Ch.174Epilogue (2) – Forum of Super Cowards / Simephalcon’s Counterattack / News Briefing

# <1. Forum>

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<Title> Hey you worthless losers who spend all day glued to your computers

<Author> ss****

<Content>

How many people are in this forum and you can’t even hack one Sagan account, you idiots? You already know the ID and password!!!

<Comments>

> How many times do I have to tell you that it doesn’t work? The ID and password don’t match, you moron. And what site these days lets you in with the same ID and password? Even neighborhood stationery store shopping sites don’t do that.

> Fact: If you had the intelligence to hack an account, you’d have a job instead of being glued to a computer all day

> Wait, is that really Sagan? Isn’t it just some easter egg that Drugstore guy put in?

> It’s “easter egg” you idiot, not “west egg”!

> God, am I really living under the same sky as these morons…

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<Title> Cracked it

<Author> 872%%

<Content>

I really cracked it, look. The ID is Sagan, but the password is Sagan spelled backward. Check it out. I’ll upload screenshots. Actually, I’ll download the data and post it publicly. Link in the comments, uploading to Google Drive now.

<Comments>

> Prediction: F*ck you! Take down that disgusting image!!!!!!

> Yo, is this for real? Whoa?

> What is it? Don’t just download it yourselves! Upload it to a mirror site!!! Let’s all see the good stuff!!!

> Dude, I actually found email exchanges with Drugstore? I cracked everything including bank transfer records and an address he gave to meet up. Isn’t this the address of Overeating Games’ North Studio?

> Why is this actually real…

> Hey, I reported this to the police and got cursed out. I’m going to check the water temperature of the Potomac River

> The police didn’t do anything? Why?

> When I called, the vibe was off. The officer was chewing on something while talking. I was already annoyed, but when I said someone was missing, they just sighed. They asked how long it had been, and when I said over three months, their tone changed a bit. So far so good, right?

> And then?

> The cop asked if it was someone I knew. But damn, if I say “He’s the admin of a forum site I visit,” that sounds weird to anyone, right?

> Yeah, that’s true. So what did you say?

> I said “an internet friend”… and they just kept sighing. Do you know their address? Have you called them? Do you know their real name? I said no to everything. More sighs… They asked how close we were… I said I know him but he doesn’t know me. That’s the truth, right?

> Ah…..

> Sigh……

> (sad frog image)

> My blood pressure is rising and my insides are boiling with destructive urges. Is this normal?

> You’ve been “Sagan-ed” now lol

> But they still asked how I knew the person was missing.

> So I told them there’s this game developer called Drugstore, and on his stream an NPC said he was Sagan and the password was also Sagan.

> When I entered the ID and password, I found traces of email exchanges with Drugstore. I asked if this meant the person was missing, and they cursed me out and hung up….

> Um. You’re writing this in shock, right? Did you really say it like that?

> (audio file) – Will self-destruct in 5 minutes

> God…. please….

> No. No. Good luck, friend.

> I’m giving you serious advice – there’s this “interpersonal relationship clinic” at the local health center. You should go… it’s government-funded and pretty good. Sometimes there are even pretty foreigners there, though there’s a language barrier.

> Have you been there?

> No, but someone who went told me. It’s true.

> Sagan, how did you manage to run a forum with people like this…

> (wailing frog image)

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<Title> Hey, my kind but dim-witted cowardly friends, I took one for the team

<Author> 411##

<Content>

I sent a tow truck to SimeFalcon. Yeah.

<Comments>

> Didn’t SimeFalcon stop streaming?

> No, he just stopped gaming streams. He’s been doing wilderness survival and other crazy stuff. Last month he was exploring haunted houses.

> Three months ago he started a muscle pumping project and got ripped. Honestly, I think I could outrun him.

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<Title> Hello. This is BJ SimeFalcon

<Author> gue444

<Content>

I’m going to destroy those bastards at Overeating Games. Someone share the files with me. And send me backup copies of the livestream that got cut off. I’m going to break through their front gate.

<Comments>

> SimeFalcon! SimeFalcon! SimeFalcon! SimeFalcon! SimeFalcon!

> Oi oi… I believed in you… Si.Me.Fal.Con?!

> Damn it, all I’m getting is porn. You bastards, give me more!

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<#2. BJ SimeFalcon Goes – Infiltrating Overeating Games North Studio>

(Middle of the night) *heavy breathing* Hello, all you viewer bastards. It’s SimeFalcon. *pant* What? You want me to do something about my breathing? If it bothers you, turn down your speakers, punk. I’m already out of breath and… What? Behind me? What? A woman? Oh shit, don’t joke around, you scared me! *pant*

*pant* Damn, I’m really out of breath. Is the cam working? Oh, okay okay. Let me explain the situation. I just climbed over the fence of Overeating Games by myself. I’ve got anti-reflective film on my phone so I can check the chat, and see this helmet? I’ve attached a camera to it. This and the vest. It’s dual cam, dual broadcast, so watch whichever you want.

