Chapter 6
Bad Ending Maker - Episode 6 (6/235)
<Bad Ending Maker Episode 6>
Wings Online is the world's number one game by user count.
This also means it has an enormous number of toxic players.
Now in its fifth year of service... During this time, all manner of outrageous toxic players—so-called "villains"—have caused endless incidents.
Minchul had been the one personally hunting down those bastards and getting their accounts suspended.
The "Scammer" Akasa was one such figure.
A big player in the underground scene, he was involved in every money-related scheme: unauthorized RMT, item scams, exchange market hoarding—you name it.
"Hey, hyung-nim! Good to see you after so long!"
Akasa whined with a pained expression behind Minchul, who was casually rummaging through the shop.
"I told you I've gone straight! Seriously! Believe me, hyung-nim!"
"Who's your hyung-nim? People will get the wrong idea."
"GM-nim! I'm clean now! I've reformed and play fair... Wait, don't touch that!"
Minchul froze upon lifting an ornate silver sword from the shelf.
"What's this? White Silver Sword? Isn't this the Warrior class's ultimate weapon? Where'd you get this?"
"No, it's a replica. Just a fake made to look similar..."
It was true. The stats were pitiful—a counterfeit White Silver Sword mimicking only the appearance.
"Why even make something like this?"
"Obviously to scam people by selling it as the real thing... duh."
Akasa kept glancing at Minchul's reaction as he answered. Minchul clicked his tongue.
"Relax. Who's arresting you? Besides, I'm not a GM anymore. You heard I got axed as director, right?"
"Ah, I did hear that... So you're not a GM now?"
Akasa's face instantly turned hostile.
"Then why should I keep using honorifics?"
"......"
Minchul slapped Akasa's cheek with his palm.
"Hey. If I slip a few reports to the ops team now, you know you'll end up in court~, right?"
"Oh come now~! I've sworn lifelong loyalty to our Anchovy-nim as my hyung-nim! Cross my heart!"
Akasa immediately adopted a groveling smile, rubbing his hands obsequiously.
Minchul grimaced.
"I said stop calling me hyung-nim... And drop the 'Anchovy' crap too."
"Then what should I call you?"
"Labo. This account's handle."
Oasis, listening behind them, flinched. She'd finally realized the nickname's meaning.
Labo.
Short for Last Boss.
'Is Master truly... planning to become the final boss?'
Could he seriously intend to destroy this world? Was that even possible?
"Understood, Labo hyung-nim! I'll serve you with absolute loyalty! Just give the word!"
Akasa bowed deeply toward Minchul—no, Labo.
"Enough with the 'hyung-nim' crap... Whatever. How much gold you holding?"
"Not much on hand. Most's in the exchange... Maybe a million?"
Labo flicked his fingers.
"Loan it all."
"What?! A million as tribute? Hyung-nim, that's a bit..."
"Think I'm some villain like you? I said loan, not tribute! I'll pay it back."
A million gold was substantial real-world money. While less than Akasa's total exchange assets, it remained a hefty sum.
"I'll repay it with 10% interest after Season 6 launches. Stop trembling and hand it over."
"......"
Akasa adjusted his sunglasses. His sycophantic smile vanished, replaced by seriousness.
"Hyung-nim, you never speak idly. You keep every word you utter. I know this after years tangled with you."
"Huh? What's with the sudden praise?"
"If you're asking to borrow money, you must have a surefire 'opportunity'."
"......"
An awkward smile played on Labo's lips. Akasa always had a nose for these things.
"What's the play, hyung-nim? Can't you clue me in?"
"......"
"I'll lend a million gold interest-free. Just share one tip."
After scratching his head, Labo finally nodded with a sigh.
"Fine. Invest in Enhancement Stones."
"Enhancement Stones?"
Akasa's eyes widened.
Enhancement Stones were consumables for upgrading gear, dropped rarely by all monsters.
Always in demand, their prices were currently rising as players stockpiled for Season 6's update.
"Trashy cash shop items are coming soon. Crazy OP items that boost enhancement rates."
Labo divulged the insider info without hesitation.
"Everyone'll enhance gear, causing stone prices to skyrocket—multiple times current values."
Akasa gulped.
