blood boil!

"Old man? What are you thinking about?"

"I was thinking about all the times you've swindled me."

"Haha. What a misunderstanding. I did all of that for your own good, you know."

"Is that what the bastard who tricked me and banished me to an underground mine has to say?!"

"But thanks to that, you perfectly mastered basic controls and obtained great skills, didn't you? You have to raise them tough in the beginning so they have an easier time later on."

"Y-You... you shameless punk...!"

Tae-hyun refused to back down by even a single word! Just as Chairman Yoo was about to burst a blood vessel, a joyful cheer echoed from outside. It was the sound of Lee Da-bi, who had stepped out earlier, shouting in excitement.

"...?"

"..."

Chairman Yoo covered his face with his hands. If you went outside to compose yourself, you should at least keep your voice down! Everyone can hear you! Ultimately, the embarrassment was Chairman Yoo's alone to bear.

Yet, despite this, Tae-hyun remained completely oblivious to the situation.

"So, what is it, old man? If you know why Lee Da-bi is acting like that, spill it."

"And why on earth should I?"

Chairman Yoo turned his head away, completely sulking. He wanted to help Da-bi, but if Tae-hyun was going to act like this, the deal was off!

"If you don't tell me, I'll sabotage your market cornering."

"..."

Chairman Yoo's jaw dropped. Come to think of it, he had vastly underestimated Tae-hyun. This punk wasn't the type to apologize in a situation like this—he was the type to resort to blackmail! When Tae-hyun wanted something, he pursued it ruthlessly.

"Y-You... you absolute..."

"You don't actually think I won't do it, do you? Besides, the only reason you're getting help from the Power Warrior Guild in the first place is because of me. Hurry up and talk."

He was a highwayman in all but name! Chairman Yoo felt profoundly grateful that they were inside Pan-On. If this were the real world, he would have grabbed the back of his neck in a fit of high blood pressure.

"You brat! You should figure that much out on your own. You've spent way more time with her than I have, so shouldn't you be able to read between the lines by now?"

"Old man, you're not just acting like this because you don't actually know, are you?"

Tae-hyun shot him a look of genuine suspicion. Chairman Yoo was beyond flabbergasted; his sense of disbelief had transcended the heavens. Who was he?! Who was Chairman Yoo in the real world?!

And this punk was looking at him as if thinking, Is this old guy just bluffing because he doesn't actually know?

"Fine! You brat! Let's say I don't know!"

Chairman Yoo felt the fiery temper of his youth surging within him. He lunged forward to grab Tae-hyun by the collar.

Whoosh!

But Tae-hyun read his movement and dodged before Chairman Yoo could even lay a finger on him. Although Chairman Yoo had a higher level, their combat experience was incomparable.

Tae-hyun casually dusted off his palms and spoke.

"So, in short, you know why Lee Da-bi is acting like that, but you can't tell me because I need to figure it out on my own... is that it?"

"Yes!"

"But as long as I get the right answer, does it really matter what method I use?"

"No, you idiot! That's not how this works!"

"I feel like Yuseong Group getting hit with those corporate fines followed a similar logic..."

"I told you that was my son's doing, didn't I?!"

Only after turning Chairman Yoo's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stomach inside out several times did Tae-hyun finally accept it. He didn't know what it was, but apparently, there was some profound meaning in figuring it out himself!

What could it be? The old man knows, but Da-bi is hiding it from me. And if I have to figure it out myself... Did she run an ad for the Power Warrior Guild using my name? No, that can't be it. Da-bi isn't the type to do something like that without telling me.

Watching Tae-hyun fall into deep thought, Chairman Yoo also pondered.

Well, at least the kid does care about Da-bi in his own way.

If it had been Cain, Tae-hyun would have just said, "Ah, whatever, I'll just beat him up until he talks." At least he wasn't resorting to that here, which was a relief!

"Hmm... I really have no clue."

"My boy, that is simply how the world works. Truly understanding another person is a difficult endeavor."

Chairman Yoo spoke with a rare air of dignity. His voice carried the profound wisdom of someone who had lived a long, full life.

"And yet, if you continuously strive to understand them, you will eventually reach a mutual understanding. That is what human connection and relationships are all about. Yes, indeed."

Chairman Yoo felt a swell of pride, thinking he had delivered an exceptionally profound piece of advice. He was always the one being dragged around by Tae-hyun, but this time felt different.

"An effort to understand..."

"Indeed."

"Well, I'll give it a shot."

"Good, my boy."

"First of all, I don't think it's game-related. Am I right?"

Chairman Yoo nodded. If nothing else, giving him this small hint should be fine!

"If it's not a game issue, then it must be a real-world problem... and I have an excellent method for that."

"...?"

"I'll just hire someone to do a background check. That should clear things up."

