Translator: rainbowturtle
Editor: LD & Jyazen
Arena Stadium was turned upside down. Everyone was busy whispering among themselves without watching the next match on the screen in front of them. Naturally, it was impossible for them to focus on it. A huge baitâno, a bomb had exploded. So how could they care about the match? The Winter League was held once a week, and a total of four matches were played on the day. Meanwhile, Alley Leaderâs leader bomb wasnât dropped every day. Its importance was different.
âHe didnât mention it, so I thought he had generously forgotten it.â
âCan a person change? He is consistent. I thought heâd truly forgotten.â
The crowd knew exactly what Hyeonu was referring to. There was no one present who misunderstood or didnât know about it. The people who came to Arena Stadium were usually avid fans of Arena, so most of them were subscribed to Alley Leaderâs A-World channel and watched his videos. It was impossible for them not to know about what had happened between JT Telecom and Hyeonu.
âThey were completely smeared after saying it. They were horribly beaten like gum on asphalt.â
âThey just speak with their mouths. I remember the way they trembled in Arena Week. Theyâre prideful for nothing.â
The audienceâs conversation moved in this direction. They ridiculed what JT Telecomâto be precise, Jung Hanbaekâsaid on their stream. The viewers had laughed at it at the time, but there were no concrete results back then. Now the entire JT Telecom team had collapsed due to Alley Leader.
âThey will experience just how scary words are starting from tomorrow.â
***
A strong wind was blowing. Naturally, Hyeonu wasnât its target. The typhoon was heading toward JT Telecom. They had to be responsible for the remarks they made in the past. The players werenât the ones who were hit first by the typhoon. Instead, it was those higher up, starting from the front desk.
Choi Hyunsung, president of the JT Telecom e-sports division, frowned at the news that had been flying in since morning. It was the worst. He immediately called in the staff to figure out the situation. Choi Hyunsung carefully opened the door and asked the young man who entered, âWhat is going on?â
He didnât even give this person time to settle down.
âYes, Boss-nim. That... It seems to have been a momentary mistake. They are reflecting on it greatly right now. Iâll teach them a good lesson.â
After Kang Ujong quit, this young man became the new supervisor.He was a coach who managed JT Telecom with Jeong Byeongjin and Kang Ujong previously. Regardless, Choi Hyunsung didnât like the new supervisorâs excuse. It was obviously just a cover-up. There were no countermeasures in place.
âDo you think that just covering it up will help the current situation?â
Hearing Choi Hyunsungâs question, the supervisor was silent. He couldnât say anything. It was the same when he visited the dormitory last night. Jung Hanbaek and the other players who had opened their mouths during the stream at that time just bowed their heads and remained silent toward the supervisor.
âI watched that interview and saw the related comments. Itâs natural for Alley Leaderâs pride to be hurt. You shouldâve at least set up some countermeasures. Regardless of whether it is by posting an apology or filming a video, isnât it normal to promise to prevent this from happening again, Supervisor-nim?âChoi Hyunsung kept aiming at the supervisor.
He was extremely angry. There were many e-sports teams under JT Telecom. Many of them appeared and disappeared repeatedly due to the rise and falls in the game, but the former owners didnât care at all as they were just bystanders. However, after Choi Hyunsung took over as president, he didnât leave things to the working staff as the previous owners had done before. Instead, he took part in planning and creating a new team.
In short, it was a team filled with Choi Hyunsungâs sincerity. His affection for Arena was at the peak, so it was natural for him to feel upset when the image of JT Telecom was being tarnished.
âBoss-nim, Iâll fix the problem at all costs before it grows bigger.â
The supervisor was well aware of Choi Hyunsungâs passion for the team. This was why he would occasionally go to the stadium to watch the players despite his busy schedule.
âSupervisor-nim, I will believe in you. Disciplinary action is fine. It would be better for you to discipline them before the association comes forward. And... if the players refuse, the worst-case scenario is fine,â Choi Hyunsung spoke firmly.
There was no need to keep players who would interfere with the team.
âOf course, it is up to Supervisor-nim to not go that far, right? Supervisor Yoo-nim?â Choi Hyunsung added with a smile.
From the standpoint of the listener, the supervisor couldnât laugh at all. It was obvious that the worst-case scenario meant the supervisor was to fire them. In other words, it meant withdrawing players from the team.
âI understand. I will do everything possible to make sure it doesnât happen, Boss-nim.â
The supervisor exited the presidentâs office with a very pale face.
***
The supervisor left the presidentâs office and headed straight to the dormitory of the JT Telecom players.
âJinyong, bring all the kids who were on the streaming that day.âHe gathered the players with an unusual expression.
âSomething is coming,â Kim Jinyong thought when he saw that.
Then with an expression that showed this thought, he answered, âYes, Supervisor-nim.â
On that day, Kim Jinyong had also appeared on the stream, and he helped with Jung Hanbaekâs remarks. It was because he thought it was right at the time. Kim Jinyong disappeared and reappeared with several players. âIâve brought them all, Supervisor-nim. There are four in total.â
Jung Hanbaek, Kim Jinyong, Yoo Bin, and Do Jeonghyunâthey were players who could be called the pillars of JT Telecom. All of them had spoken on that dayâs stream.
