After completing the objectives of his European tour, Zaboru returned to Japan with his mother, sister, and wife. They spent a few days resting and catching up while also attending to matters at ZAGE Japan. Once things settled down, Zaboru wasted no time. He quickly departed for South Korea to visit Red Falcon, ZAGE's official distribution partner for both China and Korea.
Friday 5 May 1997 Korea.
Zaboru arrived at the new headquarters of Red Falcon, smiling as he observed how much the offices had expanded and improved. Since the acquisition and partnership with ZAGE, Red Falcon had been thriving, and the changes were clearly visible. Without wasting any time, Zaboru approached the main gate, where Park Woojin — the owner of Red Falcon — greeted him with a wide grin and a warm welcome.
"Zaboru, how do you do?" Park Woojin asked with a warm grin.
Zaboru nodded and replied, "I'm good, Park. So, how's the task I asked you to handle?"
Park smiled and said calmly, "Relax. Let's take a look at the results first."
Zaboru nodded again and followed Park into the building. This task was one of Zaboru's main objectives for Red Falcon — a critical assignment he had entrusted to Park several months ago. The mission was straightforward but ambitious: to scout and assemble a talented group of both female and male singers. These artists would be taught and trained to perform a specific song Zaboru had written, a theme tied directly to one of his upcoming game projects.
Despite not having any deep experience in the entertainment or music industries, Park had used his extensive business connections to pull together a solid team. He had consulted vocal coaches, met with music scouts, and auditioned dozens of aspiring performers. His resourcefulness paid off. The singers selected were young, energetic, and promising. They had been rehearsing under professional supervision for weeks.
This entire initiative was directly tied to one of Zaboru's most anticipated game releases: Dance Dance Revolution 2, set to launch later this month. Zaboru had high expectations. The game was not only an evolution of the original but also aimed to make a big splash with original music performed by fresh talent. The goal was to make the soundtrack itself a talking point — something that players could enjoy inside and outside the game. He wanted fans to associate these new voices with the pulse of DDR2.
Now, the time had come to hear what all the preparation had built toward. Zaboru could feel the anticipation building inside him, wondering whether the performances would meet the vision he had imagined months ago. As they walked deeper into the studio halls, he mentally crossed his fingers. This was more than just a business move — it was a creative gamble.
Park Woojin led Zaboru into a room fitted with large speakers and high-end audio equipment. With a nod, he pressed play on a nearby sound system. The room quickly filled with a song that Zaboru immediately recognized — it was none other than "How You Like That" by BLACKPINK, a song from his previous life. The sound was crisp, the energy vibrant, and the performance surprisingly strong.
In the recording The vocalists — a group of aspiring talents Park had gathered — sang with confidence and precision. Their harmony and delivery did justice to the original, and Zaboru couldn't help but grin. "This is good stuff," he said with genuine enthusiasm.
Park Woojin grinned proudly and nodded. "Of course it is. I hired real professionals with the budget you gave me."
With that, Park queued up more tracks. Zaboru sat down and listened to each one carefully. The production quality was clean, the voices distinct, and the overall performance levels exceeded his expectations. One by one, the songs played, and as the final track finished, Zaboru felt reassured. Everything was on track — polished, energetic, and perfectly aligned with his vision for the DDR2 project.
Then Zaboru asked, "About the singers — are they truly professionals, or are they still just prospects?"
Park Woojin replied with honesty, "They're still prospects, but very promising ones. They've got raw talent, solid work ethic, and with the training they've been getting, they're improving fast. We've also compensated them quite well for their contributions so far."
Zaboru nodded in approval. He respected rising talent — especially those willing to work hard to prove themselves. After a moment of consideration, he decided to give each singer a small share of the total sales from Dance Dance Revolution 2. While it wouldn't be a life-changing sum, it would still serve as a helpful boost for young artists trying to break into the industry. More than that, it was a way of building long-term goodwill. Who knew? ZAGE might need their voices again in future games or other multimedia projects.
