Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 583: A True Comrade

Back then, everyone could imagine the expression plastered on the faces of the producers, it must have been like this: ?0?

They must have felt that it was impossible and ridiculous back then. Since then, the Koreans had broken many records.

Perhaps it was because of that, but just two hours after Minhyuk declared that their request to join the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom would be entertained only if they brought two Star Coins, a Korean had already come to visit him. After that, the next ones that came were still a Korean, then another Korean, and yet another Korean. People from the same country as Minhyuk came to visit him one after the other, requesting that they be allowed to join the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. It could be said that half of the members that requested to join Beyond the Heavens Kingdom on the same day were Koreans.

[There are 411 players that have applied to join Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.]

Most of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom’s affairs were already systematic. They conducted a 1:1 interview with the people that wanted to join and collected their information just to be sure. Some might say that they were being too picky, but Athenae was a world that could very well become their asset and property. This meant that everyone that wanted to join them had to go through a strict and rigorous process.

Just like that, Beyond the Heavens Kingdom became stronger by getting both money and talent.

***

There were a lot of talks in public about the selection of the Battle of the Thrones’ MVP.

[The viewers’ votes account for 90%? Isn’t that crazy? If China or India decide to choose their own country, then they would become the MVP, right?]

[Aren’t there plenty of loose ends in the Battle of the Thrones? Everyone can just choose their own country.]

[Joy Co. Ltd. needs to do a reflection on this matter. This is too lacking. Even I will be able to do it better if I’m the one that made it.]

[In fact, doesn’t this look like Joy Co. Ltd. is just fucking with the Beyond the Heavens? Hahahahahaha!]

While people's opinions were divided, President Kang Taehoon posted on SNS ahead of the announcement of the MVP. Many of them were very thrilled to see what President Kang Taehoon had posted. The first part of his post explained the controversy over the Battle of the Thrones’ MVP.

[Because this is the very first time that we held the Battle of the Thrones, I admit that we lack in many ways. I sincerely apologize for this…]

Toward the end though , President Kang Taehoon left a cryptic, yet meaningful, sentence.

[However, I’m sure everyone here knows who the real MVP is.]

The impact of his words were very huge. His words meant that even if that country did not become the MVP, the viewers would know the truth.

And an hour later, a world message hit the whole of Athenae.

[The MVP of the Battle of the Thrones has been selected.]

[The MVP was selected with 10% from the experts’ votes and 90% from the viewers’ votes.]

The notifications spread all over the world, making everyone pause in their tracks and stop what they were doing. Just when the people were wondering when they would announce it…

[The MVP country has received 22% approval rating from the experts and 37% approval rating from the viewers.]

All of the players sighed at the same time. They were cursing how the people of Joy Co. Ltd. were very adept at raising the tension. Then, another notification followed.

[The country with the second highest approval rating had received 10% approval rating from the experts and 14% approval rating from the viewers.]

The difference between the first and second country was very clear. Everyone was curious whether the results were really true. Then, letters started to appear in the skies for everyone to see.

[The MVP country is South Korea.]

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

The entire world was left in shock. However, the following announcement left them reeling even more. The country with the second highest approval rating was none other than China. This meant that there was a huge difference between the approval rating of Korea and China. Simply put, there was only one thing that could make this much difference.

[The Chinese also voted for South Korea?]

[OMG…]

[Amazing… This is the Beyond the Heavens’ class, they can even turn the hearts of the Chinese people over to their side…]

[But to be honest, there’s no other country that has performed better than South Korea.]

[They’re a godly country… in and of itself…]

At the same time, the people all over the world grew curious about the rewards that the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom would receive.

***

South Korea.

All of the Koreans that played Athenae cheered loudly.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Their cheers were as loud and as energetic as the cheers that they roared when Korea advanced to the semifinals in the 2002 World Cup. It was only natural since Korea was able to do an overwhelming turnaround during a time when the other countries ignored them.

“Long live the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom!”

“Long live the Beyond the Heavens!!!”

“Three cheers for Our Lord, the Food God!!!”

There were even some that shouted three cheers. Then, the additional notifications began to ring along with their cheers.

[South Korea has been chosen as the MVP country in the Battle of the Thrones, as such a buff of 5% increase in EXP and drop rate would be given to everyone.]

