Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: A Different Kind of Deal
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“Where shall we go?”
“The Seoul Hotel coffee shop.”
It sounded a little strange, hearing an Isa-nim in her early thirties use the term ‘coffee shop’ instead of ‘café’.
Then again, why does ‘hotel coffee shop’ feel more fitting than ‘hotel café’?
Is it because they're mostly frequented by the financially comfortable middle-aged and older crowd?
I was only able to forget such stray thoughts once we stepped into the hotel.
A cellist with an elegant air was playing a familiar tune.
I thought it was classical music, but it turned out to be a Japanese anime OST.
“Life is like a merry-go-round.”
The Isa-nim said, her expression one of tranquil healing.
“Yes. Sometimes you think you're running your heart out, only to find you're right back where you started.”
“…”
“Aren't you going to say I sound like an old man?”
“I already know, you don't have to say it.”
The corners of the Isa-nim's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.
We sat side-by-side at a window seat overlooking a garden with a small pond.
“Are you ready to order?”
The staff member asked, holding the menu propped in his hand as if he knew we weren't going to order just yet.
“We'll order when the rest of our party arrives.”
“Understood. I will return once they've arrived.”
Despite seeming to recognize the Isa-nim and me, the employee turned and left without a single personal word.
We waited for the advertiser for over fifteen minutes.
They were five minutes late, but the live cello music drifting gently from the lobby seemed to be shielding us from any stress.
Perhaps I was even subconsciously thinking it would be fine if they were a little later.
“Oh, my. I do apologize for this.”
It was a man in his forties with a slick air about him and a sharp-looking woman in her twenties.
“I'm Manager Cha Sang-hoon.”
“I'm Assistant Manager Chae So-yeon.”
Business cards were exchanged.
“This is Team Leader Min-jun, Answer's manager.”
A peculiar light flashed in Assistant Manager Chae So-yeon's eyes.
She only offered a small smile, but it seemed highly likely she had seen me in articles related to Fire Emblem.
“Ah… for a moment, I thought you'd brought one of the agency's artists with you. You're so handsome, hahaha.”
“You're too kind.”
Even while looking at the Isa-nim, Assistant Manager Chae So-yeon's eyes, which flickered toward me from time to time, made it even more certain that she knew who I was.
Four cups of Yirgacheffe coffee arrived.
A sweet acidity and a smooth body. The fresh aroma, a contrast to a nutty fragrance, made me want to hold the coffee in my mouth instead of swallowing.
“I was such a huge fan of yours, Lee Sun. Even now, if you go to my parents' house, all the albums and merchandise are still there. You know how back in the day, merch was pretty much just fans, dolls, umbrellas…”
The useless chatter made him seem incredibly sloppy.
But there was no way he was a sloppy person.
He wouldn't have made it this far if he weren't a master of negotiation.
“You didn't go through an agency?”
“Haha. I enjoyed *Best Idol* so much. I just knew Answer was a perfect fit for our company. It's rare, but sometimes middlemen try to pull fast ones, so if we're really sold on a project, we sometimes proceed without going through an agency.”
He answered the Isa-nim's question as if being perfectly honest.
Is he trying to lead us on to get something? Or is he acting so casually because he thinks the deal is already sealed?
“Thank you for thinking so highly of us. But as you may have guessed from our request for an urgent meeting, there's something we need to adjust quickly.”
“I thought things were perfectly fine as they are. What could it be?”
The Isa-nim cut in at just the right moment, before he could create a more disadvantageous atmosphere for us, and he, in turn, asked with an unwavering smile.
“To be honest, we also received a direct offer from Latte.”
“Ah… I see.”
“Personally, I have a good impression of Smile, so I'd like to sign with you, but the difference in terms with Latte is so significant that we had to ask for this urgent meeting.”
“Hahaha.”
“As you know, since it's an ad for a competitor in the same industry, we have to choose just one, if only for ethical reasons. We wanted to decide after the meeting.”
Despite the Isa-nim's attack, his expression was overflowing with composure.
That must have landed as something of a mental blow… is he just a good actor?
“Looking at Latte Ice Cream's projects so far, they tend to either severely burn out the celebrity's image or court controversy with gambling-like elements. Like having a sexy, popular star meticulously lick an ice cream bar…”
The Isa-nim's cheek twitched for a fraction of a second.
“Or putting special character stickers inside, leading to the unfortunate situation of uneaten food products being thrown in the trash.”
Manager Cha Sang-hoon's words brought to mind the image of ice cream with Answer's faces on it being thrown straight into the trash, only the wrapper torn off.
A master who could deliver a message without dirtying his own mouth. He was just the kind of person I'd expected.
“I haven't seen the concept and theme Latte proposed, but I imagine it would be more poison than boon for your company's artists. Am I wrong?”
“If it were poison, we wouldn't have even sent our working-level staff.”
The Isa-nim subtly hinted that we were in contact with Latte as well. She was no pushover, either.
A war of words unfolded between the Isa-nim and Manager Cha Sang-hoon, staying within the bounds of not seriously offending the other.
Assistant Manager Chae So-yeon and I didn't dare to intervene, listening intently to their conversation. But just because I was silent didn't mean I had nothing to say. I was just keeping quiet out of courtesy.
“As you must have felt from seeing our theme, it will contribute greatly to raising the public's affinity for your company's artists. If I were you, Isa-nim…”
He paused for effect.
But that ‘your company's artists’ is really getting on my nerves.
He was calling them Answer just a moment ago.
“…I wouldn't hesitate.”
The Isa-nim exhaled, her face expressionless.
“Excuse me, I need to make a quick call.”
“Oh, of course. Take your time.”