With that decision made, Zaboru turned back to Park. "Can you deliver the final files to ZAGE USA? I want them to start mastering everything on schedule."
"Already prepared," Park said with a nod. "We'll have it sent by tonight. It's a simple job for us."
Satisfied, Zaboru shook his hand and took his leave from the Red Falcon headquarters. As he stepped out into the Seoul evening, his next destination was already on his mind — a PC-bang.
These gaming cafes had exploded in popularity across Korea and China. Many of them were developed and operated by Red Falcon, funded in part through investments from ZAGE. The PC-bang culture had become more than just a trend — it was a phenomenon, a new lifestyle for a generation of gamers. And while ZAGE had played a major role in that growth, they weren't the only ones riding the wave. Independent entrepreneurs were also opening their own PC-bangs, creating healthy competition and a thriving industry.
Zaboru had always believed in this space. That's why, early on, he had instructed Park Woojin to keep ZAGE's PC-bangs competitively priced. But he also wanted them to stand out. So, ZAGE had introduced VIP rooms — more expensive, yes, but offering unmatched service, noise-isolated booths, fast food and drink service
It wasn't just about gaming — it was about experience. And for Zaboru, that difference mattered.
Zaboru wore a simple disguise — casual clothes, a wig, and even a fake moustache — just enough to blend in. As he stepped through the door of the PC-bang, a wide grin spread across his face. The moment he entered, a wave of nostalgia hit him hard: the shouts of excited gamers, the rattling sound of keyboards and mouse clicks, the thunder of gunfire from first-person shooters, the cold air from the air conditioners, and the unmistakable smell of instant ramen. It all took him back to his previous life, to the countless hours he had spent in Korean PC-bangs, immersed in games with his friends.
Feeling right at home, Zaboru started to explore the room. Just as he had expected, most of the players were engaged in ZAGE games. The space was buzzing with energy, with Counter-Strike and StarCraft dominating nearly every screen. The familiarity of it all was overwhelming — not just the games, but the culture, the atmosphere, and the energy of players fully absorbed in their digital battles.
"Rush B, you noob! Why can't you understand a single thing?" one player shouted at his friend sitting beside him. His friend fired back without missing a beat, "The hell do you want me to do? You always die first, moron!" Despite the bickering, they both charged toward point B in the game as planned, only to get immediately wiped out by two enemies holding the corner. But instead of frustration, they burst into laughter, cracking up at how predictable their defeat was. Their chemistry was obvious — the kind of teasing only close friends could pull off without offense.
Their banter didn't stop there. They exchanged playful jabs, nudging each other and pointing at the screen in mock frustration. Their energy lit up that corner of the PC-bang, turning it into a comedy zone.
The two friends adjusted their headsets, queued up for the next round, and started strategizing again — louder than necessary, but too entertaining to quiet down. Their presence reminded Zaboru of his own youth, sitting with friends and losing track of time, not because of the game alone, but because of the joy of being together in the moment.
Then there was one intense 1v1 duel happening in Counter-Strike. As the tension peaked, one of the players landed the final shot and claimed victory. Without hesitation, he jumped out of his seat, thrusting his hips in a dramatic taunt at his friend, drawing laughter from all directions. His opponent, not to be outdone, threw his arms up and shouted, "I was lagging! You just got lucky!" Their friends roared with laughter, clapping and jeering at the friendly trash talk. The whole moment became a mini performance, catching the attention of others in the PC-bang who smiled or chuckled at the animated scene. The camaraderie and over-the-top reactions captured the essence of what made PC-bangs more than just gaming spots — they were places of loud, shared memories.
There was also one guy, completely immersed in his own world, wearing a headset and playing The Elder Scrolls III: Daggerfall. He was so focused on the game that he seemed entirely oblivious to the noise, laughter, and chaos unfolding around him in the PC-bang.
