Gold Rush Era (6)
It hadn't even been that long since he set foot in America, yet Bang Jeong-hwan had already become what people would commonly call an "insider."
"—So since I couldn't speak English, what choice did I have? I had to use the two arms and two legs that heaven gave me. I carefully used body language like this and that, and somehow the clerk understood and responded the same way—"
By now, Bang Jeong-hwan had already become a well-known figure.
On top of being Korean, he even carried the "penalty" of not attending church, but something like that couldn't possibly stop this heaven-sent social butterfly.
After learning a bit of English, he would stride confidently into the streets, gather children like some kind of street performer, and start spinning stories—he had already become a local celebrity.
But now that things had come to this, I felt a bit sorry for the growing children, but I needed to take Teacher Bang with me for a while.
"A trading card game? A game about trading… I really can't picture it at all. What exactly do you mean?"
"Seeing is better than hearing a hundred times. Why don't you try a quick round first?"
And one hour later, the warm and gentle-looking Bang Jeong-hwan's face had turned as red as a ripe persimmon.
"Again! Again, again! I've grasped the essence of this game now. No matter how good the cards are, if you can't keep them in your hand, they're useless! Now I can win. Seriously, really."
"Alright, alright, calm down."
Ah… this man is a total beginner. Go hold hands with that loser Kim Yushin over there.
How dare you try to challenge me—a man who's lived decades as a professional ddakji master—in a game of paper tiles? I've already earned the title of war hero, so now it's time to hear people say that Yujin Kim was the one who created ddakji at the dawn of time.
I only realized it after clumsily drawing and cutting paper, but my soul longed for the entertainment of the 21st century.
Just look at this unbearably dull 1920s. I'd wager that about 24% of all this talk about free love and whatnot is simply because people are bored out of their minds.
Touching ddakji brings peace to both body and mind. Yes, this is what I wanted. In this nightmare of a world without PCs or consoles, surely I can at least create one analog game ahead of time.
"I'd like you to give this game a story."
"A story for a game? I have no idea what you mean."
Trying to explain this in an era where even snake-and-ladder games are the norm was truly difficult.
I decided to call over Yushin, who was busy sorting through cards and building a deck, and explain it together.
"No one knows if this alone will be enough to make it a hit."
"Honestly, if people just try it, it's pretty fun, so it'll probably sell. But yeah… like you said, getting to that point is the problem."
"The reason people collect baseball cards is because they're attached to the games and the players. So we need to put a narrative into our cards too."
I tapped a few cards as I spoke.
"If we create something like a novel or a comic and present it to the public, it might create a virtuous cycle."
"And how are we supposed to sell that?"
"We cram it into newspapers."
"So you're telling me to write a serialized novel for a newspaper? I haven't even been in America that long!"
"Just test the waters for now. You can outline the main structure, and we can hire an American writer later."
Even after hearing me out, Bang Jeong-hwan still looked troubled.
"If you help, I'll make a card modeled after you, Teacher Bang."
"Then make it an outrageously overpowered, curse-inducing card."
He agreed without hesitation.
Wait—if it's this easy, what am I supposed to do?
After entrusting him with the task, some time passed.
When I met Bang Jeong-hwan again, he had become gaunt and emaciated.
"Haven't you been eating? What happened to your once-robust figure?!"
"I got carried away while working on it…"
He spread out dozens of planning documents and began shouting as if he were giving a job interview presentation.
"After compiling American stories and various children's opinions, I've concluded that the current trend is adventures in mysterious worlds!"
"Is that so?"
"Exploration and hardship in a strange, mystical world! Dragons and knights, witches and princesses, magic and conspiracies, companions and heroes! This will definitely succeed. Both Joseon and America have stories for children, but none approach it in such diverse ways. In that sense, the many stories General Kim told me were incredibly inspiring. Now, children won't remain mere spectators—they'll become the protagonists of their own adventures, defeating enemies and achieving great victories! In that sense—"
No, no. If I get caught in that endless speech, I'm done for.
"So what do you plan to do? Will you write it yourself?"
"If you can assign me a few people, I think I can manage. My English isn't perfect yet, so I'll need someone to refine the text into language that's accessible to the general public."
"Is there anything else you need?"
"I need people to play the game and give feedback. And the artists need to start preparing in earnest."
Had I truly ignited his creative spirit?
He already seemed convinced that this project he was part of would go down in history.
And then, more time passed.
"Where's the next chapter?!"
"Next episode! The next one!!"
"All the card packs are sold out! They're gone!"
"I'm selling unopened packs! Cheap, cheap!"
Madness swept across all of California.
"Hyung… what have you created this time…?"
"Why are you acting like you weren't involved? You did most of it."
"How was I supposed to know it would blow up like this?!"
The first-ever trading card game, which had modestly launched only in areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles, quickly started draining children's pocket money.
And though we had worried whether a serialized newspaper novel would even reach children, those concerns turned out to be unnecessary.
One local newspaper we had paid to run the serialization skyrocketed in popularity and ended up begging us, "We'll pay you, so please continue the series."
The compiled book editions sold like crazy.
And this frenzy didn't stop in California.
People who witnessed the craze rushed in, each asking for distribution rights in their own states—and as soon as they began selling, they too hit the jackpot.
