Chapter 47
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Main Tournament Day 1
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"Nice weather."
Kangyul squinted up at the blazing sunlight.
The rays were getting pretty intense now—a sure sign that the heat was starting to build.
"Young Master, if you're still tired, why not take one more day to rest at home?"
"No. I have to head out today."
Kangyul flashed a bright smile at the concerned nanny and made for the car.
"Front seat's mine today!"
Deokyul darted past Kangyul and scrambled into the front passenger seat.
He always said that staring out the windshield from up there made him feel like he was the one driving—and it was a total blast.
'Go ahead, kid. Have at it.'
Kangyul slid into the back with Jiyul.
After dropping the twins off at school, the car headed straight for Midas Studio.
"How's the studio looking?"
"Even a total layman like me can see it's impressive. The MBC Game staff stopped by to inspect and gave it their full approval."
"Glad to hear it."
The studio had been designed to seat around 500 spectators.
The facilities could easily handle over a thousand, but they'd capped it at five hundred on purpose.
No matter how much hype the Sudden Attack tournament was generating, it was tough to imagine that kind of crowd making their way to a studio this out of the way without their own wheels.
"President. Here's the bracket."
The matchups had been drawn last night in a live random broadcast.
Each clan would need to win five matches straight out of the round of thirty-two just to claim first place.
'Who do we have?'
Kangyul scanned the sheet for the 'Midas A' clan.
Their round-of-thirty-two opponent was a clan called Sudden Weekly.
They had a worse record than Midas A and ranked somewhere around five hundredth overall.
'Should be a clean sweep.'
The clan matches would be straightforward enough, but Jang Seongtae was the real wildcard.
With the main tournament happening in person at the studio, there was no hiding faces.
Kangyul snuck a glance at Jang Deokcheol.
'Doesn't look like Uncle Jang knows yet. Hmm. He wouldn't seriously try taking a taxi solo, would he?'
Kim Min-a and Im Honggyu had both said he'd sworn up and down that he'd be there come hell or high water.
'Worst case, I'll have to step in myself.'
Kangyul set the bracket aside and asked about O Yangchun.
"...Surveillance still holding steady?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary so far. Just like the message said—he drinks, sleeps, repeat."
"I see."
Even while Kangyul had been laid up sick, Jang Deokcheol hadn't let up on the surveillance reports from Bae Jihun.
Bae Jihun had earned every penny, never letting his guard down around O Yangchun for a second.
"But there's one odd detail."
"Odd how?"
"Yeah. This O Yangchun guy's registered as a day laborer, but he never shows up for work. Still, the way he calls up girls at karaoke joints or hits the dive bars, he's got cash to burn."
'Money to burn.'
"Want me to have them trace his accounts?"
"Can you?"
"Extra fee, but doable. That's right up their alley."
"Yes, please make it happen."
A day laborer who didn't lift a finger.
And cash overflowing.
That combo didn't leave much room for interpretation.
Familiar faces greeted them upon arrival at the studio.
Park Gyusu was there, along with Manager Team Leader Kim Donghwan.
They were the regular staff who worked on-site.
"Vice President."
Jang Deokcheol gave a casual nod in greeting.
"Kangyul! You're with our company clan, right?"
"Yeah."
Everyone was familiar from all the YouTube shoots, so the hellos were friendly and easy.
They still had no idea Kangyul was actually the president of Midas.
'Sometimes ignorance is bliss.'
Kangyul headed over to where Midas A was waiting.
Kim Min-a was there, along with Im Honggyu, Lee Jaeyoung, and a face he didn't recognize: Ttuttuttut.
Looked like Im Honggyu had given Lee Jaeyoung a ride.
"President! You're here? Feeling okay?"
"Doing alright. You guys get a ton of practice in while I was out?"
"Yep! We're in peak form!"
Ttuttuttut was a blond stunner of a young guy.
'Handsome as hell and a gaming whiz. Guy's got it all.'
Every time Ttuttuttut chatted up Kim Min-a, Im Honggyu shot him side-eye like a hawk.
"Jang... I mean, Snape still AWOL?"
"Yeah. Said he's coming with his folks."
The word 'folks' made Kangyul tense up.
Jang Seongtae's dad was standing right next to him, after all.
But Jang Deokcheol acted like he couldn't care less about the gaming chatter.
Jang Seongtae didn't show until thirty minutes before kickoff.
The rest of the team couldn't hang around forever—they had to hit the stage soon.
