Chapter 138
『Kim Taewoo – 750 points』
The numbers on the timer decreased steadily.
『15』
『14』
『13』
. . .
Ha Yunho always considered himself to be an intelligent troll. Although he engaged in trolling, he took the time to think before acting.
Then why did he troll even after thinking it through? Because if something entertaining happened during a stream, he couldn’t resist trolling, even if it meant more trouble for him.
Perhaps because of this, the remaining shred of intelligence in him clashed with his trolling instincts.
‘Damn. Are you really going to make this bid? Taewoo, are you insane?’
Ha Yunho had planned to bring in Sojun, even if it meant a difficult path once again. He envisioned climbing points straight up to the 700-point milestone to establish dominance.
Seven hundred points was the last line—where trolling and intelligence could balance at their best. He calculated that other sensible people would not dare to enter at that level.
He intended to buy a decent C or B player and leave the rest to luck. If someone overlapped him, he would adjust the lineup and struggle personally.
However, what he might have failed to consider was who the competitors were.
The assumption that others wouldn’t enter was only valid under the criteria of sensible people, wasn’t it?
‘They’re doing this, huh?’
After all, he carried half a troll within him, so there was no way all other streamers could be normal.
『10』
『9』
『8』
『7』
. . .
Time was running out.
‘Anyway.’
Whether Taewoo made the bid thoughtlessly or if it was truly worth capturing, Ha Yunho couldn’t tell.
‘Raising by 50 points, not 5? Must be for similar aims as mine.’
Establishing dominance.
Also, it was bluffing.
Whether he looked like it or not, Taewoo was a Diamond-level player. Master was touched by luck, so that was out of consideration.
Nonetheless, Taewoo was currently in the lower ranks of Diamond, rated C.
It meant that Taewoo had only 900 points compared to Ha Yunho’s 995 points.
If neither bid, Ha Yunho couldn’t lose.
“The problem is that going all the way would require at least 905 points.”
『3』
『2』
『1』
“Damn it, just bid.”
Ha Yunho decided to stop thinking.
The troll inside him eventually took control of his judgment.
『Ha Yunho – 755 points』
Darn.
Don’t hold back.
『15』
『14』
『13』
. . .
『1』
『Kim Taewoo – 760 points』
“Jeez.”
Are you really doing this?
The exhausted level of intelligence within Ha Yunho finally collapsed.
* * *
『3 seconds! 2 seconds! 1 second! Oh! Another bid! It’s going wild!』
The caster shouted excitedly, reveling in the sight of two individuals heading toward disaster.
『Ha Yunho – 785 points』
From the auction’s outset, an extraordinary amount of points circulated. Enough even to be excluded from future bidding events.
『It seems they’re getting nervous. Trickling in 5 points each bid, using the full 15 seconds. What are your thoughts on this, streamer-nim?』
『Hahaha. At this point, we all know we’ve been tricked. The event was about claiming, ‘Don’t buy the other streamers. I’ll take them!’ yesterday!』
『What was your impression when you hosted yesterday?』
『I don’t know if you’re aware, but I had a collaboration with Sojun from the ‘For Justice’ event before.』
『Yes.』
『If he can show even half of what he did back then at LoS, I thought Sojun was a strong contender for the win.』
『Ah, really?』
『Yes, so I wondered why those two were behaving that way when they had connections like I did.』
『Interesting insight! You knew it all along, didn’t you, caster?』
『Caster, what do you mean by you knew it all along…….』
『Anyway! Points rising up to 800! If it surpasses 900, Team Leader Kim Taewoo won’t be able to bid any longer. In that case!』
“Could it be Yunho’s victory?”
Mental.
As a long-standing corporate streamer in his late thirties, he had a fairly stubborn streak.
“Hmmm.”
In the previous LoS, he unexpectedly became a significant variable by drafting a team with 2 tops, 2 supports, and 1 mid-laner through random bidding.
When his team became chaotic, so did the others.
“Was it like this before?”
The amusing aspect was that despite everyone’s prediction that his team would be eliminated in the group stages, they made it to the finals.
Mental laughed and said it was all thanks to his instincts.
He acted purely on instinct.
『850 points bid by Team Leader Kim Taewoo! Oh, we’re approaching the limit. If his desire to purchase was genuine, he would have been fretting alone, right?』
『Ha Yunho is clever. He’s maneuvered well, utilizing his E rating’s surplus points to organize a balanced team. Yet, he seems to be spending all but 95 points this time. Is it worth that much?』
『Penguin-nim.』
『Yes, Ark-nim.』
『Honestly, neither team leader believes it’s worth that much.』
『Really?』
『It’s just about the potential.』
『Potential is just an average, though?』
『No… I meant, um… their potential.』
『Ahhh. Got it.』
『As I mentioned before, if they can even perform half as they did earlier, it’s worthwhile. Furthermore, this was half proven with Kael and Eric already. So, this gamble is reasonable, right?』
A gamble.
Ark described the current situation as a gamble. Many would likely agree.
Spending nearly all their points could undoubtedly be a gamble, despite the potential.
Problem is.
“I want to join in too.”
Mental’s instinct, now distanced from the current bidding war, was urging him to jump into the fray.
“Oh, but what will the viewers say?”
