Chapter 322
Seojun began filtering through the MCNs with Han Jimin, one of his editors and, until recently, his manager (though, in truth, they had hardly ever properly signed a contract).
Put simply, an MCN managed streamers and took a percentage of their earnings in return.
There were many different types of contracts and circumstances.
Some streamers grew with the help of an MCN from the very beginning, some received help only from iTube, and some signed with an MCN after they had fully established themselves.
Naturally, the treatment and conditions would differ in each case, and Seojun was a streamer who had already finished growing.
In other words—
[I’ll be looking at this from the super-superior party’s position, boss!]
He was the superior party.
That was right. He was the super-superior party.
He had already succeeded and grown into an enormous leviathan.
On top of that, he possessed an advantage that most streamers did not: he was global, and he was part of the mainstream.
The History Book.
That was not the realm of ordinary streamers.
The participants and professionals who took part were each managed by their own teams.
Master streamers might perform actively in the History Book, but they could not draw enormous fanbases through that content.
Then an asset named Seojun had appeared.
It was not that he would “perform actively.”
He had simply “become the History Book itself.”
The countless offers that had poured in to Seojun spoke for the results.
[As expected, you’re incredible. Your schemes for reaching the top as a streamer are proceeding step by step, boss…… I truly think you’re a frightening and amazing person who would succeed at anything you did…….]
“Let’s filter out the companies that offer a large signing bonus while taking a percentage.”
[Yes, boss!]
Seojun did not need a lump sum. He was not planning to start a business, nor was he burdened by debt at the moment.
This was not some once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that absolutely required investment.
[But what if the signing bonus is truly enormous? There actually is a company that made such an offer. Whoa. Are they really offering this much money?]
In that case, it was worth considering.
Even if none of the above applied.
However—
“We’ll still filter them out.”
Taking a large signing bonus at the outset was simply the safe choice.
And that was not what Seojun needed.
“They must have made the offer because they’re confident they can earn at least that much back. I have that confidence too. I could make the company shoulder the risk, but I don’t particularly want to.”
He would proceed with the mindset that, even if he failed or became obsolete, he himself would be the one to go under.
It was not as if he planned to fail in the first place.
Now that he had become a streamer, he wanted to keep climbing higher.
Of course, he would eventually reach his limits.
Everyone who had entered the path of martial arts had done so.
Just as Seojun had, despite once reaching the supreme realm no one else could touch.
Even so, it was human nature to want to climb higher, even when one could see the end.
And Seojun enjoyed the process. He did not become consumed by the goal.
“Filter out the companies with minimum advertising requirements. I don’t mind if there’s no signing bonus at all. And filter out any company that wants to interfere with iTube.”
[Yes. Quite a lot of companies have been filtered out.]
Han Jimin had already organized the offers, so all they had to do was narrow them down according to Seojun’s conditions.
Seojun continued to list his requirements regarding percentages and several other matters, and thanks to that, the companies were gradually narrowed down.
“Now only the special conditions remain, I suppose.”
[Yes.]
What Seojun wanted from a company was nothing special.
He simply wanted them to negotiate his contracts on his behalf, properly assess his value, and notify the relevant companies of it.
He did not need a company with numerous in-house events or connections that could bring him plenty of work.
It had to be large enough to meet a certain standard, and since offers could come from overseas, it needed to be capable of communicating and handling business with foreign companies.
If it was a foreign company rather than a Korean one, it needed to be capable of conducting business domestically.
He had already said during his broadcast that those were the only basic things he wanted.
“Then let’s see. Could you send me the list?”
[Yes!]
After receiving the list, Seojun examined the details.
The companies that could meet those basic requirements.
Most of them were large, and the percentages they took were similar. It was obvious that the figures indicated the maximum amount they were willing to concede.
When he cut out the companies trying to take extra by inserting useless clauses and looked over the remainder—
“Hmm…… Do they know me that well?”
Two companies remained.
Point.
And a large foreign-owned MCN.
“I think I’ll have to meet with them at least once.”
[As expected! It’s them, right? Point?]
“Yes.”
It was Ha Yunho’s company.
[Because they’re Korean?]
“Because they take a slightly smaller percentage.”
[The Capitalist Heavenly Demon…… But boss! Forever loyal, loyal, loyal!]
* * *
Seojun sent them a message that very day, and the next day, following Ha Yunho’s reply suggesting a meeting, he arrived at the entrance of the company.
Point.
This MCN, to which Taeu belonged, was known as the largest major MCN in Korea. Ha Yunho had personally established it for himself and his friends.
As such, it was streamer-friendly.
“Hello.”
“It’s been a while! Less than two weeks, but still! You’ve come back as a global heavyweight! Though I knew that would happen, of course!”
Ha Yunho welcomed him from the entrance.
Point’s headquarters was spacious and clean.
It had all kinds of facilities, and Ha Yunho slowly showed Seojun around before guiding him to a conference room.
“We’ll make sure you never regret choosing us! Since we also contract with overseas streamers, we’re well versed in their circumstances. And more importantly, your home base will continue to be Korea, won’t it? Point is the perfect fit.”
He knew Seojun exactly.
He knew that Seojun would not chase money and recklessly venture out into the wider world.
“You know me well.”
“Of course. I personally made the offer!”
“As expected. But you’re taking very little. Are you sure that’s all right?”
Point had made no demands of Seojun whatsoever.
And yet they had set their percentage at the minimum.
“Simply signing a streamer like you is already profitable for us. It means we’ll be connected to you.”
From Point’s perspective, they were taking so little that, although the final amount would be large, it would not be a jackpot.
But Ha Yunho considered that perfectly fine.
‘He’s right.’
