Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: 19. Nine Factions × Green Forest (1)
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Green Forest's fandom, CAPS.
They were called "Green Forest" more than their group name "Greenwood."
But their fandom name matched the group with something in English.
That CAPS open chat room was on fire for the first time in ages.
Compared to the Nine Factions fandom, CAPS was just a handful.
They could fit in an open chat room, so you could guess the scale.
Endless messages pouring in like now weren't a regular thing.
The last time it got this heated was after the Heavenly Demon controversy.
...Right. Even that was about another idol group.
Same thing this time.
[Sorry to bring up other idols, but did you see the latest ep of Righteous-Demonic Camp Chaos? Fuck lmao I nearly died laughing]
Didn't look sorry at all.
The notice clearly said no other idols, no swearing.
But no one enforced it, and the chat kept rolling.
[I saw it lmao Heavenly Demon hunt had me dying]
[Living for Righteous-Demonic Camp Chaos these days]
[? Isn't this CAPS room? Why live for other idols?]
[Green Forest doesn't do variety]--
[Not doesn't, can't. Fuck ㅠ]
[Nine Factions guys, members, agency, fandom all seem built different]
[Admit it, we lose in physicals]
[Hey, Green Forest ops are average 180cm]
[Not member physicals, fandom physicals]
[True, Beggar Clan Disciples aren't normal civilians lmao]
[Anyone been to Jujahgil? Can't tell if it's Anyang or the martial world there]
[Heard Kichi's nice to Nine Factions cuz scared fans'll riot]
[Why they even stan idols? Should go to Taereung]
[Didn't you know? Tons of Olympic medalists are Nine Factions fans lmao]
[Only group where "muscles" is a valid answer to what you gain from stanning idols]
[Why don't we rent an amusement park for fan events? Oh right, Ramang's broke~^^]
[Ramang's the problem agency name, why put "ruin" in it? No wonder they're flop idols lmao]
[I straight-up told everyone around I delulued during Sexy Buddha era, too embarrassing]
[Sexy Buddha fuck lmao Seen idols sue agencies but first time idol gets sued by Jogye Order lmao]
[I'm into self-produced idols, composer fave... but Sexy Buddha crossed the line, better take songs from others]
By the time it was unclear if this was a fandom room or a hate room.
[? Anyone get Nine Factions U-Live alert just now?]
[Fuck lmao you a CAP not?]
[CAPS who set Nine Factions U-Live alerts now appears]
[What? Set it last time cuz they did U-Live with Green Forest?]
[Yeah sure lmao]
[What you hiding between us? Two-timing~ just don't delulu lmao]
[Wait hold up, think we gotta watch Nine Factions U-Live?]
[Turn on Nine Factions U-Live]
[Y'all collectively insane? What's up?]
[Nine Factions U-Live link]
[Even brought the link? We get hacked by Beggar Clan Disciples open chat?]
[No, this broadcast alert's "Nine Factions × Green Forest"]
[Uchi's on Nine Factions U-Live rn, unreal]
[Doing collab stage with our boys??]
[What? Nine Factions? Why with our flop idols?]
[Fuck, my singers getting objectified, tears lmao]
[U-Live together, guess they're closer than thought??]
The open chat went silent for a bit.
Everyone probably watching the same thing.
[Collab stage with summer refresh concept...?]
[Nine Factions are gods!]
[Going to stream martial world public enemy]
[Already #1 for a month, what's streaming gonna do lmao]
[Admin: Nine Factions mentions unrestricted for now]
[This room has an admin?? lmao]
[Fuck acting like they enforced before lmao]
[But Nine Factions doing refresh first time too? Their side must be chaos lmao]
* * *
The choreography the CEO gifted Uchi.
No way it was ordinary.
The CEO handed Uchi an inner power cultivation method.
Call it a warning of sorts.
That he could use people around me anytime...
"But I can use people around me too."
"That's why you gotta guard the axe you trust."
Soon as I heard Uchi got choreography from the CEO,
I suggested a Nine Factions collab stage instead.
Uchi knew what'd trend more.
Ramang CEO accepted on the spot, I heard.
Before our CEO could step in, they did a U-Live, so no backing out now.
Plus, they spilled it'd be summer refresh concept, so pretending otherwise would piss off both fandoms big time.
