Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Ecosystem Disruptor
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Tall and imposing in his expensive-looking suit, Namir exuded wealth from every pore—no one could miss it.
— Chulbong-i "Welcome home!" — Viewer [Glad to see ya, Chulbong-i!] "Glad to see you too, boss."
Baekseol wagged her front paws in greeting as well.
"Whoa! Glad to see you too, Baekseol. You're even cuter in person."
— Viewer [Fuck, I'm so jealous] — Viewer [Fr, jealous af. Wanna meet real-life Baekseol too] I'd thought seeing her in person for the first time would feel awkward, but his straightforward personality closed the distance right away.
"Boss, you're soaked. Told you to stop causing trouble."
"Couldn't help it saving people. Right, guys?"
— Viewer [Shit, boss lady get some life insurance] — Viewer [10/10 no notes] Curious about the viewers' reactions, he whipped out his phone, checked the stream, and burst out laughing.
"Flew all the way here because of you, and now you're calling me a troublemaker?"
"You grabbed that gold bar on the way, didn't you? My doing, right?"
"Wanna see your head turned into a gold bar?"
"Deeply sorry, no excuses."
As they exchanged warm greetings, Herman approached from the side, puffing smoke like a whale spouting water.
"Are you two acquaintances?"
Namir, who had been chatting boisterously like old friends, froze at Herman's words.
"Pardon the late greeting, Mr. Melville."
"How fares your business?"
"Well, thanks to you."
It didn't feel right to intrude on their exchange, so I stepped back a pace.
"Miss."
"Grandpa Kamarr."
"Only have towels right now, but let me at least dry your hair."
"Sure, thank you."
At Grandpa Kamarr's words, I sat down at the table and chair. He pulled a towel from his pocket and began wiping the dripping water from my hair.
"No more dangerous stunts from now on."
"I'll think about it."
Grandpa Kamarr's gentle hands roughened slightly as he dried my hair.
"Yes, ma'am..."
"Still, it was impressive."
"Heh, right?"
Feeling his caring touch, I glanced at Namir—he was still stiff as a board.
"Guys, check him out, he's scared stiff."
— Viewer [Talking to Herman?] — Viewer [We can't see!! Show us!!] — Viewer [Lmao ofc he's shaking talking to Herman] "Grandpa, why's he so tense?"
"He played a big part in reviving my fallen family. He's extremely strict on professional matters."
"Ah."
— Viewer [Way he talks, gotta be real Herman] — Viewer [No way lol] — Viewer [Mom! Boss met the real Herman 4real] "Heh heh. Does Mother approve?"
— Viewer [Asking if studying stresses you out] "Why're you watching my stream anyway? Fire element through and through."
— Viewer [Fuck how can I resist fun shit] — Viewer [Fr lol] — Viewer [Stream too delicious today] While bantering with the viewers, Namir and Herman finished talking and approached.
"Grandpa, that's enough drying."
"You'll catch a cold. And with all that salt, better rinse soon. It'll damage your pretty hair."
"Nah, this little won't hurt it."
"Ga-eul, he's right. Best wash it off quick."
Herman, now closer, voiced his concern.
"And thank you again. My friend is safe thanks to you."
"No biggie, easy peasy."
— Viewer [King easy peasy] — Viewer [Info) Boss went full hero mode] — Viewer [Lmao] Herman let out a big laugh at my words, then pulled a small case from his pocket and offered it to me.
"A little gift for my friend."
"Friend? Me?"
"Who else?"
Caught off guard, I took the ring-box-like case from Herman and opened it. Inside gleamed a badge embossed with a whale.
Unlike his "Blue Whale" moniker, it was a beautiful whale with a subtle red sheen.
"Whoa... Ruby? So pretty. Thanks, Herman. But it looks pricey—is it okay?"
"Easy peasy."
— Viewer [Breaking) ??? : King easy peasy activated] — Viewer [What'd you get??] "Guys, look—got a gift."
— Viewer [Ooh red gem whale so dope] — Viewer [Fake?] "You brats. Think Herman'd give a knockoff?"
— Viewer [Lmaooooooo] — Viewer [Who tf said fake? Wanna knuckle sandwich] Looking closer at the badge for the viewers, I saw golden wave patterns engraved around the protruding whale, harmonizing perfectly.
"Herman, it's gorgeous. I'll treasure it."
"Heh heh, I'd be grateful if you wore it rather than just kept it."
"Something this pretty?"
Distracted by the badge earlier, I now noticed the case itself was peak luxury.
"Mm, I'll try it after changing. Clothes are wet—might ruin it."
"Shall we smoke, then?"
Herman lit a cigar with a grin, smoke already billowing from his mouth.
"That cheap bastard. Lights up fast. What funeral march you want? Hm?"
"Art, got nothing for you? She saved your friend."
He ignored Arthur's barbs like he'd built immunity.
"Think I'm a money whale? What're ya got, old research rat?"
"Meaning matters more than value."
"Dude who gets that hands over that hunk of junk? Tch."
"We're both past the point where money matters soon enough."
"Bullshit."
Arthur's eyes stayed glued to Baekseol while his mouth spewed venom nonstop.
"Didn't expect anything—really, no need."
"Here."
Ignoring me, Arthur peeled the badge from his chest and placed it in my open palm, just like when I'd handed him Baekseol earlier.
