Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Evaluation
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When Wonderland exploded in popularity and people realized it was more than just a gameit was a way to make money.
I hear Wonderland is all the rage with the younger crowd these days. They say it's already surpassed a hundred million players. Isn't there some way we can connect this to a new business model?
Leading corporations grew desperate to find a business model that would allow them to profit professionally within the game.
They have absolutely no intention of featuring our products? What, it's the same for every company? Then find a way to connect it to advertising, somehow!
Wonderland Inc. had completely sealed off any loopholes that would allow other companies' business models to enter.
Billions in account fees, sales of cosmetic cash items, and economic control through the in-game currency exchange.
Having already established a perfect revenue model, they saw no need to share their piece of the pie with other companies.
And so, the second method corporations chose was the players themselves.
Let's just sponsor our own users instead.
If there was no way to break in from the outside, they would approach it from the inside by cultivating users.
These cultivated users became star players, serving as mascots for their corporate sponsors.
Sam-O's Brand Image Soars, Thanks to Wonderland's 11th Ranked Player, 'Jin Seyeon'
27th Ranked Hyeon Taeyang Signs 10-Year Renewal with Yeonhwa Group for Record-Breaking Salary
Ministry of National Defense's New Mascot 'ARMY Tiger' Replaces Gudgeoni After 20 Years
Star players transcended influencers to become figures of immense worldly impact.
Just as virtual idols had once been wildly popular, this became the new idol model that defined the 2030s.
The fact that even the Ministry of National Defense created a new mascot called 'ARMY Tiger' said it all.
We have to create a star player, no matter what!
From then on, corporations began searching for users who could represent their companies.
Those with exceptional talent, striking looks, and eloquence knocked on the doors of major corporations.
However, the talent most sought after in Wonderland wasn't looks, charisma, or eloquence, but physical ability.
Looks could be customized with the help of experts, and gear could be provided by the company.
Develop them in the classes that are most likely to get popular! Whether it's martial arts, top-tier athletes, or e-sports, pick people with good sense and get them under contract!
One Well-Nurtured Star Player is Worth Ten A-List Celebrities.
Corporations took in those who showed promise and provided them with endless support to help them grow.
They began doing exactly what idol agencies had been doing!
Thus began the prelude to the so-called Star Player War.
Heosong Group's 'Lee Won (stage name)' was one such cultivated prospect.
Finally... my evaluation!
He was a player who had once excelled in AOS games, treated like a star in China for two years.
That is, until his contract was terminated due to personality issues that caused conflict within his team.
His specialties were exceptional reaction speed, composure, and razor-sharp skill distribution.
Though he lacked physical prowess, he was a well-known figure in e-sports, so they had chosen him for his star potential.
The humiliation I've endured for this day.
For the past six months, Lee Won had undergone intense training.
Mornings were for MMA, afternoons for various ball sports, and he even underwent agility training conducted at the athletes' village with an expert.
For someone who had spent his entire life sitting in front of a computer, these were days akin to hell.
But it was also a fact that he had prepared perfectly for today.
Hoo.
Lee Won calmed his trembling heart and entered the hunting grounds of Lutetia.
He hadn't yet renewed his contract with the company, so he had to deliver his best possible performance here.
Thinking of my future salary, I have to finish this in one go without any mistakes.
Of course, he wouldn't be fired even if he failed to show an outstanding performance.
But it was obvious that a high score in the internal evaluation would lead to better terms upon contract renewal.
I worked so hard just to come to Lutetia.
He had deliberately chosen Lutetia as his starting town to get a slightly better evaluation.
The speed-type wolves were the most suitable for showcasing his exceptional reaction speed and agility.
As you know, Mr. Lee Won, today's internal evaluation will be entirely recorded. It's scheduled to be uploaded to various sites like YouToob for corporate promotion. I'll handle the filming, so you just need to focus on the battle.
Understood.
