'Is this a joke? That young kid is the majority shareholder?'
'If he holds 51% of the shares, that means he poured in hundreds of billions of won. Does that make any sense?'
The shareholders looking at Ryu Min all reacted more or less the same way.
They eyed him suspiciously or folded their arms as if they simply couldn't accept it.
It was only natural for them to feel sour; this kid had suddenly popped up calling himself CEO, and the first thing out of his mouth was a proposal to change the company's entire line of business.
"First, I'll explain the new business line. The line of business we intend to switch to this time is…"
Ryu Min laid out the business item exactly as he had described it to Ma Kyung-rok.
As they listened, the shareholders' eyes widened.
'He wants to create a social open market that Players can use?'
'Isn't that just good for the Players?'
'And the company name is "Player Place"?'
'Fuck, what is that, the name of some café?'
Complaints sprang up one after another in their heads, but none of them voiced them.
There were too many eyes on them, so they kept themselves in check as best they could.
Reading the shareholders' thoughts, Ryu Min laughed inwardly.
'Yeah, of course they're unhappy. The shareholders are ordinary people, not Players.'
The shareholders present ranged in age from their thirties to their sixties.
Every one of them was an ordinary person; it couldn't be helped. Young Players didn't bother with stock investments anymore.
'When you might die in the very next Round, who in their right mind would tie up money in long-term stock investments?'
If they needed money, they either found ways to use their abilities or turned to gambling.
And this was where some Players wavered under the temptation of crime.
'A few robberies and you can easily get whatever you want.'
When your life was already on the line, what was there left to fear?
Given the choice, some would rather end up in prison than face the next Round.
'That's the problem. In the eyes of ordinary people, Players are no different from walking sources of social unrest.'
They were practically pre-criminals, as far as society was concerned.
So of course they weren't thrilled to hear he wanted to create a brokerage site just for Players.
"That concludes my explanation. I'll now take questions. If you have anything you're curious about, please raise your…"
Hands shot up here and there before Ryu Min could even finish.
At their almost eager reaction, he couldn't help but give a wry smile.
'They must really have a lot of complaints.'
Wiping the smile off his face, Ryu Min began taking questions one by one.
"Whose bright idea was it to change a perfectly good line of business?"
"That would be my idea."
"What's your intention in changing our business line? Is the company on the verge of collapse or something?"
"What kind of executive would want his own company to go under? Of course I'm doing this because I want us to grow bigger."
"And what's your basis for being so sure this will work if we change businesses? Isn't this just doing a favor for Players and no one else?"
"It isn't only good for the Players. If the company grows, it will benefit every shareholder in this room—you'll be receiving that much higher dividends."
"What if this reckless challenge sinks the company? Can't we just be satisfied with consulting?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't be satisfied with that. Consulting has no future. The era of Players is coming. That's why we're changing our business line—to ride the flow instead of fighting it."
Even as questions rained down on him like a bombardment, Ryu Min stayed calm and answered without a hint of panic.
As he fielded every question smoothly, the number of hands in the air dwindled one by one.
"Are there no more questions?"
"…"
"…"
The once-noisy hall had somehow fallen under a blanket of silence.
'What else can I even ask?'
'Feels like we've already asked everything worth asking…'
'I thought he'd be easy to push around because he's young, but he answers without stumbling.'
'Is he really confident he can grow this company? Even his voice is full of conviction.'
The shareholders were secretly surprised, but no one was more shocked than Ma Kyung-rok, watching from the side.
'What is this? Is this really the same Prophet I know? The vibe around him feels subtly different…'
He'd thought the kid was just some snot-nosed brat, but it turned out he had an unexpectedly bold side.
'Well, I did get a taste of it when he blew up at me about not underestimating him.'
But today was genuinely impressive.
To endure that barrage of objections and answer every single one under pressure.
'It's hard to believe he only just turned twenty.'
Ma Kyung-rok suddenly thought back to when he had been twenty.
