Chapter 44
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Kangyul-less Kangyul Team
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Kangyul immediately began preparing for the clan battle.
Since the clan battle was set to start in the late afternoon, there was still plenty of time left.
It was more than enough until Kim Min-a returned from AfreecaTV headquarters.
"Everyone passed the preliminaries, right?"
"Yes! We all made it through without a single dropout!"
Im Honggyu answered briskly.
Tteutteutteut and Jang Seongtae, who weren't there, had won handily too.
'As long as they don't run into a powerhouse team by some rotten luck, they should be fine.'
Time passed, and Kim Min-a returned to the company.
She looked utterly exhausted, even if just for a moment.
"Haa. I'm back. Hanging out with those execs is way more draining than gaming."
"Good work."
'Now, who should I bench?'
Kangyul's 'Midas A' clan currently had six members.
For the 5v5 team battle, one had to sit out as a reserve.
He'd originally planned to bench Im Honggyu, the weakest, but now that he was emerging as Dark Horse, it was tricky.
'...I'm a sniper, so I can't sit. Seongtae is our top ace, so no way.'
Eliminating one by one left Tteutteutteut, Lee Jaeyoung, and Kim Min-a.
Among them, Lee Jaeyoung was the weakest link, but thinking of his nanny made it hard to bench him.
'Sigh. Too soft-hearted for my own good.'
Kangyul pondered for a moment before finally deciding.
[Hand of God Kangyul]: I've decided the lineup for this prelim. Follow my lead. As clan master, this one's my call alone.
[Charismatic Honggyu]: Got it!
[Man with a Burning Heart]: Of course!
They weren't saying it, but he could feel the tension in the air.
[Hand of God Kangyul]: I'm sitting this one out. Seongtae takes sniper. Everyone else, straight to Raphael.
[Charismatic Honggyu]: No way. I'll sit.
[Hand of God Kangyul]: Do as I say. Honggyu, you're on fire right now. This is the optimal lineup.
It wasn't actually the absolute best lineup.
Swapping out Lee Jaeyoung for himself would be ideal, but he didn't want to go that far even in prelims.
And with their skills being neck-and-neck, he wanted to give Lee Jaeyoung the shot.
Sensing Kangyul's intentions, the team members steeled their resolve even more.
The 'Midas A' clan's team battle ended in a dominant victory thanks to their overwhelming skill.
Seongtae handled Raphael well, but his sniping was on par with Kangyul's.
Beating a top-100 clan like 'Midas A' was no small feat.
And luckily, they drew middling opponents, cruising through both matches with ease.
[Man with a Burning Heart]: Great job, everyone! ^^ Wow, our teamwork was insane today!
[Snape]: At this rate, we can aim for the championship, right?!
[Charismatic Mina]: Hope so, but don't let your guard down.
[Harry Potter]: Yes, sis!
'Everyone looks pumped.'
This lineup should carry them through the prelims no problem.
Deep within the Yuan Hotel.
Baek Sangang sat sighing heavily.
Before him, Soyul bowed her head with a fierce glare.
Even with her head down, Soyul's face burned with the same outrage as Baek Sangang's.
"The Triads are getting bold. Lately, foreign criminal laborers have been flooding into Korea. Korean disappearances are spiking too."
"Hmm. And the police?"
"...They're brushing it off as adult missing persons cases. No real action."
Recently, Japanese and Chinese crime syndicates had been creeping into Korea.
Unlike countries with harsh penalties, here they faced deportation or jail at worst—even for murder or drugs.
The media and cops hushed it up, but dismemberment murders by foreigners were already routine.
'Sending those scumbags back unscathed is the real headache.'
Baek Sangang wasn't a saint, but he wouldn't stand for foreign syndicates invading his turf.
'Good with good. Evil with greater evil!'
He'd hired people to deal with them mercilessly.
But lately, their numbers were exploding.
'Time to stir the media?'
If shadows failed, drag it into the light.
The fallout would be huge, but he could turn it into opportunity.
"Grab solid proof and blow it wide open. Drag the incompetent cops in too."
"Yes, sir."
Soyul recalled a vicious killer who'd just slithered into Suwon.
He'd spark a case soon enough.
'...O Yangchun, was it?'
Soyul's eyes flashed sharply, mirroring Baek Sangang's.
The 'Midas Cup Sudden Attack Invitational' prelims sailed smoothly to the final day.
Rotating BJ casters and the fun of everyone joining in boosted the hype.
PC bangs even reported Sudden Attack hitting over 50% market share at peak—a shocker.
Netmarble's Sudden Attack team and PC bang owners were thrilled.
—Boss, it's a hit. Average viewers topped 80,000.
"Oh? Guess those giveaway events paid off."
—That helped, but the huge prize pool and all-ages format were key!
Most game tourneys targeted adults.
But Kangyul didn't want to exclude kids like himself.
So they went all-ages, even if it cost more.
"Oh, right—how about adding knife fights as an exhibition?"
—Knife matches?
"Yeah. Sudden Attack has knife maps. Make it an event, prizes in game cash."
Kangyul slyly shifted prizes to game currency.
Netmarble was getting too sweet a deal otherwise.
—Solid idea. We'll discuss and set it up!
Kangyul grinned even after hanging up.
Sponsorship inquiries were pouring in thanks to the tourney's success.
Companies offered millions just to slap their logo on screen.
'Even begging us to use their mice in finals.'
Ads alone would cover prizes and more.
And that wasn't all.
Midas Mutual Savings Bank saw a surge in deposits and accounts.
'Promotion works wonders.'
Post-bank run, trust was low.
But a big tourney and folksy products skyrocketed credibility.
They approved small personal loans under 10 million won smoothly, skipping big ones.
Total assets jumped 213 billion, net profit nearly 3 billion.
'After this ends, time to form a gaming team. Scout all my future stars.'
From Jang Seongtae to rising Lee Jaeyoung and untapped gems—all under one roof.
Even if the team didn't turn profit, it was something Kangyul had to do.
'Money? I'll make it elsewhere.'
Post-prelims, three days until finals.
Midas Studio on Seoul's outskirts needed setup for live broadcast, lots to prep.
Originally taped, but MBC GAME jumped in for live after seeing the hype.
'Hope MBC GAME sticks around this time.'
The three-day break didn't mean slacking for Kangyul.
He stayed busier than ever.
He toured Midas Studio with Jang Deokcheol, checking every detail.
And today, Midas Corp's Jeong Chan-seong was debuting in UFC.
'Rematch with Leonardo Garcia, right?'
Jeong would land the first-ever UFC twister submission win here.
Kangyul spared no expense—hotel near the venue, meals, everything perfect.
Fitting for Korea's future first UFC champ.
'...Might as well vlog the fight and grab footage.'
Kangyul pulled out his phone, streaming the starting UFC bout.
Choppy stream, but watchable.
"It finally starting?"
Jang Deokcheol glanced at the phone while driving.
"Yeah. You watch UFC too, Uncle Jang?"
"Never used to, but Jeong's fights got me hooked lately. Stress melts away just watching."
"Haha, exactly. That's why guys love it."
As Kangyul and Jang Deokcheol chatted, Jeong Chan-seong's match began.