And I have some good news. The CEO has sent word that a bonus will be paid if you deliver an outstanding performance.
the Heosong Group's team leader added softly.
Lee Won, startled as if hearing this for the first time, replied.
A b-bonus? What kind of bonus?
Ten million won in cash. Of course, only if you show a performance that sets you apart from other users.
T-ten million won...!
At the unexpectedly large sum, Lee Won's eyes filled with greed.
Ten million won was a bonus equivalent to one-fifth of his current annual salary.
What fool wouldn't risk their life when presented with such a golden opportunity?
He had to deliver an outstanding performance, no matter what.
I heard Jin Seyeon killed one in two hits.
For an average user, it took about ten attacks to kill a Silver Wolf.
Experienced players did it in under five, while star player prospects recorded under four.
Four hits. I'm going for four hits.
Lee Won's goal was four hits.
It was to show that he was on par with the other star player prospects.
Heheh. Four hits will be a breeze. I've prepared so much for this.
Ting!
King Sloan's Cursed Iron Sword (Unique)
Level Requirement: 10
Class Requirement: Warrior
Attack Power: 30
.
.
.
I invested 200 gold to buy this sword just for today.
A level 10 sword from the starting village cost around 50 gold at most.
Lee Won had bought a sword four times as expensive to ensure a solid performance in his evaluation.
He had even secretly created an alternate character and already killed several hundred Silver Wolves.
Killing one in four hits under these circumstances? It was a piece of cake.
Heheh, I'll gladly take that ten million won!
Lee Won smirked.
Are you ready, Mr. Lee Won? The video setup is complete.
I'm ready. Let's do this.
Lee Won casually picked up a stone.
Alright, let's get this over with quickly.
The strategy for Silver Wolves was relatively simple.
First, you throw a stone to draw aggro and make the monster approach you.
The wolf would then leap at its target to attack.
I've killed this monster countless times. It's nothing special if you exploit its weakness.
The Silver Wolf's signature was its attack utilizing a long hang time.
It was the monster with the highest damage in the level 10 hunting grounds.
But that also leaves it defenseless.
However, it had the weakness of being defenseless while airborne.
This meant it was vulnerable to attack while in the air.
Just do what I've always done.
Lee Won steadied his breath and threw the stone at a Silver Wolf.
Thwack! The aggravated Silver Wolf turned its head toward Lee Won.
It drooled as if it had found its prey.
Grrrr!
The wolf then charged fiercely toward Lee Won.
Come on!
His sword sliced across the airborne wolf's belly.
Along with the crisp sound of the slash, a pleasant notification reached Lee Won's ears.
Critical Hit!
You have dealt a fatal blow to the Silver Wolf.
Yes!
Lee Won grinned.
An unexpected critical hit had landed.
It was a fantastic start.
Not time to relax yet. I'll do the same thing again!
But he didn't let his guard down and quickly put distance between himself and the wolf.
His strengths lay in strategy and calculation, not in physical prowess.
If he relaxed for even a moment, the wolf could pin him down at any time.
Leap!
The Silver Wolf lunged at him again, its eyes glowing menacingly.
Once again, Lee Won's sword struck the belly of the wolf, which was defenseless mid-air.
Swish!
Critical Hit!
You have dealt a fatal blow to the Silver Wolf.
No way!
Two critical hits in a row? It was an unbelievable series of events.
Lee Won's eyes widened.
...Could I kill it in three hits?
Killing one in three hits was something he had only experienced once in his hundreds of Silver Wolf kills.
It was also a record that would place him among the ranks of renowned star player prospects.
J-just one more! P-please, just one more!
Only one hit remained.
If he landed another critical hit, a three-hit kill was certain.
If that happened, he could expect not only the bonus but also a significant improvement in his contract renewal terms.
Lee Won's eyes filled with greed.
I can do it. I'm destined to be the main character!
His sword aimed for the Silver Wolf's belly.
