The Final Boss Has Returned 11

Chapter 11

“Let me formally introduce myself. I am Shin Ha-yeon, the Executive Director at Jeil E&M.”

Jeil E&M.

The full name of this company, Jeil Entertainment & Media, was a core subsidiary of the Jeil Group, which had risen to 5th place in the 재벌 rankings by expanding from distribution into media.

From concert planning to movie and drama production, cable TV channel operation, album releases, and even entertainment agencies, it was a gigantic corporation that practically dominated the domestic media market.

It was a company that monopolized the domestic media and content sector, so I had expected them to have a hand in Ard Saga as well.

But I didn’t expect to meet them so soon.

“Why would such an important person go through so much trouble to meet me?”

I finished my question and took a bite of the perfectly sliced steak with my fork.

The texture and juices of the top-quality meat, which I was tasting for the first time in almost six years, were fantastic, and Shin Ha-yeon smiled as she looked at me, my mood slightly improved.

“Because you are a person of that much worth.”

“Ard Saga is a virtual reality that is truly indistinguishable from reality, but in the end, it’s just a game.”

“The problem is that the influence of that ‘mere game’ is comparable to the entire major cultural content industry.”

Shin Ha-yeon said as she poured expensive wine into my glass with elegant hand movements.

“Ard Live continues to grow. There are analyses that it will surpass MiTube, the world’s largest video site, this year. Ard Saga Second is also continuing to grow. Whether they play the game or not, countless people are fascinated by the realistic yet unrealistic world of Ard Saga, and they are logging into the game or watching videos on Ard Live today as well.”

Her story was information I was already familiar with.

To be precise, Ard Saga, which had 200 million concurrent users when I used to play, had grown to 500 million concurrent users by the time of Second, and the number of Ard Live members was approaching a staggering 1.8 billion. Amazingly, this number was still increasing as we spoke.

It was truly the era of Ard Saga Second.

“Ard Live and Ard Saga Second are the future of content and media, a new paradigm. Therefore, our Jeil Group will be the first to seize that future.”

So, as she said, Ard Saga and Ard Live were fully deserving of being called the future of content and media and a new paradigm.

Shin Ha-yeon looked me straight in the eye.

“And to get my hands on that future, I need you. Drakan-nim.”

I stared at Shin Ha-yeon with an expressionless face and said,

“Why me? Ard Saga Second is full of high-flying Rankers, and if you wanted, they would line up at the entrance of Jeil World Tower, ready to offer you their liver and gallbladder. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial for you to use them, who are in their prime, rather than a washed-up player like me?”

No matter how proud and popular the Rankers of Ard Saga were, and how much money they were making these days because of Ard Live, they were still just gamers.

They were no match for the true power holders who held the wealth and authority of reality.

Jeil Group had the power to contract with any Ranker they desired.

So why me?

Of course, the impact I had made was quite significant.

I was ranked 6th in the overall tutorial rankings, had an overwhelming contribution rate to the tutorial strategy, and even Eugene, drawn by my notoriety, had come to find me personally.

But conversely, all I had was that potential.

Right now, I was just a returning user.

“The position I desire is not that of a fast follower, but a trendsetter. My goal is to engulf the future of Ard Saga, the future of content and media.”

Trendsetter.

It was a term that referred to someone who leads trends.

Hearing that, I had a good idea of her intentions, but I remained silent and continued to listen to her.

“And to do that, we need to change the current system. But the Rankers, the people, don’t want change in the current situation. This is all because of the Hero, Eugene.”

“Then why didn’t you go to Eugene, that guy?”

“He hates me.”

Shin Ha-yeon’s eyes turned cold as soon as I finished my sentence.

“When I contacted him a long time ago, I made a contract proposal, saying the same things I told you.”

Anger crept into Shin Ha-yeon’s calm voice.

“But not only did he flatly reject my offer, he was furious with me just for making it.”

Hearing her story, I laughed on the spot.

That’s because the scene of the meeting between Eugene and Shin Ha-yeon at that time, and the words he presumably said, came to mind as if I were watching a movie.

I was the user who clashed with him the most, and I was the one who was tired of his preaching.

So, it wasn’t that difficult for me to imagine what he would have said.

Remembering the situation, I looked at Shin Ha-yeon, who seemed to be biting her lip in frustration, and said,

“He probably said something like how if big corporate capital gets involved, the purity of Ard World would be tainted, because of his delusional idea of a user-only, idealistic and pure utopia.”

