Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: 14. The Virtue Among Virtues (1)
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“I refuse.”
My near-instant response made Lion CEO’s face twist in surprise.
“Didn’t expect an immediate rejection. It’s not because Sa CEO is here, is it?”
Rejecting Lion CEO’s offer outright had nothing to do with our CEO being present.
I might get some recognition in the entertainment world, but I know zilch about smartphones.
For them to scout someone like me—offering double my current salary—just because of a bulletproof phone idea?
They must know my salary, so this reeks of an ulterior motive.
Now that I know even Teacher Namgoong has shady backing, I have to suspect everyone around the CEO.
Lion CEO’s bloodshot eyes are suspicious enough.
“Kh.”
The CEO, who’d just watched idly as his subordinate got poached right in front of him, finally let out a chuckle, like he couldn’t hold back anymore.
“…Ahem. I told you it wouldn’t work.”
“So Sa CEO had a reason to be so confident.”
“Does that mean I win the bet?”
What.
Did these guys bet on me?
I shot them a flounder-eyed glare, and Sa CEO apologized.
“I didn’t mean to drag you into it either, Manager. But I lost the previous bet, so I had no choice.”
“You made another bet??”
“Lion CEO loves gambling… er, betting.”
“You almost said gambling just now.”
“No, Manager. He clearly said ‘gambling,’ loud and clear. This Lord heard it plain as day.”
The Heavenly Demon, sitting beside me, murmured the facts softly.
Lion CEO rested his chin on his hand, smiling at me without a hint of denial.
“I do like things that get the blood pumping.”
First a martial arts fanatic, now a gambling addict?
“What would you have done if I’d accepted?”
He waved it off at my utterly clueless question.
“Don’t misunderstand. The scout offer was genuine, and I’m willing to pay more than double.”
“I’m just a lowly manager, though?”
His expression turned fond at my retort—not the cute reaction to a character keychain or a small animal.
It was the look you give an ignorant child who knows nothing.
“You’re the only one here who thinks that, Mr. So.”
The people in this room: Lion CEO, our CEO, me, and the Heavenly Demon.
From earlier, I’d strongly sensed that Lion CEO ‘knew’ the Heavenly Demon.
The Heavenly Demon, however, showed no change in expression.
“And Sa CEO said I could take you if you accepted.”
So the CEO bet me in a wager?
I should’ve just hit accept.
Lion CEO gazed at me, unable to hide his regret.
“Ah—strange. I read an unmistakable desire to quit in your eyes…….”
They said his instincts were sharp, and that much checks out.
“What did you bet on this wager, Lion CEO?”
“Lion Watch ad. Sa CEO, you planning six people again?”
“We’ll discuss and get back to you.”
…Did he just lock in the next ad shoot in seconds?
No way the Lion 6 models were won in a bet too.
“Are all CEOs this insane by nature?”
“Heavenly Demon, I’ve been holding back from saying that myself, but now what am I supposed to do?”
“Normally, you’re supposed to say not to say things like that.”
“If there’s nothing else, may we leave? The kids are waiting to go live.”
Lion CEO leaned back in his chair, more relaxed than before.
“Still want you. Lucky Sa CEO—great at picking talent.”
“I think Mr. Moon’s a good guy too.”
Brother Zhang Moon was known for his skills even in that industry.
He took the Heavenly Demon’s eye-color rudeness in stride with good humor.
If we hadn’t pitched the absurd bulletproof phone idea, he would’ve stayed gentlemanly to the end.
But Lion CEO sighed, clearly disagreeing.
“What good is a good guy if he’s in the hospital?”
“Hospital?”
“…You didn’t know?”
Lion CEO glanced at our CEO as he said it.
Our CEO smiled brightly, and Lion CEO’s eyes lit up as he leaned toward me.
Plum blossom scent thickened with each of his movements.
“Mr. Moon had an accident recently.”
“An accident?!”
Is that why a different director showed up on set?
Lion CEO watched my reaction, then feigned a grave expression.
“A knife transport truck clipped him, and a knife flew at his face.”
“K-Knife…?”
