Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 210

212

Following the opening match, several significant news stories emerged from the Delroy Wide League.

Chief among them was the buzz surrounding Amelie and Beom-seok’s draw in their highly anticipated one-on-one duel. Despite Amelie’s undeniable skill, the intense 20-minute battle concluded without a definitive victor. Consequently, reporters hesitated to declare either gladiator the outright winner. However, most articles emphasized Amelie’s superior technique. While Beom-seok’s resilience was acknowledged, his single, albeit impressive, attack wasn’t enough to suggest a closely contested match.

Secondly, the announcement of Amelie’s loan to her former team, the Devil Sprites, sent shockwaves through the World League. Sports media outlets dedicated front-page coverage to this major development for several days. Adding to the intrigue, Nencia, a promising player from the Devil Sprites, was permanently transferred to Chaplin Whisper. With a relatively modest transfer fee of 200 million Krang [Krang is the fictional currency used in this world], speculation arose that Amelie’s loan was directly linked to this transfer.

Finally, a sudden flurry of trade activity gripped the league. In response to the Devil Sprites’ acquisition of the special-class gladiator Amelie, the top-ranked professional gladiator teams in the World League aggressively pursued acquisitions of their own, seeking a countermeasure. As a result, Gods Knights found themselves fielding inquiries from trade representatives from the big leagues daily. Currently, Beom-seok, who had withstood Amelie for 20 minutes in their duel, was considered the only gladiator capable of challenging her. Despite the inclusion of an absolute no-transfer clause in his contract, desperate World League teams disregarded such details. Amelie’s recent dominance against top-ranked World League teams, leading the Devil Sprites to decisive victories in her first two matches, only intensified the demand.

“Please, follow me this way.”

Beom-seok, having arrived at the luxurious Rainbow Hotel, was guided by a hotel employee down a lavishly decorated hallway. Their destination was a small banquet hall on the 7th floor, the venue for Ilsimhoe’s first official meeting. Ilsimhoe was an organization founded by Beom-seok, Gloria, Lexter, Natalie, and Lefferd. Though still in its nascent stages, it represented a vital step for Beom-seok in his relentless pursuit of strength.

“Beom-seok. Welcome.”

Gloria, already present, greeted him with a radiant smile. She couldn’t suppress her joy at seeing her beloved, the man who had rescued the Rainbow Group from its recent crisis.

Beom-seok returned her smile and waved as he approached.

“Gloria, you look even more radiant than the last time I saw you.”

Her cheeks flushed with color. She gestured to the seat beside her, saying,

“Oh, Beom-seok, you’re too kind. Please, sit here.”

Taking the offered seat, Beom-seok glanced around the room.

“But haven’t the others arrived yet?”

“Not yet. They said they were on their way, so they should be here shortly.”

As if on cue, Lexter opened the door and entered. Beom-seok, about to rise to greet him, paused as he noticed a black-haired woman following close behind. It was Margaret, the enigmatic Dark Shadow, who had secretly aided him during the LHN Building infiltration.

“Oh, Inspector, how is Margaret here?”

“Hehehe. I persuaded her to join our group and brought her along. You know how invaluable Margaret’s abilities are, right?”

Indeed, without her exceptional hacking skills, the LHN Building infiltration might have been impossible. Recruiting her into Ilsimhoe would be a significant asset. Moreover, she possessed impressive mental stats and the ‘IT Genius’ trait, which boosted IT skills such as electronics and program creation by 50%. If she were to lead an IT-related company, its chances of success would be greatly enhanced.

“Of course, I know. Margaret, Inspector Lexter, please come and sit over here.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Margaret bowed respectfully and took a seat with Lexter. Soon after, Natalie, Lefferd, and Karen arrived at the banquet hall. They shared a meal and engaged in casual conversation, further solidifying their bond.

“Hey, Karen, how have you been lately?”

At Beom-seok’s question, Karen, who was meticulously cutting her steak, pouted.

“I’m so busy I’m practically dying. I even had to beg my grandfather today to adjust my schedule so I could attend.”

“Really? That’s good. It’s a good sign for a celebrity to be busy.”

