Chapter 30: Medical Expenses
1256 Words
Alexis, still utterly bewildered, pressed on with her guild battle, accepting a second opponent for the PK match.
She had yet to comprehend what had just transpired.
Why had a mysterious tycoon suddenly taken such an interest in her?
Why, oh why?
In terms of looks, Alexis never considered herself among the most stunning; there were countless streamers on Tik’Y’Tok who were far more beautiful.
Even within the Glorious Guild, Ashley was undeniably more seductive, her voluptuous figure the envy of Alexis herself…
When it came to singing, though Alexis could carry a tune, she was no match for classically trained vocalists.
Tik’Y’Tok was a haven for hidden talents, teeming with professional singers.
There were even several who had competed in national music shows and ranked in the top eight!
So what exactly was it about her that had caught Benefactor’s eye?
She needed to change…
No—she needed to keep improving!
…
Alexis’s second opponent was a streamer from a minor guild,
One so obscure that her VIP seats rarely saw more than a dozen guests, with her weekly contribution board barely scraping together fifty supporters.
This unremarkable streamer was clearly aware of what had just unfolded in Alexis’s room.
So as soon as they connected, she plastered on a wide smile and tried to cozy up.
“Hello, Sister Alexis, hello, Benefactor. I’m Bella from JY Guild. I heard Benefactor likes the song ‘Benefactor’ by Ahn Sung Hoon—I sing it quite well. Would you like me to perform it for him?”
Was she trying to poach the tycoon?
Alexis couldn’t react fast enough, but Sister Amy was far more seasoned.
She ordered curtly, “Mute her mic. Start the PK. There’s no need for small talk.”
Instantly, the opposing streamer’s voice vanished from Alexis’s broadcast…
Of course, Aaron had no interest in listening to the other streamer’s song. As soon as the PK began, two Treasure Maps slammed down like thunder, crushing Bella’s side to a mere sliver of health!
Ever since Aaron activated the Emperor's Crown for his “Benefactor” account, Alexis’s room has become a magnet for viewers.
For it now boasted a resident tycoon—
And a brand-new one at that.
Not only were curious spectators pouring in, but countless other streamers and guild managers were lurking in Alexis’s broadcast, scrutinizing Benefactor’s every move.
Fortunately, Aaron had watched enough streams to know the ropes.
When he registered for the account, he set his inbox so only users he followed could message him.
Otherwise, his inbox would’ve been flooded with private messages—
From those trying to lure him away, seduce him, flatter him, or even hurl insults at him, all manner of bizarre messages would have poured in.
Indeed, in the world of streaming, a savvy tycoon could command more fans and wield greater influence than even the most famous broadcasters.
Benefactor’s string of dazzling gestures today has already won him legions of admirers, with his follower count soaring past a thousand and continuing to climb.
…
Meanwhile, Bella, locked in the PK with Alexis, knew full well she’d been muted.
It was only natural; had their positions been reversed, she might have done even worse.
Thus, she harbored no resentment toward Alexis, and waited patiently for the PK to end.
As for victory or defeat, it was a non-issue—
What was there to consider? Her top fifty contributors barely totaled ten thousand dollars; what chance did she have against Benefactor?
Benefactor, after all, had just unlocked Emperor status and was dropping Treasure Maps like they were spare change!
One must always know their place.
Yet what Bella truly hoped for was the customary “medical expense” after the PK—a token gift from the victor’s benefactor to the loser.
She prayed Benefactor understood this unspoken rule of Tik’Y’Tok etiquette; if not, she would definitely remind him, she vowed silently.
…
When the PK concluded, Alexis unmuted the opposing mic, allowing Bella’s voice to ring out in her room once more.
“Oooh… Benefactor’s attacks hurt so badly…” Bella moaned dramatically, seizing her moment with an exaggerated display of agony.
Aaron chuckled softly. Years of watching streams had taught him exactly how these games were played.
He switched to Bella’s broadcast.
Bella, still “performing” her pitiful act, was practically vibrating with anticipation.
Then it appeared on the public chat: a crimson dragon with vast wings swept across the screen—
The dazzling effect that heralded the Emperor’s arrival in the room!
A message followed: “Emperor Benefactor has entered the livestream!”
Bella’s mask of anguish vanished instantly, replaced by a radiant grin.
“Wow! Welcome, Benefactor!” she exclaimed.
Before her words had even finished echoing, a golden treasure chest began to slowly rise at the center of her screen, rotating majestically.
When it reached its apex, the lid sprang open, unleashing a torrent of glittering coins.
Another Treasure Map!
This was beyond Bella’s wildest dreams.
In typical PKs, if the two streamers had a friendly rapport, the winner’s benefactor might send a token gift—a Magic Book worth a hundred dollars, or at most a Cash Cannon worth three hundreds.
At best, they might splurge on a rocket worth a thousand dollars.
But a five-thousand-dollar Treasure Map as “medical expenses”? Had such a thing ever happened on Tik’Y’Tok?
Perhaps somewhere, once.
But Bella herself had never witnessed it.
She had expected the Benefactor to be generous—perhaps gifting her a rocket at best.
Never in her life had she dreamed of receiving a Treasure Map!
Her reaction was swift and genuine. The instant the Treasure Map exploded onto the screen, she shrieked with joy:
“Oh my god! Thank you, Benefactor, for the Treasure Map! This is incredible… it’s the first one I’ve ever received!”
She wasn’t exaggerating.
Across Tik’Y’Tok’s millions of streamers—though most were casual hobbyists who streamed a handful of times before disappearing—there were still two or three hundred thousand dedicated broadcasters.
Yet among them, the number who had ever been gifted a Treasure Map was vanishingly small.
Streaming was an industry of brutal extremes: the top broadcasters feasted lavishly, growing fat on their success,
while countless small streamers ended each day’s hours-long grind having earned less than enough to pay their electricity bills—
Hence, the nickname “electricity-bill streamers.”
Bella was a notch above that; she could cover her electric bill, maybe even scrape together enough for her internet.
But she had never once received a Treasure Map; her highest tip before today had been a single rocket.
Yet after one PK, her “medical expenses” had manifested as a Treasure Map—how could she not be delirious with delight?
If it were up to her, she would happily let Alexis “beat” her again—
If she could add a time limit,
she would wish for it to happen…
Ten thousand times!
As the platform-wide notification for the Treasure Map rippled across Tik’Y’Tok, swarms of curious onlookers flooded into Bella’s broadcast.
“Good heavens, he just dropped a Treasure Map! Benefactor is insane!”
“She got it, she really got it—this lucky little streamer was paired with Benefactor’s champion and scored a Treasure Map just for losing. Who can even make sense of that?”
Comments flew across the screen like a blizzard, and everyone gained a new, profound respect for Benefactor’s astonishing power.
- Writer