Swish! The sensation of the sword cutting through cleanly.
At the same time, the notification he had so desperately wanted to see appeared before his eyes.
Critical Hit!
You have dealt a fatal blow to the Silver Wolf!
You have defeated the Silver Wolf!
...I-I did it! Aaaah! I-I killed the Silver Wolf in just three hits!
Lee Won jumped up and down, genuinely overjoyed.
D-did you see that, Team Leader?
He said, puffing out his chest toward the team leader.
This should be more than enough to get the bonus, right? I mean, I killed a Silver Wolf in just three hits.
...Y-yes, certainly. The C-CEO will be very pleased, I'm sure.
Hmm? Is that all you have to say?
...Pardon?
There's still the matter of my 'c-o-n-t-r-a-c-t t-e-r-m-s,' isn't there? Surely... you're not going to tell me there's no improvement in terms after a three-hit kill?
O-of course not! N-no way!
The team leader's eyes twitched.
He, too, had thoroughly researched Silver Wolves to establish the criteria for the internal evaluation.
In other words, he knew full well what a remarkable feat a three-hit kill was.
I-I'll do my best to support you so you can get the best contract treatment in the industry! J-just trust me!
This was the moment he was witnessing the emergence of a truly massive prospect with his own eyes.
There was no reason to say the wrong thing and get on his bad side.
Hmph, I appreciate you saying so.
Lee Won smirked.
The thought of himself earning a nine-figure salary already made him smile.
It was then.
Excuse me, are you done hunting?
A strange man's voice came from nearby. Lee Won's gaze turned toward him.
It was Yuhyeon, a man with silver hair and a noble aura.
...Yes, but what is it?
I was wondering if I could hunt here if the spot is free. As you can see, everywhere else is taken.
Hmm, well.
Lee Won looked at Yuhyeon with narrowed eyes.
It's not my spot to begin with, so giving it up isn't hard, but...
He thought to himself as he looked Yuhyeon up and down.
Hm?
Yuhyeon's appearance was shabbier than anyone's.
He was still wearing the tunic given out in the starting village and seemed to lack any proper armor or gear.
The most noticeable thing was the appearance of the sword in his hand.
With its plain appearance and no particular markings, it looked like a low-grade iron sword.
Isn't he the perfect subject for comparison?
For a moment, a malicious thought crossed Lee Won's mind.
The idea of letting him hunt right here and watching him struggle.
Wouldn't having such a clear comparison make him stand out even more?
Of course! Feel free to use it as much as you like.
Oh, thank you!
the silver-haired man replied with a bright smile.
His smile is so bright I feel a little bad... but what can you do.
Lee Won thought to himself, staring intently at Yuhyeon.
Not even picking up a stone and drawing his sword right awaythe very picture of a novice.
Just as he was expecting the scene he anticipated to unfold.
Swish!
The crisp sound of a sword slicing through a wolf's neck rang out.
A single swing.
With that one blow, the Silver Wolf collapsed without even a yelp.
Uh...?
H-huh?
Lee Won and the team leader, who were watching Yuhyeon from the same spot, stared with wide eyes.
Their faces seemed to betray their thoughts: 'How did he kill it in one hit?', 'Did I see that wrong?'
Regardless, Yuhyeon's battle continued.
Thwack!
Yuhyeon's sword struck the ground hard.
Lee Won tilted his head, confused by the inexplicable action.
An attack-enhancing skill? Bash? Why would he use Bash like that...
Soon, he realized why, and his eyes widened in shock.
A hazy mist was spreading around the wolf.
The powerful sword strike had kicked up a cloud of dust, blinding the wolf.
I-insane... I-is that even possible?
T-to use Bash like that!
Lee Won and the team leader exclaimed in unison.
Bash was strictly an attack skill; using it like that when there were crowd control skills like 'Wedge' or 'Shockwave' was unheard of.
That wasn't all.
Clang!
