Chapter 91: The Superstar’s Statement of Principle

Episode 91

“Gladiator,” the largest Korean online community dedicated to Colosseum Survival, was buzzing with activity. Since the start of Season 12, over a million posts were uploaded daily.

Today, the posts were coming in even faster.

– Is this where all the suckers who get tricked by this money-grabbing program gather?

– Why sponsor anyone? Just get one big spender on your side, and you’re done. ㅋㅋ

– What’s the admin doing? Not banning trolls?

– Baek Jun must have a plan for accepting sponsorships. It’s not the first time he’s turned public opinion around, lol.

– Baek Jun will be re-evaluated for the 28,173,596th time after the third preliminary round. Real talk, lol.

– It’s a fact that Baek Jun is obsessed with money. The level of his fans is pathetic. ㅉㅉ

Most of the posts were filled with criticism, condemnation, mockery, and insults about the sponsorship system. The fact that most of the participants who passed the first round had received a lot of sponsorship fueled the fire.

– Wow, this forum will be hell until the match starts tomorrow. ㅋㅋ I’m leaving.

Some users, unable to bear the forum’s atmosphere, left such comments and completely logged out.

If nothing extraordinary happened, the forum’s atmosphere would likely remain like this until the match resumed tomorrow.

Then, something extraordinary happened.

– Hey, Kim Jinsung is live!

Suddenly, a post with this title appeared.

Clicking on it, a screenshot of the Itube website appeared. It was a picture of Kim Jinsung, looking at the screen, broadcasting live.

The title of the broadcast was even more eye-catching.

[I will make a major announcement regarding the sponsorship system.]

As soon as the post appeared, comments started pouring in at an incredible speed.

– What?

– ?

– Really?

– What’s the channel name?

└ JinsungReal

└ Isn’t that Kim Jinsung?

└ Yeah, someone must have taken the nickname ‘Kim Jinsung’.

– What? Are participants allowed to broadcast?

– Judging by the title, it seems like he’s broadcasting about big spenders.

– Let’s go!

Soon, the forum was filled with posts about why Kim Jinsung had started broadcasting. The community’s atmosphere changed instantly.

The news of Kim Jinsung’s broadcast spread quickly to other sites. Colosseum, the most talked-about program in South Korea, and Kim Jinsung, its most popular participant, had started broadcasting. It was a natural reaction.

The rumor spread to every community, and the number of viewers on Kim Jinsung’s Itube live stream rapidly increased as people heard the news.

Within five minutes of starting the broadcast, the viewer count exceeded 20,000. Within 10 minutes, it surpassed 50,000.

But Kim Jinsung had stepped away from the camera to get a drink.

“…Uh, uh, can you hear me?”

Kim Jinsung returned to the camera and turned on the microphone 10 minutes after starting the broadcast.

“Hello, everyone.”

– Wow, it’s really Kim Jinsung?

– Are participants allowed to broadcast during the Colosseum?

– Jin-ha~ It means ‘Hi Jinsung’ in Korean, lol.

“Wow, the chat is moving so fast. How did you all find out? Holy crap! We’ve already surpassed 100,000 viewers?”

Kim Jinsung continued, pretending to be surprised by the large number of viewers.

It seemed like he was genuinely surprised, but it was actually an act.

Kim Jinsung had been monitoring the community’s reactions in real-time, with the ‘Gladiator’ site open in a corner of his monitor since the beginning of the broadcast.

Seeing that all the posts were about his broadcast, he knew he had successfully grabbed their attention.

‘Let’s wait a bit longer. It’s not too late to make the announcement after more viewers join.’

So, Kim Jinsung started acting to buy some time.

“Oh, you can’t see the chat? Hold on. How do I turn this on…?”

He pretended to be clueless while fiddling with the broadcast settings, buying time.

“You were sitting right below me today? You say I look better in person? Thank you. …What? You say I’m as handsome as any celebrity? Nah, that’s a bit…”

He read and interacted with the chat occasionally, and before he knew it, 30 minutes had passed since he started broadcasting.

