Chapter 136

CHAPTER 136

Among all the participants in Rios, Seo Jun was receiving the hottest attention.

He had demonstrated Kael's four-second Judgment Sword and Epic's insane predictive shots, but surprisingly, those plays themselves hadn't become the biggest topic.

To be precise, they attracted attention for a moment.

People simply thought:

"Wow, he's really good."

"I guess things like that can happen."

And moved on.

However, once another issue became attached to that level of skill, everything changed.

Synchronization Rate: 10

The number Seo Jun had casually revealed in an attempt to lower expectations created a much larger impact than anyone expected.

And the topic refused to die.

The reason was simple.

Most people's synchronization rates fell around the average of 60, generally ranging between 50 and 70.

That's why people generally agreed that within the normal range, synchronization rate wasn't something that magically improved bad players or made good players worse.

Even at 80 or 90, people believed there was some effect, but only a minor one.

But what if it was 100?

Of course, there were Bronze players overseas with synchronization rates above 100, so it wasn't an absolute rule.

Still, the consensus was that extremely high synchronization rates usually correlated with high skill.

Those people adapted faster.

Learned faster.

Mastered games more quickly.

Climbed higher.

Entered the professional scene more easily.

That's why extremely high synchronization rates were considered meaningful.

Not because they were absolute.

But because they were exceptionally rare.

That was why people had originally been curious about Seo Jun's synchronization rate.

Maybe it was extraordinarily high.

Maybe that explained everything.

Instead—

It was the exact opposite.

And unlike a synchronization rate over 100, this was something no one had ever seen before.

An absurdly low number.

[10? TEN?! Is that even a possible number?]

It sounded ridiculous.

Yet there was proof.

Some people still couldn't believe it even after seeing evidence.

They actually contacted Surface directly to verify it.

Of course—

[Surface says they cannot disclose personal information.]

Privacy mattered.

So people began analyzing whether Seo Jun had any reason to lie.

Was it simply for attention?

He was already a successful streamer pulling over twenty thousand viewers.

If he stirred up controversy and got exposed as a liar, only he would lose.

He wasn't someone with nothing to lose.

Granted, countless streamers with plenty to lose had still managed to create scandals anyway.

Human beings weren't exactly rational creatures.

Still.

Reven's users didn't think Seo Jun was stupid enough to tell such an obvious lie.

Openly fabricating something for attention was an entirely different matter.

As a result, only a small minority continued insisting that he was making everything up.

So what theories remained?

Plenty.

The Synchronization Rate Doesn't Matter Theory

[Maybe even a ridiculously low synchronization rate like 10 doesn't actually make much difference?]

• You can feel the difference between a good capsule and a bad capsule immediately. You're telling me 10 doesn't matter?
• At a number that low, it's definitely significant.

Destroyed.

The Seo Jun Was Actually Bad Theory

[Maybe it's finally time to admit Seo Jun was overrated?]

• Warning: This theory was deleted by a four-second Judgment Sword.
• Do you think the Heavenly Demon is a joke?
• And Challenger Spoon lost too~

Destroyed.

Then another theory emerged.

The Real-Life Levitation Theory

[This guy probably flies around in real life lol. He only can't fly in VR because his synchronization rate is too low.]

It was essentially nonsense.

A joke theory.

But it somehow made just enough sense to survive.

The underlying logic was:

"In reality, he's actually even more ridiculous. What we've been seeing so far is a weakened version."

Strangely enough...

That wasn't completely unreasonable.

• With a synchronization rate of 10, maybe it's possible.
• Wasn't he actually some kind of special forces operative?
• LOL he's basically a movie action hero.
• Shouldn't he have become a professional athlete? This feels like a national loss.

Someone had actually guessed the truth.

But neither the person who posted the comment nor the countless people who glanced at it while scrolling knew it was true.

So the mystery remained unsolved.

How did Seo Jun play games with a synchronization rate of ten?

How was he this good?

How much did it actually affect his performance?

Four days simply weren't enough to answer those questions.

And the tournament organizers had taken all that attention into account.

That was why they placed Seo Jun first in the presentation.

And then—

"I'm not buying him."

"I don't think I'll be buying him either."

