Episode 267
“Wow, this is delicious! Why don’t you open a branch in New York?”
The woman with orange hair continued her meal with a nonchalant grin.
Just then, Hanbit approached and sat down in the empty chair directly in front of them.
“It must be good?”
“Of course. Your mother works at such a wonderful place; you must be so lucky.”
Her reaction
was nonchalant, as if they had known each other for a long time. Her face showed not a shred of awareness that her actions were wrong.
“Ah, why don’t you bring your mother along? I’d love to have a nice chat. Is it ‘nice chat’? ‘Chat’? ‘Rough chat’? ‘Rough chat’?”
“You must have a backup plan? Being so bold.”
“Come on, being bold? Don’t you say good conversation comes out in front of a meal? I’m just saying let’s talk about life.”
The woman flicked her chopsticks and grinned.
Then, as if remembering something, she pulled a business card from her pocket.
“I’m Reporter Olivia Choi. Mr. Heukryong? No, should I call you Ms. Kang Hanbit?”
Olivia held out her business card, grinning as she continued the conversation.
Hanbit, who had been looking at the contents written on the white background, asked without touching the card,
“How did you get my information?”
“Well, a tip from a good-natured citizen supporting us? Or the boundless intelligence of Byte News? Which do you think it is?”
“It seems to be the tip. Your intelligence gathering skills don’t seem to be anything special.”
Leaning back with her arms crossed, Hanbit spoke in a voice that didn’t waver even slightly.
Byte News, a media outlet with significant influence even in the U.S.
It was a remark that dismissed the intelligence capabilities of such a firm.
“That’s an interesting thing to say.”
Olivia, who had stopped holding her spoon, was smiling.
However, Hanbit did not miss the twitch of her eyebrows.
“It is amusing, isn’t it? To think that Byte News would throw themselves into this without knowing anything.”
“Since you go so far as to say that, I really must finish this assignment well. Even if it takes days and days. Oh, of course, we are eating right now, so please don’t misunderstand.”
“Well, I’d better just go.”
“Oh, come on, no. A mission? Pride? That’s the kind of person I work for.”
Tapping her chopsticks to decline, Olivia’s gaze turned toward the table in front of the kitchen.
She saw her mother, who had risen before she knew it and resumed her work.
“I heard that Mr. Kang Han-bit is a truly devoted son. How about we join forces to finish this report together? The beef bone soup is so delicious that I’d want to keep coming back for a week or even a month.”
“Is ruining someone else’s daily life what you call pride?”
“You could see it as a small sacrifice for the world. If I were a great person, I would have gladly dedicated my life to it. It’s a real shame, isn’t it?”
Shrugging her shoulders, Olivia resumed her meal.
It was a meaningless conversation to continue any further.
However, there was no need to keep the people in front of her here any longer.
Zzzzz—Han
-bit lowered his gaze at the vibration of the smartphone in his hand.
Seeing Yeon-woo’s name, he answered the call immediately.
“Are you done?”
(Yes, you just need to make a decision. The conditions are exactly as I sent them earlier, and they say it won't take up too much of your time. Kenji and Grace helped out, and anyway, it is a deal focused on establishing a friendly relationship going forward.) Just
as Hanbit was leaving for this place, Yeonwoo immediately brought up a solution.
His opinion was that to shake off Byte News, which was known for its high-level coverage, they needed to tap into capital.
Advertising is the media company's primary source of revenue.
It wouldn't be surprising if the company faltered depending on the choices of the corporations holding onto that revenue.
'…Are we similar in nature?'
Immediately after Everett, the 5th ranked member of the Seongche Faction, declared the Black Dragon an enemy,
various proposals arrived through Yeonwoo.
They were invitations to cooperate from companies all over the world.
These were unique individuals who insisted on siding with him, even though the formidable companies affiliated with the Seongche Faction were watching him with fire.
Given that several of them were major sponsors of Byte News, one could sense their unconventional nature.