Compared to Ryu Min, he'd been painfully immature.
'If I'd been able to respond that calmly at twenty… Father would've acknowledged me a long time ago and handed me the successor's seat.'
A sudden, heavy feeling welled up in him, but this was the shareholders' meeting.
Ma Kyung-rok pulled himself together quickly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, shareholders. If there are no further objections, we'll proceed straight to the vote."
For a special resolution to pass, the shares in favor had to exceed sixty-seven percent.
With Ryu Min holding 51% and Ma Kyung-rok holding 20%, their approval alone was enough to pass the motion.
Strictly speaking, there was no need to even ask the other shareholders.
And yet they had convened a shareholders' meeting and discussed it with them, largely for appearances' sake.
'If we just changed the business and the company name on a dictator's whim, the other shareholders wouldn't sit still.'
Keeping the shareholders from walking away was also part of the management strategy.
"In that case, is there anyone who opposes changing the business line and the company name?"
"…"
"…"
Smiling, Ma Kyung-rok announced the result.
"Since there are no votes against, I will take it as one hundred percent in favor and declare the motion passed."
Bang, bang, bang—
Ma Kyung-rok brought down the gavel to close the session.
Even though they had technically agreed, the shareholders couldn't wipe the sour looks off their faces.
The mood had simply kept them from raising their hands; in their hearts, they had wanted to oppose it.
But Ryu Min knew.
'A few months from now, they'll be thanking themselves for not selling their shares. They're going to hit the jackpot.'
They would be cheering in delight as they watched the company soar.
"Then this concludes our extraordinary shareholders' meeting. Thank you all for attending."
With Chairman Ma Kyung-rok's closing remarks, the shareholders began to leave one by one.
In the lull, Ma Kyung-rok approached Ryu Min and spoke to him.
"Majority shareholder, you did well. You didn't even tremble, and you handled the speaking beautifully."
"Haha… I guess all those practice runs at home, going over different situations, paid off."
In truth, he'd never practiced at all, but that comment eased Ma Kyung-rok's wariness a little.
"Is that so? No wonder you were so smooth."
"Anyway, it looks like things worked out."
"Yes. All that's left now is to build the site and set up the system as quickly as possible."
"I can leave that part entirely in your hands, CEO Ma, right?"
"Of course. You, as our majority shareholder, just focus on surviving the next Round."
It seemed he was worried because the Prophet class looked weak.
'What he's really worried about is that if I die, he won't get any more prophecies.'
Not that Ma Kyung-rok had anything to worry about on that front.
"You must be hungry. Shall we go have lunch together at the hotel?"
"Yes, that sounds good."
Smiling, Ryu Min followed after him.
With that, his to-do list for the day was done.
'Now there's only one thing left—to make use of Hwang Yong-min.'
As he pictured exactly how he would use the guy, a deep smile spread across Ryu Min's face.
Plseba's regular Sunday meeting.
Hello!
Yamtti popped up on the video-chat screen with a lively voice.
…Hello, Yamtti-nim.
But unlike Yamtti, the expressions of the others on screen were anything but normal.
Huh? What's with the mood? Did something happen?
Looks like you haven't heard the news, Yamtti-nim.
What news, Poporing-nim?
Two of the executives have been completely out of contact.
Huh? Who?
[My Age is Thirty]-nim and [Jam Made of Honey]-nim. From the fact that we haven't heard from them since Round 5… it looks like they didn't make it.
Ah…
'No wonder the atmosphere felt so heavy. Someone died.'
Yamtti understood, but at the same time, she found it odd.
They only ever met over video chat—had they really gotten attached enough to be this sad?
'Aha, they're acting. Trying to look good for the Chairman.'
The [Chairman] who had founded the café was, without a doubt, the boss of all bosses.
In society, currying favor with your superior was only natural.
And that Chairman always looked genuinely distressed whenever a Player died.
'In that case, I can't afford to lose.'
Yamtti unleashed her feminine tears.