[For the players that participated in the Battle of the Thrones, you will be given a buff of 10% increase in EXP and drop rate.]

[The MVP’s rewards will be given to the Beyond the Heavens’ King.]

Minhyuk was in the middle of interviewing the players that wanted to join Beyond the Heavens Kingdom when the notifications hit. Just like everyone, he ended up stopping in his tracks to look at the notifications. Then, the additional notifications rang in his ears.

[The MVP Shop has opened.]

[The MVP Shop will only be open for a week. The cash that can be used in the shop can only be acquired inside the ‘Stars’ Path’.]

[Click on the detailed explanation to find out more about how you can acquire the cash.]

[The restriction on the items in the shop will be lifted based on the amount of cash that you obtained.]

‘MVP Shop?’

Minhyuk was the Battle of the Thrones’ MVP. In Alexander’s case, he was able to receive an extremely OP reward in the form of a ‘God-rank artifact’ for being the one to sit on the Supreme King’s Throne. But the MVP Shop, the reward that the MVP had received, was completely different from that. It was a system that would only reward the MVP.

To understand more about the shop, Minhyuk quickly clicked on the detailed explanation.

[The MVP Shop is only opened to the king of the country that became the MVP in the Battle of the Thrones.]

[You can earn cash by gaining the ‘approval’ of your kingdom’s forces and showing them that you are their king. You can get cash through a dozen ways like ‘teaching’, ‘helping’ or ‘showing them new hunting methods’ inside the Stars’ Path.]

[You can also gain cash by going on a party hunt and hunting a boss monster. The cash that will be accumulated will also be dependent on the guild members or NPCs that accompany you in the Stars’ Path to a raid or in a boss hunt.]

[Acquiring cash is not limited to the players and NPCs of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. You can also gain cash from players from other countries and kingdoms as long as you gain their approval and admiration.]

Simply put, Minhyuk would be able to earn the MVP Shop’s cash as long as he showed his might and greatness as a king. On top of that…

‘Right now, almost every guild has led their guild members in a party hunt to explore the Stars’ Path.’

The Stars’ Path was far more difficult than what most imagined. That was why everyone was hunting in groups of ten, some even in the hundreds. Of course, a guild would be divided into several different groups. If one guild gathered all of their members in a single group, then they would number in the thousands.

‘There must be a lot of delicious food inside the MVP Shop, right? Hnghh…’

The thought alone made Minhyuk’s mouth water. As he continued to ponder, he realized, ‘If I lead the new guild members, then the effects will be greater. Right?’

Athenae was an extremely high-quality virtual reality game that could measure a person’s brain waves and gauge someone’s current mood. So, if Minhyuk led the new guild members, and not the members of Beyond the Heavens that had always seen Minhyuk and what he always did, the effect would be maximized. Also…

‘I also have to show the newbies my might as a king.’

This was something that Minhyuk had already discussed with Haze. Many of their new guild members came from other countries. This meant that their situation was now completely different from before. They needed to make sure that these people were aware of the fact that, ‘Our king is really amazing!’?or something along those lines. Otherwise, these people would start looking for the Beyond the Heavens’ shortcomings and leave the kingdom.

However, Minhyuk was an upright king, as much as he was pragmatic.

‘I like to eat.’

Even if he had to go out with the new guild members, he wanted to receive and maximize the benefits that he would receive during the process. Minhyuk immediately opened the MVP Shop.

[Ochris’ Gloves. 1,000 cash.]

[Beynon’s Longsword. 2,000 cash.]

[Wicked Witch’s Wand. 4,000 cash.]

[Wild Ogre’s…]

[Slim Mermaid Scales’…]

As he scrolled down through the translucent cash window, he reached the part where the items were sealed with an X mark. Among those items were cooking ingredients with a 2,000 written as the quantity in small notation.

“Two thousand?”

Even if the items were sealed, its details were not. Some of it could still be checked at this moment.

[This is an ingredient that can permanently raise one’s stats.]

“…!”

It seemed like it was a system where both Minhyuk and his retainers would be able to benefit. After all, not only could his subjects eat, he could also eat with them! However, the ingredient needed quite a lot of cash. One cost around 50,000 cash! But Minhyuk believed that this was enough for them to give it a try.

