Black Online

Bang~the door of the study banged open as Aizen walked through with his son, Fang Raon, following closely by.

"Haah, what a party."

Aizen walked to the cupboard, took a bottle of strong bourbon, and poured himself a drink—quite full.

He then settled on his favorite armchair by the fireplace and sipped his drink slowly, savoring the warmth that spread through his body.

"..."

Fang Raon stood patiently by the door.

He was hiding his clenched fists behind his back, but based on his body language, he wasn’t happy at all.

"Go on. Speak."

Aizen said and kept sipping on the drink.

"I don’t want to marry her."

Fang Raon said.

"I don’t care."

Aizen answered back.

"You could’ve married off Raikou or Raizen. They’re the eldest sons."

Fang Raon said.

"That wouldn’t do. They aren’t the heirs. Rain Family wanted to marry the heir, and since that’s you, it has to be you."

Aizen said.

"I don’t want to be the heir."

Fang Raon said.

"I don’t care."

Aizen laughed.

"I’ll just run the family to the ground if you make me the heir. I mean, who can stop me from doing that, Father?"

Fang Raon said coldly.

"I have ordered my bodyguards to kill you if you do that. I’ve paid each immense amount of money for my protection and to do whatever I want them to do.

"Even after my death, they will still be on my payroll."

Aizen said coldly.

"I’ll kill them first."

Fang Raon said.

"Good luck with that, and it’s not just the bodyguards, you know. I own everybody in this village, and if the Fang Family goes down, so will this village.

"There are many people that would kill you for free if you did that."

Aizen said.

"Tch."

Fang Raon clicked his tongue.

It was obvious that Aizen had been planning this for a while, and he had ensured that no matter what, Fang Raon was going to be the heir.

"Marrying that rude woman, hah... Why can’t I catch a break?"

Fang Raon sat down with a heavy heart, and he tugged on his hair as Chaewon’s face flashed through his mind.

"Fuck that bitch. She is just a tool. Just make a couple of children with her to continue the lineage of the Fang Family, and then you can get a mistress or two. I don’t give a shit."

Aizen said.

"Why Rain Family? What is your goal? It is time for you to explain yourself."

Fang Raon said.

Aizen looked at the crackling logs in the fireplace and then looked at the cup, which only had a little bit of drink left.

He drank the rest of it and then dangled his arm off the armrest of the chair, holding the glass cup with only his fingers.

It looked like the cup could fall at any moment.

"It is just a business deal, in the end.

"The Rain Family is one of the most ambitious families in the world, and they’re currently trying something crazy or foolish, depending on who you ask."

He said.

’What is it?’

Fang Raon frowned with questions flashing through his mind, and he let his Father keep speaking.

"Black Online changed the world. It changed the economy, the technology, and even the way people think. It is, without a doubt, the most influential creation in the history of mankind.

"There have been many copycats trying to replicate Black Online’s success, and they all failed—because they either didn’t have the money, talent, or vision to create something as good.

"And currently, the Rain Family is trying to create a game. Fully realistic video game inspired after Black Online.

"So real that it feels like it is another world altogether, where you can be anyone and can do anything.

"If that game succeeds, the Rain Family will jump to being one of the most influential families in the world, and everyone that is allied with them will benefit greatly."

Aizen said.

’Something that crazy is currently happening?’

Fang Raon looked surprised.

"You might be asking—why did they want to ally themselves with us?—well, it is simple, Black Online is too big.

"The whole world is playing it, and nobody can topple it.

"The world is sadly too small of a place for two giants of games to co-exist, and so for the Rain Family’s game to succeed, it has to destroy Black Online.

"Fang Family is in control of Smog Region’s advertising business, and since Smog Region is the biggest and most populated region, this is one of the most important markets out there.

"Rain Family’s game will dominate in Rain Family, but if it really needs to survive, it also needs to dominate in Smog Region, and we will help them with that."

Aizen said.

"There are a couple of problems."

Fang Raon said.

"...Tell me."

Aizen looked over his shoulder at him.

"Nobody has even completed Black Online yet. People have put so much time and effort that they won’t just give up now and start from nothing in another game."

He said, and Aizen nodded, as he agreed with that, and then he continued with listing the problems.

"Creating a game of that size and technology can’t be cheap. Rain Family must be putting all their money and resources into it.

"If the game fails, they will go bankrupt, and then we are allied to some useless family that will just start clinging onto us to get them back to their feet.

"Sure, there are big rewards if they succeed, but also great risks if they don’t."

Fang Raon said.

"You are correct. It is risky. But with the Rain Family’s alliance, we will also get help and access to the Rain Region’s market, which we hadn’t been able to enter yet.

"Of course, I don’t care about that much. I really care about that game succeeding, and Fang Family will also pool money and resources to make sure it won’t fail."

Aizen said.

"...Have you tried that game, at least? To see what it looks like?"

Fang Raon asked.

"They wouldn’t let me. But I talked to the ones that developed the game, and they told me that they’ve successfully made the game 96% similar to reality."

Aizen said.

"96%... Black Online is 99%. Those three percent matter a lot."

Fang Raon said with a dark look.

"They’ve not finished the game yet. It is still work-in-progress, but if the timeline is correct, they plan to finish it in the next two years."

Aizen said.

"...Three percent is still a lot. Do you think they can make it happen?"

Fang Raon asked.

"They’ve bought the greatest talents and have even managed to steal a few from Black Online Company. I believe they have a good chance at success, and if they only reach 98%, it should be good enough, right?"

Aizen asked.

"...No, I don’t think it is good enough."

Fang Raon said.

"In the end, it is just a game. People will still play it if it is good."

Aizen said.

’...My Father doesn’t get what has made Black Online so popular. It is another world. It’s not like this boring world, but instead it offers endless possibilities and excitement.

’The realism of the game is what draws people in. It is extremely important. One percent might sound low, but it actually makes a huge difference.’

Fang Raon thought to himself.

"I want to playtest the game."

He then said.

"..."

Aizen looked at him and saw how serious he was, and he tapped his finger on the armrest while he contemplated something.

"...I’ll try. Nero seems to like you."

He said.

"If the game sucks, I will strongly recommend ending the alliance before you sink the family with your own ambition, Father."

Fang Raon said coldly, then he pushed open the doors and stormed out of the study.

BANG~ The doors closed again behind him.

"Hahaha..."

Aizen just laughed and turned back to the fireplace.

"...Son, you think I am really that foolish to trust blindly in the Rain Family and risk the destruction of our family? You are smart, but you still have plenty to learn.

"In the end, the plan is already in motion.

"The end of Black Online is nigh~"

...

Knock~ knock~!

"WHO IS IT?!"

An angry scream from Anna came from inside the bedroom, and she stomped towards the door and opened it with a furious expression on her face.

In that moment, her furious expression melted off her beautiful face as she saw who was standing outside.

"Brother?"

"Anna, I’d like to have a word with you."

Fang Raon said with his arms behind his back, and Anna turned quiet, and she nodded and let him enter.

She closed the door and then looked at her brother, who was just looking around the feminine bedroom.

"Aren’t you a lucky one, brother? You get to marry a beautiful woman with big boobs. You must be thrilled!"

Anna clapped her hands while faking her excitement, but inside, she was extremely angry.

"I need your help, sister."

Fang Raon said.

"?"

Anna furrowed her brows.

"I need your help to cancel this engagement."

Fang Raon sat down on her bed and said with a serious expression on his face.