Oh, what are we going to do… My Age is Thirty-nim and Jam Made of Honey-nim… sniff, sniff…
P-please don't cry, Yamtti-nim…
Seeing you cry is making me want to cry too, Yamtti-nim…
The executives in the chat room all chimed in with her tears.
'What a bunch of sly bastards. Look at them clinging on when the timing suits them. Well, humans are sly by nature.'
Yamtti understood that well enough, so she couldn't exactly call them out to their faces.
Just then—
What's going on here?
The Chairman logged in.
Adjusting his glasses, he looked at everyone with a surprised expression.
Why is everyone looking so gloomy?
Well, you see, Chairman…
Sensing his chance, Lostyak hurriedly gave the report.
A flash of regret crossed a few faces at being a step too slow.
Haah, how could something like that happen…
As expected, the Chairman covered his face, reacting with deep gloom.
He was always like that whenever a Player died.
Still, it's a relief that the rest of you survived.
Were you all right in Round 5, Chairman?
If I wasn't, would I be sitting here right now?
He answered Small Mukbang's question with a smile, but there were thorns hidden in his words.
The problem was that the person who'd asked the question didn't catch it.
Hoo… In any case, incidents keep happening. To think our executives have dropped to six…
Chairman, couldn't we just take this opportunity to recruit more executives?
I'd like to, but we don't have anyone suitable, do we? And we haven't been able to contact the candidates from last time, either.
He meant the three executive candidates, Black Scythe among them.
Lostyak-nim, you still haven't gotten in touch with those interviewees?
No, sir. I've called numerous times, but they never pick up.
So they really might have died in Round 5…
Whatever happened to the other two, Black Scythe is alive. Didn't you see the Round 5 rankings? He cleared Round 5 in first place again.
Then why would Black Scythe go so far as to apply for membership and then completely disappear on us?
That, I have no idea.
He wouldn't be toying with us on purpose… would he?
Or maybe he wasn't Black Scythe to begin with. Maybe the reason we can't reach him is because he died in Round 5.
Hooh, that does sound plausible, Poporing-nim.
An impostor, huh… that makes sense.
Yeah, no way a big shot like Black Scythe would try to join "a café like this"…
Realizing he'd just put his foot in his mouth, Small Mukbang quickly shut his lips.
But the Chairman's expression had already turned icy.
Mukbang-nim? Did you just say "a café like this"? What exactly is wrong with our café?
…
Our café, which serves as a bridgehead for a new era by uniting Players—what about it?
I-I'm sorry, Chairman… I didn't mean it like that…
As of this moment, Small Mukbang-nim is removed from his executive position. No, he is permanently expelled from the café.
Wh-what?!
At a time when we can barely afford to scrape our strength together, I cannot trust and accept someone who disparages this café as a member. From now on, Small Mukbang-nim will be put on the blacklist. He can figure out how to adapt when the new era arrives.
Ch-Chairman! Chair…!
[Small Mukbang-nim has been kicked from the chat room.]
One executive was gone, leaving five.
All right, now that the reactionary element has been removed, shall we continue the meeting?
Ah… yes.
Tension clearly showed on the faces of the remaining executives.
Once again, they were reminded that in this place, the Chairman's word was law.
Just then, Lostyak let out a small "Ah—" and visibly flustered.
What is it?
Ah, i-it's just… a Player has just applied to join…
And?
H-his nickname is Black Scythe…
…!
Everyone, including the Chairman, widened their eyes in shock.
Black Scythe applied again?
H-he has a different real name from the Black Scythe from last time.
What's his name?
The previous Black Scythe's real name was Kim In-hong, but the one who applied this time is Hwang Yong-min.
Hwang Yong-min, huh…
After a brief moment of thought, the Chairman made a decision.
Go visit his home. We don't know if he's really Black Scythe or not, but the only way is to meet him.
And if he isn't?
If he isn't Black Scythe…
The Chairman spoke in a cold tone.
Then he'll have to pay the price for daring to play games with us