Chapter 53 : Expanding view

SeongWon’s offer of 5% equity to David wasn’t because she was financially clueless.

Even though she was a middle school graduate, she understood division and percentages. Those were elementary school concepts.

Most of her money was invested in TopStar.

However, 5% equity was roughly $1 billion. Enough to make David a billionaire.

This was a small price to pay for David’s eternal loyalty.

Honestly, wasn’t it just a week’s worth of David’s work?

A perfect idea.

“I think I understand what you’re imagining, Chairman, but it won’t work that way.”

“Eh?”

David, awake after his fainting spell, shook his head.

He looked at SeongWon with a crooked gaze.

“Are you sure you’re studying finance properly? Your money is investment capital, not equity. TopStar is an asset management company.”

“Uh, hmm.”

What was the difference?

“And even if it were all equity, it wouldn’t matter. How would you handle the taxes on such a large stock grant?”

“Ah, hmm.”

SeongWon hadn’t thought about taxes.

“Then, if he receives it as stock options…”

“That won’t work the way you’re thinking either. In any case, the way you’re imagining it is impossible.”

Well, the plan to secure loyalty with stocks had failed.

“Is that so…?”

It seemed that reality and fiction were different. In the recent web novels she’d read, everyone swore loyalty when offered this, but those stories probably skipped a lot of realistic details for entertainment’s sake.

As SeongWon smacked her lips, David glanced at her.

“And… you don’t have to do that.”

SeongWon’s eyes widened slightly, and David muttered.

“I don’t know what you were thinking, but I’m not going to leave and join another company.”

“Hmm.”

David shrugged.

“I’m satisfied with the opportunity you’ve given me, and the performance bonuses are substantial. I’m the CEO, after all. Of course, your signature is required, but I have full discretion over my bonus, so don’t worry.”

“Really?”

“I appreciate your concern. I don’t really need it. I wouldn’t have anywhere to use it… Honestly, there’s nowhere to even sell that stake.”

He answered with a sly smile.

“And it’s quite entertaining, you see.”

“…Hmm, you mean the work you’re currently doing?”

“Of course, the work is fun, but… I think it’s more about your actions, Chairman. I’d like to continue observing that from close by.”

SeongWon finally smiled.

Good. Now she understood.

She patted David Kim on the shoulder.

Then, with a subtle smile, she declared,

“Okay. I understand, so go work like the diligent worker ant you are.”

“Understood, Chairman.”

Watching David leave, his face brighter, SeongWon came to a conclusion.

The taxes must be the issue.

Was there a way she could pay them instead?

* * *

SeongWon had sent David off to work, so she also needed to work.

According to David’s report, the Pachick acquisition would likely be finalized around autumn.

SeongWon instructed CEO Cha to form a task force to identify inconvenient or improvable elements of the Pachick system. They would use Pachick’s staff for operations, but only after she’d tailored it to her liking.

Next was a YouTube check-up.

“The growth isn’t very fast, is it?”

“Well, it’s a gaming YouTube channel. The lack of scalability limits subscribers. However, compared to other gaming video editing channels, its growth is quite rapid.”

“There’s no talk of ‘that editing’ yet, right?”

CEO Cha, quickly catching her implication, nodded.

“Yes. There’s talk about the editing skills, but no one’s curious about the editor’s identity. Ah, there have been inquiries from other YouTubers…”

Hmm, that was a relief.

Well, they were ex-Soviet. It was unlikely any Koreans had connections there. It wasn’t an enemy nation, but it was certainly a dubious one.

It didn’t really matter anymore if the ‘red’ meme spread, but SeongWon had disliked reds from the start, so it was better if it didn’t spread.

“Wait. Other YouTubers?”

As SeongWon tilted her head, CEO Cha replied.

“Yes. YouTubers who cover virtual reality content. As I’ve mentioned before, editing for VR isn’t easy. Finding skilled editors is difficult, so… Of course, the inquiries aren’t limited to gaming.”

“There are non-gaming ones too?”

“Yes. These aren’t about the editor. They’re about collaborations or content. Like, co-streaming with you, Chairman, or building a relationship. Things like that. Of course, I’m blocking them all for now, as it’s not the right time…”

Oh. That was interesting.

As SeongWon showed interest, CEO Cha shook his head.

“It won’t work right now.”

“Why not?”

“Because your face reveal is scheduled for the end of the year, the end of the year! If we reveal it earlier, the plan will fall apart.”

SeongWon shrugged. Was it that important?

“But wasn’t the point of this whole thing to grow the channel? My stream is already huge.”

“That’s true, but we can’t just throw away a huge event like this. If we time it right with the Pachick year-end awards ceremony, we can really hit the jackpot!”

CEO Cha explained, mixing various broadcasting terms and examples. He felt a bit like a cardinal. He’d probably do well as a cardinal in another world.

But CEO Cha wasn’t wrong.

Ultimately, form carried significant meaning. Why else would otherworldly kings create needlessly complicated audience systems?

