abcnovels
Chapter 645
Chapter 645
Chapter 645
“I did it, sunbae-nim!”
“Y-You did!”
Han Sang-Gi was sweating profusely, and it was all thanks to what he had witnessed.
Siegfried wasn't really more talented at video games than Han Sang-Gi.
Why?
It was all because his character’s stats had played a bigger role in allowing him to master everything in record time than his own innate talent.
However, it would be impossible for someone to hit a target one kilometer away if they were hopelessly talentless. It didn't matter, even if their character had godly stats.
Thus, Han Sang-Gi's shock did not come as a surprise at all.
“Is this good enough, sunbae-nim?”
“A-Ahem! You’re still far from my level, but that’s quite impressive!”
“Thank you!”
“I don’t think I have... anything else to teach you.”
“Huh?”
“You’ll have to personally experience different environments and situations. That’s not something I can teach you, as it will naturally come from experience.”
“Oh!”
“This is the end of your lessons.”
In the end, Han Sang-Gi had to admit he had nothing to teach.
“Is it really over?”
“Yeah, it is. Haha...”
“Thank you for your teachings!” Siegfried exclaimed, bowing at a ninety-degree angle.
“I didn’t do much. You’re the one who worked hard, and it made me want to teach you more.”
“Haha!”
“Go and learn from the others, too. All of them are experts in their respective fields, so I’m sure you’ll pick up quite a bit of useful stuff from them.”
“Yes, sir!”
“I guess those punks will suffer, too.”
“Pardon me?”
“No, it’s nothing. Hohoho!”
Han Sang-Gi revealed a strange smirk while recalling his conversation with the other Legends.
“Come on, you’re exaggerating way too much.”
“Are you sure you just didn’t do a poor job teaching him?”
“Maybe he learned so quickly because you’ve got nothing else to offer? Kekeke!”
A few days ago, he met with Kim Gi-Tae, Kim Han-Yong, and Park Gi-Don to tell them about Tae-Sung’s insane learning speed, but they all ended up laughing at him.
‘Kekeke! Why don’t you punks experience it too? I can’t wait to see this guy suck you dry! Hoho!’ Han Sang-Gi thought, overjoyed at the idea that the other Legends would certainly get sucked dry by Siegfried.
***
After Han Sang-Gi, Siegfried received private lessons from Park Gi-Don, Kim Gi-Tae, and Kim Han-Yong. He sucked them dry of all their techniques and knowledge to grow even stronger.
He also worked on the administrative issues of the kingdom and even filmed commercials.
The commercials were filmed in both reality and in BNW. Siegfried requested help from the Church of Martial God and requested for the stages used in the final round of the Super Rookie Tournament to be recreated for the shoot.
The Church of Martial God easily accepted Siegfried’s request, as they had wronged him once before, and his affinity with Cardinal Shrink had also increased by a ton during the subjugation of Count Arial.
“How can we refuse when it’s Your Majesty making the request? Please! Use it to your heart’s content!”
“Thank you!”
Siegfried’s commercial filming went smoothly, thanks to the cooperation of the Church of Martial God. The theme of the canned tuna commercial was Siegfried fighting a giant tuna in the same shipwreck, while the bamboo soju commercial was filmed in the bamboo forest, where he'd drink the bamboo soju as bamboo leaves flew around him.
The filming continued in real life where he'd wear a buttoned shirt and eat canned tuna or drink soju.
A few days later...
— Clean taste, tastes like nature.
Han Tae-Sung’s bamboo soju commercial was aired around the world, and pictures of him holding a bottle of bamboo soju were plastered on buses, subways, and other public spaces.
— Dongnae canned tuna is the best; it doesn't matter what everyone says.
The canned tuna commercial was aired around the world at the same time as the bamboo soju commercial.
“Wow, you’re already a celebrity. Look at you! Filming commercials and all.”
“Your followers on social media have increased again. I think you won’t be able to go out without people recognizing you anymore...”