“It was exactly that day. On the way back from our first meeting.”
“…….”
Come to think of it, I got a rambling call from Mr. Moon that day.
I was too focused on pushing the bulletproof phone ad to question his sudden change of heart.
But it was because of an accident?
I caught Lion CEO smirking.
…His own employee got hurt, and he’s grinning?
“Perfect timing, right? Knife attack right after hearing about the bulletproof phone.”
“…Yeah.”
One person immediately came to mind as the culprit.
I stared hard at the Heavenly Demon.
He slowly closed his eyes as our gazes met.
He doesn’t pull this stuff every time I’m not looking, does he?
[I swear, this was the first time.]
‘Now mind-reading too?!”
[Your face is so transparent, you bastard.]
[That guy didn’t even get hurt much.]
[Really.]
Haa……
Fine. Can’t expect much from a Demonic Cultist.
Lion CEO, still watching me, drawled lazily.
“That’s why I really wanted to snag you today.”
“…Mr. Moon got in an accident—why me?”
“What’s the most important thing in gambling?”
“I don’t gamble.”
“Luck. It’s luck.”
Lion CEO’s lips curved up.
“The odds of that happening to Mr. Moon on the day of the bulletproof phone pitch? Unless Hwajin here—the real Heavenly Demon—tailed his car and mind-controlled the knife truck driver to cause it, the chance of it happening by coincidence is slim. All we can say is you got lucky, Mr. So.”
“…….”
He’s definitely saying this knowing everything. No way it’s my imagination.
Lion CEO wasn’t done.
“You’re lucky, Mr. So. Probably been insanely lucky all this time.”
“I’m not that lucky.”
His eyes changed in an instant.
“Wanna bet?”
“Huh?”
“You and me. Who’s unluckier?”
What could anyone gain from a bet like that?
Wait, is there something?
“…What’re the stakes?”
“Your joining Lion?”
“And you?”
“Lion.”
This guy’s totally unhinged.
“Both end up at Lion. I refuse.”
“Rejected twice in one day. Now I really want to win.”
“Enough now, Mr. Yang.”
Only when our CEO politely intervened did Lion CEO back off.
“You rejected me twice, but I was rude today too. Lion 6’s success owes itself to your luck.”
Lion CEO flashed a clean smile.
“I prepared a small token of thanks. I’ll deliver it and be off.”
No sooner had he spoken than the meeting room door opened, and Lion staff filed in.
They lined up seven boxes—presumably Lion 6s—on the table.
He’s giving us Lion 6s.
Pre-orders are sold out; impossible to get.
Could flip them for a nice profit.
Lion CEO opened one box, pulled out the phone, and gently traced its edge with his fingertip.
“Even engraved your names.”
…No selling these used.
“But… seven?”
“Six Nine Beggars Squad members plus you—seven, right?”
Ah……
The Heavenly Demon already wore a face sensing impending hassle.
That guy won’t let it slide……
* * *
“I’m fine.”
Dang Sachun said it without losing his smile.
“Why would I take it? I’m not Nine Beggars Squad, and I’m not even a Kichi trainee anymore. Sure, I supported the idea most enthusiastically and shot the longest, but I’m good.”
“Sachun, take mine at least…….”
“Ah, Leader Sunbae’s so kind. Willing to give up one with his name on it. But what if I lose the phone? How do I prove I’m the owner? Nah. I’ll just change my name to Supreme Sword.”
Ungrateful brat, mocking me for not grabbing one……
“No time for that guy. We gotta go live.”
While I was off with the CEO, Jahwa—now in fresh bare-faced makeup—started nagging.
“Hurry, hurry.”
“Why the rush?”
“Makeup turned out great.”
“…It did.”
Last live, three sat and three stood, so it came up.
This time, cleared the table, sat three in front of the sofa, three on it.
“Brother, where should I stand?”
“Behind me.”
Not taking a ghost photo—why stand behind the sofa?
“Updated the live stream disclaimer—read it again.”
“No leaving during broadcast, no specific product ads… Lion 6 too?”
“That’s fine.”
“Got the phones anyway—wanna show ’em off on live.”
