Debuff Master

“Heok…!”?Oh Jun-Hwan could not help but gasp at the compatibility number. His face was pale, and his eyes seemed like they were about to pop out at any second now because…

[The compatibility of the user is 96.5%]

Tae-Sung and the Ogre were an exact match; no rather, they were a match made in heaven.

Their compatibility was an astounding 96.5%!

This was a number that could not be found even among pro gamers, and there would be perhaps less than five people in the entire world who would have this level of compatibility.

“C-Customer-nim!” Oh Jun-Hwan stuttered, “D-Did you see that? 96.5%! It said 96.5% just now!”

“I-I saw it…” Tae-Sung replied, seemingly shaken before saying, “Is this real…? My compatibility is 96.5%...? Haha…”

It seemed that Tae-Sung was more astonished by what was happening than the branch manager.

“C-Customer-nim…?” Oh Jun-Hwan called out.

“Yes?” Tae-Sung responded while tilting his head in confusion.

“Uhm… I apologize but… what do you think if we check your compatibility one more time? I do not mean to say that I cannot trust your abilities, but…” Oh Jun-Hwan trailed off.

“Sure, why not,” Tae-Sung replied while nodding.

“It is because I simply cannot believe what I just saw…” Oh Jun-Hwan muttered cautiously.

It was only normal for him to doubt his eyes since the compatibility number that appeared just now was an unbelievable number, regardless of how advanced the Ogre was as a capsule.

However, the number remained the same.

[The compatibility of the user is 96.5%]

[The compatibility of the user is 96.5%]

[The compatibility of the user is 96.5%]

Tae-Sung’s compatibility with the Ogre remained steadfast at 96.5%, and it did not change even by 0.01% no matter how many times they tested it.

“C-Customer-nim…” Oh Jun-Hwan muttered with a look filled with disbelief before he continued, “I think…”

“…?”

“I think you are so talented even the premium capsules could not keep up with you… hahaha… haha…” Oh Jun-Hwan said while laughing in disbelief.

“Is that… how it works…?” Tae-Sung replied in a daze.

“No… that is not how it is supposed to be…” Oh Jun-Hwan muttered.

“Hmm…” Oh Jun-Hwan seemed to be contemplating something for a while before saying, “I think there was something about this some time ago.”

“Huh?” Tae-Sung muttered as the branch manager’s words piqued his interest.

“I think it was a year ago? They said that a similar incident happened at the Platinum Boutique in New York,” Oh Jun-Hwan explained.

“Really?” Tae-Sung asked.

“That customer was only satisfied after testing out a Hyper Capsule. If I remember correctly… I think the compatibility was 92.7%...? I think it was something like that,” Oh Jun-Hwan said.

It was less than what Tae-Sung had achieved, but it was also an astounding compatibility number.

“I think I heard from somewhere that one’s compatibility with an average machine will be low if they’re too talented,” Oh Jun-Hwan added.

“Haha…” Tae-Sung awkwardly chuckled.

‘Does this even make sense? My compatibility is 96.5%? Will I be in the top ten when it comes to compatibility?’?Tae-Sung wondered.

He had lived his entire life as a loser on the sidelines, but it seemed that he could finally somewhat call himself a gifted-genius-whatever-you-want-to-call-it now.

Tae-Sung could not believe what was happening right now.

“If I knew this would happen, I would have brought you here earlier. I would like to apologize for my short-sightedness, Han Tae-Sung-nim,” Oh Jun-Hwan said as he respectfully bowed toward Tae-Sung.

He was sincerely apologizing for his failure to cater to his customer’s needs and for failing to realize his customer’s abilities as the highest person in charge of V-Lounge’s Gangnam branch.

“There’s no need for you to apologize. Who knew it was going to turn out this way in the first place?” Tae-Sung said.

“You truly are someone befitting of being sponsored by the head office! Haha!” Oh Jun-Hwan laughed heartily.

“Haha… you don’t have to go that far…” Tae-Sung replied while laughing awkwardly.

“Anyway, congratulations, customer-nim. You are now the proud owner of the Hyper Capsule, the Ogre!” Oh Jun-Hwan exclaimed as he sincerely congratulated Tae-Sung for finding the capsule that would be his ‘life partner.’ 𝒷ℯ𝓭𝓷ℴ𝓋𝓮𝓵.𝒸ℴ𝓶

“Thank you,” Tae-Sung replied. He sincerely bowed toward the branch manager as well.

He was grateful for the branch manager’s extreme patience in finding a suitable VR capsule for him for the last two hours.

“Now, shall we go and sign the contract? The head office will pay, but this VR Hyper Capsule will be under your name after all,” Oh Jun-Hwan said.

“Yes, let’s do that,” Tae-Sung replied.

The branch manager led Tae-Sung to another place so that they could sign the contract.

