Ranker’s Return

12 hours—that was the time it took for a special broadcast to be made about Hyeonu after he posted. In the morning, the Arena professional broadcasting channel hastily produced and showed a broadcast that analyzed Hyeonu’s post. It meant the production had taken place at dawn. This was natural since it wasn’t a live broadcast, and time was needed for editing. Nevertheless, there were still people who felt bothered and disliked it.

“Liu Shei, do you think it is true?”

Liu Shei was very annoyed by the shooting that had been taking place since dawn. Why should he do this to himself? He couldn’t find a reason for sitting here unless he wanted to give up on his sleep.

‘I’m going to die from tiredness.’

Regardless, Liu Shei hid his heart and responded with a smile, “It must be true.”

He was a very professional person.

“Why do you think that?” The reporter seemed to think he had grabbed onto something and stared at Liu Shei.

“Isn’t it obvious? Why would Alley Leader lie about such a thing? Isn’t that right? Alley Leader isn’t someone who cares about attention.” Liu Shei didn’t care about the reporter’s attitude and just said what he wanted to say. He was speaking the truth; there was nothing to think about. “The answer is the same if you ask any other player who knows him. He isn’t the kind of person to joke around, and there is no reason for him to do this. This is Alley Leader, Alley Leader.”

However, the reporter repeated the same words over and over. There seemed to be an answer that he wanted to hear. He questioned again, “Then Alley Leader’s statement is true? Are you saying that?”

Liu Shei also continued in the same manner, keeping his answer steadfast even as his annoyance soared. ‘Is this jerk crazy? What the hell is this? Aren’t you going to finish shooting?’

He answered, “How many times do I have to say it? Of course, it’s true.”

Then Liu Shei leaned toward the reporter. He quickly turned off the reporter’s microphone and whispered at a volume so low only the reporter could hear him: “I don’t know what you want to hear, but my answer is the same. In addition, I probably won’t see you next time.” 

Liu Shei picked up a water bottle from the table, took a sip of water, and left.

*** 

Was it because it had been controversial for one day? The number of viewers for Hyeonu’s stream increased in a frightening manner and had the momentum of breaking the record for the highest number of individual A-World viewers. Of course, the previous record was also held by Hyeonu.

[Welcome to Alley Leader’s territory.]

-Is it true that Alley Leader gained a territory?

-The death penalty if it isn’t true.

-It must be true. There is also a title.

-However, I heard you need a lot of imperial contributions? How did he get it?

-It should be received from New World.

-Shouldn’t they be crazy busy since they just arrived in the East Continent?

-Right? They wouldn’t have time to collect imperial contributions.

Viewers believed that Hyeonu had obtained a territory. They had no choice but to believe it. Alley Leader always told the truth; they had never been deceived. They were just curious about the process. How did he get a territory? Had it been given to him by New World or had he obtained it personally? These were the main questions the viewers had.

“Hello, I am Alley Leader. It is nice to meet everyone. Thank you for watching my live stream today.”

Hyeonu appeared in a lively manner. He was sitting in what he called the ‘administrative office.’

“This is a very strange space. It is also unfamiliar to me. I’ve only been here two or three times now.”

-Where is this?

-We will only know when he says it.

-Everything has always been unfamiliar to us, apart from the arena. 

-Yes, we always find it unfamiliar. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

“Ah, this is a place for a lord. I can see the full information of the estate and decide how to develop it. It is a place where I can apply tax rates and policies.”

Hyeonu created the territory status window and territory administration window in the air for viewers to see. Of course, the details were made invisible. He just showed that there was something like this.

-It is like playing a different game all of a sudden.

-it is fun to grow a territory.

-No, no. I’ve worked as an administrator in the empire, so I know it is hard. It isn’t fun at all.

-I’ve tried it as well. I’m always arguing with NPCs and players. Last time, I heard people who mistook me for an NPC curse at me. I barely endured it.

‘It is very hard to be an administrator.’

Basically, the game was for enjoyment, but being an administrator was close to doing work. It was what they did to make money in real life. For administrators, Arena wasn’t just a game but another job.

‘Thus, I asked Nike to help me.’

In the first place, Hyeonu wouldn’t have asked for help if it had been easy.

“Yes, administrators have a hard time. It is a difficult task.”

Hyeonu removed the windows and displayed the map of Phinis’ entire territory.

“By the way, I got a territory, but there are many major problems.” 

There were red dots all over the map. When the viewers saw this, they questioned it.

-What are the red dots?

-Are they the problems?

-So the territory is completely smashed?

-The map is dyed red!

The viewers’ doubts were resolved by Hyeonu’s following words.

“As you might’ve expected, a red dot represents a problem. The big circle on the edges of the map shows that the walls have been smashed and need to be repaired. The dots inside show the buildings that have been damaged and need to be repaired.”

Hyeonu sighed when he finished talking. It wasn’t acting but a heartfelt sigh. The more he saw, the more hopeless he felt. Recovery would take at least a few months.

‘There is no meaning at all.’

In this way, there was no advantage in gaining the lead in Arena, in the gaming sense at least.