"?!?!"

For a split second, Chairman Yoo thought Tae-hyun was joking. But Tae-hyun's face was dead serious. Looking at him, Chairman Yoo thought:

Is this guy insane?

"You crazy bastard! Do you even hear yourself?!"

Chairman Yoo finally exploded!

"Isn't that an effort to understand?"

"Not that kind of effort! Something else! You know, the heart-fluttering, romantic kind of effort that young people do!"

"But this seems way more efficient and reliable..."

Tae-hyun looked genuinely puzzled as to why Chairman Yoo was throwing such a fit. That clueless expression only made the chairman feel even more dumbfounded.

This guy is seriously hopeless...!

If Tae-hyun's friend, Choi Sang-yun, had been here, he would have nodded vigorously and said, "I told you so! That's just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠how he is!" in deep empathy. Unfortunately, Chairman Yoo was all alone in this room, forced to fight this lonely battle by himself.

"Old man, stop cutting me off and just listen to me for a second. Once you hear me out, you'll understand."

"I cannot fathom what kind of explanation could possibly justify hiring people to run a background check on someone!"

"Oh, come on, stop acting so innocent. As the chairman of Yuseong Group, surely you've had a few people buried or something before, right?"

"What kind of monster do you take me for?!"

Chairman Yoo jumped in outrage. He had never actually done such a thing, though he did feel a slight prick of conscience. After all, Yuseong Group's network included not only legal channels but also some highly illicit ones. Being one of South Korea's leading conglomerates wasn't just a fancy title. It meant possessing the raw power to handle any situation. If he truly set his mind to it, ruining a person's life with a single snap of his fingers was child's play.

"Anyway, hear me out. Da-bi's family situation isn't great."

"Is that so? I figured as much..."

Chairman Yoo wore a look of pity. To think such a kind, diligent young woman had to endure such hardships, while a punk like Tae-hyun was born with a golden spoon in his mouth...

"I feel like you're thinking something highly offensive right now."

"Ahem. No, of course not."

"Back to the point. If it's not an in-game issue, then her family situation is naturally the first thing that comes to mind."

Seeing Tae-hyun's serious expression, Chairman Yoo felt a slight pang of self-reflection. I thought he was just a lunatic, but he's actually putting some serious thought into this!

"I see..."

Under these circumstances, it became rather awkward for Chairman Yoo to speak up. The atmosphere was completely ruined for him to say, Ahem, actually, I think Da-bi just has feelings for you.

"But Da-bi isn't the type to talk about those things, nor is she the type to easily accept help."

"Really? I could easily help her out if she just asked..."

"Everyone has their own unyielding convictions. I respect that, so I won't pry into it directly, but..."

Chairman Yoo was genuinely impressed. Since he had only ever seen Tae-hyun running wild like a madman and exploiting everyone around him (mostly Cain), he had assumed the punk lived without ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a single thought in his head. Yet, surprisingly, Tae-hyun cared deeply about the people around him. Even if his methods were a bit... unconventional!

"...But it's still true that I'm worried. It's great to achieve things on your own, but there are definitely things in this world that are simply impossible to do alone."

"So?"

"So, if a problem arises, I plan to help her."

"Didn't you just say Da-bi isn't the type to accept help?"

"That's her conviction. My conviction is different, and if our convictions clash, I have to prioritize mine first."

"..."

"Anyway, since you seem to understand, I'll go ahead with the background check!"

"Hey, you crazy brat! No! That is absolutely not it!"

Chairman Yoo tried desperately to stop him, but once Tae-hyun set his mind on a course of action, he was unstoppable. In the end, Chairman Yoo half-gave up, muttering, "Just make sure you never, under any circumstances, tell her you did this because of me!"

Just as Tae-hyun was about to log out of Pan-On, a whisper from Lee Se-yeon arrived.

Lee Se-yeon instantly saw through Tae-hyun's lie.

At Se-yeon's words, Tae-hyun opened the link and turned on the broadcast. Just as she said, the map selection results were being announced live.

The biggest feature of this map was that there was only a single objective.

Unlike typical maps that were divided into three lanes or zones, the Bridge of Mortality had only one central objective: a massive, sprawling bridge right in the middle! This meant that instead of a delicate tactical battle of splitting forces, it was highly likely to turn into a brutal, all-out 5v5 team fight.

Se-yeon, of course, was well aware of this.

Lee Se-yeon replied, sounding utterly exhausted by the mere thought.

Se-yeon spoke with a satisfied tone. To anyone else, it might have sounded like arrogance, but this was exactly why Se-yeon held Tae-hyun in such high regard. His ability to always calmly look at the bigger picture! Anyone else would be too caught up in the moment to even think about hiding their abilities for the finals.