Overwhelming Recruitment Offers
“Recruitment proposals?”
I’d expected Juyeonu to bring it up eventually. The problem was the sheer number.
“These are all recruitment offers? Isn’t that way too many?”
“Think about everything you’ve done, hyung. Even after filtering as much as possible, a hundred were left. If I’d cut more, I’d have had to exclude major corporations.”
Juyeonu vented his grievances, insisting he’d done his best. Watching the exchange, Mom threw in a question.
“What’s all this about?”
“Ah, Mom, this is…”
“I’ll explain. Hyung, just check them out.”
Cutting me off, Juyeonu started explaining the situation to Mom. Staring in disbelief, I pulled the documents toward me.
So damn many.
A long list of companies, streamers, and individual players stretched out. Each offer’s terms were neatly organized. Key ones were even highlighted in color with added comments.
What a stubborn bastard.
I could feel Juyeonu’s final bit of stubbornness in this report. Naturally, established powers offered better terms than his fledgling company. He must’ve wanted to recruit me, but watching my playstyle changed his mind. It was the kind of thought unfit for a businessman—letting me swim in deeper waters. So very Juyeonu-like, it drew a hollow chuckle from me.
“That’s why they all want to recruit you. In sports terms, you’re a superstar prospect.”
Meanwhile, Juyeonu wrapped up his diligent explanation. After a moment of silence, Mom turned to the documents and said,
“So all these are people trying to take Hanbit away?”
“Yes. Some companies even had overlapping offers. They really want you bad, hyung.”
“…Really?”
The utterly unfamiliar situation had Mom poring over the papers carefully. Game terms mixed in made it hard to grasp, but some parts jumped out clearly.
“100 million upfront and 150 million salary? What’s that?”
Behind Geumjo Corp’s proposal were figures tacked on one after another. With no other notes, Mom struggled to understand.
“Signing bonus of 100 million, annual salary 150 million. The extras are incentive clauses… Basically, the split ratio for treasures you find with the company. But it’s not great compared to others.”
“……?”
The most intuitive parts from Juyeonu’s explanation were the signing bonus and salary. But they felt so unreal, confusion set in.
“Mom, I checked each one personally and only kept reputable places. You recognize a lot of these names, right?”
Sensing her worry, Juyeonu pointed to a few on the list. Major Korean conglomerates, even celebrities. Their fame sparked new concerns, but Juyeonu read her mind.
“Just so you know, contracts with headquarters will be official. For independents, they’ll be fair and legal, so no worries. Our family’s in law, after all—I’ll handle the connections.”
His airtight explanation gradually eased Mom’s concerns. Juyeonu’s parents ran one of Korea’s top three law firms as a power couple. He hadn’t followed in their footsteps, but as the youngest, he’d carved out some freedom.
Clatter—
As they talked, the course dishes arrived one by one. I savored the food slowly while devouring the documents.
Yeonhwa’s here too.
Before the Lashten monopoly scandal. Yeonhwa Gaming had been the most aggressive in recruitment. Their suspicions about me and Juyeonu derailed it, but once cleared as a misunderstanding, they showered us with millions in sponsorships. Their current offer alone had a 200 million signing bonus.
“What do you think? Yeonhwa’s solid, and some really stand out, right? We can add retroactive clauses for episode results.”
Juyeonu pressed, highlighting terms. Scanning the list, I fired back a question.
“Where’s your company?”
“C’mon, I haven’t even properly set it up yet. Just pick based on these conditions. I weeded out black companies, so don’t worry.”
“Like filtering weeds out actual black companies.”
It was his researched best, but a company’s insides are hard to see from outside. Even if office communities buzzed with rumors, some firms managed those too.
“You’re starting a company, Juyeonu?”
Mom spoke up while eating and reviewing the docs. Scratching his head under her gaze, he replied,
“Nothing big. Just gathering game streamers to form a team. We’ll make real profits, though.”
“Oh?”
Listening, Mom fell into thought. Meanwhile, I finished checking the list and closed the binder.
“I’ve decided.”
“Already? Where to?”
“Nowhere.”
“…Huh?”
The absurd answer froze Juyeonu. Doubting his ears, he asked again.
“You’re not going anywhere?”
“Why so shocked? I told you before.”
“That was different! Look at all these lined up! Do you know how hard it was to sort?”
Juyeonu raised his voice in protest. But nothing changed. I didn’t want outside interference in RP.
