Chapter 42
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Sudden Attack Preliminaries
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"Nanny, so you'll be coming back starting today?"
Kangyul asked while tearing into some ribs with the twins.
"Yes. So don't worry."
The nanny had decided to return to working at Kangyul's house now that Jaeyoung was back.
She had stopped by briefly today just to feed the twins before that.
"Nanny. About this bump on my forehead—just say I ran into something. I don't want to worry Mom and Dad when they're so busy."
'If I had my way, I'd beat the crap out of her, but now that Nanny's back, I have to hold it in.'
The nanny paused as if thinking it over, then nodded.
But she didn't stay quiet like Kangyul had asked.
She immediately called the agency and reported everything that had happened that day, ensuring that woman would never set foot in this line of work again.
'How dare she lay a hand on the young masters?'
She wanted to sue for child abuse, but held back for the sake of kind-hearted Kangyul.
With the nanny back, Deokyul and Jiyul quickly regained their energy.
They chattered nonstop to her about what happened at school and ate plenty, just like before.
The only difference was that the nanny spent less time at the house now.
Like any regular office worker, she would drop by Kangyul's place briefly to handle meals or cleaning, then head straight home.
It made sense with Jaeyoung at home.
'Jaeyoung hyung doesn't seem to mind much either.'
And then, the long-awaited Sudden Attack preliminaries were suddenly upon them tomorrow.
Kangyul's team had signed up for everything—not just the 5v5 team battles, but the individual matches too.
The adult division was stacked with heavy hitters, so who knew how that would go, but Jang Seongtae should take the elementary division without much trouble.
'The elementary sniper tournament might be my best shot.'
The individual prelims kicked off tomorrow afternoon.
And that evening was the big clan war prelims.
'Ours starts right at 5 p.m.'
With so many teams entered, they had to play six full matches just to narrow it down to the round of 32.
That meant winning two games a day for three straight days in the prelims alone to advance.
'Over 2,000 clans signed up, huh?'
Even after weeding out ineligible clans and accounts with traces of cheats, there were still 2,000 teams.
"Kim Min-a, you're doing the prelims broadcast from the AfreecaTV main station, right?"
"Yes. Sigh... Do I really have to go cover the prelims broadcast? What if I choke in front of strangers?"
Kim Min-a put on an anxious face and pouted.
"With your skills, you won't lose to just anyone. Don't worry."
At Kangyul's reassurance, Kim Min-a pursed her lips sulkily before nodding.
Then Im Honggyu, sitting nearby, chimed in with what he thought was comforting.
"Don't worry. Even if you lose, I'll win it all for you."
"I want to win it too!"
"...So if you happen to lose..."
"I'm not gonna lose! Don't jinx it!"
Kangyul chuckled as he watched the two bicker like always.
The next morning, the team members arrived at the company with grim determination etched on their faces.
It might be just another ordinary day for non-players, but for the contestants, it was nerve-wracking.
"President, I'll head out to cover the prelims broadcast."
"Good luck!"
"...Sigh. Yes! Fighting!"
Kim Min-a high-fived Kangyul and left.
The prelims broadcast was starting at 1 p.m.
Her co-broadcaster today was the hugely popular BJ Cheolppak.
'Hope she doesn't get intimidated in front of Cheolppak.'
Worried for Kim Min-a, Kangyul fired up Sudden Attack anyway.
He wanted to warm up lightly before his individual matches.
But just before logging in, a message pinged on his phone.
Ding―
[Kim Donghwan: President. I've uploaded the approval docs for that movie investment you mentioned last time! Please review when you can! ^^]
'Already? Kim Donghwan's team leader is quick on the draw.'
[President: Got it. I'll check right now. Good work.]
Midas Corporation used an electronic approval system since employees were spread out.
It boosted efficiency—no need to hunt down Kangyul or Jang Deokcheol every time for reports.
[Movie Investment Report]
Kangyul opened the report and read through it slowly.
Miracle in Room 7
Production Cost: 3.8 billion
Investment: Full 3.8 billion
Confidentially Great
Production Cost: 7 billion
Investment: Full 7 billion
Hide and Seek
Production Cost: 2.5 billion
Investment: Full 2.5 billion
Gwanghae: The Man Who Became King
Production Cost: 10 billion
Minimum Investment: 100 million
Wolf Boy
Production Cost: 3 billion
Investment: Full 3 billion
Total Investment: 16.4 billion
Gwanghae was backed by CJ, a big corp, so they weren't hung up on investment amounts.