“But… can I ask something?” Tae-Sung asked.

“Please feel free to ask me anything,” Oh Jun-Hwan politely replied.

“The Ogre… How much is it? It looked pretty expensive to me…” Tae-Sung asked.

“Ah, do you mean the retail sale price of the Ogre?” Oh Jun-Hwan asked in response.

“Yes,” Tae-Sung replied with a nod before adding, “I’m not paying for it, but I can’t help but be curious…”

Oh Jun-Hwan smirked and said, “It is 8.3 billion won.”

“…?”

“It’s 8.38 billion won to be exact. Ah, of course, that price is exclusive of the seven percent VAT,” Oh Jun-Hwan added.

“That’s crazy…” Tae-Sung muttered in disbelief.

***

It seemed that Tae-Sung would end up becoming the owner of the Ogre, but there was a saying that bad things would happen when things were going well, and that was exactly what happened the moment he was about to become the owner of the Ogre.

“B-Branch Manager-nim!” shouted one of the Platinum Boutique staffers while running, “We have an issue!”

“An issue? What do you mean by that?” Oh Jun-Hwan asked.

“Um…” the staffer hesitated for a moment.

“…?”

“Jung Chi-Ho customer-nim wishes to purchase the Ogre right now!” the staffer exclaimed.

“What?!” Oh Jun-Hwan exclaimed as he shot up from his seat.

His reaction didn’t come as a surprise when considering that Jung Chi-Ho was the one and only grandson of the chairman of the Sunghyun Group, Jung Soo-Young. In addition to being a global conglomerate, the group was also the largest conglomerate throughout South Korea.

***

Jung Chi-Ho turning 27 years old this year recently got hooked on Brave New World. In addition, he was willing to do anything as long as he could become strong in BNW.

He was a so-called pro ‘wallet warrior,’ and he spent tens of billions of won to arm himself with all sorts of powerful items. He also did not shy away from hiring top rankers to ‘power level’ or ‘boost’ him.

However, BNW wasn’t a game where one could become the best just by spending a lot of money.

Individual ability and talent played a huge role in this game.

Unfortunately, Jung Chi-Ho’s talent and money were nowhere enough for him to become the best in the game because his compatibility was just slightly above average. Moreover, his game sense was nowhere near that of pro gamers.

As a result, Jung Chi-Ho suffered countless defeats at the hands of top rankers.

‘Damn it! I’m losing to those peasants?! Don’t make me laugh! Just wait and see, you bastards!’?Jung Chi-Ho gritted his teeth after suffering a string of defeats at the arena.

In the end, he chose to use his final resort. He would purchase a new piece of equipment—a hyper capsule.

He was sure that he would properly ‘enjoy’ the game as long as he used the Ogre, which was a VR capsule that guaranteed 90% compatibility. And he was right because just a slight increase in compatibility would be more than enough to boost one’s gaming abilities in the world of virtual reality.

However, there was a problem with his perfectly crafted plan.

“What the fuck? It just got sold? Are you bastards joking with me right now?” Jung Chi-Ho lashed out at the staffers when he was informed that the Ogre he wanted to purchase was sold to someone else just five minutes ago.

“Hey! Call your manager! Call him this instant before I wreck this whole place up!” Jung Chi-Ho screamed while gritting his teeth in anger.

As someone born with a diamond spoon in his mouth, he felt that his anger was justified. After all, there had never been an instance in his life when he was ever denied anything he wanted.

Thanks to that, Oh Jun-Hwan had to step up and personally calm him down.

“Jung Chi-Ho-nim, I apologize, and I sincerely apologize once again, but a different customer had already purchased the hyper capsule so—” Oh Jun-Hwan said.

However, Jung Chi-Ho interrupted him. “So what?”

“Do you want me to wait? How long? Six months?” Jung Chi-Ho asked with anger in his voice.

The Hyper Capsule Ogre required ten master craftsmen to personally work on it by hand, so it took at least six months to create one.

“Hey, peasant,” Jung Chi-Ho said.

“…” Oh Jun-Hwan maintained his silence.

“You call yourself a branch manager? You dare to spout such nonsense in front of me? You… do you know how expensive my time is? An hour of mine is more expensive than everything you make in a year, you know that?” Jung Chi-Ho berated Oh Jun-Hwan.

“I apologize! I sincerely apologize!” Oh Jun-Hwan continuously bowed and apologized to the young man in front of him. He had to appease the customer in front of him because the young man was a big shot.

“If you are sorry, bring my capsule out now!” Jung Chi-Ho lashed out. Then, he screamed at the top of his lungs, “Which bastard bought it?! Cancel the contract and drag that bastard in front of me right now!”

His voice reverberated throughout the entire Platinum Boutique.

