Chapter 460
Chapter 460
"Whoa! Hello, TeSTAR!"
"Hello!"
We stepped through the open office door.
The ones who greeted us were the very people who had created .
The office was smaller than when they were under T1 Plays—a subsidiary of T1—but it was overflowing with energy.
A chorus of enthusiastic welcomes poured out.
"We had no idea you'd contact us. It's so good to see you! It feels like it's been forever..."
"Haha, yes. This is the first time we've met in person since the collaboration. Oh, and this... it's a bit late, but it's a gift for your new office."
"You didn't have to... Wow, thank you."
Ryu Cheong-woo handed over SF-themed mood lamps, brought in a quantity matching their staff count. Being a company that took such aesthetics seriously, the CEOs' faces lit up instantly.
I knew it would work.
I was glad I ignored Cha Yu-jin’s vehement protests.
Naturally, the conversation drifted toward their past work together.
"Seeing this reminds me of when we worked on the tutorial characters! You were all so well-spoken and fun to work with; we had a blast."
"Really~? We felt the same way!"
The atmosphere grew even more cordial. Well, it was true that we had worked well together back then without any friction.
While that rapport was likely why this meeting happened so quickly... there was probably a more realistic reason as well.
I scanned the CEOs' faces.
It's about networking.
Word was they had walked out on T1 of their own accord.
Even for people with that much backbone, they couldn't be entirely without worry. They were, after all, on the wrong side of a conglomerate.
Even if T1 wasn't a massive player in the gaming industry specifically, its influence across the cultural industry and platforms in general was significant.
Starting over from scratch as a startup must come with some pressure.
In such a situation, if a proven star who had previously provided them with massive marketing effects requested a meeting, I’d take it too.
And if our situations are similar, it piques curiosity.
We had also kicked T1 to the curb and even shed our previous company skin once more. It wouldn't be strange for them to mistake us for 'comrades.'
That was exactly what I was counting on.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, we moved to what looked like a conference room and sat down. Game posters, sketches, and figurines were scattered everywhere.
There's even a character.
Since they likely no longer held the copyright... it was probably kept there out of affection rather than professional pride.
As I looked around, I finally spotted a poster of an unfamiliar character on the wall. It was a character in a conductor's uniform, wielding a bizarre weapon made of flesh.
This is...
It wasn't in these CEOs' existing portfolios. Good.
"Is this a game character as well?"
"Ah, yes!"
"He looks really cool."
"Really? So he's your type, Moon-dae!"
Kim Rae-bin peered at the poster with eyes full of curiosity.
"Is this perhaps a new game?"
"It's the lead character for the new title we're currently developing. But the launch schedule is quite far off..."
"Roughly when are you aiming for?"
"The plan is... well, around the end of next year."
It was ages away.
And they aren't mentioning a specific quarter.
That meant development wasn't exactly proceeding at a smooth, breakneck pace.
It was vague.
Which meant it could easily be pushed to the year after next.
Hmm.
I smiled inwardly.
I took another careful look at the poster.
It was grotesque yet had a modern flair. The quality was high, giving the impression that they still knew how to balance on that fine line.
"So, official promotions probably won't start until next summer. It's a story about a train to the afterlife..."
Thinking we were interested, the male CEO's eyes sparkled as he dove straight into the plot.
Good grief.
He probably hopes TeSTAR will do another promotion or collaboration then.
They really were a bit clumsy when it came to sales.
I listened intently while shifting my gaze slightly. Keun Se-jin was nodding at the CEO as if he were deeply fascinated.
However, I remembered.
I remembered his reaction when I told the members I had tracked down 'Ruined Industrial Complex'—the new company founded by the team.
—Wow... I knew you'd find them, Moon-dae! But you're not thinking of doing another game collab, right?
He acknowledged the find but was telling me to drop any idea of overdoing the collaborations.
Of course, I remembered my response to that, too.
—Of course not.
That's not what we need.
