Chapter 60 - MCN?

The apartment where journalist Shin Hye-rim lives.

After successfully completing the interview, she stepped out of the capsule. However, her work was not yet over.

"Yes, Team Leader."

As soon as the broadcast ended, a call came in. Normally, she would feel a wave of fatigue and annoyance, but this time was different.

<Shin, good job!>

"No! More importantly, is this a scoop?"

The team leader had also been monitoring the interview. His excited voice prompted Shin Hye-rim to respond with enthusiasm.

<Of course! I'll push this to the chief and request that it be featured as the main article, not just in our section.>

"Really!?"

Shin Hye-rim's body trembled with excitement.

The MetaGamer site covers a wide range of topics, from virtual reality to mobile, and even the outdated PC and console sections.

The influencer section is one of them.

However, both Shin Hye-rim and the team leader believed this article was not just for the section.

<Well, I didn't think we'd get a main article anymore...>

The main page of MetaGamer, equivalent to the front page of a newspaper, is where the most important news is featured.

The influencer team had only once managed to get a main article.

<This one is enough! It's live, so it's more vivid, and honestly, it's more interesting than the DalTang interview.>

That article was an interview with a successful streamer, 'DalTang.' However, after watching this interview, the team leader was convinced.

<Moreover, the appearance of NewtonZ... Anyway, good job. The article is almost done, just need confirmation. I'll hang up now!>

"Ah, yes! Thank you!"

Even after the call ended, Shin Hye-rim was still in a daze. She opened the main page of MetaGamer with anticipation.

'I want to see the reactions quickly...!'

* * *

The main page of the web magazine 'MetaGamer.'

[Coincidence or Omission? <MapleStory> Probability Manipulation Suspicions AGAIN]

[‘Are You Being Fooled Again, Youngest Brother?’ <BloodlineW>, Introducing a Complete Gacha Under a New Name]

[<Bio Crisis> Difficulty Downgrade Update Announced.]

Among the articles covering significant domestic and international issues, a peculiar thumbnail article appeared.

[<First Live Interview!> Meeting 'Perfect.' With a Side of 'NewtonZ.']

The attention-grabbing title, typical of an influencer section article, began to see a rise in views.

[-Read comments first, then watch]

[-A streamer article on the main page?]

[-Is there really no news?]

[-MetaGamer is really down, huh ㅎㄷㄷ]

The initial comments were strongly negative, from people who commented without reading the article.

However, the following comments were different.

[-Who is Purple?]

[-Live interview? What boldness!]

[-Ah! I didn't know about GodPurple! The broadcast is so interesting.]

[-Man, just reading the text is frustrating ㅋㅋㅋ]

The comments gradually increased.

As if it were a transcript, the interview was written in text, but people started watching the video.

[-Ah! This streamer is the one who saw the Bark Jin ending.]

[Is this the one that made it to the main page?]

[Yes, it seems so.]

[But why isn't the name mentioned in the main article?]

[Because if the name is mentioned, it becomes viral, you know ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[This is a Purple viral, isn't it?]

[Crazy ㅋㅋㅋ An interview, and what viral?]

[-The person who made the Mystic League Leaf Village ㅎㄷㄷ]

[Yeah, both ranked and casual games were full of dark characters, so I stopped for a while.]

[But Perfect's dark characters are pretty good.]

[Yeah, that's true ㅋㅋㅋ]

[-NewtonZ's sponsorship is impressive, but mentioning it in the title is a bit...]

[Because it's the influencer team, the title is a bit clickbait, isn't it? ㅋㅋㅋ]

[What's the deal? Are you a HOXY fan?]

[Ah ㅋㅋ I feel like my mouth is tingling.]

[Let's watch the video to the end and comment ㅋㅋ]

People who were watching the video in real-time and commenting. As time passed, the comments increased rapidly.

[-A streamer for less than a month?]

[Yeah, the growth rate is insane ㅋㅋㅋ]

[Yeah, one cry and straight to the top.]

[What kind of rapid growth is this!]

[This guy is a dark character...]

[Caught at a concrete site.]

[-What do you mean, all games were easy?]

[The concept is amazing ㅋㅋㅋ]

[?]

[That's not a concept, it's a fact ㅋㅋㅋ]

[Fact) It really was easy.]

[-The pros' jokes are hilarious ㅋㅋㅋ]

[They really live for the jokes ㅋㅋㅋ]

[Ah, this is what a true fan is.]

[Asking about the underwear color is the same everywhere ㅋㅋㅋ]

Suddenly, the comments started to surge.

The reason was one.