Ha Yoonho and Kim Taewoo spoke simultaneously.

• LOL
• Are they really roasting their friend that hard?
• You're not buying the streamer?
• Taewoo's probably traumatized after getting beaten up by him too many times at home.
• Trust me, I installed CCTV at their house. He's always getting bullied.

Taewoo answered Bangju's question instantly.

Then he realized someone else had spoken at exactly the same moment.

Ha Yoonho.

The two immediately exchanged glances.

Their thoughts aligned.

"You too?"

"Yeah, me too."

Both grinned.

Taewoo quickly sent a private message to Ha Yoonho.

If Seo Jun had known that this entire process took less than a second, he would've been shocked.

[I'll handle the personal stuff. You stick to the skill analysis.]

Since only their faces were visible in the video call, almost nobody noticed.

There was nothing technically wrong with it.

But secret collusion worked best when it stayed secret.

Because yes—

This was collusion.

Didn't expect Hyung to target him too.

But right now, we need to cooperate.

Unfortunate.

But unavoidable.

Bangju continued.

[Oh! That's an immediate answer—and from two captains at once! Seo Jun is currently listed as an A-tier mid laner. Could you tell us what concerns you? Let's start with Captain Kim Taewoo. Most viewers know you're close friends with Seo Jun. Why would you refuse to buy such a close friend?]

Exactly as expected.

Taewoo immediately erased all the criticisms he'd prepared regarding Seo Jun's gameplay.

Ha Yoonho would handle those.

They had reached that agreement in less than a second.

Now Taewoo had a different job.

Manipulation.

Exaggeration.

This pre-event show currently had over 200,000 viewers on the official channel alone.

The purpose was to share the captains' thoughts.

Thoughts that would influence tomorrow's auction.

Therefore—

He became bold.

Their objective was simple.

Lower Seo Jun's market value as much as possible.

Reduce the competition.

People often said they wouldn't buy someone and then bid anyway.

No matter how much they criticized him now, it wouldn't matter later.

Although outright insulting him might be dangerous.

Anyway.

What should I say?

[That's exactly the reason.]

[...Excuse me?]

[It's precisely because we're friends that I know a lot of things that make me hesitate to pick Seo Jun for my team.]

Taewoo had plenty he could say.

Seo Jun was just that weird.

As he searched through his memories, he decided to talk about how Seo Jun had behaved during their school's ball-game tournament.

[I see. Could you give us a small example?]

[Back in our first year of high school, we had an inter-class sports tournament. Seo Jun acted like teamwork didn't even exist. You know how everyone practices together during PE class and before school? He didn't participate at all.]

The truth was that Seo Jun hadn't participated because he believed his team would win anyway if he joined.

Instead, he'd offered to coach them.

Still, depending on how you looked at it, you could call that a lack of teamwork.

[Ah, really?]

[And he's great at politics. He divides teams apart and manipulates everyone however he wants.]

While watching games from the sidelines and offering commentary, Seo Jun would identify exactly who had made mistakes.

Then he would inform the entire class.

Convincingly.

And afterward, he'd drag that one unlucky classmate into the infamous Room of Mental and Physical Education after school.

Eventually, when the tournament ended, everyone realized the truth.

Seo Jun had somehow found an excuse to drag every single one of them in there at least once.

[Hahaha...]

[He's also extremely authoritarian. He insists he's always right!]

The problem was...

Seo Jun actually had been right every time.

Thanks to his training and coaching, their class had won the entire tournament.

Good times.

The memories came flooding back.

Because Seo Jun had served as a common enemy, the entire class had united.

They had developed camaraderie.

Teamwork.

A shared sense of purpose.

...Actually, maybe nostalgia is making the past look better than it really was. Good times, my ass.

Maybe painful memories faded while the thrill of victory remained.

Regardless—

The important thing was that they had won.

Which was exactly why Seo Jun needed to be bought.

[Viewers, please keep in mind that these two are close enough friends to have even lived together. I know this might sound like slander against a participant, but honestly, this level of roasting is pretty mild between them, right?]

Bangju quickly stepped in with additional context.

[Now then, let's hear Captain Ha Yoonho's thoughts as well.]

