NOVEL NEXT Chapter 55: Players Haven Café (1)
Players have the power to reshape the world.
In the renowned café known as “Player’s Haven,” they held regular meetings every Sunday like clockwork.
“Welcome, [Yamddi]!”
“Hey there, [Chairman]. Good to see you.”
“And [Poporing], please join us as well.”
One by one, eight faces appeared on the screen, joining the video chat.
These were the influential figures of the café, comprising both founding members and esteemed high-level players.
“Is everyone here?”
A bespectacled gentleman flashed a warm smile on the screen.
“Excellent. Let’s kick off the regular meeting for the third week of April, led by [Lostyark].”
“Sure thing, Chairman.”
“Any idea how many new recruits we have this week?”
A man with a dusky complexion directed his attention to the data he had collected.
“We’re looking at around 2,000 newcomers.”
“That’s more than last week.”
“You bet. It’s quite ironic that even though players tend to dwindle with each round, the number of new members keeps growing steadily. It seems the news of our player alliance café has piqued interest.”
“By the way, who hired that reporter?”
A seductive woman, oozing charm, raised her hand and playfully chuckled.
“Guilty as charged, Chairman.”
“You, Yamddi? I had no idea you had connections in the media.”
“Well, I made some this time. Hehe.”
“Ah, as expected, you never cease to amaze. Your loyalty as an early member still shines through. Haha.”
“Thank you so much!”
The chairman, wearing a satisfied grin, shifted his gaze.
“Now, Lostyark, out of those 2,000 players, how many stand out from the crowd?”
“After filtering out jobless players, those below level 10, and individuals who failed to submit complete applications, we’re left with approximately 1,200.”
“And how many among them have the potential we’re seeking?”
“Allow me to address that, Chairman.”
“Please, go ahead, Poporing.”
“First and foremost, we have a noteworthy player in the ESKS45-5 zone, known as [Black Dragon Flame]. He’s a humble level 10 warrior, but his application reveals that he even reached the impressive rank of third place within his zone.”
“Third place in that zone… Seems like his runes are quite impressive for his level, or maybe it’s just a tall tale.”
“Nevertheless, I believe he’s a promising candidate for a leadership role.”
“I see. Are there any other potential candidates?”
“Indeed, there’s another contender named [Little Cockle] from the ESKS122-7 zone. Apparently, he’s been fluctuating between the fourth and tenth ranks.”
“Oh, it seems we have an abundance of talented players.”
– Furthermore, there are 50 players who rank within the top 100
– Oh, looks like I won’t have any time to spare because of these interviews. Yes, [Nae Nai Seoreun]?
– Yes?
The man, appearing to be in his forties, was startled by the chairman’s call.
– Were you dozing off?
– Ah, I-I’m sorry.
– What kept you up so late that you ended up dozing off in the morning?
– I… I just…
– I won’t entertain excuses. Complete the interviews for those 50 individuals by our next week’s meeting. If you can’t, there might be another high-level candidate ready to take your place.
– I… I understand. Please trust me!
Although he replied energetically, a shadow cast over Nae Nai Seoreun’s face.
He was already concerned about how he would interview those 50 players.
– By the way, Lostyark.
– Yes, Chairman.
– Have there been any signs of contact with Black Scythe?
Lostyark shook his head weakly.
– If there were, I would have reported it immediately, even if it meant putting everything else aside.
– Indeed. If it were me, I would have done the same.
Black Scythe, the undefeated champion of the entire zone, was already a legendary figure among players.
The chairman couldn’t help but feel tempted.
– If Black Scythe were to join us, I would willingly give up a leadership position… but it’s a pity.
– Chairman, I believe that’s a hasty judgment.
A player named [Soso Mokbang] raised their hand, expressing a dissenting opinion.
– Despite Black Scythe’s fame, we have no confirmation of their nationality. Hiring a foreigner as a leader could be inefficient…
– There is evidence that he’s Korean.
Another player named [Soboruneun Jolmat Taeng] chimed in.
– I know someone in the ESKS45-5 zone, and they claim Black Scythe is from the same zone.
– If they’re from the same zone, it means they’re Korean. There wouldn’t be any foreigners in that zone.
– That makes sense.
– Ahem.
[Soso Mokbang], who had voiced their opposing opinion, fell into a contemplative silence.
– Black Scythe is Korean… If a legendary player like that were to join our café, it would be an incredible addition…
The chairman’s voice resonated with a tinge of disappointment.
“Yamddi? Is there any way you can get that reporter to write more articles? We need a widespread promotion to make sure Black Scythe becomes aware of our café’s existence.”
“Of course, it’s possible. As long as the payment aligns…”
“Don’t worry about that. We’ll make sure to reward you generously for your hard work.”
“Hehe, thank you so much, Chairman!”
Yamddi playfully expressed her gratitude with a wink, further endearing herself to the other executives.
“Now, let’s wrap up the new member registrations and move on to the next item on the agenda…”
“Just a moment, Chairman!”
Lostyark’s voice unexpectedly carried a hint of unease.
“What’s the matter?”
“W-Well, a named player just submitted an application to join the café.”
“A named player? Who?”
“T-The Black Scythe.”
Instantly, the chairman sprung up from his seat in astonishment.
Consequently, the screen was filled with nothing but the dancing pants of the chairman.
“I apologize. I got a bit too carried away.”
The true chairman settled back into his seat.
“The Black Scythe applied to join our café?”
“Yes, it happened just now.”
Named players varied from exceptional talents to complete novices, but none could match the fame and reputation of Black Scythe.
“Black Scythe wants to join our café… It’s hard to believe.”
“What should we do?”
In response to such a seemingly foolish question, the chairman unconsciously furrowed his brow.
“Of course, we must follow the registration process. Confirm the information, conduct interviews with the mentioned applicants as well as the new applicant. Right away!”
“Ah, understood!”
“What are you waiting for, Nae Nai Seoreun! Don’t just stand there, go for the interview immediately!”
“Yes? Yes! I-I’m on it!”
With a burning determination, Nae Nai Seoreun left the chat room.
***
“Is this the right place?”
Shim Hyung-taek raised his phone to check the text message.
[Interviewer: Please come to the Eoyewa Café in Wanbu-eup, Namyangju-si by noon. Dress code is casual.]
Lifting his gaze, he spotted the coffee shop mentioned in the message.
“Having to go through an interview just to join a café…”
Shim Hyung-taek’s brow naturally furrowed.
Being summoned to a location an hour away from Seoul only added to his irritation.
Moreover, the chosen spot was inaccessible without a private vehicle.
Shim Hyung-taek found himself getting off the bus midway and having to walk for a good 30 minutes.
And yet, he wasn’t feeling worn out.
After all, he considered himself a named player in his own right.
“Damn it, if they push me even a little, I should just unleash my rage and crush them on the spot.”
He firmly believed that if anyone dared to provoke him, whether they were interviewers or players, he would eliminate them without hesitation.
With these thoughts in mind, he pushed open the door to the café.
Ding-
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