Season 4: Chapter 139. Ghost Busters Assemble (1)

Thud!

As the final title card flashed on screen, Ju-Hyeok smacked the table.

“Nice! That’s what I’m talking about!”

He had worried that Almond would never show, but the protagonist finally appeared in the last moment.

“Now that’s a main character!”

It felt exactly like a true hero’s grand entrance.

“And the numbers...”

Ju-Hyeok glanced at the viewer count in the corner of the screen. A smile tugged at his lips.

‘All that effort paid off.’

For all his aloof airs, Sang-Hyeon was pouring himself into this

Survival Craft

content. His playtime alone had shot up dramatically.

‘And biting down to roleplay a concept he’s never tried before...’

This sort of semi-roleplay game didn’t suit Yu Sang-Hyeon at all. He had no prior experience, yet he had invented the role of a cruel employee from Ah-Sung and played it with surprising dedication.

‘Especially burning down ForeverAlone’s place... That was commitment to the bit!’

For Sang-Hyeon, it probably felt as awkward as Sweet Potato acting out his role. However, Sang-Hyeon was pulling it off like a boss straight from the depths of hell. Thanks to that, the community reacted ecstatically.

[Almond’s coming!]

[The savior who came to ruin the village...]

[Will we see the ForeverAlone’s burning scene?? Honestly, it’s censorship-worthy lol]

[Almond’s dark roleplay is killing me this time]

Of course, with any content like this, those who worried popped up too.

[What if real ForeverAlone gets offended? This is worrying...]

[Almond, is this really okay?]

[Why won’t anyone give him a fishing rod already?]

Some used this as a chance to take shots.

[Almond used to have such a good image. Isn’t this dangerous?]

[So his true colors are showing... no wonder he survived Ah-Sung for five years lol]

[Doesn’t he seem shady now?]

However, Almond’s fanbase was too strong.

— It’s just role-playing... Here we go again

— Don’t feed the trolls

— Shady? No. Just remember: Almond has always been tough

— What, and Donuts isn’t literally committing stock fraud? lol

They squashed the coup in no time.

“

Whew.

”

Tap-tap-tap-tap.

Of course, Ju-Hyeok had been part of the firefighting squad himself.

“They come out of the woodwork every chance they get.”

At this point, he wondered if a community firefighter could actually be a job.

“Well... It’s all attention, anyway.”

He chose to see it positively. Fans produced haters just like how light produced shadows. The bigger Almond’s shadow grew, the bigger the shelter he offered.

‘More and more people will gather around Almond.’

The other streamers already began to orbit him. Even in

Survival Craft

, he had never collaborated with the members of the Knight Order before, yet they rallied around him. Those bonds could carry over into the Platform War as well.

‘Good. The start is solid.’

“But...”

Now he shifted his focus to Cheese Village.

“This current narrative... will be tough to flip.”

Almond’s reputation was soaring outside, but the Knight Order faced a crisis in

Survival Craft

.

***

Meanwhile, public opinion in Cheese Village changed by the minute.

“I’m telling you, all the dead were from the Union!”

“No, no!

The Bubble Daily

got it right!”

Villagers debated over who had really set fire to ForeverAlone’s property.

“What even is

The Bubble Daily

? Some fake rag? Can’t you see

The Farmer’s Daily

right here?”

The Bubble Daily

or

The Farmer’s Daily

, which side was telling the truth? Even the Union had put up a giant bulletin and claimed to be a proper newspaper.

[The Farmer’s Daily]

It spelled out what happened the night of the fire.

[The False Hero: Almond]

==== ====

When ForeverAlone’s house caught fire, The Bubble Daily claimed that Almond and his Knight Order saved the day.

However, the testimony of many who perished tells another story.

In truth, the Knight Order had lit the fire themselves, and the damage fell squarely on the village...

==== ====

The article presented their version of the event, with no photos, of course. No one sane could’ve taken screenshots in the middle of all that chaos. Instead, they staged comments written on placards to look like community chatter.

— Pickle: Almond is Cheese Village’s Harvey Dent

— HornRamen: Finally, the truth in print

— Zelo: The Dark Knight Union tried to save ForeverAlone... RIP

Thud!

Someone slapped

The Farmer’s Daily

.

“This is fake! NPCs themselves confirmed

The Bubble Daily

! And look, they don’t have any photos!”

The NPCs only recognized

The Bubble Daily

as legitimate. That much was true, but streamers weren’t NPCs.

The Farmer’s Daily

had plenty of circumstantial proof even without photos.

“Sure, NPCs vouched for

The Bubble Daily

, but this is evidence everyone saw!”

One placard bore a photo.

[Exhibit 1: Kill Log from That Night]

Anyone could verify this piece of evidence: the server’s death log during the fire. It would be crystal clear from just pulling up the chat. Every casualty had been from the Union. The Union was undeniably the victim.

“Only the Union farmers burned to death! Not a single knight!”

“Exactly! And we all know the NPCs in

Survival Craft

are dumb as bricks!”

It wasn’t photographic proof, but it was damning circumstantial evidence. The Knight Order claimed they had rushed into the flames to save ForeverAlone, but only Union members died. And their death toll was enormous.

