Chapter 32
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Long Live Land Prices
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[Snape: Sungtae, let's really grind hard!]
'Sungtae? No way it's the Sungtae I know, right?'
Kangyul asked them for quick self-intros, just in case.
I'm Lee Jaeyoung... middle school second year.
My name is Jang Seongtae, middle schooler too.
'Haa.'
Kangyul could already guess who they were from the intros alone.
He wasn't sure if Snape was the runaway nanny's grandson, Lee Jaeyoung, but Harry Potter was definitely Jang Seongtae.
'Should've clocked it when he pulled out the K2.'
The pro gamer who would later be known as "K2's Demon"—Jang Seongtae.
'What now?'
Their skills were more than solid.
Six players total, including a reserve—it made for a perfect team comp.
'Middle schoolers, though. What happens if we hit finals? Spill the beans then?'
Kangyul decided to play it cool and act like he didn't know for now.
They jumped into a clan war with the six of them, and their win rate shot through the roof.
Harry Potter—Jang Seongtae—racked up kills in every situation with insane plays, and even Snape held his own above baseline.
My shot! You could go pro?!
Thanks! Pro is my dream!
Both of us are gonna be pro gamers! But Handsome Honggyu, you AFK or what?
Meanwhile, Im Honggyu was still on his endless 0-kill streak.
With deaths piling up and zero contributions, that's what they figured.
Nah. That's his actual skill level.
…
The next day.
Kangyul went through the usual after-school routine, tackling workbooks with his little brothers.
Jang Seongtae was there with them today.
Especially hyped, he wouldn't shut up about Sudden Attack.
"Kangyul-ah. Clan war the other day? Saw a name just like yours—God's Hand Kangyul?"
'That's me, you little punk.'
"Skill's not quite on my level, but pretty solid. Gotta invite you if we hit a tourney!"
"You mean Sudden Attack?"
Deokyul and Jiyul perked up their ears too.
They used to ignore any game talk from Kangyul or Seongtae, but lately they'd started showing real interest.
"Yeah! Invite you guys too!"
Seongtae acted like finals qualification was already in the bag.
"Your dad cool with you gaming, though?"
"...Dad?"
Seongtae's face clouded over in an instant.
"Win the tourney, maybe he'll let me game?"
"Eh, Mr. Jang's pretty strict."
'Especially if he finds out you're teamed up with some runaway like that Lee Jaeyoung.'
"How's that hyung you game with, anyway?"
"Jaeyoung hyung? He's always at PC bangs. Broke as hell lately, barely sleeping—must be rough."
By Seongtae's account, Lee Jaeyoung's daily grind went like this:
He'd wander from one PC bang to another before nightfall, then crash for a nap in a public restroom when it was time to sleep.
"What if some sketchy types spot him?"
"Right? But he says he'll grab the prize money from the tourney and head home."
Safety was the biggest issue here, putting everything else aside.
For a third-grader, not getting kidnapped or worse would be a win.
Lee Jaeyoung's reason for running away was ridiculous too.
He'd gotten pissed at his grandma for always hanging out at other people's houses, so he bailed.
But then he figured if he made bank, grandma could stick around home more.
Gaming was the one thing he could do, and boom—Sudden Attack tourney pops up right on cue.
In that mess, the prize pool looked like his only shot.
'Gotta pull him out of that danger zone first.'
Once Seongtae headed home, Kangyul mulled it over solo.
Finding Jaeyoung haunting PC bangs and shipping him back to the nanny wouldn't fix squat.
One time might stick, but he'd bolt again for sure.
'Can't just leave him like that either. Messed up. Ugh.'
No matter how much head-scratching Kangyul did alone, no magic fix was popping up.
He pulled out his phone and spilled the whole story to Jang Deokcheol.
Naturally, he skipped every bit about Seongtae.
That's a serious problem. Best to get him home if possible... but what's the Chairman think?
I think forcing him home might not be best. Letting him give it his all and crash or succeed could teach him something.
Either way, ship him home after whatever shakes out.
Got it. How about parking him at Midas Corp for a bit?
Any legal headaches?
I'll smooth it over with the nanny. Way better than vagrant life on the streets.
Only then did Kangyul feel a wave of relief wash over him.
Kangyul rolled into the office and fired up the TV for morning news first thing.
Back in the day, he'd dismissed it as stale crap for geezers.
But now? It dredged up fuzzy old memories he'd half-forgotten—kinda nice.
MC Kang Ho-dong, hit with billions in back taxes for evasion, has announced a temporary retirement from showbiz.
...
...
Kang Ho-dong stated, "Giving laughs and joy to viewers is my duty and command—how could I shamelessly show my face on TV, grinning and chattering? From this moment, I retire from entertainment indefinitely."
"Oh my! Chairman, Kang Ho-dong's retiring!"
Kim Min-a jumped, staring at the TV from the side.
'Right, this was when Kang Ho-dong dipped out temporarily.'
Tax evasion, land speculation—nonstop headlines about the guy.
Finally cracked, he dropped the retirement bomb outta nowhere.
Tons of top-rated shows tanked because of it: Knee Drop Guru, Star King, Strong Heart, 1 Night 2 Days.
'He'll be back in two years anyway.'
"Infinite Challenge is all that's left now."
Wife of Gimpo mayor, Choi, bought up massive land near the new North Gimpo Comprehensive Development Plan, sparking controversy. Yangchon-eup in Gimpo was just de-militarized and slated for urban expansion.
...
...
This ties into booming real estate in North Gimpo, linking Gimpo Han River New Town to Incheon Ganghwa amid back-to-back development announcements.
"Huh?"
The land on screen was super familiar to Kangyul.
"Vice President, that's our land... right?"
"Yes. Looks like the spot the Chairman scooped up for peanuts last time."
"How much did we pay again?"
Jang Deokcheol checked his phone and balked.
"...160,000 pyeong. 30,000 won per pyeong."
Kangyul Googled current prices there.
With restrictions lifted and plans public, values were mooning.
"210,000 per pyeong now. Damn. Raked in a fortune again."
Kangyul scratched his head with a grin.
Kim Min-a and Jang Deokcheol did quick math and freaked.
"Jackpot! 33.6 billion!"
"Chairman really has the Midas touch."
Nothing but thanks to the Mun Seyun and Mun Segwang brothers rotting in some detention center.
This life felt like whatever he touched turned to gold.
"Vice President, that's all under Midas Corp shares, right? Sell it all."
"Everything? It'll climb higher if we hold."
"Feels pricey enough already. Sell with a premium, but don't price it out of deals."
Kangyul wasn't naturally the bold type.
Old memories might make him seem that way, but deep down, he was cautious.
This life's "do it right" mindset leaned conservative.
'Could go higher, but holding sketchy land that might tank anytime? Nah.'
Better to cash out at peak—fit his style more.
Plus, new ventures soon. Would need stacks of cash.
News shifted to the new cable channels, announcer yapping away.
In four months, four comprehensive cable channels launch. They boast of crushing terrestrial TV on day one, but experts say it's classic 'empty cart rattling'—most will flop with too many stations.
Talking heads basically said they'd all tank from oversaturation.
'Clueless. Might stutter early, but cable will smoke broadcast soon enough.'
Kangyul snorted at the announcer's take.