Second Meeting (2)
Second Meeting (Part 2)
Following the saying "strike while the iron is hot," I sent a text to the contact left by the editor who had been producing incredibly high-quality videos for me and set up a meeting.
At first, I suggested a simple verbal contract over the phone since I felt awkward going alone as a man with an... aroused condition to a place full of women, but what do you know?
They sent over a man, saying they work as a team and that since they have a male member on the team, I shouldn't feel burdened. They also said they'd introduce me to a manager who would not only handle video editing but also manage the new YouTube channel I was planning to launch, insisting we meet in person to finalize the contract.
Thanks to that, filled with anticipation that I could contract both an editor and a manager for my YouTube channel at once, I rejected Ye-rim's offer to come along and made my way to a cafe located on the outskirts of the city.
"What does that kid Ye-rim think she's doing, trying to follow me around like I'm not a full-grown adult? Ugh..."
Lately, she's been working hard, not wanting to be outdone by my now significantly grown broadcast, showcasing not just FPS games but all sorts of new content.
And now she was just going to take a break without any notice, right before her own broadcast time? What's that about?
"Plus, the meeting place is in a secluded... wait, is it secluded?"
Huh, what the?
There were plenty of people just a moment ago, but when did it become so deserted?
As I spoke and looked around, the usual bustling crowds of the city had vanished—not a single soul was in sight.
'It's chilly. A dagger of ice flies and pierces my heart. But don't worry, my hands are faster than my eyes... Wait, there are people!'
The cafe for the meeting was on the outskirts, and from a certain point, entertainment facilities had sprung up, which must be why there were no people around.
Looking more closely now, there were people here and there in the alleys, though not many.
'Even though most of them have Irezumi tattoos... Eek! I almost made eye contact!'
If I had made eye contact, they would have surely strutted over, slung an arm around my shoulder, and said, "Hey, hey, look ahead. Act like we're friends. How much money you got?"
Whoa, just the thought of it almost made me pull out my wallet right then and there!
"Oh, sister♡ Our sister is the best when it comes to the 3 Major 500, right, right~"
Using the virtual "3 Major 500 is our sister" skill, which I had employed a day ago and felt its potent effects, I applied a booster to my halted steps and hurriedly took shelter inside the promised cafe.
They seemed to nod at each other after confirming I entered the cafe... Was that just my imagination...?
Though something felt off, entering the interior of the cafe, the promised meeting place, and seeing the man from the photo put my mind at ease.
"Oh my~ The targe... I mean, Kang Cheol-nim! You're here! I hope your journey wasn't inconvenient, haha~"
Did that woman just call me a target?
A woman with thick gold accessories on her wrist and neck, and an expensive clutch bag tucked under one arm.
Not all orphans experience this, but many orphans, fresh out into society, often become targets for scammers.
There are various reasons, but primarily, it's because they lack parents to offer experienced advice, and the government provides a small but significant sum of money to orphans entering society, which these scammers are after.
I myself had dealt with such scammers two or three times, though not many. And now.
The woman smiling amiably before me wore exactly the same expression as those scammers.
And as I got closer, I could see a bluish bruise on the man's cheek that even thick makeup couldn't conceal.
'Holy shit, I'm fucked?'
Holy shit, I'm fucked?
I said it twice because it's important.
Yeah, I must be crazy.
Lately, being in the safety of My Sweet Room and only dealing with women through the screen, I had forgotten—this world, while the gender-reversed world I love, is also an endlessly dangerous world for men.
Just look at that man; he seems fine on the surface, but he hasn't made eye contact since earlier and is trembling, probably scared. It seems like he was forced to come here because the woman has something on him. What should I do?
'Should I run?'
The distance was still considerable, so if I tried to run, it wasn't a situation where I couldn't escape.
But that scared guy, while trembling, was subtly waving his hand, signaling me to run away, and he stuck in my mind.
'Plus, those tattooed thugs I saw earlier are suspicious...'
I'm not a stupid fool; this situation was obviously a trap to anyone who saw it.
Whatever the reason, one of the people who appeared claiming to be a manager and an editor was scared, caking on makeup to hide the blue bruise on his face, while the other was dressed in fashion that screamed "I'm a fucking scammer!" at first glance.
On top of that, those bulky, tattooed thugs who reeked of "I don't know the law, but I know violence!"—would they just let a pretty boy like me pass by?
'If I go out, the exit is probably blocked, and I can't just leave that poor guy behind.'
The assessment was done.
