Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: A Fifty Million Won Deal
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When the Director and I returned to the office, President Park Jae-yong and Director Ji were there.
“Ah, you're just in time. How did it go?”
President Park Jae-yong asked, his expression full of curiosity.
“Yes. The contract terms changed, so we only have a verbal agreement for now. What about you, Director Ji?”
“I didn't have high hopes, but it seems they have no intention of changing their concept. They call themselves office workers, but it looks like they'll stick to noise marketing like before.”
Director Ji's words brought to mind the scene of them sucking on ice cream.
“Come on, spit it out. I'm curious. Don't tell me you succeeded? Forty million?”
President Park Jae-yong asked, his face expectant.
“Fifty million.”
Clap!
“Incredible!”
“For real?”
President Park Jae-yong exclaimed, clapping his hands loudly.
“Not in cash, but in stocks.”
“Aish. What's the problem? We can just sell them!”
President Park Jae-yong said with a grin.
“There's a one-year lock-up period.”
“That's still great! Even if they drop by 20% in a year, we'd still get forty million.”
Director Ji defended the Director’s decision.
“Right, right. Plus, don't we get dividends?”
“Dividends might be tough since they're constantly in the red. And it's only fifty million.”
“It'll be possible once our Answer becomes their model and sales skyrocket. I have a really good feeling about this!”
President Park Jae-yong spoke as if imagining a bright future.
“Hah. Our Director Lee, how did you even think of such a condition?”
“I knew it early on, seeing how much Director Lee reads.”
President Park Jae-yong and Director Ji said with proud faces.
“It wasn't me. It was Team Leader Min.”
“?”
Startled, President Park Jae-yong and Director Ji stared at me before speaking.
“…So you're saying our Min-jun inspired Director Lee?”
“Hahaha, that must be it.”
At President Park Jae-yong’s words, Director Ji nodded as if he finally understood.
“No. Smile was adamant that the terms were non-negotiable. So, without much hope, I asked Team Leader Min for his opinion.”
“Director Lee… wouldn't joke about this.”
All eyes turned to me again.
It was my turn to explain.
“I skimmed through Smile's financial statements and headline articles, and it looked like they were in a tough spot. They recently issued high-interest convertible bonds and were essentially heading towards capital impairment.”
“…You know how to read those things?”
Having watched SJ Enter soar from the bottom to the sky in my past life, it was impossible for me to be completely ignorant about the stock market.
“I learned the basics while studying to write lyrics about money.”
“Huh…”
President Park Jae-yong and Director Ji stared at me, dumbfounded.
“So, about that, when we sell them after a year, I plan on giving you a bonus for the excess profits.”
“…Of course, you should. Let's discuss it again then.”
The Director seemed worried I might leave JD Enter. Otherwise, there would be no reason to mention a bonus a year in advance.
Since we're on the topic, should I show off a little more?
“And I've thought of a new promotional strategy for Answer.”
“Oh! Tell me!”
President Park Jae-yong said, pulling his chair closer.
“For an album to succeed, the initial firepower from dedicated fans is crucial, isn't it?”
“Of course it is.”
“You know what VR is, right?”
“Do you take me for an idiot? It's that virtual reality experience thing, isn't it? I've seen people dive into their TVs and smash them, or run their heads into walls.”
“There's a famous rhythm game for those VR devices. It's a game where you slice musical notes with lightsabers.”
“But what do VR devices and rich fans have to do with each other?”
Director Ji cut in, looking extremely curious.
“The VR headset alone costs 500,000 won, and the software to play the game isn't cheap either. To play it properly, you also need a top-of-the-line computer. It's not something you can just jump into unless you're a committed hard-core user.”
“Ahhh…”
Everyone nodded in understanding.
“Anyway, users are complaining that the game has too few original songs. It allows for custom maps, so there are some foreign songs, but almost no K-pop.”
“So you're going to create a map to get these dedicated fans familiar with Answer's song?”
“Yes.”
But President Park Jae-yong’s expression was strange.
“Wouldn't it be better to... outsource something like that?”
It was an unexpected question.
Then again, it was the difference between me, who had everything pictured in my head, and a third party who had only received fragmented information.
“It's a matter of understanding the song and the choreography.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Something a low-level AI could do is just make you slice beats and dodge obstacles.”
“That's right. How could some AI possibly understand human music or artistic movements?”
It seemed my wording had ignited the president's artistic sensibilities.
“Okay!”