'Looks like it's on me.'
Kangyul was just straightening up to slip out of the lounge when the door flew open.
In rushed Jang Seongtae, panting hard like he'd sprinted the last leg.
"Seongtae!"
Lee Jaeyoung—who'd been the most visibly antsy—lit up with a grin and bolted over.
"Huff... huff... taxi driver took a wrong turn. So-sorry!"
Jang Seongtae bowed his head in apology, then spotted Kangyul and perked up.
"Kangyul!"
But his eyes landed on Jang Deokcheol right beside him, and he froze solid.
"...D-Dad?"
Jang Deokcheol stared blankly at his son, who'd appeared out of nowhere.
'What's Seongtae doing here?'
Son hadn't breathed a word about it before leaving the house that morning.
Then, right on his heels, his wife pushed through the door.
"Seongtae! You can't just dash off like that! Took us forever to track you down. Whew."
"Honey?"
"Huh? What are you doing here? Don't tell me you're in on this game tournament thing too?!"
Kangyul could piece together the gist.
Seongtae must've only cleared it with Mom and gotten the green light.
"...I'm here for work!"
Jang Deokcheol's face twisted through a storm of emotions as he glanced back and forth between his son and wife.
His cheeks were flushing red—he was pissed about being kept in the dark.
"...We'll give you guys some space?"
Kangyul herded the team out quietly.
Jang Deokcheol's glare screamed why didn't you tell me?
'...Damn. Should've given him a heads-up.'
Click.
"What about school?! And why the hell didn't you tell me?!"
"Because I knew you'd shut it down flat! Why are you yelling at the kid like that?!"
The door had barely shut before their argument exploded into the open.
Kangyul winced without meaning to.
"...You all head ahead and get set. I'll bring Seongtae along."
"Got it."
The team shot a quick look back at the lounge before heading to the arena.
'Man, Seongtae's mom can belt it out.'
Kangyul wasn't trying to eavesdrop—the voices just carried that far.
"How could you keep something like this from me?"
"That's my line! A driver working at a game company?!"
"It's an investment firm, not games!"
From what he could make out, Seongtae's mom was all about letting him chase whatever he wanted—games included.
Hence the easy okay on the tournament and tagging along.
Jang Deokcheol, more old-school and rigid, just wanted his son hitting the books.
"What's the point of getting good at some game? He's a student—he needs to study!"
"You bombed school yourself—why push it on him?"
"Exactly 'cause I bombed, he needs to ace it!"
"Lord. You reap what you sow. If you're so hot for studying, knock yourself out!"
The door slammed open right after her parting shot.
"...Arena's straight down that way."
"Oh, thanks!"
Seongtae let his mom drag him off toward the venue.
But the whole way, he kept sneaking glances back at the lounge.
Kangyul eased back inside cautiously.
Click.
Jang Deokcheol had collapsed into a chair.
He looked a good few years older in seconds.
Kangyul sat down right beside him without a word.
"...You knew about this too, President?"
Kangyul nodded, and Jang Deokcheol dragged a hand down his face.
"I don't get games at all, but... is he really as good as his mom claims?"
"That good?"
Kangyul paused, then held his hand out at chest height and drew an imaginary line.
"This right here's my level."
He raised it a bit higher and traced another.
"Kim Min-a or Jaeyoung gearing up for pro? Around here."
Up to eye level.
"Im Honggyu's hitting this lately."
"And Seongtae?"
Kangyul shook his head and pointed straight at the ceiling.
"Seongtae's way up there. Higher than anyone. Out of my reach."
Jang Deokcheol's eyes went wide.
"...That much?"
"Yeah. Mark my words—in this scene, he could straight-up be the best in the world."
'Just like he was before.'
'World's best' hit Jang Deokcheol like a truck—his face crumpled like he might tear up.
He'd have let it slide for a sliver of potential.
But hearing top-tier praise from Kangyul? No holding back the emotion.
"President gives him that kind of review... no wonder the kid snuck around for this."
He felt a pang of guilt for secretly wishing every day that his son could be even a little like Kangyul.
"Saw on the news games turn kids violent..."
"Not a chance. Put that worry to bed."
Kangyul cut it off so sharply, Jang Deokcheol looked sheepish for bringing it up.
"...Alright. Wanna go watch the tournament? Check out the boy in action too."
Kangyul headed to the venue with Jang Deokcheol.
Thank goodness he'd come around quicker than expected.
By the time they arrived, the clan matches were just about to kick off.