Zaboru enjoyed the atmosphere immensely and couldn't help but grin. He walked over to the operator, and luckily, there was an empty PC available. "One hour, please," he said with a casual smile. After settling in, he quickly logged in using his personal billing account and launched Counter-Strike. Since this was an official ZAGE and Red Falcon PC-bang, all the games were legitimate — no pirated copies anywhere.
Without drawing attention, he signed into the game using one of his hidden alternate accounts, one that nobody knew about. His username: The_Fool.
Then suddenly, a major LAN battle broke out in the PC-bang — a massive Counter-Strike deathmatch that had the entire place buzzing. One by one, players jumped in, drawn by the energy and the chance to show off or just have fun. The match was casual in spirit, but the competition quickly heated up. Naturally, Zaboru joined in, quietly slotting himself into the lobby under his secret handle: The_Fool.
From the very first round, it was clear that something was different. Zaboru didn't just play well — he decimated everyone. His movements were lightning-fast, his aim razor-sharp. He swept through enemies like a force of nature, racking up kills with brutal efficiency while barely getting taken out himself.
The PC-bang erupted in chaos.
"Who the hell is The_Fool!? This guy's a cheater!" one player yelled, slamming his mouse after getting one-tapped from across the map.
Another player, Kang Hajin, narrowed his eyes and got up. "No, look at that PC," his friend said, pointing toward the growing crowd.
Hajin pushed his way through the spectators and locked eyes on the screen. What he saw made his jaw drop. The camera movement was so fast and precise it looked like it was scripted. Zaboru was no-scoping players mid-sprint, quick-scoping out of jumps, spinning and snapping his aim with terrifying accuracy. His fingers danced across the keyboard with perfect timing — switching weapons, strafing, jumping, crouching — like he wasn't playing the game but conducting it.
Then it happened — a moment no one would forget. Zaboru dropped an opponent with a clean headshot, then instantly noticed another enemy flanking from behind. Without a second thought, he jumped, spun 360 degrees in mid-air, and quick-scoped the attacker right between the eyes.
"THAT'S INHUMANE!" someone in the crowd screamed. The entire room exploded into a chorus of gasps, cheers, and disbelieving laughter. Players leapt out of their chairs to see the screen, shaking their heads, mouths agape. Even the operator behind the counter was craning his neck to watch.
For a few surreal minutes, Zaboru wasn't just a player. He was a spectacle. A legend in the making. And no one, not even the most experienced players in that room, could touch him.
Then Zaboru chuckled and stopped playing. There were still about 30 minutes left on his billing, but he didn't care — the match was over, the excitement had peaked, and the show he came to give was done. He logged out of his account and slowly stood up, stretching slightly as murmurs began to ripple across the room.
Several players nearby, still buzzing from the spectacle they had witnessed, stared at him in awe. One bold teenager spoke up, eyes wide with amazement. "Uncle, who are you?"
Zaboru simply smiled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Me?" he said casually. "I'm The_Fool."
Gasps and chatter erupted behind him as he turned and walked away. People leaned out of their booths to catch a glimpse of the man who had just dismantled them all in-game with seemingly impossible reflexes. His name would be whispered in that PC-bang for days, maybe weeks. Some speculated he was a retired militer, others thought he was a god of CS. But Zaboru was already out the door, leaving only questions behind.
Meanwhile, a broke college student, who had been lurking around the cafe hoping someone would log off early, noticed the still-running PC. His eyes lit up with pure joy. "There's still 20 minutes left!" he muttered, rushing over before anyone else could claim it. He threw himself into the seat like a man claiming treasure. "What a steal!" he whispered with a grin as he launched a game and dove in, Free stuff is always wanted!.
Meanwhile, Zaboru returned to one of his houses in Korea and chuckled to himself. "Playing on rental gear like that really hits different, hehe," he murmured, still riding the high of the PC-bang experience.Zaboru savored every second of it, feeling more alive than he had in weeks.
To be continue
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