“Use these docs wisely. Hurry and prep your company. I’ll do whatever I want there.”
“Whoa, really? I thought you’d say ‘Thanks so much!’ Mom, you want hyung in a good job too, right?”
Juyeonu quickly sought Mom’s backup mid-meal.
“A job?”
Hearing that, Mom turned to look at her son’s face. The company lists and insane terms. Logically, picking the best for his stable future made sense. But the answer to such dilemmas was set the day I was born.
“What, Mom wants me to pick one?”
I tossed the question lightly at her thoughtful expression. Recalling old memories, she turned to her food and said flatly,
“Do what you want. That’s the happiest path. With Juyeonu, I won’t worry.”
“That’s my mom.”
“Mom!”
Our reactions were polar opposites. It wasn’t surprising to me—I knew Mom’s heart. Juyeonu just looked flustered.
“Anyone’d think I was rejecting your company.”
“You don’t get it, hyung. The pressure on my shoulders is heavy—scary heavy.”
Turning down great offers for his startup. If it flopped, it’d be all his fault. That thought came naturally.
“So, you hate it?”
“…As if.”
Amid the burden, excitement swelled. These lists were offers up to yesterday. After today, tomorrow, next week, next month—what would happen? His wildly fresh, stimulating playstyle defied imagination.
“Thank you. I’ll work hard and make you and Mom rich.”
“Appreciate the words.”
Mom smirked at his solemn vow. Juyeonu meant it fully, of course.
“How much prep left? Need more time?”
“Corp setup’s done, just minor decisions. Getting Dad’s help on that.”
Even as the pampered youngest, business and personal were separate—his dad’s iron rule. Now it was on trial, awaiting judgment.
“Anyway, since you’re in, I’ll link you to work right away. Channel growth prep’s underway.”
“Channel growth?”
“Editing clips, refining and reuploading your community info to the channel. I’ll show you step by step.”
Juyeonu rattled off plans. The mood flipped, and the meal ended satisfyingly.
“Great food. Thanks to you, Juyeonu.”
“Next time, something even better.”
Our farewell as we left matched Mom and her second son’s warmth.
“You’ll hang with Mom more, hyung?”
“Gonna check RP gear. Big store in the department store, right?”
“Gear? Already upgrading?”
His doubt was fair. Less than a week’s playtime. Level 2 gear already, but level 3 was objectively early.
“Need it for the next main quest. Wanna come?”
“Huh? Can I?”
“Obviously. Let’s go.”
I headed to the department store’s RP corner with them. Amidst the merch overload, gear display racks gleamed.
“Welcome. First time with RP?”
A clerk approached promptly. She glanced at my face oddly, but I ignored it.
“No. Looking at level 3 gear.”
“Got it. Level 3’s in the second block. This way?”
She kindly led us. Inside the glass cases, various gear forms shone.
“As you know, RP gear varies by manufacturer. Vision, hearing, smell, motion, sensitivity—we can recommend based on your needs.”
The game company’s revealed core tech. Manufacturers added unique twists. Top dogs raked in cash—why my company eyed it.
“What’s the overall best?”
“Core Corp’s have the highest efficiency. Around 30 million won.”
I glanced at Juyeonu. Nodding, he confirmed,
“No one beats Core. World market share leader.”
Unlike casual Juyeonu, I used every tiny motion. Boosting gear performance was like upping character stats.
“This one, then.”
“Y-yes! I’ll handle payment!”
The clerk, staring at me, responded a beat late and guided to checkout. Juyeonu browsed, explaining to Mom.
“……”
Checking the gear, she glanced at my face repeatedly before finishing. As payment wrapped,
“Um… are you streamer Black Dragon?”
“…Pardon?”
I thought I misheard. Even if Lee Minho spotted me, this in a store was awkward.
“Black Dragon?”
Then, a stranger’s voice from behind. Turning, I met eyes with a tall suited man. His widened dramatically right after.
“Whoa! That face…! You’re really Black Dragon!”
Calling loudly, he strode over. Excited, he continued,
“You set your real-life looks! No wonder I felt so familiar!”
Overly chummy, but a total stranger. Instinctively tensing, I asked warily,
“Who are you?”
“Ah, sorry. Got too excited.”
He fumbled in his suit pocket, handing a sleek business card.
“Honored to meet you. I’m streamer Avant-garde!”