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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: All Master's Game Broadcast 14
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"Viewbots?"
-Yes, it's something that might be unfamiliar to someone just starting out with streaming... It refers to creating multiple fake accounts to artificially inflate viewer numbers.
After chasing Hayun out and speaking with Minwoo alone, Haesung learned the full story behind his suspension.
Viewbots.
Just as the name implied—robots that watch—it was an act close to illegal that boosted viewer counts to push a stream up the rankings.
-View counts are directly tied to revenue in the streaming industry, so it's something that's persisted from the past right up to now.
"So my stream got suspended because they thought it was using viewbots?"
-Exactly.
Haesung's face grew slightly serious as he repeated the question at the immediate response.
"But I didn't even know what viewbots were."
-Of course. In fact, your stream was completely legitimate. Aside from the viewer count exploding like viewbots had flooded in, that is.
"...So that's why?"
-...I have nothing to say to that.
Realizing his suspension stemmed not from any fault of his own but from a simple mistake, Haesung pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a sigh.
"Haa, but it can be lifted, right?"
-Well, it's possible... but not without me getting a bit busy and worn out.
"We're the ones suffering because of some careless admin."
-Haha, no matter how advanced AI is, it can't see things the way a human does. It's unavoidable. But don't worry. You mentioned Elbow, and personally, I'm not about to just sweep this mistake under the rug.
"...Elbow?"
Minwoo sounded startled when Haesung tilted his head at the sudden mention of Elbow's name.
-You didn't know? I thought you were close...
"He was watching my stream up until just now, it seems... but we don't have any personal connection."
-Hmm, he's not the type to get deeply involved in strangers' business... Guess you really left an impression on him. Anyway, Elbow contacted me directly, which let me handle this right away. You should thank him if you meet later.
"...If that's the case, of course I will."
Haesung felt his fondness for Elbow growing at the fact that someone he hadn't even met face-to-face since his return had gone out of his way to contact Minwoo, the manager for partner streamers.
Minwoo made one suggestion to Haesung.
-Rather than just talking over the phone like this, it'd probably help speed things up if we met in person... Are you free tomorrow or the day after?
"I'm a jobless guy whose stream got suspended, so it's not like I have anything better to do... But is there a reason we need to meet?"
-Haha, aside from the suspension, I have a proposal for you. I'd like to handle that too. If it's inconvenient or unnecessary, I'll take care of just the suspension myself.
"Hm, sounds like something you can't easily explain over the phone?"
-Yes, exactly.
Haesung pondered Minwoo's calm response, which carried a resolve not to discuss it over the phone no matter what, before attaching one condition.
"Mint... I mean, can Hayun come along too?"
-Aw, sure, why not? You're new to streaming, so having a senior in the industry like Mint with you should make it more comfortable.
"Then I'll go."
-Thanks for deciding so quickly. Let's say tomorrow... around noon? We can grab a simple lunch and talk in a meeting room.
"Yes, sounds good."
The two wrapped up the call without particularly cheerful expressions, having set a schedule in an instant.
Knock knock-
As soon as the call ended, Hayun knocked on the door, and Haesung nodded.
"Come in."
"Call over?"
"Yeah."
Hayun peeked her head through the slightly open door to confirm once more before stepping back inside.
Then she fired off her questions like a machine gun.
"But why'd he call? I hadn't even contacted him yet!"
"You know him too?"
"Yeah, but he's pretty high up, so... I didn't want to bother him casually. But why would someone like that reach out?"
"Elbow."
"...Why's Elbow coming up here?"
"Seemed like he was watching my stream. It got suspended right when he was about to drop 100,000 won on a reaction. That's probably why he called."
"...Was 100,000 won that big a deal to him?"
"For someone like that?"
"It could be. 100,000 won is money, right?"
"...Maybe?"
The idea that a mid-tier streamer like Mint hesitated to contact a Trica employee over a mere 100,000 won suspension didn't sit right.
'No matter how I think about it, it doesn't seem like it was just about the money. I should meet him properly sometime and talk.'
If Elbow had helped purely out of goodwill, Haesung was more than happy to build a connection.
His social circle had been shattered during his ten years missing.
There was no rule saying he couldn't befriend an uncle ten years older.
'...Not that it's a ten-year gap anyway— I'm the one who's lived way longer.'
Haesung tried to think and act as young as possible to keep his sanity, but his actual lived time was several times Elbow's.
A mere ten-year Earth age difference wasn't enough to prevent friendship by Haesung's standards.