âI wonât ask the reason why. Instead... I will ask what you are going to do. How are you going to solve it?â The supervisor asked. He didnât raise his voice. He didnât even speak quickly. He just spoke as usual.
Kim Jinyong delivered the prepared answer, âWe have been talking about it since last night. First, weâll post an apology. Weâre willing to be disciplined as long as it doesnât go as far as a ban.â
At the end of those words, the four playersâincluding Kim Jinyongâgulped. They were waiting to see what the supervisor would say.
âI see... Then you know you did something wrong. Unfortunately... the degree of punishment isnât up to me. An official letter has already been issued by the association. I will set the level of punishment depending on the reaction. Still, post the apology. Upload it to A-World and various communities so everyone knows.â The supervisor left the dormitory after saying that.
It was because heâd finished saying everything he had to say. He also left because he didnât know what he would say if he stayed any longer. The supervisor had to go before he could express what was inside him.
âThe supervisor is gone... What will happen to us?â Yoo Bin spoke in a voice of despair.
The punishment hadnât been decided yet, but based on the current reaction of the public, the punishment absolutely wouldnât be light. All types of communities were scolding JT Telecom with one heart and one mind.
âLetâs see... Itâll be fine somehow. Letâs go practice. We canât give up next weekâs match.âKim Jinyong patted the drooping shoulders of his younger brothers. However, he didnât touch Jung Hanbaekâs shoulder.
***
âYouâre eating...?âYeongchan clicked his tongue when he saw Hyeonu eating grilled chicken breast with multigrain rice as usual.
âItâs too much even if he has a strong heart,â Yeongchan remarked inwardly. He found it ridiculous that Hyeonu could eat like nothing had happened even after causing such a big incident.
âNo matter how much you took the matter to heart, you talked about it in a competition interview, not in a stream.â There was some concern in Yeongchanâs words.
This incident was too big. It wasnât like he didnât want Hyeonu to speak out about it. He just wished the impact caused by the incident could have been a bit smaller.
âIf I am a man, shouldnât I pay back for things? I should pay back twice as much, regardless of whether it is favor or hostility,âHyeonu replied while chewing on the chicken breast.
In fact, he too felt sorry after speaking about the matter in the competition interview. However, the water had already been spilled. He couldnât pick up and take back the words once they were spoken.
âHonestly, does it matter if I said it on the stream or there? Isnât it all the same?â
Perhaps they were, or perhaps not. In any case, this was how he thought about the situation, so there was less of a burden on his mind.
âThe reaction is very intense... I didnât know the impact would be so great,â Yeongchan commented.
Many people were having very heated reactions, much like hyenas hunting for prey.
âItâs fine. Iâll put out the fire on todayâs stream. People are kind. If I ask them to stop, they wonât do it any longer.âHyeonu believed this would be the case, but even if it wasnât, he had the confidence to make it that way.
âIf it doesnât work, I can just draw peopleâs attention to something else,â he thought.
It was an ancient truth in the community that nothing worked better than changing the topic.
***
âHello, I am Alley Leader. Hopefully, everyone has been having a good week. I will start todayâs stream.â
Hyeonu started streaming.
-Hello.
-It feels like itâs been too long.
-Letâs see each other often.
-You went to a sunny place and have become too distant.
The viewers welcomed Hyeonu as always with varied reactions, ranging from funny chats to simple greetings. Hyeonu smiled at the sight of the chat window. âMy heart also wants to do it more often, but... it doesnât work. Still, donât be too sad. Three weeks have already passed. Just put up with it a little bit longer, and things will return to normal.â
-When is that...
-It is a distant story.
-After today is over, the next time is next Thursday!
The viewers obviously couldnât accept Hyeonuâs words. Nevertheless, there was something more important that he had to address before he started streaming his content.
âRight, donât say too much about the JT Telecom players. I am the owner of a big heart and have forgiven them. I brushed it off after yesterdayâs words, so donât worry about it. Just come to my channel and watch my videos. This way, I can make money.â
Hyeonu brought out the words heâd prepared in advance. At first glance, his speech seemed very long, but it didnât feel long because he said it with gestures.
âIf you don't like it, just enjoy Arena. Life is short. Iâm busy doing good things and living. I actually regret it a little bit. I shouldâve had this mindset before yesterdayâs interview.â
Hyeonu just continued to express his prepared lines regardless of the viewersâ words. In fact, he didnât even glance at the chat window as he spoke. There was no communication between them at all. However, the viewers didnât know this because they werenât Hyeonu.
âAh, and... I didnât write it in the stream title, but Iâm going to hunt today. I think I can level up as long as I clear the quest. Iâm in a hurry to level up.â
It was at this moment that Hyeonu finally looked at the chat window.
-Level?Right, what level are you now?
-Why level up?Letâs just talk.
-Letâs have some time for communication.
-Talk about the recent situation...
-Arenât you going to show Tang-E?
Most of the viewers had a confused reaction. Why did he want to level up? Moreover, why did he want to do it during the streaming session that only occurred once a week?
âIâm level 299 now, so level 300 is just around the corner.â
It was happening two days in a row. Another bomb went off.