Ranker's Return

‘It’s not that I don’t believe it, but... I’ll make it memorable.’

The conversations he had in Arena and in reality didn’t hold the same weight. The degree of imprinting was different.

‘There is no time unless it is now.’

The only time available to Hyeonu was now. He didn’t know how he would move in the future. In addition, the Arena leagues would soon be held around the world. From then on, Reina and Mascherano wouldn’t have time. They would spend every minute and second running toward the number one spot in the league.

“This way, Reina.”

Reina was the one who arrived first at the spot Hyeonu had prepared. She appeared less than 30 minutes later as if she had been waiting for Hyeonu’s call.

“Have you been preparing well for the league?” Hyeonu continued to talk as soon as Reina sat down.

Reina smiled and replied to Hyeonu’s words, “I am working hard. They know it is my last, so everyone is naturally doing their best.”

It was a smiling face that hadn’t been seen in a long time. There were a great deal of differences between what they saw in Arena and what they saw in reality. The smile formed naturally on its own.

Reina added, “I have to be first this time. In that way, it won’t be said that the performance of the last Winter League was luck.”

Then just as Hyeonu was going to say well-wishing remarks to Reina, someone interrupted the conversation between the two of them.

“First place is mine. I won’t give it up this time.” It was the appearance of Mascherano, a man who exuded a pleasant aura from his entire body.

“Can you win?” Hyeonu stood up from his seat again. It was natural for the host to welcome the invited guests.

“I can lose PvP. I just need to win the raid and siege. When it comes to those areas, I am more confident than any other team in the world.” Mascherano approached Hyeonu and held out his hand.

Hyeonu grabbed Mascherano’s hand and shook it.

“I hope that is the case.”

Hyeonu just smiled. He thought there was no need to mess with Mascherano’s big picture for nothing.

‘Anyone can dream.’

It was another matter for the dream to come true.

“Reina and Mascherano, the reason I’m meeting with you today is simple. I want to ask you for a favor. It is because of this.” Hyeonu sat down and got straight to the point.

“Since when have you been so insidious?” A corner of Mascherano’s mouth curled up at Hyeonu’s story. It was because Hyeonu’s words were ridiculous.

“It doesn’t make sense for you to not believe in Reina or me. We’ve already done a lot of things together. Others already see us as one group with New World. Yet you came to New York because you don’t believe in us? It doesn’t add up,” Mascherano pressed Hyeonu.

Hyeonu could only sweat guiltily as he failed to give a proper answer to Mascherano’s words. It was natural. There wasn’t a single thing wrong about Mascherano’s words. Among the other large guilds and rankers, the New York Warriors, Red Bull America, and Kowloon were tied together with New World. Crescent Moon wasn’t separate. In the first place, Alley Leader’s Crescent Moon had long since belonged to New World.

“You must’ve just come to see Reina, right? I am a smokescreen.” Mascherano took a sip of water. Then he rose from his seat. “I hope you have a good time. I have something to do, so I’m going...”

Mascherano disappeared again less than five minutes after facing Hyeonu.

“There is no need to worry. He is going to see his girlfriend.” Reina shook her head like it was ridiculous. It was just an excuse.

“His girlfriend?” Hyeonu asked while cocking his head. It was the first time he heard that Mascherano had a girlfriend. He had never heard of such a rumor.

“Yes, a girlfriend. It hasn’t been long since they started dating. Around a week or so?”

“A week? Then it is worth leaving. It is the time when you’d really want to see your girlfriend.” Hyeonu nodded. Mascherano’s actions were understandable. It was strange for him to meet Hyeonu and Reina at such a time. After all, it was almost the beginning of the league, so every minute and second was precious.

“It is more so because it is his first time,” Reina added.

“Huh? First time?” Hyeonu looked surprised. He couldn’t believe it was Mascherano’s first relationship.

‘It’s Mascherano’s first?’

Mascherano was handsome. He spoke well, and he had an excellent sense of humor. He also played games well. There was nothing lacking. Mascherano was a person who showed what it meant to be full of charms.

“Is it really his first?”

“Yes, that’s right. I know him very well. It has been around 10 years since we met... This is the first time I’m seeing him with a girlfriend.”

The friendship between Mascherano and Reina was unique. It was a friendship that had lasted since they were teenagers.

“Ah, I see...” Hyeonu just exclaimed without saying anything. Unexpected information was always embarrassing.

“Did you decide what to do after retiring as a pro gamer?” Hyeonu changed the subject. He wanted to talk about Reina who was in front of him, not Mascherano who wasn’t present.

“I’m going to continue Arena. I will be streaming. I will also upload vlogs to A-World.” Reina dreamed of being a typical streamer.

“Vlogs would be a bit tough...” Hyeonu shook his head.

Hyeonu had shot similar videos on the advice of Yeongchan and the others. The first one or two were fine because he was full of motivation during that time. However, his everyday life was always similar, so the limit soon came. There was nothing to film—exercise, eat, relax, and play. He never left this cycle.