Front view. Can you see the front? Ah, thanks for the donation, DetectiveSleep… Hey, whether my nostrils are flaring or not, what’s that got to do with you? Are my nose hairs bothering you? Don’t you have nose hair? If it bothers you, stick a piece of paper on your monitor.

Listen. I can’t react much now. I’ve climbed the inner fence and I’m looking at the glass window. *pant* If you forum bastards are lying, I’ll really sue you. I’m risking my streaming career doing this right now. I’m betting my life on this.

These Overeating Games bastards, giving me an unbeatable game just to get advertising money? You know about the ongoing lawsuit, right? And how my gaming channel got suspended. Forum people, I’m not doing this for your benefit! I’m breaking in because I’m pissed off too. Hey, this window… Ah, it doesn’t open up and down, it slides sideways. Thanks. You’re smart.

I’m in. I’m in. Flashlight… oh, here it is. Can you see? Not too bright, right? Ah, good. Good. *pant* *pant* Door… Damn it, there’s no cat here, you idiot… *pant*… Are you seriously making that noise? What’s behind… Wait. Wait. There’s a room with the light on. Is someone working overtime? No. There were definitely no lit rooms from outside.

Whatever. No hesitation. I’m wearing a mask, what’s the problem? If things go wrong, I’ll drop my pants and run. Opening the door. Opening the…

Hey.

Hello! Hello! Hey, wake up! Hey, you guys call for help! Quickly! Call for help! There’s a person here! There’s really a person here! Hello! Hey! Sir! Call 911, you idiots! This is real! Sir! There’s a person lying here!

…

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<#3. BNN 7 O’Clock Comprehensive News>

(Opening music)

(Anchor briefing)

Good evening. I’m Raymond Chandler, anchor for BNN Comprehensive News. Let’s begin today’s main stories.

(News screen)

The head of Overeating Games North Studio, known as “Drugstore,” has been arrested on emergency charges.

The renowned game developer is accused of luring a user who criticized his game and then imprisoning them in a secret room inside the studio.

Police have arrested five North Studio employees who participated in the kidnapping and imprisonment and are investigating additional charges. Reporter John Le Carré reports.

John Le Carré!

(Reporter)

Yes.

(Anchor)

This is quite an unbelievable story and difficult to understand. Could you briefly explain the overview?

(Reporter)

Yes. “Drugstore” was originally the head of an indie game development company, that is, a small-scale game development company. Their game “The Call Part 1” achieved great commercial success, but the trouble began when a programmer using the ID “Carl Sagan” modified the game.

(Anchor)

Modified the game? So, is it like illegal car tuning, something like that?

(Reporter)

The basic concept is similar, but experts say there is no clear evidence anywhere that Carl Sagan’s actions can be definitively declared illegal.

(Anchor)

So, it’s not illegal?

(Reporter)

That’s correct.

(Anchor)

Alright. Not illegal. Then why did Carl Sagan—I remind viewers that this is an alias for his protection—why did he do this? Was it for fame, like hackers who attack major websites? To make a name for himself?

(Reporter)

That’s right. However, it was extremely popular among game users, and it has been confirmed that Carl Sagan himself did not take any financial gain. Usually in such modifications, donations are often accepted, but in Carl Sagan’s case—again, a pseudonym—it has been finally confirmed that this was not the case.

(Anchor)

Then the motive becomes increasingly difficult to understand. He modified the game, but didn’t sell it for money. If it was very popular, it would have even served as indirect promotion. Why did Drugstore commit such a crime?

(Reporter)

Drugstore himself reportedly stated during police questioning that he considered it “an insult to himself.”

(Anchor)

(smirking) Ah. An insult?

(Reporter)

(still serious) That’s right. Drugstore reportedly stated that “his game was perfect, and it upset and irritated him that someone took his game, changed just a small part of it, and became more famous.”

(Anchor)

Did he really say that? What did you say he felt?

(Reporter)

(glancing at his phone) Specifically, he reportedly stated that he was upset and irritated that Sagan’s ending replacement mod became more popular than his own, even though it was almost completely identical to the ending he had created.

(Anchor)

(trying to suppress laughter) It’s certainly difficult to understand the psychology of criminals, but these days the motives for crimes are particularly hard to comprehend. There’s a class action lawsuit against Drugstore?

(Reporter)

That’s correct. The law firm Global Crossing, considered one of the top five legal consulting firms, is proceeding with a class action lawsuit, and Overeating Games headquarters is also reportedly considering legal action against Drugstore. After news of the crime broke, Overeating Games’ stock price fell 20% in a single day and still shows no signs of recovery from the shock.

(Anchor)

It fell by 20%? That much?

(Reporter)

Yes. The sequel, “The Call Part 2,” created by Overeating Games North Studio led by Drugstore, sold approximately 400 million copies through the game distribution platform “Steam” at the not insignificant price of $49.99.

(Anchor)

400 million copies!

(Reporter)

Even if only a small percentage join the class action lawsuit, Overeating Games’ damages are expected to snowball.

(Anchor)

Please continue to update us with additional information. That was reporter John Le Carré.