Cheon Woo-Jin and Seung-Gu teased Tae-Sung while they were having a cup of coffee together.
“Hey, can you guys shut up?” Tae-Sung growled, looking slightly embarrassed.
“You’re really amazing, hyung-nim! Those companies are enjoying skyrocketing revenues!”
“Who cares.”
“Thank you, hyung-nim.”
“Huh?”
“Actually, I bought those companies’ stocks, and they’re stock price is through the roof, thanks to your commercials.”
“R-Really?”
“It’s all thanks to you, hyung-nim. Hohoho! I already made more than one billion won.”
“Really?!”
“Yes, hyung-nim! Han Tae-Sung Coin is going to the moon, and I’m on it!” Seung-Gu said, grinning ear to ear.
“Wow...” Tae-Sung muttered in awe at how much dough Seung-Gu had made.
Bzzt! Bzzt!
Tae-Sung's phone vibrated just then.
“Hello?”
— Hello, Mr. Han Tae-Sung! Do you remember me? This is Na So-Myong from Dongnae F&B!
“Yes, I know who you are.”
— I'm calling because...
“...?”
— The commercial brought us far more revenue than we invested, so we were wondering if we could sign another contract.
“Huh?”
— The product this time is chili tuna!
“C-Chili tuna...? T-That’s a bit...”
Tae-Sung was about to reject the offer, but...
— We will increase your talent fee!
“When are you free to meet?”
He immediately changed his stance when Dongnae F&B offered to increase his talent fee.
“What was that all about?”
“Are you filming another commercial, hyung-nim?”
Cheon Woo-Jin and Seung-Gu were surprised after overhearing the call.
“They want to film chili tuna this time,” Tae-Sung replied nonchalantly.
“I’m going all in... Han Tae-Sung Hyung-nim Coin to the moon...!”
Seung-Gu immediately took out his phone and went all in on Dongnae F&B’s stocks.
“What will you do if you go bust?” Tae-Sung asked.
“Hyung-nim, a person needs to know where to line up,” Seung-Gu replied with a serious look.
“Huh?”
“Why should I be worried about going bust when taking your side is guaranteed to bring in money?”
“Really...?”
“Three billion won, let's go!”
Seung-Gu was already excited at the thought of making much more money, thanks to Tae-Sung.
***
Siegfried received lessons from the Legends, filmed commercials, and attended to the administrative affairs of the Proatine Kingdom.
Meanwhile, an incident that would shake the entire BNW community was happening elsewhere. There was a head-on clash between the Oberg Guild and the Mandate of Heaven Guild, both top ten guilds on the continent.
The guild master of the Oberg Guilg—Player ID, Diesel, was a pro gamer famous for his good personality as well as strong leadership and martial prowess. He was famous with BNW fans around the globe, and he had been maintaining a hero image by going after evil NPCs and Adventurers.
In fact, there were fan fiction works being sold in North America with Diesel as the main character.
The incident started with Diesel leading the Oberg Guild into the Mandate of Heaven’s territory, ambushing them.
The cause of the clash started with the Geyser of Life being discovered in the lands owned privately by the Mandate of Heaven Guild. Ironically, nobody cared about the Geyser of Life, and it was nothing more than a tourist attraction to some—no, it wasn't even a tourist attraction.
The area around the Geyser of Life was devoid of any lifeforms, as there were numerous boiling hot springs emitting sulphuric steam that greatly limited the visibility of the region. On top of that, the place was teeming with all sorts of unknown bacteria that made it hard for creatures to inhabit the place.
However, someone found out by pure coincidence that the water from the Geyser of Life held equal potency to top-tier potions.
Of course, the Mandate of Heaven Guild did their best to keep this information a secret to monopolize it, but the Oberg Guild somehow managed to get a hold of this information, causing them to wage war over the Geyser of Life.
[Breaking News: The fall of a hero! Pro Gamer Diesel has been blinded by greed!]
[Breaking News: Who turned him into a villain?]
