The super-popular program called 'Climbing the Tower of Trials' boasted viewership ratings of 40%.
This program covered various topics, from officials of the Awakened Association to showcasing various guilds to the public. It was truly a program loved by all.
That was how amazing it was.
'Certainly… we have to succeed.'
Kim Daun bit her lip.
People were now enjoying internet broadcasts more than watching TV, with the prevalence of Viewtube and similar sites. The market share of broadcasting would inevitably decline.
In the modern market, if a show hit 10% ratings, it would already be called a jackpot.
However, with the Tower of Trials, an opportunity came to turn the situation around.
With great support from the government and the Awakened Association, it was possible to create a special program related to the Tower of Trials.
A once-in-a-lifetime chance.
KDS had to somehow make use of this chance.
And the hidden card that could continue to carry that spark of hope…
Was the man in front of them.
"The mint chocolate tastes good. Does the toothpaste taste good? No, did you actually put it in?"
Kang Jin-hyuk.
The 16th S-rank player in Korea who had gathered the attention of many people. To be honest, they didn't think casting him would be easy.
Surprisingly, the other party seemed willing to meet.
'Please… I hope he doesn't ask for some outrageous fees.'
Kim Daun gulped.
"Excuse me… Player Kang Jin-hyuk?"
"Uh?"
Jin-hyuk lifted his lips from the straw.
"As I said over the phone, tomorrow at 7 p.m., all you have to do is appear on a live talk show."
"Ah. I understand. Simply talk about myself and what I have done, is that all?"
"Right. Scenes of your major achievements and other moments will be played together, along with our edits of Kang Jin-hyuk's Viewtube videos. We also plan for Player Kang Jin-hyuk to give some comments in the middle too."
Basically, they were asking him to do what a director would do when commenting on their movies, right?
Well, it was somewhat sensitive, so he would have to be careful.
After a Q&A session, they would then broadcast other things.
Nice.
That was what he was told, anyway.
"Now, should we talk about remuneration?"
Right.
This was one of the reasons why he decided to appear on a TV show. The most important thing was the appearance fee. He accepted the offer immediately because of this.
Jin-hyuk smiled brightly, and a nervous expression flashed across Kim Daun's face.
"In the case of B-rank players, it is 10 million won per session, A-rank players are paid 50 million, and for S-ranks, the fee is set at 500 million won. If you want, we can raise it a bit more."
500 million won.
This was an unexpected amount for just one appearance.
However, Kang Jin-hyuk shook his head.
It didn't mean that money was lacking.
It was just that he didn't need this money.
"Was it lacking?"
"No. It isn't that… I would prefer to be paid in magic stones rather than money."
"Uh?"
"There is something I need to extract from magic stones. Even if not that, I heard that the broadcasting station is investing in a magic-stone-related business."
"That… sounds fine, but can I talk with our director? The method of payment isn't something I can decide."
…Caught them!
"Sure. Take it easy and come back."
Jin-hyuk leaned back on the sofa.
Kim Daun immediately left the coffee shop with her phone.
'The answer will come right away.'
They were not in a position to say no. No matter what he asked, they would have to nod their heads.
How long had he been sipping his drink?
Kim Daun came back with a dark expression.
"Did something go wrong?"
"Ah… the magic stone request was rejected. As soon as the broadcast ends, we will settle the bill in the storage room, and you can handle them there."
"I see."
"But I… have something more to tell you."
Kim Daun began to speak quietly, as if it was something that bothered her.
"I'm listening."
"I think someone else has an appointment to broadcast tomorrow. So may I ask if you can appear with them?"
"Someone else is coming?"
Wait a minute…
Didn't they say they were in trouble because no one wanted to come to their channel?
"Yes. Sorry. My higher-ups decided it, so I didn't know until now."
"First, let me point out one thing. I prefer people to be honest rather than confusing."
"Uh?"
Kim Daun was shocked. She tried to control her expression, but it was too late.
As expected.
A surprise added request.
No matter how far-fetched their skills were, they were still people who likely couldn't handle something like this.
Then—
"Who is it? The other person coming?"
"…T-that…"
This was frustrating. Didn't she realize who was holding the sword's hilt right now?
Wasn't their station going downhill because of such incompetence?
"Fine. If you don't tell me, I can leave."
Jin-hyuk got up to leave, which made her urgently say,
"President Hong Deok-pyo. It's him! After hearing that we were trying to cast you, their representative called and said he wanted to join at all costs…"
Hong Deok-pyo?
Jin-hyuk narrowed his eyes as he remembered.
The master of the Black Cloud Guild, beaten down in front of everyone. The unlucky man who had his spotlight taken.
Right. It was that guy.
'He put pressure on the broadcasting station to appear on the show with me…'
Seeing how far he was going, he must have had some plan.
Well, there were always people in this world who didn't come to their senses right away after just one hit.
Didn't they know this was something that shouldn't be done?
