Ranker’s Return

‘See me soon?’

Hyeonu ended the conversation with Reina and thought over her last sentence. She spoke as if they would meet in a few days.

‘Did she know I was going to call her?’

In fact, he had been thinking of assembling everyone in Arena in a few days. He planned to gather the guilds in advance to share information and make plans for the future.

‘But I didn’t even tell the Hyung-nims?’

The surprising thing was that he hadn’t told anyone yet.

‘It is something that might seem obvious.’

It had been this way so far, so it was possible to think so. Hyeonu usually gathered people within a few days whenever he gave out any information, or he would call and share the information after.

‘What about this? What does it matter?’

In any case, it didn’t matter. There was nothing wrong with it anyway.

***

Everything proceeded smoothly. The training of the Crescent Moon players that followed featured a line-up constant change due to Kim Seokjung and Gang Junggu using their connections to bring various rankers. As a result, the Crescent Moon players gained experience with many situations, and their most lacking aspects were gradually being filled. Apart from Hyeonu and Lee Hoon, the Crescent Moon players were absolutely inexperienced.

In the first place, they had neither extensively long nor deep experience with virtual reality games. Perhaps the current training was no different from building sandcastles on the beach. They were sculpting many things too quickly, but there was no solution other than this. This was a time when a cramming-type education was the most effective. They didn’t have enough time to hope for autonomous growth.

Nevertheless, the results were good. The Crescent Moon players made greater improvements than what Kim Seokjung, Gang Junggu, and Hyeonu had hoped for. The cramming worked well, but the players learned so many things that they needed a break. There were exactly three weeks left until Arena Week when Hyeonu finally declared they could have one. The break would be from December 24th to December 31st. In other words, the end of the year was designated as a rest week.

“I don’t know if I should throw a party,” Hyeonu pouted as he tucked away his disheveled hair.

It was annoying. Right until last night, he had been dealing with the Crescent Moon players for more than a few hours in a row. Considering the difference in level between him and them, Hyeonu fought with a proportion of his items removed. Therefore, it was natural for his fatigue to accumulate.

“It’s a party. Isn’t it just showing your face and having fun? I’m sure you’ve been under a lot of stress preparing for Arena Week. Use this to relieve it,” Yeongchan said.

He was also tired as he’d been called over to help Crescent Moon too. Although he couldn’t help with the siege, he was good enough to help with PvP. Yeongchan was on par with Lee Hoon and overwhelmingly stronger than the rest of the players. Additionally, he was a very good training opponent for PvP because he had a combat style that switched between the fixed standards and anomalies.

With a nod, Hyeonu confirmed Yeongchan’s words: “I guess so. I have to rest as hard as I practiced. If I keep running like this, it can affect Arena Week.”

Hyeonu knew better than anyone the importance of having proper rest, so he didn’t say anything about this party. He asked Yeongchan, “By the way, do you know who’s coming? I don’t know anything.” 

Yeongchan replied with an expression like Hyeonu’s question was ridiculous, “Why are you asking me this? I’m just going as your friend. Isn’t it Mason who prepared the party?”

Yeongchan was absolutely dumbfounded. Why ask him this? He was just an invited guest. Hyeonu was more like the host of the party.

“I don’t know. It’s just that you... and only those who were originally gathered will come,” Hyeonu spoke without thinking. He assumed it would just be the group, and that would be it—like the party after the Winter League ended.

‘It’s just the usual thing.’

Thinking about the party like that, Hyeonu didn’t really dislike it. His perception of it changed to something more like a pleasant drinking party.

“Then let’s wash up and go. We have to get ready,” Yeongchan said.

He glanced at the clock on the wall. The meeting time was 7 o’clock in the evening. It was now 5 o’clock. Given the amount of time it would take to go to the hotel, they had to leave by at least 6 o’clock.

“Yes, we can’t be late. The Hyung-nims will be waiting.” Hyeonu nodded and turned toward his room. It wasn’t polite to be late to an appointment. There was no need to get there early, but at the very least, they shouldn’t be late.

***

Two well-dressed men appeared at the gorgeous entrance of the hotel.

“Hyung-nim, hello.”

“Long time no see, Junggu hyung-nim.”

They were Hyeonu and Yeongchan. Unable to stand the intense cold outside, they showed quick steps. The cold in December simply wasn’t tolerable even though they wore all the necessary garments, ranging from underwear to clothes with various thermal functions—a t-shirt, a formal shirt, a jacket, and coats. Just like in the news about the unprecedented cold snap, the winter wind was very intense.

“Yes, it is hard on such a cold day. The two of you are here,” Gang Junggu greeted Yeongchan and Hyeonu at the entrance of the hotel. There was no need for Gang Junggu to meet the two of them there, but he wanted to do so. 

‘Fortunately, they came earlier than expected.’ Gang Junggu sighed with relief when he saw Hyeonu and Yeongchan who had appeared at the hotel faster than expected.

Two people—to be precise, the surprise guests for Hyeonu—hadn’t arrived yet. So, it was natural Gang Junggu felt relieved that their arrival didn’t overlap with Hyeonu’s.

“What floor do we have to go to, Hyung-nim?” Hyeonu asked Gang Junggu with trembling hands.

