Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Virtual Reality Games
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Virtual Reality Game.
It referred to a game where players could enjoy a reality created virtually, just as the name implied.
Currently, CEO Kim Min-su was overseeing three affiliates of the Chocolate Group on behalf of Hae-jin: Chocolate Entertainment, Chocolate Games, and Chocolate Page, which Manager Kim had received.
In the process, he had investigated the matter Hae-jin had asked about.
That was the "virtual reality game" Chocolate Games was preparing.
Virtual reality games had already been commercialized to some extent.
There were even quite a few that multiple users could play online.
The problem, however...
‘To commercialize a virtual reality game, you need to accumulate data through testers first.’
Unlike regular programmed games, virtual reality games required vast amounts of data on knowledge and behaviors to be completed.
For example, in a racing game, it wasn't enough to just program the internal design or algorithms. Data from testers' experiences—enabling actions equivalent to real life—had to be inputted.
As a result, virtual reality games based on real-world elements had emerged in droves. Surprisingly, however, there was a genre that most gamers hoped for but had been impossible to realize: RPGs set in fantasy or martial arts worlds.
Since the world itself was fictional, it was hard to accumulate real-world-based data. The closest workaround required sets on the scale of movie productions.
But even that was barely a hack.
Testers for perfecting virtual reality games drew their mental experiences from CG-heavy movies, which often led to errors.
‘But the emergence of Players solved that issue.’
The Trials' Arena had opened, turning countless people into Players.
Thanks to this, Chocolate Games recruited surviving Players as testers for their in-development RPG virtual reality game. That allowed Chocolate Games to hit it big with two titles.
One was an online virtual reality game that gave the illusion of being transported to a fantasy world. The other was the "Trials Simulator," based on data from the Trials' Arena that Players were experiencing.
Direct data from Players engaging in fantastical elements—even combat—in reality shortened development timelines that would have otherwise taken years.
That was why Hae-jin had taken Chocolate Games from Chairman Park Sang-yong.
Once bugs and errors were ironed out using Players' data, the commercialized virtual reality games were guaranteed blockbusters.
Not to mention the secondary IP products that followed, raking in massive popularity.
Web novels, webtoons, animations, movies, dramas, and more.
This encompassed everything Hae-jin and Manager Kim could do with their Chocolate Group affiliates.
After receiving the report from CEO Kim Min-su, Hae-jin asked,
"So, when do you think commercialization will be possible?"
"Excluding the issues I've reported, it was already nearly complete. If we push data organization this month, it should be ready for launch next month."
"I see."
"Yes."
"Then get it moving quickly."
Hae-jin had heard from Joo-hyuk about the profits he and Manager Kim could reap from the Chocolate Group affiliates if the virtual reality game succeeded, so he instructed CEO Kim Min-su to proceed.
After hearing Hae-jin's directive, CEO Kim Min-su cautiously brought up another topic.
"Understood. However..."
"What is it?"
"Are you planning to play the virtual reality game yourself, sir?"
"Me?"
Hae-jin pointed at his own face with his index finger.
He wondered why CEO Kim Min-su was suddenly asking if he intended to play it.
CEO Kim Min-su nodded at Hae-jin's question.
"Yes. I wondered if that's why you took over that affiliate from the chairman."
"Well, maybe once things settle down and I have some leisure time. But right now, I don't think I'm fated to go around playing virtual reality games. After all, as a Player, surviving the Trials' Arena is more important."
"I see."
"Yes."
Hae-jin said he wasn't the type to play virtual reality games right now.
CEO Kim Min-su looked disappointed.
His expression suggested he had something he wanted to say.
"Is there something you want to tell me?"
"Uh, no."
It was obvious CEO Kim Min-su had something on his mind.
But Hae-jin had no desire to pry it out of him.
If CEO Kim Min-su had nothing more to say, Hae-jin figured he'd wrap up and leave.
"Then please handle it as discussed."
"Understood."
With that, Hae-jin urged CEO Kim Min-su to accelerate the virtual reality game commercialization, finished some additional business talk, and headed home.
Three days after meeting CEO Kim Min-su.
Someone visited Hae-jin's house.
"Huh? How did you get here, Manager Kim...?"
The surprised one upon seeing Manager Kim at Hae-jin's house was Park Jong-pal.
Manager Kim reacted to Park Jong-pal, who had arrived with two subordinates.
"And what brings you here?"
Manager Kim wondered why Park Jong-pal had come to Hae-jin's house.