“As expected of Drakan-nim. That’s right. If big corporate capital gets involved, the purity of Ard World would be tainted. It’s such a naive…… and arrogant thing to say, something only someone who doesn’t know how the world works could say.”

Shin Ha-yeon was still smiling, but her hands on the table were trembling, betraying her emotions.

“Most of the current Rankers are foolish and compliant with the system. They are like fattened pigs, trapped in the cage of the utopia created by the Hero Eugene, seeking only security and stability. They are of no use to me.”

Fattened pigs.

I laughed at her expression.

Regardless, she continued speaking.

“What I need is someone who is prepared to rebel against the world that Eugene rules.”

“Are you saying I’m the right person for that?”

As expected.

She wanted to control the future of Ard Saga, no, the future of the content and media market, by eliminating Eugene, and that’s why she wanted me.

As Shin Ha-yeon said, there was no one who would openly oppose Eugene.

Regardless of their true feelings, everyone was outwardly conforming to Eugene’s rule.

“If you, who lost everything because of Eugene and even ended up on a deep-sea fishing vessel, are not the right person, who could be?”

Shin Ha-yeon smiled meaningfully.

Hearing her words, a sudden surge of anger welled up in my chest.

It wasn’t anger towards her.

It was anger towards Eugene.

A deep-sea fishing vessel, tuna fishing!

How much I suffered there!

The thought of the six years of pain and tears I endured to repay the astronomical debt that I couldn’t even clear by selling all my items made my teeth grind.

Yes! She was right.

If not me, who else could be the right person for this rebellion?

“You’re right.”

I clenched my fists, my hands trembling.

“Our goal is the same. To eliminate Eugene and end his era.”

Seeing me like that, Shin Ha-yeon smiled and said in an elegant voice,

“So, will you be my partner?”

Shin Ha-yeon offered me a wine glass filled with red wine.

And I raised my glass to hers and answered,

“Okay.”

Shin Ha-yeon and I, our interests were perfectly aligned, and there was no reason not to join hands with her now.

Unlike Eugene, that guy, I knew.

How terrifying the wealth and power of reality were, and at the same time, how powerful a force it could be if you could use that background to your advantage.

If I could only get revenge on Eugene, I would not hesitate to join hands with the devil himself.

Moreover, a third-generation chaebol was nothing to be afraid of.

“A wise choice.”

Shin Ha-yeon’s sweet voice reached my ears.

“These are the terms of the contract.”

Soon after, Shin Ha-yeon carefully placed a brown envelope in front of me.

It was a contract.

I took out the contract and checked the contents.

The contents of the contract she offered were not bad.

The profit distribution was 8 to 2.

I was 8 and the management side was 2.

“I gave you a bit more than the usual 7 to 3 distribution ratio.”

Shin Ha-yeon’s voice reached my ears as I checked the contract.

As she said, the usual contract terms for Rankers were 7 to 3.

8 to 2 was considered generous.

I continued reading the contract.

It stated that they would provide full support, including video editing and management tasks, as well as a monthly salary of 5 million won, regardless of the profit distribution.

In short, to give an extreme example, it meant that even if I did nothing and just played around, I could receive 5 million won a month from the company. It was a truly exceptional contract.

“I’m curious why you’re going this far.”

“Please consider it a token of my sincerity, showing how much I want Drakan-nim.”

Shin Ha-yeon said with a smile.

I carefully put down the contract in my hand and said,

“Okay.”

“Thank you for accepting my sincerity.”

Hearing my answer, Shin Ha-yeon smiled as if she found it interesting and took out a small box and opened it.

Inside the opened box was a luxurious fountain pen.

“This is a contract commemoration gift from me.”

I picked up the fountain pen carefully placed inside the box.

The feeling of it fitting perfectly in my hand was unfamiliar yet pleasant.

I picked up the fountain pen with its impressive, shiny golden nib, signed the contract, and then handed it over to her.

After confirming my signature, Shin Ha-yeon smiled with satisfaction.

“I look forward to working with you, Drakan-nim.”

“Likewise.”

I smiled at Shin Ha-yeon.

Just like that, she and I were now in the same boat.

As a side note, I found out the next day through an internet search that the fountain pen she gave me as a gift was worth 5 million won.