A call with Siljang-nim Ji, who went to the meeting with Latte, I bet.
As soon as the Isa-nim left, Manager Cha's smiling face vanished, replaced by a stiff expression as he drank his coffee.
So I'm not even on his radar, huh?
He was no ordinary master.
The Isa-nim is formidable, but I should prepare for the possibility that she gets pushed back.
I took out my phone and looked up Smile Ice Cream's financial statements and their most-clicked recent articles.
My ‘Third Eye’ activated, and the figures on the financial statement shimmered with a blue light.
This is it.
“Assistant Manager Chae. Give me the files on Your Girl.”
Is he saying that for me to hear?
As he flipped through the file Assistant Manager Chae took from her briefcase, he seemed to be treating me like I was invisible.
About a minute passed.
*Click, clack.*
At the sound of the Isa-nim's confident heels, Manager Cha's face once again transformed into that of a good-natured man.
“I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“Not at all. The cello music here is so lovely, I was enjoying it.”
The Isa-nim sat back down, took a small sip of her coffee, and spoke calmly.
“I'll be direct. Our group, Answer, is going to win the first round in next week's broadcast…”
“And that's why they're also modeling for the cover of Elegang's global edition?”
The Isa-nim seemed momentarily flustered by Manager Cha cutting her off, but she quickly recovered and spoke.
“You're well-informed.”
“Yes. We have our sources of information as well.”
“Let's make it 40 million. Their new album is coming out soon, and it's going to be a huge hit.”
“That will be difficult.”
“Even if it's not explicitly in the contract, we will absolutely refrain from any exposure with products other than Smile.”
One of the many incidents that get stars criticized is when they're caught using a competitor's product instead of the one they advertised.
When that happens, the effect of the expensive advertisement is completely nullified, leading to the worst possible outcome where the model's image also plummets.
It's so serious that some top stars will refuse to even consider an advertisement if they've tried the product and don't like it.
“Even if you wanted to guarantee that, Isa-nim, it's not something you can completely control. Besides, you know the going rate for rookies in this industry. If this had gone to Your Girl, it would've been for 30 million.”
Even as he smiled, he showed his stubbornness.
In truth, even if we could earn 10 million won for a single day's shoot without burning out their image, it would still be a profit for us.
The Isa-nim let out a small sigh and looked at me.
“…Team Leader Min, what do you think?”
The Isa-nim, suddenly handing me the reins.
Was she trying to save face after judging there was nothing more to gain? Or was she hoping for some kind of supernatural coincidence from me?
Maybe it was both.
“I heard you say you would endure better terms if performance was guaranteed.”
“…That's a given. I'm a salaried employee, too. I have to produce results to keep my job. If I get the contract signed with the original terms, I maintain the status quo. If I get it signed with better terms, my performance review goes up. That's my job.”
His relaxed smile didn't seem meaningless.
“Second and third quarter sales of 550 billion, operating profit of 13 billion. Net loss of 11.1 billion. A three-year growth rate of negative five percent.”
I recited Smile's financial statements, which I had looked up while the Isa-nim was on her call. After a failed business diversification attempt years ago and soaring raw material costs, Smile was a company that could soon see its capital eroded.
Despite this, Manager Cha's expression didn't change, while the Isa-nim looked surprised.
“Feel free to speak your mind.”
“I would like to receive the contract fee in company stock.”
I said this while looking at the Isa-nim instead of Manager Cha, and I saw all three of their eyes widen.
“What are you talking about?”
The Isa-nim drank her coffee, looking troubled, while a smirk played on Manager Cha's face.
“However, if we're taking it in stock, the amount should be raised. The equivalent of 50 million won, based on the average stock price for the week before and after the signing date.”
“Fifty million?”
Manager Cha said, sounding dumbfounded.
“You've also issued convertible bonds at a high interest rate, so I don't think it's an impossible amount. It's also a symbolic method, enough to make the news.”
“Haha… You're young, but you know a lot.”
Of course. I've already lived this life once, and I have the system.
For the first time, Manager Cha showed a flicker of uncertainty.
“Isn't it a good deal for both of us? We'd have no choice but to work with all our hearts to make the stock price go up.”
“Hahaha. Interesting. Let's say we agree to those terms. What's to stop you from selling it all off at the right time?”
The Isa-nim was silently watching my profile.
“Can't we just put a clause in the contract stating that the shares can only be sold after one year?”
“Ah… so we set a lock-up period?”
So there's a technical term for that kind of clause. It's not like I know everything.
I met the gaze of the Isa-nim, who was looking at me.
“This is a good deal for both sides.”
“Even so, the settlement process will be complicated.”
“You're known for your transparent accounting, Isa-nim. The members won't have any complaints.”
The corners of the Isa-nim's mouth lifted slightly as she turned to look at Manager Cha.
“It sounds like a good deal for both of us.”
“I don't know about that. You're asking for 40% more than the original contract fee.”
“If you're not pleased, we'll take these terms straight to Latte. The ad concept and theme can always be discussed and changed.”
“Hmm…”
Manager Cha groaned, though he kept a smile on his face. I drove the final nail in the coffin with one last explanation.
“Smile gets to hold onto its cash, which is good for you, and from our perspective, we're taking on a risk. If Smile's stock price falls, we lose out, too.”
“That may be true, but…”
“For your reference, Your Girl's members have terrible character. I suggest you look into it.”
At my words, the eyes of the deliberating Manager Cha twitched.
“I believe we've discussed this enough. I also have another schedule to get to…”
I stood up, following the Isa-nim.
“Just a moment, Isa-nim. This is a complex matter, so I'll need to make a call to our IR manager.”
Inwardly, I cheered. Because Answer had the power to send Smile's stock price soaring.