If not friends, brothers would work just fine.
"We're meeting at Trica HQ at noon tomorrow, so keep that in mind."
"Huh? Me too? Why?"
"I don't know anything. Need an expert with me."
"Hm, true."
"Don't wanna go? I can go alone."
"No no! Your cute, smart pro streamer Mint will tag along!"
"Now I kinda wanna go alone. I'll contact Han Manager myself, so you just stream from home tomorrow."
"Why!"
"Pro streamers stream from home, right?"
"...I'm your little sister too."
Haesung chuckled at Hayun pouting and grumbling as she fretted over being left behind, then ruffled her hair.
"Guiding me there's enough, right?"
"...Assigning navigation to premium talent like me—"
Haesung shrugged with a "suit yourself" look as Hayun griped while fixing her messed-up hair.
"Don't wanna..."
"Argh, fine! Human GPS Park Hayun reporting for Trica duty!"
Hayun switched attitudes mid-sentence, one hand on her hip, the other thrust out the window, avoiding Haesung's gaze.
Haesung finally burst into the laughter he'd been holding back.
"...Pfft."
"What're you laughing at! Dumb oppa who doesn't cherish his little sister!"
Hayun's face flushed red as she yelled at her brother, who was cracking up like she was a comedian, but only for a moment.
"I cherish you."
"...Ugh, I'm going! I'll post about oppa's suspension on my stream board!"
"Yeah."
Hayun fled Haesung's room with an even redder face than when she'd been mad, upon hearing him casually say "I cherish you" with a straight face.
She bolted out in an instant, but to Haesung's superhuman eyes, it was like slow motion.
'She's red. Maybe peel an apple for dinner.'
Watching Hayun's flushed ears in slow-mo as she escaped, Haesung calmly left the room to buy apples for dinner.
* * *
[Regarding Comet's Stream Today]
Mint's stream board.
Mint Chocolate Unit fans gathered at the single notice post there.
Mint rarely posted notices.
Plus, the mysteries from Comet's stream today drew them in.
Viewers' doubts melted away like snow upon reading Mint's post.
-Crazy, viewers spiked so much on day one they mistook it for viewbots and banned it?
-Incredible lol, screw you, Trica!
-Not Trica's fault. Auto-bans are AI-handled.
-??? : Hit machines when they glitch, fixes most of 'em.
-But doesn't that apply to real viewbot streams too?
-At least it worked out. Remember that streamer wrongly accused of viewbots before?
Not everyone bought it right away, of course.
-But couldn't it actually be viewbots? Why's everyone saying no?
Viewbot scandals weren't rare, and they still happened constantly, so sharp reactions weren't unexpected.
└ EvianBetterThanSamdasoo
└ CoolGuyPretendingToBeRealCoolPretendingToBeCoolGuy
└ Lol just say it's real lol
└ Her little bro's a full-time streamer too—why use viewbots and ruin his path?
└ Roonet 198-day streak hoo-gam-gonik 'Not a typo'—is that you? Nice to see ya~
But most of Mint's viewers were diehards.
They'd back Mint even if she was wrong, and with Trica docs attached to the post, few sided with the critics.
Troll comments and dislikes vanished in seconds.
Satisfied with the reactions, Mint left one final notice.
[Heading to Trica HQ tomorrow to sort it out!]
Oppa's account ban should lift soon, so everyone relax!
Oh, and he says he'll do that missed reaction too! (Who knows)
Enjoy some tasty Mint Chocolate and have a good night~
Confidence.
The "Mint-ness" often tagged to her streams left viewers smiling as they commented.
-Backflip!!! You spin me right round!!! (IRL)
-But lol claiming she'll do the reaction all bold then adding "who knows"
-That's just Mint being Mint
-Question: Ate Mint Cho and now it's super sticky good night?
-Mint Cho means no brushing before bed.
-Ah, got it.
They giggled among themselves, all sharing one thought.
'Hope the ban lifts soon.'
Whether from Mint's stream or Comet's directly.
Haesung had already seeped deep into their hearts.
Handsome face, matching killer body.
Overwhelming game skills.
Solid mic skills too.
Impossible not to get hooked.
And so, with Mint Chocolate Unit cheers—even from those who hated mint chocolate—their online world buzzed.
"Alright, shall we head out for some fun?"
"Yeah!"
The next day, Haesung and Hayun arrived at Gangnam Station, home to Trica's headquarters.
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