President Park Jae-yong clapped his hands.
“Bill us for the device and the software. Anything else you need?”
He was so proactive, I didn't even have to ask.
“At least three hours a day for learning and development.”
“Deal. Get on it right away. We don't have much time before the release date.”
“Are you saying I can go home now?”
“Yoo-jun went to Answer's schedule, so if there's nothing else, you can head home. Right, Director Ji?”
“Yes.”
Wow… leaving work early was just a spur-of-the-moment thing, but it's actually happening?
* * *
I ended up leaving work in a daze.
I had already bought the device and was playing on it, so I just needed to issue a new receipt for the payment.
Time to get serious.
To grasp the essence of the game, I played some highly-rated custom maps.
With the illusion of being alone in a giant club filled with countless lights, a decent beat started flowing into both my ears.
Colorful notes of red, blue, green, and pink flew towards me, and I sliced through them with the matching colored lightsabers in each hand.
It was fun, but I was strictly on the clock.
What a sweet gig.
Slicing notes with the lightsabers and dodging the occasional obstacles made me break a sweat.
Playing a map designed for exercise on the highest difficulty, dodging the obstacles wasn't exactly easy.
In the midst of the excitement, ideas for how to make the map fun popped into my head, and I became more and more engrossed.
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
I thought my room was pretty spacious, but I ended up slamming my shin into the bed. A result of my disoriented sense of direction.
I need to play in a bigger space. And I'll make this map so awesome that people can have fun playing our members' song and stay healthy at the same time.
[Trait 'Star Maker' Activated]
[Your learning ability increases.]
I started studying the developer mode that allows for map creation by searching the web, including 'the Tube'.
Perhaps because it was a music-related game, learning the developer mode wasn't too difficult for me with the trait's buff.
I thoroughly researched how to slice the notes to mimic dance moves and how to place obstacles to create a proper wave.
It was clear that the more familiar the user was with Answer's choreography, the more fun the map would be.
* * *
I was scouting music video locations with Director Ji.
“That door is too sharp. You need to round the edges with a grinder or something. What are you going to do if the girls get hurt?”
“Aigoo, I understand. So please, just make a decision quickly.”
The outdoor scenery was great, but the hastily built set in the studio still needed a lot of work. Which, of course, was why we were here to approve it.
Bzzz.
It was an unknown number.
Before I became a manager, I might have ignored it, but these days, since I've been handing out my business card, I answered right away.
“Hello?”
-Yes, hello. This is SBC Radio's 'Refreshing Afternoon.' Am I speaking with Answer's manager?
The young woman's nervous-sounding voice had all the hallmarks of a junior writer.
It seemed she was calling after seeing my business card, which Choi Yoo-jun must have given her when he went to the radio schedule in my place.
“Yes, that's right.”
-I was wondering if Answer might be available for a schedule tomorrow from 12:00 to 1:30.
“What? That's very sudden.”
I took out my personal phone and opened my calendar. To prevent losing it, the calendars on both my phones had to be synced.
-It is a bit sudden, isn't it? The response to Answer's last appearance was so good, we were hoping they could come on our viewable radio show.
She didn't say it, but it was obvious the originally scheduled guest had canceled. Still, it was true that Answer's appearance had been well-received… and their only schedule was practice and confirming the music video location.
“As it happens, that's a schedule we can move. We'll be there.”
-Oh... yes, thank you! You'll definitely be there tomorrow, right?
She must have understood the nuance that we were filling in for a cancellation, as I could hear a mix of slight tension and relief in her voice.
“It's a sudden schedule, but don't worry, we'll be there even if a multi-million won event comes up.”
-Thank you! I'll send over the script by the end of the day.
“Okay. Goodbye.”
Since the guest had changed, they wouldn't be able to send the script right away.
“What was that?”
Director Ji, who had been waiting beside me, asked as I hung up.
“They want Answer to appear on a viewable radio show tomorrow.”
“My goodness… Someone must have bailed, huh?”
“Still, it's a viewable radio show.”
“Will the salon have an opening?”
“I'll have to call and see.”
I quickly called the salon to ask if they had any availability for tomorrow.
-What should we do? All the slots are full.
“Would an on-site visit be difficult too?”
-Yes. The head director is away at a seminar.
Both salons that JD Enter works with were fully booked.
“No openings, right?”
Director Ji asked bitterly.
“Since it's come to this, let's just have them go on looking natural. Our Answer is pretty enough as they are.”
