Chapter 39 : There is a cause in all the results

“I’m very grateful for the information you provided this time. It was so thorough that we were able to break the story quickly. Thank you.”

“It was nothing, Assemblyman. I merely informed you of the facts.”

In a Korean restaurant somewhere in Seoul.

Assemblyman Kim, his hair slightly graying, bowed his head in gratitude to the younger man before him.

“The facts. Heh heh. That’s right. It’s the truth. Isn’t it an obvious fact that the man who calls himself president should be embarrassed if he can’t manage his own children? Ah, and this isn’t because we’re the opposition party. Honestly, this kind of problem is the same everywhere. Drugs, tsk tsk.”

“Haha.”

Assemblyman Kim was not a freshman lawmaker, and could be considered a senior member, but that was precisely why he was able to act as a liaison following the party’s will.

This incident must never be discovered.

And his mission was clear.

To express gratitude to the other party and to find out the terms of the deal.

It’s an incident where the president’s eldest son was caught doing cocaine at a club. The breaking news reported it as GHB, but during the prosecution’s investigation, the truth was confirmed as cocaine, and it will eventually be expanded to a cocaine smuggling case.

It’s an incident that can bring enormous political gain. In fact, with this incident alone, the current president is already a lame duck.

“But, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

The first mission was complete. An expression of gratitude.

Now, the second mission: to check the bill.

What does the person who threw such a huge bomb of information want from the opposition party? No, why did they give this information to the opposition party in the first place?

“Why did you give such important information to us instead of the ruling party? It’s not like we can be of any particular help to your business… In fact, we’re actually in favor of regulating foreign financial businesses, aren’t we?”

At that question, the other man smiled.

A chilling smile. Like someone who has destroyed a country before.

Assemblyman Kim was once again reminded that the other man had a history of helping to completely destroy Thailand’s economy when he was a hedge fund manager.

Assemblyman Kim had faced people who had killed before, but now, this man’s smile was even more chilling.

“Well. Perhaps because I need some chaos.”

“…Excuse me?”

“If I had to make a request, I’d like to see some changes to the defamation law. If you could do that, I’d be satisfied.”

Assemblyman Kim was taken aback by the unexpected answer.

What? What the hell is defamation?

“A-Are you serious?”

Even at that question, the man, David Kim, just laughed. That laughter was so terrifying that Assemblyman Kim trembled.

‘Is this enough?’

Defamation is just a bonus. There’s no point in getting involved with politics. David Kim’s goal was simply to make the country noisy.

In fact, David had already anticipated that something like this would happen. Issues that interfere with the plan, chaos, and various other things.

So, he prepared in advance.

He had investigated a lot of information to cover up public opinion.

‘…If this doesn’t work, I’ll leak the KG Entertainment girl group’s sexual favors and the Pyongyang mayor’s bribery.

Honestly, I don’t think it’s likely to fail with the president’s son’s drug use… but you never know what might happen, right?

David Kim swallowed the tteokgalbi. Perhaps it was because he had removed an obstacle in the chairman’s path, but it tasted very good.

*

*

*

The issue was buried as it was.

Who cares about some streamer when the president’s son did drugs? The entire internet was on fire with related issues, and the stories about my money and face were completely forgotten.

“It’s not bad. Not bad at all.”

“That’s right.”

Representative Cha crossed his arms and made a humming sound.

“However, we need to start preparing soon. This kind of luck will only happen once or twice. Once the drug case is over, the questions related to the chairman will start to rise again.”

He was right.

Whether it’s an explanation for my money or my face.

The face is actually better. I was planning on revealing it someday anyway. The money… Money, what do I do about this?

“The biggest problem is that you’re not monetizing.”

“Monetizing?”

At Representative Cha’s words, I tilted my head.

“That’s right. The fact that the chairman has no intention of making money from broadcasting is ultimately what causes suspicion.”

Representative Cha said, as if frustrated.

“Look. People usually work to make money, right? That’s why I come to work, and so on. Everyone works to make money!”

“Um, right?”

“But the chairman has over 30 trillion won in assets. So you don’t have much desire for money. That’s why you donate all the donations.”

I scratched my cheek. Perhaps thinking that I still didn’t understand, Representative Cha thumped his chest.

“That’s exactly the problem! Even if people can’t openly criticize you for donating to a good cause, they’ll increasingly think things like, ‘How much money does he have to waste to do that?’ It’s what you call jealousy!”

“No, I know that. It’s kind of insulting to be treated like an idiot.”

At those words, Representative Cha’s face lit up.

“Then, will you monetize?”

“Even so, it’s a bit much to suddenly take the money after donating it all the time… And I told you, I don’t need it?”

“Aaargh!”

Representative Cha grabbed his head and fell down.

Then, Miley approached as the next batter.

“Master, I still don’t think it’s a good thing for you to donate all the money you earn. Isn’t it money you earned with your abilities? You need to keep some of it.”

“It’s not entirely money I earned with my own abilities. I used money I got from winning the US lottery to hire people. So can I really say this is entirely my own ability?”

Miley quickly became flustered and sank.

Oh, dear. Miley Saint-Rapier is weaker than I thought.

Please be a little more persistent like Representative Cha.

While Miley was making a depressed face in the corner, Representative Cha, who had re-established his logic, pleaded.

“But then, are you really going to end your broadcast after becoming the world’s number one internet broadcaster? Then it’s just a hobby, isn’t it? How can something that doesn’t make money be a job, Chairman!”

“…!”

“It’s a hobby right now!”

“H-Hobby…”

This was a blow.

A hobby. A hobby. A hobby is actually a good term.

Because you enjoy it during your break after work.