"One's from my Nobel win, other's the observatory badge."
"Huh?"
Observatory made sense, but Nobel badge? No way.
"Arthur, even so, this feels too much."
"Peanuts compared to that money whale's gift. Not even a medal—just take it."
Two badges rolled into my palm: one labeled Alfred Nobel, the other with pretty stars embedded.
"Thanks, Arthur. I'll treasure them."
"Good. Come stargaze next time."
"Will do."
Sudden gift overload left me giddy yet overwhelmed.
"Guys, look—more gifts."
— Viewer [Nobel has a crazy award too?] — Viewer [Kya chest swelling lol] — Viewer [So fucking pretty] "Wanna die?"
— Viewer [Arthur Wellington real too ㄷㄷ] After bragging to viewers for a while, I saw Herman and Namir deep in business talk, while Arthur was back to feeding Baekseol, eyes locked.
"Gotta chat with you guys."
— Viewer [Only us?] "Yeah. Thanks, guys."
— Viewer [Yaralㄴ] — Viewer [Yaral loaded] "These punks turn yaral even when thanked."
— Viewer [Lmaoooo] — Viewer [Don't thank us makes us anxious] I spent ages chatting with viewers, puffing on the cigar from Herman.
"Ga-eul!!"
"Huh?"
Looking toward the voice, Isabelle was running over, waving wildly from afar.
"Isabelle, don't run—you'll trip and get hurt."
"Ga-eul, thank you!!"
I patted the hugging, tearfully sobbing Isabelle—endless waterworks again.
"It's okay, Isabelle."
"Yeah, Dad's fine thanks to you saving him. He's resting now."
"Glad to hear."
"All thanks to you."
After ages of crying, she pulled away, eyes puffy.
"Ga-eul, got clothes ready. Let's go!"
"Okay, coming."
I waved to the folks at the table and headed below deck with Isabelle.
"Shower here."
The room she led me to had hotel-level facilities.
"You're soaked too, Isabelle."
"Just clothes—I'm fine. Wash up and come out."
"Got it, be right out."
Dying for a hot shower, I cranked the hot water and emerged to find clothes laid out on the bed.
"Isabelle?"
No sign of her—she must've prepped and left.
"Guys, I'm back. Changing quick—hang on."
— Viewer [ㅇ_ㅋ] — Viewer [Just us] — Viewer [ㅗㅜㅑ] — Viewer [Ouya kick that guy] — Viewer [Hang him!! Boss is public property] Isabelle's outfit picks were neat and fresh, like before.
"Floppy? Wasn't it something?"
— Viewer [That's floppy disk lol] — Viewer [Preppy look] "You punks dissing me? Die."
— Viewer [Shivering ㄷㄷ] — Viewer [Boss possessed lol] Gathering the clothes from the bed, I slipped them on—the top felt surprisingly hefty.
"What's this?"
— Viewer [Whatcha got?? Show us!!] — Viewer [Lemme see!!] Muttering to myself had the viewers rioting, so I turned the phone from the wall toward me.
— Viewer [Kya boss so pretty] — Viewer [Fr so cute] "Not that—look at this."
Isabelle's top was loaded with badges.
Herman's was still in its case, unopened by her, but Arthur's two and one new one were pinned.
"What bird is this? Adorable."
The new badge was a tiny cute crow—obviously Isabelle's pick, screaming luxury.
— Viewer [Crow?] — Viewer [Baby crow?] — Viewer [That's the Trang raven symbol] "Trang raven? What's that?"
— Viewer [Tiny crow species lol] — Viewer [Trang symbol] "Oh, that's the one? Cute."
— Viewer [Badge collector lol] "Yeah, everyone's badge-obsessed here."
Isabelle entered, having heard my voice.
"It's an unspoken rule at these yacht parties. Not mandatory."
"Wear your shop's badge?"
"Pfft. More like corporation."
"Ooh... Power level meter?"
— Viewer [Nailed the expression lol] "Pretty materialistic party."
"Yep."
Her face was wry, but her hands flew, decking me out.
"Last one."
Even the pretty ribbon she'd tied before coming.
"Oh right, Isabelle—do this too."
I handed her the gem case from earlier.
"Where'd this come from?"
"Herman gave it."
"Herman? Herman Melville?"
"Yeah, him."
Her eyes widened like saucers as she opened the case.
"H-He gave you this?"
"Didn't steal it."
"No, not that."
Stunned speechless, she carefully pinned the badge to my outfit.
"Guys, how's it look? Pretty?"
— Viewer [Shit so pretty] — Viewer [You'd look good in Rocati rags] — Viewer [My juices draining...] "Flatterers."
— Viewer [Boss lady blind? Can't see how hot you are?] In the mirror, Herman's red-glowing whale badge stood out most seductively among them.
"Ho ho, my power level is 530,000. But no plans to go full power against you, so rest easy."
— Viewer [ㄷㄷㄷ Freeza incoming] — Viewer [Jingle!] — ArielTang [Sponsored 10,000 won] — Viewer [Ugh my scouter must be busted!!] — Viewer [Domhwangcha] "Power level what now?"
— Viewer [Ecosystem disruptor appears] "I am the pinnacle."
— Viewer [Boss too disgusting pls stop...]