'…No!'
Jin-hyuk immediately realized something.
"Looking at how confident he is, it seems like there should be other people besides President Hong."
There was no way this man held such a grudge over one mishap.
Some ruins and labyrinths allowed rapid growth, but no message showed such a ruin being conquered until now.
Then—
'It must mean that they hired talented people.'
There was no other explanation.
"That's right. I heard that some rankers from large overseas guilds are also coming."
Well, as expected.
An excellent chance to show himself to an overseas audience.
Even if it wasn't due to Hong Deok-pyo's pressure on the station, this temptation was hard to refuse.
Was this what Korea meant by networking?
It was fun.
The corner of Jin-hyuk's lips curled into a smile.
"Then, can I also call my acquaintance as a guest?"
The next evening.
Hong Deok-pyo arrived at the broadcasting station an hour earlier than scheduled.
"This day has finally come."
Anticipation and excitement were written all over his face.
Of course, he was excited to pay back the humiliation he had suffered that day.
'Today is the last time I wake up at night screaming.'
Whenever he ate outside and Kang Jin-hyuk's name came up, his anger flared. That day was a nightmare he couldn't shake off.
But now, it was over.
The time had come to repay that humiliation a thousandfold.
At that moment—
"Damn it, I know you're excited because you're delusional, but because of you, we had to come all the way to this stupid land?"
"Player Kang Jin-hyuk observes everything, so there's nothing else we can do. President Hong, do not forget to pay us. You called us all the way to this corner of the world so we would go live for the payment."
A few exotic-looking people approached Hong Deok-pyo.
A man with a sharp impression and a woman whose long black hair reached her waist.
Their tone indicated they didn't want to be in Korea.
Right…
Lastly, the third person spoke.
"Be quiet, both of you. The reporters are coming. If you raise your voices, the guild's image will be tarnished…"
A pause.
What followed was a notice delivered without emotion.
"I will kill you both with my hands if that happens."
This was no joke.
"…Ah, yes."
"Yes."
The complaining duo immediately backed down.
Right.
This was it.
For this revenge, he had brought in three S-rankers from the Chinese People's Republic Guild.
People who could single-handedly wipe out any guild.
There were tens of thousands of players under that guild.
In addition, Namgung Cheol stood as a beast whose strength no one could touch—so powerful he was called the Walking Boss Monster.
With such a lineup, a single solo player could not win.
'Come on. Let us cool you down by bringing you down.'
Hong Deok-pyo's smile would have looked suspicious to anyone watching.
Those who were beaten should strike back.
The reporters would highlight this stage—a large-scale discussion played out before the public eye.
As Hong Deok-pyo struggled to suppress his laughter—
"What is this? Why are they all gathering like this?"
A familiar figure appeared among the crowd.
It was Jin-hyuk.
He was here.
Hong Deok-pyo's eyes twinkled.
The Chinese guild players were also interested.
Meeting a ranker at the center of global attention inevitably sparked curiosity.
The leader approached Jin-hyuk.
"You are Kang Jin-hyuk—"
"I don't buy stuff from China."
Jin-hyuk cut him off instantly.
"W-what was that?"
The leader's face twisted in anger.
"You must be insane! Do you know who you're talking to? A ranker of the People's Republic Guild!"
Hong Deok-pyo tried to step in.
Ah.
So this was the quality of the players he had trusted.
"These are the ones you believed in?"
When he heard Hong Deok-pyo had hired rankers, he expected elites from somewhere famous.
Instead, they were mass-produced.
Clothes, sure. But people?
This was disappointing.
'Three people…'
Jin-hyuk looked at their status windows and sighed.
Their abilities and skills were reviewed one by one.
Should he have just called Chun Yuseong?
'They're below my expectations.'
If Namgung Cheon himself had come, maybe it would have been a decent fight.
Of course, only if he had grown better than in the Tower of Trials.
"Enough. President Hong. Let me handle this."
The leader stopped Hong Deok-pyo, likely mindful of the reporters.
Despite his anger, he spoke calmly.
"Player Kang Jin-hyuk. Confidence is good, especially after your achievements. But don't think you can face a large guild alone. We are the Chinese—not a small regional guild."
"Um. Honestly, I think I alone would be more than enough."
He wasn't interested in brute force.
He preferred breaking people in ways they least expected.
And the timing felt right.
At that moment—
Woong!
A black foreign car appeared.
A Rolls-Royce Phantom.
One of the top three luxury cars in Gangnam rolled in and stopped directly in front of the station.
"W-what?"
"Who's coming?"
"I didn't think this car would stop here!"
All the reporters turned.
The driver stepped out and opened the door with refined precision.
Just that motion declared the importance of the passenger inside.
"We are here."
The person who emerged was—
"Huh?"
"T-this can't be!"
"Everyone! Bring the cameras here—now!"
All eyes turned toward the station entrance in shock.
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