Chapter 92

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“What is this data?”

Enk Technology’s R&D Department.

Executive Director Han Yong-woo, who stopped by for a project inspection, discovered strange data.

Because something conspicuous caught his eye among the data of players collected for RP Gear development.

“Ah, I’m told that is the data an intern from Design Team 2 brought.”

“An intern brought data?”

“Yes. An experiential intern but……. The name is Kang Han-bit it says.”

Han Yong-woo, listening to the employee’s explanation, examined the data anew.

The Gear development project he came to lead as the person in charge.

A new conference regarding related contents had just ended today.

Because of that, he could notice how strange the data marked on the material was.

“You said Team 2 right?”

“Ah, but I heard he was fired as of today.”

“Fired?”

“Yes. I don’t know the details well, but it was an issue of concurrent employment…….”

The employee’s story continued a little more.

Han Yong-woo, examining the data a bit more, nodded his head.

“I understand. Everyone, please gather in the conference room in 30 minutes.”

Relaying the schedule, he immediately left the office.

The destination was the floor where the Design Teams gathered.

“Uh? Executive Director?”

A few employees who discovered Han Yong-woo initiated a conversation.

However, he replied with a light nod and headed to the innermost seat.

“Design Team 2 Leader.”

“Hm?”

At the short call, the Team Leader raised his head.

His expression distorting was instantaneous.

“If it isn’t Executive Director. To think you’d make the trip all the way to a place like this.”

“…….”

Words thrown in a seemingly sarcastic voice.

Han Yong-woo, looking at another desk, asked with an expressionless face.

“I heard an intern named Kang Han-bit worked here. The reason for dismissal is concurrent employment?”

“Yes. Well, that’s how it is.”

“There should have been room for extenuation for an intern?”

“What do we accommodate for a single experiential intern? He’s a bastard with no manners too. Ah, I’m not talking about you Executive Director.”

“…Phew.”

The reason for the continued sarcasm was clear.

Because even though Han Yong-woo was the Team Leader’s junior, he succeeded in promotion vastly faster.

Treating him as an eyesore every time could be naturally felt on his skin.

“Have you seen Intern Kang Han-bit’s data?”

“What data?”

“The play data collection requested to each department regarding RP Gear. Should have been distributed to each Team Leader?”

“I’m dying of busyness, when would I be doing that? I left it to a guy whose hands were free, so ask a kid named Lee Min-ho when he comes later.”

The Team Leader roughly pointed a direction with the tip of his chin.

However, Han Yong-woo didn’t turn his gaze.

“The data Intern Kang Han-bit left behind was distinctly different. It would have been a considerable help to Gear development.”

“I hear he’s a popular streamer or something. How does someone just being a bit good at games help development? The level of those entertainer bastards is all the same.”

“A formula capable of calculating the adaptation rate value has emerged. As a result, Intern Kang Han-bit was 1,500 times an ordinary player.”

“…Adaptation rate? What is this 1,500 times value again?”

“I don’t know the reason. If Intern Kang Han-bit was here I could have asked him something. Ah, the title intern is a discourtesy now too.”

Han Yong-woo, who let out a short sigh, turned his back.

A pathetic matter, but the company ended up losing an opportunity.

Since there’s no way Kang Han-bit would return as an intern if he was under that person.

“I will elevate a report regarding matters related to Mr. Kang Han-bit to the CEO. Because due to Design Team 2 Leader’s erroneous judgment a tremendous talent was lost.”

“What are you saying? That’s because of me?”

“Judgment will be made from an objective viewpoint. Then let’s meet again later.”

“Hey, wait… hey! Han Yong-woo!”

The Team Leader shouting while getting red in the face.

Leaving the loud voice filled with anger behind, Han Yong-woo exited the office.

Immediately contacting the HR Team, he grasped the situation regarding the dismissal procedure.

It was a matter where a sigh came out automatically.

“Phew.”

An amazing process does not remain in the report of a contract intern.

Because of that, it could be handled lightly with just the degree of the Team Leader’s influence.