“Don’t you think I should do something like that to make every day worthwhile?” Reina had a reason for making such a plan. It was because she didn’t think she would leave the house if she didn’t force herself to film it.

“That is true,” Hyeonu agreed. It was clear that Hyeonu himself wouldn’t go out if it wasn’t to exercise.

“Then what are you going to do in Arena?”

“Arena? Who knows? Once I leave the team... I need to join a guild.”

“How about New World?”

“New World? That’s good.”

Reinaa was pleased with Hyeonu’s words. New World was a guild that everyone wanted to join, but it wasn’t a guild they could join just because they wanted it.

“Then I’ll tell Hyung-nim.” Hyeonu smiled.

The conversation between the two of them continued for a long time until the meal was served and completely eaten.

***

The people Hyeonu met in New York after Reina were two men. One was a young man who was suited to be called young, and the other was a middle-aged man with a dignified style.

“Nike’s past and future are in one place,” Hyeonu said while looking between Mason and Jamie Moore. Then he changed his words, “No, the grasshopper of the past and the grasshopper of the future?”

The two of them weren’t simply CEOs of Nike Management; they were grasshoppers.

“Why am I a grasshopper? How hard have I been working?” Mason was furious at Hyeonu’s words.

“Didn’t you see Kale’s face? Even a zombie doesn’t look like this. Be careful. You don’t know when he will bite.”

“That... I’m not to blame for Kale. I told him to stop. I even gave him leave to go on vacation, but he didn’t go.” Mason shook his head with frustration.

He was well aware of Kale’s matter as well. If he were to pick the next CEO of Nike Management, it would’ve been Kale. There was no one else more perfect for managing it.

‘I can handle the expansion.’

It was up to Mason to grow it to a larger scale. Once it reached its limit, he would hand it over to Kale. It was perfect handling. Hyeonu was speechless at Mason’s words that Kale didn’t go on vacation.

‘Will there be a problem if Kale leaves?’

Then it was a pretty big problem. It meant there were no reliable employees inside the company.

“Are the other employees not trustworthy?”

“It probably isn’t the case.” The answer came from Jamie Moore this time, not Mason. “Kale is the best, but that doesn’t mean that the other employees are incompetent. I am confident that only the best elites are gathered among the management.”

Kale’s busy work life wasn’t due to the incompetence of the other employees. Rather, each employee of Nike Management had exceptional abilities. Additionally, they weren’t in charge of many people. For example, the staff members in charge of streamers and pro gamers only managed two or three people per person. This was a very small number considering that staff at other management companies managed at least four or five per person.

“Then why can’t he rest?” Hyeonu asked Jamie Moore.

“Do you really want to know?” It was Mason this time.

“What is the reason?”

Mason laughed at Hyeonu’s words. “Kale is only in charge of one person. His affiliation has changed in the planning office.”

Hyeonu’s expression stiffened. It was obvious that he didn’t have to listen to the next words. The reason why Kale was so busy…

‘It is because of me.’

It was Hyeonu. He was the only extra burden on top of Kale’s initial workload, so handling Hyeonu couldn’t be light work.

‘By the way... Kale blamed Jamie Moore every time...’

There was just one thing Hyeonu didn’t understand. Kale said it was hard because of Jamie Moore.

‘Is it only in front of me?’

Hyeonu wouldn’t know for sure unless Kale spoke directly about it.

“Even so, take care of him. He is a good person.” This was the only thing Hyeonu could say.

According to Mason, Hyeonu was obviously a great part of the reason why Kale was overworking.

“He is already under special care. I won’t even accept a resignation,” Mason added with a nod. Even if Hyeonu didn’t say anything, Mason was already putting a lot of heart and soul into caring for Kale.

“By the way... how high is your level now, Jamie?” Hyeonu asked.

The last time Hyeonu confirmed it, Jamie Moore’s level was around 150. That was well over a fortnight ago, so it was clear that it would be different now. Ever since Jamie Moore stepped down as head of Nike Management, rumors had been circulating that playing Arena was the only thing he would after stepping down.

‘If he gets good skills from his third class advancement... he can challenge it right away.’

He didn’t intend to drag it out for long. Jamie Moore’s skills were constantly increasing. If he reached level 200 and did the third class advancement, he would be able to win a bronze medal in the arena rankings.

“I am level 180. I am working hard to raise my level,” Jamie Moore replied in a slightly confident voice. There was a reason for it. His level-up speed was incredible. It was said that leveling up was easier than before, but it was only possible for a few people to level up this quickly.

“That’s great. It is enough. I think you can continue as you are doing now.” Hyeonu also smiled like Jamie Moore. This was very good. He felt like he could wrap everything up when he wanted to.

“Win the bronze medal before the Spring League opens, Jamie.” Hyeonu smiled.