“Where is that bastard?!” Jung Chi-Ho shouted as he started to search every nook and cranny of the Platinum Boutique.

“I said, where is that bastard?!” he screamed at the staffers.

“C-Customer-nim!” Oh Jun-Hwan hurriedly tried to stop the young man before he could kick a door down.

After all, it was the door of the VIP room where Tae-Sung was leisurely waiting.

***

“Is it you?” Jung Chi-Ho asked when he found Tae-Sung sitting inside.

“Are you the bastard who stole my Ogre?” he asked.

“So what if I am?” Tae-Sung replied in a cold voice.

“What? So what if you are??Haha!?Look at this bastard. Have you gone nuts? Hey, which shanty did you crawl out from? Did you hit the lottery or something? Do you even have money to pay for the Ogre?” Jung Chi-Ho asked with his voice filled with arrogance and contempt.

“So what if I do?” Tae-Sung replied. He did not actually have the money to pay for it, but there was a company willing to pay for him.

“Do you even know who I am?” Jung Chi-Ho haughtily asked.

“Do I have to?” Tae-Sung replied.

“What?” Jung Chi-Ho muttered in disbelief.

“I just signed the contract for the Ogre, and I have no plans of revoking it. You better stop causing a scene and go home, then wait for the next one six months later,” Tae-Sung said with an arrogant smile.

That was the last straw for Jung Chi-Ho.

“C-Customer-nim!” Oh Jun-Hwan exclaimed as he ran into the VIP room to stop Tae-Sung.

It was all to protect Tae-Sung from Jung Chi-Ho.

“Please go over there for now. It will be difficult for you if you get involved,” Oh Jun-Hwan said.

“I know…” Tae-Sung replied.

He was well aware that things could go south if he got further involved.

‘Does it mean that you can do anything you want just because you’re right? Are you a noble if you have money? Does it make sense to call someone a peasant in this day and age?’?Tae-Sung thought as he clenched his fist.

However, there was no way Tae-Sung could simply ignore Jung Chi-Ho’s ramblings after suffering at the hands of wallet warriors before.

He disliked them.

He hated them.

He detested those bastards who thought they had the right to step on others just because they were rich.

“This bastard actually dares to?!” Jung Chi-Ho shouted before grabbing Tae-Sung’s collar and threatening the latter, “Do you want to die?”

“Die? To someone like you?” Tae-Sung retorted and grabbed Jung Chi-Ho’s collar as well.

Tae-Sung did not care about the repercussions. He hated the idea of groveling at the feet of a spoiled brat like Jung Chi-Ho—he would rather suffer than do that.

***

“Ah…” Cha Hye-Mi finally made sense of the situation, and she muttered, “This is driving me crazy…”

Of all people, Tae-Sung just had to get involved with someone like Jung Chi-Ho, who was the cream of the crop among the trash.

“I apologize, Manager Cha Hye-Mi-nim,” Oh Jun-Hwan said before adding, “This is all my fault.”

“There’s no way this is your fault; why would it be, Branch Manager-nim?” Cha Hye-Mi asked.

“No… it’s—” Oh Jun-Hwan muttered.

“Let us try to defuse the situation first,” Cha Hye-Mi interrupted.

As they were about to step in to try and defuse the situation, Jung Chi-Ho suddenly asked, “What level are you?”

“Me? I’m Level 5; why?” Tae-Sung replied.

“What…?” Jung Chi-Ho doubted his ears.

“Are you deaf? I said I’m Level 5,” Tae-Sung repeated.

“Level 5? Ha!” Jung Chi-Ho scoffed as if he found it absurd.

“Are you joking with me? You dare to purchase the Ogre when you’re just a measly Level 5?” Jung Chi-Ho asked.

“Why? Are there any laws against it?” Tae-Sung retorted.

“Stop spouting bullshit. What is your level? I will kill you if you don’t tell me the truth,” Jung Chi-Ho said coldly.

“I said I’m Level 5,” Tae-Sung said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

“Is this bastard crazy…?” Jung Chi-Ho was exasperated.

“Do you have a problem with me being Level 5?” Tae-Sung asked.

“Level 5… alright, let’s say you are a Level 5 player as you say. Do you really think a noob like you deserves to use the Ogre? Do you even have any shame?” Jung Chi-Ho asked.

“I think I’m still better than you despite my level.” Tae-Sung nonchalantly taunted the scoundrel.

“What? You’re better than me…? You?” Jung Chi-Ho was astounded.

“Yes, me,” Tae-Sung said.

“Stop spouting bullshit, you crazy bastard,” Jung Chi-Ho retorted with anger in his voice.

“Why? You wanna have a go at it? Shall we have a go in Virtual Fighter?” Tae-Sung asked.

Virtual Fighter was a dueling program that was basically the PVP of virtual games.