[Dokkaebi ’Albert’ has cast Timestop.]
I had seen this system message once before in my past life.
Using Timestop wasn’t something Dokkaebis did casually. It levied a steep execution cost on their personal point reserves. However, Albert had clearly judged that burning those points was worth the potential long-term return.
As reality ground to a halt, Albert materialized out of thin air, looking visibly frantic.
"Y-You’re a real monster..." he blurted out immediately. "To command a single challenge bounty of over 20,000 Points... Do you even realize how insanely lucky you are?"
"What’s your point?" I asked, keeping my voice flat.
He waved his hand dismissively, irritated by my nonchalance. "Whatever. I don’t have much time while this spell is running. Just make sure you accept that wager, as it’s going to accelerate your growth massively."
I nodded slowly, but I knew advice wasn’t the real reason he had frozen time. That wouldn’t make any economic sense for a Dokkaebi.
"Actually, there’s something else," Albert continued, leaning in closer. "I want to strike a deal with you. An exclusive partnership."
I feigned total ignorance. "And what does that entail?"
"Simply put, I become your sole broadcast manager. Only my network will be allowed to stream your perspective as you climb the Tower."
"And what do I get out of it?"
Let’s see what kind of dogshit lowball offer this gremlin tries to pull.
"I can grant you a lump sum of 100,000 Points for your exclusive rights," Albert declared proudly. "What do you think?"
I glared at him with pure disgust. I was already on the verge of claiming a fifth of that amount from a single spectator wager. Did he take me for an idiot?
"Fuck off," I spat. "Stop trying to scam me and tell me what you can actually offer."
"F-Fuck...?! What did you just say to me?"
His eyes widened in absolute shock.
It was clearly the first time Albert had ever been spoken to like that by a human. Outside the Tower, challengers lived in absolute terror of the Dokkaebis, especially after watching Albert obliterate a man with a flick of his finger during orientation. But inside the system matrix, his authority was bound by strict regulations. He could technically try to execute me, but the thousands of high-tier entities spectating my channel would ensure he was erased from existence immediately afterward.
I held all the cards here, especially since challengers unlocked the ability to sign with higher-tier, independent Dokkaebis upon reaching Floor 3.
It was only a matter of time, and he knew it.
"What about 5% of the channel’s total revenue plus 250,000 Points upfront?" Albert bargained, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
The longer Timestop ran, the more expensive the upkeep became. He needed to lock this down fast.
"5%? You still think I’m stupid," I scoffed. "Keep wasting my time and I’ll take my broadcasting rights to a higher-ranked Dokkaebi on Floor 3, someone who actually understands my market value."
"2-20%! I’ll give you 20%!" he stammered, panicking. "Remember that mana stone I gave you on Floor 0? Hasn’t that helped you? Can’t you see I’m trying to be reasonable here?"
I laughed directly in his face. "I also remember you trying to murder me by artificially altering the Floor 0 boss difficulty."
Albert opened his mouth, but no words came out. He knew he was backed into a corner.
That was the exact moment I moved in for the kill.
"I’ll sign if you give me a 95% revenue split," I stated calmly. "As for the upfront points, keep them. I’ll earn them myself."
His jaw dropped, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. He looked at me as if I had completely lost my mind.
Who in their right mind would ever agree to a 95/5 cut?
"Are you insane? 95%?!"
Yet, I knew he would take it. He wasn’t going to find another product like me in this generation. A 5% cut of an unprecedented channel would eventually outweigh a 100% cut of a mediocre streamer. I already had over 11,000 spectators before even setting foot on Floor 2.
My growth trajectory was completely off the charts, and that little gremlin knew it better than anyone.
"Think about it logically," I said, stepping closer. "Will you ever find another challenger pulling these numbers on [Hell] difficulty? Entities are already throwing 20,000 Points at me for basic restrictions. Once they realize I never respond to standard private messages, they’ll start dropping massive donations just to get my attention on the public stream feed."
"Y-You won’t reply to private messages?"
Albert’s pupils practically morphed into dollar signs. A sleazy smirk broke out across his face as he realized the sheer volume of donation traffic that strategy would generate.
"Still, a 95/5 split is insulting," he whined, trying to save face. "The other executives will mock me relentlessly if word gets out. How about 50/50? An even split."
"What are you actually bringing to the table?" I countered coldly. "I’m the one putting my life on the line and generating the content. Keep arguing, and I’ll drop your cut to 1%."
"W-Wait, no! Okay, I accept! I accept!" he blurted out, waving his hands frantically. "95% of channel revenue to you, 5% to me, in exchange for exclusive streaming rights."
I concealed my satisfaction behind a neutral expression, extending my hand forward to seal the deal.
"Pleasure doing business."
The moment our hands met, a gleaming gold system window materialized between us.
[ System Announcement: Exclusive Broadcasting Rights Contract ]
[ Contracting Parties ]
- Streamer / Challenger: Caliste Henry [Difficulty: Hell]
- Channel Operator / Dokkaebi: Albert [Rank: Intermediate Broadcast Executive]
[ Contract Terms & Stipulations ]
Exclusive Streaming Rights:
- The Contractor (Albert) is granted the sole and exclusive right to manage, broadcast, and monetize the individual channel feed of the Contractee (Caliste Henry) within the Tower network.
- The Contractee is strictly prohibited from signing secondary streaming agreements with competing Dokkaebis or third-party broadcast entities.
Revenue Distribution & Profit Split:
- Contractee Share (Caliste Henry): 95% of all total revenue generated through spectator subscriptions, direct messages, sponsored broadcasts, challenges and channel ad placements.
- Contractor Share (Albert): 5% of all total revenue generated through channel operations.
Message Monetization Clause:
- Direct text/voice exchanges with the Contractee require a minimum spectator donation threshold, set dynamically by channel engagement metrics.
[ System Validation ]
Contract Status: [PENDING FINAL BINDING SIGNATURE]
Dokkaebi Execution: Signed [Albert]
Challenger Execution: Awaiting Confirmation...
Do you wish to affix your soul-brand to finalize this agreement?
[ ACCEPT ] [ REJECT ]
I immediately selected [ACCEPT].
It was an absolute win for me. Without an official creator contract, the System automatically defaulted 100% of stream revenue to the broadcasting Dokkaebi. Securing a 95% split this early was an unprecedented financial heist.
[Dokkaebi ’Albert’ has cancelled Timestop.]
Color and motion flooded back into the environment as time resumed its flow.
Without breaking stride, I accepted the 20,000-Point restriction challenge, plunged bare-handed into the boss arena, and completely dismantled the Floor 1 Guardian in minutes.
With thousands of points flooding my account and my exclusive contract locked down, I stepped through the exit portal.
It was time to clear Floor 2 and claim my elven summon.