They'd filled half the 10 billion budget—5 billion—with investors already.
Kangyul reviewed everything and messaged Kim Donghwan right away.
[President: Kim Donghwan, skip the 100 million minimum for Gwanghae. Full investment on the other four films. Approving docs now.]
16.3 billion was peanuts compared to the 48 billion from selling that Gimpo land.
Way less than Kangyul expected.
[Kim Donghwan: Got it! Oh, one more thing, President.]
[President: Go ahead.]
[Kim Donghwan: I learned this running around: If shooting overruns, the investor covers extra costs. How should we handle that?]
Overruns weren't common, but disasters or script changes could extend shoots.
Producers would then dump extra costs on investors.
'That's how lawsuits happen later.'
Kangyul thought it over and replied.
[President: Spell it out in the contract. We'll cover all extras. In return, we get equity proportional to costs.]
That would pressure producers to finish on time.
And prevent deliberate drags, just in case.
[Kim Donghwan: Understood. Will make it explicit!]
[President: Good. Keep up the good work. Scout more film investments too. Big bonuses if these pan out!]
[Kim Donghwan: I'll grind my bones to dust!]
Kim Donghwan sure loved that "grind my bones to dust" line.
'Haha. At this rate, he'll have no bones left.'
Kangyul set the 16.3 billion investment for immediate payout.
Business done, Kangyul jumped straight into Sudden Attack.
Everyone except him—Jang Seongtae, Im Honggyu, Tteutteutteut, and Lee Jaeyoung—was already in-game.
'They're ahead.'
(Whisper)
[Charming Honggyu: President. One more round and I'll invite you!]
[God's Hand Kangyul: No rush. Take your time.]
While waiting, Kangyul thought about queuing a solo individual match but tuned into the prelims broadcast instead.
To see how Kim Min-a was doing.
'She has prior BJ experience, so she shouldn't be too nervous.'
The broadcast was already underway.
A pro caster sat center, flanked by Cheolppak and Kim Min-a.
They were chatting over footage from a just-started individual prelim match.
Prelim coverage focused on well-known faces or famous gamers.
The current clip was Vokem's live play.
―Cheolppak, what do you think of Vokem's play right now?
―Hah. One thing: Is that even human? With skills like that, he's no different from some jobless neighborhood uncle slurping ramen at the local PC bang.
Cheolppak ripped into Vokem with his signature middle-schooler slang.
But viewers pounced on him instantly.
He was a Starcraft pro, not great at Sudden Attack.
Anyone'd think you were frontliner material lolololol
Can't say shit in front of Vokem right? Agree? Yeah agree!
Listen to Meerkat instead of Cheolppak!
Meerkat looks like the best Sudden player here? Ex-Sudden BJ lol
―Huh? Hold on. Meerkat, you're a former Sudden BJ?
―Ah, haha. Yeah, just a tiny bit back in the day. I quit.
Kim Min-a smiled sweetly and answered demurely—180 degrees from her sharp jabs at Im Honggyu.
Not tiny. Almost 2 years!
2 years is forever. Cheolppak's no match lolololololol
―No, I'm not dissing Meerkat. But I'm an Afreeca gaming expert! Pro BJ! Got class! Can't lose to a YouTuber!
―Ooh, Cheolppak. So no matter how bad I am, I'm better than Meerkat? That's what you're saying? What if you're worse?
―Hey, why keep pushing? If I lose, I lose.
Chickens out when cornered? Classic Cheolppak class
Shave your brows if you lose. Man's pride on the line!
SEX!
Cheolppak glanced at chat, steeled himself, and bellowed.
―Fine! If I lose to Meerkat, I'll shave my brows! But if I win, what'll you do? Got a chairman for a Byeolppung mission? I'll call him up!
'Heh, he took the bait. Tough for Kim Min-a to win.'
Kangyul snickered at the broadcast.
Viewers mostly bet on Cheolppak, lukewarm on the Byeolppung mission.
'Should I step in?'
Kangyul fired off 500 star balloons and typed.
God's Hand Kangyul gifted 500 Star Balloons!
10,000 more if Meerkat wins. Call?
Kim Min-a spotted Kangyul's ID and smirked.
Cheolppak, oblivious, read it aloud and roared.
"Call!"