“It is the 51st floor. That is the party room. Seokjung hyung-nim and all the kids are there. You came the latest,” Gang Junggu answered.

Hyeonu cocked his head. ‘We’re the latest?’

They had come with plenty of time, yet they were the latest. He couldn’t understand it. That wasn’t all. If Hyeonu and Yeongchan were the last ones, why weren’t they going in together? There was no need to stand at the cold entrance of the hotel like this. As if he knew Hyeonu’s thoughts, Gang Junggu waved the smartphone in his right hand and said, “Go in. It’s cold. I’m going to make a phone call first.”

“I understand, Hyung-nim. Let’s go.” Hyeonu took Yeongchan and disappeared into the hotel.

‘They said they got off at Incheon... It is almost time for them to come.’ Gang Junggu was waiting for Reina and Mascherano to fly from the United States.

To be exact, it wasn’t just them, but a few more people.

‘I didn’t think he would show his face...’

The last person who was coming to the party today was, in a way, the most amazing person among the surprise guests. This was why Gang Junggu personally came out to greet him. It wasn’t until after Gang Junggu’s smartphone had rung again and again that the people he was waiting for started to appear.

Two sports cars, one red and one white, appeared while emitting sharp engine sounds. A blonde beauty and a handsome man got out of the vehicles respectively. They were Reina and Mascherano. They found Gang Junggu and walked over with happy faces.

“Welcome to the celebration party for Crescent Moon’s entry to Arena Week.” Gang Junggu welcomed the two of them.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“I’ll have fun today.”

Hearing their replies, Gang Junggu waved his hand. There was nothing they had to be thankful for. As Mascherano said, they just had to enjoy it.

“No, thank you for coming. Go to the 51st floor, and the staff will guide you to the party. I hope you have a great time today.” Gang Junggu pointed inside the hotel. With Gang Junggu’s guidance, Reina and Mascherano headed for the 51st floor. After placing the two people in the elevator, Gang Junggu returned to the hotel entrance to see a black limousine—which was so long that there was no end in sight—appear in front of the hotel lobby.

Bodyguards dressed in dapper black suits emerged from the limousine and formed a passage between the limousine and the hotel entrance. It wasn’t until this passage had been made that the door of the limousine opened again. This time, a middle-aged handsome man with gray hair got out.

Gang Junggu saw the middle-aged man and murmured a name quietly, “Robinson Rockefeller...”

Robinson Rockefeller—he was the current owner of the Rockefeller and one of the richest men in the world. Despite that, his favorite title was...

“Where is Mason? Junggu?”

‘A fool for his son.’

Robinson Rockefeller was an extreme fool for his son, whom he thought of as three years old instead of his son’s actual age of over 20 years old.

“Mason is having fun up there. You don’t have to worry so much, Mr. Robinson,” Gang Junggu said. 

Robinson Rockefeller frowned when he heard that. He didn’t like Mason leaving home and staying in South Korea.

‘He is still tender and young...’ Robinson Rockefeller thought. It felt like he was letting go of his child into the water. He had wanted to bring Mason home dozens of times a day, but he endured it. Then he thought about how much Mason had wanted to be a professional gamer and the expressions he had shown when he said he would become one...

“Let’s go. Honestly, if Seokjung hadn’t guaranteed it, I would’ve never sent my son here. South Korea is safe, but it isn’t as safe as my mansion,” Robinson Rockefeller remarked.

Gang Junggu lowered his head while listening to that, and his expression became distorted. Robinson Rockefeller’s words were too unreasonable. In this world, it was rare for there to be a place as safe as the Rockefeller family’s home. Gang Junggu thought that it was probably safer than the White House where the US president stayed. Most people who knew the true value of the Rockefeller family thought so.

Nevertheless, Gang Junggu carried on and took Robinson Rockefeller into the hotel with the latter’s burly bodyguards in tow.

Dding-! The number ‘51’ popped up on the indicator above the elevator. The moment that the elevator doors opened, Robinson Rockefeller rushed out at a speed that Gang Junggu couldn’t even react to.

“Mason! Mason!!” Robinson Rockefeller shouted loudly while walking around. At this moment, he wasn’t a rich man with a lot of money or a cold-blooded entrepreneur with no blood or tears. He was just a loving father who only had one son.

‘Isn’t this my father’s voice?’ Mason was talking to Hyeonu at a table in the huge hall when he heard a familiar voice. 

He murmured instinctively, “Eh? Father?”

It wasn’t an auditory hallucination. A gray-haired middle-aged man appeared in front of Mason.

“What are you doing here? Aren’t you busy right now? Do you have some business to deal with in South Korea?” Mason got up from his chair and ran toward Robinson Rockefeller in an instant. Hyeonu, who had been sitting with him, also got up in a hesitant manner. 

Robinson Rockefeller answered, “I’m here to see you, Mason. How can you not think about coming home? How...” 

“Father, it hasn’t been long since the league ended. I will be going there soon anyway. How much longer will I be here?” Mason spoke with a smile.

Robinson Rockefeller felt a warmth in his heart. Then his gaze shifted from Mason to the person standing behind him—Hyeonu.

“Is that him?” Robinson Rockefeller asked.

Mason nodded silently in response. Then Robinson Rockefeller moved forward slowly.