“Could I get Mr. Kang Han-bit’s number please.”

Han Yong-woo received the contact information relayed from the HR Team.

After a bit of pondering, he dialed the number.

It was after the ringtone sounded a bit more that it connected.

(Hello?)

A young man’s voice heard through the speaker.

Straightening his back, Han Yong-woo spoke politely.

“Hello. Is this Mr. Kang Han-bit?”

***

‘…Executive Director?’

Receiving the call, Han-bit was flustered.

Enk Technology’s Executive Director.

Why did a person like that make a phone call.

His rank was too high to explain the resignation procedure.

He didn’t know the reason, but it’d be good to have a conversation for now.

“Yes, hello. But what brings the Executive Director…….”

(I contacted you to offer an apology.)

“An apology?”

A question arose at the unexpectedly heavy word.

Whether reading that thought, the Executive Director relayed an explanation.

(In this disciplinary action and dismissal procedure, the excessive intervention of the Design Team 2 Leader was uncovered. An unjust matter that shouldn’t have happened.)

He simply delivered an explanation about the process from disciplinary action to dismissal.

To summarize, it was that the Team Leader used his friendship with the HR Team Leader to vastly shorten all procedures.

A situation perfectly ignoring the fact that concurrent employment also has parts with extenuating circumstances for interns.

However, now it was a matter that didn’t matter anyhow.

“Thank you for letting me know. But since I also wanted to quit, it’s fine if you don’t mind it much.”

(As a member of the company, I am nothing but ashamed.)

The Executive Director’s voice seemed sincerely bitter.

After one more apology continued, he moved on to another topic.

(I heard you are active as an RP streamer, is the work alright?)

“Ah, yes. Since it suits my aptitude I’m doing it enjoyably.”

(It is a relief if it suits your aptitude. And I don’t know if you’ll be curious, but a new element was discovered from the play data you provided in the past.)

“A new element?”

(It is a concept called adaptation rate, an index capable of inferring how suitable the physical body and mental strength are to RP. Ordinary players were roughly in the 200s, vanguards were around 5,000s. And Mr. Han-bit was about 300,000.)

“…Pardon?”

A bizarre value departing from the expression ‘a lot’.

He didn’t know what adaptation rate was, but it seemed the past experiences influenced it anyhow.

(Adaptation rate has a high probability of being applied as a standard value. Although it will become more precise in the future, I tell you because I thought it would be good for you to know.)

“Thank you. It was considerably useful information.”

(Not at all. I am only sorry I cannot offer other help.)

A polite tone to the extent where the title Executive Director didn’t come to mind.

If it’s this kind of flow, it was natural for some demand to come.

However, that expectation missed refreshingly.

(It would not be polite to hold onto you lengthily either. I once again offer words of apology for giving you a bad experience due to the management’s insufficient administration. We will completely delete the contents regarding the disciplinary action and convert it into a normal resignation procedure. Please, I will pray that the matters you proceed with in the future go successfully.)

“…Yes, thank you.”

Click-

The call that concluded ending with a final apology and cheering.

The attitude completely opposite from the Team Leader was shockingly blanking.

What if he had started his internship under that person?

Even if he quit the company, wouldn’t he have tried to help with whatever probably.

Though it’s a useless story now.

“Phew.”

A short sigh leaking out automatically.

Brushing off his thoughts, Han-bit shifted his steps to the subway station.

***

‘Frigging huge seeing it again.’

Han-bit, arriving at the Record Shop, faced a building of massive scale.

That place where he had faced the shock of the guidebook.

Stepping inside, he deeply started examining the numerous displayed products slowly.

‘Why is there so much?’

The contents contained in all sorts of kinds of items were surprisingly vast.

As they were produced by players, their respective affection was felt too.

“Wow, isn’t this expression crazy?”

“This person is famous to the level of a pervert you know.”

At that time, the voices of the party standing next to him were heard.

The products they were looking at were maps and pictures.

Sneaking a glance, it was made into live-action with a feeling different from the game.

“Is there no one who’s gone here?”