After making a decision, Minhyuk finally focused on the interview once again, “Why do you want to join Beyond the Heavens?”

“Because I want to be with you, Minhyuk. Hoho~”

The person that Minhyuk was interviewing was looking at him with sparkling eyes. To be exact, the person’s eyes were filled with love.

“…”

Minhyuk turned to look at the man’s resume briefly, ‘Lee Chun-Ja. Age, 75?years old.’

“…”

Minhyuk was well and truly loved by everyone. Of course, Minhyuk was very grateful for that…

“P, pass…!”

***

Joy Co. Ltd.’s meeting room.

The executives, who were busy talking about server integration, suddenly changed topics.

“It seems like the one that received the MVP rewards, Player Minhyuk, is leading his new guild members in the Stars’ Path today.”

“Is that so? Quite interesting. Show it on the monitor.”

Team Leader Park Minggyu hurriedly pulled up the screen after hearing President Kang Taehoon’s words. On the screen, they could see around 1,000 people, composed of new guild members and Beyond the Heavens’ soldiers.

“Food God Minhyuk has created a force with his new guild members to go and hunt so he can accumulate the MVP Shop’s cash.”

“Is it the cash that can be accumulated via the guild members’ faith and belief in their king?”

Of course, the new members would show greater awe and admiration toward him compared to the members that had been with him for a long time.

“Yes. But I think that’s a ridiculous and foolish decision.”

“Ridiculous and foolish?”

The one that spoke up was the team leader of the Event Planning Team, Park Yi-Hyeon. Park Yi-Hyeon was appointed as the new team leader after the former team leader of the Event Management Team was promoted and sent overseas.

“The new guild members that Beyond the Heavens accepted are all players that are far stronger than other players at their level.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s why it would not be easy to surprise them and gain their faith and admiration.”

Park Yi-Hyeon’s words made enough sense. This was something that came out of the mouth of the person behind most of the content of the MVP reward and the Stars’ Path.

“Since we’re on this topic, can we assume that Player Minhyuk will be able to get a much better reward than the one sitting in the Supreme Throne if he does well in making use of his MVP reward?”

Accumulating cash would release the seals of the restricted slots. There was no end to how many Minhyuk could release. Since there was no end to the possibilities, the rewards could be said to be amazing. However, the system also had its drawbacks.

“It will be difficult. If he can do well, then it would be just like what the president said. But personally, I don’t think he will be able to release a lot of the restricted slots.”

At the same time, Minhyuk appeared on the TV screen, standing in front of his gathered troops.

Then, President Kang Taehoon asked, “Your reason?”

“It’s because it’s harder to accumulate cash than what you think. No matter how amazing he is, the people’s faith and the things that surprise them…”

But before Park Yi-Hyeon could even finish his sentence, the scene on the monitor changed. Minhyuk, riding on a white warhorse, appeared in front of the new guild members of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. Everyone looked at him in anticipation. After all, this was the guild’s very first group hunt.

Minhyuk, who appeared in front of them, did not praise them, or even congratulate them. He just looked at each and every single one of them with a stern and commanding look. Minhyuk’s eyes were solemn, as if he was looking at his comrades going to war with him. As he looked at his guild members like that, Minhyuk, in a manner befitting a king, spoke loudly and briefly…

[Move out.]

Then, with his cape fluttering behind him, he turned around and took the lead. All of the new guild members' eyes were trained on his back. He just glanced at them and gave them a brief word, but his charisma was overflowing, leaving the new guild members in an uproar.

[Wow…]

[Did you see his eyes…?]

[Amazing.]

With those words, several notifications appeared on the monitor.

[Player Minhyuk has accumulated 59 cash.]

[Player Minhyuk has accumulated 31 cash.]

[Player Minhyuk has accumulated 21 cash.]

“…?”

Park Yi-Hyeon, who was just spitting about how it was hard to accumulate cash, shut his mouth and stopped talking.

“…”

“…”

Team Leader Park and President Kang looked at him silently for a while. After a short while, President Kang said, “It seems like the rewards that Player Minhyuk will get will be entirely up to him.”

Kang Taehoon looked at Minhyuk through the monitor with eyes filled with great anticipation and excitement.