"Actually, hearing you talk about it, I think the games made by the people of Ruin Factory... no, Ruined Industrial Complex, will continue to be wonderfully unique and fun."
"...! Ah, thank you."
"So, there's something I'd like to say."
I moved to the main point.
The reason I came here.
"I'd like to commission you. Could you develop a game for us?"
Not a game collaboration, but an actual game.
"...!"
The CEOs' eyes went wide.
They seemed to scan the others' faces, wondering if I was joking.
But unfortunately for them, none of the other members looked surprised.
Instead, Ryu Cheong-woo simply added:
"Well, the scenario is already prepared."
"..."
The CEOs looked at each other before one finally spoke.
"Um, developing a single game usually takes a very long time. Even if there's a scenario, creating the concept art, graphics, UI, and writing and implementing the code is a different story... It requires complex stages."
Points for the kind attitude of trying to explain things at a layman's level instead of shouting about what kind of crazy nonsense a novice was spouting.
As expected, it'll be good to work with them.
I smiled inwardly while nodding seriously on the outside.
"We aren't so shameless as to demand that much of your time, of course."
"Pardon?"
"I'm not talking about the kind of game you were originally developing..."
I continued my explanation.
A form of game content that wouldn't feel out of place even within the Venn diagram of the existing idol business.
Accordingly... the volume would be small and specialized.
This is definitely possible within the timeframe.
We just had to work like dogs. We just had to squeeze out our own labor.
As I spoke, the CEOs' expressions gradually shifted.
It was definitely interest.
"Ah~ that..."
Good, it's a go.
*
"Thank you~"
After several rounds of explanations and meetings.
The contracts were finalized in short order.
Ryu Cheong-woo spoke brightly as he transmitted the signed contract to the company.
"It's convenient having the authority ourselves for things like this."
"Exactly! It's definitely nice not having to hear unnecessary comments!"
Bae Se-jin chimed in, turning his head with a rare, excited expression.
"So this is it, right? Are we going to do that... album prediction thing again?"
"Yes."
We should.
Just then, someone cut in.
"Ah, Moon-dae Moon-dae, one thing before that! I'm sure everyone heard, but just one more time."
Keun Se-jin grinned.
"Let's not go around saying we're 'Directors' of the company on broadcasts or anywhere else!"
"Hmm?"
"You know, let's not mention that we have contract authority or anything like that. Let's just keep it like before: 'We handle the album producing!' Just that much!"
Ah, right.
This was important.
If we wanted to avoid being held responsible when the company did something stupid, we had to draw the line early.
It was even more vital now that we were independent. There was a higher risk of people equating us with the company.
Just look at how much flak T1 took. There was no guarantee Orbit wouldn't follow in those footsteps.
...And sometimes, choices are made that get criticized because of circumstances the public doesn't know about.
So.
I don't need to benefit from a 'Company Director' image.
The image we could maintain as idols was enough.
"Yeah, I get it!"
"Mm... alright."
"Sounds good~"
Some seemed to understand, while others looked like they didn't see why we had to go that far, but everyone agreed regardless.
After entering the company conference room.
"Um, Moon-dae must be tired... Should we do the album prediction after we go back to the dorm and rest...?"
"No, I'm fine doing it now."
It wasn't like it particularly drained my physical strength.
I immediately connected my laptop to the conference room screen and began typing into the album production hologram.
Since company staff might walk in here, I'll hide the personnel section a bit...
I filled in the other parts well.
[Album]
[Personnel: A]
- Kim Rae-bin (★★★★★), Kim \\ (★★★★), Park \\ (★★★★), Park \\ (★★★)....
[Capital: S]
- ₩5,000,000,000
[Period: B]
- 60 days
(Personnel Bonus + 150%)
(Capital Bonus + 200%)
\*Start Production ← Click!
Everything looked almost the same.
The personnel, the period.
However, behind that 'Personnel' section hidden by ellipses, something else was attached.