[Breaking News: Pro Gamer Diesel, from hero to villain arc?!]
BNW fans all around the globe were shocked to hear that the hero they were familiar with fell from grace, transforming into a villain. Some fans took the news so hard that they ripped their pictures and posters of Diesel, posting them on social media.
“What the hell? Did he wake up on the wrong side of the bed?” Siegfried muttered, utterly confused at the news articles he read.
Even he knew that Diesel was like a superhero in the gaming world. His superhero image was so strong that he'd visit children's cancer centers around the United States to visit kids with cancer on top of his many other philanthropic ventures.
Who would have imagined that Diesel would end up getting blinded by greed, attacking the Mandate of Heaven Guild just to seize control over the Geyser of Life? In addition, the fact that the Mandate of Heaven Guild was led by the living legend Yong Tae-Pung, made Diesel’s actions even more shocking.
‘Is Uncle alright?’ Siegfried wondered.
He logged out of the game and called Yong Tae-Pung.
— The number you have dialed is currently not available. Please leave a message after the beep.
Yong Tae-Pung seemed to be playing the game judging by how he was not picking up the call.
‘Is Seol-Hwa busy, too?’ Tae-Sung decided to call Yong Seol-Hwa this time.
— The number you have dialed is currently not available. Please leave a message after the beep.
Yong Seol-Hwa was a member of the Mandate of Heaven Guild as well, so she couldn't be reached, too. It seemed that the father and daughter pair, Yong Tae-Pung and Yong Seol-Hwa, were busy due to the Oberg Guild’s ambush.
“I hope everything ends well...” Tae-Sung muttered before going back home.
***
Tae-Sung logged into the game first thing in the morning and went to have breakfast with Brunhilde and Verdandi before starting his day, but he was starting to get bored of staying cooped up in the Proatine Kingdom.
He felt so bored that he couldn't focus on his tasks at all. He was itching for an adventure, as it had been a few days since he started doing nothing but paperwork every day.
‘Should I go raid the Great Rift?’ Siegfried wondered, but his thoughts were cut short.
“Your Majesty, an Adventurer by the name Diesel, seeks an audience with you.”
“Eh?”
Siegfried grimaced when the servant informed him that Diesel was asking to meet him. He racked his brains, trying to think of a reason why a Ranker and the guild master of one of the top ten guilds on the continent, Diesel, would come looking for him.
“What should I tell him, sire?”
“Tell him... I’ll go meet him in a while.”
In the end, Siegfried decided to hear Diesel out, as he could not concentrate on his paperwork anyway.
Ten minutes later...
“His Majesty, King Siegfried van Proa!”
The chamberlain announced Siegfried’s arrival at the throne room.
‘Whoa...’ Siegfried gasped in awe after seeing Diesel for the first time in the game. He had seen him multiple times through a screen, but this was his first time meeting him in person.
Diesel was a tall man towering more than two meters with a muscular body bulging with muscles. He wore gauntlets on both hands, and a single glance was enough for anyone to know that he was extremely powerful.
Diesel’s appearance alone exuded charisma and confidence that would make most people want to follow him.
“Nice to meet you, Han Tae-Sung,” Diesel greeted, extending his hand.
“Yes, it is nice to meet you too,” Siegfried replied, shaking Diesel's hand.
“I've heard many things about you, and I watched your matches, too. You’re quite something.”
“You flatter me.”
“I’ve been wanting to meet you, and it’s an honor to finally do so.”
“Come on. I am not that great for you to be honored,” Siegfried replied with a smirk. Then, he asked, “But what brings you here today?”
Diesel grinned and replied, “I’m here today to recruit you.”
“Recruit me...?”
“I’m not asking you to join our guild.”
“Then?”
“As you might’ve heard, we are currently in a—”
It was then.
“Your Majesty, Adventurer Yong Tae-Pung has come to seek an audience with you.”
The chamberlain informed Siegfried that the guild Master of the Mandate of Heaven Guild, Yong Tae-Pung, was here to see him as well.