“Pfft. Anyone would think you've been a manager for years. You've lost that cute, sly charm, kid.”
I just gave Director Ji a faint smile.
* * *
The CF contract with Smile Ice Cream was signed at the JD Enter building.
“You have a lot of beautiful rising stars here.”
“You'll be even more surprised when you see their skills.”
Seeing Deputy Director Cha from Smile with a glint in his eye, I could guess why he'd insisted on holding the signing at our company.
“I was hoping I might get to see Answer, but that's a shame.”
“They have a viewable radio schedule today. I should get going now. I have to go pick them up.”
“Oh dear, it would have been nice to have a meal together. Well then, we'll see them with you next time, if the opportunity arises.”
*There won't be time for that.*
⋮
I headed to the radio station with the members of Answer, who were wearing light foundation and their usual comfortable clothes.
“So we're the fill-ins? I don't feel great about that.”
Yi-na grumbled.
“Even if we're fill-ins, they probably contacted us first. They said the response a few days ago was great.”
“Oh, that's right! I had so much fun too!”
Choi Yoo-jun, who was driving, raised his voice in excitement.
“That's true. The real-time reactions on the monitor were super fun. Right?”
“Yeah. It was fascinating. I thought no one would know me.”
Seul-bi and Ro-si said with pleased expressions.
“Oh, and I have some really good news.”
“It's the CF!”
Seol-ah blurted out, then blushed.
“Wow, Unni, you didn't show it at all, but you were really waiting for... Kyahaha, that tickles! Stop it!”
Yi-na squirmed and shrieked.
Seul-bi and Ro-si were trying to suppress their laughter with serious expressions.
“Agh, aaack! I won't, I won't do it!”
Seol-ah acted as if she'd done nothing, raising the blinds to look out the window.
Half-slumped in her seat like a squid, Yi-na looked up at Seol-ah in shock.
A delayed burst of laughter hit me, and I wheezed alone, my diaphragm getting a workout.
Suddenly, I felt a murderous aura from behind me.
“…Hyung. Seol-ah-nunim is glaring at you.”
“…Hmph!”
So sensitive over nothing. Seol-ah's pride could be a bit much at times.
“That's correct. It is the CF.”
“Kyaaah!”
Seol-ah, who had been shooting lasers from her eyes, changed her expression and cheered along with the other members.
Thump!
“Ack!”
While trying to high-five, Ro-si hit her head on the ceiling.
“Oh no! Are you okay?”
“…Yeah.”
At Seul-bi's concern, Ro-si managed a pained smile.
They had done some minor CFs through agencies before, but the members of Answer knew what I meant by 'CF' and looked incredibly happy.
“We originally received four offers at once, but to maintain Answer's positive image, we decided to go with just the Smile Ice Cream one.”
“What were the other offers?”
Seul-bi asked with a beaming face.
“There was Quarter Membership and…”
“Ah! That one's good!”
“Did they offer less money?”
Seul-bi and Seol-ah said at almost the same time.
It seemed Seol-ah had a lot of hang-ups about money.
“Their signing bonus was the highest. 55 million.”
“Ah! But why!”
“Huh?”
“Why, why?”
The members chimed in, sounding disappointed.
“The possibility of it being a Ponzi scheme was too high, so I put it on hold and requested more information.”
“Huh? A lot of people are doing it, though.”
The members' reaction made me sigh.
The scammers are the ones to blame.
“Just because a lot of people are doing it doesn't mean it's safe. Anyway, considering Answer's image, we stamped the contract for the Smile Ice Cream ad.”
“How much?”
“They offered 35 million in cash…”
“Wow!”
Even at the sound of 35 million, the members were overjoyed.
“But through negotiations, we agreed to receive it in stock. Valued at 50 million won based on the market price for the three trading days surrounding today.”
“Kyaak!”
The inside of the van turned into a party as they held hands and celebrated.
“I'm driving. Hurry up and put your seatbelts back on. You'll get yourselves hurt.”
“Yes, sir!”
The members calmed down and settled back into their seats.
“By the way, aren't you curious who raised it to 50 million?”
Choi Yoo-jun said with a sly look.
“Who? Don't tell me… the Director?”
“The President?”
“Nope! It was all our Team Leader Min-jun's doing.”
“Wow!”
“The best, the best!”
“Go, go, go!”
In an instant, the van heading to the station was filled with praise for me.
Seeing how happy they were, I felt a sense of satisfaction.
Let's keep this up, Answer.