Hanbit decided to accept their proposal and turn the tables.
It was time to cast aside trivial excuses and build up our public stature.
“Let’s proceed.”
(Yes. You’ll be contacted right away. I’ll be arriving soon, so please wait just a moment.) Hanbit
hung up—
and placed his smartphone on the table.
Olivia, who had been watching him, asked a question discreetly.
“Well, is there some good news? You seem to have changed your mood.”
“It is good news. It’s not bad news for you, either, Olivia. Because I can get home early.”
“Ah, in that sense?”
She let out a small chuckle.
Nodding as if amused, Olivia spoke while chewing on some pickled radish.
“Byte News is famous for its passionate reporting, isn’t it? But how have you managed to maintain that approach for so long? If your image sours, it wouldn’t be good for the company either.”
“Money must have flowed in from somewhere. Or perhaps there are sponsors with that kind of mindset.”
“That’s right, that’s it! People want sensational and passionate articles. Articles where you can stick your head into a gaping crocodile’s mouth! It is thanks to talent like that that we are able to sustain things like big advertisements.”
Olivia pointed at herself with her chopsticks, exuding confidence.
Advertising was a crucial source of revenue for a media company, significant enough for her to bring it up directly.
Naturally, a company the size of Byte News would have a considerable number of advertisers, but she had already grasped the inside story. After all,
it was a place where a small number of major advertisers accounted for half of the total advertising revenue.
“What do you think would happen if those advertisers changed their minds?”
“Trying to shake things up? It would be a futile effort. They are people who have supported us for such a long time. The difference in the time we have built up…”
Zzz—
Just then, the phone vibrated, cutting Olivia's voice off.
Both of their gazes turned simultaneously to her smartphone on the table.
“……?”
A question popped into Olivia’s eyes as she identified the caller.
After glancing at Hanbit for a moment, she stood up.
Then, she stepped outside the shop to take the call.
*Pour-* Hanbit
poured water into an empty cup and leisurely watched her retreating figure.
Olivia raised her voice while clutching her forehead.
It was clear that profanities were mixed into the English words she was speaking.
'You guys must be just the same kind of people.'
Hanbit looked at the other reporters who had started murmuring.
The members of Byte News were all watching Olivia as she headed outside.
Even though they couldn't understand each other, they were ultimately the same type of people as that woman. *
Whoosh*
—After a short while, Olivia returned to the shop from her call.
Sitting in the seat in front of Hanbit, her face flushed bright red.
“You really pulled off something fun?”
The words she spoke seemed to echo with the sound of teeth grinding.
Hanbit shrugged his shoulders and poured water into Olivia's cup, saying,
"Advertisers are certainly impressive. They have no qualms about new adventures. They also know exactly what their priorities and values are."
"……."
The conditions Hanbit presented to each company were simple.
Immediately cut off a portion of the advertisements connected to Byte News, and completely block ads if they provoked the Black Dragon or those around him again.
He did not want to cut them off all at once to prevent a backlash. After all, it would
n't be surprising if those who had lost everything did anything.
In any case, they had to be kept on a leash to stay safe.
"It might be everyday life for you, but for those facing this situation for the first time, it is hell. If you provoke us again, we will use every possible means. I don't know how far we can go." "
…Do you think suppressing only Byte News will solve everything? There are so many people targeting you. The media outlets associated with the Seongche faction are likely preparing something right now as well."
"Now that I know, I must prepare. Thanks to you, I learned a lot."
"……."
Olivia pouted, gripped the cup, and gulped down the water.
If she were to kick him out now, the problem would be cleanly resolved.
However, she didn't want to simply let go of the reporter displaying such excessive passion right in front of her.
Any knife can be used however one pleases.
That was one of the truths she had learned while walking through 55 lives.
In particular, a person like the reporter in front of her was trustworthy in a different sense.
After all, the riskier the story, the more intensely they would glare. Leaning
forward, Hanbit whispered in a low voice,
"So, I have a tip to give you."