“Sigh~ Good? Every day is exhausting. I’m going to collapse from overwork soon.”

She launched into a litany of complaints. Karen, whose singing performance during WBS’s [WBS is a fictional broadcasting station] rookie singer introduction segment had catapulted her to fame, was now in high demand due to her unique trait. As a result, she was constantly shuttling between music programs and variety shows on various broadcasting stations, unable to fulfill her promise to receive a Sigil [Sigil is a magical item] from Gods Knights.

Of course, her current situation was far better than the days when she worried about her next meal, but she longed for a moment of respite. She was enduring exhausting days, forced to catch naps in her 이동 vehicle [a Korean term for a van or mobile studio commonly used by celebrities] instead of her own bed.

Beom-seok chuckled and turned to Lefferd.

“Lefferd, can’t you give Karen a bit of a break?”

Lefferd glanced at him and shook his head without hesitation.

“I can’t. Public popularity is fleeting. Once you stop working, you’ll quickly fade into obscurity. It’s crucial to keep her visible while she still has the public’s attention.”

“But, if she’s constantly working, she might get sick, right?”

“Don’t worry. I know how to manage her schedule to prevent that. And I plan to give her plenty of rest when she’s preparing for her second album. Creative endeavors thrive in a healthy state of mind, so rest is essential.”

Hearing this, Beom-seok decided not to press the issue further. He looked at Karen with a concerned expression.

“Karen, I guess it can’t be helped. Just think of it as fate and endure until you start preparing for your second album.”

“Sigh~ I didn’t expect anything different. Who can stand up to my grandfather’s stubbornness?”

Beom-seok scratched the back of his head and turned to Lefferd again.

“Lefferd, how is Lefferd Planning doing?”

“Hmm. Well? Karen is incredibly popular right now, but I can’t say the company is thriving. Honestly, if Karen takes a break while preparing for her second album, our income will likely decrease significantly.”

“Really? Aren’t you developing any other celebrities?”

“I have several trainees, but none of them are ready to debut yet.”

“Why not? Do they need more training?”

“That’s not it. Some of them have experience working at other entertainment management companies, so they could be put in right away.”

“Then why aren’t they debuting? Do they lack talent?”

Lefferd gave him a wry look.

“No, they’re all very talented. But the entertainment industry isn’t easy enough to conquer with just talent. Luck and the agency’s ability to consistently get them on TV to showcase their talents are crucial. Honestly, Lefferd Planning lacks experienced managers and staff, so it’s a bit challenging.”

“But you have Karen, right? I heard that entertainment agencies leverage their famous celebrities to get their unknown talents on TV.”

He looked at him expectantly.

“Of course, that’s a common practice. But Karen is still a rookie. If I tried to pressure a major broadcasting station PD [PD stands for Program Director] like that, it could backfire.”

“Then what about smaller broadcasting stations?”

“I can’t put Karen on those stations. I don’t want to waste her valuable time by putting her on a local station with a small viewership when she needs to build her brand. Besides, Karen is the face of Lefferd Planning.”

At that moment, Natalie, who was nearby, eagerly joined the conversation. As the owner of a broadcasting station, she was naturally interested in Lefferd Planning’s situation.

“Lefferd, how about having your celebrities appear on our broadcast?”

“On LKS Broadcasting?”

“Yes. Recently, LKS Broadcasting is planning to expand its broadcasting time from three hours to five hours. We’re dedicating one slot to documentaries, another to news, and another to dramas, and now we’re turning our attention to entertainment. What do you think? Are you interested?”

Lefferd’s face lit up with interest. LKS Broadcasting, while a smaller network, was gaining international recognition, albeit modestly, with programs featuring Karen’s journey and the lives of Gods Knights. Getting his celebrities on the air would be a significant boost. Moreover, he knew they wouldn’t be asking for free labor, which meant some much-needed income for his struggling trainees.

“I’d love that. But would that be alright?”

“Hehehe. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. In fact, our broadcasting station’s most popular program is Karen’s growth story. We owe you a favor.”

The monthly income of LKS Broadcasting was easily in the hundreds of millions. Karen was a major contributor to this success, so there was no need to feel guilty about accepting Natalie’s offer.