Our CEO's always stuck on wuxia concepts, so if refresh flops, Green Forest would blame him for sure.
"But you, were you some big shot? Too many bowing to a mere manager?"
I stopped by the office for the Green Forest collab after ages.
Heavenly Demon seemed deeply impressed by how they treated me.
"Not bowing, just greetings... but yeah, I was head manager before you came."
"What's the difference?"
"You know there're lots of staff following Nine Factions around, not just me. Drivers change per member."
"Those road managers?"
"Yeah. I managed them. Been off field work a while. Most managers except me are on-site. That's why only I was in the office when you... stormed in."
Heavenly Demon stroked his chin, very intrigued.
"Hmm... so broadcast folks panicked seeing just you."
"That's cuz outside, I'm CEO's proxy."
Also cuz my track record managing Kichi's top output, Nine Factions since trainee days...
Thinking about it, I get why others think the CEO can't touch me.
I know Kichi inside out.
Nine Factions are basically my group.
And CEO's still giving me unlimited authority.
Even if trust crumbled after I snuck a location tracker app on his phone.
With Heavenly Demon tailing me, CEO can't easily revoke it.
So, gotta milk it good.
Uchi, listening to me and Heavenly Demon from the opposite sofa, cautiously spoke up.
"You mad we didn't bow coming in?"
Damn, he thinks I'm some toxic personality. Tricky.
Green Forest's main vocal Robin, sitting next to Uchi, elbowed him and played it cool.
"Why say that to Brother Dukmani? In front of our benefactor."
"Don't use real name in front of benefactor."
Do they know?
They're tangled in martial world mess.
I postponed Baek Nah-han's Bukhansan climb to watch their backs.
Luckily, Nine Factions members agreed to prioritize Green Forest after hearing the full story.
None of us wanted another victim.
I scanned the four Green Forest members, six Nine Factions, and Dang Sa-cheon.
Eleven in total, then spoke.
"Thanks for gathering like this."
For concept meeting before collab stage.
Really, to watch if CEO pulls anything on them meanwhile.
Nine Factions and Green Forest were at Jaha's private home.
Handy having Jaha's place.
Handy for Heavenly Demon with no home, me in a one-room with no house lust.
Namgung Mu, no home after stealing clan manual.
Unlike Alliance Leader Dang Sa-cheon living with parents.
Jaha bought a house first payout.
His place with Taeguk was way too grand for two, perfect for hiding this crowd from CEO.
"Summer refresh. New concept for both sides, so called you for ideas."
Spilled refresh on U-Live, so CEO won't withhold support.
But uneasy doing his choreo or concept, so deciding self-produced via meeting again.
Green Forest has a composer too, lucky.
Right on cue, Green Forest's composer-main dancer Lupin bowed obsequiously.
"We're benefiting from Nine Factions, so infinite thanks. Whatever concept you want, we'll grind to match."
Then Green Forest's rapper maknae Zoro, on the living room floor, bristled.
"Collab's equal footing, right? Why start so low?"
"Sigh, Zoro, you so naive? Don't you know Brother Dukmani pulled strings..."
*Ahem.*
Uchi fake-coughed, embarrassed in front of us.
To save face, I smiled as kindly as possible.
"Collab's equal, yeah. Speak freely what you want. ...You knew about camp stay for a bit, right?"
"Of course. Packed our bags."
...Those tiny backpacks their bags?
"Alright... buy whatever you need here with this."
I held out the card; Zoro blinked but didn't take it.
"...What's this?"
"Kichi corp card... oh, sorry. Usually per person, but short collab so team lump sum. Limit's generous."
"Not that... company gives cards?"
"??"
Never worked outside Kichi, don't know other agencies.
Know few give trainee stipends... but not even to debuted idols?
"No card? Activity funds wired separate?"
Nine Factions same, only Kichi experience.
Jaha asked super curious; Zoro flustered back.
"G-get activity funds separate?"
"Dorms or homes, idols need money for activities?"
"No idea what you mean, but pre-settlement we use company money, after use settlement cash..."
Nine Factions faces turned shocked.
Green Forest kids no better.
Uchi... looked set on jumping to Kichi.
Gathered to block Kichi entry, but I added fuel.