“Good idea. Just no full ad spoilers.”
“Got it. Next: nationalism to one verse only, no martial arts on stream, no family mentions, no reacting to rumor chats. …Dropped ‘no badmouthing CEO’?”
“Going live~”
“Hyung So, you fought with CEO?”
I typed the title and hit broadcast.
[Nine Beggars Squad] ●Live Stream Start!
Nine Beggars Squad: Anytime, anywhere, anyone is Nine Beggars Squad
Chats flooded the black screen the moment the alert popped.
-Who??
-Group stream?
-OMG first stream in forever!!!
As the feed connected, the center-seated Leader shouted the team slogan first.
“Nine Beggars Squad.”
“Gal!”
“…Gal.”
The others’ ‘Gal’ was a beat late.
Because the Heavenly Demon, stone-faced, had cupped his fists and responded first.
-Wow Hwajin did the slogan
-Hwajin finally knows it?
-He knew back then but said he’d break the camera if he did it
-Hwajin camera’s fine lololololol
The Heavenly Demon unclasped his fists casually.
“Now I can control my strength.”
-Why suddenly control lololol
“Thanks to you filthy beggars, I regained my power.”
-WTF lip service? Lol but I like it
-Bold, yet somehow not hateable—why?
-Didn’t break camera but timing’s still off lololol
-Tears over this
-Look at Jahwa’s wide eyes so cute lolol
Fair enough.
Even I flinched.
He must’ve remembered getting called out last time for skipping it.
In a rumor mill about him leaving, skipping the slogan would’ve fueled worse talk.
Probably calculated that and did it today.
The Heavenly Demon taking idols seriously never stops feeling off.
-But what’s that in bros’ hands? The world’s first bulletproof phone? Lololol
Jahwa caught the chat, held up his Lion 6 to the camera.
“Yup, bulletproof phone! Lion CEO gifted them for our hard work!”
-Good job yeah who wires up for a smartphone ad lololol
-My idol’s bulletproof phone model—chest swelling lolololol
-How’d it feel getting that pitch bros lololol
Jahwa grinned at the chats.
“Filthy beggars, wanna hear something fun?”
-More fun than bulletproof phone? Lolololol
-What spill lolololol
“We pitched the bulletproof phone to Lion.”
-??? You guys came up with bulletproof phone???
-Mind blown identity reveal
“Exactly our manager bro! He’s an idea bank. He teamed with Heavenly Demon bro for the Public Enemy of the Martial World concept too.”
-Manager’s super capable
-Thought Kichi picked managers for looks lololol
-But Public Enemy to bulletproof phone gap’s huge lolol
-Wow then manager’s idea blew up huge? Gotta pay royalties right?
…I stayed quiet since it was live.
But hearing my name tossed around embarrassed me.
Still, good impression on fans’ll make launches smoother later.
Oblivious pure Jahwa just bragged his Lion 6 to fans.
“Names engraved here too.”
The engraving split consonants and vowels around the metal edge.
Jahwa’s, for example: ‘ㅈㅜㅈㅏㅎㅏ’.
A full loop design.
-Cute engraving
-Sell engraved ones to fans
-Lettering service with Nine Beggars Squad names pls
As fan chats clamored for Nine Beggars Squad-engraved Lion 6s, Leader chuckled lightly, half-joking.
“Good idea? Lion folks watching, add it as an option please.”
Normal live banter.
Then, atop the chats: a short reply.
-OK.
Short, buried instantly, but stylistically off from fan chats—stood out.
Seeing it oddly reminded me of Lion CEO from earlier.
Come to think of it.
‘He said he’s a Nine Beggars Squad fan, so maybe watching…….’
But would Lion’s CEO have time for this at this hour?
Probably just lip service.
He focused on me even with the Heavenly Demon there.
We chatted about ad shoot mishaps when chats suddenly exploded.
-? What’s this?
-Everyone who pre-ordered got texts? Lololol
-Bros Lion 6 lettering service started??
-Nine Beggars Squad option there lolololol
Guess I underestimated Yang’s pull after all.