‘Instead, there is more new content for my streaming...’

However, it was comforting that the contents that could be streamed had increased.

“Still, aren’t I the first to get a territory? Even if it is like this...” 

-Of course.

-This is the level of gaining an empty field as a territory...

-Revival of the territory as a development project?

-With whose money? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Of course, he has to rob a gold coins warehouse. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

The viewers seemed to have forgotten their initial surprise. They only thought that Alley Leader’s territory was a mess and that it was a money-eating hippopotamus.

“Shall I stop talking about the sad things and show you around the territory? It is a very cool place. This is Phinis.”

Hyeonu left the administrative office and broadcasted the landscape of Phinis. The viewers burst out laughing when they saw it. Phinis’ appearance wasn’t good. They couldn’t find any intact buildings. The streets were half smashed, and the debris of the buildings were the only things that proved something existed there in the past.

-What is this ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ. This is really Alley Leader’s territory!!

-He got a territory, but isn’t it completely poisonous? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Isn’t this enough for Quency to eat up his money?

-I acknowledge Quency’s big picture.

While staring at the scene, Hyeonu said, “Construction will take place here starting from tomorrow. I’ve poured a lot of money into it.”

One day in real time had passed. Hyeonu had done a lot of work in the meantime. He asked Nike for help, and Nike accepted the request and brought employees to Phinis in earnest. Then he had the staff set up the framework for the restoration work of Phinis.

‘It was a good day.’

For the first time, Hyeonu knew how good it was to have other people. All he had to do was talk from behind, and Nike’s staff did all of it. There was no need for him to do this or that. Hyeonu felt peaceful when he thought about yesterday’s work.

“Earl!” 

In the distance, someone screamed for him.

‘Who is it?’

Hyeonu turned his head and saw that it was Johnny. “Johnny, what’s going on?”

“My lord, the commerce group in charge of the construction has arrived. I think you should go see them personally,” Johnny spoke while gasping.

‘They have already arrived?’

It was only yesterday that he told Johnny to find a commerce group to handle the construction yet it had already arrived. As expected, a game was a game. There was just a little bit of realism so that buildings didn’t pop up like magic. At this time, the viewers were staring at the NPC they were seeing for the first time. They were focused on the NPC’s words.

-Earl?

-Did the NPC call him an earl just now?

-What did he win in the meantime?

-No, there seem to be no barons yet. Did he become an earl alone?

-He can gain such a territory if he is an earl, right…?

The viewers were once again stunned. Getting the title of earl was as surprising as obtaining a territory. The reason for that was simple.

-Imperial contributions are needed to gain a territory. Aren’t they also needed to gain a noble title?

-If he became an earl and bought a territory...

-Where did he win the imperial contribution lottery?

-Or did New World collect so many imperial contributions?

-Are the other guilds just fooling around? This level difference is too severe. New World seems to be ahead of all the other guilds combined.

The viewers were shocked because they didn’t know the details. Hyeonu hadn’t used any of his imperial contributions in the process of becoming an earl and acquiring a territory. However, this was Hyeonu’s secret. It wasn’t just the viewers. Even Nike didn’t know about it. They would find out one day, but no one knew the truth right now.

Hyeonu didn’t see the messages and walked quickly to the commerce group with Johnny. “How many people have come?”

“There are hundreds. It is said that many commerce groups flocked because it is the earl’s territory.” Johnny’s face was flushed red, and he barely managed to answer.

“If it’s hard, make your way over slowly. I’ll go ahead and greet them.” Hyeonu was considerate of Johnny.

“Then I’ll take a five minute break. I’m sorry, My Lord.”

“Why be sorry? I was able to start construction so quickly thanks to you.”

“My Lord, the commerce group is at the east gate.” Upon finishing his words, Johnny sat down, and Hyeonu left him behind.

-In the end, his personality is okay.

-He can be considerate to NPCs.

-He is a good person. There is just a bit of pretension.

-That can be seen as acting cute. ㅋ ㅋ ㅋ

Unbeknownst to Hyeonu, he was making a name for himself.

*** 

Hyeonu called Kale on the way to the eastern gate that Johnny mentioned. It was because he knew nothing about the contractual aspects. On the other hand, Kale had experience in reality, so he learned about the contracts in Arena after constantly talking to Johnny.

“Kale, you arrived first?” Hyeonu saw Kale standing in front of a large crowd and approached quickly.

“We alternate in accessing Arena. It was my turn, so I was able to come right away,” Kale explained. 

After accepting Hyeonu’s request, Kale and some of Nike’s employees came to work in the Phinis territory, and Kale was in charge of this job.

“The relationship between commerce groups...”

While Hyeonu was speaking to Kale, dust rose from beyond Phinis’s east gate.

-No, what is this sudden cloud of dust?

-I can’t see.

-Change the perspective!

-Let’s go in third-person.

Once the dust settled, a group of people appeared. The front of the group consisted of people in colorful armor mounted on horses.

“Who are you?!” Hyeonu shouted at them.

6th Anniversary Event Link (Submission Final Date: 15th November)