“Ah, the Lighthouse of Death? I heard there’s only a quest there and it hasn’t been implemented?”

The conversation immediately moved to another topic.

The Lighthouse of Death known to exist somewhere in the sea.

However, even among factions focusing on voyages, there was no one who discovered the place.

‘I haven’t been able to go either though.’

Han-bit too has the experience of trying hard to find that place.

Because he heard the one and only Sage in the world existed there.

Although he didn’t find it in the end, if combining all the invested time wouldn’t it reach decades.

“Ah, but if it’s Black Dragon wouldn’t he be able to find it?”

At that time, the topic of conversation moved to Black Dragon.

Han-bit stealthily covered his face with a book in a daze.

“It’s far off before going to the sea. Rather than that, he’s doing the Ifrit episode this time? Would it be completely different like Edlen?”

“It would be completely different right. Might an opportunity for reset arise again?”

“That’s that too but. Wondering if he might find the field boss for us.”

“What, the Snow Drake? That’s really a legend you know.”

The field boss existing in Ifrit.

As well as being treated as a legend here too, but it’s a guy that actually exists.

Monsters tremendously strong and tricky enough to be called the master of the snowy mountain.

In fact, most of the things being prepared were processes to subjugate the Snow Drake.

“…….”

While watching such conversation.

Han-bit, who had been covering his face, felt a male’s gaze.

It seemed he’s a person who had been following continuously since coming into this building.

Flash-!

A flashing light from the smartphone he held.

He was taking a picture of none other than Han-bit.

‘He isn’t a fan.’

It wasn’t a feeling like Avant-garde then or the department store clerk.

Emotions that could be roughly known just by looking at his eyes.

The pupils constantly darting around and trembling hands were anxious just to look at.

Probably he wasn’t used to this kind of work.

The appearance of humans trying to do anything because of money was mostly like that.

Sssk-

Putting down his book, Han-bit stealthily shifted his steps.

And going down to the 1st floor, went outside the building.

‘As expected he’s following.’

The male tailing from afar couldn’t even hide his body properly.

Advancing straight, Han-bit took a turn into an alley.

As he entered the dark inside, the male also entered the path while looking around.

Step-

Step-

Footsteps heard matching Han-bit’s pace.

Walking while listing his ears, he immediately kicked off and started running.

Ta-dat!

Han-bit entered deeply into a path bent sideways.

Surprised by the sudden change, the pursuer urgently attached himself sprinting.

Tap-!

Han-bit, who had gone ahead, stood atop a box at the bent street corner.

And the moment the male following behind revealed his figure.

Swoosh-!

He leaped right in and wrapped around his neck with both arms.

“Keok!”

The male, subdued without even a gap to react, was flustered at his windpipe tightening.

He tried to escape while thrashing his body, but the arm wrapped around his neck didn’t shake at all.

“Who are you? Who sent you?”

“Cough, cough!”

Han-bit, slightly loosening his strength, created a gap enough for coughs to leak out.

Then the male twisting his body started speaking little by little.

“Just alone… Keok!”

As an unwanted answer came out, Han-bit loaded strength anew.

A slight mistake in adjustment and he easily faints, so he’s handling him somewhat carefully in his own way.

Creating a slight gap again, he threw another question.

“What do you think happens if a neck bone breaks?”

“……!”

Crack-

Applying pressure to the joints, an uneasy sound rang out.

The sensation felt vividly even without pain extremely amplified the male’s anxiety.

“Speak straight. Why did you take my picture, who ordered it.”

“I, I don’t know either!”

“Don’t know?”

Sssk-

Han-bit tried to put strength into his arm anew.

Then the male shouted while flapping his hands and feet.

“Really! I said really! I’m just a fish trap!”

“A fish trap?”

“Like a person scattered by a detective agency! They said they’d give 500,000 won if I find a person resembling the streamer Black Dragon so…….”

The male barely spreading his fingers pointing to his pocket.

Rummaging inside, a business card reeking of cheapness came out.

On there, the name of the store was written clearly.

We will find everything from rats to corpses.