***

• LOL that's such a Taewoo reason.
• That's just how they normally live.
• Coming from a classmate and roommate, it's pretty credible.
• But there's no way he actually lacks teamwork lol. You think he'd do that in an official tournament?
• We'll see tomorrow during the auction whether he meant it or not.

Ha Yoonho cleared his throat.

If Taewoo had scattered meaningless information, then he needed to do the real work.

Even if it's just the two of us competing, who knows how high his price will go.

The fewer rivals, the better.

Ha Yoonho had entered this discussion already knowing Taewoo would target Seo Jun.

[To be honest, I think he's somewhat difficult to evaluate.]

[Really?]

[Yes. During the in-house tournament I hosted a few days ago, Seo Jun beat Spoon. However, he didn't win the game itself.]

That was true.

[He didn't get any additional kills in lane either. In other words, he wasn't overwhelmingly dominant. Furthermore, for the past four days he's only played those same two heroes.]

Seo Jun had intentionally limited himself to those two heroes.

Partly to create an air of mystery.

Partly to reveal less information.

And Ha Yoonho was now using that against him.

[One of the things expected from an A-rank player in Rios is playmaking. The ability to carry games, create turning points, and lead teams to victory.]

[So you're saying he still hasn't fully proven himself in league play?]

[Exactly. And his synchronization rate is extremely low. There may be heroes he simply can't play. We don't know how it will affect him. Right now, I think Seo Jun represents a significant risk.]

[Ah, yes. That's certainly a concern people can't ignore.]

[Of course, if that risk didn't exist, I think he'd easily be one of the top prospects among the A-rank players. Maybe even worth five hundred points.]

Every captain received one thousand points, minus the average cost associated with their captain rank.

Ha Yoonho had the largest budget.

Of course, because the auction order was randomized, circumstances could change dramatically.

[Then at what price would you be interested?]

[If he stays under two hundred points, I'd consider taking a shot.]

[Thank you. Let's hear from the other captains. Rain! Rain, what are your thoughts?]

Streamer Rain was one of the two female captains among the six.

[Huh? Ah, yes. Wow... he's really handsome.]

[...]

[Ah! I don't mean anything weird by that. I was just genuinely impressed. I was looking at the picture and it slipped out.]

[...]

[Hmm. My main position is mid lane too, right? So I probably won't be drafting Seo Jun anyway. I haven't really thought about it... Bangju? Why aren't you responding? Bangju?]

• Hold on, where did I put my spear?
• Recruiting people to raid Seo Jun's channel.
• He just keeps giving viewers an inferiority complex.
• I hate this world.

[Suddenly, I find myself hating the world as well... Haha. Then perhaps Mental, what do you think?]

Bangju recovered his composure and turned to the next captain.

Mental.

A large-company streamer in his late thirties, ranked E alongside Ha Yoonho.

Mental responded in a relaxed voice.

[Uh... Hmm... Wait. Was I the only one planning to draft him?]

[...Excuse me?]

[Shouldn't he be a must-buy?]

[Ohhh!]

The reaction Bangju had been hoping for.

His energy immediately rose.

Unlike the other captains, who constantly adjusted strategies based on auction conditions, Mental was known for making impulsive, intuition-based decisions.

Once he fixated on a player, he often paid absurd amounts to acquire them.

People even joked that the biggest variable in any auction wasn't the order of players.

It was Mental's instincts.

And now—

Mental had chosen Seo Jun.

[Are you serious?]

[Haha. The more everyone says they won't buy him, the more convinced I become. I think Seo Jun belongs on my team.]

[I see!]

• Mental hyung... is this your next victim? LOL
• Everyone says they won't buy him. Why does that make you MORE determined?
• This is ridiculous.
• Nobody can stop Mental once he gets stubborn.
• He's almost forty. Of course he's stubborn!
• Late thirties! Stop exaggerating lol.

The declaration from the embodiment of chaos itself forced Taewoo to struggle to maintain his composure.

Damn it.

I spent all that effort setting things up, and now that guy bites?

How many points am I going to have to spend tomorrow?

Meanwhile, Ha Yoonho quietly strengthened his resolve.

Fine.

No matter what the price ends up being...

Let's go for it.