External personnel.
I thought of the external staff brought in through this contract with 'Ruined Industrial Complex.'
And based on that, the direction of the album project we had created.
—We won't reveal that critical weakness... that T1 is blocking us.
...If it goes as planned.
It'll certainly be an impressive album.
I pressed the 'Start Production' button.
The effect credits began to burst forth.
[External Personnel: Setting...]
[Plus Effect Triggered!]
Furthermore, if we used this method, surprisingly, the company producing the physical albums didn't need to be one of the top one or two in the industry.
It doesn't matter if T1 interferes.
[Manufacturer: Setting...]
[Minus Effect Offset!]
The concept... is also set.
[Concept: Game]
[Plus Effect Triggered!]
It wasn't just a game, but it seemed to have been unified under that. Well, it didn't matter.
What matters is that the effects were triggered.
The letters flashed brightly.
[Plus Effects]
External Personnel: New Attempt
- Promotion ↑↑
Concept: Premonition of Immersion
- Quality ↑
[Prediction Result Complete!]
I read every single letter without taking my eyes off them.
And finally, the moment the grade appeared.
"..."
I clenched my fist.
[Expected Album Grade: S+ ~ A+]
That's it.
"...Let's produce it."
*
A few weeks later.
It was a day when the weather had begun to turn warm.
The idol gossip boards were in an uproar at the sudden news of TeSTAR's 'Album Pre-order Notice.'
It hadn't even been a month since TeSTAR changed companies.
How was this possible?
The reason was soon revealed.
A repackage.
It referred to an album that adds one or two new songs to the previous album and is re-released.
Actually, TeSTAR had originally planned to make a completely new mini-album or single. This was following the arguments of a few members who said, 'Let's not provoke T1 any more than necessary.'
But after T1's dirty tricks were revealed, the situation changed.
We're already on their bad side anyway.
Thanks to that, they boldly decided to pull in the songs and concept from their most recent release!
However, the public was even more excited.
They changed companies, yet they could bring their previous album with them!
The previous high teen concept album, which only had two weeks of promotions and never got a proper concert, was being resurrected!
Fans were ready to pre-order regardless of the short comeback interval.
And that was... the same for Park Moon-dae's first fansite master.
The fansite master gripped her smartphone as if she were going to crush it.
I've been earning money just for this day...
She had a grand plan. Even if perfect attendance at fan signings was impossible, she had a desire... to attend at least half of them...
But first, to be a source of strength for Moon-dae's new start, the pre-order sales for this album had to be good!
Aaaaah... they definitely won't be able to appear on MusicBOMB.
Casual fans who didn't know better might say escaping T1 was refreshing or whatever, but she knew.
Cutting ties with a broadcasting station—especially the one they originated from—was not a good sign for promotions.
This promotion is really, really important!
Surely the smart Moon-dae would know that, so the fact that they came out so quickly weighed on her heart a little... but that's why results were everything! Only results!
She nodded to herself.
At that moment, an SNS pop-up appeared on her smartphone.
"...!"
TeSTAR's official company account...!
This was definitely the album sales notice. She clicked it frantically.
She quickly recalled the information she had learned beforehand.
This album had three versions, and...
It was an article stating there was a 'Limited Set' that would only sell 1,000 units.
It had received positive reviews because of the kind notice that 'it will be produced as a regular edition MD later,' but... they were also criticized for teasing fans since they didn't reveal exactly what the components were.
...It also made them look a bit money-hungry.
And the identity of that item was being announced now.
Having read through the SNS post in an instant, her eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.
"...A board game?"
And at midnight that same day.
Inside the teaser for TeSTAR's new song.
[Mmm...]
A dark attic draped in blankets, seven members in comfortable casual clothes sitting around the light of a lamp and fairy lights.
It was TeSTAR in the high teen concept that had appeared in the previous album.
They were sitting in a circle on the attic floor.
With a board game in the center.
The dice rolled.