“I gratefully accept your kindness. So, how many trainees are you looking for?”

“How many can you provide?”

“Well? I need to know the nature of the program first to give you a rough estimate. What kind of program are we talking about specifically?”

Natalie answered immediately.

The programs that LKS Broadcasting was planning were: Surviving on a Desert Island, Traveling the World on Foot and in a Small Sailing Ship, Extreme Jobs or Hobbies, etc. In short, it was a reality show that would push the performers’ mental state to the limit. Even without famous celebrities, they could guarantee a certain level of viewership, making it a cost-effective way to generate content.

“Well, it’s that kind of program. What do you think?”

“You’re going to destroy my trainees. But you’ll be flexible, right?”

“Absolutely not. We’re going to follow the script.”

“No. Then there will be cast members who drop out in the middle because it’s too hard, right?”

“Then we’ll send them home. In fact, if all the cast members make it through a few episodes, I’m even thinking of increasing the difficulty. The best way to show sincerity is for someone to quit the show because it’s too challenging.”

Lefferd crossed his arms, looking somewhat apprehensive. It seemed like his trainees would have a tough time, and he wondered if he should even let them participate. However, he also recognized the potential opportunity. To survive in the cutthroat entertainment industry, experiencing hardship wouldn’t be a bad thing, and the nature of the program would likely resonate with viewers, significantly increasing their visibility.

“Okay. What’s the appearance fee?”

“Even for someone appearing on TV for the first time, we’ll pay at least 50,000 Krang per episode.”

50,000 Krang was nearly three months’ salary for an average worker. Assuming the show aired once a week, they could earn at least 2.6 million Krang if they participated for a year.

“That’s quite generous. Isn’t that the rate that local celebrities with some recognition receive?”

“It’s a tough job, so the pay has to be high.”

Eventually, Lefferd nodded. Although he was concerned about the potential suffering of his trainees, the benefits outweighed the risks, making it a worthwhile opportunity.

“Okay. I’ll ask the trainees if they’re interested in participating.”

“You made a good decision. It will likely be a valuable experience for your celebrities.”

“Hmm. I hope so.”

While they were talking, Beom-seok’s attention shifted to Lexter. As leaders of gladiator teams, they had much to discuss.

As Beom-seok scooped up a spoonful of pudding, he inquired,

“By the way, Inspector, how are the Blue Bird team’s recent results?”

“Hmm. 4 wins and 1 loss.”

Beom-seok’s eyes widened at Lexter’s response. For the Blue Bird team, which boasted over 20 Wide League-level players, to suffer a loss in the Avand Area League was surprising.

“Really? How did you lose? The Blue Bird team members are all experienced gladiators, so they shouldn’t make mistakes that lead to defeat easily.”

“Ah. We fought the Black Cats team on the road. They’ve recently recruited a lot of talented gladiators, so their strength has increased significantly compared to last year. Sigh~ I think they’ll be a major obstacle to us winning the league.”

Beom-seok nodded in agreement. The Black Cats seemed to have been spurred by their defeat to Gods Knights in last season’s promotion tournament, and they had invested heavily in acquiring new gladiators this year. Among their recruits was a Central League-level elf gladiator, making them a formidable opponent even for the Blue Bird team.

“I see. The Black Cats team has a powerful backer.”

“Hehe. That’s right. Chairman Lucas, the leader of the Black Society, is the chairman. But it’s still not as much as Chaplin Whisper, so that’s a relief. I saw your team’s opening match and I know how monstrous that team is.”

“That’s why I’m frustrated. It’s a nuisance to have such a monstrous team in the league.”

“But there’s one good thing.”

“What is it? Are you talking about Amelie being loaned to the Devil Sprites?”

Lexter chuckled and shook his head. Chaplin Whisper wasn’t a team that could be defeated simply because Amelie was gone.

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

They built a 30-story building in China in just two weeks. I don’t know if I should see this as amazing or reckless… Before, it took about two months to build the Gods Knights training camp. I was worried that this was too much of an unreasonable construction period, but after seeing this news, I realized that my concerns were in vain. ^^;;;

Then everyone have a good day. I’ll see you again tomorrow.