Yuhyeon's blade blocked the wolf's massive fangs.
It was a flawless block, with nothing to criticize.
Hup!
A sword strike followed immediately.
One hit, just one hit! He was felling wolves with a single blow to the neck.
N-no way. W-what am I seeing right now...
Lee Won's mouth hung open.
From perfectly timed blocks to his innovative use of Bash.
It was a series of brilliant maneuvers that even highly skilled players would find difficult.
But there was something even more unbelievable.
W-weren't they all one-hit kills so far?
The fact that Yuhyeon had killed every Silver Wolf he faced in a single blow.
Whether he struck first to sever its neck or blocked and then struck, the method varied, but the resulta one-hit killremained the same.
I-is that possible with such a shabby sword?
How could he deal that much damage with such a plain-looking sword?
More importantly, no matter how good the sword was, was it even plausible to pull off such a performance?
Even the high-ranker Jin Seyeon's best was a two-hit kill!
Ah! I-I get it! He's a high-level player who came to a low-level zone to stomp on noobs!
Lee Won exclaimed, his face one of realization.
In fact, it was a moment that couldn't be explained any other way.
T-to be able to move like that...
But the team leader's thoughts seemed to be a little different.
I-I need to contact the CEO right away...
No matter how high one's level was, movement was an entirely different domain.
Wasn't that why everyone was so desperate to recruit athletes as players?
To cover the aspects that skills couldn't handle with physical ability and game sense.
T-Team Leader! I can do it too!
Lee Won shouted desperately.
Whether it was two hits or three, that wasn't what was important right now.
The priority was to draw back the attention that man had stolen.
W-watch closely! See what kind of performance I can deliver!
He just had to show them, right?
Just a moment ago, he had killed a Silver Wolf in three hits with a lucky streak of criticals.
If he copied the cheap trick of using Bash to obscure vision, he might even be able to reduce it to two hits.
Anxious, Lee Won threw a stone at a wolf. Flick!
You can do it, Lee Won! You used to be a legendary pro gamer!
He recalled his glorious past.
The trophy held high by the champion, the days he watched others walk the Golden Royal Road from up close...
He gave himself a strong dose of self-suggestion, remembering the man who had once neared the summit.
Leap!
The Silver Wolf leaped high towards Lee Won.
At the same time, his grip on his sword tightened.
Swish!
Lee Won's sword strike shallowly dug into the wolf's belly.
Normally, he would have backed away to create distance and fight using the Silver Wolf's patterns.
It's fine, just keep the pressure on!
But Lee Won, worked up because of Yuhyeon, showed no signs of stopping his assault.
He planned to use Bash on the ground in the same way to obscure its vision and trap the wolf to beat it down.
But there was one fact he was overlooking.
Kerrk!
That a Silver Wolf in close combat was faster than Lee Won had anticipated.
Swoosh!
Kughak!
And that Lee Won was strong in strategy, not in physical combat.
For him to abandon his patterns and choose close-quarters combat was perhaps an act close to suicide.
There was no chance to even use Bash to obscure its vision.
Awoooo!
The Silver Wolf, having gained the upper hand in the sustained close combat, finally got Lee Won into a mounted position.
N-no!
A desperate moment.
He had never once been pinned by a wolf before.
What lay before Lee Won's eyes was the wolf's massive, drooling maw.
C-crazy. How could I make a mistake like this.
Was getting too worked up against the wolf the biggest cause of his defeat?
But after seeing the team leader's expression, Lee Won instantly understood the reason.
Ha...
Even in the moment of his death, the team leader's gaze was fixed solely on Yuhyeon.
That man had completely stolen his spotlight.
Was this karma for his malicious intentions?
Crunch!
You have suffered a fatal blow from the Silver Wolf.
You have died.
The evaluation, which should have ended with a spectacular finish, was completely ruined by a total stranger.
What kind of damn mess is this...
Lee Won muttered with a look of despair.