‘I ignored them all, though.’

When the Apostle of God entered the palace, how dare some king stay sprawled on his throne? He should be the one running out.

Otherwise, it was blasphemy and heresy. If they wanted to taste holy fire, she would oblige. She hadn’t done it before, but oh well.

Shoving aside useless otherworldly reminiscences, SeongWon smacked her lips.

“Hmm. I wanted to interact with other YouTubers…”

Then CEO Cha scratched his cheek.

“Well, I wouldn’t recommend it. From my experience, nothing good usually comes of it.”

“Don’t actors and singers interact with each other in the entertainment industry? That’s how I remember it.”

She hadn’t watched many movies or dramas, but she remembered celebrities interacting and being friendly. Weren’t celebrities even marrying each other?

However, when she said this, CEO Cha grimaced. With an expression like someone with stomach trouble, he chose his words carefully.

“There are cases where they interact healthily, but more often than not, it gets shady, and they fight. Celebrities tend to be arrogant, you know?”

“Hmm, I guess so.”

Well, they earned a lot of money and were popular. And they hadn’t inherited it; they’d achieved it themselves. Of course, their confidence would be sky-high.

Then CEO Cha groaned.

“What I’ve realized while working in this field is… online streamers and regular broadcasters, they’re all the same.”

“Hmm, but there must be some nice people, right?”

“Well… in my experience, not many.”

“It’s not good to be too wary. Just give me the analysis list of the people who contacted us. I’ll look it over.”

Finally, CEO Cha reluctantly handed over the list.

“Absolutely do not contact them first. We need to reveal your face later, so absolutely do not do anything that could disrupt the plan. Absolutely! Not!”

“I understand, I understand.”

Finally, CEO Cha scurried away.

SeongWon grinned, watching him go.

As long as her face wasn’t revealed, it was fine, right?

Just her face.

#

[Then, we’ll end today’s stream here.]

A husky voice echoed, and the screen went black. The person staring at their reflection on the dark screen switched windows and opened their YouTube page.

A YouTube page titled [Strawberry’s Strawberry Farm]. A newly edited video was uploaded, but the views weren’t high.

…Or rather, they were lower than before.

It wasn’t just YouTube. The stream itself had fewer viewers. Donations were also down.

From a normal perspective, this was strange.

‘Strawberry’ wasn’t a low-value streamer.

A beautiful female streamer with a verified face, a cool and quiet gaming genius. She had good broadcasting sense and edited well, successfully managing her YouTube channel.

She was high-value.

But now, her value was declining.

Because of some person named SeongWon who’d appeared out of nowhere.

A streamer whose concept completely overlapped with ‘Strawberry’.

And was superior to ‘Strawberry’ in every aspect.

An unbelievable talent, ranked number one in SoulFrame. Her streaming sense was bizarrely excellent, based on her trajectory.

Was it possible to move with such thorough calculation?

By an individual, not a group?

Even the YouTube editing was beyond comparison.

This wasn’t the work of an individual, as far as she could tell. It was a team. She wasn’t sure, but they were probably ex-Soviet. ‘Strawberry’ had received offers herself. She hadn’t taken them because of her family background; she couldn’t get involved with anything ‘red’.

‘Well, if I had gone that route, I wouldn’t be streaming.’

The gap was too wide.

The only upside was that SeongWon hadn’t fully revealed her face, but ‘Strawberry,’ having used beautifying filters, knew.

Someone like that would likely have good natural features. Undoubtedly.

“f*ck, this sucks.”

A thick curse tumbled out in a low voice.

‘Strawberry’ lit a cigarette.

After smoking for a while in her room, she heard a knock on the door. Probably her younger sister.

“Hey! Don’t smoke in the house! It stinks!”

“Ah, f*ck! Shut up and get lost!”

“Mom! She’s cursing!”

She heard her younger sister running off. That horrible younger sister who squandered the money she worked her teeth out to earn.

Damn it, if only she didn’t need her…

Then her mother came to her.

“SeongWoo.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Even if you are the breadwinner, don’t treat your sister like that. You’re her older brother.”

“She’s acting like this because I took away her card.”

“Family bonds are more important than money. You make good money, why did you take your sister’s card?”

“That’s…”

“Ugh, the smell of cigarettes. I know you spend all day at the computer, but open a window for your health. And be nice to your sister. Family is important.”

“…Yes, Mother.”

When her mother left, Ryu SeongWoo threw down her cigarette.

‘Damn it, this is driving me crazy.’

She was the head of the household, the only one earning money, so no one knew the family’s situation. How much debt did they have, and how much money did she have to earn every month?

She had wanted to kill her younger sister when she saw that she had used the card to charge 3 million won. Of course, she’d let her sister use her face for work, but she hadn’t given her permission to spend that kind of money!

She needed to earn more money.

To do that…

“…I hope they accept my request.”

Ryu SeongWoo, ‘Strawberry,’ sent another email to the No.1 Pachick channel.

It was a collaboration proposal.