I had nothing to say at the moment.

"As soon as we found out, we immediately followed suit like they did because there were too many who said 'Yes' for us to say 'No' flatly."

I would not have believed it if my father had not told me about it in person. But I had no other choice but to believe it because I experienced it myself. He continued to tell me more as if he wanted to reveal everything to me.

***

One hour? No, it was clear that less than an hour had passed since I talked with my father.

But I felt like several hours had passed because what he told me was very shocking.

When he was almost done, he changed the topic.

"By the way, I hear you're playing the game with an ice-type wizard?"

"Yeah. It suits my taste."

"What is your level?

"Level 100."

At that moment, I could see my dad's face slightly hardening. With his expression rigid, he said with a slightly lower tone than before, "I know you were also the same level last week."

That's true. I was Level 100 last week and Level 100 two weeks ago. My level went down to 50 in between.

"Well...I had some things to do…"

At that moment, I had a lot of things on my mind.

Of course, I thought I would tell him about what I had experienced until now.

Not only the current Revival Legend but also the first, second and third closed betas of the previous Forgotten Legend before it was renamed Revival Legend.

Watching him clearly become disappointed in me who didn't level up by one during the last week, I said something silly, torn between the desire to tell him everything and the desire to make some excuses for not leveling up. It was just like the past as I felt like someone inferior, sandwiched between my proud brother and sister.

"Got it. Work hard. And there are still those who don't want all of this to be revealed yet. So, never leak it outside. They still have power."

Having said that, he stood up from the sofa and went to the desk to sit down.

Then he started to browse through the documents he had in his hands before I came as if he was done talking to me. I paced up and down for about 1 minute before leaving the basement because I was sorting out some words to ask him something.

I didn't say anything, though. When I was about to turn back, he said, "Be ready to come back home from now on. If something goes wrong, it will be a big mess. So, don't be stubborn like you used to be."

"...Yeah."

Responding to him quietly, I left the basement study.

After that, I couldn't remember how I returned to the one-room studio where I lived because

I was very shocked

Of course, I guessed it and even expected it. But guessing and anticipating did not reduce or relieve my shock because the truth was so enormous to make my guesses and expectation amiss.

I turned on the computer right away and googled the company 'Vten.'

I saw the 'Vten' homepage clearly. Its bulletin board contained posts as of yesterday.

And there were even replies to the question on the bulletin board.

"I don't think my father is playing into somebody's hand."

That was certain.

But it was ridiculous that not only Myongjin Group but also Daesung was crazy about Revival Legend. And what I experienced firsthand in that game was far from ordinary.

At that moment, fear suddenly washed over me because I got a glimpse of the true picture of the game, although I vaguely concluded it was not a general game.

So, I didn't access the game. I just turned off the lights and lay down on the bed.

Then all kinds of thoughts about the game came to my mind.

I really enjoyed playing the game until this afternoon. I was just overjoyed with the thought that I had overwhelming strength compared to my level, and I would continue to do so.

Although I was dissatisfied with the status quo of my level due to the Level 100-only Enhancement Quest for two weeks, I had a great hit in other areas as if I should not be discouraged by my level. The biggest among them was the double increase in my stat points because of my deleveling.

Reflecting on that, I smiled to myself because I went through a total of 53 levels twice, including Level 50 and my first Level 3, which got me a total of 530 more remaining stat points compared to others. The stat points grew to 1,352 thanks to Mutual Growth.

Including the title I earned this time, 'Have you enhanced as much as me?' I already have two other titles: 'The only closed beta max level achiever' and 'Scarecrow Destroyer,' in addition to three traits.

When I thought as far as that, I raised myself from the bed right away and blurted out, "Why should I be afraid? Why should I be scared? That's other peoples' business, not mine."

I had gotten so many things. It was clearly a penalty, but I got as much as 10,000 mana and health, plus the titles that increased them by 10,000.

I'm in a position to welcome all these achievements fervently because I can climb as high as I want in this game world.

In no time I got up straight and turned on the lights. Then I wore the 3rd generation VR adaptor because I could not afford to take a break.

***

While Juyong was accessing the game, his father, Sanman Hong, put down the documents he had been reviewing in the basement study of his house in Chongdamdong.

Then he uttered with a sigh, "Oh my...damn crazy Chinese bastards. They don't know 'moderation.' No moderation!"

Compared to China, America was much better because it cautiously moved to search for the max level achievers during the first and second closed betas of 'Forgotten Legend,' the predecessor of 'Revival Legend.'

Since Washington monopolized the secret, it was afraid other countries would get wind of it. But China blatantly showed its ambitions. Beijing didn't hesitate to search for them around the world, dangling the highest scouting premium. So, Chairman Hong was distressed by this development these days. Because Beijing offered a considerable amount of money, the max level achievers of the first and second closed betas, who Myongjin Group had secured with lots of hard efforts, seemed to sway their minds. In fact, some of them asked to renegotiate their compensation, mentioning Beijing's offer to them.

So, Myongjin Group compiled a 'Prime Member List.' The list included those who had an extraordinary talent in games and needed to be tied to the Myongjin company name, including the max level achievers in the first and second closed betas. It was natural that Myongjin was fully ready to support those included on the list. In addition, Chairman Hong put his son's name "Juyoung Hong" on the list. His brother Kiyoung and sister Suyoung were already included on the list early on.

"Well, one's efforts as well as one's interest can be called talent."

Chairman Hong secretly thought of putting Juyoung's name on the list or pushing ahead with including his name with his authority, but he didn't. He knew that if he did so, he could be in big trouble in the future. He knew that he had to be prudent because the salaries of the max level achievers with the traits from the first and second closed betas were soaring due to China's crazy scouting efforts.

As their salaries went up, they wanted more. Of course, Chairman Hong could accept their demands without difficulty because he thought that if they were competent enough, they should deserve more. But some of the gamers argued that because they had more special traits than others, they should receive more money.

After all, Chairman Hong drew a long line to Juyoung's name and said with a sigh, "Oh my...I'm afraid I have to marry Suyoung to the 40-year-old crazy gamer."