"So buy now and sell then?"
"No. You'll profit then, but hold longer."
Labo coldly analyzed the cash shop item's ripple effect.
"When Season 6 launches next month, level caps rise and new gear releases. But market stones will evaporate after that item's release."
"......!"
"Enhancement Stones will be scarce all season. Sell gradually then."
Akasa bent at a perfect 90-degree angle.
"Thank you, hyung-nim. I'll trust only you."
"Don't trust too much... Not my problem if it fails."
"Impossible, hyung-nim. This can't fail."
Years in VR black markets honed Akasa's instincts. This was the golden opportunity.
"But hyung-nim... If you're telling me this, you're investing elsewhere, right?"
"Correct."
"This looks insanely profitable. What beats this?"
"Nothing—it's the best play."
Akasa tilted his head.
"Then why...?"
Labo snorted.
"Bad blood."
"Huh?"
"Those fuckers at NAPalm probably axed me to push that shitty cash item. Can't stomach profiting from it."
When first hearing about the cash item, Labo immediately envisioned the Enhancement Stone scheme.
Forced cash shop additions ruined both game balance and economy.
'Any decent dev would agonize over this...'
But NAPalm's execs—the ones who fired him—clearly didn't care.
NAPalm profits from cash shop whales.
Black market kings profit from volatile markets.
But money games are zero-sum.
For every winner, a loser.
And the casualties... would be ordinary players.
"Don't wanna touch it myself, but it's easy money. Consider this a tip for my favorite junior."
Labo clapped Akasa's shoulder.
"......"
Akasa slowly shook his head.
"Hyung-nim, hindsight speaking..."
"Yeah?"
"You were a foolish admin."
"The hell?"
"Your stubborn integrity kept parasites like me scarce. We thrive when markets are dirty."
Akasa grinned crookedly.
"That's why I hated you."
"Oh? Prefer me now?"
"Not sure if I should say... But hyung-nim, you're making a great face right now."
Labo pinched his own cheeks.
"Great face? What's that mean?"
"Our kind of face."
Akasa's smirk turned pitch-black, one corner of his mouth quirking up.
"The face of a selfish bastard who'll trample others to eat well, live large, and have fun."
"......"
"Here's a million gold, hyung-nim."
Akasa initiated a trade, placing 1,000,000G in the window.
A clean, beautiful number.
"Use it freely. Repay whenever, Labo hyung-nim."
He bowed again.
"Wishing you success."
"......"
Labo nodded.
"See you around."
Exiting the shop, Labo pondered while touching his face.
"A villain's face, huh..."
Oasis suddenly shouted beside him:
"Master! It's okay! However fearsome your face! However ugly! I'll follow you as your support AI until deletion!"
"I'll delete you right now, brat."
Well, so what if he looked villainous?
If playing villain, do it properly.
Stretching his arms, Labo groaned:
"Ugh, marathon gaming's exhausting. How long have I been logged in?"
"Over 15 hours. Are you alright?"
"Kinda drowsy... Oasis, open a trade."
When Labo transferred the million gold, Oasis yelped:
"Waaah! A million!"
"Use this to expand your bank and warehouse limits. Buy all Iron Ore under 5G on the exchange."
"Iron Ore? Why?"
"Explain later. Too tired now..."
Yawning hugely, Labo prepared to log out.
"Oh, and grind solo to level 10 while I'm gone."
"Ehhh?!"
Oasis froze before shrieking:
"Eeeeeek?! You promised to help me get a class! No fair!"
"My class was special... Normal jobs need level 10. Get there first."
As Labo's body began glowing transparently:
"Gonna nap and handle real-world stuff. Go catch squirrels or something~."
"Master liar! Meanie! Bad person!"
"One more word and I'll reformat you~."
"Waaaah! Master not meanie! Master not bad person!"
Though even with "not," it still sounded insulting, Labo logged out magnanimously.
Minchul emerged from his capsule PC.
Every muscle ached—he hadn't gamed this long in ages.
"Ugh... Need sleep."
Checking his phone while facedown on bed, he saw concerned messages from few friends.
Seeing logs from Shinji and Dongha—GM Longhair and GM Tank—he smirked.
"Need to create an alibi."