When the previous bidding ended, public opinion wasn’t kind.
Mental took responsibility, absorbing all criticisms, after an exchange of words.
His consistent character of frequently debating with viewers was well-received.
And he backed it up with results later.
But he was just lucky then.
『Oh! Is it surpassing 900? Surpassing?』
『Ha Yunho – 905 points』
It ultimately did.
And Mental was prompted by that situation.
“Just do it!”
Yeah. Why start caring about the viewers now? And if there’s criticism, it’s directed at me!
『Mental – 990 points』
『Oh my! Silent until now, Mental went all-in!』
『Suddenly! Suddenly appeared!』
After shaking things up, Mental smiled contentedly behind the screen.
As a man, you should be bold.
-Man… once again, a surprise variable…
-He truly is the variable itself, goat.
-Mental hyung… kept quiet then bam LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOL
-Hyung… you wanna get roasted?
-Needs a scolding?
-Love you, Mental hyung.
-Don’t reach the finals this time either, with this kind of bidding strategy ^^
Observing the responses of the official account’s viewers, Mental chuckled.
“Who cares?”
He leaned back contentedly in his chair, having followed his instincts.
“Ah, this feels better. No need to bother thinking anymore.”
As if he ever did.
“Sojun. Seems fun to get along with. Though I’m terrible at games, so teaming up may be tough. Hahaha!”
He laughed heartily.
『Yes, it’s an all-in!』
『If it’s an all-in, wouldn’t he have to settle for whatever players remain in the last tier?』
『Correct.』
『Yet, it’s not over, folks.』
Ark declared.
And Penguin replied.
『Team Leader Ha Yunho going all-in too? Has he ever been this reckless before?』
Beep!
『Ha Yunho – 995 points』
“Huh? It didn’t work?”
While Mental was astonished, Penguin continued.
“Apparently, he did!”
* * *
Mental clinched the third auction.
Up to that point, most evaluations were favorable since he had cheaply acquired the desired draft for 5 points.
However, he missed Sojun by those 5 points.
In response, viewers commented, on the contrary, it’s good!
-Wow, Ha Yunho snatched that bomb LOLOLOL
-I was worried about the bubble’s extent but Mental’s stubbornness was finally broken LOLOLOL
-Yunho, is it all-in? Is it all-in, Yunho? Is it all-in, Yunho? Is it all-in, Yunho? Is it all-in, Yunho?
-At this rate, a three-time unsold item is confirmed LOLOLOL LOLOLOL
-Their luck better be insane LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOLOLOL
-Unprecedented legend
-If he screws up, the streamer might get kicked out
-The streamer evokes a Demonic Cult arrest vibe
Meanwhile, Taewoo…
“Why do I only have 900 points?”
If he had 995 points, he would’ve quickly jumped in when the situation got weird.
“A trash game.”
Taewoo’s goal was victory.
And he knew better than anyone that Sojun was the closest to that victory.
“In that case, what’s left? Organize the best team, perhaps?”
Taewoo had prepared thoroughly.
Thus, he could quickly grasp the priority of each item.
He had quite a knack for strategizing these situations.
If he had been interested in studying, he would’ve believed he could have entered at least a tier below his current friend, who (currently, Sojun was sighing deeply) was snickering in the adjacent room.
He speculated so.
In any case, he could follow the plan he devised.
However.
Suddenly, a new thought emerged.
“Even if I insanely organize the team with these 850 points, if I can’t stop that guy, I can’t win, can I?”
He realized that what mattered wasn’t just his team anymore.
Targeting second or third place was different; victory was his goal, meaning at some point, he’d inevitably confront the friend.
So wouldn’t it be wise to prepare for that moment?
Even if it weakens the team a bit?
“I should consider forfeiting some team strength to keep him in check if the occasion demands.”
Taewoo examined the auction order closely.
* * *
“So.”
With a sigh, at the near end of the auction, Sojun spoke.
“The perfect situation where Wind Sword should ideally join Taewoo. And you can almost get him for free.”
Ha.
“So, Taewoo is intentionally not bidding, letting Wind Sword go unsold so he can pick another B player and send him to our team?”
Wow.
This is really how it’s playing out.
-It feels intentionalLOLOLOL
-Spiteful enough to ruin a friend even at a losswwwwwwwww
-Streamer-nim, let’s gank the adjacent room now!
-This calls for a transition to jungler. Send Wind Sword mid LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOL
-Is this that thing? If I can’t have it, destroy it, that’s right, huh? LOLOLOL
“Haha.”
Not only did he raise the price unnecessarily, but now he throws a wrench in?
“Yeah.”
Sure, why not.
Why not indeed.
Except.
“Three mid-players is a bit much.”
-Confirmed 3 mids lmao
-Emergence of two similar positions happens, right?
-Isn’t the overlap that they’re A, b, C rated LOLOLOL LOL
-If lower tiers overlap, you just swap, since there’s no major difference regardless of the primary or swapped line.
-But B and C going on secondary lines? That’s a massive hit to team strengthLOLOLOL LOLOLOL
-Still, at least they’re familiar faces!
-Who suggested going all-in? Ah LOL
“I didn’t tell them to go all-in either.”
Sojun could just blankly stare at the monitor.