[-What the heck, is NewtonZ real?]

[What the heck, giving 5 million won right away?]

[Wow ㅋㅋㅋ]

[The title wasn't clickbait after all ㅋㅋ]

[That's why it made it to the main page.]

NewtonZ's appearance.

Although it was just text, the comments were filled with excited emotions.

[-Wow... the coaching is insane ㅎㄷㄷ]

[At first, I thought it was just a money grab, but it seems worth it.]

[At first, I thought it was just a money grab, but it's getting more substantial.]

The comment section soon turned into a sea of praise.

[-What a good voice in the middle of all this?]

[If GodPurple was a teacher, he could get into Harvard easily.]

[Ah ㅋㅋ I couldn't get into Harvard because of that.]

[The journalist next to him is completely mesmerized ㅋㅋ]

[Still, God is fair. If he had a good face too, ㅅㅂ.]

[Just in case, I'll check.]

[-1 million won for coaching from Purple vs 1 million won for a MapleStory cube.]

[This is a complete value collapse ㅋㅋ]

[What a deal ㅅㅂ.]

[Why bring up MapleStory?]

[-단-]

[-Where can I see the video sponsored by NewtonZ?]

[Ah, PingPong is everywhere.]

[What a deal, the PerTube link is right above the comment section.]

[No, it's just a clickbait.]

The comments increased by dozens with each refresh.

Eventually, as the interview video neared its end, those who had finished watching added more comments.

[-I was going to criticize DalTang, but I'm sorry.]

[Yeah, I came to criticize but changed my mind ㅋㅋ]

[Yeah, I watched the DalTang article out of fandom ㅋㅋ]

[This interview is full of fun moments ㅋㅋ]

[Maybe a live interview is better?]

[-It's hard to believe this is a new streamer.]

[In less than a month, if this continues, he'll be worth 1 trillion won.]

[What ㅋㅋㅋ Why is market capitalization mentioned ㅋㅋ]

[Can I buy Purple coins now?]

[Yeah, it's a king asset ㅋㅋ]

[-Wow, he'll get a lot of love calls.]

[Yeah, MCNs are flipping out.]

[At this level, where will he go?]

[Probably to DirtBox.]

Even though it was late, the views continued to rise.

* * *

Jinom read the article with a smile. The viewers had informed him that Purple's news was up before the broadcast ended.

"Really, he lives up to his name."

Not the streamer Purple, but his real name, Kyungbok, meaning good fortune and prosperity. Jinom was satisfied with his younger brother's success.

However, his expression soon hardened. A call came in with a vibration.

"Yes, Team Leader Byun."

<Ah, is it okay to call you?>

"Yes, sure. The broadcast is over."

Jinom's broadcast starts in the evening and ends in the early morning, so it wasn't really a suitable time for a call.

'I can guess the purpose, though.'

Jinom slightly frowned.

<Yes, nothing else...>

"I'll refuse if it's a request to set up a meeting with Purple."

He decided to take the initiative.

The caller was the team leader of the creator partnership team at the MCN 'Bullock Korea,' where Jinom was affiliated. He was responsible for the overall recruitment and management of creators.

<Indeed, you are Jinom! Your business sense is excellent.>

But the caller was not easily deterred. Despite the blunt rejection, he tried to change the atmosphere by praising Jinom.

"Even if you gild it, my decision won't change."

<Hmm, did we do something to upset you?>

"No, I have no complaints."

<Then...>

"It's not like I would actively recommend it."

For a streamer of Jinom's level, this was a statement he could make. An uncomfortable silence fell.

"To be honest, isn't the reason you're approaching Purple now to sign him before his value rises?"

<Yes, that's correct.>

"I understand. Any company would want to hire good talent at a low cost. But involving me has a different meaning."

<Different meaning?>

"Team Leader, you know I keep my distance from other streamers in the same agency, right?"

<Yes, I know.>

"But Purple is different. I want to maintain a personal relationship with this guy. I don't want to complicate things by getting involved."

The team leader knew Jinom's relationships were thorough, so he was surprised.

<I understand your point. We don't intend to offend Purple, but...>

"Maybe. But that's uncertain. If you approach him through other channels, you should be well-prepared."

<Prepared?>

"Yes. This guy isn't as naive as you think. If you try to lowball him, you might end up on bad terms."

The sound of a dry swallow could be heard over the phone.

<...Then, what do you expect?>

"Do you remember my signing bonus?"

For a typical streamer, there's no signing bonus. But for a well-known streamer, it's different.

<Of course, I remember. I approved it. 100 million won for the first contract, and 30 million won for each renewal. So