The value Point could gain by bringing Seojun into the company was not limited to commissions.
Ha Yunho was someone who could recognize intangible value.
He also knew how to give up other benefits for the sake of it.
‘Perhaps that’s why he’s running a business while managing a streamer who rivals a major corporation despite his young age.’
Ha Yunho had never tried to bring Seojun in simply because of their personal connection.
He had calculated everything. And, rather than disliking that, Seojun actually liked it.
The contract proceeded with remarkable speed.
About three hours later, after completing the contract, Seojun immediately tossed some work Ha Yunho’s way.
“I actually have two proposals I want to pursue right now.”
“Yes.”
“But I’m not satisfied with the conditions.”
“What kind of conditions?”
“The money.”
“Hahahaha! That’s right! Once you join an MCN, you should get paid more reasonably. You could have done it yourself, Seojun, but that would be bothersome, wouldn’t it?”
“It would.”
“As an individual, people will keep trying to lowball you. They may look down on you, thinking you’ll let it slide even if you receive just a little less. Adjusting all of that one by one is a hassle. But since they know we can simply say, ‘That’s impossible under our regulations,’ handling things becomes much easier.”
It was a matter of efficiency.
“One of them is something like an interview, right? And the other one is…… Oh, wait a moment.”
“What is it?”
“The Sword-Scary Story…… They’re making a horror story into a copy?”
“……”
“You’re really going to do this? Man vs. Gamer?”
“Yes.”
“That’ll be dangerous! Really, really dangerous!”
“Hmm…… Will it truly be that dangerous?”
“The ecosystem there.”
“……”
* * *
Time passed after the History Book ended.
An epilogue appeared, and information about the History Book began to be recorded in writing on the website.
It was the history of Pangaea. A history the players had directly participated in and created.
The problem with that history was—
“It’s insane. Ah, boss!”
-LOL Kael became a total lunatic LOL
-Not confused, just a crazy darkened heresy inquisitor LOL
-They say he still showed some sense of justice in his own way LOL
-Kael ultimately got the dark ending LOL
“His actions really can’t be explained as anything other than insane. Fortunately, he was insane consistently from the beginning, so I don’t have to force some bizarre interpretation on any particular incident just to explain how it happened.”
I Am Joseon’s Assassin watched the broadcast with a chuckle.
Seojun was currently running content on his broadcast where he went over the information posted on the official website.
After Seojun finished reading everything, he returned to the website.
An official interview video of Seojun had been uploaded there.
[Shall we watch this one together, everyone?]
“I can’t pass this up.”
He had conducted a Q&A on his own broadcast a long time ago, but an official broadcast had its own unique appeal.
“It’s just that my life is legendary for watching the boss’s interview on the boss’s broadcast.”
Seojun played the interview. He lowered the face camera because he was embarrassed.
[What kind of hero do you think Kael is, Streamer Seojun?]
[I think he’s an attractive hero who is extremely gentle and benevolent, and who conveys the will of judgment to everyone without prejudice.]
“Boss, please don’t spout that kind of bullshit with that face in a real interview too.”
This was why he had lowered the face camera.
It was embarrassing enough to make sense.
-LOL
-Crazy bastard LOL
-The guy who said during the broadcast Q&A that Kael was nothing but a one-trick Judgment Sword LOL
[What do you mean when you say that he conveys the will of judgment without prejudice?]
“Think about it carefully. Kael judges everyone. Without prejud—”
[Ah! So that’s what you meant. Yes, yes. Let’s move on to the next question.]
-LOL So conveying the will of judgment meant getting hit by the Judgment Sword LOL
-I thought it was going to be something philosophical LOL
-Crazy bastard crazy bastard crazy bastard
-Boss, you really are shameless LOL You spout bullshit so calmly
“Now that’s something I can acknowledge.”
And Joam thought that was the boss’s charm.
“No, but why does he answer the interview so earnestly and seriously?!”
The problem was not his attitude toward the interview.
The problem was that the content did not match it.
Joam happily filled the chat window with kkk’s as he teased him.
[Let’s stop the interview here, everyone. I’m not interesting when I’m serious, am I?]
“Why are you stopping?!”
Joam, who had resolved to watch the interview after the broadcast ended, now began worrying about whether Seojun would end the broadcast or not.
It was stressful.
Fortunately, Seojun still seemed to have something left to say.
[Everyone?]
-Yes
-What is it?
-What?
-Please don’t end the broadcast, master, please……
-Master, my ass LOL Joam LOL You’re the richest guy in Travel! LOL
[I’ve decided to appear on that show. And the video I’m playing right now is promotional material for it.]
-??????
-Oh!!!
-What show is it?
[The show is a special program called Man vs. Gamer. Yes, it’s the one you’re thinking of. If you watch the video now, you’ll see……]
-Is it really that one????
-It’s that overseas show that teaches you how to survive in the wilderness LOL
-But right now, you’re my lunch
-LOL The ecosystem is screwed? The ecosystem is screwed?
-Seriously LOL
-Only the tasteless ones will survive LOL
-But are they going to fight?
[Why are you bringing up the ecosystem again……. Well, yes. They’ll fight. Once in reality, and once in the game.]
-Crazy LOL
-There’s no way the boss is going to use the Judgment Sword there too, right?
-The truth behind the Sword-Scary Story will finally be revealed!!!!
-Lunch Guy versus Sword God Guy, this is insane LOL
[Who do you think will win? Personally, I’m stronger in reality.]
Joam screamed at Seojun’s statement.
“Even against Lunch Guy in the wilderness? The boss is on another level! How far are you planning to conquer?! And are you starting up the provocation engine again? What a personality.”
He moved to the community and immediately began spreading the news.