(TLN: lets just hope he doesnt open an OnlyFans)

* * *

The news of Kim Jinsung’s broadcast reached the ears of every clan and corporate executive interested in the Colosseum within 30 minutes.

“Is it true that Kim Jinsung is broadcasting about the sponsorship system?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Hey, tell the guys to watch the broadcast! And send me a summary of what he’s saying in real-time!”

“Understood.”

“He’s making an announcement about sponsorship, so it’s 100% about recruiting a big spender! I’m sure of it!”

All the executives instructed their staff to monitor the broadcast, filled with anticipation.

What if, by chance, Kim Jinsung chose them as his big spender? It was a hope fueled by that possibility.

* * *

‘We’ve surpassed 300,000 viewers. That’s enough.’

Kim Jinsung glanced down and checked the community’s reactions.

– Kim Jinsung is so good at interacting, lol.

– He’s so natural, like he’s been broadcasting for a year. ㄷㄷ

– He’s young, handsome, skilled, and a good speaker…

– God, you bastard! Why did you make me like this and give all the talent to Kim Jinsung? ㅠㅠ

– But shouldn’t he get to the point soon…?

Kim Jinsung, after checking the last post on the community, cleared his throat and began to address the reason for his broadcast.

“Actually, I have a reason for starting this broadcast. It’s because of the sponsorship system.”

The topic that had been a hot potato all day came out of Kim Jinsung’s mouth again.

– Whoa

– Oops

– That topic is ON

– I knew he would bring it up

“I know it’s been noisy all day because of the sponsorship system. Especially about ‘big spenders.'”

– Yeah

– He knew, didn’t he?

– It’s a serious issue, for real.

– You can easily make 10 billion by getting one big spender on your side. It’s not fun for us, ordinary people, to sponsor anyone…

“I’ve been thinking a lot about it while watching from the VIP seats today. If this continues, I’ll have to find a ‘big spender’ too…”

– For real

– There’s no way around it

– If you don’t get a big spender, your chances of losing are over 95%. What can you do? ㅋㅋ

– Ah, even Kim Jinsung is looking for a big spender… Disappointing…

– But wouldn’t it be easy for Jinsung to find one?

Kim Jinsung nodded at the last comment.

“Actually, I think it’ll be easy for me. I’m already getting a lot of inquiries about big spenders through text messages. Should I show you?”

Kim Jinsung immediately started displaying screenshots of his text messages, which he had prepared beforehand.

Soon, the text messages, with names and company names removed to protect their identities, were revealed to over 300,000 viewers.

– Whoa

– Why are there so many?

– There must be over 50! ㄷㄷ

– It seems like every wealthy company in Korea has contacted him.

“Yeah, you could say that.”

Kim Jinsung answered honestly, looking at the last comment.

In reality, he had received close to 100 sponsorship offers from companies.

It was incredible how everyone had gotten his phone number.

– Wow

– The undisputed God King Jinsung, the top star of Season 12, ㄷㄷ

– Of course, everyone would drool over Kim Jinsung, lol.

– Real talk, lol.

– I agree.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about these messages. Which big spender should I choose…? After much deliberation, I’ve finally made a decision.”

– Oh

– Who is it?

– Taegeuk Clan?

– It must be one of the four major clans, right?

– ㄷㄱㄷㄱ

– ㄷㄱㄷㄱ

“I’m ready to announce my decision.”

Kim Jinsung finished speaking and took a slow sip from his water glass. Over 300,000 viewers watched him, waiting for him to speak again.

Ten seconds felt like an hour, and finally, Kim Jinsung made his announcement.

“I’ve decided not to recruit a big spender.”

– ?

– ???

– What?

– Really?

– Why?

– This is unexpected…

– Wow, that’s an unexpected answer, ㄷㄷ

Kim Jinsung began to explain his decision, looking at the chat, which was filled with surprised reactions.

“First of all, I think recruiting a big spender itself doesn’t fit the name of this third preliminary round rule, ‘Sponsorship System.’