The fever spread across the entire United States at an alarming pace, and things soon went beyond our expectations. Fathers who had been dragged around by their kids to buy those "damn card packs" ended up becoming obsessed themselves, frantically building decks.
"Wow! It's the Golden Black Lotus!"
"Sell that to me! How much do you want? Just name your price!"
"I'm not selling! Do I look insane? I want to win too!"
I've said it again and again, but this era was unbelievably boring.
Just how boring? The biggest trend across the entire United States right now was… crossword puzzles. Yes, those little word grids.
If you got on a train, more than half the passengers would be doing crosswords. Dictionaries were selling like crazy—to the point that train cars were stocked with them. This was considered cutting-edge entertainment.
That was just how this era was. If you discarded modern sensibilities and multiplied the excitement of when StarCraft or Diablo first arrived in Korea several times over, you'd get exactly this atmosphere.
And into such a world, I threw a card game.
"Are you Major Kim?"
"Excuse me, but who are you?"
"My apologies. I've come from the White House."
With utmost politeness, he handed me a small envelope.
"It's a personal letter His Excellency the President requested to be delivered in secret."
A secret order from Harding? What on earth could it be?
I carefully broke the seal and began reading.
—To Major Kim… (omitted)… Therefore, if you could kindly send me just two of those Black Lotus cards from your family's game, I would be most grateful for a long time to come…
I don't know anymore.
I really don't know anymore.
***
As the success far exceeded our expectations, I started to grow a little greedy.
"That's what you call a businessman's instinct. Or perhaps the instinct of a gambler."
"Even if you say that, I'm not selling. No, I can't sell."
"Just what kind of devil came up with that damned golden card idea! Are you telling me even Henry Ford can't have a deck full of gold cards?!"
Well, that's because no one is selling them—they're all clutching them tightly.
Are you watching this, gamers of 2020? Yujin Kim has done it. We now live in a bizarre world where middle-aged men sit in clubs, cigars in their mouths, playing card games.
"So, how do you plan to expand the business?"
"I'm thinking of making a movie."
"Isn't that a bit much?"
"What if we distribute a special card that can only be obtained by watching the movie?"
"Hmm. Then which film company are you planning to approach? And theaters? At this rate, they'll be lining up with sacks of money, begging to work with you."
Good. If Chairman Ford is saying that much, then it's practically guaranteed.
It was still too early. To bring this kind of fantasy to the screen, animation would be far better than live-action.
Best case, we reignite the boom once it dies down a bit. If not, then when the Great Depression hits, we push aggressively with investment as bait.
We had secured a weapon to break into Hollywood and struck an enormous cash jackpot—so what comes next?
Time to return to my main job.
"Aren't you working?"
"What work are you referring to?"
"I hear that instead of resting during your leave, you've been running around busier than ever. That must mean you're dying to get back to work, right?"
The sight of Lieutenant Colonel Marshall smiling was nothing short of the reincarnation of Diablo himself.
Late 1924.
Just before the full-blown madness of the card game engulfed the entire nation, I was summoned by Marshall.
"This will be the last time we meet here. With General Pershing retiring, I'm done here as well."
"Have you been assigned your next post?"
"I'm heading to the 15th Regiment in Tianjin, China. I've worked myself to the bone all this time, so it's about time I started managing my career. Any thoughts of coming along? They seem quite eager to have you there."
"Absolutely not."
I'm not going! I said I'm not going!! I already told you before—why are you asking again?!
"I see. Very well."
Just before retiring, Pershing reportedly signed off on Douglas MacArthur's promotion to major general.
And there was really only one position for a major general in the Philippines—the commanding general of the Philippine Department—so it was practically an order for him to return to the mainland. In many ways, Pershing truly had the bearing of a great man. If it were me, I'd have promoted him and then dumped him in Panama.
"What's with that surprised look?"
"No, I'm just amazed he actually got promoted…"
"And you? Have you given any thought to your own promotion? You nearly died twice and still haven't moved up. You've done plenty and even received medals, but you keep running off everywhere—of course you won't get promoted."
You really didn't need to bring up that Rising Sun medal.
"So what will my next assignment be?"
"Well, there happens to be a position that will be very helpful for managing your career. It's a great role where you can build connections and gain a broader perspective that frontline officers rarely get."
Something about this… feels ominous. Why is Marshall, of all people, talking this much?
"General Pershing's successor as Chief of Staff will be General John L. Hines. He commanded the 1st Brigade of our 1st Division during the Great War, and later the 4th Division during the Saint-Mihiel and Meuse–Argonne offensives. I assume you remember him well."
"Yes, I do remember."
"Well, the position of his aide-de-camp just opened up. Having served as the Chief of Staff's aide myself, I can tell you—it's extremely beneficial. I'd very much like you to accept it."
No. Absolutely not. Look at you—you've become skin and bones after doing that job!
"I've even had the residence I used cleaned up nicely. You'll be very happy. Or is it not to your liking? If not, then perhaps you should come with me to China—"
"I've always wanted to serve as an aide! Thank you! Arigato! Xiexie!"
Marshall said, "General Hines isn't like General Pershing—he won't dump all his work on his aide, so don't worry," but for some reason, it felt like he was smiling.
"I hope this will also be a chance for you to fix that unpleasant personality of yours."
"What do you mean unpleasant?!"
Says the man who's the worst of all!
READ MORE CHAPTERS HERE : https://beastnovels.com/