But, am I working right now?

I’m broadcasting diligently. By pouring in a lot of money.

But, what if the broadcast I’m doing now is a hobby?

Then I’m not working, am I?

‘Huh? Was I actually unemployed?’

Oh my god, I was unemployed?

Suddenly, goosebumps rose all over my body.

Goodness, I almost became unemployed without realizing it. I aimed to become the world’s best internet broadcaster to avoid that, but if this happens, it’s all for nothing!

I cleared my throat and slowly thought it through.

“F-First of all. I have absolutely no intention of changing the donation of sponsorships. It’s already set as a concept, isn’t it?”

“Um, that’s true.”

Seeing Representative Cha agree, I slowly expressed my opinion.

“Instead, I’ll gradually stop the double multiplication donation. Because this seems to be the biggest cause. Instead, I’ll donate 1.5 times…”

Then, Representative Cha declared with a serious face.

“Chairman. Considering the sponsorship fees, just donating the money you receive is already a loss. Just donate what you receive. Please, I beg you.”

“O-Okay.”

Since he’s saying it so seriously, I have to listen.

“I’ll monetize.”

Only then did Representative Cha’s face brighten. He smiled with the expression of a hero who had brought victory in battle.

“Since you said you absolutely won’t accept sponsorships, I’ll try to monetize in other ways. In fact, I have a plan.”

“…Other ways, what are they?”

At my question, Representative Cha chuckled.

“I’ll tell you later.”

Saying that, Representative Cha left the broadcast room.

…You said you have a plan? But why are you telling me later?

It was a very unsettling laugh.

I felt a chill and entered the machine.

To broadcast again.

*

*

*

-Chwa-ra-ra-rak!

[PleasePleaseBegPleaseBebelPlease]

[TodayGameALotGameALotGameALotGamALot]

[IfTheCommunicationRatioIsOver20%It’sARipOffIBet]

[It’sARipOffForReal]

As soon as I spin the roulette, the chat window is full of complaints.

Well, I’ve been communicating for more than 15% of the time lately.

As there are still many viewers who want games, it’s understandable that they’re angry. According to Representative Cha’s data, the number of viewers who can be called my fans has increased, but most viewers still consider the game itself to be the main thing.

Well, it can’t be helped.

I lightly manipulated the controls.

Then.

[Damn!!!!!!!!]

[2%! 2%! 2%! 2%! 2%!]

[ThumbsUpPunch! ThumbsUpPunch! ThumbsUpPunch!]

[WowDamn2PercentWasActuallyPossible]

[DamnIfIHadSlippedItWouldHaveBeen50%ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ]

[ForRealIThoughtSeongWonWasManipulatingIt]

[ThisCouldBeManipulationTooㅇㅇ HeMightBeManagingItSoThatTheThumbsUpSquad’sAngerDoesn’tExplode]

With precise control, the needle stopped at the very end of the 2% section. The 50% section was right next to it, so the viewers’ cheers were even louder.

Ah, it’s the Thumbs Up Squad now.

Recently, I posted a poll on the Pachichik streamer board. It was a poll to decide on a nickname for my broadcast viewers, which Representative Cha said was necessary to activate individual fans.

The candidates were various.

Since I appeared as the psychic hero Minder, there was ‘Psychics’, ‘Pressers’ because I ask them to press subscribe, like, and set notifications, ‘AI’ and ‘Communists’ using the red artificial intelligence meme, simply ‘SeongWon Squad’, ‘BearThumbsUpSquad’…

There was also ‘Chungcheong-ers’, which I secretly added without Representative Cha knowing, but the viewers’ final choice was the Bear Thumbs Up Squad.

Shortened to Thumbs Up Squad. It’s such a boring name.

If I had known this would happen, I should have looked for a viral marketing company behind Representative Cha’s back… It’s my defeat. Why don’t they understand the charm of Chungcheong-ers? There must be something wrong with the world.

“Um, it’s 2%. So that’s about 6 minutes of communication?”

[Yeah]

[It’sOnly6MinutesSo2%Isn’tThatBad]

[YouWon’tSayThatAfterExperiencing50Percent]

[Damn2HoursAnd30MinutesOfCommunicationWasTooMuch]

[LOLForOver2HoursHeJustTalkedAboutStrangeThings]

[WhenSeongWonSeriouslyTalksAboutGlobalWarmingAndModernHistoryIt’sReallyMindBoggling.]

[It’sAGoodThingHisWayOfSpeakingIsFunnyLOL]

It’s strange, Representative Cha said it was a usable topic.

Did I bring the wrong file?

I tilted my head and thought of a suitable topic.

Because communication for more than 30 minutes uses internal data provided by TS Media, but I was supposed to handle communication time less than that on my own.

And it wasn’t difficult to come up with a topic.

“There’s a hot issue these days, right? It’s on the news a lot.”

[UhOh]

[That’sNotAllowed]

[PoliticsNoWayDon’t]

[NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo]

[NoThisPersonIsGoingDown]

“Why are you guys like this? It’s about building a nuclear power plant on top of a sea cucumber. What were you all thinking?”

[LOLOLOLOL]

[OhWellOfCourseWeDidn’tThinkOfAnything]

[AbsolutelyNotARelatedTopicToACertainPerson]

[YeahOurGoodSeongWonWouldn’tTalkAboutPolitics]

“Um. Thinking about nuclear power plants reminds me of something. With that in mind, the Soul Frame Hero I’ll be playing today is Drugman. It’ll be fun, right?”

[LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]

[It’sAHeroThatHasNothingToDoWithIt]

[YeahForReal]

Of course.

As if I would bite into political bait.