If you sign a pre-contract with a ‘big spender’ and receive money in return, it’s not ‘sponsorship,’ is it? It’s ‘advance payment.’ “

– I agree

– I agree

– That’s what I said

– It’s not really sponsorship.

“Seeing how things are going, I feel like the meaning of ‘sponsorship’ itself is changing. It doesn’t feel right. So, even if it means losing a lot, I’ve decided to give up on openly recruiting a big spender.”

– Wow…

– You’re so cool…

– You’re so romantic, lol.

– Your mindset is amazing, ㄷㄷ

Kim Jinsung looked at the chat, filled with praise, and thought to himself.

‘Most importantly, I don’t want to be tied down by contracts after the survival ends.’

That was the main reason he gave up on the big spender contract.

From the fight club to the Colosseum Survival, he had been at the mercy of others, constantly facing threats to his life.

He didn’t want to live like that after the survival show ended.

Kim Jinsung wanted true freedom.

‘And South Korea is too small for me to pursue my dreams.’

Just as he thought that, a chat caught his eye.

– But wouldn’t that put you at a disadvantage when you fight against other participants who have big spenders?

“No, I’m not at a disadvantage. I have you all.”

Kim Jinsung answered firmly and stood up.

“Over 300,000 viewers, please help me win the sponsorship battle against other participants who have big spenders! I beg you!”

He bowed politely and pressed the button to end the broadcast.

* * *

Kim Jinsung’s words became a huge topic of conversation in every community.

There were various reactions, but they all converged on one opinion.

– As Kim Jinsung said, this third preliminary round isn’t a ‘sponsorship battle.’ It’s a ‘corporate proxy battle.’

– A young man, only 18 years old, has accurately identified the problem with this system.

– Kim Jinsung’s courage is amazing. He’s sticking to his principles, even though he’s at a clear disadvantage if he doesn’t recruit a big spender.

– He’s already a top star, and his future is guaranteed if he survives. Yet, he made this principled choice. What incredible courage!

– I’m sponsoring him, even if it’s a small amount. I don’t want to see such a cool guy die because he doesn’t have enough sponsorship.

– I’m going to empty my savings account!

Every community in South Korea was filled with praise for Kim Jinsung, and some communities even started to sponsor him.

As posts about sponsoring Kim Jinsung appeared on ‘Gladiator’ and other communities, other participants reacted.

– What? Other participants are broadcasting too?

– Holy crap! Han Mir is live!

– Over 10 people are live now, lol. Amazing.

– Shin Woong isn’t broadcasting, even now. He’s definitely a character…

The number of participants who started broadcasting overnight exceeded 30.

They all made similar statements on their broadcasts. They said they wouldn’t recruit big spenders. So, they asked their fans to sponsor them.

But none of them gained as much attention as Kim Jinsung, who had started broadcasting first.

It’s true what they say, the first mover always gets the most attention.

* * *

The third preliminary round was in its third day.

Today was the second round, where the winners of the first round and the Thieves who had advanced with a bye were all mixed together.

Unlike yesterday, Kim Jinsung was sitting in the waiting room with the other participants early this morning.

He looked at the bracket covering one wall.

‘…My first match is today.’

Two matches caught his eye.

His first match and Shin Woong’s last match.

Kim Jinsung checked his opponent.

‘Han Mir…’

Han Mir. He had been in Group D for both the first and second preliminary rounds. He had gained significant popularity for his outstanding performance in both rounds.

‘I got a tough opponent.’

He had drawn the most challenging opponent, excluding Shin Woong.

“Kim Jinsung, it’s time to prepare for your match.”

A staff member, sticking his head out of the preparation room door, spoke loudly.

Kim Jinsung followed him into the room.

‘…These are the items you can buy with sponsorship funds.’

Kim Jinsung thought as he looked at the items that filled the spacious preparation room. All the familiar equipment he had seen during the first round was displayed here.

“You have 30 minutes to choose the items you want and purchase them with your sponsorship funds.”

The staff member’s explanation reached Kim Jinsung’s ears as he examined the items.

“Now, let me tell you the amount of sponsorship funds available to you, Kim Jinsung.”

—