Hae-jin interjected.
"Before meeting you, Manager Kim, Team Leader Park Jong-pal came to me asking to lead the 'Villain Crime Task Force.' I set some conditions, and apparently, the government accepted them?"
Park Jong-pal hesitated at Hae-jin's question.
"Well..."
Watching Park Jong-pal hesitate, Hae-jin recalled what Joo-hyuk had said.
『After Team Leader Park Jong-pal asks about the conditions for leading the Villain Crime Task Force and comes back, he'll agree to them but try to negotiate a bit just in case. Just ignore him.』
Joo-hyuk had said Park Jong-pal would agree to Hae-jin's conditions but attempt some adjustments, advising to ignore it.
Hae-jin followed Joo-hyuk's advice to the letter.
"If you're here to adjust the conditions, go ahead. Then I won't lead the Villain Crime Task Force."
"Urgh, no. We'll proceed as is."
Faced with Hae-jin's firm stance, Park Jong-pal dropped any thoughts of negotiation.
Truthfully, the government was the desperate side.
Among existing Players, who was the strongest? Obviously Hae-jin.
If that Hae-jin refused to lead South Korea's Villain Crime Task Force?
It wouldn't be a huge problem if he declined.
But if South Korea failed to secure him, another country might. They wanted to lock him down preemptively.
By now, no nation was foolish enough to overlook it.
Players were like human weapons, and their numbers could dictate national defense.
With villains popping up everywhere, securing Players had become a hot topic worldwide.
In that context, Hae-jin hadn't hidden his identity.
South Korea had to consider he could be poached by another country anytime.
Thus, they couldn't afford to test Hae-jin with conditions.
Especially not when he was drawing a hard line.
Park Jong-pal decided to accept Hae-jin's terms.
"Alright?"
"Yes. But we have one condition."
"What condition?"
Park Jong-pal proposed one condition instead of adjusting Hae-jin's.
Hae-jin already knew what it was.
‘They want to join the team themselves.’
Sure enough.
Park Jong-pal said exactly what Hae-jin had guessed.
"We'd like our three to join the team."
"All three of you?"
"Yes."
Park Jong-pal, Song Seung-hun, and Jung Soo-jung wanted to join Hae-jin's Villain Crime Task Force.
Hae-jin shrugged.
"Well, that's fine. But what about command authority?"
He wondered if handing command to Park Jong-pal now that three were joining.
It wouldn't be an issue to hand it over.
If he didn't like Park Jong-pal's command after observing, he could just push him aside.
No one would deny it if he called them a burden.
When Hae-jin asked about command, Park Jong-pal answered, then glanced at Manager Kim.
"Naturally, it should go to Hae-jin, with the greatest abilities... but..."
He had planned to hand command to the strongest—Hae-jin—from the start. But with Manager Kim, his former team leader, present, he considered giving it to him instead.
Seeing Park Jong-pal's look, Manager Kim spoke.
"I've already made Hae-jin my leader. No need to worry about handing command to me."
Manager Kim volunteered to give command to Hae-jin.
"Oh? Then Hae-jin can command us."
"Let's do that. From now on, if a crime or villain pops up, let us know. Manager Kim and I will take care of it."
Hae-jin said there was no need for everyone to move tiredly; he and Manager Kim would mainly handle the villains.
In Hae-jin's view, the three joining weren't that strong.
Not weak, but he judged he and Manager Kim alone would be more efficient.
Once Hae-jin finished, Park Jong-pal asked,
"Hmm, then for titles... Can we call you Leader too?"
"Sure."
"Yes, Leader. We'll compile data on villain suspects and crimes and bring it over."
"Yes. Please contact me in advance when you come."
"Understood."
With that, Park Jong-pal and his group left.
Hae-jin thought that until June's next Trials' Arena, he just needed to handle the Villain Crime Task Force investigations and manage the Chocolate Group affiliates well.
But beyond those two, another incident occurred.
It was a woman's visit.
May 15, 2030.
Mid-May, after the fifth Trials' Arena had ended.
Suddenly, Hae-jin's doorbell rang.
Ding-dong.
"Hm? Who's there?"
He had no appointments today.
Yet someone had rung the doorbell to visit Hae-jin's house.
They had passed the main entrance and reached his door.
It seemed less likely a party member and more like a new neighbor coming to say hello.
Sure enough.
Peeking at the intercom screen, it was filled with one thing.
Sirutteok.