“Th-That’s...”

“All of it matches the Union’s testimony! The Knight Order set it up as a slaughter! Look, here’s more evidence!”

Another placard displayed fresh evidence.

[Exhibit 2: Half-burned candle wax recovered from the site]

This sort of proof could be fabricated, but it was enough to sway the crowd when paired with a photo and a few convincing details.

“Do you still trust

The Bubble Daily

after this?!”

From the back, more voices chimed in.

“That’s right!

The Farmer’s Daily

is the truth!”

“The one true press!

The Farmer’s Daily

!!”

It was Zelo and Choco Shroom. Even recognizable streamers supported the Union.

“C-Could it be?”

“They’re not even part of the Union. They’re miners. If

they

believe it...”

“Then... the Knight Order really did something that cruel?”

The crowd edged closer to the truth.

“Wow, so the knights are trash after all? I’m done supporting them.”

“Kill the knights! Kill them all! I’d rather die than follow them!”

***

Meanwhile, at Sweet Radish’s house...

“Come in, come in~”

Almond returned from laying down Fertile Soil.

“Did you finish the negotiation?”

He clasped his hands behind his back like a nobleman.

— HAHAHA why’s he so shameless?

— Almond’s roleplay is killing me

— He’s imitating his Ah-Sung days visiting contractors

“Yes, it went smoothly.”

“As expected, Radish Servant. Excellent.”

Tap.

Almond rapped his oversized head.

“A special promotion can’t be far off.

Hahaha.

”

He mimicked the corporate executives he used to see at work.

“A-A promotion...?

Hahaha!

Thank you, sir!”

No wonder Ah-Sung was a powerhouse.

‘Even mimicking the system works this well. That’s Ah-Sung for you.’

He didn’t need to think hard about leading. Just re-enacting what he’d suffered through was enough. The fire in Radish Servant’s eyes mirrored the battle-hardened employees of his old company.

“Sir! There’s a problem!” Potato Servant looked flustered.

“A problem?”

“The interviews...”

The Knight Order’s recruitment interviews were quite important to bolster their numbers against the Union.

“We sent out acceptance DMs... but many haven’t responded. Nearly half canceled.”

The interviewees either didn’t reply or canceled. Something seemed off.

“What’s going on?”

“The Union spread some bad rumors about us... so people backed out.” Potato Servant’s fiery spirit dimmed.

“But

The Bubble Daily

painted us well, didn’t it?”

“Yes, but...” Potato Servant scratched his head, confused.

Maid Black Tea interrupted. “I think I know! I overheard it in the plaza earlier.”

With her explanation, Almond finally pieced it together.

“So...

The Farmer’s Daily

is beating

The Bubble Daily

in credibility?”

“Yes.”

“

Hmm...

” Almond frowned and sighed. “This is why I hate the quick-witted type.”

— LMAO

— How about a little self-reflection??

— That’s the takeaway??

— Unbelievable hahaha

Potato Servant voiced another worry. “We’re still outnumbered compared to the Union. Shouldn’t we just accept everyone who applies?”

“This isn’t a numbers game.”

“R-Right...”

— ?

— This was supposed to be a healing game?

— Not a numbers game? It’s not even this kind of game lol

— Almond acting like there’s a win condition hahaha

His words were confusing, but his intent was clear.

“Recruit slowly. Hold more interviews later.”

“Understood...” Potato Servant looked disappointed since he had hoped for an influx of fresh blood.

Almond smoothly changed the subject. “By the way, Maid Black Tea, why are you here?”

She had her own home, but came over instead.

“Ah, that’s...”

Clack.

She pulled out a bomb.

“I found this among the Union’s items. Isn’t this what blew up Sweet Radish’s house?”

The viewers reeled.

— Holy crap

— No way

— The Union was behind it??

— What the!?

— Insane

— Terrorist Union?!

On Almond’s stream, viewers had only seen Zelo die by accident. Who could’ve imagined that he’d been a suicide bomber on Union orders?

— Wait, wasn’t he just pretending to be Union?

— So he really was?

— What the hell? lol

Everyone had suspected that Zelo wrote that placard himself, but now the Union also possessed a bomb? What did that mean?

‘Strange.’

Almond found it odd, but quickly dismissed the thought.

‘It doesn’t matter. This works in our favor.’

Even if it wasn’t, they could claim it to be true. The enemy had handed them proof. Why waste it?

“Radish Servant.”

“Yes?”

“Send a DM to Bubblegum.”

“...!”

— Ghost Busters! Assemble!

— Crush the Union!

— Bubblegum joins the fray hahaha

Last time, they had fought with swords and shields. This time, they would fight with pens and paper. Almond felt confident in a battle of wits to win public opinion.

“How dare they challenge me to a war of strategy?” He grinned and stroked his oversized head. “Foolish courage.”

— ?

— ??

— What?

— Excuse me?

Of course, only he felt confident.

Ding!

[EggPlant has donated 3,000 won.]

[Almond, if trusting your giant head makes you brave, I approve~]

— HAHAHAHA

— For real lol