I'm not a champion of justice, but since it's come to this, I'll save that guy and save myself!
Even though it's 1 against 100, and the 100 is my delicate, girly body, do you only deal with people using strength?
'If the body can't do it, use the head! I have 5,000 viewers, don't I?'
Calling the police was also an option, but doing so would mean openly talking to the police in front of this scammer, and even if not, it was obvious that properly rooting out this trash group, who seemed to operate as a team, would require testimony from the masses.
Though the thought process was long, in reality, only about ten seconds had passed since the scammer greeted me. Having assessed the entire situation, I subtly took out my smartphone, pressed the start broadcast button, aimed the screen toward the table bottom, and responded to the scammer's greeting with a bright smile.
"This is OO Cafe, located on the outskirts of the city... so it took me a while to find it~"
"...?"
For a moment, the scammer had a question mark above her head at my strange tone, but probably thinking she had already caught her prey, she soon put on her polite, amiable smile again and sat down.
"Haha~ Seeing you in person like this, not just on a broadcast screen, you look really delicious... I mean, pretty! Hahahat!!"
This woman, she has no intention of hiding it at all, does she?
First, she calls me a target, and now, claiming to be a manager or editor, the way she looks at my face is just outrageous.
But since I can't do anything about the scammer right now, I laughed along and began subtly throwing leading questions.
"Hahaha~ So, you must watch my broadcasts often normally too?"
"Oh my~ Of course! How could anyone be stupid enough to not watch with such a pretty man appearing~ I'm a fervent fan who's watched every single day since that historic Viewbot Suspicion incident!"
"Wow~! Then, as a fervent fan who's never missed a single broadcast, you must know my date of birth, right?"
"Of course. You were born on [Month][Day], [Year], right?"
A scammer's trait.
They always research basic information about their target beforehand.
And I have never mentioned my date of birth on a broadcast.
"Oh? That is correct, but that's amazing. I've never mentioned my date of birth on a broadcast... So as a fervent fan, you just know that kind of personal information at a snap, huh?!"
"Y-yes, of course~ Hahaha~"
"Hahahaha~"
"Hahaha... What are you trying to pull, you male dog?!"
BAM!
Oh my god! Goodness gracious!
Instantly, the smile vanished from the scammer's face as we were laughing together, replaced by anger at realizing she'd been tricked.
Simultaneously, perhaps to threaten me, she slammed the table hard...
Honestly, I was scared, but in times like these, it's all about the battle of momentum!
Tap!
"What am I trying to pull? I'm trying to expose you for the scammer you are, you bitch!"
I wanted to slam the table and make a BAM sound too, but with this pathetic body of mine, a mere TAP was the best I could muster.
Still, unlike other delicate girls, I didn't cower and instead strongly retorted by calling her a bitch, which seemed to cause a look of utter bewilderment to spread across the scammer's face.
"What are you? Since when did you know, and how much? ...Haah, whatever. A few hits and you'll spill everything like the others did!"
"The others? Don't tell me you hit that man over there too?"
"Yeah! I told him to help lure you in, and he whined about not wanting to, so I beat the shit out of him! And you think it's just him? All the male dogs who've crossed us have been beaten into submission, and soon we'll do the same to you!"
"Eeek! Everyone in the world, look at this! She can't win with words, so she's going to hit me! A full-grown woman is trying to hit a man!"
As the scammer pushed her chair back and shot up, I grabbed my smartphone and started shouting at the top of my lungs so all the viewers could hear.
"...Who have you been talking to like that since earlier? D-don't tell me?!"
Only now did the smartphone in my hand enter her field of vision, and her expression turned to one of horror.
"Hmph~! It's already too late! 'Our' and 'other male guys.' Not just you, but the identities of the thugs waiting outside have been exposed to the whole world! Give up on running, release the men you've detained, and turn yourself in now."
This is what justice looks like!
Feeling a thrilling catharsis for the first time in my life, like a protagonist in a novel, I struck a pose with one hand on my hip and the other pointing my smartphone screen—and thus, the viewers—directly at the scammer, delivering my finishing line.
Yes, that's it! Reflect on your crimes, get down on both knees, and offer a tearful apology to the champion of justice, Kang Cheol-nim!
"Hooooo... Fine. We don't have the means to take care of the other male guys anyway, so we'll let them go. But what's left for us then? We'll have to take you at least, sell you to some rich perverted women overseas, and cover our losses! Kids, get in here and grab that bastard now!"
...Huh?