"…A tip?"
"It's about the Holy Body Faction. The goddess story you mentioned—it's true."
"Ah, so it was true. The goddess story…?"
Olivia, who had been nodding, looked strange.
Meeting her gaze, she spoke with a bewildered look.
"What did you just say?"
"I said the goddess story is true. I'm someone who has also been transported to another world by a goddess."
“What kind of nonsense is that… Do I look like someone who would fall for such a childish lie?”
Olivia snorted and crossed her arms.
However, Hanbit’s expression did not change in the slightest.
“…Is it true?”
Seeing his serious face, she quietly tried to confirm.
Hanbit nodded and added an explanation.
“Of course it would be hard to believe. Even if I wrote this as an article, I’d just get a lot of hate.”
“Well… that’s true. The religious world is already in an uproar since the Eucharist Faction brought that up. Even I wouldn’t want to write a critical article based solely on rumors.”
“That’s exactly why you should cover it. The Eucharist Faction is already operating under the pretext of the Goddess’s will. Something strange is likely happening among the Rankers over there. There is a strong possibility that inhumane acts are taking place.”
“Inhumane… are you talking about crimes?”
“You know Adventurer A, right? The Eucharist Faction is involved in his death as well.”
“Certainly, they said he didn’t have any other illnesses, so it was a strange death. I couldn’t come out to cover it because it was late, but if the Eucharist Faction is involved in that incident, it does smell a bit fishy.”
Olivia immediately agreed when I mentioned Adventurer A.
It seemed that his death was considered strange even overseas.
“More importantly, what is the story about the other world? I’d like to hear about that first.”
“It won’t be for free. If you find out something about the Seongche faction and share it with me, I will give you the information
in return. Of course, it could be a dangerous undertaking, so you are welcome to decline.” “I’m someone who even served as a war correspondent for two years. I welcome hot and dangerous reporting anytime. Anyway, I understood that this is the kind of deal it is. Trading information about hostile forces is a common occurrence. Besides, judging by the details, this would make for a story of epic proportions.”
She nodded in interest, already picturing the scenario.
The reason Hanbit brought this up was simple.
It was time to uncover the inner workings of the Seongche faction.
No matter how much information was gathered within the game, the results were uncertain.
Therefore, it was necessary to find information circulating in the real world as well.
“This isn’t something to talk about openly, is it? I’ll have the higher-ups at Byte News give a heads-up, so let’s put together a team. There happens to be a reporter over there, too.”
Hanbit looked at Gu Seong-wook, who was flustered beside his mother.
Seeing this, Olivia wore a sour expression.
“Are you sure he’s okay? He doesn’t look like a trustworthy reporter.”
“That’s why I’m leaving it to you, the veteran. He’ll listen.” Hanbit
didn’t know much about Gu Seong-wook’s capabilities.
However, right now, he needed someone who would act according to his will.
Not only was he favorable to her, but it seemed Luna held some kind of leverage over him.
“Ah, and there is one more person. He’s not a reporter, but he will be helpful in many ways.”
Hanbit checked the message that had arrived on her smartphone.
[Ryu Seong-ryong]
[Understood. I’ll take charge and proceed with this together.]
As soon as she quickly conveyed the overall situation and plan, Ryu Seong-ryong’s reply came back.
She had heard that the reason he was currently abroad was also for an investigation into the Seongche faction.
He would likely be able to play a pivotal role in this team.
Of course, it was also part of the surveillance.
“Even if he’s not a reporter, as long as he’s capable, that should be enough.”
Olivia nodded obediently and stood up.
Looking at Gu Seong-wook, she tapped the business card on the table and said,
“Please contact me this way. It would be even better if we met in person before he leaves.”
“Let’s coordinate.”
Olivia packed her bags and left the store with her colleagues.
It was a short while later that Yeonhwa’s legal team and Yeonwoo’s legal network arrived.
